Women Rule

Margaret Spellings, President George W. Bush’s former education secretary, muses on the state of the cabinet under the current Republican White House and offers some praise for Betsy DeVos. Spellings also reflects back on her time as president of the University of North Carolina and her legacy on No Child Left Behind.

Just days after an emotional, nationwide movement demanding stricter gun control laws, North Dakota Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp launched a staunch defense of the Second Amendment and pushed back at those calling for reforms. Heitkamp sat down with Women Rule for a live podcast taping in Los Angeles, explaining her views on guns, her tough midterm race, and her relationship with President Donald Trump.

Ronna Romney McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, is smashing fundraising records. In the latest Women Rule episode, she explains her fervor for bringing in the cash: “If you have money you have power. And if you have money, you have a seat at the table." McDaniel also spoke candidly about her relatively low profile in Washington (despite her prominent political family), her punishing work schedule away from her two children, and the Republican prospects in this midterm election.

Kay Coles James is the new president of the Heritage Foundation, America's largest and arguably most influential conservative think thank. Her role is a groundbreaking one, in part because she’ll be the first African American woman to head up Heritage. Women Rule sits down with James to discuss the "true north" for conservatives, her attempt to work in the Trump administration (blocked, she says, by former "Apprentice" star Omarosa Manigault Newman), and her personal history - including the time she attended a segregated white high school as a young child in the '60s.

Women Rule heads to Austin for SXSW, where host Anna Palmer speaks with Wendy Davis about what Democrats are doing in Texas, lessons she learned from her failed gubernatorial run in 2014, and whether or not she plans on getting more involved with Planned Parenthood.

Sen. Tina Smith doesn’t want to talk about Al Franken. When asked about her Democratic predecessor, who resigned the Minnesota seat amid allegations of sexual misconduct, she avoided even saying his name in this Women Rule interview. Instead, Smith is concentrating on the economic implications of the #MeToo movement, as she trains her eye on getting reelected this November.

Rachel Holt, vice president at Uber and general manager of the company’s U.S. and Washington operations, spoke with Women Rule about the new directions the company has taken since Dara Khosrowshahi took over - and what it means for its women employees.

Actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, best known for her role as Dr. Nancy McNally on "The West Wing," has a new film focusing on incarceration among American youth. Women Rule sits down with her to discuss the critically acclaimed "Notes From the Field," Deavere Smith's social justice interests, art in the Trump era and her latest work with Shonda Rhimes.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth has a problem: How can a senator who needs to vote take time off to care for her newborn? The Illinois Democrat and Iraq War veteran, who is expecting her second child this spring, will be the first sitting senator to give birth in office. She plans to take 12 weeks of paid leave – but she’s working with her party’s leadership and her staff to figure out how she can still take important votes while she’s out. In this episode, the senator opens up about her history-making pregnancy, Democratic prospects in the midterms and her not-so-affectionate nickname for President Trump.

Meghan McCain is not her father. For one, she’s a daytime talk show host on ABC's "The View." And her father is Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a one-time presidential candidate and perennial thorn in Donald Trump’s side. But Meghan and her father are really close, and in this interview with Women Rule, the younger McCain opens up about some intensely personal topics, including her relationship with him. She also discusses his fight with brain cancer, how she feels (as a conservative) about the Trumps, and why she doesn't consider herself a feminist.

After several widely publicized mistakes by news outlets in reporting on President Donald Trump and his administration, Martha Raddatz, ABC News’ chief global affairs correspondent and co-anchor of “This Week,” is calling the experience a “good lesson” learned for journalists. With Trump in the White House, “I think we’re watching each other a little more,” Raddatz told POLITICO’s Anna Palmer. “I think we’re more careful — and try to be more careful — in that we admit mistakes quickly and try to correct those mistakes. That’s a good thing.” In the interview, Raddatz also spoke about taking the "scenic route" in her career, the difficulties of reporting on foreign wars, and what she's proudest of in her career.

As Donald Trump prepares to deliver his first State of the Union address on the heels of reports he had an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels, one former White House speechwriter offered up a lesson from what Bill Clinton did in 1998: Stick to policy." June Shih, one of the architects of that address – which Clinton delivered just four days after news broke of the scandal involving Monica Lewinsky – said focusing on his ideas made Clinton’s speech “a very triumphant moment.” Women Rule spoke to four former presidential speechwriters – including Mary Kate Cary of the George HW Bush White House, Vinca LaFleur of the Clinton White House and Sarada Peri of the Obama White House – about their experiences writing the addresses, their advice for Trump’s speechwriting team and why there are so few women at the highest levels of the profession.

The former anti-Trump governor became one of the president’s favorite officials, giving her rare standing on the global stage. The U.N. ambassador explains how in this special episode of POLITICO’s Women Rule podcast with White House reporter Eliana Johnson.

As Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List puts it: "Someday, EMILY’s List will not be needed...because there will be women running in every election out there.” From Schriock’s view, that day could be soon. The organization, which supports pro-choice Democratic women in their bids for public office, has seen a growth spurt in the months since the 2016 election. And going into the 2018 midterms, they've more than doubled their campaign operations. POLITICO's Anna Palmer talks with Schriock about winning back the House, Schriock's her early start in politics, her old boss Sen. Al Franken, and more.

Maria Trabocchi has built a Washington restaurant brand on hospitality and Italian fine dining — and for years, Sfoglina, Fiola, Fiola Mare and Casa Luca (and, most recently, Del Mar) have played host to D.C.’s A-list. The Obamas have feasted there, along with foreign heads of state, Hollywood stars like Meryl Streep, and the occasional Supreme Court justice. But what's the secret to charming the VIPs of the nation’s capital? POLITICO's Anna Palmer sits down with Trabocchi to discuss the details of entertaining Washington's power brokers, how she got her start in the food industry, and what's next for her restaurant empire.

Before the viral hashtag #MeToo, before the revelations against Harvey Weinstein and other media giants… there was Gretchen Carlson. Back in 2016, Carlson filed a landmark lawsuit against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, beginning a wave of sexual harassment allegations at the network. Eventually Ailes was forced out, along with other Fox News big wigs, like Bill O’Reilly and Fox co-president Bill Shine. But at the time, Carlson was a solitary voice against one of the most powerful men in media. In this interview with the former Fox News anchor, POLITICO's Anna Palmer talks with Carlson about that "lonely, fearful" time, her advice for women in the workplace, her winding career path, and what's next for the pageant queen-turned-journalist-turned-women's empowerment advocate.

Are women the survivors in Trump’s White House? What goes on behind the scenes when reporting on the presidency? POLITICO White House reporters Nancy Cook and Annie Karni sit down with Carrie Budoff Brown for the final Women Rule episode of 2017.

Last week, POLITICO hosted its fifth annual Women Rule summit, where we had several frank discussions about sexual harassment and assault. In this episode of the 'Women Rule' podcast, we hear some poignant moments from the summit: interviews with Elaine Chao and Kellyanne Conway about their "Me Too" moments, a discussion with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and the misconduct allegations sweeping Capitol Hill, and a talk with Tarana Burke, the woman who founded the "Me Too" movement over a decade ago.

It’s not easy being the lone woman at the top of the food chain, especially in all-male kitchens. But powerhouse chef and restaurateur Amy Brandwein — owner of the popular Italian eatery and market Centrolina in downtown Washington — has learned to deal with it. In this conversation with POLITICO's Anna Palmer, Brandwein talks about striking out on her own in the male-dominated food industry, what she's learned from politics, and how it's that much more difficult to raise money as a female entrepreneur.

What happens when the agriculture industry stays male-dominated? Will first lady Melania Trump continue Michelle Obama's legacy on healthy eating? In this food-themed post-Thanksgiving episode, POLITICO agriculture reporters Helena Bottemiller Evich, Jenny Hopkinson, and Catherine Boudreau sit down with Carrie Budoff Brown to discuss the latest in food and farm policies.