Washington Today

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

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

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

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

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

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: Washington this week was dominated by the debate over regulating A-I amid more threats from tech execs of the dangers if the technology is left unchecked. Politico A-I and tech influence reporter Brendan Bordelon breaks it down for us. Then – despite the AI debate, the House adjourned EARLY this week, kicking off its 7-week recess heading into November midterm elections. We speak with Reese Gorman of the Washington Sun about what happened. Finally: A discussion with Jeffrey Rosen – CEO emeritus of the National Constitution Center -- about the importance of this past Thursday's observance of Constitution Day and the role the founding document is playing in today's political debates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

Congress returns to Washington with artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency legislation, college sports and Russia sanctions on the agenda. Plus, with 50 days until the midterm elections, we look at key races in Michigan, New Mexico and Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. The first-ever Republican convention took place in Dallas – and the legal fight over mail-in voting dominated the week. We begin with a discussion with Cliff Young of Ipsos Public Affairs who shared fresh polling on the national mood as the midterm campaign season kicks into high gear. Then we dive into the mail-in ballot fight – and other voting issues overhanging the midterm campaign. That conversation with former Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli now Chairman of Heritage Foundation's Election Transparency Initiative Finally- we sit down with Carlissia Graham – President of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. We talk about how Democrats are viewing the midterm convention – and the party's messaging and strategy heading into November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: We dig into the legal back and forth over mail-in voting and what it means for states ahead of this November's elections. That conversation with Dion Nissenbaum of the website "Votebeat." Then: The economy is the number one issue on voters' minds as the midterm elections approach. We speak with financial journalist Roben Farzad – host of the public radio show and podcast "Full Disclosure" - on the recent jobs numbers and what it means for the health of the overall economy. Finally: Immigration and border security is also a big issue in the midterm elections. We chat with Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies and Heidi Altman of the National Immigration Law Center about the Trump administration's record so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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