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Today's Playbook Power Briefing presented by UnitedHealth Group

By ANNA PALMER (anna@politico.com; @apalmerdc), JAKE SHERMAN (sherman@politico.com; @JakeSherman), DANIEL LIPPMAN (daniel@politico.com; @dlippman) and ZACH MONTELLARO (zmontellaro@politico.com; @ZachMontellaro)


NEW -- WAPO's JULIET ELPERIN and BRADY DENNIS: "Man hired to sweep Scott Pruitt's office for bugs is in business with a top EPA security official": "Pasquale 'Nino' Perrotta -- who heads Pruitt's security detail and also serves as a principal of Rockville-based Sequoia Security Group -- suggested last year to EPA officials that they hire a fellow member of the management team at Sequoia, Edwin Steinmetz, according to an administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal agency decisions. The roughly $3,000 contract to sweep Pruitt's office for concealed listening devices was conducted by Edwin Steinmetz Associates, the official said."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a2ec73dcc2788c126994033683bf4d1d4523d9f38ae20dfa48634de309758810a8e84a6dfe5d80abf

-- "EPA appointee gets approval to consult for outside clients," by the AP's Michael Biesecker: "A key aide to [EPA] Administrator Scott Pruitt has been granted permission to make extra money moonlighting for private clients whose identities are being kept secret. A letter approving outside employment contracts for John Konkus -- signed by an EPA ethics lawyer in August -- was released Monday by Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"The ethics official noted that Konkus' outside contracts presented a 'financial conflict of interest' and barred him from participating in matters at EPA that would have a 'direct and predictable' financial benefit for his clients. ...

"The letter gave Konkus approval to work for at least two clients. Those names were blacked out by the agency before a copy was provided to Congress, citing a privacy exemption more typically used to protect personnel records and medical files. The letter said Konkus was also expected to take on additional private clients, advising them about 'strategy, mail and media production.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a42d5f7840b6e6cf3127f7f481d72736624d5e033e1938d69721eabb5506905babf0f7e38330adffa

-- WE CAN TELL YOU with near 100% certainty that this would've been a major scandal in the Obama administration.

-- KELLYANNE VIOLATED HATCH ACT: REUTERS: "Kellyanne Conway, one of President Donald Trump's top advisers, violated federal law in two televised interviews last year by using her White House position to weigh in on a political race, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said on Tuesday.

"In the interviews, one on Fox News Channel on Nov. 20 and another on Dec. 6 on CNN, Conway 'impermissibly mixed official government business with political views about candidates in the Alabama special election,' the independent investigative agency said in a report it submitted to Trump for 'appropriate disciplinary action.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a652150fefb6e0473aec36bc16453d0ff96063a5d14d9bcab89afb8d4e8c9a37a6d7950cd966379bb OSC's news release http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9aedf6a619815db06d29499efb7d9f5ede1516adf4465ebff252364370dcacff5b9f4b9e1c30d6af59

Good Tuesday afternoon. Polls in the Texas primary close tonight at 8 p.m. east coast time Follow the results http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9af255882dfe49c1693cf5a9521caf2ebeb3e9b9941b9ca145b2ae758c4c26d97cd7214e8a083b7bb0

TWO IMPORTANT STORIES ...

BUZZ ON THAD COCHRAN'S REPLACEMENT ... Gov. Phil Bryant will get put someone in the seat until November, which, theoretically gives this person a leg up on Election Day.

-- CLARION LEDGER READING THE TEA LEAFS ON WHO BRYANT MIGHT APPOINT: "Most politicos seem convinced of the top two names: Republicans Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. Conventional wisdom is they have the best chance of winning a special election against McDaniel if he were to switch races. ...

"House Speaker Phillip Gunn is another possible candidate, though many fear his lack of statewide name recognition and his support for changing the state flag would make him a rather weak opponent against McDaniel.

"Whatever Bryant decides, those closest to him say he will not appoint [Chris] McDaniel [who is running against Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)].

