The Conversation with Dasha Burns

The Nerdcast has a stacked show this week as we get Natasha Bertrand to take us inside two prank calls to Sen. Lindsey Graham that fly in the face of his recent comments on Turkey, the Kurds and Syria. Plus, Nancy Cook, Holly Otterbein and Daniel Strauss join guest host Charlie Mahtesian to chat about what's new in impeachment and why next week's Democratic debate might actually be kind of fun. Please note this episode contains an explicit word. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Nerdcast sits down with Politico's Nancy Cook and Ben Weyl to go inside Trump's impeachment bunker and Pelosi's war room. Plus, get up to speed on what's going on in 2020 land: Iowa. Elena Schneider, Natasha Korecki and Charlie Mahtesian join Scott to chat about the importance of Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and a local steak fry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) helped kick off the latest phase of the House Democrats' impeachment debate when she and six other moderate members of Congress said that Donald Trump's contact with Ukraine could constitute an impeachable offense. She reflected on the weight of what that means in a raw and emotional interview with POLITICO's Michael Kruse, and Michael joins the show to share his observations. Plus: how'd we get here? POLITICO's Natasha Bertrand takes us through the timeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Nerdcast sits down with Politico's Natasha Bertrand and Ben Shreckinger to find out what's going on at Turnberry, President Trump's luxury golf resort in Scotland where the U.S. Air Force has lodged its crews. Plus, Darren Samuelsohn tells the story of a "zombie" congressional impeachment memo: one that Hillary Clinton helped craft in 1974, was used 20 years later as a blueprint in impeachment proceedings against President Clinton and today has new life breathed into it during impeachment discussions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Nerdcast team breaks down a key moment from Thursday's democratic presidential debate -- when former HUD Secretary Julian Castro took a swipe at Joe Biden's memory. Plus, a look at how Elizabeth Warren became Elizabeth Warren, and how she made so many enemies in the Obama Administration in the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Nerdcast with guest host John Harris: The presidential campaign may feel like it’s been going on forever, but it’s about to enter a new phase. POLITICO founding editor John Harris joined reporters Holly Otterbein, Natasha Korecki and David Siders to talk about why authenticity is so elusive, whether the left is ascendant in the Democratic party, and why candidate selfies are all the rage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with Scott Bland: More than half of the Democratic presidential field got bounced from the party’s debate circuit Wednesday night, but they’re not meekly exiting stage left. POLITICO campaign reporter Elena Schneider explains what actions they might take against the DNC’s debate rules. Also, voters across the country — from California to Pennsylvania to Massachusetts — grilled House Democrats on the potential impeachment of President Donald Trump at a series of events this month. POLITICO reporter Sarah Ferris describes what she observed on the ground at town halls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with Scott Bland: White House reporter Nancy Cook explains how the Trump administration may be putting on a happy face in public, but in private, they’re worrying about a global economic slowdown triggering a U.S. recession. Also, White House reporter Daniel Lippman looks inside the president's feud with Tom Barrack, on of his closest friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: Evangelicals chafe at Trump’s blasphemy— POLITICO White House reporter Gabby Orr explains why. Also, POLITICO's senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian joins national politics reporters Chris Cadelago and Natasha Korecki to break down what's happening on the ground in Iowa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with guest-host Blake Hounshell: Over his decades in office, ‘Middle-Class Joe’s’ family fortunes have closely tracked his political career. We have POLITICO's Ben Schreckinger on to discuss his investigation on former Vice President Joe Biden's family finances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: POLITICO national political reporter Elena Schneider and senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian break down who came out on top in this week's democratic debates. Also: A divided Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates for the first time in more than a decade. What’s that mean and why does it matter? POLITICO financial services reporter Victoria Guida explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cory Booker, in search of his first bona fide “moment” as he tries to work his way up in the presidential race, came ready to lunge into his critique of Joe Biden’s new criminal justice proposal as too little, too late to fix the problem of mass incarceration, after Biden’s authorship of punitive crime legislation in the ‘90s. POLITICO national political reporter Chris Cadelago joins host Scott Bland to analyze an important moment from round two of the second Democratic debate on Tuesday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You're wrong" for criticizing “Medicare for All,” Sen. Bernie Sanders told former Rep. John Delaney in the first answer of the night — setting up an evening of conflict between the left and the center. POLITICO health care reporter Dan Diamond joins host Scott Bland to analyze an important moment from round one of the second Democratic debate on Tuesday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special episode of the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland, POLITICO White House reporter Chris Cadelago on the things he'll be watching for during this week's debates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Congressional appearance by Robert S. Mueller III landed with a thud, so what's next for Democrats itching to impeach the president? Sarah Ferris from POLITICO's Congressional team joins the show to explain why Nancy Pelosi's team is maintaining a united front in public, even if they're arguing behind closed doors. Plus, POLITICO's Chief Economic Correspondent Ben White breaks down how the president's advisers are trying to safeguard the long-running economic boom, even if it means walking away from their opposition to deficit spending. We take a look inside the "do no harm" caucus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland, POLITICO White House reporter Gabby Orr and Congressional reporter Heather Caygle explain the fallout of President Trump's racist tweets. Also: POLITICO national political reporter David Siders on why a big shrink to the democratic primary field might be coming soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on a special edition of Nerdcast with Scott Bland: Tim Alberta, chief political correspondent for POLITICO Magazine, talks about his forthcoming book AMERICAN CARNAGE: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: We examine some of the front-runners who have begun to emerge for Democrats, particularly on the left of the party. POLITICO's National political reporters Holly Otterbein and Alex Thompson check on the 2020 race. Also: What would you ask Robert Mueller, if you got the chance? POLITICO's national security correspondent Natasha Bertrand and POLITICO's legal affairs analyst Josh Gerstein discuss what might happen on Capitol HIll for Robert Mueller. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: The Supreme Court had a busy week, ruling on two cases that have big political implications. First, immigration reporter Ted Hesson joins to explain how a road block has been put in the path of implementing a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Then, Scott and Charlie talk about the ruling on partisan gerrymandering. In the second segment, national political reporter Natasha Korecki explains where the democratic presidential candidates stand in the first week post-debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The California senator came prepared to prosecute a case against the front-runner. We analyze an important moment from Thursday night's Democratic debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Warren seemed to make her fullest embrace of Bernie Sanders’s healthcare plan, but did she leave herself room to change her mind. We analyze an important moment from Wednesday’s night Democratic debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: It’s debate night in America! Well, it will be next week, and we’re giving you a preview! Two Politico reporters who are debate experts at this point join the show. Then, centrists who used to fear Warren was the end of the party are starting to levitate towards her. We've got two reporters who just attended an event aimed at centrists coming on to break down how Warren has become a palatable candidate for a group that once eviscerated her in an op-ed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: The president isn't so sure that he would call the FBI if he was approached with information about his competitors from foreign actors. Or maybe he would. A White House reporter explains the president's bizarre statement. Then, a 2020 reporter breaks down why Senator Sanders is doubling down on socialism. Plus, Mitch McConnell may have benefited from his wife Elaine Chao's position as the secretary of transportation. And he's proud of it! The reporters who broke the story join the Nerdcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with guest-host Charlie Mahtesian: the minds of POLITICO's White House and trade team to help you understand what’s happening with a looming trade war with Mexico. Also: The president scored surprising wins in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan in 2016. He’s shooting for New Hampshire, New Mexico and Nevada in 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: A deep dive into Elizabeth Warren’s campaign strategy with a politico reporter who was on the trail with her and the new qualifying rules for the second set of democratic debates are out. And the candidates hate them! We've got some of POLITICO's campaigns reporters coming in to explain what's going on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: a surprising figure has come forward in the impeach trump movement…and no one seems happy about it! Correspondant Tim Alberta joins Scott to talk about it. Plus Scott sits down with some of POLITICO’s national political reporters to talk about 2020 campaign strategies. They’re all over the place. They explain the thinking behind the candidates' decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for a new episode of the Nerdcast, with host Scott Bland. This week on the show: Joe Biden has been touting a new plan on the trail this week that pundits have absolutely trashed. But voters might actually love