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|  Many Democrats are getting frustrated with the White House’s handling of the documents situation. | Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | HAPPENING NOW — “Biden speech at Ebenezer to bring focus to King’s legacy, likely to president’s as well,” by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Tia Mitchell: President JOE “BIDEN is expected to deliver a speech outlining his vision for America wrapped in reflections on [MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.], whom the president credits as one of his biggest influences. … Biden is expected to celebrate what he was able to achieve during his first two years … But the speech — which falls on what would have been King’s 94th birthday — will also reflect the president’s continued focus on voting rights and strengthening American democracy … [Former Atlanta Mayor] KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS has been assisting Biden with writing the remarks.” BIDEN’S DOCUMENT HEADACHE WORSENS — Moments after Playbook went out yesterday, the White House counsel’s office sent out a detailed statement announcing aides to Bidenfound five more additional classified documents at his home in Wilmington. Read more from Christopher Cadelago Soon after, the president’s personal attorney BOB BAUER made a statement that (1) laid out the protocols aides have used since Nov. 2, when the first set of documents were found; (2) defended the pace of disclosures by Biden’s team, saying that because they left the documents in place to inform the government, the “president’s personal attorneys do not know the precise number of pages in the discovered material, nor have they reviewed the content of the documents”; and (3) made clear that with the announcement of a special counsel investigation, we likely won’t be hearing much of anything more from Biden’s team on the matter while ROBERT HUR is conducting the probe. Read Bauer’s statement Worth a read this morning: NYT’s Peter Baker and Michael Shear’s look at the “frenetic” end of Biden’s vice presidency — the root cause of the classification furor Biden now faces. “Those last days were a blur of phone calls, meetings, farewell events and visits to Ukraine and Switzerland,” the pair write. “As he wrapped up his tenure as vice president in January 2017, Joseph R. Biden Jr. was packing in as much as he could. The question now is, what else was being packed? And by whom? And why? And where was it going?” THE AFTER-EFFECTS — Here are three political storylines to keep an eye on … 1. Rising frustration among Democrats. Talk to almost any Dem, and they’ll tell you that Biden’s classified documents problem is not the same as former President DONALD TRUMP’s:Biden volunteered that he had classified documents, and he and his team have seemingly cooperated with investigators every step of the way. But dig just a little below the surface, and many of those same Dems will concede they are getting frustrated with the White House’s handling of the situation. “They’re trying to put lipstick on a pig,” one Democrat close to the White House told CBS’ Ed O’Keefe. “The problem is this week they got handed 50 pigs and one stick of lipstick.” “[W]hy in the world didn't they get the story out earlier, like before the holidays?” griped another Dem official. “And why didn’t they get the full story out at once, instead of drip, drip, drip with each new discovery of documents? Put simply, it was not handled well at all.”
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Set up Family Center today. | | | 2. How it affects 2024.Heading into this past week, the White House was riding high. They beat expectations in the midterms, the speakership standoff in the newly Republican-held House portended a year of “Republicans in disarray” stories, and Biden’s poll numbers were moving on up. The outlook was rosy ahead of a potential 2024 announcement in February. Things look very different now. Reuters’ Jeff Mason reports the classified documents probe“has neutralized Democrats' ability to targetformer President Donald Trump, Republicans’ top 2024 candidate so far, over classified documents,” even though the situations are clearly different legally. “It basically … is a huge gift to Trump,” DAVID AXELROD tells Mason, calling the latest developments a particular “embarrassment” given Biden’s criticisms of Trump for having classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. “He’s been on a huge run here. And he had a lot of momentum going, and this is a bump in the road.” 3. GOP investigations are inevitable, and they will be ferocious. Rep. JAMES COMER (R-Ky.), the newly minted chair of the House Oversight Committee, released a statement yesterday hammering Biden and promising an investigation. “Many questions need to be answered but one thing is certain: oversight is coming,” Comer said. “The Biden White House’s secrecy in this matter is alarming. Equally alarming is the fact that Biden aides were combing through documents knowing there would be a Special Counsel appointed.” Comer is now requesting additional documents and communications “related to the searches of President Joe Biden’s homes and other locations by Biden aides for classified documents, as well as the visitor log of the president’s Wilmington, Delaware, home from January 20, 2021 to present,” per CNN’s Daniella Diaz. The exchange of the morning came as Comer appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper, which offered a preview of how Republicans will approach the issue, especially vis-a-vis Trump. Tapper: “Do you only care about classified documents being mishandled when Democrats do the mishandling?” Comer: “Absolutely not. … At the end of the day, my biggest concern isn’t the classified documents, to be honest with you. My concern is there’s such a discrepancy between how President Trump was treated … versus Joe Biden.” Watch the video Good Sunday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. How do you think the Biden document drama will affect 2024? Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza. SUNDAY BEST … — Rep. DON BACON (R-Neb.) on the looming debt ceiling showdown, on ABC’s “This Week”: “The Republicans were largely elected to get control of reckless spending. That’s the mission that their voters have given them. So when President Biden says he’s going to refuse to negotiate with Republicans on any concessions, I don’t think that’s right either. But on our side, we have to realize we control the House with a four-seat majority. … I want our side to negotiate with the Democrats in good faith, but President Biden has to also negotiate. He can’t say he refuses to negotiate. That’s a non-starter as well.” — Rep. ADAM SCHIFF (D-Calif.) on whether Biden’s documents could have jeopardized national security, on “This Week”: “I don’t think we can exclude the possibility without knowing more of the facts. We have asked for an assessment in the intelligence community of the Mar-a-Lago documents. I think we ought to get that same assessment to the documents found in the think tank as well as the home of President Biden.” — Rep. TONY GONZALES (R-Texas) on whether he’d vote to impeach DHS Secretary ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS, on “Fox News Sunday”: “I will see where the hearings take us. And if the hearings take us down that line, then the hearings take us down that line. But I’m waiting to see all the facts come out.”
| | | | A message from Instagram:   | | | TOP-EDS: A roundup of the week’s must-read opinion pieces. — “Despite Everything You Think You Know, America Is on the Right Track,” by David Brooks in The Atlantic — “Regulators Prevented a Crypto-Fueled Economic Downturn,” by The American Prospect’s David Dayen — “The Pro-Bolsonaro Riot Is Part of a Global Contagion,” by Moisés Naím for POLITICO — “Prince Harry’s Book Undermines the Very Idea of Monarchy,” by The Atlantic’s Helen Lewis — “Why Do Documents Marked Secret Keep Showing Up in Strange Places?” by Matthew Connelly in the NYT — “DeSantis Allies Plot the Hostile Takeover of a Liberal College,” by NYT’s Michelle Goldberg — “A Modern History of ‘Groomer’ Politics,” by Reason’s Jesse Walker
| | BIDEN’S SUNDAY — The president has already traveled from New Castle, Del., to Atlanta to speak at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Later, Biden will leave Atlanta at 2 p.m. to return to New Castle, arriving at 3:40 p.m.
VP KAMALA HARRIS’ SUNDAY — The VP has nothing on her public schedule. | | | | | | 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. | | | | | PHOTO OF THE DAY
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Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel wins the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in New Orleans on Saturday. | Gerald Herbert/AP Photo | | | PLAYBOOK READS | | 9 THINGS FOR YOUR RADAR 1. MERRICK GARLAND IN THE SPOTLIGHT: “The Merrick Garland You Don’t Know,” by Ankush Khardori in POLITICO Magazine: “Garland projects a thoughtful and judicious demeanor that is bolstered by his lengthy time on the bench, but there is another, less well-recognized side to his career — one that reflects a penchant for finding the spotlight and acting with self-assuredness. … He is notoriously circumspect … but there is another Garland behind that façade: a man who, according to those close to him, fully comprehends the stakes of the moment and trusts his own judgment implicitly.” Another angle: “Trump probes draw more notice. But Garland has boosted focus on civil rights,” by WaPo’s David Nakamura: “Garland [is pushing] for a department-wide focus on civil rights cases that is drawing praise from longtime advocates, even as they worry that the litany of injustices the agency is trying to address could overwhelm available resources and muddy its sense of mission.” 2. MIDTERM AUTOPSY: “Pennsylvania GOP launches postmortem to figure out what exactly went so wrong,” by Holly Otterbein in Philadelphia: “As a sign of the seriousness of the effort, the state party has enlisted Public Opinion Strategies, a D.C. area-based firm, to conduct the review of the 2022 election. Republicans said it is expected to cost $100,000. … Discovering the truth is one thing. Accepting it is another. And the state GOP’s ability to do just that will likely have a profound impact on whether it can help the party take back the White House in 2024.” 3. HINDSIGHT’S 2020: “In Pennsylvania, the 2020 Election Still Stirs Fury. And a Recount,” by NYT’s Trip Gabriel in Williamsport: “On the 797th day after the defeat of former President Donald J. Trump, a rural Pennsylvania county on Monday began a recount of ballots from Election Day 2020. … The results of Lycoming County’s hand recount … revealed no evidence of fraud. The numbers reported more than two years ago were nearly identical … Did that quell the doubts of election deniers, who had circulated a petition claiming there was a likelihood of ‘rampant fraud’ in Lycoming in 2020? It did not.” 4. THE TALENTED MR. SANTOS: “George Santos Raised Money for Company the SEC Says Was a Ponzi Scheme,” by WSJ’s Byron Tau: “Embattled Rep. GEORGE SANTOS persuaded at least one person to make a six-figure investment in a Florida-based company [Harbor City Capital] … When the investment failed to deliver on the promised returns, according to one of the people, Mr. Santos sought to reassure the investor by saying he had personally raised nearly $100 million and had invested his own family’s money in Harbor City. … The SEC routinely brings civil-enforcement actions against people who conduct the work of brokers but aren’t licensed to do so; it has filed no such action against Mr. Santos.” More: “Harbor City called George Santos a ‘perfect fit.’ The SEC called the company a fraud,” by WaPo’s Isaac Stanley-Becker, Jonathan O’Connell and Emma Brown
| | | | A message from Instagram:   | | | 5. BATTLE FOR THE SENATE: “Inside the Early Elbowing for Michigan’s Open Senate Seat,” by The Daily Beast’s Jake Lahut: “[T]wo Democrats have quickly emerged as favorites for the nomination: Rep. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI) and state Sen. MALLORY McMORROW. … One wildcard hanging over the race is former Republican Rep.-turned-independent-turned-Libertarian: JUSTIN AMASH. … A source close to Amash told The Daily Beast Thursday night that he was seriously looking at the Senate race and weighing how he would run. … Amash could end up running for the Republican nomination. But he also has been looking at running as an independent or perhaps just serving as an independent in the Senate if he were elected.” 6. SCOTUS WATCH: “If Affirmative Action Ends, College Admissions May Be Changed Forever,” by NYT’s Stephanie Saul in Middletown, Conn.: “[A] decision could not only lead to changes in who is admitted and who is not, but also jeopardize long-established strategies that colleges have used to build diverse classes, including programs that are intended to reach specific racial and ethnic groups for scholarships, honors programs and recruitment. Those rollbacks could then help spur colleges to end other admissions practices that critics say have historically benefited the well-heeled.” 7. 2024 WATCH: “Former undercover spy turned 3-term congressman Will Hurd headed to New Hampshire, sparking 2024 speculation,” by Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser: “[WILL] HURD will address hundreds of party leaders, elected officials, and activists attending the New Hampshire GOP’s annual meeting, which this year will be held on Saturday Jan. 28 in Salem, New Hampshire.” 8. POWER PLAYERS: “Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy, wary opponents, prepare to work together,” by WaPo’s Michael Scherer: “[The past two] years were marked by public bickering and private distance between the two men, who had once met for breakfasts together at the Naval Observatory during Biden’s time as vice president but found their relationship strained by McCarthy’s support of challenges to Biden’s 2020 election victory. … But now the country’s economic health may depend on them finding a way to cut a deal on two must-pass items this year.” 9. HEADLINES THE WHITE HOUSE WILL LIKE: “Medicare Begins to Rein In Drug Costs for Older Americans,” by NYT’s Paula Span: “Some provisions [of the Inflation Reduction Act] took effect on Jan. 1; others will phase in over several years. … Beneficiaries will see three significant changes in 2023. The first is the $35 monthly cap on insulin … In the second major change, adult vaccines covered by Part D, typically offered at pharmacies, are now free, without deductibles or co-pays … The third major change: When prices for drugs covered under Part D, and some under Part B, increase faster than the inflation rate, the law now requires drug manufacturers to pay rebates or face stiff penalties.”
| | | | POLITICO’s exclusive interview with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will take place on Thursday, January 19 at 1:30 PM EST – live from the Davos mountaintop. Register today to join us online. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Suzanne Bonamici suffered a concussion and laceration to her head after she and her husband were hit by a car while walking in a crosswalk, but she’s back home from the hospital. Hunter Biden asked a judge not to allow his 4-year-old daughter to take his last name. Eric Adams went to the U.S.-Mexico border. Ted Cruz is in the U.S. Virgin Islands for an oil refinery tour and expected fundraiser. MEDIA MOVE — Shelby Webb will join POLITICO’s E&E News to cover oil and gas. She currently is an energy and energy transition reporter for the Houston Chronicle. TRANSITIONS — Elizabeth Daniels is now senior comms director at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. She previously was comms director for the Congressional Western Caucus. … Zoe Bluffstone is now comms director for Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.). She previously was comms director for Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). … Brian Phillips Jr. is now comms director for Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.). He previously was press secretary for the House Homeland Security Committee. … … Jason Edwards is now legislative aide for Rep. Kristina Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (D-Wash.). He previously was legislative aid for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Sanda LaMura is now counsel and policy adviser for the Senate Republican Policy Committee. She previously was oversight counsel on the Senate HELP committee. … Matt Vollenweider is now state legislative analyst at TC Energy. He was previously the deputy executive director of the State Government Leadership Foundation and the policy and research director at the Republican State Leadership Committee. ENGAGED — Audrey Whitehurst, president and media director of Bread & Roses, and Reed Elman, who most recently was regional digital director for the Sunbelt at the DCCC and was co-founder of the DCCC Staff Union, got engaged in Paris on Friday. Pic — Joe Guy, director of programs at the Club for Growth Foundation and a Trump USAID alum, proposed to Edie Heipel, comms director for Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), over Christmas after they hiked down to the shore of Lake Superior near her hometown. They met while working at OMB in the Trump administration. WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Samantha Vinograd, assistant DHS secretary for counterterrorism, threat prevention and law enforcement policy, welcomed Aurora Joy Vinograd yesterday. BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): William Yeo of Hill & Knowlton Strategies HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav … NYT’s Sarah Kliff … Stuart Eizenstat of Covington and Burling … Deesha Dyer … CNN’s Jeremy Diamond … Lorraine Voles … POLITICO’s Shayna Greene … Mark Penn of the Stagwell Group … Dan Scavino … The New Yorker’s Jon Lee Anderson … Amanda Sloat … DOE’s Andrew Wills … Scott Hall … Jaymi Light of Cigna … Jason Larrabee … Jeff Carroll of Capitol Counsel … Joe Fuld … Ben Shapiro … Mike Hoffman … Rebecca Haller … Jonny Hiler of Miller Strategies … Katherine LaBeau … Mina Hamblet … Melissa Green of Rational360 … Katie Wood of Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) office … Wesley Morgan … WaPo’s Aaron Gregg … Chuck Babington … Scott Stanzel of Truist … George Sifakis … Airbnb’s Christopher Nulty … Toni Verstandig … Janet Katowitz of Sage Media … former Hawaii Gov. David Ige 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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