Washington Today

On this Juneteenth National Independence Day federal holiday, we hear from two African-American U.S. Senators, Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC); President Donald Trump unveils the Boeing 747-8 that was a gift from Qatar and will serve as the new Air Force One. It is painted the president's preferred red, white & blue; Israel and Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon after continued military fighting there led to the scheduled U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland on such issues as Iran nuclear program to be postponed; Maryland's 6th Congressional District Democrat primary matchup between incumbent April McClain...

Former President Barack Obama at the opening of his presidential center in Chicago calls on Americans to look to the future, saying, 'We want to find a way to look toward each other again, not further away' and 'I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious, our democracy truly is'; Vice President JD Vance defends the memorandum of understanding with Iran, saying it is 'bearing fruit' as oil starts moving through the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices drop. And he says the deal is a “win-win” for the U.S. If Iran...

President Donald Trump in a concluding news conference at the G7 Summit in France says if Iran does not follow the agreement it will sign with the U.S. on Friday, the U.S. will resume bombing Iran; Senate confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton is postponed after President Trump prevents the nominee from testifying. Confirmation of a new DNI was expected to clear the way for Senate Democrats to support a reauthorization of a foreign surveillance tool as the Democrats opposed the president's Acting DNI Bill Pulte. Now the president says he will support...

President Donald Trump at the G7 summit in France praises the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) as a document that normalizes relations between the U.S. and Iran after months of warfare, indicates the text could be made public before the formal signing in Switzerland on Friday, and says he could send it to Congress for review; Senate votes for a 9th time on an Iran War Powers resolution offered by Democrats to force the president to withdraw U.S. forces. It fails 47-48; President Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and downplays the U.S...

President Trump says the United States and Iran are close to finalizing an agreement to end the war, but major disagreements remain. Iran is demanding an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that won't happen. We hear from both leaders on the latest developments.

Plus, the Senate returns to Washington with a possible extension of FISA surveillance authorities and the nomination of Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence on the agenda. Senate leaders weigh in on what's ahead this week on Capitol Hill.

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A discussion with Manhattan Institute's Allison Schrager, about the new inflation numbers hitting a three-year high.

Then: ProPublica's Perla Trevizo discusses the conditions at Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers across the U.S.

Finally: Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service discusses the Trump administration's changes to the federal workforce.

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SpaceX begins trading above its listing price following a record-setting IPO, making founder Elon Musk the world's first-ever trillionaire; Victims of the deadly Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida are remembered on this 10th anniversary; reports of progress in talks to end the war between the U.S. & Iran. Pakistan's Prime Minister says “final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached” and Iranian Foreign Minister an agreement has “never been closer”; Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Sect. 702 spying power is almost certain to expire tonight, after Congress left Washington without renewing it; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Ga...

House votes down an extension of the foreign spying power called FISA Sect. 702 a day before it is set to expire, with many Democrats upset at President Trump naming FHFA Director Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence; after the vote, President Trump nominates Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to be the next permanent DNI; Just hours after President Trump says the U.S. would strike Iran 'very hard tonight,' he calls off the bombing, claiming a breakthrough in negotiations with...

President Trump says the U.S. will resume attacks on Iran amid stalled negotiations, inflation reaches a three-year high, Bill Gates appears before the House Oversight Committee to answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein, and we preview tonight's Congressional Baseball Game.

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House joins the Senate in passing $70 billion, budget reconciliation, multiyear funding bill for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs & Border Protection, ending a four month showdown with Democrats over whether federal immigration enforcement should be reformed; President Trump says the U.S. 'must' respond to an attack from Iran on a U.S. army helicopter that was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. He said the two pilots were safe and unharmed; No apparent path forward yet on renewing the foreign spying power known as FISA Sect. 702 before it expires at the end of the week. President Trump is...

Republicans’ budget reconciliation package is now in the House’s hands, and they could approve the immigration bill this week; Another contentious issue boils in the Senate, extending the government's overseas warrantless spy powers authority known as FISA. That power expires on Friday, but Congress has repeatedly punted an extension for the past two months. And throwing a wrench into this time, President Trump's decision to install Bill Pulte as director of national intelligence; President Trump demands that Israel and Iran stop 'shooting' after a weekend of strikes between the two countries. And while both sides stopped the attacks, neither...

