POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing - POLITICO

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December 12, 2023: Inside Jack Smith’s Trump trial timing request Dec 12, 2023

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On Monday, special counsel Jack Smith — who is investigating Donald Trump's attempt to subvert the 2020 election — asked the Supreme Court to leapfrog the D.C. Circuit court and take up the case in order to keep it on track. He reasoned that the case will ultimately end up with SCOTUS regardless, and it should decide the issue before the end of the current term. But that’s not the only thing Smith revealed, legal reporter Kyle Cheney tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels; one of the more intriguing revelations involves Trump’s Twitter account.

December 11, 2023: Republicans put their impeachment inquiry up for a vote Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

House Republicans are ready to get rolling on formally authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden with a floor vote later this week. Despite a lack of evidence, accusers say Biden may have benefited from his son’s business ventures. Right now, as Congress reporter Anthony Adragna explains, the GOP is largely united in supporting the investigation. But that doesn't necessarily mean they'll ultimately vote to impeach Biden. Plus, an update on an action-packed week on Capitol Hill, with big-ticket issues such as the National Defense Authorization Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Playbook editor Mike DeBonis interviews congress reporter Anthony Adragna.

December 8, 2023: Hunter Biden’s newest legal headache Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Hunter Biden’s legal jeopardy reached dramatic new heights late Thursday night, when he was charged with nine criminal counts stemming from allegations that he failed to pay taxes. National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swann tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that the severity of the new charges may be cause for concern for both Hunter and for his father — who is less than a year out from running for reelection.

Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swann.

December 7, 2023: What the final debate of 2023 told us Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

It was the last scheduled GOP debate before primary ballots start being cast. But did it change anything? Last night in Tuscaloosa, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy traded barbs, unspooled occasionally outlandish talking points and did their best to recapture the narrative in the final month of the primary race. Yet it was the candidate not in attendance — Donald Trump — who once again loomed large, defining the stage even while absent. And what we saw seems unlikely to disrupt the fundamentals of the campaign. National politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to unpack it all.

December 6, 2023: Colorado's Supreme Court weighs Trump's eligibility Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

The Colorado Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today on whether Trump should be disqualified from the ballot in 2024 based on alleged violations of the 14th amendment. The case, which legal reporter Kyle Cheney explains is almost bound to end up being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, has implications both for the 2024 election and legal precedent for years to come.

Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews legal reporter Kyle Cheney.

December 5, 2023: Ukraine aid hangs in the balance Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

The future of the $106 billion budget supplemental funding package hangs in limbo as negotiations between Democrats and Republicans failed to resolve over the weekend. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he will bring a clean supplemental to the floor this week, but Republicans have vowed to filibuster, White House reporter Jen Haberkorn tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza. With the clock ticking down and the need for aid becoming more and more dire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will virtually address the chambers on an invitation from the Biden administration.

Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews White House reporter Jen Haberkorn.

December 4, 2023: Introducing MAGAnomics Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

The agenda this week includes the White House making a final plea to Congress for Ukraine aid, a likely vote on the $106 billion supplemental funding package, and a potential re-gagging of former president Trump. Topping it all off is a new focus for Democrats as election season nears: so-called MAGAnomics, the GOP’s policy plans.

December 1, 2023: What we learned from the DeSantis-Newsom debate Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with California Gov. Gavin Newsom for chaotic debate Thursday night. The two—and moderator Sean Hannity— set out to contrast the Republican and Democratic ways of governing during the 90 minute spectacle billed as the red vs. blue debate. A gamut of topics were covered and slews of fiery buzzwords were hurled at one another, but did the audience actually learn anything? California bureau chief Christopher Cadelago joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to unpack the event.

Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews California bureau chief Christopher Cadelago,

November 30, 2023: “The complicated realities of Washington to creep in for lawmakers” Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

There is a lot going on on Capitol Hill, and not much time left in the year to get it all done.
First, House freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Scott Perry has suggested conservatives may consider compromising on demands for steep spending cuts and accept the funding deal that contributed to the demise of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s speakership.
Sen.Tommy Tuberville, on the other hand, is looking for a way out of his extensive holdup of military promotions.
Finally, members of both parties are still figuring our how to tackle the White House’s $100 billion supplemental funding request.

November 29, 2023: Congress and the White House butt heads on immigration Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

The White House and Congress are trying to find common ground on immigration, an issue President Biden has significantly struggled to gain popularity on in the past. Right now, as White House reporter Myah Ward explains, there are three areas of focus at the center of the debates. Asylum reform, safe third country restrictions, and changes to the country’s parole system are what is causing conflict, and one issue, she tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, is nowhere near resolution.

Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews White House reporter Myah Ward.

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