The Playbook Podcast

As America marks 250 years since its founding, award-winning documentarian Ken Burns joins Dasha to reflect on what history can teach us about this political moment.

In this wide-ranging interview, Burns discusses what lawmakers misunderstand about the founding of our nation, what George Washington would think of Donald Trump, and whether the American experiment can survive the next chapter.

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What does MAGA make of the Democratic Party's insurgent wing? POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly shares insights from her interview with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release their jobs report this morning. The White House is hoping for a boost in data, but will that matter if the numbers don’t square up with consumer sentiment? Plus, a very special July 4th weekend lies ahead. So how did America 250 get so political? 

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Results from the Rockies have rolled in, and it’s another big night for the insurgent Democratic candidates. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court wrapped up its term with major rulings, so what do they mean for the midterm elections? And, once again, a handful of hardliner Republicans froze the house floor, leading to several canceled votes and an early two-week recess for lawmakers. 

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The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver end-of-term decisions for several high-profile cases including birthright citizenship, state bans on transgender athletes in women's sports, and campaign finance limits. Meanwhile, Trump envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are in Qatar today for technical talks about the MOU with Iran and the contested Strait of Hormuz. Plus, a preview of Colorado's primary as Trump makes familiar attacks on the left. 

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Colorado voters head to the Primary polls on Tuesday. And there's one big question Democrats are wondering nationally: what's next for insurgent candidates? Meanwhile, the U.S. and Iran agree to another ceasefire. Will this one last longer than the last ? And after a week filled with surprises, can the Republicans finally get some business done in the House this week ahead of the Fourth of July?

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Dasha sits down with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki for a wide-ranging conversation on NATO, Russia's war in Ukraine, Iran and the future of America's relationships with allies around the world. 

Stubb, who has developed an unusually close personal relationship with Donald Trump, discusses how he approaches the president behind closed doors, why he believes Ukraine has the upper hand in the war against Russia and how he remains confident in NATO's future.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson patches things up with Trump after the president canceled the signing of a bipartisan housing bill on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Democrats of all ilk prepare for the Colorado primaries next week, where newcomer Melat Kiros challenges Rep. Diana DeGette. And a sneak peek at how Gov. Wes Moore is complicating Trump’s 250th anniversary narrative with his own event on Independence Day. 

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Is the roof collapsing on the Democratic Party? The New York primaries are fueling questions around where the party is headed as insurgent candidates gain ground. Meanwhile, after President Trump refused to sign the bipartisan housing bill into law, House Speaker Mike Johnson gears up for an afternoon meeting with the president. And it’s SCOTUS decision day ... again. The high court could issue major rulings on birthright citizenship, mail-in voting, and other closely watched cases. 

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Playbook Podcast host Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly sit down for a primary postmortem. It’s a big win for Democratic Socialists – so what do New York’s results reveal about the Democratic establishment? At the same time, even everyone wants to be a political outsider, big money still packs a punch. Plus, Trump’s off to a jam-packed day that captures the chaos on the Hill right now. 

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It’s primary day, again. On this episode of the Playbook Podcast host Jack Blanchard sits down with POLITICO Albany bureau chief Nick Riesman to get the scoop on what’s moving in the Empire state. President Trump and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani are both testing their political clout amid a rising tide of populist candidates. Plus, the Kennedy factor, AI's growing role in campaigns, and what the results could mean for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. 

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