<div style="display:none;font-size:1px;line-height:1px;color:#F5F0E8;max-height:0;overflow:hidden;">A jury deadlocked on Ohio's largest bribery case. $1 billion raised by Black voters ‚Äî $600 million went to four white firms. A Senate candidate appointed a child predator. Three billionaire families spending $67M on one Michigan seat.‌&nbsp;‌&nbsp;‌&nbsp;</div><div class="btp-outer gs" style="max-width:640px;margin:0 auto;color:#2c2c2c;line-height:1.7;background-color:#F5F0E8;width:100%;padding:0"><div class="tc" style="padding:8px 16px;border-bottom:1px solid #E0D8C8"><p class="sf fc c3 m0">Was this forwarded to you? <a href="{{subscribe_url}}" class="b z1">Get your own copy free.</a></p></div><div style="border-top:3px solid #e8440a;padding:40px 24px 36px 24px"><div class="tc" style="padding-bottom:32px"><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/uploads/asset/file/a708ed80-f442-47fa-ac64-2a396577f871/Senator_s_desk_in_dramatic_shadows.png" alt="A senator's desk in shadow" width="600" style="max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin:0 auto"><div style="height:3px;background-color:#e8440a;max-width:80px;margin:20px auto 0 auto"></div><h1 class="\&quot;gs\&quot;" style="font-size:32px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;color:#1a1a1a;margin:16px">Burn the Playbook</h1><p class="sf up fb" style="letter-spacing:3px;margin:8px 0 0 0">with Michael Starr Hopkins</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin:10px auto 0 auto"><tbody><tr><td class="bg1" style="border-radius:20px;padding:4px 16px"><p class="sf up fc c3 m0" style="letter-spacing:5px">Issue #001  | April 10, 2026</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="sf fb" style="color:#999;margin:10px 0 0 0">● 9 min read</p><div style="height:2px;background-color:#e8440a;background:linear-gradient(90deg, transparent 0%, #e8440a 30%, #f5a623 70%, transparent 100%);margin:16px auto 0 auto;max-width:400px"></div><h2 class="\&quot;gs\&quot;" style="font-size:28px;font-weight:700;color:#1a1a1a;margin:20px">The Mistrial</h2><p class="sf fd c3" style="margin:6px 0 0 0;font-style:italic">A bribery case. A senator's calendar. And the office they gutted to make sure no one asks.</p></div><div class="pod"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="width:48px;vertical-align:top;padding-right:14px"><div style="width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:8px;background:#e8440a;text-align:center;line-height:44px;font-size:20px">🎧</div></td><td style="vertical-align:top"><p class="sf b" style="font-size:15px;color:#F5F0E8;margin:0 0 2px">Listen to this issue</p><p class="sf" style="font-size:12px;color:#999;margin:0 0 8px">A $60 million bribery scheme. A gutted watchdog. $600 million in Black voter money routed to white firms. The receipts no one wants read aloud ‚Äî read aloud.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-right:10px"><a href="{{podcast_url}}" class="pod-btn tn">▶ Play Episode</a></td><td><span class="sf" style="font-size:11px;color:#8a8a8a">22 min</span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="sf tc fc" style="font-weight:600;margin:0 0 20px">Sources include FEC filings, court records, and documented reporting. Corrections: <a href="mailto:michael@ravnintel.com" class="cc q101">tips@burntheplaybook.com</a></p><div class="tc" style="margin-bottom:16px;padding:10px 16px;border-left:3px solid #e8440a;border-radius:0 4px 4px 0"><p class="sf fd" style="color:#2c2c2c;text-align:left"><strong class="z13">If you only read one thing:</strong> <a href="#the-lead" class="cb q101">Ohio's largest bribery case ended in a mistrial. The senator whose calendar connects him to the scheme went back to work.</a></p></div><div class="sf fe" style="padding:18px 22px;margin-bottom:24px;border:1px solid #E0D8C8"><p class="b up ls2 fb cb" style="margin:0 0 12px">In this issue</p><p class="z28"><a href="#the-lead" class="tn z24"><span class="b z44">THE LEAD</span> — A mistrial, a senator, and the office that used to investigate both</a></p><p class="z28"><a href="#exposing" class="tn z24"><span class="b z44">EXPOSING</span> — The Black Tax + The Chairman and the Child Predator + The Three Families Buying the Senate</a></p><p class="z28"><a href="#friendly-fire" class="tn z24"><span class="b ci fa" style="letter-spacing:1px">FRIENDLY FIRE</span> — Democrats can't say three words about Iran</a></p><p class="z28"><a href="#follow-the-money" class="tn z24"><span class="b ch fa" style="letter-spacing:1px">FOLLOW THE $</span> — A senator's AmEx, a congressman's horse track, $432K in questions</a></p><p class="m0" style="line-height:1.5"><a href="#burn-notice" class="tn z24"><span class="b fa" style="letter-spacing:1px;color:#567">BURN NOTICE</span> — The retrial, the consulting class, and what comes next</a></p></div><div class="tc z25"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z26"><tbody><tr><td class="z4"></td><td class="tc z27"><span class="z29">🔥</span></td><td class="z4"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="the-lead" style="padding-bottom:28px;margin-bottom:8px"><p class="b" style="font-size:26px;margin:0 0 14px;line-height:1.3;color:#1a1a1a;letter-spacing:-0.5px"><span class="b" style="font-size:44px;color:#e8440a;vertical-align:-0.1em;line-height:1">A</span> jury in Ohio just deadlocked on the <strong>largest bribery case in the state's history.