CNN Inside Politics

Florida voters deliver a powerful reminder of one of politics most enduring lessons, notably espoused by the late House Speaker Tip O'Neill: "All politics is local." Last night, Florida voters in both parties showed why O'Neill's political mantra really still holds up. Big names and big money collided with something even more powerful: home turf credibility.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Voters in four states are hitting the ballot box today for key governor, House and Senate primaries in Wyoming, California, Alaska and Florida. The wildest races are - no surprise - in the Sunshine State, which has an open governor's race, a Senate seat up for grabs, and House races full of colorful candidates.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is sending a new, stark message to the world about where his loyalties lie. He ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea because of his "very good relationship with" North Korea's Kim Jong Un. This move undercuts a key American ally with tens of thousands of US troops stationed there.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Democrats are reshuffling the primary calendar for 2028. What could it mean for the party’s future? Is it time for independent candidates to save the day? Tune in as we explore the potential impact on progressives and moderates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a Russian-born American citizen named Ilya Beloozerov is gunned down by the FBI in 2024, the authorities refuse to say why they’d killed him. CNN’s Isabelle Chapman embarks on a sprawling investigation that takes her from the Mississippi parking lot where he died to Washington, D.C. to unravel the mystery: Why did Ilya abruptly leave his family and his job and head for the border with laptops and cash? Why is there still no official explanation of his death? And maybe most importantly: Was Ilya a spy?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Luigi Mangione just pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in connection to the 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. To file that plea, Mangione had to describe, in his own words, what happened. "I shot Mr. Thompson and he died. I knew what i was doing was illegal." Our coverage begins with CNN's Kara Scannell outside the courtroom.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The midterms just got a fresh dose of inflation - not ideal for the party trying to keep control of Congress. The new numbers show signs that price pressures are easing, but only at the margins. Wholesale prices - what producers charge before those costs reach consumers - rose 4.7% over the past year. While a slowdown from June's 5.5%, that's still incredibly high. With just 82 days until the midterms, these new numbers raise crucial political questions.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Politicians love to say, "The only poll that counts is election day." In the last 24 hours, Wisconsin reminded us why that cliche actually matters. Last month, moderate Democrat David Crowley dropped out of the Badger State gubernatorial race. Today, he accepted his party's nomination for governor. Crowley's razor-thin victory - less than 4,000 votes - in a crucial swing state comes at the expense of Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong, who was hoping to ride the recent wave of progressive wins.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Competing visions collide in the last major test of the Democratic party's direction before November. Today, Americans in six states are hitting the polls in key primaries across the country. The biggest story is out of Wisconsin, where state Assemblywoman and Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong's upstart campaign has rattled establishment Dems in the purple state, who've united around Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, arguing the socialist brand will lose in November against likely Republican nominee Tom Tiffany.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's more likely, a Democratic senator in Texas or a Republican senator in Georgia? We reveal results of a brand new CNN analysis pointing to nine seats that are most likely to flip. To win control of the Senate, Democrats must keep all their seats while flipping four more.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Manu Raju this Sunday on Inside Politics as we dissect a week of fierce political battles across the Midwest, with exclusive insights from top political insiders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Todd Blanche is now officially on track to be the next attorney general of the United States after Senator Bill Cassidy, a man whose political career President Trump effectively helped end, announces that he will support Blanche on the Senate floor. Cassidy's decision will give Blanche the votes he needs to be confirmed.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Progressive Democrat Abdul el-Sayed says his win in yesterday's Michigan Senate primary shook the world. Now his party is mapping the aftershocks. The first challenge is to unite behind el-Sayed following the incredibly heated and divisive race against moderate Haley Stevens. His GOP opponent, former representative Mike Rogers, wasted no time launching an attack, claiming el-Sayed believes "America deserved 9/11."  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Progressive Democrat Abdul el-Sayed prevailed in the Michigan Senate primary, but will that complicate his party's path back to power? It was a very close race - just one point separating el-Sayed from his opponent, Congresswoman Haley Stevens - but the victory is monumental for the progressive left.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

\Embattled Republican Congressman Max Miller is calling for an ethics investigation into himself. He says he wants to clear himself from the disturbing allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife, Emily Marino, the daughter of the senior Senator from Ohio, Bernie Marino. CNN's Lauren Fox has the details on this unusual situation.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump's pick to be the nation's top law enforcement officer is now on the fast track to Senate confirmation after Republican holdouts John Cornyn and Thom Tillis said they'll vote to confirm Todd Blanche at tomorrow's committee vote. That ends a two-week standoff between the lame duck senators and the White House over Trump's so-called anti-weaponization fund. Blanche conceded the fight by signing a letter that effectively kills the fund. Blanche also limited the scope of the tax immunity deal Trump reached with the Treasury Department to protect the president and his family over audits from past tax returns.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The stakes are high in Michigan. With only two days until the primary, will Michigan Democrats choose pragmatism or progressivism? Tune into Inside Politics with Manu Raju for deep insights on how this race could redefine the Democratic Party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As today's show begins, President Trump is holding a Cabinet meeting at Camp David. Among the participants is Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general. He wants to drop the "acting" from his title and get confirmed by the Senate. But two Republican senators are blocking Blanche because the White House won't commit to killing the president's so-called anti-weaponization fund. And, rather than compromise, Trump says he'll pull the nomination for now and wait till next year.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instead of compromise to confirm his attorney general, is President Trump looking to sidestep the process altogether? Two key Republican senators said they are not ready to support Todd Blanche's nomination unless they get ironclad, written assurances from the White House that the so-called "anti-weaponization fund" is dead, along with the deal Trump made with IRS to avoid tax audits. But moments ago, the president trump posted that he's not making any deals, explaining, "I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd's name if they do not do the right thing."    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ghosts of Covid past reignite an old feud on Capitol Hill. Today, Republican Senator Rand Paul was looking for a fight. But Dr. Anthony Fauci, compelled by a subpoena to testify about the nation's Covid response, did not give him one. Instead, his response, repeated over 100 times, was, "Under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to refrain from answering your questions."    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Allies and world leaders gather to honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Among the guests are Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is meeting behind closed doors with President Trump. It's the first time the two leaders have come face to face since the start of the war in Iran, and the president made clear the two are not on the same page.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House says President Trump will focus on the economy today when he visits a GM facility outside Detroit. Michigan is a critical swing state, a must-win for the GOP to keep control of the Senate.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exclusive footage, insiders' perspectives, and the key electoral battles shaping the future. Don't miss this week's Inside Politics with Manu Raju, where we break down the drama and dynamics of the political landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump searches for a strategy as the war with Iran nears the five-month mark. Can the US bomb Iran into submission? Let's call it what it is: The US and Iran are back in a full-scale war. For the 13th straight night, US forces pounded military targets inside the Islamic republic, while Iran launced attacks on US assets in Bahrain and Jordan.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With just 103 days left before the midterms, we bring you two big CNN exclusives on the race for Senate control. We begin in Michigan and the Democratic primary battle between Congresswoman Haley Stevens and Abdul el-Sayed. Then we head to Maine, where CNN's K-File has new details on the new Democratic candidates.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The remains of four American troops killed over the weekend in Jordan and Iraq have been returned to Dover Air Force Base for a dignified transfer presided over by President Trump. He promises Iran will "pay a big price" for their deaths. But what exactly does that mean?     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speaking alongside the Lebanese president in the Oval Office, President Trump warned Iran that US strikes are going to intensify, claiming Iran "hasn't seen anything yet." This comes on the heels of Pete Hegseth's visit to Capitol Hill, where he's expected to ask Congress for more money for the war.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More US fighter jets are headed to the Mideast, as President Trump weighs widening the war he began five months ago. That's after a dramatic ratcheting up of hostilities over the past few days and the deaths of three US service members, the first troops killed in action since March.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With no end in sight, is the war with Iran becoming untenable? Plus, feeling the Bern? After Graham Platner's implosion, are Bernie Sanders' picks igniting a Democratic civil war? All that and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Promoting last night’s primetime speech, President Trump said he'd reveal “really big news” that would “shock you.” Instead, we heard old claims about America's election system with a fresh coat of alarm. CNN has been combing through the hundreds of newly declassified documents from the White House, and my colleagues found they largely address vulnerabilities that have been known for years, and in some cases, they undermine the president's claims.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US is at war with Iran. Americans are really struggling with rising costs. There is a deadly flood in Texas. Yet the focus of President Trump’s rare primetime address tonight is expected to be on “free and fair elections,” including the one he still claims he won in 2020.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's show begins as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is facing tense questioning during a confirmation hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding his nomination to permanently lead the Department of Justice.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As today's show begins, President Trump is hosting Iraqi Prime Minister al-Zaidi in the Oval Office, praising his guest for how much he's done in a short period of timing. But that meeting is sure to be overshadowed by Trump's announcement just a short time ago that he's stepping back from his threat to levy tolls on ships coming through the Strait of Hormuz.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The unexpected death of Lindsey Graham is reverberating through the Senate, the White House, and the world's most volatile regions. The South Carolina Republican leaves a major void in President Trump's inner circle and in American foreign policy.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Ukraine to Capitol Hill, Senator Lindsey Graham's story is a testament to resilience and adaptation. Join us this Sunday for exclusive insights from political insiders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump pulls the plug on the ceasefire but says Iran "has asked us to continue talks." Qatari mediators are in Iran, sent there with the goal of getting negotiations back on track after the intense military escalation over the past few days. CNN's Jeremy Diamond begins our coverage from Tel Aviv.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Graham Platner ends his Senate campaign with a remarkable, 11-minute video in which he torches the Democratic party and portrays himself as the real victim, leaving his fellow Dems just about two weeks to determine who will challenge Senator Susan Collins in November.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was once considered the Democrats' best chance to win the Senate is now their most dire political crisis. Graham Platner's Maine campaign is unraveling after a woman accused him of rape, which he denies. More and more Democrats are pulling endorsements, and the party's Senate campaign arm says it won't spend any cash on this crucial race unless he is replaced.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Folarin Balogun, the leading scorer for the US men's soccer team, woke up this morning thinking he would be sidelined for tonight's game against Belgium after he was suspended for a red card. But President Trump picked up the phone and called his good friend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Lo and behold, FIFA lifted Balogun's suspension, something that hasn't happened in more than 60 years.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Missed the fireworks? Catch up on Inside Politics Sunday for a breakdown of the July 4th celebrations and President Trump's latest address. Dive into the discussion of politics, patriotism, and upcoming elections with our expert panel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As America prepares to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday, organizers of July 4th events scramble to keep everyone safe from the oppressive heat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are just four months until election day. And in today's politics, that's short enough that every day is crucial for candidates on the trail. But long enough that almost anything can happen. Today, a brand new CNN analysis ranks the nine Senate races most likely to flip and decide control of the upper chamber. Six are Republican held. Three belong to Democrats.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From New York to Denver, Democratic voters are sending an unmistakable message to Washington lawmakers: The status quo is not working. Last night we saw it in Colorado, where 29-year-old Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros toppled 30-year incumbent Diana Degette by nearly 10 points. Kiros is the third challenger to oust a sitting House Democrat in only eight days. The anti-establishment wave was also clear in Colorado's Democratic primary for governor. We break down what it all could mean for the party, and the country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court closes its term with a pair of landmark rulings. The justices rejected President Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship, but handed him a major victory on one of his signature culture war issues, siding with states seeking to bar transgender athletes from competing on girls and women's sports teams.      Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While it was a mixed day overall for President Trump at the Supreme Court, the justices gave him another big win on executive power, ruling 6-3 that he had the power to fire a Democratic commissioner on the FTC. The court essentially overturned a 91-year-old decision, signaling presidents can fire heads of agencies that had been considered independent. But they made one key exception, voting 5-4 that he was wrong to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is President Trump's July 4th 'celebration' more a rally than a national holiday? Tune in to Inside Politics Sunday as we dive into the political landscape of America's 250th anniversary, the GOP tensions, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was White House national security adviser and US ambassador to the UN. Now he's a convicted felon. John Bolton, a pillar of the Republican foreign policy establishment, pleaded guilty this morning to charges that he illegally retained sensitive national security information. Today's plea is a rare win for the Trump DOJ and their attempts to go after the president's self-proclaimed enemies.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court's conservative majority delivers two major wins for President Trump's hard-line immigration policies. In one case, the justices ruled that the president can turn away migrants seeking asylum by physically preventing them from stepping onto US soil to make that claim. The second allows an end to a policy that gives temporary legal status to more than a million people fleeing their home countries because of war or natural disasters.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Republicans were cruising toward what they see as a big election year legislative victory, but President Trump just hit the brakes. The president abruptly announced he will not sign a bipartisan housing affordability bill that Congress passed overwhelmingly yesterday. Why? He wants his "Save America" voting act passed first.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's primary day, and voters are at the polls in several states, including Maryland, South Carolina and Utah. But Democrats are laser focused on New York, where a fight for the party's identity is playing out. Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani chose to put himself right in the middle of it, backing like-minded candidates in three house primaries, including two challengers taking on Democratic incumbents.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices