The Playbook Podcast

A court hearing in Maryland yesterday kicked off a two-week legal sprint that could shake America’s system of checks and balances. On its surface, the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a story about immigration policy and government power. But dig deeper, and the stakes for the rule of law are profound. Senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss the implications of the hearing and what to expect next.

On its face, the Oval Office meeting yesterday between President Donald Trump and President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador centered around the illegal deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — the Maryland resident who is still locked away in a Salvadoran mega-prison despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that the administration “facilitate” his release. But below that surface-level issue is a standoff over the rule of law: whether the administration still feels bound to operate in good faith and comply with court rulings that go against its political agenda. Senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney joins host Steven Overly to unpack the details of the situation and what he expects to see when the case returns to a lower court today. Plus, Harvard is the latest Ivy League school on targeted for defunding by the administration.

In the two-plus months since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the helm at the Department of Health and Human Services, the agency has been shaken to its core — data collection has been halted, research has been cut, and more than 10,000 employees have been laid off. POLITICO White House reporter Adam Cancryn joins host Steven Overly to unpack what is happening and why it matters. Plus, Meta’s antitrust trial begins today, and President Donald Trump will meet with the president of El Salvador to discuss immigration.

With Trump’s chaotic tariff moves shocking markets and spurring vast uncertainty about the economic outlook, Democrats see a political opening. Could the issue — so central to Trump’s political fortunes in 2024 — suddenly become his kryptonite? And what precisely are Democrats doing to make that happen? POLITICO national politics correspondent Brakkton Booker joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk it through. Plus, SCOTUS says the Trump administration must “facilitate” the return of a man erroneously deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador.

The U.S. is engaged in a trade war — just not the one many people expected. Yesterday afternoon, President Donald Trump backpedaled on most of the steep tariffs that took effect only hours earlier, pausing them for 90 days to allow time to negotiate potential deals with other nations. One big exception? China, which he announced will now be subject to a 125%. tariff. How did we get here, and what comes next? White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook author and managing editor Jack Blanchard to unpack what happened and why. Plus, Speaker Mike Johnson delays the budget vote in the House.

At 12:01 this morning, President Donald Trump’s massive tariffs against China, Vietnam, Japan, and other countries took effect. The new policies are sure to impact not only the country’s economy, but also the dynamics among Republicans on Capitol Hill. White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook author and managing editor Jack Blanchard to unpack what’s at stake and where things go from here.

United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will be in the hot seat today as he testifies in front of the Senate Finance Committee, where he's expected to defend President Donald Trump's global tariff hike. Trump has sent mixed messages about whether his new tariffs are permanent or up for negotiation, although there are some signs that Trump is entertaining offers. Meanwhile, tensions with China are flaring. Trump told Beijing to withdraw its reciprocal tariffs by today, or else he’ll hike tariffs on China by another 50 percent. POLITICO trade reporter Daniel Desrochers breaks it all down with host Steven Overly. Plus, the House is slow-marching toward its vote on a budget blueprint, which could happen as soon as tomorrow.

The stock market is already showing the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs — and there’s no sign the pain will stop any time soon. Wall Street banks are ratcheting up their predictions of a recession this year, global markets continue to nosedive and meanwhile, Trump administration officials fan out across media with mixed messages about what it all means. POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly joins host Steven Overly to unpack it all and where things go from here.

The major story today is still the economic after-effects of Trump’s globe-reshaping cascade of new tariffs. Yesterday, they sent markets tumbling head over heels with major losses — the biggest one-day wipeout in value since the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. POLITICO economics correspondent and Capital Letter columnist Victoria Guida joins Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton to break it down. Plus, Playbook London reports that President Donald Trump could hold another phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as today, and here in Washington, Capitol Hill is intently focused on the Senate’s vote-a-rama session that’s expected this weekend ahead of final adoption of the Senate GOP’s budget resolution.

Buckle up. In a major announcement after markets closed yesterday afternoon, President Donald Trump unleashed a major wave of tariffs against America’s trading partners throughout the world. Today, as allies respond in kind with tariffs targeting the U.S., all eyes will be on the markets as investors react to the new economic reality. Even so, a whirlwind of news occupies Washington, from Elon Musk’s potential future (or not) in the Trump administration, to new revelations about national security adviser Mike Waltz’s use of Gmail and Signal for government work. POLITICO’s White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook author and managing editor Jack Blanchard to break it all down.

This morning, many Democrats are waking up feeling something they haven’t experienced since Donald Trump’s election in November: optimism. Yesterday, Democratic-backed Judge Susan Crawford won election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, ensuring a liberal majority that some Dems hope could throw out district maps that favor the GOP. Meanwhile in Florida, Republicans won two special elections for the House, but with margins that hint at the makings of a national Democratic wave heading into the 2026 cycle. Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton joins Playbook author and managing editor Jack Blanchard to unpack what this all means for Trump, Elon Musk, and the rest of Washington. Plus, it’s “Liberation Day” at the White House, where a slate of major new tariffs are set to be unveiled this afternoon.

The first major electoral tests of the Trump era are here: In two special elections in Florida and a statewide race in Wisconsin, voters will head to the polls and offer the first meaningful glimpse of the prevailing winds heading into the 2026 cycle. In normal times, Republicans would handily win both seats up for grabs in Florida, but as politics bureau chief and senior political columnist Jonathan Martin tells host Steven Overly, the Democrats shouldn’t be counted out just yet. We walk through what to watch for and how it’s likely to shape the narrative in Washington in the days ahead.

After several days dominated by a single story — Signalgate — the new week brings a series of major stories that will drive the narrative here in Washington. One of those comes from Wisconsin, where a high-profile battle for control of the state supreme court has become the unlikely center of the political universe. With north of $100 million spent, tomorrow’s election presents the first and most meaningful electoral test of the new Trump era — even as the race itself has turned into something of a referendum on conservative billionaire donor Elon Musk. POLITICO Morning Score author Andrew Howard joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to unpack the ins and outs of the race, its implications and what Democrats hope it tells them. Plus, voters head to the polls in two key Florida special elections, a battery of trade moves hit the economy and Trump’s weekend interviews make headlines and spin heads.

It’s a fitting end to a week of news dominated by foreign policy hands in Trump world: Yesterday, the White House announced that it is withdrawing Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination for UN ambassador. The New York Republican will instead remain in the House as Republicans work to maintain their narrow majority in the chamber. What does that tell us about the outlook for Trump’s agenda? And how does Stefanik return to life on Capitol Hill? Senior Congress editor Mike Debonis joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to break it all down. Plus, Vice President JD Vance heads to Greenland, and Signalgate fallout continues for a fifth day.

For a fourth day, the Signalgate ordeal dominates every conversation in Washington — the rare Trump administration controversy with true staying power. What makes this time different? POLITICO cybersecurity reporter Maggie Miller joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through that and its potential implications for policy and politics in the Trump administration and beyond.

It's been two days since 'Signalgate' took over Washington, and the president’s inner circle continues to deal with its impacts. Despite the administration's public support of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, some are wondering if he'll eventually fall on the sword. White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss.

It was the group chat heard round the world, and it perhaps shouldn’t even exist at all. Yesterday, “The Atlantic” published a piece revealing that some of the Trump administration’s top national security officials were using the commercial messaging app Signal to hold conversations about top-secret war plans — and that they inadvertently leaked those plans by adding “Atlantic” editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat. POLITICO intelligence reporter Amy Mackinnon joins host Steven Overly to discuss the fiasco and its implications in the U.S. and around the globe.

With both the Senate and the House returning today from a weeklong recess, the race is on to pass a budget bill. And though one of the prevailing recent storylines out of Washington centers on the divides within the Democratic Party, we’re about to have the divides within the Republican Party on full display. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins host Steven Overly to talk through what to watch for this week on the Hill. That, and all the rest of the news you need to know today.

Democrats want to talk about Elon Musk. Whether voters want to hear that is another question — and one we may get an answer to very soon. In Wisconsin, an April 1 state supreme court race offers a test run of Dems’ new Musk-centric campaign strategy. If it works, you can probably expect to see them use that Playbook in the 2026 campaign. If it doesn’t? Well, then the party may just be as lost as ever. National politics editor David Siders joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to dig into it. Plus, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez head west on a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.

