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Politico
8 hours ago
- Politico
Jason Miller racks up clients
With Daniel Lippman WHO'S HIRING JASON MILLER: Business is picking up for longtime President Donald Trump adviser Jason Miller: He has registered to lobby for four new domestic clients this month, including the artificial intelligence startup Scale AI. — Miller's firm SHW Partners began working for Scale AI at the beginning of July to help the company maintain its 'top-rated positioning as entrepreneurs and enterprise solution-oriented problem solvers in the AI space, including, but not limited to, national defense applications,' according to a disclosure filing. — The company, which labels data used to train AI models, won a Pentagon contract earlier this year to help launch an AI agent for military planning and operations. More recently, Meta Platforms announced it would purchase a 49 percent stake in Scale AI and hire its CEO to run the social media giant's new 'superintelligence' lab — prompting concern from antitrust hawks. — Miller also registered to lobby for the U.S. arm of overseas crypto exchange OKX. The trading platform (formerly known as OKcoin) relaunched in the U.S. this spring after its Seychelles-based parent company agreed to pay a $500 million fine and pleaded guilty to violations of U.S. anti-money laundering laws. (Among the exchange's advisers during that process? Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, per Bloomberg.) — The U.S. arm tapped Miller to 'work toward the expansion and accessibility' of the exchange in a way that 'stresses dependability and marketplace reassurance,' according to a disclosure filing. — Minnesota-based taconite mining company Mesabi Metallics also retained Miller in July to 'work with government policymakers and regulators to shore up critical supply chains and again make the United States energy independent,' according to a disclosure. And defense tech company Divergent Technologies hired him to help promote the firm's vision for a network of dual-use factories to quickly ramp up AI-powered weapons manufacturing during times of war, according to a disclosure filed earlier this month. — The companies are among Miller's first new lobbying clients since 2020, disclosures show. Miller jumped back into lobbying earlier this year for the first time since Trump's first term, signing a $1.8 million contract with the Indian government. Happy Monday and welcome to PI. What's going on out there? Add me on Signal at caitlinoprysko.17 and email me at coprysko@ and you can add Daniel on Signal at danielbarnes.13 and email Daniel at dbarnes@ And follow us on X: @caitlinoprysko and @dnlbrns. NORFOLK SOUTHERN SNAGS MILLER STRATEGIES: Norfolk Southern has hired GOP lobbyist and fundraiser Jeff Miller amid a mini hiring spree by the parties of the proposed merger of two of the country's biggest railways. Last month, freight rail giant Union Pacific announced a deal to acquire Norfolk Southern in a merger that would create the first coast-to-coast rail network in the U.S. — The acquisition has sparked concern about reduced competition in the rail industry, which is among the issues Miller Strategies was hired to lobby on, disclosure filings show. As PI noted last week, Union Pacific has also lobbied up in recent weeks, bringing on a team at Squire Patton Boggs that includes former House Transportation Chair Bill Shuster and former Trump aide Tommy Andrews to help sell the Norfolk Southern deal. MORE NEW BUSINESS: Crypto exchange Coinbase has added Avoq's Steve Elmendorf to its bench of outside lobbyists, and Instacart brought on a team of bipartisan lobbyists at Invariant to lobby on federal nutrition programs, digital access and 'food as medicine,' per disclosures filed over the weekend. ALTMAN'S ARMY: 'Sam Altman, the driving force behind ChatGPT's meteoric rise, is running a team of veteran political operatives, campaigning to secure his company OpenAI's future,' POLITICO's Christine Mui and Chase DiFeliciantonio report. — The 'billionaire CEO is in an existential race to remain at the top of the hypercompetitive artificial intelligence market, with rivals like Google, Meta, Anthropic and Elon Musk's xAI gunning for the lead, at times dangling nine figures to poach top talent.' — 'Over the past year alone, the world's most closely watched AI company has hired more than half a dozen political insiders who are well-connected to the Democratic establishment, from Bill Clinton's former spin doctor Chris Lehane to Kamala Harris' one-time bestie Debbie Mesloh and ex-Sen. Laphonza Butler.' — 'It's a notable deviation at a time when much of Silicon Valley is more focused on staffing up to chase influence in Republican-controlled Washington. … But it underscores how OpenAI sees its deep-blue home of California as vital for its global ambitions — tied to a planned business makeover that the state's top attorney can summarily shut down.' ANNALS OF ETHICS: 'When the Food and Drug Administration needs outside guidance, it normally turns to a trusted source: a large roster of expert advisers who are carefully vetted for their independence, credentials