Good Sunday morning. 47 days until Donald Trump becomes president of the United States. Kellyanne Conway spoke to reporters this morning at Trump Tower and said the search for a secretary of state search has expanded beyond the four previously known candidates: presumably Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, David Petraeus and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.). Trump will interview more people this week, she said.
THE PRESIDENT ELECT is tweeting this morning. 6:41 a.m.: “The U.S. is going to substantialy [sic] reduce taxes and regulations on businesses, but any business that leaves our country for another country, … fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant in the other country, and then thinks it will sell its product back into the U.S. ...... without retribution or consequence, is WRONG! There will be a tax on our soon to be strong border of 35% for these companies ...... wanting to sell their product, cars, A.C. units etc., back across the border. This tax will make leaving financially difficult, but..... these companies are able to move between all 50 states, with no tax or tariff being charged. Please be forewarned prior to making a very … expensive mistake! THE UNITED STATES IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS”
--@joshrogin: “Dick Cheney praises Trump’s going around the press to communicate by tweet: ‘We don’t need you guys anymore.’ #RNDF”
-- A FEW THOUGHTS to unpack. Yes, congressional Republicans have been dying to reform the tax code for years. But most Republicans privately say they are against punitive tariffs to keep jobs in the U.S. Costs would go through the roof. Furthermore, there are also significant concerns about Trump making deals on a company-by-company basis. Not to mention, the Carrier deal only worked because Pence is still governor of Indiana.
TRUMP’S WORLD -- “Dispensing With Tip-Toeing, Trump Puts Taiwan in Play: The future of U.S.-China relations depends on Trump’s intentions with Tsai phone call,” by WSJ’s Andrew Browne in Taipei: “Donald Trump took the call. The voice on the other end of the line was Taiwan’s president congratulating him. They chatted for a few minutes about economic matters and security—the normal business of politics. Why all the fuss? After all, China didn’t object too strenuously, directing its displeasure primarily toward Taiwan for what it called a ‘petty trick.’ That’s far from the explosion Beijing’s past behavior may have indicated for such a breach of protocol: No president-elect, or president, has spoken to a Taiwan leader since Washington cut formal diplomatic ties with Taipei and recognized the People’s Republic in 1979. Yet the future of U.S.-China relations, and the stability of East Asia, depends in large part on what Mr. Trump meant by the exchange.” http://on.wsj.com/2h7hcEO
SUNDAY BEST -- MIKE PENCE on “Meet the Press” with Chuck Todd -- TODD: “What is your advice to your counterparts in China?” PENCE: “I think I would just say to our counterparts in China that this was a moment of courtesy. The president-elect talked to President Xi two weeks ago in the same manner that was not a discussion about policy. And we’re going to be preparing after January 20th to advance now what will be President Trump’s agenda on the world stage and we’ll deal with policy at that time.”
--PENCE to Todd on “Meet the Press” -- asked about Petraeus: “General David Petraeus is an American hero, led forces in battle, acquitted himself with great distinction ... He paid a price for mishandling classified information. ... I think the president-elect will weigh that against a backdrop of an extraordinary career in military service whether it’s in the role as Secretary of State or in another role in this administration. It’ll be the president-elect’s decision about the totality of General Petraeus’ experience and background ... He’s an American hero and has our great respect.” 1-min. video http://nbcnews.to/2g7K121 ... Transcript of Pence and Petraeus on "This Week" http://abcn.ws/2gV9Vat
ALL IN THE FAMILY -- “Business Since Birth: Trump’s Children and the Tangle That Awaits,” by NYT’s Matt Flegenheimer, Rachel Abrams, Barry Meier and Hiroko Tabuchi: “[A]n examination of the professional histories of the three children — who also serve on the presidential transition team — shows how deeply the Trump family, Trump business and Trump politics are interwoven, raising significant doubts about how meaningful a wall can ever be erected between Mr. Trump and his heirs at the Trump Organization.
