POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing - POLITICO

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June 24, 2025: Trump’s ceasefire victory lap Jun 24, 2025

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President Donald Trump heads to the Netherlands today for the 2025 NATO Summit. The Iran-Israel conflict was already set to be a major focus. But Trump’s announcement Monday night of a ceasefire between the countries has reshaped the conversation altogether. Will the summit be an opportunity for Trump to flex on the global stage, or will he be received by a more tepid crowd? POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly joins Playbook author Jack Blanchard to discuss. Plus, a big day for hearings on Capitol Hill, and Democrats in New York City head to the polls to pick a mayoral nominee.

June 23, 2025: The U.S. bombed Iran. What now? Jun 23, 2025

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On Saturday night, U.S. forces bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in what the Pentagon termed “Operation Midnight Hammer.” The consequences, which will likely be far-reaching, are only beginning to come into view. Does President Donald Trump want regime change in Iran? How would he square that pursuit with his America First pledges? What will it mean for nuclear talks? What sort of reprisals should we expect from Iran? Will Congress assert its war powers authority? And what does the world look like in the aftermath of the attacks? POLITICO White House reporter Megan Messerly joins Playbook author Jack Blanchard to unpack it all.

June 20, 2025: Is the ‘MAGA civil war’ real? Jun 20, 2025

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One story continues to dominate the conversation in Washington: the possibility of a U.S. strike in Iran. But even as the commentariat focuses on its potential geopolitical implications, its potential implications for American politics are no less real. President Donald Trump’s MAGA base is split over what to do. Does Trump risk hemorrhaging support if he orders a strike? Or is the whole idea of a GOP civil war over Iran overhyped? Playbook contributing author Adam Wren joins editor Zack Stanton to talk through his reporting and discuss what it all means for the conflict at hand and the future of MAGA.

June 18, 2025: Trump’s choice on Iran Jun 18, 2025

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With the U.S. on the cusp of potentially joining Israel’s fight against Iran, foreign policy experts in Washington are scrambling to game out the various scenarios. And as POLITICO senior foreign affairs correspondent and Compass columnist Nahal Toosi tells Playbook author Jack Blanchard, the options available to Trump and the possible outcomes from them aren’t simply black and white; they exist along a spectrum ranging from arming Israel for a single, targeted strike on an Iranian nuclear facility, to a more sweeping and wide-scale involvement. In the balance: the security of the Middle East, the political viability of Trump’s MAGA coalition and the futures of millions of everyday people in Iran. Nahal talks us through her reporting and the stakes.

June 17, 2025: Trump’s Middle East dilemma Jun 17, 2025

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President Donald Trump is unexpectedly back in Washington today, cutting his G7 trip short amid a spiraling situation with Iran. Yesterday, Trump made an ominous Truth Social post suggesting “everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran” — words that immediately provoked a fiery response from some of his usual supporters, who see the threat of such foreign interventionism as a betrayal of his “America first” ethos. Now, he faces one of the biggest dilemmas of his presidency: Should the U.S. back Israel in attacking Iran? And if so, to what extent? The implications are enormous — for the U.S., for the world and for Trump’s political project. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk it all, what they’re hearing and what to expect in the days ahead.

June 16, 2025: Trump takes on the G7 Jun 16, 2025

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After a weekend of nationwide protests, a military parade and a political assassination, eyes in Washington are now aimed north at Canada, where President Donald Trump is attending the G7 summit. Today, he will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk through what to expect, and how the fresh violence in the Middle East will impact what unfolds.

June 13, 2025: Israel strikes Iran Jun 13, 2025

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Last night, Israel launched a major military campaign against Iran in what it billed as a “preemptive” strike on the nation’s nuclear capabilities. But this is only the beginning: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation will “continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” And with the Trump administration already in talks with Iran over nuclearization — and emphasizing that the U.S. was “not involved” in the strikes — you can be sure that this is going to drive the conversation in Washington today as everyone tries to parse what this means for President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, the U.S. plots out its response and fault lines get exposed within the MAGA coalition. Playbook contributing author Adam Wren and POLITICO White House reporter Jake Traylor break down the implications. Plus, tensions between the administration and California officials remain high after Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and briefly handcuffed after trying to ask a question of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference yesterday.

June 12, 2025: Newsom v. Trump Jun 12, 2025

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California and the Trump administration face off in federal court today over President Donald Trump’s deployment of military troops to Los Angeles in a legal battle that could determine the limits of presidential power — and whether troops might be deployed to other cities, too. Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk through what they’ll be watching and the angles that Washington will be focused on. Plus, is it happily ever after for Trump and Elon Musk?

June 11, 2025: The Trump-Newsom clash heats up Jun 11, 2025

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As protests against ICE raids in Los Angeles continue, so does the standoff between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump. In a dramatic eight-minute address last night, Newsom laid into Trump, touting the federal intervention and militarization of its response as a threat to the rule of law. Meanwhile, Trump suggested yesterday that Newsom should be arrested — and that he’ll have zero tolerance for protests or disruptions at Saturday’s military parade in downtown Washington. Playbook author Jack Blanchard and contributing author Adam Wren break it all down. Plus, Republicans will meet today to discuss a path forward for the GOP megabill.

June 10, 2025: Federal forces flood L.A. Jun 10, 2025

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As protests against ICE raids continue in Los Angeles, President Donald Trump is flexing his power in a way the nation hasn’t seen in decades, deploying 4,000 National Guard troops and roughly 700 Marines in the city. California Gov. Gavin Newsom calls the moves a provocation, labeled Trump an “authoritarian” and called the mobilization of the Marines a “red line.” But sources close to the White House view this as a strategic messaging opportunity — one they believe will play to their political advantage. Where do things go from here, and what happens next? Chief Playbook correspondent Dasha Burns and author Jack Blanchard talk it through. Plus, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousts the entire CDC committee that oversees the safety and use of vaccines.

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