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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

Fed Chair Powell says President Trump's tariffs likely to increase inflation & slow growth; Dow falls another 2,200 points

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says he expects President Donald Trump’s tariffs to raise inflation and lower growth but there is a “highly uncertain outlook” and it is "too soon to say" what the Fed will do with interest rates; Wall Street takes another big hit today; Senate debates the Republican budget blueprint with tax cuts, spending cuts, energy, border and defenses policies. Democrats are unified in their opposition. An all-night voting session expected tonight before final passage ea...

Apr 04, 202551 min

President Trump says his new tariff plan is 'going very well' as stock markets plummet

President Trump says his new tariff plan is “going very well” and “markets are going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom," as stock markets fall and foreign leaders pledge retaliatory action; U.S. Ambassador to China nominee David Perdue testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about trade with China in light of the new tariffs; U.S. Senate starts work on the Budget Resolution, the legislative vehicle for enacting the republican agenda of tax cuts, sp...

Apr 03, 202556 min

President Trump announces 10% universal tariff, higher tariffs for top trading partners whose trade practices have 'looted' & 'pillaged' the U.S.

President Donald Trump announces tariffs on what he is calling 'Liberation Day'; Senate to vote on overturning president's 'national emergency' on fentanyl used as legal basis for imposing tariffs on Canada; interview with CQ/Roll Call legal affairs reporter Michael Macagnone on Supreme Court case involving South Carolina barring Planned Parenthood from Medicaid if the organization provides abortion services (23); Republicans celebrate two wins in Congressional special elections in Florida, whil...

Apr 02, 202555 min

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair nominee Dan Caine tells Senate Committee he would be apolitical and story he wore a MAGA hat is untrue

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair nominee Lt. Gen Dan Caine (ret) tells the Senate Armed Services Committee he never wore a red MAGA hat as President Trump claims; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) pushes his resolution to repeal the president's emergency declaration that has allowed his tariffs on Canadian goods, a day before the president will unveil more tariffs; Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) gives a marathon speech on the Senate floor to emphasize his opposition to President Trump's policies; Senate Republican vers...

Apr 01, 202552 min

President preparing sweeping tariffs to take effect Wednesday

Global markets saw sharp swings today in advance of President Trump's tariff announcements that are expected tomorrow. The S&P 500 finished up just over half a percent after being down over 1 percent this morning and after one of its worst losses of the past couple of years last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also ended up higher after initially falling. White House press secretary talked about the market response today. Congress is back to work this week in the Senate. Republicans aim t...

Mar 31, 202537 min

Weekend Edition: DOGE's Impact on the IRS, Budget Reconciliation & the Debt Limit, and the American Conservation Coalition

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, as tax season gets into high gear – a conversation with Nina Olson – who previously served as IRS Taxpayer Advocate. We discuss DOGE's impact on the functioning of the Internal Revenue Service - and the privacy of taxpayer data. Then, Shai Akabas of the Bipartisan Policy Center discusses the debt limit so-called "X-date" as Congressional Republicans begin their budget reconciliation process. Finally we tal...

Mar 29, 202534 min

Vice President JD Vance in Greenland: 'we don't think military force will ever be necessary'

Vice President JD Vance visits a U.S. military base in Greenland, accusing Denmark of "under-investing" in Greenland 'security architecture" against threats from Russia, China and other nations and that is why President Donald Trump has been saying America needs to have Greenland; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. will enhance its military alliance with the Philippines as it aims to “reestablish deterrence” to counter “China’s aggression” in the Indo-Pacific region; President Trump sp...

Mar 28, 202556 min

HHS Sec RFK, Jr. calls his dept. a 'sprawling bureaucracy,' announces reorganization and downsizing

Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announces a reorganization and downsizing of his department, calling the current setup a “sprawling bureaucracy; President Donald Trump & Attorney General Pam Bondi announce the arrest in Virginia of a top leader of the MS-13 gang, who they say is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador; Secretary of State Marco Rubio is asked about a Tufts University graduate student from Turkey in the U.S. with a student visa who was detained in Bosto...

Mar 27, 202555 min

Atlantic magazine publishes Houthi military strike texts from Trump Admin. group chat; President Trump imposes 25% tariff on import cars & light trucks

Reaction to Atlantic magazine publishing texts of Trump Admin. group chat on Houthi military strikes; President Trump imposes a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks; NPR & PBS CEOs testify before House DOGE Subcommittee; NTSB Chair before House Appropriations Subcommittee on the effects of Elon Musk-led cuts in the government workforce; Supreme Court hears a case challenging the constitutionality of FCC fee subsidizing telecom for poor, rural areas, libraries, schools; memorial service i...

Mar 26, 202552 min

President Trump defends National Security Adviser, attacks journalist in group chat on military strikes against Houthis

President Trump stands by National Security Adviser Waltz in fallout over journalist added to group chat on military plans against Houthis, while DNI Gabbard & CIA Dir Ratcliffe tell Senate Intelligence Committee no classified material was revealed; White House announces Russia & Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea; Mike Huckabee, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel, testifies before Senate Foreign Relations on his past statements supporting Israeli settlements in the West Bank...

Mar 25, 202553 min

Trump Admin. officials mistakenly text plans for military strikes on Houthis to The Atlantic journalist

The Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg says Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior Trump Administration officials mistakenly included him in a discussion on an unsecure app about war plans against the Houthis; U.S. Court of Appeals hears the case involving the alleged Venezuelan gang member deportation flights and whether the Trump Administration violated a federal judge's order to pause them; President Donald Trump hold his third cabinet meeting at the W...

Mar 24, 202554 min

Weekend Edition: Issue One, Medicaid, & Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire Talks

First: A discussion with former Rep. James Greenwood (R-PA) and Nick Penniman of the advocacy group Issue One – about their push for Congress to reassert itself against the executive branch. Then, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure of the Century Foundation and Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute discuss potential cuts to Medicaid as Congress considers the upcoming budget. Finally, an update on Ukraine-Russia ceasefire talks with Doug Klain, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center Lea...

Mar 22, 202535 min

President Trump & Defense Sec Hegseth say Elon Musk's Pentagon meeting was about efficiency, not China war plans

President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth say Elon Musk's meeting at the Pentagon this morning was to talk about government efficiency and innovation, and not, as the New York Times reported, U.S. war plans for a potential war with China. The two also announce Boeing will be building the next generation of Air Force fighters, the F-47. President is also asked about reports the U.S. may relinquish the top military position in NATO and the ongoing court case involving alleged gang member depor...

Mar 21, 202549 min

President Trump signs Executive Order to abolish the Education Department

President Trump signs an executive order calling for closure of the Education Department; Attorney General Pam Bondi says three people have been charged with destroying Tesla cars and face up to 20 years in prison for 'domestic terrorism''; Oil executives meet with President Trump and his National Energy Dominance Council chaired by Energy Sec Doug Burgum. We will talk about it with New York Times energy reporter Rebecca Elliott (26); National Transportation Safety Board gives an update into the...

Mar 20, 202552 min

President Trump says he had 'very good' phone call with President Zelensky and Russia-Ukraine war ceasefire efforts are 'on track'

President Trump says he had a 'very good" phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky on ceasefire efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war; Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady and Fed Chair Jerome Powell says President Trump's tariffs are partly to blame for inflation; Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) get pointed and sometimes heated questions from constituents about the President Trump's efforts to cut government spending; federal judge who is reviewing whether the Trump Adm...

Mar 19, 202553 min

Russian President Putin agrees to partial Ukraine war ceasefire after call with President Trump

Russian President Putin in a phone call with President Trump agrees to a partial 30 day ceasefire in war in Ukraine; Chief Justice Roberts pushes back on President Trump calling for judge in alleged gang members deportation case to be impeached; Sen. Schumer says he is "best leader for the Senate" Democrats after backlash for supporting Republican bill to prevent a government shutdown; Vice President Vance says populist and tech-forward arms of the conservative movement can co-exist peacefully; ...

Mar 18, 202546 min

White House defends in court deporting alleged gang members after judge's halt order

The White House continues to defend this weekend’s deportation flights of hundreds of mostly alleged gang members from the U.S. to a prison in El Salvador. A federal judge hears arguments this afternoon on whether the Trump administration violated a federal court order stopping the removals from the country. We'll hear from Trump Border Czar Tom Homan and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. President Trump says he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow about a ce...

Mar 17, 202533 min

Weekend Edition: The Constitution and the executive branch, Government Spending, Trump Administration and Canada

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, we discuss what the Constitution says about the role of the executive branch and the importance of checks & balances with National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen. Then, the Wall Street Journal's Richard Rubin discusses his recent examination of how government spending has grown and where the money is going. Finally, University of Ottawa Prof. Charles Etienne Beaudry discusses the Trump A...

Mar 15, 202535 min

Senate passes Republican-drafted CR to avert gov't shutdown; 10 Senate Democrats support key procedural vote

Senate passes a federal government funding extension to prevent a shutdown tonight; President Trump gives a speech at the Justice Department on 'law and order'; Secretary of State Rubio gives updates on negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and Hamas saying it is willing to release an American hostage; Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator nominee, testifies before the Senate Finance Committee; former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY) dies at age 93. Learn more about your...

Mar 14, 202550 min

Senate Dem Leader Schumer says he will support GOP-written federal gov't funding extension to prevent shutdown Friday night

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says he will vote for the GOP-written federal government funding extension to prevent a shutdown Friday night; President Trump says he will put a 200% tariff on European wine in retaliation for an EU 50% tariff on U.S. whiskey; President tariff policies a major topic at today's Senate confirmation hearing for the nominees for U.S. Ambassadors to Canada and Mexico; President Trump meets with NATO's Secretary General at the White House, as Russian Presid...

Mar 13, 202553 min

Senate Democrats say they will block House-passed 6-month CR to prevent gov't shutdown, push for 30-day CR to complete bipartisan funding negotiations

Senate Democrats say they will block six-month CR to avert shutdown unless there is a vote on one-month CR; President Trump responds to reports that half of the Education Department's workforce is being fired; Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the effect of a CR on military readiness; Secretary of State Marco Rubio with an update on the Ukraine war 30 day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has accepted and is now being considered by Russia; court hearing for a Palestinian student a...

Mar 12, 202555 min

House passes CR to prevent gov't shutdown at end of week, sends bill to Senate

House passes a six-month extension of federal government funding (Continuing Resolution or CR) to prevent a government shutdown on Friday; President Donald Trump announces a doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, latest escalation in the trade war. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the previously announced 25% tariff on electricity to the U.S. will be suspended while further trade negotiations continue; White House reacts to Elon Musk comments about Social Security and other entitle...

Mar 11, 202555 min

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
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