“For years, the three siblings have operated with few rigid dividing lines in their international travels as ambassadors of the Trump brand, allowing them to lean heavily on the reputation and financial backing of their father while establishing their own credibility in business. It is not merely that the Trumps are at peace commingling family and business. They have known no other way. Officially, all three siblings are executive vice presidents for development and acquisitions. Practically, they have served as their father’s advance guard: the polished public faces of the next Trump generation, conducting initial meetings with prospective partners and reporting back to Mr. Trump.” http://nyti.ms/2gV9f2B
TRUMP INC. -- “Trump’s tax nightmare: The president-elect would have to navigate a staggering tax bill if he eased out of his business empire,” by Josh Gerstein and Darren Samuelsohn: “President-elect Donald Trump’s unwillingness to give up his far-flung real estate empire by selling it off or giving it outright to his children may be driven by a factor he has yet to mention publicly: a potentially staggering tax bill triggered by such a transaction. ‘It could be billions,’ said David Herzig, a tax law professor at Valparaiso University ... Trump ... could put off paying part of those taxes by taking advantage of a law permitting a tax-free trade to comply with federal conflict-of-interest rules, but there are legal questions about whether Trump is eligible for it. To take advantage of the provision, he might have to sign an executive order qualifying himself—an action that would surely generate a barrage of criticism that he was giving himself a big tax break.” http://politi.co/2h7hZFK
VP WATCH -- “Pence’s power play: The VP-elect holds sway over Cabinet, soothes conservatives,” by Eliana Johnson and Andrew Restuccia: “He may not have the power or mystique of Dick Cheney, but it’s clear that [Mike] Pence is already assuming a serious and workmanlike role as vice president-elect, shoring up Trump’s weaknesses in governing and intra-party relationships. It was Pence who made the call on Trump’s behalf to make it clear the president-elect wanted Paul Ryan to remain speaker. It was Pence whose fingerprints are on the selection of at least four of the eight nominees to Trump’s administration so far — Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Georgia Rep. Tom Price, all of whom he quietly elevated behind the scenes.
“Seema Verma, Trump’s pick to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, worked with Pence to design Indiana’s Medicaid expansion. And it was Pence who helped close the deal with Carrier, which marked the first de facto policy victory of the Trump administration, while his ‘Art of the Deal’ president-elect swept in this week to claim credit before a frenzied audience. Those assignments are a signal of the weighty role Pence is already playing, and they are serving as reassurance to anxious Republicans eager to see a conservative influence on the White House.” http://politi.co/2gPMo88
-- “In Mr. Pence’s new D.C. neighborhood, not exactly the welcome wagon,” by WaPo’s Ian Shapira: “In the affluent Washington neighborhood of Chevy Chase, the tinsel, poinsettias and Christmas trees are competing for attention this holiday season with an unusual house decoration: gay pride rainbow flags. When news filtered out in late November that Vice President-elect Mike Pence was temporarily moving into the white colonial with green shutters on Tennyson Street NW -- in the heart of Chevy Chase, a liberal Democratic stronghold -- neighbors decided to greet the Republican interloper with polite protest: rainbow flags flapping from their homes. … [A]t least seven homes on the street boast the flags.” http://wapo.st/2gPVCkH
READING THE TEA LEAVES – AP’s Jonathan Lemire and Julie Pace: “According to two people close to the transition, Trump is moving away from two of the front-runners for the job, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee. ... Former CIA director David Petraeus is still in the mix, though both people close to the transition said Trump’s prolonged decision-making process has left the door open to other options. One of the sources said Trump was open to expanding his short list ... Among the possibilities: Jon Huntsman, a former Republican Utah governor who also served as the ambassador to China and speaks Mandarin.” http://apne.ws/2gPDeZw
-- “After Trump-Romney feud, genuine effort to join forces,” by the Boston Globe’s Matt Viser: “Few could have predicted the head-snapping turnaround that brought Romney to a jocular meeting with Trump in a fancy French restaurant [Jean-Georges] in New York last week to discuss a possible role as secretary of state. But conversations with sources close to both men show that they have grown closer, and that Romney and Trump have developed a rapport, talking on the phone several times and holding two meetings. Trump is considering other candidates as well — and an announcement may not come for another week or two — but more meetings with Romney could come soon. ‘Romney’s very much in the mix here,’ said the transition source, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. ‘The meetings have gone well.’” http://bit.ly/2h7spFq
TRUMP ATTENDS MERCER PARTY – Per pooler Ben Walsh: “The motorcade arrived at the ‘Owl’s Nest,’ the Head of the Harbor, New York home of hedge fund billionaire and Trump donor Robert Mercer, at 8:35. PEOTUS is attending a ‘Heroes and Villians’-themed costume party hosted by Mercer. ... Asked who he was dressed as, PEOTUS -- wearing a dark suit, overcoat and checked tie -- pointed at himself and mouthed ‘me.’ ... Kellyanne Conway and Steve Bannon were in PEOTUS’ car and are attending the party. Ms. Conway was dressed as Super Woman. ...
“PEOTUS delivered remarks to party attendees who were in a tent on the lawn of the house. … From the tent, what sounded to be a cover band churned out a polished set of contemporary banquet standards (Winehouse, Cher, Gaga, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Adele, Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On). Staff and security at the Mercer property are dressed as Hells Angels and retro Salvation Army members.” Bloomberg story previewing the party http://bloom.bg/2h7kKaf
KEN VOGEL broke the news of the Trump appearance at the Mercer party 4 1/2 hours before anyone else: http://politi.co/2h1Trd3
SNL’s COLD OPEN last night: President-elect Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) repeatedly interrupts a security briefing to retweet random people – TRUMP: “Next I’m going to do what I promised my whole campaign. And I’m going to build that swamp.” KELLYANNE CONWAY (Kate McKinnon): “Okay, don’t you mean drain the swamp and build the wall? TRUMP: “No that’s too many things. Just smush them together. Smush smush smush.” ...
CONWAY: “We need to get moving because you have that dinner with Mitt Romney tonight.” TRUMP: “Ugh, do I have to?” CONWAY: “Yes sir.” TRUMP: “Well can we at least have a picture of us together where he looks like a little b****?” CONWAY: “Yes.” Video http://bit.ly/2goq4lu
-- @realDonaldTrump at 12:13 a.m.: “Just tried watching Saturday Night Live - unwatchable! Totally biased, not funny and the Baldwin impersonation just can’t get any worse. Sad”
MIKE FLYNN PROFILE -- NYT A1, “In Trump’s Security Pick, Michael Flynn, ‘Sharp Elbows’ and No Dissent,” by Matt Rosenberg, Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt: “Many of those who observed the general’s time at the agency described him as someone who alienated both superiors and subordinates with his sharp temperament, his refusal to brook dissent, and what his critics considered a conspiratorial worldview. Those qualities could prove problematic for a national security adviser, especially one who will have to mediate the conflicting views of cabinet secretaries and agencies for a president with no experience in defense or foreign policy issues ... In numerous interviews and speeches over the past year, Mr. Flynn ... has maintained that he was forced out as director for refusing to toe the Obama administration’s line that Al Qaeda was in retreat. ... But others say he was forced out for a relatively simple reason: He failed to effectively manage a sprawling, largely civilian bureaucracy.” http://nyti.ms/2h7iq2W
PHILIP GORDON in Politico Magazine, “Why Trump’s Foreign Policy Might Prove Less Radical Than You Think”: “[W]hile there is plenty to worry about—and as a liberal, internationalist, former Hillary Clinton adviser far be it from me to downplay the real danger Trump represents—there are reasons to believe some of these concerns are misplaced. While Trump will be by far the most ill-informed, inexperienced and morally compromised man ever to assume the presidency, his foreign policy may not prove to be as radical as many seem to assume. The risk with Trump is less that he will pursue a grand strategy that causes problems than that he will have no coherent strategy at all.” http://politi.co/2h0aGeL
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK – “HOMELAND” PREVIEW -- Showtime is running two short first-look videos later today with Mandy Patinkin (Saul) and F. Murray Abraham (Dar Adal) describing what’s on tap for the next season.Per Showtime: “After thwarting a terrorist attack at Berlin’s Hauptbahnhof Station during the climactic finale of Season 5, Season 6 [premiering Jan. 15] picks up several months later following the recent election of the new President of the United States. Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) is back on American soil, living in Brooklyn, NY, and working at a foundation that provides aid to the Muslim community living in the United States.” Saul – 2-min. video: http://bit.ly/2fNnadR ... Dar -- 2-min. video: http://bit.ly/2fSgdDn … Season 6 trailer http://bit.ly/2gl8iQc
WHAT WHARTON IS READING – Bloomberg Businessweek, Thursday, “A Reckoning at Wharton, Trump’s Alma Mater: The business school’s future CEOs are afraid. Or thrilled. Or both,” by Katia Porzecanski: http://bloom.bg/2gU5s5s
--FLASHBACK, Nov. 6, Politico Magazine, “Why Penn Won’t Talk About Donald Trump: As Trump becomes the university’s most famous alum, campus leaders scramble to protect its brand,” by Dan Spinelli: http://politi.co/2fTXcW7
FUN READ -- “The Hillary Clinton Selfie as Political Salve, or Weapon,” by NYT’s Amanda Hess: “Adam Parkhomenko, a longtime Clinton aide, has started a Twitter account, @HRCInTheWild, for tracking the spontaneous sightings. ... In each photograph, Mrs. Clinton smiles warmly. Her face is free of makeup, her hair undone. She wears practical layers — leggings, turtlenecks, patterned fleeces, fun scarves. After the knock-down, drag-out battle of the campaign, the images suggest she has, unexpectedly, found peace. She has cast off the militaristic coats, the pantsuit uniform, the helmet hairdo and the mask of TV news makeup that she wore as Hillary Clinton, embattled Democratic hopeful and Republican villain. Now she presents as a recently retired woman living her best life.” http://nyti.ms/2fZfAIc
-- “True to her roots! Hillary Clinton has worn the same Patagonia fleece for more than 20 years,” by James Gordon for the Daily Mail -- with 5 pix on the same page http://dailym.ai/2h7e1Np
BONUS GREAT WEEKEND READS, curated by Daniel Lippman:
--“Bernie Sanders: Where We Go From Here,” by Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi: “It feels like a bomb went off in Washington. In less than a year, the leaders of both major parties have been crushed, fundamentally reshaping a political culture that for generations had seemed unalterable.” http://rol.st/2h4RJMr (h/t TheBrowser.com)
--“Leonard Cohen: Remembering the Life and Legacy of the Poet of Brokenness,” by Mikal Gilmore in Rolling Stone: “For nearly half a century, the novelist, ladies’ man and Buddhist monk built a tower of song – even though darkness was never far off.” http://rol.st/2h4J9NF
--“52 things I learned in 2016,” by Tom Whitwell on Medium: http://bit.ly/2gLKkOm
--“The Seductive Allure of Precision Weapons,” by Mike Benitez and Mike Pietrucha in War on the Rocks: “The allure of precision weapons has proven too much for policymakers. They have been seduced into believing that somehow, aerial warfare is not the dirty, dangerous, and destructive child of modern warfare that it actually is.” http://bit.ly/2gSyjXT
--“They Went to Sea in a Sieve, They Did,” by Shannon Proudfoot on Sportsnet: “In 1969, Donald Crowhurst fooled the world into believing he was completing the fastest non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe. Then his boat was found, empty and adrift in the Atlantic.” http://sprtsnt.ca/2gYfJfJ(h/t Longreads.com)
--“Unclaimed,” by Brooke Jarvis in California Sunday Magazine – per Longform’s description: “On a mysterious migrant in a San Diego hospital bed, and the thousands of families who hope that he’s theirs.” http://bit.ly/2gTW0iL
--“How Humans Became ‘Consumers’: A History,” by Frank Trenmann in The Atlantic: “Until the 19th century, hardly anyone recognized the vital role everyday buyers play in the world economy.” http://theatln.tc/2gyzjCt
--“The Colombian Peace and its Discontents,” by Juan Diego Prieto on n+1 magazine: “Colombians can disagree without killing each other. But throughout the country’s history, certain matters have tended to fall outside the scope of peaceful disagreement.” http://bit.ly/2gRrLv6
--“A new path for the US and Cuba? What Ike and JFK might tell President-elect Trump,” by Fox News’ Bret Baier, author of “Three Days in January: Dwight Eisenhower’s Final Mission” (out Jan. 10): “As president he will oversee the beginning of the post-Fidel Castro era, with all the complexity that entails. The decisions he makes early in his term could shape our relationship with the island nation for decades to come.” http://fxn.ws/2gRPAmC ... Pre-order -- $21.74 on Amazon http://amzn.to/2gl9MJZ
--“2 Brothers’ Thanksgiving on the Front Lines in Ukraine,” by The Daily Signal’s Nolan Peterson: “This war is different from the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq ... This isn’t a country at war, this war is a destination. Once you’re at it, you’re in it. It has been like this in Ukraine for almost three years.” http://dailysign.al/2g2en6a
--“Wild thing,” by Jacob Mikanowski in Aeon Magazine: “How and why did humans domesticate animals – and what might this tell us about the future of our own species?” http://bit.ly/2gLP2vL
--“The Kurds Are Nearly There,” by Christian Caryl in the N.Y. Review of Books: “And then there are the Kurds. For the past twenty-five years, since a crucial intervention following the first Gulf War by the United States to protect them from Saddam Hussein’s killings, the 5.5 million Kurds of northern Iraq have been quietly running their own affairs.” http://bit.ly/2fS2pxy
--“The Devil’s Hair Dryer: Hell is other people, with leaf blowers,” by David Dudley in CityLab: “The crude little two-stroke engines used by most commercial backpack-style blowers are pollution bombs. ‘Simplest benchmark: running a leafblower for 30 minutes creates more emissions than driving a F-150 pickup truck 3800 miles,’" James Fallows has written. http://bit.ly/2gRvQ2g
SPOTTED: Spike Lee leaving Union Station this morning en route to NY … Former Sen. Richard Lugar on seat 2F on a Friday morning American flight 5523 from DCA to Indianapolis ... A photographer snapping pics of actor Sean Penn (baseball cap pulled low) at DCA baggage claim on Saturday afternoon … Bret Baier chatting up Sen. Orrin Hatch at Rick and Debbie Hohlt’s annual Christmas party in Belle Haven in Alexandria, Va., where Reince Priebus also made an appearance ... Wolf Blitzer at Joe’s yesterday ... Ari Fleischer in downtown St. Petersburg’s holiday-lit Straub Park
HOLIDAY PARTY CIRCUIT -- SPOTTED at last night’s annual America Rising/Definers/Advoc8 party at Capitale where the party favors were Moscow Mule cups with the logos of the groups throwing the party: Tim Miller DJing (pic: http://bit.ly/2g7yn7r), Matt Rhoades, Joe Pounder, Ben Ginsberg, Jeremy Adler, Raj Shah, Veronica Pollock, Anna Sugg, Olivia Perez Cubas, Jill Barclay, Josh and Melissa Sharp, Jeremy Rose and Caity Moran (who got engaged during the Cannes Lion festival this past summer - at midnight on a beach in Antibes, France -- pic: http://bit.ly/2h1WhPo), Brian Baker, Ben Adams, Matt Gorman, Polson Kanneth, Andrew Rafferty, Ryan Williams, Jenna Sakwa, Leah Nelson, Will and Kelly Ritter, Jeff Bechdel, Allie Brandenburger, Ryan Mahoney, Lauren Pratapas, Dan Knight, Jim Bognet, Jared Parks, Amelia Chasse, Rebecca and Matt Haller.
