The Playbook Podcast

Republican Minority Leader McConnell says he is working to preserve the United States’ identity as a strong, visible presence internationally and within NATO. But with Donald Trump now the de facto party leader, that’s no longer a popular position to take. The senator’s declining health only adds further complication to his endeavors. Host Ryan Lizza talks with Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin about his newest piece about McConnell’s political endgame.Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Senior Columnist and Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin.

Nearly every Republican presidential hopeful will be in Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair this weekend. And so will our own Rachael Bade. She joins Ryan to discuss the scene at Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence and Doug Burgum’s campaign stops. That, plus what (and who) we can expect to make headlines in the days ahead.Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with reporter Rachael Bade.

As abortion rights advocates celebrate a major win in Ohio, eyes are turning to other purple-to-red states as Democrats potentially see a path to juice 2024 turnout in some of the most competitive areas of the country. Plus, as Republican presidential hopefuls flock to Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair, former President Donald Trump is bringing an entourage hand-picked to troll Ron DeSantis. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Eight candidates – including, most recently, former Vice President Mike Pence – have qualified for the first GOP Presidential Debate. Will Donald Trump take the stage? Plus, a victory for proponents of abortion rights in Ohio yesterday, and another staffing shakeup for the DeSantis campaign. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Today voters in Ohio decide the fate of Issue 1, an amendment that would make it significantly harder to alter the state’s constitution. But the stakes are broader: If passed, it would immediately jeopardize efforts to enshrine abortion rights into state law. Plus, Donald Trump’s legal team is arguing that a protective order proposed by DOJ special counsel Jack Smith would be an infringement on Trump’s free speech rights.Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels talks with campaigns reporter Madison Fernandez about the implications of the Ohio special election.

D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has given Donald Trump until 5 p.m. today to respond to a protective order in his Washington, D.C., criminal case. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza explains how this event will give important clues about how the former president’s prosecution will unfold in D.C., and when his trial may actually happen.

Donald Trump’s third arraignment may be dominating chyrons nationwide this week, but in California, he and his allies are working to ensure that he can secure every last GOP delegate. Rivals like Ken Cuccinelli are even claiming that the Trump camp is “looking to rig the system in their favor.”Playbook co-author Rachael Bade digs into her exclusive reporting.

With President Joe Biden still at the beach and Congress in August recess, there’s one gigantic story dominating the headlines today: Donald Trump’s expected arraignment in Washington D.C. following his indictment this week stemming from his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with senior legal affairs reporter Josh Gerstein about what to expect from this latest arraignment.

The case filed Tuesday by special counsel Jack Smith is the first attempt to hold Trump criminally accountable in a court of law for his actions between Election Day 2020 and Jan. 6, 2021 — actions which, prosecutors allege amounted to four federal felonies. Ryan Lizza quizzes legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney about what he learned about yesterday’s historic grand jury indictments.

Midnight marked the mid-year FEC filing deadline for PACs and parties. Rachael Bade and data reporter Jessica Piper have a first look at the donations and spending habits of former President Donald Trump’s campaign. Plus, President Biden has decided to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado, igniting tensions among Senate Republicans. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.