The Playbook Podcast

 Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, faces an uphill battle for confirmation. Among other things, Kennedy is a noted vaccine skeptic and has spent years embroiled in controversy. So how will the Trump team negotiate his confirmation? White House reporter Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through the plan. Plus, a whopping six cabinet nominees will face confirmation hearings this morning, and what to expect from President Joe Biden’s farewell address.

This morning, the Senate will start confirmation hearings for Trump’s Cabinet nominees. Will any of Trump’s picks see resistance? Senate reporter Ursula Perano joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to go over what to expect. Plus, a sneak peek at the new era of Playbook.

This afternoon, President Joe Biden will deliver an address on foreign policy from the State Department—his first of two farewell speeches during the final week of his political career. Senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to explore how Biden’s foreign policy legacy might be remembered. Plus, the Senate will consider the Laken Riley Act, and a look ahead to a week filled with Senate confirmation hearings. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

Today, officials from TikTok will make arguments before the Supreme Court to save the app in the U.S. Though some have expressed interest in buying TikTok, the app’s fate seems largely sealed save for a surprise decision from SCOTUS. Steven Overly, host of the POLITICO Tech podcast, joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the possible outcomes and what comes next. Plus, SCOTUS says Trump has to appear at a sentencing hearing, and a look at who may lead FEMA in the new administration. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

Jimmy Carter’s presidency and life after leaving the White House will be honored in a ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral today where all five members of the so-called presidents club are expected to attend. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels dives into Carter's legacy with Tia Mitchell, the Washington Bureau Chief at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

On Tuesday, 48 House Democrats joined every Republican to advance an illegal immigration crackdown known as the Laken Riley Act, in a sign that Democrats may be moving right on immigration. White House reporter Myah Ward joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Plus, we're watching fallout from Trump's extraordinary comments yesterday where he said he wants to annex Greenland and regain control of the Panama Canal. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

The Republican House majority is narrow, and there are a lot of policy priorities President-elect Donald Trump would like to see addressed. But, his preference on how to best approach the budget reconciliation process is unclear. Senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the potential paths forward.

It’s Congress' first full week of 2025, and there is already a lot to do. The first item on the agenda is to certify the 2024 election results, exactly four years after pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol. This time around, the process is expected to be relatively simple. What isn't so simple are the remaining items on the agenda, particularly President-elect Donald Trump hopes for a single reconciliation package that is "big" and "powerful." Congress reporter Daniella Diaz joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through Congress’ to-do list.

A shutdown was avoided. But a new dividing line was drawn between President-elect Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson — one with wide-reaching implications for the future of Johnson’s speakership and the early days of Trump’s presidency. POLITICO Capitol bureau chief and senior Washington columnist Rachael Bade spent some time at Mar-a-Lago last week; she chats with Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton about what to keep an eye on in the days ahead.

At this moment, we are mere hours away from a government shutdown. How did we get here? Well, just take a look at House Republicans: After Speaker Mike Johnson’s initial spending deal was scuttled amid opposition from President-elect Donald Trump, the replacement deal — this one backed by Trump — fell short of the votes it needed amid 38 GOP defections. With time running out, what options remain? Who’s in for the lion’s share of the blame? And who are the key players to watch today? Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton and Playbook editor Mike DeBonis talk through it all.