TRANSITIONS – “Millennial Action Project hires Layla Zaidane for Chief Operating Officer”: “Zaidane comes to MAP from Generation Progress at the Center for American Progress.” http://politi.co/2gMiKkm
WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- John Paul Schnapper-Casteras, NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s special counsel for appellate and Supreme Court advocacy, and Tamara Klajn, chief of staff on policy planning staff at the State Department, welcomed their son Theodore Schnapper Casteras Klajn on Nov. 30. “He measured 8 lbs 12 oz and 20 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well and we look forward to introducing him to you,” wrote Schnapper-Casteras. Pic http://bit.ly/2gVbtip
WEEKEND WEDDINGS – ERIC WILSON, just named to be digital director for Ed Gillespie’s 2017 gubernatorial race and most recently at NRSC, yesterday married RACHAEL DEAN, comms director for Sen. McCain and a Javelin alum, at the St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Chinatown. Pool report from Dan Conston: “The celebration continued at the Willard Hotel, with guests noshing on peking duck wraps, curried butternut squash soup, and chicken Wellington. The party continued on late into the night. There was a wedding cake with strawberry filling and an additional groom’s cake shaped as a NASCAR tire, paying homage to Eric’s favorite sport. There was also a portrait artist on site painting the scene live!” The wedding band was the Klassix; they had previously played Caitlin and Alex Conant’s wedding. Pic of the couple http://bit.ly/2gPCZ0s … The couple on the dance floor http://bit.ly/2gPCXFS … The menu http://bit.ly/2g7yAYi
SPOTTED: Sen. John McCain, Ed and Cathy Gillespie, Matron of honor and sister of the bride Jessica Dean Rutherford and Blake Rutherford, Alex and Caitlin Conant, Samantha Smith and Bubba Atkinson, Brittany Brammell and Dan Punaro, Brooke Buchanan, Michael and Hilary Goldfarb, Robert and Cat Jones, Joe Donoghue, Dan Conston, Brian Rogers and Nicole Beemsterboer, Chris Leavitt, Nate Hodson, Mike Haidet, Nick Butterfield, Carla Eudy, Julie Tarallo, Patrick Brennan, Caroline McCain, Kara McKee, Arpit Patel, Cabot Phillips, Maggie Dougherty, Candace Lee, Hallie Williams, Ellen Cahill.
--“Emily Cahn, Jacob Singer” – N.Y. Times: “Mrs. Singer, 27, is a senior political reporter in Manhattan for the news and media website Mic. She graduated cum laude from George Washington University. ... Mr. Singer, 27, is a law clerk to Judge Cheryl L. Pollak of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, with chambers in Brooklyn. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, from which he also received a law degree. ... The couple met New Year’s Eve 2012 at a party in Washington.” With a pic http://nyti.ms/2gULkCP … Wedding pic http://bit.ly/2fZgMvb
SPOTTED: Louis and Becky Nelson, Lauren French, Rebecca Shabad, Nate Cohn, Alexis Levinson, Kyle Trygstad and Abby Livingston.
--Cathy Keefe, manager of media relations at the U.S. Travel Association, married Chris Reynolds of the State Department in a ceremony at the Hotel Monaco downtown Saturday at 5 p.m. They met through a mutual friend when Chris was working overseas. Pic http://bit.ly/2fVOWF5
REMEMBERING WYATT DICKERSON – NYT’s Alessandra Stanley: “C. Wyatt Dickerson, a dapper investor and real estate developer who, alongside his wife, Nancy Dickerson, glittered at the top of the Washington A-list from the Kennedy era to Reagan’s, died on Tuesday in Washington. He was 92. His son John Dickerson, the host of ‘Face the Nation’ on CBS, said the death was caused by complications of esophageal cancer. During their 20-year marriage, Wyatt and Nancy Dickerson were the Gerald and Sara Murphy of the Cold War establishment: wealthy bons vivants who witnessed history over candlelight at dinner parties, inaugural balls and even 1970s discothèques.” With a great pic of Wyatt and Nancy “at Merrywood, their 22-acre estate in McLean, Va., around 1968,” per the caption http://nyti.ms/2g7rIdr
REMEMBERING MIKE SPICER, father of Sean: He “passed away peacefully on December 1, 2016 at his home in Barrington surrounded by his loving and devoted family, after a long, brave battle against pancreatic cancer. For 47 years, he was married to Kathryn (Grossman) Spicer, who he called an amazing wife and incredible mother to their three children, Sean (Rebecca) of Alexandria, VA; Shannon of Boston, MA; and Ryan (Emma) of Scarsdale, NY. ... He was industrious from an early age, starting work in the boat business rebuilding outboard motors at only 13. … He ... spent several decades in the yacht business, moving next to C&C Yachts in Middletown, before eventually launching his own yacht brokerage company, New Wave Marketing.” Obit http://bit.ly/2gYwXd7 ... Sean posted a pic of his dad and him with the caption: “Sailing in Newport with your Dad while drinking a Narragansett. Nothing better. He will be missed.” http://bit.ly/2fXL6pO
BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Kevin O’Neill, partner at Arnold and Porter, celebrating with a “post-church brunch with the kids before flying to client meetings” -- read his Playbook Plus Q&A: http://politi.co/2fZyQVS
BIRTHDAYS: Griffin Harris (Red Sox tip: Mom and Dad, Ann and John) … Al Hunt is 74 ... Bill Muratt, COS for Sen. Tammy Baldwin … Claire Lucas, DNC member (h/ts Hilary) … Jackie Kucinich Allen, Washington bureau chief at The Daily Beast, CNN political analyst and the pride of Worthington, Ohio, a Columbus suburb, celebrating by surfing on Oahu’s North Shore and then birthday dinner at Haleiwa Joe’s (h/t Matt Dornic, filing from Hawaii) ... PBS NewsHour’s deputy senior producer Anne Davenport (h/ts Nick Massella) ... Politico alum Nick Gass, starting on Monday as a news editor at McClatchyDC, is 27 ... Rep.-elect Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), the former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See under Bush 43, is 63 ... Edelman alum Craig Brownstein ... Peter Freeman, the pride of Orcas Island, Wash., who celebrated his birthday early in the office with Chic-Fil-A, cupcakes, and making the interns guess how old he was (h/t Team Royce) ... CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux … Ashley (Nerz) Levey, comms at LinkedIn and a Fox News alum (h/t Chip Cutter) ... Ben Keller, VP at Kea Consultants in London ... Andrew Shult, digital director at House Oversight ... Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) is 8-0 ... Tyquana Henderson-Parsons, president at Connective Strategies ... Whitney Ksiazek, a field producer for Fox News in NYC ... Cesi Covey … Dani Kurtzleben, political reporter at NPR … Campbell Marshall ... Jon Fleischman …
… Matthew Bevens, deputy COS for the Export-Import Bank, a Treasury, Obama 2012 and GPG alum and the pride of Cumming, Ga. (h/t Ashley Chang) ... Shelbi Warner, DLCC’s ops and compliance manager (h/t Carolyn Fiddler) ... Washington Institute’s Louisa Keeler (h/t Ian Byrne) ... Sarah “pedal to the metal” Baron, campaign manager for early childhood policy in CAP’s War Room (h/t Emily Tisch Sussman) ... Joe Britton ... Leigh Strope, an AP and Teamsters alum, now senior director of public affairs and crisis and Dallas market advisor at Burson-Marsteller (h/t Bill McQuillen) ... Lis Buck ... Sean Gagen ... Nate Beecher ... Mike Stratton (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) ... Patrick Collins ... Jennifer Hurley, WaPo’s director of financial planning and analysis and a Politico alum ... Francesca de Quesada Covey, strategic partner manager at Facebook ... Nancy Rose Senich ... Steve Fowler ... Leslie Rhode ... Laura Derby, director of writing at Podesta Group ... Emily Hines … Doug Nation ... Brian Svoboda, partner at Perkins Coie ... Steen Hambric ... Doug Tiet of Rep. Dave Trott’s office ... Yesenia Chavez of Rep. Raul Grijalva’s office ... Meg Badame, LC for Rep. Duncan Hunter ... Fred Armisen is 5-0 … Marisa Tomei is 52 ... Jay-Z (not Zeleny, Zuckman or Zeidman) is 47 … Tyra Banks is 43 (h/ts AP)