Episodes
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At this moment, we are mere hours away from a government shutdown. How did we get here? Well, just take a look at House Republicans: After Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial spending deal was scuttled amid opposition from President-elect Donald Trump, the replacement deal — this one backed by Trump — fell short of the votes it needed amid 38 GOP defections. With time running out, what options remain? Who’s in for the lion’s share of the blame? And who are the key players to watch today? Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton and Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talk through it all.
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We’re one day closer to a government shutdown, and the best chance to avoid one just went kaput. When the sun rose yesterday morning, it looked like a solution was nigh. But that all changed in a matter of hours after Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump whipped Republicans into a frenzy in opposition to the proposed continuing resolution. So what happens now? Congressional reporter Daniella Diaz joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to talk it through.
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On Tuesday, we finally got the continuing resolution that Republicans on both sides of the Hill were quarreling over. But today, with the fine print coming into view, it doesn't look like a sure thing that a unified GOP will show up to get it through. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) called the potential bill a “total dumpster fire.” Speaker Mike Johnson says he wants to take this bill to the House Rules Committee and then to the House floor. Playbook editor Mike Debonis and Playbook co-author break down what could happen next.
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Congress is about to head out for holiday break, but there’s one problem: there’s still no sign of a continuing resolution that would fund the government through March. So, what’s the hold up? Jennifer Scholtes, editor of budget and appropriations for Politico Pro, joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through what to know about the 2024 legislative finale. Plus, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was dealt an early blow in her bid for top Dem on the House Oversight Committee, but the full caucus vote on Tuesday could still swing in her favor.
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In just five days, lawmakers will leave D.C. for a two-week break, but a bill to fund the government is still pressing. With resistance mounting from GOP representatives in farm districts, House Speaker Mike Johnson may need Democratic support to get it over the finish line. Meanwhile, Republicans are also considering how to swiftly advance President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda next year. As Playbook co-author Rachael Bade reports, reconciliation was a key topic between Sen. John Thune and Trump at this weekend's Army-Navy game. Also, RFK Jr. is scheduled to meet with senators on the Hill this week. Notably absent from his calendar? A meeting with Sen. Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor. All that plus everything else you need to know today.
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After a dizzying week of meetings on Capitol Hill, Trump’s myriad nominees seem to be on firmer ground than they were. But is that because of what was said in those one-on-ones, or is has Trump himself been flexing his influence? Where do things head from here? Congress reporter Anthony Adragna talks through it all with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, shakeups in House committee leadership, and Time’s “Person of the Year” inspires some 2016 déjà vu.
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Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and arguably President-elect Donald Trump’s most important supporter, finds himself being wooed by some unlikely people in Washington: Democrats in Congress. There are any number of reasons for this — personal ambition, a hope of finding common ground with Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency panel and an eagerness to attract his business investments to their states. But there’s something big picture at play, too: The “Resistance” is going to look a whole lot different during Trump 2.0. Politics reporter Holly Otterbein joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss. Plus, FBI Director Christopher Wray announces his departure. That, and the rest of the news you need to know today.
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It may be too late for Matt Gaetz, but President-elect Donald Trump’s allies are engaged in a pressure campaign to ensure his Cabinet picks are confirmed. Trump World has used online criticism and threats of primary challenges against senators that could challenge his nominees. Will it work? Politics reporter Ally Mutnick joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to talk it all through. Plus, Trump names a flurry of new administration picks, and the spotlight shifts to RFK Jr.’s chances. That, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.
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It’s no secret that President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have profoundly different approaches to foreign policy. With Trump taking office in 40-odd days, the seismic geopolitical shift resulting from Bashar al-Assad’s ousting comes at a pivotal time for both Syria and the U.S. So what do we know about how the U.S. will handle the fallout and the future in the Middle East? National security reporter and author of National Security Daily Robbie Gramer joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.
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While President-elect Donald Trump’s other controversial picks like Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth have been sucking up all the oxygen in Washington, Tulsi Gabbard has managed to stay largely out of the spotlight. But now, Trump's enigmatic nominee for DNI is in the hot seat. The former Democrat is coming under fire for alleged sympathies towards Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, who was run out of the country by rebels this past weekend. Can Gabbard convince senators that she’s the right person to brief the president? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade shares what she’s hearing on Capitol Hill. Plus, Trump breaks down his day one agenda on “Meet the Press.”
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GOP’s DOGE days have arrived on Capitol Hill. Yesterday, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the co-heads of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, were on Capitol Hill. And the nascent panel is already the basis of a turf war between different factions of the Republican Party. Jennifer Scholtes, the editor of POLITICO Pro’s budget and appropriations brief joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton, to break down the battle lines and where insiders expect things to spill from here.
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With his nomination for Defense secretary teetering on the brink, Pete Hegseth will soon learn whether his 11th-hour offensive yesterday to save his nomination has succeeded. As Republican senators — notably including combat veteran Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) — express concerns about some of Hegseth’s views as well as the allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse, which he has denied, the nominee has remained resolute: “We’re not going anywhere,” he told Hill reporters yesterday. But it might not entirely be his call. National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan and Playbook co-author Rachael Bade discuss what to watch for now. Plus, President-elect Donald Trump announces another flurry of key administration officials, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) rises in the ranks.
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With Matt Gaetz gone, Pete Hegseth may be next on the chopping block. The Secretary of Defense nominee has to reckon with—and explain to Republican senators—the recent allegations of fund mismanagement, drinking on the job, and sexual promiscuity. President-elect Donald Trump is said to be eyeing an unlikely candidate for the role if his first choice doesn’t pan out: his longtime Republican rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Plus, Republicans on Capitol Hill are embroiled in internal debate over two policy bills, while Democrats in the House are dealing with their own internal conflict between Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Jerry Nadler of New York.
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Lawmakers have a lot to get through in the roughly three weeks left in the year’s congressional session. Among the major responsibilities are the annual defense policy bill and a plan to fund the government. But each party is also dealing with internal politics. Democrats are reckoning with a call for new blood in leadership, and Republicans are planning their approach to President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees in the new year. Congress reporter Anthony Adragna joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through what’s left on the year’s to-do list.
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Late Sunday, President Joe Biden issued a “full and unconditional” pardon to his son Hunter for any crime he "has committed or may have committed" in the previous 11 years. In a statement, Biden described Hunter as the victim of "politically weaponized prosecution." The move isn't surprising, but it does mark a 180 for the president, who had repeatedly said he wouldn’t issue a pardon for his son. National correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss.
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A cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered by France and the United States, is not the exact one Biden was hoping to be touting as a capstone to his presidency. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels and National Security Daily's Eric Bazail-Eimil discuss the agreement's impact on the region and why the president is still looking to end hostilities in Gaza. That, and the rest of the news you need to know today. Plus — happy Thanksgiving!
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Yesterday, special counsel Jack Smith announced that he would move to drop both federal criminal cases against president-elect Donald Trump due to a long-standing DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Judge Tanya Chutkan too dismissed a pending federal election interference case. Could things pick back up once Trump leaves office? Senior legal reporter Kyle Cheney joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Plus, Trump takes to Truth Social to share his proposed tariffs.
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When a new presidential administration prepares to take office, it typically signs transparency and ethics agreements with the White House, the Justice Department and the General Services Administration to ensure access to important government information and otherwise facilitate a smooth transition. But this time, President-elect Donald Trump’s team has been reluctant to sign them. White House reporter Adam Cancryn walks Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels through the reasons for the Trump team’s hesitation and the implications. Plus, the president-elect dominates the conversation at the Halifax Security Forum, and what we know about Kamala Harris’ next moves.
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After a tumultuous eight days as Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration yesterday. While Senate Republicans cheered the move, the implications for Trump’s second administration are immense. Hours after the announcement, Trump nominated former Florida AG Pam Bondi for the role — a move cheered by Senate Republicans. But in the post-Gaetz landscape, other Trump nominees are likely to face increased scrutiny around their own imbroglios. What are the lessons of Gaetz’s fall, and where do things head from here? Playbook co-authors Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade discuss.
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Matt Gaetz has dominated the spotlight in Washington since President-elect Donald Trump announced him as nominee for attorney general. But Gaetz is far from Trump’s only contentious pick. On Capitol Hill, concerns are mounting about Pete Hegseth, the Fox News personality Trump picked to run the Department of Defense. There are concerns about Hegseth’s experience — he served in the military, but has never run a complex and vast organization. There are concerns about his controversial views — including that women should not be able to serve in combat roles. And then there are concerns about alleged sexual misconduct stemming from an encounter he maintains was consensual but which the woman in question maintains was not. What should we expect as Washington’s gaze turns to Hegseth? Defense reporter Joe Gould joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss.
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