Washington Today  - podcast cover

Washington Today

Catch up on the biggest stories of the day from Washington with interviews and analysis from leading journalists. Posted weekdays at 6:30 pm ET. From C-SPAN, the network that brings you the "Q&A" podcast.

Episodes

Dow drops 890 and S&P 500 sinks 2.7%

We are less than 5 days away from a potential government shutdown. The House rules committee is meeting this afternoon to set up floor debate for a bill that will fund the federal government until September 30th. That bill is expected to hit the House floor tomorrow. But passage is still not a sure thing. One House Republican says he will be voting no while several others are still undecided. House Democratic leaders say they'll be sticking together to vote no. Markets continued their sell-off t...

Mar 10, 202539 min

Weekend Edition: Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Issues Impacting Black Men and Boys, GAO Report on Mismanagement, Waste, and Fraud

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman discusses his book, "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine." Then, Jack Brewer, former NFL player and chair of the Jack Brewer Foundation, discusses issues impacting Black men and boys in the U.S. Finally, U.S. Comptroller General and head of the Government Accountability Office, Gene Dodaro (doh-DAR-oh) discusses the GAO's l...

Mar 08, 202539 min

Fed Chair Powell talks about impact of February jobs report & President's tariff plans on interest rate decisions

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and President Trump on February jobs report, tariffs; House leaders on government funding deadline in one week; 'Stand Up for Science' rally in DC to oppose Trump Administration spending cuts to federal science agencies; President Trump hosts White House Digital Assets Summit; President Trump threatens sanctions on Russia over war in Ukraine; Sen. Tuberville supports making Daylight Saving Time permanent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Mar 07, 202551 min

Rep. Al Green's censure on House floor for disrupting President Trump's speech includes Democrats singing, Republicans and Democrats loudly arguing

Tense arguments on House floor after voting to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX), President Trump gives one month delay on tariffs on Mexico; Senate Democrats react to reports of a pending Presidential Executive Order to close down the Education Department; Congress passes bill to reverse Biden Administration archaeological assessment regulation for offshore drilling; FDA Commissioner nominee testifies on trust in science and rules for dispensing the abortion drug mifepristone; Steve Witkoff, Special...

Mar 06, 202555 min

President Trump grants one-month exemption on tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada by Ford, GM, Stellantis

President Donald Trump grants a one-month exemption on tariffs on automobile imports from Mexico and Canada to the Big Three U.S. car companies; House Republicans move to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX) after his extended protest during President Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress; Vice President JD Vance visits the U.S.-Mexico in Texas to discuss the administration's border security and immigration policy; Democratic mayors of New York City, Chicago, Boston and Denver testify in Washing...

Mar 06, 202553 min

President Trump to defend GOP agenda in Joint Session of Congress speech

President Donald Trump delivers a speech to a joint session of Congress; Canada, Mexico and China retaliate against President Trump's tariffs; Supreme Court hears a case filed by Mexico against U.S. gun manufacturers for violence in Mexico; Vice President JD Vance defends pause on U.S. military aid to Ukraine; Mardi Gras on Capitol Hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 04, 202553 min

Dow down 650 points as POTUS Trump confirms tariffs on Mexico and Canada will start Tuesday

President Trump said today that tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada would go into effect tomorrow. The announcement ended a month-long delay after both U.S. neighbors struck temporary deals to avoid the new tariffs. The President also said he doesn’t think a proposed investment deal to secure access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals is dead and---in a social media post--- that the US will QUOTE not put up” with perceived resistance by President Volodymyr Zelensky to end Russia's war with Ukra...

Mar 03, 202555 min

Weekend Edition: DOGE Efforts, Young Conservatives in Office, Trump Admin Pentagon Firings

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion with Brookings Institution's Elaine Kamarck (KAY-mark), in which she compares the Trump Administration's efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, to a similar effort she made in the Clinton Administration. Then, Run GenZ Founder and President Joseph Mitchell discusses his organization's effort into recruiting and training young conservatives into political office. Finally, Breakin...

Mar 01, 202534 min

Ukrainian Pres. Zelensky, Pres. Trump & VP Vance have heated exchange in Oval Office over Russia-Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Zelensky has a very tense exchange with President Trump and Vice President Vance in the White House Oval Office over U.S. policy towards on the war between Russia and Ukraine, with a scheduled minerals deal and joint news conference canceled; Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau rejects a suggestion to ban President Trump from attending the G7 leaders conference in Alberta in June, days before tariffs on Canadian goods take effect; United Nations Secretary General Gutteres says he...

Mar 01, 202554 min

President Trump hosts British Prime Minister Starmer at White House, talk about Ukraine war, trade & tariffs

President Donald Trump meets British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on war in Ukraine and trade & tariffs. We talk with C-SPAN's Westminster Correspondent Peter Knowles (12); U.S. Senate joins the House in passing a resolution to overturn EPA’s rule imposing a fee on the oil and gas industries. It now goes to President Trump to be signed into law; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on March 14 government funding deadline; Senate advances Educat...

Feb 28, 202553 min

Elon Musk gives update on cutting wasteful federal spending at President Trump's first cabinet meeting

President Trump holds his first Cabinet meeting, where Elon Musk discusses the work of the Department Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut was he says his wasteful federal spending and the federal workforce; President Trump is asked about the House Republican budget blueprint that narrowly passed Tuesday night and whether Medicare and Medicaid spending will be cut to offset some of the proposed tax cuts; House passes a bill to reverse a Biden Administration methane emissions fee for oil & gas dri...

Feb 26, 202552 min

House votes on Republican Budget Resolution for tax cuts, spending cut, energy, border security agenda

The House moves towards a vote on a Republican budget resolution to advance their agenda on border security, energy, tax cuts and spending cuts; White House is asked about Elon Musk extending the deadline for federal workers to list their accomplishments in the past week; GAO releases annual High Risk List of government programs at risk of waste, fraud and abuse; White House says the administration, not the White House Correspondents Association, will choose which reporters will be in press pool...

Feb 26, 202550 min

POTUS Trump and France's Macron discuss Russia, Ukraine and tariffs at the White House

President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron met at the White House today about ending Russia's war in Ukraine. The meeting came on the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. The G7 nations held a virtual summit today to discuss ways to end the war….At the meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to President Trump for continued U.S. support. That plea came after the US joined Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and 14 other countries in voting against a UN resolut...

Feb 24, 202551 min

Weekend Edition: Second Civil Rights Movement. Project 2025 and the Trump Admin, Trump Admin. Trade and Tariff Policies

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Fox News senior political analyst Juan Williams discusses his new book "New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of America's Second Civil Rights Movement." Then, a conversation with Paul Dans - the former head of Project 2025 - about the role that policy roadmap is playing in the Trump administration so far. Plus, Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul discusses Trump administration trade & ta...

Feb 22, 202544 min

President Trump & Gov. Mills (D-ME) spar over transgender women in sports

President Donald Trump and Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) spar at the White House over an Executive Order banning transgender women in sports; Senate approves a budget resolution after an all-night session that funds part of the President's agenda on energy, border security and defense; ceremonial swearings-in for FBI Director Kash Patel and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick; National Security Adviser Michael Waltz predicts Ukraine will soon sign an agreement with the U.S. over Ukraine's rare earth min...

Feb 21, 202550 min

Senate confirms Kash Patel to 10-year term as FBI Director on near party-line vote

Senate confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director; Senate to vote on dozens of amendments to the Republican Budget Resolution; VP JD Vance interviewed at CPAC; Sen. McConnell (R-KY) says he will not run for reelection in 2026; DC Mayor Muriel Bowser asked about President Trump saying the federal government should take over running the nation's capital; Gov. Hochul (D-NY) says she will not remove NYC Mayor Adams (D) from office amid corruption case controversy; National Security Adviser Waltz gives upda...

Feb 20, 202551 min

Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer tells Senate HELP Committee she no longer supports a pro-union bill she cosponsored in Congress

Senate HELP Committee confirmation hearing for Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Senate confirms former Kelly Loeffler as SBA Administrator; President Trump endorses larger House budget resolution over smaller Senate budget resolution; Senate Democrats respond to President Trump's claim he will not cut Medicaid spending to pay for tax cuts; interview with Politico's Megan Messerly on the President's Executive Order bringing independent federal agencies under more presidential control ...

Feb 19, 202551 min

Sec of State Rubio and Russian FM Lavrov meet in Saudi Arabia, agree to work together to end war in Ukraine, improve U.S.-Russian relations

U.S. and Russian officials meet, agree to work towards ending war in Ukraine, improving relations with each other; Gov. Hochul (D-NY) considers whether to remove NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D) for alleged quid pro quo with federal government to drop criminal charges in exchange for helping with immigration enforcement; U.S. Senate to start work on budget resolution funding border security and defense; Senate votes on Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick and FBI Director nominee Kash Patel; Presid...

Feb 19, 202548 min

Weekend Edition: Future of USAID and US Foreign Aid Programs, President Trump & Elon Musk's DOGE Efforts, and Fentanyl Crisis in the U,S,

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion with Former USAID official Jeremy Konyndyk (CON-non-dyke) about the Trump Administration's efforts to dismantle USAID and future of U.S. foreign aid programs. Then, Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz discusses government efficiency, waste in federal spending, and efforts by the Trump administration and Elon Musk to overhaul the federal government. Finally, Cato institute se...

