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Presented by Facebook: POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. | | | | |  | | By Eli Okun and Garrett Ross | | | |  Mehmet Oz is narrowly in the lead, but not out of recount territory. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images | ABOUT LAST NIGHT … Here’s where things stand in the handful of prominent primary elections Tuesday that still have not declared a winner: In Pennsylvania: — The latest tallies: GOP Senate race: MEHMET OZ 31.3%, DAVE MCCORMICK 31.1%. (Remember, a final margin of under 0.5 percentage points will trigger a recount.) Democratic primary in the 12th District: SUMMER LEE 41.7%, STEVE IRWIN 41.3%. — SIREN: DONALD TRUMP on Truth Social: “Dr. Oz should declare victory. It makes it much harder for them to cheat with the ballots that they ‘just happened to find.’” (h/t Meridith McGraw) — Election Day votes from dozens of precincts in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County likely won’t be counted until Friday because “memory cards were left at polling stations,” CNN’s Kristen Holmes reports. — Senate Minority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL sounded relieved that regardless of who wins, it won’t be KATHY BARNETTE. (Barnette blamed SEAN HANNITY.) In Oregon: — The latest tally: Democratic primary in the 5th District: JAMIE MCLEOD-SKINNER 61.3%, Rep. KURT SCHRADER 38.7%. (Dave Wasserman says it now “would take a miracle” for Schrader or Irwin to prevail against their progressive opponents.) Also notable: We didn’t mention him in this morning’s Playbook, but former Rep. RAÚL LABRADOR won the GOP primary for Idaho A.G. over two-decade incumbent LAWRENCE WASDEN — a big victory for the state’s far right even as Lt. Gov. JANICE MCGEACHIN crashed and burned in her challenge to Gov. BRAD LITTLE. More from the Idaho Statesman
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| More good election reads: NBC’s Alex Seitz-Wald on progressives blaming their mixed results on a deluge of establishment super PAC money. … NYT’s Michael Bender and Maggie Haberman on a GOP almost entirely reconstructed in Trump’s image — yet sometimes beyond his grasp. … NBC’s Sahil Kapur on JOHN FETTERMAN’s general-election plan to dial up the populism all across Pennsylvania. SURVEY SAYS — A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll out this morning has some interesting findings about how registered voters are viewing inflation six months out from the midterms. The big takeaway: Voters aren’t assigning blame for the spiking figures to just one culprit.
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| Here’s how the breakdown looks by party among the top two issues:
- Seventy-five percent of Democrats, 56% of independents and 50% of Republicans blame the war in Ukraine.
- Thirty-eight percent of Democrats, 61% of independents and 85% of Republicans blame the Biden administration’s policies.
When it comes to who voters trust to handle these issues, the GOP has a slight edge. On the economy, 43% of voters said they trust Republicans more, compared to 39% for Democrats. And on inflation, 44% have more faith in Republicans, compared to 37% for Democrats. Toplines … Crosstabs Good Wednesday afternoon.
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Learn what’s next. | | | ALL POLITICS REDISTRICTING ROUNDUP — The intraparty Democratic drama continued today over DCCC Chair SEAN PATRICK MALONEY’s decision to run in the same district as Rep. MONDAIRE JONES under New York’s latest congressional map draft. — “The thinly veiled racism here is profoundly disappointing,” tweeted fellow New York Rep. RITCHIE TORRES in response to reporting that Maloney allies said he’d be more ideologically suited to the district. “A black man is ideologically ill suited to represent a Westchester County District that he represents presently and won decisively in 2020? Outrageous.” — “Everybody should take a deep breath,” Maloney told CNN’s Manu Raju, who also reports that Jones will make a decision on where to run by the end of the week. — Speaker NANCY PELOSI said it’s “a logical thing” for Maloney to run in the district since his home is there, per Nick Wu. Meanwhile, Republicans notched a victory in Kansas as the state Supreme Court today upheld their gerrymander that will break up Democratic Rep. SHARICE DAVIDS’ district. More from The Kansas City Star DEMOCRACY WATCH — Jennifer Oldham has a fascinating feature in POLITICO Magazine about the Colorado secretary of state race, which pits incumbent Democrat JENA GRISWOLD against Republican TINA PETERS, who’s facing criminal charges for her actions as a county clerk. Griswold has been outspoken about fighting election disinformation, but that’s also made her more of a partisan (and personal) target. “What does it mean for the country when many Americans think the person overseeing elections in their state is guided more by their partisan affiliation than by the nonpartisan requirements of the job?” Oldham writes. “And when that happens, can the damage be reversed?”
| | | | DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | | THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DISINFO DIGEST — After a barrage of criticism, DHS decided to shut down its new Disinformation Governance Board — and its director NINA JANKOWICZ has now resigned — though there’s a chance that decision could be altered, WaPo’s Taylor Lorenz reports. Her deep dive into the board reveals an ironic chain of events in which online misrepresentations themselves tanked a body meant to coordinate the fight against them. And her story taps into some of the crucial online currents shaping our politics: “Jankowicz’s experience is a prime example of how the right-wing Internet apparatus operates, where far-right influencers attempt to identify a target, present a narrative and then repeat mischaracterizations across social media and websites with the aim of discrediting and attacking anyone who seeks to challenge them,” Lorenz writes. “It also shows what happens when institutions, when confronted with these attacks, don’t respond effectively.” POTUS ABROAD — When President JOE BIDEN kicks off his trip to South Korea and Japan on Thursday, he’ll seek to rebalance his administration’s foreign policy focus to the China threat after a very Europe-centric several months, WSJ’s Ken Thomas and Alex Leary report . “Mr. Biden will also shore up a partnership with Australia and India and formally unveil an economic initiative designed to bolster trade and investment with the region, though some allies and partners have given the plan mixed reviews for lacking specifics and not widening access to U.S. markets.” SECRETS SECRETS — The number of people in the Biden administration or family receiving Secret Service protection is 33, down from 42 in the Trump administration, USA Today’s Kevin Johnson reports. STAGFLATION WATCH — Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN warned today that the world is suffering “stagflationary effects.” More from the Washington Examiner CONGRESS TAX DEBATE DIVIDES DEMS — Congressional Democrats are riven over a tax policy debate: Some support a tax cut in the big China competitiveness bill meant to help tech companies spur innovation, but others are angered by the idea of passing a tax cut for corporations when Congress has failed to extend the expanded child tax credit for lower-income families. It’s not clear which side will prevail in the ongoing conference committee work on the bill, but the debate “shows how Democrats’ reconciliation plans, firmly lodged in legislative limbo, continue to loom on Capitol Hill, shadowing and shaping the debate over even seemingly unrelated legislation with tax implications,” Brian Faler reports. BURST OF BIPARTISANSHIP — Senate negotiators have struck a deal on a major bill seeking to support veterans affected by toxic burn pits, CNN’s Jessica Dean and Ali Zaslav scooped. The long-gestating agreement from Veterans’ Affairs Committee leaders JON TESTER (D-Mont.) and JERRY MORAN (R-Kan.) could come to a vote as soon as next week. It has the backing of Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER. CHRIS MURPHY STICKING TO HIS GUNS — In the wake of the Buffalo, N.Y., mass shooting, the longtime gun control advocate and Democratic Connecticut senator knows there’s still no chance of major legislation passing soon. But he tells NYT’s Annie Karni that Dems should place guns at the center of their midterms pitch: “I think voters are emotionally moved by the slaughter of innocents. And I think they find it a little weird when Democrats who claim to care about this don’t actually talk about it.” SALT IN THE WOUND — In perhaps a sign that they’re not banking on another reconciliation bill to pass Congress, the band of moderate House Dems desperate to repeal the state and local tax deduction cap is asking the Appropriations Committee to do so, Sarah Ferris reports in Congress Minutes. — But not everybody’s given up on reconciliation: Schumer is meeting with Sen. JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.) this afternoon, per Burgess Everett.
