POLITICO Playbook: Will Trump participate now?

WE HAVE SOME INTEL TO REPORT concerning the next part of the impeachment inquiry, but we're going to achieve this with this caveat: Nailing down this White House is like making an attempt to tack Jell-O to a wall. They are ever shifting, they usually hardly keep on the same page on trivial matters, not to mention selections of the utmost import. Look no additional than this week, once they couldn’t determine on a message concerning the gender of a dog.

SO, HERE WE GO: AS OF RIGHT NOW, individuals near President DONALD TRUMP on the White House employees and on Capitol Hill don't consider he'll send a lawyer to participate in subsequent week’s Judiciary impeachment hearings, as is his right.

THIS COMES AFTER WEEKS OF COMPLAINING that the method was rigged towards him as a result of he didn’t have representation.

BUT TRUMP’S ALLIES assume that the president is profitable the method argument -- that impeachment is rigged, crooked, and so forth. -- and he ought to proceed to take a seat it out. There will undoubtedly be hand-wringing about this within the 5 days between now and when the committee needs to know whether or not they should anticipate White House counsel.

THIS IS A BIG DECISION for Republicans. Not having a presidential lawyer present would go away defending the president to the Home Judiciary Committee, which incorporates Trump allies like GOP Reps. JIM JORDAN (Ohio), DOUG COLLINS (Ga.), JOHN RATCLIFFE (Texas) and MATT GAETZ (Fla.).

DEMOCRATS DID MAKE SURE that Trump has access to an lawyer throughout this subsequent set of hearings. Their steerage for the hearings says this: “The president’s counsel might question any witness referred to as before the committee, subject to directions from the chair or presiding member respecting the time, scope and period of the examination.”

THE FIRST HEARING, as our colleagues KYLE CHENEY, ANDREW DESIDERIO and HEATHER CAYGLE level out here, is entitled “The Impeachment Inquiry into President Donald J. Trump: Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment.” This alerts that the hearing will discover the authorized case for impeaching the president. In fact, we anticipate these hearings will take up tons of oxygen, and can be televised reside.

TO BE SURE, THIS COULD CHANGE … THE WHITE HOUSE doesn’t have a coherent impeachment technique that we will discern -- and a lot of the president’s Capitol Hill allies feel the identical approach. So perhaps they'll shift methods over this upcoming long weekend.

… BTW: Who's the president’s lawyer, if he decides to send one? Wouldn't it be Rudy Giuliani? White Home counsel Pat Cipollone?

HEATHER CAYGLE, SARAH FERRIS and KYLE CHENEY: “Dems see one last chance to boost public support for impeachment”

SO MANY GOOD STORIES IN THE LAST 12 OR SO HOURS …

NYT: “Trump Knew of Whistle-Blower Complaint When He Released Aid to Ukraine,” Mike Schmidt, Julian Barnes and Maggie Haberman: “President Trump had already been briefed on a whistle-blower’s grievance about his dealings with Ukraine when he unfroze army help for the nation in September, in accordance with two individuals conversant in the matter.

“Legal professionals from the White House counsel’s office advised Mr. Trump in late August concerning the grievance, explaining that they have been making an attempt to find out whether or not they have been legally required to provide it to Congress, the individuals stated.”

DOES THAT INSURANCE POLICY COVER GETTING THROWN UNDER THE BUS, RUDY? … BLOOMBERG: “Trump Denies Sending Rudy Giuliani to Ukraine for Biden Probe,” by Justin Sink: “‘No, I didn’t direct him, however he's a warrior, he is a warrior,’ Trump informed [Bill] O’Reilly in an interview streamed on the web on Tuesday. Giuliani has stated publicly that he carried out an investigation ‘regarding 2016 Ukrainian collusion and corruption’ on Trump’s behalf.

“Requested by O’Reilly what Giuliani was doing in Ukraine, Trump stated ‘it's a must to ask that to Rudy.’”

CAITLIN EMMA and ANDREW DESIDERIO: “White Home finances officers resigned amid frustration with Ukraine assist freeze”: “Mark Sandy, whose closed-door deposition transcript was released Tuesday, stated the initial considerations about the hold on army help prompted a minimum of two officials inside the Office of Management and Price range to resign.

“A type of officers, a lawyer, stepped down over considerations that the hold was violating the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which sharply curbs the chief branch’s authority to alter congressionally appropriated funds; one other resigned over ‘frustrations about not understanding the rationale for the hold.’” POLITICO … The transcript

ABOUT LAST NIGHT -- “At Florida ‘homecoming rally,’ Trump builds his case towards impeachment,” by Nancy Prepare dinner in Dawn, Fla., and Matthew Choi: “President Donald Trump on Tuesday spent a lot of his ‘homecoming rally’ right here building his case towards impeachment earlier than hundreds of enthusiastic supporters.

“He forged the Democrats’ inquiry as a desperate effort to win again the White Home in 2020. He went as far as to name the impeachment proceedings ‘bullshit,’ prompting a new audience chant containing the expletive. And he put these proceedings in the similar category as the Mueller investigation, labeling all of it a ‘rip-off’ and a ‘hoax.’

“‘They’re attacking me because I’m exposing a rigged system that enriched itself at your expense and I’m restoring government of, by and for the individuals,’ he informed the crowd at the BB&T Middle. ‘The novel Democrats try to overturn the final election because they know that they can't win the subsequent election,’ Trump added. ‘It’s quite simple.’” POLITICO

-- “Impeachment fight leaves voters cold in contested Wisconsin,” by AP’s Alexandra Jaffe in Racine, Wis.: “There’s not rather a lot that Republicans and Democrats on this political battlefield agree on, but the impeachment probe into President Donald Trump might have surfaced one: The general public hearings aren’t shifting the needle.”

-- MICHAEL KRUSE: “Can Mikie Sherrill Keep Impeachment from Tearing Apart Her District?”

Good Wednesday morning. Protected travels to all of you who are braving the crowds and weather this Thanksgiving eve!

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- RACHANA PRADHAN, ADAM CANCRYN and DAN DIAMOND: “Clashes amongst prime HHS officials undermine Trump agenda”: “President Donald Trump’s health secretary, Alex Azar, and his Medicare chief, Seema Verma, are increasingly at odds, and their feuding has delayed the president’s long-promised alternative proposal for Obamacare and disrupted other health care initiatives central to Trump's reelection marketing campaign, in accordance with administration officials.

“Verma spent about six months creating a Trump administration various to the Reasonably priced Care Act, solely to have Azar nix the proposal before it could possibly be introduced to Trump this summer time, sending the administration back to the drawing board, senior officers informed POLITICO. Azar believed Verma’s plan would truly strengthen Obamacare, not kill it.

“Behind the policy differences over Obamacare, drug pricing and other initiatives, nevertheless, is a private rivalry that has develop into more and more bitter. This fall, Azar blocked Verma from traveling with Trump on Air Drive One from Washington to Florida in early October for the revealing of a high-profile Medicare government order — an initiative largely drawn up by Verma's agency — stated six officers with information of the episode, which played out over days. Solely after Verma complained to White Home employees was she allowed on Trump’s aircraft, in response to seven individuals acquainted with the state of affairs.” POLITICO

-- S.F. CHRONICLE’S TAL KOPAN: “Exclusive: Trump’s top border official broke FBI rules to fund happy hours”: “President Trump’s prime border official broke federal ethics guidelines in a previous job by in search of sponsors to purchase alcohol and fancy food for FBI completely satisfied hours, in accordance with a watchdog report solely obtained by The Chronicle.

“Mark Morgan, appearing commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection company, continued asking the surface entities to pay for the social occasions even after being warned it was towards federal guidelines, the Justice Division’s inspector basic found.

ATTN. KIM KARDASHIAN AND JARED KUSHNER … DAYTON DAILY NEWS: “Convicted former Dayton lawmaker wants Trump to pardon him,” by Lynn Hulsey: “Former state Rep. Clayton Luckie, who is headed to prison after pleading guilty to a federal mail fraud charge, says he did nothing mistaken and can ask President Donald Trump for a pardon.

“‘President Trump, I want a pardon. Bottom line. In case you care concerning the minority group this might be a great example to point out a pardon,’ Luckie stated in an unique interview Tuesday afternoon with the Dayton Every day Information and News Middle 7.

“Luckie is one in every of seven individuals indicted in a federal public corruption probe and the first to be sentenced. Throughout two information conferences saying the indictments, Joe Deters, appearing FBI particular agent in command of the Cincinnati workplace, stated authorities have been investigating ‘a culture of corruption in Dayton space politics.’”

2020 WATCH …

-- BLOOMBERG STRATEGY: CLIP AND SAVE, by way of John Harris, Sally Goldenberg and Marc Caputo: “What Bloomberg contemplates isn't so much an train in threading the political needle as pulverizing that needle as it has existed for many years.

“‘We’re just going to rewrite a new system,’ stated Kevin Sheekey, a senior Bloomberg strategist. ‘Our principle of the case is that we’re going to skip the first four early states and we’re going to run as intensive a campaign’ in different Democratic states as rivals do in Iowa and New Hampshire. That plan kicks in with the March three run of Tremendous Tuesday states, however gained’t cease there. ‘We’re going to do all of it throughout the country,’ Sheekey stated.”

-- NYT’S LISA LERER in Henniker, N.H.: “When to Peak? Amy Klobuchar Has Given It Some Thought”: “[A]s the average wing of the celebration reasserts itself in the main campaign, her message of plain-spoken politics is drawing higher consideration. ‘What was occurring early on was that there was this perception that only those guys had daring concepts,’ Ms. Klobuchar, of Minnesota, stated in an interview, as she campaigned across New Hampshire this weekend. ‘I have plans, too. I've daring plans, too. And nobody has a monopoly on good ideas.’ …

“Hoping to experience a wave of post-debate attention, Ms. Klobuchar planned to blaze via New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina this week, stopping briefly in Des Moines for a Thanksgiving Day celebration on the residence of her campaign’s state chairwoman. ‘I’m listening to more speak about Amy. It’s picked up in the last couple weeks,’ stated Laurie McCray, the Democratic Get together chairwoman in Portsmouth, N.H. ‘Individuals have heard from the other candidates they usually’re nonetheless wanting.’” NYT

-- “Warren nosedives in new nationwide poll,” by Caitlin Oprysko: “Sen. Elizabeth Warren's help among Democratic main voters nationwide plunged 50 % over the final month, based on a brand new Quinnipiac University ballot, signaling that the shake-ups within the main subject are far from over.

“Former Vice President Joe Biden has retaken the lead within the ballot after an autumn that noticed him give up his strong frontrunner standing, climbing 3 points to earn 24 % within the poll. South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg surged into second, rising 6 points to 16 %, with Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders not far behind at 14 and 13 %, respectively.” POLITICO … The poll … More from Natasha Korecki on Warren losing her “mojo” in Iowa

TRUMP’S WEDNESDAY -- The president -- who's at Mar-a-Lago -- has nothing on his public schedule.

WAPO: “NRA boosted government pay while chopping funding for key packages, filing exhibits,” by Beth Reinhard: “Compensation for prime officials on the National Rifle Affiliation surged by 41 % last yr, based on a brand new tax filing, as the nation’s largest pro-gun organization sharply decreased spending on packages central to its mission.

“The leap from 2017 to 2018 for the NRA’s officers, administrators and extremely paid staff included a 57 % improve for chief government Wayne LaPierre that boosted his general compensation to $2.15 million.

“The filing additionally exhibits perks for prime officials which might be sometimes associated with the corporate world, including charter and first-class journey with companions in addition to dues for well being or social golf equipment. These costs were not detailed, although the NRA filing says housing bills have been offered for 5 individuals.

“During that same interval, NRA spending plunged 22 % for schooling and training, 61 % for hunter providers and 51 % for subject providers, which includes organizing volunteers, fundraising for capturing sports and selling the NRA at gun exhibits and different events, in response to a previously launched audit.” WaPo

WSJ: “Federal Prosecutors Launch Criminal Probe of Opioid Makers, Distributors,” by Corinne Ramey: “Federal prosecutors have opened a felony investigation into whether or not pharmaceutical corporations intentionally allowed opioid painkillers to flood communities, employing legal guidelines usually used to go after drug dealers, in accordance with individuals accustomed to the matter.

“The investigation, if it leads to legal expenses, might grow to be the most important prosecution but of drug corporations alleged to have contributed to the opioid epidemic, escalating the authorized troubles of companies that already face complicated, multibillion-dollar civil litigation in courts throughout the nation. Prosecutors are analyzing whether or not the companies violated the federal Controlled Substances Act, a statute that federal prosecutors have begun using towards opioid makers and distributors this yr.

“At the very least six corporations have stated in regulatory filings that they acquired grand-jury subpoenas from the U.S. lawyer’s office in the Japanese District of New York: drugmakers Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Mallinckrodt PLC, Johnson & Johnson and Amneal Prescription drugs Inc. and distributors AmerisourceBergen Corp. and McKesson Corp. Individuals acquainted with the matter stated the subpoenas have been in reference to the Brooklyn federal probe.”

THE LATEST IN IRAN -- AP’S JON GAMBRELL in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: “Iran supreme chief claims protests a U.S.-backed ‘conspiracy’”: “Iran’s supreme chief on Wednesday claimed with out evidence that current protests across the Islamic Republic over government-set gasoline prices rising have been a part of a ‘conspiracy’ involving the U.S., as authorities started to acknowledge the size of the demonstrations.

“Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the remark whereas addressing members of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij pressure, which help put down the demonstrations.

“In the meantime, one lawmaker was quoted as saying authorities arrested more than 7,000 individuals over the protests while a security official claimed demonstrators attempted to take over Iranian state tv.” AP

-- REUTERS: “Approximately 731 banks and 140 government sites have been torched in current unrest in Iran, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli stated in remarks revealed by the official IRNA information agency on Wednesday. Greater than 50 bases utilized by safety forces have been attacked and approximately 70 fuel stations have been additionally burned, he stated.”

MICHAEL FLYNN UPDATE -- “Flynn, DOJ seek sentencing delay to wait for Russia IG report,” by Darren Samuelsohn: “Attorneys for the Justice Department and Michael Flynn asked a federal decide Tuesday to postpone subsequent month’s sentencing for the former Trump national security adviser till after the release of a much-anticipated inspector common report concerning the FBI’s Russia investigation.

“Flynn is on monitor to be sentenced Dec. 18 after pleading guilty to mendacity to the FBI about his contacts with Russia’s ambassador to america, although the retired Army basic has additionally employed new legal professionals who need the whole case dismissed due to what they are saying is ‘egregious government misconduct.’

“That inspector common report is predicted to criticize Justice Department leaders and low-level FBI officers who worked on the Russia probe that finally gave option to particular counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, in response to several media stories. However it's also expected to clear prime DOJ officials of abusing their powers due to bias towards President Donald Trump.” The motion

THE ROOT’S MICHAEL HARRIOT: “Pete Buttigieg Called Me. Here’s What Happened.”

THE ANONYMOUS FORMER OFFICIAL who wrote the e-book “A Warning” concerning the Trump presidency did a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” chat Tuesday, writing: “As far as anonymity is worried, I can't hold my id shrouded in secrecy ceaselessly. I am not afraid to use my very own identify to precise concern concerning the present occupant of the Oval Workplace.

“Donald Trump has not heard the final of me. There's extra to return. Other people who are at present serving, and who've left, are also considering including their voices before votes are forged in 2020. We speak about this with some regularity.”

MEDIAWATCH -- “Nancy Grace joins Fox Nation streaming service,” by AP’s David Bauder

-- L.A. TIMES: “Greater than 70 million viewers watched some portion of the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry into President Trump, in line with Nielsen knowledge. …

“Viewing of reside gavel-to-gavel coverage that aired on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and the three major broadcast networks peaked on its opening day, Nov. 13, when it reached a mean of 13.1 million viewers. By the fifth session on Nov. 21, the audience leveled off to 11.3 million, similar to what a top-rated non-sports leisure program draws in prime time. Fox Information was the most-watched community each day.”

Send tricks to Eli Okun and Garrett Ross at politicoplaybook@politico.com.

TRANSITIONS -- Jesse Garza and Joe Shashaty are joining Majority Methods as state strategists. Garza previously was district director for former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.). Shashaty has labored on several California campaigns.

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Mary Vought, government director of the Senate Conservatives Fund. A fun reality about her: “I grew up in the great state of Alaska and luxuriate in fishing. I even had a fly-tying business as a kid where I’d promote my handmade lures to native fishermen.” Playbook Q&A

BIRTHDAYS: Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) is 61 … Caroline Kennedy is 62 … Gail Sheehy … Alex Wagner, co-host and EP of Showtime’s “The Circus,” particular correspondent for CBS News and contributing editor at The Atlantic (h/t Ben Chang, filing from New Orleans) … Sam Love … POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn, Fonda Fralin and Solomon Yeon … Paul Maslin (h/t Jon Haber) … Joe Solmonese (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) … Brian McCormack … Andrea Koppel-Pollack … Nick Massella, director of viewers engagement and comms at “PBS NewsHour” … former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is 59 … former Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.) is 46 … Wealthy Verma, vice chairman at the Asia Group … Sean Bartlett … Marie Logsden … WSJ’s Katie Honan … Kaiser Health News’ Victoria Knight … Mike Cross …

… Libby Leist, EP of NBC’s “At this time” show ... Nick Wittenberg, authorized counsel on the White Home Workplace of Science and Know-how Policy ... Simon Taylor … Michael Starr Hopkins, founding associate of Northern Starr Methods … Daniel Ducassi … Shai Korman, communications director on the Middle for a New American Security, is Four-0 … Barry Sternlicht is 59 … Sam Wainwright is 32 … Molly Logan Cox … John Aravosis ... Ashley Robinson … Susan Falconer ... Kathryn Ciano, senior regulatory counsel at Uber ... Dina Cappiello, editorial director and EVP at Edelman … Katie Campo ... Fb’s Kaiya Waddell ... Christine Taylor ... Jess Byrne Knox ... Joe Davila ... Mary Anne Pintar ... Chelsie Jeppson ... Paul Nasella ... Sid Burgess is 38 … Jason Gold ... Victoria Lai

Article initially revealed on POLITICO Magazine

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