The Conversation with Dasha Burns

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at a Charlotte diner for a candid conversation about his new book, his decision to leave the Senate and the future of the Republican Party.  

Tillis reflects on his votes to confirm President Trump’s Cabinet nominees, argues that the president’s advisers should be replaced and says Republicans need to show more independence from Trump. He also predicts the party could take a “whoop-ass” in November and explains why he thinks Trump’s would-be successors can’t simply imitate him.  

Plus, country ham...

Democratic socialists Melat Kiros and Darializa Avila Chevalier each defeated a longtime Democratic incumbent to win their deep-blue primaries. They’re among a handful of Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates who scored surprise victories this election season.

Now they’re poised to enter Congress, where they say they want to use their power to push for a bolder agenda and hold the Trump administration accountable.

Kiros and Avila Chevalier joined “The Conversation with Dasha Burns” to discuss whether they’ll support Hakeem Jeffries for speaker, what they’ve learned from the Squad and criticism of their rhetor...

Dasha sits down with Rep. Byron Donalds, the Florida Republican nominee for governor, for a special midterms edition of the show. 

As Republicans face headwinds over affordability and rising costs tied to the war with Iran, Donalds explains how he can support President Trump while still disagreeing with him. He says Trump doesn’t want “yes men” and that he’s “allowed to have my own viewpoint” on how to govern Florida.

Donalds also discusses immigration enforcement, state regulation of AI, his past comments on race and voting rights, and the future of the Republican Party.

In this special midterms edition of “The Conversation with Dasha Burns,” Adam Hamilton, the pastor and Democratic candidate challenging Sen. Roger Marshall, sits down with Dasha at a campaign office in Kansas to discuss why he thinks the race is competitive – and why he believes a moderate, bridge-building approach can win over voters in this deeply Republican state.

Hamilton talks about the cost of fuel and tariffs, the war in Iran, his appeal to Republican voters and the role of faith in politics. He also responds to criticism from Sen. Ted Cruz over his theolo...

In this special midterms edition of “The Conversation with Dasha Burns,” Gina Hinojosa, the Democrat running for governor of Texas, sits down with Dasha at her campaign headquarters in Austin to talk about why she believes the race against Greg Abbott is newly competitive — and the lessons Democrats should take for 2028. 

In the interview, Hinojosa discusses her pitch to working Texans, her push for a $1,500 “corruption tax refund,” the fight over public schools, abortion access, immigration enforcement, Latino voters, data centers and AI, and what she thinks national Democrats should learn from her campaign.

Hinojosa argues Texa...

Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Mosca’s Restaurant for a wide-ranging conversation about President Trump, the future of the Democratic Party and whether he might run for president in 2028. Landrieu discusses why he believes Joe Biden should not have sought reelection, how Democrats lost working-class voters, the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America and what it would take to rebuild trust in American institutions.  

He also reflects on post-Katrina New Orleans and the lessons Louisiana politics offers the rest of the country. Landrieu previously served as the White H...

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his reelection bid to a Trump-endorsed challenger, joined Dasha to discuss the future of the Republican Party and reflect on how to make Congress more effective as he enters his final months in office.

Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health Committee, also addresses his vote to confirm HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the measles outbreak and vaccine policy, the influence of the MAHA movement, Social Security’s looming funding crisis and the need for congressional guardrails on artificial intelligence.

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Dasha sits down with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at the Republican midterms convention in Dallas to discuss President Trump’s tariffs, the economy and the GOP’s prospects in November.

Cruz explains why Trump “changed” his views on trade, responds to the president’s proposed $5,000 dividend for American adults, and weighs in on Tucker Carlson and concerns over AI’s threat to humanity — including why he says he’d prefer “American killer robots” to Chinese ones. 

Plus, Cruz warns that Republicans face a defining debate over the party’s future and begins to make his 2028 case ahead of a possibl...

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Salt Lake City’s Red Iguana for a wide-ranging conversation about his new book, “Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt,” and the forces driving America’s political divide. 

The Republican governor discusses political violence, social media’s role in fueling polarization, his relationship with President Trump and why he says he is not running for president. He also weighs in on the Republican Party’s future, immigration reform and what it will take to rebuild trust and community in American lif

Stephen A. Smith is best known for sports commentary. But now, he’s weighing in on the direction of both political parties — and even considering a potential 2028 presidential run.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Dasha, the outspoken analyst explains why he believes he could win the presidency but won’t give up his career to campaign. He also discusses what he thinks is wrong with today’s political class, his criticism of the direction of the Democratic Party, Donald Trump’s appeal to voters, his interviews with controversial figures and the 2028 contenders he’s watching — including a MAGA Republica...

Sen. Susan Collins joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Perry’s Lobster Shack in coastal Maine for a wide-ranging conversation about her reelection fight in the senate, President Trump’s second administration and the future of the Republican Party.  

The Maine Republican also discusses Canadian tariffs, immigration enforcement, her independent record and the challenge of appealing to voters in an increasingly nationalized political environment. Collins makes the case for bipartisan governing — and argues that there is still room for a political middle.  

Plus, Jonathan and Collins dig into a classic Main...

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...

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.<...

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 s...

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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...

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. 

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Abdul El-Sayed – the progressive former public health official running for the Democratic nomination in Michigan's open Senate seat – joins Dasha to explain why he believes "both parties are lying" to working Americans, unleashes on the ‘hypocrisy’ of the Democratic establishment, and defends his record on “Defund the Police,” ICE, socialism and more. 

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

At the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Secretary General Mark Rutte joins Dasha to discuss NATO's historic defense spending overhaul, Russia's war in Ukraine, Greenland, President Trump's demands of the alliance, and whether NATO can withstand growing questions about America's future role in European security.

Plus, POLITICO’s diplomatic correspondent Felicia Schwartz and defense reporter Jack Detsch give their takeaways from the summit. 

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) join POLITICO's Jonathan Martin at the Little Missouri Saloon in Medora for a conversation about the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, why the Badlands helped shape one of America's most consequential presidents and how they're betting the landmark will transform North Dakota. 

They also discuss President Donald Trump's agenda, the future of the GOP, the politics of conservation and why they believe Theodore Roosevelt's legacy still offers lessons for America as the nation celebrates its 250th birthday. 

As America marks 250 years since its founding, award-winning documentarian Ken Burns joins Dasha to reflect on what history can teach us about this political moment.

In this wide-ranging interview, Burns discusses what lawmakers misunderstand about the founding of our nation, what George Washington would think of Donald Trump, and whether the American experiment can survive the next chapter.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Dasha sits down with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki for a wide-ranging conversation on NATO, Russia's war in Ukraine, Iran and the future of America's relationships with allies around the world. 

Stubb, who has developed an unusually close personal relationship with Donald Trump, discusses how he approaches the president behind closed doors, why he believes Ukraine has the upper hand in the war against Russia and how he remains confident in NATO's future.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Jack Schlossberg joins Dasha to talk about his campaign for New York’s 12th congressional district, his viral online persona and why he thinks Democrats need to be more “controversial” in the Trump era. 

Schlossberg discusses what he says Democrats got wrong in 2024, why he believes attention is political power, how the party can reach young male voters, and why he sees himself as part of a new generation trying to change Democratic politics. He also weighs in on his Kennedy family legacy, RFK Jr., Israel and Gaza, impeachment, super PAC spending, and why he says he has “no...

At POLITICO’s Energy Summit, Dasha presses EPA administrator Lee Zeldin on rising gas prices, the war in Iran, Trump’s energy dominance agenda, coal, AI data centers, and whether the EPA has a responsibility to address climate change.

Zeldin defends his approach, arguing that the EPA can protect the environment while growing the economy and rejects the idea that his agency should lead the fight against climate change – unless Congress tells him to.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong sits down with Dasha for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of crypto, the growing political influence of the industry, and his vision for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. 

Plus, he responds to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s recent attack, after Dimon called him “full of s--t,” and explains why he’s still “a little perplexed” by the personal animosity.

Have feedback for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Every week on this show, Dasha Burns talks to the most compelling and sometimes unexpected power players in Washington and beyond. But for this special first anniversary episode, she turned the microphone over to you … our listeners. 

“How do you prepare for high-stakes interviews?” 

“Why has Washington left Gen Z behind?”

“How has covering politics changed you?” 

Dasha answers your burning questions, weighing in on everything from the most interesting under-the-radar character at the White House to why her news diet is a “hot mess.”  

Have feedback for “The Conversation?” Text or le...

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Angelo’s Pizzeria, a South Philly institution, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Democratic party, rising cynicism in American politics and the growing speculation around his political future in 2028.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna joins Dasha Burns on “The Conversation” to discuss whether the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran could pull American attention and weapons away from Kyiv, the state of Ukraine-Russia peace talks and why President Trump and Volodmyr Zelenskyy’s once-rocky relationship has become “iconic.”

Have feedback for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Baltimore’s iconic Koco's Pub for a wide-ranging conversation about redistricting, the future of the Democratic party and how his military service shaped his views on patriotism, race and America’s role in the world. 

Moore also opens up about Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s decision to stay in the presidential race too long, Kamala Harris’ future and why Democrats can’t spend years “studying” voters’ frustrations instead of fixing them. 

Dasha sits down with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, for a live taping of “The Conversation” at POLITICO’s Security Summit. 

In a wide-ranging interview, Pahlavi discusses the latest on the war in Iran, whether diplomacy with Tehran is possible and the future of the Iranian opposition movement. 

Have a question for our anniversary special? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary and CIA director under President Obama, joins Dasha Burns to assess the U.S. conflict with Iran, warning that unclear objectives, a closed Strait of Hormuz and uncertain nuclear negotiations could leave the U.S. stuck in a prolonged war.

Plus, Panetta defends President Biden’s handling of the Israel/Gaza conflict but says Biden “should have been much tougher” in providing weapons for Ukraine.

Leave us a voicemail or shoot us a text with your questions for our first anniversary special: 202-643-1536.

Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Chicago’s iconic Manny’s Deli for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the Democratic Party -- and his own. 

Plus: a look at Chicago’s political culture, Pritzker’s rise from donor to power broker, and why Manny’s remains a must-stop on the campaign trail. 

David Sacks has played a key role in shaping AI policy for the Trump administration. He was formerly the White House AI and crypto czar. Now, he’s the co-chair of the President’s Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. 

Sacks approaches the issue with a “let them cook” philosophy. Meaning, he thinks the way for the United States to win the global AI race is to move fast with minimally disruptive regulation. But with that comes a lot of questions about AI disruption to the workforce, who should be held responsible for harm...

Go behind the scenes of White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend with Tammy Haddad, a veteran TV executive and one of DC’s ultimate social connectors. 

POLITICO's Dasha Burns and Tammy unpack why this dinner — which brings together the president, journalists and celebrities all in one room — is so important in Washington, and what really happens when the cameras are down. 

Tammy also shares insider stories from years past involving Barbra Streisand, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kim Kardashian, Pamela Anderson, and more.

California’s governor's race just got a major shakeup.

Democrat Eric Swalwell dropped out amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations, and now the field is wide open ahead of the June 2 primary. So where does that leave Republican candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton – backed by Trump and rising in the polls? Does the GOP have a shot at turning California red?

Dasha Burns sat down with Hilton to talk about the state of the race, the impact of Trump's endorsement, and where he thinks Democratic leadership is coming up short.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at the Masters to talk Trump, 2028 and the upcoming Georgia Senate race. Plus: Kemp on EVs, economic policy and why he’s staying focused on 2026 — not the White House. 

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) – the MAGA acolyte-turned-antagonist who resigned from Congress after a public and messy fight with Donald Trump – joins “The Conversation” to talk about the war in Iran, why she thinks the GOP will be “slaughtered” in the midterms and her desire to build a new political coalition in America.