Subject: POLITICO Playbook, presented by AARP: How long will Ronny Jackson last … Trump on ‘Fox and Friends’ at 8 a.m.
From: "Anna Palmer Jake Sherman Daniel Lippman" <[email-masked]>
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Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2018 04:36:38 -0600
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Today's POLITICO Playbook presented by AARP 
            
By JAKE SHERMAN ([email-masked]; @JakeSherman), ANNA PALMER ([email-masked]; @apalmerdc) and DANIEL LIPPMAN ([email-masked]; @dlippman)
        
Listen to today's Audio Briefing | Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Visit the online home of Playbook
                  Driving the Day         
KEVIN MCCARTHY tries to rescue California for Republicans, via the L.A. Times' Patrick McGreevy: "Republicans are on the verge of turning in at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal the [gas] tax increase. Even before they know for sure it will appear on the November ballot, the party's candidates up and down the state already are acting to direct voter anger over higher fuel prices at Democrats who boosted the levies. ... 

"The California Republican Party has sunk $300,000 into 'Give Voters A Voice,' the campaign committee seeking to qualify the repeal measure for the November ballot. Top Republicans have donated, with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield giving $400,000. Another $250,000 came from Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox, and hundreds of thousands more were donated by other GOP congressional candidates." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127ba08da43d342931066bc61b11fad09ab5c8748f7018f6f20176cd1564854af14fd25b05629c0e2e3b 

-- THIS IS A BIG DEAL. Why? Because Republicans think they can juice voter turnout if they include this measure on the ballot in November. California is very blue, but there are 14 Republicans from the Golden State in the House. 

Good Thursday morning. White House Correspondents Weekend festivities kick off tonight. THE PRESIDENT is calling into "Fox and Friends" at 8 a.m. Just like the good old days.

FROM 30K FEET ... The EPA administrator is going to Capitol Hill today after a raft of stories about his penchant for first-class travel, his desire to be driven around in an armored SUV with run-flat tires in Washington and his decision to rent a condo from people who peddle influence in town. ... 

... THE PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE to run the beleaguered VA has never managed more than a small cadre of people, and is now up for a job that involves managing the second-largest government agency, a department with 377,000 employees. He has also been accused of dishing out prescription drugs recklessly, allegedly passed out drunk at a hotel during a presidential trip, is said to have banged on a woman's door after a night of drinking and allegedly crashed a government car after boozing at a Secret Service going-away party. Jackson has denied many of these allegations. 

THE GENERAL CONSENSUS: Dr. Jackson will withdraw, which will give the president a chance to nominate a vetted candidate that the Hill can confirm. This is an election year. Republicans want the president to make things easy for them.

SPOTTED: John Bolton and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) having dinner together last night at Capital Grille.

JARED-SUPPORTED BILL HITS A SPEED BUMP, via Heather Caygle and Elana Schor: "The House Judiciary Committee scrapped plans to vote on a prison reform proposal Wednesday, potentially dooming one of the few remaining prospects for significant bipartisan compromise this Congress.

"The last-minute postponement of the measure came as President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner visited Capitol Hill to rally support for it. But the delay also followed what multiple House sources described as a behind-the-scenes opposition campaign from two Senate heavyweights, one from each party.

"Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) have told House Judiciary panel members to oppose a narrower prison reform bill without the addition of a sentencing overhaul they spent months negotiating, House sources said." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b00801c1aaa2782a09d7684a24efe44c3e59d40dd4975d556ba16003c969387db0920329647b2232e 

PALM BEACH POST'S GEORGE BENNETT: "Trump in Palm Beach: Sheriff's OT bill for feds $3.3 million and growing": "Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies who help protect President Donald Trump when he visits Mar-a-Lago racked up nearly $3.3 million in overtime during presidential trips between November and early February - money that county officials expect to get back from the federal government. Congress set aside $41 million in March to reimburse local law enforcement agencies for 'extraordinary ... personnel costs' incurred through Sept. 30 'for protection activities directly and demonstrably associated with any residence of the President that is designated or identified to be secured by the
 United States Secret Service.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b1bf2fb9a786e9c17ead4f2a7293d625099532ff42a120ac3059e59e7a5402caf3a86a88818d026b7

CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- "Chance the Rapper, Kanye West start Twitter political storms," by Kevin Williams: "The day began with West, who issued a series of tweets ranging from one that appeared to criticize former President Barack Obama to one that many suggested showed solidarity with President Donald Trump, who then thanked West for the tweet. ... 

"The list of prominent black artists who unfollowed West on Twitter so far include Drake, Jaden Smith, Janelle Monae, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and The Weeknd. The storm was ongoing, and then Chance the Rapper weighed in with a defense of the performer with whom he has collaborated." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b4107d1e22446350d55e0d0cec051d310e96ba57cce1d5d8e4bf0044f9d091ba9eba489873033600f 

MISSION INCOMPLETE -- @JenniferJJacobs: "NEW: Macron says he thinks Trump will withdraw from the Iran nuclear accord. 'I believe he will get rid of this deal for domestic reasons,' Macron says. Macron urged him to stay in the deal, but suspects he was unsuccessful."

-- MACRON and REP. JOHN LEWIS (D-GA.) share quite a hug. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127baba1f034987b488fdbeca6d4328b8b3fffb45d4261f595e7b24048de7a1b88de4c1cc7197b2f5b23 

SMART STORY ... "Jackson troubles shine light on a fact of Washington life: Sleeping pills," by Eliana Johnson, Burgess Everett, Bryan Bender and Sarah Karlin-Smith: "Ronny Jackson, the White House physician who is battling to save his nomination to be the secretary of veterans affairs, regularly handed out the sleep drug Ambien and the alertness drug Provigil to West Wing officials traveling on overseas flights. Jackson's nomination has inadvertently exposed the widespread use of sleep and alertness drugs among government officials from the White House and State Department to the Pentagon and Congress itself.

"Allegations about Jackson's liberal dispensation of Ambien and Provigil come at a time when opioid abuse -- some of it enabled by doctors -- has ravaged communities across the country, increasing awareness about the dangers of casual pill-popping among the public at large. But nearly a dozen current and former officials -- including some who were treated by Jackson while working in the Obama White House -- say Jackson is being unfairly labeled as a 'candy man' and that casual use of some prescription drugs is an established fact of life at the highest echelons of government. ...

"By themselves, the charges that Jackson liberally doled out sleep drugs may not be enough to disqualify him in the eyes of lawmakers on Capitol Hill - because, they say, they use them liberally, too. 'It does happen. I'm not one of those. I might have tried that once; it didn't work, and I've never tried it again,' said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). 'But people trying to avoid jet lag and go back to work and have a normal life? Sure!'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b0e5b8b30746fc59f42835e8acaea92a6ca1fc8a572c88881a96307c8f283bcef97a133bcb7fb67de

****** A message from AARP: Did you know 50-plus voters will likely determine the outcome of the November midterms? Follow POLITICO's "The Deciders" series, launching in June, to better understand this influential voting bloc. Presented by AARP. Stay informed. ******

THE DOC HAS ISSUES ... 

-- NYT'S NICK FANDOS: "New Allegations Emerge Against Ronny Jackson as White House Digs In": "Dr. Ronny L. Jackson, the White House physician nominated to lead the Veterans Affairs Department, provided such 'a large supply' of Percocet, a prescription opioid, to a White House Military Office staff member that he threw his own medical staff 'into a panic' when it could not account for the missing drugs, according to a summary of questionable deeds compiled by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. A nurse on his staff said Dr. Jackson had written himself prescriptions, and when caught, he simply asked a physician assistant to provide him with the medication." 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b12bbd4506e1d893bcf8334f39484cd6a9bf0a13ff11692f8a7eaff14a6ed54d18b71d49001618d1f ... The two-page Democratic summary http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b4daca752fac58e334ceacc0f7c2b85f7eff2e895a49120cb4d55b3c01ff5245c98af43d735efe50e 

-- Fin Gomez (@finnygo): "NEW: Jackson told me and small group of reporters waiting in WH press offices that he did not know where these allegations were coming from. Said he was 'Still moving ahead' on his nomination. Also said he 'did not wreck a car' after drinking at a party."

-- BURGESS EVERETT: "Republican support for Jackson collapses": "For Senate Republicans, the question of the day is not if, but when, President Donald Trump pulls the plug on Ronny Jackson. GOP support for the Veterans Affairs nominee has cratered in the face of allegations of misconduct as White House physician. Jackson already faced serious doubts over his lack of management experience. At this point, it would take a miraculous comeback by Jackson to survive at least two more weeks of scrutiny and growing discomfort among Republican senators over his nomination.

"With Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) absent, the party controls 50 seats, meaning that only one Republican in opposition could derail Jackson's nomination if Democrats unite in opposition to him. Any corroboration of whistleblower accusations -- from crashing a government car while drunk to abusing his power to prescribe pills -- will be enough to publicly sink the nomination. The nomination, said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), is 'very unlikely' to go forward. ... Asked how Jackson could be confirmed, he replied: "You tell me.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b19504a23889c00e1b3891edb36bdddbc3b97e2ff3383ff30b7dfccfcaacf5c7c460c54d1fb092143

-- CNN'S JEFF ZELENY, JEREMY DIAMOND and KEVIN LIPTAK: "White House prepares for possible Jackson withdrawal": "President Donald Trump is beginning to wonder aloud whether his embattled Veterans Affairs nominee should step aside 'before things get worse' and White House aides are now preparing for that possibility, White House officials told CNN. ... Jackson emerged late Wednesday from White House spokesman Raj Shah's office with press secretary Sarah Sanders, Shah and deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley. Jackson told reporters, 'Look forward to talking to you guys in the next few days.' Sanders said they were having a 'debrief' on the meetings on the Hill.

"The President and his aides were openly discussing the possibility that Jackson could pull his nomination, the officials said, and aides late Wednesday afternoon began preparing for a possible withdrawal -- though White House officials said the decision remains Jackson's. Trump's thinking on Jackson's nomination has been rapidly evolving. Earlier on Wednesday, he raised the prospect of going into the briefing room today to stick up for Jackson, simply to say he is a good guy and has his support. But several senior administration officials, including Sanders, advised him against doing so." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bbe08fb4e21d5ed66c25539af2a90aec482530ce3957678bee31736996b2f8d298c6035b44863893b

WAPO'S Amy Gardner, Josh Dawsey and Seung Min Kim say that Jackson is already telling people he might pull out. http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b96cdfb44d7530618ed5103822c49aa9e0eb069d0c7c7fe97eee7719669d07cc83420d289992b1b09 

PRUITT'S PROBLEMS ... 

-- WAPO'S JULIET EILPERIN, BRADY DENNIS and JOSH DAWSEY: "Scott Pruitt heads to Capitol Hill as White House probes signal his shaky status": "On the eve of critical hearings on Capitol Hill, top White House officials are intensifying efforts to document wasteful spending by Scott Pruitt as President Trump weighs whether to keep supporting his controversial [EPA] chief, senior administration officials said Wednesday. According to the officials, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney has expanded an inquiry into the nearly $43,000 soundproof phone booth Pruitt had installed in his office to cover other costly expenditures, including tickets on first-class flights and stays at boutique
 hotels.

"And the White House Counsel's Office is examining allegations of unethical behavior, among them Pruitt's decision to rent part of a Capitol Hill condo for $50 a night from a lobbyist and her husband, who had business before the agency. EPA staffers are aiding both probes, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Those investigations signal how uncertain Pruitt's status is within the White House."  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b5eb2769abe01897d7b562a9afaa5ec56c2f3154f4fe9f05ffb598b61872959b7a490dd321ebe6d17

-- ABC'S JOHN SANTUCCI and STEPHANIE EBBS: "Scott Pruitt's prep document of 'hot topics' ready ahead of congressional hearings": "A source with direct knowledge described a document to ABC News called 'hot topics' includes a rough draft of talking points for Pruitt as he prepares to field questions from lawmakers. Pruitt's plan ... is for the embattled agency head to say he now only flies coach when traveling compared to his costly first-class travel in the early days of his time on the job. The document also says he plans to address the high priced salary hikes for two of his closest aides that have been by his side going back to his Oklahoma days. Pruitt's intention, per the source, is to
 claim he had no knowledge of the raises and pass the blame onto his staff." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127be676862adac18fa6c5a0b6de1141f229cebef43d4ea61e898eaa7cbdf29d47f38ec13d4353383061 

