The Playbook Podcast

JD Vance returns to Pakistan for another round of Iran talks as a fragile ceasefire nears its deadline. Gas prices may have peaked — but relief isn’t coming anytime soon. And in Washington, top GOP operatives are huddling to prepare for a challenging midterm map.

Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down the key developments driving the day.

California’s governor's race just got a major shakeup.

Democrat Eric Swalwell dropped out amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations, and now the field is wide open ahead of the June 2 primary. So where does that leave Republican candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton – backed by Trump and rising in the polls? Does the GOP have a shot at turning California red?

Dasha Burns sat down with Hilton to talk about the state of the race, the impact of Trump's endorsement, and where he thinks Democratic leadership is coming up short.

President Donald Trump’s push to promote his affordability agenda is colliding with economic anxiety at home and a war abroad that’s driving up costs. Meanwhile, Trump heads to Arizona to rally younger supporters amid growing skepticism over the Iran conflict. POLITICO's Megan Messerly and Eli Stokols break down the messaging challenge, the political stakes ahead of the midterms and what to watch next.

Trump heads to Las Vegas to sell his tax agenda, but Republicans worry his message isn’t breaking through — and that could spell trouble for the midterms. Meanwhile, a striking Senate vote and a New Jersey special election underscore a major shift inside the Democratic Party on Israel, especially among younger voters. RFK Jr. returns to Capitol Hill for a marathon stretch of hearings as speculation swirls about his political future. And yes — there’s a bizarre new chapter in RFK Jr. lore that has everyone talking.

On today’s Playbook Podcast, Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down Republicans’ Tax Day push to sell Trump’s tax cuts and ask whether voters are actually feeling the benefits. They also dig into Trump’s latest comments on Iran, the political risks of rising gas prices, and the fallout on Capitol Hill from two high-profile resignations.

Playbook’s Jack Blanchard is joined by POLITICO California Bureau Chief Melanie Mason for a deep dive into the resignation of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). Once a rising Democratic star and gubernatorial contender, Swalwell’s career unraveled after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Mason breaks down the long-circulated private warnings about the lawmaker, how his political allies are responding and what comes next in the California governor’s race.

President Donald Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz begins at 10 a.m. after talks with Iran collapsed, Hungary’s Prime Minister and MAGA favorite Viktor Orbán conceded defeat following a landslide loss and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) suspended his gubernatorial campaign amid sexual misconduct allegations. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the risks of escalation with Iran, the political fallout at home and abroad and what to watch as Congress returns to a packed agenda.

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) – the MAGA acolyte-turned-antagonist who resigned from Congress after a public and messy fight with Donald Trump – joins “The Conversation” to talk about the war in Iran, why she thinks the GOP will be “slaughtered” in the midterms and her desire to build a new political coalition in America.

Today Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg take the stage in New York City, offering an early glimpse at a possible 2028 clash. Meanwhile, a fragile Iran ceasefire is raising fresh questions abroad, and Senate Republicans head to the White House to talk reconciliation. POITICO’s Megan Messerly and Adam Wren break down the early 2028 dynamics, the foreign policy tensions and what comes next.

President Donald Trump’s fresh barrage of attacks on NATO is raising new questions about America’s commitment to the alliance. Meanwhile, confusion around the U.S.-Iran ceasefire continues to cloud the global picture. And Democrats weigh whether the moment presents a political opening. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren break down the NATO fallout, the state of the ceasefire and what to watch next.