President Donald Trump closed his first day with an unprecedented show of executive force, signing dozens of executive orders, including orders to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization, move to end birthright citizenship and grant TikTok a reprieve from a forced shutdown. Trump also pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly every person who rioted on January 6, 2021, some 1,500 people. Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels talk through the biggest moments from Monday's inauguration, the impact that President Trump's earliest moves will have and what to expect next.
It has arrived. Today at noon, Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term as president — the culmination of a political comeback for the ages. But things will look different than we’ve come to expect from past inaugurations: Frigid temperatures have forced the ceremony inside the Capitol for the first time in 40 years. What comes next? A deluge of executive actions bursting out in every direction — from foreign policy to the economy to immigration to gender identity. Chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels and Playbook managing editor and lead author Jack Blanchard walk through what to expect.
In the final days of the Biden White House, all eyes are fixed on President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans’ total control of the levers of power in Washington. But what does the future hold for the opposition party? Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels joins Playbook editor Zack Stanton to dig into that question, and talk about what he learned from the DNC panel in Detroit he moderated on Thursday. Plus, Republicans’ divisions over reconciliation are only getting more complex. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.
In public, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune get along just fine. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find that all is not well: Capitol Hill’s two most powerful lawmakers have two very different legislative strategies, and that puts them at a loggerheads as they each vie for President-elect Donald Trump’s ear. How will it all shake out? Capitol bureau chief and senior Washington columnist Rachael Bade joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through the possibilities. Plus, signs of a ceasefire in Gaza and President Joe Biden bids farewell to the presidency.
 Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, faces an uphill battle for confirmation. Among other things, Kennedy is a noted vaccine skeptic and has spent years embroiled in controversy. So how will the Trump team negotiate his confirmation? White House reporter Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to walk through the plan. Plus, a whopping six cabinet nominees will face confirmation hearings this morning, and what to expect from President Joe Biden’s farewell address.
This morning, the Senate will start confirmation hearings for Trump’s Cabinet nominees. Will any of Trump’s picks see resistance? Senate reporter Ursula Perano joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to go over what to expect. Plus, a sneak peek at the new era of Playbook.
This afternoon, President Joe Biden will deliver an address on foreign policy from the State Department—his first of two farewell speeches during the final week of his political career. Senior foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to explore how Biden’s foreign policy legacy might be remembered. Plus, the Senate will consider the Laken Riley Act, and a look ahead to a week filled with Senate confirmation hearings. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.
Today, officials from TikTok will make arguments before the Supreme Court to save the app in the U.S. Though some have expressed interest in buying TikTok, the app’s fate seems largely sealed save for a surprise decision from SCOTUS. Steven Overly, host of the POLITICO Tech podcast, joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the possible outcomes and what comes next. Plus, SCOTUS says Trump has to appear at a sentencing hearing, and a look at who may lead FEMA in the new administration. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.
Jimmy Carter’s presidency and life after leaving the White House will be honored in a ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral today where all five members of the so-called presidents club are expected to attend. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels dives into Carter's legacy with Tia Mitchell, the Washington Bureau Chief at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
On Tuesday, 48 House Democrats joined every Republican to advance an illegal immigration crackdown known as the Laken Riley Act, in a sign that Democrats may be moving right on immigration. White House reporter Myah Ward joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Plus, we're watching fallout from Trump's extraordinary comments yesterday where he said he wants to annex Greenland and regain control of the Panama Canal. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.
The Republican House majority is narrow, and there are a lot of policy priorities President-elect Donald Trump would like to see addressed. But, his preference on how to best approach the budget reconciliation process is unclear. Senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the potential paths forward.
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