POLITICO Playbook: KOCHS MAY PLAY IN PRIMARIES! Jeb to get surprise chance to audition

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By Mike Allen (@mikeallen; [email protected]), and Daniel Lippman (@dlippman; [email protected])

EXCLUSIVE: Charles and David Koch are considering throwing their massive wealth and sophisticated organization into the Republican presidential primary for the first time, a potentially game-changing boost that could make even a second-tier candidate instantly viable. In another surprise, a top Koch aide revealed to Playbook that Jeb Bush will be given a chance to audition for the brothers' support, despite initial skepticism about him at the top of the Kochs' growing political behemoth.

Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz debated at the Koch network's winter seminar in January, and Scott Walker made a separate appearance. Those were the candidates who appeared to have a chance at the Koch blessing, and attendees said Rubio seemed to win that round. But those four -- PLUS Jeb - will be invited to the Kochs' summer conference, the aide said. Bush is getting a second look because so many Koch supporters think he looks like a winner. Other candidates - perhaps Bobby Jindal or Rick Perry -- may also get invitations.

The N.Y. Times' Nick Confessore reported yesterday afternoon that David Koch had indicated the brothers favor Walker, citing remarks he made to donors who had just heard from the Wisconsin governor. (Runs on p. A13: "G.O.P. Donors Signal a Favorite: Wisconsin Governor. https://nyti.ms/1G2HOrw) This prompted an online frenzy, including the HuffPost banner, "KOCHS FIND THEIR MAN."

Koch insiders dismissed that conclusion, saying the brothers have made similar comments about several of the candidates, and are far from settling on a favorite. "It's really early, and a lot is going to happen," the aide said. "We wouldn't want to take options off the table by getting behind one of them now."

As part of the Kochs' screening process, favored candidates may also be invited to speak at a major gathering staged by the brothers' network, such as an Americans for Prosperity summit. The brothers are likely to make a decision about whether to pick a horse many months from now, so that they have time to see how the candidates perform in debates, how they articulate issues the Kochs care about, and how strong a staff they have assembled.

The Kochs and their advisers will be looking for a candidate who is "solid on economic-freedom issues," is "a passionate advocate for free markets," and has "a positive, optimistic, pro-freedom message," the aide said. A candidate will get considerable extra credit for being on the brothers' side of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, which Koch organizations are spending big to oppose.

The brothers are most likely to make a selection after the field has been winnowed to a few plausible candidates, perhaps giving their pick a boost against the establishment favorite. The Kochs have resisted jumping into presidential primaries in the past because they questioned the value of the investment. But last cycle, they were left with Mitt Romney, who didn't excite their network's donors. "It was a fait accompli," the aide said. "Do you help out, or not? Relative to Obama? Sure. Do you want to be faced with that choice again? Probably not."

--DAVID KOCH statement, via @kenvogel: "While I think Gov. Walker is terrific ... I am not endorsing or supporting any candidate for President at this point."

WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE: Johanna Maska, age 33 -- White House director of press advance, who has been with Obama for eight years, since the Iowa caucuses -- had her last day at the White House yesterday, and joins the L.A. Times as V.P. of Marketing and Communications, with the aim of increasing reader engagement. Johanna emails: "We're [along with her husband, AP reporter Henry "C.J. Jackson"] on a plane with 2 cats and a toddler [Hugh] next Tuesday -- undoubtedly we'll be popular." C.J. is with AP at least through mid-May. L.A. Times story https://lat.ms/1G2Nfq9 ... L.A. Times release  https://bit.ly/1J5G7j7

JEB HEADS TO EUROPE in early June, with stops in Germany, Poland and Estonia, to discuss "growing security challenges" and ways to "help create more prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic." And, of course, to add to his national-security chops. In Germany, he'll speak to the Christian Democrats' economic conference. In Poland and Estonia, he'll meet with government and business officials, policy experts, leaders of civic groups and NGOs. Since leaving office eight years ago, Bush has taken 89 foreign trips to 29 countries and six continents.

--RAND, WALKER TRIPS : Rand, an ophthalmologist, will travel to Haiti in August to perform free eye surgeries. Last year, he did pro-bono surgeries in Guatemala. Walker has an Israel trip in mid-May. Marco has no foreign travel on the books.

POLITICO.EU LAUNCHED LAST NIGHT -- "The birth of a new publication," by Matthew Kaminski and John F. Harris: "Today marks the debut of POLITICO's European edition. ... [E]xecutive editor Matthew Kaminski says [it] will prove that news about the European Union doesn't need to taste like oatmeal. ... Kaminski and POLITICO editor in chief John F. Harris share their thoughts about what ... the three dozen POLITICO journalists in Europe are trying to accomplish." https://bit.ly/1DwtqWK

--CHECK US OUT: www.politico.eu

--LAUNCH-NIGHT PICS, from our Brussels newsroom: John Harris and Jim VandeHei, together again for a midnightlaunch - this time in Europe https://bit.ly/1OBpytP ... After the site goes live, Brussels Playbook maestro Ryan Heath hands Champagne to Managing Director Shéhérazade Semsar-de Boisséson and Executive Editor Matt Kaminski (who learned amid the pre-launch frenzy that he was a Pulitzer finalist in Commentary for columns he wrote from Ukraine last year for The Wall Street Journal) https://bit.ly/1IB8liu ...

... Associate Editor Carrie Budoff Brown (with Gabe Brotman celebrating behind her) holds her iPhone triumphantly aloft at 12:01 a.m. CET when she sees the mobile site is loading https://bit.ly/1JpBTQ7 ... Harris raises a glass. https://bit.ly/1Dxdm74

--SIGN-UP link for Politico Europe's Brussels Playbook, by Ryan Heath https://bit.ly/1Emvt6C

--NEWSMAKER INTERVIEW -- "Juncker: 'There will be no default,'" by Florian Eder and Carrie Budoff Brown: "European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned [in a POLITICO interview] that Greek intransigence risks pushing the continent towards economic catastrophe and rebuked Athens for an 'unacceptable' lack of cooperation." https://bit.ly/1D8y5xw

--GIVES INTERVIEW "DRUGGED" - "Juncker's crippling pain ... addresses his health issues in detail for the first time," by Carrie Budoff Brown and Florian Eder https://bit.ly/1yLnQEe

** A message from Americans for Fair Skies: The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have been exposed as violating Open Skies with over $42 billion in airline subsidies. The U.S. government has taken an important first step towards resolving the massive subsidy violations of our Open Skies Agreements. But it's not enough. Learn more at https://bit.ly/1GT9sJG. **

PULITZER PRIZES, including ... Investigative Reporting: "Eric Lipton of The New York Times for reporting that showed how the influence of lobbyists can sway congressional leaders and state attorneys general" ... Explanatory Reporting: "Zachary R. Mider of Bloomberg News for a ... clear and entertaining explanation of how so many U.S. corporations dodge taxes" ... National Reporting: "Carol D. Leonnig of The Washington Post for her smart, persistent coverage of the Secret Service." https://bit.ly/1Jp5bhG ... Links to winning stories https://bit.ly/1P9faM7

TOP TALKERS - "Schumer's workout: a little bite, a lot of schmoozing," by Manu Raju: "Each morning in the Senate gym, Chuck Schumer takes his seat on the stationary bike. Then he starts talking, loudly, in his familiar New York accent: playful barbs and occasional deal-making with Republicans working out nearby, and briefings with aides over his omnipresent flip phone. On it goes for the next 90 minutes ... P90X, this is not. But getting buff isn't necessarily the primary objective." https://politi.co/1Pa1e4n

--For some, prom is a platform for good deeds, social change," by AP's Beth Harpaz: "Some teens now see prom as an opportunity to be inclusive rather than exclusive. They're using proms as vehicles for good deeds and to take a stand on issues that matter to them. Teens are inviting classmates with autism to be their dates. One student group organized a prom for senior citizens. In Louisiana, a gay female student fought for the right to wear a tux." https://yhoo.it/1O9BWWT

N.Y. POST COVER shows Hillary and Bill frolicking in a torrent of Benjamins: "QUID PRO DOUGH: Bill cashed in when Hill was in O's Cabinet - Big bucks came from foreign interests." See the cover. https://bit.ly/1uTkiZw

HOT IN HILLARYLAND -- "Clinton campaign courts Hill Democrats," by Lauren French: "[L]awmakers [have been invited] to a ... meet-and-greet [this] evening at the Capitol Hill home of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). The event will feature campaign chairman John Podesta, national political director Amanda Renteria, campaign manager Robby Mook and top political aide Marlon Marshall - all of whom have deep ties to Capitol Hill." https://politi.co/1zF2tiX

PICS DU JOUR -- @blakehounshell: "Is she at Dunder-Mifflin? RT ?@rebeccaballhaus: Hillary poses with round table participants in Keene, NH" https://bit.ly/1Gd9exr

--Andrea Mitchell @mitchellreports: "While Hillary is in NH Bill Clinton is out for a walk in dc. Check out the shoes!" https://bit.ly/1DGKf4A

INSTAGRAM DU JOUR (reminiscent of Texts from Hillary): @wjclibrary42: "April 6, 1993: Hillary ... plays a Nintendo 'Game Boy' electronic game on her flight from Austin ... to Washington ... Photographed by Ralph Alswang." https://bit.ly/1cTGekH

