The Daily Punch

Latest Episodes:

How James Blair sees the shutdown Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

It’s Day 24 of the shutdown and there’s still no off-ramp in sight. Anna and Jake recap their Fly Out Day conversation with top Trump advisor and White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair.

Plus: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is pushing for “Russia week” on the Senate floor, where senators would take up a trio of bills targeting Moscow.

Watch this episode on YouTube here!

Punchbowl News is on YouTube!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our channel today to see all the new ways ⁠we’re investing in video.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠punchbowl.news.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fly Out Day: Inside the West Wing with James Blair Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair joins Anna and Jake at the Punchbowl News Townhouse to take us inside the government shutdown, now on its 23rd day. • Shutdown: W.H. invites Senate to Rose Garden Club post shutdown • Midterms: Trump's spending on races • That's Not Gonna Fly: Trump's Ballroom Plus, a post-interview breakdown with CNN's Alayna Treene and our very own redistricting expert Ally Mutnick.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Dems harden with no exit strategy Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

It’s Day 23 of the shutdown and there’s still no off-ramp in sight. Anna and Jake break down the competing Senate proposals to pay federal workers and why neither side is blinking.

Plus: Inside the mood of Senate Dems, where some are betting on Trump to end the stalemate. And the shutdown’s ripple effects start to hit home as states prepare to suspend SNAP benefits, impacting millions of Americans.

Watch this episode on YouTube here!

Punchbowl News is on YouTube!⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our channel today to see all the new ways ⁠we’re investing in video.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠ to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at⁠⁠⁠ ⁠punchbowl.news.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could Congress punt on funding for the year? Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

It’s Day 22 of the shutdown and a year-long CR could be on the table. Jake and Anna break down what that would mean for Speaker Mike Johnson, appropriators and the rest of Washington.

Plus: Redistricting drama heats up in North Carolina, and crypto’s big day on the Hill.

Watch this episode on YouTube here!

Punchbowl News is on YouTube!⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video.⁠⁠⁠

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at⁠⁠ ⁠punchbowl.news.⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shutdown Day 21: Healthcare takes center stage Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

It’s Day 21 of the government shutdown and the fight over Obamacare is front and center in Washington.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is floating a one-year CR as health care premium hikes dominate the shutdown debate. Plus: Democrats are shifting their Illinois redistricting strategy — and the latest cash dash on the campaign front.

Watch this episode on YouTube here!

Punchbowl News is on YouTube!⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video.⁠⁠⁠

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at⁠⁠ ⁠punchbowl.news.⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do Democrats now have an off ramp? Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

The shutdown hits Day 20 — and pressure is mounting as Nov. 1 looms. Jake breaks down Schumer’s next move, a potential off-ramp for Democrats and why this week could be decisive.

Plus: Hakeem Jeffries ramps up his redistricting push and the Grijalva lawsuit heads for a showdown.

Watch this episode on YouTube here!

Punchbowl News is on YouTube!⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video.⁠⁠⁠

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at⁠⁠ ⁠punchbowl.news.⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Readback: A dispatch from Finchella Oct 18, 2025

Show notes

Punchbowl News Financial Services Reporter Brendan Pedersen recaps his interviews at D.C. Fintech Week, aka Finchella.

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scalise draws a line on Obamacare Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Day 17 of the shutdown — and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is drawing a hard line. Anna and Jake break down their Fly Out Day conversation with Scalise, fresh FEC numbers in the fight for the House and Georgia’s wide-open GOP Senate primary.

Watch this episode on YouTube here!

Punchbowl News is on YouTube!⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video.⁠⁠⁠

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at⁠⁠ ⁠punchbowl.news.⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fly Out Day: Inside the shutdown with Steve Scalise Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joins Anna and Jake at the Punchbowl News Townhouse to take us inside the government shutdown, now on its 16th day. • Shutdown: Scalise brushed off concerns that people will turn their anger toward GOP • Cassidy: Scalise declined to endorse Sen. Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) reelection effort • Future plans: Scalise said he will run for reelection in 2026 Plus, a post-interview breakdown from MSNBC’s Laura Barrón-López and The New York Times’ Carl Hulse, where they unpack what it all means.

Want to stay up on political news throughout the day? Join Punchbowl News' premium membership for the latest in what's happening in Washington. https://punchbowl.news/pricing/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Thune manages Trump Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

It’s Day 16 of the government shutdown and there's still no resolution. Jake and Anna discuss Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s delicate balancing act with President Donald Trump.

Plus: Big takeaways from the FEC filing deadline, and how Democrats are outpacing Republicans in key races.

Watch this episode on YouTube here!

Punchbowl News is on YouTube!⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video.⁠⁠⁠

Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?⁠⁠ ⁠Subscribe⁠⁠⁠ to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at⁠⁠ ⁠punchbowl.news.⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected