POLITICO Playbook: How the Democrats plan to grill Bob Mueller Presented by Amazon

Senior aides on the House Judiciary Committee, which Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) chairs, said they want to bring the Mueller report to life for voters. | Alex Wong/Getty Images

DRIVING THE DAY

HOUSE JUDICIARY and INTELLIGENCE staff briefed reporters -- including our own ANDREW DESIDERIO -- on Thursday about what to expect at the five hours of hearings on Wednesday with former special counsel ROBERT MUELLER:

-- JUDICIARY’S GOAL: The senior aides said they want to bring the Mueller report to life for voters. “Not everybody is reading the book, but people will watch the movie,” said one Judiciary official.

-- JUDICIARY’S GENERAL FOCUS: The committee will focus on several instances of potential obstruction of justice by the president: directing former White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller, ordering McGahn to deny he ordered Mueller’s firing and asking Corey Lewandowski to deliver a message to then-A.G. JEFF SESSIONS about the scope of Mueller’s investigation.

-- INTEL’S FOCUS: the Trump campaign’s efforts to “welcome” and “use” Russia’s help in 2016. Aides want to home in on the evidence Mueller gathered. Unlike Judiciary, Intel aides say they will try to force Mueller to go beyond the text of his report. “There is no policy, law or regulation that says he cannot go beyond the four corners of a report that he selectively wrote,” said an Intel aide.

-- NO BOMBSHELLS: Democrats are already downplaying expectations, saying they don’t expect dramatic revelations from Mueller, whom they termed a “creature of DOJ” who will stick to the book. But they also understand the stakes, with one aide noting, “I’ve been involved in hundreds of hearings. And we have never prepared for one the way we’ve prepared for this one.”

WSJ ED BOARD: “Donald Trump rarely admits a mistake, much less an overstatement, so we’ll take the regret he expressed Thursday at the chant of ‘send her back’ during his Wednesday rally as the moral equivalent of an apology. Let’s hope his supporters get the message, and that Mr. Trump stops egging them on.” WSJ

-- MIGHT BE WISHFUL THINKING … “Trump’s field-tested strategy: Whip up a frenzy, then disavow,” by Burgess Everett and Gabby Orr

OMAR AT HOME ... STAR TRIBUNE: “Supporters rally around Ilhan Omar following ‘Send her back!’ attacks: A crowd of cheering supporters at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was a loud counterpoint to a turbulent week with President Donald Trump.”

Good Friday morning.

GABBY ORR, MARIANNE LEVINE, ANITA KUMAR and IAN KULLGREN: “Trump taps Scalia’s son for Labor secretary”: “President Donald Trump plans to nominate Eugene Scalia, son of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, to be the next Labor secretary.

“The president announced the decision on Twitter after POLITICO first reported his plans earlier Thursday. ‘Gene has led a life of great success in the legal and labor field and is highly respected not only as a lawyer, but as a lawyer with great experience working with labor and everyone else,’ Trump wrote.

“The younger Scalia, a partner at the international law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, met with Trump Thursday and White House officials had been calling Senate offices to assess whether Scalia is confirmable, according to a person briefed on the talks.” POLITICO

SCOOP … TED HESSON: “Trump officials pressing to slash refugee admissions to zero next year”: “The Trump administration is considering a virtual shutdown of refugee admissions next year — cutting the number to nearly zero — according to three people familiar with the plan.

“During a key meeting of security officials on refugee admissions last week, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services representative who is closely aligned with White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller suggested setting a cap at zero, the people said. Homeland Security Department officials at the meeting later floated making the level anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000, according to one of the people.

“The proposal for a near-shutdown of the refugee program is alarming officials at the Department of Defense, who don’t want to see a halt in admissions of Iraqis who risked their lives assisting U.S. forces in that country. The possible move comes after the Trump administration cut refugee admissions by a third this year, to 30,000.” POLITICO

HOUSE DEMS’ KUMBAYA -- “How House Democratic factions ended their Twitter feud,” by Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris

-- AOC on Thursday night in Silver Spring, via WaPo’s Paul Schwartzman: “‘It has taken us 240 years to have this unique composite in the Congress, in this moment, and we will not go back,’ Ocasio-Cortez told more than 700 cheering Democrats at the Silver Spring Civic Center. ‘We will not go back to the days of injustice. We will not go back; we will go forward. But we sure as hell will not stand still.’” WaPo

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NYT’S DAVID SANGER: “Iran’s Foreign Minister Proposes Modest Deal to End Impasse With U.S.”: “Iran’s foreign minister said on Thursday that he was willing to meet with American senators to discuss possible ways out of the nuclear crisis with the Trump administration and, for the first time, floated an opening bid of modest steps that Tehran would be willing to take in return for simultaneous lifting of sanctions President Trump reimposed last year.

“The American-educated foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, would not say whether he was planning to meet Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, who has proposed himself as a quiet emissary to Iran from the Trump administration.

“Mr. Zarif, meeting with a group of about 15 reporters at the Iranian mission to the United Nations, one of only three buildings where he is allowed to be while in the United States, was coy about whether he planned to meet with Mr. Paul but said, ‘I am seeing people from Congress.’” NYT

COMING ATTRACTIONS -- NPR is airing its own interview this morning with Zarif, conducted by Steve Inskeep on a day when the U.S. says it knocked an Iranian drone out of the sky. Some advance excerpts of their exchange: ZARIF: “We can do it [a deal] right now in order to make sure that people can be at ease that Iran will never develop nuclear weapons.”

INSKEEP: “Meaning permanent inspections ratified in exchange for a permanent agreement that is ratified by the U.S. Congress.” ZARIF: “In exchange for a permanent lifting of sanctions ratified by U.S. Congress, exactly as envisaged for 2023, we can do it now.” INSKEEP: “Has that been raised with U.S. officials in any way before today?” ZARIF: “Well uh ... we’re not talking to U.S. officials.” ...

INSKEEP: “Have you lost some authority or credibility at home because you were so central to negotiating this nuclear agreement and it hasn't worked out -- the United States pulled out?

ZARIF: “Engagement has lost credibility at home. People don’t look at engagement with the international community. The United States for one reason, for not keeping its word. The Europeans for another reason, for not being able to stand on their word. So, yeah, engagement is losing credibility and by extension I’m losing credibility.”

SAY WHAT? -- “Iran denies U.S. destroyed an Iranian drone near Persian Gulf,” by AP’s Amir Vahdat, Darlene Superville and Robert Burns

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THE INVESTIGATIONS -- “House Democrats demand Hope Hicks clarify testimony after Cohen document dump,” by Darren Samuelsohn: “The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday demanded Hope Hicks return for a second round of questioning within the next month to clarify what it described as ‘inconsistent’ testimony she gave about Donald Trump's hush-money payments to an adult film actress.

“Democratic panel chairman Jerry Nadler in a five-page letter cited newly released court documents that raise questions about whether the former White House communications director and longtime Trump aide misled his panel about her role in the scheme during a closed-door interview last month.

“As I reminded you at the outset of your interview, anything other than complete candor can have very serious consequences," Nadler said in the letter to Hicks, which set an August 15 deadline for her to voluntarily return for additional questioning otherwise he'd issue a subpoena.” POLITICO … The letter

2020 WATCH …. JULY DEBATES LINEUPS -- NIGHT 1: Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, O’Rourke, Klobuchar, Williamson, Delaney, Hickenlooper, Ryan, Bullock; NIGHT 2: Biden, Harris, Castro, Yang, Booker, Inslee, Bennet, Gabbard, Gillibrand, de Blasio. CNN (hat tip: Dan Diamond)

-- “It’s Biden v. Harris Part 2 at next Democratic presidential debate,” by WaPo’s Colby Itkowitz

REALITY CHECK -- “Democrats’ ban on lobbyists’ cash isn’t as strict as it seems,” by Theo Meyer

NYT’S JONATHAN MARTIN: “Anxious Democratic Governors Urge 2020 Field Not to Veer Too Far Left”: “After claiming governorships from Republicans in seven states last year, including in crucial presidential battlegrounds like Wisconsin and Michigan, Democratic governors should have good reason to celebrate.

“But there was as much anxiety as optimism when the governors gathered for their annual fund-raising retreat on Nantucket last weekend and grappled with why a party that won with a pragmatic message in 2018 is now veering sharply to the left.

“A group of governors are alarmed that their party’s presidential candidates are embracing policies they see as unrealistic and politically risky. And they are especially concerned about proposals that would eliminate private health insurance.

“‘I don’t think that’s good policy or good politics,’ said Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association. ‘I think it scares people,’ added Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico.” NYT

TRUMP’S FRIDAY -- The president and first lady Melania Trump will participate in a photo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing at 11:45 a.m. in the Oval Office. Trump will leave the White House en route to Bedminister, N.J. He will participate in a roundtable with supporters at 5:30 p.m. followed by a fundraiser at 6 p.m.

PLAYBOOK READS

PHOTO DU JOUR: The Washington Monument lights up Thursday night with an image of a Saturn V rocket to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. | Tom Brenner/Getty Images

GOOD CATCH -- “Labor fight roils Bernie Sanders campaign, as workers demand the $15 hourly pay the candidate has proposed for employees nationwide,” by WaPo’s Sean Sullivan

BEYOND THE BELTWAY -- “Tensions worsen between LAPD and ICE over Trump immigration raids,” by L.A. Times’ Brittney Mejia

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SELLING PLASTIC STRAWS TO OWN THE LIBS -- For $15, the Trump campaign and the RNC will sell you a pack of 10 nine-inch-long “Trump Straws.” The item listing reads: “Liberal paper straws don’t work. STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP and buy your pack of recyclable straws today.” They say the straws are BPA-free, reusable, recyclable, laser-engraved and made in the United States. The Trump Store (h/t @yashar)

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MEDIAWATCH -- “Gannett Closes In on Deal to Combine With GateHouse Media,” by WSJ’s Cara Lombardo and Dana Cimilluca

-- The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is cutting its print edition to just three days per week as of Sept. 30, per local union rep Jonathan Silver.

Guild president @michaelafuoco takes a shot at the owners: “The Blocks care nothing for journalism, our subscribers, their employees, our community. They care solely for money. Members of the ⁦@PGNewsGuild are crestfallen as millionaires ruin the 232-year legacy of the ⁦@PittsburghPG for greed.” Backstory

SUNDAY SO FAR …

FOX “Fox News Sunday”: House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). Panel: Jason Riley, Lisa Boothe, Mo Elleithee and Jonathan Swan. Power player: Tara Westover (re-run).

CBS “Face The Nation”: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) … House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) … House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.). Panel: Rachael Bade, Lanhee Chen, Jamelle Bouie and Paula Reid. Anthony Salvanto and Ed O’Keefe will discuss the latest CBS poll.

CNN “State Of The Union”: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). Panel: S.E. Cupp, Karen Finney, Rick Santorum and Wajahat Ali.

CNN “Inside Politics”: Eliana Johnson, Manu Raju, Molly Ball and Asma Khalid.

PLAYBOOKERS

Send tips to Eli Okun and Garrett Ross at [email protected].

SPOTTED: Susan Rice at RPM Italian on Thursday … Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.) at DFW.

SPOTTED at Rep. Jamie Raskin’s (D-Md.) Democracy Summer Program with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in Silver Spring, Md.: Danny Glover and Bob Moses. Pic of Glover … Pic of Moses

TRANSITION -- Michael Short has been appointed director of the Office of External Affairs and chief communications officer at the CFTC. He was previously head of media relations for the National Association of Manufacturers, after a stint in the Trump White House. The announcement

HOT JOB -- A listing for director of the Office of Information Policy at DOJ was posted this week. Melanie Pustay has held the position since 2007. The listing

WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE -- Joseph Sullivan’s last day as special adviser to Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Kevin Hassett is today. Sullivan is expected to continue working with Hassett in the private sector.

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Rebecca Ballhaus, White House reporter at the WSJ and recent Pulitzer winner. How she got her start in journalism: “During an internship at the Huffington Post one summer in college, I was assigned to the Style section, where one of my first assignments was to get my hair braided by a stylist for, inexplicably, a DIY guide that now appears only on a Chinese-language website. After that, I was hooked.” Playbook Plus Q&A

BIRTHDAYS: Ben Jenkins, partner at Locust Street Group, is 4-0 (h/t Kelly Klass) ... Lyndon Boozer, partner at Capitol Counsel ... Kelly Magsamen, VP for national security and international policy at CAP (h/ts Ben Chang) ... Larry McCarthy, political/corporate admaker … Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) is 63 ... Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) is 46 … Rick Dearborn, a partner at the Cypress Group and former WH deputy COS … Marlon Marshall, 270 Strategies founding partner … Eric Lichtblau ... DHS’ Andrea (Palermo) Porwoll, who recently married Heritage's Mitchell Porwoll -- pic ... POLITICO’s Lauren Gardner and Mary Newman … WaPo’s Rachael Bade … Patrick Brennan, director of speechwriting at HHS ... Dylan Riddle ... Donna Shor ... Carmel Ferrer ... Maria Giannopoulos ... Sarah Haley … ProPublica’s Isaac Arnsdorf … NRCC’s Joe Goetz …

… Trevor Tejeda-Gervais … Howard Schultz, former executive chairman and CEO of Starbucks, is 66 … Daniel Kile, executive editor of Vanity Fair, is 41 … Matt Speno … NBC News’ Alex Johnson and Lauren Selsky … Keegan Bales … Vivi Zigler ... Lindsee Gentry, deputy director of external affairs at FERC ... Ian Schrager is 73 … Charles Watkins ... Dan Wilner ... Jennifer Skalka Tulumello ... Stephen Ching … Nick Smith ... Wade Lairsen ... Ron Faucheux ... Kenn Campbell ... former Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) is 64 … LaVenia J. LaVelle ... Stephanie Valencia ... The Nation’s Atossa Araxia Abrahamian … Bill Hyers … Jessica Tully ... Miranda Tully … George Rakis

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