and judgment.' — 'But increasingly, the agency isn't calling them,' per The Associated Press' Matthew Perrone — and instead relying on a variety of ad hoc ''expert panels' to discuss antidepressants, menopause drugs and other topics with physicians and researchers who often have contrarian views and financial interests in the subjects.' — 'Former agency officials worry the meetings are skirting federal rules on conflicts of interests and transparency, while promoting fringe viewpoints that align with those of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.' — ''These meetings are a chance to advance RFK's pet peeves — talc, antidepressants, fluoride — with people who have been handpicked,' said Dr. Peter Lurie, a former FDA official who is now president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. 'Nobody would put forward these panels as representing the general scientific opinion on these topics.'' — A Kennedy spokesperson told AP the groups are an effort to 'apply rigorous, evidence-based standards to ingredient safety and modernize regulatory oversight.' PICKING UP THE SLACK?: 'More states are passing laws that require individuals or companies with ties to foreign governments to register with local authorities, a step supporters say strengthens security, but critics warn it could spark legal battles and economic harm,' per The Washington Examiner's Samantha-Jo Roth. — 'What began as a handful of proposals narrowly focused on state-level lobbying has grown into a broader campaign, modeled in part on the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act. That law requires people representing foreign interests to disclose their work to the United States government.' — 'State-level foreign agent laws now target foreign-owned companies, trade associations, and nonprofits. Four states, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Nebraska, enacted measures in 2025, and others are weighing similar bills. Supporters say the effort closes security gaps left by reduced federal enforcement, while critics warn the laws are overly broad and could ensnare far more people and groups than intended.' Jobs report — Javier Lacayo is now director of policy and trust communications at Hims & Hers. He was previously head of policy communications at DoorDash. — Mercury Public Affairs has promoted Patrick Costello to partner. He was previously a managing director at the firm. — Matthew Di Taranto has joined Avoq's New York office as vice president in the reputation management practice. Di Taranto most recently served as senior director of public relations and communications at the LGBTQ-focused nonprofit Out & Equal. Erin Middlebrooks also joined the reputation management team as a director. She was previously an account manager at Allison & Partners. — Former Illinois state Rep. Keith Wheeler has joined Michael Best Strategies as a senior director on their Illinois team. — American Oversight is adding Krista Boyd as general counsel and vice president of strategy and elevating Peter Kenny to vice president of litigation and investigations. Boyd most recently was IG of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Kenny is a White House and House Oversight alum. — Miriam Smallman is now head of comms at the Belgian Embassy. She previously was deputy director of media relations at the Atlantic Council and is a British Embassy alum. New Joint Fundraisers Gray Whitesides Victory Fund (Reps. Adam Gray, George Whitesides) New PACs THE ETHIOPIAN WORLD FEDERATION, INCORPORATED FEDERAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (PAC) House Committee of the Ethiopian World Federation, Incorporated (PAC) LEADING THE FUTURE (Super PAC) Tea Time Political Association (PAC) UNITY SOLUTIONS PAC (Super PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Anchor & Arrow Strategies: Apex Technology, Inc. Avoq, LLC: Coinbase, Inc. Avoq, LLC: Ieee-USa Ballard Partners: Cota Group, Inc. Ballard Partners: Korea Zinc Company, Ltd. Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Bmr Resort, LLC And Bmr Operations, LLC Cgcn Group, LLC: Arevia Power Checkmate Government Relations: Cottage Health Hospitals Checkmate Government Relations: March Gl Company Checkmate Government Relations: Stop Gas Station Heroin LLC Converge Public Strategies: A Better Ny For A Better Tomorrow Daugherty Strategies LLC: Multistar Industries Dlg Partners (Fka Dragon List Global): Dragon List Global Capital LLC Dlg Partners (Fka Dragon List Global): Dragon List Global Inc Fgs Global (US) LLC (Fka Fgh Holdings LLC): Bridger Photonics, Inc. Foundry Public Affairs, LLC: Iranian American Community Of Florida Invariant LLC: Maplebear Inc. Dba Instacart Invariant LLC: Recorded Future Inc. Klein/Johnson Group: Conscious Content Media Inc. Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC: University Of Notre Dame Marble Arch: On Demand Pharmaceuticals Miller Strategies, LLC: Norfolk Southern Corporation Nichols Law LLP: Adl Ventures Ropes & Gray, LLP: Femg Holdings, LLC Shw Partners LLC: Mesabi Metallics Company LLC Shw Partners LLC: Okbl USa Holding Inc. Shw Partners LLC: Scale Ai, Inc. Tiber Creek Group: Corrohealth, Inc. US Policy Metrics: Lexisnexis Risk Solutions Fl Inc Veeam Software: Veeam Software New Lobbying Terminations Invariant LLC: Lux Capital Mlt Consulting, LLC: Tony Strickland Consulting, Inc. For Microchip Corporation Potomac Strategic Development Company, LLC: Conq Potomac Strategic Development Company, LLC: Plasan North America
