PBS News Hour - Politics

There were some new faces on Capitol Hill on Monday as incoming lawmakers arrived for their orientation. But for the current House and Senate, it was back to business. They began one final stretch before the GOP loses its control of Congress in January. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky moved to force a vote to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

One of the stunning upsets of last week's election was in South Carolina, where Democrat Annie Andrews defeated incumbent Republican Darline Graham in the Senate race. That wasn't the only Democratic victory in the deep red state. Democrats also flipped a House seat and flipped 10 seats in the state house. Geoff Bennett discussed more with South Carolina's Democratic Party chair, Christale Spain. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump sending mixed messages about how he plans to govern for the remainder of his term after Democrats' historic wins in the midterms, the effort to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the battle for party leadership in Congress. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Trump has replaced White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, the hardline architect of his immigration agenda, after a crushing midterm defeat. Immigration, once a political strength for Trump, became a liability after two years of mass detentions, deportations and armed agents in U.S. cities. Miller's appointment signals a doubling down on Trump's agenda. Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Trump's plans to build a massive triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery have been put on hold, two more top officials resigned from the Justice Department, residents along the Georgia-Tennessee border are returning home after record floodwaters receded, Pope Leo started his 12-day tour of Latin America, and Tesla will wind down production of its Cybertruck. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Democrats' midterm wins have reached red states across the country, including Kansas, which has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932. That will soon change after Rev. Adam Hamilton, who leads the largest United Methodist church in the country, defeated Republican incumbent Roger Marshall Tuesday night. Amna Nawaz speaks with Sen.-elect Hamilton for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Georgia voters made history this week, electing Keisha Lance Bottoms as the state's first Democratic governor in more than two decades and the first-ever Black woman governor in the country. The former Atlanta mayor campaigned on lowering costs, expanding healthcare access and pushing back against the Trump administration. Geoff Bennett speaks with Gov.-elect Bottoms for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As Democrats celebrate their historic gains, Republicans are beginning to take stock of major upsets and what comes next for their party. Amna Nawaz speaks with former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, one of the most outspoken Republican critics of Trump during his first administration and the author of the 2017 book "The Conscience of a Conservative." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including Trump shaking up his White House leadership, deep divisions in the Republican Party and how Democrats are preparing to take control of Congress. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jay Rockefeller, former West Virginia governor and longtime U.S. senator, has died at age 89. Born into one of America's wealthiest and most prominent families, Rockefeller forged his own path in politics and became a leading voice on healthcare, education and the needs of working families. Lisa Desjardins looks back at Rockefeller's life and impact. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As Democrats prepare to take control of Congress and Republicans grapple with stunning losses, every remaining race matters. Some races are still too close to call, including Senate battles in both Alaska and Mississippi. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

With Democrats set to take control of the House, they are making plans to use their majority not only to advance legislation but also to ramp up congressional oversight. California Rep. Robert Garcia is expected to become the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee. He says Democrats have plans to move quickly with a series of investigations. Garcia joined Liz Landers to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Voters delivered a sweeping rebuke of President Trump and his party in the midterms, handing Democrats major victories and dramatically reshaping the balance of power in Washington. Trump now enters a lame duck phase of his second term, promising both to use his veto power, and also to work across the aisle as he faces the largest Democratic majorities in decades. Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Wednesday, top officials in Iran welcomed the results of the U.S. midterm elections, Israeli President Isaac Herzog says he's accepted the results of last week's election and will consult with party leaders on forming a new government and Ukraine's air force says Russia launched more than 300 drones overnight. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The results of the midterms have set up a two-year power struggle between Trump's White House and the incoming Democratic Congress. Lisa Desjardins takes a look at the races and the potential size of the incoming Democratic majority. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For a deeper dive into the election data and why people voted the way they did, Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz spoke with Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In Michigan's 7th Congressional District, progressive activist William Lawrence unseated Republican Tom Barrett in one of the year's most competitive House races. Lawrence joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the win and what comes next. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The election led to several historic firsts. In New Hampshire, Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man to be elected to the Senate. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms will be the first Black woman governor. And in New Mexico, Deb Haaland will make history as the first Native American woman to serve as a governor. Haaland joined Geoff Bennett to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump has sought to deflect blame for the sweeping Republican losses. But within the party, some are beginning to ask whether they have been too deferential to the president — and whether the GOP needs to rethink its identity. Amna Nawaz discussed what comes next with David Holt, the Republican mayor of Oklahoma City. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A major factor in the midterm elections was the number of Latino voters who headed to the polls and supported Democrats. For perspective on this massive swing, Amna Nawaz spoke with María Teresa Kumar, CEO of Voto Latino, an organization that helps register Hispanic and Latino voters. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For perspective on how both parties are responding to the historic election wins, Geoff Bennett spoke with two strategists from both sides of the political aisle. Mo Elleithee is the former spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, and Doug Heye is a former spokesman for the Republican National Committee. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tuesday on the News Hour, voters across the country head to the polls to decide control of the House and Senate in a midterm election widely seen as a referendum on President Trump and his administration. A look at the DOJ's efforts to change voter rolls and even block some results. Plus, as more Americans vote early, a new survey aims to better capture how and why they cast their ballots. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In recent months, the Trump administration and the Department of Justice have led an extraordinary effort to exert federal control over state-run elections. Nearly all of those efforts, so far, have been blocked or rejected by the courts. To discuss election security and the prospect of potential election interference, Geoff Bennett spoke with Rick Hasen and Juliette Kayyem. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The political environment this year is often compared to the midterms of 2006, when Democrats won back control of Congress. After that election, Nancy Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House. Twenty years later, Pelosi is in the final months of her historic political career. She joined Amna Nawaz to discuss her time in office and what to expect on election night. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ronna McDaniel served as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee during President Trump's first term. Now, she's a surrogate for Mike Rogers' Senate campaign in Michigan. McDaniel joined Geoff Bennett to discuss the race. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

On Election Day, candidates, campaigns and analysts are looking for more than the total number of voters. They also want to know who showed up to the polls and what issues were on their minds. Traditional exit polls are evolving as the way people vote has changed. Deema Zein takes a closer look at some of the data behind the election. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Candidates spent the day making their final pitches to voters following a weekend of last-minute rallies and a high-profile Democratic defection in Michigan. President Trump delivered his closing message in Washington at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after days of campaigning in mostly red states. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens' decision to back Republican Mike Rogers in the U.S. Senate race has sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party. To discuss the shifting dynamics in the Senate race, Amna Nawaz spoke with Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In the run-up to the midterm elections, experts have documented a surge of Islamophobia in political ads and speeches. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on some of the targets of that rhetoric and the impact it's making. It's part of our series, Race Matters. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump's focus on the Reflecting Pool on the day before the election, the last-minute spectacle in the Michigan Senate race and the early signals to watch on Election Night. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Millions of votes have been cast in this midterm election. Traditional battlegrounds have expanded in the fight to control Congress. It all comes down to one question: who won? This year, PBS News is again relying on the Associated Press to call winners in critical races. For a closer look at how the AP makes those race calls, Deema Zein spoke with David Scott of the Associated Press. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Candidates around the country are making their final campaign stops before Election Day with just the weekend left to go. President Trump is in Florida and will then head to Iowa and Kansas -- a last-minute change after initially cancelling those rallies. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is sounding the alarm about the future of his own party. In his new book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents," Tillis warns that GOP lawmakers are afraid to challenge President Trump, Congress is surrendering its power, and some of the president's closest advisers are leading him toward failure. Tillis joined Geoff Bennett to discuss more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

On Election Day, Democrats are looking to do what they did 20 years ago – turn widespread dissatisfaction with a Republican president into a sweeping congressional victory. Rahm Emanuel helped engineer that victory in 2006. Now, as his party looks to regain power, Geoff Bennett sat down with Emanuel to discuss what lessons he sees for Democrats today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW and Wall Street Journal opinion columnist Matthew Continetti join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including the last week of the midterm campaigns, predictions on which party will control Congress and the closing messages from President Trump and candidates. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Alaska's governor is ordering an investigation into Democrat Mary Peltola's Senate campaign over reports that it recruited a spoiler candidate to dilute Republican votes. That's as President Trump repeated calls for Peltola's prosecution during a trip to another deep red state where his endorsed candidate is facing headwinds. Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Democrats are favored to take the House in November, but the size of their potential majority could hinge on a handful of competitive races. Four are in Pennsylvania, where President Trump and Republicans made significant gains in 2024. Now, Democrats are betting that the president's low approval ratings and frustration over high prices will shift the political landscape. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As candidates make a final push to win over voters ahead of Election Day, Lisa Desjardins takes a deep dive into the battle for the House of Representatives. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump headed to Ohio to rally voters in a race that could determine control of the Senate. That stop comes after dueling rallies in another key state offered a snapshot of the divisions shaping the midterm elections. Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The race for the Senate has moved from off-the-radar a year ago to a dramatic, hard-to-predict finish where Democrats stand a chance of retaking the chamber. The contest will come down to just over a dozen races across the country. Lisa Desjardins takes a look at the map and what might happen. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy