Washington Today

2026 Midterms: Trump’s Final Election Day Push, Michigan Senate Shakeup & Alaska Court Ruling

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 23:01:00 -0000

With less than 24 hours until Election Day, President Donald Trump delivers his final campaign remarks from the Lincoln Memorial, calling the 2026 midterms "the most important midterm in our lifetime." He also discusses his plans for a Triumphal Arch and improvements near the Lincoln Memorial.

In Michigan, Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens shakes up the Senate race by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers after a falling-out with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. And in Alaska, a federal judge dismisses a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of the Senate election if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses.

We hear from the key players and examine where the battle for control of Congress stands on the eve of Election Day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: Midterm Elections Michigan, Texas, and Ohio

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode –with election day just DAYS away – we bring you three segments from last week's Washington Journal focused on key battleground states that'll play an outsized role in determining which party controls Congress come Tuesday night.

We begin in the state of MICHIGAN and its toss up Senate race and a handful of competitive House contests. That conversation with with "MichMash" podcast co-hosts Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben KAZ-been .

Then it's on to Texas where there's an unusually competitive Senate AND gubernatorial this cycle. We speak with Rice University political science professor Mark Jones on whether the Lone Star State REALLY is in reach for Democrats.

Finally: we head to OHIO for an update on the contentious gubernatorial & senate races in the Hawkeye state with Cleveland.com chief politics reporter Jeremy Pelzer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Attorney in Alaska update on 'two Dan Sullivans' investigations | Pres. Trump reverse course and will campaign this weekend in Iowa & Kansas

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 22:45:00 -0000

An update from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska on the investigations into the two Dan Sullivans on the Alaska election ballot for U.S. Senator: incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan and Daniel J. Sullivan, which Republicans accuse Democrats of recruiting to sow voter confusion; President Donald Trump reverses course and will hold election rallies this weekend in Iowa and Kansas, which have tight U.S. Senate races; Tonight President Trump campaigns in Florida. We will hear from the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor and U.S. Senator and talk about the races with New York Times reporter Patricia Mazzei (26); In Michigan, Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed plans to campaign this weekend with the person he beat in the primary, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI); We take a closer look at two U.S. Senate races that have not gotten as much attention as the competitive ones, in Louisiana and Illinois; FBI Director Kash Patel announces indictments in an anti-fraud crackdown in Minnesota; In Houston, Harris County District Attorney announces the indictment of an ICE officer accused of intentionally ramming his car into a Mexican construction worker.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pres. Trump campaigns in South Carolina for GOP Sen. Darline Graham | Federal & state investigations accelerate over two Dan Sullivans for Senator on Alaska ballot

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:03:00 -0000

President Donald Trump campaigns in South Carolina for Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC), admitting the polls are closer than he wishes they were against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. We will hear from all of them and talk about the race with USA Today reporter Erin Mansfield (10); Inside Elections moves the Kansas U.S. Senate race to 'toss up', with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) getting a stiff challenge from Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton; Investigations over the Alaska U.S. Senate race are accelerating at the state and federal level after a New York Times report that Democrats intentionally recruited a candidate named Dan Sullivan to challenge Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and confuse voters; Commerce Department releases the inflation and economic growth report before election day: U.S. economy grew at a 3.4% annual rate in the 3rd quarter, faster than expected, and inflation was 3.6% vs. last year; New federal rule on pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) cost transparency; Justice Department goes after so-called 'ghost students', when criminal create fake college student profiles to apply for and collect federal grants; Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor David Crowley celebrates his hometown Milwaukee Brewers MLB World Series victory.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady | Pres. Trump campaigns in Ohio, fmr. Pres. Obama campaigns in Georgia

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:19:00 -0000

Federal Reserve votes to hold interest rates steady in its last decision before the midterm elections; President Donald Trump campaigns tonight in Ohio. We will talk with Columbus Dispatch State Government Reporter Haley BeMiller about the close races in Ohio for governor and U.S. senator (16); Former President Barack Obama campaigns tonight in Georgia, which also has competitive elections for governor and U.S. senator; Candidates for Iowa governor, still another tight race, hold their final debate just a week before election day; U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz and Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez shout at each other during debate over a resolution condemning the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The resolution passed but with fewer votes than last year; President Trump talks about granting asylum to Flavio Bolsanaro, the losing candidate in Brazil's presidential election, who is under criminal investigation in Brazil; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Lech Walesa talks about on U.S. policy in the war between Russia & Ukraine; Longtime farm union activist Dolores Huerta has died.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One week until midterm elections. Pres. Trump says he will work with Dems if they get Congressional majorities and respect results 'if they are honest'

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 22:47:00 -0000

One week until election day. President Donald Trump says he will work with Democrats if they win majorities in Congress and respect the midterm results 'if they are honest'; President Trump campaigns in Texas for Republican candidates including Attorney General Ken Paxton running for U.S. Senator against Democratic state Representative James Talarico. We will hear from them and talk with Associated Press Washington Correspondent Steven Sloan (15); Vice President JD Vance holds rallies in Michigan, where there is also a close U.S. Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers & Democrat Abdul El-Sayed; We will check on a few of the tight U.S. House races in Maine and New York; Family of Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis during an enforcement surge, calls upon the Justice Department to prosecute those responsible; Update on Israel's election day, where voters are casting ballots for the first time since the Hamas military attack on Israel three years ago, testing the support of the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump and Vance Campaign in Republican States as 2026 Midterms Near

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 21:57:00 -0000

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance campaign in traditionally Republican states as the 2026 midterm elections approach. President Trump heads to Mississippi, while Vice President Vance makes stops in Montana and Kansas. Meanwhile, candidates across the country are making their final pitches to voters, with campaign events in Michigan, Texas, Iowa, Alaska, and Ohio. We bring you the latest from the campaign trail as Election Day draws closer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: Charlie Cook on Races to Watch During Midterms, Public Religion Research Institute's New Survey, and Allan Lichtman's Book "Great American Presidents...."

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0000

First: We're in the final stretch in Campaign 2026. We speak with Cook Political Report founder Charlie Cook about the races HE'S watching that'll determine which party will control Congress.

Then – a conversation with Melissa Deckman – CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute – about her group's new survey examining the political mood among Americans ahead of the midterms.

Finally: Author and History Professor Allan Lichtman discusses his latest book, "Great American Presidents: The Twelve Who Transformed the Nation."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DOJ sues AK in case GOP Sen. Sullivan loses because of similarly named candidate | Pres. Trump campaigns in FL | Ukrainian Pres. Zelensky says Starlink is still slow

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:06:00 -0000

President Donald Trump says he ordered the Justice Department to file a lawsuit to block the certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race results if incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan loses (R-AK) so there can be an investigation into whether another candidate on the ballot with a very similar name confused voters; Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican nominee for Ohio governor, doubles down on his ad that includes the mother of his Democratic opponent Amy Acton accusing Acton of being a liar, after the mother supported Acton's stepfather when he was accused of raping her as a child; President Trump campaigns today in Florida for Republican candidates. Thursday night he was in Iowa. We talk with New York Times National Political Reporter Bayliss Wagner about why the races for Iowa governor and U.S. Senator are so close this election cycle (14); We also check in on the close open U.S. Senate race in Texas, and what may turn out to be a close race in North Carolina's 7th Congressional District, where a Republican incumbent is starting to run TV ads; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Starlink and Starshield are still running slowly, despite President Trump saying he would speak to Elon Musk about the problems; former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt talks about her successor Katie Zacharia leaving after less than a week.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. AOC campaigns for Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson; OH Gov. DeWine criticizes controversial GOP ad, while POTUS defends it

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:45:00 -0000

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) campaigns with Troy Jackson, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Maine, who is running against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). We will hear from them and talk about this close race with Matt Junker, elections reporter with The Maine Monitor (7); Latest on U.S. Senate races in Nebraska, where Vice President JD Vance held a rally today; in Michigan, which held a final debate Wednesday night; and in Iowa, where President Donald Trump heads tonight; Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) criticizes a controversial ad run by Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy featuring the mother of Democratic nominee Amy Acton, but President Trump defends the ad; Attorney General Todd Blanche announces an indictment against senior Democratic Virginia Senator L. Louise Lucas and six co-defendants, including some of her relatives, on charges of marijuana drug trafficking and money laundering; Federal authorities charge 15 people in an alleged $2 billion health care fraud scheme in California; United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutteres says the world is witnessing 'the El Nino of war' amid many conflicts occurring around the world.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

VP Vance says Republicans should 'stop whining' about whether GOP campaign ad in Ohio is appropriate | American Stephen Hubbard is released from Russian prison

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:55:00 -0000

Vice President JD Vance in Ohio less than two weeks before election day, says Republicans should 'stop whining' about whether an ad from Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy is appropriate and focus on winning. The ad has Democratic nominee Amy Acton's mother calling her a liar. The mother defended her husband, Amy's father, 50 years ago when he was accused of sexually assaulting Amy; Former Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) campaigns for Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), calling her the 'soul of the Senate', as she faces a close race for reelection against Democrat Troy Jackson; Senate Democratic leadership campaign arm is investing over a million dollars in the Senate race in Mississippi, usually a solid Republican state. We will talk about the contest between Democrat Scott Colom and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) with Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Congressional reporter (17); U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Russian President Vladimir Putin to talk about the war in Ukraine, calling Putin a 'humanitarian' for releasing 74-year-old retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard, who was serving a prison term for allegedly being a mercenary in Ukraine; Israel arrests U.S. Congressional candidate Brad Lander (D) in the West Bank; U.S. Secret Service releases a report on how businesses and organizations can prevent workplace violence; U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announces indictments in a North Carolina-to-DC firearms smuggling pipeline.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Survey of Americans' views on socialism & POTUS' use of power | Two weeks until U.S. election day | Alberta defeats referendum to separate from Canada

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:47:00 -0000

The annual American Values Survey from the Public Religion Research Institute is released two weeks before election day. This year two of the questions were on how President Donald Trump uses the power of his office and Americans' views of socialism; We will take a closer look at some of the competitive U.S. Senate races: in Michigan between Mike Rogers (R) & Abdul El-Sayed (D); in Kansas where we'll talk with Kansas City Star columnist David Hudnall, who was at Monday's night rally in Wichita with President Trump on behalf of Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), who is getting challenged by Adam Hamilton (D) (19); and in North Carolina, where President Trump is campaigning tonight for Michael Whatley (R), who is facing Roy Cooper (D); President Trump announces a Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, paying 1% to anyone who reports fraudulent federal spending; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with U.S. envoys in Norway on the war with Russia and strained relations with the Trump Administration over weapons and intelligence support; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is glad Alberta voters defeated a referendum on whether the province wants to break away from Canada and become independent.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Eases Russia Fuel Sanctions as Republicans Push Back; Midterm Races Heat Up

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:04:00 -0000

Republican senators are pushing back against President Trump's decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel fuel.

North Carolina's Thom Tillis, South Carolina's Lindsey Graham, and Texas' John Cornyn have all criticized the move.

But President Trump is defending his decision, saying easing economic pressure could help bring Russia to the negotiating table with Ukraine.

The president spoke to reporters before leaving for Kansas today, where he's campaigning for Republican Senator Roger Marshall in his closely contested race against Democrat Adam Hamilton.

It's the first stop on a swing through key election battlegrounds...

And with just 15 days until Election Day, we'll check in on the latest races in Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: MAGA & Midterm Polls, Jessica Tarlov, National Civics Bee Championship

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:30:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A discussion on polling & how MAGA has impacted the Republican Party with Mark Mitchell, founder of The Honest Poll.

