The Conversation with Dasha Burns

Latest Episodes:

The Trump White House’s “Oracle” speaks | James Blair Mar 22, 2025

Show notes

White House deputy chief of staff James Blair is one of the most important people in politics you’ve never heard of — yet. On this week’s episode of Deep Dive, he talks with POLITICO Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Columnist Rachael Bade to pull back the curtain on how Trump 2.0 has managed to do so much in just two months; Susie Wiles’s style as chief of staff; the White House reaction to the latest Democratic dysfunction on Capitol Hill; the administration’s hope to ease tariff concerns and the president’s true strategy behind threatening judges with impeachment.

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

James Blair is a White House deputy chief of staff.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Inside Trump’s “swift kick in the ass” to the world | Chris LaCivita Mar 22, 2025

Show notes

Chris LaCivita co-managed Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. On this episode of Deep Dive, he’s sharing some of his secrets about Trump’s inner circle, as well as where he thinks Trump’s presidency is headed next. He joins POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns to discuss the truths about Project 2025 and Donald Trump; what actual power Elon Musk has; some spicy tidbits about Trump’s plans to redevelop Gaza and who he thinks will be the heir to the MAGA movement.

Dasha Burns is the White House Bureau Chief for POLITICO.

Chris LaCivita is a Republican strategist.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Shutdown, DOGE, and trans athletes | Rep. Brendan Boyle Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

House Budget Committee ranking member Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) joins the show to discuss how his Democratic colleagues should respond to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent pivot on trans athletes in sports, President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, the looming government shutdown and the GOP’s possible cuts to Medicaid in reconciliation.

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

Brendan Boyle is the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Are Trump and Republicans already baiting a backlash? Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

Trump’s rapid-fire approach to governing is shaking up Washington. But is he moving too fast for his own good? In this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, host Eugene Daniels talks with POLITICO’s senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis and West Wing Playbook co-author Sophia Cai to break down the risks of Trump’s high-speed strategy and what it means for the weeks ahead.

Eugene Daniels is the Chief Playbook Correspondent for POLITICO.

Mike DeBonis is the senior Congress editor for POLITICO.

Sophia Cai is a West Wing Playbook author and White House reporter for POLITICO.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

To resist Trump or work with him? This governor says you can do both. Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has an independent streak and a big job leading the National Governors Association. Here’s what he’s telling fellow governors about when to work with Trump and when to oppose him, how he thinks that Trump is hurting himself, and what the first thing Elon Musk and DOGE should cut is.

Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

Jared Polis is the Governor of Colorado.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Inside the Resistance 2.0 | Rep. Jamie Raskin Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Where is the Democratic “resistance” for Trump’s second term? Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels asks Rep. Jamie Raskin, a longtime nemesis of President Trump’s and the current House Judiciary Committee ranking member, why the Democrats have been slow to counter the president’s aggressive governing, and what the plan is going forward to rebuild the party and its message.

Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

Rep. Jamie Raskin is the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Trump and the GOP Congress’s fork in the road I Rep. Lisa McClain Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

House Republicans are facing tough choices on reconciliation, party unity, and whether or not to look the other way when President Trump steps on their authority. In this episode, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain gives the scoop on House leadership's hours-long meeting with the president on Thursday, and why she thinks that the House GOP is about to have a major breakthrough.

Rachael Bade is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

Lisa McClain is the Chair of the House Republican Conference

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

'I don't think they're going to get the battle that they want.' Inside Trump’s first clashes with Congress and the courts Jan 31, 2025

Show notes

Trump has moved aggressively to define his second presidency. POLITICO’s top reporters have thoughts on where he’s going, and how Congress, Democrats and the courts may try to stop him.

Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

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

Ankush Khardori is a columnist and senior writer for POLITICO Magazine.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Chuck Grassley’s Trump 2.0 vibe check Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is the longest serving current U.S. senator and currently chairs the Judiciary Committee, which will have purview over President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. He is also the former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy — two big seats for the coming reconciliation bill.

On this episode, Playbook’s Eugene Daniels checks in with Grassley about reconciliation; Trump’s brash talk about the FBI and DOJ, both of which he’ll have to oversee, and to get a general vibe check on the Senate during this time of change.

Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

Chuck Grassley is the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.

Jason Smith on who’s getting the “candy” in reconciliation Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith joins the show to elaborate on his vision for reconciliation, how he’s working with the diverse factions within the GOP to achieve it and why he believes he will prevail in passing “one big beautiful bill” with major tax cuts.

Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.

Jason Smith is the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.

Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.