CNN Political Briefing

Conspiracy theories are not new. They’re as old as time itself. But if you feel like they’re everywhere right now, you’re not alone. So, what do you do when somebody you love has fallen down a rabbit hole? CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan has been covering the world of misinformation for more than a decade, but now he's less interested in what people believe than why they believe it. So, he’s trying to find out. Listen to Persuadable here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can politicians reach Americans who have tuned out politics? That’s something Rob Flaherty, a former deputy campaign manager for Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential run, argues Republicans have been doing successfully while Democrats have failed. He explains why he thinks Dems became the “party of the system” and why that’s kept them from reaching voters who believe the system is broken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next week marks 100 days since President Trump was sworn in for his second term. CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins and Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny share their behind-the-scenes insights from the last few months and explain why attitudes at the White House have recently shifted.Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of Michigan and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, dives into the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary over deportation-related cases. She discusses whether these conflicts signal a looming constitutional crisis. Topics include the legal implications of recent rulings, complexities of immigration law, and the critical role of the Supreme Court. Litman also highlights concerns about democracy's future amidst growing autocratic trends.

President Trump’s 90-day pause on most new tariffs triggered a market rally, but economic uncertainty persists as existing tariffs are still in place and a trade war with China intensifies. Trade economist and historian Doug Irwin knows how tariffs have affected Americans and American companies in the past. So, what can that tell us about what could happen to the US economy next?Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democrats celebrated a victory in a Wisconsin state supreme court race while Republicans secured two wins in special elections in Florida this week. The races were a window into how voters are feeling a few months into Trump's second term. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler explains why his state saw a surge in voter turnout, while Florida Republican Party Chair Ben Power shares his take on GOP margins shrinking since November.Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration is still under fire after plans for a military strike on Yemen were leaked via a group chat that mistakenly included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Olivia Troye was a former national security official during the first Trump administration. She shares her take on the potential dangers of what happened here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Democratic Party's approval rating has dropped to a record low. So, why is the party so unpopular right now? And what can Democrats do to revive their reputation? Howard Dean is a former chair of the DNC, a onetime presidential candidate and the former governor of Vermont. He argues the Democrats’ brand right now is “what the Republicans say it is.” And he shares some ideas for reclaiming his party’s brand.Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elon Musk is new to Washington, but what can we learn about his tactics at DOGE from how he’s run his companies? Kate Conger, co-author of the book “Character Limit,” an account of Musk’s takeover of Twitter, says Musk has been pulling from the same playbook since taking on his role in the Trump administration. Plus, she explains Musk’s affinity for recreating memes in real life.Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was tariff whiplash in North America this week when President Trump imposed new tariffs on Mexico and Canada, only to announce a one-month reprieve a couple days later. What’s the end goal for Trump’s tariff strategy? And how is the US economy doing so far under Trump 2.0? CNN global economic analyst Rana Foroohar shares what she thinks is the biggest takeaway from the tariff drama and explains why the US economy could be due for a slowdown.Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices