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

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's shift on USMCA, the Senate hits an all-time low and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's shift on USMCA, the Senate hits an all-time low and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 12, 2019

Trump's two public faces on immigration, breaking down the money primary in the 2020 presidential field and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Trump's two public faces on immigration, breaking down the money primary in the 2020 presidential field and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 11, 2019

How President Donald Trump's latest immigration push is playing for Democrats, a look inside the White House chaos and more in today's Audio Briefing.

How President Donald Trump's latest immigration push is playing for Democrats, a look inside the White House chaos and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 10, 2019

The effects of President Donald Trump's DHS shakeup, a new poll shows Joe Biden still atop the Democratic 2020 field and more in today's Audio Briefing.

The effects of President Donald Trump's DHS shakeup, a new poll shows Joe Biden still atop the Democratic 2020 field and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 9, 2019

Where Kirstjen Nielsen was spotted after her resignation Sunday night, more details on the House Dems' retreat and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Where Kirstjen Nielsen was spotted after her resignation Sunday night, more details on the House Dems' retreat and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 8, 2019

The first excerpt of “The Hill to Die On,” California leading a border wall lawsuit and more in today's Audio Briefing.

The first excerpt of “The Hill to Die On,” California leading a border wall lawsuit and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 5, 2019

A really bad 24 hours for the president, Joe Biden's response to allegations and more in today's Audio Briefing.

A really bad 24 hours for the president, Joe Biden's response to allegations and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 4, 2019

Trump sounding off at the NRCC spring dinner, more women saying Biden made them feel uncomfortable and more in today's Audio Briefing.

Trump sounding off at the NRCC spring dinner, more women saying Biden made them feel uncomfortable and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 3, 2019

The White House panicking over closing the border, Kevin McCarthy's huge Q1 haul and more in today's Audio Briefing.

The White House panicking over closing the border, Kevin McCarthy's huge Q1 haul and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 2, 2019

The latest on Lucy Flores and Joe Biden, Senate tensions over Puerto Rico funding levels and more in today's Audio Briefing.

The latest on Lucy Flores and Joe Biden, Senate tensions over Puerto Rico funding levels and more in today's Audio Briefing.

April 1, 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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