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Today's Playbook Power Briefing presented by Morgan Stanley


Good Friday afternoon and happy first full day of recess.

SESSIONS: PRESS FREEDOM NOT 'UNLIMITED' -- "Sessions: DOJ reviewing policies on media subpoenas," by Madeline Conway: "The Justice Department is considering making changes to its policies on subpoenaing news organizations as part of its crackdown on government leaks, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Friday. At a news conference, Sessions said the Justice Department is cracking down on leaks coming out of the government. Much of that effort involves investigating and prosecuting leak suspects, he said, but another aspect is 'reviewing policies affecting media subpoenas.' That review, he said, came at the suggestion of FBI agents, career investigators and prosecutors who have weighed in on
the leak problem.

"'We respect the important role that the press plays, and we'll give them respect, but it is not unlimited,' Sessions said. 'They cannot place lives at risk with impunity. We must balance the press's role with protecting our national security and the lives of those who serve in the intelligence community, the armed forces and all law-abiding Americans.' Sessions did not offer more details on what kinds of changes the department is considering. At the news conference, Sessions described the nation as having a problematic "culture of leaks" that must be stamped out." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb56350f8e863875f5aaaf3c23b330a606b01bba3227c97ed52de2196671b1757d5ac1e320883e34b2c2c400960d961c1ca2a

-- @EvanPerez: "Sessions taking new look at reporter subpoenas. Holder era included treating reporters as co-conspirators, then a pullback. Pendulum swings" ... @brianstelter: "'Putting lives at risk' rhetoric cries out for evidence and documentation" ... @adamgoldmanNYT: "Sessions just fired shot across media bow. You know those DOJ media guidelines? They ain't worth shit." ... @ZekeJMiller: "DAG Rosenstein also announced the formation of a dedicated FBI unit to investigate classified leaks to news organizations"

FROM THE WHITE HOUSE -- @realDonaldTrump at 6:21 a.m.: "....and don't forget that Foxconn will be spending up to 10 billion dollars on a top of the line plant/plants in Wisconsin." ... at 6:26 a.m.: "Consumer confidence is at a 16 year high....and for good reason. Much more regulation 'busting' to come. Working hard on tax cuts & reform!" ... at 6:35 a.m.: "West Virginia was incredible last night. Crowds and enthusiasm were beyond, GDP at 3%, wow!Dem Governor became a Republican last night." ... at 8:45 a.m.: "Excellent Jobs Numbers just released - and I have only just begun. Many job stifling regulations continue to fall. Movement back to USA!" The president also retweeted a handful of
supporters and Fox News tweets, including one with an electoral map, one challenging Republican senators and another saying "the losers are welcome" on the Trump Train.

-- THE PRESIDENT started out on message talking about jobs and the economy, but his retweets changed that. The president (and his most fervent supporters) are still focused rehashing his election and attacking members of the Republican party.

ABOUT THOSE JOB NUMBERS -- "Trump (finally!) reaches million-jobs mark," by Marianne LeVine: "With the Labor Department reporting Friday that the economy added 209,000 jobs in July, Trump can finally say, truthfully, that he's created more than a million jobs since entering office. ... July's jobs number was a decrease from June, when the economy added 231,000 jobs. But unemployment ticked down to 4.3 percent, compared to June's 4.4 percent. Average hourly private-sector earnings were up 2.5 percent over the previous year, as they were in June. The pattern of job growth in 2017 remains essentially the same as in 2016." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb5635b3c7dc06a860e7b6500c0f50a357b4291ab07a2928be2d603fd0d95104a51d32aff6c7e2e28e41a35100eb263b392a8

MAKING IT OFFICIAL -- "Sources: Trump administration to deliver notice it intends to withdraw from Paris climate deal," by Andrew Restuccia: "The Trump administration will release a formal notice Friday outlining the United States' intention to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement, two sources familiar with the issue said. The notice, which will be released by the State Department and transmitted by the U.S. delegation to the United Nations, will be the first written notice that the administration plans to pull out of the 2015 pact, which has won the support of nearly 200 nations. Trump announced in June that the U.S. will leave the agreement. Under the terms of the agreement,
the U.S. can't fully withdraw until Nov. 4, 2020 - one day after the next presidential election." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb563edc8710fa596c6f1a96f7216791099479915e4d306d4baf486cf25c79ea14dbaf46d352f8fd180f478d1e1d507d529e4

****** A message from Morgan Stanley: Has alternative energy gone mainstream? Several decades ago, renewable energy seemed futuristic. Now, it has emerged as a practical way to power our cities. Morgan Stanley explored the economics driving the industry, the obstacles it faces, and what it means for investors in renewable energy technology. Read more from Morgan Stanley. ******

SUNDAY SHOWS -- Meet the Press will have an exclusive interview with Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

EMAIL TROUBLES -- "After six months, Pence has now turned over all state-related AOL emails, his attorney says," by the Indianapolis Star's Tony Cook: "It took nearly six months after he left the governor's office, but Vice President Mike Pence and his legal team say they have now provided Indiana officials with all emails from his personal AOL account involving state business. Pence attorney Karoline Jackson said in a recent email to the state's legal counsel that 'a complete electronic production of state records' from Pence's time as governor had been delivered to the state as of June 23. The office of Pence's successor, Gov. Eric Holcomb, said the records consist of state-related emails
from two AOL accounts Pence used as governor. ...

"Neither the Holcomb administration nor Pence's office would disclose how many emails from Pence's AOL accounts have now been transferred electronically to the state and it remains unclear how many of those emails were previously unavailable for public record searches. The law firm overseeing the delivery of the emails on behalf of Pence is Barnes and Thornburg, whose managing partner, Bob Grand, is a top fundraiser for Trump and Pence. Pence's attorneys are only providing emails they consider to be related to state business, but Lotter did not answer questions about how those determinations are being made." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb563c39b404e1a7f11ecdde50fb6a0bcd513978c27c5329881ad62ecd5100b5757034506d20d95f9dbefc0814e8e684acaba

WHAT THE RIGHT IS READING -- "Wasserman Schultz talks about arrested aide Imran Awan," by the Sun Sentinel's Anthony Man: "Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz defiantly stands by her decision to keep an information technology aide on her payroll for six months after he was banned from the House network and fired by other members of Congress. 'I believe that I did the right thing, and I would do it again,' Wasserman Schultz said Thursday in an exclusive interview with the Sun Sentinel. 'There are times when you can't be afraid to stand alone, and you have to stand up for what's right.' ... The Weston Democrat did fire Imran Awan last week after he was arrested on bank fraud charges at an
airport while trying to leave the country. ...

"His arrest, the congresswoman said, had nothing to do with the months-long investigation of Awan as an IT worker for a variety of members of Congress. An FBI affidavit filed with the criminal complaint said Awan and his wife claimed a property used to secure a home equity line of credit was a 'principal residence,' when it was, in fact, a rental property. Wasserman Schultz said there still hasn't been any evidence presented that he's done anything wrong involving his work for Congress. And, she said, she believes he may have been put under scrutiny because of his religious faith. Awan is Muslim." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb56309a3d28eed9f4e5bd4a3db50031b124e15987672aeba756513c7f362690014b3fa72aa67a7a3f700e3bdf4e6d840b127

-- @Heatherscope: "It's the first time (that I know of) she's spoken publicly abt the case. But the other thing that stands out is her explanation of laptop ... During May budget hearing, she grilled Capitol Police chief about equipment (laptop) confiscated by police that belongs to a member ... And DWS warned of 'consequences' if laptop wasn't returned. At the very least, implying laptop found by Capitol police was hers ... And NOW in latest Sun Sentinel piece, she totally distances herself from laptop, saying she's never seen it, it belonged to IT staffer, etc."

AFTERNOON READ -- POLITICO MAG'S FRIDAY COVER -- "Trump's Generals Are Trying to Save the World. Starting With the White House," by James Kitfield: "Taken as a group, Trump's generals have tended to see their mission as twofold: The first job is to correct what senior military officers see as the mistakes of the Obama administration, a hesitancy to use force or commit troops that many allies perceived as a retreat from traditional U.S. commitments in the world. The second job-and the far riskier one-is to mitigate the damage caused by their boss.

"An undisciplined and shoot-from-the-lip president, Trump has shown a proclivity for rattling allies with unexpected tweets and bullying phone calls. When he trumpets his 'America first' foreign policy, it's widely interpreted by allies as a fig leaf for isolationism and protectionism. The generals, with Tillerson as something of a junior partner-nicknamed the 'axis of adults' by a number of establishment Republicans and conservative commentators-have become the reassurers-in-chief to the outside world. They've already persuaded Trump to back away from some of his most controversial foreign policy positions, including labeling NATO 'obsolete,' moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem,
rescinding the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Iran nuclear deal, and reconsidering the venerable 'One China' policy. ...

"What's at stake, in the minds of the generals, is something considerably larger than winning the internal Game of Thrones. In the back of his airplane returning from a recent trip to Asia, General Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told me that that the international order they were striving to protect was more volatile and unpredictable today than at any moment since World War II. 'Today, we're confronting simultaneous challenges posed by China, North Korea, Russia and Iran, as well as a natural disaster in Sri Lanka,' he said, referring to flooding that had recently displaced hundreds of thousands of people. 'So, as I prepare for posture hearings in Congress, that's a
reminder that this is the world as it is, not the world as we might want it to be.'" http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb563d3a4f3d764506f318c61dc82bd91569373b3a940b1c0f572888400b863529907ff81d5cb033fe95d27d470c864c2ed3d

HMM... -- "Democrats begin to see Pelosi as a 2018 problem," by McClatchy DC's Alex Roarty: "Nancy Pelosi might actually be in trouble. In a survey of 20 Democratic House candidates, only one - a former Senate staffer from Orange County, California - would state support for the congresswoman staying on as leader of the House Democratic Caucus. Of the rest, 18 declined to say if Pelosi should keep her job, while one, a political newcomer from a culturally conservative Ohio district, said he would vote for someone other than Pelosi." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb563c95f02a3027f6bbe60bad8b952ba10395d1e8c117d12d24c94c2558070387944144be55c78e75aba5c6e0d763f8d8ef1

-- THIS LINE OF ATTACK will not surprise Pelosi or the DCCC. Republicans and Democrats often try to pin down their opposition by getting them on record about whether they will, or won't vote for a congressional leader. This has happened with both John Boehner and Paul Ryan. Pelosi wants to win back the majority. Doubtful she'll take it personally if candidates who aren't elected yet won't take a stand on backing her as leader.

TODAY'S BEYOND THE BELTWAY -- Warren heads to one of reddest parts of Massachusetts for town hall -- NYC crimes could hit historic low http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb5630b00e486495cf7a9961e849dd9b0e313b17f4a0f0faa344b7de0bb4e163fa712b8578df857821c7dfebc6ccc27d848a9

CHECK YOUR PHONE -- "Good Luck America," Snapchat's political news show hosted by Peter Hamby, wraps its second season, with a look into the Trump administration's approach to the environment, featuring interviews with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and actor Mark Ruffalo. "GLA's audience has more than doubled since its first season, with episodes now drawing more than 5 million unique viewers, almost 75% of them under the age of 25. Season 3 is expected to premiere this fall." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb56321b022dcc0afbb45be988c1f1ea33f3242335c0c2d0b32e8d72246463680aaf3a33c01535dd232831de81fadcdeae845

MONUMENT WATCH -- "Congress approves plans to build a Global War on Terror memorial," by Military Times' Leo Shane III: "Lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to the idea of a Global War on Terror memorial, clearing the path for what is expected to be a years-long process of designing and building a tribute to the latest generation of veterans. In wrap-up work before their summer recess, senators unanimously approved legislation that would allow planning of the memorial to begin immediately, instead of the normally mandated 10-year wait period after the end of a military conflict. ...

"The bill does not provide any money for the project, or specify any design plans. Instead, it authorizes [a] foundation to oversee fundraising and construction of the memorial. That's a process that supporters say will likely take a decade, if not longer. Organizers say the work can begin in earnest once the president signs the measure into law. The planning will include negotiations with the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission to discuss a possible location on the National Mall for the memorial." http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb5635df4836faa39d9d4eb26fd97f4c5d4c5acd5a160a239202c8fa0b209c17a389efd53b3b729f9e0bab73bb3a1bc102a19

OUT AND ABOUT -- WILBUR ROSS and HILARY GEARY ROSS hosted a party on Wednesday night at their house in Massachusetts Avenue Heights to celebrate Lawrence Kudlow's most recent book "JFK and the Reagan Revolution: A Secret History of American Prosperity". Unfortunately Kudlow couldn't make it to his own party because of transportation problems caused by weather that prevented him that day from flying down to D.C. from New York. For the guests who did show, Champagne, cocktails and canapés were served. $16.60 on Amazon http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb563b34b9570e3f26104ad52885e45afb947d12318d52bc972a794674324b3de2734859d591329797ab22bfd829a2d2a9b9b

--SPOTTED: Louise Linton, Alan Greenspan and Andrea Mitchell, Chris and Lorraine Wallace, Chris and Kathleen Matthews, Sean and Rebecca Spicer, Kellyanne Conway, Marie Royce, Sen. Roy and Abby Blunt, Kevin Chaffee, Roxanne Roberts, Julie Kent, John Damgard, Reed and Maggie Cordish, Amy Baier, Don Graham, Italy Amb. Armando Varricchio.

SPOTTED: J.D. Vance at Pret in Dupont http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=60e04425225bb563d9271edc52e70744a1313467070b3c2dc6dac46487c7d932978a94c9eb2b2518fa6c7dfa99002109a1496f1e3122d81a

****** A message from Morgan Stanley: Alternative energy, solar power investment and utilities are taking what was on the fringes of science as recently as 30 years ago and turning it into the new normal. Biosphere 2, a massive science facility tucked away in the desert foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, was built for controversial space exploration experiments. Now, it functions as a reputable research facility, studying the potential for farming beneath solar panels-a technique that's already applicable for future colonies on Mars. Morgan Stanley's podcast discusses where the renewable energy industry has been, its transformations over the past few decades, and what this means for
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