Washington Today

House passes a bill almost unanimously to release all of the files in the federal investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, where the prince pledges to invest $1 trillion in the U.S and the president dismisses a question about the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence pinned on Saudi Arabia, saying the prince was not involved, Khashoggi was "extremely controversial", and "Whether you liked him or didn’t like him, things happen”; House passes a resolution criticizing Congressman Chuy Garcia (D-IL) for deciding not to seek reelection only after only one other Democrat had qualified for the primary – his chief of staff; Federal Reserve board member Michael Barr warns there is 'real danger' to weakening the Fed's oversight of bank operations; National Transportation Safety Board points to a loose wire and faulty fuel pump as the causes of the blackouts on the cargo ship Dali that led to the collision with, and collapse of, the Key Bridge in Baltimore in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says he will sign a bill into law to release all the files from the federal investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein if it passes Congress, a reversal from his position a few days ago. He says he does not want the Epstein issue to be a distraction from all the legislative accomplishments of the Republican party. House Rules Committee takes up the Epstein files release bill today, ahead of expected House floor debate and a vote Tuesday. Federal immigration agents descend on Charlotte, North Carolina to make arrests. Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) says, "it's not making us safer, it's stoking fear and dividing our community." President Trump talks about immigration when asked about his comment that he would meet with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as the U.S. continues to use military strikes against suspected drug carrying boats and to deploy military assets to the Caribbean. President Trump threatens to endorse primary opponents of Republican Indiana state lawmakers, after they hold up a Congressional redistricting effort designed to win additional Republican U.S. House seats. Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks at a food allergy forum about new research to find the causes. United Nations Security Council passes a resolution on President Trump's Gaza peace plan. 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 Congress ends the longest government shutdown in history – a conversation with Real Clear Politics President Tom Bevan on the winners and losers – if it'll matter in the midterm elections. Then – the other big political story this week on Capitol Hill: renewed efforts to release the Epstein files -- with a vote scheduled next week. That conversation with former federal prosecutor and Politico Magazine writer Ankush Khardori. Finally – as America celebrated our veterans earlier this week – we chat with Paul Rieckhoff – founder and CEO of the group Independent Veterans of America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New survey of Americans finds seven in 10 say raising children is now unaffordable; Trump Administration prepares to lower tariffs on some food items such as coffee & fruit, and announces a new trade deal with Switzerland; Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) visits a food bank in Chicago as federal food aid money through the SNAP program is now restarted with the federal government reopened; We will also hear from Sen. Durbin and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) on FY26 funding & health care debates and votes to be completed in the next few months; President Donald Trump calls for the investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's involvement with former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, Democratic mega-donor Reid Hoffman, wall street firm JP Morgan Chase and others, as Epstein emails mentioning Donald Trump are released this week and the House will vote next week on whether to release all the Epstein files; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MN) talks about what Democrats can learn from President Trump's campaigning and governing style; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally hangs a new plaque at a Pentagon entrance that reads "Department of War". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First day of the federal government reopening following a record-long shutdown, and now the work begins to send the government employees who were furloughed back pay, get SNAP food aid benefits that were held up to beneficiaries' accounts and get air travel back to normal; Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces $10,000 bonuses for TSA officers who came to work without being paid during the shutdown; more reflections on the deal in the U.S. Senate at the start of the week with eight Democrats that reopened the government without getting the health care demands that the other Senate Democrats wanted. We will hear from a Democratic & Republican Senator; President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order on First Lady Melania Trump's "Fostering the Future" initiative to help children in, and those transitioning out of foster care. The First Lady urges Americans to “Rise above the ease of inaction"; group of House Democrats blame Republicans in part for not being able to attend the COP30 global climate talks in Brazil; three fired immigration judges talk about the Trump Administration asylum & deportation policies at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history is about to end with the House Republicans expected to join the Senate in passing a bill to fund most of the government through January and part of the government for the full fiscal year, through September 2026. House Democrats are speaking out against the bill because it does not have an extension of Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies they have been demanding. A provision the Senate added to the bill to allow Senators to sue for half a million dollars if their phone data was collected in a federal investigation is coming under House scrutiny. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says the House will vote next week to repeal it. Vice President JD Vance speaks at the Make American Healthy Again (MAHA) summit in DC. House Oversight Committee Democrats release emails in which the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein suggested President Donald Trump knew more about Epstein's alleged sex trafficking that he has admitted. Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) is sworn in, weeks after she won a special election. President Trump threat to sue the BBC for $1 billion over its edits of a speech he gave prior to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol comes up during Prime Minister's Question Time. Leonardo DiCaprio, actor & environmentalist, gives a eulogy to the late conservationist Jane Goodall at her funeral at Washington National Cathedral. U.S. Mint says it has stopped producing pennies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Veterans Day holiday, President Donald Trump travels to Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who have served in the U.S. military and to highlight his administration's efforts to provide veterans with benefits they have earned. He also says, "we're not going to be politically correct anymore. From now on when we fight a war, we only fight for one reason: to win"; Federal government shutdown, now on Day 42, could end Wednesday, when the House plans to vote on the bill the Senate passed Monday night to reopen the government. But in the meantime, the shutdown fallout continues. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discusses cancellations and delays at the airports; The two Republican Senators from Kentucky vote on opposite sides on whether to allow sales of hemp-derived THC 'intoxicating' products; National Civics Bee crowns a 14-year-old winner from Ohio; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the deteriorating situation in South Sudan. Trump Administration blames the transitional government's mismanagement of international aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate is expected to vote to fund the government and end the shutdown this evening. On Sunday, lawmakers reached a deal and advanced the measure in a 60-40 vote, setting up this evening’s final action. The agreement---for now---includes funding to reopen the government until January and a vote on the expiring health care tax credits next month… Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson has instructed House lawmakers to make their way back to Washington for possible votes this week…. We'll hear from him, both Senate leaders…and the Senate Democrats who broke from their party coming up…… There is one thing complicating members' return---the ongoing flight cancellations because of the shutdown…The latest reports show more than 5,800 flights had been delayed and nearly 2,000 canceled….That's because of air traffic controller shortages as a result of the shutdown…Their union president talked about how his members are dealing with the shutdown. 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: Kirk Bado -- editor of National Journal's "Hotline" -- discusses Tuesday night's off-year election results and what it means for the upcoming midterm elections. Then: a conversation with Democratic Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona about her delayed swearing-in to Congress – and how it's impacting her constituents in her Tucson district. Plus: we speak with former Trump CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield about his new book – and his reflections of how the first Trump administration handled the covid pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) makes a new offer to Republicans to end the federal government shutdown, now at Day 38, that includes a one-year extension of expiring Affordable Care Act health insurance premium tax credits; U.S. Agriculture Department says it is working to comply with a federal judge's order to fully fund SNAP food aid benefits for November, even as the Administration is appealing the ruling; More than 1,000 flights across the country have been canceled as the Federal Aviation Administration begins to cut 4 percent of flights, scheduled to ramp up to 10 percent in the coming days, due to air traffic controller staffing shortages during the government shutdown; Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), staunch ally of President Donald Trump, announces she is running for New York governor. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) is seeking reelection; Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban visits the White House and asks President Trump for an exemption to sanctions for Russian oil imports; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces changes to how the Pentagon buys weapons, saying the goal is to operate on “wartime footing,” rapidly accelerate capabilities, focus on results, and build an “arsenal of freedom”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats hold lengthy, separate, private meetings on Day 37 of the federal government shutdown strategizing on how to end the stalemate. Republicans may bring to a vote a new proposal that includes some regular spending bills and a promise for a vote on extending health insurance premium tax credits; President Donald Trump comments on plans to cut 10% of airline flights at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports due to air traffic controller staffing shortages during the government shutdown; House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announces she will not run for reelection after nearly 40 years in Congress; President Trump announces a deal with the makers of popular weight loss drugs to drastically cut prices; Senate defeats a resolution that would have blocked the President from conducting military operations against Venezuela; leaders of five Central Asian countries are in Washington as the Trump Administration looks to secure new sources of rare earth minerals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supreme Court hears a case brought by business owners challenging whether President Donald Trump had the power to declare national emergencies to implement global tariffs. Most news articles suggesting the answer is 'no', We will hear some of the oral argument and talk with The Hill's Legal Affairs reporter Zach Schonfeld (1); Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announces a 10% reduction in scheduled airline flight capacity at the nation's top 40 high-traffic markets due to the federal government shutdown, now at a record Day 36, and strain on air traffic controllers not being paid although required to work. President Trump meets with Senate Republicans and again calls for the Senate filibuster rule to be abolished so that the Republicans can reopen the government and pass other legislation with a simple majority vote instead of the 60 votes needed, bypassing the objections and demands of Democrats; President and party leaders react to the sweeping election night victories by Democrats in the races for Virginia & New Jersey governors, New York City mayor, and in the California Congressional districting ballot initiative. We will also hear from the incoming officeholders. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Intelligence Committee vice chair, speaks to reporters after a closed door briefing by the Secretaries of Defense & State on the Trump Administration's military strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats off the coast of Venezuela.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's election day, with key races for New York City mayor, New Jersey and Virginia governors and California's congressional redistricting ballot initiative; Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) announces a commission to explore congressional redistricting in his state with the aim of flip the only Republican-held seat to Democratic; It's Day 35 of the federal government shutdown, tying the record for the longest ever. Another Senate vote fails to reopen the government, but bipartisan talks about a path are ongoing; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the Trump Administration will comply with a court order to fund the SNAP food aid program through emergency funds. This comes after President Trump posts that the funding would go out only after the government reopens; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warn of "mass chaos" in air travel if the government does not reopen by next week, when air traffic controllers will miss a second paycheck; former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at age 84. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's day 34 of the government shutdown… and this afternoon the Trump administration said it will provide half benefits to Americans who receive federal food assistance…That after states filed lawsuits against the White House to fund SNAP with an emergency reserve… Meanwhile, members of both parties are looking for a way out after weeks of minimal progress….including a group of Democratic senators and a bipartisan group of House members….House and Senate leadership talked to reporters today…We'll play for you what they said… And one day more until election day 2025…it's first of President Trump’s second term…. And Voters will choose new governors in Virginia and New Jersey…a new mayor in New York City…and new congressional districts in California…We'll talk about it with National Journal Hotline editor Kirk Bado coming up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, two segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: A conversation with award-winning documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein who discuss their upcoming PBS' series "The American Revolution." Then: National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen discusses his new book, "The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge orders the Trump administration to use emergency funds to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the federal government shutdown, which is now on Day 31; Senate Republicans do not appear eager to heed President Donald Trump's call to get rid of the Senate filibuster to overcome Democratic opposition to the Republican bill that would reopen the federal government; President Donald Trump says media reports that he is considering military strikes on Venezuelan territory are not true, but questions continue from Members of Congress of both parties about the legal justification for the deadly military attacks on suspected illegal drug carrying boats off the Venezuelan coast; Just a few days until election day 2025. We will take a closer look at the race for governor in Virginia and New Jersey; Daylight Saving Time comes to end this weekend. There was another unsuccessful try this week in the Senate to pass a bill that would stop the twice-yearly clock switching and make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate votes to overturn President Donald Trump's global tariffs; President Trump touts trade deals he said he made in his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea; U.S government shutdown is now 30 days old. Saturday, federal funding will stop for the 42 million people on food aid program SNAP; nominee for head of U.S. Strategic Command is questioned at a Senate hearing about President Trump saying the U.S. is restarting nuclear weapons testing; Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Mark Warner (D-VA) criticizes the Trump Administration and his Republican Senate colleagues after a briefing on the legality of deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean excluded Democrats; Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) calls for a Halloween pause on federal immigration enforcement operations in Chicago; Virginia Democrats move a step closer to drawing new congressional districts lines for partisan gain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by a quarter point for the second time this year, but Fed Chair Powell says another rate cut in December is not a foregone conclusion given concerns about the job market. We hear from the Fed chair and talk with Reuters Federal Reserve Correspondent Howard Schneider (5); Federal government shutdown is now at Day 29. Senate Democrats try and fail over Republican objections to pass a bill to extend funding only for the federal food aid program SNAP; Senate votes with the support of five Republicans to overturn President Donald Trump's emergency declaration to impose 50 percent tariffs on Brazil; President Trump promotes U.S. & Southeast Asia investment and development at a CEO's luncheon at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea and previews his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping; Food & Drug Administration says it is looking to reduce the number of human clinical studies required for approval of certain biosimilar drugs to speed approval and reduce costs; Senate Veterans Affairs Committee holds a hearing on allegations of fraud in the VA disability benefits program; Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Judiciary Committee chair, talks about the news that many more Republicans were targeted in the Biden Justice Department's "Arctic Frost" investigation after the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On day 28 of the federal government shutdown, Senate fails to advance a temporary government bill to reopen the government for the 13th time. It is supported by most Republicans but opposed by most Democrats because it does not address expiring Affordable Care Act health insurance premium tax credits; two dozen states led by Democrats sue over the federal Agriculture Department's plans not to release emergency funding for federal food assistance starting this weekend; air traffic controllers, who must work without pay during the shutdown, miss their first paycheck. We will hear from Transportation Secretary & the president of the Air Traffic Controllers Union; President Donald Trump meets with Japan's new Prime Minister in his latest stop on his weeklong trip to Southeast Asia, calling her a "winner" and signing rare earth minerals deal; U.S. House Oversight Committee Republicans release a report on former President Joe Biden's mental fitness and use of an autopen, concluding that certain executive actions, including pardons, are void, and the Justice Department should investigate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate returned to Washington today with no end to the government shutdown in sight. Meanwhile, the effects are piling up, and food assistance for more than 40 million low-income Americans is at risk. Major airports are seeing more flight delays because of the growing air traffic controller shortage, and the largest federal workers union is urging Congress to pass a “clean” funding bill. We'll hear the latest from Senators Thune and Schumer & Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries about it coming up. President Trump is in Japan today. It's the second stop of his Asia tour…He started the day with a visit to Emperor Naruhito at Tokyo’s Imperial Palace. Meanwhile, US trade negotiators are reporting progress on a potential trade deal with China ahead of the president's expected meeting with President Xi Jinping later this week. The president spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices