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By Jake Sherman, Anna Palmer and Daniel Lippman

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Listen to today's Audio Briefing
DRIVING THE DAY
THE WINLESS FIRST QUARTER ... It's the middle of March -- almost the end of the first quarter of 2019 -- and here's what PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has going on:

THE NORTH KOREA summit blew up. ... CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS are finally taking hold, and getting more serious. ... THE PRESIDENT'S party is turning on him on Capitol Hill. The White House is scrambling to convince Senate Republicans to stick by the president when it comes to his emergency declaration at the border. ...

... THE PRESIDENT'S top trade adviser testified Tuesday that there are still "major issues" in the United States' talks with China (NYT). ... PROGRESSIVE HOUSE DEMOCRATS are saying that the trade deal the president cut with Mexico and Canada is not good enough, and talks should be reopened (POLITICO). ...

... EVEN MORE SO, this White House does not appear to be driving for anything at the moment. Sure, divided government is tough -- way tougher perhaps than the president's advisers said in the wake of the election.

But here's a THOUGHT EXERCISE: What is the White House's top proactive priority at this moment? And what do you see them doing -- either publicly or privately -- to achieve this?

Happy Wednesday. WHAT'S ON TRUMP'S MIND -- @realDonaldTrump at 12:27 a.m.: "So many records being set with respect to our Economy. Unemployment numbers among BEST EVER. A beautiful thing to watch!"

NEW POLITICO/MORNING CONSULT POLL -- STEVE SHEPARD: "On the eve of Congress' unprecedented rebuke of President Donald Trump, a majority of voters continue to oppose his national emergency declaration at the southern border, according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll.

"The poll shows that Trump has failed to build support for his declaration in the face of congressional opposition, with the results essentially unchanged since he signed an order to reallocate military funds toward erecting a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Only 38 percent of voters support the declaration, the poll shows, down 1 point over the past three weeks. In the new poll, 52 percent of voters are opposed to the declaration, up 1 point from last month." POLITICO

STATE OF PLAY -- WAPO'S SEUNG MIN KIM and ERICA WERNER: "White House, GOP senators negotiating a deal to avert defeat on emergency order": "The White House is privately negotiating with Senate Republicans who want to rein in the emergency powers of President Trump and his successors - which could lead to the surprise defeat of a Democratic resolution rejecting Trump's emergency declaration at the border. That would mark a dramatic change in fortunes for Trump, who had been on track for an embarrassing defeat later this week in the GOP-controlled Senate in a confrontation with Congress over Trump's border wall.

"Key to quelling the GOP revolt is legislation drafted by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) that tries to claw back some emergency powers to Congress and whether the White House endorses some version of it. That would give Republicans who are uneasy about the constitutionality of the Feb. 15 declaration - yet nervous about publicly rebuking Trump - some political cover to side with the president." WaPo

FOR YOUR RADAR -- "Trump administration preparing to close international immigration offices," by WaPo's Maria Sacchetti and Nick Miroff: "The Trump administration is preparing to shutter all international offices of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a move that could slow the processing of family visa applications, foreign adoptions and citizenship petitions from members of the military stationed abroad.

"USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna said in an email to staff Tuesday that he is working to transfer those duties - now performed by employees worldwide - to domestic offices and the State Department's embassies and consulates." WaPo

IT'S NOT ALL ROSES FOR DEMOCRATS -- "House Democrats struggle in Trump's news cycle," by Sarah Ferris, Heather Caygle and John Bresnahan

A message from PhRMA:

There are wrong and right prescriptions for changing Medicare. Seniors need Washington to focus on the right ones. Cutting costs for everyone except seniors and limiting access to lifesaving medicines are the wrong prescription for Medicare. Making changes that help seniors pay less out-of-pocket are the right prescription for Medicare.

THE LATEST ON BOEING ... KATHRYN WOLFE: "Pilots complained at least 5 times about Boeing 737 MAX problems, records show": "Pilots in the U.S. complained at least 5 times in recent months about problems controlling their Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets during critical moments of flight, federal records show, adding to questions raised by deadly crashes involving that model of jetliner in Ethiopia and Indonesia.

"Some of the incidents appear to involve the same anti-stall system that has come up as a potential cause of October's Indonesia crash, according to a review of a Federal Aviation Administration incident database that lets pilots self-report trouble. Investigators have not said whether the same technology had emerged as a possible cause of Sunday's crash in Ethiopia, although both involved airliners that mysteriously plunged to the ground minutes after takeoff." POLITICO

Former Transportation Secretary RAY LAHOOD to WaPo: "Those planes should be pulled down and inspected. The flying public is owed that." WaPo

-- WSJ'S SCOTT MCCARTNEY: "Boeing 737 MAX: The Latest Example of a Passive DOT": "Thirty-five Congressional mandates sit unanswered, on everything from minimum seat space to secondary barriers protecting cockpits. The top job at the Federal Aviation Administration has been open for 14 months. Enforcement fines against major U.S. airlines have dropped 88% in the past two years, even as three-hour tarmac delays have more than doubled. The Transportation Department under Secretary Elaine Chao has seemingly been delayed on a number of issues important to travelers." WSJ

-- BOEING ROUNDUP: "Chao flew on a Boeing 737 MAX from Austin festival," by Kathryn Wolfe ... "Boeing's congressional base frays under pressure," by Melanie Zanona and Brianna Gurciullo ... "Boeing to Make Key Change in 737 MAX Cockpit Software," by WSJ's Andrew Tangel and Andy Pasztor

FLASHBACK ... NOV. 6, 2018 (Election Night) ... BLOOMBERG STORY, by Alan Levin, Julie Johnsson and Harry Suhartono: "Boeing Co. is preparing to send a safety warning to operators of its new 737 Max jets in response to the investigation of last week's fatal crash off the coast of Indonesia that left 189 dead, said a person familiar with the matter.

"The bulletin from Boeing will alert airlines that erroneous readings from a flight-monitoring system can cause the planes to abruptly dive, said the person, who asked not to be named discussing details of the manufacturer's plans. Boeing will warn pilots to follow an existing procedure to handle the problem." Bloomberg

BEING MIKE PENCE ... ELIANA JOHNSON and BURGESS EVERETT: "Pence takes GOP punches for Trump": "In recent months, Pence has repeatedly found himself an even-tempered target for prominent Republicans needing to vent about Trump's unorthodox style. 'When he comes up here, unfortunately for him, he gets to be kind of the person that people take out some of their frustrations out on,' said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the Senate's number-two leader. 'But that's a part of the job.'

"That has become more and more true of late. In multiple encounters with Republicans on Capitol Hill, on issues ranging from Syria to the government shutdown, Pence has swallowed his personal views, which have historically been far more in line with the GOP establishment than are Trump's." POLITICO

-- NPR'S SUE DAVIS: "Speaker Pelosi Revokes Vice President Pence's House Office Space": "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has reclaimed office space her predecessor, Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., awarded to Vice President Pence. Republicans gave Pence, a former House member, a first-floor bonus office in the U.S. Capitol shortly after President Trump was inaugurated in 2017. The vice president rarely used the space, but it was a symbolic gesture of the warm relationship Pence enjoyed with Ryan and the House GOP. ...

"A placard above the door identifying it as Pence's House office was quietly removed in recent weeks. A House Democratic aide confirmed to NPR that the space will be reassigned. 'Room assignments are reviewed and changed at the beginning of every Congress,' the aide said." NPR

THE STORY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT -- "From 'master coach' to a bribery probe: A college consultant who went off the rails," by WaPo's Nick Anderson: "He offers his services as a 'master coach' in a college counseling business called 'The Key' that aims to help teenagers develop a 'personal brand,' helping them stand out from tens of thousands of others seeking admission to elite schools. A website promoting the California-based business claims that founder Rick Singer has worked one-on-one with students and parents 'on devising a game plan for life.'

"Over the past 20 years, the site says, Singer has helped numerous applicants attain 'an undergraduate or graduate degree in every field imaginable.' Federal authorities tell a darker story about William 'Rick' Singer: that he orchestrated a brazen scheme to facilitate cheating on admission tests and bribery of college athletics coaches, all to help children of wealthy parents obtain admission to prestigious universities." WaPo

-- BUZZFEED'S JULIA REINSTEIN and BRIANNA SACKS: "University athletic coaches and administrators were also allegedly bribed 'to designate applicants as purported athletic recruits - regardless of their athletic abilities, and in some cases, even though they did not play the sport they were purportedly recruited to play,' court documents state. In some cases, photos of the students playing sports were staged, and some even had their heads photoshopped onto the bodies of real athletes." BuzzFeed

-- "Who's Been Charged in the College Admissions Cheating Scandal? Here's the Full List," by NYT's Rebecca Halleck

2020 WATCH -- "Beto O'Rourke plans extended Iowa trip," by David Siders: "O'Rourke isn't just headed to Iowa for a one-off campaign appearance with a state Senate candidate. He is planning a multi-day trip with multiple appearances in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, two Democrats familiar with his plans told POLITICO on Tuesday." POLITICO

-- CBS'S ED O'KEEFE (@edokeefe): "AT BIDEN EVENT: Other reporters and I caught him as he left IAFF event. One asked if there's reason he wouldn't run. Biden: 'We're making that decision now.' When will he do it? 'We'll be announcing that pretty soon.' I asked 'What's the hold up?' 'There's no hold up,' he said."

-- "Sanders aide apologizes for questioning American Jews' 'dual allegiance' to Israel," by Marc Caputo and Holly Otterbein: "A spokeswoman for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign apologized Tuesday after questioning whether the 'American Jewish community has a dual allegiance to the state of Israel' - a comment condemned by Jewish leaders across the political spectrum as having anti-Semitic overtones.

"'In a conversation on Facebook, I used some language that I see now was insensitive. Issues of allegiance and loyalty to one's country come with painful history,' Belén Sisa, Sanders' national deputy press secretary, told POLITICO." POLITICO

THE INVESTIGATIONS ...

-- DARREN SAMUELSOHN: "Flynn still cooperating with government": "Michael Flynn's cooperation in Robert Mueller's Russia investigation is 'complete,' lawyers for the special counsel said in a Tuesday night report to a federal judge presiding in the former Trump national security adviser's case.

"In the same joint status report, Flynn's lawyers asked for a 90-day delay in their client's sentencing so he could continue to cooperate with the government in his former business partner's upcoming trial in Alexandria, Va. Flynn expects to testify in the mid-July trial against Bijan Rafiekian on charges of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign government agent for Turkey." POLITICO

-- NYT'S MAGGIE HABERMAN (@maggieNYT): "New letter from @MichaelCohen212 lawyer says he 'could have been clearer' in language about pardons in hearing but 'stands by his statement.'" The letter

A message from PhRMA:


There are wrong and right prescriptions for changing Medicare. Seniors need Washington to focus on the right ones. Learn more

THE JUICE ...

-- HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STENY HOYER (D-MD.) and HOUSE MINORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CALIF.) testified in front of the select committee for modernization of Congress on Tuesday. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) is the chair. The hearing

TRUMP'S WEDNESDAY -- The president will be briefed on drug trafficking on the southern border at 1:45 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room. Trump will meet with Senate Republican lawmakers on trade at 3 p.m. in the Cabinet Room. He will take a photo with the 2019 spring White House internship class at 5 p.m. in the East Room.
PLAYBOOK READS


PHOTO DU JOUR: Former VP Joe Biden takes a selfie after addressing the International Association of Firefighters on Tuesday, where he hinted at a possible presidential announcement soon. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

NEW WOMEN RULE PODCAST -- ANNA spoke with CMS ADMINISTRATOR SEEMA VERMA in the latest Women Rule podcast. Listen and subscribe

-- NEWSY NUGGET: Verma said that the policy to allow states to offer a partial expansion of Medicaid that would cover fewer Americans than Obamacare requires is "still under review" despite Trump shutting down the effort last year.

"'What I have said to states and to governors [is], "Tell me what you want to do, and it's my job to help you get to where you want to go,"' said Verma, who declined to comment further on White House discussions on the matter." Full story by Zack Stanton

A message from PhRMA:


Seniors need Washington to focus on the right prescription for changing Medicare. Learn more

HACK ATTACK -- "Navy, Industry Partners Are 'Under Cyber Siege' by Chinese Hackers, Review Asserts," by WSJ's Gordon Lubold and Dustin Volz: "The Navy and its industry partners are 'under cyber siege' by Chinese hackers and others who have stolen tranches of national security secrets in recent years, exploiting critical weaknesses that threaten the U.S.'s standing as the world's top military power, an internal Navy review has concluded. The assessment, delivered to Navy Secretary Richard Spencer last week and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, depicts a branch of the armed forces under relentless cyberattack by foreign adversaries and struggling in its response to the scale and
sophistication of the problem." WSJ

-- "America's Undersea Battle With China for Control of the Global Internet Grid," by WSJ's Jeremy Page in Beijing, Kate O'Keeffe in Washington and Rob Taylor in Canberra: "A new front has opened in the battle between the U.S. and China over control of global networks that deliver the internet. This one is beneath the ocean. While the U.S. wages a high-profile campaign to exclude China's Huawei Technologies Co. from next-generation mobile networks over fears of espionage, the company is embedding itself into undersea cable networks that ferry nearly all of the world's internet data. ...

