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Hey, good morning, playbookers on Roguminovalin.

It's Wednesday, and on the show today, why Trump might be the story of the midterms.

It's your Politico Playbook Daily Briefing.

All signs point to a typical midterm election where the party of the president suffers

double-digit losses in the House. The GOP has the big structural advantage on its side,

a Democratic president with low approval ratings, inflation concerns, and an edge in polling on

crime, education, and immigration. Issues that are proving important to voters in the crucial

swing suburbs where the midterms will be decided. One of the few ways Republicans could potentially

blow this is if former President Donald Trump suddenly returns to center court. It's worth

noting that Trump, from an electoral standpoint, is not toxic for his party everywhere. Republicans

did better than expected in-house

races in 2020 because of the high MAGA turnout that Trump generated. But he's deadly for the

GOP in the decisive suburbs at the heart of 2022 politics. Recall how Virginia's Glenn Yonkin

treated Trump like Voldemort, concerned that even uttering his name would repel potential

supporters in Nova.

This week, despite a war in Europe, a new presidential budget at home, and a Supreme Court

nominee battle, Trump emerged as the dominant story, mostly because of the Geyser of

news related to the January 6th Committee in recent days.

Virginia Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, pressed Trump's White House

Chief of Staff to execute the John Eastman Plan. Jared Kushner will not be protected by executive

privilege when he's expected to voluntarily appear before the panel Thursday. Dan Scavino and

...