The Playbook Podcast

With a week until the Democratic Primary in Michigan, President Joe Biden has his eyes on the state’s Muslim population that helped get him elected in 2020. The Abandon Biden movement, a coalition of Michigan progressives — including Rep. Rashida Tlaib — calling for residents to vote uncommitted next week, is growing stronger by the day. The administration, too, has shifted its message toward Israel dramatically, and the U.S. has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire and encouraging Israel to push pause on plans to attack the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through that and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand on Thursday to face pointed and personal questions from from lawyers representing former President Donald Trump. They allege Willis’ past romantic involvement with fellow prosecutor Nathan Wade is a conflict of interest and ought to disqualify her from leading the criminal case against Trump for alleged election interference in Georgia. But is their real goal to disqualify her, or simply delay the proceedings? Senior legal reporter Josh Gerstein walks Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton through what we saw, and what it all could mean.Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton interviews Senior legal reporter Josh Gerstein.

Two major hearings today will shape the trajectory (and timing) of the legal woes that Donald Trump faces as he attempts to return to the White House. In New York, a judge will decide whether the hush money case against the former president can move to trial in late March or whether that timeline will be pushed back — a popular Trump delay tactic honed over his many decades of lawsuits. Meanwhile in Georgia, Trump and his co-defendants aim to sideline Fulton County DA Fani Willis in her sweeping election interference case. Plus, more headaches for Speaker Mike Johnson, and urgent new concerns about Russian space nukes. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks with legal editor James Romoser and walks through what you need to know.Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews legal editor James Romoser.

On their second attempt, House Republicans managed to formally impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas by one vote. That will likely be the end of the story, though, as the impeachment proceedings are expected to come to a stop in the Senate. Plus, in Tuesday’s election, Democrats managed to flip a seat in the New York District 3 special election to fill the seat formerly occupied by Rep. George Santos. And, despite the increasingly urgent need for foreign aid, the supplemental continues to stall. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks through all of this and more.

The center of the political universe today is on Long Island, where voters in Queens and Nassau County will decide whether Democrat Tom Suozzi or Republican Mazi Pilip will replace George Santos, the fabulist who was expelled from Congress. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza calls up Politico editor Steve Shepard — a fellow Long Island native — to discuss. Plus, the latest on the Senate's supplemental bill and the changes former President Donald Trump is pushing at the Republican National Committee.

Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump captured headlines and confused many when he said he would “encourage” Russia to attack NATO members who did not pay their financial dues. Among those who were quick to condemn the comments is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Trump’s remaining challenger for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade spoke with Haley about her reaction to the comments. Plus, House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner weighs in on Speaker Johnson's approach to Ukraine aid.

The special counsel report on Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents was about as damaging as it could possibly be while stopping short of recommending criminal charges. Over nearly 350 pages, the investigation paints a troubling picture of Biden’s behavior and cognitive abilities — one almost certain to feed voters’ existing concerns about the 81-year-old president, whom it describes as a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” National correspondent Betsey Woodruff Swan walks Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza through the report and its reverberations across Washington.

This morning, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a momentous case that could determine former President Donald Trump’s ballot eligibility — and, potentially, whether the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause bars him from a return to the White House. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza and legal editor James Romoser break down what to expect inside the courtroom.

House Republicans dramatically failed to both impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and pass the Israel aid bill last night, delivering two major blows to the party leader. Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed to reintroduce articles of impeachment, but with yet another failure during his brief tenure, Playbook co-author Rachael Bade explains Republican members of the House are beginning to question whether he can guide the party through a very public implosion.All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.Playbook editor Mike DeBonis interviews Playbook co-author Rachael Bade.

It took months of negotiations to craft the bipartisan border agreement that debuted Sunday night, and only a few hours for its fate to take a grim turn.  Republican senators are continuing to come out of the woodwork to voice concerns that  the deal isn’t tough enough on border security. But, as congress reporter and Inside Congress author Daniella Diaz tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, there is no apparent Plan B.Plus, the all signs point to an impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, but the implications of that move aren’t entirely clear.