CNN Political Briefing

Investigative reporter Josh Dawsey is co-author of a new deep dive into last year’s historic election, 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America. He shares some of the most striking moments in the book — from Trump’s trip to the Fulton County Jail to take his mugshot to the buzzing scene at Mar-a-Lago days before his inauguration.

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Rahm Emanuel isn't shy about criticizing his own party. He also isn’t shy about his potential political ambitions. He’s made it clear he’s considering a potential 2028 presidential run. He shares how he’ll make that decision, what he brings to the growing field of potential candidates and why he thinks Dems shouldn’t talk about democracy without also talking about affordability.

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Zohran Mamdani pulled off a major political upset over Andrew Cuomo in this week’s New York mayoral primary. CNN senior reporter and New York City native Edward-Isaac Dovere explains how Mamdani was able to secure the victory and what Democrats more broadly can learn from his surprise success.

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The killings and attempted killings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses are raising alarms about an apparent uptick in political violence in America. Robert Pape, the director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, has studied political violence for 30 years, and he argues the country is in the midst of what he calls an “era of violent populism.”

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Tensions over President Trump’s immigration enforcement reached a boiling point this week. CNN correspondent Priscilla Alvarez explains how Los Angeles became a political flashpoint and why the administration’s move to call in the National Guard and the Marines to respond to anti-ICE protests there was a long time in the making—and could be a playbook repeated in other cities.

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From China talks to “TACO,” CNN’s Chief Domestic Correspondent Phil Mattingly helps navigate the latest twists and turns of President Trump’s tariffs and explains why we may be in the “eye of the hurricane” of this trade war.

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460.

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The ongoing feud between President Trump and Harvard University is heating up as the White House attempts to ban the university from enrolling international students. Harvard President Emeritus Larry Summers shares his insights on the clash and explains why the White House’s actions could hinder efforts to reform Harvard’s flaws.

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The House GOP delivered President Trump a major win this week by passing his so-called “big, beautiful bill.” CNN congressional correspondent Lauren Fox breaks down what happened behind the scenes in the hours before it was passed, how Speaker Mike Johnson swayed the holdouts and the biggest questions surrounding the bill as it makes its way to the Senate.

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President Trump completed a whirlwind tour of the Middle East this week, making deals—and multiple headlines—along the way. Axios reporter, Middle East expert and CNN political and global affairs analyst Barak Ravid breaks down the major moments from the week, from a historic handshake between Trump and the Syrian president to Qatar’s unusual gift of a luxury jet.

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460.

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Getting President Trump's so-called “big, beautiful bill” past the finish line could be an ugly process for Congressional Republicans. CNN Anchor and Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju breaks down what’s going into this sweeping bill and explains why some GOP members can’t seem to agree on key parts of the legislation.

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Conspiracy theories are not new. They’re as old as time itself. But if you feel like they’re everywhere right now, you’re not alone. So, what do you do when somebody you love has fallen down a rabbit hole? CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan has been covering the world of misinformation for more than a decade, but now he's less interested in what people believe than why they believe it. So, he’s trying to find out.

Listen to Persuadable here.

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How can politicians reach Americans who have tuned out politics? That’s something Rob Flaherty, a former deputy campaign manager for Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential run, argues Republicans have been doing successfully while Democrats have failed. He explains why he thinks Dems became the “party of the system” and why that’s kept them from reaching voters who believe the system is broken.

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Next week marks 100 days since President Trump was sworn in for his second term. CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins and Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny share their behind-the-scenes insights from the last few months and explain why attitudes at the White House have recently shifted.

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460.

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Judicial showdowns over a pair of major deportation-related cases have ratcheted up tensions between Trump and the courts this week. University of Michigan law professor, author and podcast host Leah Litman weighs in on whether these and other clashes between Trump and the judiciary have pushed the country into a constitutional crisis.

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460.

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President Trump’s 90-day pause on most new tariffs triggered a market rally, but economic uncertainty persists as existing tariffs are still in place and a trade war with China intensifies. Trade economist and historian Doug Irwin knows how tariffs have affected Americans and American companies in the past. So, what can that tell us about what could happen to the US economy next?

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430-5460.

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Democrats celebrated a victory in a Wisconsin state supreme court race while Republicans secured two wins in special elections in Florida this week. The races were a window into how voters are feeling a few months into Trump's second term. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler explains why his state saw a surge in voter turnout, while Florida Republican Party Chair Ben Power shares his take on GOP margins shrinking since November.

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us...

The Trump administration is still under fire after plans for a military strike on Yemen were leaked via a group chat that mistakenly included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Olivia Troye was a former national security official during the first Trump administration. She shares her take on the potential dangers of what happened here.

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The Democratic Party's approval rating has dropped to a record low. So, why is the party so unpopular right now? And what can Democrats do to revive their reputation? Howard Dean is a former chair of the DNC, a onetime presidential candidate and the former governor of Vermont. He argues the Democrats’ brand right now is “what the Republicans say it is.” And he shares some ideas for reclaiming his party’s brand.

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a...

Elon Musk is new to Washington, but what can we learn about his tactics at DOGE from how he’s run his companies? Kate Conger, co-author of the book “Character Limit,” an account of Musk’s takeover of Twitter, says Musk has been pulling from the same playbook since taking on his role in the Trump administration. Plus, she explains Musk’s affinity for recreating memes in real life.

Have a question or a guest you'd like to hear from? Let us know. Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com or give us a call at (202) 430...

It was tariff whiplash in North America this week when President Trump imposed new tariffs on Mexico and Canada, only to announce a one-month reprieve a couple days later. What’s the end goal for Trump’s tariff strategy? And how is the US economy doing so far under Trump 2.0? CNN global economic analyst Rana Foroohar shares what she thinks is the biggest takeaway from the tariff drama and explains why the US economy could be due for a slowdown.

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As he pushes for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, President Trump has repeated Russian talking points about the war—like falsely blaming Ukraine for starting the conflict and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator.” New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser says this pro-Putin turn has sent a "shock wave” through Europe. And she argues there hasn’t just been a change in American foreign policy. She’s also seeing what she’s calling a “Putinization of America” by Trump.

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Turmoil hit the Justice Department last week when prosecutors were directed to dismiss the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. The move sparked a flurry of resignations and accusations of a quid pro quo between Adams and the Trump administration. CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig joins Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian to explain this shakeup at the DOJ and why this case is about much more than Eric Adams. Plus, they take a look at the broader legal landscape under Trump 2.0 and why this could be a “pivotal moment” for the country’s legal...

With President Trump back in office, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) has been thinking a lot about how his party can better meet Americans in this populist moment. He joins CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian to discuss where he thinks Democrats have missed the mark with their messaging and how the party can recast the “heroes” and “villains” in America’s story. Plus, what resonated with the voters in his battleground district who cast ballots for both him and Trump.

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Time is ticking for congressional Republicans to get the ball rolling on President Trump’s big legislative agenda. But, so far, House and Senate Republicans can’t seem to agree on a strategy. CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent and Inside Politics Sunday anchor Manu Raju joins Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian to preview the path forward for GOP legislators. Plus, are House Republicans or Senate Republicans more likely to get their way?

What questions do you have about the new Trump administration? Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com.

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A nearly constant stream of news has been coming from the White House since Donald Trump moved back in. CNN’s Chief National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny has been there to cover it all. He joins CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian to sort through some of the major moments of these first days—including a press conference where President Trump suggested, without evidence, that diversity initiatives could have played a role in the tragic midair collision near Washington, DC. Plus, how Trump’s “executive flex of power” ran into some roadblocks this week. 

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In his first hours in office, President Donald Trump signed a slate of executive orders related to immigration. So, what have been the immediate impacts, and what could come next? CNN Correspondent Priscilla Alvarez sits down with CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian to break it all down. Plus, what makes Trump’s actions on immigration now different from his last time in the White House.

What questions do you have about the new Trump administration? Email us at CNNPoliticalBriefing@Gmail.com.

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Joe Biden’s more than 50-year political career will come to an end Monday when he turns over the Oval Office back to Donald Trump. USA TODAY’s Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page had the rare opportunity to do an exit interview with Biden during the last days of his presidency. She joins CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian to share her insights from that conversation, including an “extraordinary” admission by the president. Plus, why Biden’s farewell address wasn’t what either of them expected.

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This week marked a rare meeting of the so-called presidents club—the elite, unofficial club of living US presidents. It’s a complicated moment for the former commanders in chief, as they say goodbye to one member and prepare for Donald Trump to make the historic transition from ex-president to current president. CNN’s presidential historian, Tim Naftali, joins Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian to discuss this “club,” its past, its purpose and Trump’s strained relationship to it.

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In a month, President Joe Biden will hand the keys of the White House back to his political rival, Donald Trump. Franklin Foer is a staff writer for The Atlantic, and he closely observed the first two years of Biden’s presidency to write his book, "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future.” He joins CNN Political Director and Washington Bureau Chief David Chalian to discuss what Biden’s legacy will be and whether the accomplishments of his presidency will be reduced to an “asterisk” in the shadow of Trump’s win.

