POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

Candidates vying for the Republican nomination for president will once again take the stage to debate tonight, this time in California. But Donald Trump, whose lead continues to grow, says he once again will not attend. Electrifying performances in August did not translate to bumps in poll numbers; could that change this round?Plus, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is still trying to keep the government open, and Senator Chuck Schumer is now also trying to keep the government open.

After a press conference that provided few answers about the federal charges leveled against him, Sen. Bob Menendez now must face a jury of his peers. Only three of his Democratic colleagues in Washington have called for his resignation, but as New Jersey Playbook author Matthew Friedman tells Ryan Lizza, it's a whole different story back home in New Jersey. We'll be on Cory Booker watch. Plus, President Joe Biden will join the picket line in Michigan, and Speaker Kevin McCarthy is still trying to avoid a shutdown. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews New Jersey Playbook author Matthew Friedman.

As the clock ticks down, Kevin McCarthy is still trying to wrangle his fellow Republicans toward avoiding a government shutdown. But there seems to be no straightforward solution for the House speaker. Even if a shutdown is avoided, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, something else seems inevitable: a challenge to McCarthy’s gavel. Plus, on the schedule for this week: the first Biden impeachment hearings and the second Republican debate.

A government shutdown appears inevitable as the clock winds down with little progress evident on the bills necessary to keep the government open. It’s so dire that Speaker Kevin McCarthy is seemingly unable to rally House Republicans on even the smallest necessary procedural matters. Where do we go from here? Congress reporter Daniella Diaz talks to Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza about the road ahead — and what to expect as the most unlikely of characters steps in to try to get things moving. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Congress reporter Daniella Diaz.

Republicans emerged from a meeting on Capitol Hill last night confident in their ability to move forward on critical spending bills that would keep the government funded and open. But, as Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, that optimism may be short-lived as GOP infighting is likely to derail the legislation. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Washington tomorrow to present his case for more aid to his country.

As the clock ticks closer to a government shutdown, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is struggling to pass a bill that would keep the government open, and the White House is not going to come to his rescue, reporter Jennifer Haberkorn tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, a preview of Attorney General Merrick Garland’s comments to the House Judiciary Committee. That, and all of the news you need to know today.

With a number of other world leaders skipping the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, President Joe Biden has the opportunity to take the spotlight. He is expected to push a message of democracy and encourage more funding for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. But, as senior foreign correspondent Nahal Toosi tells Playbook co-author Rachael Bade, there is plenty more to keep an eye on at UNGA. Plus, all the latest on the spending showdown tearing House Republicans apart. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews Senior Foreign Correspondent Nahal Toosi.

House Republicans spent the weekend trying to find common ground on a stopgap spending bill that could unite them against Democrats ahead of a potential government shutdown on Oct. 1. But with multiple Republican lawmakers already voicing their opposition, its chances of passing the House are already fading. Plus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Capitol Hill.

At midnight, the UAW’s roughly 150,000 members went on strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — the first time ever that the union has targeted all three companies simultaneously in a labor action that threatens to rattle national politics. Though the more immediate issues at play are higher wages wages and better benefits, the broader implications for President Joe Biden — who has yet to win the UAW’s endorsement — and for the 2024 electoral map are undeniable. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton sits down with E&E White House reporter Scott Waldman for the whole story. That, and the latest from Capitol Hill and Hunter Biden’s legal saga, on this morning’s Playbook Daily Briefing. Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton interviews E&E White House reporter Scott Waldman.

Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerburg and other of heavy hitters from the tech world joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last night for a closed-door meeting about the future of artificial intelligence — and what the government should do about it. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Politico Tech host Steven Overly. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews Politico Tech host Steven Overly.

Mere hours into the first day members of the House convened after August recess, Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced he would be opening an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. At the center of the investigation are claims that the overseas business dealings of Biden’s son Hunter influenced his political agenda. But, as Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, McCarthy must accomplish a few key tasks before take-off; namely, he must rally his party for enough votes to make it happen.

House Republicans are supposed to be taking up (and are expected to pass) a right-wing defense funding bill this week. But, head butting within the party over spending may throw a wrench in that plan. As Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains, the vitriol is starting to get messy and spill over onto social media

When the House reconvenes after August recess tomorrow, Speaker Kevin McCarthy will be greeted in the Capitol by unhappy people, many of whom are members of his own party. McCarthy must navigate conservatives who feel the he has not delivered on promises the Speaker made when seeking the gavel back in January. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

As the House returns next week, the relationship between Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell could face its greatest test yet. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade joins deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through the road ahead, the unique pressures McCarthy faces, and the battery of issues that threaten to put the House and Senate GOP on very different pages. Deputy Editor Zack Stanton interviews Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

Today, President Joe Biden heads to New Delhi for the G-20 summit. The subtext of the trip? Convince countries that the U.S. is a better bet than China. That’s a complicates sales pitch, but could be coming at exactly the right time. National security reporter Alex Ward joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the potential for a historic breakthrough at the meeting — and what success looks like from the White House’s perspective. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews national security reporter Alex Ward.

Mitch McConnell is moving as fast as he can to get beyond questions about whether his health will hurt his ability to lead Senate Republicans. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Senate reporter Ursula Perano. Plus, Jim Messina on why Democrats need to take a third-party threat seriously and what songs the 2024 Republican presidential candidates are listening to.

A new book dropping today offers a rare inside look at Biden’s first two years in office. Franklin Foer’s “The Last Politician” offers in-depth insights into topics such as the president’s approaches to foreign policy and opinion of reproductive rights. Plus, fresh off the holiday weekend, a fight is brewing over fentanyl; and some Republicans are still pushing for an impeachment inquiry. Ryan Lizza breaks down the news you need to know today.

Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with senior columnist and politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin about this week in politics and his new column on why you should be paying attention to Virginia, where Sen. Mark Warner is sounding the alarm about the Virginia legislative elections — which Gov. Glenn Youngkin hopes to use to catapult himself into the national conversation. Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton talks with Senior Columnist and Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin.

One story looms above all others today: the first Republican debate. (Although a close second is Donald Trump, who is expected to surrender to law enforcement in Georgia later today, after giving a bizarre interview to Tucker Carlson that aired last night.) The Playbook team got together for a post-debate call to talk it all through.

We’re just a few hours away from the start of the first presidential debate of the 2024 cycle, and the event is already mired in controversy. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through everything you need to know about the main event, and then sits down with RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel to talk about the sideshows.