POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing
POLITICO Playbook's must-listen briefing on what's driving the day in Washington.
Episodes
May 29, 2024 • 10 mins
Jury deliberations for former President Donald Trump's hush money case
begin today. Yesterday, attorneys on both sides laid out their closing
arguments in what was a nearly 12-hour day in court. But New York isn’t
the only place Trump is making legal headlines. In Florida, yet another
snafu involving Judge Aileen Cannon is making the likelihood of that
trial taking place before the election slimmer and slimmer. Senior legal
affairs...
Mark as Played
May 28, 2024 • 9 mins
As the end of former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial looms,
his future has come into question. Should a jury decide to convict
Trump, there are a number of different punishment options on the table.
He could, of course, be sentenced to jail time. But, what would that
look like? And what else could Judge Juan Merchan have the former
president and presumptive GOP nominee do? National correspondent Betsy
Woodruff Swan joins ...
Mark as Played
May 24, 2024 • 8 mins
Donald Trump held a large rally in the South Bronx in New York City last
night, attended by a diverse array of people — a far cry from the
typical MAGA rally crowd. National politics correspondent Meridith
McGraw, who was present at the rally, tells Playbook co-author Ryan
Lizza about how Trump tailored his message to the Big Apple audience.
And just as interesting, she explains, is what he left unsaid. Plus,
inside the U.S.’s plan...
Mark as Played
May 23, 2024 • 6 mins
Today’s legislative theme is voter fraud — or “fraud,” as the case may
be. The GOP House majority is gearing up for two votes today aimed at
blocking non-citizens from voting — with one vote centering on the
District of Columbia and the other taking effect nationwide. Democrats
are steamed, both because it’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote
in federal elections, and because they see in this effort the groundwork
for a 2024 ...
Mark as Played
May 22, 2024 • 10 mins
For the first time since 2008, the president of Kenya will make a visit
today, where he is set to receive the whole nine yards of special
treatment. There are a few reasons for this: Kenya is celebrating 50
years of independence, and it has become an emerging tech hub. But there
is also the fact that President Biden promised to visit the country and
has yet to stay true to his word. Will that cast a certain light on the
whole event...
Mark as Played
May 21, 2024 • 9 mins
It is primary day in various states around the country. But if you ask
senior political columnist and politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin, it
is the race involving the Portland, Oregon, District Attorney that is
the most interesting and perhaps important. In one of the most
left-leaning cities in the country, the progressive DA is at risk of
losing his seat amid widespread frustration over lax drug laws. Can this
tell us anythin...
Mark as Played
May 20, 2024 • 9 mins
After roughly a month of testimony and 19 witnesses, the end of the
Trump hush money trial may draw to a close by the end of this week. The
former president and current GOP frontrunner will either be charged or
acquitted of falsifying business records. This week, the jury takes
center stage. Plus, could Trump himself still take the stand? Legal
affairs reporter Erica Orden, who has been present in the courtroom
throughout the trial...
Mark as Played
May 17, 2024 • 8 mins
During the last presidential election cycle, Donald Trump said he would
never return to Minnesota should he lose. He is slated to break that
promise when he keynotes the Lincoln-Reagan dinner this evening.
Moreover, Trump’s fixation on the gopher state seems not to have abated
but has intensified since 2020. Does he stand any chance of winning a
state with a Democratic trifecta? National political correspondent Adam
Wren walks Play...
Mark as Played
May 16, 2024 • 8 mins
In a dizzying turn of events yesterday, President Joe Biden and former
President Donald Trump agreed to two debates well before the election
this November — one on CNN in June, and one on ABC in September. Did
Democrats box Trump in, or Biden walk right into a carefully laid trap?
White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire offers Playbook co-author
Rachael Bade some insights.
Mark as Played
May 15, 2024 • 9 mins
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 restrained
Cohen may have delivered a critical blow to his former boss when he
alleged Trump specifically approved a plan to pay Stormy Daniels hush
money disguised as legal payments to cover up an affair. Could this seal
the former preside...
Mark as Played
May 14, 2024 • 9 mins
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 Cardin’s Senate
seat after he retires. In West Virginia, Sen. Joe Manchin’s seat is on
the line. Senior campaign and elections editor and chief polling analyst
Steve Shepard walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through the races to
watch...
Mark as Played
May 13, 2024 • 9 mins
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 the courthouse
since the beginning — joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to break it
all down. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.
Mark as Played
May 10, 2024 • 11 mins
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 with
him shortly after for nearly an hour for Playbook Deep Dive; they join
Playbook Editor Mike DeBonis to discuss what they learned, what they
were surprised by, and what’s next for Speaker Mike Johnson.
Mark as Played
May 9, 2024 • 9 mins
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 if it
launches a major military invasion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
But as Pentagon reporter Lara Seligman tells Playbook co-author Eugene
Daniels, Biden’s new conditions may come too late. Plus, Rep. Marjorie
Taylor Greene’s ...
Mark as Played
May 8, 2024 • 8 mins
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
according to a POLITICO analysis of public data, only a small portion of
that money has been spent. Energy reporter Zack Colman joins Playbook
co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Plus, the ongoing feud between Rep.
Matt Gaetz and Kevin McCar...
Mark as Played
May 7, 2024 • 9 mins
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 “softer” than
what Israel wanted. As Israel's invasion of Rafah looms, President Biden
finds himself in a bind on how to navigate the increasingly complicated
situation. Plus, a look inside the meeting between Marjorie Taylor
Greene and ...
Mark as Played
May 6, 2024 • 6 mins
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 Jersey
Congressman Bob Menendez faced a similar indictment, and the plan,
Playbook co-author Rachael Bade is told, is to use the situations as
proof of questionable ethics within the party. Also on the agenda this
week: Marjorie Taylor ...
Mark as Played
May 3, 2024 • 9 mins
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 does? Politico
reporter Erica Orden. She’s been in the courtroom all week, and joins
Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk about the biggest developments —
and why they matter in the short and long term. Plus, Playbook has a
juicy excerp...
Mark as Played
May 2, 2024 • 8 mins
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 showed up marked a
return to form — for better or worse — but also a reminder of the unique
vulnerabilities he brings to the general election (from railing against
his indictments and comparing himself to Al Capone, to thanking by name
the ...
Mark as Played
May 1, 2024 • 10 mins
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 cannabis policy
reporter Natalie Fertig joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk
through what this means practically and politically. Plus, Rep. Marjorie
Taylor Greene is expected to double-down on her effort to oust Speaker
Mike Jo...
Mark as Played
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