The annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is here and Washington is again beset by navel-gazing — that much is not a surprise. But something seems different this year. It’s not just that the president is skipping the affair. It’s not just that the relationship between the White House and the free press is combative. It’s that there’s been a fundamental change in the way the administration approaches the media. And in that, one woman plays a starring role: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. POLITICO national politics correspondent Adam Wren joins Playbook deputy editor Zack Stanton to discuss his new profile of her, how the 20-something emerged as a prominent member of Team Trump and what it all means for Washington.
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April 24, 2025: Trump ratchets up pressure on Zelenskyy
President Donald Trump promised a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine in one day. Nearly 100 days into his presidency, it remains elusive — and Trump is now ramping up the pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a deal that many observers see as overly favorable to Russia. What is Ukraine to do? What’s at stake for Europe? And how does it all play out from here? Ahead of a series of key meetings between Trump, his emissaries and European leaders, Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and POLITICO White House bureau chief Dasha Burns discuss what to expect.
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April 23, 2025: The White House tries to calm the markets
The White House is attempting to stabilize the economy amid market fluctuations and the complexities of trade negotiations with more than 30 countries. But how long can Trump world say they're making progress with little to show for it? White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss. Plus, the latest on the drama at the Pentagon.
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April 22, 2025: Trump’s ‘chaos’ strategy vs. the global economy
This morning, we’ll get a better look at the state of the world economy through the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Forecast. All signs point to a relatively grim prediction, due in no insignificant part to the tariffs President Donald Trump has leveled against nations around the world. White House bureau chief Dasha Burns joins Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard to discuss. Plus, the latest on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s future.
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April 21, 2025: New Hegseth controversy roils Washington
Just how much trouble is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in? That question is set to dominate Washington today. Last night, former top Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot published an op-ed in POLITICO Magazine detailing chaotic conditions at the Pentagon and predicting President Donald Trump will oust Hegseth. Plus, the New York Times reports on a second Signal group chat in which Hegseth shared details about the attack plan for Yemen — and this one included Hegseth’s wife and brother. So — how’s this story going to develop today? Playbook managing editor and author Jack Blanchard and White House bureau chief Dasha Burns break it down.
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