Playbook Deep Dive
496 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★ - 1.1K ratingsWelcome to Playbook Deep Dive, the stories behind the power. From Congress and the White House to bar stools and back rooms, POLITICO Playbook’s Ryan Lizza brings you interviews with the most compelling and important figures who explain what’s really going on in Washington.
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Episodes
Trump on trial: Un-Schiff-ting strategy
January 23, 2020 23:25 - 6 minutes - 5.24 MBThe Nerdcast goes daily with short episodes providing the most crucial Senate impeachment trial updates with a stable of POLITICO reporters and editors. Today: Ben Weyl talks Adam Schiff's background and strategy. Join us for a daily look at impeachment in under 10 minutes.
Trump on trial: Senate factions
January 22, 2020 22:46 - 7 minutes - 5.86 MBThe Nerdcast goes daily with short episodes providing the most crucial Senate impeachment trial updates with a stable of POLITICO reporters. Today: Burgess Everett guides Scott through the Senate factions and Nancy Cook takes the 30 second challenge. Join us for a daily look at impeachment in under 10 minutes.
Trump on trial: Mitch McConnell
January 21, 2020 21:57 - 5 minutes - 4.74 MBThe Nerdcast goes daily with short episodes providing the most crucial Senate impeachment trial updates with a stable of POLITICO reporters. Today: Darren Samuelsohn guides Scott through day one. Join us for a daily look at impeachment in under 10 minutes
How to run an impeachment trial
January 17, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 27.9 MBThis week, Scott talks to polling expert Steven Shepard and House campaign reporter Ally Mutnick about the latest 2020 election developments. Plus, senior reporter Darren Samuelsohn joins us to walk through exactly what to expect as the impeachment trial begins in the Senate.
Sanders, Warren and the great debate over how to win
January 15, 2020 07:08 - 9 minutes - 7.69 MBIn this debate night special, Scott and senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian break down a disagreement between Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren on trade -- and how that explains the two progressives' different visions of how to win and how to govern.
Iran conflict shakes Washington
January 10, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 27.9 MBThis week, Scott talks to foreign affairs correspondent Nahal Toosi and deputy defense editor Dave Brown about the last week's worth of news of the Iran conflict, where things stand now and the Pentagon's inconsistent response. Plus, political reporters Zach Montellaro and Holly Otterbein talk to Scott about the small number of polls out in the field, who has currently qualified for Tuesday's debate and what they're looking for on the debate stage.
Four decades in politics - what's next?
January 03, 2020 10:00 - 28 minutes - 23.3 MBIn this New Years special, Scott and senior White House reporter Darren Samuelsohn look back at the defining political moments of the 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s and then give their magic 8-ball a shake and talk about what might happen in the 2020s.
Back next week!
December 27, 2019 10:00 - 37 seconds - 727 KBWe'll be back with a new episode next Friday, January 3rd.
Klobuchar strikes Buttigieg in fight for center
December 20, 2019 06:27 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MBScott and senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian break down a key moment in a battle of the moderates between Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg. Plus, White House reporter Nancy Cook and deputy Congress editor David Kihara talk the impeachment vote and what's coming next.
Debate week day 4: Moderating
December 19, 2019 10:00 - 14 minutes - 11.5 MBGo inside the making of the December Democratic presidential debate with POLITICO on this special edition of the Nerdcast. POLITICO debate moderator Tim Alberta fills us in and chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza and political reporter Laura Barrón-López talk about the lack of diversity among the front-runners on the debate stage.
Debate week day 3: Playbook in LA
December 18, 2019 10:00 - 11 minutes - 9.32 MBGo inside the making of the December Democratic presidential debate with POLITICO on this special edition of the Nerdcast. POLITICO Playbook co-author Anna Palmer talks to Scott from Los Angeles about impeachment, which Democratic presidential candidates have the most friends in Washington, and fundraising as a litmus test in the Democratic presidential primary.
Debate week day 2: The making of
December 17, 2019 10:00 - 7 minutes - 5.99 MBGo inside the making of the December Democratic presidential debate with Politico on this special edition of the Nerdcast. POLITICO's editor Carrie Budoff Brown and PBS NewsHour's Executive Producer Sara Just take us behind the scenes and explain all the decisions that go into hosting a debate -- some large, some very small. Plus, we chat with carpenter Bobby Rizzo as he builds the set for Thursday.
Debate week day 1: You didn't answer my question
December 16, 2019 10:00 - 19 minutes - 15.7 MBGo inside the making of the December Democratic presidential debate with Politico on this special edition of the Nerdcast. Scott talks to the 2020 campaign reporters covering the candidates on stage about what each candidate's biggest challenge is heading into Thursday -- and the question each one would most like to answer.
A nightmare December and a 2020 tiff
December 13, 2019 10:00 - 29 minutes - 23.3 MBThe Nerdcast talks to POLITICO White House reporter Nancy Cook and congress editor Ben Weyl about the chock-full December ahead: USMCA, prescription drug pricing, a spending bill to avert a government shutdown and, oh yeah, impeachment. Plus, national political reporters Alex Thompson and Elena Schneider talk to Scott about the tension between Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren and why things are heating up in the Democratic presidential primary.
Digging into Kamala's downfall and the demographics of 2020
December 06, 2019 10:00 - 31 minutes - 25.3 MBThe Nerdcast talks to POLITICO national political reporter Christopher Cadelago about what went wrong in Kamala Harris' bid for president. Plus, national political reporter Laura Barrón-López and reporting fellow Maya King talk to Scott about the demographics on the campaign trail -- why Cory Booker and Kamala Harris have struggled to make inroads with black voters, Pete Buttigieg's failure to connect with Latino and black voters and what the path to victory through South Carolina and Nevada...
Prospective 'first gentlemen' on the campaign trail
November 27, 2019 10:00 - 16 minutes - 13.5 MBThe Nerdcast talks to POLITICO national political reporter Elena Schneider about the 2020 husbands on the campaign trail. The Democratic primary field is historic, with four women and a gay man running for president - but they're running in a country where only three percent of governors, the highest statewide executive office, have been women. That can make things complicated for how to introduce a male spouse on the campaign trail.
What we learned in the impeachment hearings
November 22, 2019 10:00 - 28 minutes - 22.9 MBThe Nerdcast talks to POLITICO national security correspondent Natasha Bertrand as she breaks down four major takeaways from this week's slew of impeachment hearings. Plus, politics reporter Daniel Strauss talks to Scott about Saturday's governor race in Louisiana, where the Democratic incumbent narrowly kept his seat.
A can't-we-all-get-along debate
November 21, 2019 07:28 - 7 minutes - 6.69 MBThe Nerdcast breaks down an emblematic moment from Wednesday's Democratic presidential debate -- a question about President Trump highlighting a primary field determined, for the moment, to focus on next year's general election instead of fighting among each other. Guest hosted by Charlie Mahtesian with Massachusetts Playbook author Stephanie Murray.
The 2020 party crashers
November 15, 2019 10:00 - 26 minutes - 21.5 MBThe Nerdcast talks to POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi and Ben Weyl as the first public impeachment hearing pulls the spotlight away from the campaign trail and Democrats try to engage the public in the push to remove President Donald Trump from office. Plus, political reporter Stephanie Murray joins from Boston to discuss the oddly expanding Democratic primary field, with Michael Bloomberg dipping his toes in the water and Deval Patrick going for a full cannonball into New Hampshire.
Remember remember the fifth of November: breaking down Tuesday's election results
November 08, 2019 10:45 - 30 minutes - 28 MBThe Nerdcast talks to reporters Steven Shepard and Ally Mutnick about the election day results out of Kentucky and Virginia, what those results could mean for 2020 and how congressional maps are - or aren't - changing. Plus, campaign reporter Alex Thompson and healthcare reporter Alice Ollstein delve into Elizabeth Warren's new whitepaper on her payment plan for 'Medicare For All.'
Ironman Sen. Kyrsten Sinema
November 01, 2019 09:00 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBThe Nerdcast talks to ace congressional reporter Burgess Everett as he introduces us to the independently minded Democratic senator irritating the left and delighting the GOP: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.
Political nightmares and peering into the future
October 25, 2019 09:00 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MBThe Nerdcast gets into the Halloween spirit with White House reporters Darren Samuelsohn and Gabby Orr, who entertain some future speculations and sketch out political nightmare scenarios. What are the worst-case fears for Democrats and Republicans heading into 2020? Plus, senior legal affairs contributor Josh Gerstein joins Scott to talk about Rudy Giuliani who continues to place himself at the center of the Ukraine story.
Money in the bank and the latest on impeachment
October 18, 2019 09:00 - 30 minutes - 24.8 MBThe Nerdcast nerds out with Maggie Severns and Zach Montellaro over the campaigns releasing their Q3 fundraising numbers. Which candidates are on top as they head into the most expensive part of the race so far and whose coffers are in the danger zone? Plus, Ben Weyl and Nahal Toosi join Scott to chat about what's new in impeachment and who's who in the cast of characters testifying on the Hill behind closed doors this week.
Warren gets the front-runner treatment
October 16, 2019 09:00 - 11 minutes - 9.21 MBWe unpack a key moment of the latest Democratic presidential debate -- when the differences between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren came into focus. POLITICO's Elena Schneider joins guest host Charlie Mahtesian to break down what happened.
Senator, is your refrigerator running? Sen. Graham's hoax calls with Russians
October 11, 2019 01:13 - 41 minutes - 33.4 MBThe Nerdcast has a stacked show this week as we get Natasha Bertrand to take us inside two prank calls to Sen. Lindsey Graham that fly in the face of his recent comments on Turkey, the Kurds and Syria. Plus, Nancy Cook, Holly Otterbein and Daniel Strauss join guest host Charlie Mahtesian to chat about what's new in impeachment and why next week's Democratic debate might actually be kind of fun. Please note this episode contains an explicit word.
Impeachment and Iowa
October 04, 2019 09:00 - 30 minutes - 24.6 MBThe Nerdcast sits down with Politico's Nancy Cook and Ben Weyl to go inside Trump's impeachment bunker and Pelosi's war room. Plus, get up to speed on what's going on in 2020 land: Iowa. Elena Schneider, Natasha Korecki and Charlie Mahtesian join Scott to chat about the importance of Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and a local steak fry.
The moment that impeachment got real
September 27, 2019 09:57 - 29 minutes - 23.3 MBRep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) helped kick off the latest phase of the House Democrats' impeachment debate when she and six other moderate members of Congress said that Donald Trump's contact with Ukraine could constitute an impeachable offense. She reflected on the weight of what that means in a raw and emotional interview with POLITICO's Michael Kruse, and Michael joins the show to share his observations. Plus: how'd we get here? POLITICO's Natasha Bertrand takes us through the timeline.
Trump's Turnberry resort and a zombie impeachment memo
September 20, 2019 09:00 - 32 minutes - 25.8 MBThe Nerdcast sits down with Politico's Natasha Bertrand and Ben Shreckinger to find out what's going on at Turnberry, President Trump's luxury golf resort in Scotland where the U.S. Air Force has lodged its crews. Plus, Darren Samuelsohn tells the story of a "zombie" congressional impeachment memo: one that Hillary Clinton helped craft in 1974, was used 20 years later as a blueprint in impeachment proceedings against President Clinton and today has new life breathed into it during impeachmen...
Breaking down Castro vs Biden
September 13, 2019 07:46 - 37 minutes - 30.3 MBThe Nerdcast team breaks down a key moment from Thursday's democratic presidential debate -- when former HUD Secretary Julian Castro took a swipe at Joe Biden's memory. Plus, a look at how Elizabeth Warren became Elizabeth Warren, and how she made so many enemies in the Obama Administration in the process.
Not the debate that climate activists wanted
September 06, 2019 09:02 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBOn this episode of the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: In a marathon forum on climate change, Democratic contenders began to seek separation from one another on the key issue. POLITICO energy reporter Kelsey Tamborrino and national political reporter David Siders explain the first signs of candidates weaponizing climate change in the primary campaign. Plus, POLITICO national political reporter Chris Cadelago explains how Kamala Harris won over the prominent voice of rapper 2 Live Crew.
Nerdcast bonus: The presidential race enters a new phase
September 02, 2019 09:02 - 29 minutes - 27 MBOn this episode of the Nerdcast with guest host John Harris: The presidential campaign may feel like it’s been going on forever, but it’s about to enter a new phase. POLITICO founding editor John Harris joined reporters Holly Otterbein, Natasha Korecki and David Siders to talk about why authenticity is so elusive, whether the left is ascendant in the Democratic party, and why candidate selfies are all the rage.
Dem campaigns get desperate after debate shutout
August 30, 2019 09:02 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with Scott Bland: More than half of the Democratic presidential field got bounced from the party’s debate circuit Wednesday night, but they’re not meekly exiting stage left. POLITICO campaign reporter Elena Schneider explains what actions they might take against the DNC’s debate rules. Also, voters across the country — from California to Pennsylvania to Massachusetts — grilled House Democrats on the potential impeachment of President Donald Trump at a series of event...
Trump team braces donors for potential recession
August 23, 2019 09:02 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with Scott Bland: White House reporter Nancy Cook explains how the Trump administration may be putting on a happy face in public, but in private, they’re worrying about a global economic slowdown triggering a U.S. recession. Also, White House reporter Daniel Lippman looks inside the president's feud with Tom Barrack, on of his closest friends.
Trump finally tries the patience of Evangelicals
August 16, 2019 09:01 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: Evangelicals chafe at Trump’s blasphemy— POLITICO White House reporter Gabby Orr explains why. Also, POLITICO's senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian joins national politics reporters Chris Cadelago and Natasha Korecki to break down what's happening on the ground in Iowa.
Is Joe Biden’s brother the next Billy Carter?
August 09, 2019 09:02 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with guest-host Blake Hounshell: Over his decades in office, ‘Middle-Class Joe’s’ family fortunes have closely tracked his political career. We have POLITICO's Ben Schreckinger on to discuss his investigation on former Vice President Joe Biden's family finances.
The post-debate state of the race
August 02, 2019 09:02 - 19 minutes - 18 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: POLITICO national political reporter Elena Schneider and senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian break down who came out on top in this week's democratic debates. Also: A divided Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates for the first time in more than a decade. What’s that mean and why does it matter? POLITICO financial services reporter Victoria Guida explains.
Dissecting a moment: Booker piles on Biden
August 01, 2019 03:29 - 8 minutes - 8.17 MBCory Booker, in search of his first bona fide “moment” as he tries to work his way up in the presidential race, came ready to lunge into his critique of Joe Biden’s new criminal justice proposal as too little, too late to fix the problem of mass incarceration, after Biden’s authorship of punitive crime legislation in the ‘90s. POLITICO national political reporter Chris Cadelago joins host Scott Bland to analyze an important moment from round two of the second Democratic debate on Tuesday night.
'You're wrong' vs. 'I'm right': Sanders and Warren spar with moderates
July 31, 2019 04:41 - 9 minutes - 8.67 MB"You're wrong" for criticizing “Medicare for All,” Sen. Bernie Sanders told former Rep. John Delaney in the first answer of the night — setting up an evening of conflict between the left and the center. POLITICO health care reporter Dan Diamond joins host Scott Bland to analyze an important moment from round one of the second Democratic debate on Tuesday night.
2020 Dems prepare to come out swinging in this week's debates
July 29, 2019 09:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBOn this special episode of the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland, POLITICO White House reporter Chris Cadelago on the things he'll be watching for during this week's debates.
Democrats plot a post-Mueller strategy
July 26, 2019 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBThis week's Congressional appearance by Robert S. Mueller III landed with a thud, so what's next for Democrats itching to impeach the president? Sarah Ferris from POLITICO's Congressional team joins the show to explain why Nancy Pelosi's team is maintaining a united front in public, even if they're arguing behind closed doors. Plus, POLITICO's Chief Economic Correspondent Ben White breaks down how the president's advisers are trying to safeguard the long-running economic boom, even if it mea...
Is the Democratic field about to shrink?
July 19, 2019 09:02 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland, POLITICO White House reporter Gabby Orr and Congressional reporter Heather Caygle explain the fallout of President Trump's racist tweets. Also: POLITICO national political reporter David Siders on why a big shrink to the democratic primary field might be coming soon.
AMERICAN CARNAGE: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump
July 15, 2019 09:07 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MBToday on a special edition of Nerdcast with Scott Bland: Tim Alberta, chief political correspondent for POLITICO Magazine, talks about his forthcoming book AMERICAN CARNAGE: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump.
Does conventional wisdom have it wrong on Sanders and Warren?
July 12, 2019 09:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: We examine some of the front-runners who have begun to emerge for Democrats, particularly on the left of the party. POLITICO's National political reporters Holly Otterbein and Alex Thompson check on the 2020 race. Also: What would you ask Robert Mueller, if you got the chance? POLITICO's national security correspondent Natasha Bertrand and POLITICO's legal affairs analyst Josh Gerstein discuss what might happen on Capitol HIll for Robert Mueller.
Two Supreme Court decisions, explained
July 03, 2019 09:00 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: The Supreme Court had a busy week, ruling on two cases that have big political implications. First, immigration reporter Ted Hesson joins to explain how a road block has been put in the path of implementing a citizenship question on the 2020 census. Then, Scott and Charlie talk about the ruling on partisan gerrymandering. In the second segment, national political reporter Natasha Korecki explains where the democratic presidential candidates sta...
How Harris made her moment against Biden
June 28, 2019 05:42 - 8 minutes - 7.52 MBThe California senator came prepared to prosecute a case against the front-runner. We analyze an important moment from Thursday night's Democratic debate.
Dissecting a moment: Elizabeth Warren on Medicare for All
June 27, 2019 06:06 - 9 minutes - 8.77 MBSen. Warren seemed to make her fullest embrace of Bernie Sanders’s healthcare plan, but did she leave herself room to change her mind. We analyze an important moment from Wednesday’s night Democratic debate.
Bonus: The new politics of trade
June 24, 2019 09:00 - 34 minutesCheck out an episode of POLITICO's latest podcast: Global Translations. The show looks at big global problems that are vexing politicians and policymakers, and this episode examines how Donald Trump has scrambled the usual politics of trade. Check it out, and subscribe for free wherever you get your shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Centrist Dems are warming up to Warren. That's a big change.
June 21, 2019 08:00 - 28 minutesThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: It’s debate night in America! Well, it will be next week, and we’re giving you a preview! Two Politico reporters who are debate experts at this point join the show. Then, centrists who used to fear Warren was the end of the party are starting to levitate towards her. We've got two reporters who just attended an event aimed at centrists coming on to break down how Warren has become a palatable candidate for a group that once eviscerated her in a...
Centrist Dems are warming up to Warren. That's a big change.
June 21, 2019 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: It’s debate night in America! Well, it will be next week, and we’re giving you a preview! Two Politico reporters who are debate experts at this point join the show. Then, centrists who used to fear Warren was the end of the party are starting to levitate towards her. We've got two reporters who just attended an event aimed at centrists coming on to break down how Warren has become a palatable candidate for a group that once eviscerated her in a...
Will FDR comparisons connect Bernie with older voters?
June 14, 2019 09:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThis week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: The president isn't so sure that he would call the FBI if he was approached with information about his competitors from foreign actors. Or maybe he would. A White House reporter explains the president's bizarre statement. Then, a 2020 reporter breaks down why Senator Sanders is doubling down on socialism. Plus, Mitch McConnell may have benefited from his wife Elaine Chao's position as the secretary of transportation. And he's proud of it! The r...