#John F. Kelly W.H. chief of staff

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  *** The back-and-forth between Mr. Trump and the chief of staff suggested that the easing of tensions may be more of a temporary detente than an ironclad peace agreement. The president and Mr. Kelly are well known around the White House for engaging in tense arguments, and Mr. Trump has made repeated public comments that manage to both underscore his satisfaction with Mr. Kelly, while also raising doubts about how long the two will continue to work together. ...    The (fake) president has also told his team that he wants to replace Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as his national security adviser. But the timing of that departure was unclear, with one official saying it could happen “imminently” and another saying it could be weeks, even months. ***

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#IBelieveFrederica

A video of a 2015 dedication of an FBI building in South Florida shows that White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly was wrong when he stated Thursday that Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.) had boasted of securing funding for the project.

Kelly's criticism of Wilson, during which he referred to her as an “empty barrel,” drew swift denials from the congresswoman's staff and denunciations from her supporters, who said the retired Marine Corps general was inaccurate and out of line. A White House spokesman issued a statement Thursday evening saying the White House stands by Kelly's account.

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HARVEY relief coming this week, debt ceiling could be attached — TRUMP’S TEST: Time to cut deals — Framing the DACA debate — POLITICO 50 out today — LOUISE LINTON speaks — B’DAY: April Ryan

FACT CHECK: TRUE — @realDonaldTrump at 10:49 p.m.: “Big week coming up!”

Good Tuesday morning and welcome back! KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: HARVEY AID EDITION — House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) visited Texas over the weekend, and announced that the House would begin considering a Harvey aid package Wednesday morning. Despite the Trump administration’s preference, the package that begins in the House will not include lifting the debt limit, according to people briefed on the legislation. That’s not to say the Senate won’t slap it on and send it back to the House, which many aides expect to happen. You will hear a lot in the coming days about some opposition on the right to a Harvey disaster relief and debt ceiling package. Remember this: support for a deal like that would be broad and bipartisan.

Story Continued Below

THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN in 26 days unless Congress passes a funding bill.

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THE BIG PICTURE — NEWS ANALYSIS from PETER BAKER on A1 of the NYT: “Trump Faces Deal-Making Challenges as Congress Returns”: “Donald J. Trump the deal maker heads into the autumn of his first year in as weak a negotiating position as any president in modern times — desperate for a victory yet hardly near consensus on any major priority, still able to dominate the national conversation but so far incapable of translating that into action.

“A summer of tumult marked by staff shake-ups, legislative failures, intraparty feuds, a racially inflammatory controversy and a nuclear-edged war of words has left him at odds with his own Republican Party and supported by barely a third of the American public. The list of daunting challenges has only grown with little sense of how he plans to tackle them beyond Twitter storms and declarations of determination.

“As Congress returns to town on Tuesday, the president faces weeks of hard negotiations to overhaul the tax code, raise the debt ceiling, keep the government open, finance his border wall, and secure relief and reconstruction money for areas devastated by Hurricane Harvey. On top of that, he plans to throw another polarizing issue on the docket by threatening to scrap President Barack Obama’s program allowing younger illegal immigrants to stay in the country unless Congress acts to save it within six months.” http://nyti.ms/2vGDFAl

TRUMP’S DACA DECISION MATRIX …

— “Both sides gear up for political fight as Trump prepares to end immigration protections for ‘dreamers’,” by WaPo’s David Nakamura: “Lawmakers and advocates on both sides began to stake out positions Monday for an extended public fight over whether Congress should provide legal status to young undocumented immigrants known as ‘dreamers’ as President Trump is preparing to rescind Obama-era protections for them.

“Moderate congressional Republicans, and even some conservatives, suggested that they are open to crafting a legislative deal that could offer permanent legal status to hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have been in the country illegally since they were children. Democrats lambasted Trump for his expected decision and called on the GOP to join them to protect the dreamers. …

“Trump’s decision to include a six-month delay could be a bid to shift some of the political pressure and consequences over the dreamers onto congressional Republicans. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.), Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (Utah) and several other GOP leaders have urged Trump not to end the program and to let Congress pursue its own course of action.” http://wapo.st/2xLk13h

— “On DACA, President Trump Has No Easy Path,” by NYT’s Glenn Thrush, Maggie Haberman and Julie Hirschfeld Davis: “For months, an anxious and uncertain President Trump was caught between opposing camps in the West Wing prodding him to either scrap or salvage an Obama-era program allowing undocumented immigrants brought to the country as minors to remain in the United States. Last week, with a key court deadline looming for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, Mr. Trump, exasperated, asked his aides for ‘a way out’ of a dilemma he created by promising to roll back the program as a presidential candidate, according to two people familiar with the exchange. Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, John F. Kelly, who had wrestled with crafting a compromise in his previous job as the president’s homeland security secretary, began consulting with Republican lawmakers and staff members for a quick fix, according to three officials familiar with the situation. “He finally arrived at an inelegant solution to an intractable problem: Delaying a decision on the final fate of about 800,000 ‘Dreamers’ covered by President Barack Obama’s executive action for six months, and putting it on Congress to come up with a legislative solution to the problem. Congressional Republicans expect the administration to unveil some version of this stopgap solution on Tuesday, but Mr. Trump will not make the announcement himself. Instead, Attorney General Jeff Sessions will handle it at an 11 a.m. briefing. He will not take questions from reporters.” http://nyti.ms/2gAoQol

–INTERESTING NUGGET: “[T]he moderates in Mr. Trump’s midst, [Gary] Cohn in particular, are somewhat less influential these days, after several expressed their disgust at the president’s response to the racial riots in Charlottesville, Va., last month.”

— “Trump’s punt to Congress on DACA threatens new GOP rift,” by Seung Min Kim and Rachael Bade: “[S]ome Republicans such as conservative Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas are openly floating trade-offs to protect DACA recipients, even as Democrats insist that Dreamers aren’t bargaining chips for tougher immigration restrictions. In the House, senior Republicans still believe there’s a possible deal to be struck with Democrats: codifying DACA in return for Trump’s sought-after border wall. … One plugged-in immigration advocate predicted a ‘30-70 chance’ that Congress successfully passes legislation that would essentially codify DACA … into law.” http://politi.co/2ezQnWq

BEN SMITH: “Why Does Trump Always Shoot The Hostages?: The president prepares to throw DREAMers’ lives into chaos, his political goals unknown” http://bzfd.it/2gBo8Ho

THE WAY OUT, according to GOP leadership insiders we spoke to: a deal which reinstates DACA in some form, and beefs up security on the border with Mexico. This is something that many Republicans and most Democrats could live with.

A QUESTION FOR DEMOCRATS — Will Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi start trying to attach the reinstatement of DACA to must-pass legislation like disaster relief funding for Harvey or funding the government?

— FROM OUR FRIENDS AT POLITICO PRO: “Speaking of legislation – passing it is complicated. Luckily for you, we’ve got an easy-to-understand infographic that explains the entire process.” Download POLITICO Pro’s Guide to Legislation http://politi.co/2xLy0X2

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GREAT ANECDOTE — WSJ’s Mike Bender and Kristina Peterson: “The relationship between the White House and congressional Republicans began to fray before the August recess, as the Senate struggled to overhaul the health-care law. [Mitch] McConnell, a fastidious, 30-year veteran of the Senate, often prepared note cards with points he wanted to make during phone calls with the president. Mr. Trump was more casual, starting conversations with several minutes of chatter about the day’s headlines or what he had seen on TV, the kind of banter he used as a businessman with VIPs …

“As it became clear Mr. McConnell couldn’t summon enough Republican votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Senate majority leader stopped responding to the president’s chitchat … ‘Mitch?’ the president said when Mr. McConnell fell silent in one call. ‘Are you there?’ Mr. McConnell waited a beat, then responded. ‘Yes, Mr. President. Back to the bill.’” http://on.wsj.com/2xL4ukh

TRUMP’S TUESDAY — TRUMP has a National Security Council briefing at 10 a.m. At 1:30 p.m., he will meet with the National Economic Council. At 4 p.m., Trump meets with the Big Six — the top negotiators on tax reform. At 5:45 p.m., he will speak to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the phone.

AP’S JOE MCDONALD in Beijing: “China has tools to pressure Kim but worries of consequences”: “Though China has long been the North’s main trading partner and diplomatic protector, Kim’s nuclear and missile tests have alienated Chinese leaders, who supported last month’s U.N. sanctions that slash North Korean revenue by banning sales of coal and iron ore. President Donald Trump and others have called on China to use its leverage to do more to halt the North’s nuclear development.

“Beijing tried to head off the latest nuclear test, conducted Sunday, by warning Pyongyang that such an event would lead to even more painful penalties. Still, Chinese leaders worry about instability on the Korean Peninsula if Kim’s regime collapses, which would eliminate a buffer between China and South Korea, a heavily armed U.S. ally with American troops on its soil.” http://bit.ly/2gBioxv

W.H. REVOLVING DOOR — “Spicer lands post-White House gig,” by Annie Karni: “Sean Spicer is cashing in on ‘candor.’ President Donald Trump’s first press secretary … has signed with Worldwide Speakers Group, the company confirmed to POLITICO. ‘Audiences around the world will benefit from the same candor, wit and insight that Spicer brought to the White House briefing room,’ Worldwide Speakers Group writes about Spicer in its pitch to potential customers, an early copy of which was reviewed by POLITICO. …

“His first paid speaking gig will be in New York City on Sept. 11, at the annual conference of the investment bank Rodman & Renshaw … [H]e is also planning to pitch a book proposal and his agent, Robert Barnett, as of last week was making the rounds to networks to negotiate a possible deal for his client. So far, he has yet to nail down a paid television talking-head gig.” http://politi.co/2eY6bDc

THE ADMINISTRATION — “EPA now requires political aide’s sign-off for agency awards, grant applications,” by WaPo’s Juliet Eilperin: “The Environmental Protection Agency has taken the unusual step of putting a political operative in charge of vetting the hundreds of millions of dollars in grants the EPA distributes annually, assigning final funding decisions to a former Trump campaign aide with little environmental policy experience.

“In this role, John Konkus reviews every award the agency gives out, along with every grant solicitation before it is issued. According to both career and political employees, Konkus has told staff that he is on the lookout for ‘the double C-word’ — climate change — and repeatedly has instructed grant officers to eliminate references to the subject in solicitations.

“Konkus, who officially works in the EPA’s public affairs office, has canceled close to $2 million competitively awarded to universities and nonprofit organizations. Although his review has primarily affected Obama administration priorities, it is the heavily Republican state of Alaska that has undergone the most scrutiny so far.” http://wapo.st/2xLsFPw

FOR YOUR RADAR — “Putin: Russia may order U.S. to cut further its diplomatic staff in Moscow” — Reuters/Xiamen, China: “Russia reserves the right to further reduce the number of U.S. diplomatic staff in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, adding that Moscow would not do that for now. Reacting to what he called Washington’s ‘boorish and unprecedented’ actions towards Russia’s diplomatic facilities in the United States, Putin said he would order the Foreign Ministry to take the U.S. authorities to court over violation of Russia’s property rights. …

“‘The only thing is that it was done in such a clearly boorish manner. That does not reflect well on our American partners. But it’s difficult to conduct a dialogue with people who confuse Austria and Australia. Nothing can be done about it. Probably such is the level of political culture of a certain part of the U.S. establishment.’” http://reut.rs/2wDRHQy

WHAT BANNON AND BOYLE ARE READING — “Breitbart bangs the drum in Alabama Senate showdown,” by Alex Isenstadt: “Conservatives led by Breitbart News are waging an all-out campaign to stop a candidate backed by Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell in the Alabama Senate special election — putting growing pressure on the president to step away from his endorsement. With just over three weeks until the runoff, far-right forces are starting to close ranks around former state Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, an evangelical bomb-thrower who famously defied a federal order to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from a state building. And they’re looking to persuade Trump not to campaign for Moore’s rival, incumbent Sen. Luther Strange. …

“The pro-Moore effort will intensify this week, when the candidate arrives in Washington to hold a procession of meetings with influential conservatives that he hopes will culminate in endorsements. Among those Moore is slated to huddle with: members of the House Freedom Caucus and former diplomat and presidential candidate Alan Keyes, who is hosting a Wednesday evening fundraising reception. Attendees are being asked to give up to $2,700, according to an invitation. Steve Bannon is helping to orchestrate the push. … Bannon, who returned to Breitbart last month after leaving the White House, has dispatched one of his favorite writers, Matt Boyle, to Alabama.” http://politi.co/2x6V6ud

— BOYLE in Montgomery, Alabama: “Exclusive — Judge Roy Moore Embodies Jeff Sessions: ‘I Think I Would Have the Same Opinion’ on Immigration, Trade”: “Moore’s embrace of Sessions, and his brand of economic nationalism that he shares with the president, is a key recipe for electoral success in Alabama: Sessions is so popular in Alabama he was reelected last time unanimously as he drew no opponent in either his primary or his general election.” http://bit.ly/2gI7Ssb

IN JERUSALEM — “Sara Netanyahu Expected to Be Indicted for Fraud in Pocketing $110,000 in Goods,” by Haaretz’s Gidi Weitz: “Sara Netanyahu is expected to be indicted, pending a hearing, on charges of fraudulently receiving items worth 400,000 shekels ($111,851), Haaretz has learned. Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit is expected to inform Netanyahu, wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of the charges against her in a few weeks. Sara Netanyahu is suspected of ordering chef’s meals at the prime minister’s official residence, which is against regulations, and concealing the fact that she did so. She and her husband have accused the former chief caretaker of the official residence, Meni Naftali, who is currently leading protests against the prime minister, of inflating the residence’s expenses.” http://bit.ly/2xKhpmh

THE 2017 POLITICO 50 UNVEILED TODAY — The fourth annual POLITICO 50 list maps out the new American landscape of ideas and introduces the people who can see past the disruption of Trump to a future in which politics, technology and new social currents will transform our country into something most of us have yet to imagine. The top 5 — 1. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon (http://politi.co/2wCFpb2) … 2. Trump opposition leaders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin (http://politi.co/2vGlsTf) … 3. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch (http://politi.co/2wCcS5b) … 4. Steve Case (http://politi.co/2xLe5HF) … 5. Former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates (http://politi.co/2x5XC3G). See the full list http://politi.co/2eYbTVv

PHOTO DU JOUR: In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, a Hyunmoo II ballistic missile is fired during an exercise at an undisclosed location in South Korea on Sept. 4. The released live weapons “accurately struck” a target in the sea off the country’s eastern coast, the country’s military officials said. | South Korea Defense Ministry via AP

NEW ISAAC DOVERE PODCAST — “Dolores Huerta, the famed labor leader who marched with Cesar Chavez and coined his rallying cry, is still mad as hell—and she laid it all out for Isaac Dovere in the latest episode of the Off Message podcast talking about the DACA decision and the policy around contract laborers. ‘This is a step up above slavery,’ Huerta, now 87, said. ‘The Republican plan is to deport all of the people that you have here that are undocumented, and bring in folks here under foreign labor contracts.’ And all the while, Huerta says, Trump and other wealthy people like him benefit more than anybody from the sweat of immigrant labor.

“‘I think it’s mean. I think that he’s got this obsession, a fixation, against people of color. You know, the way that he keeps attacking Mexicans,’ she says. ‘I’m a Mexican American. And my great-grandparents were here before his were, I’m sure. And his grandfather came from Germany.’ Plus: her memories of walking onto stage with Bobby Kennedy the night he was shot (and why she still blames herself a little) and of the night she came up with Si Se Puede.” http://politi.co/2eYlqfb

APOLOGY — COVER DU JOUR – LOUISE LINTON on the cover of Washington Life’s September issue, in which she poses in evening gowns for the magazine’s “Balls & Galas” issue and apologizes for her Instagram post in a Q&A with Virginia Coyne – “I want to say I concede completely to the comments of my critics. My post itself and the following response were indefensible. Period. I don’t have any excuses, nor do I feel any self-pity for the backlash I experienced. … It’s clear that I was the one who was truly out of touch and my response was reactionary and condescending. I wish I hadn’t spoken in such a patronizing tone. It was an out of character, knee-jerk reaction, and I felt so awful about it that I removed it. …

“I one hundred percent embrace the comments of my critics and I concede wholeheartedly that the post was boastful and materialistic and my response was extremely thoughtless. I should have known better than to be so insensitive.” … Q: “Did you feel the criticism was overblown?” LINTON: “No. I feel like I deserved the criticism”. … Q: “So, the social media Louise is not the real Louise?” LINTON: “The social media Louise of that week was not me. I should have stuck to posting pictures of rescue dogs and daily life.” Q&A http://bit.ly/2ezxVNX … The cover http://bit.ly/2wAD1TN

VALLEY TALK — RECODE’S TONY ROMM: “Reid Hoffman has billions of dollars and one of the best networks in Silicon Valley. Here’s how he’s using them to take on Trump: Inside the tech mogul’s 2017 political playbook for funding candidates, causes and companies”: “Hoffman is eager to open his checkbook for state and federal office-seekers, including for critical races in Virginia. There, he’s already spent millions of dollars and tapped staff on the ground to study the state’s local elections, hoping to fund get-out-the-vote initiatives and other ideas that might work elsewhere in the country — all the while nudging its Republican-dominated legislature in the direction of Democrats.” http://bit.ly/2iXBja8

****** A message from Hewlett Packard Enterprise: A nation‘s strength is increasingly measured by its technical prowess. As the designer and builder of more supercomputers than any other company in the world, Hewlett Packard Enterprise is proud to lead the way in one of the future‘s most important technologies. Visit hpe.com/supercomputing to learn more about how Hewlett Packard Enterprise‘s supercomputers are helping create the future in science, medicine and national security. ******

HAPPENING TODAY — UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is speaking at AEI this morning at 11 a.m. with the speech titled “Beyond the echo chamber: Considerations on U.S. policy toward Iran”. Livestream http://bit.ly/2xKMAOt

UNDERSTANDING KIM — “Motives of North Korea’s Leader Baffle Americans and Allies,” by NYT’s Motoko Rich and David E. Sanger: “[S]ix years after Mr. Kim took power and began executing those who challenged his rule — sometimes with an antiaircraft gun — there is no issue that confounds analysts more than the motives of a 33-year-old dictator whose every move seems one part canny strategy, one part self-preservation, and one part nuclear narcissism. … [I]nside the Trump administration, many have begun to question the long-held assumption that his nuclear buildup is essentially defensive, an effort to keep the United States and its allies from finding the right moment to try to overthrow him. Mr. Kim’s real goal may be blackmail, they argue — the sort that would be possible as soon as North Korea can put Los Angeles or Chicago or New York at risk.” http://nyti.ms/2eXrQLz

MEDIAWATCH — “The Daily News, a Distinctive Voice in New York, Is Sold,” by NYT’s Sydney Ember and Andrew Ross Sorkin: “The deal represents the end of an era for The News, which was long a voice for New York’s working class. It may also signal the end of the political influence of its owner, the real estate magnate Mortimer B. Zuckerman, who often used the paper’s bold, front-page headline — known as ‘the wood’ — for commentary about candidates and politicians, locally and nationally. …

“[T]he Chicago Tribune reported on Monday that Tronc purchased The News for just $1, plus the assumption of liabilities. … Under the terms of the deal, Tronc assumes control of The News’s operations, its printing plant in Jersey City and its pension liability. Tronc will also receive a 49.9 percent interest in the 25-acre property overlooking Manhattan where the printing plant is. It was not immediately clear what The News’s pension liabilities were; however, previous reports indicated that they were worth more than $30 million.” http://nyti.ms/2wDomWd

— TIM O’BRIEN, executive editor of Bloomberg View and Gadfly, has been named a contributor to NBC and MSNBC.

— NEW POLITICO HIRE — Joe Schatz and Reid Pillifant email the states staff: “Alexandra Glorioso will be joining POLITICO’s Tallahassee bureau as a policy and politics reporter covering the regulated industry beat, including medical marijuana and gambling — an increasingly important coverage area for us in Florida. Alex comes to us from the Naples Daily News, where she’s spent the last year and a half working as a political reporter.”

SPOTTED: Tim Geithner on Monday at the airport in Athens, Greece … Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the zoo Monday morning with her kids … House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her family having brunch Sunday at The Spotted Pig on West 11th Street in New York … Juliet Eilperin, Andrew Light and family on the pool deck in the freeze dance contest at Congressional Country Club. Norah O’Donnell, Chef Geoff Tracy and family in the belly flop competition.

— Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta with Anheuser-Busch President and CEO João Castro Neves on Monday at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Cartersville, Georgia to thank Anheuser-Busch employees who have helped the victims of Hurricane Harvey — pic http://bit.ly/2wDwDth

TRANSITIONS — OBAMA ALUMNI — Sabrina Siddiqui is joining FTP Public Affairs. She is an alum of Obama Treasury, the offices of Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) and the DCCC. … Kelly Magsamen, former principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, is joining the Center for American Progress as the VP for national security and international policy.

— FORMER CIA DIRECTOR JOHN BRENNAN has been named a distinguished fellow for global security at Fordham law school’s Center on National Security. http://nyti.ms/2wAtUm2

— Katharine Cooksey is starting today at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as manager of media and external comms. Carah Goldoust, who previously worked on special events and protocol for Speaker Paul Ryan, today takes over Cooksey’s role as deputy press secretary at the House Ways and Means Committee.

WEEKEND WEDDINGS — Kamyl Bazbaz, partner at consulting firm Pramana Collective and former press secretary to Chelsea Clinton, got married Saturday to Lucie Steinberg, a PhD candidate in American Studies at Harvard, on Serifos Island in Greece, in front of a small group of family and friends. “We met through my good friend Matt Mittenthal, who went to grade and high school with Lucie in NYC, and I met in 2005 when we were both interns in Sen. [Chuck] Schumer’s office (along with Teddy Goff). So Schumer is allowed at least partial credit for this marriage!” Pics http://bit.ly/2x77MBl … http://bit.ly/2wAZK1W SPOTTED: Teddy Goff, Genevieve Roth, Chloe Malle and Perrin Ireland.

–Devan Barber, political director at End Citizens United, and Perrin Cooke, who returns to Covington and Burling as an associate next month, were married Sunday night at Fathom Gallery on 14th St in D.C. “Friend of the couple Sadie Weiner officiated. Great crew of former DSCC, Hagan, and DNC/Obama alum were there. The party continued at Kingfisher!” Pics http://bit.ly/2iXAw9a … http://bit.ly/2w1cmMb … http://bit.ly/2gAPNZd

SPOTTED: Danielle Friedman, Lauren Passalacqua, Andrew Piatt, Zach Wineburg, Christie Roberts, Dylan Laslovich, Laura Hatalsky, Lanae Erickson, Patrick McHugh, Monica McHugh, Lauren Dillon, Ben Ray, Annette Lee, Stephanie Nielsen, Shaan Gajria, Mike Harney, Helen Hare, Phil Munson, Will Cooke, Ben Harney, Travis Cooke, Dorothy Allen, Fae Jencks.

ENGAGED — Christopher Quintyne, parliamentary clerk in the Senate Parliamentarian’s Office, proposed to Erica Loewe, director at the Podesta Group. The couple met in Conference Room E at the Podesta Group in 2013. “We should probably thank Paul Brathwaite for having coffee with me post-law school. Not only did I get great career advice, but I found my future wife. I’d say it was a productive meeting.” Pic http://bit.ly/2vGdWYx

— OBAMA ALUMNI — Dan Brundage proposed to Yesenia Miranda this weekend in Rancho Mirage, California. Brundage is a Navy officer who previously worked in the Obama W.H., Commerce Dept. and 2008 campaign. Miranda is a child behavioral specialist. The couple resides in San Diego with their pup Bean and met at a bar in the city in the fall of 2014. Pic http://politi.co/2gHQEuX (h/t Dan’s sister Amy)

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Maggie Moore, associate at government relations firm Sternhell Group (hat tip: boyfriend Charlie Liebschutz) … Kelu Chao, who runs VOA’s content, produced in 45 languages (h/t John Lippman) … Matthew Sonneborn, comms director for Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and SBA comms alum (h/t Sophia Kim) … Patrick Collins … Will Taliaferro, partner at GMMB (h/ts Jon Haber)

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: April Ryan, WH correspondent and Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks and a CNN political analyst. How she got her start in journalism: “I started in journalism during my freshman year in college at Morgan State University on the local radio station, WEAA-FM. I was a talk show producer and then went on to do news reporting and anchoring at other radio stations. But for a short stint during freshman year, simultaneously I was a radio jazz DJ on WEAA spinning records between classes on Fridays and on Sunday nights. Journalism won.” Read her Playbook Plus Q&A: http://politi.co/2iYNfbR

BIRTHDAYS: Brian Wolff, EVP for public policy and external affairs at Edison Electric Institute … Holly Rosenkrantz … Sean McNabb (h/t Courto) … former Fed chair Paul Volcker … former Sen. John Danforth (R-Mo.) … Clay Risen, deputy editor at the NYT op-ed page … Anne Marie Hoffman, principal at the Harbour Group and an RNC alum … Ted Greenberg … Matthew Vail, a George W. Bush and Rick Scott alum … David Fauvre, counsel at Arnold & Porter … CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave … Hamilton Fish, publisher of The New Republic … Hans Riemer … Mike Castaldo … Iris Weinshall … Issa alum Dale Neugebauer … Katie Weiss … Abby McIntyre … Noam Lee, DGA’s national finance director … Anita Huslin … Bonnie Wood … Politico’s Aaron Lorenzo … Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) … Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) … Politico’s Erica Donovan (h/t Meredith McPhillips) …

… journalist Stephanie Green … WSJ reporter Ted Mann … Catherine Reynolds, CBS News Capitol Hill producer, celebrating with a big Clemson Tiger win over the weekend (h/t her Capitol Hill girls) … Gabrielle Tarbert, the pride of Harford County, Maryland, is 26. She celebrated this weekend in Chicago with friends (h/t Rachel Wein) … Jeremy Furchtgott of Baron Public Affairs (h/t sister Diana) … Zoe Heiliczer, staff assistant for Rep. Barry Loudermilk (h/t brother Jordan) … Melissa Sowerwine, VP of operations at Red Six Solutions … Rob Lehman … Terri Hasdorff … Matthew Allen … Courtney Neale … Francis Nelms … Jason Spear … Erin Reif … Enrique Padron … Annie Nguyen … John Burmaster … Jessica Mejia (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) … Anne Marie Frawley … Kum Kang … Ed Talbot … Cheche Mozingo … Bob Newhart … Raquel Welch … movie director Werner Herzog is 75 (h/t Nadia Szold) … Michael Keaton (h/t AP)

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Original Source link

from CapitalistHQ.com https://capitalisthq.com/harvey-relief-coming-this-week-debt-ceiling-could-be-attached-trumps-test-time-to-cut-deals-framing-the-daca-debate-politico-50-out-today-louise-linton-speaks-bday/

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 *** In a five-page memo earlier this month, Kelly directed aides to "discontinue" interim security clearances for individuals whose security clearance applications have been pending since June 1 or earlier. He also ordered access to highly classified information be limited for the remaining aides with interim clearances.  ***

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  *** Asked about sources saying that either National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster or Chief of Staff John Kelly,or both, might be leaving, White House spokesman Raj Shah on Thursday did not address the possibility. ...   Trump swatted McMaster in a Twitter post after his comments at a European conference last weekend that he was certain Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election campaign, which Trump has been reluctant to acknowledge.   Kelly and McMaster have chafed at Trump's treatment of them in public and in private, which both at times have considered insulting, said all four officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. ***

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   *** The questions surrounding Kushner’s clearance are particularly acute because of the possibility that his extensive contacts with foreign actors — including travel, meetings with leaders overseas and multiple business ventures — might be relevant to the investigation by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.    Kushner initially failed to disclose scores of those contacts on the standard form required for all prospective government officials, and has since amended his submission, substantially delaying his background check.    That meant that his background information was not submitted in its entirety until June, after the June 1 cutoff that Mr. Kelly set in his memo. ***

[malenipshadows]

   *** Though many described him as composed and calm, others in his ultracompetitive workplaces described him as tightly wound, revealing occasional glimpses of how angry he could become, particularly if anyone got in his way.  A former White House official said the temper flare-ups left him with the sense that Mr. Porter was more volatile and troubled than his clean-cut image let on.  ***

[malenipshadows]

   *** Inside the West Wing, a growing number of aides blamed Trump’s second White House chief of staff, John F. Kelly, for the bungled handling of the allegations against Porter. Trump in recent days has begun musing about possible replacements, according to people with knowledge of the conversations. ...    Kelly is “a big fat liar,” said one White House official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share a candid opinion. “To put it in terms the general would understand, his handling of the Porter scandal amounts to dereliction of duty.” ***

[malenipshadows]

   *** Porter, a top aide to White House chief of staff John Kelly, resigned from his position Wednesday after allegations of domestic abuse were made public by his two ex-wives. Porter has denied their allegations. ***    ((( Not one, but two former spouses.  Two abused women. )))

[malenipshadows]

... but not surprised?

[everettwilkinson]

FIRST LOOK: Inside the new Oval Office — NYT: W.H. frets about Trump’s Phoenix rally — TRUMP ramps up for 2020 — BANNON takes aim at Kushner, Ivanka and Cohn — SECRET SERVICE cash crunch — B’DAY: Steve Case

FIRST LOOK — INSIDE THE NEW OVAL OFFICE — http://bit.ly/2xiEsUg … http://bit.ly/2ww4vKO

BULLETINS, at 5:22 a.m.: “MOSCOW (AP) — U.S. Embassy in Russia suspends issuing nonimmigrant visas until Sept 1, when it will resume giving visas only in Moscow.” … at 5:26 a.m.: “PARIS (AP) — French media report at least one woman killed as car rams into bus stops in the port city of Marseille.”

Story Continued Below

Good Monday morning. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has returned to Washington from his working vacation. He is expected to lay out his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan in an address to the nation tonight at 9 p.m. from Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia. The New York Times, Washington Post and other outlets report that Trump is expected to boost the troop presence in Afghanistan by several thousand. THIS WILL be a major issue on Capitol Hill in September, as lawmakers gear up to grill Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on the shift in strategy.

ALSO HAPPENING TONIGHT — CNN’s JAKE TAPPER hosts a town hall with SPEAKER PAUL RYAN after the president’s address.

**SUBSCRIBE to Playbook: http://politi.co/2lQswbh

PHOENIX RALLY TOMORROW — THE NEW WORRY, via Noah Weiland and Maggie Haberman: “Of particular concern for some officials is the prospect that Mr. Trump may be planning to announce a pardon for Joe Arpaio, the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz., who became an avatar for hard-line policies with his roundups of undocumented immigrants. Some of Mr. Trump’s advisers worry that a pardon could deepen the racial wounds exposed in the last week and compound the president’s political problems. …

“Reached by phone at home on Sunday, Mr. Arpaio said that he was not sure why Mr. Trump was thinking of the pardon, and that he had not talked to the president since around Thanksgiving, when Mr. Trump called to ask about the health of Mr. Arpaio’s wife. But Mr. Arpaio would not say whether he had talked to the Trump campaign or White House about the visit Tuesday, or whether he had made formal plans with them to make an appearance.” http://nyti.ms/2iigdTu

— PRETTY COOL: Maggie Haberman and her dad Clyde are both on the front page of today’s New York Times. http://nyti.ms/2iiptXK

IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC — “Damaged USS John S. McCain arrives in Singapore; 10 missing,” by AP’s Annabelle Liang in Singapore and Stephen Wright in Bangkok: “The USS John S. McCain guided missile destroyer docked Monday at Singapore’s naval base with ‘significant damage’ to its hull after an early morning collision with an oil tanker … The collision east of Singapore between the destroyer and the 183-meter (600-foot) Alnic MC, which has recent safety violations, was the second involving a ship from the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet in the Pacific in two months. Vessels and aircraft from the U.S., Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia are searching for the missing sailors. … The Navy’s 7th Fleet said damage to the McCain’s hull flooded adjacent compartments including crew berths, machinery and communications rooms. … The 154-meter (505-foot) destroyer is named after U.S. Sen. John McCain’s father and grandfather, who were both U.S. admirals.” http://bit.ly/2uXQ4zw … Reuters photo of the damage http://reut.rs/2iirHXf

— TRUMP was asked about the collision last night outside the White House, and he said, “that’s too bad,” per a pool report. He later tweeted: “Thoughts & prayers are w/ our @USNavy sailors aboard the #USSJohnSMcCain where search & rescue efforts are underway.”

— BREITBART — “Source: McMaster Fails to Brief Trump Before ‘That’s Too Bad’ Error,” by Matt Boyle: http://bit.ly/2wvtEFi

TICK TOCK — NYT A1, “Bannon Was Set for a Graceful Exit. Then Came Charlottesville,” by Jeremy W. Peters and Maggie Haberman: “John F. Kelly, the new White House chief of staff, told Stephen K. Bannon in late July that he needed to go: No need for it to get messy, Mr. Kelly told Mr. Bannon, according to several people with firsthand knowledge of the exchange. The two worked out a mutually amicable departure date for mid-August, with President Trump’s blessing. But as Mr. Trump struggled last week to contain a growing public furor over his response to a deadly, race-fueled melee in Virginia, Mr. Bannon clashed with Mr. Kelly over how the president should respond. Give no ground to your critics, Mr. Bannon urged the president, with characteristic truculence. At the same time, New York real estate investor friends told Mr. Trump that the situation with Mr. Bannon was untenable: Steve Roth on Monday, Tom Barrack on Tuesday and Richard LeFrak on Wednesday.

“By Thursday, after Mr. Bannon undercut American policy toward North Korea in an interview published by a left-leaning magazine, Mr. Trump himself had concluded that Mr. Bannon was too much of a liability. By Friday, when he was forced from his job as Mr. Trump’s chief strategist, Mr. Bannon had found himself wholly isolated inside a White House where he once operated with such autonomy that he reported only to the president himself. … Mr. Bannon was notorious for maintaining his own, shadowy presence within the White House. He would frequently skip meetings where policy was discussed, injecting his views into the process in other ways, according to two administration officials. He did not use a computer, preferring to have paper printed and handed to his assistant to stay outside the formal decision-making process. …

“Mr. Bannon openly complained to White House colleagues that he resented how Ms. Trump would try to undo some of the major policy initiatives that he and Mr. Trump agreed were important to the president’s economic nationalist agenda, like withdrawing from the Paris climate accords. In this sense, he was relieved when Mr. Kelly took over and put in place a structure that kept other aides from freelancing. ‘Those days are over when Ivanka can run in and lay her head on the desk and cry,’ he told multiple people. … In late July, after a weekend with Robert Mercer, the hedge fund billionaire who finances some of his projects, Mr. Bannon told him, ‘I dread going back’ to the White House.” http://nyti.ms/2wgaIuz

— THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JARED AND BANNON: Here’s a very telling anecdote from the Times story: Bannon “also advised that ideological softening would buy the president no good will from Democrats or independent voters, whom Mr. Kushner and Ms. Trump believe Mr. Trump still has a chance of reaching. ‘They hate the very mention of his name,’ Mr. Bannon told them. ‘There is no constituency for this.’ His advice for the president: ‘You’ve got the base. And you grow the base by getting’ things done.”

— IMPORTANT FOR TRUMP: “Prominent U.S. religious conservatives defend Trump after Charlottesville,” by Reuters’ Doina Chiacu and Sarah N. Lynch: http://reut.rs/2vWsCjm

— BREAKING OVERNIGHT … TEXAS TRIBUNE: “UT-Austin removing Confederate statues in the middle of the night: In a surprise move, workers at the University of Texas at Austin began removing multiple Confederate statues from a prominent grass mall on campus late Sunday night,” by Matthew Watkins: “The surprise news came with little notice. University president Greg Fenves announced that the statues of Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston and John Reagan were being removed because they depict parts of American history that ‘run counter to the university’s core values’ in an e-mail to the campus community just before 11 p.m. A statue of former Texas Gov. James Stephen Hogg was also marked for removal. ‘We do not choose our history, but we choose what we honor and celebrate on our campus,’ he wrote. ‘As UT students return in the coming week, I look forward to welcoming them here for a new academic year with a recommitment to an open, positive and inclusive learning environment for all.’” http://bit.ly/2wooRGC

****** A message from Chevron: We’re piloting a program that uses drones to keep an eye on Chevron wells, tanks, and pipelines—all to keep DOERS and what they’re doin’ safer. Watch the video: http://politi.co/2vLsVyX ******

FOR YOUR RADAR — “Secret Service out of money to pay agents because of Trump’s frequent travel, large family,” by USA Today’s Kevin Johnson: “The Secret Service can no longer afford to pay hundreds of agents it needs to carry out an expanded protective mission – in large part due to the sheer size of President Trump’s family and efforts necessary to secure their multiple residences up and down the East Coast. Secret Service Director Randolph ‘Tex’ Alles, in an interview with USA TODAY, said more than 1,000 agents have already hit the federally mandated caps for salary and overtime allowances that were meant to last the entire year. The agency has faced a crushing workload since the height of the contentious election season, and it has not relented in the first seven months of the administration. Agents must protect Trump – who has traveled almost every weekend to his properties in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia – and his adult children whose business trips and vacations have taken them across the country and overseas.” https://usat.ly/2x5910r

WHAT BOB MUELLER IS READING — NYT A1, “Lobbyist at Trump Campaign Meeting Has a Web of Russian Connections,” by Sharon LaFraniere, David D. Kirkpatrick and Ken Vogel: “Rinat Akhmetshin, a Russian immigrant who met last summer with senior Trump campaign officials, has often struck colleagues as a classic Washington mercenary — loyal to his wife, his daughter and his bank account. He avoided work that would antagonize Moscow, they suggested, only because he profited from his reputation as a man with valuable connections there.

“But interviews with his associates and documents reviewed by The New York Times indicate that Mr. Akhmetshin, who is under scrutiny by the special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, has much deeper ties to the Russian government and Kremlin-backed oligarchs than previously known. He has an association with a former deputy head of a Russian spy service, the F.S.B., and a history of working for close allies of President Vladimir V. Putin. Twice, he has worked on legal battles for Russian tycoons whose opponents suffered sophisticated hacking attacks, arousing allegations of computer espionage. He helped federal prosecutors bring corruption charges against an American businessman in the former Soviet Union who turned out to be working for the C.I.A. … After Mr. Akhmetshin’s presence came to light, a spokesman for Mr. Putin, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters: ‘We don’t know anything about this person.’” http://nyti.ms/2wgcKuL

2020 WATCH — “Trump ramping up for 2020 reelection,” by Alex Isenstadt: “President Donald Trump is methodically building a 2020 reelection campaign machine, shunting aside doubts about his viability for a second term as controversy consumes the early months of his administration. Trump is mapping out a fall fundraising tour that is expected to fill his campaign bank account with tens of millions of dollars. His team has tracked dozens of potential Democratic rivals, a list of names that ranges from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. And his administration has received political advice from a top campaign pollster from his 2016 campaign, who has urged the president to keep up his attacks on the mainstream media. On Tuesday, Trump heads to the swing state of Arizona for a campaign-style rally organized by his political operation.

“The preparations, described by 10 White House staffers, [RNC] officials, and Trump campaign aides, come at a perilous time for the president, who has seen his approval rating plummet to historic lows and is facing mounting criticism from senior Republicans. Trump is under fire for going easy on white supremacists and has failed to sign a major piece of legislation, while a special counsel is bearing down on his campaign’s dealings with Russia. His chief strategist and main conduit to the activist right, Steve Bannon, left the White House on Friday, and Trump’s advisers say the president is increasingly isolated from his own party.

“Yet Trump’s team — rankled by reports that other Republicans are preparing to run in 2020 if the president falters — are proceeding on the assumption the 71-year-old president seeks reelection. The work commenced in January when Trump filed federal papers declaring himself a 2020 candidate.” http://politi.co/2vWQKSW

WASHINGTON EXAMINER’S DAVID DRUCKER — “Paul Ryan gives huge fundraising boost to House Republicans”: “Speaker Paul Ryan continued building a campaign war chest for House Republicans ahead a possibly treacherous midterm election, transferring another $1.5 million to the [NRCC] in July. The transfer brought the total the Wisconsin Republican has raised for the NRCC to more than $27 million through July 31, and represented an increase of nearly $500,000 over what he gave to the House GOP campaign arm in July of last year. Of the $60 million the NRCC raised through June 30, Ryan was responsible for more than half — $33 million (the committee ended the first six months of the year with $33.7 million in the bank).” http://washex.am/2vgqLnG

COMING ATTRACTIONS — “Labor groups step up pressure on Trump to deliver,” by WaPo’s Dave Weigel: “Labor leaders, once courted by President Trump, are stepping up their campaign to turn workers against the White House if it does not deliver more on jobs and trade — and if it does not stop undoing Obama-era regulations. The most visible effort, which starts in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon, is a two-week tour organized by the coalition Good Jobs Nation that ropes in labor-friendly politicians. The coalition, launched in 2013 to pressure Barack Obama’s White House on trade and wage issues, is organizing rallies throughout the Midwest through Labor Day.” http://wapo.st/2uXWkHl

— “First Round of Talks to Revamp Nafta Reveals Friction,” by WSJ’s Sara Schaefer Muñoz and Bob Davis: “Opening-round talks to remake the North American Free Trade Agreement revealed early fissures dividing the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, including a Trump administration proposal to require a ‘substantial portion of autos and auto parts produced under the pact be made in the U.S. The renegotiation of the trade deal, which was one of President Donald Trump’s main campaign promises and a key pillar of his ‘America First’ agenda aiming to revive U.S. manufacturing and reduce the country’s trade deficit, is likely to face many hurdles. Auto makers in all three nations generally oppose the stricter rules floated by the U.S. negotiator, and pro-business lawmakers in Congress don’t want the pact altered to restrict trade.” http://on.wsj.com/2woeWkm

TRUMP’S MONDAY — The president is lunching with VP Mike Pence and will meet with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at 1:30 p.m. He’ll attend the swearing in ceremony for Woody Johnson, who is going to London to be the ambassador to the United Kingdom. Trump is going to Fort Myer at 8:30 p.m. and speaks in prime time about Afghanistan at 9 p.m.

THE JUICE …

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Save My Care is launching a new digital ad campaign urging Republicans to oppose the ending of subsidies for Obamacare. The video http://bit.ly/2fXWF6h

— THE RNC raised $10.6 million in July, per a filing made public Sunday.

TODAY’S THE DAY — “Final Eclipse Plans Under Way as Celestial Event Nears,” by WSJ’s Daniela Hernandez: “Monday marks the end of a 99-year wait as the country experiences a total eclipse of the sun, coast to coast for the first time since 1918. The event is drawing large crowds to small towns and cities, and is expected to become a vast, shared experience online. … Roughly 200 million people live within a day’s drive of the so-called path of totality—the 70-mile-wide swath cutting across 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina where the sky will go completely dark as the moon passes directly in front of the sun …

“Nearly twice as many will be able to view at least a partial eclipse … Hopkinsville, Ky., will have one of the nation’s longest periods of darkness during the Aug. 21 eclipse. If skies are clear, the entire U.S. will be able to see at least partial obscuration. Skygazers are planning weddings, participating in citizen-science projects, and flocking to festivals featuring aliens, science-themed activities and concerts to mark the celestial event.” http://on.wsj.com/2xihnBa … Cool NASA map of the U.S. eclipse path http://politi.co/2v5IQoX … Livestream on NASA’s Facebook page http://bit.ly/2ijuzTB

— PER MORNING MEDIA: “[T]he broadcast networks all have special reports planned, while the cable news channels will have rolling coverage. They all have correspondents spread across the country, and gimmicks too. CNN, for example, will offer a 360 degree virtual reality live stream. Non-TV outlets like Time magazine are getting in on the action too, lest you decide to point your browser in their direction. Time will have its White House correspondent (and certified pilot!) Zeke Miller fly a plane from D.C. to South Carolina, through the path of the eclipse.”

REMEMBERING JERRY LEWIS — “Jerry Lewis, Hollywood survivor, showman, dies at 91,” by AP’s Christy Lemire in Los Angeles: “Jerry Lewis epitomized what it meant to be a survivor in Hollywood. Through ups and downs in popularity, health troubles and weight fluctuations and the sorts of seismic shifts that take place over decades in the entertainment industry, Lewis always figured out a way to battle back, to reinvent himself, to stay relevant. It’s what enduring stars know how to do instinctively; perhaps it’s that very drive that makes them stars in the first place.

“Through it all, Lewis remained the consummate showman, and his distinctive comic legacy surely will continue to survive for decades to come. The manic, rubber-faced performer who jumped and hollered to fame in a stage, radio, TV and film partnership with Dean Martin, settled to become a self-conscious auteur in movies he wrote, produced and directed, and found new fame as the tireless, teary host of the annual muscular dystrophy telethons, died Sunday at home in Las Vegas surrounded by family. He was 91. Lewis, who had battled the lung disease pulmonary fibrosis, heart issues, a debilitating back problem and addiction to pain killers, died of natural causes, according to his publicist.” http://bit.ly/2ijn7rD

PHOTO DU JOUR: Marine One, carrying President Donald Trump, lands on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 20. The president returned to Washington D.C. after a working vacation. | J. David Ake/AP Photo

CHARLIE SYKES in the N.Y.T. Magazine: “I have long admired Paul Ryan and thought of him as the future of the Republican Party. But he’s made a Faustian bargain. I keep thinking about that scene from ‘A Man for All Seasons,’ where Thomas More says, ‘What profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his soul, but for Wales?’ And I keep thinking, But for tax cuts, Paul?” http://nyti.ms/2xjmj98

BOSTON GLOBE’S ANNIE LINSKEY in Bristol, Tennessee: “Among NASCAR fans, there’s a divide over Trump”: “Donald Trump’s seven months in Washington have netted little in the way of meaningful legislative accomplishments or even enforceable executive edicts. Yet many in this crowd said they feel more permission to be outspoken on issues once viewed as sensitive, like race. And in interviews with more than 50 fans here, nearly all have seen divisions in their lives growing wider, with sharper lines between those who support Trump and those who don’t. …

“‘The white people are starting to stand up,’ said Miller ‘Bud’ Fulton, 56, who sat out near his camper sipping beer one evening last week with his son. ‘You’ve got a movement going on.’ Fulton, who drove to the racetrack from Ohio, wanted to be clear about one thing: ‘I’m not a Klan member. I’m not a racist.’” http://bit.ly/2fY6Fw9

THE ADMINISTRATION — “White House Likely to Name Rep. Jim Bridenstine NASA Chief by Next Month,” by WSJ’s Andy Pasztor: “The White House by early September plans to nominate Oklahoma Rep. Jim Bridenstine as head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, tapping a Republican legislator who is a strong proponent of commercial space ventures but has scant management experience, according to people familiar with the details. A former active-duty U.S. Navy pilot who publicly sought the position and was widely reported to be the front-runner even weeks before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Mr. Bridenstine has been a leader in fashioning legislation boosting manned exploration of the moon, including minerals mining. Such positions are in line with the views of senior White House officials … as is his desire to save money—and improve efficiency—by more closely coordinating NASA programs with those at other civilian agencies and the Defense Department.” http://on.wsj.com/2xifDrv

— WE REPORTED Bridenstine was in the running in February, and many of the Oklahoma Republican’s friends were wondering why the administration has been so slow to tap him for this slot. This will spark a special election in Bridenstine’s solidly Republican district, which he snatched from a sitting lawmaker in 2012.

****** A message from Chevron: This is a story about energy, safety, and some truly high-flyin’ doin’. We’re piloting a program that uses drones, HD imaging, and thermal mapping to help keep a close eye on Chevron wells, tanks, and pipelines—all to keep DOERS and what they’re doin’ safer. Watch the video: http://politi.co/2vLsVyX ******

L.A. TIMES — “Trump impeachment more likely than removal, California Rep. Brad Sherman says at town hall meeting,” by Doug Smith: “San Fernando Valley Rep. Brad Sherman received an overwhelming endorsement from constituents Sunday for his decision to introduce articles of impeachment against President Trump. Several hundred attendees of a town hall cheered Sherman’s recitation of the reasons he thinks Trump has committed high crimes and misdemeanors, the constitutional standard for impeachment. …

“‘Impeachment is more likely than the 25th Amendment, and it could take a few more shocking things to happen,’ Sherman said. ‘We’re not there yet.’” http://lat.ms/2fYlRcG

GABE SHERMAN RETURNS — “STEVE BANNON READIES HIS REVENGE: The war on Jared Kushner is about to go nuclear,” in Vanity Fair’s The Hive: “Bannon’s main targets are the West Wing’s coterie of New York Democrat ‘globalists’ — Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and former Goldman Sachs president Gary Cohn—as well as the ‘hawks,’ comprised of National Security Adviser H.R McMaster and his deputy, Dina Powell. ‘He wants to beat their ideas into submission,’ Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow told me. ‘Steve has a lot of things up his sleeve.’

“The chaotic, war-torn West Wing of the past six months will be prologue, but the coming struggles will be as personal as they are ideological, waged not with leaks but with slashing Breitbart banners. On Sunday, Breitbart took renewed aim at McMaster, with a headline claiming he advocated ‘Quran Kissing.’ But most of all, there’s a deep animosity between Bannon and Kushner, amplified by a lack of respect. Bannon finds Kushner’s political instincts highly questionable. ‘He said Jared is a dope,’ one Bannon ally recalled.

“The two clashed fiercely on personnel decisions and policy debates, both domestic and international, many of which Bannon lost. But Bannon, who was the only West Wing advisor to publicly support the president’s response to the violence in Charlottesville, is especially galled at being scapegoated as an anti-Semite in its wake. ‘It’s one of the attacks he takes most personally because it’s not true,’ a Breitbart staffer told me.” http://bit.ly/2wohu1K

VALLEY READ — “Tech Goes From White House to Doghouse in Trump’s Washington,” by Bloomberg’s Todd Shields, Mark Bergen and Ben Brody: “Google once had Barack Obama’s ear, served as a revolving door for White House staff and saw its political agenda advance. In Donald Trump’s Washington, some conservatives say it’s gotten so powerful it should be regulated like a public utility. Google is not alone in a fall from grace. Tech companies — including Facebook and Amazon.com — that were previously lauded as innovators are facing increased scrutiny over their size, their hiring practices and whether online news feeds skew liberal. …

“A regulation that protects data flows is already slated for gutting by the Federal Communications Commission, and, in Congress, a law has been proposed that would bring internet companies under a privacy regulator. Another would increase legal liability for website operators as a way to combat online sex trafficking.” https://bloom.bg/2vWzjSF

SPOTTED: Tiffany Trump and Marla Maples yesterday at Miss Pixies on 14th

TRANSITIONS — Molly Drenkard has been promoted to national press secretary for the House Republican Conference.

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Steve Case, chairman and CEO of Revolution and co-founder of AOL, is 59. How he’s celebrating: “First, I’d like to point out that I won’t just be celebrating my birthday on August 21st — it’s also World Entrepreneurship Day — a time to celebrate all the ways in which brilliant minds and ideas have changed the way we live, work, and interact. Today, popular culture often glamorizes the profession. But there is often little glamour involved in building a startup. I like to say that AOL was an overnight success 10 years in the making. It’s important that we celebrate the contributions and journeys of those that pursue such challenging paths. On Monday, I’ll be in Tennessee to watch the solar eclipse with my wife Jean. Jean is chairman of National Geographic and I am vice chairman of the Smithsonian Institution, so we decided to travel to a place where we can (weather permitting) see the total eclipse. It’s an awesome way to celebrate a birthday!” Read his Playbook Plus Q&A: http://politi.co/2iioTcF

BIRTHDAYS: Ken Mehlman, global head of public affairs at KKR … Peter Hamby, head of news at Snapchat and host of Snapchat’s “Good Luck America” (hat tips: girlfriend Jackie Alemany, Rachel Racusen and Jesse Ferguson) … NBC newsman Harry Smith is 65 … WaPo’s Manuel Roig-Franzia … Ben Howard, special assistant to the president who works in the office of legislative affairs (h/t dad Jack) … Politico’s David Beavers … Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is 61 … Mike Shannon … Margaret Chan, former director-general of WHO, is 7-0 … Steve Munroe is 32 … Elizabeth Stoltz … Stephen Neuman, Hillary campaign alum, is 41 … Brian Parks of Locust Street Group … Matt Cott … Puja Murgai … Joe Minges … Hunter Lipscomb … Katie Brown … Politico Europe’s Stephanie Semeraro …

… Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin is 49 (h/t Matt Rhoades) … Elaine Godfrey, assistant editor at The Atlantic and author of their “Politics and Policy Daily” newsletter (h/t Daniel Stublen) … Ruben Olmos, president of government/public affairs shop Global Nexus, LLC … Cheyne Worley … Mary Ann Naylor … Bruce Evans … Katherine Rojas … Sarah Rusciano … Joan Kirchner … Marguerite Biagi … former Fox News and NY Post reporter Jana Winter … David Heifetz … Matt DeCample … Reuben Jeffery is 64 … Greg Bell, executive comms at Pinterest … Robert Wells … Joe Mathieu … Quartz’s Cameron Hough … Lindsay Fisher, VP at Citigroup … WMAL’s Heather Smith … Francine McMahon … former Calif. Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado is 5-0 … Brandon Lee Breaux … Larry Martin … Paul Harstad (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) … Lamont Black … Jack Kelly … Tom Houck … Jessica Lee … Adam Dubitsky … Heather Martin … Olympic gold medal sprinter Usain Bolt is 31 (h/t AP)

****** A message from Chevron: This is a story about energy, safety, and some truly high-flyin’ doin’. We’re piloting a program that uses drones, HD imaging, and thermal mapping to help keep a close eye on Chevron wells, tanks, and pipelines—all to keep DOERS and what they’re doin’ safer. Watch the video: http://politi.co/2vLsVyX ******

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from CapitalistHQ.com https://capitalisthq.com/first-look-inside-the-new-oval-office-nyt-w-h-frets-about-trumps-phoenix-rally-trump-ramps-up-for-2020-bannon-takes-aim-at-kushner-ivanka-and-cohn-secret-service-cash-crunch/

[everettwilkinson]

INSIDE TRUMP’s intelligence consumption, management style — SPOTTED: Corey Lewandowski at Peet’s Coffee across from W.H. — PENCE to hit campaign trail — SHOCK: Congress in a knot over the debt ceiling

Listen to the Playbook Audio Briefing http://bit.ly/2s9BPTg … Subscribe on iTunes http://apple.co/2eX6Eay … Visit the online home of Playbook http://politi.co/2f51Jnf

Good Tuesday morning. We hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day week. Congress is out, and we’re seeing a lot of out-of-office messages pop up. But we expect President Donald Trump’s decision this week on the Paris climate accords. In the last few days, Trump administration officials have publicly and privately predicted the president is open to remaining a part of the climate deal, will absolutely pull out of the agreement and will attempt to renegotiate the accord.

Story Continued Below

THERE IS NOT MUCH on President Donald Trump’s public schedule today — just lunch with Vice President Mike Pence at 12:30 p.m. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is slated to meet with President Donald Trump Wednesday at the White House. Vietnam Airlines flight number 1 — a Boeing 787 — is scheduled to land at Andrews Air Force Base today at 3:05 p.m. from New York. The plane is scheduled to leave Andrews at 9:10 p.m. Wednesday for Frankfurt. http://bit.ly/2riGeVD

SPOTTED — COREY LEWANDOWSKI on Memorial Day at Peet’s Coffee across from the White House, “suitcase in hand,” per our tipster.

AND THERE’S MORE …

MATT ROSENBERG, MARK MAZZETTI and MAGGIE HABERMAN on NYT, A1– “Investigation Turns to Kushner’s Motives in Meeting With a Putin Ally”: “Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, was looking for a direct line to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia — a search that in mid-December found him in a room with a Russian banker whose financial institution was deeply intertwined with Russian intelligence, and remains under sanction by the United States.

“Federal and congressional investigators are now examining what exactly Mr. Kushner and the Russian banker, Sergey N. Gorkov, wanted from each other. The banker is a close associate of Mr. Putin, but he has not been known to play a diplomatic role for the Russian leader. That has raised questions about why he was meeting with Mr. Kushner at a crucial moment in the presidential transition, according to current and former officials familiar with the investigations.” http://nyti.ms/2r6Ak9T

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INSIDE THE WEST WING — WAPO A1, “How President Trump consumes — or does not consume — top-secret intelligence,” by Phil Rucker and Ashley Parker (print headline: “Serving intelligence to Trump in small bites”): “President Trump consumes classified intelligence like he does most everything else in life: ravenously and impatiently, eager to ingest glinting nuggets but often indifferent to subtleties. Most mornings, often at 10:30, sometimes earlier, Trump sits behind the historic Resolute desk and, with a fresh Diet Coke fizzing and papers piled high, receives top-secret updates on the world’s hot spots. The president interrupts his briefers with questions but also with random asides. He asks that the top brass of the intelligence community be present, and he demands brevity.

“As they huddle around the desk, Trump likes to pore over visuals — maps, charts, pictures and videos, as well as ‘killer graphics,’ as CIA Director Mike Pompeo phrased it. … Though career intelligence analysts often take the lead in delivering them, Trump likes his political appointees — Pompeo and [DNI Daniel] Coats — to attend, along with national security adviser H.R. McMaster. Pompeo and Coats, whose offices are in McLean, Va., have had to redesign their daily routines so that they spend many mornings at the White House. Vice President Pence usually attends, while other administration principals join depending on the topic of the day, including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly. Senior members of the West Wing staff sometimes float in and out of the Oval Office during the briefings. …

“Jared Kushner … often observes quietly; he receives his own intelligence briefing earlier in the morning, according to two White House officials. … Trump also has encouraged his briefers to include as many visual elements as possible. This is a reflection, aides said, of Trump’s career as a real estate developer who evaluated blueprints and renderings to visualize what a property eventually would look like. ‘Sometimes,’ Coats said, ‘pictures do say a thousand words.’” http://wapo.st/2sgKNNC

HOW THE PRESIDENT MANAGES – “Snubs and slights are part of the job in Trump’s White House,” by WaPo’s Ashley Parker: “In Trump’s White House, aides serve a president who demands absolute loyalty — but who doesn’t always offer it in return. Trump prefers a management style in which even compliments can come laced with a bite, and where enduring snubs and belittling jokes, even in public, is part of the job. Allies say the president’s quips are simply good-natured teasing, part of an inclusive strategy meant to make even mid-level staff members feel like family. But others consider Trump’s comments pointed reminders to those who work for him that he is in charge — barbs from the boss that keep aides on guard and off kilter, and can corrode staff morale.

“Trump sometimes refers to his 45-year-old chief of staff, Reince Priebus, as ‘Reince-y,’ a diminutive nickname that some aides and outside rivals recount with gleeful relish. … The president has described House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), in theory one of his top allies on Capitol Hill, as a ‘Boy Scout’ — a dig that the lawmaker joked he chose to take as a compliment even though ‘I’m not sure he meant it that way.’ … And during the transition, Trump would make a point of noting that Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s crowds paled compared to his, teasing that even his daughter Ivanka and son Eric attracted more attention, said two people familiar with the comments, which they considered demeaning.” http://wapo.st/2s94Jm8

— HOPE HICKS’ statement to Ashley: “President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him. He has an unparalleled ability to communicate with people, whether he is speaking to a room of three or an arena of 30,000. He has built great relationships throughout his life and treats everyone with respect. He is brilliant with a great sense of humor … and an amazing ability to make people feel special and aspire to be more than even they thought possible.”