-- EPA has also sent a research document to some Capitol Hill Republican lawmakers to push back on the allegations leveled against the administrator in advance of Pruitt's testimony. The 23-page document covers "International Travel ... One-Bedroom Condo ... Threats Against Pruitt ... EPA's Protective Service Detail & Spending ... First Class Travel ... Pruitt's Email Accounts ... Raises to Staff & AD Hiring Authority ... Kevin Chmielewski & Senate Democrats' Letter." The document http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b8b4f628835f14ec7cbd2884b72032ef9d4a3af23e9f690176ac5820788a442ce39d2d9c33f22f7ce 

THE INVESTIGATIONS ... 

JOSH GERSTEIN: "Michael Cohen to plead 5th Amendment in Stormy Daniels suit": "Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's longtime personal attorney, indicated on Wednesday that he planned to assert his Fifth Amendment rights not to testify in connection with a pending civil lawsuit brought by a porn star that seeks to void a $130,000 "hush money" deal Cohen allegedly cut to try to suppress her story in advance of the 2016 presidential election.

"Cohen said in a declaration filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles that he planned to stay mum in that case because of a series of raids the FBI carried out at his home, office and hotel room in New York earlier this month. Executing search warrants, the agents seized a wide array of electronic devices and paper records about Cohen's dealings." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b30a84b8f1479daebed68fc400bd7b9dd839cebc91112074427d30bf5f7e6ab2635b138677cb0a2ff 

CNN'S KAITLAN COLLINS (@kaitlancollins): "Incredibly significant line from the letter the lawyers who are representing President Trump in the Michael Cohen case filed in court today - 'Our client will make himself available, as needed, to aid in our privilege review on his behalf...'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bdd932007eca9f30b6c3974d7c1b944cd816efb520a8bc93d0f2798db9be0b574b0aef1c97097053a

-- WAPO'S BOB COSTA and CAROL LEONNIG: "Giuliani reopens negotiations about presidential interview with Mueller, but cautions special counsel that Trump remains resistant": "Rudolph W. Giuliani, President Trump's new personal lawyer dealing with the ongoing probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, met with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III on Tuesday to reopen negotiations for a presidential interview, &shy;according to three people familiar with the talks.

"Giuliani, who joined Trump's legal team last week, conveyed the ongoing resistance of Trump and his advisers to an interview with federal investigators, but did not rule out the possibility, the people said, adding that Giuliani pressed Mueller for clarity on when the probe is expected to end.

"In response, Mueller reiterated that he would like a chance to ask Trump questions about steps he took during the transition and early months of his administration, the people said. The special counsel emphasized, as he did in conversations in March with Trump's team, that an interview is essential for investigators to understand Trump's intent in making key decisions as they seek to wrap up the portion of the probe focused on potential obstruction of justice." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b64f6a94f285582d2eb1eda3bbae218d7513962eae809e3e788e27180149a7bc8927e45054a901c8d 

-- THE WSJ says Trump's lawyers are trying to see if Mueller has "an 'open mind' about the Russia investigation." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b8317c7997b13512eccc5b9012ecac814bda5865863e9a0da35d46a72c1aceb3672eb19d2791cd5f0 

MAGGIE HABERMAN got an interview with Rudy: "In an interview, Mr. Giuliani said that his goal in the coming days was to find out where Mr. Mueller stands, particularly as it relates to the credibility of James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director whom the president fired in April 2017. Mr. Comey has been interviewed by Mr. Mueller, and he has been deeply, personally critical of the president in his media tour promoting his new memoir.
 
"'At this stage of an investigation, it'd be highly unusual to let an ordinary client testify,' Mr. Giuliani said. However, he added, 'This isn't an ordinary client. This is the president of the United States.' He said that they were trying to assess whether Mr. Mueller 'and his staff are truly objective,' particularly in terms of Mr. Comey. 'Obviously, if they've already made up their minds, we'd be stupid to do that.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bfd698f1fa0f0817484e15e52e409e0943c6bfd2964af7ba11a2ae68507cb5c551dba12c61a29379b 

POMPEO'S STATE DEPT ... "Trump to Pick Paula Dobriansky for Top State Department Job, Sources Say," by Bloomberg's Nick Wadhams: "The Trump administration plans to nominate Paula Dobriansky, a senior diplomatic official under President George W. Bush, to the top policy job at the State Department, according to three people familiar with the decision.

"Dobriansky, a former special envoy for Northern Ireland and undersecretary of state for global affairs, will replace career diplomat Thomas Shannon, who announced his retirement earlier this year ... Dobriansky [is currently] a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b389731dcf3d7c442bbf7dd760ef6f4c8bac29a7ef96cd39051094e49f27d4e16b763f2ac756b0129 

MULVANEY DISMANTLES ... -- "Consumer Bureau Looks to End Public View of Complaints Database," by NYT's Stacy Cowley: "Financial companies have worked to diminish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's powers since the day the agency was created. Now, they're on the brink of having one of their top demands granted: an end to the regulator's public database of complaints about their products and services. Since 2011, the bureau has maintained an open, searchable record of more than one million consumer reports about inaccurate debt collections, illegal fees, improper overdraft charges, mistakes on loans and other problems. ...

"Mick Mulvaney, the bureau's acting director, hinted Tuesday that he would like to end that public access. 'I don't see anything in here that says I have to run a Yelp for financial services sponsored by the federal government,' he said at a banking industry conference in Washington. ... Consumer groups argue that taking the database offline would neuter one of its core purposes: pushing companies to take complaints more seriously. The move would also prevent outsiders, including academic researchers, from using its data." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127ba8fb33c35a1727b4648e4c58c136048d5030916cea88ae6ceb9045aa47575572e2421acef3127499

THE JUICE ... 

-- ANDREW SHULT is joining Vice President Mike Pence's communications office as digital director. He was Steve Scalise's digital coordinator, and he's an alumnus of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. 

-- @ZackFinkNews: "NEW: @Lis_Smith had been hired by Cuomo 2018 and The State Democratic Party to do rapid response. Lis is a close friend of @melissadderosa".

SUNDAY SO FAR ... NBC'S "MEET THE PRESS": James Comey. 

-- "FOX NEWS SUNDAY": Panel: Jason Miller, Rich Lowry and Mo Elleithee. Power Player: Kay Cole James.

THE PRESIDENT has one thing on his schedule today: he's delivering remarks at the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride at 10:30 a.m.

HAPPENING TODAY -- VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE is joining Indian IT company Infosys in Indianapolis at 1:15 p.m. today for a major economic development announcement. Infosys announced last May a campaign to hire 10,000 Americans over the next two years, including 2,000 in Indiana. Pence will be joined at the event by Labor Secretary ALEX ACOSTA and Indiana Gov. ERIC HOLCOMB. Ravi Kumar, president and deputy COO of Infosys, will also speak. The IndyStar on the announcement http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127b91996dd5a0aa718f1929ec4d58daeac5b75396946d26b6249a1aab72ac10bb80143ab74f5957cc21 ... Livestream http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bb9d13ee5a56c8395784df2c04589c3ce585e7ee657701419dba5fe1e1cee85dea3729b69de0df57b

          Playbook Reads         

PHOTO DU JOUR: Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee and White House doctor Ronny Johnson departs from the Capitol on April 25. | Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images

HARASSMENT FILES ... "The Center For American Progress Staff Was Shocked After Neera Tanden Named The Anonymous Harassment Victim In An All-Staff Meeting," by BuzzFeed's Sarah Mimms: "Two days after BuzzFeed News unveiled allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation at one of the nation's top liberal think tanks, the Center for American Progress's president, Neera Tanden, met with staff to restore confidence in the organization's ability to handle the issue and ensure that employees feel safe. But during the meeting Wednesday afternoon, Tanden named the anonymous victim at the center that story -- a revelation that a CAP spokesperson said was unintentional -- and what began as a tense
 meeting became what three staffers in the room described as a textbook example of the organization's failures to appropriately handle sexual harassment cases.

"'There is literally one thing you cannot do in this meeting and that is out the victim and Neera did it multiple times...It also destroys whatever small level of confidence in the system remained,' one CAP employee who was in the room said in a text to BuzzFeed News. ... 

