CONTROL

On a new episode of CONTROL, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller reflect on Speaker Johnson’s latest magic act in passing the One Big Beautiful Bill before pivoting to the action in the Senate with the help of Semafor’s Congressional Bureau Chief Burgess Everett. They discuss the dynamics and personalities involved as Senators look to put their stamp on the OBBB. Can Majority Leader Thune deliver? Or will the whole thing fall apart?

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Burgess Everett

Audio Producer: Benji Englander

Video Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Politico: Mike Johnson urges Senate not to make major changes to megabill

Punchbowl: Thune’s turn in the reconciliation grinder

Semafor: Ron Johnson takes on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

Politico: ‘We’re not going there': Thune vows not to overrule parliamentarian on megabill

NOTUS: White House to Send Congress a Rescission Package for Select DOGE Cuts

It’s the biggest week of Mike Johnson’s speakership, which means a trio of hosts are needed to break down all the intrigue around the One Big Beautiful Bill. Brendan Buck, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci discuss the drama over SALT and Medicaid before previewing the upcoming, late-night rules committee hearing. Plus, is now the time for President Trump to wield his influence? And can Congress still get this done by the Fourth of July?

Hosts: Brendan Buck, Annalyse Keller, Mike Ricci

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

WaPo: Trump’s tax and immigration bill clears hurdle after late-night vote

Punchbowl: Another week of hard choices for Johnson

New York Times: These Are the Dueling Republican Factions Imperiling the Party’s Megabill

Politico: House GOP leaders want Trump to dissuade hard-liners on deeper Medicaid cuts

The Hill: Senate Republicans want to break up House’s Trump bill into bite-size pieces

Politico: ‘The Titanic’: Johnson predicts House’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill will sink in the Senate

Three House Committees are teed up to consider their pieces of the "Big, Beautiful Bill," but big questions remain. Hosts Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck discuss how moderates largely triumphed in the debate on Medicaid, what fiscal hawks have to say about that, and how the SALT issue still threatens the entire reconciliation package. After weighing on what the Senate is up to and making predictions about when all this might get wrapped up, they welcome Zach Cohen of Bloomberg Tax. Zach shares what to expect in the (long) Ways and Means markup and dives into the policy decisions that the committee has made and still needs to make before the bill comes to the floor. 

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Zach Cohen

Producer: Benji Englander

Second Producer: Regina Anderson

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Senate GOP leaders: House isn’t cutting enough

The Hill: GOP charges ahead despite deep divisions on Medicaid, SALT

Bloomberg: Why the SALT Deduction is Key to Trump's Tax Bill

NYTimes Opinion: The Political Tariff Trap for Republicans

With key markups delayed and internal GOP debates spilling into public view, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the state of the “one, big, beautiful bill” – and if it will get passed at all. Then, Jonathan Burks, Executive Vice President of Economic and Health Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Chief of Staff to Speaker Ryan, joins the show to help Brendan and Annalyse get smart on all things Medicaid and offer his perspective on passing a massive tax bill.

Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller

Guest: Jonathan Burks

Producer: Benji Englander

Articles Discussed:

Punchbowl: Will Republicans ever get a reconciliation deal?

Politico: GOP leaders take more time for key megabill markup after Medicaid snags

Axios: Pressure intensifies for Medicaid decisions

Fox News: Senate Democrats predicting 'brutal' UN ambassador confirmation hearing for Mike Waltz

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