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Presented by Airlines for America: POLITICO's must-read briefing on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. | | | | |  | | By Garrett Ross | | | |  Democrats will convene in Chicago for their 2024 convention. | Nam Y. Huh | Democrats are turning to the Midwest. The Democratic National Committee announced this morning that the party’s 2024 national convention will be held in Chicago, capping off months of fierce jockeying for hosting rights. Initially, four major contenders battled for the confab: Chicago, Atlanta, New York City and Houston. But over time, it became clear that the choice was down to Chi-Town and the ATL — each with a strong claim to relevance in the 2024 electoral map. Mark your calendars: The convention is set to take place from Aug. 19-22, 2024. How it happened: Illinois Sen. TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois Gov. J.B. PRITZKER and outgoing Chicago Mayor LORI LIGHTFOOT mounted a concerted effort to sway party leaders to select their city, highlighting its diversity and strength in the labor movement. “The Midwest is key to a victory in 2024, and there is no city better positioned to reach those voters than Chicago,” Duckworth, who is also co-chair of the DNC, said in a statement. The cost: Pritzker has pledged that Democrats will come away from the convention debt-free, and enlisted numerous Illinois business executives to help fund the event, which is expected to cost between $80-100 million. The digs: “The major convention events will be held in the United Center, where the Chicago Bulls play. It’s the largest arena in North America, with 1.7 million square feet of arena and convention venue space, according to organizers. There’s also more than 26,000 square feet of hospitality space, which has been a draw for conventions in the past,” our colleague Shia Kapos writes. The history: “The 2024 Democratic convention will be the city’s 12th time hosting the event. The first was in 1864 and the most recent was 1996.” (The most memorable, perhaps, was in 1968.) Don’t worry, fellow news orgs: “It has 132 hotels and 43,462 hotel rooms in the business district and hundreds more hotels in the greater metropolitan area. It has a solid transportation system.” Reminder: Republicans will be holding their 2024 convention in Milwaukee, Wis., from July 15-18. HEADS UP — Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER has requested a briefing for all senators on the leaked classified U.S. documents on the war in Ukraine, a Schumer spokesperson said today. A date and time for the briefing has not yet been set. More reaction on the Hill: “Congress demands answers on classified document leak,” by Anthony Adragna and Katherine Tully-McManus Meanwhile: Schumer, who never misses an opportunity to skewer the GOP, also circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter this morning saying that next week he plans to hold a vote denouncing former President DONALD TRUMP’s recent calls to defund the Justice Department and FBI — a gambit that he hopes will expose a rift in the GOP, as some more conservative members of the party have echoed Trump’s crusade. More from Nancy Vu for Congress Minutes Sen. MARCO RUBIO (R-Fla.) was quick to respond: “I will attempt to amend it by adding language that condemns something that actually happened, DOJ & FBI trying to infiltrate Catholic parishes & cultivate ‘sources’ inside Catholic Churches,” he tweeted. HEADLINE OF THE DAY — “Tenure of new Michigan GOP chair who spread Beyoncé paganism conspiracy theory is off to a rocky start,” by CNN’s Em Steck, Olivia Alafriz and Andrew Kaczynski Good Wednesday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line: gross@politico.com.