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A discussion about the Trump Administration's immigration enforcement and deportation policies with Lora Ries of the Heritage Foundation.

Then: Donald Sherman of Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington discusses his organization's efforts to block the Trump Administration's "anti-weaponization fund."

Finally: PBS FRONTLINE Producer and writer Mike Wiser discusses his new documentary on President Trump's "War Cabinet"

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The Senate vote-a-rama is underway as Republicans push toward passage of a 70-billion-dollar budget reconciliation package to fund the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities.

The process began this morning with an amendment from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer that would have sent the bill back to committee and prohibited funding for the President's proposed 1.8-billion-dollar "anti-weaponization fund."

That vote stretched nearly four hours before failing, 50 to 49.

Senators then turned to an amendment from North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis that would have redirected the fund's...

On Capitol Hill, Republicans are finally moving their reconciliation package forward.

The Senate voted this afternoon to begin debate on the measure, which no longer includes funding for President Trump's proposed White House ballroom.

The bill also comes after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the administration's proposed $1.8 billion IRS "Anti-Weaponization Fund" has been dropped from the package.

Democrats, however, are vowing a fight as Republicans push to advance the legislation using the reconciliation process. We'll have the latest on where the bill stands coming up.

It was also a...

President Trump's decision to name Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence draws mixed reactions on Capitol Hill, with Democrats sharply criticizing the move and some Republicans expressing caution. We hear from lawmakers weighing in on the appointment.

Also, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the conflict with Iran, while acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faces questions on Capitol Hill about the administration's proposed $1.8 billion IRS compensation fund.

Plus, primary voters head...

The Trump administration is reportedly abandoning its controversial $1.8 billion IRS "weaponization" fund after bipartisan criticism and concerns raised by federal judges. We hear reaction from Capitol Hill and what the decision could mean for ongoing immigration funding negotiations.

Also, Iran says it has suspended talks with the United States following Israeli actions in Lebanon, while President Trump insists negotiations are continuing at a "rapid pace."

Plus, the Senate returns to Washington facing a growing legislative backlog, and voters in six states prepare to head to the polls for key...

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A discussion with Cook Political Report's Jessica Taylor on what the brutal Texas GOP Senate primary tells us about President Trump's grip on the Republican party – and the bigger fight over the Senate this fall.

Then: OJ Oleka of the State Financial Officers Foundation discusses his group's efforts across the country to expose government fraud.

Finally: Institute for Global Affairs Director Jonathan Guyer discusses new polling on American views of the Ir...

President Donald Trump posts a list of requirements for any deal to end the war with Iran peacefully, then says he is meeting in the White House Situation Room to make a final determination. Some media reports say he did not reach a decision; Russian military drone hits an apartment building in Romania. U.S., NATO & the European Union condemn it as a 'reckless act' by Russia; Week ends as it began outside the Delaney Hall Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, with protesters clashing with federal agents; former Attorney General Pam sits for a...

There are reports of a possible agreement between the U.S. and Iran to extend the ceasefire and start negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, while a new inflation report shows the increase in oil prices from the Iran war has led to the highest inflation level in three years. We will hear from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent; He is also asked about an effort to put President Donald Trump's portrait on a new $250 bill, and the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund that has already postponed legislation in the Senate because of concerns from some Republicans; Vice President JD Vance, giving the...

President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House, talking about Tuesday's election primary results, including in Texas, where his preferred Republican nominee for U.S. Senator, Ken Paxton, defeated incumbent John Cornyn. President also talks about talks to end Iran war, saying Iran was "negotiating on fumes" and "maybe we have to go back and finish it, maybe we don't"; and the President is asked about immigration, after protesters and federal agents having been clashing outside an Immigration & Customs Enforcement detention facility in Newark, New Jersey; American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten calls for guardrails...

President Donald Trump has a routine physical fitness examination, posting 'Everything checked out PERFECTLY'; Republican South Carolina state senators help defeat a new Congressional district lines map intended to eliminate the state's only Black majority district and make the entire delegation Republican; Election day in Texas, with the closely watch Senate Republican primary runoff where President Trump endorsed state Attorney General Ken Paxton against incumbent John Cornyn; Secretary of State Marco Rubio predicts it will take 'a couple of days' to finalize any agreement with Iran to end the war, while Iran denounces new U.S. military strikes in...

