The Playbook Podcast

When President Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law in November, he set off a 30-day deadline for the Justice Department to release all the files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now, that day has come as the Justice Department prepares to drop the long-awaited documents. But what the files actually hold remains unclear. Playbook’s Adam Wren and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss whether the release of the files will spell the end of the story that has dominated headlines throughout the year, or if the new materials will stoke new flames.

President Donald Trump delivered a live address to the nation from the White House in succinct fashion with a sharp focus on the economy on Wednesday night. During the roughly 20-minute speech — which was a far cry from the president’s meandering campaign-style rally in Pennsylvania last week — Trump touted the “progress” that his administration has made in addressing Americans’ cost-of-living concerns. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House reporter Megan Messerly assess whether the message will stick with voters ahead of this year’s midterms.

Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, set off a media storm on Tuesday after Vanity Fair published a deeply reported account of the White House’s inner circle of operators. The story featured candid comments delivered by Wiles over 11 interviews on a range of issues. Trump and other senior administration officials rushed to defend Wiles, while others privately questioned why she and other officials agreed to the interviews with Vanity Fair. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down what the episode revealed about the dynamics inside the White House.

Vice President JD Vance is headed to Pennsylvania on Tuesday to talk about affordability with voters who are feeling the pinch of cost-of-living concerns. Vance’s visit comes exactly one week after President Donald Trump delivered a speech on affordability in Pennsylvania — a sign that the administration is laser-focused on the all-important swing state ahead of the midterms, and perhaps an indication that Vance can drive the message home after Trump veered off script. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the renewed push.

Negotiators are engaged in high-level talks to hammer out a peace plan for Ukraine in Berlin, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounding like he’s ready to cut a deal. Though President Donald Trump did not attend the weekend negotiations with European leaders, he seems poised to swoop in once a legitimate plan is on the table. The question mark looming over the talks, though, is uncertainty over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House reporter Sophia Cai break down the latest developments.

Gates Foundation co-founder Bill Gates joined POLITICO’s Dasha Burns on this week’s episode of The Conversation to discuss his continued support for vaccine philanthropy, the impact of government aid cuts in global health, AI, vaccine skepticism and much more. The interview took place shortly after the release of The Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers Report projects, which predicts that child deaths will rise in 2025 for the first time this century.

The Indiana state Senate on Thursday rejected a proposed congressional map backed by President Donald Trump that would have all but guaranteed an additional two safe Republican seats, dealing a major blow to the president’s nationwide redistricting push. The rejection marks a rare loss for Trump during his second term, as state-level lawmakers flex their own political power in the face of an intense pressure campaign. Playbook’s Adam Wren and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss why Indiana Republicans stiff-armed Trump and what it means for the midterm map.

President Donald Trump has shaken up the way that America interacts with the rest of the world in nearly every way since he returned to office earlier this year. It’s a reality that is only becoming more apparent as Trump continues to navigate efforts to secure peace in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Longstanding alliances with Europe have taken precedent in the past, but that appears to no longer be the case. So what does this mean for the futures of Russia, Ukraine and U.S.-European relations? Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House reporter Megan Messerly dig in.

President Donald Trump made an affordability push on Tuesday night in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, where he spoke for more than an hour-and-a-half. The speech was billed as a major opening salvo in an increasing affordability push from the White House ahead of the midterms. The president clung to the idea that the high day-to-day expenses many Americans are facing is the fault of former President Joe Biden. But at various points he also veered off on tangents. So what do voters really think? Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House reporter Megan Messerly dig in.

In this special edition of the Playbook Podcast, we're bringing you an interview with President Donald Trump. POLITICO's Dasha Burns sat down with the president for The Conversation to discuss his global influence, especially his involvement in trying to end the Ukraine-Russia war and his evolving relationship with America’s longtime allies in Europe and beyond. Plus, they discuss the situation in Venezuela, domestic issues like affordability and rising healthcare costs and more.