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The Conversation with Dasha Burns

by POLITICO

The Conversation with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns is a fresh take on the traditional Sunday show format, going beyond conventional wisdom and short sound bites to broaden the political conversation. Each week, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling – and sometimes unexpected – power players in Washington and beyond for a real discussion about how they are shaping the current moment.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Oct 16, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Inside the democratic socialists’ plan to shake up Congress

    Democratic socialists Melat Kiros and Darializa Avila Chevalier each defeated a longtime Democratic incumbent to win their deep-blue primaries. They’re among a handful of Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates who scored surprise victories this election season. Now they’re poised to...

  2. Walking the Trump tightrope (with Byron Donalds)

    Dasha sits down with Rep. Byron Donalds, the Florida Republican nominee for governor, for a special midterms edition of the show. As Republicans face headwinds over affordability and rising costs tied to the war with Iran, Donalds explains how he can support President Trump while still…

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  3. Can this pastor flip a Senate seat in deep red Kansas? (with Adam Hamilton)

    In this special midterms edition of “The Conversation with Dasha Burns,” Adam Hamilton, the pastor and Democratic candidate challenging Sen. Roger Marshall, sits down with Dasha at a campaign office in Kansas to discuss why he thinks the race is competitive – and why he believes a moderate,...

  4. Will Democrats finally win in Texas? (with Gina Hinojosa)

    In this special midterms edition of “The Conversation with Dasha Burns,” Gina Hinojosa, the Democrat running for governor of Texas, sits down with Dasha at her campaign headquarters in Austin to talk about why she believes the race against Greg Abbott is newly competitive — and the lessons...

  5. Is this the Democrat who could win back the South? | On the Road

    Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Mosca’s Restaurant for a wide-ranging conversation about President Trump, the future of the Democratic Party and whether he might run for president in 2028. Landrieu discusses why he believes Joe Biden should not have...

  6. 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 make Congress more effective as he enters his final months in office. Cassidy, a physician and chair of the Senate Health...

  7. ‘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 November. Cruz explains why Trump “changed” his views on trade, responds to the president’s proposed $5,000 dividend for…

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  8. 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 Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt,” and the forces driving America’s political divide. The Republican governor discusses political...

  9. ‘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 presidential run. In a wide-ranging conversation with Dasha, the outspoken analyst explains why he believes he could win the…

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  10. 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, President Trump’s second administration and the future of the Republican Party. The Maine Republican also discusses Canadian...

  11. 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 Steakin to examine what the primaries have revealed about Trump’s influence, the Republican coalition and the Democratic Party’s...

  12. 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 and a deep-fried Twinkie. Sand, a Democrat running in a state that has shifted sharply to the right, makes the case that Iowa...

  13. 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 faces a consequential trial over youth safety and addiction, Haidt tells Dasha why he believes the courts may succeed where…

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  14. 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 on how the party should reckon with its past embrace of “woke” politics. Dasha also presses Schiff on where he stands on...

  15. 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 unhappy with the economy despite Republican promises, whether rising gas prices and the conflict with Iran could derail the GOP's...

  16. 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 believes Democrats can't simply campaign on a return to the pre-Trump status quo. Buttigieg argues the party needs to "build what's...

  17. ‘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 his warnings that broadcasters could lose their licenses, accusations that the agency is being used to target the president's...

  18. 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 Democratic Party's identity crisis and why he's seriously considering a run for president in 2028. The former Chicago mayor, Obama...

  19. 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 antitrust agenda. He also weighs in on AI regulation, election security and why says his office will keep suing President Trump...

  20. 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 believes "both parties are lying" to working Americans, unleashes on the ‘hypocrisy’ of the Democratic establishment, and defends his...

  21. 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, President Trump's demands of the alliance, and whether NATO can withstand growing questions about America's future role in European...

  22. 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 conversation about the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, why the Badlands helped shape one of America's…

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  23. 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 this wide-ranging interview, Burns discusses what lawmakers misunderstand about the founding of our nation, what George…

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  24. 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 relationships with allies around the world. Stubb, who has developed an unusually close personal relationship with Donald Trump,...

  25. 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 “controversial” in the Trump era. Schlossberg discusses what he says Democrats got wrong in 2024, why he believes attention is...

  26. The EPA isn’t here to fight climate change (with Lee Zeldin)

    At POLITICO’s Energy Summit, Dasha presses EPA administrator Lee Zeldin on rising gas prices, the war in Iran, Trump’s energy dominance agenda, coal, AI data centers, and whether the EPA has a responsibility to address climate change. Zeldin defends his approach, arguing that the EPA can protect...

  27. The crypto clash that could reshape finance (with Brian Armstrong)

    Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong sits down with Dasha for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of crypto, the growing political influence of the industry, and his vision for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Plus, he responds to JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s recent…

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  28. Q&A: Dasha Burns pulls back the curtain on covering politics

    Every week on this show, Dasha Burns talks to the most compelling and sometimes unexpected power players in Washington and beyond. But for this special first anniversary episode, she turned the microphone over to you … our listeners. “How do you prepare for high-stakes interviews?” “Why has...

  29. Shapiro on Trump, Fetterman and 2028 over cheesesteaks in South Philly | On The Road

    Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Angelo’s Pizzeria, a South Philly institution, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of the Democratic party, rising cynicism in American politics and the growing speculation around his political future in 2028.

  30. How Ukraine became essential to America’s security (with Olga Stefanishyna)

    Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna joins Dasha Burns on “The Conversation” to discuss whether the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran could pull American attention and weapons away from Kyiv, the state of Ukraine-Russia peace talks and why President Trump and Volodmyr...

  31. Wes Moore gets blunt about 2028: I'm hungry, not thirsty | On The Road

    Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Baltimore’s iconic Koco's Pub for a wide-ranging conversation about redistricting, the future of the Democratic party and how his military service shaped his views on patriotism, race and America’s role in the world. Moore also...

  32. Iran’s exiled crown prince criticizes Trump’s ‘half-baked’ Iran strategy (with Reza Pahlavi)

    Dasha sits down with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, for a live taping of “The Conversation” at POLITICO’s Security Summit. In a wide-ranging interview, Pahlavi discusses the latest on the war in Iran, whether diplomacy with Tehran is possible and the future of the Iranian...

  33. Trump is ‘stuck in a stalemate’ in Iran (with Leon Panetta)

    Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary and CIA director under President Obama, joins Dasha Burns to assess the U.S. conflict with Iran, warning that unclear objectives, a closed Strait of Hormuz and uncertain nuclear negotiations could leave the U.S. stuck in a prolonged war. Plus, Panetta…

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  34. Can JB Pritzker be the Democrats’ anti-Trump in 2028? | On The Road

    Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) sits down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at Chicago’s iconic Manny’s Deli for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the Democratic Party -- and his own. Plus: a look at Chicago’s political culture, Pritzker’s rise from donor to power broker, and why Manny’s…

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  35. Can AI solve the problems it creates? (with David Sacks)

    David Sacks has played a key role in shaping AI policy for the Trump administration. He was formerly the White House AI and crypto czar. Now, he’s the co-chair of the President’s Co-Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Sacks approaches the issue with a “let them...

  36. Behind the velvet rope at White House Correspondents' Dinner (with Tammy Haddad)

    Go behind the scenes of White House Correspondents’ Dinner weekend with Tammy Haddad, a veteran TV executive and one of DC’s ultimate social connectors. POLITICO's Dasha Burns and Tammy unpack why this dinner — which brings together the president, journalists and celebrities all in one room — is…

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  37. Can the GOP pull off a California upset? (with Steve Hilton)

    California’s governor's race just got a major shakeup. Democrat Eric Swalwell dropped out amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations, and now the field is wide open ahead of the June 2 primary. So where does that leave Republican candidate and former Fox News host Steve Hilton – backed by…

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  38. Gov. Brian Kemp’s blunt warning for Republicans | On The Road

    Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) joins POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin at the Masters to talk Trump, 2028 and the upcoming Georgia Senate race. Plus: Kemp on EVs, economic policy and why he’s staying focused on 2026 — not the White House.

  39. Inside the war on Trump’s new MAGA (with Marjorie Taylor Greene)

    Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) – the MAGA acolyte-turned-antagonist who resigned from Congress after a public and messy fight with Donald Trump – joins “The Conversation” to talk about the war in Iran, why she thinks the GOP will be “slaughtered” in the midterms and her desire...

  40. Can NASA beat China to the moon and beyond? (with Jared Isaacman)

    Artemis II has launched around the moon. Now, NASA has its sights set on Mars. NASA administrator and billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman sat down with POLITICO's Dasha Burns at Kennedy Space Center to talk about NASA’s ambitious plans to build a moon base, sending humans to Mars, his...

  41. How Democrats can win back Trump country (with Gov. Andy Beshear)

    Andy Beshear is the most popular Democratic governor in the country – in a state Donald Trump won by more than 30 points in 2024. He explains why he believes a President JD Vance could be “more damaging than Trump”, lays out his playbook for winning back voters in Trump country, and calls out the...

  42. Inside Newsom’s plan to take on Trump | On The Road

    Today, we're bringing you an episode from our new show, On the Road. California Gov. Gavin Newsom sat down with POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin for a wide-ranging conversation about the personal experiences that shaped his political career. A leading potential contender for the Democratic presidential...

  43. Why the Iran war feels like 'deja vu' (with Sen. Ruben Gallego)

    When Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) won his Senate seat in 2024, he outperformed Kamala Harris in one of the closest battleground states in the country. Now that he’s in Washington, Gallego’s background is particularly relevant at this moment in politics. With the Iran War intensifying, Gallego...

  44. Sanders on BBQ, politics, and sneaking out of the governor’s mansion | On The Road

    Today, we're bringing you an episode from POLITICO's latest show, On The Road with Jonathan Martin. In episode one, JMart sits down with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for a lively conversation about politics, leadership and life growing up in a political family. From her time as White...

  45. From SNL meme to Trump whisperer (with Sen. Katie Britt)

    Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is a young rising star in the Republican Party. She sits down with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns to talk about how the war against Iran could affect Americans at home and the urgency of the midterm elections for the Republican Party. Britt also gets candid about her unique...

  46. The real fight within the Democratic Party (with Sen. Elissa Slotkin)

    Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) joins POLITICO's Dasha Burns on "The Conversation" and responds to President Trump's State of the Union address. Slotkin lays out her vision for the future of the Democratic Party, which could be a Project 2029 for the party. The two also discuss the upcoming…

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  47. An interview with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joins POLITICO’s Dasha Burns to discuss the United States’ role in ending the war, where Europe fits into the equation, and his frank thoughts on Russians living abroad. Then, CNN’s chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward calls in from Ukraine to...

  48. A Democrat at odds with his own party (with Sen. John Fetterman)

    Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sat down with POLITICO's Dasha Burns on "The Conversation" for a wide-ranging discussion covering his stance on immigration and ICE, voter ID, Israel and where he sees himself within the Democratic Party.

  49. One month after Maduro's capture (with María Corina Machado)

    Venezuelan politician and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says that Venezuela could have a new democratic election in less than a year. The Nobel Peace Prize winner joins POLITICO’s Dasha Burns for “The Conversation” in a compelling interview that occurred exactly one month after the US...

  50. This GOP senator is done mincing words (with Sen. Thom Tillis)

    Senator Thom Tillis calls for the resignation of Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller in a forthright interview with Dasha Burns for “The Conversation.” The North Carolina Republican made his comments after the shootings of two citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis earlier this year. In a wide-ranging...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The Conversation with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns is a fresh take on the traditional Sunday show format, going beyond conventional wisdom and short sound bites to broaden the political conversation. Each week, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling – and sometimes unexpected – power players in Washington and beyond for a real discussion about how they are shaping the current moment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Conversation with Dasha Burns have?

The Conversation with Dasha Burns currently has 583 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Conversation with Dasha Burns about?

The Conversation with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns is a fresh take on the traditional Sunday show format, going beyond conventional wisdom and short sound bites to broaden the political conversation. Each week, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling – and sometimes unexpected – power players...

How often does The Conversation with Dasha Burns release new episodes?

The Conversation with Dasha Burns releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 583 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.

Where can I listen to The Conversation with Dasha Burns?

You can listen to The Conversation with Dasha Burns on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Conversation with Dasha Burns?

The Conversation with Dasha Burns is created and hosted by POLITICO.
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