The Playbook Podcast

It’s Tuesday, and that means another day of primaries. Races to watch today include South Carolina Republican Nancy Mace facing a primary challenger backed by ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the race to fill outgoing North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum’s seat, races in Nevada and Ohio and more. Plus, the bribery trial for Senator Bob Menendez heats up in New Jersey. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

In a sharp blow to PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Benny Gantz, a key member of Israel’s war cabinet, resigned his post this weekend in protest of the lack of a plan to win the peace in Gaza. While the move — which came with a call for new elections — is unlikely to force Netanyahu from power, Gantz’s departure has significant implications for both Israel and the U.S. Foreign affairs correspondent and columnist Nahal Toosi joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through what you need to know. Plus, Vice President Kamala Harris shifts her focus, and former President Donald Trump upstages his own policy announcement with remarks about the Jan. 6 attackers during his first post-conviction rally.

In the week since former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies, his campaign has been flooded with a jaw-dropping amount of cash. Aiming to keep up that momentum, Trump is currently in California for a $500,000-per-couple fundraiser with some of the nation’s wealthiest donors. Will it be enough to overtake the Biden campaign’s much touted cash advantage? National politics correspondent Meridith McGraw joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss. Plus, what you need to know about President Joe Biden’s meeting today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and why Kyiv met Biden’s D-Day speech with skepticism.

Black voters have long been the backbone of the Democratic Party. But this year, MAGA is betting it can win over enough Black voters to make a real difference in November. As prominent Black Republicans including Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) make entreaties to Black voters in key states, political correspondent Brakkton Booker joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade break down the nuances of this mission — and where it might come up short.

Hunter Biden’s trial over an unlawful gun purchase is underway in Wilmington, Delaware. The jury (and four alternates) was assembled quickly, and the president’s son is already facing the heat. POLITICO Magazine opinion columnist and former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori was in the courthouse Tuesday. He tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels that the scene has already been defined by the government’s key witness: Hunter’s own words from his memoir. Plus, Democrats are butting heads over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's forthcoming visit to Washington, even though it doesn't have a set date yet. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign a long-awaited executive order today that would allow him to halt crossings at the border after a certain threshold of people is reached. But will the move actually do anything to resolve the crisis at the border? Some immigration policy experts say no. White House reporter Myah Ward joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk it through.Plus, Attorney General Merrick Garland will testify before the House Judiciary Committee this morning in what is expected to be a fiery encounter. All that and the rest of the news you need to know today.

The trial of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter over an unlawful gun purchase begins today in Wilmington. The event won’t just shine a light on the younger Biden’s tumultuous relationship with the law, but on the perhaps even more complicated structures of the Biden family. Both Hunter’s ex-wife and the widow of his brother Beau—with whom he had a relationship after Beau’s death—could be called to the witness stand.Plus, lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the campaign trail are reacting to former President Donald Trump’s 34 felony convictions and a big shakeup at the Washington Post. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

On Thursday afternoon, a Manhattan trial of his peers found former President Donald Trump guilty on all charges of falsifying business records. The jury deliberated for two days. Shortly after the verdict was announced, Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza sat down with senior writer and columnist for Politico Magazine (and former federal prosecutor) Ankush Khardori and senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney. They unpack how the prosecution prevailed, how the defense botched it, and what—if any—effect this will have on Trump’s life and political future.

Jury deliberations in Trump's hush money case started yesterday, and already there have been a number of interesting developments. Twice during the day, jurors sent notes to the judge. The first asked to review segments of testimony that came out during the trial; the second asked the judge to rehash jury instructions. What, if anything, can this tell us about a possible verdict? Legal editor James Romoser offers Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels some insight. Plus, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris make a rare double-appearance in Philadelphia to emphasize the importance of the Black vote, and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s flag fiasco is only getting more complicated. All of that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

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 reporter Kyle Cheney joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to recount what he saw in the courthouse Tuesday and what to expect in the coming days.