BUZZ: Campaign insiders, media execs concerned that TRUMP will not debate CLINTON -- SUSAN COLLINS not voting for Trump -- More AILES news from Gabe Sherman -- B’DAYS: Bill Burton, Ken Vogel Presented by Amazon

Driving the Day

Good Tuesday morning! The United States is in the lead of the medal count, with five golds, seven silvers and seven bronzes. LILLY KING got the last finger wag, when she beat Russian rival Yulia Efimova for the gold in the 100m breaststroke. http://es.pn/2aIlFfL

BUZZ -- There is increasing concern in news and political circles that Donald Trump will not agree to the three slated presidential debates this fall, a historic break with political norms in the lead-up to the election. The three bouts -- organized by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates -- are Sept. 26 at Hofstra University in New York, Oct. 9 at Washington University in St. Louis and Oct. 19 in Las Vegas. They are usually wonky and tightly scripted affairs, and offer the next true reset point in the race for the White House.

Debate moderators have not been announced, but Republican and Democratic sources, senior media executives and anchors in New York and Washington are casting serious doubt about whether Trump will agree to participate in the primetime events.

Multiple typically chatty Trump sources either passed the buck or did not respond to emails about whether the GOP presidential nominee is committed to participating. Hillary Clinton’s campaign on Monday evening publicly accepted the invitation to the affairs -- a move aimed at eliciting a response from Trump. During any other presidential cycle, attendance at the debates would never be in doubt.

“Secretary Clinton looks forward to participating in all three presidential debates scheduled by the independent debate commission,” the statement, from campaign chair John Podesta, read. It continued, “It is concerning that the Trump campaign is already engaged in shenanigans around these debates. It is not clear if he is trying to avoid debates, or merely toying with the press to create more drama. Either way, our campaign is not interested in playing along with a debate about debates or bargaining around them. The only issue now is whether Donald Trump is going to show up to debate at the date, times, places and formats set by the commission last year through a bipartisan process. We will accept the commission’s invitation and expect Donald Trump to do the same.”

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DEFECTION WATCH -- GOP SEN. SUSAN COLLINS in the WashPost, “Why I cannot support Trump”: “I will not be voting for Donald Trump for president. This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country …

“With the passage of time, I have become increasingly dismayed by his constant stream of cruel comments and his inability to admit error or apologize. But it was his attacks directed at people who could not respond on an equal footing — either because they do not share his power or stature or because professional responsibility precluded them from engaging at such a level — that revealed Mr. Trump as unworthy of being our president.” http://wapo.st/2aH9z0g

--So far 11 percent -- six of 54 -- of Senate Republicans have said they will not support their party’s nominee.

--NYT A1, “50 G.O.P. Officials Warn Donald Trump Would Put Nation’s Security ‘at Risk,’” by David Sanger and Maggie Haberman: “Among the most prominent signatories are Michael V. Hayden, a former director of both the C.I.A. and the National Security Agency; John D. Negroponte … the first director of national intelligence and then deputy secretary of state; and Robert B. Zoellick, another former deputy secretary of state, United States trade representative and, until 2012, president of the World Bank.

“Two former secretaries of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, also signed, as did Eric S. Edelman, who was Vice President Dick Cheney’s national security adviser and as a top aide to Robert M. Gates when he was secretary of defense. Robert Blackwill and James Jeffrey, two key strategists in Mr. Bush’s National Security Council, and William H. Taft IV, a former deputy secretary of defense and ambassador to NATO, also signed. Mr. Blackwill, a former aide to Henry A. Kissinger, is expected to endorse Mrs. Clinton this week.” http://nyti.ms/2b2YESA… The letter http://nyti.ms/2aIrdGZ

HOW IT PLAYED -- Donald Trump’s economic speech -- NYT: one column, right-hand side of A1 above the fold, “TRUMP OUTLINES ECONOMIC AGENDA AND TAX CHANGES … BACKS SOME G.O.P. POLICY ... Proposals Would Give a Considerable Lift to the Wealthiest” http://nyti.ms/2aYzG3T … WaPo: two columns, right-hand side of A1, above the fold, “Trump lays out economic vision ...TRIES TO RESET BUT FACES NEW RESISTANCE … Former GOP security officials call him ‘not qualified’ http://bit.ly/2abLGj6 … WSJ: one column, above the fold, right-hand side of A1, “Trump, Clinton spar on economy” http://bit.ly/2aVNXyP … NYPost: Trump wearing colonial garb, “Don calls for a ‘tax revolution’ … THE T PARTY” http://nyp.st/2aWf9yT … Chicago Tribune: below the fold A1, “Trump turns to the economy … He touts his security agenda as GOP security officials call him ‘reckless’” http://trib.in/2awFa9u

HAPPENING TODAY -- Hillary Clinton is in Miami. Tim Kaine is in Austin, Texas, for a volunteer appreciation event. Donald Trump is in Wilmington and Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Playbook Reads

ARTICLE OF THE DAY -- STEVEN BRILL on the cover of September’s Atlantic, “Since 9/11, the United States has spent $1 trillion to protect the homeland. The new security state is vast-and growing. Are We Any Safer? A year-long investigation”: “Multiple programs—salivated over by Beltway contractors, who formed ‘capture teams’ to reel in business—were launched with exuberant announcements, after which they quietly tailspinned into implementation delays, revised promises, and finally failure ... By my calculation, over the past 15 years, the American government has spent $100 billion to $150 billion on failed or unworthy homeland-security programs and on acquiring and maintaining equipment that hasn’t worked.” http://theatln.tc/2bbkT9u ... The cover http://bit.ly/2baurj0 … The full September issue online this a.m. http://theatln.tc/2bbr6Cx

INSIDE THE CAMPAIGNS -- “Trump embraces fundraising, not transparency,” by Shane Goldmacher: “As Donald Trump hustles to close the cash gap with Hillary Clinton, he is embarking on his most aggressive fundraising push yet - but his team is refusing to name the bundlers across the country who are helping grease an operation that raised a stronger-than-expected $80 million in July. Trump has scheduled a blitz of fundraisers across the country in the coming weeks, such as the two high-dollar soirees he attended in Nantucket and Cape Cod over the weekend, including one at the home of billionaire Bill Koch, the lesser-known brother of Charles and David. There, co-hosts had to raise at least $100,000 for six tickets to a VIP reception and a photo with the Manhattan mogul.

“It is a sharp departure from the primary, when Trump claimed he couldn't be bought and his decision to pour tens of millions of his own money into the race was central to his image as a selfless billionaire sacrificing for the betterment of the nation. But now that both he and Clinton are leaning on big donors to fund their fall campaigns, it is Clinton who is more open about her own finances and where the money is coming from.” http://politi.co/2bbgoff

-- “HILLBLAZERS” -- list of people who have bundled more than $100,000 for Hillary Clinton. http://hrc.io/2b56tZv

--NYT A9, “Donald Trump’s Diet: He’ll Have Fries With That,” by Ashley Parker: “In an era of gourmet dining and obsession with healthy ingredients, Mr. Trump is a throwback to an earlier, more carefree time in American eating ... [I]n Facebook, Instagram and Twitter posts, Mr. Trump has broadcast his culinary preferences to the nation — devouring a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken (while reading The Wall Street Journal), feasting on a McDonald’s burger and fries (to celebrate clinching the Republican presidential nomination) and chowing down on a taco bowl (in an effort to woo Hispanic voters). ... He is a lover of diner fare and fast food grub, of overcooked steaks ... and the bland nourishment of Americana. He prefers burgers and meatloaf, Caesar salads and spaghetti, See’s Candies and Diet Coke. And he shuns tea, coffee and alcohol.” http://nyti.ms/2aHaKNc

CASH DASH -- out east! -- “Clinton readies for Hamptons fundraising blitz,” by Annie Karni: “Hillary Clinton is planning to forgo her annual Hamptons vacation and accompanying luxury beach rental this summer – embarking instead on a condensed three-day fundraising blitz in the moneyed East End in late August. The Democratic nominee ... is packing in up to nine big-dollar events during a Hamptons fundraising sprint beginning Aug. 28 and ending Aug. 30, according to three sources familiar with the campaign’s fundraising strategy.

“Singer Jimmy Buffett, a Montauk resident, is expected to host a Clinton fundraiser at his home, the sources said. And Loews CEO Jonathan Tisch and Rudin Management bigwig Bill Rudin have sent out invitations to a $33,400-a-head dinner they are co-hosting. Clinton is also planning to attend fundraising dinners in Sagaponack, Quogue and East Hampton, hosted by donors like hedge fund manager and art collector Adam Sender; philanthropist Barbara Lee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and Carl Spielvogel, former U.S. ambassador to the Slovak Republic; and Infor CEO Charles Phillips and longtime Clinton donor Alan Patricof. The campaign is also planning a family garden party where two adults and their children can take photos with Clinton for $10,000 a pop, as well as a cheaper Southampton beach party with ticket prices starting at $2,700.” http://politi.co/2b1ME45

AIR WARS -- “Clinton’s spending big on Olympics TVs ads, Trump airs none,” by AP’s Julie Bykowicz: “The Democratic presidential nominee is airing $13.6 million in campaign commercials during the Summer Games, seeking to reach the millions of television viewers who can’t skip past the commercials as they watch live coverage of the Olympics. She has the audience to herself, as Trump has yet to air his first paid TV ad of the general election campaign.” http://apne.ws/2aYOEH5

DEPT. OF WISHFUL THINKING – MATT LATIMER in the NYT, “Mike Pence Should Get Donald Trump to Withdraw”: “The unassuming governor of Indiana, Mr. Pence is in a powerful, if unenviable, position. Were he to publicly repudiate his own running mate, or question his fitness for office, the Trump campaign would be unsustainable. He does not need to take such a drastic action — not yet — but the prospect of his doing so, even if conveyed obliquely, might persuade his running mate to broker a withdrawal.” http://nyti.ms/2aIwHO3

--“Republicans who ran EPA slam Trump’s ‘ignorance,’ endorse Clinton,” by Andrew Restuccia: “Denouncing Donald Trump’s ‘profound ignorance of science,’ two Republicans who once led the EPA endorsed Hillary Clinton [today]. William Ruckelshaus, who served as EPA administrator under Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and William Reilly, who ran the agency under George H. W. Bush, slammed Trump for dismissing scientific warnings about climate change and for insisting he’ll ‘cancel’ the international climate change agreement clinched last year in Paris.” For Pro subscribers http://politico.pro/2ax5kc8

2016 PLAYERS – “Growing Up Trump: Ivanka Trump Tells All,” by Lisa DePaulo in Harper’s Bazaar: “When I tell her that my friends supporting Trump hope to hell that she is the one calling the shots, she raises a perfect eyebrow. ‘Really? I’m definitely not,’ she insists. ‘His campaign is his campaign. We have worked together for over a decade, and I love my father, I respect my father. I also understand him and how he thinks.’ So what is her role? ‘My role is daughter. I’m his daughter.’” http://bit.ly/2ax16Bs

--BRET STEPHENS in WSJ: “Sean Hannity’s Veneration of Ignorance”: “On Thursday evening I opted to give him the benefit of the doubt by writing on Twitter that he was Fox’s ‘dumbest anchor.’ He immediately proved my point by re-tweeting me to his 1.5 million Twitter followers—an audience I could never have reached on my own. ... Mr. Hannity’s tantrum obscures the uglier side of what he is trying to do, which is to paint targets on the GOP’s genuine Reaganites—pro-trade, pro-immigration, pro-NATO, pro-entitlement reform—and replace them with the Party of Trump—anti-all of the above—no matter what happens to the candidate come November.” http://on.wsj.com/2aIpvma

-- “Hispanic Florida Republican Party Spokesperson Leaves Because Of Trump,” by BuzzFeed’s Adrian Carrasquillo (1:56 p.m. ET timestamp): “Wadi Gaitan took the helm of the communications department for the Florida Republican Party in May 2015, fresh off making House Republicans more well-known on Spanish-language media. His plan was to work toward flooding Florida with the message, tone, and care that would aid Republican efforts to wrest back control of the presidency. Donald Trump cannonballed into the presidential race a month later.

“Now after more than a year of comments by Trump that have roiled the Hispanic community, and after one of the worst weeks of his campaign, Gaitan has decided to leave the Florida GOP to join the conservative LIBRE Initiative. ‘I’m thankful for my almost two years with the Florida GOP, however, moving on gives me a great, new opportunity to continue promoting free market solutions while avoiding efforts that support Donald Trump,’ Gaitan said in a statement to BuzzFeed News, declining to comment further.” http://bzfd.it/2b2VZbI

--TALE OF THE TAPE: The Washington Post’s Ed O’Keefe’s story was timestamped 1:58 p.m. Basically a tie! http://wapo.st/2bb3IFc

RIO ROUNDUP -- “Five things you missed at the Rio Olympics on Monday, Aug. 8,” by USA Today Sports: http://usat.ly/2ba7T25



WEST-COAST WATCH -- “Some donors wrapped up in embattled Silicon Valley congressman’s ethics complaint are helping him fight it,” by the LA Times’ Sarah Wise in Washington: “Three donors who recently contributed to the Silicon Valley congressman’s legal defense were Dr. Ngai Nguyen of San Jose, who gave $5,000; attorney Sukhan Kim, who also gave $5,000; and Dr. Gloria Wu of San Jose, who gave $1,000. Their names also appear on a donor list that is part of an ongoing ethics investigation of Honda. Honda’s general election opponent, Democrat Ro Khanna, has made the ethics investigation a central issue of his campaign. The two will appear on the ballot for the second time this November in what has been a closely watched race — Khanna bested Honda in the primary by just more than 2,000 votes and had a more than 2-1 fundraising advantage.” http://lat.ms/2baFs3N

TOP TWEET -- @BuzzFeedAndrew: “There’s a congressman I called in Feb. to see who he was supporting and he calls me every two weeks to say he has a missed call from my #.”

DEEP DIVE – NYT A1, “Think Tank Scholar or Corporate Consultant? It Depends on the Day,” by Eric Lipton, Nick Confessore and Brooke Williams: “With their expertise and authority, think tank scholars offer themselves as independent arbiters, playing a vital role in Washington’s political economy. Their imprimatur helps shape government decisions that can be lucrative to corporations. But the examination identified dozens of examples of scholars conducting research at think tanks while corporations were paying them to help shape government policy. Many think tanks also readily confer ‘nonresident scholar’ status on lobbyists, former government officials and others who earn their primary living working for private clients, with few restrictions on such outside work.” http://nyti.ms/2b2RbDm

FLASHBACK – WashPost’s Tom Hamburger and Alexander Becker, Oct. 30, 2014, “At fast-growing Brookings, donors may have an impact on research agenda” http://wapo.st/2baMuJl

POLITICO’s MAYORS’ survey – “America’s Mayors: ‘We’re Afraid For Our Police,’” by Taylor Gee and Ben Wofford: “Two years after the unrest in Ferguson, America’s mayors have a newfound fear for their cities’ police officers.” http://politi.co/2aIqm6k

--“America’s Mayors: Put Us in Charge — Now,” by Ben Wofford: “From engineering urban turnarounds, to innovative solutions and grace under pressure, mayors know which of them have the right stuff to run the country.” http://politi.co/2aWcB3u

SPEED READ -- “Following RNC speech, Cruz critics urge McCaul to mount primary challenge,” by CNN’s Manu Raju and Teddy Schleifer: “In the wake of Cruz’s controversial speech at the party convention where he refused to endorse Donald Trump, the Texas senator’s GOP critics believe there could be a new opening for an intraparty challenge. And behind the scenes, GOP donors and Texas politicians have urged Rep. Mike McCaul to consider mounting a bid against him in 2018 ... McCaul ... has not yet deliberated on the matter but has yet to rule out a potential Senate run.” http://cnn.it/2aIq0N1

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- new Connor Eldridge ad in Arkansas, trying to SHAME Sen. Jon Boozman (R-Ark.) into a debate … Eldridge, a prosecutor, has an uphill climb to beat Boozman in deep red Arkansas, but hey -- you never know what could happen this year. Mark Putnam -- who Ashley Parker, the pride of Bethesda, profiled in 2014 (http://nyti.ms/2aGhz1) -- is Eldridge’s media consultant. Watch the ads here: http://bit.ly/2avowr6

SNEAK PEEK – new SEAN SPICER memo, “We Can’t Afford The Consequences Of A Clinton Presidency”: “A presidential election is not just a decision about who will lead our nation right now, but the country we will be in the future. On both counts, America cannot afford Hillary Clinton in the White House. Clinton shares President Obama’s misguided belief the economy is in good shape. President Obama has spent years touting a veneer of recovery, but the American people know what Obamanomics has really led to: a shrinking middle class with declining wages, a 50-year low in homeownership, and a swelling global trade deficit of $750 billion.” Full memo http://bit.ly/2b5cJ37

MEDIAWATCH -- “Months Of Messy Legal Dispute Preceded Andrea Tantaros’ Removal From Fox News,” by BuzzFeed’s Kyle Blaine: “Fox News personality Andrea Tantaros alleged on Monday that she was taken off air after reporting that she was sexually harassed by then-chairman and CEO of Fox News Roger Ailes. ... The dispute was initially about her new book ... but developed into an internal investigation involving more than a dozen people, after Tantaros alleged that Fox News employees had behaved inappropriately toward her, and that threats had been made against her. ... During the legal proceedings ... Tantaros alleged she had been mistreated by several Fox News employees, both men and women. Five specific allegations, including ‘inappropriate male behavior,’ were detailed by Tantaros’ legal team in a March 2016 letter.” http://bzfd.it/2aIdBv9

-- GABE SHERMAN in NYMag, “Fox News Host Andrea Tantaros Says She Was Taken Off the Air After Making Sexual-Harassment Claims Against Roger Ailes”: “According to Tantaros’s account, Ailes began harassing her on August 12, 2014. During a meeting in Ailes’s office, Ailes allegedly asked Tantaros to do “the twirl” so he could see her figure. She refused. Then, in mid-December of that year, Ailes made another advance, Burstein says. ‘Ailes asked her to turn around, and then he said, ‘Come over here so I can give you a hug.’’ Tantaros rebuffed the advance, Burstein says.

“In February 2015, Tantaros was pulled off the 5 p.m. program The Five and demoted to working full-time on the midday show Outnumbered. In February 2015, according to Burstein, Ailes allegedly harassed Tantaros again in his office, asking about her workout routine because her body ‘looked good’ and mentioning that she must ‘really look good in a bikini.’ On April 30, 2015, Tantaros filed a formal workplace harassment complaint about Ailes to Shine, Burstein says. The following day, Burstein says, Tantaros met with Shine to further discuss her harassment claims. Shine allegedly told her, ‘Roger is a very powerful man,’ and that she ‘should not fight this.’” http://nym.ag/2aWjqCa

--Per Hadas Gold: "Through an FNC spokesperson, Shine said, 'Andrea never made any complaints to me about Roger Ailes sexually harassing her.'” http://politi.co/2aJdATV

SARAH ELLISON in Vanity Fair, “Inside the Fox News Bunker” -- news in 14th graf! -- “Thee company is requesting that Ailes, who has denied all Carlson’s allegations, fund at least a portion of the settlement, which is expected to reach eight figures, these people said. At issue in the settlement talks is the existence of audio tapes recorded by multiple women in conversation with Ailes, two people familiar with the tapes said. Ailes' lawyers have argued that any negotiation with Carlson should take place in private arbitration, but the specter of a public trial looms. ‘If they litigate the case, all the tapes will become public, directly and through others,’ this person said. ‘Then you will have a parade of women come in. Nobody wants that.’ (Ailes, through his lawyer, denied all allegations.)” http://bit.ly/2bfVCrU

POPPY MACDONALD to join Politico U.S. as president – Robert Allbritton emails the staff: “I’m thrilled to tell all of you that as we enter our 2nd decade, Poppy MacDonald will be joining our team as President of POLITICO US. This is an exciting time for our company. 2016 is on track for another record year, with revenues on pace to be the highest in POLITICO’s history, and a staff that will exceed 500 by the end of the year.

“The moves we’ve made thus far are substantial. An invigorated DC PLAYBOOK that is growing its already significant audience and breaking news each and every day. A newsroom that expands across the U.S. and the Atlantic Ocean. A technology investment to put us at the forefront of media. A new editor in Carrie Budoff Brown who has an amazing vision for the next chapter of our POLITICO journalism.”

Per the release: “MacDonald is currently the publisher and president of National Journal. ... Prior to working at National Journal, MacDonald served as POLITICO Pro’s executive director of business development. In that role, she was responsible for overseeing the launch of POLITICO’s first paid subscription model focused on providing sector-specific coverage.” http://politi.co/2aRhTLH

NYT LAUNCHES POLITICS PODCAST -- Hadas Gold in Morning Media: “Hosted by national political reporter Michael Barbaro, ‘The Run-up’ will cover the final three months of the election focusing on major themes, news, analysis and dispatches from across the newsroom, as well as interviews with ‘key players’ in the campaign cycle. ‘In what has already proven to be a race unlike any we’ve seen before, this podcast will help Times readers (and listeners) better understand the major issues of this election,’ politics editor Carolyn Ryan told Morning Media. Podcasts are surging in popularity and the Times recently hired its first executive producer for audio, Lisa Tobin from public radio station WBUR, to get a bigger piece of the action. The first installment of ‘The Run-up’ is set to debut later today.”

THE NEW GILDED AGE -- “The Rich Get Richer as Billionaires Increase in Number,” by WSJ’s Veronica Dagher: “The combined wealth of the world’s billionaires, defined as individuals with a net worth of $1 billion or above, increased by 5.4% to a record $7.7 trillion ... By comparison, the gross domestic product of the U.S. is around $17 trillion. The world’s billionaire population grew by 6.4% to 2,473 in 2015.” http://on.wsj.com/2aHaJJ4

--NYT Business Day cover, “States Vie to Shield the Wealth of the 1 Percent,” by Patricia Cohen: “Nevada has stoked an aggressive rivalry among a smattering of states to babysit the wealth of the nation’s top 1 percent, pressing public officials to pass laws, streamline regulations, lower fees and replace D.M.V.-level service with concierge treatment. Yet even as more and more states seek ways to help the richest Americans protect their wealth from creditors, divorcing spouses and children, as well as some federal and state tax collectors, critics worry that the effort to attract the lucrative trust business is turning into a competitive game of giveaway.” http://nyti.ms/2bat1oK



Playbookers

LIST DU JOUR – The Town & Country 50, “New Modern Swans: Our annual list of the world’s most stylish—and talked-about—young women” in its September issue on newsstands today -- Playbookers on the list: Katie Glueck http://bit.ly/2bfVRmT ... Katy Tur http://bit.ly/2bb70bh ... Hope Hicks http://bit.ly/2aIqTF7 ... Sasha and Malia Obama http://bit.ly/2awxKDq … Isabella Huffington http://bit.ly/2aOb6VK ... Emily Corker http://bit.ly/2bfWyfP ... Full list http://bit.ly/2awyoke ... The cover http://politi.co/2aYwDcc

21 YEARS AGO TODAY -- Jerry Garcia died in California. Listen to Jerry and John Kahn on “It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry” in 1982. http://bit.ly/2bbfgbk

SPOTTED on 14th Street Monday night: Steve Elmendorf at Ghibellina, Zeke Miller strolling north near Barcelona.

OBAMA ALUMNI – GORDON BRONSON joins Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs as Director of Strategic Communications: “A Colorado native, he worked for President Obama’s 2008 campaign, and at the Department of the Interior before joining the White House staff in 2011. Thereafter, he worked with Sen. Cory Booker to bring the Clinton Global Initiative to Newark, N.J., committing to support entrepreneurs in the city. Gordon has worked with successful startups ranging from tech-based political tools to hightech food companies.” http://politi.co/2b505RV

PAUL BELL to Precision Strategies – he emails friends and colleagues: “This Friday will be my last day with Ranking Member Cummings and the Select Committee on Benghazi. ... I’m proud to have spent these last six years on the Hill working for some amazing bosses: Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, Senator Mary Landrieu and Rep. Karen Bass. On Monday, I’ll be joining Precision Strategies as a principal.”

EVAN SIEGFRIED has a new book, “GOP GPS: How to Find the Millennials and Urban Voters the Republican Party Needs to Survive,” which “examines key ways that Republicans can grow the party in places like NYC, Chicago, LA, as well as bring millennials into the fold. With a witty foreword by Robert George of the New York Daily News,” he emails us. $16.85 on Amazon http://amzn.to/2aRiiOj

RON FOURNIER in TheAtlantic.com, “You Can Go Home Again”: “In Detroit, I will be the associate publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business, a media brand devoted to telling the story of southeast Michigan’s economic trials and transformation. ... The real news in Detroit is revival and reinvention, and we’d like to be a small part of it.” http://theatln.tc/2aOa4td

WEEKEND WEDDINGS -- ABC News’ Erin Dooley got married to Lane Webster Saturday night in Dallas, celebrating with her ABC News colleagues from DC, and friends and family from Texas. Erin is a digital journalist on ABC’s transportation team and Lane is an attorney in Washington. Pic http://bit.ly/2aszIV7 SPOTTED: Nate Luna, Becky Perlow, Michael Falcone, and Veronica Stracqualursi.

--“Jessica Baker, Michael de la Merced”: “Mrs. de la Merced, 30, is a manager of communications at Facebook in Menlo Park, Calif., where she handles public relations for the Facebook mobile app. She graduated from Cambridge ... Mr. de la Merced, 35, is a business reporter in the San Francisco bureau of The Times. He graduated with honors from Emory and received a master’s in journalism from N.Y.U. ... The couple met in 2011 through mutual friends at a party in New York.” With pic http://nyti.ms/2aJXTNY

--“Sara Feldenkris, Joseph Cohen” – Times: “The couple met at the University of Virginia, from which they received law degrees. The bride, 31, is a senior attorney at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington. ... The groom, 33, is an assistant counsel in the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the [U.S. House] ... which maintains the official publication of the code of United States laws. He graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.” With a pic http://nyti.ms/2aFdxcW

--“Margaret Smith, Joseph Brazauskas Jr.”: “Mrs. Brazauskas, 32, is a consultant on analytics problems in the Washington office of Accenture ... Mr. Brazauskas, 34, works in Washington as a senior counsel for the [U.S. House] Committee on Science, Space and Technology. ... The couple met on the squash court in 2010 at the University Club of Washington.” With pic http://nyti.ms/2aEPr0J

BIRTHDAYS: Bill Burton, California Managing Director at SKDKnickerbocker and the pride of Buffalo, is 39 ... Ken Vogel is 41, spending his day with Danielle most likely debating who should start for the Eagles at quarterback (h/t Dukes Wooters) ... Kathleen Matthews, the pride of Los Altos Hills, Calif. (hubby tip: Chris) ... WSJ’s Julian E. Barnes, now posted in Brussels, is 45 ... Michael “Fletch” Fletcher, senior writer for ESPN’s The Undefeated ... Hoda Kotb is 52 … Chris Cuomo is 46 … Brian F. Keane, president of SmartPower, is still in his 40’s ... Tim Tagaris, partner at Revolution Messaging … Isaac Lederman, formerly SKD, off to London for grad school this fall (h/t Teddy Schleifer) ... Fred Brown, comms director for the Republican Jewish Coalition and an RNC alum, celebrating with dinner with friends at his go to Italian joint in barracks row, Trattoria Alberto (h/t Rebecca Schieber) ... Robert Traynham, VP of comms at the Bipartisan Policy Center … Amanda Isaacson … The Fritz twins – Skylar and Whitney ... Jarrett Morrell, fan of Hoyas and Wilco … T. J. Clark, a Quorum business team member and living breathing American Political History encyclopedia, is 21 (h/t Lauren Gallagher) ... Leila Sepehri Getto of the U.S. Chamber and a DOE alum ...

… Lauren Maddox, principal at the Podesta Group ... Christine Trippi ... Brian Hart, CEO at KEYS for the Homeless (h/ts Jon Haber) ... Reese Dickens ... Kerry Troup, comms. director at Faith Counts … Rebecca Kirszner Katz, partner at Hilltop Public Solutions … Suzanne Elio, media relations officer at Federal Reserve Bank of New York … Mike Mears, RNC’s director of strategic partnerships … Karin Tanabe … Scott Tiel ... former Hawaii Rep. Charles Djou is 46 ... Elise Aronson, MBA candidate at Wharton and alum of Well & Lighthouse and GMMB … Jamie Reno ... Andrew Light ... Deion Sanders … Isaac Levido ... Mike Whatley ... Catherine Tran … Iowa GOP operative Eric Woolson … Rhonda Bentz ... David Sours ... NYT alum Carla Baranauckas, now an assignment editor at The Record and copy editor at TheStreet ... former Rep. John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) is 61 ... Marianna Boyd and Brendan McDermott of Senate HSGAC ... William Smith, COS for Rep. Gary Palmer ... Ike Crews of Rep. Pete Sessions’ office ... Kate Leone, senior counsel for Sen. Harry Reid (h/ts Legistorm) ... Tiffany Newton-Kenslow ... Robin Pressman, celebrating HER day in lovely San Fran ... Paul Vornholt ... Ann Selzer (h/ts Teresa Vilmain) ... Ann E.W. Stone ... Chris Sautter ... Alen Salerian ... Virginia Pancoe, director of political and advocacy sales at El Toro ... Marcel Lettre ... Connie Doebele ... Ryan Hampton is 36 ... Jeff Berman is 45 ... Paul Bradley ... Mark Craft ... Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy is 88 ... comedian David Steinberg is 74 ... College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL player John Cappelletti is 64 ... “Neon” Deion Sanders is 49 ... Jessica Capshaw is 4-0 ... actress Anna Kendrick is 31 (h/ts AP)

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