Thread by @JakeSherman

Playbook this AM: Some W.H. news …

-- SEARCHING FOR LEAKERS … THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION has opened an internal investigation to try to uncover who leaked intelligence about Russians paying the Taliban bounties to kill American soldiers.

The admin maintains the story is overcooked and the leaks cherry-picked despite a steady stream of follow-ups from media outlets across the globe.

THE ADMIN has intvwed people w access to the intel, and believes it has narrowed down the universe of suspects to fewer than 10 ppl.

-- NEW TRAVEL … PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP will travel to U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Fla., on Friday to get a briefing on drug trafficking from South America.

-- EXECUTIVE ORDERS … THE WHITE HOUSE is looking at a few executive actions targeting China. One would curb special exemptions for Chinese businesses operating in the U.S., and another would target trade with Hong Kong.

Also look for the administration to try to enact some tax policy by executive order, although that’s still being worked out.

-- PHASE FOUR/FIVE STIMULUS PRIORITIES … As we noted Monday, Congress looks like it will try to use July to put together another stimulus package to deal with the fallout from the coronavirus.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION seems to be somewhat sensitive to the price tag, and agrees with the Senate GOP that the next stimulus should be at or below $1 TRILLION -- although there’s definitely recognition it could balloon a bit higher.

IF YOU’RE STILL FOCUSED on the payroll tax cut, you’re doing it wrong, because it’s a laugh line internally.

THE WHITE HOUSE DOES BELIEVE it has identified a few areas of potential bipartisan agreement in the health care space that it would like to see end up in the bill:

1) The administration would like to take care of SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLING, long a top priority of special interests and many members of Congress.

2) PRICE TRANSPARENCY for pharmaceuticals.

3) TWEAKING THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE for telemedicine.

THE ADMINISTRATION is currently opposed to extending the $600 enhanced unemployment benefit, but does seem open to some sort of enhanced UI, and sees it as somewhat necessary to notch the ends it is looking to achieve.

QUITE NOTABLY, it seems likely the administration will support another round of stimulus checks, but money for state and local governments is shaping up to be a flashpoint.

Liability protection is a red line for Senate Majority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL. The administration is supportive of liability reform, but has not drawn any red lines.