</strong> Six weeks of testimony about a <strong><a href="https://www.cleveland19.com/2026/04/01/court-declares-mistrial-after-jury-fails-reach-verdict-firstenergy-hb-6-corruption-case/" class="tn cb">$60 million scheme.</a></strong> Mistrial.</p><p class="sf ff q103">Twelve people heard the evidence and couldn't agree it was a crime.</p><p class="gs tc ls2" style="font-size:22px;color:#1a1a1a;margin:0 0 18px">Now what.</p><p class="sf z45"><strong>Jon Husted's</strong> calendar connects him to the man who took a <strong><a href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/02/19/sen-husted-met-with-man-accused-of-bribery-2-days-before-hb-6-was-introduced-according-to-schedule/" class="z1">$4.3 million bribe</a>.</strong> He testified via Zoom and said things the documents contradict.</p><p class="sf z45">The DOJ office built after Watergate to investigate this <a href="https://www.notus.org/courts/doj-public-integrity" class="z1">has been gutted from 36 lawyers to 2</a>. In 1973, it took the Saturday Night Massacre to gut the corruption investigators. In 2025, it took a memo. The jury deadlocked. The watchdog was defanged. The senator went back to work.</p><p class="sf fb" style="color:#8a8a8a;margin:14px 0 0 0">April 10, 2026 • 6 AM ET</p><p class="sf fb" style="color:#999;margin:6px 0 0 0"><span class="z13">●</span> Based on calendar records, court filings, and Senate testimony transcripts</p></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div style="padding:0;margin:0 0 28px;border-bottom:1px solid #DDD6C6;overflow:hidden"><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/uploads/asset/file/84769273-1ed5-4388-b400-855449239e47/Nighttime_strategy_in_the_conference_room.png" alt="Dark conference room" width="600" style="max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block"><div style="padding:20px 24px;border-left:4px solid #e8440a"><p class="gs" style="font-size:24px;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 14px;line-height:1.4;color:#1a1a1a;letter-spacing:-0.3px">"I don't know if I'm winding down or escalating war with Iran."</p><p class="sf up fc q104">President Donald Trump • April 6, 2026 • <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-iran-war-trump-deadline-hormuz-oil-ceasefire-israel-rcna266833" class="z1">NBC News</a></p><div style="width:40px;height:2px;background-color:#e8440a;margin:0 0 14px"></div><p class="sf ff m0 cd">That's the framing: strategic ambiguity. Translation: the commander in chief of a war that has killed <strong>more than 3,600 people in Iran</strong> (<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/1/us-israel-attacks-on-iran-death-toll-and-injuries-live-tracker" class="z1">BBC News</a>) doesn't have a plan. He threatened to destroy an entire civilization on Monday and signed a ceasefire on Tuesday.</p></div></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div class="btp-card tc" style="padding:24px 24px;border-radius:8px;margin-bottom:24px;border:1px solid #DDD6C6"><p class="sf b up fb" style="letter-spacing:2.5px;margin:0 0 6px">Number of the Day</p><p class="cm b" style="font-size:56px;color:#e8440a;margin:0 0 6px;line-height:1">$2,500</p><p class="sf up fd" style="letter-spacing:3px;margin:0 0 8px">Estimated additional cost per household from tariffs</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin:0 auto 16px auto"><tbody><tr><td class="cm" style="font-size:18px;color:#8a8a8a;padding-right:8px">$1,700</td><td class="sf fe" style="color:#e8440a;padding-right:8px">→</td><td class="cm b" style="font-size:18px;color:#e8440a;padding-right:8px">$2,500</td><td class="sf b fc ci">+47%</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="width:60px;height:2px;background-color:#e8440a;margin:0 auto 16px auto"></div><p class="sf fe" style="color:#2c2c2c;margin:0 0 6px">Source: <a href="https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democrats/2026/3/update-families-to-pay-2-500-in-tariff-costs-this-year" class="tn z13">Joint Economic Committee</a>. U.S. factories employ <strong>89,000 fewer people</strong> than when the tariffs took effect (<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/07/nx-s1-5768457/tariffs-trump-small-businesses-liberation" class="tn z13">NPR</a>). <strong>80-85%</strong> of costs <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/03/trump-tariffs-trade-war-impact.html" class="tn z13">absorbed domestically</a>.</p><p class="sf b ff" style="color:#1a1a1a;margin:10px 0 0 0">That's <span class="z13">$208 a month</span> out of your household. Not in taxes. In prices. On things you were already buying.</p></div><div class="tc z25"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z26"><tbody><tr><td class="z4"></td><td class="tc z27"><span class="z29">🔥</span></td><td class="z4"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="exposing" class="tc z30"><p class="gs up fb" style="letter-spacing:3px;margin:0 0 4px">This Week</p><h2 class="\&quot;gs\&quot;" style="font-size:22px;color:#1a1a1a;letter-spacing:1px&quot;">🔥 What We're Exposing</h2></div><div class="btp-card z5"><div class="z9"></div><div class="z32"><p class="sf b up z10">I.</p><h3 class="gs z16">The Black Tax</h3><p class="sf up z33">Both parties • $1 billion raised, 1.7% to minority firms • <span class="b z13">6 sources</span></p><p class="sf z2">Kamala Harris raised over <strong>$1 billion</strong> for her presidential campaign. The most ever raised by a Democratic candidate. Approximately <strong><a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00703975/" class="z1">$600 million went to four white-owned consulting firms.</a></strong></p><p class="sf z2">She spent less on Black-owned media than Joe Biden did four years earlier. The first Black woman to lead a major-party ticket spent <em>less</em> on Black firms than the white man before her. Not because she wanted to. Because she couldn't. She <strong>ordered her campaign to increase spending with Black businesses.</strong> Her staff ignored her. The NAACP president asked for answers about minority vendor spending. He got none.</p><div class="tc z46"><p class="gs b z47">The loyalty flows up. The money flows out.</p></div><p class="sf z2">Between 2009 and 2012, <strong>98% of Democratic campaign spending</strong> went to white-owned consulting firms. <strong><a href="https://www.inclusv.com" class="z1">1.7%</a></strong> to minority-owned firms. That's not a gap. That's a wall. Black women are the most reliable Democratic voting bloc in America. Every cycle they show up. They organize. They drive turnout. The money their turnout generates gets routed to white media buyers in DC, white pollsters in Virginia, white direct mail firms in Maryland.</p><p class="sf z2">On the Republican side, the RNC's traceable spending on Black-owned firms: <strong>approximately $0.</strong> Sen. Tim Scott launched a PAC pledging <strong>$14 million</strong> on minority outreach. It raised <strong>$1.4 million.</strong> It ended with <strong>$50,000 in the bank.</strong> The GOP's minority outreach infrastructure was killed in March 2024. A community center became a vape shop. Literally.</p><p class="sf z2">The consequences showed up on Election Day. <strong>Black men's Democratic margin collapsed from +82 to +47.</strong> A 35-point drop. Young Black men turnout: <strong>25%.</strong> Three quarters stayed home. <strong>42% of Black voters</strong> reported not being contacted by either party. Trump doubled his Black vote share to <strong>~15%</strong> while spending effectively nothing on Black outreach. He didn't buy the votes. Democrats lost them.</p><p class="sf z2">After the election, the DNC commissioned an internal review. <strong>They buried it.</strong> No public release. No structural changes. No minority spending mandates. The same white consulting firms that took $600 million and lost are still in the room for 2026.</p><div class="tc" style="padding:16px 20px;margin:8px 0 16px;background-color:#F5F0E8;border-radius:6px"><p class="cm b" style="font-size:42px;color:#e8440a;line-height:1">1.7%</p><p class="sf up fc ls2 c3" style="margin:6px 0 0 0">to minority-owned firms. 98% went somewhere else.</p></div><div class="z18"><p class="sf z31"><strong class="up z11">Why it matters</strong>Both parties extract value from Black voters and return almost nothing to Black institutions. The Democratic consulting class controls the revenue pipeline regardless of who the candidate is. The Republican Party doesn't bother pretending. And the 2026 cycle is running on the same infrastructure that produced these numbers.</p></div><div class="tc z34"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z23"><tbody><tr><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib z48" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this&amp;body={{web_url}}">Forward this →</a></td><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib z6" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%24600M%20to%20white%20firms.%201.7%25%20to%20minority%20vendors.%20Same%20grift.&amp;url={{web_url}}&amp;via=burnbook1776">X</a></td><td><a class="sf tn ib z3" href="mailto:?subject=The%20Black%20Tax&amp;body={{web_url}}">Email</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="sf tc fd c3" style="margin:0 0 8px;font-style:italic">Hit reply: has a campaign ever asked you to spend with Black firms?</p><div class="z35"><p class="sf z36"><span class="b up z37">Sources:</span> <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00703975/" class="tn z14">FEC (Harris)</a> • <a href="https://www.inclusv.com" class="tn z14">Inclusv / National Journal</a> • <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-votecast/" class="tn z14">AP VoteCast</a> • <a href="https://www.census.gov/topics/public-sector/voting.html" class="tn z14">Census</a> • <a href="https://www.bridgespan.org" class="tn z14">Bridgespan</a> • <a href="https://www.sba.gov" class="tn z14">SBA</a></p></div></div></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div class="btp-card z5"><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/uploads/asset/file/643fa2f9-654b-4730-bbbf-b624587340f3/Unraveling_law_and_order.png" alt="Campaign podium" width="600" class="z49"><div class="z9"></div><div class="z32"><p class="sf b up z10">II.</p><h3 class="gs z16">The Chairman and the Child Predator</h3><p class="sf up z33">Michael Whatley (R-NC) • Senate candidate, former RNC Chair • <span class="b z13">4 sources</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="q100"><tbody><tr><td class="z38"><p class="sf z2">Michael Whatley is running for Senate in North Carolina on law and order. Trump hand-picked him.</p></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:110px;padding-left:18px"><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/uploads/asset/file/8a1ce510-3fb9-4dfa-a1f5-3ff150a80499/download__5_.jpeg" alt="Michael Whatley" width="90" height="90" style="width:90px;height:90px;border-radius:50%;border:3px solid #e8440a"></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="sf z2">He appointed a convicted child sex offender to state Republican Party leadership.</p><p class="sf z2"><strong>Harvey L. West Jr.</strong> pleaded guilty in 2000 to <strong><a href="https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/fact-check-whatley-appointed-convicted-sex-offender-nc-gop-chair-march-2026/" class="z1">indecent liberties with a child</a></strong> under 16. During Whatley's tenure as NCGOP chair, he appointed West to the Plan of Organization Committee. West <a href="https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/fact-check-whatley-appointed-convicted-sex-offender-nc-gop-chair-march-2026/" class="z1">confirmed it himself</a>. <a href="https://www.politifact.com/article/2026/mar/31/did-michael-whatley-appoint-a-sex-offender-to-part/" class="z1">PolitiFact verified it.</a> <strong>Whatley's campaign declined to comment.</strong> <a href="https://www.ncdp.org/media/24-days-silent-michael-whatley-elevating-a-convicted-child-sex-predator-getting-national-attention/" class="z1">24 days of silence.</a></p><p class="sf z2">His <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00913996/" class="z1">FEC filings</a> show <strong>$58,620</strong> to <strong>N5YD, LLC</strong> for "TRAVEL:AIR." N5YD is an FAA aircraft tail number. Four private flights. Including <strong>$16,305 on Christmas Day.</strong></p><p class="sf ff" style="line-height:1.75;margin:0 0 18px">He's running against <strong>Roy Cooper</strong>, former two-term governor with <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/approval_rating/governor/nc/governor_cooper_job_approval-6219.html" class="z1">majority approval</a>. One of the top 3 races that decides the Senate.</p><div class="z18"><p class="sf z31"><strong class="up z11">Why it matters</strong>"Tough on crime" candidate appointed a convicted predator, flies private on Christmas with campaign funds according to FEC filings, and won't answer a single question. North Carolina votes this November.</p></div><div class="tc z34"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z23"><tbody><tr><td style="padding-right:8px"><a class="sf tn ib z50" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this&amp;body={{web_url}}">Know someone in NC? Send this →</a></td><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib z6" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Sex%20offender%20appointed%20to%20party%20leadership.%2024%20days%20of%20silence.&amp;url={{web_url}}&amp;via=burnbook1776">X</a></td><td><a class="sf tn ib z3" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this%3A%20The%20Mistrial&amp;body={{web_url}}">Email</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="sf tc fb" style="color:#999;margin:0 0 8px"><span class="z13">●</span> Based on court records, FEC filings, PolitiFact verification, and WRAL reporting</p><div class="z35"><p class="sf z36"><span class="b up z37">Sources:</span> <a href="https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/fact-check-whatley-appointed-convicted-sex-offender-nc-gop-chair-march-2026/" class="tn z14">WRAL</a> • <a href="https://www.politifact.com/article/2026/mar/31/did-michael-whatley-appoint-a-sex-offender-to-part/" class="tn z14">PolitiFact</a> • <a href="https://avlwatchdog.org/democracy-watch-links-between-convicted-sex-offender-state-gop-leadership-may-complicate-candidacies/" class="tn z14">Asheville Watchdog</a> • <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00913996/" class="tn z14">FEC</a></p></div></div></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div class="btp-card z5"><div class="z9"></div><div class="z32"><p class="sf b up z10">III.</p><h3 class="gs z16">The Three Families Buying the Senate</h3><p class="sf up z33">Mike Rogers (R-MI) • MI-SEN 2026 • <span class="b z13">4 sources</span></p><p class="sf z2">Three billionaire families are bankrolling one Senate candidate in Michigan. <strong>$67 million</strong> in outside money. For one seat.</p><p class="sf z2"><strong>Tim Dunn</strong> (CrownQuest Operating CEO): <strong>$5 million</strong> to the Great Lakes Conservative Fund. Co-founded America First Policy Institute. Documented ties to Christian nationalist causes and <a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2025/08/05/pro-rogers-super-pac-funded-by-ardent-christian-nationalist/" class="z1">white supremacist adjacency</a>.</p><p class="sf z2"><strong>Stephen Schwarzman</strong> (Blackstone CEO, $1T AUM): <strong>$2 million</strong> to GLCF. Plus <strong>Ken Griffin</strong> (Citadel, $65B): <strong>$2.5 million.</strong> <strong>Paul Singer</strong> (Elliott Investment, $69B AUM): <strong>$50,000</strong> to GLCF.</p><div class="tc z46"><p class="gs b z47">Only 20% of his donors are from Michigan.</p></div><p class="sf z2">Rogers wants the <strong>Senate Banking Committee</strong>. The committee that regulates banks, hedge funds, and private equity. The exact industries writing him checks. <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00849810/" class="z1"><strong>53% of his money</strong></a> comes from out of state.</p><p class="sf z2">The <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/06/gop-group-senate-leadership-fund-to-spend-45-million-to-help-mike-rogers-win-michigan-senate-race/89469599007/" class="z1">Senate Leadership Fund committed <strong>$45 million</strong></a> on April 6. The largest and earliest SLF investment in Michigan history. Rogers lost this race in 2024 by 19,000 votes with $21M in outside money. Now it's $67M.</p><div class="z18"><p class="sf z31"><strong class="up z11">Why it matters</strong>Oil money, hedge fund money, and private equity money are converging on one candidate who would sit on the committee that oversees their regulatory fate. Michigan voters are being outspent by billionaires in Texas, New York, and Florida.</p></div><div class="tc z34"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z23"><tbody><tr><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib z50" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this&amp;body={{web_url}}">Know someone in MI? Send this →</a></td><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib z6" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%2467M%20from%20three%20billionaire%20families%20for%20one%20MI%20Senate%20seat.&amp;url={{web_url}}&amp;via=burnbook1776">X</a></td><td><a class="sf tn ib z3" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this%3A%20The%20Three%20Families&amp;body={{web_url}}">Email</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="z35"><p class="sf z36"><span class="b up z37">Sources:</span> <a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2025/08/05/pro-rogers-super-pac-funded-by-ardent-christian-nationalist/" class="tn z14">Michigan Advance</a> • <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/06/gop-group-senate-leadership-fund-to-spend-45-million-to-help-mike-rogers-win-michigan-senate-race/89469599007/" class="tn z14">Detroit News (SLF)</a> • <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2024/07/15/blackstone-ceo-schwarzman-gives-2m-to-mike-rogers-super-pac/74407815007/" class="tn z14">Detroit News (Schwarzman)</a> • <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00849810/" class="tn z14">FEC</a></p></div></div></div><div class="tc" style="padding:20px 22px;margin-bottom:24px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border-radius:6px"><p class="sf fe" style="color:#ccc;margin:0 0 6px">This is Issue #001. Every Thursday: names, receipts, and the stories they'd rather you didn't read.</p><a class="sf b tn ib z51" href="{{subscribe_url}}">Get Burn the Playbook free →</a></div><div class="tc z25"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z26"><tbody><tr><td class="z4"></td><td class="tc z27"><span class="z29">🔥</span></td><td class="z4"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="friendly-fire" class="z5"><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/uploads/asset/file/85797e7a-2133-433a-8778-b66415e6e680/Chaos_in_the_conference_room.png" alt="Chaos in a conference room" width="600" class="z49"><div style="height:3px;background-color:#c0392b"></div><div style="padding:24px 24px;border-left:5px solid #c0392b"><p class="sf b up fb" style="letter-spacing:2.5px;color:#c0392b;margin:0 0 4px">Friendly Fire</p><h3 class="gs z52">Three Words Democrats Can't Say</h3><p class="sf z53">As of March, <strong>Chuck Schumer</strong> and <strong>Hakeem Jeffries</strong> <a href="https://theintercept.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-democrats-schumer-jeffries/" class="z39">wouldn't say "end the war"</a> while 3,600 people were dead. Their position: "the president needs a plan." That's not opposition. That's a suggestion box.</p><p class="sf z53"><strong>Four Democrats</strong> voted against their own party's <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5790780-war-powers-iran-resolution/" class="z39">War Powers Resolution</a>: <strong>Cuellar, Golden, Landsman, Vargas.</strong></p><p class="sf ff m0" style="line-height:1.75"><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/focus-groups-dissatisfied-democratic-voters-hunt-winners-pull-party-fo-rcna266953" class="z39">The base calls the party</a> "weak," "spineless," and "floundering." Thirty-plus incumbents face funded primary challengers. The consultant class focus-groups the font while the party burns.</p><div style="border-left:3px solid #c0392b;padding-left:14px;margin:14px 0 14px"><p class="sf z31"><strong class="up ci fa" style="letter-spacing:1.5px;display:block;margin-bottom:4px">Why it matters</strong>The base says fight. Leadership says wait. Thirty-plus primaries will settle it.</p></div><div class="tc" style="padding:14px 0 0 0"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z23"><tbody><tr><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib fd" style="font-weight:600;color:#F5F0E8;background-color:#c0392b;padding:10px 18px;border-radius:4px" href="mailto:?subject=On%20Iran&amp;body={{web_url}}">Forward this →</a></td><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib fd" style="font-weight:600;color:#c0392b;padding:10px 14px;border-radius:4px;border:2px solid #c0392b" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Schumer%20won%27t%20say%20%22end%20the%20war.%22%20Four%20Dems%20voted%20against%20their%20own%20resolution.&amp;url={{web_url}}&amp;via=burnbook1776">X</a></td><td><a class="sf tn ib z3" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this%3A%20The%20Mistrial&amp;body={{web_url}}">Email</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div class="z54"><div class="z55"><p class="sf tc up z56">Together with</p></div><div style="padding:20px 24px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="q100"><tbody><tr><td class="z57"><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/static_assets/sponsors/logos/1440/icon.png" alt="1440 Media" width="50" height="50" class="z58"></td><td class="z38"><p class="gs b z59">Every headline satisfies an opinion. Except ours.</p><p class="sf z60">News without satisfying your satisfactionometer. 1440 delivers the day's most important stories in a 5-minute read ‚Äî no slant, no spin, just facts. Join 4M+ readers.</p><a class="sf b tn ib z61" href="https://www.1440.com/subscribe?utm_source=btp&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=issue001">Subscribe free →</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div class="z30"><p class="sf b tc up z17">Curated</p><h2 class="\&quot;gs\&quot;" style="font-size:22px;margin:0">Three Stories You Need</h2><div class="z62"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td class="z40"><span class="sf b tc ib z7">1</span></td><td><p class="gs b z41"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/07/nx-s1-5768457/tariffs-trump-small-businesses-liberation" class="z15">One Year Later, Tariffs Are Killing Small Businesses</a></p><p class="sf z42">89,000 fewer factory jobs. Small businesses closing or passing costs to you.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="z62"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td class="z40"><span class="sf b tc ib z7">2</span></td><td><p class="gs b z41"><a href="https://www.notus.org/courts/doj-public-integrity" class="z15">The Anti-Corruption Office Has 2 Lawyers Left</a></p><p class="sf z42">The DOJ's Public Integrity Section: gutted from 36 to 2. The acting head resigned rather than drop the Eric Adams case. There is functionally no federal mechanism left to prosecute public corruption. Read that again.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="padding:16px 20px;border-left:3px solid #e8440a"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody><tr><td class="z40"><span class="sf b tc ib z7">3</span></td><td><p class="gs b z41"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/09/iran-war-ceasefire-trump-negotiations/" class="z15">Iranians Fly Victory Flags After Ceasefire</a></p><p class="sf z42">After Trump paused the bombing, Iranians waved flags of victory, not surrender. Make-or-break talks happen this weekend in Pakistan, led by JD Vance and Jared Kushner.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="tc" style="padding:14px 0 0 0"><a class="sf tn ib z63" href="mailto:?subject=This%20week&amp;body={{web_url}}">Forward these stories →</a></div></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div class="z54"><div class="z55"><p class="sf tc up z56">Together with</p></div><div style="padding:20px 24px"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="q100"><tbody><tr><td class="z57"><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/static_assets/sponsors/logos/1440/icon.png" alt="1440 Media" width="50" height="50" class="z58"></td><td class="z38"><p class="gs b z59">Smart starts here.</p><p class="sf z60">1440 is the daily newsletter helping 4M+ Americans stay informed. We scour 100+ sources so you don't have to. Culture, science, sports, politics, business ‚Äî all in a 5-minute read.</p><a class="sf b tn ib z61" href="https://www.1440.com/subscribe?utm_source=btp&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=issue001">Sign up for free →</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="tc z22"><div class="z0"></div></div><div class="z30"><p class="sf b tc up z17">Midterms</p><h2 class="\&quot;gs\&quot;" style="font-size:22px;margin:0">2026 Watch</h2><div class="sf" style="font-size:15px;line-height:1.75"><div class="btp-card bg1" style="border-radius:8px;padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:10px;border:1px solid #DDD6C6;border-left:3px solid #e8440a"><p class="m0"><strong class="up z64">House</strong><br><span class="ib" style="margin-top:4px">Democrats need <strong>218 seats.</strong> Generic ballot: <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-of-the-union/generic-congressional-vote" class="tn z13"><strong>D+6</strong></a> (47.5-41.7). If it tightens below D+4, the flip dies. Trump is an anchor on every Republican ballot, but Democrats still need candidates who can win where Biden lost.</span></p></div><div class="btp-card bg1" style="border-radius:8px;padding:16px 20px;border:1px solid #DDD6C6;border-left:3px solid #e8440a"><p style="margin:0 0 10px"><strong class="up z64">Senate</strong><br><span class="ib" style="margin-top:4px">Dems need <strong>net +4.</strong> GOP defends 22 seats, Dems 13. <a href="https://insideelections.com/ratings/senate" class="tn z13">NC upgraded to Lean D, AK to Lean R</a> on April 1.</span></p><p class="m0">Prediction markets (as of April 9): <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/which-party-will-win-the-senate-in-2026" class="tn z13"><strong>52.5% D</strong></a>. Key: <strong>Michigan</strong> (Rogers), <strong>Ohio</strong> (Husted), <strong>North Carolina</strong> (Whatley vs. Cooper), <strong>Maine</strong> (Collins). The map favors Democrats. The candidates don't. Yet.</p></div></div><div class="tc" style="padding:10px 0 0 0"><a class="sf tn ib z63" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=2026%20Senate%3A%20Dems%20need%20%2B4.%20Markets%20at%2052.5%25%20D.&amp;url={{web_url}}&amp;via=burnbook1776">Share the map on X</a></div></div><div class="tc z25"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z26"><tbody><tr><td class="z4"></td><td class="tc z27"><span class="fe ch">💰</span></td><td class="z4"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="follow-the-money" class="z30"><div class="tc" style="margin-bottom:20px"><p class="sf b up fb" style="letter-spacing:2.5px;color:#f5a623;margin:0 0 4px">Blind Items</p><p class="gs b m0" style="font-size:22px;color:#1a1a1a">FOLLOW THE MONEY</p><div style="width:120px;height:3px;background-color:#e8440a;background:linear-gradient(90deg,#e8440a,#f5a623);margin:10px auto 0 auto;border-radius:2px"></div></div><img src="REPLACE_AMEX_IMAGE_URL" alt="AmEx Leadership PAC card with FEC filing" width="600" style="max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin-bottom:16px"><p class="sf tc fc ce" style="margin:0 0 16px">All figures sourced from FEC filings, publicly available at <a href="https://www.fec.gov" class="ce q101">fec.gov</a>.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width:100%;margin-bottom:20px"><tbody><tr><td style="width:49%;vertical-align:top;padding-right:6px"><div class="q105"><div class="tc q106"><p class="cm up fa q107">💰 The Receipt</p><p class="cm fb q108">GOP Senator • Leadership PAC</p></div><div class="cm q109"><p class="q110"><span class="z14">AMEX (no itemization)</span><br><strong class="ca ff">$375,942</strong></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="q100 fb"><tbody><tr><td class="z20">Sea Island Resort</td><td class="b z12">$60,069</td></tr><tr><td class="z20">Big Cedar Lodge</td><td class="b z12">$49,313</td></tr><tr><td class="z20">Mar-a-Lago</td><td class="b z12">$13,877</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="q111"></td></tr><tr><td class="z20">Total raised</td><td class="z12">$1.96M</td></tr><tr><td class="z20">To candidates</td><td class="z12">$135,000</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="q112"></td></tr><tr><td class="b z20">% to candidates</td><td class="b fe" style="padding:3px 0;text-align:right;color:#e8440a">7%</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></td><td style="width:49%;vertical-align:top;padding-left:6px"><div class="q105"><div class="tc q106"><p class="cm up fa q107">💰 The Receipt</p><p class="cm fb q108">Dem Rep • Congress</p></div><div class="cm q109"><p class="q110"><span class="z14">NY Horse Tracks</span><br><strong class="ca ff">$56,305</strong></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="q100 fb"><tbody><tr><td class="z20">Saratoga (peak)</td><td class="b z12">$23,670</td></tr><tr><td class="z20">Finger Lakes resort</td><td class="b z12">$20,863</td></tr><tr><td class="q102 fa ce"> (14 visits)</td><td class="z20"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="q111"></td></tr><tr><td class="z20">Private club</td><td class="b z12">$11,772</td></tr><tr><td class="q102 fa ce"> day before Thanksgiving</td><td class="z20"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="q111"></td></tr><tr><td class="b z20">Total</td><td class="b z12">$56,305</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="q112"></td></tr><tr><td class="b q102 fa">Writes the rules.<br>Lives off the funds.</td><td class="z20"></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="sf tc fe c3" style="margin:0 0 16px;font-style:italic">Two parties. Same playbook. Names drop next Thursday.</p><div class="tc" style="padding:18px 20px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border:1px dashed #e8440a"><p class="cm up fd ls2" style="color:#f5a623;margin:0 0 4px">7 days</p><p class="sf b" style="font-size:15px;color:#F5F0E8;margin:0 0 4px">Names drop next Thursday.</p><a class="sf b tn ib z51" href="{{subscribe_url}}">Subscribe free →</a></div></div><div class="tc z25"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z26"><tbody><tr><td class="z4"></td><td class="tc z27"><span class="z29">🔥</span></td><td class="z4"></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="burn-notice" style="padding:20px 0;margin-bottom:24px"><p class="sf b up z17">From the Editor</p><h3 class="gs z52">Burn Notice</h3><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/uploads/asset/file/2572f716-bb4e-44d4-a257-11bcca9d7e86/Glowing_embers_on_aged_parchment.png" alt="Glowing embers smoldering" width="600" style="max-width:100%;height:auto;display:block;margin-bottom:16px"><p class="gs q113">I've been in rooms where the money changed hands. So have you. The Public Integrity Section had 36 prosecutors after Watergate. It has 2. That didn't break. Someone took it apart.</p><p class="gs q113">The retrial gets a date or it gets buried. I know which way to bet.</p><p class="gs m0" style="font-size:18px;line-height:1.8;color:#2c2c2c">Next week: we name the senator. We name the congressman. And the Socko Strategies pass-through that both parties use to hide resort spending. The full Michigan money map.</p><div style="width:40px;height:2px;background-color:#1a1a1a;margin:20px 0 12px auto"></div><p class="sf b fe" style="color:#1a1a1a;text-align:right;letter-spacing:1px">‚Äî Michael Starr Hopkins</p></div><div class="tc" style="padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:20px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border-radius:6px"><p class="sf b up fa ls2" style="color:#f5a623;margin:0 0 10px">Issue #001 Scorecard</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z23"><tbody><tr><td class="tc q114"><p class="cm b z43">3</p><p class="sf up z19">Stories exposed</p></td><td class="tc q114"><p class="cm b z43">$432K</p><p class="sf up z19">Receipts published</p></td><td class="tc" style="padding:0 14px"><p class="cm b z43">24</p><p class="sf up z19">Days of silence</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div id="pump-watch" style="padding:14px 20px;margin:0 0 16px;background-color:#1a1a1a;border-radius:6px"><p class="sf b up fa ls2" style="color:#f5a623;margin:0 0 8px">Days of silence</p></div><div style="padding:16px#x26FD; ">Biden exit (Jan '25)$3.12Trump now (Apr '26)$4.16Change+$1.04 (+33%)</div><div style="padding:16px 20px;margin-bottom:20px;border-left:3px solid #e8440a"><p class="sf b up z10">One thing to do</p><p class="sf m0" style="font-size:15px;color:#2c2c2c">Call your Ohio representative and ask if they support a retrial date for the FirstEnergy case. U.S. Capitol switchboard: <strong>(202) 224-3121</strong>.</p></div><div class="tc z8"><p class="sf b fd" style="color:#1a1a1a;margin:0 0 10px">What should we investigate next? Reply with A, B, or C.</p><p class="sf fd" style="color:#2c2c2c;text-align:left;line-height:1.8"><strong class="z13">A.</strong> The three billionaire families buying a Michigan Senate seat<br><strong class="z13">B.</strong> The Socko Strategies pass-through ‚Äî how both parties hide resort spending<br><strong class="z13">C.</strong> The congressman whose leadership PAC spent more at resorts than on candidates</p></div><div class="tc" style="padding:0 0 20px 0"><p class="sf" style="font-size:15px;color:#2c2c2c;margin:0 0 12px">One forward. One person who should know. That's how accountability scales.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="z23"><tbody><tr><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib z48" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this&amp;body={{web_url}}">Forward this issue</a></td><td class="z21"><a class="sf tn ib z6" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=This%20newsletter%20names%20names.%20Issue%20%231%20just%20dropped.&amp;url={{web_url}}&amp;via=burnbook1776">X</a></td><td><a class="sf tn ib z3" href="mailto:?subject=Read%20this%3A%20Burn%20the%20Playbook&amp;body={{web_url}}">Email</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="tc" style="padding:14px 20px;margin-bottom:20px;border:1px solid #DDD6C6"><p class="sf fd" style="color:#2c2c2c;margin:0 0 4px"><strong>Refer 3 readers</strong> and unlock the unredacted file on next week's blind items.</p><p class="sf fb m0" style="color:#8a8a8a">Your referral link: share this email or copy your unique link from your subscriber dashboard.</p></div><div class="pod"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="width:48px;vertical-align:top;padding-right:14px"><div style="width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:8px;background:#e8440a;text-align:center;line-height:44px;font-size:20px">🎧</div></td><td style="vertical-align:top"><p class="sf b" style="font-size:14px;color:#F5F0E8;margin:0 0 4px">Missed the audio? Listen now.</p><p class="sf" style="font-size:12px;color:#999;margin:0 0 8px">Every story in this issue ‚Äî read aloud with the context that doesn't fit in print.</p><a href="{{podcast_url}}" class="pod-btn tn">▶ Play Episode 001</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="z8"><p class="sf b up fa ls2" style="color:#e8440a;margin:0 0 8px">On the watchlist</p><p class="sf fd" style="color:#2c2c2c;line-height:1.8">Sen. Jon Husted (OH) • Michael Whatley (NC) • Three Michigan billionaire families • A GOP congressman's leadership PAC • A Democratic congressman's FEC filings • The billion-dollar Black voter fund</p></div><div style="padding:12px 20px;margin-bottom:20px;border:1px solid #DDD6C6"><p class="sf b up fa ls2 c3" style="margin:0 0 6px">Corrections</p><p class="sf fd c3" style="font-style:italic">No corrections this week. If you find an error, email <a href="mailto:michael@ravnintel.com" class="tn z13">tips@burntheplaybook.com</a>.</p></div><div class="tc" style="padding-top:28px;border-top:2px solid #2c2c2c"><div style="margin-bottom:16px"><a class="sf b tn ib" href="{{subscribe_url}}" style="font-size:15px;color:#F5F0E8;background-color:#e8440a;padding:14px 36px;border-radius:4px">Every Thursday. Names. Receipts. Subscribe free →</a></div><p class="sf fc q103">🎧 Audio edition available ‚Äî reply "AUDIO" for the link.</p><p class="sf fe" style="margin:0 0 8px">Follow on X: <a href="https://x.com/burnbook1776" class="tn ca" style="font-weight:600">@burnbook1776</a></p><p class="sf fe q104">Tips &amp; leads: <a href="mailto:michael@ravnintel.com" class="tn z13">tips@burntheplaybook.com</a></p><div style="width:40px;height:2px;background-color:#e8440a;margin:0 auto 14px auto"></div><img src="https://media.beehiiv.com/uploads/asset/file/5995f91f-3cc8-444f-ad08-7541abf41fe8/Burning_the_playbook_and_the_nation.png" alt="Burn the Playbook" width="180" style="max-width:180px;height:auto;margin:0 auto 14px auto;display:block"><p class="sf fc c3" style="margin:0 0 14px;font-style:italic">Read by people who want the file, not the spin.</p><p class="sf fb" style="color:#8a8a8a;margin:0 0 6px">Published by Big Tree Lane Media LLC<br>Every dollar sourced. Every name verified. Every comfortable version killed.<br>Corrections: <a href="mailto:michael@ravnintel.com" class="tn z14">tips@burntheplaybook.com</a></p><p class="sf fa" style="color:#aaa;margin:8px 0 0 0;line-height:1.5">This newsletter is commentary and analysis, not legal advice. All claims are sourced to public records, court filings, or named reporting.</p><p class="sf fa" style="color:#aaa;margin:8px 0 0 0">You're receiving this because you signed up at burntheplaybook.com. Unsubscribe anytime ‚Äî no hard feelings.</p></div></div></div>