The Conversation with Dasha Burns

Latest Episodes:

Cancel culture and ‘normal gays’ (with Richard Grenell) Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

Within the Trump administration, Richard Grenell is a jack of all trades. When he’s not acting in a diplomatic capacity as special presidential envoy, he’s also running one of DC’s most esteemed arts institutions, the Kennedy Center. “Everyone should be welcome. No one should be booed. No one should be banned,” Grenell tells Politico’s Dasha Burns in a wide-ranging interview in the Kennedy Center’s Grand Foyer. Grenell explains why he thinks “the intolerance is coming from the left,” and why “the gay community has to police itself” at Pride parades. Grenell also sheds light on the Trump administration’s talks with Russia, immigration enforcement, his potential run for California Governor, and his friendship with First Lady Melania Trump.

Grenell also responds to reports that ticket sales and subscriptions have dropped at the Kennedy Center. Grenell calls those reports “wrong.” Read the statements from the Kennedy Center’s CFO here and its SVP of Marketing here.

Plus, senior political reporter Melanie Mason joins Burns to talk about the immigration protests in Los Angeles and how California Governor Gavin Newsom is leading the fight against President Trump’s military intervention.

How to save the ‘weak’ and ‘woke’ Democratic brand (with Rahm Emanuel) Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

Rahm Emanuel has had just about every job in politics under the sun: congressman, White House chief of staff, U.S. ambassador, Chicago mayor, and more. “I’m pretty pragmatic about politics and almost cold to a point in my analysis,” he tells White House bureau chief Dasha Burns. Emanuel, who is widely believed to be considering a run for President in 2028, tells Burns that Democrats should “stop talking about bathrooms and locker rooms and start talking about the classroom.” As the first Jewish mayor of Chicago, he also talks about the recent anti-Semitic attacks and whether America is ready for a Jewish president.

Plus, Burns is joined by Politico Magazine editor Elizabeth Ralph to talk about the magazine’s recent Q&A with Miles Taylor in the wake of Trump’s executive order targeting him, and the rise of jawline surgery among DC’s male population.

The future of Medicaid and AI health care (with Dr. Oz) Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Mehmet Oz, former TV host and Pennsylvania Senate candidate, is one of America’s most famous physicians. Now he’s running the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which means he’s in charge of programs that provide health care for about half of all Americans. He sits down with White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns to discuss potential Medicaid cuts, his big plans to lower drug pricing, why he’s fielding early morning phone calls from President Trump, and his advice to patients to “be curious” about their health.

Plus, Burns is joined by senior political columnist and politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin to discuss his juicy column about the Ohio governor’s race featuring Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. And senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney joins to discuss the showdown between Trump and the courts over his “Liberation Day” tariffs.

Introducing: The Conversation with Dasha Burns May 28, 2025

Show notes

The Conversation with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns is a fresh take on the traditional Sunday show format, going beyond conventional wisdom and short sound bites to broaden the political conversation. Each week, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling – and sometimes unexpected – power players in Washington and beyond for a real discussion about how they are shaping the current moment.

Golf with Trump, sit-downs with Zelenskyy: Bret Baier’s position of influence May 09, 2025

Show notes

Fox News anchor Bret Baier joins POLITICO’s Dasha Burns to discuss his unique position in President Donald Trump's Washington. The wide-ranging conversation covers Baier's golf outings with Trump, his interviews with global leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron, the media's problem of declining trust, his upcoming coverage of Trump's high-stakes trip to the Middle East, and more.

Dasha Burns⁠ is the White House Bureau Chief for POLITICO.

Bret Baieris FOX News Channel’s anchor and executive editor of Special Report with Bret Baier and chief political anchor of the network.

⁠Kara Tabor⁠ is a producer for POLITICO audio.

⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Julia Nutter is an executive producer at POLITICO

Ex-Pelosi Adviser Tees Off On Jeffries, Democrats May 02, 2025

Show notes

Former Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris adviser Ashley Etienne joins Rachael Bade to assess House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ first 100 days leading his caucus. They also discuss what Democratic kingmakers need to do to win back voters—from building a better ground game, to ditching attention-grabbing stunts, to coordinating their messaging so they can finally land some punches on Trump.

Rachael Bade⁠ is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.

Ashley Etienne is a former adviser to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris.

⁠Kara Tabor⁠ is a producer for POLITICO audio.

⁠Alex Keeney⁠ is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Democrats’ new path to power | Doug Sosnik Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

Longtime Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik joins Deep Dive host Dasha Burns to discuss the current identity crisis within the Democratic Party. Sosnik discusses insights from a presentation he’s shared exclusively with Playbook that details the path forward for the Democrats, including how to connect with voters, elevate the right new leaders, and whether or not to oppose Trump or work with him.

Dasha Burnsis the White House Bureau Chief at POLITICO

Doug Sosnik is a former Clinton adviser and political strategist

Tariffs activated the conservative old guard. Here’s what one of their top thinkers sees coming. Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

Robert Doar, the President of the American Enterprise Institute, joins host Rachael Bade to discuss how an institution long dedicated to promoting ideas such as free trade and strong American global leadership, is asserting itself in a Trump administration that often does not prioritize those views.

In this episode, they discuss who in the White House is receptive to these values; how AEI is trying to influence an administration that’s fixated on podcasters and TikTokers — not conventional policy papers; who the emerging leaders are on Capitol Hill that are carrying this message; and why Doar is so much more optimistic about the future than your average cable TV host.

Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.

Robert Doar is the president of the American Enterprise Institute

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Inside RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda | Calley Means Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making some big shakeups at the Department of Health and Human Services — and Calley Means is one of his key strategists. In this episode, POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns sits down with Means to break down the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, and how Secretary Kennedy is planning to channel its energy into policy goals.

Dasha Burns is the White House Bureau Chief for POLITICO.

Calley Means is special government employee at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Who will be Trump’s fall guy for Signalgate? | John Bolton Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton joins POLITICO's Rachael Bade to discuss the Signalgate controversy and the broader battle over who will define Donald Trump’s foreign policy — Reagan-era hawks or America First types and isolationists — and who might take the fall for this national security scandal.

Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Correspondent for POLITICO.

John Bolton is a former Trump White House national security adviser.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.