CNN Political Briefing

After a year of back and forth, Senator Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reached a deal on an economic and climate spending bill. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down what’s in the bill, how the President feels about it, and what unknowns remain for its passage. There’s one Democratic Senator who hasn’t made her stance clear on this deal yet. To learn more about how CNN pr...

As Americans struggle with high inflation, the White House and the Federal Reserve is getting a better idea of how the economy is doing this week with a series of reports coming out. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains why the Fed raised interest rates again and what that could mean about a possible recession. Regardless, Americans don’t feel too hot about the economy and even members of...

Former President Donald Trump makes his return to the nation’s capital for the first time since he left office where he focused on law-and-order policies. CNN Political Director David Chalian points out Trump’s speech came right after his former Vice President Mike Pence made his own speech. Both men are in the 2024 presidential political conversation – a new CNN poll has some new insight into how...

Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence are having dueling events as they both consider 2024 runs. CNN’s Kristen Holmes explains their recent schedules and why they’re going to the same places, but not together. Pence is offering his vision for the party, while Trump continues to focus on 2020 election lies – a preview of what a primary between them could look like.  To...

A federal jury found former Trump adviser Steve Bannon guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the January 6 House select committee. CNN Politics Editor-at-Large Chris Cillizza breaks down the verdict, last night’s committee hearing, and campaign events in Arizona. They all have one thing in common: former President Donald Trump. To learn more about how CNN protects listener pri...

The January 6 House select committee holds another hearing tonight in primetime, which is expected to be about what former President Donald Trump did and didn’t do as the Capitol riot unfolded that day. CNN Politics Editor-at-Large Chris Cillizza breaks down all the latest reporting on what to expect tonight, and what’s happening in a DC courtroom with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Plus, an u...

Maryland held primary elections yesterday where voters chose their Republican candidate for governor, while the votes are still being counted on the Democratic side. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains the political strategy behind Democrats supporting the GOP candidate who is a 2020 election denier. Democrats think their play will pay off in the long run, but could it backfire? To learn...

Voters don’t think candidates in either party have their priorities straight ahead of the midterm elections. That’s just one of the findings CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down from a new CNN/SSRS poll. He also explains how Democrats gained some enthusiasm ground among voters, but Republicans still have an edge.  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/pri...

A new poll from CNN/SSRS spells bad news for President Joe Biden and Democrats. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down just how badly people are feeling about the economy and inflation. Democrats are sounding the alarm and Republicans keep reminding people who’s in charge. All this as Biden’s economic agenda is held up in Congress. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, v...

After taking a break post-stroke, John Fetterman is back on the campaign trail - and the Pennsylvania Senate race is heating up. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains how Fetterman's supporters are reacting, what his GOP rival Dr. Mehmet Oz has to say - and why we’re hearing from Snooki. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad c...

One thing seems to be clear: former President Donald Trump will run for office again. The question now is when will he announce? CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the divide inside the Republican party over this potential announcement. Should he do it before the midterms or after? Some in the GOP think it will be a distraction; others think he’ll be able to turn out the base in Nove...

A key inflation measure out today confirms inflation is still on the rise, when the White House and the Federal Reserve want to see the opposite. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the latest data and what the Biden administration wants Democrats in Congress to do to address high costs for Americans. On the other hand, Republicans argue their policies are the reason the US is in the...

In its seventh public hearing today, the January 6 House select committee zeroed in on the alleged direct connection between former President Donald Trump and far-right, extremist groups as the mob gathered that day. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the hearing highlights, including public testimony from a Capitol rioter and a former right-wing militia member. Plus, you’ll hear fir...

Recent polling show Americans are worried about the country’s direction – and that could spell trouble for Democrats in both the midterm elections and in 2024. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains what issues Americans are worried about the most, what’s causing them, and why rising Democratic stars aren’t throwing their hats into the 2024 presidential race at this point. To learn more abo...

President Joe Biden signed an executive order today aimed at protecting abortion rights, but recognizes there's more to be done. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains the executive order, and how abortion access will differ state-to-state, depending on the political balances of power. Biden is predicting this will be the issue that gets Democrats, and women especially, to the ballot box th...

As the White House and Democrats in Congress gear up for midterms in November, many in the party fear the West Wing's lack of urgency and authority will make their midterms problems worse than they already are. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down what top Democrats' concerns are from Capitol Hill to inside the White House. They tell CNN they were especially frustrated when the Supreme...

Former President Donald Trump’s White House Counsel Pat Cipollone is expected to comply with the January 6 House select committee’s subpoena and testify this week. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains why this is a big get and why the committee wants to hear from him again. The panel’s investigation continues with another public hearing scheduled for next week. Plus, will the Justice Depa...

Midterm primary season isn't even over yet, but that doesn''t mean Republicans and Democrats aren't laying the groundwork for potential presidential campaigns. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down some signs that Republican Governor Ron DeSantis could shift political gears after November, and why California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is already stirring the 2024 pot. Plus, the fo...

After Cassidy Hutchinson’s explosive public testimony this week, sources say she told the January 6 House select committee she was one of the cooperating witnesses Trump world sought to influence. CNN Correspondent Kristen Holmes breaks down the latest fallout from this week’s hearing, including new reporting about disputes with some of what the former Trump White House aide said, and who the comm...

The Supreme Court ended one of the most controversial terms the nation has seen in decades by swearing in a new justice and issuing some consequential decisions. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic appointment and the continued fallout from the court’s major decisions on climate change, immigration and abortion. President Joe Biden had some strong o...

Five states held primaries on Tuesday and the results tell us a lot about what issues Republican primary voters care more about. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down results in key states like Colorado and Illinois, where some 2020 election deniers lost, and other Trump-backed candidates won. Plus, incumbent lawmakers went toe-to-toe in new districts in some states, and a prominent mem...

The January 6 House select committee held an explosive hearing with an ex-Trump White House aide as its star witness, Cassidy Hutchinson. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the most shocking testimony she shared about her former boss – Chief of Staff Mark Meadows – and his former boss – ex-President Donald Trump. Hutchinson shared a lot of previously unknown details, but the committe...

As CNN Political Director David Chalian explains, the political fallout from the Supreme Court’s decision to end the federal constitutional right to an abortion continues. CNN spoke to Vice President Kamala Harris exclusively in her first interview since Friday’s decision. Plus, the former president took a victory lap this weekend, while Democratic and Republican lawmakers strategize their next mo...

The Supreme Court overturned nearly five decades of court rulings guaranteeing the constitutional right to an abortion. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down how all three branches of government are responding today and what’s likely to come in the ruling’s wake. Democrats in Washington, DC vow the fight isn’t over, while Republicans are mostly celebrating the ruling. To learn more abou...

The Supreme Court struck down a New York concealed carry law, while the Senate advanced a bipartisan gun safety reform bill. CNN’s Chris Cillizza breaks down the details of both the ruling and the bill, and why both are monumental. The same day the Senate appears on track to pass its most significant gun safety package in almost 30 years, the high court implements the widest expansion of gun right...