CNN Political Briefing

The Alaska Division of Elections reports Democrat Mary Peltola will fill Alaska’s House seat for the rest of the year, meaning Republican Sarah Palin won't make a political comeback just yet. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the factors involved in this race and what it could mean for November’s race. Democrats are seeing success in special elections, and one poll suggests midterm...

Former President Donald Trump's legal team has until later tonight to respond to the Justice Department’s latest filing that fleshes out new details in its probe into the potential mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains the detailed DOJ document, what the government is alleging, and why it was filed in the first place. To learn more about h...

Today, President Joe Biden made his first of three stops planned this week in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, where he focused on his support for law enforcement and his plan for public safety. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down his speech and how Biden is trying to flip the script on the GOP on these issues. Plus, Biden also had a message for the “MAGA Republicans” in Congre...

As midterm elections approach, Republicans are not as confident about making as many gains in the House – or even taking back control of the Senate – as they used to be. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains why Democrats feel more optimism these days and what Republicans think is going to happen in November. As his poll numbers improve a bit, President Joe Biden is spending his Labor Day...

We are learning more about what led to the unprecedented search and seizure at former President Donald Trump’s Florida residence. CNN Correspondent Kristen Holmes breaks down the redacted unsealed affidavit and new information about the investigation’s timeline. Sources say Trump is reacting one way publicly and another way privately. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cn...

Abortion access is going to be put further out of reach for millions, as a slate of trigger bans in five states take effect this week. CNN Correspondent Kristen Holmes explains what’s next for the Biden administration and for Democrats. The federal government is suing certain states over some aspects of their laws, while the President’s party has more reason to think abortion is a winning issue fo...

It’s official – President Joe Biden kept a campaign promise and announced federal student loan forgiveness and reform policies. CNN Correspondent Kristen Holmes breaks them down, along with how Democrats and Republicans are reacting. There are conflicting opinions from economic professionals on whether cancelling debt will be inflationary. Plus, will this help or hurt Democrats in the midterms? To...

With less than 80 days to the midterm election, New York and Florida hold two of the last primaries today. Longtime New York representatives are battling it out amid redistricting, while Floridians are choosing who will run against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the races and what success could look like in a diverse Democratic party. Plus, Democrats...

A Biden administration official says the president will announce a decision on cancelling some federal student loans “within the next week or so.” CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down what President Joe Biden has said in the past on the policy, how much could be forgiven, and what the president’s allies – and critics – are saying. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy,...

After months of criticism over the economy and inaction, Democratic leaders are feeling optimism after recent legislative wins while some Republican candidates are struggling to fundraise. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the state of play for the midterm elections – and why Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is warning about “candidate quality.” To learn more about how CNN pro...

Former President Donald Trump is at the center of two legal battles playing out today – a DOJ criminal investigation involving the FBI’s search and seizure at his Mar-a-Lago home and the other pertaining to the Trump Organization. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down what a federal judge in South Florida – and Trump – is weighing in the DOJ’s probe, and why a former Trump Organization...

Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney – one of Trump’s fiercest critics – lost her reelection bid to rival Harriet Hageman in last night’s Wyoming primary. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains what her political future could hold and where the GOP is headed. The party tug-of-war is causing former Vice President Mike Pence to walk a political tight rope as he flirts with a 2024 run. Plus, an...

Wyoming and Alaska are holding primary elections where two incumbent Republicans critics of former President Donald Trump are running to keep their jobs – Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the stakes behind these races for the incumbents and the special election to watch in Alaska. Cheney is banking on support from outside the...

A new memo from the Biden administration shows Democrats will use popular wins in Congress as they stump ahead of the midterms. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the political messaging on both sides of the aisle – and how much it might move the dial for Democrats. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...

A judge has unsealed the documents related to the FBI's search at Mar-a-Lago per the Justice Department's request and Former President Donald Trump's approval. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down what the warrant said the FBI took, and what federal crimes DOJ Trump is under investigation for. Some Republicans aligned with Trump have shifted their tone a bit on this case. But as more i...

As more general elections contests are solidifying, one trend is emerging – will voters follow former President Donald Trump and choose election deniers as leaders? CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down reporting of how many states have Republicans running down ballots that have expressed 2020 election doubt, and what that could mean for future elections. One primary to watch next week...

A federal and state investigation into two separate matters involving former President Donald Trump escalated this week. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains how they’ve caused Trump and the GOP to politically seize on investigators’ silence. Could we see a Trump 2024 announcement before the midterms? To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more...

The FBI searched former President Donald Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago as part of its investigation into whether he mishandled presidential documents. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down what we know – and don’t know – about the investigation so far, and how Republicans are reacting. In typical Trump fashion, the former president is trying to use the situation to his political advantage...

After months of back and forth, Democrats in the Senate finally passed a massive climate, health and tax bill. CNN’s Political Director David Chalian explained the steps it took to reach a deal and what initiatives made it into the final agreement. Will the legislative win be enough to give Democrats a boost before the midterm elections?   To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, vis...

President Joe Biden has scored some major wins this week on economic, domestic, and international fronts. CNN Political Director David Chalian ticks through each of them, including today's robust jobs numbers, the progress on Democrats' spending bill, and the successful drone strike that took out a terrorist leader. However, Americans are still suffering from high inflation, and Biden is suffering...

Democrats, and even some Republicans, have been critical of the Department of Justice's pace in its 2020 election criminal probe. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains recent moves from the DOJ that signal its investigation has reached former President Donald Trump inner circle at the White House. As Trump's former White House aides are subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, Attorney General...

Voters in Kansas have chosen to protect the right to abortion in the state – what does this mean for November’s midterm elections? CNN Political Director David Chalian dissects the results in Kansas last night, and breaks down what the Biden administration is doing in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This result in Kansas coincides with polling on the issue, but th...

It’s the first round of midterm primary elections today since the summer hiatus – voters in five states head to the polls. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down two themes to watch in key races tonight – democracy and abortion rights. Kansas will hold its first vote on abortion since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling. Arizona and Michigan have down ballot races where 2020 election...

The Senate's August recess is quickly approaching. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the latest on the climate, energy, and healthcare spending bill Democrats are trying to pass along party lines, as well as the progress on the stalled legislation that will help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. Republicans are claiming the spending bill will make the economy worse, and want to v...

The US and China have a complicated relationship and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s possible trip to Taiwan is the latest reason why. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains why China is threatening to retaliate, and what President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart spoke about this week. Both Washington and Beijing are watching what is happening with Russia’s war in Ukraine very closely fo...