June 21, 2024: Jack Smith braces for a shot from Cannon

July 3, 2024: The case for Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket: Nearly a week after the disastrous presidential debate, more Democrats are going on the record to suggest President Biden step aside and let another candidate be the nominee for president in 2024. After prominent Democrats called questions about Biden’s mental acuity “valid,” a cascade of other voices echoed the sentiment. But that introduces a potentially more complicated question: if not Biden, who? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels take stock of the Democratic disarray. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

10 min listen

July 2, 2024: What the SCOTUS immunity ruling really means: The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Donald Trump has immunity from criminal prosecution for some actions he took as president while fighting to subvert the 2020 election, further complicating efforts to put Trump on trial in Washington on criminal charges. The decision immediately deflated some of the central allegations that special counsel Jack Smith leveled against Trump. Plus, what does this indicate for the powers a President has? Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza and Ankush Khardori — former federal prosecutor at the Department of Justice and now senior writer for Politico Magazine — break down the details. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

10 min listen

July 1, 2024: Debate aftershocks continue to rattle Democrats: The fallout from last week's presidential debate continues. Over the weekend, it was reported that the Biden family gathered to discuss whether the president should remain in the race. His family is said to have encouraged him to see it through. But, despite nobody publicly coming forward to encourage him to drop out, others in the Democratic Party are indicating that they aren’t so sure that is the best approach. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade has the inside scoop. Plus, all eyes are on the Supreme Court, which is set to rule today on whether former President Trump has immunity from criminal prosecution. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

5 min listen

June 28, 2024: Biden's unmitigated disaster of a debate: President Joe Biden’s campaign gambled on a June debate, ostensibly with the goal of shaking up the trajectory of the campaign. Last night, it backfired in spectacular fashion. Over the course of a disastrous 90 minutes, the incumbent often wandered into incoherence, his voice faint, while former President Donald Trump blasted a firehose of insults and untruths. Now, with word that prominent Dems are in crisis mode, could we be approaching virtually unforeseen political territory? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade, Ryan Lizza and Eugene Daniels unpack what we saw and where things go from here. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

14 min listen

June 27, 2024: Biden and Trump sharpen their teeth ahead of tonight’s debate: It’s the day that members of both major parties have been waiting for with excitement and/or dread. Tonight in Atlanta, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will take to the debate stage for their first debate of the 2024 cycle. Could this be a make-or-break moment for the candidates? How are both candidates angling to get under one another’s skin? What is realistically at stake? White House reporter Laura Egan joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to tell us what to watch for — and what she’s expecting to see in the spin room. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

8 min listen

June 26, 2024: The Supreme Court's final sprint: The Supreme Court is slated to deliver rulings on roughly a dozen cases in the coming days—its last batch of this term. Among these is Trump v. United States, which will rule on whether the former president is immune from criminal prosecution over his bid to subvert the 2020 election. Also expected in this wave of decisions is a ruling on Relentless Inc. v. Department of Commerce, which may spell the end of the controversial so-called Chevron doctrine. Senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the cases and what—if anything—can be predicted about the rulings. Plus, the biggest takeaways from Tuesday's primary elections. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

10 min listen

June 25, 2024: Live from New York: It’s primary day: It is primary day in the Empire State, and one of the buzziest races of the day involves Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16). In the only public polls out, Bowman appears to be trailing his opponent, George Latimer, by a whopping 17 points. As New York Playbook co-author Emily Ngo explains, it is the issues at hand in the race—namely, a divide surrounding Israel and Gaza, a microcosm of the Democratic Party at large—that are perhaps the most interesting thing about the race. She joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss it and what else she is watching. Plus, Julian Assange is a free man, and the rest of the news you need to know today. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

8 min listen

June 24, 2024: Activists form abortion-rights "supergroup”: Groups including Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and Reproductive Freedom for All are banding together to form Abortion Access Now, an alliance focused on restoring protections for abortion care on the federal level. The new coalition is marking the second anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade with a pledge to spend $100 million on a national, 10-year campaign. But the coalition is finding fractures within the Democratic Party about how to best proceed with protecting abortion. Health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through what to know about her scoop. Plus what we're watching during Tuesday's primary elections out West. That, plus all the rest of the news you need to know today. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