"In a statement to BuzzFeed News, a CAP spokesperson said that Tanden 'unintentionally said the complainant's first name in the meeting today, and immediately and profusely apologized for it.' 'She feels awful that it happened and that the victim's negative experience was compounded; she also expressed that the victim's actions in coming forward were courageous. Neera's horror was very evident in the meeting,' the spokesperson said." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bfa54f6b9c9cef6a986cec1ee9c676c12d9bf98e32ab0b74762a105a98352c777c6fa77794150a7ee ... BuzzFeed's original story on harassment at CAP http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bcce1f5a88b83906986cea7f1d973a7c74e95d19fc7e077faa666c649c3c35bafb79fc30d453d3b3c

****** A message from AARP: POLITICO's "The Deciders" series will explore who the 50-plus voter is, what motivates them, and how they are reshaping politics. The series will also include narrative and photojournalism from POLITICO Magazine in key battleground states. Presented by AARP. Stay informed. ******

SPY GAMES -- "Behind a Roadside Hit in Malaysia, Israeli-Palestinian Intrigue," by NYT's Hannah Beech in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Ronen Bergman in Lima, Peru: "Fadi al-Batsh ... always had a smile for his friends and students in the seven years since he moved to Malaysia from his native Gaza. On Saturday, as he walked outside his apartment building in suburban Kuala Lumpur, he was gunned down in a hail of at least 14 bullets by two men on a motorcycle. It was the Palestinian man's undercover job -- as what intelligence officials described as a technology expert for the military wing of the Gaza-based Hamas movement -- that had put him in the cross hairs.

"Malaysian officials said the attackers were 'most likely born in the Middle East or in the West' but would not directly say who they thought was behind the killing. Mr. Batsh's family blamed Mossad, the Israeli spy agency. That claim has been confirmed by Middle Eastern intelligence officials, who said the killing was part of a broader operation ordered by the Mossad chief, Yossi Cohen, to dismantle a Hamas project that sends Gaza's most promising scientists and engineers overseas to gather know-how and weaponry to fight Israel."  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bc5bd455c9e095421616ad8532e9b12ad48f11dfcb441b7b06679c5d947f60e4fe62f938daf2260ff

MEDIAWATCH -- "Tina Brown wants no part of Charlie Rose's #MeToo redemption series," by N.Y. Post's Ian Mohr: "Disgraced CBS anchor Charlie Rose is being slated to star in a show where he'll interview other high-profile men who have also been toppled by #MeToo scandals. The move was revealed by editor, writer and women's advocate Tina Brown, who confirmed to Page Six that she was recently approached to produce a #MeToo atonement series starring Rose, who would interview others embroiled in sexual harassment scandals. ... Said a source: 'Tina said she'd just been e-mailed about co-hosting a new show with Charlie Rose, in which they'd interview Louis C.K., Matt Lauer' and others caught up in
 the #MeToo sexual harassment scandals. Brown explained to the group that she was having none of it, and remarked, 'These guys are already planning their comebacks!'"  http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127bcab069a9a6f60787a32d743073bf70592e8ad59678c1e8e0afdead07f210a685da4c2b9964393e3c

                  Playbookers         
SPOTTED last night at the Trump Hotel: Jason Miller and his wife Kelly, Kaelan Dorr, Boris Epshteyn, Steven Cheung, Andrew Hemming, Andrew Giuliani, and Richard Grinnell.

SPOTTED at the Internet Association gala last night in the Union Station's East Hall: Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Michael Beckerman, Brian Chesky, Clark Stevens, Brian Huseman, Fred Humphries, Pablo Chavez, Niki Christoff, Susan Molinari, Erin Egan, Reps. Dave Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Melissa Froelich, Will Dunham, Cort Bush, Narda Jones, Sam Love, Scarlet Doyle, Joey Wender, Jayme White, Matthew L. Sandgren, Crystal Tully, Robin Colwell, David Goldman, Kelley Hudak, Jeff Wieand, and Winter Casey.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD - Eli Miller, chief of staff at Treasury, and Jenna Miller, teacher at Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, on Wednesday welcomed a baby boy, Nathaniel David Miller. "Arrived 4:20 p.m. Sibley Hospital. 7 lbs 10 oz. 20.5 inches. Brother Henry is so excited."

TRANSITION -- Randy DeValk is joining the Glover Park Group's government relations practice as a managing director. He served six years in the Obama administration as a counselor to the WH office of legislative affairs and as a counselor to Treasury Secretaries Tim Geithner and Jack Lew.

REMEMBERING PETE PETERSON - Pool report: "There was an tribute to the life of former Nixon Commerce Secretary, Blackstone founder, and national debt fighting icon Pete Peterson [Wednesday] at the Riverside Church in New York City ... Speakers included Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Diane Sawyer, Leslie Gelb, and Peterson Foundation CEO Michael Peterson. Attendees included titans of industry and politics and culture including Steve Schwarzman, Paul Volcker, Hank Greenberg, Peggy Noonan, Bob Rubin, George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth."

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Alejandra Cancino, a reporter at the non-profit investigative news organization Better Government Association (hat tip: Lydia Mulvany)

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Ryan Donovan, chief advocacy officer at the Credit Union National Association. A fun fact about Ryan: "When I was in high school, I was a leader of an on-line effort to keep the Internet provider, Prodigy, from charging $.25 per email sent through their system. They eventually backed down. So, I helped keep email free." Read his Playbook Plus Q&A: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=c6ce55cffc91127ba49fdac0279b208202805cef93fe5034ba8b2c550da66397b640735ec3ef94fb57ec596c84226d7f 

BIRTHDAYS: Melania Trump is 48 ... Larry Grisolano of AKPD Message and Media ... Luke Frans ... Suzy George, COO of the ONE Campaign (h/t Ben Chang) ... Politico's Colin Wilhelm ... Cherie Deogracias ... Karas Gross, deputy director of the House Rules Committee, is 36 ... Toby Tyler ... Domenico Montanaro ... Russell Goldman, Hong Kong-based senior editor for the NYT ... Ben Fishel, senior publicist for media relations at NPR ... John Leganski, floor director for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, is 27 ... Emily Schultheis, 2017-18 Robert Bosch fellow (h/t Byron Tau) ... E&E News' Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder ... Ebbie Yazdani is 29 ... Jared Sawyer, deputy assistant secretary for
 financial institutions policy at Treasury ... WSJ's Eliot Brown ... WaPo's Paulina Firozi ... Chris Curry, senior associate at Dewey Square Group ... Nicole Elkon ... Sery Kim ... Conor Gaughan is 38 ... Matt DeLuca, senior adviser at AARP ... Ben Schwerin, VP of partnerships at Snapchat (h/t brother Josh) ... 

... Shana Teehan, comms. director for Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) ... Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) is 72 ... Rep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa) is 63 ... Michael Kalmans of Rising Tide Interactive (h/t Shelby Lipson) ... Meagan McCanna ... Joe Paolino, former Providence mayor and former U.S. ambassador to Malta ... Jay Howser, Democratic media consultant at Shorr Johnson Magnus, is 41. He's celebrating with a quick trip to Miami (h/t Thad Inge) ... Jessica Schneider, Justice correspondent for CNN (h/t Mitchell Rivard) ... Beth Gage ... Tricia Coates (h/ts Jon Haber) ... Graham Rotenberg, analyst at Hamilton Place Strategies and proud Toronto native (h/t Savannah Haeger) ... Nick Penniman, founder and CEO
 of Issue One ... George Wenschhof ... Justin M. Bibb ... Jackson Richman of IJR ... DCCC alum Alex Morgan ... Kayla Bakshi ... Lisa Hanna ... Kristi Stone Hamrick ... Renee Korgood (h/t Jonathan Goldman) ... Seth Amgott ... Melissa Neal ... Jon Rice ... Bret Mills ... Mare Chapman ... John Adashek (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) ... Aixin Wang

****** A message from AARP: In partnership with AARP, POLITICO's "The Deciders" series will integrate original polling, data analysis, and cutting-edge data visualization tools, to provide important insights about the 50+ voter. The series will also include narrative and photojournalism from POLITICO Magazine in key battleground states. Learn more. ******

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