The Playbook Podcast

With Election Day days away, Republican strategist T.W. Arrighi and Democratic strategist Lis Smith join Dasha to break down what’s driving a surprisingly competitive midterm map. They discuss the central role of affordability, how candidates are navigating voter frustration with the status quo, and the risks and rewards of tying campaigns to President Trump.

The conversations also look beyond Tuesday: What should each party learn from the results, and what could this cycle signal about the fight for the parties’ futures?

Watch POLITICO Elections Live at POLITICO.com or the POLITICO app, starting at 9pm ET on Tuesday.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin over breakfast in New York City for a wide-ranging conversation about governing in 2026. She discusses working with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, her conversations with President Donald Trump over ICE operations and why she says data centers should bring their own power.

Hochul also weighs in on Israeli leadership and the possibility of a Palestinian state, the future of the Democratic Party and its 2028 presidential field, and her hopes for the Buffalo Bills.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is eyeing a big reelection win. But the stakes for one of Democrats’ most closely watched rising stars go well beyond Tuesday. Then the other stories animating Washington: Donald Trump is struggling to stay on message in the final midterms stretch, new polls raise questions about the possibility of a Democratic Senate sweep and Ken Paxton cancels a campaign rally, giving Gov. Gavin Newsom an opening to stir the pot. Plus, a signature 200-second interview with former Michigan state lawmaker Mari Manoogian.

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Leaders of the New Democrat Coalition are confident they'll deliver a Democratic House majority. They have no intention of letting a handful of insurgent newcomers call the shots. Then the other stories animating Washington: Operatives aligned with Mary Peltola reportedly recruited a second Dan Sullivan, Flávio Bolsonaro arrives stateside and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker hits Scott Jennings with a $72.5 million defamation lawsuit.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been one of Republicans' favorite political targets. But with days until the midterms, some Republicans are acknowledging that her brand of economic populism might actually be popular. Then the other stories animating Washington: Secretary of State Marco Rubio makes a rare appearance on the campaign trail with Trump and what Israel's election could mean for the US.

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