CNN Political Briefing

US gas prices are on the rise as Russia carries on with its invasion of Ukraine. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains how the US and its allies are walking a fine line to not exacerbate the global energy problem, while also punishing Russia further for its actions. Congress is working on bills to ban US imports of Russian oil and to fund the government before Friday.  To learn more about...

The jobs report showed the US economy had strong job gains last month, but inflation remains a concern. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down President Joe Biden’s latest plan to continue this upward trajectory: boost domestic manufacturing. Lawmakers are also urging Biden to ban Russian oil imports to the US, but what effect could this have on US gas prices?  To learn more about how CN...

It’s week two of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine–today, the Presidents from both countries spoke on the situation and President Joe Biden announced new Russian sanctions at his cabinet meeting. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains the latest developments on the ground in Ukraine. Plus, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are pushing the Biden administration to sanction Russian oil. Yet, there’s hesit...

As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address last night. You’ll hear speech highlights and analysis from CNN Political Director David Chalian. He explains how Biden balanced the Ukraine crisis with key domestic issues like inflation, Covid-19, and crime. Was the President able to galvanize Democrats while still appealing to more centrist...

President Joe Biden will deliver his State of the Union address tonight. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down Biden’s focus for the speech and what he’s likely to discuss. Will the president be able to balance the pressing Russia-Ukraine crisis with other important domestic issues? To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad cho...

Fighting continues to escalate in Ukraine as Russia ramps up its war efforts. CNN Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash explains the latest developments from the conflict and breaks down where both sides stand. Plus, she answers some key questions about the talks between the two countries and why US troops will not fight alongside Ukraine. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, v...

President Joe Biden announced his nomination to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. If confirmed, she will be the first black woman to sit on the highest court. CNN’s Chris Cillizza dives into Jackson’s background and why Biden’s historic pick comes at an interesting time. Plus, Senate Democrats want a speedy confirmation process, but will Republicans...

After weeks of rising tensions and failed diplomacy attempts, the conflict in eastern Ukraine came to a head today–Russia began its invasion of the country. CNN’s Chris Cillizza breaks down Russia’s aggression in Ukraine so far and President Joe Biden’s response. But as Cillizza points out, polling shows Biden is facing this conflict “in a decidedly weak political position.” To learn more about ho...

President Joe Biden promised to announce his Supreme Court nominee by the end of February. With that deadline quickly approaching, CNN’s Chris Cillizza gives an update on where the process stands. Biden promised the nominee will be a Black woman with “extraordinary qualifications” to fill Justice Stephen Breyer’s shoes. Will the nominee’s qualifications satisfy both Democrats and Republicans? To l...

About 10 years ago, Senator Mitt Romney was called out of touch for saying that Russia was the U.S.’s main geopolitical foe. CNN’s Chris Cillizza explains that Romney wasn’t wrong back then... or now. Although a lot has unfolded over the past decade in Eastern Europe, some of Romney’s comments from a decade ago still have relevance today. Plus, you’ll hear President Joe Biden’s latest comments on...

On this Presidents’ Day, President Joe Biden has a full plate. CNN’s Congressional Correspondent Ryan Nobles breaks down Biden’s stacked agenda: the escalating conflict in Eastern Europe, a Supreme Court nominee pick and a SOTU address to write. The next few weeks will be crucial for Biden; could his ability to handle these challenges be a turning point in his presidency?  To learn more about how...

President Joe Biden is dealing with some similar challenges that President Lyndon B. Johnson faced in the 60s. In this episode, you’ll hear CNN’s Zachary Wolf share some of Johnson’s secretly recorded calls. At the time, he had some candid words for his concerns with the conflict in Vietnam. He spoke to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about passing monumental voting rights legislation and more. Check o...

American officials believe Russia is moving towards an imminent invasion of Ukraine, despite Moscow claiming otherwise. CNN’s Zachary Wolf explains where the conflict stands and how Congress is planning to respond. Although lawmakers on both sides support more sanctions on Russia, they can’t seem to agree on the details of a bipartisan bill. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, v...