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Documents reveal new details of Austin Tice's capture and detention
For 13 years, the family of Austin Tice, a Marine veteran and freelance journalist taken hostage in Syria in 2012, has sought any information about his whereabouts and condition. Tice's mother, Debra Tice, publicly shared some details Thursday from declassified documents she and her husband, Marc Tice, were allowed to view earlier this year. Debra Tice shared images of some of the documents, many heavily redacted, at the National Press Club during an event that marked the 13th anniversary of Austin Tice's capture. The documents are part of a larger trove of information shared with the Tice family by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard earlier this year, Debra Tice said. She and her husband spent 17 hours over two days reviewing eight, four-inch binders of materials with intelligence — much of it uncorroborated — about their son. Over the years, the Tice family was told U.S. officials did not have new information regarding Austin's capture or detention. But the documents they reviewed showed previously unknown details, including about medical treatment he received while being held in Syria. 'Our government had information almost every single day of Austin Tice's detention,' Debra Tice said. Austin Tice worked as a freelance journalist covering Syria's civil war when he was taken hostage near Damascus around Aug. 13, 2012. He was 31 at the time and had previously served as a Marine captain with deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. In December 2024, when the Syrian government fell to rebel forces, there was hope that Austin Tice would be found among the many prisoners. President Joe Biden said at the time that Tice was alive, even though officials had no direct evidence of his status. In June, reports emerged that the U.S. government was investigating claims by a former Syrian official that Tice was killed in Syria in 2013 at the behest of then-President Bashar al-Assad. Ex-Syrian official claims Austin Tice was killed in 2013 Debra Tice said the documents shown to them refute this claim, which was made by Bassam al-Hassan, a strategic advisor and member of Assad's inner circle. Hassan claimed that Assad ordered Tice's killing after he briefly escaped his prison cell in 2013. But experts, including Nizar Zakka, head of Hostage Aid Worldwide, said Hassan's story is hard to believe. Zakka spoke via Zoom at the Thursday event. 'Assad will never, ever give the order to kill an American citizen,' Zakka said. 'This is out of the question.' U.S. government officials told The Washington Post that Hassan's claims are unsubstantiated. Also appearing at the Press Club event was Kieran Ramsey, a former director of the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, who worked on Tice's case before he retired. Ramsey blamed bureaucracy for standing in the way of getting Austin back. 'Bureaucracy has been the ultimate agent of evil when it comes to getting Austin home,' Ramsey said. While proof of life has a high threshold, Ramsey said, so does proof of death. 'As we sit here right now, there isn't any,' Ramsey said. The Tice family hasn't wavered in believing that Austin is alive, and his parents reiterated that belief Thursday. 'My son is not dead, and we are working to get him home,' Debra Tice said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Trump's Peace Prize envy is just the latest round in his obsession with one-upping Obama
Donald Trump's renewed efforts aimed at brokering a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia may in fact have their roots in Trump's most famous political grudge. As the president prepares for a summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska — potentially to be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as well — one of his former advisers sees a pattern emerging in Trump's second-term foreign policy agenda that indicates the US president is seriously pining for what he sees as the ultimate sign of global recognition and respect: a Nobel Peace Prize. But what John Bolton described to ABC's This Week on Sunday as Trump's latest fascination may have deeper psychological roots. And the biggest clue providing a glimpse into the president's psyche is the simultaneous focus of his entire national security team on Barack Obama, Trump's first-term predecessor and a figure many have argued propelled Trump's political ambitions through mockery and dismissal. Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser, explained Sunday that Trump's peacemaking attempts in Ukraine were part of a clear bid for a Nobel Peace Prize. He pointed to the president's efforts to claim credit for halting other global conflicts as part of the same concerted campaign; the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, and India's clashes with Pakistan. 