CNN Politics

On Thursday, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will debate each other live on CNN, the earliest general election debate in US history. The debate is being held at a CNN studio in the key swing state of Georgia, which helped deliver the presidency to Biden in 2020. In this episode, we go inside the debate studio to preview the event and hear from Atlanta-area voters about what they want to hear from the candidates (if they'll even be watching). Guest: David Chalian, CNN Political Director Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: With CNN's historic presidential debate just 33 hours away, we share new insights from the Biden and Trump teams, and reveal a behind-the-scenes look inside the debate hall. Plus: A Supreme decision on free speech, as the highest court in the land rejects a Republican lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's efforts to combat misinformation on social media. And: One of the most aggressive Democrats in Congress is out of a job. What does that mean for the future of the "squad" and for Democrats on the ballot in November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: We're just two days away from Joe Biden and Donald Trump going face-to-face on the CNN debate stage. We will bring you new reporting on how the candidates are preparing for the momentous event that could define the entire race. Plus: In the most expensive House primary ever, voters are choosing today between liberal Congressman Jamaal Bowman and his more moderate opponent. And: The supreme weight the court is nearly a dozen pieces left and just a few days left until the term ends on them, isn't opinion that impacts now just donald trump. But every present that will ever sit in The oval office Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Marking two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Joe Biden says Donald Trump is responsible and warns he'll go even further if he's back in the Oval Office. Plus: Tough and nasty or nice and calm? The former president is testing out those debate strategies and asking supporters to weigh in, while his successor spent the week behind closed doors with top advisers preparing for the biggest night of the campaign. And: Debate nights are all about the moments that can propel or to torpedo a campaign. Manu discusses with former top aides to both candidates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than 158,000 Republicans cast Pennsylvania primary votes for Nikki Haley nearly two months after she quit the race for president. That’s enough votes to swing a state critical to victory in November – and Haley had similar showings in other battlegrounds. So, how do these critical swing voters choose between Joe Biden and Donald Trump – two candidates they do not like? In the first installment of a three-part series, CNN Chief National Correspondent John King travels to Pennsylvania to hear Haley voters share their doubts about Biden, Trump, and the future of the Republican Party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Crunch time. Biden zeroes in, while Trump hits the trail with just four days left. Plus: Great expectations. Two pollsters break down the candidates' targets. We have new reporting on a key vulnerability for Biden. And: Rough draft. Could Congress expand conscription to women? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On CNN’s State of the Union, potential Trump VP pick North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum sits down with guest anchor Kaitlan Collins to preview the upcoming CNN debate, as well as Trump’s search for a running mate. Kaitlan also presses Burgum for repeatedly claiming that the US is a “dictatorship” under President Biden. Next, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul joins Kaitlan to discuss her advice for President Biden ahead of the debate, as well as controversial comments by a top progressive in the House who’s locked in a tight re-election fight. Then, former Obama adviser David Axelrod and former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker join Kaitlan to break down what they think the candidates should do in the debate. Finally, David Urban, Jamal Simmons, Bakari Sellers, and Alyssa Farah Griffin join Kaitlan to preview the debate and break down the different strategies Trump and Biden might take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Joe Biden has announced an amnesty program for some undocumented spouses and children of U.S. citizens. It’s one of the biggest protections for undocumented immigrants since President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This comes after the President aimed to limit protections for asylum-seekers who cross the border illegally, earlier in June. CNN senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak joins David Chalian to explain the President’s policy whiplash, break down the new amnesty program, and discuss the response from Republicans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: The Trump campaign brought in a boatload of cash in May. Could that reshape the final months of the 2024 campaign? And why is the former president singing a new tune about Joe Biden's ability to debate? Plus: The Supreme Court keeps in place gun restrictions that prevent domestic abusers from owning firearms. But the justices keep the country waiting on the other big cases on the docket. And: which Donald trump do you believe? The former president who said "buy American, hire American" now says foreign students who graduate from college should be rubber stamped for a green card. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: One week out from the crucial CNN presidential debate, we're getting breaking details about what it will look like, who will talk last, and how it was all settled. Plus: The Supreme Court issues four decisions but holds back blockbuster opinions on Donald Trump, executive power, insurrectionists, and abortion. And: US officials warn all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah could render the iron dome a scrap keep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Today is Juneteenth, a day to commemorate the end of slavery and an awful chapter in US history. Politics, of course, are part of it too, with the Biden campaign highlighting what it calls flagrant racism from Donald Trump. Plus: Trump says he'll rip up and throw out Joe Biden's new immigration plans on day one of a second term. And: Just 345 votes separate an ultraconservative congressman and his Trump-endorsed challenger in a bitter Virginia Republican primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: The White House is unveiling a new plan to shield undocumented immigrants married to US citizens from being deported. The president's campaign hopes it'll please the very same people he angered with more aggressive border rules he announced just two weeks ago. Plus: In his new memoir, Dr. Anthony Fauci describes his complicated relationship with Donald Trump. We bring you part of his conversation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about how difficult it was to correct the former president in front of the American people. And: Why are so many Republicans turning on one of the most conservative members of Congress? Hint: In today's GOP, don't piss off Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can we learn about the future of our elections from political prediction markets? Audie calls up Thomas Gurca, Director of Iowa Electronic Markets (IEM), an online futures market that includes political betting. He explains what makes prediction markets different from traditional gambling and how IEM continues to predict presidential elections with better accuracy than the polls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: "A convicted criminal who's only out for himself." That's how the Biden campaign is labeling Donald Trump in a new ad as the current president leans into attacking the former president for his 34 felony convictions. Plus: Who wants to be a running mate? Countless Republicans are vying to be on the ticket with Donald Trump, but only one contender was chosen as the favorite at a conservative conference this weekend. And: The surgeon general is warning that the threat of social media to children is so dire that it needs a warning label just like cigarettes and alcohol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: On the attack. Trump throws red meet to the base, and consolidates support. While Biden courts seniors and raises millions with Hollywood stars. Plus: Final countdown. Just 11 days till CNN’s debate, the decisions and verdicts hanging over it all. And: Soccer Tsunami. Why Washington is nervous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On CNN’s State of the Union, Jake Tapper sits down with potential Trump VP pick Sen. Tom Cotton. Jake presses Cotton over Trump’s comments on supporting Ukraine and suggesting he would consider blanket pardons for all January 6 rioters. Next, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy joins Jake to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, as well as to share his reflections on Sandy Hook shooting survivors graduating from high school. Finally, Scott Jennings, Ashley Allison, Shermichael Singleton, and Ashley Etienne join Jake to react to Trump’s pitch to Black voters in Michigan, as well as the Biden campaign’s efforts to neutralize concerns over President Biden’s age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, a federal jury found President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, guilty on three federal felony gun charges. Will this impact Biden’s 2024 campaign? And how does this case compare, if at all, to the Trump trials? CNN Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent Paula Reid joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to unpack this historic week few weeks of legal news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: It's Donald Trump's 78th birthday. He says he wants to pretend the day doesn't exist, but it does, and it highlights one of the biggest issues of this election. Plus: The Supreme Court strikes down a ban on bump stocks, the device used in the deadliest mass shooting in American history. And: The lesser of three evils. That's how some voters who backed Trump in 2016 and the Biden in 2020 explain why they're choosing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From darkened streetlights and abandoned homes to pervasive graffiti and long waits for emergency services, Mayor Mike Duggan inherited a Detroit rife with problems, but also potential. Since he took office in 2014, Mayor Duggan has helmed a turnaround for the city, overseeing rising standards of living and significant economic growth. Mayor Duggan joined David at the newly re-opened Michigan Central to talk about the revitalization of Detroit, how Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer would fare as a presidential candidate, and the deeply felt ramifications of the Israel-Gaza war in his home state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court has upheld access to abortion pills like mifepristone, which have become the most common way to end a pregnancy. It was a unanimous ruling -- the first major decision on abortion since SCOTUS overturned Roe vs. Wade two years ago -- and a big setback for the anti-abortion movement in the courts. Our coverage begins with CNN's Supreme Court analyst Joan Biskupic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: President Biden embraces his son, both literally and figuratively, after his three felony convictions. We look at the fallout for the first family and the Biden campaign. Plus: David Axelrod joins us to talk about whether his party needs to do more to reach out to disaffected Republicans, especially with so many progressives turning away from Biden over the war in Gaza. And: The cost of housing is still soaring, and that's a big reason why so many Americans feel badly about the economy, despite news today that overall inflation is slowing down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Bannon, the standard-bearer of “MAGA media,” is set to report to federal prison on July 1st for refusing to comply with January 6 Committee subpoenas. He’s the latest in a growing list of Trump allies to face legal prosecution in defense of the former president. Bannon used the moment to paint himself as a martyr, a strategy which CNN Political Reporter Sara Murray says is in line with Donald Trump’s own plans to foment a wave of grievance through his sentencing in the Manhattan “hush money” trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's show begins just after a jury finds Hunter Biden guilty on federal gun charges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Closing arguments begin in Hunter Biden's federal gun trial, which means the first son's fate will likely be in the hands of a jury as soon as today. CNN is inside the courtroom to bring you all the developments. Plus: Donald Trump is to meet with his probation officer. We have new details on his pre-sentencing interview and what it could mean for potential prison time. And: On the campaign trail, Trump continues to claim undocumented immigrants are destroying our country. Are those comments playing with the Latino voters he's trying to court? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash asks National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan about Israel’s successful raid to rescue four hostages kidnapped on October 7th, as well as reports of hundreds of Palestinian casualties as a result of the operation. Next, Trump VP hopeful South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem tells Dana that it would be “beneficial” for Trump to pick a woman as his running mate. After that, Dana asks Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer about concerns RFK Jr.’s candidacy could hurt Biden in her critical state. Finally, Scott Jennings, Karen Finney, Bryan Lanza, and Rep. Ro Khanna join Dana to discuss what Trump should be looking for in a potential running mate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taking a stand. Israel makes a move in Gaza and President Biden tries to outshine Donald Trump overseas. While at home, the Vice President calls Trumps conviction disqualifying, and exclusive details on a new plan to further overhaul immigration and quell progressives concerns. Plus, retribution. New reporting as Republicans promise payback. And, perseverance. A rising Democratic star confronts a debilitating terminal diagnoses, our exclusive sit-down ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Biden's message to the world while commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy invasion is that he refuses to believe "America's greatness is a thing of the past." While he never said the word "Trump" he implicitly warned of the threat to democracy the former president brings. Meanwhile, Trump is using his guilty verdict on 34 counts to rile up his base on the campaign trail as some swing state voters tells CNN they don't care about what happened in that New York courtroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: President Biden is issuing that warning to America and its allies while overlooking the beach which is of Normandy, as he uses the 80th anniversary of D-Day to call on the global community to stand up for democracy. Once again, CNN is live in France with all the development. Plus: New CNN reporting on Team Biden's plan to win over Republicans who don't like Donald Trump, voters that Democrats hope could be the holy grail for the president in November. And: Donald Trump is back on the trail and heading to a very blue city, San Francisco. We're going to tell you why the former president and some big tech billionaires are getting cozy. A hint: it involves their giant bank accounts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Progressive Democrats are blasting Joe Biden for his executive order enforcing sweeping new restrictions on the southern border. Moderate Dems, under the same political pressure as Biden, say it had to be done. Plus: Hunter Biden's ex-wife takes the stand, detailing the First Son's struggle with addiction. We bring you the latest from inside the courtroom. And: Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman joins the show to talk about what Joe Biden needs to do to win that crucial swing state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: President Biden is unveiling his most aggressive move yet to stop illegal immigration by sharply restricting asylum claims. His move has prompted bipartisan backlash is bipartisan. Plus: "I will not be intimidated," Attorney General Merrick Garland told Congress today, pushing back on the Republicans who baselessly accused him of "weaponizing" the DOJ. And: The Hunter Biden trial is underway. We have new details on the prosecution's case and how personal and uncomfortable it's likely to get for the president's son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Joe Biden finds himself in the complicated position of commander in chief, candidate for reelection, and concerned father as his son sits inside of Delaware courtroom facing criminal charges. Plus: Donald Trump's conviction on criminal charges rallies Republicans to his side, while Democrats are divided on whether branding Trump with a convicted felon label helps or hurts their chances at defeating him in November. And: Dr. Anthony Fauci returns to Capitol Hill, where Republicans are grilling him on his tough and controversial decisions during the Covid pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On CNN’s State of the Union, Kasie Hunt presses RNC co-chair Lara Trump on Donald Trump's historic guilty verdict. Then, Rep. Adam Schiff condemns a “dangerous appeal to violence” from Donald Trump post-verdict. Next, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu tells Kasie that he does not want the Republican presidential nominee to be convicted of anything but will vote for Trump anyway. Finally, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Scott Jennings, Kristen Soltis Anderson and Bakari Sellers join Kasie to discuss the fallout from Donald Trump's convictions and the state of the 2024 race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Criminal appeal. Trumps conviction injects uncertainty into the presidential race. The former President faces potential prison time, and a tide of support. How is his verdict reverberating nationwide? Plus, reckless. Biden breaks his silence on the trial. Can Democrats capitalise on the conviction? And, one-on-one. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy joins us in an exclusive interview on the fallout from this week and the infighting plaguing the GOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In-depth analysis of the testimony of key witness Michael Cohen, the former "fixer" for Donald Trump from CNN Chief Legal analyst and her team. Cohen testifies about the "hush money" payments he made, as well as why business records were allegedly altered to hide them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates and CNN's brightest legal minds examine the testimony of Stormy Daniels, the payments to whom are at the center of the charges against former president Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates walks the audience through an analysis of the testimony of former White House aide Hope Hicks - as she is asked about Donald Trump and his campaign's reaction to stories including: Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, and the Access Hollywood tape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates and a team of legal minds break down the testimony of the former publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, who had a "catch-and-kill" agreement with Donald Trump, where his company would purchase, and then silence negative stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Manhattan courtroom is again setting the agenda for the 2024 campaign. A jury is deliberating, weighing and measuring the facts presented by the prosecutors and whether they made a convincing-enough case to convict Donald Trump. The 12 jurors spent the morning listening to a court reporter read pivotal excerpts from the testimony of Michael Cohen and former tabloid publisher David Pecker. CNN's Kristen Holmes starts our coverage outside the courthouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial heading into final arguments, it’s the perfect time to have Katelyn Polantz, CNN’s Senior Reporter for Crime and Justice, give a full review of the many trials of the former president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready for a history-making week in American politics. By the end of it, the jury of 12 ordinary American citizens may actually finish their deliberations and decide whether to make Donald Trump a convicted felon. No matter the outcome, both the Trump and Biden campaigns will have huge, strategic decisions to make on how much, if at all, to focus on that verdict in the final months before election day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Trump was loudly booed as he asks for Libertarians’ votes, during their convention. How is Trump’s hush money trial resonating with voters? Plus: The prosecution and defense teams gear up for crucial final hours in Trump’s hush money trial. And: Two years after the deadly school shooting in Uvalde Texas, Rep. Tony Gonzales fights for his job over gun vote. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash asks potential Trump VP pick Sen. Tim Scott about Trump's false rhetoric surrounding the FBI search for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Then, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gives his take on the 2024 presidential election and Hillary Clinton’s criticism for Democrats on abortion. And former Congressman Patrick Kennedy endorses Joe Biden over his cousin Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Finally, Scott Jennings, Shermichael Singleton, Kate Bedingfield and Rahna Epting join Dana to break down the jeers and cheers during Trump’s night at the Libertarian Party convention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: "Unhinged" and "power hungry." That's how the Biden campaign is describing Donald Trump in a new campaign ad. Their strategy is clear, but it's a message that doesn't seem to be translating in the polls. Dana asks a top Biden campaign aide why they think this will work. Plus: Campaigning in the Bronx, one of the most diverse areas in the country, the former president tries to make inroads with Black and Latino voters crucial to Biden's coalition. And: Abortion drugs could soon be classified as dangerous controlled substances in Louisiana, which means people with those pills who don't have a prescription could face prison time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inflation is at the top of the list of Americans’ election concerns, but how is the economy actually doing? It depends on who you ask - Republicans are hammering President Joe Biden over inflation rates, while Democrats point to low jobless rates and strong wage growth. CNN economics reporter Elisabeth Buchwald joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to explain Americans’ views of the economy versus reality, and how all of this will impact both Biden and former President Trump’s election efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Nikki Haley makes official what was long assumed: that she'll pick Trump over Biden despite the former president's racist and sexist taunts, not to mention his attack on her husband while he was serving his country overseas. Plus: He did it again. The New York Times reports that Justice Samuel Alito flew a flag used by Stop the Steal supporters and some Christian nationalists above his second home. And: We bring you a rare White House news conference from President Biden after he meets with the president of Kenya. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: Former President Donald Trump is now backtracking after suggesting he's open to restrictions on birth control, and he deleted a social media video that referred to a "unified Reich" if he wins. Plus: Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries may not have the Speaker's gavel, but he could be the most powerful person in the House anyway. New CNN reporting on how he's seizing on the GOP's fractured majority to score wins. And: Exasperated, underwhelmed and indifferent. That's how some swing voters are saying Joe Biden makes them feel. How big a problem is it for the president? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A mere 500 feet away from the site of People of New York v. Trump, another political legacy is on the line in a courtroom. Democrat Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who sidestepped corruption charges due to a mistrial in 2017, is under federal indictment again, and the timing couldn’t be worse for Senate Democrats trying to maintain control of the chamber. Gregory Krieg is covering the Menendez trial for CNN and he’ll highlight this blockbuster case that’s been completely overshadowed by the Trump show next door. CNN: 4 big questions as Bob Menendez’s corruption trial enters its second week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On CNN’s State of the Union, Jake Tapper presses Democratic Sen. John Fetterman on Biden's slipping support in Pennsylvania. Then, 2024 potential Trump VP pick Dr. Ben Carson tells Jake that he would love to debate Vice President Kamala Harris. Next, Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett tells Jake Tapper that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comment during a late-night committee hearing about her eyelashes was “buying into a racist trope.” Also, Bakari Sellers, Ashley Allison, Brad Todd, and Alyssa Farah Griffin join Jake to discuss Joe Biden's push to appeal to Black voters, the state of the 2024 race and the latest scandal from a Supreme Court Justice. Finally, Jake, Ashley and Alyssa reflect on the life and legacy of their friend and member of the CNN family, Alice Stewart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Courting controversy. Yesterday, President Biden took to the stage at an historically black college as he struggles with young and black voters. And debating the debates. Biden and Trump agree to go head-to-head. How the historic face-offs can shake up the race. Plus, final hours. Trump’s trial nears its end as Republicans flock to Manhattan and Democrats dodge when it comes to their own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: President Joe Biden spoke at African American history museum, commemorating the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education in an effort to bolster crucial support among Black voters. Plus: Israeli military recovers the bodies of three hostages in a tunnel in Gaza. Jeremy Diamond reports from Jerusalem. And: A New York Times report outside Justice Alito’s home displaying a “Stop The Sea;” flag after January 6. And a House committee hearing devolves into chaos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices