Playbook Deep Dive

4.1 (1.5K)
POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Playbook Deep Dive, the stories behind the power. From Congress and the White House to bar stools and back rooms, POLITICO Playbook’s Ryan Lizza brings you interviews with the most compelling and important figures who explain what’s really going on in Washington.

2D AGO

Inside RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda | Calley Means

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making some big shakeups at the Department of Health and Human Services — and Calley Means is one of his key strategists. In this episode, POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns sits down with Means to break down the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, and how Secretary Kennedy is planning to channel its energy into policy goals. Dasha Burns is the White House Bureau Chief for POLITICO. Calley Means is special government employee at the Department of Health and Human Services. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39 min
MAR 28

Who will be Trump’s fall guy for Signalgate? | John Bolton

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton joins POLITICO's Rachael Bade to discuss the Signalgate controversy and the broader battle over who will define Donald Trump’s foreign policy — Reagan-era hawks or America First types and isolationists — and who might take the fall for this national security scandal. Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO. John Bolton is a former Trump White House national security adviser. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

29 min
MAR 22

The Trump White House’s “Oracle” speaks | James Blair

White House deputy chief of staff James Blair is one of the most important people in politics you’ve never heard of — yet. On this week’s episode of Deep Dive, he talks with POLITICO Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Columnist Rachael Bade to pull back the curtain on how Trump 2.0 has managed to do so much in just two months; Susie Wiles’s style as chief of staff; the White House reaction to the latest Democratic dysfunction on Capitol Hill; the administration’s hope to ease tariff concerns and the president’s true strategy behind threatening judges with impeachment. Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO. James Blair is a White House deputy chief of staff. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

42 min
MAR 22

Inside Trump’s “swift kick in the ass” to the world│Chris LaCivita

Chris LaCivita co-managed Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. On this episode of Deep Dive, he’s sharing some of his secrets about Trump’s inner circle, as well as where he thinks Trump’s presidency is headed next. He joins POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns to discuss the truths about Project 2025 and Donald Trump; what actual power Elon Musk has; some spicy tidbits about Trump’s plans to redevelop Gaza and who he thinks will be the heir to the MAGA movement. Dasha Burns is the White House Bureau Chief for POLITICO. Chris LaCivita is a Republican strategist. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

35 min
MAR 7

Shutdown, DOGE, and trans athletes | Rep. Brendan Boyle

House Budget Committee ranking member Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) joins the show to discuss how his Democratic colleagues should respond to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent pivot on trans athletes in sports, President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, the looming government shutdown and the GOP’s possible cuts to Medicaid in reconciliation. Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO. Brendan Boyle is the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

43 min
FEB 28

Are Trump and Republicans already baiting a backlash?

Trump’s rapid-fire approach to governing is shaking up Washington. But is he moving too fast for his own good? In this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, host Eugene Daniels talks with POLITICO’s senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis and West Wing Playbook co-author Sophia Cai to break down the risks of Trump’s high-speed strategy and what it means for the weeks ahead. Eugene Daniels is the Chief Playbook Correspondent for POLITICO. Mike DeBonis is the senior Congress editor for POLITICO. Sophia Cai is a West Wing Playbook author and White House reporter for POLITICO. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 min
FEB 21

To resist Trump or work with him? This governor says you can do both.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has an independent streak and a big job leading the National Governors Association. Here’s what he’s telling fellow governors about when to work with Trump and when to oppose him, how he thinks that Trump is hurting himself, and what the first thing Elon Musk and DOGE should cut is. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Jared Polis is the Governor of Colorado. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
FEB 14

Inside the Resistance 2.0 | Rep. Jamie Raskin

Where is the Democratic “resistance” for Trump’s second term? Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels asks Rep. Jamie Raskin, a longtime nemesis of President Trump’s and the current House Judiciary Committee ranking member, why the Democrats have been slow to counter the president’s aggressive governing, and what the plan is going forward to rebuild the party and its message. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Rep. Jamie Raskin is the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39 min

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Ryan Lizza

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James Blair interview—disappointing

Mar 28

amyb718

You didn’t want to ask harder questions? I feel like this episode became a platform for Blair to sanitize the administration’s agenda. If you’re going to have such a figure on, I think that you should be prepared with more challenging questions.
Fact check

2d ago

NH onthego

I really appreciate being able to listen to people I don’t agree with, but Playbook Deep Dive would be so much stronger if there was some level of fact checking
Some great episodes

Mar 28

Charlotte Burgman

The John Bolton interview was more informative than any other coverage. Great interview style. As an independent, this kind of interview - more please! 👏🏼
Update Please

12/13/2024

tappy4123

I love Rachel and Eugene. I just would like some sort of update on Ryan and his work with the team.