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With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross

NEW SCOTUS BOMBSHELL — “Clarence Thomas Had a Child in Private School. Harlan Crow Paid the Tuition.” by ProPublica’s Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski: “Tuition at the boarding school ran more than $6,000 a month. But [Justice CLARENCE] THOMAS did not cover the bill. A bank statement for the school from July 2009, buried in unrelated court filings, shows the source of [Thomas grandnephew MARK] MARTIN’s tuition payment for that month: the company of billionaire real estate magnate HARLAN CROW. …

“The exact total Crow paid for Martin’s education over the years remains unclear. If he paid for all four years at the two schools, the price tag could have exceeded $150,000, according to public records of tuition rates at the schools. Thomas did not report the tuition payments from Crow on his annual financial disclosures.”

TRONE GETS IN — Rep. DAVID TRONE (D-Md.) is jumping into the now-open race to replace retiring Maryland Sen. BEN CARDIN in 2024, our colleague Ally Mutnick scoops. Reminder: Trone, the founder of Total Wine & More, has spent more than $43 million on his four House campaigns.

GOLDEN TO DEMS: LET’S MAKE A DEAL — As President JOE BIDEN and Democratic leaders in Congress quadruple down on their no-compromises debt limit strategy, one prominent House centrist has some unvarnished straight-talk for his own party: Get real.

“It feels like a punt,” Rep. JARED GOLDEN (D-Maine) said of top Democrats’ posture that the GOP is unfairly wielding the debt ceiling as leverage to demand spending cuts. Haggling over the nation’s borrowing limit has been the norm in recent history — particularly in divided government.

“We know that the Republicans won the [2022] election. They have a House majority, which means they have leverage on spending — and they’re going to use it,” he told Playbook. “So I just see a hard reality. … We’re just kicking the can down the road on a fight that needs to be settled.”

Golden went on to say it was a “mistake” for Democrats to allow the GOP to define the debt limit debate as simply a question of spending cuts (without revenues entering into the conversation) and claim the mantle of “fiscal responsibility” — a position he feels they should not be entitled to, given that they added trillions to the federal debt under President DONALD TRUMP.

Instead, he sees a way for Dems to seize the high ground. How? By using the debt limit negotiations to start a conversation about raising taxes on the richest Americans and wealthiest corporations.

“We should engage in this debate rather than trying to avoid it by demanding a clean debt ceiling raise,” Golden said. “Let’s call [Republicans] out on their fiscal irresponsibility and let’s welcome them to the table for a real solution, which I think means reducing spending — because that is the environment we’re in, with a divided government anyways — and raising revenues to put towards that reduction.”

Golden sees raising taxes on the rich as a winner on two of Biden’s stated priorities: reducing the deficit while bringing down inflation. Now is a chance to do something about both, he said.

“Ask any economist out there — at least the ones that aren’t highly political: Does raising taxes on the rich and on corporations like Amazon help get a handle on inflation? Yes, it does,” said Golden. “So if [White House officials] are true to what they say — that the focus is on combating inflation, reducing the deficit — then they should agree with me on this.”

Golden’s comments are noteworthy both because they’re unorthodox, and because of his profile. Yes, he’s a prominent member of the Problem Solvers Caucus and Blue Dog Coalition, but he brings credibility to the conversation as one of the last remaining rural House Democrats — a moderate who has won a solid Trump congressional district three times. He’s in a prime position to help the two sides strike a deal that both parties can live with.

But his frank assessment is also a flashing red light for Democrats. Mere days before congressional leaders meet with Biden to discuss raising the nation’s borrowing limit, they’re starting to lose their own members with their no-concessions mantra. And with a fractured party, Democrats will find it increasingly hard to maintain their posture.

Related reads …

• Gotta go for it: “Punting on the debt limit is a ‘no-go,’ lawmakers say,” by Caitlin Emma
• The longshot: “Can Democrats go around McCarthy to force a debt ceiling vote? It’s possible,” by NBC’s Kyle Stewart and Sahil Kapur
• The short list: “Meet the House Republicans Who Democrats Hope Will Defect on the Debt Limit,” by NYT’s Catie Edmondson
• The calendar crunch: “Washington is running out of work days to strike a debt ceiling deal,” by WaPo’s Nick Mourtoupalas and Derek Hawkins

Good Thursday morning. Happy Star Wars Day. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Ryan Lizza.

STATISTIC OF THE DAY — The average monthly mortgage payment for a typical U.S. home has grown by 50 percent since Jan. 31, 2022, Katy O’Donnell reports.

CAUGHT ON TAPE — Ohio Secretary of State FRANK LaROSE — who is seen as a potential challenger to Sen. SHERROD BROWN (D-Ohio) — recently told a group of Ohio Republicans at a closed-door political event that while Trump’s endorsement “matters,” it doesn’t carry the same weight it used to. But he didn’t stop there. In audio obtained by our colleague Meridith McGraw, LaRose pegged the proportion of Republican voters who would “vote for whoever” Trump endorses at just 20%.

What LaRose said: “There is another 20 percent that care about who he endorses but that’s not going to be the decision maker. And then there’s probably another 60 percent of the party that doesn’t care who he endorses.” Read the full story, with the audio

AT THE TRUMP TRIAL — “Trump will not present defense case in Carroll trial,” by Erica Orden … “Trump calls rape claim ‘ridiculous’ in video deposition,” by AP’s Michael Sisak and Larry Neumeister

PHOTO OF THE DAY

CONGRESS

INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY — “Republicans allege unspecified Biden ‘scheme,’ fire off new FBI subpoena,” by Jordain Carney: “House Oversight Chair JAMES COMER on Wednesday dramatically escalated his investigation into President Joe Biden with a subpoena … to the FBI citing the broad outlines of a ‘highly credible’ whistleblower complaint. The summons for documents is Comer’s (R-Ky.) most direct attempt to investigate the president after largely focusing on HUNTER BIDEN and other family members.”

GIVING THEM THE SLIP — “Black Caucus presses Senate Dems to blow up tradition on judges,” by Burgess Everett and Nicholas Wu: “The Black Caucus quietly met with Senate Judiciary Chair DICK DURBIN (D-Ill.) last week to lobby against the decades-old Senate practice that Republicans have recently used to block one district court nominee and stall another — slowing Biden’s efforts to stock the federal bench. Both House and Senate Democrats are worried that the GOP will ramp up its roadblocks of Biden judicial picks through the tradition known as ‘blue slips,’ named for the color of the forms that senators return to approve of home-state judicial nominees.”

AREA OF AGREEMENT — “Senate sends bipartisan rebuke of solar tariff policy to Biden’s desk,” by Kelsey Tamborrino

PARENTAL GUIDANCE — “Ban social media for kids? Fed-up parents in Senate say yes,” by AP’s Mary Clare Jalonick

2024 WATCH

TOP UNION NOT SOLD ON ‘UNION JOE’ — “UAW demands Biden support ‘top wages’ for EV workers before endorsing,” by The Detroit News’ Kalea Hall and Riley Beggin: “SHAWN FAIN, elected union president two months ago, issued the demand in a Tuesday letter to union employees obtained by The Detroit News that emphasizes the stakes of the industry’s costly and challenging shift to battery-powered vehicles. The note comes the week after Fain visited lawmakers and the Biden administration in Washington and just four months before a tense set of negotiations starts between the UAW and the Detroit Three automakers.”

JUST PLAIN FULKS — Biden’s principal deputy campaign manager QUENTIN FULKS is on the latest episode of Global Strategy Group’s “STAFFER” podcast with Jim Papa. Fulks talks about growing up near JIMMY CARTER in small town Georgia, how a boyhood meeting with a local mayor kindled his interest in politics, working for the likes of STENY HOYER, JB PRITZKER and RAPHAEL WARNOCK, and how he’s going to go about staffing a billion-dollar campaign: “We’re going to bring in folks who ... understand that we’re fighting for freedom, that we’re fighting for decency, that we’re fighting for morality, that we’re fighting to finish the job.” Listen to the episode

MORE POLITICS

SCHEMING IN DES MOINES — “Iowa Democrats are proposing a novel way to get around their demotion from the leadoff spot on the party’s presidential nominating calendar: They would still put on the first-in-the-nation caucuses but would be open to withholding the results until after other states have their contests,” AP’s Thomas Beaumont writes.

THE NEVERENDING STORY — “Emails Reveal ‘Jaw-Dropping’ Herschel Walker Money Scandal,” by the Daily Beast’s Roger Sollenberger: “Emails show HERSCHEL WALKER solicited hundreds of thousands of dollars for his own business from a billionaire donor, with the donor believing he was giving to Walker’s campaign.”

THE WHITE HOUSE

NEW THIS MORNING — “White House Unveils Initiatives to Reduce Risks of A.I.,” by NYT’s David McCabe: “The National Science Foundation plans to spend $140 million on new research centers devoted to A.I., White House officials said. The administration also pledged to release draft guidelines for government agencies to ensure that their use of A.I. safeguards ‘the American people’s rights and safety,’ adding that several A.I. companies had agreed to make their products available for scrutiny in August at a cybersecurity conference.”

Related read: “Inside Congress’ scramble to build an AI agenda,” by Brendan Bordelon and Mohar Chatterjee

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS — “Biden judicial nominee helped free-market group that opposed administration on climate change,” by Betsy Woodruff Swan: “MICHAEL DELANEY, who is up for a seat on the Boston-based First Circuit Court of Appeals, has for the past five years been a board member of the New England Legal Foundation. He’s served on a committee that vets amicus briefs advancing the group’s pro-business and deregulatory positions. … Most notably, in a momentous case at the Supreme Court, the group supported coal companies and red states that successfully challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s power to combat climate change.”

TRUMP CARDS

SPECIAL TREATMENT — “Special counsel sat in on Pence’s testimony to federal grand jury,” by CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Jamie Gangel and Katelyn Polantz: “Special counsel JACK SMITH sat in on the federal grand jury proceeding while former Vice President MIKE PENCE testified for more than five hours last week, three sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. Smith and Pence interacted while Pence was at the courthouse, and one source described the interaction as respectful. Smith’s appearance is the first known time the special counsel has attended a grand jury proceeding in the investigation.”

NEW ROUND OF SUBPOENAS — “Special counsel probing Trump Organization’s handling of Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage,” by CNN’s Katelyn Polantz and Paula Reid: “The handling of the footage, and how employees within the Trump Organization responded to the Justice Department’s demand for it, have prompted a new round of grand jury subpoenas to top Trump employees in the last few weeks, the sources told CNN.” Former Trump Organization execs MATTHEW CALAMARI SR. and his son, MATTHEW CALAMARI JR., are expected to testify today.

FOR THOSE KEEPING TRACK — “New York Times dismissed from lawsuit Trump brought over disclosure of his tax documents,” by CNN’s Tierney Sneed and Oliver Darcy

BEYOND THE BELTWAY

ABORTION FALLOUT …

In Montana: “Gianforte signs 5 anti-abortion bills, plans to sign more,” by the Missoulian’s Sam Wilson

In North Carolina: “House approves GOP’s 12-week abortion ban,” by the News & Observer’s Avi Bajpai and Lars Dolder

In Oregon: “Oregon Republicans stay home ahead of abortion, guns votes,” by AP’s Andrew Selsky and Claire Rush

GENDER WARS …

In Florida: “Florida lawmakers restrict pronouns and tackle book objections in sweeping education bill,” by Andrew Atterbury in Tallahassee … “Florida Republicans pass bill targeting transgender bathroom use,” by Andrew Atterbury

In North Carolina: “Limits on transgender kids’ medical care pass NC House,” by the News & Observer’s Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

In Kentucky: “ACLU files suit against Kentucky law banning gender-affirming care for trans minors,” by the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Alex Acquisto and Austin Horn

AMERICA AND THE WORLD

GERSHKOVICH LATEST — “Blinken Says U.S. Remains ‘Intensely Engaged’ in Efforts to Free Reporter Evan Gershkovich,” by WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff and Alexandra Bruell

Related read: “Relatives of Americans held abroad seek action from Biden,” by AP’s Eric Tucker

BACKSTORY — “How U.S. Efforts to Guide Sudan to Democracy Ended in War,” by NYT’s Edward Wong, Michael Crowley and Declan Walsh

THE ECONOMY

FED UP — The Fed raised interest rates again yesterday — setting the rate above 5% for the first time since 2007 — though policymakers for the central bank signaled that it could be the last hike for the year, indicating that it will take a wait-and-see approach going forward. On top of that, our colleague Victoria Guida writes that “Fed policymakers are closely monitoring progress toward raising the ceiling on the government’s ability to borrow.” Chair JEROME POWELL said that debate was discussed as a risk to the economic outlook but wasn’t important to the rate decision.

The breakdown: “The Fed might be done with interest rate hikes: What you need to know,” by Victoria

VALLEY TALK

MR. BLUE SKY — “Jack Dorsey Has a Lot to Say, Including About Elon Musk and Twitter,” by NYT’s Kate Conger

Colin Allred criticized Ted Cruz for hosting three podcast episodes a week.

Katherine Clark’s daughter was sentenced to probation for assaulting a Boston police officer.

Katherine Tai detailed her struggles as an Asian American in an interview with NBC.

Karen Pierce shared her preview of King Charles III’s coronation.

Donald Trump said it’s “very disrespectful” for Joe Biden not to attend the coronation of Britain’s monarch.

Kamala Harris did some vinyl shopping yesterday.

IN MEMORIAM — Janet Mullins Grissom “passed away at home on Saturday, April 29, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. … Her name inscribes the pages of many political memoirs from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s. Senator [Mitch] McConnell, whose first campaign she led, referred to her as ‘a fighter and a trail-blazer’ - and the press noted her ‘salty tongue.’ She was one of Secretary of State James Baker’s most trusted advisers.” Read the full obituary … Read McConnell’s tribute

— “Pamela Timmins, Press Secretary to Jacqueline Kennedy, Dies at 85,” by NYT’s Neil Genzlinger: “Ms. Timmins died on April 25 at her home in Edwards, Colo. She was 85. Her half brother, O. Burtch Winters Drake, said the cause was lung cancer. Ms. Timmins had been a receptionist at the Belgian Embassy and, beginning in 1957, a secretary to Timothy Reardon, a top aide to John Kennedy, before she was chosen to be the first lady’s press secretary.”

OUT AND ABOUT — Kevin Sheekey hosted a diplomatic reception at the Bloomberg offices in Washington that included ambassadors, foreign ministers and politicos, where Sheekey spoke to the group about Bloomberg’s globally focused New Economy forums. SPOTTED: Croatian Ambassador Pjer Šimunović, Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Tan Sri Abdul Aziz, Portuguese Ambassador Francisco Duarte Lopes, Singapore Ambassador Ashok Mirpuri, Hank Paulsen, Anna Toliou and Kelley Folino.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Amie Parnes is joining The Messenger as chief White House correspondent. She previously was a senior correspondent covering the White House and national politics at The Hill and is a POLITICO alum.

— Myron Brilliant is joining Dentons Global Advisors-Albright Stonebridge Group as a senior counselor. He previously was executive VP and head of international affairs at the Chamber of Commerce.

NSC DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Stephanie Epner is now global senior director of the Climate Imperative Foundation. She previously was a special advisor and acting senior director for climate and energy at the National Security Council and is a former longtime aide to John Kerry.

TRANSITIONS — John McEntee is joining the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 Presidential Transition Project as a senior adviser. He was director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office in the Trump administration. … Jack Lofgren is joining Rep. Barbara Lee’s Senate campaign as national finance director. He is a Pete Buttigieg, Collective PAC, Hillary Clinton, HRC, DSCC and Obama alum. … Maggie Snipes is now executive director of strategic partnership at Applecart. She most recently was a strategic adviser for business development and marketing at GP3 Partners and is a Semafor, Axios and WaPo alum. …

… Caroline Moore is now a legislative assistant for Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). She previously was a VP at Rich Feuer Anderson. … Faith Vander Voort is now VP of public affairs at RBW Group. She previously was managing director of media affairs at TAG Strategies. … Ellie Collinson is now deputy director and COO of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency. She most recently was chief of staff to the CFO/assistant secretary of administration at the Department of Commerce.

ENGAGED — Robyn Bryan, deputy comms director for Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Luke Jackson, a VP at Precision Strategies and Department of Education and Jon Tester alum, got engaged this weekend at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. They met through mutual Capitol Hill friends when the Nationals won the 2019 World Series. Pic … Another pic

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Jennifer Pett Marsteller, senior director of public affairs and comms at the Independent Petroleum Association of America and a Lamar Smith and Tim Huelskamp alum, and Jackson Marsteller, land manager at Dream Finders Homes, on April 26 welcomed Josephine Joyce Marsteller. Pic … Another pic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Becca Balint (D-Vt.) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) … George Will … POLITICO’s Abigail Henderson … National Association of Manufacturers’ Jay Timmons … Mitchell Rivard of Rep. Dan Kildee’s (D-Mich.) office … Eliot Nelson … Reuters’ Ted Hesson … Kelly Love … State’s Shana Mansbach … Allison Bormel … Todd Stern of Brookings … CNN’s Polson Kanneth … Ellen Qualls … Stat’s Erin Mershon … Cyrus Pearson of the Senate Republican Conference … Andy Karellas … Katie Bartizal … Katy Quinn … former Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) … Black Rock Group’s Charlotte McCoy … Akmal Ali … Terrell Halaska of HCM Strategists … former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) … WaPo’s Kathy O’Hearn … Kristin Engdahl Zipay of the Association of American Medical Colleges … NBC’s Megan Stackhouse … Ansley Braden … Michael DiRoma of DiRoma and Eck … NRSC’s Allie Berding … Jason Kander

Send Playbookers tips to [email protected] or text us at 202-556-3307. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike DeBonis, deputy editor Zack Stanton and producers Setota Hailemariam and Bethany Irvine.

Correction: An earlier version of this newsletter incorrectly described a boyhood meeting that sparked Quentin Fulks’ interest in politics. It was with a local mayor.