Episodios

  • From 'The Conversation': Trump’s tariff czar speaks | Jamieson Greer

    From 'The Conversation': Trump’s tariff czar speaks | Jamieson Greer
    Dec 7 2025
    U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is no stranger to President Donald Trump’s tariff-forward trade agenda. Greer served as chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative in Trump’s first administration. But now, it’s Greer who’s at the helm of the president’s tariff implementation strategy — one that has drawn both criticism and praise from surprising places. “I've also had members of Congress come to me, people who maybe weren't fans of tariffs two years ago, and they said, ‘This is actually real money that's coming in that can be used to pay down the debt or pay for other things or finance our reindustrialization,” Greer said. In this week’s episode of The Conversation, Ambassador Greer sits down with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns to explain why trade policy defies political labels, the particulars of how deals are shaping up globally and the strategy behind reconfiguring seven decades’ worth of international policy. Plus, Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, joins Dasha to explain how the battle for school funding continues to unfold, the intrinsic relationship between education and democracy and why the well-being of students should be at the top of the president’s mind.
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    1 h y 11 m
  • Trump’s World Cup draws closer

    Trump’s World Cup draws closer
    Dec 5 2025
    The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at noon today at the Kennedy Center. The event is to determine which countries will fall into each group for the 48-team tournament this summer. But it’s not only a monumental day in the sports world: amid all the typical pageantry will be plenty of politicking. FIFA is plying President Donald Trump with praise and prizes. And Trump will be shaking hands with leaders of Canada and Mexico, the two other host nations with whom he has sparred at times. White House reporter Sophia Cai joins Playbook’s Adam Wren to break down all the behind-the-scenes drama and what you can expect from the draw.
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    13 m
  • Signalgate: the sequel

    Signalgate: the sequel
    Dec 4 2025
    Pete Hegseth has been no stranger to drama during his tenure as Defense secretary, with a steady stream of headlines following him since his nomination. But perhaps the most notable fiasco was the “Signalgate” incident, in which Hegseth shared detailed military plans in a group chat of administration officials — and one stray journalist. Today, the Pentagon inspector general’s report of the incident is set to be released. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns unpack what we already know, and what to expect.
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    17 m
  • Tennessee’s titan lesson for Republicans

    Tennessee’s titan lesson for Republicans
    Dec 3 2025
    Republican Matt Van Epps won a closely watched special election in Tennessee last night, defeating Democrat Aftyn Behn. But Republicans writ large may still be wringing their hands as they look forward. Despite Van Epps’ relatively easy victory, the margin of victory — which drastically trailed President Donald Trump’s edge in the district last year — shows that Republicans still have work to do to find a message that lands on affordability. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down what the results mean for the midterms and whether Trump can strike the right chord on cost-of-living issues.
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    15 m
  • Hegseth's headache

    Hegseth's headache
    Dec 2 2025
    President Donald Trump is holding his latest made-for-TV Cabinet meeting today, where all eyes will be on Pete Hegseth. The Defense secretary has captured headlines over the legality of airstrikes the U.S. conducted on the boats of alleged “narcoterrorists” around Venezuela — with a Washington Post report over the weekend raising more questions from Republicans and Democrats. Both Trump and Hegseth in recent days have voiced support for the action but distanced themselves from the report. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Pentagon reporter Paul McLeary unpack what to know, plus the latest on Ukraine peace talks.
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    16 m
  • Trump’s vexing Venezuela position

    Trump’s vexing Venezuela position
    Dec 1 2025
    The Trump administration pressure campaign against Venezuela and strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the region are coming under increased scrutiny after reporting that caught the attention of bipartisan members of Congress. President Donald Trump offered cautious support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s involvement. It comes after Trump’s controversial decision to pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was convicted in the U.S. of drug trafficking. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down what to expect next, plus Trump’s next immigration crackdown.
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    16 m
  • Witkoff's revealing phone call

    Witkoff's revealing phone call
    Nov 26 2025
    A stunning transcript reportedly detailing Steve Witkoff’s private conversation with one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top aides reveals the approach that President Donald Trump’s administration is taking to end the war in Ukraine. The White House hasn’t denied the transcript’s validity, and the revelation comes as Trump’s plans to dispatch emissaries to meet with Putin next week. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and diplomatic correspondent Felicia Schwartz walk through the stakes. Plus, the FBI opens investigations into six Democratic members of Congress who Trump is accusing of sedition.
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    16 m
  • Parsing Trump’s Ukraine peace plan

    Parsing Trump’s Ukraine peace plan
    Nov 25 2025
    President Donald Trump has dispatched Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to meet with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi over the Ukraine peace plan. The proposal is an updated version from the original 28-point plan, drafted by Steve Witkoff, which was criticized by many for favoring Russia. The new plan, which has been slimmed down, has garnered far more support in Kyiv and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proclaimed that peace seems “doable” now. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren break down what to know and what comes next.
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    16 m