15-05-2025
Playbook PM: Gorka: Russia deal ‘imminent' — but offers no timeline
Presented by
THE CATCH-UP
STATUS REPORT: 'Lots of talk, little outward progress as House GOP closes in on megabill,' by POLITICO's Meredith Lee Hill and Ben Leonard
FROM THE SECURITY SUMMIT: POLITICO hosted a newsy Security Summit today, bringing together senior administration officials, military leaders, key lawmakers and industry executives for a host of discussions on defense and security priorities under President Donald Trump.
One of the most lively discussions wrapped up the day when Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counter terrorism, sat down with Playbook's own Dasha Burns to close out the summit. Gorka repeatedly skewered the Biden administration's work and policies, stating proudly: 'We're back in the business of counterterrorism.' The highlights:
On Ukraine: As high-level diplomats meet in Turkey today to continue negotiations to end Russia's war in Ukraine, Gorka stressed the importance of 'halting the bloodshed' and getting Vladimir Putin to the table for a final deal, though he conceded that the Russian president cannot be forced into it. 'Deals are all about timing. When the time is right, that's when the president is in the room with Putin,' Gorka said. He also indicated that such a moment is 'imminent' — though he declined to offer any details about what that means.
On immigration: In a particularly contentious moment, Gorka said that 'due process has never been skirted' by the administration, underlining that the designation of a terrorist organization gives the White House broad powers. 'You don't need due process' when you are fighting against terrorist organizations, Gorka argued. When pressed about the handful of judges who have ruled against the administration's moves, Gorka said, 'So what? Could a judge be wrong?' prompting an audible response from someone in the audience. 'Are you really hissing? What kind of child are you?' Gorka said to the audience. 'We are trying to save lives.'
On Iran: Gorka indicated that one of the most pressing issues looming over Trump's Middle East trip this week is the efforts to secure a nuclear deal with Iran. 'The shoe is on the foot in Iran and it's time for them to decide,' Gorka said. He noted that the threat of 'maximum disastrous consequences' should present Iran with only 'one logical decision' to avoid U.S. retaliation. How likely does he think Iranian leaders are to make that decision? 'Yet to be decided.' When it comes to the administration's general approach to the Middle East, Gorka said 'eight years ago it was security, the destruction of ISIS, the Abraham Accords. Now, it's prosperity.'
JACK AND JAKE: Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser for former President Joe Biden, sat down with Playbook's Jack Blanchard to talk about the news of the day — including the physical and mental acuity of his former boss.
One of the more explosive episodes reported in Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper's new book, 'Original Sin' ($27), details occasions when Biden forgot the names of top staffers, including Sullivan. Asked point blank if that was true, Sullivan did not outright deny it — though he said he did not 'recall that ever happening.' 'I will tell you that Joe Biden knows my name,' Sullivan said, noting that the two remain in contact. 'I was surprised to see that in the book.'
Asked more generally about Biden's fitness for office, Sullivan said his experiences with the former president did not disqualify him, though he also said he 'cannot speak on behalf of aides, unnamed people or on behalf of what folks reacted to when they saw him in public.'
On his old job: Sullivan outright dismissed any suggestion that someone could jointly perform the duties of both national security adviser and secretary of State, as Marco Rubio is currently doing. 'One thing I never thought as national security adviser is, 'Hey I have some extra time,'' Sullivan said. 'I think it's actually ludicrous.'
JET FUMES: Trump's stated interest in accepting a lavish jet plane as a gift from Qatar was a consistent topic du jour, with some of the most notable comments coming from senior GOP lawmakers, who added to the chorus of uncomfortable Republicans, POLITICO's Connor O'Brien writes.
The Dem response: 'Dems move to block Middle East arms sales over Qatar plane deal,' by POLITICO's Robbie Gramer and Joe Gould
More summit coverage: 'GOP lawmaker says India, Saudi Arabia most vital for US security interests over next decade' … 'Senior House Dem offers rare praise for Trump' … 'US space chief warns of emerging threats from China and Russia' … 'Former NASA chief: Trump's budget takes 'a chainsaw and a meat-ax' to space agency'
Good Thursday afternoon. Thanks for reading Playbook PM. Drop me a line at gross@
8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
1. DOHA DEALS: As Trump heads to the final stop of his Middle East trip, those leaving Qatar festivities are writing in to Dasha with some more intel:
Inside the room: The Qataris pulled out all the stops to commemorate Trump's historic visit — this being the first official state visit to Doha by a U.S. president, and the first state dinner hosted by His Highness the Amir in honor of a U.S. president. One person present at the dinner described two standout moments from the evening. The first was a big 'happy birthday' shoutout from the president to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. The Qatari orchestra then played 'Happy Birthday' for her. The second was a performance from a surprise guest: The Qataris arranged for Lee Greenwood, one of Trump's favorite singers, to attend and sing 'God Bless the U.S.A.'