President Donald Trump’s multi-front battle on education is in full swing. Today, he’s expected to sign an executive order effectively dismantling the Department of Education; Columbia University faces a deadline to respond to the administration’s demands or else lose $400 million in funding; Penn finds itself under scrutiny as the administration takes issue with its policy on transgender student athletes; and Dartmouth staffs up as it seeks to remain out of the line of fire. POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook author and White House reporter Irie Sentner joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss.

President Donald Trump is no stranger to pushing the limits. And since reentering the Oval Office, he’s put significant energy into pushing the limits of the law — testing the courts and the legal system in ways rarely before seen in this country. What’s behind that effort, and where does it go from here? Senior legal correspondent Josh Gerstein joins Playbook author and managing editor Jack Blanchard to discuss.

Today, President Donald Trump will talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin about a potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Trump, who told reporters over the weekend that significant progress has already been made in peace negotiations, is expected to make certain concessions for a successful deal. Can the two leaders come up with a plan to end the war — or get close to it? And will that plan sacrifice Ukraine’s own goals for the sake of a deal, whatever the costs? POLITICO national security reporter Eric Bazail-Eimil joins host Steven Overly to talk through what he’s watching. Plus, recent deportation decisions by the Trump administration call into question the limits of the president’s power. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Democrats have been looking inward since November 5, but over the past few days that self-examination has escalated. On Friday, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led a small group of Senate Democrats to help pass the Republican-backed continuing resolution. In the days since, Schumer has faced frustration from colleagues, with some even calling for his removal. The situation has left those on and off the Hill trying to determine if Democrats can unite around… anything. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins POLITICO Tech host Steven Overly to discuss. Plus, President Donald Trump defied a federal judge and carried out deportations using a wartime law from 1798. That, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

House Republicans are one step closer to passing their continuing resolution to fund the government, now that they have overcome the roadblock that is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Last night, Schumer announced that he will reluctantly support the GOP’s CR — preferring it to the alternative of a government shutdown. But that decision has left many Democrats apoplectic. They were spoiling for a fight with Trump and saw this as their moment of maximum leverage; if not now, then when? How will it all shake out, and what will insiders be watching for ahead of the big vote this afternoon? Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss.

President Donald Trump has only been in office for a month and a half, but 2028 is already on the minds of Democrats in Washington, and the road to the next presidential campaign is beginning to take shape. POLITICO national politics correspondent Adam Wren sits down with Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to share his scoop about what their fellow midwesterner, Pete Buttigieg, has decided about his political future. Plus, we’re once again on a shutdown countdown, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Market volatility is the talk of Washington as the White House issues (and, in some cases, walks back) whiplash-inducing tariff threats. And as the economy dominates the discussion, all eyes are on Congress as a government shutdown looms at the end of the week. Yesterday, House Speaker Mike Johnson led House Republicans on a big step forward, passing a seven-month stopgap government funding bill. But it now faces an uncertain path forward in the Senate ahead of the shutdown deadline on Friday evening. What are insiders watching for? POLITICO’s Capitol bureau chief Rachael Bade joins Playbook author Jack Blanchard to talk it through.

What precisely are the limits of free speech in Donald Trump’s America? That question is at the heart of the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University grad student and green card holder whose protests against Israel led to his detention by ICE over the weekend. Administration officials say the move complies with President Trump’s executive order cracking down on anti-semitism on college campuses. But a diverse array of critics argue that it amounts to an unconstitutional attempt to punish Khalil for speech protected by the First Amendment. West Wing Playbook co-author (and former Columbia Spectator editor-in-chief) Irie Sentner walks Steven Overly through the situation. Plus, Republicans aim to bring a continuing resolution to the House floor today, and Elon Musk suggests that entitlements are on the chopping block — despite of Trump’s promises to the contrary.

Two facts are behind the day’s biggest story on Capitol Hill. One, we’re just five days away from a government shutdown. Two, the House GOP’s so-called ‘clean’ continuing resolution is chock full of details — like mass deportations and new money for ICE — that will make it hard to get enough Democratic votes to succeed. POLITICO Congress reporter Meredith Lee Hill walks guest host Steven Overly through the vote count at the moment and everything else you need to know about the state of play in Washington.

