The Playbook Podcast

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Angelo’s Pizzeria, a South Philly institution, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Democratic party, rising cynicism in American politics and the growing speculation around his political future in 2028.

Adam Wren shares his reporting from Mackinac Island where Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary is emerging as an early preview of 2028 fault lines. Plus, new inflation data and fresh Politico polling show voters remain sour on the economy. And former AG Pam Bondi heads to the Hill for a closed-door meeting on the Epstein investigation.

Divisions inside the White House over AI regulation explain why Trump pulled a major executive order at the last minute. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns talk about the competing factions and what comes next. Plus, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent takes his turn at the briefing room podium as new inflation data arrives. And Jill Biden's memoir is already stirring up Democratic frustration ahead of its release next week.

Ken Paxton defeats John Cornyn in the Texas Republican primary — and Democrats couldn't be happier. But Paxton will face Democrat James Talarico come November, and that means a lot of campaign money will have to be raised between now and then. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren get into all of this and more about the Lone Star state.

Primary runoff day in Texas is here.  Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns discuss what Trump's last-minute endorsement of Ken Paxton means for John Cornyn — and for the Senate's already fragile Republican majority. Plus: the U.S. launches fresh strikes in the Strait of Hormuz while insisting the ceasefire holds, and NASA announces plans for a moon base by 2028.