Powerhouse Politics

Headliner interviews and in-depth looks at the people and events shaping U.S. politics. Hosted by ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl and Political Director Rick Klein.

"We Can't Afford Not To Go Big" 04/28/2021

"We Can't Afford Not To Go Big" Don't call it a "State of the Union." President Joe Biden tonight will address a joint session of Congress, 99 days after being sworn into office. Powerhouse Politics speaks with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about what the look, sound and substance of the speech will be. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158778

"A Master of the Inside Game" 04/21/2021

"A Master of the Inside Game" For the guilty findings in connection with the killing of George Floyd to mark a true turning point will take much more than verdicts in Minneapolis. It falls now to a president elected on the promise of unity to both heal and advance policy in tense and still-uncertain times. ABC's Rachel Scott joins from Minneapolis to talk about the road ahead. Plus, Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today, talks about her newly released biography of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158793

"One Thing Leads to Another" 04/14/2021

"One Thing Leads to Another" President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan before the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks because "it is time to end America’s longest war." Meanwhile, April 28th has been announced as the date of President Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158808

"Over-Broad" & "Extreme" 04/07/2021

"Over-Broad" & "Extreme" Amid the fallout over Georgia's new sweeping elections law, Texas Democrats and voting rights activists are strategizing how to get some of the state's biggest employers to apply political pressure on lawmakers weighing restrictive voting bills in the Lone Star State. Plus, Governor Asa Hutchinson joins to talk about the Arkansas state legislature's vote on Tuesday to override his veto on a bill that would ban gender-affirming treatments for transgender youths in the state. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158823

"America Is Worth It" 03/31/2021

"America Is Worth It" The $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill got more attention and its goals may matter more in addressing the challenges of the moment. But President Joe Biden's two-phase jobs and infrastructure package will carry a larger price tag along with potentially greater implications. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158843

"A Point Of View Is Based In Truth" 03/24/2021

"A Point Of View Is Based In Truth" Despite President Joe Biden's calls for quick action after another mass shooting and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer's vow to force votes on the Senate floor, the calcified politics of gun rights leave congressional action almost impossible to envision. Plus, CNN Tonight anchor, Don Lemon joins to talk about his new book and his experiences in covering politics over the last 5 years. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158858

Putin Will 'Pay a Price' 03/17/2021

Putin Will 'Pay a Price' Senior White House correspondent Mary Bruce joins to discuss President Joe Biden's exclusive interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. Plus, Jonathan Karl shares some new reporting included in the just-released paperback edition of his book, “Front Row at the Trump Show.” /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158868

"Dude, It's A Big Bleeping Deal" 03/10/2021

"Dude, It's A Big Bleeping Deal" President Joe Biden is about to have something very big to sell, with the House on track to pass his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill today (Wednesday). /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158888

Authors of "Lucky: How Biden Barely Won the Presidency" 03/03/2021

Authors of "Lucky: How Biden Barely Won the Presidency" Guests: Jonathan Allen & Amie Parnes, authors of "Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency" /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158903

"They Crossed A Line" 02/24/2021

"They Crossed A Line" Tuesday's Senate hearing on the January 6 siege on the Capitol raised a series of questions that directly involve the previous administration. Meanwhile, Judge Merrick Garland plans to make Jan. 6 investigations his first priority after he becomes attorney general. And even with additional hearings Wednesday, Thursday and beyond, the concept of a bipartisan commission to investigate the events leading up to and during the siege is gaining traction on Capitol Hill. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158918

"Truth is the Counter to The Big Lie" 02/17/2021

"Truth is the Counter to The Big Lie" It's a plan the White House is lauding as "bold and ambitious." It's also grown less so through the early weeks of the Biden presidency -- and could reveal political vulnerabilities for the new administration as it pushes for a major COVID-19 relief bill. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158928

Second Impeachment Trial Begins 02/10/2021

Second Impeachment Trial Begins Even an emotional prosecution and a mess of a defense may not change the Senate math. But while so many of the facts around the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump are settled, a key question is emerging that could matter beyond final votes on conviction. For all that is established about what rioters did, why they did it and even what Trump said to seemingly encourage them, what the then-president did in the hours that the attack was ongoing is a key piece of the case being assembled /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158938

"We Really Have To Meet The Moment" 02/03/2021

"We Really Have To Meet The Moment" The impending impeachment trial guarantees refreshed memories of the horrors that took place at the Capitol less than a month ago. Any thought the trial would turn on narrow constitutional questions is effectively out, given Trump's strategy of defiance. Plus, Powerhouse Politics goes inside the White House to find out how these first weeks of the Biden Administration are progressing. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158953

"Unity Requires You To Eliminate the Vitriol" 01/27/2021

"Unity Requires You To Eliminate the Vitriol" The clock on bipartisanship is already ticking down. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is saying a vote on a budget resolution could come as early as next week -- before the Senate impeachment trial, and conceivably before any standalone COVID-19 relief bills make their way out of the legislative branch. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158988

Steps Ahead 01/20/2021

Steps Ahead Joe Biden today takes the oath of office on the same steps where just two weeks ago we saw violence and unrest. ABC News Political Director Rick Klein co-hosts this episode with ABC's newly promoted congressional correspondent, Rachel Scott. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31158998

"A Fatal Condition" 01/14/2021

"A Fatal Condition" Ten is either a huge number or a stunningly small one, depending on one's views of the state of partisanship and President Donald Trump's culpability for his words and actions. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159008

