Politico Playbook Audio Briefing

House Republicans are fighting again. That’s not a story in and of itself. But the stakes are. There is disagreement over both whether and how to fund Ukraine aid, and nobody is happy about it. “This isn’t a Republican speaker we have right now; this is a Democrat speaker,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told Tucker Carlson, slamming Mike Johnson while explaining her motion to oust him as House speaker. Can the chaos be tamed? White House reporter Jen Haberkorn joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss it all. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews White House reporter Jen Haberkorn.

On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court issued a number of significant rulings that will impact abortion politics in the state. The justices upheld a Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed, 15-week abortion ban that in one month will trigger a far more restrictive 6-week ban. The justices further ruled that Floridians will get a chance to vote on a constitutional amendment come November that would reverse the ban and make abortion broadly legal in the state. So, what does this mean for the Biden campaign in a state where registered Republicans handily outnumber Democrats? Florida Playbook author and politics reporter Kimberly Leonard joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to discuss.

In an interview with Trey Gowdy of Fox News on the evening of Easter Sunday, Mike Johnson called Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s effort to oust him a distraction from the mission. Attempting to impart a dose of reality on Republican viewers, the House Speaker told his former colleague that his job is particularly difficult right now, but said he does have plans for resolving the Ukraine aid debacle. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade talks through it all. 

The smattering of prominent Republicans who have refused to commit to supporting Donald Trump in the general election differ in their ideological beliefs, their geography, their offices and their profiles. But they all share one thing in common: None have heard a peep from Joe Biden. Senior political columnist Jonathan Martin knows that because he reached out to every single one of them. Today, he joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk about why this is political malpractice for Biden. Plus, the continuing fallout from the internal revolt at NBC over former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel’s hiring and firing, and the one-year anniversary of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s arrest in Russia.

Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential run has been a spectacle from the start. Despite being born into Democratic royalty, the independent candidate holds a hodgepodge of policy views that sometimes veer into conspiracy theories — but which also give him a strange appeal to an array of voters scattered across the political spectrum. Could his choice of running mate change that? Politics reporter Brittany Gibson joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss RFK Jr., his role in the broader 2024 race and how his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, might play into Democrats’ hands with her views on in vitro fertilization. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews Politics reporter Brittany Gibson.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether the nation should significantly limit the use of mifepristone, a pill that terminates early pregnancy. A number of justices on the majority-conservative court appeared to take issue with the idea of a sweeping, national pronouncement. But, this story is really just getting started. Anti-abortion activists and elected officials have several backup plans if the Supreme Court reject their arguments for nationwide restrictions on the drug. Health care reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein walks Playbook co-author Rachael Bade through the story.

In the last 24 hours, the diplomatic dynamic between the U.S. and Israel took on another layer of complexity when the U.S. abstained in voting for a UN Gaza ceasefire resolution, allowing it to pass. The action resulted in officials from Israel cancelling a trip to Washington. National security reporter Alex Ward joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss how things got here, and what lies ahead. All that, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

There are three important things on Donald Trump’s agenda today, and they're all connected. First, the former president has a half-billion dollar bond due stemming from the New York civil fraud case. He has said he is struggling to procure the funds to fulfill this, so it is particularly timely that Trump Media and Technology Group is going public today. Trump is estimated to have about a $3 billion stake in the company, but he can’t use that money to pay for his bond thanks to lockup provisions. Finally, Trump will get a date from the Manhattan DA in the hush money trial that was delayed due to a last-minute documents dump. Legal editor James Romoser joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk this all through. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Legal editor James Romoser.

Most polls show a tight race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. But ever since Biden’s notably energetic State of the Union address, his campaign has been feeling a strange new optimism. He’s outpacing Trump on fundraising, his campaign schedule is purposefully packed and his team is already going up with TV ads in an effort to define the race early — while Trump is still struggling to catch up. National politics reporter Elena Schneider tells joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to talk it all through. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews National politics reporter Elena Schneider

Time and again, Speaker Mike Johnson has relied on an unexpected source to propel legislation to success: House Democrats. We’ve already seen Dems help Johnson pass a $78 billion tax bill, the proposed de facto ban on TikTok and multiple stopgap spending proposals. (Up next: another federal funding deal!) But is the approach an unexpected stroke of bipartisan unity, or a risky tactic that will blow up in the speaker’s face? Congress reporter Nick Wu joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss. Plus, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell throws water on the idea of turning Ukraine aid into a loan, and the rest of the news you need to know today.

Bernie Moreno, the car dealer-turned Trump-endorsed Senate candidate, won the Ohio GOP primary quickly and handily yesterday. It is obviously good news for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, but it is also the outcome many Democrats were hoping for as well. Will longtime incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown be able to keep his seat out of the hands of another MAGA Republican? Politics bureau chief and senior political columnist Jonathan Martin joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza to break down the election results, and what they may mean for November. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews Politics bureau chief and senior political columnist Jonathan Martin.

Five states — Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, and Ohio — are holding primary elections today. Though President Joe Biden and Donald Trump clinched the presumptive nominations for their respective parties last week, some of the House and Senate contests around the country could have enormous implications. Plus, in one swing state, we will get another look at how big of an impact the Democratic voters displeased with Biden could have in November. Senior campaign and elections editor Steve Shepard joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to break it all down.Plus, some much-needed movement on Congress’ struggle to fund the government before the end of the week, and new developments in how they will tackle their next big funding fight: Ukraine.

Six massive bills that make up roughly 70% of discretionary federal spending  — including the military — need to be passed by Friday in order to keep the government open. It is a predicament Congress has found itself in over and over again the past few months, but, as appropriations reporter Caitlin Emma tells Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza, the challenge is different this time: These are some of the biggest and hardest bills to fund, and a final showdown is looming.  Plus, a new Ipsos-POLITICO poll reveals a conviction may not doom Donald Trump’s presidential hopes, but it could do real political damage. That, plus the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews appropriations reporter Caitlin Emma.

A theme has emerged in the recent developments surrounding former president — and presumptive GOP nominee — Donald Trump’s criminal trials: They keep being delayed. In the New York hush money case, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg conceded that he would be OK with as much as month's delay. Federal judge Aileen Cannon is also expected to delay Trump’s May 20 trial date in Florida but is otherwise remaining tight-lipped. And news on whether Georgia DA Fani Willis will remain on Trump’s case in Atlanta might also emerge this week. Legal editor James Romoser joins Playbook coauthor Ryan Lizza to discuss. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza interviews legal editor James Romoser.

It’s one of the biggest economic trends shaping American life — and it happens to be something of an obsession of the president’s: The high cost of housing. Sources tell POLITICO that for months, Biden has used his debriefs to press senior staff on affordability, quizzing them on mortgage rates and rental costs. Now, the White House is making a fresh push to show it shares Americans’ frustrations and elevating housing to a top priority as the general election begins in earnest. White House reporter Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews White House reporter Adam Cancryn.

Republicans on the Hill were hoping that Special Counsel Robert Hur’s testimony Tuesday would kickstart their stalled impeachment campaign, but that isn’t how things shook out. Without the smoking gun Republicans were hoping for from Hur, they now must face the reality that an impeachment of President Joe Biden is increasingly unlikely. Congress reporter Jordain Carney joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to discuss. Plus, Biden and former president Donald Trump clinch their respective party nominations, and TikTok may be on the chopping block. All that, plus the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews Congress reporter Jordain Carney. 

Special Counsel Robert Hur is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee today to talk about his explosive report on Biden's handling of classified documents. Ankush Khardori, a senior writer for POLITICO Magazine and a former federal prosecutor — joins Playbook co-author Rachael Bade to talk about what Democrats should take heed of as Hur takes the stand.Plus, the House is inching toward what could be a bipartisan vote to effectively ban TikTok in the U.S. That, plus the rest of the news you need to know today. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade interviews senior writer for POLITICO Magazine Ankush Khardori.

The budget President Biden is releasing today is through fiscal year 2025, potentially leading into Biden’s second term if he is reelected. As economics reporter Victoria Guida tells Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, it’ll be an interesting look into what his policy priorities are going to be. Also today, the deteriorating relationship between Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Plus, the race for Senate Republican Conference Chair appears to have a new challenger. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews economics reporter Victoria Guida.

It was the speech Joe Biden’s supporters were aching to hear: A 66-minute stemwinder that torched Donald Trump and the GOP on issues from abortion rights and IVF to taxes on the wealthy to Ukraine and Russia. Along the way, Biden bore his teeth and set to bed — for the moment, at least — concerns about his mental acuity. The big questions after: Did the SOTU speech just reset the 2024 campaign? And where does Biden take his message from here? Playbook co-authors Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels and Ryan Lizza discuss.

The importance of State of the Union speeches is vastly overrated. Except this year.When President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress this evening, the vast viewing audience won’t simply by listening to the usual laundry list of accomplishments; they’ll be looking for reliable proof of his stamina and mental acuity, for his narrative frame that justifies his reelection campaign, and for a sense of vision that will provide his presidency with badly needed momentum. How’s the Biden team handling all this? White House Correspondent Adam Cancryn joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss that and what else to look at tonight’s big speech. Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels interviews White House Correspondent Adam Cancryn.