CNN Political Briefing

As more general elections contests are solidifying, one trend is emerging – will voters follow former President Donald Trump and choose election deniers as leaders? CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down reporting of how many states have Republicans running down ballots that have expressed 2020 election doubt, and what that could mean for future elections. One primary to watch next week is in Wyoming, where Congresswoman Liz Cheney faces a tough reelection against a Trump-backed challenger.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A federal and state investigation into two separate matters involving former President Donald Trump escalated this week. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains how they’ve caused Trump and the GOP to politically seize on investigators’ silence. Could we see a Trump 2024 announcement before the midterms?To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI searched former President Donald Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago as part of its investigation into whether he mishandled presidential documents. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down what we know – and don’t know – about the investigation so far, and how Republicans are reacting. In typical Trump fashion, the former president is trying to use the situation to his political advantage ahead of a potential 2024 run. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of back and forth, Democrats in the Senate finally passed a massive climate, health and tax bill. CNN’s Political Director David Chalian explained the steps it took to reach a deal and what initiatives made it into the final agreement. Will the legislative win be enough to give Democrats a boost before the midterm elections?  To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Joe Biden has scored some major wins this week on economic, domestic, and international fronts. CNN Political Director David Chalian ticks through each of them, including today's robust jobs numbers, the progress on Democrats' spending bill, and the successful drone strike that took out a terrorist leader. However, Americans are still suffering from high inflation, and Biden is suffering in the polls partly as a result. Will these wins make a difference in voters' eyes?To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democrats, and even some Republicans, have been critical of the Department of Justice's pace in its 2020 election criminal probe. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains recent moves from the DOJ that signal its investigation has reached former President Donald Trump inner circle at the White House. As Trump's former White House aides are subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, Attorney General Merrick Garland maintains no one is above the law. Plus, more information is coming about how federal agencies are responding to the missing text messages from agents and officials surrounding January 6.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Voters in Kansas have chosen to protect the right to abortion in the state – what does this mean for November’s midterm elections? CNN Political Director David Chalian dissects the results in Kansas last night, and breaks down what the Biden administration is doing in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This result in Kansas coincides with polling on the issue, but that hasn’t stopped other states from considering laws that restrict access to abortion.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the first round of midterm primary elections today since the summer hiatus – voters in five states head to the polls. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down two themes to watch in key races tonight – democracy and abortion rights. Kansas will hold its first vote on abortion since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling. Arizona and Michigan have down ballot races where 2020 election deniers are running in GOP primaries. Plus, three out of the 11 Republican members of Congress who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for January 6 face voters today too.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Senate's August recess is quickly approaching. CNN Political Director David Chalian breaks down the latest on the climate, energy, and healthcare spending bill Democrats are trying to pass along party lines, as well as the progress on the stalled legislation that will help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. Republicans are claiming the spending bill will make the economy worse, and want to vote on accounting amendments to advance the veterans' healthcare bill.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US and China have a complicated relationship and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s possible trip to Taiwan is the latest reason why. CNN Political Director David Chalian explains why China is threatening to retaliate, and what President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart spoke about this week. Both Washington and Beijing are watching what is happening with Russia’s war in Ukraine very closely for different reasons.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices