POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing - POLITICO

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March 4, 2025: What to expect from Trump’s joint address Mar 04, 2025

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This evening, President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress for the first time in his second term in the White House. After a whirlwind 24 hours that included pausing all military aid to Ukraine, and imposing tariffs on our two closest trading partners, Congress will be in for quite the speech. Senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to discuss what he expects.

March 3, 2025: Is DOGE overshadowing Trump? Mar 03, 2025

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Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency project has become the center of President Trump’s domestic agenda, with a lot of political capital being channeled into defending Musk’s actions from critics. But ahead of Trump’s joint address tomorrow, Politico’s Megan Messerly reports that some of the president’s allies are worried that DOGE is overshadowing Trump’s larger legislative agenda, and dampening his political popularity. Plus, keep an eye out for tariff news today. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said yesterday that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect on Tuesday — although President Trump will determine whether to stick with the original 25% levy. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

February 28, 2025: Zelenskyy tries to make a deal Feb 28, 2025

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Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington, where he will meet President Donald Trump in person for the first time since Trump’s return to the White House. The relationship between the two leaders has long been contentious, but escalated in recent weeks, with Trump calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” while refusing to blame Russia for starting the war. Now, with a deal for rare and precious minerals on the table, can the two make nice — even temporarily? POLITICO national security reporter Eric Bazail-Eimil joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to discuss.

February 27, 2025: The British Invasion, 2025 edition Feb 27, 2025

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U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is in Washington today to meet with President Donald Trump. On the surface, the two leaders couldn’t be more different. But as Playbook author Jack Blanchard tells chief correspondent Eugene Daniels, the Trump-Starmer relationship is, indeed, special. They dig into what’s on the agenda today and what deliverables Starmer wants to leave with.

February 26, 2025: House passes the ‘big, beautiful bill’ Feb 26, 2025

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In a dramatic scene last night, the House of Representatives passed its budget blueprint in a 217-215 vote. Earlier in the day, four Republicans stated they wouldn’t support the bill. But ultimately, the only GOP member to vote no was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in a near party-line vote. Congress reporter Nicholas Wu joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to talk through the chaos that led up to the vote and the bill’s implications. Plus, the Trump administration will handpick which members of the press will be present during briefings, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

February 25, 2025: Can Mike Johnson pass the budget? Feb 25, 2025

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The House’s big, beautiful fiscal blueprint is up for a vote today, but Speaker Mike Johnson is already navigating inter-party fighting over possible budget cuts. POLITICO senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis joins deputy Playbook editor Zack Stanton to break down Johnson’s sticky situation. Plus, a military contractors’ pitch for deportation camps and all the rest of the news you need to know today.

February 24, 2025: What stock market trouble could mean for Trump Feb 24, 2025

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President Donald Trump’s election helped turbocharge an already surging bull market in the U.S., sending stocks and cryptocurrencies to even higher records. But, some on Wall Street are sounding the alarm that the fast times can’t last. POLITICO capital markets reporter Declan Harty joins chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to explain what potential market turbulence could mean for Trump 2.0. Plus, the three-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and all the rest of the news you need to know today.

February 21, 2025: Will DOGE bite Republicans? Feb 21, 2025

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Warning signs are flashing for congressional Republicans as President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency project escalates its slash-and-burn approach to federal budget cuts. In deep-red Georgia, a raucous town hall forum last night portends potential problems for the GOP. In Washington, Republicans on the Hill back-channel with the White House as fear spreads about political blowback from the cuts. And as DOGE readies the butcher’s block for federal agencies popular with voters, there’s no sure sign of how this all plays out. POLITICO aviation reporter Oriana Pawlyk joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through the implications of a new round of cuts targeting the FAA, and what it could mean for passenger safety.

February 20, 2025: Washington’s newest power couple Feb 20, 2025

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Day in and day out, the most consequential stories in Washington right now seem to include two key players. One is obvious: President Donald Trump. The other is Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and Trump’s largest political benefactor. As their partnership remaps power in Washington, journalists on the frontlines scurry to crack the biggest story in the nation’s capital — and figure out what we perhaps misunderstand about the dynamics driving both Trump and Musk. National politics correspondent Adam Wren talks it through with chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels. Plus, despite a curveball from Trump, the Senate’s vote-a-rama is still on … for now.

February 19, 2025: Trump and Musk head to Hannity Feb 19, 2025

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In last night’s interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to rehab Musk’s image and reinforce that Trump runs the show. Beyond that, not much else happened. As White House reporter Irie Sentner tells chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels, it was the lack of significant news that made the hour memorable. Plus, the Senate eyes vote-a-rama, and all the rest of the news you need to know today.

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