West Wing Playbook Newsletter

Key influencers, recent policy changes, and interesting tidbits circulating within the West Wing.

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How Trump could get his July 4 megabill

1 day ago | politico.com | Lisa Kashinsky |Mia McCarthy |Calen Razor |Benjamin Guggenheim |Cassandra Dumay

IN TODAY’S EDITION:— When the Senate might vote on the megabill— Lawmakers consider Kaine’s Iran resolution— Possible federal pension changes incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune's megabill timeline keeps slipping. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Republicans’ “big, beautiful bill” is in tatters. President Donald Trump still wants it on his desk by July 4.
She Delivered Intelligence Briefs to Trump. Here’s Her Reality Check on the Iran Strikes.

1 day ago | politico.com | Amy Mackinnon

“We can have two things be true,” Sanner said in an interview with POLITICO Magazine.
Trump claims Iran’s nuclear program has been ‘obliterated.’ Senate Republicans aren’t entirely convinced.

1 day ago | politico.com | Connor O'Brien |Joe Gould |John Sakellariadis |Lisa Kashinsky |Calen Razor

Asked whether Iran’s nuclear program was set back months, years or was obliterated, as Trump has claimed, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said, “All of those things are true.” “Everybody’s got their own word: setback, obliterated, destroyed, greatly diminished,” Cramer told reporters. “It’s all of those things.
Kennedy’s vaccine panel met for the first time. Here’s what to know.

1 day ago | politico.com | Lauren Gardner |Sophie Gardner

Here are the takeaways from the two-day meeting at CDC headquarters in Atlanta: Its agenda was Kennedy’s The panel voted Thursday to stop recommending that anyone get a flu vaccine that contains thimerosal, a preservative that Kennedy has long wanted gone. Kennedy, in 2014, wrote a book about thimerosal, arguing that it likely causes autism and should be banned.
Kennedy’s vaccine panel votes to remove preservative long targeted by activists

1 day ago | politico.com | Sophie Gardner |Lauren Gardner

The CDC director usually needs to endorse the recommendations before they are official. But Kennedy will likely be the one to endorse these recommendations because there is currently no CDC director or acting director.
Capitol agenda: Thune’s megabill teeters on the brink

1 day ago | politico.com | Mia McCarthy |Jordain Carney |Lisa Kashinsky |Meredith Lee Hill
The Big Apple’s big reverberations

1 day ago | politico.com | Kimberly Leonard

New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks to supporters during an election night gathering June 24, 2025, in New York City. | Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Good morning and welcome to Thursday. Florida Republicans were visibly giddy on Wednesday over Democratic socialist ZOHRAN MAMDANI’s apparent win in the New York City mayoral primary. They argued that New York’s loss was Florida’s gain. Gov.
Mamdanew Jersey

1 day ago | politico.com | Matt Friedman

Good Thursday morning!A democratic socialist is the heavy favorite to be New York City’s next mayor, and Republicans really want to talk about it. “To all the residents and business owners of New York City who don’t want a socialist, defund the police, antisemitic mayor representing them, I encourage you to move to New Jersey,” Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli wrote in one of several tweets about the apparent but not official Democratic primary victory of Zohran Mamdani.
Thune’s megabill teeters on the brink

1 day ago | politico.com | Lisa Kashinsky |Jordain Carney |Meredith Lee Hill |Mia McCarthy |Calen Razor |Benjamin Guggenheim

IN TODAY’S EDITION:— GOP Medicaid mutiny grows — Senators huddle for an Iran briefing— Kids’ privacy bill advances in the Senate Senate Majority Leader John Thune is trying to tamp down revolts on both sides of the Capitol over his chamber's Medicaid plan. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Senate Majority Leader John Thune is scrambling to quell the Medicaid-fueled mutiny that’s threatening to derail the megabill on both sides of the Capitol.
Trump’s spy chiefs say new intel shows Iran’s nuclear facilities were destroyed

2 days ago | politico.com | Amy Mackinnon |John Sakellariadis

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard joined the chorus of administration officials batting away an early intel assessment that U.S. strikes had limited impact. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, shown March 25, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe (right), issued their statements within hours of each other. | J.