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PODCAST

The Playbook Podcast

POLITICO’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns bring their fresh insight, analysis and reporting to the biggest story driving the day in the nation’s capital.

news politics

All Episodes

13:35

Mar-a-Lago turns blue

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/25

Democrats got more big wins on Tuesday night, flipping two legislative seats in reliably red Florida, including the district containing President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. The wins don't dent Florida Republicans' supermajority, but they mark more performances for Democrats that have defied expectations ahead of the pivotal midterm elections. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the warning signs for Republicans, and a notable Trump absence.

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10:27

Russia's oil play

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/24

A Russian oil tanker is steaming toward the Caribbean, most likely destined for Cuba. But that's not really the story behind the ship and its cargo. It’s a message, according to people close to the White House, former ambassadors and Russia observers — a negotiating chit, a provocation designed to force a disproportionate American response while Washington is consumed elsewhere. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the geopolitical stakes of Russia's oil play.

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12:54

Immigration in focus

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/23

Republicans so far have peeled off a handful of Democrats to pass the DHS funding bill in previous votes, but it's still stalled in the Senate. But new demands from President Donald Trump could threaten any progress. Meanwhile, a new push from an influential Democratic think tank wants to help Democrats reclaim political ground on the issue ahead of the midterms. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the next turn of the screw on immigrating messaging between both

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35:38

Sen. Ruben Gallego wants to make Democrats fun again...

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/22

When Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) won his Senate seat in 2024, he outperformed Kamala Harris in one of the closest battleground states in the country. Now that he’s in Washington, Gallego’s background is particularly relevant at this moment in politics. With the Iran War intensifying, Gallego offers his perspective as an Iraq War veteran on Trump’s military operation. And as a Latino Democratic senator of a border state, Gallego has a distinctive outlook on immigration, with criticism for his own

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13:17

A tale of two Democrats

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/20

Ruben Gallego and Pete Buttigieg are trying to offer Democrats a roadmap back to relevance during the Trump era. Both are veterans, and both have a pitch to voters that goes beyond talking points and cuts through the rhetoric that defines much of the online chatter. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns compare notes on their recent conversations with Gallego and Buttigieg and what they reveal about the state of the Democratic Party.

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13:16

Trump's coalition challenge

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/19

President Donald Trump is still fuming over the lack of support that he has received from allied nations over the course of the war with Iran. That tension will be on full display when Trump welcomes Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi to the White House on Thursday. Japan is one such country that has resisted Trump's calls to get involved in the conflict. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss Trump's coalition-building challenge. Plus, the administration official who

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14:23

The skeptics speak

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/18

VP JD Vance and DNI Tulsi Gabbard — two of the Trump administration's historically biggest war skeptics — are due to deliver remarks on Wednesday. Vance will be at an midterm rally with voters in Michigan as he pitches the administration's affordability agenda. Meanwhile, Gabbard is due before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where her past position on war with Iran and her role in the ongoing operation will be fair game for senators. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha

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14:10

Iran incursion risks MAGA revolt

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/17

As the Iran war stretches on with no clear end in sight, some on the right are growing concerned that President Donald Trump will be pulled further into the conflict. A further step in the war would risk alienating a key segment of the MAGA base, which helped return Trump to the White House under the promise that Trump wouldn't set off another long-term military engagement. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the potential pitfalls for Trump over Iran.

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12:41

Playing it Strait

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/16

President Donald Trump is calling on about seven countries that rely heavily on oil from the Middle East to band together to open up the Strait of Hormuz. The call to come together to protect the waterway is an escalation of Trump's efforts to expand the scope of the countries involved in the conflict with Iran. But thus far, there has been little to no interest from other countries to join the fight. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren discuss the stakes of Trump's latest gambit.

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41:52

Sanders on BBQ, politics, and sneaking out of the...