Then: Jessica Tarlov, Democratic strategist and co-host of Fox News Channel's "The Five," discusses her new book "I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends."

Finally: The winner of the 2026 National Civics Bee Championship, Peter Daniell from Broomfield, Colorado, discusses the competition and the importance of civics education.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pres. Trump says new WH Press Sec Zacharia should consider leaving | Pres. Trump campaigns in Georgia; Alaska Public Media reporter Liz Ruskin on close AK Sen race

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 22:52:00 -0000

President Donald Trump says he told the new White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia she should reconsider whether she wants to continue in that job less than a week after she started; President Trump holds a campaign rally in Georgia, where there are competitive races for governor and U.S. Senator; Debates in the tight U.S. Senate races in Maine and Alaska. We will hear from the candidates and talk about the Alaska contest with Alaska Public Media reporter Liz Ruskin (25); Cook Political Report moves 11 more U.S. House races towards the Democratic side. We'll hear from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who have been campaigning with House candidates across the country; Bend Police provide an update on the mass shooting at an elementary school; Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh at the IMF-World Bank Meeting in Bangkok on the economy, high prices and the impact of AI; Cuba's Ambassador to the UN criticizes the U.S. trade embargo and accuses U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio of having an 'obsession' with Cuba.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. AOC campaigns for MI Senate Dem nominee El-Sayed | Rep. Harris defends trying to kick out of his news conference | Hillary Clinton presents her annual women's leadership awards

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:00:00 -0000

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) campaigns in Michigan for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, saying special interest money is being used to make sure no one can 'open their ears and their eyes to even give this guy a shot'; Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District race is a prime example of a Republican held seat that Democrats are hoping to flip on their way to getting majority control of the House. We will hear the candidates debate and talk about the race with Margery Beck, Flatwater Free Press Elections Reporter (14); Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) defends telling a UMD student reporter that she must stop filming his news conference; President Donald Trump says the execution of the Ft. Hood mass shooter will not be livestreamed; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presents the annual Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards for Advancing Women in Peace and Security; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is asked about the growing deadly measles outbreak in Pennsylvania; Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) celebrate the 20th anniversary of a climate change law.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Final inflation report before election day | NH U.S. Senate candidates on Social Security at AARP forum | Def Sec Hegseth interrupted by anti-war protesters at Army annual meeting

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:04:00 -0000

Final Commerce Department inflation report before the midterm elections show the Consumer Price Index increasing 0.6% in September and 3.7% year over year; U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire is a close one that could help decide which party controls the Senate in the next Congress. We will hear from the candidates John Sununu (R) and Chris Pappas (D) on Social Security at an AARP forum and talk with Andrew Sylvia, Assistant Editor of Manchester Ink Link (11); President Donald Trump campaigns in Arizona for Rep. Andy Biggs (D-AZ), who is challenging incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ); Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announces cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies for nearly 200,000 enrollees because of duplicate coverage or the recipients are deceased; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is heckled by anti-war protesters at the annual meeting of the U.S. Army, and he defends the Trump Administration's request for a large, one-time increase in the defense budget; Supreme Court hears a case asking whether a 1980's law barring the disclosure of consumer information from a 'subscriber of goods or services from a video tape service provider,' at the time VHS tapes, applies to modern day online sites with videos. Tonight is the National Civics Bee Championship brought to you as a partnership between C-SPAN and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Amb. to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle resigns amid ethics allegations; new White House Press Sec Zacharia holds first briefing; Pres. Trump campaigns in Alaska

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:13:00 -0000

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle resigns amid allegations she asked a Republican donor to pay off a $100,000 credit card debt in exchange for political access; new White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia holds her first White House news conference; President Donald Trump answers questions about continuing military strikes by Russia and Ukraine against each other targeting energy infrastructure despite the President announcing an 'energy ceasefire'; President Trump flies to Alaska to campaign for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan's reelection; Vice President JD Vance is back in Texas in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, after the spread of false rumors that Democratic opponent James Talarico was not off the campaign trail sick with the flu, but supposedly getting mental health treatment in Ohio; U.S. Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro talks about a joint U.S.-UK-technology company operation to close down online scammers based in Africa; former First Lady Jill Biden speaks at an event in Delaware for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Agents Search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Home, Trump’s Russia Diesel Deal & 2026 Midterms

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 22:10:00 -0000

Federal agents search the home of Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, prompting reactions from both parties just weeks before the midterm elections. A bipartisan group of senators calls on President Trump to reverse his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Russian diesel sales in an effort to lower fuel prices. Plus, with just 22 days until the midterm elections, we examine key congressional races in Iowa, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: Campaign 2026, Regulating AI, and 3rd Anniversary of October 7th Attack

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First – On Wednesday President Trump made his third trip to Texas in a month to support Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Senate candidate Ken Paxton who are facing stiffer-than-expected political headwinds. We'll dig into some Lone Star state politics with Spectrum News Texas reporter Reena Diamante.

Then: The debate over whether and how to regulate artificial intelligence continues here in Washington as the President huddled with tech leaders again at the White House earlier this week. We break it down with Cato Institute's Jennifer Huddleston & AI Now Institute's Sarah Myers West.

And finally: This week marked the 3rd anniversary of the October 7th attack on Israel. We speak with Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on where the conflict stands today between Israel and Hamas.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DHS Sec Mullin defends ICE shooting in NYC, calls immigrant a 'thug' | South African jurist Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize for work on international law

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 22:35:00 -0000

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticizes New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's response to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) involved shooting in the city. Mamdani again called for ICE to be abolished. Mullin says Mamdani's 'words are dangerous and incite hostility'; President Donald Trump celebrates at the White House the Columbus Day federal holiday, which is Monday, saying Columbus is a hero, and decrying the tearing down of Columbus statues, as happened in many cities during the racial justice protests in 2020; Vice President JD Vance campaigns in Ohio for Sen. Jon Husted's reelection; Michigan U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed says he welcomes former President Barack Obama campaigning for him, even though he was critical of Obama in the past; Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Navi Pillay, former judge on the International Criminal Court and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces new sanctions against the ICC; Leader of the British Green Party suffers what could be a devastating loss for a party that had been seeing gains.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

VP Vance says Microsoft can no longer bring in foreign workers on H-1B visas | NYC Mayor Mandani asked about being booed at Oct. 7th attack anniversary vigil

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:12:00 -0000

Vice President JD Vance announces Microsoft and some other technology firms have been suspended from sponsoring foreign workers with H-1B visas. He says Microsoft has been undercutting U.S. workers and treating foreign workers like indentured servants; President Donald Trump awards Microsoft's CEO the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, one of six technology & science medals he handed out today. President called another recipient, Elon Musk, head of Tesla and SpaceX, a 'modern day Thomas Edison'; New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman argues for greater regulation of AI at an American Bar Association conference on AI and national security; House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) & Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) talk about the midterm elections, now less than four weeks away; President Trump says he will not attack Iran again before the U.S. election; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is asked about being booed by protesters at a vigil Wednesday night on the third anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel; Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) holds a briefing on preparing for the first hurricane of the season to make landfall; Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) gets a question on his public disagreement with President Trump on the wisdom of making Daylight Saving Time permanent.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Def. Sec. Hegseth visits USS Lincoln after record deployment fighting Iran war; Sec of State Rubio in Greece calls for defending Western civilization values; Maine Senate candidates debate

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:00:00 -0000

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier off the coast of California as the ship returns from a record-setting deployment in support of combat operations against Iran, blaming some in the media for highlighting reports of poor conditions and crew morale; Solemn remembrances on this third anniversary of Hamas' military attack on Israel; Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives a speech at historic Pnyx Hill in Athens, warning that Western civilization and its values derived from ancient Greece is at a critical inflection point; World Health Organization seeks more information from Russia about a suspected second employee at a plague laboratory developing pneumonia; President Donald Trump celebrates autoenrollment of tens of millions of children in so-called Trump Accounts that provide growth with tax advantages, before heading to Texas to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton; Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) debates her Democratic opponent Troy Jackson. One key topic in that border state is tariffs; Randy Spivey, lawyer for Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike, gives an update on her condition after her recent failed execution attempt; British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch at her party convention promises to abolish the inheritance tax and denounces identity politics.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maryland Gov. race debate | Pres. Trump announces multi-billion dollar submarine shipyard project in Baltimore; Politico's Jeremy B. White on Calif.'s Prop 40 billionaire tax

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:46:00 -0000

Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) debates his reelection opponent Dan Cox (R); Gov. Moore says the White House blocked him from speaking at an announcement of a multi-billion dollar defense company investment to build a submarine shipyard in Baltimore; reaction today to President Donald Trump's remarks Monday night at a rally in Nebraska suggesting Iran could 'take out' Los Angeles or San Diego; California ballot measure Prop 40 to impose a one-time tax on billionaires is attracting major money for ads and national figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders. We will hear from him and talk about it with Politico California Senior Politico Reporter Jeremy B. White (23); U.S. trade deficit tops $100 billion in August; World Health Organization gives an update on the reported plague death in Russia; U.S. Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz speaks a commemoration on the third anniversary of Hamas' October 7th military attack on Israel; Professor Geoffrey Hinton, known as the Godfather of Artificial Intelligence, is asked how President Trump has been handling AI.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supreme Court Opens New Term with Climate Case; Campaign 2026 Enters Final Month

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 22:04:00 -0000

The Supreme Court opens its new term with arguments in a case involving efforts by state and local governments to hold fossil fuel companies responsible for damages linked to climate change. Plus, U.S. B-1 bombers return home from a British air base following an alleged terror threat, and with 29 days until the midterm elections, we check in on key races in Alaska, Colorado, Ohio, Michigan, and New Hampshire.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Editiom: Gas Prices, Social Security Crisis, and Ralph Nader on his publication "Capitol Hill Citizen"

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: Gas prices around the country continue to rise as the conflict with Iran drags on. We speak with Patrick De Haan -- head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy – about what's behind the rise in gas prices – the impact on consumers - and who been profiting.

Then: The looming crisis in Social Security is forcing many Republicans to re-think the party's long-standing position against raising taxes. We'll dig into the debate with anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist - president and founder of Americans for Tax Reform - and Chuck Blahous who served as a Republican trustee of the Social Security program.

Finally: A conversation with longtime consumer advocate & former Presidential candidate Ralph Nader – on his monthly publication "Capitol Hill Citizen" – and how HE'S viewing the midterm elections.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sept. jobs report much lower than expected; NY Gov. Hochul appoints NY AG James special prosecutor in the Cornell Univ. fraternity sexual assault case

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 22:40:00 -0000

Jobs report for September comes in far lower than expected. Labor Department says 29,000 jobs were added and the unemployment rate increased from 4.1 to 4.2 percent; With diesel fuel at record high prices, President Donald Trump posts, 'Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel. The process will begin immediately'; President Trump heads out again to campaign for Republican candidates, this time in Alabama, after yesterday's stops in Texas & Oklahoma. We will hear from him and Democratic Pollster John Anzalone about how things look a month out from election day; Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) appoints New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) as special prosecutor in the Cornell University fraternity sexual assault case, saying, 'In what world would the police learn from the victim that she had been literally been gang raped' and that she believed '100%' she had been raped and not elevate those allegations; New Supreme Court term starts Monday. We get a preview of two high profile cases: whether cities and states can sue energy companies for damage caused by climate change and whether laws banning AR-15 style assault weapons violates the Second Amendment; fired publisher from the military newspaper Stars & Stripes discusses the importance of a free press; a new online way to track the rebuilding of the Key Bridge in Baltimore.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pres. Trump starts red-state campaign swing; Vets & Dem. lawmakers rally against proposed triumphal arch; Gov. Lee (R-TN) pauses executions after botched attempt

