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Another Make or Break Week for the GOP Feat. Laura Weiss

It is another make or break week for Congressional Republicans as the Senate tees up a vote on a budget resolution. Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Punchbowl News’ Laura Weiss to answer some big questions about the reconciliation debate. Is the new timeline feasible? How will the two chambers handle different budget instructions? And will the Senate overrule the parliamentarian if need be?
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Guest: Laura Weiss
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
Punchbowl: The big moments this week that will define Republicans’ tax plans
Politico: Senate GOP to start moving budget plan as soon as Wednesday
Politico: ‘Never been done’: Why Republicans might approve a budget whose numbers don’t match up
New York Times: A Special Election That Was Supposed to Be a Snoozer Is Suddenly Buzzing
NBC News: Inside Trump's shock decision to pull the plug on Elise Stefanik's nomination

Reconciliation Heats up and Democrats Melt Down, Feat. Liam Donovan

The House and Senate return following the passage of a CR, and the next thing on the table is a return to budget reconciliation negotiations. Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Liam Donovan, senior political strategist at Bracewell, to talk about where discussions stand, what obstacles remain, and how long this thing may take. Plus what happened with the Democrats on the CR vote, the firestorm its created, and how they try to move forward. 
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Guest: Liam Donovan
Producer: Benji Englander
Second producer: Regina Anderson
 
Articles Mentioned:
Axios: Behind the Curtain: Dems' dark, deep hole
Axios: "They hate us": Democrats confront their own Tea Party
The New York Times Opinion: There’s a Price for Promising What Isn’t Possible in Congress
The Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

Will Republicans Avoid a Shutdown? Feat. Nicholas Wu

With government funding set to run out in a matter of days, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by POLITICO congressional reporter Nicholas Wu to assess the shutdown state-of-play. They discuss if Speaker Johnson can muster the votes for a CR, the differing strategies of House and Senate Democrats, and what the censure of Al Green portends for the final vote tally. Plus, what Democrats will discuss at their retreat as they look for a way out of the wilderness.
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Guest: Nicholas Wu
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
NBC News: GOP-led Congress races to avert government shutdown ahead of Friday deadline
Politico: House Dems still offer no promises to help GOP avoid shutdown
Axios: Senate Democrats warm to helping GOP avoid government shutdown
Politico: Al Green censured for joint session outburst
Politico: House Democrats set to hear from governors, pollsters and more at issues conference

Congress Welcomes the Trump Show Feat. Chad Pergram of Fox News

Before President Trump addresses a Joint Session of Congress, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller discuss the outlook for his agenda: What are the next steps for reconciliation? Can the Senate make the budget math work? And will a government shutdown get in the way? Then, Seven Letter’s Mike Ricci joins the show to talk about State of the Union responses and Chad Pergram, Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent, shares his insights based on more than 30 years covering Capitol Hill. 
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Guests: Chad Pergram and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
AP: What’s next for Trump agenda after House GOP approves tax breaks and slashed spending in budget
Politico: GOP tax chief voiced ‘huge concern’ over Senate tax plan at White House meeting
Politico: Senate Republicans say House budget won’t fly with them
Fox News: Reporter's Notebook: All night long
CNN: Trump’s speech to Congress will be an explanation of his fast-paced first days in office
Roll Call: Slotkin leads return of the national security women for Democrats
Axios: Fuming Democrats struggle with Trump speech strategy

The House’s Big Week is Here

After weeks of buildup, the moment of truth arrives – can Speaker Johnson pass the budget resolution? Hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller dive into all the scenarios at play and how the Senate will respond after advancing down their two-bill track. Later, they debate the congressional politics of DOGE and if lawmakers can reassert their power of the purse. At the end, trying to answer the question “who is the leader of the Democratic party?”
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed
Brendan’s New York Times Op-Ed on DOGE
Punchbowl: Johnson’s task: A tricky budget resolution vote followed by a shutdown fight
The Hill: Johnson makes ‘prayer request’ ahead of critical vote on Trump agenda bill
AP: Senate Republicans approve budget framework, pushing past Democratic objections after all-night vote
WaPo: Back in their districts, GOP lawmakers get an earful on DOGE and Musk
New York Times: Bracing for a Shutdown Fight, Democrats Warn Their Votes Are Not a Given
Axios: Democrats spot opening to kneecap GOP's budget plans

Reconciliation Collision Course Feat. Garrett Haake

With the House and Senate on a collision course over reconciliation, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller explore which strategy has the best chance of success and how some of the wonkier aspects of the process may trip up the GOP’s plans. Then, NBC News’ senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake joins the show to offer his insight on the Trump administration’s early actions, the Trump-Musk relationship, and JD Vance’s role as the “Senate whisperer.”
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Guest: Garrett Haake
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed
Punchbowl: The reconciliation race: Can the House get its act together?
Politico: Inside the House GOP clash over tax cuts
CBS News: CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid "energetic" opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised
WaPo: Some Democrats vow to use leverage in government funding fight
NBC News: Elon Musk gets quiet White House reminders his power isn't unchecked
Politico: JD Vance Aced His First Test. The Next One Will Be Tougher.

After a Wild January, What Does February Have in Store? Feat. Rachael Bade

What a year the past month has been – to help make sense of the flurry of news over the last two weeks, Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by POLITICO’s Capitol Bureau Chief Rachael Bade. Together, they discuss the latest on House Republicans’ spending fight, Elon Musk’s influence on the White House, and the outlook for President Trump’s most controversial nominees.
 
Articles Discussed:
Politico: Musk steamrolls Washington as he remakes the federal government
NYT: ‘We Have No Coherent Message’: Democrats Struggle to Oppose Trump
WaPo: Trump halts tariffs on Canada and Mexico as both offer new border security plans
Politico: The GOP’s Unreliable Cutter-in-Chief
Reuters: Gabbard boosted in bid to become chief US spy ahead of committee vote
Politico: How Trump’s orbit used blunt force to squeeze Hegseth through

Welcome to Trump’s Washington

President Trump is back in the Oval Office. Hosts Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck discuss the flurry of activity on Inauguration Day – the speech, the executive orders, the pardons and more – and analyze what it means for Capitol Hill.
 
Hosts: Annalyse Keller and Brendan Buck
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
NYT: What Trump Did on Day 1: Tracking His Biggest Moves
Politico: Trump closes first day with an avalanche of executive orders

Confirmation Kick-Off Feat. Annie Karni

All eyes are on the Senate this week with 13 of President-elect Trump’s nominees slated for confirmation hearings. After first discussing the latest developments on reconciliation, hosts Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller are joined by Annie Karni, congressional correspondent at The New York Times, to assess the state-of-play on some of Trump’s more controversial picks. At the end, what Senator Fetterman was doing at Mar-a-Lago and why have Democrats changed their tune on immigration.
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Annalyse Keller
Guest: Annie Karni
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
ABC News: Republicans huddle with Trump in Florida as they plot out GOP agenda
Politico: Trump tells House Republicans to find a ‘fair number’ on SALT
Politico: House Republicans and Trump discuss tying California wildfire aid to debt ceiling
NYT: Fetterman Accepts Trump’s Invitation to Meet
WaPo: Democrats warm to Laken Riley bill as Senate to take up measure

Speaker Johnson Triumphs on the First Ballot – What’s Next for the MAGA Agenda?

The 119th Congress is off to a rollicking start and hosts Brendan Buck and Mike Ricci analyze the most pressing questions: After securing victory on the first ballot, how strong is Speaker Johnson’s standing in the Conference? Will he be able to move Trump’s agenda through the House? Drawing on their experience from 2017, they offer their opinions on reconciliation strategy.
 
Hosts: Brendan Buck and Mike Ricci
Producer: Benji Englander
 
Articles Discussed:
CNN: Johnson wins dramatic vote to remain House speaker
Politico: Johnson tells House Republicans that Trump wants one ‘big beautiful’ reconciliation package
NBC News: Speaker Johnson's push to pass Trump's agenda in one massive bill faces big hurdles
Roll Call: Trump open to two-step budget plan despite earlier comments