Washington Today

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 six-month moratorium on Medicare hospice or home health providers and warning states to actively investigate Medicaid fraud or risk losing funding; House debates whether to allow year-round sales of E15, a blend of 85% gasoline & 15% ethanol; CIA whistleblower tells the Senate Homeland Security Committee that Dr. Anthony Fauci, former head of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases intentionally tried to cover-up the COVID-19 pandemic's origins in a Chinese lab; House marks National Police Week; Former NBA player Jason Collins, first openly gay athlete in the four major American sports, has died. He spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Jinping on the war with Iran, trade, AI and Taiwan, among other issues; $1 billion added for security upgrades to President Trump's White House ballroom reportedly gets a chilly reception from Senate Republicans; FBI Director Kash Patel is questioned at a Senate subcommittee hearing about news reports alleging  a pattern of unexplained absences and excessive drinking; Criminal indictments are announced against the companies that operated the ship that crashed into and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in 2024, killing six workers; FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary says he is resigning; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) does an impersonation of the late President John F. Kennedy setting the goal of going to the moon, complete with a Boston accent, to celebrate the recent Artemis II mission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 town this week after a weeklong recess…with Republicans looking to use the reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement without Democratic support. Also on tap this week: an extension of the nation’s warrantless surveillance powers, set to expire June 15th. And the 17 Americans who were aboard a cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak are back in the U.S. today…where they’ll be quarantined and monitored. One passenger has tested positive for the virus. Another is experiencing mild symptoms. Health officials say the risk of a large-scale hantavirus outbreak remains low. We’ll hear from them coming up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Capitol Hill over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 where mental health policy is falling short in the U.S. But we begin with John Bolton, former Trump National Security Adviser, who discusses the War in Iran and the proposed "Memorandum of Understanding" to end the conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 in better than most expected. Labor Department says 115,000 jobs were created, and the unemployment rate stayed at 4.3%; President Donald Trump hosts a Mother's Day luncheon at the White House for mothers whose children were killed in military service or by illegal immigrants. President says of the latter, "they saw their precious children stolen from them by the open border policies of the radical left"; Great Britain's ruling Labour Party led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer loses big in local elections against the upstart Reform UK Party led by Nigel Farage. We talk about it with C-SPAN's Westminster Correspondent Peter Knowles (40) ; Pentagon releases a batch of declassified files on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), also called UFO's. We talk about that with Associated Press White House reporter Colin Binkley. (51) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, in many cases reductions, in how the federal government helps states respond to natural disasters. We will hear from the council co-chair and talk about it with Andrew Rumbach, Co-Lead, Climate and Communities Program with the Urban Institute (34); Republican majority in the Tennessee legislature passes and the Republican governor signs into law a new congressional district map aimed at flipping the only Democratic seat in the nine member Congressional delegation to Republican; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) hosts a National Day of Prayer program in the Capitol Building; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy takes the first ride on the "Freedom 250" Acela train to celebrate America's 250th anniversary; National Capitol Planning Commission meets to consider President Trump's proposal to paint the Eisenhower Executive Office Building's gray granite exterior bright white. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Committee in the investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; major party candidates are set in the Ohio U.S. Senate race after Tuesday's primaries: incumbent Republican Jon Husted vs. former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown; national debt reaches 100% of GDP, highest since World War II; Border Czar Tom Homan threatens a federal immigration enforcement surge in New York if that state passes a sanctuary law; CNN founder Ted Turner has died age of 87.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) celebrates Cinco de Mayo; Vice President JD Vance votes in Cincinnati, Ohio on this primary day; President Trump signs a proclamation bringing back the Presidential Physical Fitness Test; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. outlines steps to reduce what he says is the overprescription of antidepressants; apparently successful petition is submitted to the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada election office to trigger an independence referendum for the province. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First day of a new strategy President Donald Trump calls Project Freedom to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and there are reports of attacks by both the U.S. and Iran; Spirit Airlines goes out of business over the weekend, blaming the rising cost of fuel from the war with Iran, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is pointing to a Biden Administration decision to block a merger with JetBlue a few years ago; Supreme Court blocks a lower court ruling that had stopped access to the abortion pill mifepristone at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor; two National Guard members who saved the lives of civilians and other servicemembers during last year's targeted attack on the Guard on Washington, DC streets, receive medals at the Pentagon for their bravery; Justice Department announces the investigation of potential antitrust violations in U.S. cattle and beef meatpacking markets that have led to high beef prices; Ireland is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords, the U.S.-led effort to establish rules for the exploration and commercialization of the moon, Mars and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced lawmakers on both sides of Capitol Hill—pressed on U.S. policy in Iran, military posture, and the path forward amid rising global tensions. Across town, a royal visit drew attention and diplomatic focus—as King Charles III arrived in Washington, highlighting the state of U.S.-U.K. relations at a complicated moment. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers moved major legislation—passing an extension of FISA surveillance authorities and advancing a budget reconciliation package after a marathon round of votes in the Senate. And in the aftermath of the White House Correspondents' Dinner, questions lingered about political rhetoric and security following a high-profile incident that drew bipartisan reaction. That’s all ahead on The Weekly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: A conversation with Axios Chief Economic Correspondent Neil Irwin about the looming change in leadership at the Federal Reserve and how the ongoing Iran conflict is muddying the economic picture in the U-S.. Then: A discussion about sexual misconduct allegations by Member of Congress and other public officials with Emma Davidson Tribbs from the National Women's Defense League. Finally: Retired U.S. Army Major General Randy Manner discusses the latest developments in the U.S.-Iran war and recent firings at the Pentagon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says he is rejecting the latest offer from Iran to end the war with the U.S. and Israel, and the President says he is not complying with the War Powers Act to withdraw U.S. forces after 60 days or get Congressional authorization because no other President has followed that law. His administration is also arguing the 60-day clock stopped with the ceasefire; President Trump has threatened this week to withdraw U.S. troops from Germany and some other European countries whose leaders have been critical of his handling of the war with Iran. We will talk about that with Wall Street Journal National Security Correspondent Michael Gordon (13) ; The President visits The Villages retirement community in Florida to promote new tax provisions that benefit seniors such as 'no tax on Social Security'; President Trump withdraws the nomination of Dr. Casey Means for Surgeon General, who had lost support of pivotal Republican Senators and nominates Dr. Nicole Saphier instead. We will talk about that with Associated Press National Political Reporter Ali Swenson (36); former President Joe Biden makes his first endorsement of the campaign season, Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor of Georgia; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) gives life-lesson advice to the graduates at her alma mater, Michigan State University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Day 76 of the Homeland Security Department shutdown, the House joins the Senate in passing a full fiscal-year spending bill to fund all the department's agencies except ICE & CBP; Illinois Accountability Commission releases its final report on what it says were abuses by federal immigration agents in Chicago; Commerce Department says core inflation is 3.2%, driven by higher fuel prices from the war with Iran; Senate votes for a sixth time almost along party lines to block a Democratic resolution to require the U.S. stop military action against Iran without Congressional authorization; President Donald Trump signs an executive order to create a new government website where people can find and compare private-sector retirement savings accounts; House passes a five-year farm bill, after passing an amendment to remove a provision that would have given pesticide companies immunity from some liability claims; FCC Chair Brendan Carr says the White House did not pressure the commission to start an early review of Disney's broadcast licenses over President Trump's feud with ABC late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel; Senate bans Senators from betting on prediction markets; King Charles III & Queen Camilla finish up their state visit to the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran War hits the 60 day mark, and President Donald Trump is asked when it might end and the Strait of Hormuz might reopen; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies before a Congressional committee for the first time since the start of the Iran War, saying the biggest obstacle for U.S. success in the war is Congressional Democrats and some Republicans; Pentagon's Chief Financial Officer testifies that the cost of the war so far is $25 billion; Federal Reserve votes to leave interest rates unchanged, and chair Jerome Powell says he plans to stay on as Fed governor after his term as chair expires in two weeks because the Justice Department's criminal investigation of him is not fully settled; Senate Banking Committee approves the president's nominee for the next Fed chair, Kevin Warsh, in a party line vote; House passes a 3-year reauthorization of FISA Sect. 702 spying power, with opponents looking to add a requirement for a warrant to record Americans' conversations; Supreme Court strikes down a Louisiana Congressional district map as unconstitutional racial gerrymandering; Supreme Court hears oral argument in a case about the Trump Administration's efforts to end deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians and Syrians in the U.S.; former Attorney General Pam Bondi has scheduled a date to be interviewed by the House Oversight Committee in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation; Great Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla receive a state visit welcome at the White House, and the King addresses a joint meeting of Congress. President Donald Trump says 'Americans have had no closer friends than the British.' King Charles emphasizes the two countries' history of “reconciliation and renewal” and says the U.S.-UK bond is ‘irreplaceable and unbreakable.’ We hear from both and speak about the royal visit with c-span's Westminster Correspondent Peter Knowles (11); Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on charges alleging he threatened President Trump when he posted an image of seashells spelling out “8647” on his Instagram last year; U.S. House is trying again to move forward with this week's agenda, including reauthorization of the foreign spying power known as FISA Sect. 702, the Farm Bill, and budget reconciliation, the process for funding immigration agencies with only Republican votes; Florida's legislative starts debate on a mid-decade Congressional redistricting plan that could give Republicans four more U.S. House seats; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani extends the deadline to present a budget, as he seeks from the state government authorization to collect more revenue and close a multi-billion dollar budget gap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A man is now facing federal charges after an alleged attempt to assassinate the president at the White House Correspondents Dinner—sending shockwaves through Washington and prompting urgent questions about political violence and security. In this episode, we break down the charges against Cole Tomas Allen, what investigators say about his alleged motive, and what officials—including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt—are saying publicly. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both parties weigh in on the attack and the increasingly heated political climate, all while racing to finish key business before recess—including renewing FISA Section 702 and ending the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. We’ll bring you the latest details, reaction from Washington, and what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war in Iran continues to dominate Washington, as lawmakers debate U.S. involvement and once again reject an effort to limit the President’s war powers. Back at home, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner brings together media and political leaders for a night of headlines, humor, and sharp contrasts amid a tense political climate. And in Virginia, a newly approved redistricting plan is already reshaping the political map — setting up key battles that could influence control of Congress in the upcoming elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: The redistricting battle continued this week as voters in Virginia approved a new congressional map favoring Democrats. We speak with NOTUS politics reporter Reese Gorman about how the President's move to START the gerrymander war MAY be backfiring… Then: a conversation with author and political commentator Sophia Nelson about her new book "Redefining Freedom: Thoughts on Bridging Divides and Renewing the American Promise at 250." Finally: Substack author and independent journalist Hollie McKay discusses her reporting on how AI videos and images are shaping public opinion in the Iran conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justice Department ends the criminal investigation of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, which could mean the man nominated to be his successor, Kevin Warsh, will be confirmed by the Senate; White House says President Donald Trump is sending his special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan tomorrow for new peace talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. is in no rush for a deal with Iran to end the war, and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz can continue 'as long as it takes'; Secretary of State Marco Rubio signs a critical minerals agreement with the European Union Trade Commissioner; Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) gives an update on the battles against wildfires in his state; interview with Deadline Political Editor Ted Johnson about President Trump going to the White House Correspondents Association dinner Saturday for the first time in his presidency (30); interview with Politico's Food and Agriculture Reporter Grace Yarrow about House debating the Farm Bill next week (41); Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-NYC) creates a new office to tackle home deed theft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump when asked by a reporter how long he is willing to wait until he gets a response from Iran to U.S. peace proposals, replies, 'Don't rush me'; Senate Republicans take the first step in budget reconciliation, passing a budget resolution after a long session that ended in the middle of night, that will allow them to pass three years of funding for federal immigration enforcement without Democratic votes and the reforms the Democrats have demanded; House passes legislation waiving federal drilling permit requirements for geothermal operations; President Trump announces a drug pricing agreement with the pharmaceutical company Regeneron, last of 17 drug companies targeted by the administration; Justice Department reclassifies medical marijuana as a lower-risk drug. We will talk about it with Washington Post White House reporter Dan Diamond (32); Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduces a bill aimed at preventing what he sees as unconstitutional surveillance by the federal government. This comes as a key foreign spying tool – known as Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702 – expires in a week and debate heats up over how to protect Americans who have their conversations recorded inadvertently; U.S. Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro announces charges against two Chinese nationals accused of running a 'scam compound' in Burma that targeted Americans to steal their life savings, perhaps $700 million in all; First Lady Melania Trump speaks at the annual First Lady's Luncheon for spouses of elected officials; Children of reporters ask House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) questions on National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran renews its attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and calls the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports a violation of the ceasefire, as efforts are reportedly underway behind the scenes to schedule another round of peace talks; Senate votes down another Iran War Powers resolution offered by Democrats to cut off President Trump's authority to continue the war; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defends easing sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil at Senate committee hearing; Democrats celebrate Virginia voters passing a congressional redistricting referendum that favors their party, while President Trump claims the result was 'rigged'; Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) on this Earth Day announces three new state parks; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is asked about abortion medication & vaccine policies, as he finishes up testifying at congressional hearings on the Trump Administration's proposed health care budget for FY2027; Rep. David Scott (D-GA) has died at age 80. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh tells the Senate Banking Committee at his confirmation hearing that he will be "strictly independent." Committee ranking Democrat Elizabeth Warren (MA) says Warsh would be President Donald Trump's 'sock puppet' in following the president's wishes to cut interest rates; President Trump extends the ceasefire with Iran 'until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal'; Senate Republicans unveil their plan to fund the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection for the next 3 ½ years to be passed without the need for Democratic votes, or the Democrats' demands for immigration enforcement reforms; Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormic (D-FL) resigns minutes before the House Ethics Committee was to meet to decide her punishment for ethics violations; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says U.S. military members will no longer be required to get a flu vaccine; CMS Admin Dr. Mehmet Oz talks about a plan to require states go after Medicaid fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump said today the ceasefire with Iran will end “Wednesday evening Washington time….and that it’s "highly unlikely” he would extend it; Vice President Vance and other US officials are expected to leave for Pakistan tomorrow ahead of a potential second round of talks with Iran; Congress works to extend FISA Section 702; and there's possible Republican support on limiting President Trump's war powers against Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war with Iran intensifies as U.S. operations continue and tensions rise in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of broader escalation. At the same time, a rare and escalating clash unfolds between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the conflict, highlighting a deep divide between Washington and the Vatican. Back on Capitol Hill, lawmakers move to extend key surveillance authorities under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, reigniting debate over national security and Americans’ privacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: As millions of Americans filed their 2025 taxes this past week - a discussion with Wall Street Journal reporter Richard Rubin about how the Trump administration is actually scaling back tax enforcement. Then: Congressional hearings began this week on the President's 2027 budget request – including $1.5 Trillion dollars for defense spending. We'll dig into the numbers with Bobby Kogan of the Center for American Progress and Veronique de Rugy from the Mercatus Center. Finally: we end with a conversation with writer and truck driver - Gord Magill on his new book "End of the Road: Inside the War on Truckers." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Both President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister say the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, but President Trump says the U.S. naval blockade of shipping to and from Iranian ports continues; France and Britain say they will lead a multinational defensive mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz that will be deployed only after a lasting peace is agreed to; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is questioned at a House hearing about vaccine policy, dietary guidelines and President Trump's mental fitness; A 10-day extension of FISA Section 702 warrantless wiretap authority is approved by the House & Senate, after an overnight House session where proposals to try to satisfy Republicans seeking greater protections against surveillance of Americans fail to pass. We will talk about it with The Hill's National Security Reporter Rebecca Beitsch (40); Democrat Analilia Meija beats Republican Joe Hathaway in a New Jersey 11th Congressional District special election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon, to pause the war between Israel & Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Trump says the next