it… we’ll talk about the what the plan is and the why people are loving it (and hating it) with POLITICO reporter Marc Caputo. Plus, Scott sits down with some of POLITICO’s health care reporters to talk about the major anti-abortion bills that are passing in state legislatures around the country right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the show this week, a packed democratic presidential field makes getting a spot on the debate stage a challenge for candidates, so some of them have completely changed their campaign strategies in hopes of securing a spot. POLITICO national political reporter Elena Schneider joins the show to talk about the requirements for getting onto the stage, and how democratic candidates have reacted. Then, national political reporter Chris Cadelago joins the show to talk about Kamala Harris, who had a new message in the midwest this past weekend. Then, Jesus Rodriguez joins the Nerdcast to talk about a story he wrote for POLITICO magazine, about the takeover of the Venezuelan embassy in DC, and how that ties into the situation in Venezuela proper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the show this week, a roundup from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with White House reporters Nancy Cook and Andrew Restuccia. Plus, a look into the relationship between evangelical voters and Trump's inner circle. Then, congressional campaigns reporter James Arkin joins the Nerdcast to talk about a problem for democrats: finding people willing to run for senate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, Scott and POLITICO reporter Marc Caputo talk all things Joe Biden. The former vice president finally announced that he's running for president, becoming the 20th democrat to enter the race. Does Biden stand a chance? Maybe. He could even be a front-runner. Then, Anita Kumar and Sarah Ferris join Scott to talk about a fight between the White House and 12 House committees. Basically, the White House is refusing to give up documents requested by these House committees. It seems like a big deal in the Beltway, but back home things don't reflect that: topics like medicare concern constituents more. Will these committees get anywhere? The gang attempts to break down what‘s really happening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's an all Mueller edition of the Nerdcast show, with host Scott Bland and reporters Kyle Cheney and Melanie Zanona. The crew unpacks some of the fundamental questions from Thursday’s release of the redacted Mueller report and figures out what’s next -- how will Congress act on this report? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Immigration hard-liners are ascendant at the White House. What does it mean for people trying to enter the U.S., and for the president politically? Plus, POLITICO Playbook authors Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman join the Nerdcast to talk about their new book about congress in the Trump era, "The Hill To Die On." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What might have been seen as normal behavior in the past is not welcome in the present. How will Biden handle the change? Plus, how much money do you really need to raise to become president? We discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How have things changed at the White House since the report came out? We go behind the scenes at the White House and on the Hill post-Mueller report. Plus, only three days remain until the end of the weekend, the end of the month, and the end of the first quarter. It matters because that’s when candidates for president have to report to the federal government just how much money they’ve raised so far this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beto O'Rourke raised $6.1 million in the first 24 hours of his presidential candidacy. That's a huge number. It indicates how the Democrats running for president have already built big national followings before campaign season has really even fully started. We break it down. Plus, 17 House Committees are currently attempting to investigate the Trump White House. Are they going to get anywhere? We talk about why the White House is largely ignoring the requests from those committees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No one has successfully gone from U.S. representative to president since James Garfield. Beto O'Rourke thinks he can. Plus, the mishandling of a sexual harassment case that is haunting Kirsten Gillibrand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

White House reporter Nancy Cook and congressional reporter Burgess Everett join the Nerdcast to discuss the tension between President Trump.... and some republicans. Plus, campaign reporter Holly Otterbein joins to explain what's different for presidential hopeful Senator Sanders this time around, and why some former Clinton campaign staffers just can't stand the guy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's former fixer spent hours fixating the American public. Did his testimony reveal anything new? Plus, Iowa proves to be twice as nice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guess who's back (back back)!? back again (again again)!? Bernie's back (back back) AND..... he's already gotten a ton of donations and is pretty popular so you probably don't need to tell a friend because they probably already know.... We're breaking down Bernie 2020 and a similar candidate from a state very close to Vermont... who will get the progressive vote? Plus, Trump 2020 is looking pretty corporate! A POLITICO national political reporter joins to talk about Rosslyn's hottest campaign headquarters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the field of Democrats running for president growing more crowded each week, the Trump re-election effort has started to zero in on three of them. But Joe Biden -- who's yet to decide whether he'll join the field -- is thought to be the candidate the campaign is most worried about in a general election contest. Plus, the unfolding drama over the budget, the president's plan for a wall on the border with Mexico, and a looming shutdown gives us plenty of clues about what to expect in the era of divided government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The three top Democrats in Virginia are facing scandals, and it's a story that just keeps getting worse. Campaigns reporter Zach Montellaro joins the Nerdcast to explain. Plus, We've got another two presidential announcements coming up this weekend. Elizabeth Warren will presumably announce that her exploratory committee has ended and she will officially become a presidential candidate, and Amy Klobuchar, the democratic senator from Minnesota will likely announce her run at an event scheduled in Minneapolis on Sunday. Campaigns reporter Elena Schneider and national political reporter Nolan McCaskill join the Nerdcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump might not be the only billionaire running for president in 2020. Looks like there’s two other ultra-rich contenders considering a campaign. Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks and Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York, have indicated interest in running. It begs the question: Has Donald Trump set the standard rather than the exception as a wealthy presidential candidate? Plus, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House hasn't been able to strike a deal with Congress to end the shutdown. It may come down to Mitch McConnell getting involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Trump should reschedule the speech if the government is still shut down come January 29. White House reporter Nancy Cook, congressional reporter Sarah Ferris and senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian join to explain how the move might be less about security concerns and more of a sign of acrimony between president Trump and the democrats. Plus national political reporter Natasha Korecki, who spent some time following Elizabeth Warren around Iowa, joins the Nerdcast to explain what's going on the ground in Iowa and with democratic voters as the 2020 race gears up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's ways the president could get his wall without congressional approval. But it won't be pretty. POLITICO White House reporter Nancy Cook joins the podcast to give an update on what's happening in the White House during the shut down as federal employees miss their first paychecks. Last week she told us not much was going on, but this week everything has gone into hyper drive. Then POLITICO reporters Elena Schneider and David Siders join to talk about the democrats with big donation possibilities. Plus, editor Charlie Mahtesian talks about the importance of candidates having viral moments as they gear up for 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president and democrats haven't been able to come to an agreement, and with the new congress sworn in it doesn't look like things are going to get any easier. White House reporter Nancy Cook joins the Nerdcast to discuss if there is an end in sight for the government shutdown. Plus, senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian breaks down Warren's potential presidential run and politics reporter Alex Isenstadt explains what's going on with Mitt Romney, who, as you may remember, he went on a hike with before. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government is shutdown…and everyone seems pretty mellow about it. Why aren’t more people freaking out? We’ll dive into what’s going on now that the new Congress is about to take over with POLITICO congress reporters Rachael Bade and Burgess Everett. Dan Diamond guest hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president has been able to get once resistant GOP party leaders to fall in line — but how? Plus, how southern democrats manage to exist in a party moving further left with each passing day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Avenatti and Patrick taking a pass on running in 2020, the field is narrowing before the chaos of a long election season even begins. Hear how things that used to happen in private have taken on a new, very public forum. Then, a House race in North Carolina is still undecided, and could lead to a whole special election. Elena joins to explain what's going on in her home state. Plus, Charlie breaks down the last time something like this happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even though the Founding Fathers were anti-king, there was one king-ly power they really liked: the pardon. Thus the presidential pardon was born. Traditionally, presidents have waited patiently for their lame duck period to pardon controversial people. But president Trump isn't waiting. He's been pardoning the controversial from the beginning. In this episode of the Nerdcast, Scott is joined by presidential historian Jeffrey Engel and Politico senior reporter Darren Samuelsohn in an attempt to understand how the president's pardons hang over the Mueller investigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices