Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Mosca’s Restaurant for a wide-ranging conversation about President Trump, the future of the Democratic Party and whether he might run for president in 2028. Landrieu discusses why he believes Joe Biden should not have sought reelection, how Democrats lost working-class voters, the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America and what it would take to rebuild trust in American institutions.  

He also reflects on post-Katrina New Orleans and the lessons Louisiana politics offers the rest of the country. Landrieu previously served as the White House’s infrastructure coordinator after two terms as New Orleans mayor.  

Plus: Jonathan and Landrieu dig into Mosca’s chicken à la grande, oysters Mosca and other Italian-Creole specialties. 

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his reelection bid to a Trump-endorsed challenger, joined Dasha to discuss the future of the Republican Party and reflect on how to make Congress more effective as he enters his final months in office.

Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health Committee, also addresses his vote to confirm HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the measles outbreak and vaccine policy, the influence of the MAHA movement, Social Security’s looming funding crisis and the need for congressional guardrails on artificial intelligence.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Dasha sits down with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at the Republican midterms convention in Dallas to discuss President Trump’s tariffs, the economy and the GOP’s prospects in November.

Cruz explains why Trump “changed” his views on trade, responds to the president’s proposed $5,000 dividend for American adults, and weighs in on Tucker Carlson and concerns over AI’s threat to humanity — including why he says he’d prefer “American killer robots” to Chinese ones. 

Plus, Cruz warns that Republicans face a defining debate over the party’s future and begins to make his 2028 case ahead of a possible presidential bid. 

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Salt Lake City’s Red Iguana for a wide-ranging conversation about his new book, “Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt,” and the forces driving America’s political divide. 

The Republican governor discusses political violence, social media’s role in fueling polarization, his relationship with President Trump and why he says he is not running for president. He also weighs in on the Republican Party’s future, immigration reform and what it will take to rebuild trust and community in American life.

Stephen A. Smith is best known for sports commentary. But now, he’s weighing in on the direction of both political parties — and even considering a potential 2028 presidential run.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Dasha, the outspoken analyst explains why he believes he could win the presidency but won’t give up his career to campaign. He also discusses what he thinks is wrong with today’s political class, his criticism of the direction of the Democratic Party, Donald Trump’s appeal to voters, his interviews with controversial figures and the 2028 contenders he’s watching — including a MAGA Republican he could consider voting for.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Sen. Susan Collins joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Perry’s Lobster Shack in coastal Maine for a wide-ranging conversation about her reelection fight in the senate, President Trump’s second administration and the future of the Republican Party.  

The Maine Republican also discusses Canadian tariffs, immigration enforcement, her independent record and the challenge of appealing to voters in an increasingly nationalized political environment. Collins makes the case for bipartisan governing — and argues that there is still room for a political middle.  

Plus, Jonathan and Collins dig into a classic Maine meal of lobster, steamers and clam chowder. 

The 2026 midterms are taking shape, and the results could determine the future of both parties. 

Dasha sits down with her fellow Playbook co-authors Adam Wren and Will Steakin to examine what the primaries have revealed about Trump’s influence, the Republican coalition and the Democratic Party’s identity crisis.

They discuss Trump’s $400 million MAGA Inc. war chest, the power of online politics, progressive upsets and moderate wins, and the three key states they think will be the best test of the national political environment in November. 

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

In a new episode of the On the Road, Jonathan Martin sits down with Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand at the Iowa State Fair to talk politics over a pork tenderloin and a deep-fried Twinkie.

Sand, a Democrat running in a state that has shifted sharply to the right, makes the case that Iowa voters are fed up with one-party control, corruption and politics as usual. He discusses why Democrats have lost ground in rural America, whether the party has become too focused on insiders and national politics, and how he would govern with a Republican legislature.

Sand also weighs in on the future of the Democratic Party, his unlikely friendships with Republican governors — and his brief career as a model.

Social psychologist and “The Anxious Generation” author Jonathan Haidt helped turn concerns about kids and social media into a global political movement. Now, as Meta faces a consequential trial over youth safety and addiction, Haidt tells Dasha why he believes the courts may succeed where Congress has failed — and why the fight is only getting bigger.

Haidt also sounds the alarm on AI, warning that the threats to children could go “far beyond” social media and arguing that policymakers can’t afford to give AI companies the same free pass. And with restrictions on social media gaining bipartisan support, he weighs whether protecting kids from Big Tech could become a winning issue at the ballot box.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

In a live taping of the show in Sacramento, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) weighs in on whether insurgent candidates on the left could become a liability for Democrats — and on how the party should reckon with its past embrace of “woke” politics. 

Dasha also presses Schiff on where he stands on California’s proposed billionaire tax, his opposition to recent arms sales to Israel, and whether he’ll continue accepting support from AIPAC. 

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.