CONTROL

On a new episode of CONTROL, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller reflect on Speaker Johnson’s latest magic act in passing the One Big Beautiful Bill before pivoting to the action in the Senate with the help of Semafor’s Congressional Bureau Chief Burgess Everett. They discuss the dynamics and personalities involved as Senators look to put their stamp on the OBBB. Can Majority Leader Thune deliver? Or will the whole thing fall apart?   Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller Guest: Burgess Everett Audio Producer: Benji Englander Video Producer: Regina Anderson   Articles Discussed: Politico: Mike Johnson urges Senate not to make major changes to megabill Punchbowl: Thune’s turn in the reconciliation grinder Semafor: Ron Johnson takes on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ Politico: ‘We’re not going there': Thune vows not to overrule parliamentarian on megabill NOTUS: White House to Send Congress a Rescission Package for Select DOGE Cuts

It’s the biggest week of Mike Johnson’s speakership, which means a trio of hosts are needed to break down all the intrigue around the One Big Beautiful Bill. Brendan Buck, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci discuss the drama over SALT and Medicaid before previewing the upcoming, late-night rules committee hearing. Plus, is now the time for President Trump to wield his influence? And can Congress still get this done by the Fourth of July?   Hosts: Brendan Buck, Annalyse Keller, Mike Ricci Producer: Benji Englander   Articles Discussed: WaPo: Trump’s tax and immigration bill clears hurdle after late-night vote Punchbowl: Another week of hard choices for Johnson New York Times: These Are the Dueling Republican Factions Imperiling the Party’s Megabill Politico: House GOP leaders want Trump to dissuade hard-liners on deeper Medicaid cuts The Hill: Senate Republicans want to break up House’s Trump bill into bite-size pieces Politico: ‘The Titanic’: Johnson predicts House’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill will sink in the Senate

Three House Committees are teed up to consider their pieces of the "Big, Beautiful Bill," but big questions remain. Hosts Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck discuss how moderates largely triumphed in the debate on Medicaid, what fiscal hawks have to say about that, and how the SALT issue still threatens the entire reconciliation package. After weighing on what the Senate is up to and making predictions about when all this might get wrapped up, they welcome Zach Cohen of Bloomberg Tax. Zach shares what to expect in the (long) Ways and Means markup and dives into the policy decisions that the committee has made and still needs to make before the bill comes to the floor.  Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller Guest: Zach Cohen Producer: Benji Englander Second Producer: Regina Anderson Articles Discussed: Punchbowl: Senate GOP leaders: House isn’t cutting enough The Hill: GOP charges ahead despite deep divisions on Medicaid, SALT Bloomberg: Why the SALT Deduction is Key to Trump's Tax Bill NYTimes Opinion: The Political Tariff Trap for Republicans

With key markups delayed and internal GOP debates spilling into public view, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the state of the “one, big, beautiful bill” – and if it will get passed at all. Then, Jonathan Burks, Executive Vice President of Economic and Health Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Chief of Staff to Speaker Ryan, joins the show to help Brendan and Annalyse get smart on all things Medicaid and offer his perspective on passing a massive tax bill.   Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller Guest: Jonathan Burks Producer: Benji Englander   Articles Discussed: Punchbowl: Will Republicans ever get a reconciliation deal? Politico: GOP leaders take more time for key megabill markup after Medicaid snags Axios: Pressure intensifies for Medicaid decisions Fox News: Senate Democrats predicting 'brutal' UN ambassador confirmation hearing for Mike Waltz

As Congress resumes, the urgency of reconciliation efforts heats up amid ongoing debates. Tensions rise over tax reforms, including a millionaire's tax and the SALT deduction. A unique focus lies on Trump's mixed poll numbers 100 days into his presidency, especially in key regions like Macomb County. The hosts analyze the intricate dynamics of moderates versus hardliners and the implications for Medicaid negotiations. Insights into upcoming legislative challenges shed light on the complex relationship between the House and Senate.

All are eyes are on the House of Representatives (again). Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the fallout from the Senate passing the budget resolution and gauge its chances in the House. Can Speaker Johnson quell the rising complaints among the Republican Conference and keep the reconciliation process moving forward? Plus, after days of tariff-induced market turmoil, is now the time Congressional Republicans stand up to President Trump? At the end, the rise and fall of the proxy voting discharge petition.   Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller Producer: Benji Englander   Articles Discussed: CNN: Senate GOP adopts budget blueprint to advance Trump agenda as spending fight consumes Capitol Hill NBC News: Some House Republicans voice opposition to the Senate's newly adopted budget for Trump's agenda POLITICO: House GOP leaders vow to push forward with budget vote The Hill: 7 GOP senators sign on to bill to check Trump’s trade authority NYT: Johnson Reaches Agreement to Kill Proxy Voting Proposal in the House

It is another make or break week for Congressional Republicans as the Senate tees up a vote on a budget resolution. Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Punchbowl News’ Laura Weiss to answer some big questions about the reconciliation debate. Is the new timeline feasible? How will the two chambers handle different budget instructions? And will the Senate overrule the parliamentarian if need be?   Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller Guest: Laura Weiss Producer: Benji Englander   Articles Discussed: Punchbowl: The big moments this week that will define Republicans’ tax plans Politico: Senate GOP to start moving budget plan as soon as Wednesday Politico: ‘Never been done’: Why Republicans might approve a budget whose numbers don’t match up New York Times: A Special Election That Was Supposed to Be a Snoozer Is Suddenly Buzzing NBC News: Inside Trump's shock decision to pull the plug on Elise Stefanik's nomination

The House and Senate return following the passage of a CR, and the next thing on the table is a return to budget reconciliation negotiations. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Liam Donovan, senior political strategist at Bracewell, to talk about where discussions stand, what obstacles remain, and how long this thing may take. Plus what happened with the Democrats on the CR vote, the firestorm its created, and how they try to move forward.    Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller Guest: Liam Donovan Producer: Benji Englander Second producer: Regina Anderson   Articles Mentioned: Axios: Behind the Curtain: Dems' dark, deep hole Axios: "They hate us": Democrats confront their own Tea Party The New York Times Opinion: There’s a Price for Promising What Isn’t Possible in Congress The Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

In this conversation, Nicholas Wu, a seasoned congressional reporter at POLITICO, dives into the fraught landscape of a potential government shutdown. He discusses whether Speaker Johnson can rally votes for a continuing resolution and the contrasting strategies among House and Senate Democrats. Wu also highlights the fallout from the censure of Al Green and what it means for upcoming votes. Finally, he sheds light on how Democrats plan to regroup at their retreat, seeking ways to unite and push through their agenda amidst turbulent political waters.

Before President Trump addresses a Joint Session of Congress, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the outlook for his agenda: What are the next steps for reconciliation? Can the Senate make the budget math work? And will a government shutdown get in the way? Then, Seven Letter’s Mike Ricci joins the show to talk about State of the Union responses and Chad Pergram, Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent, shares his insights based on more than 30 years covering Capitol Hill.    Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller Guests: Chad Pergram and Mike Ricci Producer: Benji Englander   Articles Discussed: AP: What’s next for Trump agenda after House GOP approves tax breaks and slashed spending in budget Politico: GOP tax chief voiced ‘huge concern’ over Senate tax plan at White House meeting Politico: Senate Republicans say House budget won’t fly with them Fox News: Reporter's Notebook: All night long CNN: Trump’s speech to Congress will be an explanation of his fast-paced first days in office Roll Call: Slotkin leads return of the national security women for Democrats Axios: Fuming Democrats struggle with Trump speech strategy