Longtime Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik joins Deep Dive host Dasha Burns to discuss the current identity crisis within the Democratic Party. Sosnik discusses insights from a presentation he’s shared exclusively with Playbook that details the path forward for the Democrats, including how to connect with voters, elevate the right new leaders, and whether or not to oppose Trump or work with him. 

Dasha Burns is the White House Bureau Chief at POLITICO

Doug Sosnik is a former Clinton adviser and political strategist

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Robert Doar, the President of the American Enterprise Institute, joins host Rachael Bade to discuss how an institution long dedicated to promoting ideas such as free trade and strong American global leadership, is asserting itself in a Trump administration that often does not prioritize those views.

In this episode, they discuss who in the White House is receptive to these values; how AEI is trying to influence an administration that’s fixated on podcasters and TikTokers — not conventional policy papers; who the emerging leaders are on Capitol Hill that are carrying this message; and why Doar is so much more optimistic about the future than your average cable TV host.

Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.

Robert Doar is the president of the American Enterprise Institute

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making some big shakeups at the Department of Health and Human Services — and Calley Means is one of his key strategists. In this episode, POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns sits down with Means to break down the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, and how Secretary Kennedy is planning to channel its energy into policy goals.

Dasha Burns is the White House Bureau Chief for POLITICO.

Calley Means is special government employee at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton joins POLITICO's Rachael Bade to discuss the Signalgate controversy and the broader battle over who will define Donald Trump’s foreign policy — Reagan-era hawks or America First types and isolationists — and who might take the fall for this national security scandal.

Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.

John Bolton is a former Trump White House national security adviser.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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White House deputy chief of staff James Blair is one of the most important people in politics you’ve never heard of — yet. On this week’s episode of Deep Dive, he talks with POLITICO Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Columnist Rachael Bade to pull back the curtain on how Trump 2.0 has managed to do so much in just two months; Susie Wiles’s style as chief of staff; the White House reaction to the latest Democratic dysfunction on Capitol Hill; the administration’s hope to ease tariff concerns and the president’s true strategy behind threatening judges with impeachment.

Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.

James Blair is a White House deputy chief of staff.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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Chris LaCivita co-managed Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. On this episode of Deep Dive, he’s sharing some of his secrets about Trump’s inner circle, as well as where he thinks Trump’s presidency is headed next. He joins POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns to discuss the truths about Project 2025 and Donald Trump; what actual power Elon Musk has; some spicy tidbits about Trump’s plans to redevelop Gaza and who he thinks will be the heir to the MAGA movement.

Dasha Burns is the White House Bureau Chief for POLITICO.

Chris LaCivita is a Republican strategist.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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House Budget Committee ranking member Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) joins the show to discuss how his Democratic colleagues should respond to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent pivot on trans athletes in sports, President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, the looming government shutdown and the GOP’s possible cuts to Medicaid in reconciliation.

Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.

Brendan Boyle is the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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Trump’s rapid-fire approach to governing is shaking up Washington. But is he moving too fast for his own good? In this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, host Eugene Daniels talks with POLITICO’s senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis and West Wing Playbook co-author Sophia Cai to break down the risks of Trump’s high-speed strategy and what it means for the weeks ahead.

Eugene Daniels is the Chief Playbook Correspondent for POLITICO.

Mike DeBonis is the senior Congress editor for POLITICO.

Sophia Cai is a West Wing Playbook author and White House reporter for POLITICO.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has an independent streak and a big job leading the National Governors Association. Here’s what he’s telling fellow governors about when to work with Trump and when to oppose him, how he thinks that Trump is hurting himself, and what the first thing Elon Musk and DOGE should cut is. 

Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

Jared Polis is the Governor of Colorado.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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Where is the Democratic “resistance” for Trump’s second term? Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels asks Rep. Jamie Raskin, a longtime nemesis of President Trump’s and the current House Judiciary Committee ranking member, why the Democrats have been slow to counter the president’s aggressive governing, and what the plan is going forward to rebuild the party and its message.

Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

Rep. Jamie Raskin is the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

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