It’s the worst-kept secret in Washington: Being in Congress isn’t as glamorous as it seems from the outside. But what is life really like on Capitol Hill? What do members privately think about their colleagues? How do they know it’s time to hang up their spurs? And what are the things the rest of us really don’t get about the pressures they face? POLITICO’s Ben Jacobs asked them. And he joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels talk about what he heard. Plus, President Donald Trump puts a muzzle on DOGE, and our Eugene bids farewell to our listeners after four years at Playbook.

President Donald Trump’s tariff regime is blooming before our eyes. That may delight his MAGA base, but it’s causing agita in the broader electorate, as Americans face the near inevitability of higher prices for the foreseeable future and businesses struggle to keep up with the head-spinning turn of events. Is there a point at which the political reality will overwhelm Trump’s tariff ambitions and cause him to at least reconsider the path he’s chosen? White House reporter Megan Messerly joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to talk through the possibilities.

In his joint address to Congress last night, President Donald Trump gave a red-meat speech that lauded his culture war victories, denigrated his political opponents, and, oh yeah, ran until 11pm. But for all the noise in the speech, many of the headlines this morning are about Democrats, who responded to the aggressive and partisan speech in kind. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was dramatically ejected from the chamber for shouting that Trump had “no mandate,” and Democrats slowly but steadily walked out of the speech, leaving their side looking threadbare. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard breaks it all down with chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels and Capitol bureau chief and senior Washington columnist Rachael Bade.

This evening, President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress for the first time in his second term in the White House. After a whirlwind 24 hours that included pausing all military aid to Ukraine, and imposing tariffs on our two closest trading partners, Congress will be in for quite the speech. Senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to discuss what he expects.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency project has become the center of President Trump’s domestic agenda, with a lot of political capital being channeled into defending Musk’s actions from critics. But ahead of Trump’s joint address tomorrow, Politico’s Megan Messerly reports that some of the president’s allies are worried that DOGE is overshadowing Trump’s larger legislative agenda, and dampening his political popularity. Plus, keep an eye out for tariff news today. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said yesterday that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect on Tuesday — although President Trump will determine whether to stick with the original 25% levy. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington, where he will meet President Donald Trump in person for the first time since Trump’s return to the White House. The relationship between the two leaders has long been contentious, but escalated in recent weeks, with Trump calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” while refusing to blame Russia for starting the war. Now, with a deal for rare and precious minerals on the table, can the two make nice — even temporarily? POLITICO national security reporter Eric Bazail-Eimil joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to discuss.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in Washington today to meet with President Donald Trump. On the surface, the two leaders couldn’t be more different. But as Playbook author Jack Blanchard tells chief correspondent Eugene Daniels, the Trump-Starmer relationship is, indeed, special. They dig into what’s on the agenda today and what deliverables Starmer wants to leave with.

In a dramatic scene last night, the House of Representatives passed its budget blueprint in a 217-215 vote. Earlier in the day, four Republicans stated they wouldn’t support the bill. But ultimately, the only GOP member to vote no was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in a near party-line vote. Congress reporter Nicholas Wu joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through the chaos that led up to the vote and the bill’s implications. Plus, the Trump administration will handpick which members of the press will be present during briefings, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

The House’s big, beautiful fiscal blueprint is up for a vote today, but Speaker Mike Johnson is already navigating inter-party fighting over possible budget cuts. POLITICO senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis joins deputy Playbook editor Zack Stanton to break down Johnson’s sticky situation. Plus, a military contractors’ pitch for deportation camps and all the rest of the news you need to know today.

President Donald Trump’s election helped turbocharge an already surging bull market in the U.S., sending stocks and cryptocurrencies to even higher records. But, some on Wall Street are sounding the alarm that the fast times can’t last. POLITICO capital markets reporter Declan Harty joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to explain what potential market turbulence could mean for Trump 2.0. Plus, the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and all the rest of the news you need to know today.

Warning signs are flashing for congressional Republicans as President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency project escalates its slash-and-burn approach to federal budget cuts. In deep-red Georgia, a raucous town hall forum last night portends potential problems for the GOP. In Washington, Republicans on the Hill back-channel with the White House as fear spreads about political blowback from the cuts. And as DOGE readies the butcher’s block for federal agencies popular with voters, there’s no sure sign of how this all plays out. POLITICO aviation reporter Oriana Pawlyk joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through the implications of a new round of cuts targeting the FAA, and what it could mean for passenger safety.

Day in and day out, the most consequential stories in Washington right now seem to include two key players. One is obvious: President Donald Trump. The other is Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and Trump’s largest political benefactor. As their partnership remaps power in Washington, journalists on the frontlines scurry to crack the biggest story in the nation’s capital — and figure out what we perhaps misunderstand about the dynamics driving both Trump and Musk. National politics correspondent Adam Wren talks it through with chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels. Plus, despite a curveball from Trump, the Senate’s vote-a-rama is still on … for now.

In last night’s interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to rehab Musk’s image and reinforce that Trump runs the show. Beyond that, not much else happened. As White House reporter Irie Sentner tells chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels, it was the lack of significant news that made the hour memorable. Plus, the Senate eyes vote-a-rama, and all the rest of the news you need to know today.

The biggest story in Washington today isn’t even in Washington. Today, top officials from the U.S. and Russia will meet in Saudi Arabia to talk about a future peace plan for Ukraine. But, officials from Ukraine will be missing at the table. National security reporter Robbie Gramer joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to discuss how this is playing with Europe and the weekend’s Munich Security Conference.

Late last night, the House Budget Committee approved GOP leadership’s voluminous one-bill budget plan — a giant step toward fulfilling President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, but one that sets them up for collision with the Senate GOP’s two-bill approach. But launching it out of committee may have been the easy part. Where do things go from here? POLITICO Capitol bureau chief and “Corridors” columnist Rachael Bade joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through it all. Plus, the Trump administration axes thousands of government employees, and the Justice Department sees major resignations after ordering prosecutors to drop bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Today, President Donald Trump will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House — the latest high-stakes meeting between the leaders of the world’s two largest democracies. On the agenda? Tariffs, immigration and the future of the global balance of power. POLITICO’s Washington-based China correspondent Phelim Kine breaks it all down with chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels. Plus, it’s a make-or-break moment for the House GOP’s budget plans.

There’s one thing dominating the discourse in Washington today: Money. Dueling Republican budgets face big days on Capitol Hill, new inflation numbers drop this morning and President Donald Trump could unleash his latest salvo of tariffs. Meanwhile, the economic world is bracing itself for the Bureau of Labor Statistics to come under scrutiny from Elon Musk and his DOGE team. Economic policy correspondent Victoria Guida joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through it all.

In the few weeks since President Donald Trump returned to office, Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency panel has implemented significant changes within the federal government. Strong favorability ratings over the weekend are reported to have boosted morale within the White House, leaving them feeling emboldened. But as DOGE eyes new agencies to audit, how far can this bureaucracy-wrecking ball go? White House reporter Megan Messerly joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk it through. Plus, Trump implements further tariffs on aluminum and steel. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

As soon as tomorrow, Tulsi Gabbard is likely to sail through confirmation as Director of National Intelligence. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation is likely to follow later this week. Just weeks ago, it felt like a stretch that either would be confirmed. So, what changed? Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to talk through President Donald Trump’s evolving relationship with the Senate. Plus, what we learned from Trump’s pre-Super Bowl interview with Bret Baier. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

The Republican battle for the upper hand in the reconciliation debate is in full swing today. House GOP leaders are set to finally unveil their plan. Senate Republicans descend on Mar-a-Lago to woo President Donald Trump toward their own competing vision. In the balance is Trump’s legislative agenda, whose plan will come out on top? Senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis walks Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton through the possibilities. Plus, Russell Vought gets confirmed as OMB director despite Senate Dems protesting for roughly 30 hours straight. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

As Elon Musk wages war on the bureaucracy, federal workers face a time for choosing: At midnight tonight, the self-styled “early buyout” offer to federal employees expires, marking a potential hinge point in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency’s work in Washington. How did we get here and what happens next? National political reporter Holly Otterbein joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to go over the details. All of that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

This afternoon, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would effectively ban trans women and girls from participating in women’s sports. The move would reverse a change to Title IX implemented by the Biden administration that argued the law should also apply to LGBTQ students. White House reporter Megan Messerly joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to walk through the details and the fallout. Plus, two of Trump’s most controversial committee nominees advance out of committee, and Trump declares the U.S. will “take over” Gaza. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.