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A conversation with political activist David Hogg – founder of the group Leaders We Deserve -- about young voters and future of the Democratic Party

Then: We chat with former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli - national chair of the Election Transparency Initiative – on the redistricting battles sweeping the nation and how they might impact the midterm elections.

Finally: Politico Heath Care Reporter David Lim talks about "Trump Rx" and recent efforts by t...

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard resigns, she says to support her husband, who has been  diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer; Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is sworn-in at the White House. President Donald Trump tells him he wants him to be 'totally independent' when making decisions, such as on interest rates. Warsh says he will lead a 'reform-oriented Federal Reserve'; Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden says there has been 'slight progress' in the talks with Iran to end the war; World Health Organization raises the risk o...

Senate Republicans cancel floor debate and votes on a $70 billion immigration agencies package known as the Budget Reconciliation bill because of concerns among Republicans about who would qualify to receive compensation under President Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund; President announces a rollback of environmental regulations on greenhouse gas releasing refrigerants, he says, to lower grocery costs by reducing costs on supermarkets & transportation companies; Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is asked about President Trump endorsing his primary opponent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R); Democratic National Committee releasing a report on why the party lost the 2024 presidential election, along with a disclaimer...

What did the results of Tuesday's Republican primaries, especially the defeat of targeted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), say about the power of President Donald Trump's endorsement? We hear from the President, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and an ally of Massie, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA); Justice Department indicts 94-year-old Raúl  Castro, former Cuban president and defense minister, on murder and conspiracy, in the deaths of four U.S. citizens in the downing of two planes in 1996. It is part of the Trump Administration's increasing pressure campaign against the Cuban government; Senate Budget Committee advances on a party-line vote the bu...

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defends before a Senate subcommittee the newly-created $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund designed to compensate people unfairly targeted by the federal government. Democrats on the committee call it President Donald Trump's slush fund; President Trump endorses in the Texas U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn; President Trump tells reporters he was an hour away from ordering more military strikes on Iran when the request came from Mideast allies to give diplomacy another chance; President brings the media out to see the White House ballroom construction site...

President Trump says he’s delaying a planned strike on Iran after pressure from Middle Eastern allies to continue diplomatic talks. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans push ahead on their reconciliation bill after key provisions were blocked by the Senate Parliamentarian. Plus — the CDC confirms an American aid worker has tested positive for Ebola amid new travel restrictions tied to the outbreak in Africa, and voters prepare for primary elections in six states.

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President Trump travels to China for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping as tensions over trade, Taiwan, and global security continue shaping Washington politics. Congress debates another War Powers Resolution tied to Iran…while the Senate unanimously votes to withhold lawmakers’ pay during government shutdowns. Plus — the head of the U.S. Border Patrol resigns amid the administration’s immigration crackdown…and President Trump unveils plans for a new “National Garden of American Heroes” in Washington’s West Potomac Park. We also look back at the 1972 shooting of Alabama Governor George Wallace during his presidential campaign.

Learn...

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A discussion with Bipartisan Policy Center tax policy director Andrew Lautz about President Trump's proposal to pause the federal gas tax. We'll talk about potential impacts on consumers and tax revenue.

Then: We chat with former Congressman Jason Altmire- President & CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities – about the role of career education and the skilled trades in today's economy.

Finally: Cato Institute's Tad DeHaven discusses the Trump administration taking equity stakes in private companies and concerns ab...

President Donald Trump tells reporters he has 'made no commitment either way' on supporting Taiwan following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping; President Trump also spoke on the flight home from China about discussions over the Iran war and closing of the Strait of Hormuz to oil shipments, political prisoners in China, and trade deals; House soundly defeats a Republican-sponsored amendment to shift almost half a billion dollars from the Pentagon budget for NATO infrastructure to improving U.S. military bases; House passed overwhelmingly the underlying $157 billion spending bill for military construction and veterans affairs, the first of...

