| | | |  | | By Rachel Umansky-Castro | | Presented by |  | | | With help from Eli Okun and Ali Bianco Good Saturday morning. This is Rachel Umansky-Castro. Get in touch. YEAR IN REVIEW: Our colleagues at POLITICO Magazine have rounded up the top stories of 2025 that cover the range of moments that defined President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. “These 25 stories — among the most read of the year as well as those picked by editors as their favorites — will help you understand the past year and prepare you for what’s to come in what will surely be a wild 2026.”
|  | DRIVING THE DAY | | | 
While the administration has driven border crossings to historically low figures, the number of deportations has fallen well short of the 1 million that President Donald Trump set out as the benchmark. | Alex Brandon/AP | THE IMMIGRATION AGENDA: Nearly a year into his second term, Trump’s promise to carry out the largest mass deportation agenda faces two realities: Some on the right say the White House needs to go further than it has, while many on the left warn Trump’s crackdown is spreading fear and confusion in immigrant communities. Trump on the campaign trail pushed an intense focus on immigration, vowing to upend the system once again. While the administration has driven border crossings to historically low figures, the number of deportations has fallen well short of the 1 million that Trump set out as the benchmark. The administration this year deported more than 600,000 unauthorized immigrants, and another 1.9 million self-deported, according to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She also said DHS has arrested more than 595,000 unauthorized immigrants since Jan. 20. A recent NYT analysis of government data put the number of deportations around 500,000. The White House is touting the progress. “President Trump is delivering on his promise to Make America Safe Again and deport criminal illegal aliens,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said in a statement. “In record time, we have totally secured the border and are carrying out the largest mass deportation operation of criminal illegal aliens in history.” Conservative allies, though, say Trump’s results have yet to match his campaign promise. “The numbers aren’t on a trajectory to be anywhere close to anything that could be credibly called mass deportations,” said Mike Howell, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. While the administration has said it is targeting the “worst of the worst” in its broad crackdown, ICE arrest data shows that many have no criminal record. But Howell argued the administration’s focus on violent criminals, while politically safer, is operationally inefficient. “It’s actually way harder to focus on criminals. It takes way more resources.” Despite a year that has been dominated by immigration, there is little sign that 2026 will see any dropoff. And one of the biggest question marks for Trump’s crackdown still remains: The birthright citizenship case looms on the Supreme Court’s docket. Soon after he took office in January, Trump signed the executive order seeking to end automatic birthright citizenship for children born on U.S. soil. The case could have far-reaching implications if the justices allow Trump’s order to take effect, ending decades of precedent that has guaranteed citizenship to virtually everyone born in the U.S. Arguments are likely to come in April, with a decision expected by the end of June. Howell called parents of U.S.-born children “a priority category for deportation,” arguing it acts as “a force multiplier.” He added: “Every category of people should feel that they can be deported and probably will.” Civil rights groups are warning that the effort crosses a clear constitutional line. While Trump’s executive order is currently blocked under a nationwide injunction, Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, said the Supreme Court review alone has triggered fear. The swirl of uncertainty regarding the birthright citizenship question has prompted “dozens of calls” from families across the country inquiring about whether they should move states or “think about inducing the birth sooner,” Wofsy said. If the administration wins, he warned, it could invite authorities to “question the citizenship of all sorts of people,” bolstering the idea that “non-white people supposedly don’t belong in this country or are not full and equal members of our society.” “The Trump administration wants to turn back the clock to a time when this country was less free, was less equal and the time that it was demographically more white, and that is … contrary to who we are as a country,” Wofsy said. Elora Mukherjee, an immigration lawyer who represents children and families who are currently detained in Texas, echoed the dire warning. “It’s a very scary time when even U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and other immigrants with lawful status are wondering, ‘Do I still belong here in America?’” Mukherjee said. Trump’s actions amount to a serious overreach of presidential power, she said. “The Trump administration’s actions have reached so far that it has been shocking even to those of us who expected and feared the worst,” Mukherjee said. More immigration files …
- Venezuelans “who were sent to a maximum-security El Salvador prison from the U.S. and then returned to Venezuela called on Friday for the United States to comply with a ruling that would allow them to challenge their deportation in U.S. courts,” per Reuters. “U.S. Judge James Boasberg ruled this week that President Donald Trump's administration must urgently arrange for the return of the hundreds of Venezuelans who were deported to El Salvador, saying their expulsion violated their due process rights and that they have the right to challenge their deportation in court.”
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Visit ms.now for more. | | | | 9 THINGS THAT STUCK WITH US 1. WHAT’S ON THE PRESIDENT’S MIND: Trump is cautious about embracing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest peace proposal: “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump told POLITICO’s Sophia Cai in an exclusive interview. Trump remained positive about his meeting tomorrow with Zelenskyy — “I think it’s going to go good” — but also made clear that even as Ukraine tries to offer concessions, the decision will ultimately be his. More from Trump: The president indicated to the N.Y. Post’s Steven Nelson that he was disinclined to recognize Somaliland as an independent nation anytime soon, in the wake of Israel becoming the first country in the world to do so. “Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?” Trump said. He also told Sophia that he thinks the midterm elections will hinge on “pricing” — and that he thinks Republicans can convince Americans they’re fixing Joe Biden’s problems. 2. NIGERIA FALLOUT: The U.S. strikes on suspected Islamic State targets in Nigeria this week could be just the beginning, as Nigerian officials say they expect more coordinated attacks to follow, Bloomberg’s Ruth Olurounbi and Eric Martin report. Trump told Sophia that the strikes were originally scheduled for Wednesday, but he delayed them by a day for symbolic reasons. “They were going to do it earlier,” Trump told POLITICO. “And I said, ‘nope, let’s give a Christmas present.’” On the ground: Nigeria’s choice to work with the U.S. “may have averted humiliating unilateral military action,” Reuters’ Ben Ezeamalu and colleagues report. “But security experts say it is unclear whether such strikes can do much to hinder Islamist militants who have long menaced communities in the area.” In a village near where the strikes hit, residents experienced “panic and confusion” when the U.S. attacks came out of nowhere, though none of them were hurt, AP’s Ope Adetayo and Tunde Omolehin report from Jabo. The bigger picture: Though Trump framed the U.S. strikes as going after Islamic State terrorists who are persecuting Christians, the complicated reality is that Muslims mostly suffer from insurgent attacks in the state of Sokoto, NYT’s Ruth Maclean reports. And experts are divided over how closely tied Sokoto militants are to the Islamic State. Other analysts warn WaPo’s Rachel Chason and colleagues that the U.S. “appeared to be stepping into a complex, long-running conflict that they might not fully understand.” 3. THE BOAT STRIKES: “The U.S. sank the alleged narco-terrorists’ boat — and let them go,” by WaPo’s Arturo Torres and colleagues in Quito, Ecuador: “In his gang-controlled hometown, [Andrés Fernando Tufiño Chila] was known as Fresco Solo, neighbors said, a skilled navigator they alleged was recruited by criminals to smuggle drugs north. But in transferring him to Ecuadorian custody, three officials here said, U.S. forces didn’t provide any evidence that could be used to detain him — no seized drugs, no phone or GPS records, no videos, none of the intelligence that led them to target his vessel. … Within hours, Tufiño was let go.” 4. WHAT THE E-RING IS READING: After serving as acting Pentagon chief of staff for eight months, Ricky Buria has finally landed the job permanently, POLITICO’s Daniel Lippman scooped. The promotion for Buria, a controversial figure who has clashed with other appointees at DOD, is a win for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with whom Buria is close. 5. THE WORLD CITIZENS UNITED MADE: “Anonymous money fuels $5 million in attacks on Georgia’s Lt. Gov. Burt Jones,” by AP’s Jeff Amy in Atlanta: “It’s the biggest mystery in Georgia politics right now: Who’s paying for the attacks on Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones? Someone operating under the name ‘Georgians for Integrity’ has dumped around $5 million into television ads, mailers and texts. The attacks claim Jones, who already has … Trump’s endorsement in his run for governor next year, has been using his office to enrich himself. For any Georgian settling down to watch a football game, the ads have been nearly inescapable … The Jones campaign is hopping mad, threatening legal action against television stations.” 6. RED-LIGHT REDISTRICT: Utah state judge Dianna Gibson allowed the legislature’s appeal of the new congressional map she approved to move forward, per Fox 13’s Ben Winslow. “But it may not quickly grant the legislature a victory,” as the state Supreme Court will now decide whether the legislators can appeal, in their effort to restore Republicans’ Salt Lake City gerrymander. Meanwhile, Utah Republicans keep trucking on their effort to undo the state’s partisan gerrymandering ban, now hitting about 15 percent of the signatures they need for a new statewide referendum, The Salt Lake Tribune’s Robert Gehrke and Emily Anderson Stern report. But some voters report being deceived into signing, per Gehrke.
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| | | | 7. WHAT CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM IS CELEBRATING: “The Unexpected Winner of Rising American Tariffs Is Mexico,” by WSJ’s Santiago Pérez and Anthony Harrup in Mexico City: “Because Mexico’s ultimate tariff rate ended up lower than for most other countries, the disparity has helped Mexican exports fill some of the gap left by Chinese products subject to higher levies. Producers seeking a foothold in the U.S. have said that Mexico still has all the inherent advantages it had before tariffs … ‘In fact, it was Liberation Day for us,’ said [one company executive].” 8. 2026 WATCH: Democrats’ hope of making up ground in rural America springs eternal every election — and this cycle, they see an opening in appealing to voters hit by Republicans’ tariffs, health care cuts and public lands cuts, POLITICO’s Marcia Brown and colleagues report. Dems plan to beef up their presence in rural areas where outreach has withered in recent years, including an outreach program from House Dems for the first time ever, and spotlight farmers in ads. 9. OVERSIGHT FILES: “Kennedy, other Trump officials balk at requests to testify on Capitol Hill,” by WaPo’s Theo Meyer and colleagues: “[A]dministration officials testified more often before many committees during the first year of President Joe Biden’s term than they have this year. … Asked about [HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] failure to appear, [Senate HELP Chair Bill] Cassidy said last week that he was in touch with the Health and Human Services Department. The department did not respond directly to questions about why Kennedy … has not come before Cassidy’s committee.” CLICKER — “The nation’s cartoonists look back on the year that was,” edited by Matt Wuerker — 37 funnies
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Al Goodwyn - Creators | GREAT WEEKEND READS: — “Congolese rape survivors search in vain for medicine after USAID cuts,” by WaPo’s Katharine Houreld: “In eastern Congo, where rape is widespread, the cancellation of USAID funding for PEP kits has left many victims vulnerable, according to nearly 50 interviews.” — “Erasing the Verdict: The Ongoing Shock of Trump’s Cocaine Kingpin Pardon,” by Bloomberg Businessweek’s Monte Reel: “Donald Trump’s pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, toppled the capstone of one of the most ambitious narcotics investigations in the history of the Department of Justice.” — “‘It’s Just Us’: The Firefighter, His Son and a Treacherous Choice,” by NYT’s Hannah Dreier: “For two decades, Luis Martinez has fought wildfires for the U.S. government. Now he’s facing down cancer, debt and the threat of separation from his 11-year-old.” — “Inside the North Carolina GOP’s Decade-Long Push to Seize Power From the State’s Democratic Governors,” by ProPublica’s Doug Bock Clark: “These power shifts have left North Carolina’s governor ranked dead last among state chief executives.” — “The Artist in Gracie Mansion,” by The Cut’s Danya Issawi: “Rama Duwaji is excited for her husband Zohran Mamdani’s new job. Just don’t call her the mayor’s plus-one.”
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| | | | | | TALK OF THE TOWN | | IN MEMORIAM — “Howie Klein, Top Executive at Sire and Reprise Records, DJ and Political Activist, Dies at 77,” by Variety’s Jem Aswad: “In his later years, Klein published a political blog and social media account titled DownWithTyranny! and worked with such organizations as the Blue America PAC, the Progressive Congress Action Fund and others.” PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the bureau has finalized its plans to move out of the J. Edgar Hoover Building and close it permanently, heading instead to the Ronald Reagan Building, which previously housed USAID. PLAYBOOK ARTS SECTION — Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell slammed Chuck Redd for having canceled a Christmas Eve show because of the administration’s move to add President Donald Trump to the center’s name, per the AP. Grenell threatened the musician with a $1 million lawsuit “for this political stunt.” Meanwhile, Trump posted on Truth Social about possible new marble armrests for seats at the theater. HISTORIC NEWS — Karoline Leavitt announced that she’s pregnant with a baby girl due in May. She’s the first-ever pregnant White House press secretary, per POLITICO’s Aaron Pellish. MEDIA MOVE — Jesse Bedell is now a booking producer for NewsNation. He most recently worked at Fox News. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NBC’s Savannah Guthrie … Mercedes Schlapp … Emily Murphy … Kurt Volker … former Reps. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) … Andi Lipstein Fristedt … Jacqueline Policastro … Andi Pringle … Emily Hytha of Lumen Technologies … Kamau Marshall … CNN’s Tierney Sneed … Joe Harris … Josh Litten … Benji Backer … Laura Lott of the National Art Education Association … Karen Hughes … Brennan Bilberry … Eric Dunay of Rep. Sharice Davids’ (D-Kan.) office … Jessica McCreight … POLITICO’s Carly Dunleavy … Arthur Kent THE SHOWS (Full Sunday show listings here): ABC “This Week”: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) … Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio). Panel: Rick Klein, Sarah Isgur, Neera Tanden and Scott Jennings. Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures”: SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler … Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) … Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) … Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.). CNN “State of the Union,” with a focus on “The Future of AI”: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) … Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) … Geoffrey Hinton … Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price … Tejasvi Manoj. MS NOW “The Weekend”: Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) … Charlie Dent … Donna Edwards. FOX “Fox News Sunday,” with a “Fox Faith Special”: Erika Kirk … Karen Kingsbury. Panel: Meghan Hays and Mollie Hemingway. CBS “Face the Nation”: Brian Moynihan … Major Garrett … Jan Crawford … Robert Costa … Scott MacFarlane … Jennifer Jacobs … Samantha Vinograd … Chris Krebs. NBC “Meet the Press,” with a “Meet the Moment” special hour: Hoda Kotb … Mel Robbins … Marcus Samuelsson … Jon M. Chu. Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn’t happen without our deputy editor Garrett Ross. Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook included an out-of-date work affiliation for Jared Bernstein.
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