Playbook: Hegseth on the brink, Raskin on the move

Playbook: Hegseth on the brink, Raskin on the move Presented by With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine DRIVING THE DAY UNITING THE TRIBES — JONATHAN COWAN, co-founder and president of Third Way, is endorsing Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair BEN WIKLER to lead the DNC, he writes in a buzzy, just-posted POLITICO Magazine piece — a notable gesture across the party’s ideological divide. Consider the pivot of one Republican, Wyoming’s CYNTHIA LUMMIS, who on Monday dismissed the allegations against Hegseth as “side issues,” then yesterday struck an entirely different tone: “These allegations that have come up just in the last 12 to 14 hours are a surprise to all of us, and so, yes, he does need to address those, because this was not something of which we were aware, nor was President Trump aware of them.” Hegseth is getting a chance today to make his case, starting with a Fox News interview this morning with his mom, who criticized him in a withering 2018 email, then in private meetings with key senators later today — including Thune, incoming Senate Armed Services Chair ROGER WICKER and, crucially, Sen. JONI ERNST. More from Ben Leonard and Kimberly Leonard More top reads: KASH PATEL, Trump’s FBI director-designate, “and a few others on Trump team were the targets of an ‘Iranian cyber attack,’” Semafor’s Shelby Talcott reports, though she notes that it is “unclear if hack was successful or material compromised.” Trump’s FBI director-designate, “and a few others on Trump team were the targets of an ‘Iranian cyber attack,’” Semafor’s Shelby Talcott reports, though she notes that it is “unclear if hack was successful or material compromised.” ROBERT LIGHTHIZER, Trump’s former U.S. trade chief, is unlikely to rejoin the Trump administration in an official capacity, Gavin Bade, Adam Behsudi and Ari Hawkins report, “throw into doubt the president-elect’s promises to pursue an even more aggressive second term trade policy.” Related read: “The economic clashes looming in Trump 2.0,” by Sam Sutton Trump’s former U.S. trade chief, is unlikely to rejoin the Trump administration in an official capacity, Gavin Bade, Adam Behsudi and Ari Hawkins report, “throw into doubt the president-elect’s promises to pursue an even more aggressive second term trade policy.” by Sam Sutton Checking the list: “Trump’s plans to remake America in 1 week,” by Greta Reich, Emmy Martin and Kierra Frazier: “POLITICO compiled a list of the biggest promises Trump made on the campaign trail or since winning the election to provide a snapshot of what his first week in office might look like.” THE WHITE HOUSE Gavin Newsom looks on as Joe Biden delivers remarks at Mather Airport on Sept. 13, 2021, in Mather, California. “Biden, who has used democracy versus autocracy as a defining framework of his foreign policy, will have to make hard choices on how to handle the crisis, after years of cultivating relations with Mr. Yoon, a conservative leader, and enhancing military ties to better counter China, North Korea and Russia.” Latest: Yoon is facing an impeachment effort from opposition parties, Reuters reports, with a vote possible as soon as Friday: “There were deep divisions in Yoon’s ruling People Power Party as well, as its leader called for Defence Minister KIM YONG-HYUN to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign.” Related reads: “Martial law, then a reversal: An astonishing six hours in South Korea,” by WaPo’s Michelle Ye Hee Lee in Seoul … “South Korea’s president declared martial law. Now, that aversion seems to have eroded.” GEORGIA ON MY MIND — “Republican Lawmakers in Georgia Press Case for Fani Willis Testimony,” by NYT’s Danny Hakim and Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon CONGRESS FIGHTERS FOR OLD D.C. — The fight over where the Washington Commanders’ new stadium will be built is ramping up in the halls of Congress as Maryland’s two senators lay out a new demand: “If D.C. gives their state one of its Air National Guard squadrons, they may support a bill allowing the District to redevelop the RFK Stadium site,” WaPo’s Erin Cox, Sam Fortier, Meagan Flynn and Paul Kane report.