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Hey, good morning, playbookers.

I'm Rugu Minnavalon.

It's Thursday, and this is your Politico Playbook Daily Briefing.

The Joe Mention news that shook Washington yesterday was David Corns report in Mother Jones

that the Senator is considering leaving the Democratic Party.

A rather angry Joe Mention told Politico's Burgess Everett that Corrin's story was, quote, bullshit. Playbook did talk to Corn last night, and came away with the impression of a reporter, who was 1,000% sure, his story was correct. Corn said, quote, the sourcing was impeccable. Even if he had told me it was bullshit, the story still would have run. Corne contacted Manchin's office early Wednesday, telling his press secretary that he had a time-sensitive story and wanted to make sure he had a good Manchin contact who could respond. Manchin's press secretary asked the reporter to send it to her. At around 10.30, corn sent her an email outlining what he would be reporting. No response. And

Nuni followed up, quote, I said we are going to post soon. Will you be getting back to me?

Corn told playbook. And silence. Cricots. We heard several theories that this was a strategic leak.

Some say he was designed to reduce mansions leverage in the reconciliation talks by making him

seem desperate, a friend of the Senator Tol playbook, quote, I'm just wondering if Joe's blowing off some steam to someone or whether someone planted the story to put pressure on Joe. He hasn't talked about leaving the party in a very long time, and he's just not in a desperate situation. He's feeling like he's holding all the cards. Others say the story was meant to increase mansions leverage by scaring Democrats. A mansion exit from the Democratic Party would be hugely embarrassing

for Biden, though for what it's worth, as several of Mention Senate colleagues told us,

even if Mention became an independent, it doesn't necessarily mean that he wouldn't

caucus with the Democrats. But our best guess is that it was neither. That his story, like many good

scoops, fell into Korn's lap without any Machiavellian strategy behind it. For what it's worth,

we couldn't help notice that both Korn and Mention were spotted circulating at the same party on Monday

night at the French ambassador's residence. Mention party exit rumors seem to spike once a season,

and they've been circulating recently. Even the most plugged-in operatives don't completely discount the idea

that Mention may have discussed the idea. For instance, when we asked a senior White House official

about the court report, they replied, quote, it's all been kicking around. Who knows?

Here's how his senior White House official describes the complex negotiations

right now to assemble the Democrats Social Services bill. Quote, it's a nine-way teeter-totter.

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