President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Trump calls Xi a  "great leader" and a "friend," says China wants to help end the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz and touts that China will buy 200 Boeing jet planes. Xi calls the U.S.-China relationship the most important in the world, but warns disagreements over Taiwan could lead to conflict; CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper tells the Senate Armed Services Committee the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran achieved all objectives to "significantly degrade" Iran's military capabilities, but Iran still has some l...

Senate confirms Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair, 54-45, mostly along party lines except Se. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted yes; House leaders react to President Donald Trump saying he does not "think about Americans' financial situation" when negotiating with Iran over a deal to end the war; Senate defeats for a seventh time an Iran War Powers Act resolution offered by Democrats to force the President to bring the war to a conclusion; President Trump lands in Beijing, China. He meets President Xi Jinping on Thursday; Vice President JD Vance announces new anti-government spending fraud initiatives, including a nationwide...

Labor Department says inflation in April was 3.8 percent year over year, highest in three years, with the Iran war driving up energy and food prices; Senate leaders weigh in on President Trump's proposal to suspend the federal gas tax as the average for a gallon hits $4.50; Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst testifies to House & Senate Appropriations subcommittees that the war with Iran has cost so far $29 billion.  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth & Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also testify about the Trump Administration's war strategy; President Trump heads to China for a visit with President Xi J...

President Trump says the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is on “massive life support” after Iran’s latest counterproposal to end the war.

Media reports say Tehran’s offer included demands for war reparations…control over the Strait of Hormuz…an end to U.S. sanctions…and the return of frozen assets.

Iran also sought to keep nuclear talks separate from negotiations over the Strait.

The president called the terms “simply unacceptable.” He spoke to reporters at the White House today — we’ll play some of what he said.

Congress is back in to...

This week on The Weekly, tensions with Iran remain front and center — as President Donald Trump insists a ceasefire is holding, even as U.S. and Iranian forces exchange strikes in and around the Strait of Hormuz and questions grow in Congress over presidential war powers.

A major redistricting ruling in Virginia. The Supreme Court of Virginia strikes down a voter-approved referendum, restoring the state’s congressional map and dealing a setback to Democrats as the fight over control of the House intensifies nationwide.

And — Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces scrutiny on Capito...

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First: A discussion about the Trump administration's handling of the War in Iran, with the National Security Adviser in the FIRST Trump administration - John Bolton.

Then: Concord Coalition executive director and former Democratic congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux discusses the rising national debt and a new government report stating it has surpassed 100% of GDP for the first time since World War II.

Finally: with May being Mental Health Awareness Month - a conversation with psychologist and former Republican Congressman Tim Murphy about...

Virginia Supreme Court strikes down the Congressional redistricting referendum approved by Virginia voters that would have created a new map that favored Democrats, ruling the state legislature did not follow proper state Constitutional amendment procedures; U.S. military says it fired on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, as Secretary of Marco Rubio says the U.S. is expecting a response from Iran to the latest peace plan soon; Secretary Rubio also talks about his meeting this week with Pope Leo XIV on the Iran War and the humanitarian situation in Cuba; April jobs report comes...

U.S. and Gulf allies present a draft United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Iran's stopping commercial shipping, especially oil tankers, in Strait of Hormuz; Federal court of appeals is reportedly skeptical of the Pentagon's military punishment of Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) for his part in a video reminding servicemembers they have a duty not to follow illegal orders; World Health Organization reassures the world that the handful of hantavirus deaths on a cruise ship is not the start of a pandemic like COVID or SARS; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council issues its final report recommending changes...

Iran says it is looking over the latest U.S. plan to end the war, while President Donald Trump issues a new ultimatum to Iran: accept a deal to end the war or face U.S. bombing “at a much higher level and intensity than it was before”; President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pay tribute to mothers of military servicemembers ahead of Mother's Day. First Lady says, "At the very heart of America’s strength lies the boundless love and quiet power of mothers"; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is interviewed in closed session by the House Oversight Commit...

President Donald Trump & Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth both say the ceasefire in the war with Iran still holds, despite the attacks from Iran on U.S. ships and U.S. sinking Iranian small military boats; Secretary of State Marco Rubio fills in for White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt at a White House news conference while she is on maternity leave and is asked about his meeting later this week with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican after President Trump again on Monday criticized the Pope over the Pope's criticism of the President's handling of the Iran War; Rep...