— @TVietor08: “Hope Hicks does a hilarious impression of North Korean propaganda in this quote to @AshleyRParker” http://bit.ly/2r6stZU

****** A message from Morgan Stanley: Morgan Stanley helped E-commerce leader Alibaba Group advance technologies to give rural communities access to goods and services once considered out of reach. Capital creates change. Read the full story at morganstanley.com/alibaba CRC 1221469 06/15 ******

ALEX ISENSTADT SCOOP: PENCE REEMERGING — “Pence to make campaign push amid GOP concerns over Trump”: “Vice President Mike Pence is embarking on a cross-country summer campaign tour amid rising fears that the GOP, reeling from a barrage of Trump-fueled controversies, is headed for a midterm election disaster. Pence is mapping out a schedule that will take him through several Midwestern battlegrounds and to traditionally conservative southern states like Georgia, where an unexpectedly competitive June special election runoff is alarming party strategists. The vice president will also attend a series of Republican Party events that will draw major donors and power-brokers, where talk about 2018 is certain to be front-and-center.

“The push comes at a time of growing consternation among senior Republicans who say the White House has given them little direction on midterm planning. Many complain that they do not even know who to contact about 2018 in an administration that has been consumed by chaos. ‘He has an appetite to fight so he’s going to get out there and fight on the president’s behalf,’ said Nick Ayers, a longtime Pence strategist. At the same time, the vice president’s increased electoral activity has stoked speculation that Pence is positioning himself for a post-Trump future in the party, something his advisers strenuously deny.” http://politi.co/2qBpsNH

2018 WATCH — NYT A16, “‘Narrowcast’ Trump? Republicans Seek Formula to Keep House Majority,” by Jeremy Peters in Roswell, Georgia: “In the northern suburbs of Atlanta, where what is likely to be the most expensive House campaign in history is being waged, a band of conservative advocacy groups is grappling with a question that may decide whether the Republican Party keeps its House majority after 2018: Do you run with President Trump or against him? Somehow, the groups are discovering, they will have to do both. …

“The trick for Republicans and their allied outside groups is figuring out how to avoid conspicuously embracing the president without alienating conservative voters who would view any overt rebuff as a betrayal. ‘That is the question we are trying to answer right now,’ said Ralph Reed, whose Faith and Freedom Coalition is based in Georgia and is involved in the special election. As for Mr. Trump, Mr. Reed added: ‘I don’t think you really look to broadcast him. You narrowcast him.’” http://nyti.ms/2quX3O0

JUST POSTED — STEPHEN MILLER PROFILE – WILLIAM D. COHAN in Vanity Fair’s summer issue, “How Stephen Miller Rode White Rage from Duke’s Campus to Trump’s West Wing”: “Despite Miller’s penchant for outrageous provocation, his family was very much like others in Santa Monica. His mother, Miriam, from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, came from a well-known Jewish family that had made a fortune in retailing. His father, Michael, a Stanford graduate, was a lawyer and real-estate mini-mogul. These days, the Millers together own Cordary Inc., a real-estate investment company … [which] owns and manages three multi-family residential ‘communities’ in the Los Angeles area comprised of 471 rental units.

“Ironically, the family would not have made it to the United States had someone like Stephen Miller been in the White House a century ago. Facing religious persecution, Miriam’s family — the Glossers — fled Belarus, arriving in New York in 1903. ‘Imagine living in a place where armed Cossacks ride through the streets, looking to cripple or kill you,’ wrote Robert Jeschonek, in ‘Long Live Glosser’s,’ a 2014 book about the family. … One former Duke student remembers Miller’s behavior in class more than she does his political views. In a freshman history course about the American Revolution, she recalls, ‘Just right away, he’d just walk in, put his head down, and go to sleep.’ After giving Miller a few good-natured warnings, the professor kicked him out. ‘He’s got that sleepy-eyed, sloe-eyed look, but he’s just saying ‘F*** you’ to the world,’ she says.” http://bit.ly/2r6MfVd

COMING ATTRACTIONS — “Debt fight blindsides Congress,” by Burgess Everett and Rachael Bade: “President Donald Trump’s top economic aides are urging Capitol Hill leaders to raise the debt ceiling by the end of July. And Congress is totally unprepared to do so. Lawmakers in both parties thought they’d have until the fall to act, and had planned to roll the always-difficult vote into a broader spending package that could be more easily swallowed. That strategy may now have to be tossed aside with the debt limit deadline approaching faster than expected.

“The White House request raises the prospect of a bruising fight over the debt limit — not just between Republicans and Democrats but within both parties. The GOP is torn over whether to combine spending cuts with the debt ceiling lift, and Senate Democrats are already signaling they may push for their own concessions since their votes are going to be needed to avoid a devastating government default. The request will also scramble the congressional calendar. The GOP is currently embroiled in an effort to repeal Obamacare and rewrite the tax code, two massive legislative items that are expected to suck up time and energy all summer.” http://politi.co/2rQ2GGq

FOR YOUR RADAR — “North Korea warns of ‘bigger gift package’ for U.S. after latest test,” by Reuters’ Ju-min Park and Jack Kim in Seoul: “North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of a new ballistic missile controlled by a precision guidance system and ordered the development of more powerful strategic weapons, the North’s official KCNA news agency reported on Tuesday. The missile launched on Monday was equipped with an advanced automated pre-launch sequence compared with previous versions of the ‘Hwasong’ rockets, North Korea’s name for its Scud-class missiles, KCNA said. That indicated the North had launched a modified Scud-class missile, as South Korea’s military has said.” http://reut.rs/2sgB2yW

— “Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega dies at 83,” by AP’s Juan Zamorano and Kathia Martinez in Panama City: “Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, a onetime U.S. ally who was ousted as Panama’s dictator by an American invasion in 1989, died late Monday at age 83. Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela wrote in his Twitter account that ‘the death of Manuel A. Noriega closes a chapter in our history.’ Varela added, ‘His daughters and his relatives deserve to mourn in peace.’ Noriega ruled with an iron fist, ordering the deaths of those who opposed him and maintaining a murky, close and conflictive relationship with the United States.” http://apne.ws/2qBlKUl

THE JUICE…

— FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: JOHN HEILEMANN is now a national affairs analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.

— OBAMA ALUMNI: FRANK BENENATI is starting a new job in Chicago at United Airlines as director of corporate communications. He previously served as the director of public affairs for the EPA and also was as a White House spokesperson and assistant press secretary.

THE N.Y. POST and N.Y. DAILY NEWS have the same front page today. A mugshot photo of Tiger Woods with the headline “DUI OF THE TIGER.” The Post http://nyp.st/2algwpl … The Daily News http://bit.ly/2sgRGhO

PHOTO DU JOUR: Brittany Jacobs, left, watches as her 6-year-old son Christian Jacobs talks with President Donald Trump at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on May 29. Jacobs’ father, Marine Sgt. Christopher Jacobs, was killed in 2011. | Evan Vucci/AP Photo

REP. DEVIN NUNES (R-CALIF.) SPEAKS, via Sarah Wire in the L.A. Times: “Embattled House Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes told hundreds of local Republicans at a recent private dinner fundraiser that congressional investigations into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election are about Democrats trying to justify Hillary Clinton’s loss.

“‘The Democrats don’t want an investigation on Russia. They want an independent commission. Why do they want an independent commission? Because they want to continue the narrative that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are best friends, and that’s the reason that he won, because Hillary Clinton would have never lost on her own; it had to be someone else’s fault,’ Nunes told Republicans at the $75-per-plate Tulare County Lincoln Dinner on April 7. His remarks were recorded on video and provided to The Times.

“‘They have tried to destroy this Russia investigation, they’ve never been serious about it, and one of the great things now that I’ve stepped aside from this Russia investigation, I can actually say what I want to say. I know that there’s probably media in here, you can write it but just try to get it right when you do,’ he said.” http://lat.ms/2riC4gt

BEYOND THE BELTWAY — “Threats of violence, unfinished business, rowdy protesters mark end of tumultuous legislative session,” by Dallas Morning News’ Brandi Grissom, Robert T. Garrett, Lauren McGaughy and James Barragan in Austin: “Lawmakers threatened to shoot and beat one another up on the final day of a legislative session beset by angry fights and emotional outbursts that often got in the way of completing their agenda. ‘Our nerves are frayed. It’s the last day of a long session,’ said Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Frisco. ‘We just want to go home.’ …

“Reps. Ramon Romero and Cesar Blanco said Rep. Matt Rinaldi, a staunchly conservative Republican from Irving and ardent supporter of the anti-immigration legislation, approached them. Rinaldi told them he had called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to report the protesters, many of whom were Hispanic. The Democrats were infuriated. A shoving match and threats of violence ensued. Rinaldi said Rep. Poncho Nevarez, a Democrat from Eagle Pass, threatened to ‘get me on the way to my car.’ Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, said he heard Rinaldi warn Nevarez that he would ‘put a bullet in your head.’

“Rinaldi issued a statement that said he threatened to shoot Nevarez in self-defense only after the Democrat threatened him. The Republican said he was under Department of Public Safety protection following the kerfuffle.” http://bit.ly/2rfnYe5

— “Cities join call for impeachment,” by POLITICO Illinois Playbook’s Natasha Korecki: “Congress may not be ready to launch impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, but a growing number of cities and towns are trying to push members in that direction. Brookline, Mass., became the 10th and latest local government Thursday to pass a resolution calling for impeachment, a step designed to add pressure on the state’s congressmen to launch a formal investigation that could ultimately lead to the president’s removal from office.” http://politi.co/2rzT1E2

****** A message from Morgan Stanley: Capital creates more commerce. New technology can make even small businesses big. E-commerce leader Alibaba Group built an online and mobile marketplace connecting small businesses to customers in China and beyond. Morgan Stanley helped take the company public, leading a $25 billion IPO—the largest in history1. Alibaba’s subsequent growth is helping fulfill the company’s ambition of giving rural communities access to goods and services once considered out of reach. Across the globe, we’re working to advance the technologies that help more people to prosper. Capital creates change. morganstanley.com/alibaba

DISCLAIMER: 1CRC 1122237 04/15 ******

THE OPPOSITION — “Since election, yoga rises off the mat to take on Donald Trump,” by USA Today’s Paul Singer: https://usat.ly/2sgzXqS

OFF MESSAGE PODCAST: Sen. Ben Sasse joins Isaac Dovere on the latest episode of POLITICO’s Off Message podcast talking about how President Donald Trump comes to the presidency from the world of reality TV. “And I have lots of anxiety about whether or not that kind of world is really what we want for our kids,” the Nebraska Republican senator said. Listen and subscribe http://apple.co/2nEa7y0

— “Is Trump an ���adult’? Ben Sasse won’t say,” by Isaac Dovere: http://politi.co/2rivyGC

REMEMBERING FRANK DEFORD – NYT’s Daniel Victor: “Frank Deford, who mined the sports world for human stories and told them with literary grace over six decades in Sports Illustrated, a shelf of books and many years of radio and television commentary, died on Sunday at his home in Key West, Fla. He was 78. … Mr. Deford retired from NPR’s “Morning Edition” on May 3, signing off with what the radio network said was his 1,656th weekly commentary since 1980. He also appeared on HBO’s ‘Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel’ for 22 years and wrote for Sports Illustrated for more than 30 years. At Sports Illustrated, he became a leader in a form of literary sports journalism nurtured by its managing editor, André Laguerre, who recruited him as one of a blue-ribbon roster of writers that included Mark Kram, Dan Jenkins and Roy Blount Jr.” http://nyti.ms/2riAUSq

VALLEY TALK — “Court Documents Shed Light on Theranos Board’s Response to Crisis: Two former directors didn’t follow up on allegations that the blood-testing firm was relying on standard technology,” by WSJ’s Christopher Weaver: “Two former Theranos Inc. directors said they didn’t follow up on public allegations that the Silicon Valley blood-testing firm was relying on standard technology rather than its much-hyped proprietary device for most tests, according to newly released court documents.

“In depositions, the highly decorated former directors — former U.S. Navy Adm. Gary Roughead and former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz — who were board members when concerns of employees and regulators became public—said they didn’t question Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes about the matter.” http://on.wsj.com/2r6XWes

MEDIAWATCH — “Tronc plan to buy Sun-Times may face competition,” by Natasha Korecki: “At least two outside parties have shown interest in buying the Chicago Sun-Times, possibly scuttling what was thought to be a done deal with the owner of the Chicago Tribune, a newspaper guild representative told POLITICO. David Roeder, a consultant with the Chicago News Guild, which represents the newsrooms of the Sun-Times and the Chicago Reader, said that at least two other interested groups of buyers have reached out to the guild and expressed an interest in buying the news organization.” http://politi.co/2rzu4bS

–TEDDY SCHLEIFER to Recode — per Joe Pompeo’s Morning Media: “Recode has nabbed Teddy Schleifer from CNN, where he has been a Washington-based politics and campaign finance reporter. At Recode, Schleifer will be a senior editor based in San Francisco.”

TRANSITIONS — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Theo LeCompte, former deputy chief of staff at the Commerce Department and COO at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, is joining MemoryWell as COO. Former TIME correspondent and current contributor Jay Newton-Small started the organization to use a network of freelance journalists to write “life stories” for patients entering long term care to help improve their care.

WEEKEND WEDDINGS — Warren Bass, senior editor of the Wall Street Journal’s Review section, was married Sunday to Jenna Slutsky, a psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center, at Wainwright House in Rye, N.Y. The couple met on the subway going from Brooklyn to the Upper West Side. The waterside ceremony was performed by Rabbi Aaron Panken, the president of Hebrew Union College, and Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of New York’s Central Synagogue. SPOTTED: Susan Rice and Ian Cameron, Adam Entous, Emily Bazelon, Brooke Anderson, David Greenberg and Suzanne Nossel, Salman and Cat Ahmed, Andrew Weiss and Kate Julian, Jen Simon, Ken Baer and Caron Gremont, Mieke Eoyang, Krishanti Vignarajah and Collin O’Mara, Grant Harris and Tara Bahrampour.

ANOTHER SCHUMER MARRIAGE! — Meghan Taira, legislative director for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Gerry Petrella, policy director for Leader Schumer, were married on Monday by Danny Akaka Jr. at the Sunset Ranch on the north shore of Oahu in front of friends and family from Hawaii, Long Island, Washington and beyond. Pool report: “The bride wore her mother’s beautiful dress, the groom wore his finest Tommy Bahama number as the crowd danced the night away to songs including ‘Sweet Child Of Mine,’ the karaoke song that first brought the couple together. The ladies wore local leis, the men kukui necklaces and everyone brought their finest aloha spirit. POG juice and rum flowed and laughter roared late into the night.”

— Joel Mowbray, founder of Fourth Factor Consulting, a strategic consulting firm that works with mostly Silicon Valley tech companies, on Sunday married Valeria Bystritskaia, who was Miss Germany 2011 and competed in Miss Universe. Fun facts: she speaks five languages and shares the same immigration attorney as Melania Trump, Michael Wildes. Joel is a former fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. The wedding was in Aspen: all the guests stayed at the St. Regis and the ceremony was outdoors with a chuppah in the grass and the trees and mountains as the backdrop. Festivities kicked off Friday night with a Shabbat dinner at Chabad in Aspen. On Saturday, after Shabbat, guests enjoyed scotch and cigars. The couple met in synagogue at Kiddush last May, the first Shabbat after Passover. He went up to go talk to her and asked her where she was from (her favorite question): She replied: “From everywhere around the world” and promptly walked away. Pics by Ross Daniels Photography http://bit.ly/2qvhKcH … http://bit.ly/2rx6sVw … http://bit.ly/2s9wbAz

SPOTTED: Ted and Heidi Cruz, Ed and Marie Royce, David Panton, Larry Mizel, Martin and Rivka Rapaport, their children Ezi and Penina, Sander and Tracy Gerber, Eric and Yvette Edidin, Arie Lipnick, Elliott Broidy, Adam Ross, David Panton, Noah Pollak, Martin Rapaport, Travis Allen, David and Donna Keene, Rich Miniter, Rex Elsass, Reid Spitz, David and Hila Brog, wedding planner Jason Burns.

–Sabrina Singh, deputy comms director for American Bridge, and Mike Smith, DCCC national finance director, got married in Newport Beach, at the hotel Pelican Hill. The officiant was Mike’s sister Jaime Smith. DCCC, DGA, and HFA families were well represented in the wedding party. The best man was Tom Mintz and groomsmen included Jonathan Levy, Haley Simmons, and Tanner Ahern. Her bridesmaids/maids of honor included Devon MacLaughlin, Sarah Rothschild, Lauren Wolman, and Tori Murphy. They met at the DCCC in 2011.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — CNN correspondent Sunlen Serfaty and husband Alexis Serfaty, VP and chief of staff at the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, email friends and family: “Sunlen and I are overjoyed to welcome to the world, Roosevelt Jolie Serfaty! Miss Serfaty arrived on Sunday evening at 5:23 pm, weighing 8 pounds and one ounce — twenty one inches long, with beautiful, big, and curious eyes. Her name carries special meaning for us — Roosevelt, ‘Field of Roses’ in honor of Rose Park, where we first met and were married. Mom and baby are well and Roosevelt can’t wait to meet everyone!” Pic http://politi.co/2qBfSdN

— Josh Kraushaar, political editor at National Journal, and Hannah Kraushaar, program manager at National Defense University, have welcomed Avi Ethan Kraushaar, who was born on Wednesday. Pic with big sister Shana http://politi.co/2rfavTa

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: former DCCC Chairman/Congressman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), now chairman of the Global Institute at Long Island University, is 59. How he’s celebrating: “Once I left Congress, I went from the House to a new house near Theodore Roosevelt’s home on Long Island. I’ll be celebrating there, poolside, with my family and dog, Theo.” Read his Playbook Plus Q&A: http://politi.co/2rzMl97

BIRTHDAYS: Michelle Cottle, contributing editor at The Atlantic and a TNR alum … Jenna Lee, co-host of FOX News’ “Happening Now” (hat tip: James Rosen) … Kim Kingsley … Miryam Lipper, press secretary for Sen. Tim Kaine and alum of HFA and DNC, who celebrated last night at a small Memorial Day dinner with HFA and DNC friends (h/ts Ian Sams and Tyrone Gayle) … Frank Thorp, producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC … Holly Page (h/ts Tammy, Kelley, Jacquie and Jon) … CAA’s Alan Berger … Ashe Schow, reporter at Real Clear Investigations … Eric Levenson, a digital writer at CNN (h/t Sarah Jorgensen) … Hannah Cooper, a staff assistant for Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.), is 23 (h/t Sean Gogolin) … Shawnda Westly … WSJ alum Gautham Nagesh, founder and editor of Stiff Jab, the premier fight site on Tumblr … Blake Williams … Larry Silverstein is 86 (h/t Jewish Insider) …

… Josh Gatlin is 41 … Lisa Stark, broadcast correspondent at Education Week and the PBS NewsHour who is an ABC News and Al Jazeera America alum … Joe Williams … Reema Dodin, floor director for Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democratic Whip … Marshall Project managing editor Kirsten Danis … PhRMA’s Nicole Longo … Politico’s Pratyusha Sankuratri … Ashley Bender, associate at Arnold & Porter (h/t Trey Herr) … Thomas Brown Dowd, who was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and was KIA in Vietnam in 1967, would have been 73 (h/t best friend Fred Graefe) … Hunter Williams of Covington & Burling … Brian Infante, associate at Portfolio Advisors … Politico Europe’s Fiona Maxwell … Jorna Taylor … Lauren Nevin … Nicholas Ballasy … Sheila Ali-Oston … Doug Grane, co-founder and partner at PE and angel investing firm St. Andrews Partners … Greg Moore … Thomas Cluderay … Joe Cowie … Scott Froyen … Stephanie Bosh … Chris Gowen (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) … Gary Lee … Sheila Ali-Oston … Wynonna Judd is 53 … Cee Lo Green is 43 (h/ts AP)

****** A message from Morgan Stanley: Capital creates more commerce. New technology can make even small businesses big. E-commerce leader Alibaba Group built an online and mobile marketplace connecting small businesses to customers in China and beyond. Morgan Stanley helped take the company public, leading a $25 billion IPO—the largest in history1. Alibaba’s subsequent growth is helping fulfill the company’s ambition of giving rural communities access to goods and services once considered out of reach. Across the globe, we’re working to advance the technologies that help more people to prosper. Capital creates change. morganstanley.com/alibaba

DISCLAIMER: 1CRC 1122237 04/15 ******

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