Episodes

  • MAGA retakes Indiana

    MAGA retakes Indiana
    May 6 2026
    In Indiana, most of President Trump's endorsed primary opponents beat GOP state legislators. Playbook's Adam Wren tells Jack Blanchard what all of this means, including the future of the nationwide redistricting war and the division in the Republican Party. Then, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces questioning over Jeffrey Epstein. And Marco Rubio is headed to Rome to meet Pope Leo XIV after holding a White House press briefing before Operation Freedom was paused.
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    14 mins
  • Trump put to the test in the Midwest

    Trump put to the test in the Midwest
    May 5 2026
    Playbook heads to the Midwest. All eyes are on Indiana as voters hit the polls for the primary. It will be Trump’s big first test to see if his power still holds with the Republican Party. Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down this unusual state senate race. And staying in the Midwest, a well-known ICE official is gunning for a House seat in Ohio—will it work for the Republicans? Plus, the Strait of Hormuz is back in the news.
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    13 mins
  • ‘Warning signs are flashing’: GOP anxiety builds with six months to midterms

    ‘Warning signs are flashing’: GOP anxiety builds with six months to midterms
    May 4 2026
    With six months to go until the midterm elections, the political picture is sharpening — and it’s a tough one for Republicans. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns run through six reasons each party can find a glimmer of hope, even as gas prices climb, Trump’s economic numbers slip and tensions with Iran add fresh uncertainty to the race for November.
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    13 mins
  • Can AI solve the problems it creates? (with David Sacks) | The Conversation

    Can AI solve the problems it creates? (with David Sacks) | The Conversation
    May 3 2026
    David Sacks has played a key role in shaping AI policy for the Trump administration. He was formerly the White House AI and crypto czar. Now, he’s the co-chair of the President’s Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Sacks approaches the issue with a “let them cook” philosophy. Meaning, he thinks the way for the United States to win the global AI race is to move fast with minimally disruptive regulation. But with that comes a lot of questions about AI disruption to the workforce, who should be held responsible for harm caused by AI platforms, and the fear and division within America over the future of the technology. Sacks joins Dasha Burns in a wide-ranging interview to discuss it all.
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    44 mins
  • Party tensions and 60 days of war

    Party tensions and 60 days of war
    May 1 2026
    Chuck Schumer is dealing with internal blowback from some Democrats as key midterm battles heat up. Meanwhile, the Iran war hits the 60-day mark with Americans still feeling the pain at the pump, inflation continues to climb, and Congress heads out for recess without taking action on the War Powers Resolution. Playbook’s Adam Wren and Megan Messerly break down party tensions, the economic pressure, and what it all could mean heading into the midterms.
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    12 mins
  • Back to the maps with SCOTUS, more Pete Hegseth, and a governor’s dilemma

    Back to the maps with SCOTUS, more Pete Hegseth, and a governor’s dilemma
    Apr 30 2026
    The Supreme Court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act will be felt in election cycles but maybe not as early as November. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly discuss if this decision will work in the GOP favor to redraw voting maps now. Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth heads back to Capitol Hill to face the Senate, where Europe will be a big topic of conversation. And in Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo is running for re-election but President Trump is making it hard for him.
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    15 mins
  • Pete Hegseth in the hot seat, the latest Fed drama, and King Charles goes to NYC

    Pete Hegseth in the hot seat, the latest Fed drama, and King Charles goes to NYC
    Apr 29 2026
    Starting today, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth takes the hot seat in two rare back-to-back sessions with Congress–the Iran War will be top of mind for the lawmakers meeting with Hegseth. Meanwhile, Trump's pick for Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh, is set to inherit high interest rates and rising energy costs as Jerome Powell gets ready to leave the post. And in New York City, King Charles meets with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a 9/11 ceremony. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly dive into these key developments driving the day.
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    13 mins
  • The British king meets Congress and Florida’s new map

    The British king meets Congress and Florida’s new map
    Apr 28 2026
    It’s day two of King Charles III official state visit. Today he will address Congress in a bipartisan meeting on Capitol Hill. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Megan Messerly break down what the King is expected to say about US and UK’s relationship. And then, Florida has joined the redistricting wars before the mid-cycle elections. Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a new map that could give the GOP more seats, but it could be an uphill battle.
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    14 mins