| | | | A message from Facebook:   | | | ABORTION FALLOUT WHAT DEMS ARE EYEING — California, the land of ballot initiatives, could see a new push this year for a measure that would give voters the ability to codify abortion rights in the state constitution. That, in turn, might give Democrats a big turnout boost, Jeremy White reports. Reps. KATIE PORTER (D) and MIKE GARCIA (R) are among the incumbents whose races could see a significant impact. FOR YOUR RADAR — A DHS intelligence memo from last week warns of “a potential surge in political violence” if and when the Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, Axios’ Sophia Cai and Stef Kight report. They’re expecting more threats to justices, politicians, religious leaders and abortion providers. WAR IN UKRAINE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS … — The U.S. and several banks/other groups are launching a massive new plan to try to prevent a hunger crisis worldwide resulting from the war, pumping billions of dollars into the effort. More from the AP — Turkey officially blocked Sweden and Finland from beginning NATO accession talks, the start of what could be a long process to work through Turkey’s objections. More from WaPo — The first war crimes trial for a Russian soldier in Ukraine landed a guilty plea from the 21-year-old, who admitted to shooting an unarmed civilian in the head. More from the BBC AMERICA AND THE WORLD PULLOUT FALLOUT — A new interim report from the special I.G. for Afghanistan reconstruction blasts both the Trump and Biden administrations for pulling out military and contractors and thus hastening the country’s rapid capitulation to the Taliban, Lara Seligman reports. “There was a red light blinking on Afghanistan for years saying ‘watch out,’” he told her. “Once the morale collapsed, that was it.” The report VALLEY TALK PAGING ELON MUSK — By a 53%-37% margin, Americans think Twitter was right to ban Trump from the platform after Jan. 6, Morning Consult’s Eli Yokley reports from new polling with POLITICO. But a 47% plurality of voters say @realDonaldTrump should now be reinstated, compared to 42% who want him to stay off.
| | | | 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. | | | | | MEDIAWATCH STATE OF THE UNIONS — Staffers at The Hill said today they’ve formed a union , with support from “an overwhelming majority” of eligible newsroom employees. They’re asking management for voluntary recognition of the union. PLAYBOOKERS SPOTTED: David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Carla Sims and Frédéric Yonnet, and Sean Spicer having dinner at Cafe Milano after Foster’s show in Alexandria on Tuesday night. Foster, McPhee and Yonnet also played a few songs for Milano guests. OUT AND ABOUT — The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation launched with a gala Tuesday night at The Schuyler at the Hamilton Hotel to celebrate the late congressman and his wife’s lives and vision. Alfre Woodard hosted the event, with remarks from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, foundation CEO Linda Chastang, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Georgia Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Common performed and took part in the foundation’s first “Good Trouble Talk” with Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Also SPOTTED: John-Miles Lewis, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Frederick Humphries Jr., Kerry Kennedy, Michael Collins, Douglas Brinkley, Lyndon Boozer, Nichole Reynolds, Larry Duncan, Mike Monroe, Gina Rigby, Broderick Johnson, Suhail Khan, Ashley Biden, Cathleen Richardson, Ashli Nelson, Nicole Venable, Jo Ann Jenkins, Dontai Smalls, Stacey Stewart, Chanelle Hardy, Chris Rey, Yebbie Watkins, Joyce Brayboy and Juliette Pryor. — Project Legacy sponsored a Jewish heritage celebration at the Russell Senate Office Building on Tuesday afternoon, honoring Abraham Foxman, Rabbi Itzhak Yehoshua, Tzili Charney and Rabbi Moshe Margaretten. Twenty members of Congress attended and spoke at the event. — SPOTTED at an event honoring Nancy Reagan hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute on Tuesday, titled “Nancy Reagan: The Legacy, The Lens, and The Lady”: Pete Souza, Fred Ryan Jr., Anita McBride, Douglas Brinkley, Carl Cannon, Ann Compton and Mary Anne Fackelman. — The 2022 ceremony for the Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics was held in New York City on Tuesday, where WaPo’s Jessica Contrera won for her stories on child sex trafficking. Lester Holt held a keynote conversation with David Maraniss. 10-year anniversary video about the legacy of the late Shadid … Watch part of Contrera’s acceptance speech — The American Land Title Association held a Capitol Hill reception Tuesday night at the Observatory at America's Square. SPOTTED: Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.). MEDIA MOVES — Colum Lynch is leaving Foreign Policy, where he’s senior diplomatic reporter. … Jeet Heer is rejoining The Nation as national affairs correspondent, with his “The Time of Monsters” podcast plus a new newsletter coming next month. TRANSITION — Jamie Singer is now a managing director in FTI Consulting’s cybersecurity and data privacy comms group. She previously was EVP and director of data security, privacy and crisis comms at Resolute Strategic Services.
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