Claim OwnershipThe Playbook Podcast
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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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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 uncertain nuclear negotiations could leave the U.S. stuck in a prolonged war.
Plus, Panetta defends President Biden’s handling of the Israel/Gaza conflict but says Biden “should have been much tougher” in providing weapons for Ukraine.
Leave us a voicemail or shoot us a text with your questions for our first anniversary special: 202-643-1536.
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 at Chicago’s political culture, Pritzker’s rise from donor to power broker, and why Manny’s remains a must-stop on the campaign trail.
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 immigration headliners and the Trump administration's promises on mass deportations. And more on Iran.
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 meeting and what is really at stake. Meanwhile, Trump hosts Brazilian President Lula, who has been very critical of the Iran War, at the Oval Office. And Republicans are back to redrawing maps—this time in Tennessee—where they are threatening the state’s lone Democratic House seat.
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 redistricting war and the division in the Republican Party.
Then, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces questioning over Jeffrey Epstein. And Marco Rubio is headed to Rome to meet Pope Leo XIV after holding a White House press briefing before Operation Freedom was paused.
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 Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down this unusual state senate race. And staying in the Midwest, a well-known ICE official is gunning for a House seat in Ohio—will it work for the Republicans? Plus, the Strait of Hormuz is back in the news.
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 party can find a glimmer of hope, even as gas prices climb, Trump’s economic numbers slip and tensions with Iran add fresh uncertainty to the race for November.
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 President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Sacks approaches the issue with a “let them cook” philosophy. Meaning, he thinks the way for the United States to win the global AI race is to move fast with minimally disruptive regulation. But with that comes a lot of questions about AI disruption to the workforce, who should be held responsible for harm caused by AI platforms, and the fear and division within America over the future of the technology.
Sacks joins Dasha Burns in a wide-ranging interview to discuss it all.
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, inflation continues to climb, and Congress heads out for recess without taking action on the War Powers Resolution.
Playbook’s Adam Wren and Megan Messerly break down party tensions, the economic pressure, and what it all could mean heading into the midterms.
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 work in the GOP favor to redraw voting maps now. Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth heads back to Capitol Hill to face the Senate, where Europe will be a big topic of conversation. And in Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo is running for re-election but President Trump is making it hard for him.
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. Meanwhile, Trump's pick for Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, is set to inherit high interest rates and rising energy costs as Jerome Powell gets ready to leave the post. And in New York City, King Charles meets with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a 9/11 ceremony.
Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly dive into these key developments driving the day.
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 expected to say about US and UK’s relationship. And then, Florida has joined the redistricting wars before the mid-cycle elections. Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a new map that could give the GOP more seats, but it could be an uphill battle.
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 President Donald Trump’s push for a White House ballroom. Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly discuss how attention may shift fast with King Charles III arriving for a rare state visit at a moment of strained U.S.-U.K. relations. Plus on Capitol Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson heads into a punishing stretch as he tries to steer funding, surveillance authorities, and a farm bill through a razor-thin majority.
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 inside the ballroom, the latest confirmed details, and the broader questions about political violence, security, and a country on edge.
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 this dinner — which brings together the president, journalists and celebrities all in one room — is so important in Washington, and what really happens when the cameras are down.
Tammy also shares insider stories from years past involving Barbra Streisand, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kim Kardashian, Pamela Anderson, and more.
1Today, 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 Georgia Senate race.
Plus: Kemp on EVs, economic policy and why he’s staying focused on 2026 — not the White House.
You can find more episodes in the 'On the Road with Jonathan Martin' feed wherever you get your podcasts.
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 Trump’s speech might look like which may include some jokes written by comedians. Plus, there are the parties: the before parties, the after parties, and brunch parties! Dasha and Adam dive into which ones are the most buzzworthy and more.
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 domestic agenda. Playbook's Megan Messerly and Adam Wren dive into the administration's strategy ahead of a challenging midterm cycle. And Senate Republicans are warning anyone in Trump’s Cabinet to quit now especially before November, and the White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend officially kicks off today.
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 next in Florida. Plus, Trump delays Iran peace talks again as top officials head to Capitol Hill to face questions on rising gas prices and the economic impact of the war.
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 nervous, and who could be next. Plus, Trump’s pick for Fed chair faces a high-stakes confirmation hearing under intense scrutiny, and voters in Virginia head to the polls in a closely watched redistricting fight that could shape the midterms.
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Once again I can't take Politico as a serious news outlet when they failed to mention the murder of Renee Good by Trump's Gestapo Nazi regime and instead chose to cover his policy on whole milk, of which he fell asleep - I mean WTF? The man fell asleep in front of a packed room including children and you don't mention it? Seriously?
Once again, Politico manages to trip over itself in an effort to cover for the dysfunctional Trump administration. Dasha claimed that Trump “really knows his base,” yet in the same podcast admitted that many in the MAGA base are furious over his decision to eliminate ACA subsidies. Then there’s the fact that he invited a known terrorist to the White House — another move that outraged his supporters. So which is it? Does he not know his base, or does he simply not care?
It's the Monday after the "No King's" protest in which 7+ million Americans participated and "crickets" from this podcast - amazing.
It never ceases to amaze me how Politico consistently delivers a masterclass in polishing turds. This Trump regime is a slow-motion train wreck that’s destroying real lives, yet Dasha Burns reports as if everything is perfectly normal. Truly astonishing.
I'm from macomb! 😊
I'm supposed to trust a news outfit sponsored by amazon?
The setting he is using on this microphone is making his voice sound like its only consonants. And then he talks 90 MPH and the words grable horribly.
The speaking audio quality is absolutely terrible. Be a professional. Get a microphone. #playbook #politico
we're gonna underestimate the #maga fascists again? @politico
Holy shit slow down when you talk. Can barely understand what some of your sentences say.
why do you call them "the squad"? it's racist & misogynistic. I don't hear anyone giving Manchin or Simena a negative name. do better Politico!
The past 10 Presidents could NOT FIX IMMIGRATION, Harris is supposed to? Biden throwing immigration on her tells me he is either a f_ing idiot or wants to get rid of her. I'm shocked Harris is not better prepared when speaking to the press and after her current answers, I can only deduce that she would make a lousy POTUS. The GOP will destroy her as they did with Hillary & Obama. I want a POTUS who destroys Trumpism.
Go figure the media company that relies on health care advertising is against the politicians who are for cheaper better healthcare for everyone that cuts the profit out. Big surprise.