The Playbook Podcast

VP Kamala Harris' trip to Guatemala and Mexico — like just about every foreign trip by a president or VP — was a mix of policy and politics. On the policy, her aides, her allies and those in the immigration advocacy space tell us she did what she was supposed to do. On the politics, they admit her performance could have been smoother. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament...

In Washington, relationships come and go. In a quick succession of phone calls on Tuesday, Joe Biden exited negotiations with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and started them with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). Could a compromise on infrastructure be on the way?  Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executiv...

A host of Black and civil rights leaders will visit Sen. Joe Manchin to discuss voting rights this morning — two days after the West Virginia moderate announced his opposition to Democrats’ top legislative priority on the matter, the For the People Act (aka H.R. 1/S. 1). Those who know Manchin tell us the senator’s mind isn’t exactly open to persuasion as he heads into this meeting, so, we asked s...

We interrupt infrastructure summer to bring you two weeks of foreign policy-focused events — a show of force, then a showdown with Putin. Raghu Manavalan is the host of POLITICO's Playbook. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

If you thought President Joe Biden’s offer to keep the corporate tax rate at 21% might yield a breakthrough on infrastructure…not so much. Raghu Manavalan is the new host of POLITICO's Playbook Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Here's what Playbook was able to learn about Shelley Moore Capito's one-on-one meeting with President Joe Biden over a possible infrastructure deal.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

A century after the Tulsa Race Massacre, President Joe Biden will head to Tulsa today to offer words of healing, once again donning his hat as sympathizer-in-chief. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Senate Republicans are gearing up to initiate their first filibuster of the Biden administration.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

They’ll never say it publicly. But Republicans in Washington are dreading Donald Trump’s return to the stump, predicting his rallies will cause a major headache for the party as it mounts a bid to take back Congress in 2022. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

After news broke last night that Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance has convened a special grand jury to decide whether to indict former President Donald Trump or execs at his company, Playbook checked in with Trump world to get their take on the latest news.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the exe...

George Floyd was murdered one year ago today. President Joe Biden wanted to use that grim marker as a deadline for Congress to pass a police reform bill. But with no bill in sight Biden has instead invited Floyd’s family to the Oval Office. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POL...

The clock is ticking on two self-imposed deadlines set by President Joe Biden: passing a police reform act and reaching a bipartisan deal on infrastructure.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

With a vast number of Republicans still not vaccinated, you’d think the White House would accept all the help it can get from celebrities and influencers who speak to that demographic. But when Megan McCain, the conservative co-host of ABC’s daytime ratings-driver “The View,” personally reached out to offer her help, she got crickets in response. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO...

On Wednesday night, it seemed like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be heeding President Joe Biden's call for a cease-fire. Now it's not so clear.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

On most issues, the younger rising progressive wing of the Democratic Party has found President Joe Biden, despite his age, to be an ally — someone who ran as a centrist but has been willing to move left across a range of issues, such as climate, racial justice and government spending. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. ...

Playbook has counted 10 recent tweets from Stephen Miller  — a figure reviled by the left for creating Donald Trump's Muslim ban and his child separation policy — in support of Andrew Yang's bid to become New York City's next mayor. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Au...

We’ve frequently used the term “civil war” to describe what’s going on in the Republican Party. But what if that’s the wrong way to think about it?  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Law enforcement officials in Palm Beach County, Fla., have actively prepared for the possibility that Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance could indict former President Donald Trump while he’s at Mar-a-Lago, according to two high-ranking county officials involved in planning sessions. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. I...

This morning, House Republicans will likely boot one of their own from leadership for the first time in years, sacrificing Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney at the altar of former President Donald Trump.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

We’re t-minus one day ’til Rep. Liz Cheney gets the boot from GOP leadership. And as we enter that crazy news cycle, it’s important to remember that this is about one man’s ambitions: Rep. Kevin McCarthy and his hunger to take the speakership.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of...

There's good reason to think that the upcoming to vote to oust Rep. Liz Cheney is starting a fight, not ending one.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Ron DeSantis is looking ahead to reelection next year and quite possibly a 2024 bid for president — but he’s left behind a trail of former disgruntled staffers and has no long-standing political machine to mount a national campaign, DeSantis vets say. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive prod...

Liz Cheney is not fighting to hold onto her job as House GOP conference chair. New information emerges about the McCarthy-Luntz housing arrangement. And, President Joe Biden visits Louisiana.   Nirmal Mulaikal is a host-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.

Facebook’s oversight board is deciding today whether to allow former President Donald Trump back. Trump launches a new communications platform. And the battle over Rep. Liz Cheney within the GOP continues as a new challenger emerges.   Nirmal Mulaikal is a host-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO A...

The NRCC laid out who Republicans might be targeting in 2022. Tucker Carlson attacks House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy again. And, the White House announces a new refugee cap.   Nirmal Mulaikal is a host-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio.  Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO Audio.