Washington Today

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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House joins Senate in passing CR to avoid federal gov't shutdown before election day, House votes to censure Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) for sexually harassing staff

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 22:42:00 -0000

House joins the Senate, with a large, bipartisan vote, in passing a short-term federal government funding extension from end of the fiscal year, September 30, through December 11. That means when President Donald Trump signs it into law there will not be another government shutdown before election day in November; It is primary election day in Massachusetts, where incumbent Ed Markey is being challenged by Congressman Seth Moulton; Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC) defends himself on the House floor during debate on a resolution to censure him after the Ethics Committee found he sexually harassed two female staff members; Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in New York City announces the arrest of over 2,000 criminal illegal immigrants in the past month. At the same time, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) call upon Secretary Mullin to releases tens of millions of dollars in counterterrorism grants they say are being withheld from the city; Senior House Republicans react to the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll; Bill to create a monument in Washington to Medal of Honor recipients is about to become law; new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham makes his first statement as prime minister before the House of Commons.

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Supreme Court Backs Trump White House Ballroom, Iran Strikes & Campaign 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:22:00 -0000

The Supreme Court allows President Trump to move forward with construction of a new White House ballroom. Plus, the latest on renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran, Congress returns from recess, and Campaign 2026 heats up in Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Maine and California.

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Weekend Edition: Lake Ontario "Lake America," 63rd Anniversary of the March on Washington, Supreme Court and Mail-In Voting

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0000

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

First: The U.S. and Canada are in the throes of an all-out trade war that started with an announcement of new tariffs at the beginning of week – and ended with the President renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America." We speak with White House trade adviser Peter Navarro to hear what the tiff is all about.

Then: This Friday marks the 63rd anniversary of the March on Washington.

We spoke with the Reverend Al Sharpton about THIS YEAR's March that he's leading – and why voting rights is the focus.

And speaking of voting – the Supreme Court issued an emergency opinion this week – siding with President Trump on mail-in voting restrictions. We spoke with election law expert Michael Morley from Florida State University – about what it all means.

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63rd annual March on Washington | Fed Chair Warsh on inflation & interest rates | Iran War hits 6-month mark| Pres. Trump creates U.S. Space Academy

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 22:34:00 -0000

Lawmakers and civil rights activists speak at the March on Washington's 63rd anniversary, with the theme "Defend the Vote"; Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh gives his first speech at the Fed's economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, saying inflation is still too high, suggesting interest rate cuts may be coming. We will hear from the Chair and talk with Washington Post's Global Economics Correspondent David Lynch (17); U.S. war with Iran is six months old today. We will talk with Elise Labott, author "Cosmopolitics" Substack newsletter about the state of the conflict, strategy on each side, and what may come next (36); President Donald Trump visits the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to award medals to the Artemis II crew, discuss plans for future space exploration and to announce the creation of a new U.S. Space Force Academy.

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Pres. Trump signs Exec. Order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America amid ongoing U.S.-Canada trade war; Federal judge holds hearing on adding Pres. Trump's name to Kennedy Center.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 22:56:00 -0000

President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order renaming Lake Ontario on the U.S.-Canadian border to Lake America, as the U.S.-Canada trade war shows no sign of ending; President Trump flies to Houston, Texas to raise money for Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton, who is in a close race with Democratic nominee James Talarico; House Speaker Mike Johnson also campaigns today in Texas for Republican U.S. House candidates in Congressional districts that could decide the balance of power after election day; Data centers have become a campaign issue around the country seemingly overnight. We will talk about it with Nicol Turner Lee, director of the Brookings Institution's Center for Technology Innovation (34); Attorney General Todd Blanche in Puerto Rico announces a major international drug trafficking bust; Federal judge holds a hearing on the future of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, both its renovation and whether to add Donald Trump's name to the facade; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says goodbye on her last day on the job at the White House.

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Meta settles multi-state lawsuit over youth being addicted to apps; Pres. Trump may ease beef processing regulations to lower prices; 5th Anniv. of Abbey Gate bombing during U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:45:00 -0000

Meta settles a multi-state lawsuit alleging the technology company intentionally got young people addicted to their Facebook and Instagram media platforms, causing them harm, for $18 billion as a trial was underway in California; President Donald Trump and his senior trade adviser Peter Navarro defend U.S. tariffs on Canada that led this week to equal tariffs from Canada in response and the start of what could be a prolonged trade war; President Trump at the urging of radio talk show host Glenn Beck says he will look into easing beef processing regulations to bring down the price of meat. President earlier said he will allow more beef imports tariff free. We will talk about it with Washington Examiner White House reporter Naomi Lim (20); Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is questioned about the measles deaths of two unvaccinated people in Pennsylvania; Head of International Atomic Energy Agency is asked about Iran's nuclear program; On this fifth anniversary of the deadly bombing at Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan during the U.S. military withdrawal, Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth honors Marines who acted heroically that day; Campaign 2026 roundup of Tuesday's elections in South Carolina, Oklahoma and Georgia.

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Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports; Wall Street Journal reporter Michelle Hackman on new, proposed $100K H-1B visa fee; Dolly Parton dies

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 22:38:00 -0000

Canada announces retaliatory, dollar for dollar, tariffs on U.S. goods in response to President Donald Trump imposing 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian products; Michigan U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who is Muslim, calls out what he says is anti-Muslim rhetoric being used against his campaign; In South Carolina, Republicans are choosing between Ralph Norman and Darline Graham in a primary runoff election for the U.S. Senate nomination; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) defends his meeting with White House adviser Jared Kushner, promising if the Democrats retake control of the U.S. House after the November elections, investigations will proceed and “no one from the Trump cartel is getting a pass”; Trump Administration is proposing a new version of a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers that it believes will withstand court review. We will talk about it with Michelle Hackman, Wall Street Journal immigration reporter (39); Today is the 110th anniversary the National Park Service; Nashville, Hollywood and Washington are mourning the death of country singer Dolly Parton at the age of 80.

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Trump Announces New Iran Sanctions, Threatens Canada With 50% Tariffs | Campaign 2026

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 22:05:00 -0000

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announces new sanctions on Iran as President Trump threatens economic retaliation against countries doing business with Tehran. Plus, Trump escalates his tariff fight with Canada, and the latest from the 2026 campaign trail in South Carolina, Michigan and Georgia.

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Weekend Edition: The State of Oil and Gas Reserves, Campaign 2026, and Progressives in the Midterm Campaign

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 08:30:00 -0000

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

First: As gas prices continue to rise with the war with Iran, there's renewed scrutiny of America's oil and gas companies. We speak with Dustin Meyer from the American Petroleum Institute about the impact on consumers and the state of oil and gas reserves in the U-S.

Then: Conservative columnist and podcaster Henry Olsen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center discusses Campaign 2026 and political news of the week.

Finally: A conversation with Amanda Litman – co-founder of the group "Run For Something" whose goal is to help elect young progressives. We'll talk about that effort – and the role of progressives in the midterm campaign and beyond.

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Supreme Court allows White House ballroom construction to continue for now; Pres. Trump campaigns for Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 22:39:00 -0000

Supreme Court allows above-ground construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom to continue while the Justices consider legal challenges to the project; Vice President JD Vance returns to his hometown in Ohio to speak at the steel mill where his grandfather worked, promote the economic agenda of the Trump-Vance Administration, and support Republican candidates for office in Ohio; President Trump will rally tonight in South Carolina for Sen. Darline Graham, who faces a Senate Republican primary runoff next Tuesday against Rep. Ralph Norman; House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigns in New York's 3rd Congressional district for the Republican challenging the Democratic incumbent, his latest stop in a nationwide tour of battleground U.S. House districts likely to decide which party controls the House after election day; Education Department recommends the American Bar Association no longer be authorized by the federal government to accredit law schools, something it has done since 1952, accusing the group of having a liberal bias. We will talk about it with The Hill's Legal Affairs Editor Zach Schoenfeld (46); The Space Force general overseeing the Golden Dome project to protect the U.S. homeland from missiles and other airborne threats, gives an update on the technology tests so far.

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Treasury Sec. Bessent says U.S. can 'grow' its way out of $40 trillion debt; Boston Globe's Samantha Gross on Mass. U.S. Senate race between Sen. Markey & Rep. Moulton

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:44:00 -0000

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. can 'grow' its way out of a $40 trillion national debt, a number that was reached this week; Secretary Bessent also says he will hold a news conference Monday to outline new sanctions against Iran. He calls them the 'toughest sanctions in history' that will 'collapse this regime.' That follows President Donald Trump's post declaring Economic D-Day against Iran for failing to take the many chances he has given them to make a deal to give up any pursuit of a nuclear weapon; A woman has been charged with providing support to the terror group ISIS after allegedly asking for help to make explosives to attack the New York State Capitol building in Albany; Final Massachusetts U.S. Senate Democratic primary debate tonight between Sen. Ed Markey and challenger Congressman Seth Moulton. We will talk about the race with Boston Globe politics reporter Samantha Gross (28); Democratic Party narrows its list of cities vying to host the 2028 DNC Convention to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia; First Lady Melania Trump announces a $2 million donation from Penske's IndyCar and Fox Corp. to her initiative to help children and youth transition successfully out of the foster care system, ahead of this weekend's Freedom 250 IndyCar street race in Washington, DC.

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Pres. Trump says he brokered 'very good' U.S.-Canada trade deal after threatening 50% tariffs | Review of Tuesday's election primary results in Florida & Alaska

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 22:59:00 -0000

President Donald Trump says a 'very good' trade deal between the U.S. and Canada is being finalized. He paused 50% tariffs on imported Canadian goods Tuesday night for three days just hours before they were supposed to start. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says there has been 'significant progress' in the negotiations; President Trump holds a meeting at the White House with CEO's of technology companies that deal in cryptocurrency, calling on the Senate to pass a pending crypto market regulation bill known as the CLARITY Act; President Trump nominates Dr. Heidi Overton, currently a Deputy Director at the White House Domestic Policy Council, to be the next Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner; Two Democratic Members of Congress from Northern Virginia call for an investigation after woman filmed a masked ICE agent pointing a gun at her head; A look at Tuesday's primary election results in Alaska and Florida and what it means for whether Republicans or Democrats will control the House and Senate after the general election in November; President Trump gives reporters a tour of some of his White House construction projects, including a new helipad.

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Spkr. Johnson campaigns in battleground MI07 | MN sues TX to force ICE agent extradition | USA Today's Medora Lee on Meta on trial over social media teen addiction

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 22:51:00 -0000

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) campaigns with Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) in Michigan's 7th District, one of the battlegrounds across the country that will determine which party controls the House after the November elections; Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) at a reelection campaign event calls President Donald Trump a 'draft-dodging crook'; It is primary day in Florida, Alaska & Wyoming. We will take a closer look at the competitive races in Florida's 7th Congressional District, where Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) is facing ethics allegations, and in Alaska, where Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) is being challenged by former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK); Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) sues Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) over the delay in approving extradition of a ICE agent charged with shooting and wounding a Minneapolis man; Federal trial against Meta begins. Social media company is charged with intentionally keeping teen addicted to Facebook & Instagram for profit. We will talk about the case with Medora Lee, Money and Personal Finance Reporter for USA Today. (43)

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Iran Deal Deadline Expires as Trump Threatens Oman | Campaign 2026 Update

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 22:04:00 -0000

President Trump marks the end of the 60-day Iran negotiating window with no peace deal in sight, threatens Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, and announces plans to scale back U.S.-South Korea military exercises. Plus, the latest from the 2026 campaign trail in Georgia, South Carolina, and Ohio.

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James Carville on the 2026 Midterms & Rafael Mangual on Falling Crime Rates

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 08:30:00 -0000

A look at the 2026 midterm elections and the primary season with veteran Democratic strategist James Carville and RealClearPolitics co-founder Tom Bevan, including the growing influence of democratic socialist candidates within the Democratic Party. Then, Manhattan Institute fellow Rafael Mangual discusses new crime data showing violent crime at or near historic lows in many U.S. cities and whether federal policies and National Guard deployments have played a role.

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President Trump touts anti-crime agenda at police academy in NY; Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal charges related to shooting death of health care executive

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:39:00 -0000

President Donald Trump speaks at a police academy in Garden City on Long Island, New York about his anti-crime and anti-illegal immigration agenda with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Republican nominee for New York governor; North Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper continues his series of campaign events highlight affordability with a stop in Henderson; Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins starts a reelection bus tour in Kittery and is asked about ICE funding; Today is the 91st anniversary of Social Security being signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt; Luigi Mangione pleads guilty in federal court to charges related to the shooting death of health care executive, Brian Thompson; President Trump comments about the alleged troubles surrounding the long deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, and he says about the war with Iran he might declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory; On this five year anniversary of the Taliban retaking control of Afghanistan, a quarter of the world's nations, including the United States, condemn the Taliban's treatment of women and girls, and harboring of terrorists.

