The Conversation with Dasha Burns

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 voters are fed up with one-party control, corruption and politics as usual. He discusses why Democrats have lost ground in rural America, whether the party has become too focused on insiders and national politics, and how he would govern with a Republican legislature.

Sand also weighs in on the future of the Democratic Party, his unlikely friendships with Republican governors — and his brief career as a model.

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 Congress has failed — and why the fight is only getting bigger.

Haidt also sounds the alarm on AI, warning that the threats to children could go “far beyond” social media and arguing that policymakers can’t afford to give AI companies the same free pass. And with restrictions on social media gaining bipartisan support, he weighs whether protecting kids from Big Tech could become a winning issue at the ballot box.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

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 California’s proposed billionaire tax, his opposition to recent arms sales to Israel, and whether he’ll continue accepting support from AIPAC.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536.

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 midterm hopes, and why he believes Republicans can overcome decades of history working against the president's party.

Dasha asks Johnson about his relationship with President Trump – questioning whether he ever tells the president "no" and why Senate Majority Leader John Thune appears more willing to publicly push back.

Johnson also addresses the mounting allegations against Rep. Max Miller and weighs in on what Abdul El-Sayed's victory says about the direction of the Democratic Party.

Have thoughts for the show? Text or leave us a voicemail at 202-643-1536

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 next," weighs in on the Michigan Senate race, reflects on his time in the Biden administration, and shares his vision for institutional reform, AI, economic inequality and the road to 2028. Plus, he gives Jonathan a tour of his adopted hometown—including a stop for Traverse City's famous cherry ice cream.