The Playbook Podcast

It’s gonna be all about the vibes this week as we look for clues to how the big debt ceiling standoff is going to get resolved. Plus, unpacking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Iowa over the weekend. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis on the week ahead.

Title 42, the pandemic-era policy used to block migrants at the southern border is coming to an end tonight. Officials have had more than two years to prepare for this moment. Plus, CNN’s New Hampshire town hall with Donald Trump last night may have done more to boost his chances of winning the GOP presidential nomination than anything that’s happened since the 2020 election. All that, and the res...

Another day of debt limit negotiations; President Biden's visit today to Valhalla, New York, a GOP district that he carried in 2020, with vulnerable Republican Rep. Mike Lawler; and Trump after the verdict. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with legal reporter Erica Orden.

Everyone in Washington is talking about the debt limit. Biden will meet with congressional leaders today at the White House -- but at the same time, it will be a while before the negotiations get into the nitty gritty. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with national political correspondent Meridith McGraw.

 Between debt ceiling negotiations and the end of Title 42 it's going to be one busy week in politics. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade on what's driving the day.

A cascade of big legal developments are driving the day in D.C., while in Florida, Planned Parenthood is launching a multi-million dollar effort to put abortion rights before voters next year — with big implications for 2024 and Ron DeSantis. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.  Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with reporter Megan Messerly.

Are Democrats missing their moment in the debt limit talks? Playbook has the scoop this morning about why one moderate House Democrat — Rep. Jared Golden of Maine — thinks that the negotiation strategy of White House and top congressional Dems is total fantasy. Plus, we’ve got the tape as Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose offered his candid assessment about the value of Trump’s support during c...

Donald Trump is talking about skipping primary debates, inside the debt ceiling staring contest, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade on what's driving the day.

Janet Yellen said Monday that the debt limit X-date has potentially moved to June 1, jolting White House and congressional leaders as they eye talks next week. And this morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will take up one of the newsiest topics around: Supreme Court ethics reform. Check out Playbook for an exclusive with the written testimony of two people who didn’t want to testify in person:...

The House is out, the Senate is in, and the news you need to know. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

White House Correspondents' weekend is finally upon us. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels.

Sen. Joe Manchin may need a stiff drink this morning: Today, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is expected to announce a bid for the U.S. Senate — giving Republicans a strong recruit to flip the Mountaineer State. Meanwhile, out west, the Montana state legislature barred trans state Rep. Zooey Zephyr from the House floor. And in Washington, the GOP House voted to pass the debt ceiling bill, handing a...

President Joe Biden launched his re-election campaign with a slick video and not much fanfare — though we have the scoop on a big splash his allies are preparing. Plus, the other news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with White House editor Sam Stein.

President Joe Biden launches his re-election campaign with a video release this morning and is scheduled to make his first remarks as an official 2024 candidate at a union conference later in the day. Plus, all eyes on the House and what Kevin McCarthy’s planned debt limit vote shows about his strength as speaker. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with Congress reporter Olivia Beavers.

It’s a huge week for us at Playbook — the White House Correspondents' Dinner is on Saturday and we're also expecting President Joe Biden to launch his re-election campaign this week — although the usual caveats apply. Plus we've got our eyes on the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy is hoping to get his Republican conference in line behind his plan to handle the debt limit. Playbook editor Mike D...

Today, the Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling regarding abortion pill mifepristone, with major implications for reproductive rights and health care. Plus, President Joe Biden is eyeing next Tuesday for a soft launch of his 2024 campaign, and a former colleague of Ron DeSantis in the House on his lack of more Republican endorsements. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook...

Mifepristone, the most widely used abortion pill in the U.S., will continue to be widely available for at least two more days after the Supreme Court extended its deadline. On Capitol Hill, we're about to see Speaker McCarthy face his biggest test yet. And in 2024 land, Chris Christie is starting to spend a lot of time in early states.  Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook co-au...

The “Jack the Dripper” story heads to Capitol Hill today, Supreme Court action on abortion pill is expected and we’re processing the surprise settlement in the Dominion lawsuit against Fox News. Plus DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee. Over in the Senate, Rocket Man himself Elton John will testify at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing...

Watching House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sell his debt limit plan to his conference, many of whom have never voted to increase the debt ceiling, is gonna be interesting. Plus — the position that Senate Democrats are in after Senate Republicans came out against temporarily replacing Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee, and what else you need to know in politics today.

Is DiFi's career over? That's probably the biggest question facing the Senate. Plus, Speaker Kevin McCarthy gives a speech at the New York Stock Exchange this morning and Republicans are set to face a whole host of hot-button headlines — Trump and Tennessee among them — that they didn't have to weigh in on over the past couple of weeks. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade breaks down her reporting.

It's a very big day on the abortion-rights front: inside the contradictory court orders on mifepristone and Florida's abortion ban. Plus, Thursday, FBI arrested the suspected source of a massive trove of leaked national security documents — Jack Texeira — who is expected to appear in federal court in Boston today. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with national security reporter Erin Banco...

Donald Trump's legal drama continues to develop on multiple fronts, Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis wade into the 2024 pool and D.C.'s reaction to Sen. Dianne Feinstein's statement. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton talks with Playbook editor Mike DeBonis.

Trump's first post-indictment interview, Senator Tim Scott explores a run for president, and the Supreme Court's ethics problem. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with senior reporter Josh Gerstein.

Leaked Ukraine docs create a major headache for Biden, and what political news you need to be paying attention to. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with national security reporter Alex Ward.

How other 2024 GOP hopefuls are navigating Donald Trump, and what political news you need to be paying attention to. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with reporter Sally Goldenberg.