| | | | A message from Airlines for America: Did you know? 90 percent of Americans have flown at least once. More than half of Americans have flown before their 16th birthday. Two million people choose to fly each day in the U.S. This is possible because robust competition among U.S. airlines generates enormous options for consumers, which is why Americans from a range of economic, cultural and racial backgrounds have flown. In 2021, one-third of Americans who flew had family incomes under $75,000. Learn more: www.airlines.org. | | | CONGRESS GOP EYES NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID — Amid a standoff over the federal budget and negotiations over an increase to the federal debt limit, “House Republicans are eyeing new work requirements for millions of low-income Americans who receive health insurance, money to buy food and other financial aid from the federal government,” report WaPo’s Tony Romm and Rachel Roubein. They’re focusing their attention on “Medicaid, which enrolls the poorest families in health insurance, and food stamps, which provide grocery benefits to those in need. Top lawmakers including House Speaker KEVIN McCARTHY (R-Calif.) have publicly endorsed rules that could force some enrollees to find a job and work longer hours — or risk losing the government’s help entirely.” ALL-ACCESS — The Biden administration last week gave the Gang of Eight access to the classified documents that were discovered in possession of Biden, former President DONALD TRUMP and VP MIKE PENCE, Punchbowl News reports. The access comes after months of pressure from Senate Intelligence Chair MARK WARNER (D-Va.) and Rubio, the vice chair. DIAGNOSIS DISCLOSURE — Rep. JENNIFER WEXTON (D-Va.) announced this morning that she was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, making her announcement on World Parkinson’s Disease Day. “You are welcome to empathize, but don’t feel sorry for me,” Wexton wrote in a statement. “I’m working with my doctor on a treatment plan that addresses my symptoms. And I’ve been feeling good and staying strong.” Wexton said her symptoms have primarily affected her speech and her walking, but that she plans to continue serving “for many years to come.” Read the full statement … Watch Wexton’s video MAKING A MARK FOR MENTAL HEALTH — “4 lawmakers share their mental health struggles: It’s ‘a form of public service,’” by ABC’s Brittany Shepherd and Isabella Murray: “The four lawmakers — Sen. TINA SMITH of Minnesota, Rep. SETH MOULTON of Massachusetts, Rep. RUBEN GALLEGO of Arizona and Rep. RITCHIE TORRES of New York — also spoke candidly about their own mental health battles, ranging from clinical depression to post-traumatic stress disorder, in the occasionally emotional interview.” INVESTIGATION INVENTORY — “House Republicans Investigate Covid-19 Aid to Hospitals,” by WSJ’s Liz Essley Whyte: “House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman Rep. JAMES COMER (R., Ky.) and Rep. NICK LANGWORTHY (R., N.Y.) on Tuesday sent the Department of Health and Human Services a letter requesting documents regarding the money, also known as the Provider Relief Fund, including communications about how the agency distributed payouts.” THE WHITE HOUSE INSIDE STORY — “How L.A.’s Doug Emhoff became the White House’s voice against antisemitism,” by L.A. Times’ Courtney Subramanian: “Second Gentleman DOUG EMHOFF was furious. KANYE WEST, now known as Ye, had spent weeks giving Americans a crash course in antisemitic lies. He posted on Instagram that the rapper DIDDY was being ‘controlled’ by Jews. He tweeted that he planned to go ‘death con 3 on Jewish people.’ He told PIERS MORGAN he was ‘absolutely not’ sorry. “Then, on Oct. 22, members of an antisemitic group in Emhoff’s hometown of L.A. extended their right arms in the Nazi salute and unfurled a banner over the 405 Freeway that read ‘Kanye is right about the Jews.’ Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president, knew he had to act. ‘When it’s happening in my city, in my neighborhood, on my freeway, it makes it really personal,’ he told The Times … “Sitting across from aides in November in his office, Emhoff asked how he could be more effective. He had penned an op-ed for USA Today for Rosh Hashana in September, vowing to combat hate toward Jews, and was planning to convene government officials, rabbis and Jewish leaders to discuss extremism in December. He and the aides agreed that op-eds and roundtables would not suffice.”
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH WHO’S TALKING — “Stephen Miller returns to grand jury to testify about January 6 conversations with Trump,” by CNN’s Casey Gannon and Katelyn Polantz MORE POLITICS CASH DASH — “House GOP leader Elise Stefanik to launch ‘battleground fund’ to back NY Republicans,” by NY Post’s Lydia Moynihan: “The unabashed Trump supporter from upstate New York pulled in $3 million in the first quarter of 2023 after raising $13.4 million In the 2020 cycle and $9.2 million in 2022, according to election filings. … Her new fund will funnel money to GOP causes in the state at a time when Democrats increase their efforts to win back some of the seats they lost in 2022.” SINEMATOGRAPHY — “Sinema’s Senate Seat Draws First Major Republican Contender,” by NYT’s Neil Vigdor: “In his announcement video, [MARK] LAMB said he would ‘stand up to the woke left’ and ‘secure our border and support our law enforcement.’ He also called out his support for gun rights and his anti-abortion stance in the ad. … The field appears likely to grow, as Republicans see an opening to retake the seat in the potential matchup between [Rep. RUBEN] GALLEGO and [Sen. KYRSTEN] SINEMA, which could split the Democratic and independent voters who have powered victories for the left in the state.” POLICY CORNER IMMIGRATION FILES — “U.S.-Born Children, Too, Were Separated From Parents at the Border,” by NYT’s Miriam Jordan: “Hundreds, and possibly as many as 1,000, children born to immigrant parents in the United States were removed from them at the border, according to lawyers and immigrant advocates who are working with the government to find the families. In many cases, the U.S.-born children were placed into foster care for lengthy periods, and some have yet to be reunited with their parents, lost in the system nearly five years after the separations took place.” THE BRAVE NEW WORLD — “Biden Administration Weighs Possible Rules for AI Tools Like ChatGPT,” by WSJ’s Ryan Tracy: “In a first step toward potential regulation, the Commerce Department on Tuesday put out a formal public request for comment on what it called accountability measures, including whether potentially risky new AI models should go through a certification process before they are released.” TARGET PRACTICE — “Automakers Face Test in Reaching U.S. Target for Electric Vehicles,” by NYT’s Neal Boudette: “The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce auto-pollution limits on Wednesday that are intended to ensure that all-electric models make up 54 to 60 percent of new vehicles sold in the United States by 2030, and 64 to 67 percent by 2032. Those targets will raise the bar on ambitions outlined by President Biden two years ago, when he issued an executive order putting the E.V. target at 50 percent of new cars by 2030.” Related read: “4 in 10 say next vehicle may be electric: AP-NORC/EPIC poll,” AP NUGGET OF NOTE — Our colleague Sam Sutton writes in today’s Morning Money: “KKR announced this morning that it was buying a minority stake in FGS Global, a large government affairs, communications and advisory firm with offices in Washington, New York, Brussels and two dozen other locations across the globe. The investment, which values the business at $1.4 billion, represents a bet that C-suites are now as focused on keeping their companies out of political quagmires as they are advancing the bottom line. (KKR, an investment firm, holds a significant stake in Axel Springer, POLITICO’s parent company.)” Read and subscribe to Morning Money
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | AMERICA AND THE WORLD FOR YOUR RADAR — “U.S., Philippines hold largest war drills near disputed waters,” by AP’s Jim Gomez in Manila: “The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies … will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel.” PLAYBOOKERS OUT AND ABOUT — Semafor co-founders Ben Smith and Justin Smith hosted the inaugural Semafor Media Summit last night in NYC, where guests enjoyed Korean-inspired cocktails and a menu crafted by Michelin-starred chefs. SPOTTED: Jen Psaki, Chris Licht, Jimmy Finkelstein, Barry Diller, Almar Latour, Stephen A. Smith, Kara Swisher, Bonin Bough, Tina Brown, Graeme Russell, Don Lemon, Risa Heller and Steve Clemons. MEDIA MOVE — Melissa Block is leaving NPR after 38 years as a special correspondent. Announcement TRANSITIONS — Democratic pollster Nancy Zdunkewicz has launched Z to A Research, a new public opinion research firm. She previously was director of the campaign polling team and qualitative practice at Change Research, and is a DCCC alum. … Mark Lewis has been named the inaugural CEO of Purdue University’s Purdue Applied Research Institute in D.C. He previously was executive director for the National Defense Industrial Association’s Emerging Technologies Institute. … Melissa Wolfe is now digital director for Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.). She previously was press assistant for Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.). … … Rebecca Pilar Buckwalter-Poza is now senior Aron justice counsel at the Alliance for Justice. She’s a lawyer, writer and activist who was the first named plaintiff in the lawsuit over Trump blocking people on Twitter. … Anna Stowe is now COO at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP. She most recently was executive director at the Federal Bar Council. … Thomas Coleman is joining Securing America’s Future Energy as executive director of its Grid Security Project. He previously was chief technical adviser at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. BONUS BIRTHDAY: Natalie Armijo of Federal Street Strategies Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine.
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