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 22:52:00 -0000

President Donald Trump heads out on the campaign trail with just over a month until election day, and is asked why he is filling the itinerary with red states where his Republican party is already strong; Senate adjourns until after the midterm elections, but not before Democrats try and fail to reverse President Trump's over $800 million in spending cuts; Veterans and lawmakers rally at Memorial Circle near Arlington National Cemetery against the building of President Trump's proposed 250-foot triumphal arch; Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) orders a suspension of executions for the rest of the year and calls for an investigation after a failed attempt to execute a death row inmate Wednesday night by lethal injection; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) celebrates the groundbreaking of a community park project in Brooklyn, twenty years after construction was promised; NASA successfully launches SpaceX Crew 13 to the International Space Station; Sebastian Gorka, a senior White House counterterrorism adviser, speaks about Trump Administration foreign policy goals at the Nixon Foundation's 'Grand Strategy Summit'.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate votes down bill on data centers, tech companies & electricity costs; Pres. Trump announces $50B South Korean energy project investment in AK; LA, AL & AR sue CA, MA, NY over abortion pills

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:06:00 -0000

Senate Democrats block a Republican-drafted bill on making tech companies pay for additional electricity costs from data centers, saying it does not have enforcement provisions; Bipartisan group of Senators unveil a bill to reform energy project permitting, but by agreement it will not be debated or voted on until after the midterm elections in November; President Donald Trump announces $200 billion in South Korean investments in U.S. energy projects, including more than $50 billion in Alaska, which has a very competitive U.S. Senate race this year; Candidates in the U.S. Senate contest in Texas – Democrat James Talarico & Republican Ken Paxton – discuss immigration policy with the US Hispanic Business Council; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gives a 'State of the Force' address, announcing a 20% reduction in generals and admirals; Last U.S. troops leave Iraq; Louisiana, Alabama & Arkansas sue California, Massachusetts and New York over abortion medication flowing across state lines; Massachusetts Attorney General releases a report finding 'more than 270 Catholic clerics abused nearly 1,000 children across three dioceses' and 'behind every one of those numbers is a child whose safety was violated, a family that was changed forever.'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fmr. Special Counsel Jack Smith before Senate Judiciary Cmte defends subpoenas for GOP phone records after Jan. 6 attack; Tech CEO's meet with Pres. Trump on AI

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 22:46:00 -0000

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith tells the Senate Judiciary Committee his investigation proved 'beyond reasonable doubt' that President Donald Trump engaged in 'serious crimes,' but some Republicans on the committee accuse him of weaponizing the Justice Department when he sought records of their phone calls with the President after the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building; President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson meet with the CEOs of technology companies at the White House to discuss the future, and any government or voluntary limitations, of AI (Artificial Intelligence), while the President says he will officially rename it SI (Super Intelligence) by Executive Order; Trump Administration unveils an AI-powered website, America.gov, designed to be a one-stop-shop for dealing with the federal government and a replacement for the current tens of thousands of government websites; Trump Administration's ban on $1 billion worth of Canadian goods goes into effect, covering dairy products, alcoholic beverages and motor vehicles; Second annual Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Summit is held in Washington, DC; New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham speaks to his first Labour Party Conference about getting the government more involved in delivering vital services to the British people. He says it's a rollback of the privatization movement of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980's. We will talk about that, and the recent apparent foiled terror attack on a base in Great Britain used by the U.S. military, with Peter Knowles, C-SPAN's Westminster Correspondent.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump Administration Cuts Fuel Economy Standards; Senate Begins Final Pre-Midterm Work Week

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 22:07:00 -0000

The Trump administration rolls back fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, and the White House announces a new tariff agreement with China. Plus, the Senate begins its final scheduled work week before the midterm elections, lawmakers debate college athlete compensation, and we check in on key races in Iowa, Maine, Ohio and New Jersey.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: President Trump and President XI Summit, Trump Admin. and ACA Rolls, and 2026 Elections

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: The future of Artificial Intelligence was among the topics in the high-profile summit this week between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. We speak with former Biden Defense Department A-I official Gregory Allen about what's at stake.

Then: The Trump administration said this week they will remove several hundred thousand people off the ACA rolls who THEY say fraudulently enrolled. We did into the allegations and the fallout with Paragon Health Institute President Brian Blase – a former economic adviser in President Trump's first term.

Finally: Author, columnist, and constitutional Law Professor Kim Wehle discusses Trump administration efforts to influence the 2026 elections – and how the judicial system – including the Supreme Court – is responding.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chinese Pres. Xi finishes state visit, Pres. Trump says meetings were 'very productive'; Supreme Court OKs federal database to check for U.S. citizenship for voter eligibility

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 22:45:00 -0000

Chinese President Xi Jinping finishes a state visit hosted by President Donald Trump with tea at the White House and a trip to the National Archives; this time it is all on network TV, as the White House TV pool is back in operation now that the President has allowed CNN to return to the pool rotation, after a federal judge ordered it; Supreme Court lifts restrictions on the Trump administration use a federal database to identify voters suspected of being non-citizens; North Carolina Senate race is a top one to watch this year. We will hear from Republican nominee Michael Whatley & Democratic nominee Roy Cooper; Pope Leo XIV warns about the dangers of artificial intelligence, in his words, 'losing our humanity amid a paradise of machines invading and conditioning our daily lives'; Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) speaks at the Symposium of Young American Men; former Housing & Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is at the Family Research Council's Pray Vote Stand Summit; former first Lady Jill Biden and former President Joe Biden speak at a Delaware Planned Parenthood fundraiser.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pres. Trump hosts Pres. Xi for state visit with no TV pool coverage | Israeli PM Netanyahu speaks to UN | FDA Comm. nominee goes before Senate Cmte

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:12:00 -0000

CNN, Politico and MSNOW White House reporters are back at the White House after a federal judge put a temporary restraining order on President Donald Trump's attempted ban of those news outlets; President Trump hosts Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House for a state visit. President Trump says the two 'have forged a friendship, a truly great friendship, actually, built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people.' President Xi says '(U.S.-China) competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds'; Senate defeats again an Iran War Powers Resolution to require President Trump to withdraw the U.S. military absent Congressional approval by a vote of 49-50; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas address the United Nations General Assembly; FDA Commissioner nominee Dr. Heidi Overton is questioned at a Senate confirmation hearing about vaccine safety and abortion pill availability; Updates on two bills the Senate could consider before adjourning for the midterm elections: permitting reform and AI data center restrictions; Justice Department holds a forum for victims and relatives of victims of violent crime.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran's Pres. at UN calls Pres. Trump a bully and says Iran will never 'bend the knee' | Chinese Pres. arrives in DC for state visit | AI company CEO's brief UN Security Council

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:00:00 -0000

Iran's President tells the United Nations General Assembly his country has been the victim of terrorism by the United States and Israel and the Iranian people will never 'bend the knee' or submit to the 'language of force'; President Trump's Board of Peace meets in New York to unveil a multi-billion dollar plan to rebuild Gaza; Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and says there is interest in a 'limited ceasefire' with Ukraine involving grain shipments and energy-related targets; Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington, DC tonight for a state visit; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman & Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei brief the United Nations Security Council on AI safeguards; Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) calls a ProPublica report that the Trump Administration shut down an FBI investigation of an alleged pay-to-play scheme with a defense contractor a 'political hit job'; First Lady Melania Trump launches an initiative to help women entrepreneurs; tonight is the annual Congressional Women's Softball Game.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pres. Trump tells UN he has a 'big decision' whether to 'annihilate' Iran | Former Vice Pres. Harris campaigns for Michigan U.S. Senate Democratic nominee El-Sayed

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 22:48:00 -0000

President Donald Trump in a speech at United Nations says he has 'big decision to make' about Iran: cut a deal with them 'that lets them rebuild' or 'annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again'; President Trump also calls Cuba an 'absolutely failed state' that 'will fall' under U.S. pressure, leading the Cuban delegation to walk out; President Trump also meets the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham for the first time, saying he is man he can do business with; Former President Bill Clinton opens his annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City, rejecting what he calls 'the politics of brute force driven by zero-sum thinking: in order for me to win, you have to lose'; Kamala Harris, former Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee, campaigns with Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic nominee for Senator of Michigan; Vice President JD Vance announces an anti-fraud effort targeting over 750,000 enrollments in Affordable Care Act exchanges that he says do not meet eligibility requirements or are not real people, saving $2.2 billion in taxpayer money; Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends President Trump's ban of Politico, MSNOW and CNN reporters from the White House, a day before a First Amendment lawsuit from those news outlets goes before a federal judge.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Politico, CNN & MSNOW sue over White House reporter ban & major TV networks suspend pool coverage of Pres. Trump in solidarity with CNN

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:05:00 -0000

Politico, CNN & MSNOW sue in response to President Donald Trump banning their reporters from the White House, and four major TV networks suspend their shared coverage of presidential events, called a pool, in protest of the president's action; Calls for an independent investigation after an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shoots an immigrant from Venezuela during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas; Foreign affairs on President Trump's agenda this week with the United Nations General Assembly in New York City and a state visit to Washington, DC by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss trade and AI; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says a new AI tool will help air traffic controllers manage congestion and reduce flight delays; California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) announces an agreement with Paramount to settle antitrust concerns in the companies over $100 billion merger with Warner Bros. He says more movies will made in the United States; House Budget Committee holds a field hearing in Dallas, Texas on creating a fiscal commission to tackle the U.S.'s over $40 trillion debt; Campaign 2026: Members of Congress with national name recognition travel to other states to help candidates in their party, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) in Nebraska and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) in New Hampshire.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: Regulating AI, House Adjourns, and Constitution Day

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: Washington this week was dominated by the debate over regulating A-I amid more threats from tech execs of the dangers if the technology is left unchecked. Politico A-I and tech influence reporter Brendan Bordelon breaks it down for us.

Then – despite the AI debate, the House adjourned EARLY this week, kicking off its 7-week recess heading into November midterm elections. We speak with Reese Gorman of the Washington Sun about what happened.

Finally: A discussion with Jeffrey Rosen – CEO emeritus of the National Constitution Center -- about the importance of this past Thursday's observance of Constitution Day and the role the founding document is playing in today's political debates.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump bans 'fake news' CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:46:00 -0000

President Donald Trump says he is banning CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House for what he calls their 'fake news' reporting; President announces all 50 states will be joining a program to provide prescription drug prices to Medicaid at the same, lower costs paid for the drugs in other countries; President Trump is asked about Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) putting out an ad critical of his immigration policy; Vice President JD Vance campaigns in Iowa for Republicans in close races, including Zack Lahn running for governor against Democratic nominee Rob Sand; Planned protest by artists and their supporters tonight at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Trump's threat to tear the building down if his name is not added to the facade in conjunction with renovations; Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) issues an executive order to create what she calls an 'accountability framework' to increase transparency around proposed data center projects and ensure Virginians are not stuck with highest energy bills.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bipartisan 'Stop Rogue AI Act' introduced in House; White House top aide says interest rate hikes could cause recession; Fmr. Sen. Kyle (R-AZ) dies

