Episodes

  • Trump and the GOP Congress’s fork in the road I Rep. Lisa McClain

    Trump and the GOP Congress’s fork in the road I Rep. Lisa McClain
    Feb 7 2025
    House Republicans are facing tough choices on reconciliation, party unity, and whether or not to look the other way when President Trump steps on their authority. In this episode, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain gives the scoop on House leadership's hours-long meeting with the president on Thursday, and why she thinks that the House GOP is about to have a major breakthrough. Rachael Bade is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Lisa McClain is the Chair of the House Republican Conference 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
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    34 mins
  • 'I don't think they're going to get the battle that they want.' Inside Trump’s first clashes with Congress and the courts

    'I don't think they're going to get the battle that they want.' Inside Trump’s first clashes with Congress and the courts
    Jan 31 2025
    Trump has moved aggressively to define his second presidency. POLITICO’s top reporters have thoughts on where he’s going, and how Congress, Democrats and the courts may try to stop him. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Rachael Bade is the Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Columnist 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
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    48 mins
  • Chuck Grassley’s Trump 2.0 vibe check

    Chuck Grassley’s Trump 2.0 vibe check
    Jan 24 2025
    Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is the longest serving current U.S. senator and currently chairs the Judiciary Committee, which will have purview over President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. He is also the former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy — two big seats for the coming reconciliation bill. On this episode, Playbook’s Eugene Daniels checks in with Grassley about reconciliation; Trump’s brash talk about the FBI and DOJ, both of which he’ll have to oversee, and to get a general vibe check on the Senate during this time of change. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Chuck Grassley is the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate. 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
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    34 mins
  • Jason Smith on who’s getting the “candy” in reconciliation

    Jason Smith on who’s getting the “candy” in reconciliation
    Jan 17 2025
    Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith joins the show to elaborate on his vision for reconciliation, how he’s working with the diverse factions within the GOP to achieve it and why he believes he will prevail in passing “one big beautiful bill” with major tax cuts. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Jason Smith is the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. 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
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    33 mins
  • The Art of the Deal (Greenland edition)

    The Art of the Deal (Greenland edition)
    Jan 10 2025
    Michael Froman — former U.S. Trade Representative, Deputy National Security Advisor and current president of the Council on Foreign Relations — joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the state of affairs in the world that Trump is stepping into, how world leaders are watching and reacting to Trump’s every word and what he thinks Trump will do differently than Biden in global hot spots like Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel, and yes… Greenland. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Michael Froman is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations. 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
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    32 mins
  • Power Play: How the world's political power brokers are gearing up for 2025

    Power Play: How the world's political power brokers are gearing up for 2025
    Dec 27 2024
    Out with the old and in with the new or in the case of 2025, it’s back to the future with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. As America and her allies prepares for Trump 2.0, what can we be certain of in an increasingly unpredictable and fractious world? In the final episode of Power Play this year, host Anne McElvoy is joined by POLITICO's Global Editor-in-chief John Harris and Nicholas Vinocur, editor-at-large in POLITICO's Europe newsroom and author of Brussels Playbook. They chew over an eventful election year in 2024 and look ahead to what 2025 might bring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Does Trump have Justin Trudeau dancing to his tune?

    Does Trump have Justin Trudeau dancing to his tune?
    Dec 20 2024
    One thing Donald Trump loves to say is that he knows how to make a deal. And even for our allies, sometimes the “Art of the Deal” can feel like a shakedown. Ask NATO about that, and you’ll get some nods. But lately, Canada is the ally that’s been caught in Trump’s line of sight. The president-elect has been trolling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media, calling him the “governor” of America’s “51st state,” and threatening to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports if they don’t step up their game on border security. On this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss how Justin Trudeau’s embattled government is rolling with Trump’s punches; enduring their own political crisis and making inroads with Trump world. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Kirsten Hillman is the Canadian ambassador to the U.S. 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
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    38 mins
  • How big business is making its relationship with Republicans great again

    How big business is making its relationship with Republicans great again
    Dec 13 2024
    Donald Trump’s Washington is going to be packed with heavyweights from big business such as Elon Musk, Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick. But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents traditional business interests in D.C., has recently found itself estranged from its longtime allies in the Republican Party. On this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, the Chamber’s top lobbyist, former Rep. Rodney Davis, joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss how the Chamber is winning back its swagger with the GOP and how they plan to interface with President-elect Trump. Rachael Bade is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Rodney Davis is the Head of Government Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 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
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    40 mins