The Readback: What the shutdown told us about Democrats

Vault co-author Brendan Pedersen shares how his laundry got stuck at the dry cleaners during the 43-day government shutdown. 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

Republican senators have been privately lobbying President Donald Trump to support a limited short-term extension of Obamacare subsidies. Anna and Jake discuss the details. Plus: House GOP leaders are urging the White House to hold off on an executive order targeting state artificial intelligence laws. Watch this episode on YouTube here! 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

Sen. Bill Cassidy sits down with Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer to chat about the future of health care, RFK Jr. and a possible Trump endorsement. Stick around after for That’s Not Gonna Fly with our very own Andrew Desiderio and NBC News's Ryan Nobles. Fly Out Day lands every Thursday evening — your front-row pass to Capitol Hill’s end-of-week chaos and conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the Thune–Johnson bromance cracking? Tensions are rising between the Senate and House GOP leaders as funding fights and the Epstein petition resurface. Plus: Georgia’s messy Senate GOP primary isn’t going away. Watch this episode on YouTube here! 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

Redistricting failure is scrambling the GOP’s 2026 strategy. Jake breaks down how Texas, Indiana, Missouri and more became unexpected trouble spots for Republicans less than a year from the midterms. Plus: House Democrats notched big wins on Epstein and funding — then stumbled into their own internal mess. Watch this episode on YouTube here! 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

The Epstein files take center stage on Capitol Hill, and President Donald Trump’s sudden reversal is reshaping the politics around their release. Anna and Jake break down what’s next in the House and Senate.  Plus: A rare Democrat-vs-Democrat floor fight erupts over Rep. Chuy García’s retirement and succession drama. Watch this episode on YouTube here! 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

House rank-and-file members are trying to reclaim power after the shutdown and the Epstein files vote lands this week. Anna and Jake break down the big tensions and what to watch across Capitol Hill. Plus: The Senate pushes ahead on FY2026 funding.  Watch this episode on YouTube here! 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

Max and Laura share what impact the government shutdown had on Senate Democrats and discuss the House's return after being out of session for 54 days. 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

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer joined Fly Out Day to talk about the shutdown, the 2026 landscape and more. Jake recaps the newsy interview. Plus: a growing retirement wave in Congress and Eric Swalwell’s possible run for California governor — with new polling on the field. Watch this episode on YouTube here! 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

Majority Whip Tom Emmer swings by the townhouse to sit down with Jake Sherman about the Epstein probe, shutdown aftermath and more. Stick around after the interview for a fun That’s Not Gonna Fly with NBC's Scott Wong and The Washington Post's Marianna Sotomayor. Fly Out Day lands every Thursday evening — your front-row pass to Capitol Hill’s end-of-week chaos and conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices