He's been in the Senate since 2003, but this year could be his last. POLITICO's Andrew Desiderio traces Lindsey Graham's transformation from a moderate Republican known for working across the aisle to a staunch defender of President Trump — and explains why that's put him at risk of losing his seat this November. Plus, the government's watchdog will probe whether Trump officials interference with the CDC and FDA's Covid response. And Trump attacks Biden for trusting scientists. Andrew Desiderio ...
Oct 20, 2020•14 min
With Biden ahead in both the polls and fundraising and Trump's message all over the place, things aren't looking great for the President's reelection efforts. But that doesn't mean the campaign is over yet. POLITICO's Charlie Mahtesian breaks down the state of the race — and why Trump still has a path to keep the White House. Plus, McConnell schedules two votes on his narrow coronavirus relief proposal. And several European countries institute new Covid restrictions. Charlie Mahtesian is the sen...
Oct 19, 2020•13 min
Generation Z, which includes voters 18-23 years old, makes up one-tenth of the electorate. Gen Z turnout? That’s another story. POLITICO’s Rishika Dugyala breaks down the issues younger voters care about — and how the two campaigns are trying to win them over online. Plus, Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings come to a close. And Florida Republicans close in on a Democratic voter registration advantage. Rishika Dugyala is a digital strategy editor for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for P...
Oct 16, 2020•14 min
The new season of "The Bachelorette" is here — and coronavirus safety is front and center with contestants tested several times in an isolated bubble. POLITICO’s Dan Diamond breaks down the show’s health protocols and how they stack up against the White House. Plus, Barrett’s confirmation hearings wrap up today. And new polling shows Biden with a significant lead in Georgia. Dan Diamond is health policy reporter for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch. Irene Noguchi is the ex...
Oct 15, 2020•14 min
With President Trump’s reelection prospects looking slimmer by the day, Republican groups and lawmakers are hedging their bets on Amy Coney Barrett as the future of conservatism. POLITICO’s Gabby Orr breaks down what this week’s confirmation hearings have revealed about Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court — and how she became the GOP’s Plan B. Plus, a drug maker is pausing its coronavirus antibody trial over safety concerns. And the High Court rejects a challenge to Planned Parenthood funding. ...
Oct 14, 2020•14 min
President Trump has demanded to know the results of the election on November 3, despite the fact that it could be days until we know the winner. But if there is a clear winner on election night, it’ll almost certainly be bad news for Trump. POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro breaks down the electoral math. Plus, Amy Coney Barrett answers questions from Senators today. And Facebook bans posts denying the Holocaust. Zach Montellaro is a campaign reporter for POLITICO and author of the Morning Score newsle...
Oct 13, 2020•14 min
First it was hydroxychloroquine. Then it was a vaccine before the election. Now it’s a “miracle” antibody cocktail. POLITICO’s Sarah Owermohle breaks down the science behind President Trump’s latest coronavirus obsession — and why we shouldn’t get our hopes up. Plus, it’s unclear whether the next debate will happen. And Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue gets reprimanded for violating ethics laws. Sarah Owermohle covers drug policy for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch. Ire...
Oct 09, 2020•15 min
Plexiglass barriers. 12 feet between the candidates. Fewer interruptions. Wednesday's debate between Sen. Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence looked and sounded pretty different from what went down between President Trump and Joe Biden last week, but the exchanges were still tense. POLITICO's Laura Barrón-López breaks down the biggest takeaways from the Vice Presidential showdown. Plus, Amy Coney Barrett talks with key Senate Democrats. And Trump teases a total withdrawal of troops from ...
Oct 08, 2020•14 min
Is Susan Collins making her "last stand"? POLITICO's Burgess Everett breaks down why Senator Collins is on track to lose her seat representing Maine — and how the race marks the end of an era for moderates under the increasingly polarized politics of the Trump administration. Plus, Rick Bright, the ousted vaccine expert turned whistleblower, is stepping down from the federal government. And House Democrats propose an antitrust overhaul to rein in big tech. Burgess Everett is a congressional repo...
Oct 07, 2020•15 min
At the start of the pandemic, states across the country shut down. When there was resurgence over the summer, several governors reinstituted those shutdowns. But now, as the Midwest sees another spike in cases, state leaders aren’t doing much. POLITICO’s Alice Miranda Ollstein explains why that’s a big problem. Plus, the CDC confirms the virus is airborne. And California sees its first million-acre megafire. Alice Miranda Ollstein is a health care reporter for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host f...
Oct 06, 2020•14 min
President Trump is in the hospital with coronavirus. We know that much. But there are lots of unknowns about his condition, and his medical team isn't filling in the gaps. POLITICO's Ryan Lizza explains how the hospitalization caps off a tumultuous 10 days for team Trump — and breaks down what it all means for the campaign with less than a month before Election Day. Plus, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey will retire in 2022. And New York is reinstating some shutdowns. Ryan Lizza is POLITICO's Chief ...
Oct 05, 2020•14 min
First: President Trump has tested positive for Covid-19. Then: Secretary of state used to be a pretty low profile gig in states across the country. But with the looming threat of foreign interference and an upcoming election unlike any other, now it's one of the most important jobs in America. POLITICO's Eric Geller looks at how these state officials could decide the future of the country's election security. Plus, Senate Democrats call for an investigation into interference at HHS. And Trump sa...
Oct 02, 2020•16 min
Lady Gaga. Garth Brooks. Billy Joel. Those are some of the celebs the health department wanted for a taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to “defeat despair” about the coronavirus. Instead, they got Dennis Quaid and some lesser-known musicians. POLITICO’s Dan Diamond breaks down the sputtering ad blitz and why it’s getting scrutiny from lawmakers. Plus, the presidential debate commission says it’ll change formats after Tuesday night’s debacle. And a judge delays the release of grand jury recordi...
Oct 01, 2020•13 min
Interruptions. Insults. Chaos. POLITICO's Gabby Orr breaks down the key moments from Tuesday night's showdown between President Trump and Joe Biden — and what it all means for the final stretch of the campaign. Plus, the Senate is on track to avert a government shutdown. And Amy Coney Barrett doesn't pledge to recuse herself from 2020 election cases in a Senate questionnaire. Gabby Orr is a White House reporter for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch. Irene Noguchi is the exe...
Sep 30, 2020•13 min
All eyes were on President Trump's pick for the Supreme Court. Then, The New York Times released a bombshell on Sunday showing that Trump has paid next to nothing in federal income taxes in recent years. POLITICO's Natasha Korecki breaks down why the report puts the President in a tricky position ahead of his first debate with Joe Biden tonight. Plus, the White House is shipping 100,000 rapid Covid tests to U.S. states. And massive airline layoffs could hit in a matter of days. Natasha Korecki i...
Sep 29, 2020•11 min
For the right, her nomination seals the deal on a conservative majority for years to come. To the left, it's a rushed political attempt to undo abortion rights and Obamacare. POLITICO's Nancy Cook breaks down the partisan fight brewing over President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett. Plus, new polling shows Biden ahead in two key swing states. And both campaigns have agreed on details for Tuesday night's debate. Nancy Cook is a White House reporter for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is ...
Sep 28, 2020•15 min
The killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked a summer of outrage and calls for legislative action. But months later, not much has happened. POLITICO’s Nolan McCaskill looks at why police reform efforts have hit a wall — and whether this week’s renewed outrage over Taylor's killing could inspire tangible legislative change. Plus, House Democrats are reworking the Covid relief proposal. And U.S. cyber officials are urging the public not to panic about election hacking. Nolan McCaskill i...
Sep 25, 2020•13 min
With kids at home and classes online, students are extra reliant on technology. But that's not an easy lift in lower-income districts that lack funding and resources. POLITICO's Nicole Gaudiano and Maya King explain how the pandemic — and decades of education policy — have exacerbated the digital divide. Plus, a Republican-led report investigating Joe Biden and his son doesn't really have anything new in it. And California's governor wants to ban gas-fueled cars by 2035. Nicole Gaudiano is an ed...
Sep 24, 2020•14 min
In 2016, Russia and China attacked American democracy by muddying the political discourse online. The virtual strikes, which included disinformation campaigns, online bots, and e-mail server hackings, marked one of the most direct interferences into American democracy by foreign actors in history. POLITICO's Steven Overly, on the lessons learned from the 2016 attacks, and how the federal government and tech giants are preparing to secure the 2020 election. Steven Overly covers technology policy ...
Sep 23, 2020•11 min
Just a handful of states could decide who becomes the next president. POLITICO reporters from across the country break down what it will take for Donald Trump and Joe Biden to win over the most critical voters. Laura Barrón-López is a national political reporter for POLITICO. David Siders is a national political correspondent for POLITICO. Natasha Korecki is a national correspondent for POLITICO. Marc Caputo covers Florida and the 2020 election for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO ...
Sep 22, 2020•12 min
Just a handful of states could decide who becomes the next president. POLITICO reporters from across the country break down what it will take for Donald Trump and Joe Biden to win over the most critical voters. Tim Alberta is chief political correspondent for POLITICO. Elena Schneider is a national political reporter for POLITICO. Holly Otterbein covers the 2020 race for POLITICO. Michael Kruse is a senior staff writer for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch. Irene Noguchi is...
Sep 21, 2020•12 min
It's the semester nobody wanted: Kids sitting at home behind monitors, teachers trying to figure out how to unmute themselves and parents stuck wondering whether their children are going to lose a year of education. POLITICO's Renuka Rayasam looks at a school year unlike any other. Plus, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court extends the due date for mail ballots. And the House delays a vote on marijuana legalization. Renuka Rayasam covers the coronavirus pandemic for POLITICO and writes the POLITICO Nigh...
Sep 17, 2020•13 min
The Health Department's top spokesman, Michael Caputo, says he's taking a leave of absence for health reasons. The move comes just days after he accused government scientists of “sedition” — and less than a week after POLITICO first reported that Caputo was interfering with CDC reports on coronavirus. POLITICO's Dan Diamond breaks down the latest turbulence at HHS. Plus, Fed Chair Jerome Powell says Congress probably needs to do more to save the economy. And two Iranian nationals have been indic...
Sep 17, 2020•12 min
Remember when Congress came to a bipartisan agreement on coronavirus relief … like a million years ago? Well, it doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen again anytime soon — despite the tens of millions of Americans struggling right now. POLITICO’s Heather Caygle breaks down why negotiations are still at a standstill. Plus, the City of Louisville has reached a $12 million settlement with Breonna Taylor’s family. And new census data shows the number of Americans without health insurance was rising ...
Sep 16, 2020•13 min
Joe Biden is putting together a plan for getting the economy out of a pandemic-sized ditch ahead of the November election — and it’s shaping up to include whole lotta spending. POLITICO’s Ben White explains how the plan stacks up against Trump’s handling of the economic downturn. Plus, the U.S. is blocking certain Chinese products over forced labor of Uyghurs. And a judge says Pennsylvania’s pandemic restrictions violated citizens’ constitutional rights. Ben White is chief economic correspondent...
Sep 15, 2020•14 min
President Trump is visiting California today as deadly and destructive wildfires burn up and down the West Coast. POLITICO's Carla Marinucci explains why the trip is likely to become a political showdown over climate change. Plus, Trump unveils a plan to slash drug prices. And Bloomberg is dropping a big chunk of change for Biden in Florida. Carla Marinucci is the senior writer for POLITICO’s California Playbook . Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch. Irene Noguchi is the executive prod...
Sep 14, 2020•13 min
Joe Biden might be back on the campaign trail after months of quarantining in the basement of his Delaware home, but his team is still trying to keep him inside an impenetrable coronavirus bubble. POLITICO's Chris Cadelago breaks down the extreme lengths the Biden campaign is going to prevent him from being exposed to coronavirus. Plus, Senate Democrats block the GOP's slimmed-down Covid bill. And Microsoft says Russia, China and Iran are trying to hack the presidential race. Chris Cadelago a na...
Sep 11, 2020•13 min
Public health is supposed to be separate from politics. But this pandemic — and this election — have turned that idea on its head. POLITICO's Dan Diamond and Sarah Owermohle discuss how politics is seeping into the vaccine race on both sides of the aisle. Plus, a whistleblower says top Trump appointees tried to censor reports on Russian influence. And Trump's fundraising total for last month falls more than $150M short of Biden. Sarah Owermohle covers drug policy for POLITICO. Dan Diamond is hea...
Sep 10, 2020•15 min
Crammed living quarters. No time off. A lack of protective gear. Advocates warned at the start of the pandemic that farms were ripe for outbreaks. POLITICO’s Ximena Bustillo explains how decades of workplace issues created the “perfect storm” for a coronavirus disaster among farmworkers. Plus, McConnell eyes a vote on a narrow coronavirus relief bill. And Trump expands a ban on offshore drilling. Ximena Bustillo is an agriculture and trade policy intern for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for ...
Sep 09, 2020•12 min
The House of Representatives is set to vote on marijuana legalization later this month — the first time in history either body of Congress will consider removing the drug from the Controlled Substances Act. POLITICO's Natalie Fertig breaks down why Democrats are voting on the bill despite the fact that it'll be dead upon arrival in the Senate. Natalie Fertig is a cannabis policy reporter for POLITICO. Jeremy Siegel is a host for POLITICO Dispatch. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLIT...
Sep 08, 2020•9 min
