Politico Playbook Audio Briefing

President Donald Trump is set to hold a press conference following the successful rescue of an American airman in Iran over the weekend. But it comes amid escalating tensions, after Trump issued a profane and jarring Sunday morning post threatening strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the stakes — and the striking contrast with a historic NASA moon mission unfolding at the same time.

Artemis II has launched around the moon. Now, NASA has its sights set on Mars. NASA administrator and billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman sat down with POLITICO's Dasha Burns at Kennedy Space Center to talk about NASA’s ambitious plans to build a moon base, sending humans to Mars, his relationship with Elon Musk and why we could all have 3D-printed spare livers in our fridge someday.

President Donald Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi, kicking off what sources say could be a broader round of cabinet shakeups as frustration builds inside the White House. Dasha Burns reports on who could be next. She also shares insights from her sit-down with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and his aggressive new moon-to-Mars push. Co-host Adam Wren previews a key gathering of 2028 Democratic hopefuls in New York.

President Trump gave a primetime address on Iran to the nation on Wednesday night. Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down the rhetoric, the unclear endgame, and what Trump’s “two to three weeks” timeline really means for the conflict, global oil markets, and America’s allies. Plus, one year after Liberation Day, how Trump’s tariff agenda has actually played out, and a surprising twist in the long-running DHS shutdown fight that could hand Democrats the upper hand.

It’s a busy start to April for Donald Trump. The president heads to the Supreme Court for a test of his effort to end birthright citizenship, a long-shot legal fight with big political stakes for the base and his broader coalition. Tonight, he’ll address the nation on the war in Iran as tensions with European allies simmer. And in between, all eyes turn to Florida, where NASA is set to launch Artemis II — sending humans farther into space than ever before and kicking off a new era in the global space race. Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break it all down.

We’re a quarter of the way through 2026, and the Trump administration is facing challenges at home and abroad. The president is at a critical moment on Iran as military pressure ramps up and the effect of diplomatic efforts remains murky. Meanwhile, the DHS shutdown drags into record territory with no clear end in sight. And a wave of Republican primaries could test just how strong Trump’s grip on the party really is. Dasha Burns and Jack Blanchard break down the big inflection points to watch.

Trump heads into a consequential week as he weighs whether to escalate the war in Iran, with the prospect of U.S. ground troops looming. At the same time, the Supreme Court takes up his birthright citizenship order, the anniversary of his tariff push brings renewed focus on affordability, and fresh jobs data will test his economic message. Hosts Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren break it all down. 

Andy Beshear is the most popular Democratic governor in the country – in a state Donald Trump won by more than 30 points in 2024. He explains why he believes a President JD Vance could be “more damaging than Trump”, lays out his playbook for winning back voters in Trump country, and calls out the litmus test he thinks Democrats should abandon. Can a Democrat who wins in deep-red Kentucky translate that success nationally? Beshear argues why someone like him may have an advantage at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2028.

Today, we're bringing you a new episode of 'On the Road' with Jonathan Martin, a new POLITICO show. California Gov. Gavin Newsom sits down for a wide-ranging conversation about the personal experiences that shaped his political career. A leading potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, Newsom has been raising his national profile by taking on President Donald Trump and traveling to key early primary states while promoting his new memoir. In the interview with Martin, Newsom reflects on his upbringing, outlines what he sees at stake for Democrats in 2026 and explains his increasingly aggressive strategy toward Trump. You can find more episodes in the 'On the Road with Jonathan Martin' feed wherever you get your podcasts.

President Donald Trump's decision to stay neutral in the Texas GOP Senate runoff between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas AG Ken Paxton is vexing Republicans. Though Trump at one point appeared ready to back Cornyn, many are wondering if he will punt on the race altogether as he pushes for passage of the SAVE Act. The messy runoff is likely to become more expensive, and could leave an opening for Democrats. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the latest drama.

President Donald Trump is convening the first Cabinet meeting since Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as DHS secretary. But it's also the first confab since Trump launched a military operation against Iran — a topic that is sure to dominate much of the conversation. And the headlines swirling around aren't friendly for Trump: gas prices are still surging and polling shows sinking public support. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the stakes surrounding the Iran operation.

Democrats got more big wins on Tuesday night, flipping two legislative seats in reliably red Florida, including the district containing President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. The wins don't dent Florida Republicans' supermajority, but they mark more performances for Democrats that have defied expectations ahead of the pivotal midterm elections. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the warning signs for Republicans, and a notable Trump absence.

A Russian oil tanker is steaming toward the Caribbean, most likely destined for Cuba. But that's not really the story behind the ship and its cargo. It’s a message, according to people close to the White House, former ambassadors and Russia observers — a negotiating chit, a provocation designed to force a disproportionate American response while Washington is consumed elsewhere. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the geopolitical stakes of Russia's oil play.

Republicans so far have peeled off a handful of Democrats to pass the DHS funding bill in previous votes, but it's still stalled in the Senate. But new demands from President Donald Trump could threaten any progress. Meanwhile, a new push from an influential Democratic think tank wants to help Democrats reclaim political ground on the issue ahead of the midterms. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House reporter Megan Messerly discuss the next turn of the screw on immigrating messaging between both parties.

When Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) won his Senate seat in 2024, he outperformed Kamala Harris in one of the closest battleground states in the country.  Now that he’s in Washington, Gallego’s background is particularly relevant at this moment in politics. With the Iran War intensifying, Gallego offers his perspective as an Iraq War veteran on Trump’s military operation.  And as a Latino Democratic senator of a border state, Gallego has a distinctive outlook on immigration, with criticism for his own party as well as the GOP.  Sen. Gallego sat down with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns on “The Conversation” to talk about voter ID, the 2028 election, and if he thinks Democrats can become the “fun” party again.

Ruben Gallego and Pete Buttigieg are trying to offer Democrats a roadmap back to relevance during the Trump era. Both are veterans, and both have a pitch to voters that goes beyond talking points and cuts through the rhetoric that defines much of the online chatter. Playbook's Adam Wren and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns compare notes on their recent conversations with Gallego and Buttigieg and what they reveal about the state of the Democratic Party.

President Donald Trump is still fuming over the lack of support that he has received from allied nations over the course of the war with Iran. That tension will be on full display when Trump welcomes Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi to the White House on Thursday. Japan is one such country that has resisted Trump's calls to get involved in the conflict. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss Trump's coalition-building challenge. Plus, the administration official who refuses to use email.

VP JD Vance and DNI Tulsi Gabbard — two of the Trump administration's historically biggest war skeptics — are due to deliver remarks on Wednesday. Vance will be at an midterm rally with voters in Michigan as he pitches the administration's affordability agenda. Meanwhile, Gabbard is due before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where her past position on war with Iran and her role in the ongoing operation will be fair game for senators. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss what Vance and Gabbard might say.

As the Iran war stretches on with no clear end in sight, some on the right are growing concerned that President Donald Trump will be pulled further into the conflict. A further step in the war would risk alienating a key segment of the MAGA base, which helped return Trump to the White House under the promise that Trump wouldn't set off another long-term military engagement. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discuss the potential pitfalls for Trump over Iran.

President Donald Trump is calling on about seven countries that rely heavily on oil from the Middle East to band together to open up the Strait of Hormuz. The call to come together to protect the waterway is an escalation of Trump's efforts to expand the scope of the countries involved in the conflict with Iran. But thus far, there has been little to no interest from other countries to join the fight. Playbook's Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren discuss the stakes of Trump's latest gambit.