Episodes

  • November 14, 2024: Trump’s AG pick sends shockwaves through Washington

    November 14, 2024: Trump’s AG pick sends shockwaves through Washington
    Nov 14 2024
    In a move that stunned much of Washington, President-elect Donald Trump yesterday unveiled his choice for attorney general: Rep. Matt Gaetz. The move would put Gaetz atop the Justice Department, which spent years investigating allegations that the Florida congressman had sex with underage girls and paid for their transportation — allegations which Gaetz has denied. Among those investigations is one by the House Ethics Committee, which was nearing completion — until, that is, yesterday, when Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress. How is the news landing among the Senate Republicans whose support he needs to win confirmation? And where does the Ethics Committee’s investigation go from here? Congressional reporter Ursula Perano joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Plus, John Thune (R-S.D.) was elected to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader — and more about the other new Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.
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    11 mins
  • November 13, 2024: What to expect from Biden and Trump’s grip-and-grin

    November 13, 2024: What to expect from Biden and Trump’s grip-and-grin
    Nov 13 2024
    President-elect Donald Trump will visit Washington this morning to meet with President Joe Biden. Although meetings between the outgoing and incoming presidents are a long-standing tradition, Trump has not always followed through. When their roles were reversed in 2020, Trump refused to meet with Joe Biden. There is no love lost between the two gentlemen who last met one-on-one on the debate stage, which ultimately ended Biden's reelection campaign. So, what could they possibly talk about? White House reporter Adam Cancryn talks with Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels. Plus, inside Trump’s latest barrage of cabinet selections, and who will emerge victorious in the vote for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s GOP leadership successor.
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    10 mins
  • November 12, 2024: Trump 2.0’s cabinet comes into focus

    November 12, 2024: Trump 2.0’s cabinet comes into focus
    Nov 12 2024
    We’re getting a clearer look at President-elect Donald Trump’s new cabinet and one thing is in common: loyalty. So far, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) has been named as ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy. Health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss what we know about other cabinet picks.
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    9 mins
  • November 11, 2024: Trump begins his Washington takeover

    November 11, 2024: Trump begins his Washington takeover
    Nov 11 2024
    Congress reconvenes on Tuesday for the first time since before the election, and the big winner, President-elect Donald Trump, is already asserting his dominance. The key players around Trump (but not the man himself ) have come out in full support of Sen. Rick Scott's bid for Majority Leader. But could the move doom Scott's campaign from the start? Playbook co-author Rachael Bade delves into this and other ways the president-elect is already making an impact on Capitol Hill.
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    7 mins
  • November 8, 2024: Washington readies for Trump 2.0

    November 8, 2024: Washington readies for Trump 2.0
    Nov 8 2024
    Since Tuesday night, Donald Trump’s resounding victory has been the only thing on anyone’s minds in Washington. That … and how Democrats managed to mess up so spectacularly. With Trump’s selection of Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, we’re already getting a glimpse of the president-elect’s team — and perhaps an insight into how Trump’s second term will differ from his first. From Democratic recriminations to the GOP’s new agenda, what is in store in the days ahead? Playbook co-authors Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade discuss.
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    18 mins
  • November 7, 2024: The key players in Trump's transition

    November 7, 2024: The key players in Trump's transition
    Nov 7 2024
    President-elect Donald Trump and his team launched into transition planning in Palm Beach on Wednesday, barely 12 hours after polls closed. So who's going to be chief of staff? And who’s going to head up personnel decisions? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade and Eugene Daniels share what they know about the transition so far — including Rachael's latest scoop on Chris LaCivita's beef with Corey Lewandowski.
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    11 mins
  • November 6, 2024: Donald Trump's America

    November 6, 2024: Donald Trump's America
    Nov 6 2024
    What seemed unthinkable on Jan. 7, 2021 is about to be reality. Donald Trump is on the verge of retaking the presidency after making sweeping gains in state after state, slashing away at the margins that kept him from a second term four years ago. Trump’s all-but-certain re-election (an AP call in ruby-red Alaska would seal it) constitutes arguably the biggest political comeback story in American history. Playbook editor Mike DeBonis breaks down what we know with Playbook co-authors Eugene Daniels and Rachael Bade.
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    18 mins
  • November 5, 2024: We’re finally here

    November 5, 2024: We’re finally here
    Nov 5 2024
    After an election cycle that included an unprecedented switch at the top of a major party’s ticket, multiple assassination attempts against former president Donald Trump and razor-thin poll margins, Election Day is finally here. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade chats with national politics reporter Natalie Allison and Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to see what they’re hearing from both candidates on the campaign trail.
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    17 mins