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 brin...
Tariffs activated the conservative old guard. Here’s what one of their top thinkers sees coming.
Robert Doar, the President of the American Enterprise Institute, joins host Rachael Bade to discuss how an institution long dedicated to promoting ideas such as free trade and strong American global leadership, is asserting itself in a Trump administration that often does not prioritize those views.
In this episode, they discuss who in the White House is receptive to these values; how AEI is trying to influence an administration that’s fixated on podcasters and TikTokers — not conventional policy papers; who the emerging leaders are on Capitol Hill that are carrying this message; and why Doar is so much more optimistic about the future than your average cable TV host.
Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.
Robert Doar is the president of the American Enterprise Institute
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
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36:17
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.
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39:13
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.
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29:28
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.
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41:44
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.
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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.