PBS News Hour - Politics

In our news wrap Wednesday, the Senate voted to confirm Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve, the Trump administration is freezing some new Medicare enrollments and health officials in Spain and Italy say at least 17 people have tested negative for possible hantavirus infection. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The House and Senate returned to session this week with deadlines looming on everything from DHS funding and a farm bill to an almost-expired national security and foreign intelligence law. Lisa Desjardins reports on the long to-do list for Congress. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A non-profit group suing to stop President Trump's Reflecting Pool renovation on the National Mall claims the project breaks federal law. Last month, the president announced the pool would be repainted blue. The New York Times is also reporting that its initial cost of less than two million dollars has now ballooned to seven times that figure. Amna Nawaz discussed more with David Fahrenthold. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll shows that six in 10 Americans disapprove of how President Trump is handling Iran. Lisa Desjardins joins Amna Nawaz to offer insights on the poll with a closer look at how Americans are seeing the war in Iran and rising gas prices. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The FBI has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into whether information was leaked to a reporter for The Atlantic, who wrote that FBI Director Kash Patel's quote "excessive drinking" was causing deep concern in the bureau. Carol Leonnig, a senior investigative reporter for MS NOW, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Candidates running for office in Texas primaries have made Muslims and what they call the "Islamification of Texas" the center of their campaigns. The state's top Republicans have also passed legislation and made policies targeting Muslim organizations and developments. Stephanie Sy reports on the rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies in the Lone Star State impacting Muslim communities. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, Senate Republicans are requesting $1 billion to fund security improvements for Trump's White House ballroom, Ukrainian and Russian forces are observing a temporary ceasefire for Victory Day celebrations, a fireworks plant explosion in central China killed at least 26 people, and the Trump administration is investigating Smith College's admission of transgender students. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Supreme Court ruling against drawing congressional maps to protect Black or other minority voters has sparked a new wave in the ongoing redistricting war. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins joins Amna Nawaz to discuss where things stand and what it means. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In March, around 200,000 immigrants began losing their commercial driver's licenses, which are required to operate large vehicles like semi-trucks, buses and tractor-trailers. It's part of a series of moves by the Trump administration to limit who can drive those vehicles after some high-profile truck crashes involving foreign-born drivers. Lisa Desjardins reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For the second time in as many weeks, a U.S. Secret Service agent fired a gun at an armed suspect in Washington D.C., less than a mile from the White House. The agency said an agent returned fire at a man carrying a gun. A bystander, a juvenile, was also injured. White House correspondent Liz Landers joins Amna Nawaz with more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Lawmakers from both parties are raising concerns about the Trump administration's spending decisions. In the latest example, the administration said it will pay nearly $1 billion to energy companies to abandon plans to build two wind farms off the U.S. coast. Liz Landers joins Amna Nawaz to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

More than three dozen former federal workers who quit or lost their jobs last year, in the wake of cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, are now running for political office. Most, but not all, are Democrats who say the assault on public service led them to seek change by standing for office. We spoke with three candidates running for Congress in the upcoming midterms. 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 the 2026 elections, the Supreme Court's abortion pill ruling and the push by some states to redraw their congressional maps. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The longest shutdown of a U.S. government agency in history has ended, after Trump signed a House-passed bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security. The administration had warned that money to pay thousands of federal security workers would run out after Thursday without new funding. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins has the latest from the Capitol. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Thursday, Maine Gov. Mills dropped her Senate bid, Camp Mystic in Texas dropped its summer reopening plans, the Secret Service provided new details about the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, King Charles and Queen Camilla wrapped up their state visit to the U.S., and the U.S. economy grew 2% in the first quarter of the year compared to 2025. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Since returning to office, Trump has made sweeping changes to the legal immigration system, including speeding up deportations and tamping down on asylum seekers. The Justice Department has also fired more than 100 sitting immigration judges and is now advertising to hire so-called "deportation judges" in their place. Ali Rogin speaks with one of the fired judges for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy