The Playbook Podcast

Trump heads to Las Vegas to sell his tax agenda, but Republicans worry his message isn’t breaking through — and that could spell trouble for the midterms. Meanwhile, a striking Senate vote and a New Jersey special election underscore a major shift inside the Democratic Party on Israel, especially among younger voters. RFK Jr. returns to Capitol Hill for a marathon stretch of hearings as speculatio...

On today’s Playbook Podcast, Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down Republicans’ Tax Day push to sell Trump’s tax cuts and ask whether voters are actually feeling the benefits. They also dig into Trump’s latest comments on Iran, the political risks of rising gas prices, and the fallout on Capitol Hill from two high-profile resignations.

Playbook’s Jack Blanchard is joined by POLITICO California Bureau Chief Melanie Mason for a deep dive into the resignation of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). Once a rising Democratic star and gubernatorial contender, Swalwell’s career unraveled after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Mason breaks down the long-circulated private warnings about the lawmaker, how his political allies a...

President Donald Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz begins at 10 a.m. after talks with Iran collapsed, Hungary’s Prime Minister and MAGA favorite Viktor Orbán conceded defeat following a landslide loss and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) suspended his gubernatorial campaign amid sexual misconduct allegations. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the ris...

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.

Today Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg take the stage in New York City, offering an early glimpse at a possible 2028 clash. Meanwhile, a fragile Iran ceasefire is raising fresh questions abroad, and Senate Republicans head to the White House to talk reconciliation. POITICO’s Megan Messerly and Adam Wren break down the early 2028 dynamics, the foreign policy tensions and what comes next.

President Donald Trump’s fresh barrage of attacks on NATO is raising new questions about America’s commitment to the alliance. Meanwhile, confusion around the U.S.-Iran ceasefire continues to cloud the global picture. And Democrats weigh whether the moment presents a political opening. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren break down the NATO fallout, the state of the ceasefire and what to watch...

President Donald Trump’s sudden move to step back from the brink and agree to a two-week ceasefire with Iran is raising questions about what comes next. Meanwhile, NATO’s secretary general arrives in Washington today amid growing strain on the alliance. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the ceasefire, the political fallout and what to watch next. 

President Donald Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. tonight to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — or face a potentially devastating military escalation. Meanwhile, in Georgia, polls will be closing in the special congressional runoff to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene just as Trump’s deadline looms. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the stakes and p...

President Donald Trump is set to hold a press conference following the successful rescue of an American airman in Iran over the weekend. But it comes amid escalating tensions, after Trump issued a profane and jarring Sunday morning post threatening strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the stakes — and the striking...

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.

President Donald Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi, kicking off what sources say could be a broader round of cabinet shakeups as frustration builds inside the White House. Dasha Burns reports on who could be next. She also shares insights from her sit-down with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and his aggressive new moon-to-Mars push. Co-host Adam Wren previews a key gathering of 2028 Democr...

President Trump gave a primetime address on Iran to the nation on Wednesday night. Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down the rhetoric, the unclear endgame, and what Trump’s “two to three weeks” timeline really means for the conflict, global oil markets, and America’s allies. Plus, one year after Liberation Day, how Trump’s tariff agenda has actually played out, and a surprising twist in the lo...

It’s a busy start to April for Donald Trump. The president heads to the Supreme Court for a test of his effort to end birthright citizenship, a long-shot legal fight with big political stakes for the base and his broader coalition. Tonight, he’ll address the nation on the war in Iran as tensions with European allies simmer. And in between, all eyes turn to Florida, where NASA is set to launch Arte...

We’re a quarter of the way through 2026, and the Trump administration is facing challenges at home and abroad. The president is at a critical moment on Iran as military pressure ramps up and the effect of diplomatic efforts remains murky. Meanwhile, the DHS shutdown drags into record territory with no clear end in sight. And a wave of Republican primaries could test just how strong Trump’s grip on...

Trump heads into a consequential week as he weighs whether to escalate the war in Iran, with the prospect of U.S. ground troops looming. At the same time, the Supreme Court takes up his birthright citizenship order, the anniversary of his tariff push brings renewed focus on affordability, and fresh jobs data will test his economic message. Hosts Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren break it all down. 

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 a new episode of 'On the Road' with Jonathan Martin, a new POLITICO show. California Gov. Gavin Newsom sits down 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...

President Donald Trump's decision to stay neutral in the Texas GOP Senate runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas AG Ken Paxton is vexing Republicans. Though Trump at one point appeared ready to back Cornyn, many are wondering if he will punt on the race altogether as he pushes for passage of the SAVE Act. The messy runoff is likely to become more expensive, and could leave an opening for Democr...

President Donald Trump is convening the first Cabinet meeting since Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as DHS secretary. But it's also the first confab since Trump launched a military operation against Iran — a topic that is sure to dominate much of the conversation. And the headlines swirling around aren't friendly for Trump: gas prices are still surging and polling shows sinking public support. Play...

Democrats got more big wins on Tuesday night, flipping two legislative seats in reliably red Florida, including the district containing President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. The wins don't dent Florida Republicans' supermajority, but they mark more performances for Democrats that have defied expectations ahead of the pivotal midterm elections. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau C...

A Russian oil tanker is steaming toward the Caribbean, most likely destined for Cuba. But that's not really the story behind the ship and its cargo. It’s a message, according to people close to the White House, former ambassadors and Russia observers — a negotiating chit, a provocation designed to force a disproportionate American response while Washington is consumed elsewhere. Playbook's Adam Wr...

Republicans so far have peeled off a handful of Democrats to pass the DHS funding bill in previous votes, but it's still stalled in the Senate. But new demands from President Donald Trump could threaten any progress. Meanwhile, a new push from an influential Democratic think tank wants to help Democrats reclaim political ground on the issue ahead of the midterms. Playbook's Adam Wren and White Hou...

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...

Ruben Gallego and Pete Buttigieg are trying to offer Democrats a roadmap back to relevance during the Trump era. Both are veterans, and both have a pitch to voters that goes beyond talking points and cuts through the rhetoric that defines much of the online chatter. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns compare notes on their recent conversations with Gallego and Buttigieg...