Balance of Power

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.President Donald Trump and top allies struggled to fend off criticism over the inadvertent inclusion of a journalist in a Signal chat discussing military attacks in Yemen, after newly disclosed texts showed how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed specific operational details.Trump and senior administration officials on Wednesday ratcheted up criticism of Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg — who National Security Advisor Mike Waltz mistakingly added to the chat — and maintained that specific timing of planned strikes, US weapons systems and targets contained in text messages did not amount to “war plans” or classified information.“It had no impact on the attack, which was very successful,” Trump said during an appearance on a conservative talk radio show.Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg Politics Editor Laura Davison about the latest developments from the Trump Administration. American Action Forum President and former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin as the CBO announces that the federal government could run out of enough money to pay all of its bills on time as soon as August if lawmakers fail to raise or suspend the debt limit. Bloomberg Politics Contributors Rick Davis and Jeanne Sheehan Zaino about the latest tariffs announcement from Trump. Ritholtz Wealth Management Founder Barry Ritholtz about his new book "How Not To Invest." Bloomberg Pentagon Reporter Tony Capaccio as The Atlantic released the transcript of a group chat between top US officials on Signal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio warned House Republicans of the dangers of rising US deficits and urged them to cut the budget deficit to just 3% of gross domestic product or risk debt service costs squeezing government spending.  Dalio’s message of austerity comes as House and Senate Republicans battle over the size of spending cuts to be paired with a giant tax cut coming later this year. The US budget deficit was 6.6% of GDP in 2024, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg Capitol Influence Team Lead Megan Scully. Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman of Indiana. Bloomberg Politics Contributor Rick Davis and Democratic Strategist Roger Fisk. Professor at the University of Virginia's Miller Center and former US Diplomat Mara Rudman.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Congressional Republicans returning to Washington on Monday will tackle their toughest test yet, negotiating a massive tax bill package to deliver President Donald Trump a signature legislative victory.Efforts to renew Trump’s landmark 2017 tax cuts and secure additional reductions he’s promised were temporarily sidelined while lawmakers worked to narrowly avert a government shutdown earlier this month.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trump’s National Economic Council director, Kevin Hassett are set to meet Tuesday with House and Senate Republican leaders and their top tax writers to try to resolve differences over the scale of cuts and ways of paying for them, according to two people familiar with the meeting.Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Republican Congressman Bill Huizenga of Michigan as lawmakers return to Washington to kickoff reconciliation negotiations. Bloomberg Politics Contributors Rick Davis and Jeanne Sheehan Zaino as President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting Monday at the White House. Bloomberg's Saleha Mohsin interviews Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Stephen Miran about the Trump economic agenda. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boeing's triumph in securing the multibillion-dollar contract for the next-generation F-47 stealth fighter jet marks a pivotal moment in U.S. military innovation. Discussions center on the political dynamics surrounding this victory, particularly its implications for Lockheed Martin and the broader defense landscape. The episode also analyzes the influence of tech leaders like Elon Musk on military contracts and voter sentiment in key states. Furthermore, the conversation explores the intersection of defense spending and market strategies, highlighting the evolving nature of military procurement.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive action formally asking officials to take steps to largely dismantle the Department of Education, his latest effort to reduce the size of the federal government and its workforce.Trump is slated to sign the order on Thursday, according to people familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss them. The order directs the secretary of education to take steps to close the department and “return education authority to the States,” according to a White House fact sheet on the order.It also mandates that programs and activities receiving any remaining department funds not be used to advance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Julie Fine speak with: Bloomberg's Tyler Kendall. Former Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Senior advisor at Razom for Ukraine Melinda Haring. Bloomberg Senior Editor for Technology and Strategic Industries Michael Shepard.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy agreed to a proposal to halt strikes on energy assets as an initial step in President Donald Trump’s effort to end the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago. “One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure,” Zelenskiy said in a statement on X after a call with Trump on Wednesday. “I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it.”Trump, who had stormy exchanges earlier with Zelenskiy, described their call as “very good,” and top US officials called it “fantastic.” Trump, who at one point cut off weapons shipments and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine promised fresh support, according to a statement on the call from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Global Situation Room President and CEO Brett Bruen as President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke on the phone Wednesday morning. Lexington Institute Vice President of Defense Programs Rebecca Grant as Zelenskiy agreed to halt strikes on energy assets as an initial step to end the war with Russia. Bluestack Strategies Founder and Republican Strategist Maura Gillespie and Democratic Strategist Roger Fisk about the future of Democratic leadership in the Senate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Vladimir Putin committed in a phone call with Donald Trump to limit Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days but declined to accept the broader ceasefire that the US sought.The Russian and US presidents agreed that the two sides would begin negotiations on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea as well as a “full ceasefire and permanent peace,” the White House said in a statement after the call ended. Those talks will begin “immediately” in the Middle East, the White House said, without saying who would lead the negotiations.The Kremlin’s account of the call said Putin imposed several conditions for a lasting ceasefire, including the suspension of arms and intelligence support for Ukraine. Ukraine must also stop mobilizing new recruits, it said. Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg Politics Contributor Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and Republican Strategist Ashley Davis as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin conclude their phone call Tuesday. Bloomberg News Correspondent Tyler Kendall from the White House as the US says work for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will begin immediately. Bloomberg News National Security Reporter Dan Flatley as Putin agrees to limit attacks on Ukraine. Former Commanding General for US Army Europe Ben Hodges about the European reaction to talks between Trump and Putin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.President Donald Trump’s administration is being accused of defying the judiciary after swiftly deporting hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members in an assertion of sweeping power to pursue hard-line immigration policies.Two groups suing the administration alleged in a court filing Monday that the government may have violated a federal judge’s order halting the expulsions. That judge set a hearing for Monday afternoon, when he ordered government lawyers to provide answers.The Justice Department filed a defiant response Monday afternoon, saying it was abiding by the order from US District Judge James Boasberg. The government called on Boasberg to cancel the hearing, saying it “is not prepared to disclose any further national security or operational security details to plaintiffs or the public.” Boasberg quickly denied the cancellation request.Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg Politics Contributor Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and Republican Strategist Jon Seaton as President Donald Trump’s administration is being accused of defying the judiciary after deporting hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members. Constitutional lawyer Robert McWhirter about the latest legal questions from actions taken by the Trump administration. Director of the Wadhwani AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Gregory C. Allen about his latest research on Huawei, DeepSeek and US export controls. Center Forward CEO Cori Kramer about their new Voter Research Journal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer had two choices as the clock ticked down to the government funding deadline: drop his threat to block the Republican bill or force a disruptive March 15 shutdown. The New York lawmaker ultimately opted for the path of least resistance Thursday after a day of contentious meetings among minority Democrats, who had hoped to use their limited leverage on a spending package to include some restraints on Elon Musk’s DOGE’s cost-cutting crusade.Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg Government Congress Reporter Jack Fitzpatrick as the Senate readies a vote on a stopgap spending deal to avoid a government shutdown. Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis of New York about the work in the upper chamber and negotiations with the Senate on a new tax bill. Bloomberg Politics Contributors Rick Davis and Jeanne Sheehan Zaino as Senator Chuck Schumer says he will now vote in favorite of the Republican-backed continuing resolution. Former US Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison about the push for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Democratic Strategist Kevin Walling and Republican Strategist Alex Stroman about the state of both political parties and finding common ground across the aisle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on wine, champagne and other alcoholic beverages from France and elsewhere in the European Union, the latest escalation in the brewing transatlantic trade war. In a social media post today, Trump said he would move forward with the import duties if Brussels follows through with a tax on American whiskey exports.  Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg Chief Geoeconomics Analyst Jennifer Welch as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office. Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute Tazra Mitchell about the impact of the budget passed in the House of Representatives on the city. Bloomberg Politics Contributor Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and BGR Group's Lester Munson after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his party will not support the GOP's plan to avert a government shutdown. Bloomberg's Saleha Mohsin interviews former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about the state of the US economy, Trump's tariff policy and DOGE's actions at the Department of the Treasury. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.