"Current and former security officials in the U.S. and allied governments now worry that these cables are increasingly vulnerable to espionage or attack and say the involvement of Huawei potentially enhances China's capabilities." WSJ

BEYOND THE BELTWAY -- CARLA MARINUCCI in San Francisco: "Newsom to sign moratorium on executions in California": "Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing that the death penalty overwhelmingly discriminates against racial minorities and the poor, will sign an order Wednesday placing a moratorium on executions in California, according to his office. The move serves as an immediate reprieve for hundreds of prisoners currently housed on the nation's largest Death Row." POLITICO
PLAYBOOKERS
SPOTTED: Ivanka Trump on Tuesday night at Matchbox on 14th Street. ... Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) at O-Ku for dinner Tuesday night.

BIRTHWEEK (was Monday): Tim Mack, who works for Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) (hat tip: Tim Mak)

BIRTHDAY OF THE DAY: Ari Rabin-Havt, adviser for the Bernie Sanders campaign, is 4-0. What he's been reading recently: "I've begun to keep a paperback fiction book with me that I pick up and read when I have an urge to scroll Twitter and look at nonsense. In February I read Orhan Pamuk's 'Snow,' which was given to me by a friend. Now I'm rereading Robert Heinlein's 'Stranger in a Strange Land.'" Playbook Plus Q&A

BIRTHDAYS: Sarah Makin ... Madeline Seaman ... Jeff Weiss ... Kiki McLean (h/t Jon Haber) ... Steven Hurst ... Laurel Touby ... Ali Howard ... Sarah Mulcahy is 3-0 ... Ashley Hoy, partner at Monument Policy Group ... Shawn Turner ... Erin Billings, SVP at Global Strategy Group ... Nancy Soderberg (h/ts Ben Chang) ... James Wesolek (h/t Tim Wesolek) ... Matt Butler ... Eddie Wytkind ... Jennifer Morgan, SAP executive board member ... John Kelly, VP for exec comms at SAP (h/ts Tom Hoare) ... Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) is 62 ... former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) is 61 ... former Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) is 52 ... former Rep. Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.) is 61 ... Joe Rubin ... Mike Dovilla is 44 ...
Trever Faden ... Steve Rochlin ... Pete Burger ...

... Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, is 63 ... WSJ's Ryan Tracy is 35 ... Facebook's Caroline Chalmers (h/t Meredith Carden) ... Mark McNulty ... Doug Sachtleben ... Scott Fear (h/t Ed Cash) ... DeJuana L. Thompson ... Hannah Chatalas ... Dan Milich ... Katelyn Polantz, CNN senior writer ... Molly McNearney ... James Russell, associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, is 61 ... Kalen Pruss, DNC policy director ... Lauren Smith ... Erik Greathouse is 47 ... Kristy Kolb ... Lauren Inouye, VP for public policy and government affairs at the Council of Graduate Schools ... Georgetown's Christina Roberts ... Brian Gaston ... Theresa Zagnoli ... Natalie McLaughlin ...
Diamond Naga Siu ... David Pryor Jr. ... Jonathan Bing ... Tony Newman ... Chris Gaspar ... Joshua Phoebus ... Rich Ransom ... Mark Kitchens ... Sabrina Fendrick

A message from PhRMA:

There are wrong and right prescriptions for changing Medicare. Seniors need Washington to focus on the right ones. There's a lot of talk in Washington about changing Medicare to reduce costs. But while many proposals would cut costs for governments and insurers, they won't cut costs for seniors; and even worse, they would limit access to the medicines that could save their lives - now and in the future. Cutting costs for everyone except seniors and limiting access to medicines are the wrong prescription for Medicare. On the other hand, making changes that help seniors pay less out-of-pocket are the right prescription for Medicare.

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Daniel Lippman @dlippman

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