Good Monday morning. I'm Anna Palmer and welcome to your Politico Playbook audio briefing, sponsored by Farma.

And I'm Jake Sherman, hot off the presses. We just posted the latest Politico Playbook power list, 18 to watch in 18.

Next year, 2018, is shaping up to be a momentous one in our politics. Midterm elections are less than a year away with the backdrop of an unfolding federal investigation

into a foreign powers influence into our political system. The collective playbook team,

reporters in six states and Washington, selected 18 political figures worth keeping an eye on over the

next 12 months. Billy Bush is back in the news with a first-person account of the Access Hollywood

conversation with President Trump.

Bush writes that, yes, it was Trump on the audio, and he believes the women who came forward

with allegations against Trump.

Connor O'Brien and Brian Bender have a story on how Trump's military buildup is a mirage,

while the Wall Street Journal has a piece up on how the

Senate tax bill has put the R&D credit in doubt. A reminder, the House is expected to vote to go

to conference this evening for the tax bill. A reminder, Congress must pass a government funding

bill by Friday or else the federal government will shut down. The House is expected to try to

pass a two-week funding bill early this

week. Alex Eisenstadt has the scoop on President Trump trying to block Mitt Romney from the Senate.

Trump has been working hard to persuade Senator Orrin Hatch to run for re-election, something Romney

isn't terribly happy about. And Darren Samuelson has a piece up about how paranoia is

enveloping the White House, and everyone thinks they're being recorded. Andrew R Samuelson has a piece up about how paranoia is enveloping the White House,

and everyone thinks they're being recorded. Andrew Rastusha has a piece up on how Trump's

tweeting is causing deeper anxiety among his advisors, while Annie Carney writes that Jared Kushner

appeared upbeat and undeterred in his first public remarks on the Middle East peace process.

...