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.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 8:20
The new hot topic flooding the airwaves this election season is a ban on members of Congress trading stocks. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our…
Sep 28, 2026 · 11:04
The Senate is back for what is likely its last week in session before the midterms. What's on the agenda? Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free…
Sep 26, 2026 · 13:21
Samantha Handler discusses what appropriators are up to this September without a government shutdown to worry about. This story was featured in the Readback, our weekend digest…
Sep 25, 2026 · 11:28
Texas PAC could be spending big to help Ken Paxton in the Lone Star State. Plus, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) speaks. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to…
Sep 24, 2026 · 37:10
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sat down with Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer at the townhouse to discuss the…
Sep 24, 2026 · 12:01
Will the Senate stick around for another week? All signs indicate that they will. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM…
Sep 23, 2026 · 10:45
There are 41 days until Election Day, and Republicans are throwing everything and the kitchen sink at their sinking political fortunes. Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer discuss what…
Sep 22, 2026 · 11:38
We spoke with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to talk about what Schumer sees as some of the critical issues that he…
Sep 21, 2026 · 12:51
President Donald Trump has a big week ahead at the U.N. General Assembly and the Senate is looking to head home. Plus: DCCC launches an $8 million effort. Want more in-depth…
Sep 19, 2026 · 15:25
Defense reporter Anthony Adragna breaks down Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby's rough briefing with Senate Republicans on Thursday. This story was featured in the Readback,…
Sep 18, 2026 · 13:15
Jake and Max go over where the GOP is spending big in the run-up to the midterms. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM…
Sep 17, 2026 · 36:57
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sat down with Anna Palmer at the townhouse to talk about redistricting, the possibility of a Democratic majority in Congress, issues facing AI and data…
Sep 17, 2026 · 11:30
As Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Jared Golden break with their party on rule votes; House Democratic leaders are handling the situation differently. Want more in-depth daily…
Sep 16, 2026 · 9:31
Fed rates are expected to be hiked today, which won't make President Donald Trump happy. Plus, how dead is the crypto agenda? Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?…
Sep 15, 2026 · 13:58
As artificial intelligence dominates the news cycle, AI companies are begging to be regulated. Congress is nowhere on the issue. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?…
Sep 14, 2026 · 13:38
Both the House and the Senate are back this week as the sprint kicks off to Election Day. Plus: the latest on the Clarity Act. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?…
Sep 12, 2026 · 17:15
Defense reporter Briana Reilly takes you behind the scenes of the NDIA emerging technology conference and what top DOD officials said about their outlook on future funding. This…
Sep 11, 2026 · 14:47
Jake and Brendan go over what Thune told us about the future of the Senate. Plus: HMP's redline. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl…
Sep 10, 2026 · 37:49
House Majority PAC President Mike Smith sits down with Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer at the townhouse to talk about affordability, redistricting and everything else weighing on…
Sep 10, 2026 · 10:11
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is jumping into the dark money game ahead of the midterm elections with a new 501(c)(4). Jake Sherman and Ally Mutnick discuss Jeffries'…
Sep 9, 2026 · 13:11
There are 55 days to go until Election Day. Jake and Anna discuss the three headwinds for Republicans going into November and three potential lifelines. Want more in-depth daily…
Sep 8, 2026 · 8:23
The Republicans’ “midterm convention” in Dallas begins Wednesday. The made-for-TV event is aimed at boosting GOP base turnout in the midterm elections. But there will also be a…
Sep 7, 2026 · 7:04
Trump's "midterm convention" is in Dallas this week alongside top House and Senate Republicans and a handful of key GOP candidates. One Republican who won't be there: Senate…
Sep 5, 2026 · 14:48
Max and defense reporter Anthony Adragna talk about the House Armed Services Committee gavel race and Rep. Rob Wittman's reelection campaign. Plus, Anthony goes over the…
Sep 4, 2026 · 12:50
Anna and Jake do a Leader Look and discuss the week Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe…
Sep 3, 2026 · 35:11
Republican Study Committee Chair Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) stopped by the townhouse to chat with Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer about the state of the GOP, rooting out fraud,…
Sep 3, 2026 · 15:17
Anna and Jake go over how House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' leadership team is discussing a broad overhaul of how the House Democratic Caucus operates as the party inches…
Sep 2, 2026 · 15:04
Anna and Jake discuss House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' rebuke of two representatives who voted with Republicans on a rule Tuesday afternoon. Plus: a look at several close…
Sep 1, 2026 · 13:36
Jake and Laura talk about the spot Speaker Mike Johnson is in, whether he should send everyone home this week. Plus, the latest on the Russia sanctions effort in the House and a…
Aug 31, 2026 · 9:29
Jake and Anthony talk about the House's return and what's on the docket for the chamber leading up to Election Day. Plus: Zelensky sends a top aide to the Hill and Raskin hits…
Aug 22, 2026 · 10:35
Congressional reporter Laura Weiss discusses what Speaker Mike Johnson told her in Pennsylvania about growing the House GOP majority. This story was featured in the Readback, our…
Aug 21, 2026 · 9:12
Jake and Andrew discuss who might replace James Braid as Trump's top Hill lobbyist. Plus, more on AOC's delicate balancing act. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress?…
Aug 20, 2026 · 9:08
Anna and Jake break down what Speaker Mike Johnson told us on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania. Plus, James Braid is leaving the White House. Want more in-depth daily coverage…
Aug 19, 2026 · 7:24
Anna and Jake break down Tuesday's primary results. Plus: the prospect of a 50-50 Senate looms. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl…
Aug 18, 2026 · 7:24
Anna and Jake break down what to watch tonight as primary voters head to the polls in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to…
Aug 17, 2026 · 9:01
Jake and Anna break down the dynamics at play in the House Democratic Caucus as the midterms creep up. Plus, what House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told Jake on the trail. Want…
Aug 15, 2026 · 12:09
Our digital content producer Rachel Scully takes you behind the scenes of producing Fly Out Day and capturing Punchbowl News' video content at stakeouts. This story was featured…
Aug 14, 2026 · 9:33
Jake recounts what House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told him on the road in Michigan. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM…
Aug 13, 2026 · 11:22
Jake and Anna break down the role data centers are taking on the campaign trail, with candidates from both sides of the aisle using them as a punching bag. Want more in-depth…
Aug 12, 2026 · 12:48
Jake and Anna break down what happened last night across the country after the primary polls closed in Connecticut, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Want more in-depth daily…
Aug 11, 2026 · 10:45
Anna and Jake break down what went down with Democrats in a downballot House primary in Michigan where a former DSA member won the party's nomination. Plus, what to watch today…
Aug 10, 2026 · 12:37
Jake and Anna explore what the Senate needs to do when they come back next month; the upper chamber may have pushed the CR down the road, but there's still plenty to do. Plus,…
Aug 8, 2026 · 16:44
Ally and Max discuss Abdul El-Sayed's victory over Rep. Haley Stevens in the Senate Democratic primary in Michigan Tuesday. This story was featured in the Readback, our weekend…
Aug 7, 2026 · 46:12
Jake Sherman sits down with President Donald Trump to talk the SAVE America Act, Iran, Blanche's nomination and MUCH more. Stick around: John Bresnahan and Anna Palmer provide…
Aug 7, 2026 · 12:00
Jake and Anna recap Punchbowl News' exclusive interview with President Donald Trump at the White House. The president refused to back Senate Majority Leader John Thune and had…
Aug 6, 2026 · 10:26
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 talk about the…
Aug 5, 2026 · 11:44
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 predicted — or hoped. Anna…
Aug 4, 2026 · 11:50
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 Primary Day in Michigan!…
Aug 3, 2026 · 9:03
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 negotiations. Jake…
Aug 1, 2026 · 12:31
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 story was featured in…
Jul 31, 2026 · 12:18
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 down to a…
Jul 30, 2026 · 36:33
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 states, the SAVE…
Jul 30, 2026 · 12:44
President Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to say whether Senate Majority Leader John Thune is the right person to lead Senate Republicans amid an inter-party struggle over the…
Jul 29, 2026 · 8:18
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 faces a political…
Jul 28, 2026 · 9:10
President Donald Trump is upping his pressure campaign on Senate Majority Leader John Thune over the SAVE America Act, backing a push from hardline conservatives to scrap the…