'I think what Trump has done is make it clear that he wants a Nobel Peace Prize more than anything else.... the way to his heart? Offer to nominate him,' Bolton told ABC News. Though Bolton said that Trump was having mixed success: 'I don't think what he has done materially changes the situation in -- in any of those circumstances, or several others he's mentioned, like Pakistan/India, where the Indians, not just the government, the entire country are outraged that he tried to take credit for [a peace agreement].' On Friday, the president invited the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the White House to sign a peace agreement. The deal is aimed at ending decades of conflict, but builds on a peace process moderated by Russia's Vladimir Putin and a previous agreement crafted by Russia that the two countries signed. Writing Thursday on Truth Social, Trump boasted of his role in reaching the agreement. The agreement between the two nations will create a major trade and transit corridor called the 'Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.' It will connect mainland Azerbaijan with the autonomous Nakhchivan region, satisfying a major objective of the Azerbaijani government in the peace talks between the countries. Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and Attorney General Pam Bondi collaborate on an effort to reignite interest in 'Russiagate' and the 2016 investigation into the Trump campaign. And the president himself continues to rage against a man he now accuses of 'treason' and efforts to rig the 2016 and possibly 2020 elections. Gabbard has eagerly echoed his accusations and argued that the Obama administration's efforts to call out Russian election interference efforts should be considered a 'coup'. Bondi acted to give the pair as much political cover at the Justice Department as possible; the embattled attorney general opened a grand jury probe into the 'Russiagate' investigation this past week, even despite a previous DOJ special counsel review finding no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the case. No charges have been filed yet against Obama or anyone else. Combined with Trump's bid to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a clear pattern is emerging. As former RNC chair Michael Steele (the only Black chair in the Republican Party's history) wrote earlier this year in an op-ed for MSNBC: 'It's clear that Obama has been living in Trump's head rent-free for the last two decades. Some think he first ran for president because Obama made fun of him at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. He mistakenly called Biden by Obama's name multiple times while campaigning, once even saying he beat Obama in 2016.' 'Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize? Trump spends years obsessing about winning it himself,' Steele added. In March, Bolton saw the connection too. He told the New York Times that Trump 'saw that Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize and felt if Obama got it for not doing anything, why should he not get it?' The Times noted other instances where Trump has publicly and privately groused about not getting the award in spite of Obama's reception. 'If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds,' the president told the Detroit Economic Club last year. The evidence is clear: Trump is entering the latest phase of a years-long obsession with a political foe who consumes more of his attention than Joe Biden and even, at this point, Hillary Clinton. Obama is, in reality, Trump's one unvanquished foe remaining on the left. But he's also the last U.S. president who commanded clear respect and admiration not just in the U.S. but around the world, where he was invited to speak before the legislative bodies of the UK, Canada and Australia as well as to huge crowds elsewhere, like Germany and his father's home country of Kenya. The 44th president, the nation's first Black commander-in-chief, struck a nerve in Trump early and the man who would succeed Obama spent years coordinating a false, racist campaign of abuse centered around Obama's heritage and birthplace. Hillary Clinton won his attention and became a focus of his anger during and after the 2016 election, though she's largely faded from his view. But while the president can order his Cabinet members and aides to launch probes and issue statements tarnishing Obama's reputation, he's found so far that his ability to solve geopolitical conflicts is far more limited. Even as Trump has seen some success bullying U.S. trading partners into line with his 'reciprocal' tariffs, his promises to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza overnight have dissolved into failure. The international community waits to see whether this grudge-turned-ambition will propel Trump to actually force the end of a three-year war in Ukraine or the bloody siege and starvation of Gaza caused by Israel's blockade, or whether he will once again be frustrated by the realities that have thwarted his efforts so far.
