Episodes

  • The lesson Democrats could learn from MAGA

    The lesson Democrats could learn from MAGA
    Aug 28 2026
    The 2026 midterms are taking shape, and the results could determine the future of both parties. Dasha sits down with her fellow Playbook co-authors Adam Wren and Will Steakin to examine what the primaries have revealed about Trump’s influence, the Republican coalition and the Democratic Party’s identity crisis. They discuss Trump’s $400 million MAGA Inc. war chest, the power of online politics, progressive upsets and moderate wins, and the three key states they think will be the best test of the national political environment in November. Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.
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    34 mins
  • An outsider Democrat taking on both parties in Iowa | On the Road

    An outsider Democrat taking on both parties in Iowa | On the Road
    Aug 26 2026
    In a new episode of the On the Road, Jonathan Martin sits down with Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand at the Iowa State Fair to talk politics over a pork tenderloin and a deep-fried Twinkie. Sand, a Democrat running in a state that has shifted sharply to the right, makes the case that Iowa voters are fed up with one-party control, corruption and politics as usual. He discusses why Democrats have lost ground in rural America, whether the party has become too focused on insiders and national politics, and how he would govern with a Republican legislature. Sand also weighs in on the future of the Democratic Party, his unlikely friendships with Republican governors — and his brief career as a model.
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    35 mins
  • He went after social media. AI is next. (with Jonathan Haidt)

    He went after social media. AI is next. (with Jonathan Haidt)
    Aug 21 2026
    Social psychologist and “The Anxious Generation” author Jonathan Haidt helped turn concerns about kids and social media into a global political movement. Now, as Meta faces a consequential trial over youth safety and addiction, Haidt tells Dasha why he believes the courts may succeed where Congress has failed — and why the fight is only getting bigger. Haidt also sounds the alarm on AI, warning that the threats to children could go “far beyond” social media and arguing that policymakers can’t afford to give AI companies the same free pass. And with restrictions on social media gaining bipartisan support, he weighs whether protecting kids from Big Tech could become a winning issue at the ballot box. Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.
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    45 mins
  • How DSA progressives and centrist Dems can both win (with Sen. Adam Schiff)

    How DSA progressives and centrist Dems can both win (with Sen. Adam Schiff)
    Aug 14 2026
    In a live taping of the show in Sacramento, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) weighs in on whether insurgent candidates on the left could become a liability for Democrats — and on how the party should reckon with its past embrace of “woke” politics. Dasha also presses Schiff on where he stands on California’s proposed billionaire tax, his opposition to recent arms sales to Israel, and whether he’ll continue accepting support from AIPAC. Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.
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    31 mins
  • Can the GOP ‘defy history’ in the midterms? (with Speaker Mike Johnson)

    Can the GOP ‘defy history’ in the midterms? (with Speaker Mike Johnson)
    Aug 6 2026
    Speaker Mike Johnson sits down with Dasha for a wide-ranging interview as Republicans fight to hold onto the House majority. Dasha presses Johnson on why voters remain unhappy with the economy despite Republican promises, whether rising gas prices and the conflict with Iran could derail the GOP's midterm hopes, and why he believes Republicans can overcome decades of history working against the president's party. Dasha asks Johnson about his relationship with President Trump – questioning whether he ever tells the president "no" and why Senate Majority Leader John Thune appears more willing to publicly push back. Johnson also addresses the mounting allegations against Rep. Max Miller and weighs in on what Abdul El-Sayed's victory says about the direction of the Democratic Party. Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536
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    39 mins
  • Pete Buttigieg has a theory for how Democrats can win | On the Road

    Pete Buttigieg has a theory for how Democrats can win | On the Road
    Aug 4 2026
    Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin in Traverse City, Michigan, to discuss the future of the Democratic Party and why he believes Democrats can't simply campaign on a return to the pre-Trump status quo. Buttigieg argues the party needs to "build what's next," weighs in on the Michigan Senate race, reflects on his time in the Biden administration, and shares his vision for institutional reform, AI, economic inequality and the road to 2028. Plus, he gives Jonathan a tour of his adopted hometown—including a stop for Traverse City's famous cherry ice cream.
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    1 hr
  • ‘Broadcast licenses aren't sacred cows’ (with FCC Chair Brendan Carr)

    ‘Broadcast licenses aren't sacred cows’ (with FCC Chair Brendan Carr)
    Jul 31 2026
    FCC chairman Brendan Carr sits down with POLITICO's Dasha Burns for a wide-ranging interview on the growing power of the FCC under President Trump. Dasha presses Carr on his warnings that broadcasters could lose their licenses, accusations that the agency is being used to target the president's critics and concerns that the FCC has become increasingly politicized. Carr also weighs in on what he believes the FCC's role should be in a media landscape increasingly dominated by social media and streaming. Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.
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    50 mins
  • Rahm Emanuel makes his 2028 pitch over pizza in Chicago | On The Road

    Rahm Emanuel makes his 2028 pitch over pizza in Chicago | On The Road
    Jul 29 2026
    Rahm Emanuel joins POLITICO's Jonathan Martin at Michael's Original Pizzeria on Chicago's North Side for a wide-ranging conversation about his political future, the Democratic Party's identity crisis and why he's seriously considering a run for president in 2028. The former Chicago mayor, Obama chief of staff and U.S. ambassador to Japan reflects on the biggest mistakes of both parties, argues Democrats need to win back the political center, weighs in on Israel, China and Donald Trump, and explains why he believes America is at a political turning point. Plus: Chicago tavern-style pizza, growing up on the North Side and the childhood experience that still drives Emanuel today.
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    57 mins