The Playbook Podcast
POLITICO’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns bring their fresh insight, analysis and reporting to the biggest story driving the day in the nation’s capital.
- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 6 minutes
- Episodes
- 1942
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2025
May 15, 2024: Could Michael Cohen’s testimony seal Trump’s fate?
When Michael Cohen makes an appearance, it is hard to know whether you will be hearing from a vulgar, bombastic hater or the measured and careful man who took the stand this week. The noticeably rest…
00:09:50 |
Wed 15 May 2024
May 14, 2024: What Tuesday’s primaries can reveal about November
Primary elections are taking place today in Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, and West Virginia. In Maryland, there is the ultra-competitive (and ultra-expensive) race for who will take over Ben Ca…
00:09:26 |
Tue 14 May 2024
May 13, 2024: Michael Cohen takes the stand
All eyes today are on the Manhattan courthouse where Michael Cohen will take the stand in the hush money case against former President Donald Trump. Politico reporter Erica Orden — who has been at th…
00:09:21 |
Mon 13 May 2024
May 10, 2024: The paradox of Mike Johnson
Mike Johnson has had a big week. Most notably, he survived a long-awaited attempt by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove him as Speaker. Playbook co-authors Ryan Lizza and Rachael Bade sat down wit…
00:11:48 |
Fri 10 May 2024
May 9, 2024: Biden's breaking point on Israel
Last night, President Joe Biden drew a clear red line that Israel is rapidly approaching: After months of devastating military efforts, he will halt shipments of bombs and other munitions to Israel i…
00:09:24 |
Thu 09 May 2024
May 8, 2024: Can Biden Trump-proof his $1.6 trillion legacy before the election?
President Joe Biden is betting that $1.6 trillion in climate and infrastructure money can transform America, create green jobs, out-compete China — and maybe catapult him to a second term. But accord…
00:08:26 |
Wed 08 May 2024
May 7, 2024: Biden’s Israel-Gaza bind
On Monday, Hamas approved a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar. But Israel did not approve of the proposal, which national security reporter Alex Ward tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza is “…
00:09:32 |
Tue 07 May 2024
May 6, 2024: A one-two punch of bribery indictments
Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife have been indicted on bribery charges, and Republicans are looking to squeeze the scandal for all it's worth. This comes mere months after New …
00:06:30 |
Mon 06 May 2024
May 3, 2024: How this week set the course for the next phase of the Trump trial
It’s the trial that has captured the world’s attention — and, given that it’s closed off from cameras, very few people know what the Trump hush money prosecution looks like up close. One person who d…
00:09:14 |
Fri 03 May 2024
May 2, 2024: The ‘Old Trump’ appears at two rallies in the Midwest
For the first time since the start of his criminal trial in New York, former President Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail yesterday with rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan. The Trump who show…
00:08:51 |
Thu 02 May 2024
May 1, 2024: A seismic shift in cannabis policy?
The Department of Justice is poised to significantly loosen federal cannabis restrictions, reclassifying the substance from Schedule I — the most serious classification — to Schedule III. Federal can…
00:10:00 |
Wed 01 May 2024
April 30, 2024: Biden and the New York Times
White House reporter and West Wing Playbook author Eli Stokols has been reporting on the simmering rift between Joe Biden’s administration and the New York Times, and the White House Correspondent’s …
00:09:17 |
Tue 30 Apr 2024
April 29, 2024: MTG’s mixed motion-to-vacate messaging
Prior to last week’s congressional recess, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared poised for battle to vacate Speaker Mike Johnson from his post. But over the weeklong break, she didn’t offer any updat…
00:06:22 |
Mon 29 Apr 2024
April 26, 2024: What we learned from David Pecker’s testimony
Former President Donald Trump had a huge day in two different courtrooms on Thursday, but was only present for the one in Manhattan. David Pecker took the stand as a key witness in the case, and he a…
00:10:27 |
Fri 26 Apr 2024
April 25, 2024: Unpacking Trump’s dizzying day at the courts
Even by modern standards, this is a dizzying day of Trump legal news. Today, he’ll return to a Manhattan court room where Judge Juan Merchan could rule over whether he violated a gag order and former…
00:09:11 |
Thu 25 Apr 2024
April 24, 2024: Has the clock run out on TikTok?
Late Tuesday evening, the Senate finally passed the long-awaited foreign aid bill that also moves to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill in…
00:09:46 |
Wed 24 Apr 2024
April 23, 2024: The strategy behind Biden’s Florida gambit
Can Joe Biden win Florida come November? It's unlikely, but the Sunshine State might still loom large in Biden's campaign -- serving as perfect fodder for why he needs to be reelected. When Biden tra…
00:09:05 |
Tue 23 Apr 2024
April 22, 2024: What we’re watching during day one of Trump’s hush money trial
After every day last week was devoted to assembling a jury, the trial involving allegations that Trump paid hush money to two women with whom he was having affairs will begin today in Manhattan. Seni…
00:09:17 |
Mon 22 Apr 2024
April 19, 2024: How the foreign aid package became an ‘inkblot test’ for the GOP
Mike Johnson is close to notching a major legislative victory that may come at an extremely high cost: His job as speaker of the House. The foreign aid supplemental that’s been roiling the House GOP …
00:09:43 |
Fri 19 Apr 2024
April 18, 2024: One weird detail about Trump’s trial jury
After two days, the jury for Donald Trump’s criminal prosecution for business fraud in New York is taking starting to take shape — and the legal world is surprised by what it sees. Of the seven juror…
00:09:27 |
Thu 18 Apr 2024
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