Playbook PM: Opening moments from the impeachment trial

From: POLITICO Playbook - Tuesday Feb 09,2021 07:12 pm

Feb 09, 2021

By Ryan Lizza, Rachael Bade, Garrett Ross and Eli Okun

Presented by

While you were watching the opening of the second impeachment trial of DONALD J. TRUMP, some important highlights from JEN PSAKI’S White House press briefing:

— Psaki still doesn’t want President JOE BIDEN or the White House to be seen as paying attention to the trial. “I don’t think it’s for me or others to opine on,” she said about the constitutional basis for the trial. “Joe Biden is the president, he’s not a pundit.” Psaki did point to Biden’s previous comments on the matter. On Jan. 13, the day Trump was impeached, Biden said in a statement: “This criminal attack was planned and coordinated. It was carried out by political extremists and domestic terrorists, who were incited to this violence by President Trump.”

— Psaki said that Biden does favor allowing stimulus checks to go to at least some undocumented immigrants, an issue that is dividing Democrats in the Senate. The way she put it is that if someone has a Social Security number then they are eligible for relief, no matter what their immigration status is. “He supports sending benefits to people who are eligible,” she said.

— Biden will eventually invite Trump to the White House for a presidential portrait unveiling. Trump refused to extend this traditional courtesy to BARACK OBAMA, but Biden will restart it. “I have not been given any indication that we would break with tradition in that regard,” Psaki said.

— Asked about the recall effort against Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM in California, Psaki gave less than the kind of full-throated endorsement the governor probably wanted: “We remain closely engaged with him and his office.”

— The White House is still staying away from the gun debate. Psaki was asked about any plans for Biden to seek counsel from BETO O’ROURKE, who Biden promised would be an adviser on gun control. Psaki made it clear there was nothing to announce, which will be deflating to gun control activists who have noted that Biden already broke the following campaign promise that he made last February: “My first day of office, I’m going to send a bill to the Congress repealing the liability protection for gun manufacturers, closing the background check loopholes and waiting period.”

BREAKING: Rep. JAMIE RASKIN (D-Md.), the head impeachment manager, kicked off Trump’s second impeachment trial with a vow to senators that he will not bore them with endless opining about the Federalist Papers. “You will not be hearing extended lectures from me, because our case is based on cold, hard facts,” the former constitutional law professor and notorious wonk said, stressing each word for emphasis. “It’s all about the facts.”

Within minutes, Raskin ran the first of what’s likely to be many videos presented by impeachment managers to show Trump directing the mob toward the Capitol on Jan. 6. “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol,” Trump said in the video, as his supporters turned toward the building. The film showed rioters breaking the barriers surrounding the Capitol and calling police officers “traitors” as they yelled “stop the steal!” and eventually turning violent.

The video flashed back and forth between not only the rioters and Trump’s words, but also the mob and Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL, who was trying to implore his members not to object to legitimate votes at Trump’s behest that day. “President Trump claims the election was stolen. … But my colleagues, nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election,” McConnell said on the Senate floor in the clip.

But if you need a reminder of where the Senate GOP is ahead of this trial, look no further than the opening line of this Sen. KEVIN CRAMER (R-N.D.) press release circulated to reporters just before the trial began: “Welcome to the stupidest week in the Senate,” he said.

Moments later, 11 GOP senators voted against the trial’s bipartisan organizing resolution that was negotiated by both sides and agreed to by Trump’s own attorneys. The vote was 89-11. Voting “no” were Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).

— NBC’s @GarrettHaake: “Impeachment manager @RepRaskin says he will reserve time for rebuttal after Trump defense presents their constitutional counter-argument. That was not the plan as of 9am this morning.”

— WaPo’s @AaronBlake: “Airing on midday cable news so far: Lots of f-words and a woman being shot to death.”

Raskin after the roughly 13-minute video: “You ask what a high crime and misdemeanor is under our Constitution? That’s a high crime and misdemeanor. If that is not an impeachable offense, then there is no such thing.” Watch the trial live

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THE IMPEACHMENT ARGUMENTS — “Impeachment managers accuse Trump of blaming supporters for insurrection,” by Kyle Cheney and Andrew Desiderio: “Donald Trump is attempting to ‘shift blame onto his supporters’ for igniting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol and is relying on disputed legal theories to avoid accountability for his months-long attempt to subvert the 2020 election results, the House Democrats prosecuting the case argued Tuesday.

“In a nod to the opening day of Trump’s second impeachment trial, the Democratic impeachment managers maintained that the Senate has full constitutional authority to put a former president on trial, as senators prepare to vote on whether the trial can proceed. His attempt to claim otherwise is a farce, they said.” The brief

TICK TOCK — “Trump’s lawyers say he was immediately ‘horrified’ by the Capitol attack. Here’s what his allies and aides said really happened that day,” by WaPo’s Rosalind Helderman and Josh Dawsey: “[T]hat revisionist history conflicts with the timeline of events on the day of the Capitol riot, as well as accounts of multiple people in contact with the president that day, who have said Trump was initially pleased to see a halt in the counting of the electoral college votes. Some former White House officials have acknowledged that he only belatedly and reluctantly issued calls for peace, after first ignoring public and private entreaties to do so.”

2024 WATCH — “Impeachment minefield awaits 2024 GOP field,” by David Siders: “Torn between demands of the GOP’s pro-Trump base and traditionalists mortified by Trump’s post-election behavior, senators like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton will be forced to strike a balance. That means calibrating their defense of Trump for a primary electorate whose level of devotion to the former president three years from now remains unknown.

“Their effort will be complicated by one obsessive viewer, in particular: Trump … There's broad consensus among Republican strategists about one thing: the trial is politically disadvantageous for the Senate’s 2024 contenders, distracting from hearings in which senators can object without reservation to President Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominees — something with near-universal GOP appeal.”

NPR puts together an EXHAUSTIVE DATABASE: “The Capitol Siege: The Arrested And Their Stories”: “As Congress considers a presidential impeachment related to the attack, those criminal cases provide clues to questions surrounding the incident: Who exactly joined the mob? What did they do? And why? To try to answer those questions, NPR is examining the criminal cases related to the Capitol riot, drawing on court documents, public records, news accounts and social media. …

“Some who allegedly stormed the Capitol explicitly said they were inspired by Trump. … Most of the people charged in connection with the storming of the Capitol face allegations primarily related to breaching the building. But a smaller number face more serious charges, and a greater threat of prison time, if convicted.”

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — In this bonus clip from the latest episode of Showtime’s “The Circus,” Rep. ADAM KINZINGER (R-Ill.) recounts his experience of Jan. 6 — including the half hour when he most worried for his safety and his decision to bring a gun to work that day. “I didn’t fear for my life, but yeah, there was a moment where I’m in my office, I’m armed, and I kind of think maybe I’m going to have to use my gun.” The video

ADDING INSULT TO IMPEACHMENT — “Palm Beach to decide whether Trump can stay at Mar-a-Lago,” AP

A message from Amazon:

From providing COVID-19 testing to advocating for vaccinations for front-line workers, Amazon is working to protect the health and safety of our employees and their communities. We’ve also enhanced safety measures and increased paid time-off in an effort to support those who have long supported us.

WHAT THE E-RING IS READING — “Seeking to combat extremists in ranks, the military struggles to answer a basic question: How many are there?” WaPo: “Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faces an early test as he races to advance a major initiative targeting far-right extremism in the ranks, a challenge that officials acknowledge is complicated by the Pentagon’s lack of clarity on the extent of the threat following the U.S. Capitol riot.”

— “Lloyd Austin takes first steps to repair a battered Pentagon,” by Lara Seligman: “In his first weeks in office, the new secretary has installed a slate of well-respected national security professionals in his front office who are working to restore order to the Pentagon’s policymaking process. Those staffers are already making changes to ensure that civilian voices are included in policy meetings.”

JEFF ZIENTS announced this afternoon that the federal government is boosting its weekly vaccine allocations to states, tribes and territories to 11 million — a 5% week-over-week increase. He also announced a new program that will send vaccines directly to community health centers, phasing in next week.

ON WISCONSIN — “CNN to host town hall with President Joe Biden,” CNN: “Less than one month after taking office, President Joe Biden will participate in a CNN town hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin … The ‘CNN Presidential Town Hall with Joe Biden’ will air live from the Pabst Theater on February 16 at 8 p.m. ET …

“The event will mark Biden’s first official trip since being sworn-in as the 46th President of the United States. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper will moderate the town hall. A CNN spokesperson said an invitation-only, socially distanced audience will be present and will follow Wisconsin's guidance and regulations to ensure a safe event.”

AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON, via pooler Hans Nichols of Axios: Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase; Tom Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart; Sonia Syngal, president and CEO of Gap; and Marvin Ellison, president and CEO of Lowe’s.

MINIMUM WAGE LATEST — “Schumer dodges on whether minimum wage increase can survive Senate,” by Burgess Everett

NEVER TWEET — “Neera Tanden, Biden’s OMB pick, apologizes at confirmation hearing for language about Republicans in past tweets,” WaPo: “‘I know there have been some concerns about some of my past language in social media, and I regret that language and take responsibility for it,’ Tanden said in her opening statement. ‘I understand that the role of OMB director calls for bipartisan action as well as nonpartisan adherence to facts and evidence.’”

THE INDISPENSABLE GUIDE TO CONGRESS: Looking for the latest on the Schumer/McConnell dynamic or the increasing tensions in the House? What are the latest whispers coming out of the Speaker's Lobby? Just leave it to Beavers... New author Olivia Beavers delivers the scoop in Huddle, the morning Capitol Hill must-read with assists from POLITICO's deeply sourced Congress team. Subscribe to Huddle today.

TRUMP CARDS — “Trump Partner Exploring Ways to End Relationship With Ex-President’s Company,” WSJ: “One of the nation’s biggest real-estate investors, which is run by a longtime friend of Donald Trump, is exploring ways to end a lucrative partnership with the former president’s real-estate company, people familiar with the matter said.

“The partnership includes two of the Trump Organization’s most valuable assets. Losing them would shrink the Trump Organization’s business, just as it has struggled with the decline in travel and leisure spending due to the coronavirus pandemic. A sale could benefit Mr. Trump’s businesses, which have more than $400 million in debt due in the next few years. Vornado Realty Trust executives have recently had internal discussions about buying out the Trump Organization’s 30% stakes in an office tower in Midtown Manhattan and in a property in San Francisco’s financial district that the companies jointly own, people familiar with the matter said.”

PETER HAMBY in VANITY FAIR: “‘I Think People Will Get Tired of Him’: For Donald Trump, Sarah Palin’s Fall Shows the Limits of Media Obsession: The former Alaska governor dominated coverage while she was seen as a GOP kingmaker and potential presidential candidate—until reality (or at least reality TV) set in. The spotlight on Trump, too, may dim without a social media megaphone and as new outrage makers, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, grab headlines.”

WHO’S ON FIRST — “WHO team: Coronavirus unlikely to have leaked from China lab,” AP: “The coronavirus most likely first appeared in humans after jumping from an animal, a team of international and Chinese scientists looking for the origins of COVID-19 said Tuesday, dismissing as unlikely an alternate theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab.

“A closely watched visit by World Health Organization experts to Wuhan — the Chinese city where the first coronavirus cases were discovered — did not dramatically change the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic, said Peter Ben Embarek, the leader of the WHO mission. … But experts now consider the possibility of such a leak so improbable that it will not be suggested as an avenue of future study.”

BIG SLATE PACKAGE — “The History Behind America’s Tortured Relationship to Vaccines”: “When old vaccines were new, we faced lack of public trust (for reasons both valid and misguided), inequity in distribution, and cost issues. And we thought creatively about ways to overcome these barriers. Here are a few stories of past vaccination campaigns that foreshadow some of our failures, and offer lessons for 2021.”

TRACK THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION: President Biden's cabinet is getting confirmed, bringing change to agencies and departments across the Executive Branch. From the West Wing to Foggy Bottom, track the first 100 days of the Biden administration with Transition Playbook, our scoop-filled newsletter that chronicles the policies, people, and emerging power centers of the new administration. Subscribe today.

AILING AMERICA — “Lacking a Lifeline: How a federal effort to help low-income Americans pay their phone bills failed amid the pandemic,” WaPo’s Tony Romm: “Many Lifeline s are stuck with service so subpar that it would be unrecognizable to most app-loving, data-hungry smartphone users, according to interviews with more than two dozen participants and policy experts, including members of Congress, Biden administration officials, state regulators, telecom executives and public-interest advocates.

“The program’s inadequacies are so great that even those who are eligible for help often turn it down: More than 33 million households are eligible to receive Lifeline support, yet only 1 in 4 of these Americans actually takes advantage of it, according to U.S. government estimates prepared in October. Yet attempts to update Lifeline and remedy its well-known shortcomings have stalled in Washington for years.”

AMERICA AND THE WORLD — “White House confirms Biden will keep embassy in Jerusalem,” Roll Call

— “Will American Ideas Tear France Apart? Some Think So,” NYT: “The threat is said to be existential. It fuels secessionism. Gnaws at national unity. Abets Islamism. Attacks France’s intellectual and cultural heritage. The threat? ‘Certain social science theories entirely imported from the United States,’ said President Emmanuel Macron.

“French politicians, high-profile intellectuals and journalists are warning that progressive American ideas — specifically on race, gender, post-colonialism — are undermining their society. … Emboldened by these comments, prominent intellectuals have banded together against what they regard as contamination by the out-of-control woke leftism of American campuses and its attendant cancel culture.”

MEDIAWATCH — “Fox News Seeks Dismissal Of Smartmatic Lawsuit, Claiming First Amendment Protection For Coverage Of Donald Trump’s Accusations,” Deadline

— Suzanne Scott has signed a multi-year contract to remain in her current role as CEO of Fox News Media, the company announced Monday.

— Insider is adding several new staffers to its D.C. bureau: Nicole Gaudiano to cover the White House, Warren Rojas as politics reporter, Adam Wren as politics features reporter, and Ryan Barber and Camila DeChalus to cover DOJ, courts and federal law enforcement.

STAFFING UP — The White House Council on Environmental Quality is adding Justin Pidot as general counsel, Andrew Mayock as federal chief sustainability officer, and Austin Brown, Mark Chambers, Sara Gonzalez-Rothi, Jayni Hein and Matt Lee-Ashley as senior directors.

TRANSITIONS — Avika Dua is now digital director for Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). She previously was at Priorities USA and the Pete Buttigieg campaign. … Collin Sabine is now a legislative aide for Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.). He previously was a staff assistant for Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.). … Luke Knittig is now the Washington-based comms and external relations lead for Power Africa at USAID. He most recently was senior director of comms at the McCain Institute. …

… Grace Hagerty is now press secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. She most recently was comms director for Qasim Rashid’s congressional campaign in Virginia. … Randy Pate is launching his own firm, Randolph Pate Advisors. He most recently was deputy administrator and director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at CMS, and is a Kevin Brady and George W. Bush HHS alum. … John Wittman is launching his own firm, Wittman Public Affairs. He previously has been longtime comms director for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

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We’re also heavily invested in supporting our employees, customers, and communities during the pandemic—from enhancing safety measures to increasing paid time-off. We provided more than $2.5 billion in bonuses and incentives for our teams globally in 2020.

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