Washington Today-logo

Washington Today

C-SPAN

Catch up on the biggest stories of the day from Washington with interviews and analysis from leading journalists. Posted weekdays at 6:30 pm ET. From C-SPAN, the network that brings you the "Q&A" podcast.

Location:

Washington, DC

Networks:

C-SPAN

Description:

Catch up on the biggest stories of the day from Washington with interviews and analysis from leading journalists. Posted weekdays at 6:30 pm ET. From C-SPAN, the network that brings you the "Q&A" podcast.

Twitter:

@cspanradio

Language:

English

Contact:

400 North Capitol Street NW Suite 650 Washington DC 20001 (202) 737-3220


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Weekend Edition: Federal Takeover of DC Police, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 2026 Midterm Elections

8/16/2025
In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: With this week's federal takeover of the DC police, we speak with Jillian Snider – a senior fellow at the R Street Institute and former NYPD officer - about the opportunities – and challenges – of the crackdown. Then: Axios Senior Economics Reporter Courtenay Brown discusses the controversy over the President's pick for the Bureau of Labor Statistics – and if Americans can trust future jobs reports. Finally: National Journal's Kirk Bado (BAY-doh) discusses the electoral landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections including redistricting battles and races to watch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:27:46

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

President Trump holds summit with Russian President Putin in Alaska, says he is 'not here to negotiate for Ukraine' and 'won't be happy' if does not get ceasefire

8/15/2025
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands on the tarmac at U.S. military base in Anchorage, Alaska, the start of a historic summit on how to end the war between Russia and Ukraine; District of Columbia sues the Trump Administration after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announces that an expansion of federal control of the city’s police department by installing an “emergency police commissioner” and revoking policies that limited officers’ cooperation with immigration enforcement; Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) announces the start of a second special legislative session after Democrats have successful blocked for two weeks passage of a redrawn congressional district map that would increase the number of Republican U.S. House seats; Mike Castle, former Republican Congressman and Governor from Delaware, has died at age 86. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:44:27

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Gov. Newsom says California will go forward with new Congressional district map designed to get Democrats five more U.S. House seats in response to Texas Republicans doing the same

8/14/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) announces his state will redraw Congressional district lines with the express purpose of Democrats gaining five U.S. House seats to offset what is happening in Texas where republicans are trying to pass a new map to net five seats for their party. Gov. Newsom calls it "liberation day for California"; President Donald Trump claims that the official crime data for Washington, DC is fake, and that crime in the nation's capital is the “worst it’s ever been”, as his deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops is ramping up; President Trump signs a proclamation on this 90th anniversary of the creation of Social Security, saying his administration is protecting and strengthening those programs. Democrats say that is not true; Wholesale inflation comes in unexpectedly hot in July; President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on their meeting tomorrow in Anchorage, Alaska on the war in Ukraine; Israel announces a major expansion of settlements in the West Bank; Hunter Biden says he will not apologize for saying the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein introduced First Lady Melania Trump to President Trump, after Melania Trump threatens to sue for $1 billion in damages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:52:38

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Pres. Trump warns of 'severe consequences' if Pres. Putin does not end war in Ukraine; Pres. Trump announces Kennedy Center Honors recipients

8/13/2025
President Donald Trump speaks with European leaders & Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about this his meeting Friday in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning of "severe consequences" if Putin does agree to end the war in Ukraine and saying that if the first meeting goes well, a second meeting with both Putin & Zelensky could happen soon; President Trump says he will ask Congress to extend beyond 30 days the federal takeover of the Washington, DC police force and suggests that he could extend it on his own by declaring a 'national emergency'; President goes to the Kennedy Center to announce this year's Kennedy Center Honorees that he says he had a large hand in choosing: singers George Strait & Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS and actors Sylvester Stallone & Michael Crawford; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates half a point in September; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks about the Democratic Party agenda at a meeting of Illinois Democratic Party officials in Springfield; survivors of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will speak at a news conference in Washington when Congress returns in September, invited by one Republican and one Democratic House Member, who are pushing for the president to releases all the files on the federal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:49:28

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

DC Mayor & Police Chief meet with U.S. Attorney General on federal takeover of DC Police & bringing in National Guard; Labor Dept says inflation in July same as June

8/12/2025
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith meet with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi about implementing President Donald Trump's putting DC police under federal control and calling out the DC National Guard to deal with crime & homelessness; Georgia Bureau of Investigation says the gunman in the deadly shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound and had written that he “wanted to make the public aware of his public distrust of the COVID-19 vaccines”; Labor Department says the Consumer Price Index for July was 2.7% year over year, same as June; President Trump has extended trade talks with China for another 90 days, preventing a dramatic increase in tariffs. We will talk about it with Trevor Hunnicutt, Reuters White House Correspondent (23); Gov. Greg Abbott's (R-TX) threat to call endless special legislative sessions if Texas House Democrats continue denying a quorum to pass a new Congressional redistricting map written by Republicans could be tested as early as this week; Latest on preparations for the meeting between President Trump & Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss the war in Ukraine; U.S. indicts a notorious gang leader in Haiti who is trying to overthrow the government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:53:49

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

President Trump places DC police under federal control, calls out DC National Guard, in response to the city's 'crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor'

8/11/2025
President Donald Trump places the Washington, DC, police department under federal control and deploys the DC National Guard to address, in his words, “crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor,” calling it “liberation day in DC"; Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says she is not surprised by the president's actions, but this is legally an obligation under the Home Rule Act to provide the federal government police services, and DC Police Chief Pamela Smith is still the chief, and also she thinks the president's views are wrongly colored by the crime rate increase during the COVID-19 pandemic; still no quorum in the Texas House of Representatives for Republicans to pass their new congressional redistricting map favoring their party, as the standoff with Democratic representatives who have fled the state begins a second week; President Trump says his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in Alaska is a "feel-out meeting" to urge Putin to end the war in Ukraine, and a deal would include "some swapping, changes in land"; Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his country will recognize a Palestinian state when the UN meets in September, joining France, Britain and Canada as major powers indicated they would do so. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:55:11

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Weekend Edition: President Trump's Tariffs Agenda, Trump Admin "AI Action Plan," and Lawmakers Trading Stocks

8/9/2025
In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, there's been a flurry of economic news in recent days from the July jobs report to the President's tariffs agenda. We break it all down with Mike Konczal of the Economic Security Project -- and E.J. Antoni of the Heritage Foundation. Then, the Trump administration rolled out its "A-I Action Plan" in recent week. We speak with Josh Smith of The Abundance Institute about what's in it - and how it could transform the energy sector in this country. Finally, a conversation with investigative journalist Dave Levinthal on a revived effort in Congress to ban lawmakers from trading stocks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:30:46

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

President Trump calls Armenia & Azerbaijan peace deal signed at White House 'historic', reporter asks about possibly winning Nobel Peace Prize

8/8/2025
President Donald Trump hosts the leaders of Armenia & Azerbaijan to sign a peace deal; President Trump asked about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and how to end the war in Ukraine; Vice President JD Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy talk about the war in Gaza… as they meet at the Secretary's home in Kent, England; Texas House of Representatives fails to meet a quorum for the third time this week as Democratic lawmakers continue staying away to prevent a vote on a republican-leaning congressional redistricting map. Texas Republican are promising to increase efforts end the standoff, including arresting the Democrats; Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Chicago says the mayor of that city and the governor of Illinois are among the Democratic state officials who are promoting sanctuary immigration policies that are letting violent criminal illegal immigrants go free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:41:41

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Dow falls 200 on first day of President Trump's global tariffs; President nominates new Fed Board member

8/7/2025
President Donald Trump announces he is nominating Stephen Miran, current chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, to Federal Reserve Board, to replace a board member who has resigned; Wall Street Journal's Gavin Bade on first day with President Donald Trump's tariffs in effect on more than 90 countries (6); Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) says FBI has agreed to assist Texas law enforcement in arresting Texas House Democrats who have fled to Illinois and other states to keep the Texas House Republican majority from voting on a new congressional redistricting map; Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes President Trump's invitation to meet in person next week to discuss the war in Ukraine, and President Trump says a White House report that he believes Putin must first meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not true; U.S. Attorney for Washington, DC Jeanine Pirro says the Justice Department is considering pursuing the death penalty against the suspect in the Capital Jewish Museum fatal shooting. She is also asked about President Trump saying federal government may need to take over DC to curb crime, after a former DOGE staffer was brutally attacked; Today is National Purple Heart Day, honoring servicemembers wounded or killed by the enemy in military action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:49:38

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

U.S. Army Sergeant suspected in shooting & wounding five soldiers; President Trump imposes 25% extra tariff on India (50% total) for buying Russian oil

8/6/2025
Five soldiers are shot and wounded at Fort Stewart in Georgia… the suspected shooter, an Army Sergeant, is in custody; Texas Senate Committee on Congressional redistricting meets on the proposed Republican-drawn district lines map designed to win Republicans five more U.S. House seats, while Texas House Democrats continue to remain out-of-state to keep the House from getting a quorum to pass the map, and the Republicans are threatening to arrest or expel them, as other Democratic-led states are considering new maps of their own in retaliation. We will get the latest on how this might end with Texas Tribune reporter Gabby Birenbaum (16); President Donald Trump imposes an additional 25% tariff on India because of India's purchase of Russian oil, for a total of 50% on India, after President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the war in Ukraine. President Trump calling it a "highly productive meeting"; Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) says she is running for governor; Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. canceled $500 million in mRNA vaccine research; a ceremony is held at the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, Japan on this 80th anniversary of the first use of a nuclear weapon, when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city during World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:54:30

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Texas House Dems deny quorum to block vote on Republican redistricting map for second straight day; President Trump says GOP is 'entitled to five more seats'

8/5/2025
Texas Democratic House Members' boycott leads to Texas House of Representatives failing for a second day in a row to establish a quorum blocking Republicans from passing their Congressional districting plan; President Donald Trump says an interview Republicans are “entitled to five more seats” in Texas and that states which voted Democratic in national elections are already gerrymandered to favor that party; House Oversight Committee subpoenas the Justice Dept for complete files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and subpoenas for depositions in this investigation a dozen former officeholders, including Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Merrick Garland, James Comey, Robert Mueller, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Bill Barr and Eric Holder; President Trump looks to sign an Executive Order to penalize big banks that turn away customers for political reasons. President claims he was debanked by Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase; President rules out naming Treasury Sec Scott Bessent as the next Fed Chair; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announces a propose rule to spur the development of commercial delivery drones; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the war between Israel & Hamas, after reports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is deciding whether to move forward with a plan for Israel to take all of Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:51:47

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Govs Hochul, Pritzker support Texas Democrats while Gov. Abbott threatens to arrest them; Trump Admin. defends BLS firing while economists criticize the move

8/4/2025
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker are backing a group of Texas Democrats who left their state yesterday to block a vote on new Republican-drawn congressional maps. It comes while Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott threatens to remove lawmakers who didn’t show up at today's Texas House of Representatives session. The Trump administration continues to defend the president's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decision came after the agency issued a weak jobs report, and economists from across the political spectrum are criticizing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:38:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Weekend Edition: Medicare and Medicaid Anniversary, Homelessness in the United States, and Dasha Burns host of C-SPAN's "Ceasefire"

8/2/2025
In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman, discusses this week's 60th anniversary of the signing of Medicare and Medicaid. Then, Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity's Michael Tanner discusses efforts to combat homelessness in the U.S. Finally-- Politico White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns discusses her role as host of C-SPAN's new series "Ceasefire" – scheduled to debut this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:23:18

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Dow falls after weak July jobs report, downward revisions to May & June, concerns about tariffs; Pres. Trump first BLS head, calls jobs numbers 'rigged'

8/1/2025
Wall Street falls after a weak July jobs report, combined with a downward revision to the jobs numbers for May and June and concerns about President Donald Trump's tariff schedule, finalized overnight with rates ranging from 10% to 50% for dozens of countries' President Trump fires the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, citing the jobs numbers revisions, calling her a "Biden Political Appointee" and saying, "She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified"; President again calls on the Senate to cancel August recess and stay in session to confirm a large backlog of his nominations… Senate Republicans have asked the Democrats to bundle some nominations and approve them with a voice vote, but the Democrats have refused; Texas House Committee on Congressional Redistricting holds its first hearing since the Republicans put forth a proposed new district map designed by their own admission to give them an advantage in five more U.S. House seats; former President Joe Biden warns the country is facing 'dark days' under President Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:48:30

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

One day before 'libertarian tariffs' deadline, U.S. & Mexico agree to 90-day pause, federal appeals court hears challenge to President's use of emergency powers

7/31/2025
One day until President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs take effect, but not on Mexico, as he announces another extension while trade talks continue; Federal Appeals Court hears a challenge to the emergency powers law the president used impose the tariffs on many countries. We will talk about it with The Hill's Legal Affairs Reporter Zach Schoenfeld, who was in the courtroom (8); Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will visit Gaza on Friday to survey the desperate humanitarian situation there; U.S. Senate votes not to prohibit certain weapons sales to Israel, but a record number of Democrats vote yes; House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) goes to Austin, Texas to decry the Republican attempt to redraw Congressional district boundaries in the state to win more seats. We will talk about it with Texas Tribune Washington Correspondent Gabby Birenbaum (37); RNC Chair Michael Whatley announces he is running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina; former Vice President Kamala Harris promotes her new book about her 2024 Democratic presidential campaign; White House announces a construction on a ballroom, a pet project of President Trump, will begin this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:55:31

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged, despite President Trump's pressure to cut them, says more data needed on tariffs' effect on inflation

7/30/2025
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announces no change to interest rates and says of President Donald Trump's tariff policy, “Higher tariffs have begun to show through more clearly to prices of some goods, but their overall effects on economic activity and inflation remain to be seen"; President Trump announces more tariff rates scheduled to take effect August 1st, including 25% on India plus an additional unspecified tariff if India buys Russian oil; U.S. economy grew at a very healthy 3% in the 2nd Quarter after shrinking in the 1st Quarter; bipartisan concerns at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing about the Agriculture Department's reorganization plan that would send DC-area-based staff to five regional hubs; Senate Democrats use an obscure 100 year old law to demand the Justice Dept to release the files in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation; Senate committee approves a bill to ban stock trading by Members of Congress, with all Democrats and one Republican, sponsor Josh Hawley of Missouri, voting yes; Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says he is disappointed and offended by President Trump personal attacks on him for not bypassing the tradition called 'blue slip', by which Senators can block the president's judicial and U.S. attorney nominees from their states; Senate confirms Emil Bove, former personal lawyer to Donald Trump, and then Justice Dept official, to be a federal appeals court judge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:55:47

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Pres. Trump says he will not follow Great Britain in recognizing Palestinian State in Israel does not agree to ceasefire in Gaza and commit to two-state solution

7/29/2025
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the United Kingdom will recognize a Palestinian state if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire with Hamas, improve what he calls the "appalling situation in Gaza", and commits to a two-state solution; President Donald Trump says the U.S. will not follow suit, and that recognizing a Palestinian state rewards Hamas, which he is "not about to do that"; on the Jeffrey Epstein case, President Trump says one of the underage girls Epstein hired away from a spa at Mar-a-Lago – in the President's word 'stole' – later accused Epstein of raping and sex trafficking her; Senate Republican leaders suggest Senate rules may need to be changed if Democrats do not agree to speed up confirmation of the president's nominees; Commerce Committee Chair Sen. Ted Cruz and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveil an aviation safety bill six months after the deadly midair collision of a plane and helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; Health & Human Services Sec Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. warns about the risks of 7-OH, which can produce opioid-like effects, and is often sold in things like energy drinks & gummies at gas stations and convenience stores; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) talks about the mass shooting Monday night in New York City that killed four, including an off-duty police officer; President Trump celebrates the opening a new Trump branded golf course in Scotland; former President Barack Obama remembers the late baseball hall of famer Ryne Sandberg as a 'class act'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:51:25

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

President Trump promises food centers in Gaza, continues to face Epstein files questions; Senate starts last scheduled week

7/28/2025
President Trump continued his visit to the United Kingdom today. He and Prime Minister Keir Starmer talked to reporters about Israel’s war with Hamas. The president announced the US will open food centers in Gaza to help the humanitarian crisis there and two leaders continued discussions on reaching a cease-fire in the region. The President also said he is shortening the 50-day deadline he gave Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine. And he continued to distance himself from his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The Senate begins their last scheduled week of work before the August recess. They are considering more of President Trump's nominations—including for CDC Director and Defense Department General Counsel. Also on the Senate agenda--more work on the 2026 federal spending bill, including funding for military construction projects and the Veterans Affairs Department. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:39:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Weekend Edition: FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, Forward Party CEO Lindsey Drath, and Cuts to Voice of America

7/26/2025
In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a conversation with FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary on his first 100 days in office -- and goals during his tenure. Then, Forward Party CEO Lindsey Drath joins us to discuss that group's efforts to break through the two-party political system. Finally, former Voice of America National Correspondent Steve Herman talks about his career at the VOA – and the impact of massive cuts to the agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:36:10

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

President Trump flies to Scotland to promote his golf courses, meets UK & EU leaders on trade; DOJ interviews Ghislaine Maxwell for 2nd day in Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation

7/25/2025
President Donald Trump flies to Scotland for a private visit to promote his golf courses there, but he will also be meeting elected leaders in Scotland, the United Kingdom and the European Commission, likely to talk about trade and foreign affairs hotspots. We will get a preview from C-SPAN's Westminster Producer Pete Knowles, who is in Scotland (8); Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche finishes a second day interviewing Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a long prison sentence as an accomplice to the late Jeffrey Epstein's sex crimes, amid the pressure on the Trump Admin to release the Epstein investigation files. We will hear from Maxwell's attorney, President Trump, and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), ranking member on the Oversight Committee; Texas Senate Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting holds a public hearing on Republicans attempts to redraw district maps mid-decade to try to pick up seats; former FCC Commissioners analyze the FCC's approval of the multi-billion dollar Paramount-Skydance merger that comes with commitments to address complaints of editorial bias at CBS News; latest on the collapse of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations; former Rep. George Santos (R-NY), who had a dramatic rise and fall in politics, reports to federal prison after his fraud conviction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:57:43