Washington Today

Speaker Johnson cancels legislative agenda to avoid votes on releasing Jeffrey Epstein case files; Pres. Trump accuses fmr Pres. Obama of treason over 2016 Russian interference in U.S. elections investigation Jul 22, 2025

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is canceling much of this week's legislative agenda and telling Members of Congress to begin their month-long August recess early to avoid votes on releasing the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; House Oversight Committee and Justice Dept seek to interview Ghislane Maxwell, former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, now in prison related to his crimes; President Trump when asked about Maxwell pivots to the accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, accusing former President Barack Obama of 'treason' for allegedly manufacturing evidence; Senate takes its first vote on fiscal year 2026 spending bills, with Democrats warning Republicans unilateral push for rescissions packages is undermining any bipartisan goodwill in the appropriations process; President Trump meets with the Filipino President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr in the WH Oval Office to talk trade & Indo-Pacific security and China; President Trump announces the United States will withdraw again from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural, education and scientific organization due to, the president says, its woke agenda and anti-Israel bias.

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Congress moves to wrap up its work before its August recess with the Epstein files an ongoing issue; President Trump touts six-months in office as polling shows his approval rating underwater Jul 21, 2025

Congress is back in session this week with the House wrapping up its work before its August recess. On the agenda: legislation to increase financial oversight of the Veterans Affairs department, and votes on bills to increase penalties on people who reenter the U.S. after being deported, and to reform the Clean Water Act's permitting process. The Senate still has another work week before leaving for their annual break. On their agenda: confirmation votes for several executive nominations. Hanging over all of this--the ongoing issue of the Jeffrey Epstein files. House Speaker Mike Johnson says doesn’t have any plans to put a resolution on the floor that calls for the Trump administration to release Epstein files. Instead, he wants to give administration time to put out documents on its own. And yesterday was the six-month anniversary of the second Trump administration, and polls say Americans are giving the president mixed reviews. A new Decision Desk HQ poll shows the president's disapproval rating near its highest level since January. Meanwhile, a new CBS News poll shows Americans say they want the president to focus on consumer prices instead of raising tariffs. And the Washington Post’s polling average showing a clear downturn in the president's approval rating on immigration.

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Weekend Edition: Public Opinion on President Trump's Second Term, Jeffrey Epstein Files, and Reducing Size of the Federal Workforce Jul 19, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Cliff Young, president of Polling & Societal Trends for Ipsos, discusses public opinion shifts on President Trump's term so far. Then, a discussion about the Justice Department and FBI's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files with Tom Fitton - President of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch. Finally, Max Stier (STYE-urr) from the Partnership for Public Service discusses President Trump's renewed efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

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President Trump sues WSJ over article claiming he sent Jeffrey Epstein suggestive birthday letter; House GOP & Democrats clash over release of Epstein files Jul 18, 2025

President Donald Trump sues Wall Street Journal after its latest article about the President & the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the controversy continues at the White House and in Congress over whether and how to release files related to that case; House joins the Senate in passing a $9 billion rescissions package in a late night vote, sending the bill to the president to be signed into law to cancel funds for foreign aid & public broadcasting; President Trump signs into law the first major bill regulating digital currency, on the subset of cryptocurrency called stablecoins; Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) flips her vote on an amendment on the relocation of the FBI headquarters, allowing for now the bureau to go to the Ronald Reagan building in DC instead of a site in Greenbelt, Maryland; Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz meets US Def Sec Israel Katz at the Pentagon; House pays tribute to the late former Congressman William Lacy "Bill" Clay, Sr., a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, who has died at age 94.

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Senate passes $9B rescissions bill, sends back to House; Senate Republicans block Democratic bill to release Jeffrey Epstein files Jul 17, 2025

Senate passes the $9 billion rescissions bill, canceling foreign aid and money for public broadcasting, in a very early morning vote, sending the revised bill back to the House, which has until Friday to act on it or the money will be spent; Senate Democratic effort to force the Trump Admin to release all files related to the case of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is blocked by Republicans; Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans vote to approve Emil Bove for a federal appeals court judgeship on their own, after committee Democrats walk out in protest saying they were not given enough time to debate what they say is a controversial nominee; White House responds to recent photos of President Donald Trump showing swelling in his legs, saying he has diagnosed with the blood circulation condition called "chronic venous insufficiency", and of bruising on his hands, saying it is irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin” for his heart, and overall, the president is in excellent health; House passes three cryptocurrency bills, including one banning a central bank digital currency, after three days of intense negotiations between the Speaker and conservative Republicans. We will talk about it with Politico reporter Jasper Goodman (41); Attorney General Pam Bondi & Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visit Alcatraz in San Francisco after President Trump ordered it be reopened as a federal prison.

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President Trump says it's 'highly unlikely' he would fire Fed Chair Powell, criticizes his supporters as 'weaklings' falling for the Epstein 'hoax' Jul 16, 2025

President Donald Trump says it is "highly unlikely" he will fire the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after many media outlets reported he signaled he would after meeting privately with some House Republicans; President Trump criticizes Republicans who are calling for release of filing on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the questions surrounding the suicide and a client list a "hoax", labeling the Republican "weaklings" who are doing "Democrats work", and saying he does not want their support anymore; Senate moves into the home stretch on the $9 billion rescissions bill that cuts foreign aid and public broadcasting money with a vote-a-rama, a long series of votes on amendments; President Trump signs a bill to toughen prison sentencing for trafficking the drug fentanyl; NYC Mayor Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani meets with U.S. House Democrats in Washington; former Chief of Staff to former President Jill Biden, Anthony Bernal, pleads the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination at the U.S. House Oversight Committee's investigation of former President Joe Biden mental fitness while in office and his use of an autopen; Israel launches airstrikes at Syria's capital city Damascus; tonight is the annual Congressional Women's Softball Game for charity, pitting a bipartisan team of Members of Congress against a team of DC reporters.

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Senate GOP ahead of first $9B rescissions package procedural vote restores funding for PEPFAR, rural public broadcasting Jul 15, 2025

Senate Republicans make changes to the rescissions bill to gain necessary Republican support ahead of the first procedural vote, restoring $400 million for PEPAR, the global anti-AIDS program and protecting funding for some rural public broadcasters; Inflation report from the Labor Dept – up 0.3% in June, an annual rate of 2.7%, highest since February and maybe a sign President Trump's tariffs are leading to increases prices; House Republicans vote down a Democratic motion to make public FBI files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after the Trump Admin stated Epstein did not keep a client list and did commit suicide in prison, which some of the president's MAGA supporters are questioning, while President Trump tells reporters General Pam Bondi should release "whatever she thinks is credible" on Jeffrey Epstein; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Mike Waltz testifies before Senate Foreign Relations Committee about reforming the UN and on the Signal Chat controversy when he was National Security Adviser; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Senators on Capitol Hill about supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia.

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President Trump threatens 100% secondary tariffs on Russia's trading partners unless there is a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine in 50 days Jul 14, 2025

President Trump is upping the ante with Russia to end its war with Ukraine. He made two announcements today: First--100 percent tariffs on any country that trades with Russia, unless a cease-fire is reached within in 50 days. And second---a deal with NATO members to send weapons to Ukraine. This comes as a bipartisan Senate bill that puts sanctions on Moscow that its two lead sponsors say could be the sledgehammer the president needs to end the conflict. Also in the Senate, Republicans are focused on their bill to take back more than 9 billion dollars in federal funds--including for public broadcasting and foreign aid. This is the same bill House Republicans passed last month and the Senate has until Friday to approve it. But it's facing opposition from handful of Republicans and all Senate Democrats, who say any rescissions would hurt future bipartisan government funding talks.

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Weekend Edition: Medicaid Provisions in One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Tariff Deadline Extended, and Young Progressives in Public Office Jul 12, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion about Medicaid provisions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," with Paragon Health Institute's Ryan Long and Center for Economic and Policy Research's Brandon Novick. Then, Politico trade reporter Daniel Desrochers discusses President Trump pushing off another tariff deadline… Finally, Run For Something co-founder & President Amanda Litman discusses her group's effort to help elect young progressives to public office.

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President Trump says, 'I've never seen anything like it," as he & First Lady survey deadly flood damage in Kerrville, TX Jul 11, 2025

President Donald Trump & First Lady Melania Trump travel to Kerrville, Texas to see firsthand the damage from the catastrophic floods that killed at least 120 in the state's Hill Country, with another 170 still missing, meeting with first responders and local officials and promising help to recover and rebuild; federal judge in Maryland indicates she will issue an order to protect Kilmar Abrego Garcia from being quickly deported again if the federal government tries to if Abrego Garcia is released from custody in Tennessee while he is await trial on human trafficking charge; Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets China's Foreign Minister for the first time on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, discussing tariffs and Indo-Pacific security issues; Secretary Rubio also asked about President Trump's announcement that the U.S. will send Ukraine weapons through the NATO military alliance and NATO will pay for them; White House Budget Director Russell Vought promises to investigate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's handling of renovations at the Federal Reserve building in DC, which Vought calls a 'palace' with enormous cost overruns. Longtime DC media pundit and presidential adviser David Gergen has died at age 83.

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Federal judge blocks birthright citizenship Exec Order by certifying class-action suit; Senate advances first judicial nomination of Pres. Trump's 2nd term; FBI HQ location fight upends Senate spending bill Jul 10, 2025

Federal judge blocks President Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship nationwide by certifying a class action lawsuit; Senate takes up the first judicial nomination of the second Trump Administration, passing a procedural vote for Whitney Hermandorfer to be a federal appeals court judge for the 6th Circuit; Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson tells a meeting of the Indianapolis Bar Assn the state of U.S. democracy is what keeps her up at night; Senate Appropriations Committee gets started on the first three FY2026 federal spending bills, even though there is no agreement between Republicans and Democrats on how much total spending there should be. One of those bills is put in limbo after a Democratic amendment passes to block President Donald Trump's decision to move the FBI HQ to the Reagan Int'l Trade Building in DC instead of a site in Greenbelt, Maryland that had been chosen after a long competition, and then Republicans withdraw support from the underlying spending bill; Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he had a 'frank conversation' with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and expressed the U.S.'s frustration over not making progress to end the war in Ukraine; Secretary Rubio also asked about reports that someone has been impersonating him in texts and calls using artificial intelligence, contacting foreign ministers.

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Senate confirms FAA Admin.; Joe Biden's former White House doctor declines to answer House GOP's mental fitness questions Jul 09, 2025

Senate confirms Bryan Bedford to be FAA Administrator; President's nominee for NOAA Administrator, Neil Jacobs, promises at a Senate confirmation hearing to fully staff the National Weather Service, after the deadly floods in Texas; former White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor refuses to answer questions before the House Oversight Committee in the Republican investigation of President Joe Biden's mental fitness for office, invoking his Fifth Amendment Constitutional right and doctor-patient confidentiality; President Donald Trump holds a summit at the White House the leaders of five West African nations; President sends more letters to more countries informing them of their tariff rates; retired bicycle racer Greg LeMond receives the Congressional Gold Medal and talks about how Europeans viewed him as the first American winner of the Tour de France.

