CNN Political Briefing

On this Presidents’ Day, President Joe Biden has a full plate. CNN’s Congressional Correspondent Ryan Nobles breaks down Biden’s stacked agenda: the escalating conflict in Eastern Europe, a Supreme Court nominee pick and a SOTU address to write. The next few weeks will be crucial for Biden; could his ability to handle these challenges be a turning point in his presidency? 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 is dealing with some similar challenges that President Lyndon B. Johnson faced in the 60s. In this episode, you’ll hear CNN’s Zachary Wolf share some of Johnson’s secretly recorded calls. At the time, he had some candid words for his concerns with the conflict in Vietnam. He spoke to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about passing monumental voting rights legislation and more. Check out this piece and watch “LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy” for more–it premieres on CNN this Sunday at 9pm and 10pm ET.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

American officials believe Russia is moving towards an imminent invasion of Ukraine, despite Moscow claiming otherwise. CNN’s Zachary Wolf explains where the conflict stands and how Congress is planning to respond. Although lawmakers on both sides support more sanctions on Russia, they can’t seem to agree on the details of a bipartisan bill.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalates, it could hurt Americans here at home, particularly in their pocketbooks. CNN’s Zachary Wolf explains that the conflict comes at a politically challenging time for the President and his party. Although they campaigned on the promise of weening the US off oil and gas to save the planet, midterm nerves and high inflation are prompting some Democrats to consider other ideas, like a gas tax holiday.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN’s Ronald Brownstein writes, “the pressures of the pandemic are reconfiguring the politics of education.” That’s what CNN’s Zachary Wolf explains in today’s CNN Political Briefing–frustration over Covid restrictions is spilling over into exasperation over education and schools. San Francisco’s school board recall election is a microcosm of a bigger issue happening across the country right now. Plus, that frustration felt could be why many blue states are lifting Covid-19 restrictions. Subscribe to the “What Matters” newsletter for more analysis.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early voting started today in Texas where a new voting law is being put to the test. Election officials are already running into problems, as CNN Politics Senior Writer Zachary Wolf explains. He breaks down provisions in the law that some argue make it harder for people to vote in the state. You’ll hear an example from a Texas voter who tried three times to get an absentee ballot. Subscribe to the “What Matters” newsletter for more analysis.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Polls are snapshots in time, but often helpful to get a sense of where people stand on key issues–especially heading into a midterm year. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon dives deep into a new CNN-SSRS poll out that paints a picture of what issues Americans care about most these days, how confident they are in elections, and what people think about the Capitol insurrection. The data reveals some surprising and troubling trends.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today President Biden visited Virginia to discuss a key component of his Build Back Better agenda – lowering prescription drug prices. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon explains why Biden is resurrecting legislation that Democrats failed to pass four months ago. Plus, this comes as a new CNN Poll shows that Americans are growing increasingly frustrated with Biden.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Republican Leaders Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are at odds over the recent RNC censure of two GOP lawmakers. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon explains which Republicans are siding with McConnell and what they’re saying about the January 6th insurrection. With the midterms only months away, the last thing the GOP needs is another civil war over former president Donald Trump.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court allowed a controversial congressional map drawn by Alabama Republicans to remain in place Monday, putting the lower court’s ruling on hold. CNN Senior Political Analyst & Reality Check host John Avlon explains the court’s decision and what it means for the 2022 election year. However, this isn’t true across the board: the Ohio Supreme Court just rejected GOP-drawn maps again that disproportionately favored their candidates.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices