What’s more important: respecting the principle of D.C. self-governance,
or staying on the right side of an explosive national issue?

Yesterday, President Joe Biden chose politics over principle. It did not
go over well with some Democrats. 

In November, the D.C. Council passed a major reform of the District’s
criminal code. The legislation was vetoed by Mayor Muriel Bowser, who
objected to reductions in penalties for some serious crimes, such as
carjackings and home burglaries. In January, her veto was overridden by
the council, 12-1.

At the time, the White House issued a statement of administration policy
opposing the resolution on the grounds that “denial of self-governance
is an affront to the democratic values on which our Nation was founded.”
An overwhelming majority of House Democrats voted against the resolution
(31 Dems supported it). As the resolution was teed up in the Senate, it
became conventional wisdom that Biden would veto it.

That was incorrect. On Thursday, while addressing Senate Democrats, the
president shocked Washington and declared that he would sign the measure
if it reached his desk.

“I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule,” Biden tweeted after the
meeting, “but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put
forward over the Mayor’s objections — such as lowering penalties for
carjackings. If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did —
I’ll sign it.”

Plus, Playbook editor Mike DeBonis catches up with national political
correspondent Meridith McGraw who's on the ground at CPAC, the annual
conservative conference. 

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Raghu Manavalan is the host and senior editor of POLITICO's Playbook
Daily Briefing.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.