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

sponsored by Pharma. And I'm Jake Sherman. The formula for what might and might not get done in Washington

was completely thrown out following President Donald Trump's decision to dump FBI director Jim Comey.

If you're a betting man and you're looking for action in Washington this spring,

summer or fall, short the legislative system, it's hard to see a move toward bipartisan support

for any of Trump's top initiatives right now. Democrats and many Republicans are enraged at Trump

for firing the FBI director. Leave aside any lingering concerns with Jim Comey's performance. The optics of

firing Comey the way Trump did is almost too reckless to believe, according to insiders we've

spoken to. The criticism isn't limited to just Democrats. Senate intelligence chairman Richard

Burr, who was leading the Senate's Russia probe, said he was troubled by the timing and reasoning

of Director Comey's termination. Senator John McCain said he was disappointed by Trump's

action and renewed his call for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia's

attempts to influence the American political system. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Chairman Bob Corker, a Trump ally,

said Comey's removal at this particular time will raise questions.

And Senator Jeff Flake, up for re-election next,

said on Twitter that I spent the last several hours

trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey's firing. I just can't do it.

Senate Democrats who raised Nixon, Watergate cover-ups, and the infamous Saturday night

massacre Tuesday night will hold a special caucus Wednesday morning to discuss the situation.

Trump defended his actions in a late-night tweet, tweeting that Chuck Schumer recently said

he did not have confidence in Comey and then, quote, act so indignant.

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