The Conversation with Dasha Burns

POLITICO’s senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney and legal columnist Ankush Khardori debrief on what happened at the Hush Money trial, how Trump’s team may have hurt its own case, and what their best plan is to win an appeal after Thursday’s massive guilty verdict. Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.Kyle Cheney is a senior legal affairs reporter for POLITICO.Ankush Khardori is a columnist and senior writer for POLITICO Magazine.Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) joins host and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss his entry into the Senate GOP leadership race to succeed Mitch McConnell. They discuss why Sen. Scott is running, what Donald Trump told him about his decision, his relationship with key Republicans such as McConnell and Susie Wiles, his policy agenda on foreign aid, abortion, entitlements, and Israel if he’s elected leader, Trump’s running mate choices, and the importance of having a purpose in life.Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.Rick Scott is the junior U.S. senator from Florida. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Fahrenkopf, Co-chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates, discusses Biden's decision to bypass traditional debates, potential lawsuits, and captivating behind-the-scenes stories from his debate-producing career. The impact of timing debates, role of moderators, concerns about Rudy Giuliani, and negotiation intricacies offer a deep dive into the world of presidential debates.

Speaker Mike Johnson discusses his victory over GOP radicals, Israel, Ukraine, January 6th, Trump trials, abortion, and relationships with key leaders like Biden and Trump. Also explores unity in Congress, assessment of Biden's leadership, fiscal responsibility, building bridges with Jeffries, and navigating conservative values in the Trump era.

Rep. Jerry Nadler, a long-serving Jewish member of the House, discusses his opposition to the Antisemitism Awareness Act, Middle East peace talks, and reflections on historical events like the Columbia University protests. The podcast delves into the complexities of defining anti-Semitism, critiques of Netanyahu's actions, and the potential impact of tough political decisions. It also explores Democratic support for Speaker Mike Johnson and the challenges of navigating free speech concerns in legislation.

Explore the movie 'Civil War' depicting a fictional civil war in America, with themes of political polarization and journalism. Discusses the impact of art on politics, challenges faced by journalists, and parallels between Brazil and the US. Actor Wagner Moura provides insights on his role in the film and the power of art in societal activism.

Rep. Tom Cole discusses navigating the House Appropriations Committee to secure aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. They delve into the challenges of the Rules Committee, Speaker Mike Johnson's tenure, and the controversial earmarks process. Cole also shares insights on handling the foreign aid bill, the difficulties faced by recent GOP speakers, and some candid thoughts on Trump from historians.

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen discusses the upcoming hush money trial, defending his credibility, and expectations for Trump's legal tactics. Insights on comparisons of legal cases, potential testimony from Trump, and preparations for the trial. Personal account of solitary confinement, fair housing discussions, and navigating a gag order also covered.

On April 1, the Florida Supreme Court issued a pair of decisions on abortion that led the Biden campaign to declare that Florida, which Democrats have lost twice to Donald Trump, was now “winnable.”The only problem with that? Some of Florida’s abortion rights advocates want the president to stay away. At issue is Amendment 4, a measure on November’s ballot that would enshrine abortion in the state constitution — and will also need Republican and independent votes to pass. On this episode of Deep Dive, Anna Hochkammer, the executive director of the Florida Women’s Freedom Coalition and one of the architects of Florida’s abortion ballot initiative, joins host and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss the delicate politics of building a bipartisan coalition around abortion rights in a red state like Florida.Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.Anna Hochkammer is the executive director of the Florida Women's Freedom Coalition. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year ago today, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia and charged with espionage, an allegation he and the Journal said was absurd. The State Department declared that Gershkovich was “wrongfully detained,” an official status that commits the Biden administration to work for his release.Journal publisher Almar Latour has played a key role in the legal and diplomatic effort to free Gershkovich. On this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, host and Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza talks with Latour to learn the inside story of this effort. They discuss: how the shadow of basketball star Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia is influencing talks to bring Evan home; why a Russian hitman serving a life sentence in Germany may be the key to unlocking a deal with Putin; and how the 2024 election may affect Gershkovich’s fate. Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.Almar Latour is CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of The Wall Street Journal.Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices