The Playbook Podcast

LeBron James’ move to the Philadelphia 76ers made headlines last week, but behind-the-scenes, Gov. Josh Shapiro lobbied for the deal. Is Shapiro making a political play for male voters disillusioned with the Democratic party? Meanwhile, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes dropped out of a crowded Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, so who's leading the charge? And a preview from POLITICO’s podcast, The Conversation, where Dasha Burns sits down with the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr.

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Establishment Democrats are wringing their hands as candidates of the insurgent left, like Abdul El-Sayed, take center stage in Michigan. Meanwhile, what we're taking away from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate vote yesterday. And Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general is hanging on by a thread.

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The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as the next director of national intelligence last night, but current acting director Bill Pulte hopes to delay the hand-off. Either way, expect to see more of Pulte, who has become “bros” with President Trump. Meanwhile, after glowing reports on Trump’s meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington is watching for what comes next. And a familiar pandemic-era face returns to the nation's capital today.

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Power players convene today in the nation’s capital to honor the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Attendees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who both will be meeting with Trump. Meanwhile, Laura Loomer is on a mission to dig up dirt on fellow conservative influencers, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman makes his way to the White House to discuss Trump’s June AI executive order.

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President Donald Trump is pushing for polarizing legislation to be folded into a budget resolution. But will Senate Majority Leader John Thune even bring the resolution to the floor? Meanwhile, there's a long list of other items on the Senate's agenda as it heads into crunch time before its August recess. And the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's funeral is brining foreign leaders—including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—to Washington, teeing up high-stakes conversations on the wars in Iran and Ukraine.

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