Punchbowl News co-founders Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer sit down with Senate Majority Leader John Thune for an exclusive interview. They discuss: - The reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk - Reflect on the anniversary of 9/11 - Government funding - And more... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2025•32 min
Punchbowl News Policy Reporter Samantha Handler joins Max Cohen to discuss the story of Cassey Ho, who went from a solo creator to running a multi-million dollar wellness business with 30 employees across the country. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 11, 2025•11 min
Anna and Jake take a hard look at the rise of political violence in America following the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk — and what it means for the state of our political discourse. They also break down the Congressional Black Caucus leaders lining up behind Colin Allred’s Texas Senate bid, plus the latest from Capitol Hill on long-stalled data privacy legislation. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in...
Sep 11, 2025•10 min
Congress is barreling toward another funding showdown — and the odds of a shutdown are rising. Anna and Jake break down Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s strategy, a bipartisan push to repeal Syria sanctions and the latest signs that Maine Gov. Janet Mills may take on Sen. Susan Collins. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newslette...
Sep 10, 2025•16 min
The government funding fight is taking center stage as both parties wait on President Donald Trump’s next move. Plus, a key Republican backs Trump’s Fed nominee, and Senate Republicans gear up to push through nearly 50 Trump nominees using the “nuclear option.” Anna and Jake break it all down. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsl...
Sep 09, 2025•18 min
There are just 22 days until the shutdown deadline and Republicans need a plan. Plus: Anna and Jake break down how the numbers in the House are about to get even tighter. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 08, 2025•15 min
Max has Jake Sherman on to discuss the premiere of "Fly Out Day," Punchbowl News' weekly show. Jake offers a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 06, 2025•9 min
Speaker Mike Johnson stopped by the Punchbowl News Townhouse for the premiere of "Fly Out Day." Plus, the latest in redistricting news. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 05, 2025•14 min
🚨 Fly Out Day Episode 1 🚨 Punchbowl News co-founders Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer sit down with Speaker Mike Johnson for an exclusive interview. They discuss: • The possibility of a government shutdown this fall • Johnson’s thoughts on how Congress is handling the Jeffrey Epstein situation • The 2026 elections Plus a conversation with CNN’s Manu Raju and the Boston Globe’s Jackie Kucinich. Plus, John Bresnahan. This wide-ranging, inside-the-Beltway conversation kicks off our new YouTube series...
Sep 05, 2025•40 min
Vulnerable Republicans are worried that Obamacare subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year. Plus, Speaker Mike Johnson is on Fly Out Day, coming out tonight. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 04, 2025•15 min
The government funding deadline looms as the Republican trifecta that controls Washington pursues three different strategies. Plus, the increasingly difficult Senate map the GOP faces in 2026. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 03, 2025•15 min
With 28 days until the government shuts down, will Congress act in time to keep it open? Plus, Democrats target Sen. Susan Collins over stock trading. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 02, 2025•16 min
Congress comes back tomorrow, and it's looking more and more likely that there will be a government shutdown before year's end. Plus the latest on the Texas GOP Senate primary. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 01, 2025•15 min
Andrew Desiderio joins Max Cohen to talk about his recent travel to Arizona and Nevada, covering power in the Senate. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2025•21 min
Punchbowl News Reporter Andrew Desiderio is back with Jake to break down the latest Punch Power Matrix. Plus: A look at Senate Democrats’ emerging strategy in the fall funding fight, and the latest major political developments out of California and Texas. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more abo...
Aug 22, 2025•13 min
Can Mike Rogers win a Michigan Senate seat without President Trump on the ballot? Andrew Desiderio is back to dig into Rogers’ 2026 strategy. Plus: What’s on the non-shutdown legislative agenda this fall, and key takeaways from FEC filing day — from House and Senate fundraising to the massive RNC cash advantage. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punc...
Aug 21, 2025•12 min
Democrats’ split over Israel is roiling Michigan’s must-watch Senate primary. Punchbowl News Reporter Andrew Desiderio joins Jake to discuss. Plus: California’s new map creates a slate of swing districts. And John Cornyn is showing signs of narrowing the gap with Ken Paxton in Texas. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at p...
Aug 20, 2025•14 min
Will Congress back Trump’s idea of U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine? Punchbowl News’ Andrew Desiderio joins Jake to discuss. Plus: How Brian Schatz quietly locked up the Senate whip race. And why David Schweikert may ditch his House seat for an Arizona governor run. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news....
Aug 19, 2025•15 min
A rare White House summit brings President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Europe’s top leaders to Washington — with Ukraine’s future on the line. Jake is joined by Punchbowl News Reporter Andrew Desiderio to break down the stakes and how Congress could respond. Plus: Democrats target Arizona as a key battleground, California’s new map reshuffles races and J.D. Scholten exits Iowa’s Senate contest to back Josh Turek. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel...
Aug 18, 2025•15 min
Anna and Jake take the reins of the Readback Podcast this week to talk about the tricky map Senate Democrats will face next year. Plus, the results of the Scoop of the Year poll and a dispatch from the Punchbowl News Cornhole Tournament. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 16, 2025•9 min
President Donald Trump turns up the heat on Indiana Republicans and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) steps into the national spotlight. Plus, Jake and Anna discuss who’s up and who’s down in Washington this week. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 15, 2025•11 min
Anna and Jake break down Trump’s push for a new D.C. security fund and the uphill battle it faces in Congress. Plus, a look at the GOP’s playbook for Democratic primaries in battleground districts, and why tech exporters are on edge after Nvidia and AMD agreed to pay the U.S. government 15% of certain chip sales to China. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our...
Aug 14, 2025•14 min
Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics faces a rocky Senate confirmation over his past comments on jobs data, Social Security, and more. Anna and Jake break down the political fight ahead. Plus: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer improves his hand with recruitment wins for 2026. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsl...
Aug 13, 2025•12 min
Sen. John Cornyn is in deep trouble. With polling showing him trailing Texas AG Ken Paxton by double digits, the Senate Leadership Fund is warning donors it could take tens of millions to save his seat — and hundreds of millions more if Paxton wins the primary. Anna and Jake break down the stakes, the GOP’s redistricting push and why the Trump administration is staying on the sidelines…for now. Plus: It’s inflation report day, and Washington is already spinning the numbers. We look at how the la...
Aug 12, 2025•14 min
Democrats see only a narrow path to reclaiming the Senate in 2026 — but a handful of key states could still deliver a surprise. Anna breaks down the races to watch, from Georgia and Michigan to North Carolina and Maine, and why the GOP remains favored to hold the chamber. Plus, former Attorney General Eric Holder huddles with House Democrats on redistricting as Republicans push new maps in Texas, Missouri and beyond. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new...
Aug 11, 2025•13 min
Tech reporter Ben Brody discusses the impact of tariffs on semiconductors and President Trump's calling for the removal of Intel's CEO this past week. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the best of Punchbowl News this week. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 09, 2025•13 min
Republicans are mounting an unprecedented mid-decade redistricting push — one they hope could net double-digit House seats heading into 2026. Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman break down where the map battles are heating up and why Democrats face an uphill fight. Plus, an inside look at Speaker Mike Johnson’s high-dollar donor retreat in Jackson Hole, featuring Palantir CEO Alex Karp and other power players. And finally, the surprising story of how Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is helping broker a pote...
Aug 08, 2025•13 min
Democrats face a growing generational rift as younger challengers line up to take on veteran incumbents in a series of high-stakes primaries. Anna Palmer and Max Cohen break down the battle lines — and what it says about the future of the party. Plus: Sen. Tom Cotton presses the Pentagon to block foreign nationals from accessing sensitive systems, and the GAO offers buyouts as House Republicans propose steep budget cuts. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the...
Aug 07, 2025•12 min
Lawmakers head to Israel as the Gaza crisis deepens, testing Democratic divisions over support for Israel. Anna is joined by Punchbowl News Reporter Max Cohen to break down what’s driving the trip and how it could shape future primaries. Plus: Democrats brace for the fallout if Obamacare subsidies lapse at year’s end, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski struggles to sell the One Big Beautiful Bill back home in Alaska. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we’re...
Aug 06, 2025•9 min
Sen. Brian Schatz is all but locked in as the next Senate Democratic whip — and possibly a future leader — with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s backing. Max Cohen joins Anna to break down Schatz’s rapid rise and how he’s reshaping the party’s leadership pipeline. Plus: Vice President JD Vance heads to Indiana as Republicans eye aggressive redistricting while California Democrats target five new House seats of their own. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the ...
Aug 05, 2025•10 min