How gamblers, party animals, and true believers are hitting it big in Washington

Ben Terris is a feature writer at The Washington Post, where he’s carved
out a unique role: reporting on what he calls, “the weirdo beat.” While
Ben’s colleagues focus on what’s happening on the main stage in
politics, he keeps an eye on the freak show that’s happening just out of
sight. 

This week, Ben published his much-anticipated book “The Big Break: The
Gamblers, Party Animals, and True Believers Trying to Win in Washington
While America Loses Its Mind.” 

“The Big Break” has a novel argument: that if you want to understand how
American politics works in the post-Donald Trump era – then you really,
really have to understand Ben’s field of expertise: weirdos.

On this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, Playbook co-author and Deep Dive
host Ryan Lizza joins Ben to discuss the rise and fall of the
influential oddballs chronicled in “The Big Break,” and what their
stories say about the future of politics.

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Ben Terris is a feature reporter covering national politics for The
Washington Post.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer for POLITICO audio.

Ben Terris is a feature writer at The Washington Post, where he’s carved out a unique role: reporting on what he calls, “the weirdo beat.” While Ben’s colleagues focus on what’s happening on the main stage in politics, he keeps an eye on the freak show that’s happening just out of sight. 

This week, Ben published his much-anticipated book “The Big Break: The Gamblers, Party Animals, and True Believers Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind.” 

“The Big Break” has a novel argument: that if you want to understand how American politics works in the post-Donald Trump era – then you really, really have to understand Ben’s field of expertise: weirdos.

On this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, Playbook co-author and Deep Dive host Ryan Lizza joins Ben to discuss the rise and fall of the influential oddballs chronicled in “The Big Break,” and what their stories say about the future of politics.

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Ben Terris is a feature reporter covering national politics for The Washington Post.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer for POLITICO audio.