Who else was there: We brought you a partial list of attendees in this morning's Playbook. Now, we have a few more names to add to the list. SPOTTED: Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; envoy Steve Witkoff; Bridgewater CEO Nir Bar Dea; Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson; Mukesh Ambani from one of India's largest companies, Reliance Industries Limited; Dina Powell McCormick of BDT & MSD Partners; Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google; Lakshmi Mittal, executive chairman of ArcelorMittal; Chris Buskirk, the co-founder and CIO of 1789 Capital; Todd L. Boehly, the co-founder and CEO of Eldridge Industries; and Fox News anchor Bret Baier.
Thought bubble: Even by the lavish standards of the events thrown by each of the nations Trump has visited during his Mideast trip, the Qataris' decision to bring in Greenwood was a special touch, Dasha writes in. For Trump, it's not just about cutting deals, it's about garnering these sorts of grand performances of respect.
2. SCOTUS WATCH: 'Trump's birthright order gets frosty reception, but justices appear ready to limit nationwide blocks,' by POLITICO's Josh Gerstein and Hassan Ali Kanu: 'Trump's executive order purporting to end birthright citizenship found no traction at the Supreme Court Thursday, but the justices sounded inclined to rein in a legal remedy judges have used to halt many of Trump's early policy moves, from restricting immigration to cutting federal spending to ending anti-diversity initiatives.
How we got here: 'Three district judges have deployed that tool — known as a nationwide injunction — to block Trump from implementing his birthright citizenship order. None of the justices spoke up in defense of the order's legality during more than two hours of oral arguments, and several suggested that the order is almost surely unconstitutional. At the same time, the conservative justices seemed intent on devising a way to prevent, or at least limit, district judges from issuing nationwide injunctions against federal policies.'
3. 2028 WATCH: For decades, presidential candidates have been coy about their true intentions in seeking the White House, often opting to demur or dodge the question, especially with years to go before the race. That appears to be changing, though. The 'days of the shadow primary are giving way to a franker, more overt set of potential 2028 presidential primary candidates, many of whom are bluntly acknowledging they're taking a serious look at running — two and a half years out,' POLITICO's Elena Schneider reports. The Democratic Party's paltry performance in 2024 has voters clamoring for a new face to carry the banner, and there's no shortage of those who think it could be their turn. Still, the would-bes are mostly in the behind-the-scenes 'audition phase.' Read the full story for the latest maneuvers from the likes of Andy Beshear, Gavin Newsom, Amy Klobuchar, Rahm Emanuel and plenty more.
4. A HEADLINE TRUMP WON'T LIKE: 'Walmart CFO says price hikes from tariffs could start later this month, as retailer beats on earnings,' by CNBC's Melissa Repko: 'Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said tariffs are 'still too high' – even with the recently announced agreement to lower duties on imports from China to 30% for 90 days. 'We're wired for everyday low prices, but the magnitude of these increases is more than any retailer can absorb,' he said. 'It's more than any supplier can absorb. And so I'm concerned that consumer is going to start seeing higher prices. You'll begin to see that, likely towards the tail end of this month, and then certainly much more in June.''
5. FED UP: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told a research conference this morning that the central bank is 'in the process of making adjustments to its overarching policy-setting framework to account for meaningful changes in the outlook for inflation and interest rates following the 2020 pandemic,' WSJ's Nick Timiraos reports. 'The review isn't likely to influence how the Fed is currently setting interest rates. Powell has previously said the Fed could complete that process and unveil the results by August or September.'
6. THE STORM BEFORE THE STORM: The Trump administration has made no secret of its intention to either slash FEMA or eliminate it altogether. Now, a new report from the disaster relief agency is flashing a bright red warning light at a critical time, CNN's Gabe Cohen reports. An internal review ordered by acting Administrator David Richardson finds that FEMA 'is not ready' for hurricane season, which begins on June 1. The document outlines a number of struggles at the agency, 'including a general uncertainty around its mission, lack of coordination with states and other federal agencies, low morale and new red tape that will likely slow responses.'
7. FALLOUT: 'Top Sexual Assault Hotline Drops Resources After Trump Orders,' by NYT's Maggie Astor: 'Fearing the loss of federal funding, the nation's largest anti-sexual-violence organization has barred its crisis hotline staff from pointing people to resources that might violate President Trump's executive orders to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The organization, RAINN (the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) has removed more than two dozen resources for L.G.B.T.Q. people, immigrants and other marginalized groups from its list of permissible referrals, according to documents obtained by The New York Times.'
8. CLICKER: 'Inside Elon Musk's X Feed: Trumpism, Falsehoods and Lots of Love for Elon Musk,' by NYT's Stuart Thompson: 'The New York Times recreated a version of Mr. Musk's personal feed by opening a new account on X and following the same 1,109 users that he follows. We then analyzed more than 175,000 posts from the accounts that he follows, using a service that collects data from X. … The resulting feed, shown in this article as a selection of posts curated from the much larger set, revealed ample praise for Mr. Musk and his various priorities, mixed with a torrent of right-wing outrage over progressive politics.'
Another Musk read: 'The Trump Administration Leaned on African Countries. The Goal: Get Business for Elon Musk,' by ProPublica's Joshua Kaplan, Brett Murphy, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski
TALK OF THE TOWN
JD Vance is planning to go to the Vatican for Pope Leo XIV's first service on Sunday.
USDA'S FACELIFT — 'Enormous brooding banner of Trump now hangs next to Lincoln outside Department of Agriculture,' by The Independent's Oliver O'Connell: 'There's a new addition to the streetscape outside the Department of Agriculture building in Washington, D.C., causing a stir online. Looming down from the pillared front of the neo-classical facade is an enormous, brooding picture of President Donald Trump, adapted from his official presidential portrait. Another banner further along the front of the building depicts President Abraham Lincoln. Both include the USDA logo and the text: 'Growing America Since 1862.''
POD RACING — After an election that pushed podcasts to the forefront of the political world, YouTube is out with its first-ever weekly podcast chart, ranking the top-100 most-popular podcast playlists on the platform in the U.S. based on watch time. Joe Rogan's pod, the tip of the spear in the so-called manosphere, is at the top of the list. Other notable political pods that made the top 50 include those of Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Tim Miller. See the full list
OUT AND ABOUT — Capitol Hill Books hosted a conversation with Katie Bo Lillis for her new novel, 'Death of a Racehorse,' ($29.99) with Pamela Brown last night. SPOTTED: Wolf Blitzer, Alex Marquardt, Pete Muntean, Evan Perez, Natasha Bertrand, Warren Strobel, Gordon Lubold and Mychael Schnell.
— The 43rd Annual March of Dimes Gourmet Gala was held at the National Building Museum last night, where attendees raised around $1.5 million and Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.) were honored. SPOTTED: co-chairs Austin Burnes, Danielle Burr and Whitney VanMeter, honorary co-chairs Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Wesley Britt, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Annie Coons, Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) and PJ Cunnane, Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Camille Pfluger and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Sydney Gallego, Karen Knutson, Jamie Wall, Lisa Hanna, Liz Reicherts, Mimi Braniff, Laura Siegrist, Tara Hogan Charles, Carol Quillen, Lucia Lebens, Ron Bonjean and Jacquelyn Cameron.
— Whole Foods Market held its Supplier Showcase and Reception at the South Capitol Hill store last night, bringing together company executives, policy staff and small business suppliers. SPOTTED: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alyssa Vescio, Kevin Doty, Ann Marie Hourigan, Jori Fine, Matthew Fontenot, Morgan Orem, Samuel Murray, T.A. Hawks, Anna Nix Kumar, Mike Glymph, Carlye Winfrey and Kaycie Goral.
— The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art hosted an exclusive Eid Reception and gallery tours last night, with a host committee comprising Chase Robinson, Amna Nawaz, Asif Ali, Aasif Mandvi, Maneet Ahuja, Swati Sharma, Mohaimina Haque and Anita Chatterjee. SPOTTED: Saagar Shaikh, Nirupama Rao, Rajiv Satyal, Yasmin Elhady, Swayam Bhatia, Farhan Latif, Negin Sobhani, Alisha Chen, Amna Khilji, Ehteshamul Haque, Sam Hyun and Shaneli Jain.
TRANSITIONS — Sarah Schmidt is now VP and head of federal government relations at Fresenius Medical Care. She most recently was health policy director for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and is a Palantir, CVS Health, Rob Portman and Michael Burgess alum. … Holland & Hart is adding Jennifer Scheller Neumann and Amelia Yowell as of counsel. Scheller Neumann previously was chief of DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division appellate section. Yowell previously was an appellate attorney in DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
Send Playbookers tips to playbook@ or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Zack Stanton and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
