2017-02-03

Listen to Playbook in 90 Seconds http://bit.ly/2koyvQz … Subscribe on iTunes http://apple.co/2eX6Eay … Visit the online home of Playbook http://politi.co/2f51Jnf

BULLETIN -- BREAKING EARLY THIS MORNING -- AP/PARIS: “French soldier shoots man who attacked them outside Louvre”: “A French soldier shot and seriously wounded a man in a shopping mall beneath the Louvre Museum on Friday after he tried to attack them and shouted ‘Allahu akbar,’ officials said. The man was carrying two backpacks, and he had two machetes, and when soldiers and police officers on patrol told the man that he could not come in with his bags, he attacked, said Yves Lefebvre, a police union official. ‘That's when he got the knife out and that’s when he tried to stab the soldier,’ he said. A soldier opened fire and the man was struck five times, once in the stomach, Paris police chief Michel Cadot said. The backpacks didn’t contain any explosives, he said. One of the soldiers was slightly wounded on the scalp.” http://apne.ws/2l3Q3Ao

... AND HERE'S WHAT TRUMP IS TWEETING -- @realDonaldTrump at 6:24 a.m.: "Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger did a really bad job as Governor of California and even worse on the Apprentice...but at least he tried hard!" ... at 6:28 a.m.: "Iran is playing with fire - they don't appreciate how 'kind' President Obama was to them. Not me!" ... at 6:34 a.m. "Thank you to Prime Minister of Australia for telling the truth about our very civil conversation that FAKE NEWS media lied about. Very nice!"

WHAT TRUMP IS WAKING UP TO -- NYT -- four of 5 A1 stories are Trump related -- http://nyti.ms/2kwlaYM … WaPo takes the same tack as the Times on A1 http://bit.ly/2k8F1MA … N.Y. POST -- “THE PREZINATOR: Trump vs. Arnold, Berkeley, Iran, Australia…” http://nyp.st/2kzMDZp

HAPPENING TODAY -- “Donald Trump Plans to Undo Dodd-Frank Law, Fiduciary Rule: White House adviser Gary Cohn says banks burdened by rules added after financial crisis,” by WSJ’s Michael Bender and Damian Paletta: “President Donald Trump on Friday plans to sign an executive action to scale back the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law, in a sweeping plan to dismantle much of the regulatory system put in place after the financial crisis. Mr. Trump also plans another executive action aimed at rolling back a controversial regulation scheduled to take effect in April that critics have said would upend the retirement-account advisory business.

“‘Americans are going to have better choices and Americans are going to have better products because we’re not going to burden the banks with literally hundreds of billions of dollars of regulatory costs every year,’ White House National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. ‘The banks are going to be able to price product more efficiently and more effectively to consumers.’ Mr. Trump will use a memorandum to ask the labor secretary to consider rescinding a rule set to go into effect in April that orders retirement advisers, overseeing about $3 trillion in assets, to act in the best interest of their clients, Mr. Cohn said in the White House interview. He said the rule limits consumer choice. Mr. Trump also will sign an executive order that directs the Treasury secretary and financial regulators to come up with a plan to revise rules the Dodd-Frank law put in place.” http://on.wsj.com/2l2d3Rs

-- JUST SOME NOTES: This is WAY beyond what Republicans said they were comfortable with when it comes to executive orders. And the guy who spoke on the record here to discuss easing financial regulations is Gary Cohn, the former president of Goldman Sachs, which is tricky optically for Trump.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- LEAKED DOCUMENT -- INSIDE THE GOP’S 2017 PLANS -- House Republicans are beginning to get specific on what they need to do -- and by when -- in this new Congress. Here is a detailed cheat sheet -- distributed by House GOP leadership in a closed-door session Thursday morning -- about the 14 key deadlines in 2017. The document provides a skeleton for what needs to happen over the next year. Read the memo: http://bit.ly/2kxtHKG

-- ACCORDING TO SOURCES who were in the Republican meeting, there has been no clear guidance from the White House about an infrastructure package, which is why it’s left out for now. We expect late-year action on that. HEALTH CARE AND TAX ARE TIED TOGETHER, IN A SENSE. Republicans can’t start tax reform until health care is done. On health care, there is a “three-bucket strategy.” Once Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) is confirmed as HHS secretary, he plans to begin to unravel Obamacare administratively. The second plan focuses on a repeal and replace strategy -- under reconciliation. And a third bill would be a health care package with various other elements.

IMPORTANT STORY -- “Trump warns Israel that new settlements ‘may not help’ achieve Middle East peace,” by WaPo’s Abby Phillips and Karen DeYoung: “The White House on Thursday gently warned Israel that new or expanded settlements in the West Bank ‘may not be helpful’ in achieving a Middle East peace, while insisting it has no ‘official position on settlement activity.’ A statement issued by press secretary Sean Spicer said that although the administration does not believe settlements are ‘an impediment to peace, the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing settlements beyond their current borders may not be helpful in achieving that goal.’

“‘The American desire for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians has remained unchanged for 50 years,’ Spicer’s statement said, a reference to President Trump’s insistence that a return to the Middle East negotiating table is a goal he hopes to achieve. While the statement carefully parsed it words, it marked a step away from what some Trump officials -- and the president’s designated new ambassador to Israel -- have said in favor of settlements. Trump’s first foreign call as president was to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he has been sharply critical of former president Barack Obama, whom he characterized as weak on Israel.” http://wapo.st/2jKt0tr

-- A NOTE: Since taking office, the Trump White House has been noncommittal on moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as they said they would during the campaign. And now they appear that they’re trying to get Israel to pump the breaks on settlement building and expansion. Sounds not all too different from Barack Obama’s policies.

GREAT DETAILS – “Distrust in Trump’s White House spurs leaks, confusion: ‘Trying to nail down who the leakers are is like trying to count the cockroaches under the couch,’ one longtime Trump adviser says,” by Josh Dawsey, Tara Palmeri, Eli Stokols and Shane Goldmacher: “Anthony Scaramucci, a Trump fundraiser who was expected to join the White House but now is unlikely to do so, has aligned himself with Bannon. ... While he was in New York, Omarosa Manigault, another Trump aide, sought to take his office with a better view of the Washington Monument, according to people familiar with her move. Manigault now may get the office, since Scaramucci is now not expected to join the administration.” http://politi.co/2l3PxCE

WHAT LANGLEY IS READING -- NYT A10, “New C.I.A. Deputy Director Had Leading Role in Torture of Detainees,” by Matt Rosenberg: “As a clandestine officer at the Central Intelligence Agency in 2002, Gina Haspel oversaw the torture of two terrorism suspects and later took part in an order to destroy videotapes documenting their brutal interrogations at a secret prison in Thailand. On Thursday, Ms. Haspel was named the deputy director of the C.I.A. The elevation of Ms. Haspel, a veteran widely respected among her colleagues, to the No. 2 job at the C.I.A. was a rare public signal of how, under the Trump administration, the agency is being led by officials who appear to take a far kinder view of one of its darker chapters than their immediate predecessors.” http://nyti.ms/2kzqquw

POLL DU JOUR – CBS News poll off-embargo at 7 a.m.: Its new poll finds more Americans disapprove than approve (51 percent to 45 percent) of Trump’s executive order temporarily banning foreigners from seven majority Muslim countries. 85 percent of Republicans support the action while an identical 85 percent of Democrats oppose it. The poll also found Trump’s approval rating at 40 percent, the weakest number for any president right after his first inauguration since the Gallup Poll started tracking these numbers in 1953 – 48 percent disapprove of Trump’s performance.

THE JUICE …

-- HOT JOB: ASST. TO PETER THIEL -- “Thiel Capital is looking for versatile, energetic, and proactive Personal Assistant to support its President, Peter Thiel. If you’re organized, enjoy juggling many different responsibilities at once, and thrive in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment, this is the role for you. The role requires a proactive, positive, can-do attitude with a special focus on internal customer service. Attention to detail, the ability to multitask without letting anything slip, a willingness to travel, and a focus on personal tasks are essential. You must exhibit a demonstrated ability to perform duties with a polished level of professionalism, tact, discretion, and judgement. While we expect a high level of accuracy, professionalism, and integrity, we also embrace light-heartedness, humor, and fun in our employees.” Some of the responsibilities: “Available 24/7 by cell phone and email … Available for extensive and last minute travel with our President … Organizing, stocking and managing our president’s closet and personal-care supplies … Handling medical logistical responsibilities … Tracking and reminding executive of family obligations … Packing, unpacking, and acting as a valet for President when he is traveling”. Apply on LinkedIn http://bit.ly/2k8Hp60

-- FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- TOM LOPACH IS JOINING SUBJECT MATTER. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee executive director and veteran Capitol Hill aide will work primarily with the firm’s government relations team. The former chief of staff to Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester has also worked as senior vice president of congressional affairs for the Export-Import Bank and as an aide to then-Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). http://politi.co/2k2R8bE

-- ERIC UELAND RETURNS -- The veteran Capitol Hill staffer, who most recently has been working on the Trump transition effort and helped prep Trump’s cabinet picks, is resuming his position as Republican staff director on the Budget Committee.

-- SCOOP: HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY named JOHN LEGANSKI as his next floor director. He’s replacing Ben Howard, who is doing legislative outreach to the Hill for the White House. Leganski went to Stanford and is from Chicago.

-- SCOOP: DIANNE FEINSTEIN, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is slated to meet with SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch on Monday at 4 p.m. The meeting will be key for Gorsuch and could help determine how aggressively the California Democrat takes on Trump’s pick in the upcoming hearings.

-- THE JUDICIAL CRISIS NETWORK is launching a pro-Gorsuch ad in Missouri, Indiana, North Dakota, Colorado and D.C. The ad is part of an initial $2 million ad buy that kicked off Tuesday. Here’s the ad http://bit.ly/2k2ON0z

SCOOP -- LAST NIGHT IN KALORAMA -- “Ivanka Trump’s dinner party diplomacy,” by Annie Karni: “On Thursday night, President Donald Trump’s eldest daughter hosted a dinner party with a group of CEOs at her new Kalorama home -- the stated purpose ... was for Ivanka Trump to solicit ideas on how to promote women in the workforce and fight for issues like paid maternity leave. ... Thursday night’s dinner marked Ivanka Trump’s first foray into politics on her own, since moving to Washington, D.C. Attending the Thursday night dinner was Walmart CEO Doug McMillon; General Motors CEO Mary Barra; Ernst & Young CEO Mark Weinberger; Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky; investment banker Adebayo Ogunlesi; JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon; Trump’s head of the National Economic Council, Gary Cohn; and Dina Powell, the former Goldman Sachs partner who recently joined the administration to advise Ivanka Trump and Kushner.” http://politi.co/2jEOA7J

SHOT -- “Trump’s Ex-Campaign Manager Said to Aid Lockheed in F-35 Dispute,” by Bloomberg’s Kevin Cirilli: “Lockheed Martin Corp. turned to Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and his lobbying firm to help them navigate a dispute with the new president over the cost of its F-35 fighter plane ... Trump criticized the company for ‘out-of-control’ costs for the stealth fighter in a series of tweets in December, startling top executives at the firm. The company’s shares fell, and an initial meeting on Dec. 21 between Trump and Lockheed’s chief executive officer, Marillyn Hewson, to discuss the matter did not go well … Lockheed engaged Lewandowski and his firm, Avenue Strategies, after Hewson’s first meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.” http://bloom.bg/2kweDgY

CHASER -- FROM POLITICO’S MORNING DEFENSE’s Gregory Hellman and Jeremy Herb: “‘We did not hire Lewandowski or his firm,’ Lockheed spokesman Bill Phelps said. Lockheed declined, however, to answer follow-up questions about whether the contractor had any interactions with Lewandowski.”

