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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Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. This news comes just days before the release of a hotly anticipated book that promises to reveal information about the former president’s alleged cognitive decline and the lengths that White House staffers and others in his inner circle went to conceal it. Also, President Donald Trump has a diplomatic double-header today with calls to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his latest attempt to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. National politics correspondent and Playbook contributing author Adam Wren joins Playbook managing editor Jack Blanchard to break it all down. Plus, House Republicans voted the Big Beautiful Bill out of the Budget Committee last night, increasing the likelihood of a floor vote before Memorial Day.
As a new book about former President Joe Biden’s cognitive health steamrolls its way through the Washington conversation, a new litmus test is emerging for Democrats with national ambitions: Did Biden, in fact, decline in mental acuity while in office? National politics correspondent and contributing Playbook author Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk it through. Plus, President Donald Trump wraps up his Middle East trip, and the GOP mega-bill is teetering as hard-line conservatives force Speaker Mike Johnson to entertain major changes to the legislative package.
Today, the Supreme Court hears arguably the biggest case of the term. But precisely what is being decided is up for debate. There’s a constitutional question about birthright citizenship. And then there’s a procedural question with wide-reaching implications: Can lower-court judges block federal policies with nationwide injunctions? Depending on how the high court rules, one of the main impediments preventing President Donald Trump from implementing his policy agenda could disappear. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns talk through the case and survey the potential fallout. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is a no-show for peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, and Trump’s Mideast trip comes to a close.
It’s Washington’s buzziest new book, and Joe Biden would probably prefer not to talk about it. And there’s a reason for that: It has ignited a ferocious discourse about the former president’s mental acuity and alleged decline and prompted uncomfortable questions for his former staffers and aides about who knew what and when. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns talk about the D.C. zeitgeist and how it all unfolded. Plus, Trump remains in the Middle East, where his Qatari jet fiasco is only picking up speed.
1President Donald Trump’s well-known love of pomp and grandeur will be on full display today as he makes an official state visit to Saudi Arabia. The kingdom’s royal family is all too eager to woo Trump — especially as other regional powers, like Qatar, very publicly make entreaties — so they’ve pulled out all the stops for a major gathering of business leaders as well as a banquet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. What are insiders looking for from the trip? Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns unpack that and more. Plus, the “one big, beautiful bill” presses forward today on Capitol Hill and the administration braces for new inflation numbers this morning.
It’s the start of a frenzied week for Washington, as President Donald Trump embarks on his first overseas trip of his second term and congressional Republicans unveil sweeping new proposed cuts to spending and taxes (and, likely, Medicaid). Add in a few major geopolitical issues — the end of talks between U.S. and Chinese leaders in Geneva and the start of talks between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul — and you’re beginning to get the shape of it.
What do you need to know about it all? Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and chief Playbook correspondent and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns make sense of the news that will drive the day on this, the pilot episode of “The Playbook Podcast.”
It takes a lot to rip the news cycle away from President Donald Trump. But yesterday, that’s precisely what happened. Shortly after the president unveiled a major new trade deal with the U.K. — something the White House was eager to shine attention on — white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Meet the new pope: Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV. And just as soon as his name was uttered, he was dragged into a partisan battle over his real or imagined personal politics. POLITICO national political correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss.
Last night, President Donald Trump teased an announcement the White House had been waiting for: Trump’s first trade deal since his sweeping tariffs upended the global economy. Who answered Trump’s call? The United Kingdom, the latest chapter in the so-called “special relationship” between the two nations. What does it mean for Trump, for the economy, for the US-UK alliance and for Europe as a whole? Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns discuss.
This morning, Vice President JD Vance will speak at a meeting of world leaders convened in Washington by the Munich Security Conference. The speech is amid a backdrop of rising tensions between India and Pakistan, a Russia-Ukraine war that is dragging on, and seemingly endless tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Back home, officials are bracing both for Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell’s decision on whether to cut interest rates — and President Donald Trump’s reaction to the announcement. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns unpack what they’re watching.
Today, President Donald Trump will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the heels of his recent electoral victory. It’s their first time face to face, even as backlash to Trump in Canada helped propel Carney to power. Is it possible that the two men could actually find some middle ground? Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns discuss what to watch for as the two leaders face off.
If one issue has defined President Donald Trump’s second term, it is the economy. Markets continue to deal with tariff-induced whiplash, and people around the country are bracing for higher prices to hit home. But rather than denying the possible hits to people’s wallets, Trump has taken to projecting a new message: settle for less. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns discuss. Plus, what’s next for Secretary of State Marco Rubio?
Mike Waltz is out as national security adviser (and in as UN ambassador). Elon Musk is eyeing an exit from DOGE. And President Donald Trump continues to plow ahead, now past his first 100 days in office. Do you see all of this action as the fruit of a busy, ambitious administration or as, well, chaos? The White House’s political fortunes may rise or fall depending on which answer prevails among the American electorate. POLITICO national political correspondent Adam Wren and Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton discuss.
More than 100 days into his presidency, Donald Trump isn’t quite ready to claim the economy as his own. The latest GDP figures are underwhelming, markets are still dealing with tariff-induced whiplash and inflation fears are widespread. At what point does the economy become Trump’s for credit or blame? And how is the White House approaching messaging on economic issues at this uncertain moment? Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton joins managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss it all.
In marking his 100th day in office yesterday at a rally in Michigan, President Donald Trump wasn’t just looking backwards — he was projecting forward a vision for how he plans to sell his message to the public and what exactly his case to the American people will look like in 2026 and beyond. During a 90-minute speech, Trump flaunted his successes and downplayed his shortcomings — and the MAGA faithful lapped it up. But what about the rest of America? How will they respond to his message over these next 100 days? Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns discuss.
Today, President Donald Trump marks the 100th day of his second term, a head-spinning period of time that has upended the global order, pushed the bounds of executive power, rattled the economy and reshaped American politics. What mattered, what didn’t and what comes next? POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to unpack it all.
As President Donald Trump gears up to mark his 100th day in office, his administration is beset by challenges. Polls show his approval rating at a historical low for this stage in a presidency. Markets are volatile, no new trade deals have yet been brokered and Americans’ economic outlook has darkened. His immigration agenda is stymied by the court system, with the threat of a larger legal confrontation in the wings. Where do things go from here? And will the White House take this moment as an inflection point or a chance to redouble their efforts? POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss.
The annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is here and Washington is again beset by navel-gazing — that much is not a surprise. But something seems different this year. It’s not just that the president is skipping the affair. It’s not just that the relationship between the White House and the free press is combative. It’s that there’s been a fundamental change in the way the administration approaches the media. And in that, one woman plays a starring role: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. POLITICO national politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss his new profile of her, how the 20-something emerged as a prominent member of Team Trump and what it all means for Washington.
President Donald Trump promised a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in one day. Nearly 100 days into his presidency, it remains elusive — and Trump is now ramping up the pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a deal that many observers see as overly favorable to Russia. What is Ukraine to do? What’s at stake for Europe? And how does it all play out from here? Ahead of a series of key meetings between Trump, his emissaries and European leaders, Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns discuss what to expect.
The White House is attempting to stabilize the economy amid market fluctuations and the complexities of trade negotiations with more than 30 countries. But how long can Trump world say they're making progress with little to show for it? White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss. Plus, the latest on the drama at the Pentagon.
This morning, we’ll get a better look at the state of the world economy through the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Forecast. All signs point to a relatively grim prediction, due in no insignificant part to the tariffs President Donald Trump has leveled against nations around the world. White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss. Plus, the latest on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s future.
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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.