The Playbook Podcast

Tense U.S. military buildup in the Middle East raises the prospect of limited action against Iran. Negotiations in Geneva face a possible preemptive move. Domestic and Israeli pressure, war powers politics, and timing around tariffs and the State of the Union shape decision-making.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine leading wartime response and seeking security guarantees. Clarissa Ward, CNN chief international correspondent reporting from frontline Ukraine. They discuss who can stop Putin and the role of the United States, trilateral talks and reconstruction plans, rising civilian hardship and resilience fatigue, and why elections and concessions are tied to concrete security guarantees.

Discussion of two Supreme Court rulings that could reshape tariffs and voting law. Breakdown of political stakes for midterms and how redistricting timelines might shift. Analysis of U.S. military movements near Iran and possible short-term action. Quick look at GDP expectations and their messaging impact. A lighter turn to UFO fascination and public interest in extraterrestrial files.

They discuss a newly convened Board of Peace meeting that coincides with a major U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. The conversation examines the board’s origins and surprising membership. They unpack possible U.S. options toward Iran and the risks of limited strikes versus longer campaigns. Attention also turns to a planned shift from foreign to domestic messaging on affordability in Georgia.

A Texas Senate primary explodes after a late-night interview is pulled, fueling viral fundraising and media attention. The hosts unpack how social media reshaped the moment and elevated one candidate. They examine race, campaign ads, and intra-party divisions driving a bitter Democratic contest. The conversation also touches on White House midterm strategy and the politics of a major Springsteen tour.

Breakdown of billionaire envoys heading to Geneva to press Iran, Russia, and Ukraine. Debate over unconventional negotiators and the risks of a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. Close look at Ukraine talks and pressure on Kyiv. Preview of Texas early voting and high-stakes primaries shaping party strategies and future contests.

John Fetterman, U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and 2022 Senate contender, discusses immigration enforcement, ICE and DHS funding, and his stance on Israel. He talks war powers and targeted strikes, voter ID and filibuster realities, trade and tariffs, his place within the Democratic Party, mental health recovery, and reelection considerations.

Zoya Sheftalovich, POLITICO’s chief EU correspondent and Brussels Playbook host, explains Munich’s rise as the Davos for defense. She recounts J.D. Vance’s shockwave speech and why European leaders are wary. Zoya previews which U.S. figures are using Munich to polish foreign-policy credentials and how Europe is planning greater self-defense amid doubts about U.S. reliability.

A deep dive into the House vote rebuking Trump’s tariffs on Canada and the political signaling behind it. Discussion of why some Republicans broke ranks amid midterm pressures and retirements. Exploration of Congress’s limits to stop tariffs, looming Supreme Court action, and the fallout for GOP members facing threats and primaries.

A tense Hill showdown over DOJ tactics and scrutiny of how Epstein files were handled. Discussion of the failed grand jury effort and legal experts calling the case weak. Analysis of mounting pressure on Pam Bondi and who will press her hardest. Preview of Netanyahu’s White House visit and its Iran implications.