The Playbook Podcast

Donald Trump had some wins this weekend — further signs he is cementing his grip on the GOP and exacting revenge on those Republicans who supported his impeachment. 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 Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 37 GOP senators will call on the Education Department today to stop a proposed rule that invokes the 1619 Project — the latest turn in the culture wars.  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.

President Joe Biden's first 100 days have been defined by a blitz of government expansion — some $6 trillion worth of actual and proposed spending. 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.  

President Joe Biden is backing down from a fight with two of Washington’s most powerful trade groups: the pharmaceutical industry and the health insurance lobby. 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.

Some of you will quibble that Fox News host Tucker Carlson lost it long ago. But as careful students of his evening show, we’ve noticed that Carlson has gradually become more unhinged in recent weeks. 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 President Joe Biden set to unveil his trillion-dollar-plus “American Families Plan” before a joint session of Congress Wednesday night, he’s under intense pressure from Democratic constituencies who want their priorities included — and even better, highlighted in the speech. Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO Audio. Irene...

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin made waves when he endorsed Republican colleague and friend Sen. Susan Collins for reelection in 2020. Now he’s making more in Playbook Deep Dive, a new weekly podcast launching this morning.  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.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris promised the Floyd family and the nation that the verdict was just a first step. But it’s now in Congress’ hands, not exactly a confidence-inspiring group for people hoping to see reform. 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...

SPOTTED: Nikki Haley in Miami, meeting with Mayor Francis Suarez at City Hall. Here's what you need to know for today.  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.

Get ready for a big two weeks from the Biden administration: bipartisan infrastructure talks today, a major Covid and vaccine update speech from President Joe Biden on Wednesday, and a two-day climate summit starting on Earth Day this Thursday when Biden will announce America’s 2030 emissions target. Here's what you need to know.  Olivia Reingold is an editor-producer for POLITICO Audio. Jenny Ame...

Democrats are already playing furious musical chairs to score one of the precious few seats at Biden’s joint address — and we're told the situation is downright contentious.

Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are some of the most influential Democrats in the entire party, but they’re more rivals than allies. Plus: Republicans have a counteroffer in the works to Biden's $2 trillion-plus infrastructure-jobs plan.

“It’s a f---ing nightmare," says one staffer working for members of the G-10. Plus: votes in Congress today on reparations and confronting the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Five of the top Democratic polling firms have joined forces to try to explain, once and for all, what went wrong in 2020 — when they predicted victories for the party up and down the ballot that never materialized.

The wife of the late Sen. John McCain would be the administration’s first Republican appointee to a Senate-confirmed position. Plus: The Senate is barreling toward the first possible legislative filibuster of 2021.

Playbook Deep Dive is a new weekly podcast from Politico — for the stories that seem stranger-than-fiction, but are all too real. Underneath all the theater, backstabbing and strategy in D.C. are colorful characters and real life consequences. You know those stories that stop you in your tracks? That's what we're going to tell each week. Featuring Playbook authors, reporters from all across the Po...

Activists are stepping up their SCOTUS calls today, saying Justice Stephen Breyer should help reinvigorate the court the way only he can — by resigning. Plus: It's Budget Day on the Hill. Here's what you need to know.

Here's what to expect from Biden's long-awaited announcement today on guns. Plus: GOP donors are fretting over Trump’s influence as they descend on Palm Beach.

An extremely D.C. fight is breaking out over a question that’s about to dominate politics: What is infrastructure?

One fewer thorn in Cheney's side in Washington doesn't necessarily change her political fortunes in Wyoming. Plus: The Senate parliamentarian just changed the game for Biden's first-year agenda.

What happens in the next few weeks to Biden’s $2 trillion-plus spending plan could determine the course of his first two years in office. And so far, all signs are pointing to a second reconciliation bill.

Backlash against Georgia's sweeping new voting restrictions, news from our sit-down with Ron Klain and the latest on Gaetz-gate. Plus: Playbook dishes on former House Speaker John Boehner's scorching new book.

Biden will formally pull back the curtain today on his multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan — his first swing at a victory both Trump and Obama failed to deliver.

Lawmakers are fighting tooth and nail to get their priorities included in the massive infrastructure bill Biden's set to unveil tomorrow. That's put one guy at the center of it all: Ron Klain.

If there were a one-sentence takeaway from President Joe Biden's first press conference, this may be it. Plus: What the Senate has teed up after recess.