The Playbook Podcast

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s ballots, citing his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. Senior legal reporter Kyle Cheney joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to break down what this means going forward, and how it may impact the election at large.Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews senior legal reporter Kyle Cheney.

At a number of recent appearances, President Joe Biden has shown he is not afraid to draw comparisons between the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. Though not wholly unexplored territory, the move is unusual and seen by some as extreme. White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss why the Biden team has decided to cross the line, and what potential drawbacks he could face.Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews White House bureau chief Jonathan Lemire.

With senators stuck on the Hill for another week before the Christmas holidays — thanks to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — the pressure is on to pass President Joe Biden’s $106 billion national security supplemental. But Republicans aren’t going for it, so it is unclear whether there will even be a hearing before the new year. Plus, more trouble in the DeSantis camp as Jeff Roe, the leader of his PAC, Never Back Down, resigned Saturday night.

Republican George Santos has been ousted, sparking a special election in NY's 3rd district. The Democratic and Republican nominees, Tom Suozzi and Mazi Melesa Pilip, are discussed, focusing on Pillows' compelling backstory and connection to the Israel Hamas war. The significance of the special election and potential redrawing of district lines is highlighted in relation to determining party control in the House and as an indicator for the 2024 election.

As it weighs how to proceed in negotiations over a new tranche of aid to Ukraine, the Biden administration faces a dilemma of both policy and politics: How much can they concede on border security without losing ground with Democratic voters in 2024? The answer to that question is complicated — both on Capitol Hill, where progressives are fuming at Biden for what they see as caving to the right, and in the general public, where independent voters are fuming at Biden for being too far to the left on matters of migration. White House reporter Jen Haberkorn joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to explore the ins and outs of the latest fight roiling Washington.Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews White House reporter Jen Haberkorn.

In a last ditch attempt to convince Congress to agree to send more humanitarian aid to his country before the end of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Capitol Hill. He met with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other senior officials, and hosted a press conference with President Joe Biden. But, as national security reporter Alex Ward tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, without a border deal, chances of more aid to Ukraine are all but impossible.Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels national security reporter Alex Ward.

Special counsel Jack Smith requests Supreme Court intervention in Donald Trump's trial, revealing intriguing revelations about Trump's Twitter account. The podcast explores Ukrainian President Zelensky's visit, Trump's immunity argument, Supreme Court speculation, and the significance of extracted data from Trump's cell phone.

House Republicans plan to authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, despite a lack of evidence. The GOP is united in supporting the investigation, but their ultimate vote for impeachment remains uncertain. The podcast also covers the National Defense Authorization Act, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's visit to Capitol Hill.

Hunter Biden, involved in a legal case regarding tax evasion, discusses the severity of his charges and the potential impact on his father's reelection. The podcast explores the indictment, defense strategy, and other legal developments involving the Biden family. It also discusses the challenge of enforcing a congressional subpoena and mentions President Biden's schedule.

It was the last scheduled GOP debate before primary ballots start being cast. But did it change anything? Last night in Tuscaloosa, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy traded barbs, unspooled occasionally outlandish talking points and did their best to recapture the narrative in the final month of the primary race. Yet it was the candidate not in attendance — Donald Trump — who once again loomed large, defining the stage even while absent. And what we saw seems unlikely to disrupt the fundamentals of the campaign. National politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to unpack it all.