Rephonic
Artwork for CONTROL
Congress
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Government Shutdown
Reconciliation
House Of Representatives
United States Congress
Kamala Harris
Trump
Mike Johnson
Appropriations
Biden
Medicaid
Democratic Party
Trump Administration
Save America Act
Continuing Resolution
Filibuster
Republicans
Democrats

CONTROL is a podcast hosted by Seven Letter’s Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci, two veterans of Capitol Hill who now serve as communications strategists to Fortune 500 companies, non-profits and advocacy coalitions. Drawing on their experience in GOP congressional politics, the podcast seeks to look around the corner at the policy priorities and political dynamics that will define Congress.The podca... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNews

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Artwork for CONTROL

Latest Episodes

On the second of a two-part series examining how the parties are approaching the upcoming midterm elections, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci are joined by Mike Smith, president of House Majority PAC. They discuss the Democrats plan to take back the Ho... more

On the first of a two-part series examining how the parties are approaching the upcoming midterm elections, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci are joined by Brendan Jaspers, political director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. They cover ... more

Ahead of a what is scheduled to be a busy week in the House of Representatives, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci ask whether the SAVE America Act will continue to dominate the conversation. Can lawmakers strike deals on the NDAA and annual appropriatio... more

As President Trump prepares to head up to Capitol Hill for the Republican Senate lunch, Annalyse Keller and Mike Ricci discuss what kind of reaction he may receive and what items might be on the agenda from the Save America Act to the Iran deal to th... more

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Recent Guests

Ramsey Touchberry
Congressional reporter for the Washington Examiner
Washington Examiner
Episode: A Packed House Agenda Meets Political Reality Feat. Ramsey Touchberry
Leigh Ann Caldwell
Puck's chief Washington correspondent, guest on Control
Puck
Episode: The FISA Clock Is Ticking (Again) Feat. Leigh Ann Caldwell
Natalie Andrews
White House correspondent for The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: A Summer Sprint or Slog? Feat. Natalie Andrews
Scott Wong
NBC News Senior Congressional Reporter who has covered five house speakers
NBC News
Episode: Inside Reconciliation 2.0 Feat. Scott Wong
Matt Glassman
Congressional expert, former CRS employee, former staff on House Appropriations
Congressional Research Service (CRS); former CRS staff
Episode: How Congress Broke the Appropriations Process Feat. Matt Glassman
Meredith Lee Hill
Politico senior Congress reporter
Politico
Episode: Welcome to Hell Week Feat. Meredith Lee Hill
Ally Mutnick
Congressional reporter
Punchbowl News
Episode: How Redistricting Is Rewriting the Midterms Feat. Ally Mutnick
Reese Gorman
Politics reporter for Notice, covers Congress
Notice
Episode: Back From Recess — and Buried in Business Feat. Reese Gorman
Burgess Everett
Congressional Bureau Chief, Semafor
Semafor
Episode: What Can Break the DHS Deadlock? Feat. Burgess Everett

Hosts

Annalyse Keller
Host of CONTROL; veteran Capitol Hill communications strategist with Seven Letter; frequently introduces guests and guides political discussion.
Mike Ricci
Co-host of CONTROL; former Capitol Hill staffer turned communications strategist; provides analysis, asks probing questions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 47 ratings
  • Informative!

    Great behind the scenes look and analysis into beltway politics

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Qwetghasdf123
    United Statesa year ago
  • A behind the scenes look into Congress

    Love this show. If you want to know what’s happening—or not—in Congress Control is a must listen. The hosts and their guests offer unique perspectives that go beyond the headlines and that help explain Congressional proceedings.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DCNerd
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Insight for All Levels of Interest

