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Washington Week
For 50 years, Washington Week has been the most intelligent and up to date conversation about the most important news stories of the week. Washington Week is the longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS and features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories.
House Democrats elect a new, historic leadership team as Republicans disagree over who should lead as they take power. Plus, the Jan. 6 committee weighs whether to make criminal referrals to the Justice Department. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Nia-Malika Henderson of CNN, Michael C. Bender of The New York Times, Weijia Jiang of CBS News and Asma Khalid of NPR to discuss these stories and more.
House Democrats celebrated this week as they elected a new and younger leadership team. Meanwhile, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is expected to be the next Speaker of the House, but he has yet to secure the votes needed to be elected to the position as some hardliners in the Freedom Caucus continue to withhold their support.
With only weeks left to complete their work and before Democrats lose power in the House, the January 6 committee met to discuss whether to make criminal referrals to the Justice Department. Members say the probe’s final report will be released later this month. Plus, the founder of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, was found guilty of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Capitol attack.
A rift is growing among Republicans over the party’s current and future leaders. This week, prominent members of the GOP called on the party to put former President Trump behind them after multiple election losses. Still, Trump remains popular among many in the base which will be critical to winning the presidential nomination.
Nancy Pelosi steps down as the Democratic leader in the House as Republicans celebrate taking control. Plus, a special counsel will oversee the DOJ's Trump investigations as the former president announces another run. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Peter Baker of The New York Times, Errin Haines of The 19th, Molly Ball of Time and Leigh Ann Caldwell of The Washington Post to discuss.
Control of Congress hangs in the balance but for Republicans, the finger-pointing has already started after the red wave fell flat, with some openly criticizing former President Trump. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Dan Balz of The Washington Post, Weijia Jiang of CBS News, Jonathan Martin of Politico and Ayesha Rascoe of NPR to discuss this and more.
While it’s still unclear at this time which party will control the House or the Senate, what is certain is that the Republican red wave simply did not happen. The panel discusses why it fell flat and what it means for the Biden administration's agenda for the next two years.
Former President Trump is widely expected to announce another run for the White House next week. But some Republicans are openly criticizing him after the GOP's performance in the midterms. Plus, President Biden has also signaled he intends to run but has left the door open that, perhaps, he may not. The panel discusses the questions swirling within both parties about the future.
The Jan. 6 Committee subpoenas former President Trump, releases never-before-seen video, reveals testimony about Trump’s actions in the days surrounding the attack and sounds the alarm over threats to democracy. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Astead Herndon of The New York Times, Nicholas Wu of Politico, Dan Balz of The Washington Post and Ali Vitali of NBC News to discuss the committee's case.
President Biden says because of Russia’s recent military setbacks in Ukraine and threats by Vladimir Putin, the global nuclear risk is at a level not seen in decades.
The midterm election is just a month away and several key Senate races are heating up. In Georgia, Republican Herschel Walker is facing accusations of hypocrisy after the alleged mother of one of his children says he paid for her to have an abortion in 2009. Plus, Republicans are stepping up their claims that the Democrats are to blame for spikes in crime.
The U.S. Supreme Court term is underway with oral arguments in an Alabama redistricting case that challenges the state’s new congressional map as it dilutes Black voter strength. It also marked the debut of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the court.
After nuclear Putin's threats, President Biden issues a stark warning. Herschel Walker responds to allegations he paid for an abortion. Plus, the Supreme Court hears landmark cases in its new term. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Claudia Grisales of NPR, Jonathan Lemire of POLITICO, Seung Min Kim of The Associated Press and Ariane de Vogue of CNN to discuss these stories and more.
President Biden deals with a dangerous situation abroad as Russian President Putin annexes Ukrainian territory and says he will defend the region with the veiled threat of nuclear force.
Political feuds are put aside to coordinate the response to Hurricane Ian. But with the midterm elections less than six weeks away, the flow of negative political ads continues to air in Florida.
The committee investigating the January 6 attack continues its work as Ginni Thomas, right-wing activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, testifies behind closed doors. The committee was also given a video of Trump ally Roger Stone advocating for political violence and sharing his plan to overturn the presidential election results.
President Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis put political feuds aside after Hurricane Ian. Plus, Ginni Thomas, the right-wing activist and wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, meets with the Jan. 6 committee. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Yasmeen Abutaleb of The Washington Post, David Sanger of The New York Times, Ryan Reilly of NBC News and Eugene Daniels of POLITICO to discuss these stories and more.
Former President Donald Trump had to endure a week of legal blows. The New York attorney general announced the state is suing Trump and his children for fraud, an appeals court ruled the Justice Department can resume reviewing classified documents seized from his home and the special master appointed to review the files gave Trump a deadline to back up his claim that the FBI planted evidence.
Russian President Putin responded to the success of Ukraine’s counter-offensive by calling up 300,000 reservists, ordering a referendum on joining Russia in four occupied regions, and threatening a nuclear response if Ukraine’s advance continues. At the United Nations, President Biden rebuked Putin by name and called out Russia’s “outrageous acts” and shameless violation of the U.N. charter.
New York's attorney general announces a lawsuit against former President Trump and his children. Russian President Putin issues a threat and escalates the war as Ukraine’s military makes gains. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Peter Baker of The New York Times, Hugo Lowell of The Guardian, Vivian Salama of The Wall Street Journal and Nancy Cordes of CBS News to discuss these stories and more.
The last primary elections before the midterms were held and now all eyes are focused on the battle for control of Congress. With just two months until Election Day, the major issues in the news this week were inflation, abortion and immigration.
Subpoenas issued by the Department of Justice provide new insight into the scope of its investigation into the efforts former President Trump and his allies took to overturn the 2020 election and their involvement in the Capitol attack. Plus, the Secret Service hands over thousands of records in response to a subpoena from the House committee investigating January 6.
The Justice Department issues dozens of subpoenas connected to election lies and the Capitol attack. Plus, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduces a bill to federally ban abortions. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Marianna Sotomayor of The Washington Post, Zolan Kanno-Youngs of The New York Times, Susan Page of USA Today and Josh Gerstein of POLITICO to discuss these stories and more.
New reporting from the Washington Post revealed the FBI recovered top secret information about a foreign nation’s nuclear capabilities during its search of former President Trump’s home. And the Department of Justice files an appeal after a Federal Judge grants former President Trump’s request for a third-party special master to review the classified documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago.
We're learning more about former President Trump’s legal challenges and the Justice Department’s investigation into classified documents found at his estate. A photo from the FBI shows five yellow folders marked “top secret” and another red folder labeled “secret” at Mar-a-Lago.
With just two months of campaigning left until the midterm election, President Biden sharpens his attacks on former President Trump and Republican election deniers as the GOP punches back.
President Biden sharpens his attacks on former President Trump’s MAGA political movement as the former president also faces new challenges in the Justice Department’s investigation of his handling of classified documents. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Yasmeen Abutaleb of The Washington Post, Laura Barrón-López of PBS NewsHour, Jonathan Martin of The New York Times and Evan Pérez of CNN to discuss these stories and more.
A redacted version of the affidavit used to secure the search warrant for former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home was publicly released on Friday. It's the latest development in the ongoing legal battle between the Justice Department and Trump over government documents he failed to return to the National Archives when he left office.
As the midterms get closer, President Biden and the White House are turning up the heat on their criticisms of the GOP. The president accused Republicans allied with Trump of turning toward "semi-fascism" and being a threat to democracy. This comes as Republicans and some Democrats criticized Biden's plan to cancel up to $20,000 of federal student loans for millions of Americans.
The 2020 Democratic presidential primary saw a historic number of women vie for the nomination, yet none made it across the finish line. But why hasn’t the U.S. elected a woman president and what factors are at play in this country? NBC correspondent Ali Vitali's new book, “Electable: Why America Hasn't Put a Woman in the White House . . . Yet,” delves into these questions.
A redacted version of the affidavit used to secure the search warrant for former President Trump's home is unsealed and what President Biden's plan to forgive student debt could mean for the economy and the midterms. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Scott MacFarlane of CBS News, Eva McKend of CNN, Ali Vitali of NBC News and Michael Shear of The New York Times to discuss these stories and more.
President Biden took a victory lap this week as he signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, capping off a summer of legislative achievements that included a core portion of his domestic agenda. Still, despite this and his other recent victories Democrats remain concerned about his low approval ratings.
Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming lost her primary race in a landslide to Harriet Hageman, who is backed by former President Trump. Cheney became the eighth GOP House member who voted to impeach Trump to lose a primary or retire. Also, the fallout continues over the FBI's seizure of classified documents from Trump's Mar-a Lago home as a judge considers releasing parts of the affidavit used in the search.
One year ago this week, Taliban forces entered Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, causing the U.S. to scramble to evacuate thousands of Americans and many more Afghans, who for decades supported U.S. war efforts. But the frantic and deadly withdrawal set off widespread criticisms of President Biden, while the Taliban takeover of the country led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Former President Trump’s mounting legal troubles drowns out President Biden’s successes on key parts of his domestic agenda and Liz Cheney becomes the eighth GOP House incumbent to lose her seat after voting for Trump's impeachment. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Peter Baker of The New York Times, Eugene Daniels of POLITICO and Susan Page of USA TODAY to discuss these stories and more.
It has been an extraordinary week of legal challenges for former President Trump. The FBI executed a search warrant of his Mar-a-Lago estate that was unsealed Friday, indicating he is under investigation for possibly violating the Espionage Act. Plus, Trump also pleaded the fifth in a separate probe on his real estate dealings as he weighs another run for the presidency.
An 18-month investigation into the Trump administration’s traumatizing policy of family separation at the U.S. border has been published in The Atlantic. Reporter Caitlin Dickerson, who covered the story, joins Yamiche Alcindor to discuss.
The FBI executes a search warrant for former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home. Plus, we examine the findings of an 18-month investigation into the Trump administration’s family separation policy. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Evan Perez of CNN, Robert Costa of CBS, Philip Rucker of The Washington Post and Caitlin Dickerson of The Atlantic as they discuss these stories and more.
It’s been a successful week for President Biden after a U.S. drone strike killed al-Qaida's top leader, and with celebrations on the CHIPS and PACT acts and job numbers exceeding expectations and calming recession fears. But he is also one step closer to reaching a landmark achievement on a bill tackling climate, health care and taxes -- legislation Republicans oppose but have no path to block.
Primary elections this week held vast implications for November. Voters in conservative Kansas overwhelmingly chose to protect abortion access in the state's constitution. And in the battleground states of Michigan and Arizona, multiple Republican primary candidates were victorious after amplifying former President Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was illegitimate.
President Biden hails robust job numbers as a hallmark of his domestic agenda moves closer to passage. Also, key primary elections send signals about abortion access and election deniers seeking office. Join moderator Leigh Ann Caldwell, Carl Hulse of The New York Times, Asma Khalid of NPR and Ashley Parker of The Washington Post as they discuss these stories and more.
There were several notable developments this week related to the Jan. 6 investigation and former President Trump’s lies about the 2020 election. Jonathan Lemire, POLITICO's White House bureau chief and host of MSNBC's "Way Too Early," takes a look into those topics in his new book, “The Big Lie." He joins Yamiche Alcindor for our Washington Week Extra.
The Jan. 6 committee's public hearings may be on hiatus but new details about their investigation continue to emerge. On Monday, video of unseen testimony from former President Trump's inner circle revealed more about his actions in the days around the Capitol attack. This came as Trump continued perpetuating the lie that the 2020 election was stolen amid a Justice Department probe.
The range of President Biden’s political fortunes this week was on full display. While the president dealt with grim economic reports that showed a slowing economy for a second straight quarter, he was also handed key legislative victories that included a reversal by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who backed a $739 billion deal to tackle climate change, health care costs and other initiatives.
Democrats and Republicans battle as the economy shrinks for the second time this year, President Biden scores key legislative victories, and the Justice Department investigates former President Trump. Jonathan Lemire of POLITICO, Ayesha Rascoe of NPR, Amara Omeokwe of The Wall Street Journal and John Bresnahan of Punchbowl News join moderator Yamiche Alcindor to discuss these stories and more.
This week, as the Jan. 6 committee held its eighth public hearing on the investigation into the Capitol insurrection, there were new revelations about the panel's search for missing text messages sent by the U.S. Secret Service members in the days surrounding the attack. Also, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was convicted Friday on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas.
President Biden this week tested positive for COVID-19, but he is experiencing mild symptoms and is working in quarantine from his residence. At age 79, the president is at a high risk for severe illness though he is vaccinated and twice boosted. This comes as the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll shows his approval rating at the lowest point in his presidency.
The Jan. 6 panel centered much of Thursday's public hearing on the 187 minutes it took former President Trump to tell his supporters to go home after a violent mob broke into the Capitol. According to the committee, Trump chose not to act as part of a deliberate plan to delay certifying the vote and only told the rioters to leave after it was clear to him that they failed to stop the proceedings.
The Jan. 6 panel's latest hearing focused on why former President Trump waited to call off the mob during the Capitol attack, and President Biden tests positive for COVID as a new poll shows lower approval ratings. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Nikole Killion of CBS News, Hallie Jackson of NBC News, and Yasmeen Abutaleb and Dan Balz of The Washington Post as they discuss these stories and more.
The Jan. 6 committee this week held its seventh public hearing, charging that former President Trump planned in advance to call on his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol. The panel also shared descriptions of an unhinged Oval Office meeting with discussions about declaring martial law and the federal government seizing voting machines, as new evidence continues to emerge.
A high-stakes dance on the world stage is underway as President Biden meets with Saudi Arabia’s controversial Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who reportedly approved the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Meanwhile, Biden's domestic agenda on climate change and taxing the wealthy is shut down by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin as the U.S. sees historic inflation.
President Biden makes a controversial visit to Saudi Arabia, Sen. Joe Manchin thwarts the president's domestic agenda, the Jan. 6 panel ties former President Trump to extremist groups and inflation hits new highs. Nick Schifrin of PBS NewsHour, Hans Nichols of Axios, Trini Parti of The Wall Street Journal and Luke Broadwater of The New York Times join moderator Lisa Desjardins to discuss.
This week saw a number of startling headlines from overseas. The former longest-serving prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe was assassinated, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned from office plagued by scandal, and the fate of WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner remains uncertain after she pleaded guilty to drug charges in a Russian court.
Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone on Friday testified behind closed doors before the Jan. 6 committee over former President Trump’s actions surrounding the Capitol attack. It follows grand jury's subpoenas that were issued to several of Trump top allies as officials in Georgia investigate their roles in attempting to overturn the state's 2020 presidential election results.
The Supreme Court this term made several significant decisions in addition to overturning Roe v. Wade, and on Thursday the justices limited the EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This is a major setback for the Biden administration's efforts to combat climate change. But in a win for President Biden, the court upheld his authority to end the "Remain in Mexico" policy.
Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified on Tuesday before the Jan. 6 committee that former President Trump demanded armed protesters be allowed into his morning rally and that he insisted on joining the crowd at the Capitol, among other details. But some have pushed back on parts of her story and many Republicans have dismissed her testimony as hearsay.
50 years of federal abortion rights ended on Friday. As many states move to restrict abortion procedures in the aftermath of one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions in history, we turn to our panel of Nia-Malika Henderson of CNN, Zolan Kanno-Youngs of the New York Times, Leigh Ann Caldwell of the Washington Post and Josh Gerstein of Politico.
The Jan. 6 committee this week offered chilling new details on how former President Trump pressured Vice President Pence to overturn the 2020 election and even put Pence’s life in danger by enraging the mob. The committee also accuses Trump of scamming his supporters and lying about election fraud.
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by three-quarters of a percent. This was the central bank’s biggest rate hike since 1994, an aggressive step to try and control the rapid rise in inflation.
The Jan. 6 panel presented more evidence this week on former President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, while the Federal Reserve raised interest rates with the highest hike in nearly 30 years. Moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Carol Leonnig of The Washington Post, Scott MacFarlane of CBS News, Eva McKend of CNN and Ayesha Rascoe of NPR discuss these stories and more.
Gun reform efforts on Capitol Hill continued this week following the high-profile mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo. On Wednesday, survivors and parents of recent mass shooting victims testified before Congress. Amid all this, a bipartisan group of senators say they are optimistic that their negotiations over a narrow package could get the 60 votes needed to pass.
The Jan. 6 committee made its case after a nearly year-long probe into the Capitol insurrection as lawmakers revealed new details about the actions of former President Trump and fellow Republicans. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Alex Burns of The New York Times, Leigh Ann Caldwell of The Washington Post, Nikole Killion of CBS News and Ryan Reilly of NBC News as they discuss this story and more.
The select House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection will begin public hearings next week. For the last 11 months, the committee has spoken to nearly 1,000 witnesses, some from former President Trump's inner circle. They are looking into at least five areas related to the attack, including efforts to pressure federal, state and local officials to overturn the election.
Inflation is at a four-decade high and rising prices at grocery stores and gas stations are hitting Americans hard. With six months to go until the November midterms, the Biden administration is trying to shift its messaging on inflation and the economy. But despite fears of an economic slowdown, the May jobs report was better than expected.
Since the massacre in Buffalo three weeks ago on May 14, there have been at least 37 mass shootings in the United States, including in Uvalde, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In an address to the nation this week, President Biden called for action to contend with the spate of gun violence, as a bipartisan group of lawmakers tries to hammer out a deal on a gun reform bill.
A bipartisan group of senators is making progress on a framework for gun legislation after a spate of recent mass shootings. Plus, the White House pivots its messaging on inflation and the economy amid soaring prices. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Eugene Daniels of POLITICO, Annie Karni of The New York Times and Amara Omeokwe of The Wall Street Journal as they discuss these stories and more.
It's too early to tell if the Texas school shooting pushes gun control up the list of issues voters care about. But Georgia's primaries offered a glimpse into voters’ thinking, including a rebuke against former President Trump. Gov, when Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger defeated his favored GOP candidates. Kemp will now face Democrat Stacey Abrams in the general election.
Less than two weeks after the massacre in Buffalo, another community is reeling following a rampage by a gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, NPR's John Burnett, Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman, The New York Times' Zolan Kanno-Youngs and The Washington Post's Ashley Parker as they discuss the tragedy and more.
On our Washington Week Extra, we explore a breakout biography on George Floyd's life titled, “His Name is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice.” Washington Post reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, who co-authored the book, join Yamiche Alcindor to discuss.
Critical primary elections were held this week in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. In the Tarheel state, candidates endorsed by former President Trump had mixed results. In Pennsylvania, GOP Senate candidates Dr. Mehmet Oz and David McCormick are locked in a tight race to challenge Democrat John Fetterman as election denier Doug Mastriano won the Republican primary for governor.
The fallout from the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion on Roe v. Wade continued this week, with the issue likely to play a role in this year’s midterm elections. A vote in the Senate to protect abortion access failed, as demonstrators staged protests outside the homes of some Supreme Court justices. Meanwhile, the power of former President Trump's endorsement was seen in GOP primary races.
The U.S. this week reached 1 million deaths from COVID-19, a tragic new milestone in the pandemic that comes amid new warnings of an upcoming surge in infections. A battle is now underway on Capitol Hill that will determine President Biden's request for billions in additional funding for testing, vaccines and treatment.
The U.S reached 1 million deaths from COVID-19 as Congress stalls over funding for the pandemic. Plus, a bill that would have protected abortion access failed to pass in the Senate. Also, former President Trump's impact is seen in GOP primary races. Join moderator Judy Woodruff, The Washington Post’s Seung Min Kim, USA Today’s Susan Page, and CNN’s Manu Raju, to discuss these stories and more.
Former President's Trump's impact on the Republican Party was highlighted this week as the primary election season began in Ohio and Indiana, where the majority of the candidates he supported scored victories in key races. Chief among the winners was Senate candidate JD Vance, an author and venture capitalist, who was once a Trump critic before turning into a vocal supporter.
President Biden is facing pressure from Republicans and Democrats over his repeal of a Trump-era immigration restriction known as Title 42. The policy has forced migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico because of health concerns during the pandemic. Now, the Department of Homeland Security is focusing on how to handle a likely influx of migrants if Title 42 is lifted.
COVID-19 struck deep within the White House this week when Vice President Kamala Harris's office announced that she had tested positive for the virus. The revelation came as Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, raised eyebrows when he told the PBS NewsHour Tuesday that the U.S. is now "out of the pandemic phase," a comment he later walked back.
With Russia's invasion of Ukraine now in its tenth week, Russian missiles struck Kyiv as the U.N. secretary general was visiting. That came amid fears the war could expand beyond Ukraine’s borders. Russian President Putin warned the West that any outside interference in the conflict would be met with a quick response, while President Biden asked Congress for $33 billion more in aid for Ukraine.
Russia warns the West not to interfere in Ukraine as President Biden requests billions more in aid, Dr. Anthony Fauci makes headlines on the state of the pandemic, and Biden's plan to change a Trump era-border policy receives backlash. Join moderator Yamiche Alcindor, Nikole Killion of CBS News, Hans Nichols of Axios, and Michael Shear of The New York Times as they discuss these stories and more.
New audio obtained by the authors of a soon to be released book reveals that in the days after January 6th, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy considered asking former President Trump to resign, and told GOP lawmakers that Trump acknowledged bearing some responsibility for what happened.
After a federal judge overturned the federal mask mandate for air travel and public transportation, the Justice Department signaled they’d appeal to reinstate the rules. But how will the public react?
As the war in Ukraine enters its third month, we take a look at Putin’s claims of victory in Mariupol and how the U.S. is responding to the conflict. Join Yamiche, Dan Balz of the Washington Post, Laura Barrón-López of Politico and David Sanger of the New York Times as they discuss the latest developments.
As the war in Ukraine enters its third month, we take a look at Putin’s claims of victory in Mariupol and how the U.S. is responding to the conflict. Plus, exactly what do Republicans say behind closed doors when it comes to former President Trump? Join Yamiche, Dan Balz of the Washington Post, Laura Barrón-López of Politico and David Sanger of the New York Times as they discuss these stories and more.
It’s been almost three weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine and the death toll is rising.
Inflation hits a 40-year high and economists expect that number to increase throughout March.
As Russia’s war with Ukraine escalates, President Biden and NATO allies are ramping up sanctions on the Russian economy.