Jul 27, 2026 · 9:59
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 conference and the…
Jul 25, 2026 · 12:06
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 supplemental request.…
Jul 24, 2026 · 10:24
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 Jake break down the…
Jul 23, 2026 · 37:23
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 SAVE Act,…
Jul 23, 2026 · 9:46
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: it’s increasingly…
Jul 22, 2026 · 11:46
Reconciliation is getting very, very messy for Hill Republicans, as Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune find themselves at odds. Anna and Jake break down…
Jul 21, 2026 · 10:54
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 Secretary Pete…
Jul 20, 2026 · 9:47
Congress faces a crowded legislative week and an increasingly complex and messy geopolitical landscape as House Republicans look to move forward on reconciliation 3.0 and more.…
Jul 18, 2026 · 17:36
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 featuring the best of…
Jul 17, 2026 · 11:42
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 campaign-finance reports…
Jul 16, 2026 · 36:19
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 Johnson's and Leader…
Jul 16, 2026 · 14:42
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 Jewish State, House…
Jul 15, 2026 · 13:53
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 looming like an…
Jul 14, 2026 · 12:42
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 seemingly endless Iran war…
Jul 13, 2026 · 9:39
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 discuss the latest. Plus,…
Jul 11, 2026 · 15:12
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 featured in the…
Jul 10, 2026 · 10:47
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 Majority Leader John…
Jul 9, 2026 · 32:30
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 primaries. Stick…
Jul 9, 2026 · 11:24
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 Donald Trump and…
Jul 8, 2026 · 9:56
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 ever recover? Jake…
Jul 7, 2026 · 12:00
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 and Senate Democrats…
Jul 6, 2026 · 10:32
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 preview what we’re…
Jul 4, 2026 · 13:41
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 featured in The…
Jul 3, 2026 · 9:36
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…
Jul 2, 2026 · 9:30
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 bright spot for the…
Jul 1, 2026 · 9:51
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 wrong and what…
Jun 30, 2026 · 20:49
Special projects reporter Shania Shelton joins deputy congressional editor Robert O'Shaughnessy to discuss the players in the world of U.S. housing policy. Plus, Punchbowl News…
Jun 30, 2026 · 9:41
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 bleeding in the House…
Jun 29, 2026 · 12:27
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 Reporter Anthony Adragna…
Jun 27, 2026 · 14:11
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 signing the…
Jun 26, 2026 · 13:06
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 for the House…
Jun 25, 2026 · 35:45
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 torched housing bill…
Jun 25, 2026 · 16:25
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 down the contentious…
Jun 24, 2026 · 12:32
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 crushes House Minority…
Jun 23, 2026 · 6:43
Special projects reporter Shania Shelton joins deputy congressional editor Robert O'Shaughnessy to discuss her interview with Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.), chair of the House…
Jun 23, 2026 · 14:51
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 House is back this…
Jun 22, 2026 · 12:43
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 more. Congressional…
Jun 20, 2026 · 19:03
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 best of Punchbowl…
Jun 19, 2026 · 9:48
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. Punchbowl News is on…
Jun 18, 2026 · 37:52
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 busy time on Capitol…
Jun 18, 2026 · 12:56
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 Senate-Trump…
Jun 17, 2026 · 13:48
President Donald Trump suddenly announced early Wednesday morning that he’s delaying his nomination of Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence. Anna and Jake discuss…
Jun 16, 2026 · 7:51
Special Projects Reporter Shania Shelton joins Deputy Congressional Editor Robert O'Shaughnessy to discuss what Congress is doing with housing legislation like the 21st Century…
Jun 16, 2026 · 8:02
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 endangered Republican…
Jun 15, 2026 · 11:49
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 countries. Punchbowl News…
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