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Presented by Facebook: The unofficial guide to official Washington. | | | | | |  | | By Tara Palmeri | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | It’s evergreen season, and we’re not just talking about Christmas trees. The end of the slow week of Thanksgiving means newsrooms are unloading their stockpile of “evergreens” — stories that fill websites and column inches while newsmakers are preoccupied with family and turkey. On this Sunday, reporters and editors offer a buffet of coverage about (fill in the blank) falling short of promises or expectations, or just plain blowing it: The culprit: President JOE BIDEN How he fell short: Failing to tame the pandemic and provide a return to normalcy In a pair of analyses, WaPo’s Dan Balz and NYT’s Nate Cohn set the table for a painful election year ahead for Biden — whether Build Back Better passes or not. Balz contrasts Biden’s promises coming into office with how they’ve played out; Cohn takes a longer historical view: “The first [pledge],” Balz writes, “was to tame the coronavirus pandemic and deal with its effects on the economy. The second was to persuade Congress to enact the most sweeping domestic policy initiatives in generations. The third was to unify the country the best he could. … As December approaches, none of these goals has been fully accomplished, and that shapes the political environment heading into next year’s midterm elections, which could dramatically affect his presidency.” — Cohn examines the gap between Biden’s popular policies and his low approval ratings: “The disconnect,” he writes, “is a little hard to understand. After all, voters do care about the issues…. But if voters often punish a president for pushing unpopular policies, they rarely seem to reward a president for enacting legislation. Instead, voters seem to reward presidents for presiding over peace and prosperity — in a word, normalcy.” Related reading: “Democrats Struggle to Energize Their Base as Frustrations Mount,” by NYT’s Lisa Lerer, Astead Herndon, Nick Corasaniti and Jennifer Medina … “High inflation? Low polling? White House blames the pandemic,” by AP’s Zeke Miller The culprit: DONALD TRUMP (and several Senate candidates he’s endorsed) How they fell short: Myriad ways Natalie Allison, who’s taken the Senate campaigns beat by storm since joining POLITICO in October, dives into the poor performance of several GOP Senate hopefuls who’ve received the coveted Trump nod: “Trump has endorsed in 15 Senate contests to date. While roughly half are for incumbents who are expected to cruise to the GOP nomination, he’s also waded into other nomination fights where his imprimatur was once thought to be determinative. So far, it hasn’t worked out that way.” Name-checked in the story, not in a good way: MO BROOKS, KELLY TSHIBAKA, TED BUDD, BLAKE MASTERS (whom Trump raised money for but has not yet endorsed), HERSCHEL WALKER and, last but not least, the implosion of SEAN PARNELL. Burgess Everett, meanwhile, has a fun profile of a Senate candidate doing cartwheels for Trump’s support, but so far falling short, Rep. BILLY LONG (R-Mo.): “If he endorses in this race, I don’t care who he endorses. It’s over,’” Long told Burgess. “And that’s what I’m trying to impress upon him is that, you know, ‘you need to get involved in this race and put an end to it.’” The culprit: The Democratic Party How it fell short: Failing to deliver on immigration “Democrats wielded demands to fix the nation’s broken immigration system as a cudgel against Republicans in the 2020 campaign,” write AP’s Colleen Long and Will Weissert. “Elect us, went the argument, and we’ll stop the cruel treatment of migrants at the border, and put in place lasting and humane policies that work. “A year into Joe Biden’s presidency, though, action on the issue has been hard to find and there is growing consternation privately among some in the party that the Biden administration can’t find the right balance on immigration.” The culprit: The Lincoln Project How it fell short: Too many instances to name in a clause “The outside political organization headed by disaffected Republicans and other top Democratic operatives has experienced caustic blowups, internal disputes over beach house-level paydays, and disturbing allegations involving a disgraced co-founder,” summarize Chris Cadelago and Meridith McGraw . “A recent campaign stunt evoking the march on Charlottesville to close the Virginia governor’s race earned them near universal scorn. And one of the organization's most recognized members is facing blowback for rooting for another Trump nomination on grounds that he’d be the easiest Republican to beat in the general election. “‘Read the room,’ said ZAC PETKANAS, a Democratic strategist and former senior aide to HILLARY CLINTON. ‘They sound like me in 2016.’” Good Sunday morning, and Happy Hanukkah (starting tonight) to all who celebrate. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza, Tara Palmeri. | | A message from Facebook: Why Facebook supports updated internet regulations
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Hear from Rochelle on why Facebook supports updating regulations on the internet’s most pressing challenges, including federal privacy legislation. | | | NICE DIGS — During the holiday week, Biden and his family stayed at the palatial Nantucket house owned by DAVID RUBENSTEIN, a co-founder of the investment firm the Carlyle Group. Rubenstein is currently the non-executive co-chair of the company’s board of directors. Biden is renting the house, which he’s stayed in during past Thanksgivings. One interesting factoid: Carlyle spent $560,000 lobbying the Biden administration and Congress in the third quarter, including on BBB, the CARES Act, vaccine manufacturing and distribution, as well as on tax issues and congressional oversight of financial services investment in health care, according to Daniel Lippman. Carlyle itself spent $330,000 lobbying Congress, the Department of Treasury, the SEC and HHS on a range of issues, according to lobbying records. It also employed three firms to lobby on its behalf, spending $60,000 each in the quarter for the services of Steptoe & Johnson, Sternhell Group and Akin Gump and $50,000 on Polaris Government Relations. A Carlyle spokesperson said in a statement: “Carlyle works with advisors on both sides of the aisle to help us advocate on how policies may impact our businesses, our companies and the communities in which we serve. Those activities have nothing to do with Mr. Rubenstein’s personal friendships.” Rubenstein spokesman CHRIS ULLMAN said: “The Rubensteins and Bidens have been friends for many years. The Bidens have been guests at the Rubensteins’ Nantucket home a number of times through the years.” When asked for comment, a White House spokesman pointed to Biden’s plan to pay for BBB by taxing the wealthiest Americans and corporations. We asked how much the Bidens paid in rent but did not hear back. | | | |   | | | SUNDAY BEST … — Rep. ADAM SCHIFF (D-Calif.) on referring MARK MEADOWS to the Justice Department for criminal contempt of Congress charges, on CNN’s “State of the Union”: “I think we will probably make a decision this week on our course of conduct with that particular witness and maybe others.” — NIH Director FRANCIS COLLINS on the Omicron variant, on “Fox News Sunday”: “We expect that most likely the current vaccines will be sufficient to provide protection. … If we need a new vaccine designed specifically against Omicron, Pfizer and Moderna are already in the process of designing that but that’s going to be at least three months or so to come into being.” “Too early to know answers on Omicron variant, NIH director says,” by David Cohen — ANTHONY FAUCI on criticism from Sen. TED CRUZ (R-Texas) and other Republicans, on CBS’ “Face the Nation”: ““Anybody who’s looking at this carefully realizes that there’s a distinct anti-science flavor to this. … They’re really criticizing science, because I represent science. That’s dangerous. To me, that’s more dangerous than the slings and the arrows that get thrown at me. … I’m just going to do my job and I’m going to be saving lives and they’re going to be lying.” — Sen. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-Minn.) on whether she’s confident the Senate will get Build Back Better done before Christmas, on ABC’s “This Week”: “I am. Sen. [JOE] MANCHIN is still at the negotiating table, talking to us every day, talking to us about voting rights, getting that bill done, restoring the Senate. He’s talking to us about this bill.” — Sen. BILL CASSIDY (R-La.) on the opioid crisis, on “This Week”: “The prescription drug problem is now largely abated. We have treatment plans in place. We’re working on capturing that which comes through the mail. It is the southern border which is out of control — which, by the way, is squarely in the lap of this administration — that is contributing to the abundance of drugs, which is contributing to the opioid overdoses.” BIDEN’S SUNDAY — The Bidens will leave Nantucket at 12:25 p.m., arriving back at Joint Base Andrews at 1:50 p.m. | | | | BECOME A GLOBAL INSIDER: The world is more connected than ever. It has never been more essential to identify, unpack and analyze important news, trends and decisions shaping our future — and we’ve got you covered! Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Global Insider author Ryan Heath navigates the global news maze and connects you to power players and events changing our world. Don’t miss out on this influential global community. Subscribe now. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | | 
PHOTO OF THE DAY: President Joe Biden walks with granddaughter Finnegan to evening services at St. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church in Nantucket on Saturday. | Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo | ALL POLITICS MAN WITH A PLAN — Former New Jersey Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE has been making the rounds to promote his latest book, but AP’s Jill Colvin writes that his recent public appearances and interviews could also “suggest Christie is plotting a political comeback with the 2024 campaign in mind. … In a recent interview, Christie said he hadn’t made a decision yet about his political future and wouldn’t until after next year’s elections. But he was blunt in saying he would run if he believes he can be elected.” TOP-ED — NYT’s Ross Douthat delivers a warning to the GOP: “Republicans Have a Golden Opportunity. They Will Probably Blow It.” JUDICIARY SQUARE TABLE-SETTER ON SCOTUS ABORTION ACTION — AP’s Mark Sherman lays out the stakes as the Supreme Court takes up the Mississippi abortion case: “Both sides are telling the Supreme Court there’s no middle ground in Wednesday’s showdown over abortion. The justices can either reaffirm the constitutional right to an abortion or wipe it away altogether. Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that declared a nationwide right to abortion, is facing its most serious challenge in 30 years in front of a court with a 6-3 conservative majority that has been remade by three appointees of President Donald Trump.” CLARENCE THOMAS’ MOMENT — “The review [of the Mississippi law] coincides as well with something of a high-water mark for the 73-year-old Thomas, now the court’s longest-serving member. He sits on a court with more justices who think like him than at any other point in his career,” WaPo’s Robert Barnes writes. — In an expansive essay, the newspaper’s deputy editorial page editor, Ruth Marcus, looks at the implications of the “radicalized” conservative supermajority for not only abortion rights, but gun rights, environmenal protection, religious freedom and more. | | | |   | | | THE PANDEMIC OMICRON LATEST — New York Gov. KATHY HOCHUL declared a state of emergency in response to the rise in Omicron, the latest Covid-19 variant, NYT’s Jesse McKinley writes. The move allows Hochul “to order hospitals to limit nonessential procedures to boost capacity in facilities.” — WaPo’s Dan Diamond, Joel Achenbach, Chico Harlan and Lesley Wroughton break down how the world has responded to the latest Covid variant. AROUND THE GLOBE — The Netherlands found 13 cases of the Omicron variant among passengers arriving from South Africa on Friday, while Australia and Denmark announced two each, per Reuters. Israel took among the most extreme steps of any country, banning all foreigners for two weeks late Saturday, with Morocco taking similar action . And other countries imposed new travel or public health restrictions. | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Tom Suozzi took a pass on becoming Eric Adams’ deputy mayor. Asks CBS’ Ed O’Keefe: “Is running for governor — his long-sought goal — next?” Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin — “two senators who agree on very little,” in the words of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Patrick Marley — issued a joint statement imploring “outside groups attempting to exploit” the Waukesha tragedy to “cease and desist.” WEDDING — Jacqueline Corba, producer for CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and a CBS News and POLITICO alum, and Robert Erani, planning manager for Pharmapacks, got married recently at a ceremony in Bedford, N.Y. The couple met in their teenage years through tennis (they both played at the collegiate level, she for GWU and he for Claremont McKenna) but didn’t start dating until their mid-20s when they were both in NYC. Pic WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Tom Crosson, director of strategic comms for Norfolk Southern and a Mike Turner and Rob Wittman alum, and Hope Crosson, assistant director of MBA admissions and business development for Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, on Monday welcomed Thomas August Crosson, who will go by August. Pic — James Gelfand, EVP at ERIC (the ERISA Industry Committee), and Tegan Gelfand, director of public affairs at BD (Becton Dickinson), on Thanksgiving morning welcomed Ajax Theodoric Gelfand, who came in at 9 lbs, 1 oz. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: National security adviser Jake Sullivan … Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) … Rep. Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.) … POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire and Cally Baute … Judd Deere of Sen. Bill Hagerty’s (R-Tenn.) office … Sean Rankin of the Democratic Attorneys General Association … Stephen Jordan ... CBS’ Susan Spencer … CNN’s Tim Skoczek … WaPo’s Matea Gold … Michael Sargeant ... Tom Crosson … Amanda Fagerblom … Spiros Consulting’s Edward Chapman … Ryan Hedgepeth … Glen Johnson … Lexie Rock of Sen. Thom Tillis’ (R-N.C.) office … Carmen Covelli-Ingwell … Anna Weinstein of Hogan Lovells … NNSA’s Harris Walker … Ashley Phelps … Chris Tucker of FTI Consulting … Mandy Gunasekara … Ashley Baker of the Committee for Justice … Mickeala Carter … former Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.) … former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff … former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki ... former Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.) … Lindsay Biscardi … Taylor Keeney … Stephanie Berger … Jack Mantua … Judy Rapfogel of GrandRap Strategies Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike Zapler, deputy editor Zack Stanton and producers Allie Bice, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross. | | A message from Facebook: Facebook’s industry-leading investments are stopping bad actors
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