Clock ticks on Trump's deadline

President Donald Trump’s sudden move to step back from the brink and agree to a two-week ceasefire with Iran is raising questions about what comes next. Meanwhile, NATO’s secretary general arrives in Washington today amid growing strain on the alliance. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the ceasefire, the political fallout and what to watch next.

President Donald Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. tonight to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — or face a potentially devastating military escalation. Meanwhile, in Georgia, polls will be closing in the special congressional runoff to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene just as Trump’s deadline looms. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the stakes and potential fallout as the clock ticks down.

President Donald Trump is set to hold a press conference following the successful rescue of an American airman in Iran over the weekend. But it comes amid escalating tensions, after Trump issued a profane and jarring Sunday morning post threatening strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure. Playbook’s Jack Blanchard and White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns break down the stakes — and the striking contrast with a historic NASA moon mission unfolding at the same time.

Artemis II has launched around the moon. Now, NASA has its sights set on Mars. NASA administrator and billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman sat down with POLITICO's Dasha Burns at Kennedy Space Center to talk about NASA’s ambitious plans to build a moon base, sending humans to Mars, his relationship with Elon Musk and why we could all have 3D-printed spare livers in our fridge someday.

President Donald Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi, kicking off what sources say could be a broader round of cabinet shakeups as frustration builds inside the White House. Dasha Burns reports on who could be next. She also shares insights from her sit-down with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and his aggressive new moon-to-Mars push. Co-host Adam Wren previews a key gathering of 2028 Democratic hopefuls in New York.

President Trump gave a primetime address on Iran to the nation on Wednesday night. Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break down the rhetoric, the unclear endgame, and what Trump’s “two to three weeks” timeline really means for the conflict, global oil markets, and America’s allies. Plus, one year after Liberation Day, how Trump’s tariff agenda has actually played out, and a surprising twist in the long-running DHS shutdown fight that could hand Democrats the upper hand.

It’s a busy start to April for Donald Trump. The president heads to the Supreme Court for a test of his effort to end birthright citizenship, a long-shot legal fight with big political stakes for the base and his broader coalition. Tonight, he’ll address the nation on the war in Iran as tensions with European allies simmer. And in between, all eyes turn to Florida, where NASA is set to launch Artemis II — sending humans farther into space than ever before and kicking off a new era in the global space race. Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns break it all down.

We’re a quarter of the way through 2026, and the Trump administration is facing challenges at home and abroad. The president is at a critical moment on Iran as military pressure ramps up and the effect of diplomatic efforts remains murky. Meanwhile, the DHS shutdown drags into record territory with no clear end in sight. And a wave of Republican primaries could test just how strong Trump’s grip on the party really is. Dasha Burns and Jack Blanchard break down the big inflection points to watch.

Trump heads into a consequential week as he weighs whether to escalate the war in Iran, with the prospect of U.S. ground troops looming. At the same time, the Supreme Court takes up his birthright citizenship order, the anniversary of his tariff push brings renewed focus on affordability, and fresh jobs data will test his economic message. Hosts Jack Blanchard and Adam Wren break it all down.

Andy Beshear is the most popular Democratic governor in the country – in a state Donald Trump won by more than 30 points in 2024. He explains why he believes a President JD Vance could be “more damaging than Trump”, lays out his playbook for winning back voters in Trump country, and calls out the litmus test he thinks Democrats should abandon. Can a Democrat who wins in deep-red Kentucky translate that success nationally? Beshear argues why someone like him may have an advantage at the top of the Democratic ticket in 2028.