The Playbook Podcast

California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Dasha to explain why he’s trying to block Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, and defends California’s antitrust agenda. He also weighs in on AI regulation, election security and why says his office will keep suing President Trump whenever it believes the law has been broken.

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This weekend kicks off with take-two of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, but this time around expect higher tensions and fewer attendees in the room. Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee is debating which states will vote first in the 2028 presidential primaries. And Maine Democrats prepare to nominate their Graham Platner replacement for a critical Senate race just months before the midterms.

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As Congress races toward the August recess, one bipartisan bill is glaringly missing from the House agenda. The Defiance Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, passed the Senate unanimously, so what’s the hold up in the House? Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced a new round of tariffs on Canada. Are they a key negotiating chip or a political liability headed towards the midterms?

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Anxiety over the war in Iran ripples across Trump’s orbit as some GOP operatives warn that the White House is caught in an “escalation trap” ahead of the midterms. Meanwhile, MAGA Inc., the megadonor-funded super PAC, sits on a $400 million war chest. But when will Republican candidates get access to this bounty? And on Capitol Hill, Trump is seeing some victories as Congressional allies prioritize war funding and the SAVE America Act, but key hurdles lie ahead.

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It’s kitchen sink week on Capitol Hill as House Speaker Mike Johnson rushes to schedule votes on key issues like a CR and the NDAA before lawmakers leave for August recess. But with no recent legislative wins, how will Congress members stump in their districts ahead of the midterms? Meanwhile in the Grand Canyon state, Republicans are attempting to bridge the divide between hard-liner politicians and a more moderate voter base. And filings for Sen. Lindsey Graham’s replacement open today, with Darline Graham already in the mix.

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