The Playbook Podcast

President Donald Trump firmly believes the GOP’s megabill can pass through Congress and land on his desk by July 4. But with just one week to go before that self-imposed deadline, the sweeping legislation faces a congressional obstacle course, with Republicans across Capitol Hill fighting over facets from Medicaid cuts to government spending to federal land sales. POLITICO Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Playbook contributing author Adam Wren to break down everything the state of play and where things go from here.

Freshly back from the NATO Summit, President Donald Trump’s attention is now focused squarely on one thing: selling the Iran strike as an unmitigated success — regardless of what intelligence assessments say. Today the administration will focus on trying to shift the narrative — casting questions about the efficacy of the strikes as a slap in the face of American military pilots, and blaming Congress for the leaked intelligence reports that contradict Trump’s claims. POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly joins Playbook author Jack Blanchard to walk through what to watch. Plus, the Democratic Party is only beginning to reckon with outsider candidate Zohran Mamdani’s primary election upset in NYC.

Two stories from opposite sides of the globe have huge political implications today. First, in New York City, outsider candidate Zohran Mamdani pulled off a historic upset, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for mayor. The seismic victory is sending shockwaves throughout American politics, with center-left Democrats gritting their teeth, progressives in a triumphant mood and Republicans lapping it all up. Across the Atlantic Ocean, President Donald Trump is at the NATO Summit at The Hague today, where he’s expected to address the ongoing fallout from the U.S. strike on Iran and the fragile ceasefire between it and Israel. POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly joins Playbook author Jack Blanchard to unpack all that and more.

President Donald Trump heads to the Netherlands today for the 2025 NATO Summit. The Iran-Israel conflict was already set to be a major focus. But Trump’s announcement Monday night of a ceasefire between the countries has reshaped the conversation altogether. Will the summit be an opportunity for Trump to flex on the global stage, or will he be received by a more tepid crowd? POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly joins Playbook author Jack Blanchard to discuss. Plus, a big day for hearings on Capitol Hill, and Democrats in New York City head to the polls to pick a mayoral nominee.

On Saturday night, U.S. forces bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in what the Pentagon termed “Operation Midnight Hammer.” The consequences, which will likely be far-reaching, are only beginning to come into view. Does President Donald Trump want regime change in Iran? How would he square that pursuit with his America First pledges? What will it mean for nuclear talks? What sort of reprisals should we expect from Iran? Will Congress assert its war powers authority? And what does the world look like in the aftermath of the attacks? POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly joins Playbook author Jack Blanchard to unpack it all.

One story continues to dominate the conversation in Washington: the possibility of a U.S. strike in Iran. But even as the commentariat focuses on its potential geopolitical implications, its potential implications for American politics are no less real. President Donald Trump’s MAGA base is split over what to do. Does Trump risk hemorrhaging support if he orders a strike? Or is the whole idea of a GOP civil war over Iran overhyped? Playbook contributing author Adam Wren joins editor Zack Stanton to talk through his reporting and discuss what it all means for the conflict at hand and the future of MAGA.

With the U.S. on the cusp of potentially joining Israel’s fight against Iran, foreign policy experts in Washington are scrambling to game out the various scenarios. And as POLITICO senior foreign affairs correspondent and Compass columnist Nahal Toosi tells Playbook author Jack Blanchard, the options available to Trump and the possible outcomes from them aren’t simply black and white; they exist along a spectrum ranging from arming Israel for a single, targeted strike on an Iranian nuclear facility, to a more sweeping and wide-scale involvement. In the balance: the security of the Middle East, the political viability of Trump’s MAGA coalition and the futures of millions of everyday people in Iran. Nahal talks us through her reporting and the stakes.

President Donald Trump is unexpectedly back in Washington today, cutting his G7 trip short amid a spiraling situation with Iran. Yesterday, Trump made an ominous Truth Social post suggesting “everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran” — words that immediately provoked a fiery response from some of his usual supporters, who see the threat of such foreign interventionism as a betrayal of his “America first” ethos. Now, he faces one of the biggest dilemmas of his presidency: Should the U.S. back Israel in attacking Iran? And if so, to what extent? The implications are enormous — for the U.S., for the world and for Trump’s political project. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk it all, what they’re hearing and what to expect in the days ahead.

After a weekend of nationwide protests, a military parade and a political assassination, eyes in Washington are now aimed north at Canada, where President Donald Trump is attending the G7 summit. Today, he will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk through what to expect, and how the fresh violence in the Middle East will impact what unfolds.

Last night, Israel launched a major military campaign against Iran in what it billed as a “preemptive” strike on the nation’s nuclear capabilities. But this is only the beginning: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation will “continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” And with the Trump administration already in talks with Iran over nuclearization — and emphasizing that the U.S. was “not involved” in the strikes — you can be sure that this is going to drive the conversation in Washington today as everyone tries to parse what this means for President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the U.S. plots out its response and fault lines get exposed within the MAGA coalition. Playbook contributing author Adam Wren and POLITICO White House reporter Jake Traylor break down the implications. Plus, tensions between the administration and California officials remain high after Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and briefly handcuffed after trying to ask a question of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference yesterday.

California and the Trump administration face off in federal court today over President Donald Trump’s deployment of military troops to Los Angeles in a legal battle that could determine the limits of presidential power — and whether troops might be deployed to other cities, too. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk through what they’ll be watching and the angles that Washington will be focused on. Plus, is it happily ever after for Trump and Elon Musk?

As protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles continue, so does the standoff between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump. In a dramatic eight-minute address last night, Newsom laid into Trump, touting the federal intervention and militarization of its response as a threat to the rule of law. Meanwhile, Trump suggested yesterday that Newsom should be arrested — and that he’ll have zero tolerance for protests or disruptions at Saturday’s military parade in downtown Washington. Playbook author Jack Blanchard and contributing author Adam Wren break it all down. Plus, Republicans will meet today to discuss a path forward for the GOP megabill.

As protests against ICE raids continue in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump is flexing his power in a way the nation hasn’t seen in decades, deploying 4,000 National Guard troops and roughly 700 Marines in the city. California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls the moves a provocation, labeled Trump an “authoritarian” and called the mobilization of the Marines a “red line.” But sources close to the White House view this as a strategic messaging opportunity — one they believe will play to their political advantage. Where do things go from here, and what happens next? Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk it through. Plus, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousts the entire CDC committee that oversees the safety and use of vaccines.

As anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles grow and, in some instances, turn violent, President Donald Trump has deployed the California National Guard — the first time in 60 years a president has activated a state’s National Guard domestically without the consent of that state’s governor. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says Trump is irresponsibly ratcheting up the pressure in a volatile situation, while top White House aides liken the demonstrations to an “insurrection” and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatens to send in the Marines. Where do things head from here? Playbook chief correspondent Dasha Burns joins author Jack Blanchard to talk through the latest. Plus, the reconciliation bill rolls ahead in Washington and the brittle peace between Trump and Elon Musk is holding — for now.

Listen to the latest episode of Politico’s new podcast, The Conversation with Dasha Burns. Rahm Emanuel has had just about every job in politics under the sun: congressman, White House chief of staff, U.S. ambassador, Chicago mayor, and more. “I’m pretty pragmatic about politics and almost cold to a point in my analysis,” he tells White House bureau chief Dasha Burns. Emanuel, who is widely believed to be considering a run for President in 2028, tells Burns that Democrats should “stop talking about bathrooms and locker rooms and start talking about the classroom.” As the first Jewish mayor of Chicago, he also talks about the recent anti-Semitic attacks and whether America is ready for a Jewish president. Plus, Burns is joined by Politico Magazine editor Elizabeth Ralph to talk about the magazine’s recent Q&A with Miles Taylor in the wake of Trump’s executive order targeting him, and the rise of jawline surgery among DC’s male population.

The gloves are off between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, and Playbook’s Zack Stanton and Adam Wren have all the explosive details. Today, Trump White House officials are due to have a call with Musk in an attempt to lower the temperature. That comes after Musk went nuclear against Trump, making shocking allegations about the president and badmouthing some of his signature policies. But not everyone in Trump’s orbit is so eager to forge a detente: Steve Bannon is taking a victory lap, Republicans are being forced to choose sides and there’s always the possibility that one of the two unpredictable principals at the center of the brouhaha will jump back into the fray. Adam reveals the behind-the-scenes attitudes and views driving the day in Washington, and the other news you need to know today.

In a trio of announcements last night, President Donald Trump unveiled a new travel ban barring entry into the U.S. by residents from of 12 nations, a fresh attempt to block Harvard-enrolled international students from entering the country and an investigation into the so-called “auto pen” scandal, alleging that White House aides unconstitutionally exercised presidential authority during Joe Biden’s presidency. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and contributing author Adam Wren discuss it all. Plus, a preview of today’s big White House meeting between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The moment has finally arrived: Elon Musk turned his chainsaw on the Trump White House yesterday in a blitz of X posts taking aim at the president’s reconciliation bill. Calling it an “abomination” and vowing retribution against those members of Congress who back it, Musk’s posture amounts to not only a stunning (but nascent) split between Trump’s movement and the man who financed a broad swath of it, but also a sign of the bumpy road ahead on Capitol Hill. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns joins managing editor Jack Blanchard to unpack the story Washington is buzzing about.

President Donald Trump is calling. Will Senate Republicans answer? As the GOP homes in on the votes needed to pass the all-important reconciliation bill through the upper chamber, the president is escalating both his outreach to and pressure on holdouts. But what the White House is saying and what those last few Senate Republicans really want may be in conflict. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and chief correspondent Dasha Burns discuss the latest. Plus, Chinese President Xi Jinping gears up for his phone call with Trump on tariff negotiations.

Yesterday in Colorado, a man shouted “Free Palestine” as he attacked a group of elderly demonstrators who had gathered to peacefully advocate for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The episode is at once the nation’s latest paroxysm of antisemitic violence and the newest flashpoint in the debate about immigration: the alleged assailant was reportedly in the country illegally, having overstayed a visa. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author and managing editor Jack Blanchard join unpack it all. That, plus a new wave of Ukrainian strikes hammer deep in Russian territory.