I am stunned and saddened by the news of Alice Stewart’s passing. She was a political pro and a wonderfully nice person to just have a conversation with on any topic. I will miss Alice and will pray for her family. apple.news/A0uloLdHbTt6Ao…

I'm devastated by the news of Alice Stewart's untimely passing. We were colleagues at CNN and on the senior advisory board of the ⁦Institute of Politics⁩. You'd be hard put to find a nicer, kinder person. She will be missed by all who knew her. cnn.com/2024/05/18/pol…

Nippon Steel is pressing ahead with a charm offensive to try and seal its purchase of the iconic U.S. Steel. The union is unswayed and Biden’s opposition looms large.

Via James Attwood , Jennifer Jacobs and me:

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

The Dow closed above 40,000 for the first time ever today.

It’s been an incredible run since the Dow closed below 20,000 in March 2020.

Investors believe in the “soft landing” (and companies’ ability to cut costs and stay profitable whatever comes)

Dow +6% YTD
S&P 500 +11.8%

SCOOP: The DOJ plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking today that would reclassify marijuana to a less restrictive category, according to two Biden administration officials familiar with the decision.

From me and Adam Cancryn:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024/0…

A Biden campaign official says they have accepted CBS' invitation for the VP debate on either July 23 or August 13.

Biden invokes executive privilege to keep recording about classified records confidential usatoday.com/story/news/pol…

The S&P 500 notched its 23rd record high of 2024 on Wednesday. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to ‘rejuvenate’ their countries as the pair started a day of talks in Beijing, saying China would ‘always be a good partner’ of Russia, according to Chinese state media reut.rs/3QKT5uE

¹ Scoop: Another confrontation between Israel and the Biden administration - the US demands: Israel should transfer to the Palestinian Authority the tax money that Israel collects for them.

Latest out of Slovakia: Prime Minister Fico is in stable but “very serious” condition a day after he was shot in public in what the government called a politically motivated assassination attempt bloomberg.com/news/articles/… via Bloomberg Politics Daniel Hornak

The Vice President Kamala Harris received tickets to Beyoncé’s concert from Beyoncé herself last year, per financial disclosures.

The value: $1,655.92. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

“I am,” Biden says when asked if he's looking forward to debates with Trump.

President Joe Biden risks losing a significant share of Black votes, said the daughter of slain civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. bloomberg.com/news/articles/… via Bloomberg Politics Skylar Woodhouse

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s medical state is currently “very complex” following an attack on him earlier, Slovakia Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said. “The surgery has been going on for three and half hours. His medical state is really very complex,” he told a press

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovak defense minister says doctors are fighting for the life of prime minister who was shot multiple times.

Biden campaign signaling the answer is no on a third debate in October hosted by Fox News

'President Biden made his terms clear for two one-on-one debates, and Donald Trump accepted those terms,' wrote Biden campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon.

“No more debate about debates”

The White House continues to stress that the hold on the shipment of 3,500 bombs to Israel is only 'one pause.'

'One package; one shipment,' Karine Jean-Pierre says. 'Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad.'

Barge hits a bridge in Galveston, Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill (from The Associated Press) apnews.com/article/6c112f…

Bibi's rant on Biden: 'We are not a vassal state of the United States!'
Barak Ravid with the news
axios.com/2024/05/15/net…