This afternoon, two politicians who embody diametrically opposite facets of New York City — President Donald Trump and NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani — will meet in Washington. Despite their myriad differences, both Trump and Mamdani are presently focused on the same issue: affordability. It’s a topic both men hinged their campaigns on. But will they be able to find any common ground? Playbook’s Adam Wren and New York Playbook co-author Nick Reisman walk through what they’re watching. Plus, exclusive reporting on the man at the center of Indiana’s redistricting resistance, and Barack Obama’s new role as mentor-in-chief.
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Trump’s teetering economic message
Despite his continued insistence that cost-of-living concerns aren’t a problem, President Donald Trump is confronting subpar stats on the U.S. economy, as evidenced in the data and lived reality for Americans. The September jobs report that was delayed due to the government shutdown is expected to arrive today as fresh Fox News polling shows that more than three quarters of Americans view the economy unfavorably. Trump — and 2026 candidates up and down the ballot on both sides of the aisle — are reckoning with a sour economic state. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break it all down.
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Bracing for breakthrough on Russia-Ukraine war
There appears to be some progress toward an end to the Russia-Ukraine war after months of start-and-stop talks between President Donald Trump and top-level negotiators. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is reportedly traveling to Ukraine today with two high-ranking military officials for urgent talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, armed with the early stages of a plan to bring the conflict to a resolution. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down what we know, and what to expect next.
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Trump’s messaging maelstrom
Two big things are happening in Washington today, and each involves a separate controversial figure. On Capitol Hill, the House is set to vote on closely watched legislation to release the files from the investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It is far from the first time Epstein has been at the center of activity on the Hill, but President Donald Trump’s U-turn to encourage Republicans to vote for the release has taken much of the drama out. At the White House, Trump will welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the first time since the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns walk through what to expect, plus Trump’s latest affordability pitch.
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Trump tries to reclaim the narrative
President Donald Trump is aiming to grab control of the news cycle after a tumultuous turn over the past couple of weeks. The White House wants to be laser-focused on affordability messaging — but things aren’t that simple. On Tuesday, the House is poised to vote on legislation calling for the release of the Epstein files. Many Republicans were already expected to join Democrats on the vote, and now Trump is telling them to do so after initial resistance. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns tee up what to expect, the latest on Trump’s engagement with Venezuela and Trump’s ire toward Indiana.
POLITICO’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns bring their fresh insight, analysis and reporting to the biggest story driving the day in the nation’s capital.
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