10 min listen

$June 24, 2024: Activists form abortion-rights "supergroup”: Groups including Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and Reproductive Freedom for All are banding together to form Abortion Access Now, an alliance focused on restoring protections for abortion care on the federal level. The new coalition is marking the second anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade with a pledge to spend $100 million on a national, 10-year campaign. But the coalition is finding fractures within the Democratic Party about how to best proceed with protecting abortion. Health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through what to know about her scoop. Plus what we're watching during Tuesday's primary elections out West. That, plus all the rest of the news you need to know today.$

June 20, 2024: SCOTUS prepares for judgment day: It could happen today. It could happen tomorrow. And you can count on it happening next week, too. The Supreme Court has 22 remaining cases left on the docket, and with time ticking down on this term, the floodgates are about to open. From abortion restrictions to Trump’s claims of presidential immunity in his bid to subvert the 2020 election, to social media censorship, to a decision that could gut the regulatory state, the decisions that remain could have a sweeping impact on American life. Senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein sits down with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through some of the key cases and what pros should watch for. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

9 min listen

June 18, 2024: Inside Biden’s big immigration announcement: Twelve years after former President Barack Obama passed DACA, and just a few weeks after President Joe Biden announced a harsh crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border, Biden is slated to make a major announcement today that takes the opposite approach. The parole-in-place program will allow the spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived in the country for at least 10 years to obtain work permits. A second policy will make certain DACA recipients and dreamers eligible for work visas and expedite the process of obtaining them. Will it strike a much-needed balance for the Biden campaign as it continues to struggle with immigration as a campaign issue? White House reporter Myah Ward joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss. Plus, the primary races to watch in Virginia and Oklahoma, and the rest of the news you need to know today. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

9 min listen

June 17, 2024: Trump zeroes in on a VP: The Republican National Convention is less than one month away, which means we are less than one month from knowing who presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will choose for his running mate. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Oh), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) are among those speculated to be near the top of the list for the job, but each candidate comes with his or her own advantages and disadvantages. National politics correspondent Meridith McGraw joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss. Plus, the Biden campaign is going after Trump for his recent felony convictions to the tune of a $50 million ad campaign, and the rest of the news you need to know today. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

9 min listen

June 14, 2024: Trump looms over Biden’s G7 meetings: At the G7 meetings in Italy, many of the conversations revolve around two men: One who’s there (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy), and one who isn’t (Donald Trump). Though much of President Joe Biden’s agenda at the summit is occupied by reasserting American support for Ukraine, the specter of the 2024 elections is never far from the center of attention. White House correspondent Adam Cancryn is in Italy and joins the pod to discuss it all with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, Donald Trump gives Milwaukee the Baltimore treatment, and all the rest of the news you need to know today. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

10 min listen

June 13, 2024: Trump heads to Capitol Hill: Former President Donald Trump is visiting Capitol Hill today, where he is set to meet with members of both chambers. Yes, there’ll be chatter about a 2025 agenda and an attempt to rally Republican support for his campaign. But behind the scenes, there’s tension as the GOP’s slim House majority is making it hard for Speaker Mike Johnson to deliver for Trump — whether the issue is impeaching Joe Biden, defunding Jack Smith or kneecapping prosecutors investigating the former president. Congress reporter Anthony Adragna joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss all that and more. All of that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

10 min listen

June 12, 2024: Does Hunter Biden's conviction shake up the election?: On Tuesday, Hunter Biden was convicted on all three charges he faced in a Delaware court over an unlawful gun purchase. The result was not necessarily a surprise for the Biden camp, though insiders say it is taking a tremendous personal toll on the president. But could the conviction actually benefit Biden politically? White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Plus, the biggest takeaways from Tuesday's elections around the country. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today. by POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

10 min listen