"U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, who is retiring at the end of this year, was once the presumed appointee; however, multiple sources say he has no interest in the appointment and will not run for another federal office. As for Bryant taking the appointment for himself -- something President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have urged him to do -- it appears the governor remains resolute in his decision to stay in Mississippi." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a3aea6e2e40398e0bff6f13bb096295ba4caa7adaf0337ea91ff8dbbe74a50e728945c75343703144

-- "GOP Senate hopeful's radio show listed pro-southern secession group as a 'favorite' website," by CNN KFile's Andrew Kaczynski: "The show's website, which is archived in two different places on the Internet Wayback Machine, reveals that McDaniel and his co-host, Jack Fairchilds, listed among their favorite websites the League of the South, a group that describes itself as a 'Southern Nationalist organization that seeks the survival, well-being, and independence of the Southern people.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a1e0a71772341cb6901b31762b33049835b51fd732813c9ee728686f0e78bf9e56179620ed058d279

BUZZ -- SOMETHING TO WATCH WITH COCHRAN'S EXIT: There's talk in tech circles that Cochran's departure could spark a move in early April in the Senate to vote on overturning the FCC's decision to repeal net neutrality. Right now there are 49 Democratic senators and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) who support overturning the decision. Once Cochran leaves, that means Vice President Mike Pence, president of the Senate, could no longer break the tie.

THE MEASURE NEEDS a majority of those present and voting to pass. There's also speculation that a handful of Republican senators could break with party lines and end up supporting the measure. OF COURSE -- This will all depend on how quickly the governor moves to fill Cochran's seat and McConnell can install his replacement.

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ON TARIFFS ... SPEAKER PAUL RYAN this morning said CHINA is abusing the steel market by "dumping" and "transshipping" but urged the administration to be "surgical" in its approach to steel and aluminium tariffs.

BREAKING THIS MORNING -- "North Korea Is Willing to Discuss Giving Up Nuclear Weapons, South Says," by NYT's Choe Sang-Hun: "North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has told South Korean envoys that his country is willing to begin negotiations with the United States on abandoning its nuclear weapons and that it would suspend all nuclear and missile tests while it is engaged in such talks, South Korean officials said on Tuesday.

"During the envoys' two-day visit to Pyongyang, the North's capital, which ended on Tuesday, the two Koreas also agreed to hold a summit meeting between Mr. Kim and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea on the countries' border in late April, Mr. Moon's office said in a statement.

"'The North Korean side clearly stated its willingness to denuclearize,' the statement said. 'It made it clear that it would have no reason to keep nuclear weapons if the military threat to the North was eliminated and its security guaranteed.'' http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9ac6f0fc3a0dc2b8d268419a337d142f57ee6615bfbab73764699146addacb19833dff1efbe7f9fb3e

-- TRUMP'S RESPONSE -- @realDonaldTrump at 8:05 a.m., quote-tweeting a Drudge Report tweet on Kim Jong Un hosting South Korean envoys: "We will see what happens!"

WHAT'S NEXT ON GUNS -- "White House continues to delay gun proposals amid uncertainty," by CNN's Dan Merica: "President Donald Trump isn't expected to announce new proposed action on guns until he meets with representatives of the video game industry on Thursday, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. Both sources caution, however, that the President could change his mind at any time and opt to move forward with his policy before the meeting. ...

"Sources inside the White House told CNN that the White House's legislative priorities on guns are also expected to be far narrower than Trump has laid out during the listening session and likely won't include a plan to raise the minimum age to purchase certain firearms from 18 to 21. ... As of now, the plan includes a grant program to help protect schools during a shooting and an endorsement of the 'Fix NICS' bill, a proposal from Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and Sen. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, that would improve reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a922020c325b625765900c92c81c2948d23cccef54b4bcb6ccb6c6a08405145d791162d4953dae07f

BUSY EXECUTIVE TIME -- @realDonaldTrump at 7:55 a.m.: "The new Fake News narrative is that there is CHAOS in the White House. Wrong! People will always come & go, and I want strong dialogue before making a final decision. I still have some people that I want to change (always seeking perfection). There is no Chaos, only great Energy!" ... at 8:00 a.m.: "Total inaction on DACA by Dems. Where are you? A deal can be made!" ... at 8:02 a.m., quote-tweeting a Drudge tweet about the U.S. being on track to produce the most oil: "We are getting it done - jobs and security!" ...

... at 8:25 a.m.: "Lowest rated Oscars in HISTORY. Problem is, we don't have Stars anymore - except your President (just kidding, of course)!" ... at 8:46 a.m.: "Federal Judge in Maryland has just ruled that "President Trump has the right to end DACA." President Obama had 8 years to fix this problem, and didn't. I am waiting for the Dems, they are running for the hills!" He also retweeted his son Eric, who congratulated Fox News for their ratings.

W.VA STRIKE NEARING THE END -- "Gov. Justice says WV teacher strike is over, teachers want to see bill signed," by Charleston Gazette-Mail's Jake Zuckerman http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9aee27ce1c8eacaf1f86417ebe6a13142a37abbb245c54c41d153e25719f13298bada918744b00234c

THE HIGH LIFE -- THE FORBES 2018 BILLIONAIRES LIST -- Top five: Jeff Bezos ($112 billion!) ... Bill Gates ... Warren Buffett ... Bernard Arnault and his family ... Mark Zuckerberg. President Trump comes in at No. 766 with $3.1 billion. The complete list of 2,208 billionaires http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9ac51b5ad30ee410c019b6b89a3d7cdd6a9970cf5451256f2db8284a4dd273a0980f9f05fce07ea2cc

VALLEYTALK -- "Facebook's Political Nightmare Is About To Get Worse," by BuzzFeed's Alex Kantrowitz: "For Facebook, which is still reeling from manipulation of its platform by fake news purveyors and Kremlin-linked trolls seeking to disrupt U.S. politics, November's midterms are a chance to show ornery regulators and an increasingly distrustful public that it can effectively shut down malicious activity within its own platform. But they're a daunting challenge as well, one complicated by fast-evolving tools of misinformation, bad actors incentivized by Russian success, and a ferociously politicized environment -- all contributing to a broad and ongoing pollution of the public discourse.

"Despite Facebook's repeated reassurances, some on Capitol Hill fear the company -- and country -- may be sucker punched again come November. And a dysfunctional federal government waffling on plans to thwart future attacks on elections isn't helping matters." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a72aaa23dae30ea92c6b59d55bee1df9d68618426c43d1e456d95dfe92f68f4ea79e323c0f986831d

SPOTTED: Sebastian Gorka leaving the office tower that houses WJLA/Sinclair (and POLITICO) in Rosslyn this afternoon.

TRANSITIONS -- Lenny Alcivar launched his own communications firm the Alcivar Group. He is a Targeted Victory alum. ... Scott Sloofman joined Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's office as press secretary. He previously was press secretary for America Rising. ... Jonathan Fromowitz joined SKDK as vice president. He was most recently chief speechwriter for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and is a Clinton 2016 alum. ... Jim Baird is now managing director at ReThink Media. He previously was communications director at the Stimson Center.

WEEKEND WEDDING -- George Stephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos): "Mueller witness George Papadopoulos married Simona Mangiante on March 2 in Chicago civil ceremony" -- pic http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9a5ab54b96fe249544ffbe0c15e2b30980d797d19930818541833f696853c0d4728ef8e6faa400dc9c

WELCOME TO THE WORLD - Matt Atwood, media associate at the Heritage Foundation, and Elizabeth Atwood, who works in business development at Mercedes Benz-Alexandria, last week welcomed their first child, Abigail Atwood, 6 lbs. 12 oz. and 19.5 inches. "Mom and baby girl are home and doing well." Pics http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9aded45613ed275a88e70abc193b092fbb03f58a2c4ce471c53265d3590455c7b34d471f33dfc0cb71 ... http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8dce245a9a10dd9afc7a15861463f74fca556619c8f29c1a9dec6f743bfb987575922a1d781937d1378da87301d6b830


****** A message from UnitedHealth Group: Learn about the health of the nation state-by-state. United Health Foundation, through the America's Health Rankings platform, helps policy-makers, public health officials, researchers and communities improve health, well-being and health care at the local, state and national levels by offering timely insights about the health of the people they serve. By leveraging the broad suite of America's Health Rankings(R) data and insights, communities can craft data-driven solutions to some of the nation's most pressing health concerns. Learn more. ******

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