Good Wednesday morning. I'm Jake Sherman and welcome to your Politico Playbook Audio Briefing,

sponsored by United Health Group. And I'm Anna Palmer. This morning we are kicking things off with a step back,

looking at the four unfolding events that show we're living in ridiculously crazy times. Here's reason

number one. The speaker is waging a very public war with the President, and it looks like he'll lose.

Speaker Paul Ryan has privately and publicly drawn a line against President Donald Trump's chest-thumping demand that the U.S. slap a double-digit tariff on imported metals.

It's clear that Ryan and Trump are talking. It's less clear that Trump will

listen, and Republicans are worried that tariffs will blunt the positive impacts of the tax bill.

Here's what it means. If the president ignores Ryan and ways and means chairman Kevin Brady,

the two men who delivered his tax victory, that would be a stinging rebuke

of his own party. Trump is truly on an island here, although he's been on this island for three

decades. That being said, Republicans say they will feel victorious if Trump makes any tweaks to

the tariffs. Reason number two, Republicans have spent more than $9 million on a House district that's

going to disappear in eight months.

The NRC just dropped another 600 grand at the Pennsylvania 18 to boost Rick Sacon, the Republican

candidate who many in the party think is a complete dud.

This is a very strong Republican district, and the NRC has spent $3.5 million. CLF, the Republican Super NRC has spent $3.5 million.

CLF, the Republican Super Pack, has spent $3.1 million.

The amazing thing, this district will be gone in November.

Republicans are afraid of the narrative that Trump's gutter-scraping ratings are going to take down a Republican seat.

They're spending like drunken sailors.

The alarm bells are ringing.

Republicans involved in this race are not confident they'll win despite the millions they're

...