BY THE NUMBERS -- “Trump’s Mar-a-Lago getaway could cost taxpayers more than $3 million,” by Matt Nussbaum: “President Donald Trump’s trip to his luxury resort in Mar-a-Lago this weekend could saddle taxpayers with a bill upwards of $3 million and is already drawing the type of scrutiny Trump and other Republicans regularly heaped upon former President Barack Obama.” http://politi.co/2l3Ox19

TRUMP'S DAY -- Trump has a strategy meeting with CEOs, will sign executive orders, meet with Michael Flynn and then will leave for Palm Beach.

HAPPENING TOMORROW -- “Sources: Donald and Melania Trump will be at Red Cross Ball,” by Palm Beach Daily News’ Shannon Donnelly: “The first couple will be joined by 700 others, some of whom paid as much as $50,000 for premium placement. Six ambassadors will be at the ball, representing Switzerland, Italy, Colombia, Afghanistan, Peru, and Jordan. Mexico is not sending an ambassador. Neither is Australia.” http://bit.ly/2jEL3Gh

-- HOT TICKET – “Diamond Centennial -- Vienna to Versailles -- International Red Cross Ball” at Mar-A-Lago: “7:00 p.m. Cocktails ... 8:00 p.m. Fireworks ... 9:00 p.m. Dinner and Dancing ... White Tie and Decorations Preferred”. See the invite http://politi.co/2kwnoHA

-- AWKWARD -- “The American Red Cross, when requested by local authorities, will provide basic support to stranded travelers affected by the recent executive order on immigration, including providing food and water at ports of entry; blankets, toiletries and other aid; and health, mental health and spiritual care services. Our ‘Restoring Family Links’ services are also available to help detainees and stranded travelers who have been separated internationally to reconnect with their loved ones.” http://rdcrss.org/2l48TY6

JOHN HARRIS AND DANIEL LIPPMAN in POLITICO Magazine on “Trump’s Enemies Within: The president has awakened the slumbering beast that felled presidents before him: the federal bureaucracy”: “How on earth is all this stuff getting in the newspapers? Bob Haldeman told Richard Nixon that he had uncovered the culprit: Mark Felt, a top official at the FBI. ‘Now why the hell would he do that?’ asked Nixon, who was secretly recording the exchange. Cracking down on Felt directly was out of the question, the two men agreed. … Donald Trump, a self-professed Nixon admirer, is learning this history lesson about the presidency in real time: His most dangerous enemies are people who ostensibly work for him. Modern presidents always feel hectored by the news media and harried by opposition legislators. But mortal threats to their power typically come from hostile forces inside the executive branch. The phenomenon has rarely been on more vivid display, with Trump buffeted by an unprecedented barrage of leaks about his decision-making and direct challenges to the decisions themselves—a new example coming almost daily—from within the permanent bureaucracy of government.” With cameos by Leon Panetta, Jack Quinn, Roger Stone, David Gergen and Bart Gellman http://politi.co/2knjVsG

POLITICO MAGAZINE FRIDAY COVER -- ERIC SCHNEIDERMAN PROFILE -- “Will This Man Take Down Donald Trump?” by David Freedlander: New York Attorney General Eric “Schneiderman has emerged as perhaps the lefty media’s favorite lawyer, tangling with mortgage bankers, ExxonMobil, and national retailers like Abercrombie & Fitch, J Crew and The Gap. And on November 9, he was handed what might become his largest target when Donald Trump, his longtime nemesis, was elected president. … If Governor Eliot Spitzer became known as the ‘sheriff of Wall Street,’ and Gov. Andrew Cuomo vowed to clean up Albany and become the ‘sheriff of State Street,’ Schneiderman could very much become the next sheriff of Pennsylvania Avenue.” http://politi.co/2k2KfHA

TOP-ED -- “Trump wants health ‘insurance for everybody.’ Here’s how the GOP can make it happen,” by Lanhee Chen and Tevi Troy in WaPo. http://wapo.st/2l2p498

TRUMP’S WORLD -- NYT A13, “For Europe, There’s a New Threat in Town: The U.S.,” by Steven Erlanger: “Like much of the world, the European Union is struggling to decipher a President Trump who seems every day to be picking a new fight with a new nation, whether friend or foe. Hopes among European leaders that Mr. Trump’s bombastic tone as a candidate would somehow smooth into a more temperate one as commander in chief are dissipating, replaced by a mounting sense of anxiety and puzzlement over how to proceed.” http://nyti.ms/2jELlwN

NOW YOU KNOW – “The Anonymous Pro-Trump ‘Decius’ Now Works Inside The White House,” by The Weekly Standard’s Michael Warren: “The writer is a senior national-security official in the Trump White House, nearly a decade after serving in a similar role for George W. Bush. ... The enigmatic writer’s real name is Michael Anton, and he’s a fast-talking 47-year-old intellectual who, unlike most of his colleagues, can readily quote Roman histories and Renaissance thinkers. But readers knew him throughout 2016 as Publius Decius Mus, first at a now-defunct website called the Journal of American Greatness and later in the online pages of the Claremont Review of Books.” http://tws.io/2kYKk37

#THISTOWN – “New Yorker and Vanity Fair Pull Out of Correspondents Dinner Parties,” by NYT’s Mike Grynbaum and Katie Rogers: “The New Yorker is canceling the kickoff party that it usually holds at the W Hotel ... Vanity Fair is pulling out of co-sponsoring the dinner’s most exclusive after-party, a celebrity-studded affair most recently hosted at the French ambassador’s residence that is considered the capital’s hottest ticket of the year. Vanity Fair’s co-sponsor, Bloomberg L.P., is proceeding with its plans for the party, but no final decision has been made on the event ... Mr. Carter, who has feuded with Mr. Trump for decades, was asked whether he had a particular reason for canceling this year’s festivities. ‘Trump,’ Mr. Carter replied, ‘and the fish.’” With cameos by Jeff Mason, Kate Nocera and Ed Chen http://nyti.ms/2kwp5VG

K STREET WATCH -- “Vitter heads to K Street,” by new Politico Influence author Theo Meyer: “Former Sen. David Vitter is joining one of Washington’s largest lobbying firms. The Louisiana Republican, who spent six years in the House and 12 in the Senate, this week joined Mercury LLC, whose clients range from corporate titans like Visa and NBCUniversal to the governments of Nigeria and Qatar. Vitter, whose title will be co-chairman, gives the firm a veteran lawmaker with deep relationships with top members of the Trump administration, including Attorney General-designate Jeff Sessions, Vitter’s longtime Senate colleague. … The firm is also adding Al Simpson, who spent the past six years as chief of staff for Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), whom Trump tapped to be his Office of Management and Budget director. Simpson expects to engage Mulvaney on infrastructure, tax and defense issues. Mercury has also added Brent Thompson, the former head of government affairs for Expedia, as a managing director.” http://politi.co/2k8q2Cr … Subscribe to PI http://politi.co/1Oianoy

-- "Ryan starts 2017 with fundraising bang," by Rachael Bade. http://politi.co/2l46Fbs

WEST COAST WATCH -- “California lawmakers can’t figure out what to do with Airbnb. Here’s why,” by LA Times’ Liam Dillon: “The lack of action is in sharp contrast to the scores of regulations passed in cities and states across the country, but also to the way California legislators have responded with fervor in tackling other issues surrounding the so-called sharing economy, including Uber and Lyft and the booming ride-hailing industry. … Short-term rental legislation has failed in Sacramento for multiple reasons, those on all sides of the issue said, including cities’ reluctance to let the state involve itself in local tax collection and the relative political strengths of both Airbnb and labor unions, which are typically the industry’s most powerful adversaries.” http://lat.ms/2k2P97n

HOT ON THE LEFT -- Princeton President Chris Eisgruber and 47 other American college and university presidents have sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to “rectify or rescind the recent executive order closing our country’s borders to immigrants and others from seven majority-Muslim countries and to refugees from throughout the world. ... If left in place, the order threatens both American higher education and the defining principles of our country … The order specifically prevents talented, law-abiding students and scholars from the affected regions from reaching our campuses.” Full letter http://bit.ly/2jK1BIk

-- FROM LUFTHANSA: “Due to a decision (Temporary Restraint Order) by the District Court in Massachusetts, the [immigration executive order] is suspended on flights to [Boston Logan Airport] for the time being until February 5th, 2017. All passengers with valid travel documents are eligible to board on LH-flights to BOS.”

OBAMA ALUMNI -- GENE SPERLING’s Atlantic debut -- Sperling has started as a contributing editor for The Atlantic. His first piece looks at the question of whether we will be able to trust economic data coming out of this administration. “On the eve of the release of the first jobs report during Trump's presidency, this leads to a pressing question: Will he revive the Nixonian tradition of interfering with federal economic agencies if they announce numbers that do not please him?” http://theatln.tc/2kokguV

HAPPENING TODAY – The American Enterprise Institute is hosting a panel discussion from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. called “Lost In Translation: The Unsung War Heroes Of Iraq And Afghanistan” with former Gen. David Petraeus and Paul Wolfowitz. Retired Army Captain Matt Zeller of the group No One Left Behind and two former translators will also join and share their experiences from the front lines. Livestream http://bit.ly/2kwq2xj

IVANKA/JARED WATCH -- Ivanka went to the Chinese embassy’s New Year’s party – pic http://bit.ly/2jH1ehF ... The big panda cake at the party: http://bit.ly/2kX8BmX

SPOTTED: Jason Miller at the bar at Capital Grille … former Rep. Henry Waxman and colleagues from his firm, Waxman Strategies at Corduroy for dinner ... Wolf Blitzer at the newest Penn Quarter hotspot, The Smith, after the Wizards/Lakers game. ... former VP Joe Biden, wearing his standard aviators, at the Chevy Chase Brooks Brothers yesterday “several customers and staff greeted him and he was friendly and generous with his time” ... Kellyanne Conway dining with Ari Fleischer on Wednesday night at DBGB.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD -- Travis Hall, comms director at the Republican Study Committee, and Gretchen Hall, reentry advocate at Disability Rights DC at University Legal Services, welcomed Thomas Michael Hall last Friday at 1:14 a.m. “Thomas couldn’t wait another month and joined the world in his 36th week. Mom is doing well. Thomas’s condition continues to improve, and he is on target to be a reliable reliever for the Nats.” Pic http://bit.ly/2l2atum

SUNDAY SO FAR -- NBC’s “Meet the Press”: Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)

--“Fox News Sunday,” live from NRG Stadium in Houston -- home to Super Bowl LI: Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Robert Kraft. FOX NFL Sunday Panel: Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson

--CBS’ “Face the Nation”: Vice President Mike Pence, N.J. Gov. Chris Christie ... Demaurice Smith of the National Football League Players Association ... James Brown. Panel: Amy Walter, Ramesh Ponnuru, Ruth Marcus, Michael Duffy.

--CNN’s “State of the Union”: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Panel: Bakari Sellers, Neera Tanden, Sarah Isgur Flores, Rep. Jason Lewis (R-Minn.).

-- ABC’s “This Week”: Vice President Mike Pence, Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Matthew Dowd, Sara Fagen, Jen Palmieri.

--CNN’s “Inside Politics,” hosted by John King: Julie Pace, Ed O’Keefe, Ashley Parker, Manu Raju

TRANSITIONS -- Lambda Legal has hired Sharon McGowan, a top attorney in the civil rights division of the Department of Justice, as the group’s new director of strategy. http://politi.co/2kwpRBO

BUSH ALUMNI – PETE SEAT has been named the Indiana Republican Party’s executive director of strategic comms and talent development. “Seat most recently was communications director for Eric Holcomb for Indiana ... senior project manager at Hathaway Strategies ... and served in the George W. Bush White House." http://bit.ly/2kZ1PjU

BIRTHWEEK (was yesterday): Robin Gilchrist

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Jose Antonio Vargas, founder/CEO of Define American and a WaPo alum, is 36 -- he’s celebrating by taking some friends and co-workers to watch “I Am Not Your Negro,” the Oscar-nominated documentary on James Baldwin -- read his Playbook Plus Q&A: http://politi.co/2jEXsKp

BIRTHDAYS: J-E-T-S fan Matt Rhoades, founder of Definers Public Affairs and chairman of America Rising, is 42, celebrating by “chilling” (hat tip: Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, whose nickname for Matt is “Rhodesia”) ... Arthur Levitt, the longest-serving SEC Chairman, is a sprightly 86 (h/t Chris Ullman) ... Seth Lavin ... Virginia Boney, former appropriations director to Sen. Lindsey Graham, now in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs (h/t Tommy) … Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, an OMB alum and Twizzlers fan, is 59 (h/t Anne Schroeder) ... Josh Lipsky, the pride of Greenbelt, Md., former policy adviser and speechwriter to Rick Stengel at State, is 31 (h/t Herbie Ziskend) ... former Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.) is 84 ... Kathryn Lyons, managing editor at FamousDC (h/t Amos Snead) ... Fred Hochberg, former chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank, who celebrated with an NYT op-ed calling for Trump to renew the Ex-Im charter: http://nyti.ms/2jKgvxY (h/ts Hilary Rosen and Matt Bevens) … Amy Chapman … Mark Webster ... Billy Shore, founder and CEO of Share Our Strength, is 62 ... Anne Muscarella, director of comms at OZY ... Marianna Delafield ... Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is 74 ... Adriana Brizuela, MBA candidate at Georgetown McDonough, celebrating her 29th in NY with friends (h/t fiancee Gindy) ... Amy Chapman (h/t Sean Johnson) ... John Hendren, an LAT, NPR and ABC alum ... Mike Ryan, former senior advisor to Steve Israel and superfan of the Packers …SKDK’s Justine Turner (h/t Philippa Martinez-Berrier) ... Romen Borsellino, former special assistant to the Secretary of the Interior and Obama 2008/2012 campaign alum, is 27 ... Kyle Tharp of NGP VAN (h/t his fave ex-work wife Dawn Le) ...

… James Holm, executive producer of MSNBC’s “AM Joy,” is 45 ... ABC’s MaryAlice Parks (h/t Arlette Saenz) ... Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) is 58 ... Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.) is 47 ... Columbia 2L Janet Kanzawa, a Simpson Thacher & Bartlett alum (h/t Colby Bermel) ... RALLY principal/office volleyball captain Latia Curry and senior account executive and Mayor Villaraigosa alum Lys Mendez (h/ts Sam Garrett-Pate) ... Fox News contributor and fellow country music fan Lisa Marie Boothe, also president of High Noon Strategies (h/t Kurt Bardella) ... Rebecca Mark, a Cathy McMorris-Rodgers alum who just started as head of gov’t relations for Cruise Automation … Dana Thomas, former WaPo, Newsweek, and WSJ reporter, who recently made a state visit and was spotted at Cafe Milano (h/t Ben Chang) … Neal Carruth, GM of podcasting at NPR, is 41 ... Politico’s Lisa Francis (h/t Rachel Schindler) ... Jonathan Lachman, former associate director for national security programs at OMB and a DOD alum ... CAP alum Tara Kutz, now a production coordinator at C41 Media Corp … Virginia Boney … Chris DeRose ... Al Shofe … Lawrence Kluttz, comms. director for Rep. David Price ... Dennis Cariello, shareholder and education group co-chairman at Hogan, Marren, Babbo & Rose and a DLA Piper alum ... Alex Boian, VP of gov’t affairs at the Outdoor Industry Association ... Ruth Axton, daughter of Jeanne Cummings ... Diana Hartstein Beinart, deputy commissioner and general counsel of NYC’s Dept. of Finance and an Obama WH alum ... Marianne Delafield ... Kim Sneed, assignment manager at NBC Universal ... Al Shofe ... Zaida Hill Ricker ... Clay Hollis, senior LA for Rep. Tom Rooney ... Jessica Ann Levandowski, digital director for House OGR ... Bradley Solyan, LA for Rep. Lois Frankel (h/ts Legistorm) ... Playbooker Morgan Fairchild is 67 … Blythe Danner is 74 ... human rights activist Amal Alamuddin Clooney is 39 (h/ts AP)

Show more