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Presented by Google: Playbook is POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the day Dec 03, 2018 View in browser
By Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer and Daniel Lippman

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DRIVING THE DAY
GOV'T FUNDING UPDATE ... REPUBLICANS and DEMOCRATS went back and forth yesterday about how to avoid a shutdown come Friday. HOUSE REPUBLICANS said they were fine with a bill that extends funding until Dec. 18 or Dec. 21. SENATE REPUBLICAN leadership was kicking this around. But late yesterday, we got signals from HOUSE DEMOCRATS that they would only agree to a weeklong extension.

THE MAIN GOAL is to get this fight out of the GEORGE H.W. BUSH remembrance week. Dec. 21 makes sense for a lot of reasons -- it's right before Christmas. But the House might try to pass the short-term spending bill by unanimous consent, so everyone needs to agree.

THE STATE FUNERAL ... SPECIAL AIR MISSION 41 is the callsign for Air Force One, which will fly today from Houston Ellington to Joint Base Andrews with the 41st president's casket.

BEFORE THE FLIGHT LANDS, "Family guests, including representatives of the crew of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), current and former members of the Army Golden Knights, Air Force One pilots and crew from the 41 Administration, and U.S. Secret Service members who served on President Bush's protective detail, will be escorted into position to view the ceremony," per the joint task force running the funeral.

THERE WILL BE a 21-gun salute, and "My Country Tis of Thee" will be played by the Air Force band as the casket is carried to the hearse. The casket goes directly to the Capitol, and is scheduled to arrive at around 4:45 p.m.

-- THE SPECIAL HONOR GUARD at Andrews will be made up of: Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. Paul Selva, the vice chairman of the joint chiefs; Gen. Mark Milley, the Army chief of staff, Gen. Robert Neller, the commandant of the Marine Corps; Gen. David Goldfein, the chief of staff of the Air Force; Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the chief of the National Guard Bureau; and Adm. Paul Zukunft, the commandant of the Coast Guard.

FIRST PERSON ... NYT'S MAUREEN DOWD, "The Patrician President and the Reporterette: a Screwball Story: My faithful correspondent, Poppy Bush, scribbling and typing notes through decades of history": "Nobody understood our relationship - least of all us. It was, admittedly, odd. 'I like you,' the first President Bush wrote me once, after he was out of office. 'Please don't tell anyone.' In decades of correspondence, he tried to figure out why we stayed in touch, beginning one note 'Darn you Maureen Dowd' and mischievously observing in another, 'Sometimes I found it better around my family to go "Maureen who?"'

"At times, typing on what he called 'my little IBM,' he signed off 'Con afecto, GB,' or if I was writing critically about his sons, 'Con Afecto, still, just barely though! gb.' Or 'Love' scratched out and replaced with the handwritten rebuke, 'not quite there yet.'" NYT

WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD ... JONATHAN MARTIN on NYT'S A1: "Despite Big House Losses, G.O.P. Shows No Signs of Course Correction": "With a brutal finality, the extent of the Republicans' collapse in the House came into focus last week as more races slipped away from them and their losses neared 40 seats.

"Yet nearly a month after the election, there has been little self-examination among Republicans about why a midterm that had seemed at least competitive became a rout. President Trump has brushed aside questions about the loss of the chamber entirely, ridiculing losing incumbents by name, while continuing to demand Congress fund a border wall despite his party losing many of their most diverse districts. Unlike their Democratic counterparts,

"Republicans swiftly elevated their existing slate of leaders with little debate, signaling a continuation of their existing political strategy. And neither Speaker Paul D. Ryan nor Representative Kevin McCarthy, the incoming minority leader, have stepped forward to confront why the party's once-loyal base of suburban supporters abandoned it - and what can be done to win them back." NYT

-- WAPO'S SEAN SULLIVAN: "The last stand of Congress's Never Trump brigade"

Good Monday morning. BIG NEWS ON THE TRADE FRONT -- PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP tweeted at 11 p.m.: "China has agreed to reduce and remove tariffs on cars coming into China from the U.S. Currently the tariff is 40%."

-- QUINT FORGEY and DOUG PALMER: "There was no immediate confirmation for Trump's claim, and the timetable for China's rollback on the automobile duties remains unclear." POLITICO

-- WAPO'S DAVID LYNCH in Buenos Aires, Argentina: "Despite pause in trade war, U.S. and China's economic relationship is forever changed"

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ABOUT THE G-20 ... ANDREW RESTUCCIA: "The art of the G-20, by Donald Trump": "As he crisscrossed Buenos Aires, posing for photos with dignitaries and boasting about his accomplishments, Trump left behind a trail of exaggerations meant to paper over the fractious first half of his term and rebrand himself as a globe-trotting statesman. It's the Art of the G-20, by Donald Trump. The 45th president is writing his own rulebook on how to claim credit and respect on an international stage where many leaders have looked down on him for years.

"But just as his famous 1987 book counseled, Trump's global deal-making was as much about style as substance, with grandiose talk the most important ingredient of all. The president arrived back in Washington on Sunday feeling triumphant, believing his latest international trip to be a resounding success. During his overnight flight on Air Force One, Trump seemed vindicated after dealing with a long buildup of pressure to the summit in Argentina." POLITICO

COMING ATTRACTIONS -- "Trump Administration to Try Again to Fulfill Infrastructure Pledge," by WSJ's Ted Mann: "The Trump administration is preparing to make another attempt at honoring one of the biggest unfulfilled promises of the president's election campaign: a $1 trillion upgrade of the nation's road, rail and energy infrastructure.

"That program failed to materialize during President Trump's first year in office, as the administration pursued a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which failed, and a major tax cut, which he signed into law in December 2017.

"In 2018, a package that would have compelled cities and states to come up with at least 80% of the funding for infrastructure improvements was dead on arrival in Congress. Even Mr. Trump's fellow Republicans voted instead to increase spending in existing grant programs that send federal money to local governments for infrastructure as part of a budget deal, which the president signed. This time around, people familiar with the White House's plans say, the administration's effort is likely to include a lot more federal cash-which makes it more likely to pass muster with the new Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives." WSJ

-- MITCH MCCONNELL has said no thanks to this in the past.

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THE JUICE ...

-- SPOTTED AT THE 41ST ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS: NANCY PELOSI sitting next to honoree CHER last night. Other honorees included: Reba McEntire, Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter and the co-creators of "Hamilton." SPOTTED: Board Chairman David Rubenstein and President Deborah Rutter, Paul Pelosi, Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Joanna Coles, Jeremy Bernard, Anita McBride, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Hilary Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Louise Linton, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos ...

... Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), Vernon and Ann Jordan, Phebe Novakovic, Ron Chernow, Dennis Muilenburg, David Gregory, Chief Justice John Roberts, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, Bob Barnett and Rita Braver, Adrienne Arsht, Catherine Reynolds, Jack Evans, Carol Melton, Heather Podesta and Steve Kessler and Gail MacKinnon.

-- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: NOAM LEE will be the executive director for the DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION. Lee most recently served as the DGA's national finance director after two years as its major gifts director.

TRUMP'S MONDAY -- The president will meet with HUD Secretary Ben Carson at 1:45 p.m. in the Oval Office.
PLAYBOOK READS


PHOTO DU JOUR: Honduran migrants climb over a section of the U.S. border fence before handing themselves in to Border Patrol agents on Sunday in Playas of Tijuana, Mexico. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo

DAVID SIDERS: "'Nothing's invisible now': How the 2020 contenders are trampling the old rules": "For decades, the most critical early stages of a presidential campaign unfolded largely out of public view, with candidates quietly courting financiers, party bosses and interest groups influential in the nominating process.

"But two years after President Donald Trump proved a candidate could flout traditional power structures and succeed - and with the 2020 campaign now picking up - the reign of the 'invisible primary' is in decline.

"New Democratic Party rules have stripped party leaders of much of their power in selecting a nominee. The prevalence of small-dollar fundraising has tilted the presidential landscape toward more public maneuvers designed to build massive lists of supporters online. And the rise of progressive populism is making its mark, prioritizing high-profile appeals and personal brand-building - typically through digital platforms - over the behind-the-scenes pursuit of party elites." POLITICO

THE LATEST ON JAMAL KHASHOGGI: "Jamal Khashoggi's private WhatsApp messages may offer new clues to killing," by CNN's Nina dos Santos and Michael Kaplan: "In his public writings, Jamal Khashoggi's criticism of Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was measured. In private, the Washington Post columnist didn't hold back.

"In more than 400 WhatsApp messages sent to a fellow Saudi exile in the year before he was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Khashoggi describes bin Salman -- often referred to as MBS -- as a 'beast,' a 'pac-man' who would devour all in his path, even his supporters. CNN has been granted exclusive access to the correspondence between Khashoggi and Montreal-based activist Omar Abdulaziz.

"The messages shared by Abdulaziz, which include voice recordings, photos and videos, paint a picture of a man deeply troubled by what he regarded as the petulance of his kingdom's powerful young prince. 'The more victims he eats, the more he wants,' says Khashoggi in one message sent in May, just after a group of Saudi activists had been rounded up. 'I will not be surprised if the oppression will reach even those who are cheering him on.'" CNN

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FOR YOUR RADAR -- "Families of Americans held in Iran ask Trump to pull visas for kids of top Iran officials," by NBC's Dan De Luce: "Families of Americans detained in Iran have urged the Trump administration to deny U.S. visas to the children of top-ranking officials in the Iranian government, but the White House has yet to take action, two sources close to the families told NBC News.

"The families of the imprisoned Americans see the administration's response to their request as part of a broader failure to place a top priority on securing the release of their loved ones, despite a campaign promise from the president to resolve the issue, two family friends and two congressional aides told NBC News. At least four American citizens and one U.S. legal resident are currently imprisoned in Iran after secretive trials on charges of alleged espionage." NBC

MEDIAWATCH -- "Paywall for HuffPost? Verizon Hunt for Web Revenue Goes Beyond Ads," by WSJ's Sarah Krouse: "Verizon Communications Inc.'s Oath unit is turning away from the advertising- and data-centric strategy that spurred its creation. After failing to meet revenue targets by selling digital ads across Yahoo and AOL properties, Oath executives now are focused on selling content subscriptions and giving users ways to make purchases through its sites, according to people familiar with the matter. The unit is exploring subscriptions to HuffPost news and Yahoo Sports content, among other ideas." WSJ

-- "Nexstar clinches $4.1 billion deal to acquire Tribune Media - sources," by Reuters' Carl O'Donnell and Liana Baker: "Nexstar Media Group Inc has reached an agreement to acquire Tribune Media Co for about $4.1 billion, a deal which would make it the largest local U.S. TV station operator, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. Nexstar's acquisition would come just three months after Tribune's $3.9 billion deal to sell itself to Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., currently the largest U.S. local TV station operator, collapsed over regulatory hurdles." Reuters
PLAYBOOKERS
SPOTTED: Michèle Flournoy on UA783 from LAX to Dulles. Josh Rogin was also on the flight. ... Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on a Delta flight to DCA from Atlanta. "Traveling light with a plum colored backpack," per our tipster ...

... Double Hoya Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) brunching at The Tombs in Georgetown ... Joe and Jill Biden and Eric Holder (pic) at Logan Airport in Boston on Sunday night. The Bidens were flying American Airlines to Philadelphia; Joe Biden stopped for selfies and was holding court with travelers. Holder was flying American Airlines to DCA, in first class, per our tipster.

WEEKEND WEDDING -- Elizabeth Schoetz, chief of staff at NARAL Pro-Choice America, on Saturday married Greg Mays of the State Department. Pool report: "The evening began with the wedding ceremony at the historic St John's Episcopal Church at Lafayette Square. After the ceremony, guests were led to the black tie reception at the St. Regis by a bagpiper in the bride's family tartan. The halls at the St. Regis were decked for Christmas and the cocktail hour in the patio tent was a winter wonderland. Highlight of the night: Ilyse Hogue, Katherine Clark and the bride on the dance floor leading the crowd in singing 'Don't Stop Believin'!" Pic

SPOTTED: Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Ilyse Hogue and John Neffinger, George McMillan, John Johnson and Kristie Greco Johnson, Steve Kerrigan and Jacob Watts, Alan Fitts, Reilly O'Connor, Jake Hargraves and Avra Siegel, Mary Liz and Joe Ganley, Alex Hornbrook, Connolly Keigher, Megan Hays, Paul Neaville and Marisa Luzzatto, Chad and Elysa Bolduc, Pate Felts, Ron Bracco, Liz Hart and Andrew Binns, Graham Gibson and Katy Cutright, Melissa Schwartz and Evan Sonderegger, Alan Fitts and Brendan Johannsen, Bill Smith, Suzi Emmerling and Mike Brennan, Ron Bracco and David Schoetz.

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Evan Walker, a Trump White House and RNC alum ... Shannon Kiely Heider

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Robby Mook, senior fellow at the Kennedy School and CNN contributor. What he's been reading recently: "I recently finished 'Valiant Ambition' by Nathaniel Philbrick about Benedict Arnold and the Revolutionary War, which was a good reminder that sometimes it takes a self-obsessed traitor acting up to get the good guys off their duffs. If past is prologue..." Playbook Plus Q&A

BIRTHDAYS: Jesse Lee is 39 ... Cody Sanders of the White House -- read an Auburn alumni profile on him ... POLITICO Florida's Bruce Ritchie ... Eleanor Schiff ... Mike Inacay, Sen. Brian Schatz's (D-Hawaii) comms director ... Katelyn Rieley Johnson ... Ali Zelenko, SVP of NBC News PR (h/t Erika Masonhall) ... WaPo's Scott Higham ... Jacqueline Quasney ... Lizzie Edelman, managing partner at E:SIX Strategy ... Bill Sternberg, editorial page editor of USA Today, is 62 ... Jamie Carroll ... Jamie Sherman ... Margaret Mulkerrin ... NYT alum Diane Cardwell ... Angelica Brantley ... Kevin Baron, executive editor of Defense One ... Aron Goldman is 48 ... Robert Pondiscio ... Lance Trover,
consultant at Tusk Strategies ... Bill Tighe, VP of federal government affairs at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, is 41 ... Lyn Vaus (h/t Sara Durkin) ... Daniel Chao, COS for Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) ...

... Laura Howard of Sentinel Strategic Advisors (h/t Annie Starke) ... Missy Jenkins (h/t Tim Burger) ... Katherine Klein (h/t Jon Haber) ... Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) is 6-0 ... Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) is 83 ... Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is 68 (h/t Tim Griffin) ... former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) is 48 ... Meg Hilling ... Sara Elnusairi ... Danielle Filson ... Matthew Flaherty ... Mandi Critchfield, comms director for the Senate Banking Committee (h/t Zach Warmbrodt) ... Neal Ungerleider ... CQ-Roll Call VP David Meyers ... Colin Hanna ... Chris Kelaher ... Rich McFadden ... Miles Doran, producer for "CBS This Morning" ... Tom Oppel ... John Toohey ... Greg
Everts ... Francie Phelps (h/ts Teresa Vilmain)

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