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Presented by Amazon: The unofficial guide to official Washington. | | | | |  | | By Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza | | | With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross
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Oprah Winfrey speaks onstage during the 2016 ESSENCE Festival on July 2, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. | Paras Griffin/Getty Images | | | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | ALMOST THERE — 4 days left until Election Day. … 33,484,287 early votes cast as of 12:52 a.m. Friday, per the United States Elections Project . O, THE HUMANITY — OPRAH WINFREY endorsed Democrat JOHN FETTERMAN in the ultratight Pennsylvania Senate race during a virtual GOTV event Thursday night. More than just another celebrity endorsement, it’s a pointed snub by Winfrey of MEHMET OZ, the celebrity doctor she single-handedly brought to national prominence. "If I lived in Pennsylvania,” she said, “I would've already cast my vote for John Fetterman, for many reasons.” The endorsement was in the works for months, our Holly Otterbein reported late last night : “Fetterman's orbit knew how powerful a nod from Winfrey would be, and it worked behind the scenes to court her. The Fettterman campaign made a direct appeal to her for a meeting, according to a person familiar with the outreach.” In a statement, Fetterman embraced the Oprah seal of approval: “She is a leader on so many issues — fighting for our democracy, passing common-sense gun reform, and ensuring racial justice.” An Oz spokesperson said the Republican “loves Oprah and respects the fact that they have different politics.” Flashback to December: “Dr. Oz tells Oprah to stay away from his Pennsylvania Senate race: ‘I don’t want my friends hurt’” WEATHER REPORT — Steve Shepard’s penultimate Election Forecast update is out today with ratings changes in three Senate, 13 House and four governor races. All but one are moving toward Republicans. The Senate … The overall landscape continues to be in “Toss-Up” territory, but Republicans appear to have a growing upside: With six races now coin-flips, an even split of those races would be enough to secure a GOP majority, while a sweep would hand the party 54 seats. — New Hampshire, a state Joe Biden carried by 7 points, is moving from “Lean Democratic” to “Toss-Up.” As Steve writes: “While Democratic Sen. MAGGIE HASSAN still has a narrow lead over Republican DON BOLDUC, she is no longer a significant favorite.” — In Florida, Republican Sen. MARCO RUBIO’s race against Democratic Rep. VAL DEMINGS moves from a GOP lean to “Likely Republican.” — In Washington, where five-term Democratic Sen. PATTY MURRAY is hoping to hold off Republican TIFFANY SMILEY, the race is moving a notch right to “Lean Democratic.” The House … POLITICO now rates the GOP as favored in 215 House districts. If they can close out those races, Republicans would only have to win three of 29 “Toss-Up” races to seal the majority. We’re not mathematicians, but the GOP has got to like those odds. — While polling continues to show a tied race in Iowa’s 3rd District between incumbent Rep. CINDY AXNE and Republican challenger ZACH NUNN, the race is moving to “Lean Republican.” As Steve puts it, “undecided voters are expected to break against the incumbent.” — Three other incumbent Democrats are moving to “Toss-Up”: Reps. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY (N.Y.), ABIGAIL SPANBERGER (Va.) and STEVEN HORSFORD (Nev.). — The sole Republican to lose ground? Cincinnati-area Rep. STEVE CHABOT (Ohio), who lost GOP-friendly territory in redistricting and is now in a “Lean Democratic” race. Governors … — The biggest one here is The Big Apple. The race moves from a likely Democratic hold to “Lean Democratic.” GOP Rep. LEE ZELDIN’s laser focus on crime has paid off in his race against Gov. KATHY HOCHUL, Steve writes, “but he’s still running as an ally of former President DONALD TRUMP and an opponent of abortion rights” in one of America’s bluest states. — In three other states, early Democratic hopes of ousting incumbent Republican governors have evaporated. New Hampshire, Ohio and Vermont move from “Likely Republican” to “Solid Republican.” THE PLAYBOOK INTERVIEW: SIMON ROSENBERG — The longtime head of the center-left think tank NDN has a message for jittery Democrats on the eve of the midterms: Cheer up! This week on the Playbook Deep Dive podcast, we sit down with the Democratic Party’s apostle of optimism. “I'm not sitting here and telling you we're going to win,” Simon told us over lunch this week. “What I'm telling you is that the narrative about this election, about there being a ‘red wave’ — there isn't one. There never has been.”
|  | If you spend a lot of time on political Twitter, you have no doubt encountered Simon’s tweets over the past few weeks. He’s built a large and loyal following of Democrats looking for silver linings amid the clouds of negative media coverage about their party’s midterm prospects. He’s ready with a counternarrative for every gloom-and-doom scenario facing Democrats, from the apparent erosion of Hispanic support to the recent rash of poor midterm polling to lagging voter enthusiasm. We get him on the record just days before his rose-colored glasses are put to the test. Listen here Good Friday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Democrats, where do you like to get your “hopium” injections? Drop us a line: Rachael Bade , Eugene Daniels , Ryan Lizza .
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Learn more about Amazon’s Disaster Relief Hub. | | | JUST POSTED — “How a secret meeting put Hakeem Jeffries on track to replace Pelosi," by Jonathan Martin: As Rep. ADAM SCHIFF (D-Calif.) made noises about a potential House leadership run this summer, Rep. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-N.Y.) reached out to the elder statesman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. JAMES CLYBURN (D-S.C.) for an emergency Sept. 1 meeting in the Capitol. “The younger lawmaker wanted to gently make sure [Clyburn] knew of Schiff’s quiet campaign – and to even more gently warn Clyburn about the risk of splitting votes between them and opening a path for the ambitious Californian,” Jmart writes in his first POLITICO byline since 2013. “Jeffries need not have been alarmed. ‘There’s nothing I would ever do to impede the progress of our up-and-coming young Democrats and I see him as an up-and-coming young Democrat,’ Clyburn said in an interview about Jeffries. ‘He knows that, I didn’t have to tell him that – but I did.’ … The South Carolinian’s reassurances — his most pronounced to date and downright blunt in the diplomatic parlance of leadership races — are likely to prove the linchpin for Jeffries’s all-but-certain campaign.” Related read: “A quiet race to succeed Pelosi is underway in San Francisco,” by Jeremy White
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| You might think the polls are skewed. Perhaps you find political forecasts suspect. But if you want a reliable sense of where things are headed Tuesday, you could just follow the money. That’s what our Jessica Piper has done in a new piece this morning that examines recent TV and radio ad spending in House races. Her analysis paints a bleak picture for Democrats, with more than 60 percent of spending in the past two months occurring in districts Biden won by 5 or more points. “Money does not dictate electoral outcomes,” she writes. “But the spending totals do illustrate which districts both parties have deemed as the most likely prospects to flip once the votes are counted.” The good news for Dems is that they have plenty of money to match, and sometimes exceed, the Republican onslaught in key districts. But they are clearly playing defense, not offense: Of the top 10 highest-dollar districts, only one is currently held by a Republican, Rep. DAVID VALADAO (Calif.). In recent weeks, Republicans have pushed their spending into even bluer territory, Jessica noted to Playbook last night, including some districts that Biden won by double-digits. “This suggests that they don't feel the need to shore up candidates in slight Trump districts,” opting instead to use those dollars to target trophy incumbents like Rep. Maloney, the DCCC chair. BIG PICTURE FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — PETE BUTTIGIEG will close out the final days of the 2022 midterms with stops in three states, two sources familiar with his schedule tell Adam Wren. His final campaign sprint is expected to include a barnstorming of Michigan, his adopted home state, with at least seven stops Friday from Grand Rapids to Plymouth; Buttigieg is also expected to make stops in New Hampshire and Nevada. Ahead of Election Day, he's made eight trips to six states for the party. WHO’S SPLASHING CASH — “Fueled by Billionaires, Political Spending Shatters Records Again,” by NYT’s Jonathan Weisman and Rachel Shorey: “While both parties have their billionaires, Republicans have many more. Of the 25 top donors this cycle, 18 are Republican, according to Open Secrets, and they have outspent Democrats by $200 million. Billionaires make up 20 percent of total Republican donations compared with 14.5 percent of Democratic donations. … “The largest donor of 2022, by far, was a Democrat, GEORGE SOROS , whose contributions of at least $126 million were nearly double the roughly $67 million that the next two largest donors, the Republicans RICHARD UIHLEIN and KENNETH C. GRIFFIN, ponied up each.” REALITY SETS IN — “Democrats fear midterm drubbing as party leaders rush to defend blue seats,” by WaPo’s Toluse Olorunnipa: “While many Democrats have privately believed for months that Republicans were likely to take the House, they have expressed increasing fears in recent days that voters could hand the GOP a significant majority — an outcome that would amount to a major rebuke of the party in power.” HOW IT’S PLAYING — “Politicians assumed most Latinos were antiabortion. They were wrong,” by WaPo’s Silvia Foster-Frau and Marianna Sotomayor: “For decades, Democrats and Republicans trying to attract Latino voters have been guided by widespread assumptions that the generally Democratic Latino electorate is conservative on the issue of abortion. But recent polls have debunked those long-held beliefs, finding most Latinos say abortion should be legal, often on par with White voters though trailing Black voters in support.” — Clicker: “These Abortion Voters Could Transform Michigan,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein, with photos by Sarah Rice BEHIND THE CROSSTABS — “Fear of Crime Looms Large for Voters, to Republicans’ Advantage,” by NYT’s Julie Bosman, Jack Healy and Campbell Robertson: “In many cases, their anxieties stem not from experiencing serious crime, but from seeing homeless encampments, or finding a syringe or human waste on the sidewalk, or reading accounts in their neighborhood social networks of vandalism on a local bike path. … In interviews, voters criticized liberals’ efforts to eliminate cash bail, decriminalize marijuana and decrease funding for police departments, even if those policies have not been put in place where they live.” THE NEW GOP — “Hawley aims to reshape Senate GOP with Vance and Masters,” by Burgess Everett: “JOSH HAWLEY doesn’t just want to flip the Senate by electing fellow Republicans BLAKE MASTERS and J.D. VANCE. He wants to bend the entire GOP conference with a bloc of like-minded senators. The Missouri senator, who helped convince both candidates to run, will go to Arizona on Friday for Masters, Ohio for Vance on Saturday and then finish the campaign on Monday in Missouri for GOP candidate ERIC SCHMITT.” — “The GOP's new, Russia-friendly campaign-trail buddy: Tulsi Gabbard,” by Andrew Desiderio: “Republicans across the ideological spectrum are eagerly accepting [former Democratic Rep. TULSI] GABBARD’s endorsement and even hosting her for rallies in their home states, arguing her departure from the Democratic Party bolsters their view that it has moved too far to the left. But the GOP’s unapologetic embrace of Gabbard is particularly conspicuous as its leaders try to dispel the notion that they’re not tough enough on Russia amid a sharp internal divide over aiding Ukraine.” BATTLE FOR THE SENATE THE PARTY LINE, PART I — “Schumer insists Democrats have path to keep Senate majority,” by AP’s Lisa Mascaro LOSING STEAM — “National head winds catch up to ‘political unicorn’ Mark Kelly in Ariz.,” by WaPo’s Hannah Knowles in Phoenix — Related read: “Campaigns brace for delayed election results in tight Arizona Senate race,” by the Washington Examiner’s Samantha-Jo Roth BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE THE PARTY LINE, PART II — “House GOP campaign chair predicts ‘we’re going to make some history’ in midterm elections,” by Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser CATCHING Zs — “Karoline Leavitt wants to be Gen Z’s conservative voice in Congress,” by WaPo’s Marianna Sotomayor in Manchester, N.H.: “If she wins, she will become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and one of the first members from Generation Z. First, she must oust Rep. CHRIS PAPPAS, 42, a Democrat seeking his third term.” SCARY STORY — “Bullet strikes family home of N.C. congressional candidate,” by WBTV’s Nick Ochsner BATTLE FOR THE STATES GOPHER BROKE — “In Minnesota, GOP eyes grab of rare Midwest Dem stronghold,” by AP’s Steve Karnowski in Tonka Bay, Minn.: “A red wave here could mean rapid change in major policy areas such as abortion, taxes and the environment after years of shared party control — and could raise Minnesota’s importance as the western edge of northern presidential battleground states that include Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.” DO AS I SAY — “A Michigan judge tried to block an abortion rights measure. His ex-wife says he helped her get an abortion in college,” by NBC’s Jonathan Allen WAY DOWN-BALLOT — “Voters Have Expanded Medicaid in 6 States. Is South Dakota Next?” by NYT’s Sheryl Gay Stolberg in Conde, S.D.: “An unlikely coalition of farmers, business leaders, hospital executives and clergy members have coalesced around Amendment D, a ballot measure that would enshrine Medicaid expansion in the South Dakota Constitution, over the objections of Gov. KRISTI NOEM, a Republican.” HOT POLLS — Michigan: Democratic Gov. GRETCHEN WHITMER leads Republican TUDOR DIXON 54% to 43%, per a new Detroit Free Press poll . — Pennsylvania: Fetterman leads Oz 51% to 45% among those who definitely plan to vote, according to a new Marist Poll . And Democrat JOSH SHAPIRO leads Republican DOUG MASTRIANO 54% to 40%. — Georgia: Democratic Sen. RAPHAEL WARNOCK and Republican HERSCHEL WALKER are tied at 48% among those who definitely plan to vote, according to a new Marist Poll . Warnock leads Walker 49 to 43%, per an 11Alive poll . And GOP Gov. BRIAN KEMP leads Democrat STACEY ABRAMS, 52% to 45%, per the 11Alive poll . — Arizona: Kelly leads Masters 50% to 47% among those who definitely plan to vote, according to a new Marist Poll . And Democrat KATIE HOBBS leads Republican KARI LAKE 49% to 48% in the gubernatorial race. A new FOX 10 InsiderAdvantage poll has Lake ahead of Hobbs 51% to 48%, and Kelly and Masters tied at 48% in the Senate contest.
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BIDEN’S FRIDAY (all times Eastern):
2:45 p.m.: The president will deliver remarks on chip manufacturing in San Diego, Calif.
4:15 p.m.: Biden will depart San Diego en route to Chicago, Ill.
8:30 p.m.: Biden will participate in a political reception.
Press secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Chicago.
VP KAMALA HARRIS’ FRIDAY:
5:15 p.m.: The VP will participate in virtual political events for Georgia Senate candidate RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Iowa gubernatorial candidate DEIDRE DeJEAR, and LINA HIDALGO. | | | | | | DON’T MISS A THING FROM THE MILKEN INSTITUTE’S MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA SUMMIT: POLITICO is partnering with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Digital Future Daily" newsletter with insider reporting and insights from the Milken Institute's Middle East and Africa Summit happening November 17-18. Hundreds of global leaders will convene, highlighting the important role connection plays in advancing global well-being. Whether you’re in-person at the event or following online, sign up for this special edition newsletter for daily coverage of the event. SUBSCRIBE TODAY . | | | | | PHOTO OF THE DAY
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President Joe Biden greets supporters after speaking at a campaign event in support of Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, in San Diego, as a man holds up a phone with a message that says 'Interpreter Trapped In Kabul Please Help!' | Patrick Semansky/AP Photo | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | THE WHITE HOUSE LOOKING TO THE LAME DUCK — Senior Biden officials are preparing for the worst from the midterms and are already “exploring a series of strategies for raising the debt ceiling, in a bid to avert a standoff with Republicans next year that threatens to further rattle financial markets and endanger the nation’s fragile economic recovery,” Adam Cancryn reports . The angle: “The private discussions have focused largely on whether Congress can and should head off the high-stakes conflict before it begins by striking a lame-duck session deal to lift the debt limit — or, in a sign of the grave concerns within the party, deploying a procedural tool that would allow Democrats to unilaterally pass an increase. Under consideration is a debt ceiling hike that would extend past the 2024 election, in effect removing the drama for the rest of Biden’s term.” CONGRESS PAUL PELOSI LATEST — Speaker NANCY PELOSI’s husband was released from a San Francisco hospital on Thursday, and he is “home and resting just six days after the brutal attack last week,” CNN’s Jamie Gangel and Augie Martin write . “Paul remains under doctors’ care as he continues to progress on a long recovery process and convalescence. He is now home surrounded by his family who request privacy,” the speaker said in a statement. WHIPPED UP — Rep. TOM EMMER (R-Minn.) is on the wrong side of DONALD TRUMP JR. and TUCKER CARLSON after a recent spat — which, surprisingly, might put him on the right side of the hotly contested race for House GOP whip next year, Olivia Beavers reports . “Some GOP lawmakers are rallying behind [Indiana Rep. JIM BANKS], but others are warning that bringing outside party personalities into internal matters could backfire.” MORE POLITICS 2024 WATCH — Florida Gov. RON DeSANTIS has raised what is likely a gubernatorial campaign record $200 million for his reelection bid this year — a sum that he has used to bury his Democratic opponent CHARLIE CRIST, Matt Dixon reports in Tallahassee . “DeSantis has more than $90 million remaining in the bank after spending about $100 million total this election cycle on his reelection bid via his aligned committee and campaign. That huge sum is fueling speculation that the Florida governor, who cannot run for a third term, will use it to seed the early stages of a potential 2024 bid for the White House.” DEEP DIVE IN ARIZONA — “Hostile takeover: Turning Point USA and the remaking of Arizona's Republican Party,” by the Arizona Republic’s Richard Ruelas TRUMP CARDS SIREN — “DOJ mulling potential special counsel if Trump runs in 2024,” by CNN’s Evan Perez, Katelyn Polantz and Jeremy Herb: “In the weeks leading up to the election, the Justice Department has observed the traditional quiet period of not making any overt moves that may have political consequences. … Now federal investigators are planning for a burst of post-election activity in Trump-related investigations. That includes the prospect of indictments of Trump’s associates – moves that could be made more complicated if Trump declares a run for the presidency.” — “Trump Files a Suit Against N.Y.’s Attorney General, and Against Advice,” by NYT’s Jonah Bromwich, Maggie Haberman, Ben Protess and William Rashbaum: “A tirade of a lawsuit that Donald J. Trump filed on Wednesday against one of his chief antagonists, the New York attorney general, was hotly opposed by several of his longstanding legal advisers, who attempted an intervention hours before it was submitted to a court.” — “Trump's company to get a court monitor, judge rules,” by Josh Gerstein: “One provision in the order requires 14-days notice to the court before Trump can dispose of any ‘non-cash asset’ listed in a financial statement his firm prepared last year.” JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH WHO’S TALKING — A lawyer for NEWT GINGRICH said the former speaker of the House is “willing to give an interview” to the Jan. 6 committee, given that certain conditions are met, NYT’s Richard Fausset reports . ON THE HILL — “January 6 committee interviews more Secret Service witnesses, including head of Pence’s detail,” by CNN’s Jamie Gangel, Zachary Cohen, Annie Grayer and Whitney Wild AT THE OATH KEEPERS TRIAL — “Prosecution rests, Oath Keepers 1/6 case turns to defense,” by AP’s Lindsay Whitehurst and Alanna Durkin Richer WAR IN UKRAINE LATEST CODEL — Sens. CHRIS COONS (D-Del.) and ROB PORTMAN (R-Ohio) visited Kyiv on Thursday, where they “promised continued humanitarian support for the war-torn country as winter nears,” AP’s Sam Mednick reports . CALM BEFORE THE STORM — “Kherson Braces for Battle as Russian Administration Evacuates,” by NYT’s Marc Santora and Ivan Nechepurenko GUT-WRENCHING — “How Russian soldiers ran a ‘cleansing’ operation in Bucha,” by AP’s Erika Kinetz, Oleksandr Stashevskyi and Vasilisa Stepanenko
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Amazon’s donation and delivery of critical items helps partners including Americare, Save the Children, and World Central Kitchen provide rapid relief in the face of disasters. Read more about Amazon’s disaster relief efforts this hurricane season. Sponsored by Amazon   | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD THE JOE AND BIBI SHOW — “Biden and Netanyahu Gear Up for a Complicated New Era,” by NYT’s Michael Shear and David Sanger: “The two leaders will find themselves in the position of sparring anew over issues that have long strained their relationship. It is the most complicated of relationships, vacillating between warmth and combat, sometimes on the same day.” FOR YOUR RADAR — “U.S., South Korea warn Pyongyang against nuclear weapons use,” by AP’s Lolita Baldor and Tara Copp … “U.S. ambassador’s meeting with Hungarian judges triggers diplomatic spat,” Reuters … “Taiwan is sounding an alarm about Emperor Xi,” by WaPo’s Josh Rogin KNOWING KAREN PIERCE — “The British ambassador brings her unique style to Washington,” by WaPo’s Roxanne Roberts MEDIAWATCH BACKSTORY — “An Ethics Watchdog Criticized Stacey Abrams. His Boss Retracted It,” by NYT’s Michael Powell: “CRAIG HOLMAN, a campaign finance and ethics expert, has long talked to reporters about issues of money, politics and conflicts of interest. His tart quotes often waft into the digital ether without further notice. That changed last week, when he criticized Fair Fight Action, a politically powerful voting rights group, and its founder, Stacey Abrams, who happens to be running for governor of Georgia. Mr. Holman’s boss took notice.” VALLEY TALK MUSK READS — “Twitter’s D.C. troubles could threaten Musk’s big plans,” by Alfred Ng and Josh Sisco: “For the next 20 years Twitter will be operating under the close eye of the Federal Trade Commission, after a May settlement stemming from poor privacy and data security protections for its users before Musk bought it. … Former agency officials who spoke to POLITICO said the commission will be on high alert for anything that violates the settlement.” — “Elon Musk, Under Financial Pressure, Pushes to Make Money From Twitter,” by NYT’s Mike Isaac and Ryan Mac — “Read the first memo from Elon Musk's Twitter to employees confirming plans for layoffs and ordering the temporary closure of all offices,” by Insider’s Kali Hays MISCELLANY SPORTS BLINK — “Jeff Bezos May Bid on NFL’s Washington Commanders With Jay-Z,” by Bloomberg’s Matt Day TV TONIGHT — PBS’ “Washington Week”: Sahil Kapur, Susan Page, Dave Wasserman and Jeff Zeleny. SUNDAY SO FAR … ABC “This Week”: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) … Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin … Nate Silver. Panel: Chris Christie, Donna Brazile, Sarah Isgur and Yvette Simpson. CBS “Face the Nation”: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu … Chris Krebs. FOX “Fox News Sunday”: House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn … Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. Panel: Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum. Panel: Kellyanne Conway and Mark Penn. Panel: Brit Hume, Dana Perino and Juan Williams. CNN “Inside Politics”: Panel: Nia-Malika Henderson, David Chalian, Kasie Hunt and Manu Raju. NBC “Meet the Press”: Panel: Claire McCaskill, Pat McCrory, Amy Walter and Kristen Welker. MSNBC “The Sunday Show”: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) … Mandela Barnes … Keisha Lance Bottoms … Stacey Stevenson … Malcolm Kenyatta … Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) … Jonathan Metzl.
| | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S 2nd ANNUAL DEFENSE SUMMIT ON 11/16: The United States is facing a defining moment in the future of its defense, national security and democratic ideals. The current conflicts and developments around the world are pushing Washington to reshape its defense strategy and how it cooperates with allies. Join POLITICO for our second annual defense summit, “At a Crossroads: America’s Defense Strategy” on November 16 in person at the Schuyler DC or join online to hear keynote interviews and panels discussing the road ahead for America’s national security. REGISTER HERE . | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | OUT AND ABOUT — SPOTTED at Picnic Theatre Company's play “Sunset Boulevard” at Dumbarton House with director Steve Rochlin and cast members Christina Sevilla, Emily Lenzner, Nihal Krishan, Nova Daly, Chris Fowler, Alexa Newlin, Antonio Olivo, Kevin Rooney, Adam Ruben, Jayne Sandman and Hugo Verges: Michael Isikoff and Mary Ann Akers, David Corn and Welmoed Laanstra, Kimball Stroud and David White, Daniel Lippman, Ali Dukakis, Bruce Kieloch, Nancy Bagley, and Susannah Wellford. Pic MEDIA MOVES — Kirsten Powers has launched Things That Matter , a Substack that will focus on politics, culture and faith … Jordan Weissmann is leaving Slate to join Semafor as Washington editor. NSC DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Alejandra Gonzalez will be special adviser to the deputy to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Jeff Prescott. She was special assistant for the senior director of Western Hemisphere affairs with the White House NSC. TRANSITIONS — Elsa Alvarado is joining Bryson Gillette as director of public affairs. She currently is director of strategic comms in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs at the Pentagon. … Kara Fesolovich is now deputy press secretary for the office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. She most recently was a press assistant for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). … Sofia Baig and Akber Khan have joined Morning Consult as economic research analysts. They previously were analysts for the Federal Reserve Board. … Chris Howard is now executive VP of external affairs and new product compliance at Swisher International. He previously was senior VP, general counsel and chief compliance officer for E-Alternative Solutions. WEEKEND WEDDING — Destine Hicks, White House liaison for the Small Business Administration, and Brandon Lundy, operations director at Ecosteam Mobile, got married on Oct. 30 in Columbia, S.C. Pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Playbook’s own Mike DeBonis … Laura Bush … Reps. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) and Carol Miller (R-W.Va.) … Semafor’s Ben Smith … CNN’s Gabby Orr … WaPo’s Catherine Rampell … AP’s Alex Sanz … Treasury’s Addar Levi and Julie Siegel … Michael Clauser … Jessica Reis of Bully Pulpit Interactive … API’s Casey Martel … Ken Weinstein … Rick Ungar … Morgan Mohr of the White House … Carlos Gutierrez of EmPath … Maggie McNerney … Amanda Thayer … Jean Roseme of Rep. Frederica Wilson’s (D-Fla.) office … Tim Saler … Aaron White of the Progressive Policy Institute … Kari Kant … Julie Tippens … Morning Brew’s Amanda Eisenberg … Avi Berkowitz … Georgetown Law’s Rima Sirota … Ashley Estes Kavanaugh … Ian Higgins … Katherine Huiskes … Blair Latoff Holmes Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine.
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