The Playbook Podcast

It’s going to be a quiet week on the Hill but a frenzied one on the campaign trail, where 2024’s GOP hopefuls will be hitting the donor circuit in advance of Friday’s quarterly fundraising deadline. Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis has a new setback in New Hampshire. Lisa Kashinsky, author of POLITICO’s Massachusetts Playbook, joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade with more. 

As President Joe Biden fetes Indian PM Narendra Modi in D.C., he faces uncomfortable questions about his rhetoric putting idealism at the heart of American foreign policy — and what happens when that approach runs head-on into the buzzsaw of realpolitik. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with national security reporter Alex Ward.      

Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden’s son, struck a plea bargain with the Department of Justice over a five-year investigation into tax fraud and illegal firearms possession. It’s a relief for President Biden, but still an event that’s been used politically by his opponents. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with White House reporter E...

All eyes are on the 2024 presidential election, but Congress is heating up as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy contends with a growing conservative uprising and tough times for moderates. Meanwhile, Democrats are analyzing and looking to capitalize on the situation. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

Yesterday the Republican presidential primary got a new contender: the 45-year-old mayor of Miami: Francis Suarez. Hear excerpts of Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza's interview with him as he tries to make his case.

The Supreme Court still has yet to release decisions for a whopping 21 cases, ranging from affirmative action to student loans. But beyond the decisions themselves, what remains to be seen is how the conservative majority drives those rulings — and how they’re received by the overall public. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Sen...

Donald Trump had his day in court — again. All that, and everything else you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Senior Legal Affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.

Unpacking the schedule of today's arraignment and what to look out for. Plus, Josh Gerstein tells Ryan about why Donald Trump seemed to win the judicial lottery when his case landed before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon, who ruled deferentially for Trump last summer. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Senior Legal Affairs reporter Josh Gerstein.

Former President Donald Trump gets arraigned in Miami Tuesday. House conservatives are still unhappy with Speaker Kevin McCarthy and are talking about possibly tanking more GOP legislation. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.  Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

Here’s what we know right now about the legal and political implications of the federal indictment filed against former President Donald Trump connected to his handling of classified national security records. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with national correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan.

Unpacking the revolt against Kevin McCarthy, and what special counsel Jack Smith's target letter against Donald Trump means. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with senior congressional reporter Sarah Ferris and senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney.

The continuing fallout over the revolt against Kevin McCarthy, Mike Pence releases an announcement video, and inside Chris Christie's New Hampshire town hall. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Jonathan Martin.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to garner double-digit support in polls of Democratic presidential primary voters, and he's been a fixture in the political news cycle the past couple of days. Eugene provides an update on how President Joe Biden's orbit is approaching him. Plus, why Vivek Ramaswamy and other Republican nominees are increasingly focused on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. All that, and th...

The biggest political news of the week is likely to be found on the campaign trail, with a number of notable new entries to the Republican presidential field. Eugene and Mike break them down. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

The United States will not be going into default. Last night around 11 p.m., the Senate passed the bipartisan debt deal, sending it to President Biden's desk in the nick of time. And with the debt ceiling crisis effectively resolved, attentions in Washington are turning to 2024 as the long-brewing rivalry between Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump heats up. All that, and the rest of the news you need t...

On Wednesday night, the House passed a bipartisan debt ceiling deal, sending it to Senate. Plus, what we know about the reports that federal prosecutors have an audio recording of former President Trump discussing a sensitive military document he kept after leaving the White House. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with Congress repo...

Leaders in both parties are going to be spending much of the day whipping their rank-and-file to make sure they can get the 218 votes needed to pass the debt ceiling bill. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

With mere days left before the projected June 1 X-date, negotiators appear to be homing in on a debt ceiling deal that would avert an economic catastrophe. A source familiar with the talks told Playbook late last night that the two sides have all but finalized the spending portion of discussions.  Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

The Florida governor’s entry into the Presidential race will immediately shake up a Republican primary that has been dominated by former President Donald Trump. All that, and everything else you need to know in politics today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with National Political Correspondent Meridith McGraw.

With only days until the earliest possible default on June 1, we’re going to address the question lawmakers aren’t ready to face: What happens if Biden and McCarthy can’t make a deal? Playbook spent several hours yesterday afternoon and evening working the phones. Rachael Bade breaks down four possible scenarios, ranked most to least likely. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reportin...

We are just days away from a potential federal default, and Washington this week is going to be consumed with the latest twists and turns on whether Congress will act to raise the debt limit in time to prevent a whole parade of horribles – from a tanking stock market to skyrocketing borrowing costs to mass unemployment. Over the weekend bipartisan negotiations went from on again to off again to on...

Though House Speaker Kevin McCarthy suggested a couple days ago that he wanted to have a debt-limit deal by the start of the weekend, as of right now on Friday morning, that doesn’t seem likely to happen — we break down the pressure points. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza.

When Sen. Dianne Feinstein walked into the Capitol last week, ending a monthslong medical absence, she was accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a small entourage of aides — and a close personal confidant with a storied political pedigree: Nancy Corrine Prowda, the eldest child of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-aut...

Yesterday President Joe Biden agreed to a key process demand by Speaker Kevin McCarthy: shrinking the size of the negotiating table. Inside the negotiators Biden and McCarthy appointed. Plus, the action around Rep. George Santos. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

President Joe Biden is expected to meet today with congressional leaders on the debt limit, and Republicans are feeling increasingly optimistic they can force Biden to make concessions on work requirements for safety net programs as part of the talks taking place this week. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with food and agriculture...