Kamala’s comms reset

From: POLITICO West Wing Playbook - Wednesday Mar 16,2022 08:35 pm

Mar 16, 2022

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Vice President KAMALA HARRIS’ press shop overhaul is almost complete.

After months filled with tough headlines, Harris’ communications director left in November. And then her press secretary departed in December. Now, deputy press secretary SABRINA SINGH is leaving for the defense department, the vice president’s office confirmed.

Of the four most senior communications officials that began with Harris, only one — HERBIE ZISKEND — remains.

The departures and their replacements amount to Harris resetting her press team under new communications director JAMAL SIMMONS.

Ziskend, the deputy communications director who has close ties to the West Wing after previous stints working for RON KLAIN at Revolution LLC, ANITA DUNN at SKDK, and JOE BIDEN when he was vice president, will be promoted to senior advisor for communications. Assistant Press Secretary RACHEL PALERMO , who was on the transition team and PETE BUTTIGIEG’s presidential campaign, is being promoted to deputy communications director.

ERNESTO APREZA, Harris’ senior advisor for public engagement, is moving over to the press team as the new deputy press secretary. He was also Nevada state director on Harris’ presidential campaign and deputy communications director in Colorado for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, where White House political director EMMY RUIZ was state director.

Finally, TATE MITCHELL, another alum of Harris’ presidential campaign, recently joined the office from the Small Business Administration to be press operations coordinator.

With the new arrivals, departures, and promotions have come a gradually shifting strategy as well.

Harris has been doing more national media interviews. At the one-year mark of the administration and after the State of the Union, she did ABC’, NBC’, and CBS’ morning shows — a trifecta Biden often did as vice president as well. She’s also sat down with PBS’ Newshour, Face The Nation and Telemundo.

And after stumbles — like when she told CRAIG MELVIN about their Covid-19 strategy that “It is time for us to do what we have been doing. And that time is every day” — Harris continues to do more interviews to try to move on to the next cycle instead of retreating or becoming more risk-averse. She has also tried to get in the mix more on issues outside her given portfolio, such as her recent trips to Europe to discuss the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The reset isn’t fully over either: A White House official said that Harris is also hiring a new press secretary.

If we may, have you heard of JOVANNI ORTIZ?

TEXT US — Are you ERNESTO APREZA, Harris’ new deputy press secretary? We want to hear from you (we’ll keep you anonymous).

Or if you think we missed something in today’s edition, let us know and we may include it tomorrow. Email us at westwingtips@politico.com or you can text/Signal/Wickr/WhatsApp Alex at 8183240098 or Max at 7143455427.

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POTUS PUZZLER

It's reader submitted trivia Wednesday! Thanks to EVAN ROBBINS for this one. The first lady of the U.S. has not always been the president’s wife. Which president never married and who served as first lady during his time in office?

(Answer at the bottom.)

The Oval

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This op-ed from the Washington Post advising Biden to stay the current course on Ukraine. As Biden receives pressure from Zelensky, and a press corps with a recent hawkish bent, the Post’s JASON WILLICK argues that Biden’s strategy of economic sanctions, enforcement of NATO boundaries, and supplying weapons to Ukraine are the best options for pushing to end the conflict without setting the US and Russia on an unpredictable and dangerous path that could lead toward nuclear catastrophe.

WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: Senate Republicans are amping up their attacks on judges nominated by the Biden administration, particularly those with backgrounds as public defenders. Senators like MITCH MCCONNELL, TOM COTTON, and JOSH HAWLEY have all attempted to portray recent judicial nominees, including Supreme Court nominee KETANJI BROWN-JACKSON, as soft on crime, a charge the White House has tried to push back against by r epeatedly highlighting her endorsement by some police groups.

‘WAR CRIMINAL’: Biden dubbed VLADIMIR PUTIN a “war criminal” on Wednesday. As POLITICO’s MYAH WARD reports: “It was a notable shift for Biden and the first time he has labeled his Russian counterpart’s actions in Ukraine in such a way.”

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Agenda Setting

ANOTHER ROUND — Following Zelenskyy’s virtual plea in front of Congress on Wednesday for the US and specifically the White House to do more to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia, Biden announced yet another new round of military assistance for the embattled country.

In a speech on Wednesday afternoon, the president announced that hundreds of anti-aircraft and anti-tank systems, 7,000 rifles and other small arms, millions of rounds of ammo, and notably some armed drones will be headed for Ukraine in the coming days. Read the full write up by POLITICO’s SAMUEL BENSON, BURGESS EVERETT and ANDREW DESIDERIO.

FED MOVES: POLITICO’s VICTORIA GUIDA reports that the Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time since 2018. Officials projected at least six more increases might be needed this year as they move to curb consumer price spikes across the economy.

A message from Walmart:

What We're Reading

White House Pushes Supply-Chain Operators to Share Data (WSJ’s Paul Berger)

As Biden’s plans struggle in Congress, his back-door actions could get a jump on reshaping the economy (WaPo’s David Ignatius)

Inside Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns' new Biden book (Axios’ Mike Allen)

What We're Watching

Actress ANGELINA JOLIE who attended an event at the White House on Wednesday for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, will be on “NBC Nightly News” at 6:30 p.m. ET to discuss her role in lobbying the administration and Congress for its renewal.

Where's Joe

A busy day for the president today. He received the President’s Daily Brief in the morning, and delivered remarks about assistance to Ukraine. Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN, Deputy Secretary of Defense KATHLEEN HICKS and the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. MARK MILLEY also attended.

The president also spoke at an event commemorating the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, alongside Attorney General MERRICK GARLAND and HHS Secretary XAVIER BECERRA.

This evening, he is set to speak at the Ireland Funds 30th national gala at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Where's Kamala

She spoke at an event focused on improving HBCU campuses in the afternoon. Garland and Education Secretary MIGUEL CARDONA also spoke.

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The Oppo Book

When it comes to her birthday, LORRAINE VOLES, an aide to the vice president, is going to celebrate.

Voles told POLITICO back in 2020 that her husband accused her of celebrating her birthday “all month. He is somewhat correct.” You do you, Lorraine!

To ring in another year around the sun back in 2020, Voles had Vace pizza in D.C. with family and friends and a weekend at the spa with her daughter.

Vice presidential aides, they’re just like us!

POTUS PUZZLER ANSWER

JAMES BUCHANAN never married, and his niece HARRIET LANE acted as the first lady during his presidency.

A CALL OUT — Think you have a more difficult trivia question? Send us your best question on the presidents with a citation and we may feature it.

Edited by Paul Demko

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