POLITICO Nightly: The most influential person in Europe

By Aitor Hernández-Morales Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers a statement at the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference on Nov. 13, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images SEISMIC SHIFT — POLITICO Europe’s annual ranking of the most influential people in Europe is out today and the list is marked by a conspicuous absence. The familiar faces who typically dominate the power corridors — like the French president or German chancellor — didn’t make the cut. In a continent reeling from economic malaise, wars at its doorstep, the resurgence of the far right and a looming cold shoulder from its longtime ally in Washington, many of Europe’s traditional power players find themselves sidelined. Others — often from unexpected or unconventional quarters — are stepping in to fill the void. When the United States inaugurates Donald Trump again in January, he’ll be faced with a fragmented Europe that looks very different from the last time he took office in 2017, when the continent was still coming to terms with the consequences of Brexit. Trump will have to turn his attention to shifting power centers in 2025. The list of those poised to shape European politics and policy in the year ahead is divided into three categories: Doers (those most adept at imposing their will), Disrupters (those shaking up the status quo), and Dreamers (whose bold ideas are driving the conversation). Together, the 28 power players in those categories are revealing. They show the eastward tilt of Europe’s center of gravity. Four Poles made this list, underscoring Warsaw’s growing relevance. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, last year’s top-ranked figure, has helped shepherd Poland back into the political mainstream. The country’s rise has been further buoyed by a healthy domestic economy and a new European focus on defense and security that seems especially prescient following the reelection of Trump. Sharing a border with Ukraine and Russian ally Belarus, Poland and Tusk have been among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since 2022 — a stance seemingly not shared by the incoming Trump administration. Tusk said today that he hopes peace talks will begin this winter, and that Warsaw will be heavily involved in any discussions of peace. The list captures another continental trend: the ascent of right-wing populists and ultranationalist figures. These leaders, who have undermined civic rights and targeted minorities and asylum-seekers, have gained traction as centrist leaders flounder. Their presence on this year’s ranking is a stark warning: When traditional politicians fail to provide credible alternatives, populism fills the void. The leader ranked as the most powerful person in Europe this year might come as a surprise — Giorgia Meloni, prime minister of Italy . In less than a decade, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party has gone from being dismissed as an ultranationalist kook to being elected prime minister and establishing herself as a figure with whom Brussels, and now Washington, can do business. Even as she has tacked to the center, Meloni has been on the forefront of a wave that is dragging European politics toward the far right. Indeed, since her election in 2022, the Italian prime minister has introduced policies on issues like migration and LGBTQ+ rights that would once have drawn condemnation from Brussels. Instead, the reaction from European Union leaders has ranged from indifference to approval, with many accepting Meloni as the palatable representative of the ever-more-radical zeitgeist blossoming on both sides of the Atlantic. You can read more about Meloni and the most influential people in Europe here , and the methodology behind this snapshot of power. Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@politico.com . Or contact tonight’s author at ahernandez@politico.eu or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @aitorehm .   A message from American Beverage: America’s beverage companies – The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo – are iconic American companies making American products with American workers in America’s hometowns. And we’re committed to doing our part to address today’s health challenges. We’ve taken real steps for more than a decade to transform the beverage aisle, like offering smaller portion sizes, more zero-sugar options and putting nutrition information right up front. Explore more at BalanceUS.org.   What'd I Miss? — McConnell falls and sprains wrist but has been ‘cleared to resume his schedule’: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tripped and fell as he was leaving a Senate GOP lunch today, cutting his face and spraining his wrist, according to a spokesperson for the Kentucky Republican. “He has been cleared to resume his schedule,” the spokesperson added. McConnell walked out of the meeting himself alongside Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and was attended by medical personnel in his office. He did not attend the weekly Senate GOP press conference, which he typically leads. — House task force releases final report on Trump Pennsylvania assassination attempt: The July 13 attempted assassination of Donald Trump was “preventable and should not have happened,” according to a final report from a House task force investigating the two attempts during this year’s presidential campaign. “The various failures in planning, execution, and leadership on and before July 13, 2024, and the preexisting conditions that undermined the effectiveness of the human and material assets deployed that day, coalesced to create an environment in which the former President — and everyone at the campaign event — were exposed to grave danger,” the House panel said in its report. FALSIFICATION OF BUSINESS RECORDS CASE! — Manhattan DA urges judge not to toss out guilty verdict in Trump hush money case: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg says Donald Trump’s imminent return to the presidency is not a reason to throw out the 34-count conviction that jurors delivered in the hush money case earlier this year. Bragg conceded in a court filing that Trump cannot be sentenced while he is president. But he said Justice Juan Merchan has a variety of options to put the case on hold during Trump’s second term — and then issue a sentence after he leaves office in January 2029.   Billions in spending. Critical foreign aid. Immigration reform. The final weeks of 2024 could bring major policy changes. Inside Congress provides daily insights into how Congressional leaders are navigating these high-stakes issues. Subscribe today .     THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION NEW BLOOD — President-elect Donald Trump is considering replacing Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan with Andrew Ferguson . Trump has not made a final decision and is set to meet with Ferguson this afternoon, according to a person familiar with the meeting who was granted anonymity to discuss the potential nomination. A decision could come soon. If selected, Ferguson won’t need Senate confirmation since he is already on the commission. Ferguson, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, is well-known in Republican circles. He previously did stints as chief counsel for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and was the former solicitor general for Virginia. Ferguson was also a senior special counsel for incoming Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). INTERNAL DISPUTE — The fight over the heart of Donald Trump’s sprawling legislative agenda is publicly pitting the House GOP’s top tax writer against pretty much everyone else . House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, a close Trump ally who is playing a lead role in drafting potential tax cuts, is facing off against incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune over what should take priority once Republicans take back power next year. Smith wants to take one big swing at passing conservative priorities including changes to tax, border and energy policy. Thune, backed by incoming Budget Chair Lindsey Graham and incoming White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, among others, is trying to rally the party behind a two-step plan in which tax fights would be resolved at the end so they don’t hold up other items on the GOP’s wish list. JUDGE AND JURY — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the latest Donald Trump Cabinet pick facing trouble in the Senate . At least three closely watched senators are noncommittal about confirming the vaccine critic, who’s being considered to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Those include swing votes like Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, as well as Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician who will chair a committee that could host confirmation hearings for Kennedy. Kennedy can afford to lose only three Republicans during his confirmation if all Senate Democrats vote against him. This group of senators closely resembles those who weren’t sold on former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general or have questioned defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth.   A message from American Beverage:   AROUND THE WORLD French President Emmanuel Macron attends a military ceremony Nov. 5, 2024, in Paris. | Michel Euler, Pool via AP READY TO GO — If the rebel forces that overthrew Syria’s regime start fighting among themselves, Qatar may step in to mediate , a top official indicated today. “We never say no,” Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said in an interview with POLITICO in his office in Doha when asked about the possibility. The toppling of dictator Bashar al-Assad last weekend has brought a wave of joy for the long suffering people of Syria. But there are fears, especially among neighboring states, that the factions that pushed out Assad in a lightning offensive could start battling each other for power, leading to new violence. Al-Ansari confirmed that Qatari officials are already in contact with groups in Syria, though he declined to name which ones. “We are in touch with all the relevant parties on the ground,” he said. His comments come after Reuters reported Monday that Qatar is in touch with the leading rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Qatar, an energy-rich Gulf Arab country, has a long history of acting as a go-between for feuding parties, including Israel and Hamas as they fight in Gaza. Serving as an intermediary in Syria could make Qatar an even more important partner for the United States, which often turns to it for help in dealing with adversaries. THE NEXT 48 — French President Emmanuel Macron is looking to name a new prime minister in the next 48 hours , he said at a gathering with leaders from across the political spectrum this afternoon. Lawmakers from the Greens and the conservative Les Républicains confirmed that Macron shared his self-imposed deadline during today’s meeting at the Elysée palace, which the president called as part of an effort to end the political crisis following Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s ouster on Wednesday. It is unclear who would succeed Barnier. Several candidates have been floated in French media, among them former Justice Minister François Bayrou and current Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu.   Write your own chapter in the new Washington. From the Lame Duck Congress Series to New Administration insights, POLITICO Pro delivers intelligence across 22+ policy areas to help you anticipate and navigate change. Discover how a Pro subscription empowers you. Learn more today .     Nightly Number MUST READ! WIN FOR CONSUMERS! $25 billion The size of a pending merger between the grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons that a federal court blocked today, siding with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in a victory for the Biden administration. RADAR SWEEP RAGE REVENUE — Creators are learning that more controversy equals more dollars . Winta Zesu, a 24-year-old social media influencer, has made $150,000 off posting alone — and she does so by purposefully seeking “rage bait”. Her method consists of “getting a lot of hate,” playing up being a New York City model whose biggest problem is being too pretty. Zesu is among a growing number of creators who spend their time producing videos, memes, and writing posts that orchestrate a sea of controversy for millions of shares and likes. For the BBC, Sam Gruet and Megan Lawton, explain how rage bait takes on many forms from outrageous food recipes, celebrity gossip, and even politics. Parting Image On this date in 1976: Novelist Saul Bellow laughs as his wife Alexandra adjusts his tie at a gala at Stockholm's City Hall in honor of Nobel Prize winners. Bellow won the Nobel Prize in literature.  | AP   A message from American Beverage: America’s beverage companies are committed to delivering families the freedom to choose the beverage that’s right for them. And it’s working. Thanks to our innovation, nearly 60% of the beverages Americans buy have no sugar or calories. Our commitment to helping Americans find the right balance for them includes: · Offering more than 600 brands with less sugar or no sugar at all. · Putting clear calorie labels on the front of every bottle, can and pack. · Encouraging consumers to think about balance with signs on coolers and displays in store. · Voluntarily removing full-calorie beverages from schools through our National School Beverage Guidelines, which cut beverage calories in schools by 94%. In fact, the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools Beverage Guidelines were largely based on these guidelines. Learn more at BalanceUS.org.   Did someone forward this email to you?  Sign up here .   Follow us on Twitter Charlie Mahtesian @PoliticoCharlie Calder McHugh @calder_mchugh   Follow us

POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA

 

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more

Resistance HQ Bulletin 23, 12/10/24

Ron Filipkowski Dec 11 ∙ Preview

… It appears that the extremely long engagement has come to an end between lovebirds Don Jr. and Kim Guilfoyle despite no announcement by either, as Junior was photographed again during a night out on the town holding hands with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson. Kim waited a long time to tie the knot with Junior, but sadly it appears the dream is over.

… To keep Kim quiet from spilling all the tea, and BOY DOES SHE HAVE TEA TO SPILL, Trump is appointing Guilfoyle as Ambassador to Greece. Nothing like 4 years in Athens with Greek men to help you forget about Junior and all the secrets you know about for a while.

… Ambassadorships are basically how Trump does NDAs now. He doesn’t even need Michael Cohen anymore as the middle man.

… It’s so funny right now to watch right-wing media try to pretend that Trump shipping Kim off to Greece all the sudden has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Junior getting photographed out on the town with another woman this weekend.

… Pete Buttigieg is meeting with MI Dems as he considers either a run for Governor in 2026 or president in 2028, according to reporting from the Detroit News.

… Mitch McConnell fell down after a Senate luncheon and received medical attention. Mitch made sure to have the KY legislature pass a law three years ago that prevents Democratic Gov Andy Beshear from appointing whoever he wants. The law requires him to choose from 3 candidates nominated by the GOP.

… Beshear has refused to say whether he will follow the statute and has always contended it is unconstitutional. He vetoed the bill when it was passed but his veto was overridden. It certainly would be challenged in court by Beshear if Mitch had to leave the Senate early for medical reasons.

… McConnell’s Spokesperson: “Leader McConnell tripped. He sustained a minor cut to his face and sprained his wrist.” But he has had numerous medical episodes.

… Matt Gaetz made his BIG ANNOUNCEMENT that his wife Ginger was hyping last week. It turns out that he will now be a host for OAN. No, not Fox. Not Newsmax. Not co-hosting Rogan. OAN. Which has been deplatformed and has no audience. One day he was going to be Attorney General of the United States. Now he’s an OAN host. A job every Newsmax employee would turn down. What a career arc!

… Gaetz: “I could not be more excited to join the OAN family! The best reporting, the best analysis, and the most in-depth coverage of the Trump Admin is going to come from our team. I’ve got the best sources, I’ve got the insights.”

… Trump posted on Truth Social that any person or company that invests one billion dollars or more in the US “will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all environmental approvals.” So foreign corporations can loot and pollute America as long as they spend big and can bypass all regulations.

… Tulsi Gabbard has begun her interviews with Senators, and according to reports things aren’t going well. One Republican Senator told Jewish Insider: “Intelligence Committee members are really, really concerned about her. Her interviews have not been going well. One told me she was the worst prepared candidate and was trying to get by on her BS personality. So there’s a lot of rumbling among members.”

… They will rumble to each other privately and anonymously to reporters, then they will vote to confirm her because they are afraid of Trump.

… The Biden Admin just announced that the president will veto the Judges Act, which the WH did not oppose before the election and was passed unanimously by the Senate months ago. The bill expands the number of district court judges, which is a fairly routine thing from time to time based on the number of cases filed. But now that Biden will not be making the appointments, he is vetoing it. Dark Brandon makes an appearance with 6 weeks left.

… At 12:06 AM, Trump posted that “it was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon to that we may continue our in depth talks on tariffs and trade.”

… Remember when I wrote in this column a few days ago that it was a huge mistake for Trudeau to run down to Mar-a-Lago after Trump made his first tariff threat? This proves that I was right. When you give in to a bully, he just comes back for more the next day because now he feels he owns you. And Trump feels he owns Trudeau. After all this time, these people still don’t understand Trump or how to deal with him. This is not going to go well for Canada if Trudeau continues to show weakness to a predator.

… I realize some Canadians disagree with me on this point and that is fine. I absolutely love Canada and continue to travel there regularly for the natural beauty, food and people. You have to do things your way, I get that. Maybe Trudeau has a good plan for dealing with Trump. But I will just note the the Mexican President basically told Trump to go to hell and he hasn’t mentioned her since while he continues to taunt and demean Trudeau and Canada.

… J6 Committee Chair Bennie Thompson on whether Joe Biden should pardon them considering Trump’s threats to jail members who served on the committee: “There’s nothing we did that violates the law. Just because you disagree with the committee, that doesn’t mean you threaten members of the committee with jail. As to whether President Biden does anything - it’s his decision.”

… The Biden Admin has restricted technology with possible military applications from being sold or shared with China, but Trump is talking about all consumer products with his tariffs.

… The Hill is reporting that Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) was the source of the leaks from Matt Gaetz’s ethics report. Gaetz responded that he was glad Wild lost her election this year and the allegations in the report were false. But he also lost his House seat - not by fighting for it but by quitting.

… Page Six is reporting that Elon Musk is in negotiations to purchase a 19,000 square foot house near Mar-a-Lago to be close to Trump on a permanent basis.

… At his initial court appearance last night, Luigi Mangione responded to prosecutors asserting he was a flight risk because he had a bag with $10,000 in cash on him: “I don’t know where any of that money came from - I’m not sure if it was planted.” It appears that Mangione has the right to remain silent but lacks the ability.

… Fox is reporting that RFK Jr will spend all next week in the Capitol meeting with Senators about his nomination for HHS.

… Axios is reporting that RFK Jr is pushing his daughter-in-law Amaryllis Fox Kennedy to be Trump’s Deputy CIA Director. She previously worked at the CIA and wrote a book about her experiences. She also served as RFK Jr’s campaign manager.

… The Hunter Biden laptop repairman John Paul Mac Isaac has resurfaced: “5 years ago I handed the laptop over to the FBI. I was hoping for accountability, justice, and protection. Since then, I’ve seen accountability slip thru Congress’s hands. I’ve seen justice snatched away by an 11 year pardon and I sit here with zero protection.” Sad!

… Mediate reports that Trump was furious after Newsmax host Greg Kelly called for Pete Hegseth to drop out so Desantis could be appointed SecDef. Trump called Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, who went into panic mode and ordered all hosts and contributors to say nothing but positive things about Hegseth from now on. Nobody is allowed to criticize or contradict Dear Leader.

… CNN’s Clarissa Ward is demonstrating again in Syria why she is the bravest and best international field reporter in the world covering conflicts and their aftermath. The greatest of her generation.

… James Comer has been selected to serve another term as Chair of House Oversight, since he did such an amazing job on the Hunter Biden investigation.

… House Republicans did not choose a single woman as a Committee Chair for the upcoming session of Congress. Mike Johnson was asked about it today. He said he is proud of female Republicans elected to the House and “we value those voices.” Just not in leadership.

… The NY Young Republicans refused to invite UK Tory Party leaders to their big annual gala this year: “The NYYRC Gala is a party for winners, not globalist losers. MAGA Republicans are not interested in working with parties in the death throes of their moral integrity and electoral viability.”

… Candidates to replace Jaime Harrison as DNC Chair continue to make their cases. Martin O’Malley: “As the Chair of the Democratic Governors Association, I helped us raise a record breaking number of funds. As a result, we were set up to win across the country. I’m ready to do this again as DNC Chair. We will not be outmatched under my leadership.”

… I have seen us raise record amounts of cash before. Lately I find myself more interested in how it is being spent.

… The House Republican Retreat will be held at Trump Doral in Miami on January 27-29, where Trump will make lots of cash from the event while serving as president.

… Elon Musk says the word “homeless” is “a propaganda word for violent drug addicts with severe mental illness.” Let them eat cake.

… Rep Rich McCormick (R-GA) trashed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in a hearing today. DeJoy was asked to give himself a grade on the job he has done and he gave himself an ‘A’. McCormick came unglued: “You do not get an A grade! You are graded by the people. You bankrupted it through your reputation - you are responsible for the fall of the Post Office. On your watch!”

… As McCormick was yelling at him, DeJoy covered his ears with his hands, which made him yell even louder. More McCormick: “I hope you got that on camera! This is the response that the Postmaster just gave Congress when he doesn’t like what he hears. Literally covers his ears and gives himself an A grade!”

… These daily Bulletins are now up to 130,000+ readers a day after just 4 weeks. Thanks again to everyone who supports us by reading this column, subscribing, and telling your friends!

Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

… Trump’s Sec of Education nominee Linda McMahon was in the Senate today for interviews. When asked by Scripps News about Trump’s vow to abolish her department, McMahon said that Trump will “raise the level of education across the country by sending education back to the states.”

… Sen Tommy Tuberville was asked about former WWE Founder McMahon: “I’ve spent 35 years in the education business (coaching football). She’s big on home school, she’s big on school choice.”

… Rep. Eli Crane on Pete Hegseth’s background issues: “He’s not a choir boy. You’re gonna be a little messed up when you go door to door cleaning out terrorists.” Do we ...