POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing - POLITICO

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February 3, 2025: The trade war begins Feb 03, 2025

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On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed an order to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on energy products from Canada. Those new actions go into effect at midnight, and experts are predicting the economic fallout could be catastrophic. Canadian federal politics reporter and Ottawa Playbook author Nick Taylor-Vaisey joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to give some insight on what tariffs mean for the U.S.-Canada alliance and how regular Canadian citizens are responding. Plus, secretary of State Marco Rubio makes waves in Panama about the canal, and is the end near for USAID? All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

January 31, 2025: The ‘Midwestern nice’ battle for the Democratic Party Jan 31, 2025

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As the tragedy at Washington Reagan National Airport dominates the policy conversation in DC, the political conversation is quickly turning to the pivotal Democratic National Committee meeting tomorrow where the party will elect a new head. Minnesota’s Ken Martin and Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler are locked in a neck-and-neck contest for the top seat, and though the two frontrunners appear similar on the surface, there are important differences with major implications for the party’s future. National politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to walk through what to know and who to watch.

January 30, 2025: Tragedy on the Potomac Jan 30, 2025

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In what appears to be the most serious aviation disaster in the U.S. in more than a decade, last night, a regional passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. We bring you the latest this morning, plus a preview of today’s big hearings on Capitol Hill, as two of President Donald Trump’s most controversial picks face questions: Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton to walk through what to watch.

January 29, 2025: RFK Jr. hits the hill Jan 29, 2025

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Today, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services faces what’s expected to be a contentious Senate hearing. Health care reporter Daniel Payne joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss how RFK Jr.’s history as a noted vaccine skeptic and promoter of other disproven medical beliefs may lead to the most controversial hearing of Trump’s presidency. Plus, a federal judge has blocked Trump's unilateral federal funding freeze, but only temporarily. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

January 28, 2025: Trump's legislative wishlist Jan 28, 2025

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President Donald Trump was short on procedure and long on demands in addressing House Republicans at the annual House GOP policy retreat last night. Today, lawmakers will be strategizing about how to actually move these goals through congress. Senior Congress Editor Mike DeBonis joins Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton to discuss. Plus, the Office of Management and Budget has ordered federal agencies to pause all grants and loans starting today in a sweeping policy change rattling Washington.

January 27, 2025: House GOP retreats and regroups Jan 27, 2025

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This afternoon marks the start of the House GOP retreat in Florida, where Republicans will strategize about how to get President Trump’s legislative agenda passed in Congress. The biggest task for the gathering is to finalize a budget blueprint plan for the massive, party-line bill they’re planning, touching energy, border security and tax policy. Congress reporter Meredith Lee Hill joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to chat. Plus, has the Trump tariff war just begun? All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today.

January 24, 2025: Will Trump and Newsom play nice? Jan 24, 2025

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Today, President Donald Trump plans to take his first trip outside Washington since taking office, visiting North Carolina and California to assess disaster recovery efforts. California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago chats with Playbook Deputy Editor Zack Stanton on whether to expect a sympathetic or confrontational Trump, and how Gov. Gavin Newsom might navigate their relationship of frequent high-profile disagreements and occasional lower-profile cooperation. Plus, Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth looks likely to be confirmed by the Senate tonight, despite opposition from Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.

January 23, 2025: Trump weaves through Hannity interview Jan 23, 2025

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Last night, in the first Oval Office interview of his second term, Donald Trump let loose on a range of topics — from wildfires in California and his pardons of Jan. 6 rioters to his near assassination and his coming immigration crackdown. What was the takeaway from the interview, and what does it all tell us about the message the Trump team wants to send? White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns joins Chief Playbook correspondent Eugene Daniels to walk through it all.

January 22, 2025: Senate fires up the confirmation conveyor belt Jan 22, 2025

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With President Donald Trump’s inauguration in the rearview, his cabinet nominees are retaking the spotlight. This week, the Senate takes a closer look at Russell Vought, Pete Hegseth, Elise Stefanik and Sean Duffy, among others. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels to walk through which of these she is keeping an extra close eye on.

January 21, 2025: Trump’s avalanche of executive orders Jan 21, 2025

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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.

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