The Conversation with Dasha Burns

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

The GOP senator breaking with Trump on vaccines and AI (with Sen. Bill Cassidy)

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who lost his reelection bid to a Trump-endorsed challenger, joined Dasha to discuss the future of the Republican Party and reflect on how to ma

Sep 18
40 min

‘I'd rather they be American killer robots’ (with Sen. Ted Cruz)

Dasha sits down with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at the Republican midterms convention in Dallas to discuss President Trump’s tariffs, the economy and the GOP’s prospects in

Sep 11
49 min

Spencer Cox on why Trump is the result — not the cause — of America’s crisis

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Salt Lake City’s Red Iguana for a wide-ranging conversation about his new book, “Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemake

Sep 9
56 min

‘What the hell is going on with the Democratic Party?’ (with Stephen A. Smith)

Stephen A. Smith is best known for sports commentary. But now, he’s weighing in on the direction of both political parties — and even considering a potential 2028 preside

Sep 3
47 min

Susan Collins on her high-wire act in Trump’s GOP | On the Road

Sen. Susan Collins joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Perry’s Lobster Shack in coastal Maine for a wide-ranging conversation about her reelection fight in the senate, Pr

Sep 2
49 min

The lesson Democrats could learn from MAGA

The 2026 midterms are taking shape, and the results could determine the future of both parties. Dasha sits down with her fellow Playbook co-authors Adam Wren and Will S

Aug 28
33 min

An outsider Democrat taking on both parties in Iowa | On the Road

In a new episode of the On the Road, Jonathan Martin sits down with Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand at the Iowa State Fair to talk politics over a pork tenderloin a

Aug 26
34 min

He went after social media. AI is next. (with Jonathan Haidt)

Social psychologist and “The Anxious Generation” author Jonathan Haidt helped turn concerns about kids and social media into a global political movement. Now, as Meta fac

Aug 21
45 min

How DSA progressives and centrist Dems can both win (with Sen. Adam Schiff)

In a live taping of the show in Sacramento, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) weighs in on whether insurgent candidates on the left could become a liability for Democrats — and

Aug 14
31 min

Can the GOP ‘defy history’ in the midterms? (with Speaker Mike Johnson)

Speaker Mike Johnson sits down with Dasha for a wide-ranging interview as Republicans fight to hold onto the House majority. Dasha presses Johnson on why voters remain u

Aug 6
38 min

Pete Buttigieg has a theory for how Democrats can win | On the Road

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin in Traverse City, Michigan, to discuss the future of the Democratic Party and why he belie

Aug 4
1 h 00 min

‘Broadcast licenses aren't sacred cows’ (with FCC Chair Brendan Carr)

FCC chairman Brendan Carr sits down with POLITICO's Dasha Burns for a wide-ranging interview on the growing power of the FCC under President Trump. Dasha presses Carr on

Jul 31
50 min

Rahm Emanuel makes his 2028 pitch over pizza in Chicago | On The Road

Rahm Emanuel joins POLITICO's Jonathan Martin at Michael's Original Pizzeria on Chicago's North Side for a wide-ranging conversation about his political future, the Democ

Jul 29
57 min

The California AG trying to stop Hollywood’s biggest merger (with Rob Bonta)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins Dasha to explain why he’s trying to block Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, and defends California’s an

Jul 24
42 min

The populist Democrat taking on his own party (with Abdul El-Sayed)

Abdul El-Sayed – the progressive former public health official running for the Democratic nomination in Michigan's open Senate seat – joins Dasha to explain why he believ

Jul 17
44 min

Why NATO’s chief thinks Trump was right (with Mark Rutte)

At the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara, Secretary General Mark Rutte joins Dasha to discuss NATO's historic defense spending overhaul, Russia's war in Ukraine, Greenland, Pres

Jul 10
43 min

A GOP power trio look to Teddy Roosevelt for America's next 250 years | On The Road

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) join POLITICO's Jonathan Martin at the Little Missouri Saloon in Medora for a

Jul 8
54 min

Can the American experiment survive? (with Ken Burns)

As America marks 250 years since its founding, award-winning documentarian Ken Burns joins Dasha to reflect on what history can teach us about this political moment. In

Jul 2
46 min

Finland’s president: Europe needs to calm down about Trump (with Alexander Stubb)

Dasha sits down with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki for a wide-ranging conversation on NATO, Russia's war in Ukraine, Iran and the future of America's rela

Jun 26
34 min

Democrats need to stop being ‘boring’ (with Jack Schlossberg)

Jack Schlossberg joins Dasha to talk about his campaign for New York’s 12th congressional district, his viral online persona and why he thinks Democrats need to be more “

Jun 19
39 min

Chart trend

Position in the Politics chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#99#196JunJulAugSep

#27

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where The Conversation with Dasha Burns ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 21, 2026).

#139 ▼ 9 Politics US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I absolutely love this podcast. Always makes me think and see things from a different perspective. I always learn something- even if I don’t agree with all the guests it is good to hear more than one perspective

Wendygull · Jul 2024

I look forward to hearing this podcast every week and am v rarely disappointed. Even on topics which have been over traffic’ed, the take is insightful and listen-worthy.

alalrian · Jun 2024

If you want to understand how policymaking and politics really works Playbook Deep Dive is the podcast. Guests are frequently not the most famous politicos that you see regularly on mainstream media but rather politicians, staffers, civil servants, and consultants that are doing much of the real policymaking work. And Lizza is consistently amazing in his questioning to get down to what the real situation is and how the process is working (or not working); and often learning a small bit of personal information that humanizes his guests. I consistently look forward to the pod dropping every Friday.

The Mad Moleman · Feb 2024

Wow. Thank you SO MUCH for minimizing ads and placing them at end of episodes! And for delivering such excellent coverage in this and your briefer daily politics podcast, also new to me. Both so smart and helpful. Thank you!

bGuiles · Jan 2024

Some interesting interviews and discussion, but it feels increasingly like a platform for right leaning politicians and figures to normalize behavior that’s increasingly more partisan and disconnected from reality. If you have limited time for political podcasts, look elsewhere.

Mobile site is better · Nov 2024

I listened to “How not to get fooled …” While I appreciated the insights and civil discourse, I do have a criticism. I think all three speakers continued to normalize 45. They kept talking about his “antics.” That’s irresponsible of anyone on a public forum to do, thus the lower rating. 45 has engaged in racism, bigotry, xenophobia and lying. Calling it anything else normalizes him and fools listeners.

(@)——/—— · Oct 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.