POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing
POLITICO Playbook's must-listen briefing on what's driving the day in Washington.
Episodes
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...
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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...
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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.
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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 ...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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April 30, 2024 • 9 mins
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 Dinner this past
weekend introduced another layer. Stokols joins Playbook co-author Ryan
Lizza to discuss. Plus, MTG is a no-show in the House Monday night, and
the rest of the news you need to know today.
Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza...
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April 29, 2024 • 6 mins
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 updates on the
mission. It has now been 38 days since Greene first filed that motion,
and she has gone completely quiet on her plans. What’s going on?
Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through some possibilities. All
that, and the rest o...
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April 26, 2024 • 10 mins
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 alleged Trump was
not the only prominent political figure for whom he caught and killed
stories. Legal reporter Ben Feuerherd takes Playbook co-author Ryan
Lizza through what it was like in the courtroom. All that, and
everything else yo...
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April 25, 2024 • 9 mins
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 National
Enquirer chief David Pecker will resume his testimony in Trump’s
criminal trial. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Supreme Court will hear
oral arguments over Trump’s claims of presidential immunity from
prosecution related to his...
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April 24, 2024 • 9 mins
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 the coming
days. So, what does this mean for the popular social networking app, and
can anything save it? Tech policy reporter Rebecca Kern walks Playbook
co-author Eugene Daniels through some of the possibilities.
Mark as Played
April 23, 2024 • 9 mins
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 travels there today,
he will denounce its red-tinged policies, especially the six-week
abortion ban set to take effect next week. Deputy national editor Zach
Montellaro joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through it
all. Plus...
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April 22, 2024 • 9 mins
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. Senior legal
affairs reporter Josh Gerstein chats with Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza
about what’s on his radar and District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s attempt to
“rebrand” the case.
Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Senior legal affairs...
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April 19, 2024 • 9 mins
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 comes up for
a procedural vote today where it’ll need Democratic support to pass —
and if that vote on the rule passes, the underlying legislation will
also need Democratic votes to get through. That’s good news for Ukraine
and Israel. ...
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April 18, 2024 • 9 mins
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 jurors impaneled
so far, two have something very important in common: They are lawyers.
That is deeply unusual, legal correspondent Betsy Woodruff Swan tells
Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, and it could have interesting
implications for t...
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