Feb 15, 202538 min

Vice President JD Vance meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference on Russia-Ukraine war peace talks

Vice President JD Vance meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference in Germany to discuss efforts to end Ukraine's war with Russia; Vice President Vance in a speech at the Munich criticizes European leaders for violating free speech and allowing uncontrolled immigration; New York City Mayor Eric Adams says there was no qui pro quo to help immigration enforcement in exchange for dropping federal charges against him; President Donald Trump signs an executive orde...

Feb 14, 202548 min

Senate confirms Health Sec RFK, Jr.; President Trump's memo calls for 'reciprocal tariffs' against all major U.S. trading partners

Senate confirms Robert F. Kennedy, Jr for Health & Human Services Secretary; Senate Judiciary Committee approves Kash Patel for FBI Director; Senate Education Committee questions Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon about plans to abolish the department; interview with AP's Josh Boak on President Donald Trump's memorandum calling for "fair and reciprocal" trade tariffs on all major U.S. trading partners (24); House Budget Committee works on budget resolution to enact Republican tax and spen...

Feb 14, 202554 min

House GOP unveils budget proposal to enact President Trump's agenda with trillions of dollars in tax cuts & spending cuts

Interview with Politico's Mia McCarthy on House Republican budget proposal of tax cuts and spending cuts (5), House DOGE Subcommittee holds first hearing on wasteful spending, Senate confirms Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and advances the nomination of Health & Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Donald Trump speaks to presidents of Russia & Ukraine about ending the war between them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 202558 min

Elon Musk in Oval Office on DOGE: 'The people voted for major gov't reform and that’s what the people are going to get'

Elon Musk joins President Trump in Oval office defending the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cutting federal spending; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tells the Senate Banking Committee the Fed is not in a hurry to reduce interest rates given the strength of the economy; Senate is on a path to confirm Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and will take a pivotal procedural vote on Health & Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; President Trump m...

Feb 11, 202553 min

Palestinians won’t have the right to return to Gaza under Trump’s plan for the territory

In the Senate, Trump cabinet nominees are leading this week's to do list and two of the most contentious are at the top--Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence, and Robert F Kennedy, Jr to be Health and Human Services Secretary. In the House, members on both sides of the aisle are working on their strategies to fund the government past next month's deadline. President Trump has announced he plans to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. He also said he'll announce mass...

Feb 10, 202532 min

Weekend Edition: President Trump's Use of Tariffs, Al Green (D-TX) Plans to Move Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump, and RFK Jr's Nomination to be HHS Secretary

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a conversation with Politico Economics Correspondent, Victoria Guida about President Trump's threat – and use of tariffs – against Canada, Mexico and China. Then, Democratic Al Green of Texas discusses why he's planning to move articles of impeachment against President Trump – just weeks into the new administration. Finally – we speak with health care reform advocate Calley Means – an informal adviser to R...

Feb 08, 202534 min

President Trump applauds DOGE shutdown of USAID; House Dems protesting possible closure of Education Dept barred from building in DC

President Trump applauds DOGE's near-shutdown of USAID; House Democrats are prevented from entering the Education Department in protest of possible elimination; Senate confirms OMB Director Russell Vought in party-line vote; President Trump meets Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at White House to talk about trade and security; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commits to clean Pentagon audit within four year; Homeland Security Department leads security reparations for Super Bowl in New Orlean...

Feb 07, 202549 min

President Trump mediates House Republican disagreements over tax & spending cut goals

Interview with The Hill's Mychael Schnell on House Republicans having trouble finalizing Budget Reconciliation tax cuts and spending cuts, leading Senate Republicans to move ahead on separate immigration and border security funding; Federal judge delays deadline for federal employee buyout offers; Elon Musk says he will be involved in FAA technology upgrades; Senate Judiciary Committee postpones vote on FBI Director nominee Kash Patel; President Trump doubles down on Gaza rebuilding plan; Presid...

Feb 06, 202551 min

White House says President Trump's plan for U.S. 'taking over' Gaza does not include U.S. troops or U.S. money to rebuild

Reaction to President Trump's saying the U.S. will take “ownership” in redeveloping Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East"; Attorney General Pam Bondi is sworn-in after the Senate voted to confirm her on a near party-line vote; President Trump signs an executive order to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls' and women's sports teams by withholding federal money for schools and colleges that allow it; Senate votes to advance the nomination of Russell Vought for White House Budget ...

Feb 05, 202550 min

Senate committees approve Health Sec nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. & Dir of Nat'l Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard on party-line votes

Senate Finance Committee approves Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be Health & Human Services Secretary and Senate Intelligence Committee approves Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, both on party-line votes; President Donald Trump on China's retaliatory tariffs, reports the Education Department will be dismantled and visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; White House Crypto & AI Czar David Sacks on digital asset policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

Feb 05, 202552 min

Trudeau says Trump will pause Canada tariffs for at least 30 days

Today's program covers the latest updates on the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Mexico, Canada, and China. We’ll also hear the current developments at USAID and the latest happenings with DOGE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 03, 202543 min