round of negotiations in the war between the U.S. & Iran could happen this weekend; House votes down by just a few votes an Iran War Powers resolution to limit the president's authority to wage war on Iran without Congressional approval; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compares news media criticizing the U.S. war with Iran to the Pharisees, the biblical Jewish group who criticized Jesus; House passes a bill to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitian immigrants living in the U.S., as the Trump Administration is looking to revoke that protection; Senate joins the House overturning a Joe Biden-era environmental regulation banning mining operations on federal land in Minnesota's Superior National Forest; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. testifies before the House Ways & Means Committee on rooting out health care spending fraud; astronauts from the Artemis II moon mission hold their first news conference since returning to Earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is Tax Day, the deadline to file federal and most state tax returns. IRS CEO and Members of Congress are talking about the changes to your tax bill from last year's tax cut legislation known by supporters as the One Big Beautiful Bill; Senate votes down for a fourth time an Iran War Powers Act Resolution that would require President Donald Trump to end military action against Iran without Congressional authorization; President Trump continues his posts attacking Pope Leo XIV over the Pope's criticism of the war with Iran; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicts the prices of gasoline, now averaging about $4 a gallon, will drop to $3 by summer; House Republican majority postpones a procedural vote on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), warrantless surveillance authority, which expires Monday, after a group of conservative Republicans demanded more protections against the incidental collection of Americans' communications; First Lady Melania Trump goes to Capitol Hill for a roundtable discussion with Members of Congress on foster care reform; Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gives a speech at the University of Texas at Austin on America's 250th Anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) resign amid accusations of sexual misconduct, and another woman comes forward saying Swalwell drugged, raped and choked her; Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosts talks in Washington with the Ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon on reaching a settlement to end with the war between Israel and Hezbollah; President Donald Trump says the U.S.-Iran negotiations to end the war could resume soon; Republicans in Congress are moving ahead with plans to fund immigration enforcement with only Republican votes, and without the reforms Democrats have demanded to end the Homeland Security Department shutdown; solemn Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony is held at the U.S. Capitol; Vice President JD Vance talks about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban losing reelection; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) announces the location of the first of his promised city-run grocery stores with lower food prices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A U.S. military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is now underway after peace talks with Iran collapsed over the weekend in Islamabad, raising tensions in an already volatile region. President Trump is warning Iranian vessels to stay clear, even as he insists diplomatic talks are still ongoing. At the same time, the President is escalating his criticism of Pope Leo following the pontiff’s condemnation of the war—controversy that comes after the White House quietly deleted a social media post depicting Trump as Jesus. Back in Washington, lawmakers return from a two-week recess facing key votes in both chambers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The war involving Iran dominates the week, as tensions rise and a fragile ceasefire is tested. Melania Trump delivers rare public remarks drawing attention in Washington, while oil prices climb near $100 a barrel amid growing global uncertainty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: A discussion about the latest in Iran including the two-week ceasefire and efforts to negotiate a peace deal, with Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Then: Sophia Besch of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discusses NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's visit to Washington and President Trump's threats to leave NATO. And finally: Breaking Defense's Ashley Roque discusses the cost of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran and the Pentagon's $200B funding request. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President JD Vance warns Iran not to 'play' the U.S. ahead of talks in Pakistan to end the war. He says, 'If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand'; Iran's Parliament Speaker says Israel must stop bombing Lebanon before negotiations begin; former Vice President Kamala Harris says what she calls President Trump's 'war of choice' with Iran will cause long-term damage to the U.S. She also says she is considering running for president again in 2028; President Donald Trump's latest 10% global tariffs are challenged before the U.S. Court of International Trade. We will talk about it with Reuters reporter Dietrich Knauth (25); Top Senate Republicans meet with President Trump on a plan to fund immigration enforcement within the still-closed Department of Homeland Security with only Republican votes; California's Attorney General Rob Bonta announces a major operation to prosecute health care fraud; Artemis II moon mission crew returns to Earth tonight; former Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) has died. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says he sensed President Donald Trump's disappointment with European allies who were not helping at the start of the war with Iran, but he insists they are stepping up now, especially to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, which is still effectively closed by Iran as they claim Israeli violations of the current ceasefire. General Rutte also says, 'Let me be clear: This alliance is not whistling past the graveyard as you would say in the United States'; U.S. House Democrats try to pass a War Powers Resolution to stop President Trump from waging war on Iran with Congressional authorization, but a Republican presiding over the brief House session does not recognize them to make the motion; IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva says the Iran war will mean the IMF will downgrade its forecast for the world economy; First Lady Melania Trump criticizes what she calls “lies linking me to the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein”, the late convicted sex offender; Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is asked by a University of Alabama Law School student about bridging political divides with other justices; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) takes part in Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network conference in New York City; NASA expresses confidence in the Artemis II moon mission capsule heat shield that will allow the crew of four to land back safely on Earth Friday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Challenges on the first full day of the Iran War two week ceasefire with the White House & Iran disagreeing over whether Israel's war with Hezbollah in Lebanon is covered, and if in fact, as Iranian state media claims, Iran has closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships because Israel is still fighting in Lebanon; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. has secured an 'historic and overwhelming victory' over Iran, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) calls President Donald Trump a 'military moron' and says Democrats will force a vote on a War Powers Resolution next week 'to end this war for good'; Republican Clay Fuller wins easily in the Georgia 14th Congressional District special election runoff and thanks President Trump for the victory; Political activist Ralph Nader helps organize a symposium on impeaching President Trump; Artemis II moon mission astronauts are two days away from Earth splashdown; National Capital Planning Commission hears a proposal to spruce up Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump posts ahead of his threatened deadline to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on electrical infrastructure and bridges, 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will'; China & Russia veto a United Nations Security Council resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, sponsored by Bahrain and supported by the U.S., because, China & Russia say, it blames Iran for closing the strait to commercial shipping but not the U.S. & Israel for starting the war; Artemis II astronauts speak to NASA scientists on their way back to Earth about what they saw when they flew around the moon; Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin visits western North Carolina to discuss FEMA's work to help the area recover from recent hurricanes; Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says at his first news conference since replacing Pam Bondi that accusations the Trump administration is weaponizing the Justice Department are 'completely false'; Vice President JD Vance campaigns in Budapest for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's reelection, and President Trump calls into the rally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump shares details of servicemember's rescue and threatens Iran's infrastructure. Artemis II astronauts break the record for farthest human travel away from Earth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, we're featuring three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: We hear from Global Affairs Journalist Elise Labott on President Trump's address to the nation Thursday night on Iran – and what she's watching in the days ahead as the conflict continues. Then: we look to the skies with Space journalist Kristin Fisher on the future of space exploration with this week's launch of the Artemis II manned rocket. Finally, it's been a year since President Trump announced his "Liberation Day" tariffs. We take a closer look at the impact of the President's tariffs agenda on the economy with Jeff Ferry of the Coalition for a Prosperous America and Michael Negron of the Center for American Progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An American fighter jet shot down over Iran, two crewmembers ejecting, one safely rescued by U.S. forces, and the search continues for the other; President Donald Trump proposed a federal budget for next year that include a 42% increase in defense spending, to $1.5 trillion; Labor Department says the U.S. created 178,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate ticked lower to 4.3%.  but are their warning signs due to the war with Iran? We will talk with MarketWatch Economics Editor Greg Robb (10); NASA gives a status report on the Artemis II mission to the moon; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche talks about taking over as acting Attorney General when Pam Bondi leaves; debate for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court; America250 Chair Rosie Rios on latest events to celebrate the nation's semiquincentennial; On this Good Friday before Easter Sunday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt talks about the importance of her faith, and that of others work in the White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says Attorney General Pam Bondi will be leaving the Justice Department to take a position in the private sector, and will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche; A day after President Trump's primetime speech on the war with Iran, during which he said the U.S. & Israel will "hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks….We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong,” United Nations Secretary General Antonio Gutteres warns the world is “on the edge of a wider war.” We will talk about where the war with Iran stands with Elise Labott, founder of 'Cosmopolitics' Substack Founder (16); Senate passes an agreement to end the Homeland Security Department shutdown, but the House does not, so the partial government shutdown will extend into next week; National Capital Planning Commission gives final approval to his plans to build a 1,000 seat White House ballroom where the East Wing used to be; Labor Department publishes a rule to implement the President's proposal to allow 401(k) retirement plans to contain alternative assets, like cryptocurrency and private equity. We will talk with Brett Samuels, Bloomberg Law retirement benefits reporter (44); Health & Human Services Department puts microplastics and pharmaceuticals on the draft list of drinking water contaminants kept by the Environmental Protection Agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supreme Court hears a challenge to President Donald Trump's Executive Order ending birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and President Trump attends, a first for a sitting president. We will hear some of the oral argument and talk about the case with USA Today White House Correspondent Bart Jansen (9); President Trump is giving a primetime address tonight on the war with Iran after telling reporters he expects the war to end in two to three weeks; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is asked about President Trump saying he is considering withdrawing the U.S. from NATO after European allies have not shown an eagerness to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to allow oil tankers to pass; Vice President JD Vance, chair of the new anti-fraud task force swears-in Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the new fraud enforcement division at the Justice Department; NASA gets ready to launch the Artemis II mission sending four astronauts around the moon, the first time humans have gotten that close to the moon in 50 years; Passover holiday message from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supreme Court strikes down a Colorado law that banned 'conversation therapy' for LGBTQ+ children. We will talk about the decision with The Hill's Supreme Court reporter Zach Schonfeld (1); Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the role of the U.S. military in Iran is to 'negotiate with bombs' and 'ensure that we compel' the current regime to realize it is 'in a better place if they make that deal" to end the war; President Donald Trump posts that countries not able to get oil due to Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz should buy it from the U.S. or "build up some delayed courage" and fight for it; United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting after three UN peacekeepers are killed in southern Lebanon, amid the military conflict between Israel & Hezbollah; Federal judge rules President Trump's White House ballroom construction must stop without Congressional approval; U.S. Homeland Security Department is still shutdown, now at a record 46 days; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum convenes the Endangered Species Committee for the first time in 30 years to approve a national security exemption to the Endangered Species Act for oil & gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico; one day until NASA launches the Artemis II moon mission; former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is honored by her original home state of Maryland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The situation in the Middle East has ramped up over the past few days as reports emerged that the U.S. may escalate the conflict in Iran with ground troops…. Meanwhile, over the weekend President Trump said there has been progress in talks with Iran…but that he wanted to QUOTE take the oil there if those talks don't pan out… Oil prices rose today to as much as $116 a barrel after that comment…. The average US gas price according to AAA—3 dollars and 99 cents a gallon… That’s the highest since 2022…. Americans are finding some relief at the airport…As security wait times have begun to ease as TSA employees are now receiving paychecks… But, with Congress on its two week Easter/Passover break, there is still no long term funding deal in sight for the Homeland Security Department… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Weekly — a look at the stories shaping the weekend's conversation around Washington. This week, the war in Iran continues to dominate the global stage — now stretching into another week of escalating tensions as U.S. officials weigh strategy. In the early morning hours on Friday, the Senate passed a measure to fund key parts of the Department of Homeland Security — a move aimed at easing disruptions at airports and getting some federal workers back on track. And on Capitol Hill, a development from the House Ethics Committee with its finding 25 out of 27 allegations against Florida Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick substantiated, putting her political future in question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: We speak with Representative Adam Smith -- top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee -- about ongoing conflict in Iran – now nearing the one-month mark. Then: we turn our attention to another global hotspot: CUBA – and President Trump’s continued threats targeting the leadership of THAT country. We speak with Cuba expert Professor William LeoGrande from American University about what he’s watching. Then: As the annual Conservative Political Action Committee convention continues this weekend, HENRY OLSEN – podcast host and Senior Fellow with the Ethics and Public Policy Center -- discusses how the Republican party is reacting to U.S. involvement in Iran – and what it could mean for upcoming midterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Partial government shutdown of the Homeland Security Department will continue for the time being, as House Republicans reject the bipartisan bill the Senate passed Thursday night to fund most of the agencies in the department except immigration enforcement, which has been the focus of the dispute between Republicans and Democrats, and instead are moving ahead with a separate bill to fund the entire department for eight weeks, including immigration enforcement; President Donald Trump speaks to farmers on the South Lawn of the White House, touting his agenda he says has helped them, including $12 billion in direct aid he says comes from tariff revenue; Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks about the war in Iran and peace negotiations with his G7 counterparts at a ministerial meeting in France; We will talk about the state of the Iran war, about to hit the one month mark, with Elise Labott, 'Cosmopolitics' Substack Founder (22); Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduces a bill to codify the roles of women in combat, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly ordered a review of the policy's military effectiveness; Vice President JD Vance holds the first meeting of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which he chairs; actress and activist Jane Fonda speaks at a protest against Trump Administration policies on freedom of expression outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Republicans present Senate Democrats what they call a 'last and final' offer to reopen the Homeland Security Department, now shut for 41 days, and fund FEMA & TSA, paying government workers again, and hopefully alleviating hours-long airport security lines. Democrats have been holding out until federal immigration enforcement reforms are included; Senate Democrats block a Republican-sponsored amendment to require voters show a photo ID to cast a ballot in federal elections. This is part of the larger debate on a bill that also includes a requirement to prove U.S. citizenship to register to vote; President Donald Trump says Iran is begging to make a deal to end the war with the U.S. & Israel; House Ethics Committee holds a rare public hearing in the case of Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) who is accused of using millions of dollars of Federal Emergency Management Agency money mistakenly sent to her family’s health care company to run for Congress; New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) speaks on this Equal Pay Day, which represents how far into the new year a woman must work to earn what men earned, on average, the previous year; International Olympic Committee bans transgender athletes starting with the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) speaks at a ceremony on this second anniversary of the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the U.S. military operation against Iran is ahead of schedule and dismisses Iranian state TV reporting Iran has rejected a U.S.-proposed 15-point peace plan; Senate Democrats present another counteroffer, immediately rejected by Republicans, to reopen the shuttered Homeland Security Department… which has been closed for 40 days due to ongoing disagreements over whether and how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be reformed; TSA Acting Administrator talks about the hardships of unpaid TSA officers due to the shutdown and of travelers stuck in long airport security screening lines; Jury finds social media company Meta & video streaming service YouTube liable for harming a young user with design features that were addictive and led to her mental health distress; First Lady Melania Trump is introduced by a humanoid robot at her Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit; Supreme Court hears a case about worker rights, asking if a delivery driver who delivers that travel in interstate commerce but who does cross the border himself or interact with vehicles which do is subject to or exempt from a federal arbitration law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says negotiations to end the Iran war are happening 'right now' and Iran is 'talking sense', and 'They’ve agreed…(t)hey will never have a nuclear weapon.' Iran denies there are any talks; A possible deal is emerging to end the Homeland Security Department shutdown by funding most of the department, including the Transportation Security Administration, whose agents have going without pay, many not showing up for work, leading to long security lines at airports. The deal will not fund ICE enforcement and removal operations, whose possible reform is an area of disagreement between Democrats & Republicans; Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin takes the oath of office at a White House ceremony with President Trump; Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) appoints energy executive Alan Armstrong to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Markwayne Mullin; Supreme Court hears a challenge a proposed revival of a Trump Administration policy of not accepting asylum claims of migrants at the southern border when the lines get too long because they have not 'arrived in the U.S.,' as the law requires; House passes a federal boxing bill named for Muhammad Ali. We will talk about it with Professor Michael McCann, director of the Sports & Entertainment Law Institute at the University of New Hampshire (41); NASA Admin. Jared Isaacman changes some plans for the return to the moon, saying instead of a space station in lunar orbit, the goal is to build a permanent moon base. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices