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Presented by Meta: The unofficial guide to official Washington. | | | | |  | | By Rachael Bade, Ryan Lizza and Eugene Daniels | | | With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross
| | | |  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | JUST POSTED — “Bush’s Institute Issues an Urgent Plea for Congress to Renew His AIDS Program,” by NYT’s Sheryl Gay Stolberg: “PEPFAR — the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — has saved an estimated 25 million lives since [GEORGE W. BUSH] founded it 20 years ago. … But it faces an uncertain future.”
|  Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) reenters a House Republican Conference meeting on Capitol Hill on Oct. 24, 2023. | Francis Chung/POLITICO | WHITE SMOKE — Twenty-two days. Fourteen candidates. Four nominees. Three floor votes (and counting). Could House Republicans finally be on the cusp of a breakthrough in their search for a speaker? It sure feels that way: Late last night, Rep. MIKE JOHNSON (R-La.) became the latest GOP conference nominee, and what was different this time wasn’t what was said but what wasn’t: No backbiting, no ultimatums, no snarky comments to reporters — just cheers and an overwhelming sense of relief. Now, it’s not over yet. Three lawmakers voted “present” during a roll-call poll of the conference, and 22 GOP lawmakers were absent, so it’s possible there might be a decisive handful of “Never Mikes” hiding out there. But the lack of vocal opposition and surfeit of genuine enthusiasm that was aired last night on opposing sides of the House GOP marked a significant shift after three weeks of chaos. “Mike is … a straightforward leader who can unite us as Republicans!” wrote Rep. CARLOS GIMENEZ (R-Fla.), one of a handful of centrists who engaged in hard-line tactics as the search played out. Johnson is “the right guy at the right time,” said Rep. CHIP ROY (R-Texas), a conservative firebrand who pushed hard in the other direction, per CBS’s Jack Turman III. “He's got his pulse, I think on where the American people are.” Said Rep. KEN BUCK (R-Colo.), who voted to remove KEVIN McCARTHY as speaker then helped block Rep. JIM JORDAN (R-Ohio) from replacing him, last night on CNN: “I think he gets it tomorrow.” Johnson wasn’t anyone’s first choice — far from it. On the first ballot yesterday morning, he garnered only 34 votes. But it turns out Johnson doesn’t have nearly as many enemies as some of his higher-profile colleagues. And, much to his benefit, Republicans decided — after the sudden, DONALD TRUMP-assisted termination of Majority Whip TOM EMMER’s speaker candidacy yesterday — that they’re sick and tired of looking like total fools. “Democracy is messy sometimes, but… this Republican majority is united,” Johnson asserted just before 11 p.m., surrounded by rowdy and relieved colleagues. Republicans would be “ready to govern,” he promised, running the House “like a well-oiled machine.” Barring a surprise rebellion, Johnson’s ascension saves the House GOP from a parade of unorthodox and borderline unworkable alternatives. Should he secure the needed votes at an expected noon floor vote, out will go such ideas as empowering a caretaker speaker pro tempore, forging a bipartisan governing coalition with Democrats, or — in one fanciful brainstorm bandied about yesterday evening, per NBC — a power-sharing arrangement between McCarthy and Jordan. Those scenarios will evaporate should Johnson win the gavel. What will fill that void are scads of questions about who Johnson is and how he plans to run the House. MEET THE NOMINEE: First elected to the House in 2016, alongside Trump, the 51-year-old Shreveport native came into elective politics after two decades as a constitutional litigator for various right-wing causes. In the House, he quickly immersed himself in conservative policy circles, winning the chairmanship of the Republican Study Committee in his second term, which in turn served as a springboard to his current position as conference vice chair. His strengths … As a former RSC chair and current chair of a Judiciary subcommittee, Johnson has a reputation as a bookish wonk with the sort of policy foundation that hasn’t been seen in a potential GOP speaker since PAUL RYAN relinquished the gavel. His lack of outward ambition means he has few avowed enemies inside the GOP. While Jordan, Emmer and Majority Whip STEVE SCALISE had each amassed a career’s worth of internal enemies, there doesn’t appear to be anyone who hates Johnson enough to sabotage his rise. And his strong relationships with the hard right could give him a freer hand to govern than McCarthy ever got. (Note that a governing roadmap he circulated Monday floats passing a new continuing resolution, exactly the kind of bill that got McCarthy canned.) His weaknesses … In terms of House service, Johnson would be the least experienced speaker elected in 140 years. Not only is he in just his fourth term, he has never served in a senior leadership position or as a full committee chair — meaning he hasn’t had a true front-row seat to power, let alone any meaningful relationships with top leaders like MITCH McCONNELL, CHUCK SCHUMER or JOE BIDEN. As speaker, Johnson would be immediately tasked with hiring a much larger staff, and he’d be thrust to the helm of a massive national fundraising apparatus. In his short House career, he has been decent but not overwhelming on the cash front — raising an average of about $1.3 million per cycle for his recent campaigns, plus a little more for his modest leadership PAC. If elected, he’ll be tasked with raising hundreds of times that amount. His baggage … Johnson has a contentious history that is going to get picked apart in great detail in the coming days should he manage to close the deal. One episode that is already moving front and center is the pivotal role he played in the GOP effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Drawing on his experience in constitutional law, Johnson was the lead organizer of an amicus brief, ultimately signed by 125 other House Republicans, backing the Texas-led lawsuit asking the Supreme Court to intervene in the vote counting in key swing states Biden won. (The court declined to hear the case.) ABC News’ Rachel Scott pressed Johnson on the brief last night — and was promptly and angrily shouted down by other Republicans. “Next question,” Johnson said. And then there are his views on hot-button social issues such as abortion, civil rights, free speech and more — topics where he has spent decades speaking and litigating — or his approaches on foreign policy, federal spending and other governing flashpoints he’ll quickly have to start managing. Asked about just one aspect of that — aid to Israel — Johnson declined to engage. “We’re not doing policy tonight,” he said. Related reads: “Mike Johnson May Win the Speakership Through Exhaustion and Delusion,” by the Daily Beast’s Sam Brodey and Riley Rogerson … “As Republicans fight, a House paralyzed by ‘bad blood’ faces a major to-do list,” by NBC’s Sahil Kupar … “‘Too smart to want the job’: Why no women are running for speaker of the House,” by NBC’s Ali Vitali … “Elise Stefanik Is Watching Her Male Colleagues Faceplant in the Speaker Fight,” by Nick Reisman in Albany, N.Y. Good Wednesday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. What can you tell us about Mike Johnson? Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.
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Explore the impact. | | | |  WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows talks to reporters at the White House on October 21, 2020 in Washington, DC. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images | THE FLIP SIDE — ABC’s Katherine Faulders, Mike Levine and Alexander Mallin report a significant development in special counsel JACK SMITH’s criminal case against Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election. — First, they report that MARK MEADOWS has testified before Smith’s grand jury. It’s not necessarily a surprise that Trump’s former chief of staff appeared; he was ordered to do as much in March after the former president tried to assert executive privilege to keep his former advisers from testifying. — Second, and more significantly, ABC says Meadows spoke to Smith’s team twice and that before he testified under oath he was granted immunity by Smith. Some kind of Meadows deal with the government has been speculated about for months now, but ABC is the first to report one exists. — Third, ABC has details about what Meadows actually told investigators — “that he repeatedly told Trump in the weeks after the 2020 presidential election that the allegations of significant voting fraud coming to them were baseless” and that “Trump was being ‘dishonest’ with the public when he first claimed to have won the election only hours after polls closed on Nov. 3, 2020.” Smith is trying to prove Trump knew that he lost the election, so having Meadows, who was close to Trump throughout the post-election period, testify about Trump’s state of mind is key. There are a couple of wrinkles flagged in the ABC report that make Meadows’ alleged testimony a little more complicated for Smith. For one, Meadows reportedly told investigators that he’d never heard Trump explicitly acknowledge to him that he'd lost the election. For another, Meadows’ alleged testimony seems to conflict with statements he’s made publicly, including in his recent memoir, “The Chief’s Chief.” “According to Meadows' book, the election was ‘stolen’ and ‘rigged’ with help from ‘allies in the liberal media,’” ABC notes, while “Meadows privately told Smith's investigators that — to this day — he has yet to see any evidence of fraud that would have kept now-president Joe Biden from the White House.” Trump was quick to seize on the book issue last night. On Truth Social, he posted that Meadows “NEVER told me that allegations of significant fraud (about the RIGGED Election!) were baseless. He certainly didn’t say that in his book!” Meadows’ lawyer, GEORGE TERWILLIGER, issued a statement to CBS’ Catherine Herridge that was far from an ironclad denial of the extensive ABC report: “I told ABC that their story was largely inaccurate. People will have to judge for themselves the decision to run it anyway.”
| | | | A message from Meta:   | | | | | WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY | | On the Hill The Senate is in. The House will meet at noon. 3 things to watch …
- We’re officially into the second half of the 48-day continuing resolution, but only now is either chamber doing any real appropriating. The Senate finally poised to take up a three-bill minibus, with some 40 amendments teed up for floor action starting as soon as today, Caitlin Emma reports for Huddle. Why bother with yet another CR almost certain? Senate leaders, she writes, are “hoping to show the upper chamber can make progress on its most basic task … amid historic congressional dysfunction.”
- JACK LEW is set to take a major step toward confirmation as ambassador to Israel at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s 10 a.m. meeting, where he is expected to be favorably reported. The vote, however, appears likely to fall on party lines, with Republican senators taking sharp issue with Lew’s efforts as Treasury secretary in President BARACK OBAMA’s administration to strike a nuclear deal with Iran.
- Another Biden nominee is set to advance today with bipartisan support — and a notable liberal opponent. Sen. BERNIE SANDERS (I-Vt.) announced yesterday he won’t back MONICA BERTAGNOLLI as National Institutes of Health director, arguing she isn’t “prepared to take on the greed and power of the drug companies and health care industry.” Still, she appears likely to advance at this morning’s HELP Committee markup with the backing of most panel Democrats plus GOP Sens. SUSAN COLLINS (Maine) and MITT ROMNEY (Utah).
At the White House Biden and VP KAMALA HARRIS will welcome Australian PM ANTHONY ALBANESE and JODIE HAYDON to the White House for an official arrival ceremony in the morning. Later, Biden will hold a bilateral meeting and a joint news conference with Albanese. At 6:30 p.m., Biden and first lady JILL BIDEN will welcome Albanese and Haydon to the White House for the state dinner.
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Palestinians look for survivors of Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Nusseirat refugee camp, Oct. 24, 2023. | Hatem Moussa/AP | LATEST IN THE MIDDLE EAST — With missile strikes from Yemen, killings in the West Bank, attacks on U.S. troops in Syria and a potential Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, U.S. officials are increasingly worried that violence in Israel’s neighbors will spiral into a larger regional war. “Biden administration officials are especially concerned that armed groups backed by Iran are preparing to exact more bloodshed,” Nahal Toosi, Lara Seligman and Paul McLeary write. “Aside from Hamas, those proxy forces include Lebanon and Iraq-based Hezbollah and the Houthis of Yemen.” After-action report: U.S. intel officials have “high confidence” that last week’s deadly blast at a Gaza hospital was caused by a failed rocket launch by Palestinian militants, not an Israeli strike, Lara reports. “Analysis of videos shot from four locations, including from two cameras that captured the projectile’s flight, showed the rocket was launched from within the Gaza Strip and traveled northeast, according to one of the officials.” More aid on the way: The Pentagon is planning to amp up its aid to Israel by providing “full Iron Dome air defense systems from Army stocks,” WaPo’s Dan Lamothe reports. Meanwhile, U.S. officials are “trying to steer Israel away from the type of brutal, urban combat the US engaged in against insurgents during the Iraq War, in an effort to keep the Israelis from getting bogged down in bloody, house-by-house fighting as they prepare for an assault on Gaza,” CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann, MJ Lee and Katie Bo Lillis report. More top reads:
THE WHITE HOUSE
|  President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon to the White House, Oct. 24, 2023. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP | DINNER AND A SHOW (OF FORCE) — Australian PM Anthony Albanese is in D.C. for a state visit — one that offers Biden “an opportunity to nurture relations with an ally he sees as key to countering China, one of the president’s top priorities at a time of domestic and international tumult,” NYT’s Katie Rogers writes. “The most crucial areas of cooperation are a joint contract with Britain to develop and deploy nuclear-powered attack submarines — which gives the United States a crucial technological edge against China — and expansion of a joint military presence in the Pacific islands, including Papua New Guinea. The war between Israel and Hamas will also be on the agenda, [White House spokesperson JOHN] KIRBY said, including discussions of artificial intelligence, clean energy and fighting climate change.” A joint news conference is expected this afternoon. On tap: “Google to run internet cables to Pacific islands in Australia-US deal,” by Reuters’ Trevor Hunnicutt Not on the agenda anymore: A planned performance by the B-52s. The White House said it was scrapping the plan to have the legendary party band perform at tonight’s state dinner at a time when “so many are facing sorrow and pain,” first lady JILL BIDEN said. More from AP On the menu: The White House chefs will be “leaning heavily into the culinary traditions of the American South, and Appalachia in particular,” WaPo’s Emily Heil writes, flipping the script on the usual fare that is inspired by the guest countries. More top reads:
| | | | A message from Meta:   | | | TRUMP CARDS
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In this courtroom sketch, Donald Trump, far left, reacts while Michael Cohen, far right, testifies in the New York Supreme Court, Oct. 24, 2023. | Elizabeth Williams via AP | THE FIRST FACE-OFF — Trump and his former fixer MICHAEL COHEN faced off in court yesterday, as Cohen took the stand to testify that Trump directed him to falsify documents in the civil trial against the former president in Manhattan. Our colleague Erica Orden sets the scene in the tense courtroom: “In measured tones, Cohen testified that when he worked for Trump as his lawyer and fixer, Trump directed him to modify documents that represented Trump’s net worth so that they reflected the number Trump desired.” “As Cohen delivered that testimony, Trump, who was seated at the defense table, grew red in the face and shook his head. Trump didn’t look at Cohen as he entered the courtroom, but as Cohen spoke on the witness stand, Trump trained his eyes on him and either crossed his arms or leaned forward over the defense table. “Cohen didn’t look at his former boss as he testified, instead directing his attention entirely to the lawyer from the New York attorney general’s office who was questioning him.” More top reads:
- DOJ’s inspector general “found no evidence that [Trump] had improperly pressured the F.B.I. to rebuild its headquarters on its current site,” NYT’s Glenn Thrush writes. The report released yesterday ended a nearly four-year investigation sparked by Dems. Read the report
2024 WATCH MUSK READ — A recent Silicon Valley fundraiser for VIVEK RAMASWAMY drew an intriguing guest: ELON MUSK. The appearance marks the billionaire tech mogul’s first foray into the 2024 money morass, Puck’s Theodore Schleifer scoops. But the appearance of Musk on the campaign trail is drawing the contenders out of the woodwork. “Behind the scenes, far from Iowa and New Hampshire, presidential candidates have been competing to warm up the world’s richest man. At least four different campaigns and their supporters have recently been trying to curry favor with Elon to get him to send a supportive tweet to his 160 million followers, cut him a check, or at least not sic his fanatical supporters on them.” But Ramaswamy appears to be the frontrunner to land a check, Schleifer reports. WHERE THE BALLOTS HAVE NO NAME — Biden’s name will not appear on the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary ballot, as the state moves forward with an unsanctioned nominating contest in 2024 after the DNC set South Carolina as the nominating opener, Elena Schneider reports. ONE TO WATCH — “Biden admin’s proposed menthol cigarette ban could become liability in 2024: ‘Unintended consequences,’” by Fox News’ Joe Schoffstall ALL POLITICS VIRGINIA IS FOR DENIERS — TIM GRIFFIN, a Republican elections attorney who played a key role in trying to overturn the vote in multiple swing states in the 2020 election, is coasting to election next month for the Virginia statehouse, Heidi Przybyla reports. A handful of party insiders have tried for months to stop Griffin’s from winning, but “Griffin is the strong favorite to win next month’s election for Virginia’s heavily Republican 53rd House district.” ELSEWHERE IN VIRGINIA — Gov. GLENN YOUNGKIN is trying to get Republican voters to do something they don’t love to do: cast their ballots early. If “Youngkin and his political operation can succeed, it could have profound implications for the rest of the party — not just in Virginia, but nationally ahead of next year’s presidential election,” Zach Montellaro and Jessica Piper report from Glen Allen, Va. THE LONG TAIL OF THE SPEAKER SAGA — “Orphaned by McCarthy, California Republicans stand alone,” by Sejal Govindarao BEYOND THE BELTWAY IMMIGRATION FILES — A record number of Cuban migrants entered the U.S. over the past two years, Eric Bazail-Eimil reports. By the numbers: “Slightly fewer than 425,000 Cubans were encountered at U.S. ports of entry in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, according to CBP, and 200,287 of those arrived in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September. Most were apprehended at the U.S. border with Mexico, a marked change from previous waves of migration.” Related reads: “Nicaragua is ‘weaponizing’ U.S.-bound migrants as Haitians pour in on charter flights, observers say,” by AP’s Megan Janetsky … “Texas sues Biden administration seeking to stop federal agents from cutting razor wire on border,” by AP’s Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas DEEP IN THE HEART — “In Texas, Local Laws to Prevent Travel for Abortions Gain Momentum,” by NYT’s J. David Goodman
| | | | PLAYBOOK IS GOING GLOBAL! We’re excited to introduce Global Playbook, POLITICO’s premier newsletter that brings you inside the most important conversations at the most influential events in the world. From the buzzy echoes emanating from the snowy peaks at the WEF in Davos to the discussions and personalities at Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to the heart of diplomacy at UNGA in New York City – author Suzanne Lynch brings it all to your fingertips. Experience the elite. Witness the influential. And never miss a global beat. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | PLAYBOOKERS | | Ted Cruz caught the ire of Houston Astros fans after their Game 7 loss. Jared Moskowitz is standing tall for short guys everywhere. Condoleezza Rice popped into the Senate GOP lunch yesterday. OUT AND ABOUT — VP Kamala Harris addressed the crowd at CAP’s IDEAS Conference/20th anniversary celebration yesterday evening at the LINE Hotel. SPOTTED: Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Richmond, Va., Mayor Levar Stoney, Patrick Gaspard, Leah Greenberg, Andrew Hauptman, Mary Kay Henry, Ezra Levin, Ai-jen Poo, Tom Perriello, John Podesta, Maya Wiley and Felicia Wong. — SPOTTED at a reception in honor of Washingtonian’s annual Most Powerful Women list at the Larz Anderson House yesterday evening: Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Karine Jean-Pierre, Suzanne Clark, Heather Podesta, Susan Neely, Amy Walter, Linda Rabbitt, Maryam Mujica, Kelly O’Donnell, Debra Katz, Suzy George, Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, Sylvia Burwell, Mary Brady, Jackie Bradford, Evelyn Farkas, Sam Feist, Rosie Allen-Herring, Radha Muthiah, Kimberly Russo, Gina Adams and Juleanna Glover. TRANSITIONS — Samantha Bullock is joining OnMessage Public Strategies as EVP in the firm’s corporate practice. She most recently was comms director for House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and is an NRCC and Trump 2020 and White House alum. … Dave Bloom is launching Decibel Strategies, a new strategic comms shop focused on clean energy and climate-focused organizations. He most recently was lead speechwriter for Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. … Kevin McColaugh is now director of federal relations at Northeastern University. He previously was director of government affairs at 6K Inc. and is a Charlie Baker alum. WEDDINGS — Christianné Allen, comms director for Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), and Jeff Hughes got married on Saturday at Christ Church Georgetown with a reception at the Army Navy Club in D.C. The couple met in 2018 through the D.C. political scene. Pic … Another pic — Amy Hasenberg, comms director for Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Joshua Elliott, an associate at Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP, got married on Oct. 14 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis. The wedding was officiated by former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Amy's former boss on the House Judiciary Committee. SPOTTED: Maria Giannopoulos, James Hunt, Greg Steele, Daniel and Jess Ashworth and Cooper Mullinax. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: James Carville … Geoff Burr … Nate Hodson … Ed Barron … DOT”s Phil McNamara … Penta Group’s Bryan DeAngelis … CBS’ Jan Crawford … POLITICO’s Bill Kuchman and Nicole Rose … Summit Campaign Strategies’ Charles Chamberlain ... Patrick Butler of America’s Public Television Stations ... Elizabeth Crisp … Chuck Conconi … Brigid Ueland of the American Financial Services Association … Kendall Heath … Trey Hodgkins … Bobbie Kilberg … Cameron Kilberg … Gordon Johndroe … CRC Advisors’ Mike Martin … Susie Gelman … Brian DeBose … Steve Duchesne … Chuck Baker of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association … GMMB’s Eric Conrad … Emily Prosser of Rep. Drew Ferguson’s (R-Ga.) office 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 Bethany Irvine and Andrew Howard. Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook suggested an incorrect reason for the postponement of a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.
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