The Playbook Podcast

A theme has emerged in the recent developments surrounding former president — and presumptive GOP nominee — Donald Trump’s criminal trials: They keep being delayed. In the New York hush money case, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg conceded that he would be OK with as much as month's delay. Federal judge Aileen Cannon is also expected to delay Trump’s May 20 trial date in Florida but is otherwise remaining tight-lipped. And news on whether Georgia DA Fani Willis will remain on Trump’s case in Atlanta might also emerge this week. Legal editor James Romoser joins Playbook coauthor Ryan Lizza to discuss.Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews legal editor James Romoser.

It’s one of the biggest economic trends shaping American life — and it happens to be something of an obsession of the president’s: The high cost of housing. Sources tell POLITICO that for months, Biden has used his debriefs to press senior staff on affordability, quizzing them on mortgage rates and rental costs. Now, the White House is making a fresh push to show it shares Americans’ frustrations and elevating housing to a top priority as the general election begins in earnest. White House reporter Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss.Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews White House reporter Adam Cancryn.

Republicans on the Hill were hoping that Special Counsel Robert Hur’s testimony Tuesday would kickstart their stalled impeachment campaign, but that isn’t how things shook out. Without the smoking gun Republicans were hoping for from Hur, they now must face the reality that an impeachment of President Joe Biden is increasingly unlikely. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss. Plus, Biden and former president Donald Trump clinch their respective party nominations, and TikTok may be on the chopping block. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews Congress reporter Jordain Carney. 

Special Counsel Robert Hur is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee today to talk about his explosive report on Biden's handling of classified documents. Ankush Khardori, a senior writer for POLITICO Magazine and a former federal prosecutor — joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to talk about what Democrats should take heed of as Hur takes the stand.Plus, the House is inching toward what could be a bipartisan vote to effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. That, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews senior writer for POLITICO Magazine Ankush Khardori.

The budget President Biden is releasing today is through fiscal year 2025, potentially leading into Biden’s second term if he is reelected. As economics reporter Victoria Guida tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, it’ll be an interesting look into what his policy priorities are going to be.Also today, the deteriorating relationship between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Plus, the race for Senate Republican Conference Chair appears to have a new challenger.Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews economics reporter Victoria Guida.

It was the speech Joe Biden’s supporters were aching to hear: A 66-minute stemwinder that torched Donald Trump and the GOP on issues from abortion rights and IVF to taxes on the wealthy to Ukraine and Russia. Along the way, Biden bore his teeth and set to bed — for the moment, at least — concerns about his mental acuity. The big questions after: Did the SOTU speech just reset the 2024 campaign? And where does Biden take his message from here? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza discuss.

The importance of State of the Union speeches is vastly overrated. Except this year.When President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress this evening, the vast viewing audience won’t simply by listening to the usual laundry list of accomplishments; they’ll be looking for reliable proof of his stamina and mental acuity, for his narrative frame that justifies his reelection campaign, and for a sense of vision that will provide his presidency with badly needed momentum. How’s the Biden team handling all this? White House Correspondent Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss that and what else to look at tonight’s big speech.Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews White House Correspondent Adam Cancryn.

On the campaign trail, Super Tuesday was a romp for Joe Biden and Donald Trump — though both men stopped short of a clean sweep in their parties’ respective contests. Down the ticket, we now have a clear view of what the November general election will look like in some of the nation’s most pivotal House and Senate contests. And yet, for all of that, Tuesday’s most consequential news might be about someone who isn’t going to be on the ballot this fall: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. The colorful Arizona independent announced that she will not seek reelection this year — a move with significant implications not just for November, but for the future of the Senate. Politico Deputy Managing Editor for Congress Elana Schor sits down with Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton to discuss what it all means on the micro level — and the larger trend it hints at on a macro level.

Though it is one of the most significant dates of the U.S. election cycle, this year’s Super Tuesday looks like it won’t come with many surprises. President Joe Biden has won every early Democratic competition, and former president Donald Trump has won all but one. But in some parts of the country, like Texas, things are getting exciting on a state level. The implications of the drama stretch all the way to the White House. Senior columnist and politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the situation. Plus, SCOTUS rules Trump can appear on state ballots, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Ahead of the State of the Union on Thursday, members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet are scattering about the country to tout Biden's accomplishments to voters. Included in that group is Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who spoke with national politics correspondent Adam Wren over the weekend. Adam joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to reflect on the takeaways from that interview. Plus, House and Senate negotiators released a $459 billion spending package Sunday afternoon that would keep the government open — for now. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.