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President Trump at Cabinet meeting says Aug 1 tariff deadline is firm; also talks Texas flooding, Ukraine, Gaza, Epstein files Jul 08, 2025

President Donald Trump held an hour and 45 minutes cabinet meeting during which he said the new August 1st date when tariff levels he is imposing on other countries are to take effect will not be extended, compared Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to "Saturday Night Live" character of "The Pathological Liar" after Sen. Schumer called for an investigation into whether National Weather Service budget cuts impacted forecasting and warnings of the deadly central Texas floods, confirmed that defense weapons will be sent to Ukraine to help defend against Russia's latest air attacks, said he will meet again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to advance a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, and called a reporter's question about Jeffrey Epstein a "waste the time" and a 'desecration' when there are other important issues to discuss; Senate has two weeks to pass a nearly $10 billion rescissions package canceling funding for global health and foreign aid programs, and public broadcasting or the bill dies. We will talk about it Axios Senate reporter Stephen Neukam (22); TSA is no longer requiring air travelers to remove their shoes for security screenings; Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announces a plan to counter Chinese company purchases of U.S. farmland; State Department is asked about a person using Artificial Intelligence to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and contact foreign ministers.

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WH pushes back on suggestions National Weather Service budget cuts hampered warnings to Texas flood victims, including children at a camp Jul 07, 2025

White House pushes back on suggestions that Trump Administration budget cuts hampered the National Weather Service warnings to those in the path of the deadly floods in Texas, including children at a camp along the river; as the death tolls rises and frantic search and rescue efforts continue for the missing; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tells how his daughters were at a camp along the same river recently, calling the situation in Kerr County “every parent’s nightmare"; President Donald Trump releases letters to seven countries informing them of specific U.S. tariff rates on their goods starting August 1st; Japan and South Korea are at 25 percent, promising another seven or so this week; federal court hearing in Maryland in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, as his lawyers seek to ensure due process in case the federal government seeks to deport their client again, this time not to El Salvador, but to a third country; Justice Dept says the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, did not keep a client list and did not try to blackmail anyone, confirming what investigators found years ago, but contradicting what has been believed by some; Israeli Prime Minister M Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington to meet with President Trump to discuss the wars against Hamas and Iran.

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Weekend Edition: America 250, Martin Smith's Documentary "Syria After Assad," and Trump Admin. Cuts to Arts and Culture Programs Jul 05, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Ambassador Monica Crowley, Chief of Protocol for the United States, discusses the mission of America250, the start of celebrations on Thursday, and her role as principal media representative. Then, Documentary writer, producer, and correspondent Martin Smith discusses his latest PBS Frontline film: "Syria After Assad." Finally, a discussion with Erin Harkey – CEO of the group Americans for the Arts- on efforts by the Trump Administration to cut federal funding for arts and culture programs.

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House passes GOP tax & spending cuts One Big Beautiful Bill after dramatic all-night session to lobby GOP holdouts & record-breaking Dem Leader speech Jul 03, 2025

House passes tax cut & spending cut Budget Reconciliation "One Big Beautiful Bill", 218-214, sending it to the President to be signed into law, after a dramatic all-night session to convince enough Republican holdouts to vote yes, and after a record-breaking 8 hour, 44 minute speech against the bill by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); June jobs report: 147,000 jobs created, unemployment rate falls to 4.1%; Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall security preview; DC Mayor & Police Chief talk about the fatal shooting of an Capitol Hill college student intern from Massachusetts; First Lady Melania Trump meets with young patients at National Children's Hospital; President Donald Trump speaks by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin after reports the U.S. is pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine.

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GOP Big Beautiful tax cut & spending cut bill stalls in House by groups of Republicans seeking changes to Senate-passed version Jul 02, 2025

House is slowing working on the modified Budget Reconciliation bill, the tax cut & spending cut 'One Big Beautiful Bill', passed yesterday by the Senate with VP JD Vance's tie-breaking vote, slowly because Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump have been meeting with both conservative and moderate Republicans opposed to the bill for different reasons, either it does not cut enough spending or cuts too much, and Republicans can only afford to lose 3 of their Members since all Democrats plans to vote 'no'; FCC Chair Brendan Carr lays out what he calls a 'Build America' agenda in his first major policy speech as chair to “unleash high-speed infrastructure builds…. restore America’s leadership in wireless… boost the U.S. space economy…. and advance our national security'"; interview with Variety Senior TV Editor Brian Steinberg on Paramount settling a lawsuit with President Trump over the editing of a CBS News' "60 Minutes" interview with then Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris (24); State Department and Pentagon comment on the U.S. reportedly pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine, including air defense missiles

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Budget reconciliation bill passes Senate 51-50 after last-minute deal with Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) to secure her vote Jul 01, 2025

Senate passes the budget reconciliation bill, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill, containing President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans' domestic agenda of tax cuts, spending cuts and more money for border security and defense, by a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. Sen Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) provided the necessary 'yes' vote for passage after negotiating last-minute changes on health care and food aid; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirms that the Fed would have cut interest rates this year had it not been for President Trump's 'Liberation Day' high tariffs, whose impact on inflation is still uncertain; Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with the foreign ministers of Australian, India & Japan, the so-called Quad, as tariffs and trade talks continue with those allies; President Trump visits a new immigrant detention center a remote area of the Florida Everglades dubbed Alligator Alcatraz and says it could be a model for similar facilities to increase deportations.

