Washington Today

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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'.

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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.'

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.'

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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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