After a two-week recess, Members of Congress are returning to a packed schedule of reconciliation markups – but with deadlines already slipping, what kind of progress can the GOP make? Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the path ahead, including timing, potential pitfalls and if moderates will stand firm in defense of Medicaid. Plus, a debate about Donald Trump’s poll numbers 100 days into his term along with some assorted political odds and ends.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles discussed:

Politico: Mike Johnson’s tight megabill timeline is on a collision course with reality

CNN: GOP centrists borrow hardliner tactics to sway Trump agenda

Politico: White House wariness tempers GOP plans to share food-aid spending with states

The Hill: Trump’s flirtation with millionaire tax increase gets strong pushback from the right

NBC News: What the polls say about Trump's presidency at 100 days

Punchbowl: House Republican leaders eye rescissions vote in early May

All are eyes are on the House of Representatives (again). Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the fallout from the Senate passing the budget resolution and gauge its chances in the House. Can Speaker Johnson quell the rising complaints among the Republican Conference and keep the reconciliation process moving forward? Plus, after days of tariff-induced market turmoil, is now the time Congressional Republicans stand up to President Trump? At the end, the rise and fall of the proxy voting discharge petition.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

CNN: Senate GOP adopts budget blueprint to advance Trump agenda as spending fight consumes Capitol Hill

NBC News: Some House Republicans voice opposition to the Senate's newly adopted budget for Trump's agenda

POLITICO: House GOP leaders vow to push forward with budget vote

The Hill: 7 GOP senators sign on to bill to check Trump’s trade authority

NYT: Johnson Reaches Agreement to Kill Proxy Voting Proposal in the House

It is another make or break week for Congressional Republicans as the Senate tees up a vote on a budget resolution. Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Punchbowl News’ Laura Weiss to answer some big questions about the reconciliation debate. Is the new timeline feasible? How will the two chambers handle different budget instructions? And will the Senate overrule the parliamentarian if need be?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Laura Weiss

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: The big moments this week that will define Republicans’ tax plans

Politico: Senate GOP to start moving budget plan as soon as Wednesday

Politico: ‘Never been done’: Why Republicans might approve a budget whose numbers don’t match up

New York Times: A Special Election That Was Supposed to Be a Snoozer Is Suddenly Buzzing

NBC News: Inside Trump's shock decision to pull the plug on Elise Stefanik's nomination

The House and Senate return following the passage of a CR, and the next thing on the table is a return to budget reconciliation negotiations. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Liam Donovan, senior political strategist at Bracewell, to talk about where discussions stand, what obstacles remain, and how long this thing may take. Plus what happened with the Democrats on the CR vote, the firestorm its created, and how they try to move forward. 

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Liam Donovan

Producer: Benji Englander

Second producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Mentioned:

Axios: Behind the Curtain: Dems' dark, deep hole

Axios: "They hate us": Democrats confront their own Tea Party

The New York Times Opinion: There’s a Price for Promising What Isn’t Possible in Congress

The Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

With government funding set to run out in a matter of days, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by POLITICO congressional reporter Nicholas Wu to assess the shutdown state-of-play. They discuss if Speaker Johnson can muster the votes for a CR, the differing strategies of House and Senate Democrats, and what the censure of Al Green portends for the final vote tally. Plus, what Democrats will discuss at their retreat as they look for a way out of the wilderness.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Nicholas Wu

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

NBC News: GOP-led Congress races to avert government shutdown ahead of Friday deadline

Politico: House Dems still offer no promises to help GOP avoid shutdown

Axios: Senate Democrats warm to helping GOP avoid government shutdown

Politico: Al Green censured for joint session outburst

Politico: House Democrats set to hear from governors, pollsters and more at issues conference

Before President Trump addresses a Joint Session of Congress, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the outlook for his agenda: What are the next steps for reconciliation? Can the Senate make the budget math work? And will a government shutdown get in the way? Then, Seven Letter’s Mike Ricci joins the show to talk about State of the Union responses and Chad Pergram, Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent, shares his insights based on more than 30 years covering Capitol Hill. 

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guests: Chad Pergram and Mike Ricci

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

AP: What’s next for Trump agenda after House GOP approves tax breaks and slashed spending in budget

Politico: GOP tax chief voiced ‘huge concern’ over Senate tax plan at White House meeting

Politico: Senate Republicans say House budget won’t fly with them

Fox News: Reporter's Notebook: All night long

CNN: Trump’s speech to Congress will be an explanation of his fast-paced first days in office

Roll Call: Slotkin leads return of the national security women for Democrats

Axios: Fuming Democrats struggle with Trump speech strategy

After weeks of buildup, the moment of truth arrives – can Speaker Johnson pass the budget resolution? Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller dive into all the scenarios at play and how the Senate will respond after advancing down their two-bill track. Later, they debate the congressional politics of DOGE and if lawmakers can reassert their power of the purse. At the end, trying to answer the question “who is the leader of the Democratic party?”

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed

Brendan’s New York Times Op-Ed on DOGE

Punchbowl: Johnson’s task: A tricky budget resolution vote followed by a shutdown fight

The Hill: Johnson makes ‘prayer request’ ahead of critical vote on Trump agenda bill

AP: Senate Republicans approve budget framework, pushing past Democratic objections after all-night vote

WaPo: Back in their districts, GOP lawmakers get an earful on DOGE and Musk

New York Times: Bracing for a Shutdown Fight, Democrats Warn Their Votes Are Not a Given

Axios: Democrats spot opening to kneecap GOP's budget plans

With the House and Senate on a collision course over reconciliation, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller explore which strategy has the best chance of success and how some of the wonkier aspects of the process may trip up the GOP’s plans. Then, NBC News’ senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake joins the show to offer his insight on the Trump administration’s early actions, the Trump-Musk relationship, and JD Vance’s role as the “Senate whisperer.”

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Garrett Haake

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed

Punchbowl: The reconciliation race: Can the House get its act together?

Politico: Inside the House GOP clash over tax cuts

CBS News: CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid "energetic" opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised

WaPo: Some Democrats vow to use leverage in government funding fight

NBC News: Elon Musk gets quiet White House reminders his power isn't unchecked

Politico: JD Vance Aced His First Test. The Next One Will Be Tougher.

What a year the past month has been – to help make sense of the flurry of news over the last two weeks, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by POLITICO’s Capitol Bureau Chief Rachael Bade. Together, they discuss the latest on House Republicans’ spending fight, Elon Musk’s influence on the White House, and the outlook for President Trump’s most controversial nominees.

Articles Discussed:

Politico: Musk steamrolls Washington as he remakes the federal government

NYT: ‘We Have No Coherent Message’: Democrats Struggle to Oppose Trump

WaPo: Trump halts tariffs on Canada and Mexico as both offer new border security plans

Politico: The GOP’s Unreliable Cutter-in-Chief

Reuters: Gabbard boosted in bid to become chief US spy ahead of committee vote

Politico: How Trump’s orbit used blunt force to squeeze Hegseth through

President Trump is back in the Oval Office. Hosts Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck discuss the flurry of activity on Inauguration Day – the speech, the executive orders, the pardons and more – and analyze what it means for Capitol Hill.

Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

NYT: What Trump Did on Day 1: Tracking His Biggest Moves

Politico: Trump closes first day with an avalanche of executive orders