The Playbook Podcast

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.

Today, President Donald Trump is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his first visit from a foreign dignitary during his second term. There’s a lot at stake for both leaders — notably, the possibility of a more permanent ceasefire in the Middle East. National security reporter Robbie Gramer joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to walk through what he will be watching for. Plus, a pause to the tariffs before they even began, and what to expect from two consequential confirmation hearings today. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed an order to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on energy products from Canada. Those new actions go into effect at midnight, and experts are predicting the economic fallout could be catastrophic. Canadian federal politics reporter and Ottawa Playbook author Nick Taylor-Vaisey joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to give some insight on what tariffs mean for the U.S.-Canada alliance and how regular Canadian citizens are responding. Plus, secretary of State Marco Rubio makes waves in Panama about the canal, and is the end near for USAID? All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

As the tragedy at Washington Reagan National Airport dominates the policy conversation in DC, the political conversation is quickly turning to the pivotal Democratic National Committee meeting tomorrow where the party will elect a new head. Minnesota’s Ken Martin and Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler are locked in a neck-and-neck contest for the top seat, and though the two frontrunners appear similar on the surface, there are important differences with major implications for the party’s future. National politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through what to know and who to watch.

In what appears to be the most serious aviation disaster in the U.S. in more than a decade, last night, a regional passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. We bring you the latest this morning, plus a preview of today’s big hearings on Capitol Hill, as two of President Donald Trump’s most controversial picks face questions: Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton to walk through what to watch.

Today, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services faces what’s expected to be a contentious Senate hearing. Health care reporter Daniel Payne joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss how RFK Jr.’s history as a noted vaccine skeptic and promoter of other disproven medical beliefs may lead to the most controversial hearing of Trump’s presidency. Plus, a federal judge has blocked Trump's unilateral federal funding freeze, but only temporarily. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

President Donald Trump was short on procedure and long on demands in addressing House Republicans at the annual House GOP policy retreat last night. Today, lawmakers will be strategizing about how to actually move these goals through congress. Senior Congress Editor Mike DeBonis joins Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton to discuss. Plus, the Office of Management and Budget has ordered federal agencies to pause all grants and loans starting today in a sweeping policy change rattling Washington.

This afternoon marks the start of the House GOP retreat in Florida, where Republicans will strategize about how to get President Trump’s legislative agenda passed in Congress. The biggest task for the gathering is to finalize a budget blueprint plan for the massive, party-line bill they’re planning, touching energy, border security and tax policy. Congress reporter Meredith Lee Hill joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to chat. Plus, has the Trump tariff war just begun? All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

Today, President Donald Trump plans to take his first trip outside Washington since taking office, visiting North Carolina and California to assess disaster recovery efforts. California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago chats with Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton on whether to expect a sympathetic or confrontational Trump, and how Gov. Gavin Newsom might navigate their relationship of frequent high-profile disagreements and occasional lower-profile cooperation. Plus, Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth looks likely to be confirmed by the Senate tonight, despite opposition from Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.

Last night, in the first Oval Office interview of his second term, Donald Trump let loose on a range of topics — from wildfires in California and his pardons of Jan. 6 rioters to his near assassination and his coming immigration crackdown. What was the takeaway from the interview, and what does it all tell us about the message the Trump team wants to send? White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns joins Chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to walk through it all.

With President Donald Trump’s inauguration in the rearview, his cabinet nominees are retaking the spotlight. This week, the Senate takes a closer look at Russell Vought, Pete Hegseth, Elise Stefanik and Sean Duffy, among others. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels to walk through which of these she is keeping an extra close eye on.

President Donald Trump closed his first day with an unprecedented show of executive force, signing dozens of executive orders, including orders to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization, move to end birthright citizenship and grant TikTok a reprieve from a forced shutdown. Trump also pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly every person who rioted on January 6, 2021, some 1,500 people. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels talk through the biggest moments from Monday's inauguration, the impact that President Trump's earliest moves will have and what to expect next.

It has arrived. Today at noon, Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term as president — the culmination of a political comeback for the ages. But things will look different than we’ve come to expect from past inaugurations: Frigid temperatures have forced the ceremony inside the Capitol for the first time in 40 years. What comes next? A deluge of executive actions bursting out in every direction — from foreign policy to the economy to immigration to gender identity. Chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels and Playbook managing editor and lead author Jack Blanchard walk through what to expect.

In the final days of the Biden White House, all eyes are fixed on President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans’ total control of the levers of power in Washington. But what does the future hold for the opposition party? Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels joins Playbook editor Zack Stanton to dig into that question, and talk about what he learned from the DNC panel in Detroit he moderated on Thursday. Plus, Republicans’ divisions over reconciliation are only getting more complex. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.