POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing - POLITICO

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All eyes on Hormuz Apr 13, 2026

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President Donald Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz begins at 10 a.m. after talks with Iran collapsed, Hungary’s Prime Minister and MAGA favorite Viktor Orbán conceded defeat following a landslide loss and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) suspended his gubernatorial campaign amid sexual misconduct allegations. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the risks of escalation with Iran, the political fallout at home and abroad and what to watch as Congress returns to a packed agenda.

Inside the war on Trump’s new MAGA (with Marjorie Taylor Greene) | The Conversation Apr 12, 2026

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Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) – the MAGA acolyte-turned-antagonist who resigned from Congress after a public and messy fight with Donald Trump – joins “The Conversation” to talk about the war in Iran, why she thinks the GOP will be “slaughtered” in the midterms and her desire to build a new political coalition in America.

Harris vs. Buttigieg, again Apr 10, 2026

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Today Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg take the stage in New York City, offering an early glimpse at a possible 2028 clash. Meanwhile, a fragile Iran ceasefire is raising fresh questions abroad, and Senate Republicans head to the White House to talk reconciliation. POITICO’s Megan Messerly and Adam Wren break down the early 2028 dynamics, the foreign policy tensions and what comes next.

Trump escalates attacks on NATO Apr 09, 2026

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President Donald Trump’s fresh barrage of attacks on NATO is raising new questions about America’s commitment to the alliance. Meanwhile, confusion around the U.S.-Iran ceasefire continues to cloud the global picture. And Democrats weigh whether the moment presents a political opening. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren break down the NATO fallout, the state of the ceasefire and what to watch next.

Day 1 of Trump’s ceasefire in Iran Apr 08, 2026

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President Donald Trump’s sudden move to step back from the brink and agree to a two-week ceasefire with Iran is raising questions about what comes next. Meanwhile, NATO’s secretary general arrives in Washington today amid growing strain on the alliance. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the ceasefire, the political fallout and what to watch next.

Clock ticks on Trump's deadline Apr 07, 2026

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President Donald Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. tonight to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — or face a potentially devastating military escalation. Meanwhile, in Georgia, polls will be closing in the special congressional runoff to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene just as Trump’s deadline looms. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the stakes and potential fallout as the clock ticks down.

Trump’s new threat to Iran Apr 06, 2026

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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.

NASA’s chief on how we beat China to the moon and beyond | The Conversation Apr 05, 2026

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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.

Bondi's out — are more Cabinet shakeups coming? Apr 03, 2026

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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.

20 minutes, few answers: Trump addresses the nation on Iran Apr 02, 2026

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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.