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On this episode, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann, and JM Rieger take a closer look at President Donald Trump’s transformation from vocal crypto critic to now spearheading the U.S. government’s full-throated embrace of cryptocurrency and digital commodities.Trump’s new love of crypto was on full display during White House Crypto Summit on March 7, led by crypto and artificial intelligence czar David Sacks. The Trump administration, along with tech industry leaders, touted deregulation, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Assets Stockpile, executive orders and legislation.Plus, Sam Bankman-Fried lobbies for a pardon from prison on Tucker Carlson’s podcast and reaction to the White House’s surprise decision to withdraw their Center of Disease Control and Prevention nomination, former congressman Dave Weldon, who found out as he was driving to the Capitol to testify.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger explain why Washington is once again under the cloud of a looming government shutdown – and why fiscal conservatives might have to hold their noses and vote to keep the government open.Plus, how Vice President JD Vance is finding a role for himself as a go-between for members of Congress who want access to the White House.

In this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann decode President Trump's efforts to redefine America's role on the world stage – from seemingly starting trade wars with China, Mexico and Canada to straining alliances with Europe that have defined American foreign policy since the Second World War.Plus, what is Trump really trying to accomplish – and is he playing chess, with a longer strategy in mind, or just checkers?

Join Sidebar for live coverage of President Trump's joint address to Congress, March 4 at 8 p.m. – only at YouTube.com/WashingtonPost.

Faiz Siddiqui, a Washington Post reporter and author of Hubris Maximus, sheds light on Elon Musk's unique relationship with politics. Topics include Musk's informal role in the Trump administration and his controversial management style. They discuss the potential consequences of his cutbacks on federal functions and the ethical dilemmas posed by private sector influence on public agencies. Siddiqui also reveals how Musk's public persona contrasts with his actual approach to governance, raising questions about accountability and oversight.

The podcast dives into the explosive fallout from Elon Musk’s emails targeting federal workers, stirring up security concerns. It highlights the intense budget battles in Congress, where House Democrats staunchly oppose a Trump-supported proposal. Amid the chaos, tensions grow between government agencies and powerful figures like Musk. Discussions also reveal Musk's backroom ties with Republican politicians and their implications for national security. Plus, changes in military leadership add another layer of complexity to the political landscape.

On this episode, The Washington Post’s Libby Casey and JM Rieger are joined by metro reporter Emily Davies and White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum to discuss the escalating rhetoric used by President Donald Trump and his administration, calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator without elections,” while also meeting with Russia delegates for peace talks, notably without Ukrainian involvement.Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service, and The Trump administration also continued to cut federal workforce jobs across the country, targeting probationary employees, and sometimes citing ‘performance’ issues without evidence.Meanwhile, Trump threatened to ‘take over’ governance of Washington D.C., reversing its current home rule status, claiming local leaders are not doing enough on crime, cleaning up graffiti, and removing homeless encampments.

Jacob Bogage, a Congressional economics correspondent for The Washington Post, dives into the intriguing world of personal finance data access. He discusses Elon Musk's DOGE team's attempts to access the IRS's highly secure systems, raising alarms among government officials. The conversation touches on the absurd implications of 'vampire claims', pointless layoffs amid IRS funding challenges, and the chaos ensuing from rapid tech integration in government. The complexities of protecting sensitive data while grappling with misinformation also take center stage.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger sit down with media reporter Jeremy Barr to break down the Trump administration's recent spats with the media – from barring The Associated Press from Oval Office events, to removing media organizations from workspaces at the Pentagon. Plus, Trump settles with Facebook and Twitter, and demands a $20 billion settlement from CBS.Then, are Republican senators ceding all of their power to Trump and the executive branch? And why was Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) – until recently his caucus' leader – alone in his opposition to several of Trump's cabinet nominees?

The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the pushback to President Trump and Elon Musk's attempts to drastically downsize the federal government – from what Congress is or isn't doing, on both sides of the aisle, to lawsuits and federal judges who have started to put some of Trump's efforts on hold.And is the GOP's rhetoric about the judiciary getting dangerous?Plus, Washington Post Investigations Editor David Fallis joins the show to discuss how listeners can share tips with Post reporters in secure ways.