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Attorney General Blanche praises Justice Dept career staff in first speech; Kennedy Center board votes for 2 year closure for renovation & for putting Donald Trump's name back on the facade

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 22:46:00 -0000

Newly confirmed Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks to the employees at the Justice Department about their hard work and integrity, respecting the authority of the judiciary, and letting people of different political backgrounds disagree to work out the best policy. Reporters note that he did not talk about the Biden administration's alleged weaponization of the Justice Department or about 'activist' judges, which he and President Donald Trump have often mentioned in speeches; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is asked at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Atlanta how he would work with President Trump should the Democrats win a majority of House seats this November and he is elected Speaker; We check in on a close House race in Michigan, as well as the governor's race in that state; Vice President JD Vance's Anti-Fraud Task Force accuses hospitals of using fake billing codes to get insurance companies to cover transgender care for minors and bring in tens of millions of dollars; Kennedy Center board votes to move forwards with a closure for two-years for renovations and to put President Trump's name back on the facade in a different form than what was struck down by a judge. It would read, “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump”; Trump Administration accuses China of evading U.S. tariffs by shipping products through other countries to the U.S.; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Yemen, where attacks by Iranian-supported Houthis on Saudi Arabia and international shipping have increased, sparking fears of a wider war.

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DSA candidate loses WI Gov. primary, another wins MN Sen. primary; Inflation cools in July; DOJ announces arrests in fake marriages-for-Green-Cards scheme

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:47:00 -0000

Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor David Crowley calls for unity after his surprise upset victory over Francesca Hong, whose views align more with Democratic Socialist agenda, while in the Minnesota U.S. Senate Democratic primary, the more progressive candidate Peggy Flanagan beats the moderate Angie Craig. Also in Minnesota, Republican candidate for governor Mike Lindell, an ally of President Donald Trump, refuses to concede defeat to Lisa Demuth, who was declared the winner in the primary by the Associated Press, citing voting 'anomalies'. Attorney General Todd Blanche announces arrests in an alleged scheme to orchestrate over 1,000 sham marriages with foreign nationals, primarily from China, to obtain U.S. Green Cards; Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) & NY Attorney General Letitia James (D) are asked about plans to buy for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks; Labor Department's inflation report: prices increased 0.1%, or 3.4% year over year, down from 3.5% in June; FDA's Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas provides an update on the response to the cyclospora outbreak; Justice Department says the President can claim Executive Privilege to shield his conversations not just with government employees, but also 'private advisers'. We will talk about the implications with The Hill's National Security and Legal Affairs Reporter Rebecca Beitsch. (50)

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American Robert Gilman released from Russia prison & flown home; Campaign primary day in six states; The Hill's Miranda Nazzaro on WH not releasing AI safety/security testing guidelines

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:49:00 -0000

American Robert Gilman is released from prison in Russia and flies home. President Donald Trump says it was after he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, it was for humanitarian reasons due to Gilman's poor health and "Russia asked for no one in return"; Campaign primary day in six states. Republicans in South Carolina are choosing a replacement nominee for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and among whose running is his sister, Darline Graham, who has been appointed to replace him, while Democrats in Minnesota and Wisconsin are faced with candidates pitting the moderate and progressive wings of the party against each other, for a Senate seat & governorship, respectively; Today is the anniversary of President Trump's declaration of a crime emergency in Washington, DC that led to the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops patrolling the streets; White House has reportedly developed guidelines for voluntary testing of artificial intelligence models for safety and security, but is sharing them only with certain technology companies and not the public. We will talk about that with The Hill's Senior Technology Reporter Miranda Nazzarro. (41)

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Weekend Edition: Iran War, U.S. Munitions, and the Push for Independent Candidates & Primary Reform

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:30:00 -0000

Defense policy expert Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discusses the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war, including reports that U.S. munitions stockpiles are running low. Then, Adam Brandon of the Independent Leadership Council explains the group's new effort to elect independent candidates to federal office. Finally, Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano discusses his organization's campaign to reform political primaries and what those changes could mean for the future of U.S. elections.

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Senate on way to confirming Todd Blanche as Attorney Gen. after GOP Sen. Cassidy says he will vote 'yes'; Fed. appeals court panel puts WH ballroom on hold

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:44:00 -0000

Senate is on track to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General, after the final two undecided Republicans announced how they will vote: Lisa Murkowski (AK) is a 'no', but Bill Cassidy (LA) is a 'yes', meaning Blanche has just enough support to make it; Senate passes the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia & Iran Act' with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. It gives the U.S. President power to sanction countries that import Russian oil and gas, aiming to cut off the Russia's money supply to continue its war against Ukraine; Labor Department says the U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July… not what forecasters had expected; Federal appeals court panel rules construction of President Trump's White House ballroom must stop because it requires Congressional approval. President says he will appeal to the Supreme Court, calling the project necessary for presidential security and the court's decision was "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful"; What is next for the Farm Bill now that the Senate Agriculture Committee has voted it down over party disagreements about food aid funding? We will talk with Grace Yarrow, Food & Agriculture Reporter for Politico (36); House Speaker Mike Johnson predicts his Republican party will buck the historical trend of the President's party losing House seats in the midterm elections.. and he will remain Speaker after November.

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Senate Cmte votes to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress over his taking the Fifth at a COVID hearing; Pres. Trump signs order banning 'birth tourism' citizenship

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:46:00 -0000

Senate Committee votes to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, former top government official during COVID-19, in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions at last week's hearing on the origins and response to the pandemic; Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) talks about what could be voted on in the Senate these final few days in session before the August recess; Senate Agriculture Committee votes down a 5 year Farm Bill after Democrats demanded, and Republicans, rejected a two-year delay to changes to the food-aid program SNAP; FCC votes to repeal a rule that prohibits any company from owning television stations reaching more than 39% of U.S. TV households; Latest on the war with Iran and talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the reported clash him had with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the how the war has reduced the U.S. supply of certain munitions; President Trump signs Executive Orders to limit birthright citizenship, including in cases known as 'birth tourism'; Congressional Democrats highlight today's 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act being signed into law, warning of the voting restrictions being pursued by Republicans today.

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Progressive Abdul El-Sayed Defeats Moderate Haley Stevens in Michigan U.S. Senate Democratic primary

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:58:00 -0000

Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed is declared the winner in a very close Michigan U.S. Senate Democratic primary over more moderate candidate Haley Stevens; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) signs Congressional redistricting legislation that could result in Republican losing their only current U.S. House seat in the state; Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) signs a bill to restrict U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in places like schools, hospitals, and courthouses. She calls it the calling it the toughest and strongest state law in this area; President Donald Trump visits Las Vegas to talk about the economy and immigration; Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche is asked about the President's anger at U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dropping charges against defendants in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool cases; Vice President JD Vance says he wants Congress to take steps to advance the White House Anti-Fraud Task Force efforts; Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announces the federal government is ending its relationship with an organ donation coordination group – Network for Hope – after findings cases where the organ procurement process began in patients that showed signs of life.

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Senate Judiciary Cmte approves Todd Blanche Attorney General nomination; 19 in Pennsylvania charged with multi-million dollar home health care fraud

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 22:35:00 -0000

Senate Judiciary Committee votes along party lines to approve the nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to be in that role permanently; Senate leaders discuss the agenda for what they hope will be the last week in session in Washington before the August break, including a bill to prevent another government shutdown in October; Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) asks for and get a House Ethics Committee investigation of allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife against him, he says to clear his name. We will hear from his former father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who has said he is unfit to be in office; Justice Department announces charges against 19 people in Pennsylvania accused of collecting more than $4 million in fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid home health care claims; Stocks jump on Wall Street, partly on hopes the energy waterway Strait of Hormuz will soon reopen; Astronaut Chris Williams, who returned to Earth a week ago from the International Space Station, is asked about support of family during his mission, including from his uncle, Fox News Senior Political Analyst Juan Williams.

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Trump Calls Iran Talks 'Last Chance' as Senate Backs Todd Blanche

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:01:00 -0000

President Trump says upcoming talks with Iran represent the country's "last chance" to reach a deal and avoid an escalation in U.S. military action. We have the latest from the White House on negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program. On Capitol Hill, Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis announce they'll support Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General after he rescinds the administration's anti-weaponization fund. Plus, the Senate begins its final week before the August recess, and Campaign 2026 heads to Michigan, where Democrats are set to choose their U.S. Senate nominee. We also look at the latest races in Ohio, New Hampshire, and Maine.

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Weekend Edition: Interest Rates, Dr. Fauci Hearing and the Iran War

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0000

This weekend, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Punchbowl News Senior Financial Services Reporter Brendan Pedersen reacts to the week's economic news and the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady this week. Then, a conversation with White House trade adviser Peter Navarro ahead of Dr. Anthony Fauci's contentious senate hearing earlier this week. Finally, Former NATO Ambassador Kurt Volker gives us his take on where we are in the nearly 5-month war with Iran and the U.S. role in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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President Trump says anti-weaponization fund is dead, but 'I wish it weren't'; Politico's Lisa Kashinsky on why some donors are upset with DNC Chair Martin

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 22:51:00 -0000

President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the presidential retreat Camp David in Frederick County, Maryland, where he acknowledges a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund designed to pay defendants in the January 6th attack at the U.S. Capitol and others who he says were unfairly targeted by the government is 'dead,' but he adds, 'I wish it weren't'; President also says, 'This has nothing to do with Todd,' referring to Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche, whose confirmation has been held up by a few Republican Senators opposed the fund; President Trump also claims 'Israel is very happy" with his Board of Peace reaching a deal with Hamas to disarm in exchange for Israel withdrawing troops from Gaza; Three potential 2028 Democratic Presidential candidates speak at the National Urban League conference in Nashville, Tennessee: former Vice President Kamala Harris, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin is reportedly coming under fire from some donors not happy with his leadership. We will talk about it with Politico National Political Reporter Lisa Kashinsky (35); Discussion about what the rise of artificial intelligence means for people's jobs in the future with two governors: Wes Moore (D-MD) and Spencer Cox (R-UT).

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Sen. Cornyn's Demand Pres. Trump IRS Immunity Be Scaled Back Keeps Blanche Attorney General Nomination on Hold

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 22:39:00 -0000

Nomination of Todd Blanche to be Attorney General is still in limbo after Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), whose vote is needed to report the nomination from committee, says the White House has not agreed to put in writing limits on tax audit immunity the President Donald Trump and his family received from a recent lawsuit settlement. President Trump says he may pull the nomination until after the midterm elections and let Todd Blanche remain Acting Attorney General; Senate Health Committee votes to approve CDC Director nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz and Assistant Health Secretary nominee Sean Kaufman, but not before committee chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) gives a speech about the value of vaccines; Economic growth slowed in the 2nd quarter from 2.1% to 1.5%, and June inflation dipped to 3.7% from 4.1% in May; National Urban League releases its 50th annual State of Black America report; President Trump promotes a program to get more veterans into truck driving positions quicker, as the Administration has been cracking down on CDL's given to illegal immigrants or those with limited English proficiency; Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduces a bill to create an Anti-Corruption Bureau to restrain presidents like President Trump whom he calls the "grifter-in-chief"; Senate defeats another Iran War Powers Act resolution introduced by Democrats aimed at requiring the president to withdraw U.S. forces absent Congressional authorization.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci pleads the Fifth at Senate committee hearing on COVID response; Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 23:06:00 -0000

Dr. Anthony Fauci called to testify before a Senate committee under subpoena about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic invokes his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination over 100 times. Committee Chair Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) accused Dr. Fauci of covering up evidence of the "lab leak" theory for coronavirus. Dr. Fauci calls Sen. Paul "unhinged" and trying to trap him in any lie before Congress to start a prosecution. And Sen. Paul is threatening to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt of Congress; President Donald Trump says the U.S. would be hitting Iran hard and "smacking them a little bit" after an attempted Iranian surprise missile attack on American targets in the Middle East; Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh announced the Fed is keeping interest rates steady for a fifth consecutive meeting, but the Fed is still determined to bring down inflation; Senate Republicans block Senate Democrats' attempt to pass a bill to create a legal pathway for immigrants with Temporary Protected Status, as TPS for 300,000 Haitian immigrants in the U.S. expired this week and the Trump Administration said it will move to start deportations; President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveil a $22 billion renovation plan for Dulles International Airport; We talk to AP reporter Bill Barrow about the Joe Biden tapes, the conversations he had with a ghostwriter in 2016 & 2017, released after a conservative group filed a Freedom of Information Act request.

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Memorial services in DC for late Sen. Graham; Israeli PM & Ukrainian Pres. visit White House; AP's Julie Carr Smyth on Ohio Senate race

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 22:57:00 -0000

Memorial services today for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Capitol Hill and at Washington National Cathedral. President Donald Trump calls Graham "a true American original" and "beloved friend" who "died doing the work he was born to do, serving the country he loved"; Lindsey Graham's funeral brings world leaders to Washington, including Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Both met President Trump at the White House about the war with Iran and Russia's war with Ukraine, respectively; Very close U.S. Senate race in Ohio between incumbent republican Jon Husted and Democratic challenger, former Senator Sherrod Brown, is shaping up to be pivotal in helping decide which party controls the Senate after the midterm elections. We will hear from the candidates and talk with an Associated Press National Political Reporter in Ohio, Julie Carr Smyth (36); former Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) at a Reagan Foundation forum talks about why bipartisanship today is not like years ago; President Trump responds to critical diary entries by Dr. Anthony Fauci released ahead of his Senate testimony on the COVID-19 pandemic response this week.

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POTUS Trump Warns Iran as Senate Tackles Funding and Confirmations

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 22:00:00 -0000

The pause in the Iran war continues after two weeks of escalating strikes, as President Trump warns the U.S. is prepared to respond if Iran again threatens shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest comes as senior U.S. officials raise concerns about dwindling munitions stockpiles. We'll hear the president's comments from earlier today before he traveled to Michigan.

On Capitol Hill, the House has begun its August recess, but the Senate remains in Washington with a packed agenda. Lawmakers are expected to take up legislation to keep the government funded beyond the end of September, along with confirmation votes for a new Director of National Intelligence and attorney general. We'll have reaction from Senate leaders.

And with fewer than 100 days until Election Day, the campaign trail is heating up. Maine Democrats have a new Senate nominee, candidates in Michigan are rallying supporters, and we'll have the latest developments in Georgia's closely watched Senate race.

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Weekend Edition: Iran War Funding and Cyclospora Outbreak

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 08:30:00 -0000

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

It was a big week in Congress with Iran war funding front and center. We talk to two lawmakers on BOTH sides of the aisle on the Pentagon's 60-billion dollar ask: California Republican Tom McClintock & Hawaii Democrat Jill Tokuda.

And then a conversation with Dr. David Acheson, former chief medical officer at the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. He discusses the cyclospora outbreak and the federal government's role in food safety.

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New Trump Admin tariffs to combat forced labor take effect; Pres. Trump asked about possible 'massive attack' on Iran; Preview of rescheduled White House Correspondents Assn. dinner

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:40:00 -0000

Trump administration puts in place new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 major trading partners, covering nearly 100% of U.S. imports, under the rationale of combatting forced labor; President Trump is asked about his comment this week that he is considering a "massive attack" on Iran because that country has not yet received "enough pain" in the war so far; President is asked about his reported frustration with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) over the Senate not passing a bill to require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote, and Sen. Thune firing back that the White House needs to work to round up votes needed for passage instead of criticizing; Democratic National Committee's rules committee recommends South Carolina hold the first presidential primary in 2028, and five other states be allowed to hold primaries earlier than the rest of the states: Nevada, New Hampshire, Michigan, New Mexico and Virginia;; Race for U.S. Senator from Michigan this year is being talked about as a bellwether for the future of the Democratic party. We will hear from the two major candidates: progressive Abdul El-Sayed and moderate Haley Stevens; Jewish leaders in New York City criticize Mayor Zohran Mamdani's position on Israel after a double stabbing of a suspect who reportedly yelled in Arabic 'God in great'; preview of tonight's rescheduled White House Correspondent Association dinner, featuring a speech by President Trump, after the original event was called off when a gunman burst in allegedly trying to assassinate the president and other government officials.

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House passes, Senate defeats, Iran War Powers Act resolution; Pres. Trump promotes pledge data centers won't increase consumer electricity bills

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:54:00 -0000

Both the House & Senate vote again on Iran War Powers Act resolutions sponsored by Democrats to force President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces without Congressional approval. House resolution passes, Senate resolution fails; President Trump says the civilian nuclear agreement the U.S. signed with Saudi Arabia requires Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel, something that was not in the original agreement; President welcomes electricity companies and governors joining technology companies in signing a pledge that the expansion of data centers will not mean consumers have higher utility bills; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director nominee Brian Johnson goes before the Senate Banking Committee; House passes a bill to explore ways Social Security Disability recipients can earn more money without losing their benefits; Race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator from Maine is now down to two candidates ahead of Saturday's convention; House Oversight Committee interviews former Barclays bank executive Jes Staley in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation; Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Judiciary Committee chair, refers former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department for prosecution for allegedly lying to Congress; Former James Woolsey, former CIA Director in the Bill Clinton Administration has died.

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Pres. Trump attends dignified transfer of U.S. troops killed by Iran; House passes NDAA & first step in $95 billion budget reconciliation

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 22:45:00 -0000

President Donald Trump says the American public supports the war against Iran, with the renewed fighting now on Day 12, as he travels to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for a ceremony to receive four of the U.S. servicemembers killed by Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East; President Trump approves a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that includes potentially a uranium-enrichment facility and does not include rigorous inspections from the International Atomic Energy Agency; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) is asked about a video he posted explaining the city cannot arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on an International Criminal Court war crimes warrant when he next comes to town, but the federal government should; U.S. House passes the annual Pentagon program and policy bill known as the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA, a budget resolution that starts the process for the next $95 billion budget reconciliation package, mostly defense spending, that can be passed with Republican votes only, and a bill that combines a ban on Members of Congress buying individual stocks with a requirement for photo ID to vote in federal elections; President Trump travels to Georgia to talk about his economic policies and promote Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections in that battleground state; Secret Service Director Sean Curran answers questions about this Friday's White House Correspondents Association dinner, which was rescheduled after the first one was cut short after a gunman tried to burst in and allegedly assassinate President Trump and other government officials.

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Pres. Trump says he has no interest in meeting with Iran as war escalates; over $1 billion in Medicaid paused to CA & MN over fraud concerns; Smithsonian Amer. History Dir. testifies about bias allegations

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:34:00 -0000

President Donald Trump says Iran desperately wants to meet to end the current war escalation with the U.S., but the U.S. has no interest in doing so until 'they're ready to meet in a meaningful way', and the President says the U.S. will be able to deal with the Houthi terror group if they move to aid Iran and block oil shipments between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the Trump Administration's supplemental spending request, most of which is for the military and costs of the war with Iran; House debates a bill to extend federal government funding from the current deadline October 1 through December 4, after the midterm elections, as concerns grow that disagreements between Republicans and Democrats could lead to another government shutdown; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responds to President Trump's threat of 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announces $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota are being withheld because of suspected fraud; Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Anthea Hartig testifies before Congress after a White House report accused the museum of anti-American bias, telling the lawmakers, 'The museum does not take sides in America's political debates. We preserve and document the evidence of American life in all of its breadth, so that the public can encounter the past and draw their own conclusions.'

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Trump to Attend Dover Transfer as Congress Faces Busy Week Before Recess

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:07:00 -0000

President Trump prepares to attend the dignified transfer of U.S. service members killed in the Middle East as he warns Iran it "will pay." Congress faces a packed week before the August recess, including defense legislation, government funding, and a budget resolution. Plus, the latest on a fire outside a federal building in New York City, a change in leadership in the United Kingdom, and new developments in Campaign 2026.

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Weekend Edition: Democratic Socialists, Iran Conflict & Maine Senate Race

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:30:00 -0000

This week on Washington Journal... Democratic Socialists of America National Co-Chair Ashik Siddique explains the principles of democratic socialism and discusses recent primary victories by DSA-backed candidates. Then, Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman of Indiana joins us to talk about renewed U.S. military action in Iran and defense spending. And News Center Maine political reporter Phil Hirschkorn looks at the latest developments in Maine's U.S. Senate race and the upcoming Democratic nominating convention.

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DHS Sec Mullin threatens states' funding over election security & vows to aggressively pursue voter fraud

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:41:00 -0000

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says states who do not take certain steps to safeguard election security will lose federal counterterrorism grant money, and he promises to aggressively pursue voter fraud cases; He spoke the day after President Donald Trump gave a primetime address on election fraud, claiming U.S. election infrastructure has vulnerabilities, China has been amassing U.S. voter data and a quarter million illegal voters are on U.S. rolls; North Carolina U.S. Senate Republican nominee Michael Whatley accuses his Democratic opponent Roy Cooper of being soft on crime, in that very closely watched race that will likely help decide which party controls the Senate after this year's election; U.S. & Iranian military trade fire for a sixth night since the collapse of the ceasefire; House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-ARK) pushes the Senate to join the House and pass a cryptocurrency and digital asset bill known as the CLARITY Act; Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asked about U.S. lawmaker complaints about the wildfire smoke coming down from Canada and choking many U.S. cities; British Labour Party officially elects a new leader, Andy Burnham, who will on Monday become the new Prime Minister, replacing Keir Starmer, who is resigning. We will talk about the swap with C-SPAN's Westminster Correspondent Peter Knowles. (49)

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Pres. Trump gives primetime address on election security; WH promises 'shocking' new evidence of potential foreign interference

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 22:57:00 -0000

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says President Donald Trump will in his primetime address to the nation present new evidence about election security and potential foreign interference and the "findings" will "shock" listeners; Senate Judiciary Committee holds a second day of hearings on the nomination of Todd Blanche to be Attorney General. Witnesses include former Attorney General John Ashcroft, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse and a mother whose daughter was the victim of a crime by an illegal alien; White House teleprompter operator is accused of making nearly $100,000 in prediction market bets about what President Trump would say in speeches; Senate confirmation hearings for Labor Secretary Nominee Keith Sonderling and TSA Administration nominee David Cummins; Russell Vought, Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, testifies before the Senate Banking Committee; House Speaker Mike Johnson pulls from the House floor before a final vote a controversial veterans benefits overhaul bill; Secretary of State Marco Rubio says at an international conference on political terrorism hosted by the State Department in Washington that the greatest threat comes from terrorists on the political left.

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