Trump's agenda vs. The GOP's agenda
May 21, 2026
Vote-a-rama could get underway in the Senate today on the Republicans’ second reconciliation bill. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns dig into Republican anxiety over Trump's ballroom, the…
POLITICO’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns bring their fresh insight, analysis and reporting to the biggest story driving the day in the nation’s capital.
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Trump is 3-for-3 on his GOP revenge tour
May 20, 2026
Thomas Massie is ousted in Kentucky, and more Trump-backed candidates from Alabama to Georgia take the win. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren discuss whether Trump’s grip can last through the…
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Super Primary Tuesday, Todd Blanche, and Rubio vs. Vance
May 19, 2026
It's primary day across six states. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly dive into everything to watch — from a potential runoff in Alabama to the Republican scramble to take on Jon Ossoff in…
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Massie vs. Trump, Cuba, and 2028 already?
May 18, 2026
It's the final day of campaigning in Kentucky's primary, where more than $30 million has been spent. Thomas Massie is trying to keep his seat but will his outspokeness about Trump hurt him? Then…
Iran’s exiled crown prince criticizes Trump’s ‘half-baked’ Iran strategy (with Reza Pahlavi) | The Conversation
May 17, 2026
Dasha sits down with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, for a live taping of “The Conversation” at POLITICO’s Security Summit. In a wide-ranging interview, Pahlavi discusses the…
Gloves off: Map wars and where’s the beef?
May 15, 2026
New polling shows voters actually want the gerrymandering wars — and it has big implications for 2026. Plus, ground beef is nearing $7 a pound and the White House just quietly shelved its plan to fix…
Trump in China: Pageantry and high-stakes meetings
May 14, 2026
POLITICO White House reporter Alex Gangitano joins the Playbook Podcast from Beijing, where she’s traveling with Donald Trump during his first state visit to China in nearly a decade. With host Jack…
James Blair and the Nebraska Dem who may drop out
May 13, 2026
Playbook’s Dasha Burns shares highlights from her one-on-one interview with James Blair, the head of the Republican midterm strategy, for a look at how the White House sees the road to November…
Nebraska’s strangest race and another new map
May 12, 2026
It's primary day in Nebraska, and this might be one of the strangest senate races we’ve seen in a while. Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns also unpack the Republican redistricting wave gaining momentum…
Beijing, Iran and GOP's 12 seats
May 11, 2026
President Trump heads to Beijing for his first visit since 2017, but the shadow of Iran looms large over his talks with Xi Jinping. Playbook's Jack Blanhard and Dasha Burns discuss what's really on…
Trump is ‘stuck in a stalemate’ in Iran (with Leon Panetta) | The Conversation
May 10, 2026
Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary and CIA director under President Obama, joins Dasha Burns to assess the U.S. conflict with Iran, warning that unclear objectives, a closed Strait of Hormuz and…
Can JB Pritzker be the Democrats’ anti-Trump in 2028? | On The Road
May 09, 2026
Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Chicago’s iconic Manny’s Deli for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the Democratic Party -- and his own. Plus: a look…
The message-less White House, immigration tensions, and Iran
May 08, 2026
The White House claims it has a midterm message — but nobody seems to know what it is. Adam Wren dives into the GOP's messaging confusion. Then Megan Messerly discusses the tension between…
From Rome to the Oval Office to Tennessee
May 07, 2026
Marc Rubio is at the Vatican to smooth things over with Pope Leo XIV after weeks of tension with the White House. Playbook’s Dasha Burns and Jack Blanchard discuss the political importance of this…
MAGA retakes Indiana
May 06, 2026
In Indiana, most of President Trump's endorsed primary opponents beat GOP state legislators. Playbook's Adam Wren tells Jack Blanchard what all of this means, including the future of the nationwide…
Trump put to the test in the Midwest
May 05, 2026
Playbook heads to the Midwest. All eyes are on Indiana as voters hit the polls for the primary. It will be Trump’s big first test to see if his power still holds with the Republican Party. Jack…
‘Warning signs are flashing’: GOP anxiety builds with six months to midterms
May 04, 2026
With six months to go until the midterm elections, the political picture is sharpening — and it’s a tough one for Republicans. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns run through six reasons each…
Can AI solve the problems it creates? (with David Sacks) | The Conversation
May 03, 2026
David Sacks has played a key role in shaping AI policy for the Trump administration. He was formerly the White House AI and crypto czar. Now, he’s the co-chair of the President’s Co-Chair of the…
Party tensions and 60 days of war
May 01, 2026
Chuck Schumer is dealing with internal blowback from some Democrats as key midterm battles heat up. Meanwhile, the Iran war hits the 60-day mark with Americans still feeling the pain at the pump…
Back to the maps with SCOTUS, more Pete Hegseth, and a governor’s dilemma
Apr 30, 2026
The Supreme Court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act will be felt in election cycles but maybe not as early as November. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly discuss if this decision will…
Pete Hegseth in the hot seat, the latest Fed drama, and King Charles goes to NYC
Apr 29, 2026
Starting today, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth takes the hot seat in two rare back-to-back sessions with Congress–the Iran War will be top of mind for the lawmakers meeting with Hegseth…
The British king meets Congress and Florida’s new map
Apr 28, 2026
It’s day two of King Charles III official state visit. Today he will address Congress in a bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly break down what the King is…
Security under scrutiny at WHCD and a royal visit to the White House
Apr 27, 2026
Washington is still reeling as the suspect in Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner scare makes a court appearance, fueling fresh scrutiny of event security and giving new urgency to…
'Shaken' but 'grateful to be safe': Shooting at the WHCD
Apr 26, 2026
After gunfire disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Playbook goes live in a breaking Sunday edition to process what happened. Adam Wren and Dasha Burns share their firsthand experience…
Behind the velvet rope at White House Correspondents' Dinner (with Tammy Haddad) | The Conversation
Apr 26, 2026
Go behind the scenes of White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend with Tammy Haddad, a veteran TV executive and one of DC’s ultimate social connectors. POLITICO's Dasha Burns and Tammy unpack why…
Gov. Brian Kemp’s blunt warning for Republicans | On The Road
Apr 25, 2026
Today, we're bringing you a new episode of 'On the Road' with Jonathan Martin. Last week, Jonathan sat down with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) at the Masters to talk Trump, 2028 and the upcoming…
It's WHCD weekend! Parties, politics and Trump’s big debut
Apr 24, 2026
All of D.C. is gearing up for the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend. It will be President Trump’s first time attending the event ever as president. Dasha Burns and Adam Wren share what…
A warning to Cabinet officials and pressure from Senate GOP
Apr 23, 2026
More Cabinet news this week—White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is tightening the reins on international travel for all Cabinet members, urging officials to focus on promoting the administration's…
Maps, midterms and another Trump plan for Iran
Apr 22, 2026
Democrats score a major redistricting win in Virginia that could flip four House seats blue. Jack and Dasha break down what it means for the midterms, why Republicans are getting uneasy and what’s…
A cabinet exit, a Fed fight, and a big Virginia vote
Apr 21, 2026
Trump’s cabinet shakeup continues, with Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer out — the third high-level exit in just weeks. Dasha and Jack break down what’s driving the firings, why allies are getting…