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Marathon vote-a-rama on One Big Beautiful Bill amendments underway in Senate; final passage not assured given potential GOP holdouts Jun 30, 2025

The Senate's vote-a-rama continues, as members offer and vote on amendments to the Republican's tax and spending cuts bill. But passage of the bill isn't a sure thing. Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have both said they're voting "no", while Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska haven’t said how they'll vote. Congressional Republicans and President Trump have said they want the bill passed and signed into law by July 4th. Last night on the floor, Sen. Tillis criticized both the bill's Medicaid cuts and the president for breaking a campaign promise to not interfere with Medicaid benefits. That prompted responses from the president on social media, including one announcing he'd said he would back a primary challenge against the senator. Not long after, Sen. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection next year. A federal appeals court heard arguments today on the president’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union say the Trump administration is unlawfully using the law to take away due process for possible deportees. The administration maintains that a Venezuelan gang is carrying out an invasion of the US at the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

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Weekend Edition: Rep. Adam Smith on US Military Actions Against Iran, War Powers Act, and Zohran Mamdani Win in NYC Primary Jun 28, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Congressman Adam Smith – top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee - discusses U.S. military action against Iran – and what comes next. Then - a discussion about the history and evolution of the War Powers Act Philip Wallach from the American Enterprise Institute. Plus, it was a stunning win for Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in this week's Democratic primary for New York City Mayor. We speak with Spectrum News New York One (NY1) political director Bob Hardt about what happened.

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Supreme Court in birthright citizenship Executive Order case rules single judge cannot impose a 'nationwide injunction' Jun 27, 2025

Supreme Court rules that individual judges do not have the power to block a president's policies across the country, known as nationwide injunctions. The underlying case, whose merits have not been decided yet, involves President Donald Trump's Executive Order restricting birthright citizenship; Supreme Court also handed down other closely-watched decisions today, including in favor of Maryland parents who want to have their children opt-out of a curriculum with LGBTQ books and upholding a Texas law requiring age-verification for adult websites; Senate Republicans look to have their first vote on the tax cut & spending cut budget reconciliation bill on Saturday; House members get a classified briefing on the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear site; Foreign Ministers of Rwanda & the Democratic Republic of Congo meet in Washington to sign a peace agreement brokered by the White House; Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) talks about this year's Virginia governor election between Winsome Earle-Sears (R) and Abigail Spanberger (D).

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Supreme Court rules South Carolina can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood because the group provides abortions Jun 26, 2025

Supreme Court decides that South Carolina can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood because the group provides abortions, ruling that Medicaid patients are not allowed to sue over their right to choose their doctor; Senators get a classified briefing on the U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth & Gen. Dan Caine, Joint Chiefs of Staff chair hold a news conference with more details about the attack and fresh criticism of news outlets for their coverage of a Pentagon intelligence on the extent of the damage; On the tax & spend One Big Beautiful Bill, some Republicans want the Senate Parliamentarian fired for ruling some key Medicaid provisions cannot stay in the bill because they violate Budget Reconciliation rules; President Trump holds an event at the White House to champion the bill and the first Senate test vote is expected soon; former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) has died. She was known for supporting gun control, elected after a mass shooting that killed her husband and severely wounded her son.

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President Trump criticizes 'fake news' outlets citing Pentagon intelligence report suggesting U.S. bombing of Iran nuclear sites may have resulted in less than 'obliteration' Jun 25, 2025

President Donald Trump says the leaked U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report suggesting Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months after the recent U.S. bombings is wrong, the nuclear sites have been destroyed – in his word 'obliterated' - and the reporters who published the DIA reports finding are 'bad people', 'sick' and are demeaning the hero pilots who carried out the U.S. attack; CDC Director nominee Susan Monarez says at a Senate confirmation vaccines are "life-saving" and she has not seen evidence linking them to autism; Senate Commerce Committee approves Bryan Bedford, CEO of a regional airline, to be FAA Administrator; Claims of a Justice Dept whistleblower who says the Trump Administration planned to disregard court orders that would hinder immigrants deportations come up at several Senate hearings today, with the Attorney General Pam Bondi and former top Justice Dept official Emil Bove, nominated for a federal appeals court judgeship; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell again points to the threat of inflation from President Trump's tariffs for not cutting interest rates; surprise win in the New York City Mayoral Democratic primary by Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist.

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President Trump says Israel-Iran ceasefire 'in effect' after voicing frustration at apparent violations on both sides Jun 24, 2025

President Donald Trump says a ceasefire between Israel & Iran is "in effect", after expressing frustration with both countries for apparently violating the agreement he mediated; President spoke before flying from Washington to The Hague, Netherlands for a NATO leaders' summit; House & Senate Democrats upset today that scheduled classified briefings by Trump Administration officials about the U.S. military attacks on Iran's nuclear sites have been postponed until later this week; House votes down an impeachment resolution against President Trump introduced by Rep. Al Green (D-TX) over the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities. A majority of House Democrats voted against the impeachment resolution; As Senate Republicans are still putting together the final text of tax cut and spending cut One Big Beautiful Bill, with debate and votes that could run into the weekend, Senate Parliamentarian has been knocking out bill provisions that violate budget reconciliation procedures – known as the Byrd Rule. We will talk about what is no longer in and how Senators could restore them if they want with Forbes Senior Writer Kelly Phillips Erb (32); Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tells a House committee that an interest rate cut in July is not likely; Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) wins a House Democratic Caucus secret-ballot vote to be the next ranking member of the Oversight & Reform Committee.

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President Trump calls Iran's missile attack on U.S. air base in Qatar 'weak'; bipartisan war powers resolutions on Iran could get votes in Congress Jun 23, 2025

President Trump responds on social media, "Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered….There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was “set free,” because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done." On Capitol Hill, two bipartisan war powers resolutions are moving their way through Congress. In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are leading one that blocks U.S. involvement in the conflict. In the Senate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) says he plans to push for a vote this week on a similar resolution and that Republican lawmakers in his chamber have expressed support for it. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European leaders urged Iran to return to the negotiating table.

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Weekend Edition: Israel-Iran Conflict, Congressional Security Briefings, and Jake Tapper's "Original Sin" Jun 21, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion about the history – and future -- of Iran's nuclear program - with Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association. Then, Axios Politics Reporter Steph Kight (like kite) discusses members of Congress receiving security briefings following the Minnesota lawmaker shootings. Finally, CNN's Jake Tapper discusses former President Biden's declining health during the last year of his term in his book "Original Sin."

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President Trump says two-week pause on next steps for U.S. action against Iran nuclear program is "to see whether or not people come to their senses" Jun 20, 2025

President Donald Trump says two more weeks he is waiting to decide to whether to attack Iran over its nuclear weapons program is “a time to see whether or not people come to their senses"; United Nations Ambassadors from Iran and Israel trade accusations at a UN Security Council meeting as their countries continue their military campaigns against each other; head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warns the Security Council of the dangers of a military campaign targeting nuclear facilities; federal appeals court in California rules President Trump likely had the authority to deploy National Guard troops to deal with protests against immigration raids without Gov. Newsom's consent but the courts do have a role in reviewing the specific actions the troops will be doing; Federal Reserve board member thinks interest rates should be cut as early as next month; Supreme Court releases decisions, including one allowing a lawsuit from fuel producers against California vehicle emissions standards to continue.

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Israeli PM Netanyahu vows to 'exact full price from the tyrants in Tehran' after missile hits Israeli hospital; Pres. Trump to decide within two weeks if U.S. will attack Iran Jun 19, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises revenge against Iran after an Iranian missile hits an Israeli hospital and is asked by reporters about the prospect that the U.S. will become more directly militarily involved in the conflict; White House says President Trump believes this is "substantial chance" of U.S. negotiations with Iran and therefore he will decide within two weeks the U.S. path will be, diplomacy or strikes; President extends for a third time by 90 days the requirement in U.S. for the TikTok short-video app to be sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance to a non-Chinese entity or be banned from the U.S.; celebrations on this Juneteenth National Independence Day federal holiday; Vice President JD Vance announces a long-term health study in East Palestine, OH on the effects of the 2023 toxic train spill; U.S. Conference of Mayors meet in Tampa, FL, discussing immigration and ICE raids across the country and deployment of National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles ad tax provisions in the budget reconciliation bill moving through Congress. We will talk with Wall Street Journal technology & cryptocurrency reporter Amrith Ramkumar about the Senate this week passing a bill on stablecoins, first ever federal crypto regulation bill (38); Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) gives more details about confronting Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) over his posts following the fatal shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers, seeming to blame the violence on Democrats and their allies.

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President Trump says he has not decided whether to attack Iran's nuclear facilities Jun 18, 2025

President Donald Trump says he has not decided whether to attack Iran's nuclear and military facilities alongside Israel, which has been doing so for the past week; Federal Reserve keeps interest rates steady again. We will talk with MarketWatch Economics Editor Greg Robb (25); Supreme Court upholds Tennessee's law banning transgender medical treatments for minors; Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on former President Joe Biden's mental acuity and fitness for office; Senate passes a resolution congratulating C-SPAN2 for four decades of live gavel-to-gavel Senate coverage and calling on all TV providers, including streaming services, to carry C-SPAN.

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President Trump calls for Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER', threatens Supreme Leader would be an 'easy target' to kill Jun 17, 2025

President Donald Trump is back in Washington, DC, returning early from the Group of 7 leaders' summit in Canada, posting and commenting about the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Iran, including he wants 'better than a ceasefire', "I have not reached out to Iran for “Peace Talks” in any way, shape, or form", calling that Fake News, and on Iran's Supreme Leader, "We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now"; U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco hears oral argument in Newsom v. Trump, case where Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is challenging President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in response to immigration protests with the governors' consent. We will talk about it with The Hill's Legal Affairs Reporter Zach Schoenfeld (23); Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) deletes social media posts in which he blamed Democrats and Marxists for the fatal shooting of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband and the wounding of another lawmaker and his wife; latest on proposed Medicaid changes in the Senate Republican version of the budget reconciliation bill – the one big beautiful bill – which are different than the House-passed version.

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Federal charges filed against Minnesota shooting suspect; President Trump at G7 Summit in Canada on Israel-Iran military conflict Jun 16, 2025

First court appearance for Vance Boelter after federal and state authorities file several charges in connection with the murder of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband and attempted murder state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. President Trump is in Canada at the G7 summit where he talked about global economic issues and the widening Israel/Iran conflict. Israeli officials have say their operation in Iran is expected to take “weeks, not days”. Meanwhile, Iranian President said that his country does not want to expand the conflict with Israel but it will respond “in proportion” to any attack.

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Weekend Edition: Deployment of the US Military, NIH Federal Medical Research, and US-China Trade Talks Jun 14, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, with a federalized national guard and the Marines on the streets of Los Angeles – a conversation with Mary McCord of Georgetown Law about the legal and Constitutional issues surrounding the domestic deployment of the U.S. military. Then, Former NIH Director Dr. Harold Varmus (VARR-muss) discusses how spending cuts to his former agency is impacting the future of federal medical research. And finally we chat with Wall Street Journal trade reporter Gavin Bade on the latest in U.S.-China trade talks

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UN Security Council meets as Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear sites, kills senior commanders, and Iran strikes back with drones & missiles Jun 13, 2025

United Nations Security Council meets on the military exchanges between Israel and Iran. Iran announces it is pulling out of nuclear talks with the U.S. President Trump posts, "Two months ago I gave Iran a 60 day ultimatum to “make a deal”…Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!" Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant who was deported from Maryland to El Salvador, then brought back after an indictment, pleads not guilty in federal court in Tennessee to human trafficking charges. More Republican governors call up the National Guard ahead a weekend of expected protests against Trump Administration policies; Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) talks about the future of his party and young people; former President Bill Clinton and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) give eulogies at today's funeral service of the late Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY).

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Sen. Padilla forcibly removed & handcuffed from DHS Sec Noem press conference in Los Angeles on immigration enforcement Jun 12, 2025

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) is forcibly removed from a news conference in Los Angeles being held by Homeland Security Sec Kristi Noem on federal immigration enforcement operations; three Democratic governors testify before U.S. House Oversight Committee about sanctuary policies to limit local cooperation with Immigration & Customs enforcement; U.S. House passes a bill to rescind $9.4 billion in federal spending on foreign aid and money to support National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); Senate confirms a new IRS Commissioner, former Rep. Billy Long (R-MO); President Donald Trump signs bills overturning California's rules mandating electric vehicle sales and setting tailpipe emissions standards; President Trump is asked about reports Israel may soon attack Iran.

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Treasury Secretary Bessent quarrels with Rep. Sanchez (D-CA) on China trade & tariffs after President Trump posts, "Our deal with China is done" Jun 11, 2025

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent questioned at a House committee on a U.S.-China trade agreement announced by President Donald Trump; House considers a resolution to make changes to the tax cut & spending cut Budget Reconciliation bill (aka One Big Beautiful Bill) but Republicans and Democrats disagree about how significant today's vote really is; House also debates a bill to classify fentanyl permanently as schedule one, reserved for the most dangerous drugs; House debates a bill to revoke Washington, DC's "sanctuary city" law; Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Trump administration is not afraid of going further than using the Marine Corps and California National Guard when dealing with anti-federal immigration enforcement protests in Los Angeles, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom says, "Democracy is under assault before our eyes. This moment we have feared has arrived"; FAA Administrator nominee Bryan Bedford testifies before a Senate committee; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is questioned by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Ukraine war policy; tonight is the annual Congressional Baseball Game.

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Defense Secretary Hegseth tells House panel U.S. Marines mobilized to Los Angeles because 'we believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations' Jun 10, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defends the deployment of hundreds of U.S. Marines to Los Angeles after protests have turned violent and tells a House subcommittee it will cost $134 million to troops on the ground for 60 days; Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemns the violence, but also the mass arrests by federal immigration authorities in her city that sparked the protests; President Donald Trump warns any potential protestors at this weekend's military parade in Washington, DC will be ‘met with very big force’; U.S. House debates bill to overturn some DC local laws, including one concerning lack of cooperation with the feds on immigration, so-called 'sanctuary city' status; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. removes the entire expert panel of vaccine advisers, saying they all are “plagued with conflicts of interest”; National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is questioned by Senators on proposed deep cuts to NIH medical research grants; U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says the U.S. is no longer pursuing the goal of an independent Palestinian state.

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Trump Admin. orders Marines to Los Angeles after immigration protests; California Attorney General sues over National Guard deployment over governor's objection Jun 09, 2025

The Trump administration orders about 700 Marines to Los Angeles to support National Guard troops in the wake of protests this weekend over immigration. California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) says he is suing the Trump administration over the deployment of those National Guard troops. Senate Republican leaders are continuing to focus their energy on their budget reconciliation package, while the divisions over Medicaid changes and debt and deficit reduction remain. Meanwhile, House Republicans are starting their efforts this week to lock in as much as $9 billion in spending cuts. We are less than a week away from a military parade marking the 250th birthday of the US Army.

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Weekend Edition: GOP Tax Cuts and Spending Cuts Bill, Russia and Ukraine, and FEMA's Readiness for Hurricane Season Jun 07, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Marc Goldwein of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget discusses his organization's recent analysis of the Republican tax cuts and spending cuts bill. Then, a discussion with McCain Institute's Evelyn Farkas about the latest in efforts to forge a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine -- and the future of U.S. involvement. Finally, Former FEMA Chief of Staff Michael Coen discusses FEMA's readiness as the 2025 hurricane season kicks off.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi says deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia is back in the U.S. from a prison in El Salvador after an indictment for human trafficking Jun 06, 2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Kilmar Abrego Garcia being returned to the U.S. from a prison in El Salvador to face criminal charges of allegedly transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S; House passes a bill to require proof of U.S. citizenship to get a Small Business Administration loan; President Trump tells various news organizations that he does not plan to speak to Elon Musk anytime soon, and says Musk has 'lost his mind,' a day after the war of words online over spending levels in the budget reconciliation bill in Congress; Labor Department issues its jobs report for May: 139,000 jobs created, a little lower than the month before, unemployment rate stays at 4.2%; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at the American cemetery in Normandy, France on this 81st anniversary of the D-Day military landing by Allied troops during World War II; veterans, lawmakers and activists attend a "Unite for Veterans" rally in Washington, opposed to what they say are Trump administration's actions harming veterans and the benefits they have earned.

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President Trump & Elon Musk trade online insults & threats in escalating feud over budget reconciliation, aka One Big Beautiful Bill Jun 05, 2025

President Donald Trump and Space X & Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former head of the Dept of Government Efficiency, trade online insults and threats, while Musk continues to call for the defeat of the tax cut & spend cut budget reconciliation bill because he says it will increase the nation's debt substantially; Interview with The Hill's Congressional Reporter Alex Bolton on challenges facing the budget reconciliation bill in the Senate (6); President Trump asked about his phone call today with Chinese President Xi Jinping about trade and tariffs and his travel ban on 12 countries, with restrictions on immigration from seven more; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the NATO defense minister's meeting in Brussels speaks about President Trump's goal of NATO countries spending at least 5% of GDP on defense; Jared Isaacman talks about getting a phone call last week from the White House that his nomination for NASA Administrator has been withdrawn.

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OMB Director Russell Vought disputes CBO report that House-passed Budget Reconciliation bill will increase deficit $2.4 trillion/10 years Jun 04, 2025

White House Budget Director Russell Vought testifies before a House subcommittee on the President's FY2026 budget request and the budget reconciliation bill, the one called the One Big Beautiful Bill on taxes & spending; He disputes a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) prediction that the House-passed version will add $2.4 trillion in budget deficits over 10 years; Senate is on path to confirm the second highest spot in the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, vice chair for supervision; Tariffs on imported steel & aluminum double from 25% to 50%. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick goes before a Senate subcommittee defending President Trump's tariff policies; FAA Acting Administrator Christopher Rocheleau tells a House panel about the administration's plans to completely rebuild the nation's air traffic control operation; President Trump says he spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine and nuclear talks with Iran; U.S. vetoes United Nations Security Council Gaza war ceasefire resolution.

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Elon Musk calls GOP One Big Beautiful Bill 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled' and a 'disgusting abomination' Jun 03, 2025

Elon Musk calls the budget reconciliation bill that contains a lot of the President and Congressional Republicans' tax & spending agenda – the one known as the One Big Beautiful Bill -- "massive, outrageous, pork-filled" and a "disgusting abomination"; Some Senate Republicans see it that way, as well, and it could jeopardize passage. Meetings are reportedly scheduled this week to try to work it out; Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifies about proposed budget cuts at her department, including zeroing out programs designed to help those from disadvantaged communities access higher education; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is asked about a report that the FEMA Acting Administrator said at a staff meeting that he did not know there was a 'hurricane season'; Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) calls for an investigation after one of his staff members was put in handcuffs by Homeland Security Department officers who entered the congressman's office in NYC, they said to look for rioters. The Congressman says they had invited immigration rights advocates who had witnessed federal agents detaining migrants outside courtroom in the same building; more reports of Palestinians shot and killed near humanitarian aid stations in Gaza. House passes a bill to honor the late Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-VA).

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Budget reconciliation bill could face rocky path in Senate; reaction to Sunday's antisemitic attack in Boulder, CO Jun 02, 2025

The Senate is back in town today and ready to take up the Republicans' budget reconciliation bill. It's the same bill the House passed before Memorial Day weekend, but it faces a possibly rocky path in the Senate. The suspect in Sunday's attack in Boulder, Colorado appeared in court today, charged with 16 counts of attempted murder, plus a federal hate crime. According to an affidavit, Mohammed Soliman told investigators he “wanted to kill all Zionist people” and said, “he would do it again." Russian and Ukrainian delegates met in Istanbul today for a second set of direct peace talks. Their meeting comes after Ukraine's drone attack on Russian bombers. Media reports say the talks between the two sides lasted barely over an hour and that outside of an agreement to work on a new prisoner exchange little progress was made.

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Weekend Edition: Bipartisanship in American Politics, Make America Healthy Again Agenda, and the 5th Anniversary of the killing of George Floyd May 31, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion with former Republican Congressman Chris Gibson on his new book "The Spirit of Philadelphia" – about reviving bipartisanship and civic engagement in American politics. Then, Dr. Richard Besser from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation joins us– to talk about HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior's "Make American Healthy Again" agenda - and changes to public health policy. Finally, NAACP president & CEO Derrick Johnson discusses the 5th anniversary of the killing of George Floyd – and reaction to Trump administration policies so far.

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Elon Musk meets with Pres. Trump in Oval Office, reflects on DOGE legacy, on last day as Special Government Employee May 30, 2025

Elon Musk, Former head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) joins the President Trump in the White House Oval Office on his final day as a government employee; President Trump accuses China of violating a trade agreement from a few weeks ago that led to the lowering of high tariffs on both sides while negotiations continued on a longer-term deal; Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to take away temporary legal protections from over half a million immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela; former President Joe Biden talks to reporters about prostate cancer diagnosis after speaking at a Memorial Day service in Delaware. Today is also the 10th anniversary of the death of his son, Beau Biden; Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia tells the Security Council that any ceasefire with Ukraine must include the West pausing sending weapons to Ukraine; Bernard Kerik, former NYC Police Commissioner who rose to national prominence after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, has died. He served time in prison and wrote a book about it. We hear what he learned from that experience, at a 2015 CSPAN2 BookTV appearance.