    This podcast strikes the perfect balance for anyone interested in Congress—whether you’re just trying to keep up or closely tracking every development. The hosts are insightful, fair, and bring a wealth of experience to the table, making each episode feel like a smart, genuine conversation. It’s a refreshing, behind-the-scenes look at the headlines, offering thoughtful analysis and perspective that goes beyond the typical news cycle.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kelc_mcclung
    United Statesa year ago
  • Amazing

    is a seven letter word to describe this podcast!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shnoopies
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fantastic

    Love this show! Valuable insights as to what is really going on in Washington with noteworthy guests and great hosts

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dedicated-Listener74
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Hosts offer practical context beyond headlines.
Clear, insightful breakdowns of beltway politics and procedures.
Excellent guest mix—policy depth with accessible analysis.
Consistently valuable for staying updated on congressional dynamics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Packed House Agenda Meets Political Reality Feat. Ramsey Touchberry
Q: Ramsey, what is, I mean, before we get into some specifics, like what's the vibe been like this spring?
Touchberry describes a tense, splintered atmosphere in the Senate with infighting and high tensions following recent policy debates and a two-week recess, highlighting how reconciliation discussions, Iran-related disagreements, and leadership dynamics have shaped the mood.
The FISA Clock Is Ticking (Again) Feat. Leigh Ann Caldwell
Q: Reconciliation 3.0. Do you think it has legs? Is this a pipe dream? What do you think?
Leigh Ann expresses skepticism about a new reconciliation package passing, noting internal Republican divisions and the political calculus around including controversial pieces like defense funding and domestic programs.
The FISA Clock Is Ticking (Again) Feat. Leigh Ann Caldwell
Q: The Senate is a no surprises body. Is this intentional? Is it just confusion at the White House? What is going on here?
Leigh Ann offers context about the White House activity and Senate dynamics, suggesting a mix of strategic positioning and reaction to new developments, with sensitivity to internal caucus divisions.
The FISA Clock Is Ticking (Again) Feat. Leigh Ann Caldwell
Q: Leigh Ann, I want to ask you which ones are your favorite.
Leigh Ann explains that while she has favorites among past speakers, she emphasizes the breadth of experience across multiple speakerships, and notes it's difficult to single out just one.
A Summer Sprint or Slog? Feat. Natalie Andrews
Q: Anything that you're watching particularly closely or anything you think other people should be paying more attention to?
Natalie Andrews points to the shifting dynamics around the weaponization fund and the ongoing dance over amendments and 'Votorama' in the Senate, noting that court rulings and off-ramps could change the momentum of reconciliation and funding debates, while also highlighting how primary dynamics and endorsements are influencing positioning ahead of the general election.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About CONTROL

What is CONTROL about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, behind-the-scenes look at Washington's legislative and budget battles, with emphasis on how procedure, timing, and political dynamics shape outcomes. Episodes frequently dissect reconciliation, Homeland Security funding, redistricting, and major policy fights, often featuring seasoned reporters and policy insiders who translate arcane processes into actionable insights for listeners. A notable strength is its ability to blend tactical negotiations with broader political storytelling, offering listeners practical context for what might come next in Congress and how messaging, leadership, and party dynamics interact to move or stall legislation.

Where can I find podcast stats for CONTROL?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for CONTROL. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to CONTROL and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does CONTROL get?

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What are the audience demographics for CONTROL?

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How many subscribers and views does CONTROL have?

To see how many followers or subscribers CONTROL has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to CONTROL?

These podcasts share a similar audience with CONTROL:

1. The Daily Punch
2. The Playbook Podcast
3. Central Air
4. City Cast DC
5. The Powers That Be: Daily

How many episodes of CONTROL are there?

CONTROL launched 4 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact CONTROL?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for CONTROL?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for CONTROL from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for CONTROL?

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What guests have appeared on CONTROL?

Recent guests on CONTROL include:

1. Ramsey Touchberry
2. Leigh Ann Caldwell
3. Natalie Andrews
4. Scott Wong
5. Matt Glassman
6. Meredith Lee Hill
7. Ally Mutnick
8. Reese Gorman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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