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 22:33:00 -0000

A Republican and a Democrat in the U.S. House join forces on a bipartisan bill to confront potential risks of Artificial Intelligence; White House continues to criticize the Federal Reserve and Chair Kevin Warsh for raising interest rates this week. Presidential adviser Peter Navarro calls it a 'monumental mistake' that could push the U.S. economy into recession; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomes closer ties to Europe even after President Donald Trump threatens more tariffs in response; U.S. Senate votes to advance a college sports regulation bill by a comfortable margin, almost guaranteeing a successful final passage vote next week; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. tells an anti-vaccine group that he once worked for, Children's Health Defense, that the true risks from vaccines are not known, in part because the government does not have a good enough safety monitoring system; Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Danny Danon says New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) should be arrested for calling for demonstrations when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits next week for the United Nations General Assembly; Former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has died at age 84. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) remembering him as 'a wonderful mentor' who 'taught me so much' and 'a highly effective, brilliant Senator, who made countless contributions to the state of Arizona and to our country.'

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fed raises interest rates a quarter point; House passes Lindsey Graham Russia Sanctions Bill; Pres. Trump campaigns in N. Carolina for GOP Senate nominee Michael Whatley

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 23:00:00 -0000

Federal Reserve votes unanimously to raise interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, first hike since 2023 Fed Chair Kevin Warsh says, 'The plain fact is that inflation is too high and has been for too long.' We will talk about the Fed's decision with Julia Shapero, Cryptocurrency and Finance Reporter for The Hill (6); House votes on the Russia sanctions bill related to its war with Ukraine named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) accuses House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) of cancelling Thursday's legislative session, sending Members home a day early to campaign for reelection, to avoid having to vote on Massie's resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war with Iran; Surgeon General Nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier at her Senate confirmation hearing is asked about President Trump questioning the safety of the MMR vaccine; Senate Agriculture Committee passes a 5-year Farm Bill with the crucial vote of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who returned to Washington after more than three months recovering from health issues; White House AI Czar David Sacks talks about the warnings from the tech leaders about the dangers of artificial intelligence; President Trump heads to North Carolina to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley; House Problem Solvers Caucus proposes bills to avoid another gerrymandering war as was seen this election cycle by red and blue states.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attorney General Blanche on Supreme Court blocking Postal Service rules for mail-in ballots; Senate votes not to advance cryptocurrency bill; Pres. Trump says Kennedy Center will be renovated only if his name is added

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 22:47:00 -0000

Attorney General Todd Blanche fills in as White House press secretary for today's news conference and is asked about the Supreme Court blocking the Trump Administration's plans to restrict mail-in ballots for the midterm elections; FBI Director Kash Patel tells the Senate Judiciary Committee FBI agents may be sent to the polls on election day; Director Patel is also asked about changes to hiring standards to no longer automatically disqualify applicants who had engaged in prostitution or bestiality; More questions to lawmakers about potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence and whether legislative action is needed, after President Donald Trump called such concerns a 'hoax'; Senate does not vote to advance a cryptocurrency regulation bill amid a dispute over whether there are enough ethical safeguards to prevent elected leaders from profiting off of digital assets; Federal judge rules the Kennedy Center Board cannot put President Trump's name on the building. Then the Board, comprised of the president's allies, votes to close the center for renovations, and the president posts the renovations will not take place unless his name is added because only he can raise the money needed; Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) tells reporters he will not switch to the Republican party; Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has an official Speaker's portrait unveiled in the U.S. Capitol.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress Returns to Washington as AI Debate and Midterm Campaigns Take Center Stage

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:00:00 -0000

Congress returns to Washington with artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency legislation, college sports and Russia sanctions on the agenda. Plus, with 50 days until the midterm elections, we look at key races in Michigan, New Mexico and Alaska.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: Republican Convention, Polling During Midterm Campaign Season, and Democrats' Strategy into November

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

The first-ever Republican convention took place in Dallas – and the legal fight over mail-in voting dominated the week.

We begin with a discussion with Cliff Young of Ipsos Public Affairs who shared fresh polling on the national mood as the midterm campaign season kicks into high gear.

Then we dive into the mail-in ballot fight – and other voting issues overhanging the midterm campaign. That conversation with former Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli now Chairman of Heritage Foundation's Election Transparency Initiative

Finally- we sit down with Carlissia Graham – President of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. We talk about how Democrats are viewing the midterm convention – and the party's messaging and strategy heading into November.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:53:00 -0000

Twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, with ceremonies at the Pentagon, where President Donald Trump spoke, at Ground Zero in New York City, where widow Terry Strada criticized the government for not holding Saudi Arabia responsible for the attacks, and at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, which included Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA). We also hear from: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin; candidates for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who is Muslim; a retired New York firefighter at a ceremony in California; Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was a White House lawyer at the time of the attack; and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Day Two of GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas; Pres. Trump offers $5,000 to all if GOP keeps House & Senate control; fmr. Pres. George W. Bush on 9/11 attack 25th anniv.

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:26:00 -0000

Day Two of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, with the keynote speech from Vice President JD Vance. People are still talking about some of the moment from Day One: President Donald Trump proposing $5,000 for every American adult if Republicans keep control of the U.S. House and Senate and Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) introducing Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA); Texas U.S. Senate race has been in the spotlight with the Republican convention in Texas; Rhode Island's governor loses the Democratic primary for reelection; President Trump visits the Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas; United Nations Security Council considers an accusation from the UN nuclear watchdog agency that Iran is failing to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation commitments; A day before the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, we hear from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) about the rebuilding of lower Manhattan, former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on the changing threat environment and former President George W. Bush about the Freedom Agenda his pursued after the attacks; White House tribute to the late Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk on the anniversary of his assassination.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican Midterm Convention begins in Dallas; John Sununu (R) will face Chris Pappas (D) in NH Senate race

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:08:00 -0000

Republican midterm convention begins in Dallas, Texas. We get a preview from President Donald Trump, a reporter, and two republican congressional candidates from Illinois who are attending, plus the perspective of the chair of the Texas Democratic Party; On the way to Texas, President Trump tells reporters high energy prices due to the war with Iran will not fall until after the midterm elections in November; In New Hampshire, former U.S. Senator John Sununu wins the Republican Senate primary over another former U.S. Senator, Scott Brown, while in the state's first Congressional District race, Stefany Shaheen, daughter of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), wins the Democratic primary; U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro gets upset when reporters asked about the Reflecting Pool vandalism case, dropped for lack of evidence, which President Trump wants revived; New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch calls for 'moral clarity' about who were the heroes and who were the terrorists during the September 11, 2001 terror attacks at the unveiling of a memorial of NYPD members who have died from 9/11-related illnesses, ahead of Friday's 25th anniversary.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYC Mayor orders documents release showing city officials knew post-9/11 attack air was toxic; Canadian retaliatory tariffs take effect; UK bans imports from Israeli West bank settlements

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:41:00 -0000

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani orders the release of over 170,000 pages of documents revealing that city officials knew of severe toxic air quality risks at Ground Zero following the 9/11 terror attacks, and President Donald Trump honors 9/11 first responders at a Tunnel to Towers event in front of the White House, ahead of Friday's 25th anniversary; Canadian tariffs of up to 50 percent against $20 billion of imports from the United States take effect. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says, 'I don’t believe in escalating the conflict. But our tariffs are necessary to protect our workers, protect our companies and our communities'; It's election day in New Hampshire, where voters are choosing Republican and Democratic nominees for an open U.S. Senate seat. We get the latest from a New Hampshire Union Leader political reporter; Great Britain bans imports from Israeli West Bank settlements, citing Israel's 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians. It is a move praised by some of the UK's allies but opposed by Israel and the U.S.; NATO hosts another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to discuss Ukraine's need for anti-missile defenses; Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch is resigning after disagreements with the Trump Administration about how to present U.S. history.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weekend Edition: Mail-In Voting & Midterms, State of the Economy, and Immigration and Border Security

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0000

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: We dig into the legal back and forth over mail-in voting and what it means for states ahead of this November's elections. That conversation with Dion Nissenbaum of the website "Votebeat."

Then: The economy is the number one issue on voters' minds as the midterm elections approach. We speak with financial journalist Roben Farzad – host of the public radio show and podcast "Full Disclosure" - on the recent jobs numbers and what it means for the health of the overall economy.

Finally: Immigration and border security is also a big issue in the midterm elections. We chat with Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies and Heidi Altman of the National Immigration Law Center about the Trump administration's record so far.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August jobs gains much larger than expected | Pres. Trump signs order designed to lower beef prices | David Hearns asks court to bar DOJ from charging him ever again with vandalizing reflecting pool

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 22:40:00 -0000

Labor Department reports the U.S. economy gained 162,000 jobs in August, much more than many economists predicted. Unemployment rate stayed at 4.1%. President Donald Trump posting the numbers are 'great' and 'you haven’t seen anything yet!'; President Trump signs an Executive Order aimed at lowering beef prices by easing regulations on ranchers and farmers so they can process the meat themselves; Reaction to the Missouri Supreme Court striking down a new Congressional District map that advantages Republicans; North Carolina sends out the first mail-in ballots even as the Trump Administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the U.S. Postal Service to implement a plan to restrict mail-in voting in the midterm election; David Hearn goes to court to try to prevent the Justice Department from ever again charging him with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool; Members of Congress propose House rules changes, including banning insider trading, tougher sexual misconduct punishments and letting Members who are new parents vote by proxy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

VP JD Vance asked about Iran War & gas prices at White House briefing | Billionaire Leon Black defies Cong. subpoena in Epstein probe | Dallas Morning News' Joseph Morton on next week's GOP Midterm Convention

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 22:40:00 -0000

Vice President JD Vance holds a White House news conference and is asked about the war with Iran and rising fuel prices ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend, when millions of Americans will be traveling; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responds to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's assertion that the Canadians cut off trade talks with the U.S. because of internal Canadian politics; State Department launches the Foundry School, which the administration says is 'a national program to train the entrepreneurs, engineers, technicians, and industrial leaders needed to rebuild American manufacturing'; House passes a bill to cut off federal student aid to colleges that support boycotts of Israel; Billionaire Leon Black defies a Congressional subpoena in the Oversight Committee's investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; President Trump says next week's Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas in the lead up to the November midterm elections is 'big stuff'. We will talk about the convention with Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau Chief Joseph Morton, who plans to be there (47); Feminist activist Gloria Steinem dies at age 92.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chevron signs Venezuela oil deal; Pres. Trump says he was not serious about renaming Strait of Hormuz 'Trump Strait'; House votes down proposal to require Supreme Court have nine justices

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:45:00 -0000

Chevron signs an agreement to invest $7 billion in Venezuela to double its oil production in five years. We hear from the Chevron CEO & U.S. Energy Secretary in Caracas; President Donald Trump says he was joking when he posted the Strait of Hormuz should be renamed the Trump Strait. He is also asked about the resumption of U.S. and Iran trading missile strikes for the past several days; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hosts technology company CEOs at 'G20 Innovation Ministerial' in North Carolina to discuss development of Artificial Intelligence; U.S. House Democrats meet on possible changes to party rules after two House Democrats voted with Republicans to advance Republican bills that were set to fail; House defeats a proposed Constitutional Amendment to require the Supreme Court have nine justices; House Intelligence Committee holds a hearing on national security threats that includes a discussion of Chinese spying; Wreath-laying at the World War II Memorial in Washington on this V-J Day, marking the Allies' victory over Japan that ended World War II in 1945.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices