A week of mixed messaging on border separations
Post reporter Mary Jordan helps us look back at a week of conflicting statements and rapid reversals amid an outcry over immigration policy and border separations.
Jun 22, 2018•20 min
Sidebar
The Washington Post
The Washington Post’s Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann gather for a weekly in-depth conversation about politics and power. From presidential candidates to members of Congress to the judicial system, Sidebar dives deep on the topics and people at the forefront of the political conversation.
The crew sits down each Thursday (with the occasional breaking news episode) to discuss what has happened that week, and what’s coming up the next week – with guest appearances from Washington Post reporters.
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Episodes
The DOJ report on Comey: What you should know
Post reporter Devlin Barrett joins us for a special episode to talk about the Justice Department inspector general's report on the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.
Jun 15, 2018•22 min
'A meet-and-greet-plus': What to expect from Trump's sit-down with Kim Jong Un
Trump is set to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday. How will the president navigate the high-stakes negotiations?
Jun 09, 2018•32 min
The Tale of the 'Trump Triers'
Will tried-and-true Democrats in the Midwest who voted for Trump in 2016 continue supporting the president? And what do their evolving views say about the rest of the country?
May 26, 2018•25 min
What to expect in Year Two of the Mueller investigation
One year into the Mueller investigation, we ask: What happens next? And what if President Trump is right, and this all turns out to be nothing?
May 19, 2018•30 min
The president is backing out of the Iran Nuclear Deal. Will ‘the Trump Doctrine’ work?
President Trump’s decision could unilaterally kill the landmark agreement — and his unconventional foreign policy approach could have widespread repercussions.
May 11, 2018•31 min
Midterms and Trump: What to look for as we enter primary season
What does the state of the midterm season say about President Trump, and his effect on the political landscape of the country?
May 05, 2018•24 min
Will Trump get Americans off of welfare?
Recent Trump executive actions are part of an effort to curb the number of people who rely on the government-funded "social safety net." How will these new restrictions affect low-income Americans?
Apr 28, 2018•28 min
Will courts let the Trump administration put a citizenship question on the Census?
The Trump Administration wants to ask people about their citizenship status on the 2020 Census. Why are Democrats fighting this?
Apr 21, 2018•38 min
Special episode: Trump’s lawyer got raided by the FBI. Now what will Trump do?
This week, we talk with reporter Matt Zapotosky about the FBI raid on attorney Michael Cohen — and potential implications for President Trump and the future of Robert Mueller's investigation.
Apr 12, 2018•24 min
Will Trump change how America pays for its infrastructure?
So far, there's no $1.5 trillion infrastructure package. But Trump is still having a significant effect on how America funds and prioritizes its most significant transportation projects.
Apr 07, 2018•31 min
Will Trump change America's relationship with internet privacy?
Confused about the Cambridge Analytica scandal and how it relates to President Trump? You're not alone. Reporter Tony Romm and internet privacy expert Daniel Kreiss take us on a deep dive.
Mar 31, 2018•28 min
When will Trump stop firing people and settle on his ‘A-team’?
The firings, resignations, and ousters in the White House have reached a crescendo. What does that say about Trump – as a manager, as a policy-maker, and as a public persona?
Mar 24, 2018•26 min
Will Trump convince Kim Jong-Un to give up nuclear weapons?
President Trump says he will sit down with North Korea and negotiate a deal on nuclear disarmament. On this week’s episode of “Can He Do That,” we talk to someone who’s tried that before.
Mar 17, 2018•33 min
Does the President have the power to downsize the government?
Since President Trump entered office, he's promised a radical restructuring of the federal government — including significant cuts to the size of the federal workforce. But that hasn't happened yet. On this episode, we ask: What's the hold-up?
Mar 10, 2018•24 min
Should the president run the White House like a family business?
On this week's episode, we talk about presidential family members, and about Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and embattled senior adviser. What happens when a president's own children wield influence in the White House?
Mar 02, 2018•25 min
Will teen victims of school shootings force a change in federal gun laws?
In this week's episode, Post reporters John Woodrow Cox and Wesley Lowery talk about their experiences covering school shootings — and why the outraged message from South Florida teens might get some traction with lawmakers, and with Trump.
Feb 21, 2018•24 min
Will Trump strike a deal on the Dream Act?
Congress has been kicking around versions of the Dream Act for almost two decades — and yet, the latest debates in the Senate suggests that lawmakers are still can't come up with a long-term solution for Dreamers. Can Trump strike a deal on the Dream Act?
Feb 16, 2018•28 min
Special episode: The Nunes memo and what it means
The House Intelligence Committee publicly released a memo Friday, and it has Washington D.C. in a whirlwind. National security reporter Matt Zapotosky explains what's in the memo, why it's been so controversial and what happens next.
Feb 02, 2018•20 min
Special episode: Trump's first State of the Union address
Washington Post senior editor Marc Fisher and political reporter Eugene Scott discuss the major themes of President Trump's first State of the Union address -- what he said, what it means, and what comes next.
Jan 31, 2018•32 min
Special episode: A State of the Union listening guide
National political correspondent Karen Tumulty and senior editor Marc Fisher discuss what they’ll be listening for in Trump’s first State of the Union address.
Jan 26, 2018•18 min
Special episode: One year after Trump’s inauguration, we revisit his speech
One year ago, President Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. In his speech, he painted his picture of America and made promises for his presidency. White House correspondents Jenna Johnson and Josh Dawsey listen back and discuss.
Jan 19, 2018•35 min
We'll be back in 2018
With highlights from some of this year's best episodes, Allison Michaels signs off for now.
Dec 15, 2017•6 min
Special episode: What does Doug Jones's win in Alabama mean for the country?
Robert Costa reports on voter sentiment from Alabama. Plus, we dive into what happens for Trump, Congress, and party divisions in our country now that Alabama has elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.
Dec 13, 2017•27 min
Trump's lawyer says a president can't obstruct justice. Can he?
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Sari Horwitz guides us through Trump's lawyers' comments on obstruction of justice. Plus, legal experts weigh in on differing legal perspectives and how presidential pardoning may play a role in obstruction.
Dec 08, 2017•30 min
Is Trump reshaping an entire branch of government -- the judiciary?
Supreme Court reporter Robert Barnes weighs in on presidential influence on the federal courts system. Plus, we talk to a political science professor about the demographic breakdown of Trump’s nominees and how it differs from that of presidents past.
Dec 01, 2017•28 min
Why do American presidents pardon turkeys anyway? A holiday episode.
Where did this tradition come from? What does it mean to “pardon" a turkey? We’ve got you covered in this special holiday episode with Post reporter Jessica Contrera who attend the annual tradition at the White House.
Nov 22, 2017•9 min
Trump’s pressuring the Justice Dept to investigate Clinton. Can he do that?
What are the limitations of a president's influence on the Justice Dept? Reporter Devlin Barrett offers the latest news, fact checker Glenn Kessler unpacks Uranium One, and a once dep. special counsel explains risks for politicizing the Justice Dept.
Nov 17, 2017•32 min
One year since Trump's election: Live show
Bob Woodward, David Fahrenthold and Karen Tumulty join Allison Michaels live on stage at Washington, DC's Warner Theatre for a look back on the past year, an exploration of where this presidency fits into history and plenty of laughs.
Nov 10, 2017•1 hr 19 min
How much power does a president have to prevent terrorist attacks?
Reporter David Nakamura helps us answer: Can Trump keep us safe from terror attacks? We talk to an expert to learn how terrorist groups recruit. Plus, we examine how much power presidents have to influence counterterrorism policy.
Nov 03, 2017•29 min
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