The Playbook Podcast

President Donald Trump is expected to speak later this morning, likely touting the Iran agreement. This comes after Bloomberg published an unconfirmed draft of the memorandum that raises some serious questions. Later today, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh will preside over his first Open Market Committee meeting, where news will likely paint a less than peachy vision of high inflation rates. Speaking of peaches, Georgia’s runoff results mean a Rep. Mike Collins v. Sen. Jon Ossoff showdown come November. And finally, Jay Clayton heads to a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, less than a week after lawmakers formally received his nomination to serve as director of national intelligence. Follow POLITICO here: ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram: / politico ➤ Facebook: / politico For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

President Donald Trump heads to the G7 Summit in France today after reaching a peace agreement with Iran last night. But what is in the deal, and is it worth the paper it's written on? Amid these geopolitical developments, a media spectacle on the South Lawn as Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with the White House’s first ever UFC match. Follow POLITICO here: ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram: / politico ➤ Facebook: / politico For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

TACOs are back. President Trump announced yesterday that he will nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, to be the next director of national intelligence. This comes after pushback on the Hill to acting director Bill Pulte, a top Trump housing official. Meanwhile, just hours after declaring strikes on Iran for a third night in a row, Trump canceled the attacks, citing a breakthrough in negotiations. Is a deal within reach, or is this just another twist in a long-running standoff? Plus, the G7 Summit kicks off on Monday – and U.S. and European leaders alike are setting a low bar for success. Follow POLITICO here: ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram: / politico ➤ Facebook: / politico For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

Voters in Maine have decided: controversy-plagued Democrat Graham Platner will face Sen. Susan Collins in the fall. Meanwhile in South Carolina, Sen. Lindsey Graham defeated MAGA challenger Mark Lynch, avoiding a runoff election. And with a key inflation report due later this morning, Morning Money newsletter author Sam Sutton joins the Playbook Podcast to preview the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers and what they could mean for voters. Follow POLITICO here: ➤ X: https://x.com/politico/ ➤ Instagram: / politico ➤ Facebook: / politico For more news and analysis, subscribe to the Playbook newsletter: politico.com/playbook

Sunday marked 100 days of the Iran war with no deal reached. Iran launched a new wave of missiles at Israel overnight and then Israel struck back. Trump is pressing both sides toward negotiations. Plus, the Senate's FISA renewal is at risk after Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence — the act expires Friday. And Maine's primary is Tuesday, with Democrat senate candidate Graham Platner facing controversy heading into the vote.

The Bidens are back in the spotlight after tensions briefly flared between loyalist Andrew Bates and Jill Biden over her new memoir. Out west, California's primary results are rolling in, revealing a trademark California story: Democrat-on-Democrat showdowns. And with another round of allegations surrounding Graham Platner, do personal scandals still have political consequences?

Iowa delivered the biggest surprise of the 2026 primary cycle as a Trump-backed candidate, Randy Feenstra, lost for the first time, while Chuck Schumer's Senate pick, Josh Turek, won comfortably. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns dive into all the results from Iowa and New Jersey, and try to make sense of Bill Pulte's sudden move from housing chief to acting Director of National Intelligence.

Congress returns from recess with several unresolved items on the agenda. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns walk through the stalled immigration spending bill, an upcoming war powers vote, and the mood among some Republican senators following the Texas primary. Then, a Democratic Senate primary in Iowa tomorrow and what it signals about Chuck Schumer’s role as a Democratic leader. Plus: the latest on Iran negotiations, which remain at a standstill.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Angelo’s Pizzeria, a South Philly institution, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Democratic party, rising cynicism in American politics and the growing speculation around his political future in 2028.

Divisions inside the White House over AI regulation explain why Trump pulled a major executive order at the last minute. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns talk about the competing factions and what comes next. Plus, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent takes his turn at the briefing room podium as new inflation data arrives. And Jill Biden's memoir is already stirring up Democratic frustration ahead of its release next week.

Primary runoff day in Texas is here. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns discuss what Trump's last-minute endorsement of Ken Paxton means for John Cornyn — and for the Senate's already fragile Republican majority. Plus: the U.S. launches fresh strikes in the Strait of Hormuz while insisting the ceasefire holds, and NASA announces plans for a moon base by 2028.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Baltimore’s iconic Koco's Pub for a wide-ranging conversation about redistricting, the future of the Democratic party and how his military service shaped his views on patriotism, race and America’s role in the world. Moore also opens up about Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s decision to stay in the presidential race too long, Kamala Harris’ future and why Democrats can’t spend years “studying” voters’ frustrations instead of fixing them.