The Conversation with Dasha Burns

At the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Secretary General Mark Rutte joins Dasha to discuss NATO's historic defense spending overhaul, Russia's war in Ukraine, Greenland, President Trump's demands of the alliance, and whether NATO can withstand growing questions about America's future role in European security. Plus, POLITICO’s diplomatic correspondent Felicia Schwartz and defense reporter Jack De...

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) join POLITICO's Jonathan Martin at the Little Missouri Saloon in Medora for a conversation about the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, why the Badlands helped shape one of America's most consequential presidents and how they're betting the landmark will transform North Dakota.  &nb...

As America marks 250 years since its founding, award-winning documentarian Ken Burns joins Dasha to reflect on what history can teach us about this political moment. In this wide-ranging interview, Burns discusses what lawmakers misunderstand about the founding of our nation, what George Washington would think of Donald Trump, and whether the American experiment can survive the next chapter. Have...

Dasha sits down with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki for a wide-ranging conversation on NATO, Russia's war in Ukraine, Iran and the future of America's relationships with allies around the world.  Stubb, who has developed an unusually close personal relationship with Donald Trump, discusses how he approaches the president behind closed doors, why he believes Ukraine has the upper han...

Jack Schlossberg joins Dasha to talk about his campaign for New York’s 12th congressional district, his viral online persona and why he thinks Democrats need to be more “controversial” in the Trump era.  Schlossberg discusses what he says Democrats got wrong in 2024, why he believes attention is political power, how the party can reach young male voters, and why he sees himself as part of a new ge...

At POLITICO’s Energy Summit, Dasha presses EPA administrator Lee Zeldin on rising gas prices, the war in Iran, Trump’s energy dominance agenda, coal, AI data centers, and whether the EPA has a responsibility to address climate change. Zeldin defends his approach, arguing that the EPA can protect the environment while growing the economy and rejects the idea that his agency should lead the fight ag...

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong sits down with Dasha for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of crypto, the growing political influence of the industry, and his vision for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.  Plus, he responds to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s recent attack, after Dimon called him “full of s--t,” and explains why he’s still “a little perplexed” by the pers...

Every week on this show, Dasha Burns talks to the most compelling and sometimes unexpected power players in Washington and beyond. But for this special first anniversary episode, she turned the microphone over to you … our listeners.  “How do you prepare for high-stakes interviews?”  “Why has Washington left Gen Z behind?” “How has covering politics changed you?”  Dasha answers your burning questi...

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Angelo’s Pizzeria, a South Philly institution, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Democratic party, rising cynicism in American politics and the growing speculation around his political future in 2028. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna joins Dasha Burns on “The Conversation” to discuss whether the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran could pull American attention and weapons away from Kyiv, the state of Ukraine-Russia peace talks and why President Trump and Volodmyr Zelenskyy’s once-rocky relationship has become “iconic.” Have feedback for the show? Text or leave us a voicema...

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Baltimore’s iconic Koco's Pub for a wide-ranging conversation about redistricting, the future of the Democratic party and how his military service shaped his views on patriotism, race and America’s role in the world.  Moore also opens up about Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s decision to stay in the presidential race too long, Kamala Ha...

Dasha sits down with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, for a live taping of “The Conversation” at POLITICO’s Security Summit.  In a wide-ranging interview, Pahlavi discusses the latest on the war in Iran, whether diplomacy with Tehran is possible and the future of the Iranian opposition movement.  Have a question for our anniversary special? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-...

Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary and CIA director under President Obama, joins Dasha Burns to assess the U.S. conflict with Iran, warning that unclear objectives, a closed Strait of Hormuz and uncertain nuclear negotiations could leave the U.S. stuck in a prolonged war. Plus, Panetta defends President Biden’s handling of the Israel/Gaza conflict but says Biden “should have been much tougher”...

Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Chicago’s iconic Manny’s Deli for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the Democratic Party -- and his own.  Plus: a look at Chicago’s political culture, Pritzker’s rise from donor to power broker, and why Manny’s remains a must-stop on the campaign trail.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Sacks has played a key role in shaping AI policy for the Trump administration. He was formerly the White House AI and crypto czar. Now, he’s the co-chair of the President’s Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.  Sacks approaches the issue with a “let them cook” philosophy. Meaning, he thinks the way for the United States to win the global AI race is to mo...

Go behind the scenes of White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend with Tammy Haddad, a veteran TV executive and one of DC’s ultimate social connectors.  POLITICO's Dasha Burns and Tammy unpack why this dinner — which brings together the president, journalists and celebrities all in one room — is so important in Washington, and what really happens when the cameras are down.  Tammy also shares insi...

California’s governor's race just got a major shakeup. Democrat Eric Swalwell dropped out amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations, and now the field is wide open ahead of the June 2 primary. So where does that leave Republican candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton – backed by Trump and rising in the polls? Does the GOP have a shot at turning California red? Dasha Burns sat down wi...

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at the Masters to talk Trump, 2028 and the upcoming Georgia Senate race. Plus: Kemp on EVs, economic policy and why he’s staying focused on 2026 — not the White House.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) – the MAGA acolyte-turned-antagonist who resigned from Congress after a public and messy fight with Donald Trump – joins “The Conversation” to talk about the war in Iran, why she thinks the GOP will be “slaughtered” in the midterms and her desire to build a new political coalition in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Artemis II has launched around the moon. Now, NASA has its sights set on Mars. NASA administrator and billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman sat down with POLITICO's Dasha Burns at Kennedy Space Center to talk about NASA’s ambitious plans to build a moon base, sending humans to Mars, his relationship with Elon Musk and why we could all have 3D-printed spare livers in our fridge someday. Lear...

Andy Beshear is the most popular Democratic governor in the country – in a state Donald Trump won by more than 30 points in 2024. He explains why he believes a President JD Vance could be “more damaging than Trump”, lays out his playbook for winning back voters in Trump country, and calls out the litmus test he thinks Democrats should abandon. Can a Democrat who wins in deep-red Kentucky translate...

Today, we're bringing you an episode from our new show, On the Road. California Gov. Gavin Newsom sat down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin for a wide-ranging conversation about the personal experiences that shaped his political career. A leading potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, Newsom has been raising his national profile by taking on President Donald Trump a...

When Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) won his Senate seat in 2024, he outperformed Kamala Harris in one of the closest battleground states in the country.  Now that he’s in Washington, Gallego’s background is particularly relevant at this moment in politics. With the Iran War intensifying, Gallego offers his perspective as an Iraq War veteran on Trump’s military operation.  And as a Latino Democratic...

Today, we're bringing you an episode from POLITICO's latest show, On The Road with Jonathan Martin. In episode one, JMart sits down with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for a lively conversation about politics, leadership and life growing up in a political family. From her time as White House Press Secretary to leading Arkansas today, Sanders shares insights on the Republican Party, U.S.-...

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is a young rising star in the Republican Party. She sits down with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns to talk about how the war against Iran could affect Americans at home and the urgency of the midterm elections for the Republican Party. Britt also gets candid about her unique relationship with the White House and what it was like having Scarlett Johansson play her on SNL. And later...