"Stop Trying To Stoke Fears for Fame" 01/13/2021

"Stop Trying To Stoke Fears for Fame" President Donald Trump is about to become the first president to be impeached twice. The second one, while unlikely to drive him from office early, will almost certainly be the one that matters the most. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) joins from the House during the impeachment vote to discuss the events of the last week and what it means going forward. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159018

Shocking But Not Surprising 01/08/2021

Shocking But Not Surprising In this special edition of Powerhouse Politics, Jon and Rick break down the events that unfolded in United States Capitol this week, discuss some new reporting from behind the scenes in the White House and look ahead to the final twelve days of the Trump presidency. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159023

"The Pressure Is Enormous" 01/06/2021

"The Pressure Is Enormous" It’s clear how part of the story will end. President-elect Joe Biden will prevail over President Donald Trump again and perhaps for the final time. But the final public act of the post-election spectacle -- set to play out in the House and Senate over an undetermined number of hours, starting Wednesday afternoon, even as counting in Georgia continues – will mark just a starting point for the broader debate over the future of the Republican Party. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159033

Closing The Book On 2020 12/30/2020

Closing The Book On 2020 In the final episode of 2020, ABC News Chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl and ABC News Political Director Rick Klein take a look at the extraordinary final days and weeks of Donald Trump's presidency and at what a post-Trump era might bring. They also reflect on a challenging and remarkable year that the American People will not soon forget. Happy New Year and thank you for listening! /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159043

Flipping The White House 12/23/2020

Flipping The White House On January 20th, the White House itself will undergo a major transformation as one President departs and a new one moves in to the People's House. Journalist and author, Kate Andersen Brower joins the podcast to discuss what that means for the new first family of the United States and the White House staff, including teams of ushers, butlers, cooks, and others. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159053

"Respectful in Public and Very Clear in Private" 12/16/2020

"Respectful in Public and Very Clear in Private" Many Democrats might laugh at the idea that Sen. Mitch McConnell or any Republican deserves credit for acknowledging a reality that's been apparent for weeks, and simply stating that Biden is president-elect. "I applaud Mitch McConnell for talking to Joe Biden today," VP-Elect Kamala Harris told ABC News on Wednesday. "It would have been better if it were earlier, but it happened, and that's what's most important. So let's move forward." Plus, Dr. Deborah Birx joins the podcast to discuss the coronavirus v /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159058

"This Is Not for the Faint of Heart" 12/09/2020

"This Is Not for the Faint of Heart" It doesn't get as much notice amid the Trump show -- or, rightfully, in the midst in the dark phase of the pandemic. But intra-party rumblings about diversity and experience are more than background noise as President-elect Joe Biden builds out his governing team. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159068

"This Has To Stop" 12/02/2020

"This Has To Stop" To be a Republican who believes President Donald Trump and his lawyers at the moment is to believe that he's been betrayed by yet another attorney general, the GOP governors of Arizona and Georgia, plus dozens of federal and state judges -- in addition to myriad other government officials involved in increasingly bizarre and far-flung conspiracy theories. To not believe them is to potentially sacrifice your future in the Republican Party -- and maybe a whole lot more. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159083

"This is Crazy. This is Nuts." 11/25/2020

"This is Crazy. This is Nuts." In the days and weeks following the 2020 election the Trump campaign has been filing lawsuits in battleground states where the race has been extremely close. Former NJ Governor and longtime ally of Donald Trump, Chris Christie said this week, "...the president's legal team has been a national embarrassment." He continued, "the allege fraud outside the courtroom but when they go inside the courtroom they don't plead fraud and they don't argue fraud." /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159093

"This Is Not A Search For The Truth" 11/18/2020

"This Is Not A Search For The Truth" It's getting real now. From the top down and from the bottom up, the consequences of President Donald Trump and his Republican Party continuing to defy reality are making themselves evident. Trump firing a top Homeland Security official for contradicting his unfounded claims about the election, while local Republican officials in Michigan initially refused to certify results -- these mark new lows that threaten to shake the foundations of the electoral process. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159113

Jim Gray: "Talking to GOATs" 11/13/2020

Jim Gray: "Talking to GOATs" Jim Gray has won twelve National Sports Emmy Awards, interviewing the greatest of all time athletes from Muhammad Ali to Tom Brady. He has also interviewed nine US Presidents from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, and played golf with most of them. He recently wrote "Talking with GOATS," sharing many behind-the-scenes anecdotes about his famous conversations. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159123

Creating Doubt 11/11/2020

Creating Doubt To rekindle an infamous discussion, taking President Donald Trump literally at this precarious moment means the president believes the election was rigged against him; that he believes he received more lawful votes than his opponent; that he believes the vote count in a series of battleground states is flawed and corrupt; and that there are election officials and state and federal judges that are ready to deliver him a second term. Taking him seriously at this moment ... might be even scarier. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159138

The Apparent Winner 11/07/2020

The Apparent Winner After nearly 50 years in public life and three tries for the White House, former Vice President Joe Biden is the apparent winner of the presidency, defeating incumbent President Donald Trump in a victory delayed by vote counts and complicated by potential legal challenges. ABC News projects it was Pennsylvania that gave him the electoral votes he needed, and Biden, who was born in Scranton, has said his early life there has always been "a touchstone -- where I learned my values." /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159153

An Extraordinary Couple of Days 11/05/2020

An Extraordinary Couple of Days A win isn't the same as a mandate. Waiting for a win is messier -- especially in volatile times. On the day after the day after Election Day, the math and the map clearly favor former Vice President Joe Biden, though he's not there yet. /episode/index/show/da95ae41-7522-4990-a2a4-b2bf03dd9d86/id/31159163

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