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/15

We're bringing you an episode of our newest show, On the Road with Jonathan Martin. POLITICO’s senior columnist sits down with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for a lively conversation about politics, leadership and life growing up in the governor’s mansion. From her time as White House Press Secretary to leading Arkansas today, Sanders shares insights on the Republican Party, U.S.-Israel security and the memories that shaped her journey—all while enjoying some of the state’s best

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12:54

Hoosier hoopla

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/13

President Donald Trump's retribution campaign is landing in Indiana. After a raft of Republican state lawmakers spurned the White House's redistricting push in the Hoosier State, the president and his allies vowed to target rebels with aggressive primary efforts to oust them from their seats. That promise is now getting backed up by a significant splash of cash for a suite of state-level races. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the unprecedented effort from MAGA

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12:58

The MAGA immigration malaise

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/12

A group of hard-line immigration hawks are pressing President Donald Trump's administration to keep up his mass deportation agenda, despite signals that the White House wants to take a new approach on the issue. With a new DHS secretary on the way in, the White House has sought to drive a different message on immigration ahead of the midterms. But the MAGA wing of the party wants to see Trump go further still. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the split

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14:22

Trump's timeline tightrope

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/11

This week kicked off with a tumultuous moment for the markets as the war with Iran set off panic and spiking oil prices. But the White House didn't flinch. The administration believes it has a three- to four-week window to bear the brunt of any economic impacts as it pushes forward with military operations in Iran. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the tightrope that President Donald Trump is walking on the issue during an all-important midterm year.

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14:34

An Iran off-ramp

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/10

After markets tumbled to open the week, President Donald Trump on Monday indicated that the war with Iran may not stretch as long as many have feared. Trump used the word "complete" a number of times throughout his remarks, seeming to signal that the U.S. military forces had accomplished most of his desired objectives. But the situation on the ground is evolving rapidly, and a U.S. exit is still uncertain. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and Politics Bureau Chief Jonathan Martin discuss Trump's guiding

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13:41

Trump's oil foil

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/09

Oil prices are soaring at record figures as the war with Iran continues expanding, with little sign of slowing down. The White House is urging calm, promising that the historic disruption will only be temporary. But the rising prices are threatening to pinch American consumers at the pump, and the knock-on effects are difficult to predict. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and POLITICO's diplomatic correspondent Felicia Schwartz discuss how long President Donald Trump can sustain this position.

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57:41

Sen. Britt says Iran attack makes Americans safer |...

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/08

Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is a young rising star in the Republican Party. She sits down with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns to talk about how the war against Iran could affect Americans at home and the urgency of the midterm elections for the Republican Party. Britt also gets candid about her unique relationship with the White House and what it was like having Scarlett Johansson play her on SNL.And later on the show, Dasha breaks down the exciting Texas primary elections with a panel of journalists

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12:47

Call it like it is

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/06

During an exclusive interview with White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns, President Donald Trump made clear that his administration wants to be involved in selecting new leadership for Iran. During a lengthy conversation, Trump weighed in on the still-unfolding situation in Iran, Venezuela and Cuba — among other things. Playbook's Adam Wren and Dasha break down what Trump's latest comments mean. Plus, the Zohran Mamdani manifesto is going global.

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12:51

Trump's price pickle

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/05

The White House pledged that 2026 would see President Donald Trump focused on an affordability agenda, with voters feeling cost-of-living concerns ahead of the midterms. Now, the war that he set off with Iran is causing a spike in gas prices, leading to panic within the administration as they race to tamp down the fallout and pitch a message to voters who are feeling the pinch at the pump. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the ramifications of the

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12:26

Texas-sized drama

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/04

The Texas Senate primary results produced every bit of drama that the races promised ahead of Election Day. Democrats are set to put state Rep. James Talarico up for the nomination, while the Republican race is headed to a runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and state AG Ken Paxton. The question now turns to the White House: Will President Donald Trump put his thumb on the scale ahead of the May 26 runoff? Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns sort through the results.

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13:01

The Iran messaging quagmire

The Playbook Podcast ·

2026/03/03

After a relatively quiet weekend of official communications regarding the war in Iran, the Trump administration ramped up its messaging machine on Monday. President Donald Trump, VP JD Vance and top military leaders all delivered public remarks on the operation, signaling a new front in the White House's efforts to shape the narrative. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the mix of messaging out of the administration. Plus, it's Election Day in Texas.

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2,136 results

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