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The Daily Punch
Weekday mornings, The Daily Punch brings you inside Capitol Hill, the White House and Washington for an unfiltered look at the key players and stakes of all major issues of the day. Power. People. Politics. Hosted by Punchbowl News founders, journalists and best-selling authors Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman.
Episodes
- The Daily Punch
What Schumer told us about El-Sayed
President Donald Trump is our guest on Fly Out Day, the episode drops tomorrow morning. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sat down with Punchbowl News to…
- The Daily Punch
The left strikes back
The Democratic Party’s reckoning is here. Progressives are on track to win key races in Tuesday’s primaries in Michigan, although not as decisively as…
- The Daily Punch
The Senate's escape math
The Senate’s ability to clear its pile-up of legislation and nominations before a five-week summer recess may come down to two GOP decisions. Plus, it’s…
- The Daily Punch
Blanche and Cornyn's deal
The White House believes it has a deal with GOP senators to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee after days of frenzied…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: Blanche’s confirmation battle
Laura and Brendan discuss Todd Blanche's struggle this week to sway Senate GOP holdouts Thom Tillis and John Cornyn on his attorney general nomination. This…
- The Daily Punch
2026 and its campaign tricks
From mystery super PACs to late third-party candidate adds, we’ve seen some questionable campaign practices this cycle, with the control of Congress coming…
The Daily PunchFly Out Day: Super PAC leader Alex Latcham talks Republicans’ $400 million campaign war chest
Senate Leadership Fund's Alex Latcham joined Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer at the Punchbowl News Townhouse to break down midterm spending strategy across key…
- The Daily Punch
Is Trump kicking Thune to the curb?
President Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to say whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune is the right person to lead Senate Republicans amid an…
- The Daily Punch
Thune's minefield
From President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act push to a high-profile Cabinet nomination and a budget reconciliation effort, Senate Majority Leader John Thune…
- The Daily Punch
A SAVE Act cheat sheet for the W.H.
President Donald Trump is upping his pressure campaign on Senate Majority Leader John Thune over the SAVE America Act, backing a push from hardline…
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The Senate's two-week sprint
The Senate has a full plate during its two-week sprint to August recess, as Senate Majority Leader John Thune faces pressure from competing factions of his…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: Hegseth’s shaky push for Pentagon cash
Anthony Adragna takes you behind the scenes of Pete Hegseth's Senate hearing, where the DOD secretary pushed for the Trump administration’s $87.6 billion…
- The Daily Punch
100 days out: House GOP's challenges
Sunday marks 100 days until the midterm elections. The House is gone for five weeks. And things are looking bleak for the House Republican majority. Anna and…
The Daily PunchFly Out Day: Can the GOP avoid a shutdown? New Senate Budget Chair Ron Johnson on the fight ahead
The new chair of the Senate Budget Committee Sen. Ron Johnson chats with Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer at the Punchbowl News townhouse about reconciliation 3.0…
- The Daily Punch
Is reconciliation 3.0 destined for the lame duck?
In one day, Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leaders overcame Republican opposition to pass three major bills. But the next challenge for House Republicans…
- The Daily Punch
Are House and Senate Rs even talking?
Reconciliation is getting very, very messy for Hill Republicans, as Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune find themselves at odds. Anna…
- The Daily Punch
Budget vote, Hegseth showdown and a crypto breakthrough
There’s so much going on that we need to cover three topics at the top of this morning’s edition — the looming budget resolution vote in the House, Defense…
- The Daily Punch
House Republicans' final-week gauntlet
Congress faces a crowded legislative week and an increasingly complex and messy geopolitical landscape as House Republicans look to move forward on…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: Graham’s death shocks Washington
Andrew and Max discuss Sen. Lindsey Graham's legacy and the latest on the Russia sanctions bill. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest…
- The Daily Punch
Democrats are drowning the House GOP in cash
House Democrats are rolling in cash with just 109 days until the midterms. Congressional Reporter Max Cohen joins Jake to break down the latest trove of…
The Daily PunchFly Out Day: HFC Chair Harris on government funding, immigration and redistricting
Maryland GOP Rep. Andy Harris, chairs of the House Freedom Caucus, joins Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer at the Punchbowl News townhouse to discuss Speaker…
- The Daily Punch
Inside the Democrats' deep Israel split
U.S. policy toward Israel is one of the biggest issues of the 2026 Democratic primaries. And when it came time to vote on cutting off billions in aid to the…
- The Daily Punch
House Republicans' fragile equilibrium
House GOP leaders are entering a very perilous period as they attempt to squeeze six months of legislating into a handful of weeks, with the midterm elections…
- The Daily Punch
Johnson's election-year reconciliation rush
With the political winds howling in their face, House Republicans are gearing up to send the Pentagon tens of billions of dollars in new funding for a…
- The Daily Punch
Graham's death and Congress' scramble
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) shocking death this weekend at 71 has stunned the Senate, all of Washington, South Carolina and the nation. Anna and Jake…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: What went wrong for Democrats in Maine
Laura and Max break down Graham Platner's exit from the Maine Senate race this week and what it means for Senate Democrats in the midterms. This story was…
- The Daily Punch
Inside Thune's July floor plan
Senate GOP leaders are about to launch into a four-week summer rush to confirm Trump’s nominees in what could finally be a productive stretch for Senate…
The Daily PunchFly Out Day: Democrats’ dilemma: Senate Majority PAC leader talks Platner, campaign finance and the road to 2026
J.B. Poersch, president of Senate Majority PAC, sat down with Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer to break down Democratic strategy, party leadership and the upcoming…
- The Daily Punch
Trump's new Iran problem on the Hill
An escalation in fighting between the U.S. and Iran — for the second night in a row — could mean big political, legal and economic problems for President…
- The Daily Punch
Can the left recover from Platner?
Senate progressives may have just blown a massive opportunity to drag the party further to the left thanks to the Graham Platner scandal in Maine. Will they…
- The Daily Punch
Platner, Schumer and the future of the 2026 map
Amid reports of alleged sexual assault, Graham Platner is no longer a viable Democratic candidate to take on Maine Sen. Susan Collins, putting Chuck Schumer…
- The Daily Punch
What to watch for this recess
Washington will be empty this week with both the House and Senate on recess, and President Donald Trump heading to Turkey for a NATO summit. Anna and Jake…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: A campaign-finance earthquake
Ally Mutnick breaks down how the Supreme Court handed Republicans a massive win Tuesday by striking down coordination limits in NRSC v. FEC. This story was…
- The Daily Punch
The Punch Power Matrix
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…
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Inside Thune's judicial strategy
Senate Republicans have been confirming circuit and district court judges at a pace that now exceeds their clip from the first Trump administration — a rare…
- The Daily Punch
House GOP leadership's dwindling power
For the second week in a row, Speaker Mike Johnson was railroaded by his own colleagues in the House Republican Conference. Anna and Jake break down what went…
- The Daily Punch
The Future of Housing: The Players
Special projects reporter Shania Shelton joins deputy congressional editor Robert O'Shaughnessy to discuss the players in the world of U.S. housing policy…
- The Daily Punch
Johnson's House theater
Speaker Mike Johnson is tying the SAVE America Act to the NDAA in a bid to keep the House moving this week. But will the maneuver be enough to stop the…
- The Daily Punch
Can Johnson SAVE his week?
It’s July 4th week. The Senate is out. The House is in session through Thursday — as of now. Punchbowl News Congressional Reporter Max Cohen and Defense…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: How lawmakers reacted to Trump tanking the housing deal
Em Luetkemeyer takes you behind the scenes of how Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP Rep. French Hill responded to President Trump's last-minute decision to postpone…
- The Daily Punch
A look at your House leaders
It’s Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ turn in the barrel for our semi-regular Leader Look, following a particularly crazy week…
The Daily PunchFly Out Day: Rep. Garbarino on FISA, AI threats and New York politics
New York GOP Rep. Andrew Garbarino — chair of the House Homeland Security Committee — joins Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer to break down FISA's future, Trump's…
- The Daily Punch
Where does Trump stand with Senate GOP?
President Donald Trump’s tense Capitol Hill lunch with Senate Republicans did little to bridge deep divisions over the SAVE America Act. Anna and Jake break…
- The Daily Punch
Is Reconciliation 3.0 a real thing?
Jake and Anthony break down the dynamics at play with Reconciliation 3.0. Plus, President Donald Trump visits the Capitol today, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani…
- The Daily Punch
Future of Housing: Leading Voice
Special projects reporter Shania Shelton joins deputy congressional editor Robert O'Shaughnessy to discuss her interview with Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.), chair…
- The Daily Punch
Inside Thune's plan for the Trump lunch
Jake and Anthony talk about President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the Capitol. What dynamics are at play for Senate Majority Leader John Thune? Plus, the…
- The Daily Punch
Trump to face off with Senate GOP
President Donald Trump is set to meet with Senate Republicans on Wednesday amid several weeks of tensions over the filibuster, the SAVE America Act and much…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: How to save a housing agenda
Vault co-author Brendan Pedersen discusses the long road to a bicameral housing bill. This story was featured in The Readback, our weekend digest featuring the…
- The Daily Punch
Judging Thune and Schumer
Jake breaks down John Thune's struggle with President Donald Trump and how Chuck Schumer has improved Senate Democrats' chances of winning back the majority…
The Daily PunchFly Out Day: Trump's man on Capitol Hill speaks
Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer sit down with James Braid, the Trump White House's director of legislative affairs, for a rare look behind the curtain during a…
- The Daily Punch
Trump-Thune reaches a boil
The simmering tension between President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune has reached a boiling point. Anna and Jake break down the latest in…
- The Daily Punch
Trump blows up Clayton nomination
President Donald Trump suddenly announced early Wednesday morning that he’s delaying his nomination of Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence. Anna…
- The Daily Punch
The Future of Housing: Legislative Landscape
Special Projects Reporter Shania Shelton joins Deputy Congressional Editor Robert O'Shaughnessy to discuss what Congress is doing with housing legislation like…
- The Daily Punch
Can Republicans pivot from Iran?
President Donald Trump’s ceasefire with Iran is perhaps the most critical moment of his presidency — but will it serve as a potential pivot point for the…
- The Daily Punch
Iran, FISA and Jay Clayton: Congress’s week
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he has an agreement with Iranian officials to end the three-and-a-half-month conflict between the two…
- The Daily Punch
Readback: What Schumer said about flipping the Senate
Congressional reporter Laura Weiss breaks down her interview with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and what he said about endorsing Rep. Haley Stevens in…
- The Daily Punch
Can Thune catch a break?
President Donald Trump showed again on Thursday that he’s not done messing with Senate Republicans, choosing the worst time to take action on something GOP…
The Daily PunchFly Out Day: CO Rep. Jason Crow on FISA, Trump's Iran strategy and congressional stock ban
Colorado Rep. Jason Crow (D) sits down with Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer to break down FISA, his work on the Intelligence and Armed Services committees and…
- The Daily Punch
FISA flails and Trump makes new demands
FISA is headed for a cliff as Democrats oppose even a short-term extension ahead of Friday’s expiration — all while Trump’s push for a $350B Pentagon…
- The Daily Punch
Thune's unhappy summer
President Donald Trump has created many problems on Capitol Hill. Increasingly, he’s leaving Senate Majority Leader John Thune on the sidelines as he tries to…