2016 PLAYERS - "Rubio's secret weapon: Billionaire Norman Braman has a fondness for the Florida senator - and an intense distaste for Jeb Bush," by Alex Isenstadt: "Norman Braman, an 82-year-old self-made billionaire [and] a former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles football franchise, is poised to occupy the sugar-daddy role for Rubio ... The Miami businessman, Braman's friends say, is considering spending anywhere from $10 million to $25 million - and possibly even mor." https://politi.co/1cTFnjW

--"The power players behind ... Cruz's campaign," by Katie Glueck: "Chad Sweet is campaign chairman. ... Jeff Roe is campaign manager. ... Jason Johnson is chief strategist. ... Nick Muzin is a senior adviser. ... Chris Wilson is director of analytics and research. ... Jason Miller is senior communications adviser. ... Catherine Frazier is national press secretary. ... Rick Tyler is a national spokesman. ... Brian Phillips is rapid response director. ... Austen Furse is policy director. ... Mark Campbell is political director. ... Lauren Lofstrom is finance director. ... Josh Perry is a digital strategist ... Victoria Coates is senior foreign policy adviser." https://politi.co/1bfeJRi

--"George Soros' son builds a PAC for Jewish voters," by Tarini Parti: "The son of Democratic mega-donor George Soros is gearing up to play a more active role in the 2016 election with the launch of new political action committee focused on representing the views of Jewish Americans - beyond foreign policy. Alex Soros, 29, ... has helped establish Bend the Arc PAC." https://politi.co/1QcU9Sa

TRAIL MIX --"Inside the big business of little presidential campaign souvenirs," by Olivier Knox: "Today, presidential campaigns use their online stores to raise money, pump up their numbers of small donors, obtain the personal information of potential voters, and spread their candidates' messages. ... In 2008, the Obama campaign 'bought all of the American-made, union-made navy T-shirts. Like, all of them. In America' ... In 2012, one of the hottest items was a white coffee mug with Obama's newly public birth certificate. 'We sold close to 40,000 made-in-the-USA mugs with the birth certificate graphic. We bought all of the white union-made mugs in the country.'" https://yhoo.it/1J57XvY

--"Ohio Gov. John Kasich begins raising money to test the waters for a 2016 presidential run," by Cleveland Plain Dealer's Henry Gomez: "Kasich and his allies officially have flipped the switch at New Day for America, a national political committee that will allow the Republican governor of Ohio to raise unlimited cash as he ponders a presidential bid. ... Listed among the group's board of directors is former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire -- a significant get for Kasich." https://bit.ly/1QcUeVI ... www.newdayforamerica.com/

BUSH ALUMNI -- "Dana Perino's insider look at the Bush White House," by Daniel Lippman, about her book, "And the Good News Is: Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side, out today: "1. Perino's slam of predecessor Scott McClellan ... 2. Bush asking Perino to forgive McClellan for his negative memoir ... 3. The physical toll of working at the White House ... 4. Perino moonlighting as White House makeup artist ...

5. Photographers' pact on facial injury she suffered during Baghdad shoe-throwing incident ... 6. Colin Powell's warning on 'dictators' ... 7. Art of the no comment ... 9. Her thwarted plan to resign ... 10. Questioning whether she was the 'convenient' choice." https://politi.co/1J55O3d $17.77 on Amazon https://amzn.to/1FaOfN8

DATA DU JOUR - N.Y. Times A1, "1.5 Million Missing Black Men," by Upshot's Justin Wolfers, David Leonhardt and Kevin Quealy: "In New York, almost 120,000 black men between the ages of 25 and 54 are missing from everyday life. In Chicago, 45,000 are, and more than 30,000 are missing in Philadelphia. Across the South ... hundreds of thousands more are missing. They are missing, largely because of early deaths or because they are behind bars." https://nyti.ms/1DGDTCh

MAYOR OF THE WORLD-- MIKE BLOOMBERG on HuffPo, "Why I'm Betting on Cities and Data": "Bloomberg Philanthropies is launching a new national program called What Works Cities. It is the most comprehensive effort yet to help city leaders use data and evidence in their decision-making to improve the lives of residents. The $42 million program will do that by offering technical support and guidance to cities who want to do more with data." https://huff.to/1J3oJvt

TRAILER DU JOUR, "Jurassic World," out June 12 https://bit.ly/1aMRWvN

TAMMY AND BETSY's new PODCASTS - "Tammy Haddad, CEO of Haddad Media, Simon Marks, CEO of Feature Story News, and documentary filmmaker Julianne Donofrio announce the launch of Washington Insider, a new podcast channel that looks at how money, power and celebrity drive politics and policy in America's capital city. ... 'Trail Talk' ... will take listeners behind the scenes and inside the action along the stops of the 2016 presidential campaign. Betsy Fischer Martin, the former longtime executive producer of NBC's 'Meet the Press,' now an executive in residence at American University and a contributing editor for MORE Magazine, will co-host 'Trail Talk,' along with Tammy Haddad." https://bit.ly/1GeA4rC ... https://apple.co/1J56x4q

MEDIAWATCH -- "The Introspective Roger Ailes: Fox News' Chief on Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Brian Williams' Future ('I'd Put Him Back') and His Own," by The Hollywood Reporter's Marisa Guthrie: "Since creating Fox News in 1996 after leaving NBC in frustration, he has become the most powerful executive in TV news, with an ability to influence ... the national discourse that remains unrivaled. Along the way, Ailes has built a brand valued by Wall Street analysts at $15 billion." https://bit.ly/1Hqq11z

HAPPENING TODAY: "Chris Matthews will interview ... Obama on free trade and news of the day topics. Matthews will also moderate a discussion at the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce in Virginia between the President, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and local small business leaders focused on the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal ... Both the roundtable and interview will air ... on MSNBC's 'Hardball' ... at 7 p.m. ET."

OBAMA ALUMNI -- "Edelman Names Jennifer Simon, SVP for Business + Social Purpose in New York" - Release: "Simon ... most recently served at the White House as Director of International Affairs for First Lady Michelle Obama."

SPOTTED at George Will's annual baseball party: Bob Costas, Beth and Randy Barnet, Doug McKelway, Sara Durkin and James Rosen, Stuart Taylor, Christine Brennan, the Nats' Ted Lerner, Rick Dempsey, Clark Judge, Lauren Cowin, Shannon and Sheldon Bream, Jennifer Griffin and Greg Myre, Juan Williams, Kirsten Powers, Carl Cannon, Bill Sammon, Charles Lane, A.B. Stoddard, Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt, Wolf Blitzer, Jon Karl, Chris Matthews, Stephanie Smith, Jay Winik, Steve Hayes, Ken Duberstein, Michael Barone, Chris Wallace.

BIRTHDAYS: Ken Duberstein ... Jodi Kantor ... Fusion's Felix Salmon ... Josh Dorner, ex-CAP, of SKDKnickerbocker (h/t: N2, DJW) ... Queen Elizabeth II is 89 ... Lauren Weber, an avid Playbooker covering the 2016 race with Howard Fineman at Huff Post (h/t Evan Hollander) ... Politico's Greg Lyons ... BBC's Caroline Wyatt ... Two-thirds of Sen: Tammy Baldwin's comms team: comms director John Kraus and deputy press secretary Bill Neidhardt (h/ts Meghan Roh)... Justin Wilson, senior director at P.R. firm Alpaytac, turns 29 (h/t Vicky Vadlamani) ... former Sen. David Boren ... Ben Sparks ... Drew Gorman ... CNN's Eric Weisbrod ...

... Bob Blaemire of Catalist ... Mary Clare McMahon ... John Kraus ... Kevin Parker ... Paige Reffe ... Christy Bachmann ... Marti Anderson ... Phoebe Trabb ... Sam O'Connor ... Marty Steinberg ... Brad Cheney of the Mortgage Bankers Association, and a Brad Sherman and GPG alum ... Nate Palmer ... Dominic Bellone ... John Hiller ... Hessy Fernandez, an RNC and McCain-Palin alum ... actor Charles Grodin is 80 ... Iggy Pop is 68 ... Tony Danza is 64 ... Andie MacDowell is 57 ... Robert Smith (The Cure) is 56 ... Tony Romo is 35 (hat tips: Jon Karl, Mike Feldman) ... rock singer Sydney Sierota (Echosmith) is 18 (h/ts AP)

DESSERT - "Kraft Mac & Cheese Shedding the Dyes" - AP: "This is the last year that the original version of Kraft Mac & Cheese sold in the U.S. will contain artificial preservatives or synthetic colors. In January, Kraft says its macaroni and cheese will be colored using paprika, annatto and turmeric." https://yhoo.it/1G2fOUH

** A message from Americans for Fair Skies: Qatar and United Arab Emirates are cheating the Open Skies Agreements they signed with the United States. They are subsidizing their state-owned airlines with over $42 billion - not only the largest trade violation in history but also a direct violation of their Open Skies Agreements. Their cheating is hurting U.S. jobs and forcing the U.S. aviation industry and its employees to compete on an un-level playing field.

But cheaters eventually get caught and the Departments of State, Commerce, and Transportation have recently taken a first step in holding Qatar and the United Arab Emirates accountable by opening a joint docket to get all of facts about these improper subsidies. But until such time as consultations have been opened and an equitable solution to the market distorting subsidies has been reached, the U.S. government must to freeze new routes into the U.S. for these subsidized carriers. Learn more at https://bit.ly/1GT9sJG. **

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