CNN Politics

This week a group of Donald Trump’s allies flocked to the Manhattan courthouse for the former president’s criminal hush money trial. It’s become a way for North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and others to ‘audition’ for the role of vice president. Elaine Godfrey is covering this year’s ‘Veepstakes’ for the Atlantic. She joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to explain why she...

First: Joe Biden and Donald Trump don't agree on much, but they do agree it's time to debate. They both accepted an invitation from CNN to hold the first presidential debate on June 27.  Plus: It's round two of Todd Blanche versus Michael Cohen, as Trump's top defense attorney is trying to paint the prosecution's star witness as a sworn henchmen out for revenge.  And: Can Republicans pick up a US...

On the beach. The testimony and the delays shaping the race as Biden criss-crosses the country, while RFK sends alarm bells ringing. Plus, isolated. Biden pleases no-one, new reporting as Democrats fret up and down the ballot, while the race for the Senate in Maryland gets vicious. The control of the chamber at stake. Finally, on trial. The other big court case kicking off today, that of Sen. Bob...

On the beach. The testimony and the delays shaping the race as Biden criss-crosses the country, while RFK sends alarm bells ringing. Plus, isolated. Biden pleases no-one, new reporting as Democrats fret up and down the ballot, while the race for the Senate in Maryland gets vicious. The control of the chamber at stake. Finally, on trial. The other big court case kicking off today, that of Sen. Bob...

On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash presses potential Trump VP pick Sen. JD Vance on Trump’s comment that Jewish Americans who voted for President Biden “should be ashamed of themselves.” Then, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy joins Dana to discuss President Biden’s threat to withhold aid from Israel if it launches a Rafah offensive. Next, Scott Brown, Ashley Allison, Scott Jennings, and Karen Finn...

Mike Johnson evaded another threat to his position as leader of the House this week. On Wednesday, Georgia GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene made a motion to oust Speaker Johnson, after threatening to do so for several weeks. The House voted swiftly in favor of Johnson by a tally of 359 to 43, so Speaker Johnson will keep his job, for now. But how long will this last? And how might this im...

First: Joe Biden is doing what only incumbents can do, heading to a must-win swing state with the gift of jobs. Dana talks to a top Biden campaign official about the latest strategy for taking on Donald Trump.  Plus: Stormy Daniels is back on the stand tomorrow after dishing salacious details about her alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump, right down to his set of pajamas. But does her testi...

When Mike Johnson worked with Democrats to pass Ukraine war funding, he knew it would enrage the extreme right-wing and threaten his speakership. So far, Johnson has survived the challenge to his job, and as Doug Heye puts it, “survival is strength.” Heye has worked for Republicans in the House and Senate and is a former communications director for the Republican National Committee. He’ll describe...

On CNN’s State of the Union, potential Trump VP contender Gov. Doug Burgum brushes off Donald Trump comparing the Biden administration to the Gestapo but acknowledges that Joe Biden won the 2020 election despite Trump’s claims to the contrary. Then, Jake presses Biden campaign co-chair Mitch Landrieu over President Biden’s response to campus protests amid Democratic concern they could damage his c...

First: Lashing out. Behind closed doors, Trump compares the Biden administration to the Gestapo as VP hopefuls descend on Mar-a-Lago just hours after that blockbuster testimony. Plus: Democrats on edge. Gaza protests split the party, leaving Biden in the middle. And: Republican rift. New reporting on the in-fighting plaguing the GOP. Finally: In the weeds. Amid historic movement on marijuana, the...

This week’s Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University led to more than 100 arrests after students barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall. This happened in the exact same building where anti-war student protestors demonstrated 56 years ago to the day, according to Columbia’s student newspaper. Mark Naison, a Fordham University professor of history, was part of the 1968 protests. He joins CN...

“Measuring misfortune is no strategy for living,” writes journalist Frank Bruni in his new book, “The Age of Grievance.” Yet, he says, we live in a culture obsessed with feeling victimized, searching for every micro-aggression, and leaning in to personal grievance as a sort of social currency. Frank joined David to talk about his book, the civic challenges posed by grievance, why Ron DeSantis is t...

Protests intensify on college campuses across the country. Police are being called in to quell the violence and multiple arrests have been made. Our reporters and special guests bring you up to speed on the latest developments.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Campus clashes are growing and getting uglier, with police stepping up arrests. And in some cases it's devolving from war protests to blatant displays of Jewish hate.  Plus: We bring you new reporting on Hunter Biden's strategy to fight back against his critics, particularly Fox News.  And: Who will testify next in Trump's hush money trial? We let you know what to expect when court resumes...

On CNN’s State of the Union, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham tells Dana Bash that he will still support Donald Trump for president even if he’s convicted in his hush money trial. Then, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders tells Dana that antisemitic displays at college protests must be condemned but that they shouldn’t distract from criticism of Netanyahu’s handling in Gaza. Next, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Ba...

A new CNN poll shows Trump leading Biden 40% to 43%. Trump's delay tactics appeared to pay off, as hush money allegations roil the race. And new reporting on how that GOP plans to target red-state Democrats. Plus, boiling point -- as college campuses reel, Republicans pounce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in former president Donald Trump’s historic immunity case. Trump’s attorneys say he should be granted sweeping immunity in a federal election subversion case because he was acting “officially” as president. Now all eyes turn to how the court decides -- and whether or not this is sent back to lower courts for further adjudication -- with this Novembe...

Former Rep. Ken Buck eludes simple classification. He grew up on the East Coast but says he felt more at home on his uncle’s Wyoming ranch as a kid. He is Princeton educated, but beelined for the Rocky Mountain West upon graduating. He is a former Freedom Caucus conservative who voted to certify the 2020 election and believes some of the charges against Donald Trump should be taken seriously. He r...

Today's show begins at the Supreme Court where the justices appear deeply divided over one of the biggest abortion cases since Roe vs. Wade was overturned. The issue is whether an Idaho abortion ban prevents doctors from performing abortions for women who are having a medical emergency that may not be life-threatening, but is a threat to her health. CNN's Paula Reid and Meg Tirrell join Dana to br...

First: Trump on Trial. As Donald Trump makes history in the courtroom, Biden spends the week on the trail. How will Trumps case reshape the race? Plus: An exclusive interview with Vice President Harris And: Johnson in jeopardy. New behind the scenes details as Speaker Johnson takes on his right flank, but will it cost him his job? Plus: End of an era. Our exclusive sit down with two Senate dealmak...

On CNN's State of the Union, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem tells Dana Bash she will support Donald Trump for president even if he's convicted in his New York hush money trial. Then, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker tells Dana that RFK Jr qualifying for the ballot in Michigan will have "little effect" on the race there. Finally, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Kate Bedingfield, Jamal Simmons, and Scott Jenning...

Jury selection is nearly complete in the case the People of the State of New York versus Donald J. Trump. 12 jurors and one alternate have been sworn in, and the judge and lawyers from both sides are trying to fill up the panel with five more alternates. Trump is inside the room and we're told that he's been looking right at jurors as they answer questions and whispering with his attorney.  Learn...

This week, the first of four expected criminal trials involving former President Donald Trump began in Manhattan. And for the first time in United States history, a former president is now a defendant in a criminal trial. CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen was in the courtroom. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to share his analysis of not only this case, but also this week’s Supreme Court o...

First: As of last night, seven jurors were seated in the Donald Trump hush money trial. Now, there are only six.  Plus: Will Mike Johnson's decision to push a Ukraine aid bill cost him his gavel?  And: A Kennedy family reunion with a notable no-show.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to Fareed Zakaria, we are living in an age of revolution, kindled by the converging factors of technological advancement, information proliferation, globalization, and cultural shifts. He joined David during a live taping of The Axe Files at the University Club of Chicago to talk about what he discovered in researching his new book, “Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to...