If the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalates, it could hurt Americans here at home, particularly in their pocketbooks. CNN’s Zachary Wolf explains that the conflict comes at a politically challenging time for the President and his party. Although they campaigned on the promise of weening the US off oil and gas to save the planet, midterm nerves and high inflation are prompting some Democra...

CNN’s Ronald Brownstein writes, “the pressures of the pandemic are reconfiguring the politics of education.” That’s what CNN’s Zachary Wolf explains in today’s CNN Political Briefing–frustration over Covid restrictions is spilling over into exasperation over education and schools. San Francisco’s school board recall election is a microcosm of a bigger issue happening across the country right now....

Early voting started today in Texas where a new voting law is being put to the test. Election officials are already running into problems, as CNN Politics Senior Writer Zachary Wolf explains. He breaks down provisions in the law that some argue make it harder for people to vote in the state. You’ll hear an example from a Texas voter who tried three times to get an absentee ballot. Subscribe to the...

Polls are snapshots in time, but often helpful to get a sense of where people stand on key issues–especially heading into a midterm year. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon dives deep into a new CNN-SSRS poll out that paints a picture of what issues Americans care about most these days, how confident they are in elections, and what people think about the Capitol insurrect...

Today President Biden visited Virginia to discuss a key component of his Build Back Better agenda – lowering prescription drug prices. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon explains why Biden is resurrecting legislation that Democrats failed to pass four months ago. Plus, this comes as a new CNN Poll shows that Americans are growing increasingly frustrated with Biden. To lea...

Republican Leaders Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are at odds over the recent RNC censure of two GOP lawmakers. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon explains which Republicans are siding with McConnell and what they’re saying about the January 6th insurrection. With the midterms only months away, the last thing the GOP needs is another civil war over former president Do...

The Supreme Court allowed a controversial congressional map drawn by Alabama Republicans to remain in place Monday, putting the lower court’s ruling on hold. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon explains the court’s decision and what it means for the 2022 election year. However, this isn’t true across the board: the Ohio Supreme Court just rejected GOP-drawn maps again that...

Today, Rep. Adam Kinzinger responded to the Republican National Committee censuring him last week. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon breaks down Kinzinger’s comments and what other Republicans had to say on the matter, like Marc Short. Plus, a bipartisan Senate group is making progress on reforming the law that former president Donald Trump tried to exploit on January 6t...

The Republican National Committee voted to censure GOP Rep. Liz Cheney & Adam Kinzinger today for their work on the January 6th House select committee. CNN Capitol Hill Reporter Melanie Zanona breaks down the RNC’s motives and what this means for the two Republicans. The RNC’s message is clear – they stand behind former President Donald Trump.   To learn more about how CNN protects listener privac...

Dealing with many serious issues at once comes with the job of being the President of the United States. CNN’s Melanie Zanona explains that today was no different. President Joe Biden pivoted from one high-stakes issue to the next–the US Special Forces counterterrorism raid, the Russia-Ukraine situation and the anti-gun-violence strategy meeting in New York. To learn more about how CNN protects li...

Build Back Better as it stands now is “dead.” Those were Sen. Joe Manchin words and in a 50/50 Senate, those words can be considered the nail in the coffin. CNN Capitol Hill Reporter Melanie Zanona explains how difficult it has been for Democrats, especially for the Senate Majority Leader, to deliver on President Joe Biden’s agenda. Filling the Supreme Court vacancy is an opportunity to unite as a...

It‘s no secret ex-President Donald Trump and some of his allies tried to subvert the results of the 2020 election. CNN’s Melanie Zanona breaks down new information that shows just how far they were willing to go. Plus, Trump’s comments at a rally Saturday and fundraising stats from last year show he isn’t going anywhere, even as the House select committee is closing in on Trump’s inner circle. To...