From their lofty offices along K street, Washington lobbyists have spent decades trying to pull the levers of power. But changing times sometimes call for changing scenery, and these OG influencers are trading luxurious office space near the White House for quaint, intimate townhouses right across the street from Congress. Today, Playbook co-host Tara Palmeri with lobbyists Brian Bell and Scott Eckart and POLITICO’s Hailey Fuchs on why lobbyists are flooding Capitol Hill townhouses, and whether proximity equals power. Tara Palmeri is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Brian Bell is a lobbyist for the Allied Pilots Association. Scott Eckart is a co-founder of Emergent Strategies. Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

Gerrymandering: Depending on where you stand, it’s either the cause of, or solution to, many of America’s political problems. Here’s what that fight looks like — from the outside looking in, and from the inside looking out. Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza dives into the subject with GOP strategist (and former gerrymanderer) Jeff Timmer, Common Cause North Carolina executive director Bob Phillips and Politico’s Ally Mutnick. Jeff Timmer  is a senior advisor for the Lincoln Project. Bob Phillips is the executive director of Common Cause North Carolina. Ally Mutnick covers House campaigns and redistricting for POLITICO. Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio. Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

 It’s one of the most demanding jobs in Washington journalism: tracking down a lawmaker who’s in the news but doesn’t necessarily want to talk. For the Congress press corps, scoring that story-making quote might mean standing on a marble staircase for hours — if the senator or representative decides to talk at all. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade takes us inside the Capitol Hill media “scrum” — as reporters like CNN’s Manu Raju reveal their tricks of the trade… and former Senator Jeff Flake discloses all the times he pretended to talk on his phone while walking past reporters. Rachael Bade  is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Jeff Flake is former Republican Senator from Arizona  and current Ambassador-designate to Turkey. Manu Raju is CNN's chief congressional correspondent. Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio. Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio. Special thanks to Nicholas Wu, Kyle Cheney, Oriana Pawlyk, Nolan McCaskill, Juliegrace Brufke, Paul Kane who were also featured reporters in this episode.

For the first time in 12 years, a Republican won the governorship in Virginia. And it wasn’t just any victory — to claim the seat, Glenn Youngkin had to beat Terry McAuliffe, former governor and Democratic royalty. Ryan Lizza digs into the narrow win with Youngkin campaign strategists Jeff Roe and Kristin Davison, and the mistakes they think McAuliffe’s campaign made. Plus, senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian on the significant places Youngkin gained the most votes. Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Charlie Mahtesian is senior politics editor for POLITICO. Kristin Davison was a campaign strategist for Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin. Jeff Roe was a campaign strategist for Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin. Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio. Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.

All summer long, activists have pressured Democratic leaders for a reconciliation package that delivers on all of President Biden’s promises. That means Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin faced protesters in their offices, homes… and bathroom stalls. Today, Playbook’s Tara Palmeri explores the new face of activism, and she asks POLITICO’s co-congressional bureau chief Burgess Everett on whether the activism is having its intended effect on Manchin and the latest on the Democrats messy reconciliation fight. Tara Palmeri is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Burgess Everett is POLITICO's co-congressional bureau chief. Annie Rees is a producer for POLITICO audio. Carlos Prieto is a producer for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the senior producer for POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.