The Readback: A dispatch from Finchella

Punchbowl News Financial Services Reporter Brendan Pedersen recaps his interviews at D.C. Fintech Week, aka Finchella. 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 Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) joins Anna and Jake at the Punchbowl News Townhouse to take us inside the government shutdown, now on its 16th day. • Shutdown: Scalise brushed off concerns that people will turn their anger toward GOP • Cassidy: Scalise declined to endorse Sen. Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) reelection effort • Future plans: Scalise said he will run for reelection in 2026 Plus, a post-interview breakdown from MSNBC’s Laura Barrón-López and The New York Times’ Carl Hulse, where they unpack what it all means. Want to stay up on political news throughout the day? Join Punchbowl News' premium membership for the latest in what's happening in Washington. https://punchbowl.news/pricing/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Day 16 of the government shutdown and there's still no resolution. Jake and Anna discuss Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s delicate balancing act with President Donald Trump. Plus: Big takeaways from the FEC filing deadline, and how Democrats are outpacing Republicans in key races. 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

Anna and Jake break down how the redistricting battles are shaping the 2026 landscape — with the Supreme Court hearing a pivotal Voting Rights Act case and state-level fights playing out coast to coast. Plus: Day 15 of the government shutdown and John Thune is trying a new strategy on defense spending. 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

It’s Day 14 of the government shutdown — and the White House is settling in for the long haul. As President Trump hosts foreign leaders in Washington, his administration is quietly finding ways to blunt the pain of a prolonged standoff. Jake breaks down how these moves could stretch the shutdown well into November. Plus: Sen. Jim Justice’s daily private jet commute. 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

It’s Day 13 of the government shutdown — and the House has gone AWOL. As President Trump travels through the Middle East, Washington faces a striking split screen: a major diplomatic moment abroad while negotiations at home remain stalled. Anna and Jake unpack how congressional inaction is shaping the shutdown. Plus: Inside the administration’s move to make sure the Coast Guard gets paid. 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. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) comes to the Punchbowl News Townhouse to share his views on the government shutdown, now on its ninth day. When will it end? Gallego doesn't see a quick end to the shutdown. ACA: The Arizona Democrat is open to negotiations. Grijalva: Gallego continues to push Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) Plus, John Bresnahan, Punchbowl News' co-founder, and Igor Bobic, HuffPost's senior politics reporter, join for a post-interview conversation. Subscribe to Fly Out Day wherever you get your podcasts, and be the first to catch the latest conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura and Max discuss the government shutdown battle and the absence of House members. 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

It’s Day 10 of the government shutdown and pressure is rising as troops prepare to miss their first paychecks. Anna and Jake break down why negotiations remain stuck — and why Trump’s absence looms large. Plus: The Senate passes the NDAA with bipartisan support. 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

Punchbowl News Tech Reporter Ben Brody joins Max Cohen to discuss the story of Hercules Candy, a well-established business that took off during the Covid-19 pandemic after YouTube gave it new legs. Plus, stick around for a fireside chat with Punchbowl News Founder and CEO Anna Palmer with Tara Walpert Levy, VP of Americas at YouTube. 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