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Author: The Washington Post

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The Washington Post’s Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann gather for a weekly in-depth conversation about politics and power. From presidential candidates to members of Congress to the judicial system, Sidebar dives deep on the topics and people at the forefront of the political conversation.

The crew sits down each Thursday (with the occasional breaking news episode) to discuss what has happened that week, and what’s coming up the next week – with guest appearances from Washington Post reporters.
355 Episodes
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This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down Elon Musk's successful effort to torpedo a government spending bill – and what that means about how president-elect Donald Trump's White House will function. Plus, how are Democrats preparing for a Trump presidency in which they are the minority in both the House and Senate? Later, the crew looks at longtime members of the Senate who won't be back in the next Congress – and their final messages as they prepare to leave Washington. Finally, Trump's criminal racketeering case in Georgia may be on ice after prosecutor Fani T. Willis was disqualified by an appeals court.
This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss what's left of the Democratic party after its 2024 election losses – from who's left in Congress and who will have positions of authority, to the fading presence of the party's biggest voices in recent decades. The crew breaks down who could step up as Democrats' ideological leader – and who definitely won't be in the picture. Then, what's the status of Trump's cabinet picks? Right now, it looks like the ones left standing will all make it to January confirmation hearings.
Unconfirmed

Unconfirmed

2024-12-0547:53

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss whether Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for secretary of defense, can make it through the nomination process. Plus, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are on Capitol Hill touting their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – but how much power will they really have?Then, President Biden pardoned his son Hunter last weekend. Does that represent a final departure from the norms Biden promised to uphold?And who's really president right now? President Biden is on a foreign trip, but Capitol Hill and foreign leaders are all focused on Trump.
This week, the crew breaks down former rep. Matt Gaetz's sudden withdrawal as Trump's intended nominee for attorney general.Then, Libby Casey, James Hohmann and JM Rieger examine president-elect Donald Trump's promises: What does he say he will do on his first day in office? And what priorities will come later?Plus, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Trump's pick for Health and Human Services secretary – but will his proposed policy changes conflict with big business priorities? And can he actually take the flouride out of your water?
This week, president-elect Donald Trump picks Matt Gaetz for attorney general, causing controversy on Capitol Hill. Plus, Trump's other cabinet picks so far, the race for Senate majority leader, and the fate of Trump's legal cases.
This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down president-elect Donald Trump's sweeping victory, and what's next for the Democratic Party after a decisive loss. Then, senior video journalist JM Rieger joins to discuss what will happen when Trump takes office in January – and who he intends to appoint in his administration.
This week, with five days to go before Election Day, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down three reasons that each of former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris could win the presidency. Then, which parts of the country should you keep a close eye on as results come in? James highlights three areas in critical swing states that could decide the winner.
Elon Musk is at the door

Elon Musk is at the door

2024-10-2451:241

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by senior video journalists JM Rieger and Jorge Ribas to discuss two key states – Michigan and Pennsylvania – and what voters and grassroots organizers are telling them in the final weeks of the election.Plus, tech billionaire Elon Musk is using his money and influence – as well as his app, X (formerly Twitter) – in support of Trump in the final weeks of the election. But how much do those efforts rely on distorting the truth or promising voters money in a way that might be illegal?And later, video journalist HyoJung Kim joins the show to share her reporting on how Trump and Harris voters say they will feel if their candidate loses the election – and what they plan to do about it.
Is Trump slipping?

Is Trump slipping?

2024-10-1701:03:15

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann sit down with Post reporters watching key swing states: Amy Gardner joins the show to discuss a judge's decisions in Georgia; Yvonne Wingett Sanchez joins to discuss Arizona's senate race, the presidential election and an onerous voting law; and Michael Brice-Saddler joins to talk about his reporting on the Harris campaign's effort to court Black male voters in Michigan.Then, the crew breaks down Vice President Kamala Harris's efforts to reach new voters, and former president Donald Trump's bizarre moments at campaign events. 
This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey and James Hohmann are joined by national political reporter Michael Scherer to discuss how Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump could each win the presidential election in November. The crew breaks down their potential paths to victory, and how each is presenting themselves to voters, with just over three weeks left until Election Day.Then, Washington Post data scientist Lenny Bronner joins the show to explain The Post's polling average, and which states he's following closely in the final weeks of the campaign. 
October surprise

October surprise

2024-10-0356:20

This week, the crew breaks down how an "October surprise" can change the course of a presidential election in its final weeks – and some of the most consequential ones in American election history. And there are a few brand new ones – from special counsel Jack Smith's filing on former president Donald Trump's immunity in his Jan. 6 legal case, to Hurricane Helene and the escalating war in the Middle East.Later in the show, the crew breaks down the most interesting moments from Tuesday's vice-presidential debate – and which ones will stick in the public consciousness. Plus, the ongoing war on fact checking.
This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by senior video journalist JM Rieger to preview the Oct. 1 vice-presidential debate between Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The crew examines the two vice-presidential nominees' popularity with voters, key topics that might come up in the debate, and how vice-presidential debates actually impact elections.Later, the crew breaks down the gender dynamics in the 2024 race, from the abortion issue to comments by candidates including former president Donald Trump and North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R), and the possibility of the country electing its first woman president.
This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann sit down with Senior Video Journalist Jorge Ribas, who just got back from Springfield, Ohio – where the neighborhood pets are decidedly not being eaten. The crew dives into why former president Donald Trump continues to lean into anti-immigrant rhetoric and how Springfield residents feel about the sudden wave of national attention on their city.Plus, a new Washington Post poll shows Trump and Vice President Harris are essentially tied in Pennsylvania – the key swing state that could determine the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.And does the Teamsters' decision not to endorse a candidate matter?
Philadelphia Face-off

Philadelphia Face-off

2024-09-1258:07

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by Senior Critic-at-Large Robin Givhan, as they discuss how former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris performed at the Sept. 10 presidential debate – and the impressions each left voters with. Plus, why is Pennsylvania one of the key states in the 2024 presidential election – and can either candidate win without it?And later, the crew dives into Taylor Swift's endorsement of Harris – and considers whether celebrity endorsements actually move the needle in elections.
Debate prep

Debate prep

2024-09-0543:19

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, JM Rieger and James Hohmann preview next week's debate, and what Vice President Harris and former president Trump need to do in what could be the final presidential debate of the cycle. Plus, abortion – and Trump's stance on an abortion ballot initiative in his home state of Florida – has become a big part of the 2024 conversation. And what's the latest on Trump's legal troubles? The delay tactics continue.
Superseding indictment

Superseding indictment

2024-08-2953:57

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and JM Rieger sit down with chief correspondent Dan Balz to discuss the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention, and where the presidential race is heading with a debate scheduled less than two weeks away. Plus, the crew dives into Trump's apparent campaign strategy and his social media rants.Later, law enforcement reporter Devlin Barrett joins the show for an update on Trump's legal cases, from special counsel Jack Smith's appeal in Trump's Florida classified documents case, to his new superseding indictment in the Jan. 6 case, to updates from Georgia and New York.
This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann sit down just after the conclusion of Vice President Kamala Harris's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. The crew discusses the vibes of the convention, how different it felt from the July Republican National Convention, and the policies Democrats put at the heart of their 2024 campaign. Then, the team goes through their favorite moments of the week.Plus, were Democrats more effective than Republicans at harnessing the power of influencers and social media? The Washington Post Universe's Carmella Boykin and Joseph Ferguson join the show to discuss what's going on in the DNC's "influencer lounges" and beyond.
Trump stumped

Trump stumped

2024-08-1548:051

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger preview next week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and dive into when Vice President Harris might start focusing more on policy. Plus, why hasn't the new Democratic nominee done any formal interviews with reporters yet?And former president Donald Trump is still struggling to adjust to the new dynamic in the presidential race – as his legal cases slowly march on.
Resetting the race

Resetting the race

2024-08-0850:47

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss the huge vibe shift in the 2024 campaign, Vice President Harris's selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, and how the Republican ticket is responding.Plus, former president Donald Trump is still litigating the 2020 election in his speeches, and attacked the Republican Governor of Georgia and his wife at a recent Atlanta rally.And Trump's legal cases continue to move forwards slowly; the crew recaps what's happening with his D.C. election interference case and New York hush money case. 
Weird

Weird

2024-08-0152:431

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, James Hohmann and JM Rieger are joined by The Washington Post Universe's Joseph Ferguson to discuss former president Donald Trump's appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, and his attacks on Vice President Harris's racial identity.Later, the crew dives into Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance's continuing controversy over past comments he's made about women who don't have children. And who will Harris pick as her own vice-presidential nominee? We're like to find out in the next few days.
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Comments (232)

infobunny

what is going on in America?

Sep 1st
Reply

Tony Lovell

I cannot understand why the ridiculous SCOTUS decision on immunity isn't being attacked head-on, today, by lame duck (but immune) Biden. Directing the military to arrest the GOP justices would be an official act. That done. Biden could announce that there would be no election until an amendment is passed to spell out that Presidents can be prosecuted for official acts. That would win bipartisan support in HOURS. Do I have to think of everything?

Aug 30th
Reply (15)

Claire McCabe

OMG when is the next episode can't wait !! Claire, Dublin Ireland

May 30th
Reply

Melissa Nordin

Beautiful.

Jan 8th
Reply

Melissa Nordin

Beautiful.

Jan 8th
Reply

Rick Patton

OMG you all just can't let him go. We have a President right now whose administration is reneging on foreign policy agreements, threatening to nuke American citizens, being silent on the NSA spying on journalists, threatening to send government agents to the doors of unvaccinated Americans. Your podcast is allegedly about the power of the Executive Branch? Talk about those overreaches. Talk about the behind the scenes influences telling Biden what he can and cannot say, even though HE is the President. Talk about a President who can barely string a sentence together. Talk about a President who brings note cards to an ice cream shop because he can't be trusted to remember what to talk about. "I'm gonna get in trouble if I talk about this." "They told me not to answer questions." Who the F*** is "they", and why does our President think he's going to get in trouble for talking to people? Talk about THAT.

Jul 8th
Reply (186)

Rick Patton

What about Hunter Biden's capitalization the Biden name and VP-authority?

Jun 17th
Reply (1)

Rick Patton

The answer is no. If people want to pursue unhealthy habits, that is their right. Nobody is forcing black Americans to smoke menthols. This is supposed to be the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. It has turned into the Land of the Regulated and the Home of the Soft.

Apr 23rd
Reply

Pete Jackson King

No. He already said he wouldn't. Liz didn't win. Hopefully she will figure that out soon!! #BIDEN2024!!

Apr 15th
Reply

Andi-Roo Libecap

This was very helpful in my efforts to better understand the nitty-gritty of the potential new voting laws.

Apr 11th
Reply

Andi-Roo Libecap

This was a particularly informative episode, definitely a must-listen! 👍👍👍

Mar 19th
Reply

CraggyPete

lol yes Trump can do whatever he wants he's president, his authority is total, get over it libs!

May 23rd
Reply

sirenasd

Such a good episode. I don't think I have ever heard anyone explain how primaries actually work.

Mar 22nd
Reply

Rick Patton

2:32 "To turn a regular weapon into a semi-automatic weapon". Wanna know how I know you're not an expert on guns?

Aug 10th
Reply (1)

gabriela sanchez

Great job with this podcast. Keep up the good work. Thank you

Aug 2nd
Reply

gabriela sanchez

Thank You for clearing up so much of what Perplexes my mind with this individual. Isaac Sanchez I agree with you it is singularity with him.

Aug 2nd
Reply

Philly Burbs

The only reason Trump is going after Obamacare is because he hates & goal is to destroy all things "OBAMA" .

Mar 29th
Reply

SMSimon

I just started listening to the podcast and I can pretty much bet most of what he said won't holdup to facts... What a scumbag!

Feb 8th
Reply

Isaac Sanchez

ends with a statement that the Pelosi pushback is a brilliant move without giving any substantial support as to why it is brilliant... then fades to a commercial. i dig the pod cast just kinda hard to agree when little to no facts are used to support opinion.

Jan 22nd
Reply

Isaac Sanchez

the entire presidency gets weirder the longer Trumps term goes on.... it ends with the singularity.

Jan 22nd
Reply