Republicans appear on the verge of losing the Latino voter coalition that helped carry President Donald Trump in 2024. But that doesn’t mean they’re embracing Democrats. Then the other stories animating Washington: several tech companies fund Trump’s effort to accelerate AI, Abdul El-Sayed taps into Flock anxieties in a new attack ad against Mike Rogers, and the Kansas Senate seat is now a toss-up. 
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: <a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook">politico.com/playbook</a>

Republicans appear on the verge of losing the Latino voter coalition that helped carry President Donald Trump in 2024. But that doesn’t mean they’re embracing Democrats. Then the other stories animating Washington: several tech companies fund Trump’s effort to accelerate AI, Abdul El-Sayed taps into Flock anxieties in a new attack ad against Mike Rogers, and the Kansas Senate seat is now a toss-up. For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

Republicans appear on the verge of losing the Latino voter coalition that helped carry President Donald Trump in 2024. But that doesn’t mean they’re embracing Democrats. Then the other stories animating Washington: several tech companies fund Trump’s effort to accelerate AI, Abdul El-Sayed taps into Flock anxieties in a new attack ad against Mike Rogers, and the Kansas Senate seat is now a toss-up.&nbsp;
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: <a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook" rel="noopener noreferrer">politico.com/playbook</a>&nbsp;

Trump’s Latino coalition cracked

In audio from a private meeting obtained by Playbook, Ken Paxton tells donors he’s never felt less in control of a campaign, as he trails Democrat James Talarico in Texas. Plus in other news: Sam Altman says he’d love to see less money in politics, even as AI money floods the midterms and Pete Buttigieg tests a message that sounds a lot like a preview of 2028. 
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: <a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook">politico.com/playbook</a>

In audio from a private meeting obtained by Playbook, Ken Paxton tells donors he’s never felt less in control of a campaign, as he trails Democrat James Talarico in Texas. Plus in other news: Sam Altman says he’d love to see less money in politics, even as AI money floods the midterms and Pete Buttigieg tests a message that sounds a lot like a preview of 2028. For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

In audio from a private meeting obtained by Playbook, Ken Paxton tells donors&nbsp;he’s&nbsp;never felt less in control of a campaign, as he trails Democrat James Talarico in Texas.&nbsp;Plus&nbsp;in other news: Sam Altman says&nbsp;he’d&nbsp;love to see less money in politics, even as AI money floods the midterms and Pete Buttigieg tests a message that sounds a lot like a preview of 2028.&nbsp;
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook" rel="noopener noreferrer">politico.com/playbook</a>&nbsp;

Paxton's campaign control

Nearly a decade after leaving the White House, Barack Obama is still one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful political assets. Then the other stories animating Washington: Open AI CEO Sam Altman faces heat after his POLITICO interview, a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia has U.S. officials watching closely, and what Trump's latest Truth Social posts say about the GOP outlook on the midterms. Plus, Democratic Strategist and former chief of staff to Sen. John Fetterman, Adam Jentleson, joins Playbook for a 200-second interview. 
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: <a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook">politico.com/playbook</a>

Nearly a decade after leaving the White House, Barack Obama is still one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful political assets. Then the other stories animating Washington: Open AI CEO Sam Altman faces heat after his POLITICO interview, a suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia has U.S. officials watching closely, and what Trump's latest Truth Social posts say about the GOP outlook on the midterms. Plus, Democratic Strategist and former chief of staff to Sen. John Fetterman, Adam Jentleson, joins Playbook for a 200-second interview. For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

Nearly a&nbsp;decade after leaving the White House, Barack Obama is still one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful political assets.&nbsp;Then the other stories animating Washington: Open AI CEO Sam Altman faces heat after his POLITICO interview, a&nbsp;suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia has U.S. officials watching closely, and&nbsp;what Trump's latest Truth Social posts say about the GOP outlook on the midterms.&nbsp;Plus,&nbsp;Democratic Strategist and&nbsp;former&nbsp;chief&nbsp;of&nbsp;staff&nbsp;to&nbsp;Sen. John Fetterman,&nbsp;Adam Jentleson,&nbsp;joins&nbsp;Playbook&nbsp;for a 200-second interview.&nbsp;
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook" rel="noopener noreferrer">politico.com/playbook</a>&nbsp;

It’s 2026. Still Obama’s Party.

Knives are out for MAGA Inc.’s top two globetrotting advisers, Chris LaCivita and James Blair. Does this open the duo to take the fall if a blue wave materializes in November? Then the other stories animating Washington: Marco Rubio sounds presidential in Athens, despite saying he doesn’t have plans to run in 2028, Mike Rogers takes aim at Trump in his latest ad and a political kink controversy may not be that controversial at all. 
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: <a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook">politico.com/playbook</a>

Knives are out for MAGA Inc.’s top two globetrotting advisers, Chris LaCivita and James Blair. Does this open the duo to take the fall if a blue wave materializes in November? Then the other stories animating Washington: Marco Rubio sounds presidential in Athens, despite saying he doesn’t have plans to run in 2028, Mike Rogers takes aim at Trump in his latest ad and a political kink controversy may not be that controversial at all. For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

Knives are out for MAGA Inc.’s top two globetrotting advisers, Chris LaCivita and James Blair. Does this open the duo to take the fall if a blue wave materializes in November?&nbsp;Then the other stories animating Washington: Marco Rubio sounds presidential in Athens, despite saying he doesn’t have plans to run in 2028, Mike Rogers takes aim at Trump in his latest ad and a political kink controversy may not be that controversial at all.&nbsp;
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: <a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook" rel="noopener noreferrer">politico.com/playbook</a>&nbsp;

Knives out on MAGA Inc.

A Democratic pastor running for Senate in Kansas says Kamala Harris should stay in California, told Chuck Schumer he is a liability and is taking the "woke" label head on. Playbook hears from Adam Hamilton and what his campaign could tell us about the Democrats' appeal to the heartland. Then the other stories animating Washington: Sen. Thom Tillis’ unfiltered texts to the President, Ken Paxton’s Trump problem and what a new bill from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Chuck Schumer says about 2028. 
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: <a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook">politico.com/playbook</a>

A Democratic pastor running for Senate in Kansas says Kamala Harris should stay in California, told Chuck Schumer he is a liability and is taking the "woke" label head on. Playbook hears from Adam Hamilton and what his campaign could tell us about the Democrats' appeal to the heartland. Then the other stories animating Washington: Sen. Thom Tillis’ unfiltered texts to the President, Ken Paxton’s Trump problem and what a new bill from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Chuck Schumer says about 2028. For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

A Democratic pastor running for Senate in Kansas says Kamala Harris should stay in&nbsp;California,&nbsp;told Chuck Schumer he is a liability and is taking the "woke" label head on.&nbsp;Playbook hears from Adam Hamilton and what his campaign could tell us about the Democrats' appeal to the heartland. Then the other stories animating&nbsp;Washington:&nbsp;Sen. Thom Tillis’ unfiltered texts to the President, Ken Paxton’s Trump problem and&nbsp;what a new bill from&nbsp;Rep.&nbsp;Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sen.&nbsp;Chuck Schumer&nbsp;says about&nbsp;2028.&nbsp;
For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/playbook" rel="noopener noreferrer">politico.com/playbook</a>&nbsp;

The heartland’s ‘woke’ Democrat

Democrats find themselves in President Donald Trump's vortex of chaos, taking stock of the 116th Congress' progress and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Democrats find themselves in President Donald Trump's vortex of chaos, taking stock of the 116th Congress' progress and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 24, 2019

Details of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's dinner with an Iranian official, a brutal eight-hour stretch for President Donald Trump and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Details of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's dinner with an Iranian official, a brutal eight-hour stretch for President Donald Trump and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 23, 2019

A peek inside Nancy Pelosi's impeachment playbook, the status report on an infrastructure deal and more in today's Audio Briefing.

A peek inside Nancy Pelosi's impeachment playbook, the status report on an infrastructure deal and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 22, 2019

Behind the scenes of the Democrats' unrest over impeachment, previewing the budget and debt limit talks and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Behind the scenes of the Democrats' unrest over impeachment, previewing the budget and debt limit talks and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 21, 2019

The executive producer for the weekend "Fox and Friends" is gone, the Trump administration's hunt for an immigration czar continues and more in today's Audio Briefing.

The executive producer for the weekend "Fox and Friends" is gone, the Trump administration's hunt for an immigration czar continues and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 20, 2019

Immigration details from the White House, the latest on Iran and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Immigration details from the White House, the latest on Iran and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 17, 2019

What was spotted on Dianne Feinstein's phone, Trump meeting with the Swiss president and more in today's Audio Briefing.

What was spotted on Dianne Feinstein's phone, Trump meeting with the Swiss president and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 16, 2019

State Department pulling staff from Iraq, the big picture on the Democrats’ investigations and more in today’s Audio Briefing.

State Department pulling staff from Iraq, the big picture on the Democrats’ investigations and more in today’s Audio Briefing.

May 15, 2019

Markets looking up, Steve Bullock in the presidential race and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Markets looking up, Steve Bullock in the presidential race and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 14, 2019

The risks of Trump's trade war, White House concerns about the Hungarian prime minister's visit and more in today's Audio Briefing.

The risks of Trump's trade war, White House concerns about the Hungarian prime minister's visit and more in today's Audio Briefing.

May 13, 2019

POLITICO’s Dasha Burns bring her fresh insight, analysis and reporting to the stories driving the day in the nation’s capital. She will be joined by her fellow co-authors and journalists from across POLITICO — available, as always, in audio and video formats each morning.

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