CNN senior political analyst and editor for The Atlantic Ron Brownstein joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to break down how Vice President Kamala Harris’s top campaign leaders are explaining their loss. They discuss whether it was a winnable race for Harris and why the most shocking thing about this election may just be how normal it was. Plus, the moment Harris’s campaign leaders were most defensive about and the exit poll insight that gets at the heart of the results.

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President-elect Donald Trump wants to replace the current FBI director with firebrand Kash Patel—a fierce Trump loyalist who promises to root out the “deep state” and make radical changes to the agency. CNN National Security Reporter Zachary Cohen joins CNN Correspondent Kristen Holmes to break down this controversial pick and what it reveals about Trump’s approach to his second term. They share what they’re hearing about Patel from sources in law enforcement and Trump’s inner circle. Plus, they discuss Trump’s distrust of the FBI and what makes this an unprecedented pick.

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It’s a familiar feeling if you spend enough time on the internet: you talk about something in the real world, and then you see that same thing advertised to you online. This uncanny experience has led many people to wonder: are our devices listening to us? And is that how online advertisers are able to serve such specific ads? David Choffnes, associate professor at Northeastern University, says it’s not that simple. You can read the full study David discussed in this episode here.

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Young voters—especially first-time young voters—helped deliver President-elect Donald Trump his victory this month. The 18-to-29-year-old set tends to vote Democratic, and most of them did. But Trump made significant inroads with young people. This week, John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, joins Political Director and Washington Bureau Chief David Chalian to discuss what happened with the youth vote and where the Democrats went wrong with this age group. They also break down three things Gen Z Trump voters expect from a second Trump term and explain why some...

Preparations for President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House are well underway and CNN Correspondent Kristen Holmes is following the transition closely. She joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to break down what we know so far about Trump’s mindset, his staffing choices and the mandate he believes he has from American voters. They discuss Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks so far and what they reveal about how he’s approaching his second term. Plus, Kristen describes a typical night at Mar-a-Lago. 

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America was loud and clear in its decision this week, delivering President-elect Donald Trump a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Now, with Trump heading back to the White House, what’s next? CNN’s Chief National Affairs Correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to break down America's decision. He shares what he learned from one Wisconsin voter that helps explain Trump’s win and lays out what we know so far about what a second Trump term will look like. Plus, they discuss two big surprises from the results. 

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Polls show the divide in how American men and women vote could be bigger than ever this year—and longtime Democratic strategist and pollster Celinda Lake thinks the outcome of this race will be up to the women. She joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss what she calls this election’s “gender chasm” that’s given former President Donald Trump the edge with men and Vice President Kamala Harris the advantage with women. They discuss why the gender gap exists—and if it’s here to stay. She also explains how Democrats are reaching women who might be interested...

The days before an election always bring uncertainty, but that’s especially true this year, with polls showing a near deadlock between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. This week, Republican pollster and CNN Political Commentator Kristen Soltis Anderson joins CNN Political Director David Chalian. They discuss the ever-changing electorate, what makes this year’s polling unique and why she thinks it’s “irresponsible” to make any predictions right now about what will happen on Election Day. Plus, she explains the two X-factors pollsters could have miscalculated this year.

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Early in-person voting started this week in Georgia and North Carolina, and it won’t be long until voters nationwide are lining up at polling places on November 5. So, do election officials feel ready? CNN Political Correspondent Sara Murray has been reporting on how communities across the country are preparing for Election Day. She joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss what election officials are doing to combat disinformation and avoid repeating problems from 2020. They also discuss the “neighborhood fights” playing out in Wisconsin over ballot drop boxes and why you shouldn’t be surprised if tallying votes in Penns...

Election Day is just a little over three weeks away, and there’s still no clear leader in this race. With Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump still neck-and-neck, all eyes are on the battleground states. Doug Sosnik is a longtime Democratic strategist who’s known for his deep-dive political memos. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to share his insights on the current state of play and why he thinks the next 25 days are all about Harris’ ability to close the deal with voters who may not feel naturally aligned with her. He also explai...

This could be a historic election when it comes to the gender gap. Women have strongly supported Vice President Kamala Harris while former President Donald Trump holds a significant advantage with men. And while women’s rights have been front-and-center in this election, the race has also raised questions about masculinity and male voters. Richard Reeves is the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, a think tank that does non-partisan research on the wellbeing of boys and men in the US.  He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss the different models of American manh...