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White House criticizes 'activist judges' after federal trade court decision to strike most of Pres. Trump's tariffs as unlawful; federal appeals court reinstates tariffs, for now May 29, 2025

White House is calling on the Supreme Court to intervene after a federal trade court struck down many of President Donald Trump's tariffs because the president exceeded his legal authority when he put them in place. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt say, "America cannot function if President Trump, or any other president for that matter, has their sensitive diplomatic or trade negotiations railroaded by activist judges"; State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce is asked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that the U.S. will start “aggressively” revoking the visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields; Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC reopens a week after the two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed by a suspect who says he did it in support of Palestinians. The ceremony includes Jewish, Muslim & Christian clergy mourning the victims and condemning the attack; from the Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, an SEC Commissioner on the role of the government in regulating cryptocurrency, and a son of President Trump on why the Trump family is investing in crypto.

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President Trump rejects TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) meme on his tariff strategy, saying, 'It's called negotiation' May 28, 2025

President Donald Trump responds to a nickname some on Wall Street have given him to describe his tariff policy that includes the word 'chicken'; President is asked about Elon Musk saying he disappointed with the amount of spending in the budget reconciliation 'one big beautiful bill' passed by the House; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy calls for more spending on upgrading air traffic control systems, as he gives an update from Newark Airport; Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) hold town hall meetings; Vice President JD Vance promotes cryptocurrency at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas; latest on the Trump Administration pause on international student visas; interim U.S. Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro is sworn in; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the troubled new attempt to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.

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King Charles III opens Canada's parliament, saying 'the True North is indeed strong and free', amid Pres. Trump threats of annexation May 27, 2025

Great Britain's King Charles III opens the Canadian parliament in Ottawa by declaring, "As the anthem reminds us, the True North is indeed strong and free." Associated Press calls it "a speech widely viewed as a show of support in the face of annexation threats by U.S. President Donald Trump"; on Wall Streets, stocks climb after President Trump says he will delay 50 percent tariffs on the European Union; Special Presidential Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg talks about the president's frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine; State Department is asked about reported food aid riots in Gaza at a distribution center run by a new organization supported by Israel and the U.S.; Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) announces a run for governor instead of reelection as senator; Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) returns from El Salvador where he was not able to visit in prison with deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia; Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) outlines how the District will cut its spending by hundreds of millions of dollars this year to meet a congressional mandate; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) speaks at the funeral of the late Congressman Gerald Connolly (D-VA); remembering former Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who has died at age 94.

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Weekend Edition: Trump Administration changes to public health, Energy Initiatives and the "Big, Beautiful Bill" and Immigration Enforcement May 24, 2025

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a conversation with Dr. Georges Benjamin of the American Public Health Association. We'll talk about changes the Trump administration is making to public health, under the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Then, Congressional Republicans and President Trump are taking aim at Biden administration energy initiatives and tax credits in their so-called "big, beautiful bill." We'll talk about what's on the chopping block with Sara Chieffo from the League of Conservation Voters. Alsoin that Republican tax cuts and spending package are BILLIONS in new spending for immigration enforcement. We'll chat with Julie Kirchner from the Federation for American Immigration Reform about the specifics.

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Federal judge blocks Trump Admin. ban on Harvard enrolling international students; Pres. Trump threatens high tariffs on European Union & Apple's iPhones May 23, 2025

A federal judge puts on hold the Trump Administration order to Harvard not to accept any international students after the school refused to turn over information about those students' political activities; President Donald Trump threatens to impose a 50% tariff on the European Union and a 25% tariff on smartphones from Apple and Samsung not made in the U.S.; President signs Executive Orders to promote nuclear energy; Vice President JD Vance tells the graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy the administration has "reversed course" in U.S. foreign policy and there will be "no more undefined missions" and "no more open-ended conflicts"; UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres speaks about humanitarian situation in Gaza saying Israel is allowing only a "teaspoon of aid" to enter "when a flood of assistance is required"; DNC considers ousting Vice Chair David Hogg, but not for his stated goal of challenging some Democratic incumbents in primaries; two more commencement addresses in Maryland: Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) at Bowie State University and Kermit the Frog at the University of Maryland, College Park.

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House passes 'One Big Beautiful Bill" by one vote; bipartisan condemnation of deadly shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers in DC May 22, 2025

House Republicans pass the budget reconciliation 'one big beautiful' tax cut and spending cut bill by one vote after an all-night debate and daybreak vote; FBI is investigating as an 'act of terror' the shooting death of two Israeli Embassy aides outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC by a man who shouted "free, free Palestine"; Make America Health Again (MAHA) Commission releases a report on what is causing chronic disease, especially in children; Democrats criticize President Trump's dinner tonight with the top investors in his meme coin; NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-average hurricane season, which starts June 1.

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Speaker Johnson says 'plan is to move forward' on vote on budget reconciliation bill after White House meeting with Freedom Caucus May 21, 2025

House Rules Committee meets all night and then all day on the Republican tax cut and spending cut package called Budget Reconciliation or "One Big Beautiful Bill", but negotiations continue among Republicans to reach the near-unanimity that will be need to pass it through the House without any Democratic votes; Education Secretary Linda McMahon testifies before a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Trump Administration efforts to close the department and shift Education money and programs to states; President Donald Trump confronts South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the White House Oval Office over what President Trump claims is a "genocide" against white South African farmers; Federal judge rules the Trump Administration “unquestionably” violated a court order when it deported seven immigrants from Asian nations to South Sudan; Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) has died at age 75.

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