Kamala Harris gets lukewarm reviews for her town hall on CNN, as she and her campaign go all-in on calling Donald Trump a fascist and stoking fears about authoritarian rule if he wins. On this episode of Potomac Watch, Paul Gigot speaks with Democratic pollster Mark Penn, who says Democrats have decided that demonizing Trump is the best way to win and describes what to look for between now and Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is promising a universal 10% to 20% tariff on all imports to the U.S., plus perhaps 60% on China. Together this could push U.S. border taxes to highs not seen since the Great Depression and the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariff. Do Trump's first-term tariffs suggest he'd follow through with this? And does a president actually have the power to create a blanket tariff? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Ted Cruz narrowly defeated Democrat Beto O'Rourke in 2018, in the most expensive Senate race in history. The Texas Republican is now facing another tight challenge from Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, and this time the balance of Senate power could hang on Texas. On this episode of All Things, Mr. Cruz joins from the campaign trail to explain why he’s become “Chuck Schumer’s #1 target,” how immigration is playing in the Lone Star state, his bid for women voters and the chances of a Republican Senate majority after Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump cooks fries for his fans at a McDonald's drive-thru in Pennsylvania, as Kamala Harris's supporters call his restaurant campaign stop a stunt. But theatrics are part of politics, and now the public is being served a piping-hot debate on the minimum wage and "joint employer" rules for franchises, while three Democratic Senators all but accuse McDonald's of price gouging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conflict in Gaza took a major turn after Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showing the will to eliminate the leaders of terrorist groups. But what does the path to a ceasefire look like? Plus, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump react to Sinwar’s death on the campaign trail, and Israel’s plans for a strike on Iran are leaked as the U.S. investigates how it got out.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are getting most of the spotlight, voters in November will also be asked to approve nearly 150 state ballot measures on a variety of topics, including taxes, shoplifting penalties, school choice, minimum wages, abortion rights, marijuana, ranked-choice voting, local rent controls, and more. Here's a look at some of the most prominent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The media strategy for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign took a turn when the Vice President granted an interview to Bret Baier of Fox News in an effort to win over those frustrated with Donald Trump. Harris claimed in the interview that she will have a different Presidency than Joe Biden, but did viewers learn what that would mean in practice?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two candidates are trying to win a tossup election by wooing specific groups, as Donald Trump promises tax breaks for automobile debt and U.S. citizens overseas, while Kamala Harris rolls out an "Opportunity Agenda for Black Men," including loans for entrepreneurs and marijuana legalization. Meantime, is Harris losing Catholic voters, who preferred Joe Biden in 2020? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump says his opponent wants to end gasoline cars, while Kamala Harris promises she won't tell Americans what to drive. Which side voters believe could matter next month in Michigan, where Joe Biden's federal rules on electric vehicles are a point of heated contention, including in the Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Elissa Slotkin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wisconsin GOP Senate nominee Eric Hovde joins All Things to talk about his race to unseat Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin--a contest the Cook Report recently moved from "lean Democrat" to "Toss Up." The Madison entrepreneur discusses the challenges of taking on an incumbent, the issues that are most resonating with Wisconsin voters, his approach to the hot-button issue of abortion, and the role Donald Trump is playing at the top of the ticket. With three weeks to go before Election Day, a rush of political dollars is turning Wisconsin into another battlefield in the fight over control of the Senate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The polls show the presidential race is a tossup, with the seven key battleground states all within the margin of error. Has Kamala Harris's momentum stalled, and has Donald Trump reached his ceiling in share of the vote? Plus, who has the edge in the race to control the House and Senate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is urging Republicans to vote early, while also continuing to condemn mass mail voting. As Nov. 5 nears, however, even absentee proponents are raising concerns again about rejected ballots, slow results, and potential delays by the Postal Service, as Postmaster General Louis DeJoy keeps insisting that the USPS is ready to handle a deluge of millions of votes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot speaks with documentary filmmaker Michael Pack and journalist Elliot Kaufman about the new Wall Street Journal Opinion film, "'Get the Jew": The Crown Heights Riot Revisited.' The story of the worst antisemitic riot in U.S. history echoes today amid incidents of antisemitism on university campuses and in U.S. cities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a media blitz this week, Kamala Harris unveils a plan for Medicare to cover home healthcare, which she says would help the "sandwich generation," but she dodges a question about how she'd pay for all her ideas. Meantime, the Congressional Budget Office reports a $1.8 trillion deficit for the last fiscal year, and Donald Trump declines to appear on "60 Minutes" for an interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats have turned abortion into a potent campaign issue ever since the Supreme Court released its 2022 Dobbs decision, successfully portraying Republican opponents as a threat to women's rights. With GOP candidates now moving to the middle and engaging on the issue, Democrats are making false claims about their opponents' positions. Who's campaigning more effectively, and do the left's abortion distortions pose a risk to women's health?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monday marked the one-year anniversary of Hamas's deadly massacre, the start of a multifront attack against Israel by Iran and its proxies. On this episode of the All Things podcast, Middle East security analyst Michael Doran reviews the fallout. Is Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu leading Israel to victory in the conflict in Gaza and against Hezbollah? Does the Joe Biden administration grasp the true risk in the region, and what lessons should the next president draw about its allies and presence in the Middle East? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been one year since Hamas shocked the world with an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage, 101 of which are still being held captive. Since then, Israel has been at war with Hamas, as well as Hezbollah and Iran. Where does the conflict go from here, and what will change when Kamala Harris or Donald Trump take office? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A judge unsealed a new 165-page brief from special counsel Jack Smith, revealing more of the damning details behind the criminal charges against Donald Trump and his effort to overturn the 2020 election. Is this the swift pursuit of justice, or an effort by Smith and the Department of Justice to influence the 2024 election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The International Longshoremen’s Association has gone on strike, shutting down East and Gulf Coast ports and raising fears of shortages and price increases. What does union head Harold Daggett want for his members? Plus, Joe Biden refuses to invoke a law to end the strike, while Donald Trump blames foreign shippers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With five weeks until the 2024 election, JD Vance and Tim Walz meet in New York for the year's only vice-presidential debate. In exchanges on the economy, immigration, abortion, and more, Vance looked calm and in command, while Walz sometimes appeared flustered and unsteady. But it remains to be seen whether this will move the needle for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The VP gives an immigration speech in Arizona, in an effort to address a political vulnerability. But she refuses to break with Joe Biden, while trying to shift blame to Republicans and Donald Trump, because they killed an immigration deal negotiated this year by Sen. James Lankford. Plus, JD Vance and Tim Walz get set for their first debate, and perhaps the last debate of 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vice presidential debate rarely carries as much weight as those at the top of the ticket, but this is no ordinary election year. With no other presidential debates scheduled before election day, and Kamala Harris giving few interviews, the contest between JD Vance and Tim Walz will be watched by millions of voters, many of whom remain undecided. On this episode of the All Things podcast, Fox News Radio host and commentator Guy Benson sets the debate stage, laying out what both candidates need to accomplish, their risks and potential pitfalls and the role of the moderators.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel's campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon is yielding results, including the death of leader Hassan Nasrallah. What does the military effort say about Israel's strategy a year since the Oct. 7 massacre, and how should the U.S. respond? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ukrainian president travels to Washington to discuss U.S. aid with Joe Biden and New York to meet with Donald Trump. Yet Zelensky stirs Republican complaints by calling JD Vance’s ideas "too radical" and then by going with prominent Democrats to visit an ammunition plant in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Does this blunder into U.S. politics pose a risk of polarizing defense assistance to Ukraine, and how much do Kyiv's prospects depend on the November election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democratic nominee releases an 82-page economic plan and claims she's a "capitalist." We inspect the details to see if she's right. Plus, can New York City Mayor Eric Adams remain in office after being indicted on federal corruption charges? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vice president has suggested eliminating the Senate's 60-vote threshold to pass a national abortion law. But are Democrats underestimating the risks of unleashing majority rule in the upper chamber? Senator Joe Manchin warns ending the filibuster will 'destroy our country' and further inflame national politics.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GOP barely kept its House majority in 2022, weighed down by controversial candidates and Democratic attacks on abortion. Will Republicans keep, or even expand, their hold on the chamber? On this episode of All Things, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) talks through the candidates that have the best chances to flip seats from blue to red, what the GOP is doing differently on abortion this time, and Donald Trump's influence on down-ballot races. He also weighs in on the chance of a government shutdown and whether the scandal over North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will hurt Trump or other candidates in that battleground state.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his final address to the United Nations General Assembly as president, Joe Biden takes credit for his withdrawal from Afghanistan and his and Vice President Kamala Harris's support for Ukraine after Putin’s invasion. But with conflict raging in Europe and the Middle East and authoritarians on the rise in most regions of the globe, is he leaving the world in more disarray than when he took office? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot talks to Barton Swaim and Faith Bottum, who have been covering the contests in Wisconsin and Montana, where voters may decide if Republicans can win back a Senate majority in November. Can the GOP topple Democratic incumbents in the two states?     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel's defense minister says the country's war is entering a new phase and turning north, after thousands of Hezbollah pagers suddenly detonate in Lebanon. Plus, the Teamsters union declines to endorse a presidential candidate, for the first time in nearly three decades, despite polling showing that a strong majority of its rank-and-file members support Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Reserve takes aggressive measures to cut interest rates by 50 basis points, surprising some in the market. Does this mean the fight against inflation is over? Plus, just weeks away from Election Day, how could this decision affect the race and how would Donald Trump or Kamala Harris handle the Federal Reserve if elected? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments over a law that says TikTok must be divested from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to stay in U.S. app stores. Why did the judges seem skeptical of the company's challenge, and will it end up at the Supreme Court? Plus, Boeing starts furloughs amid a strike by machinists, who turned down a 25% raise over four years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After his idea for no taxes on tips was copied by Kamala Harris, now Donald Trump is pledging to make overtime work tax free. But is there any economic thinking behind this, or is it only a bid for working class votes? Plus, the unknown of Senate control in 2025 is only one of the difficulties of trying to predict how Trump’s and Harris's campaign proposals would actually play out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stakes for control of today's 50-50 Senate are nearly as high as the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Where are Republicans and Democrats placing their bets? On this episode of All Things, Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation CEO Steven Law talks about the truth of "candidate quality" and the GOP's slate this time around; efforts to convince voters that Democratic incumbents are “living a lie” as moderates; the money game; and how issues like inflation, immigration and women's sports are playing at the state level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the second time in two months, Donald Trump was the target of an assassination attempt, this time by a gunman who was hiding near the former president’s Florida golf course. Plus, leaks from the Supreme Court paint Chief Justice John Roberts as an ally of Donald Trump, but is that accurate? And why are insiders leaking details about internal Court discussions? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump says he won't debate Kamala Harris a second time, yet the two candidates' foreign policy ideas are far from clear as the November election nears. So what should voters know about Trump's and Harris's respective positions on three major questions: Israel's war against Hamas, Ukraine's defense from Russia, and China's looming ambitions for Taiwan? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The deadline to fund the government is coming fast, and House Speaker Mike Johnson wants a six-month spending bill paired with the SAVE Act, which would require Americans to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. But the Democratic Senate won't go along, and how wise would it really be to rewrite the voting laws like this 53 days before the 2024 election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With jabs about his legal troubles and crowds leaving his rallies, Kamala Harris threw Donald Trump off his game during their first debate. Trump dwelled on the past and missed opportunities to expose her progressive agenda. Harris wants another debate, but does Trump?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The presidential polls are close to a dead heat, as the two candidates prepare to meet in what could be their only 2024 debate. Will Harris do a better job of explaining her policy shifts since 2020, and is her media-shy strategy a potential mistake? Will Trump steer clear of his personal grievances, and could the mute button on his microphone end up working in his favor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should viewers expect from the long-awaited (and possibly only) debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump? On this episode of All Things, Trump campaign Senior Adviser Tim Murtaugh predicts how Harris will try to split the difference on her record, talks through the expectations game and previews the new ideas Trump will talk about during the debate--as well as the Republican candidate's plans for reaching out to moderates and independents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Foreign Affairs Committee releases its 350-page report documenting that President Biden failed to plan for the collapse of the Afghan government, though he was warned it would happen. But does the report let Donald Trump off the hook too easily, and what does it say about who should be America's next commander in chief?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colt Gray, the 14-year-old who killed four people this week, is facing life in prison. His father, Colin Gray, could get 180 years for knowingly letting his son possess the gun. Could holding parents responsible in this way help prevent such shootings from happening? Plus, Hunter Biden pleads guilty to federal tax charges, avoiding an embarrassing trial, but is a pardon coming from Joe Biden? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Vice President is trying to put some political distance between her ideas and the Biden economy. But is her proposal for a nearly 40% increase in the capital gains tax rate really moderate? Plus, Joe Biden is set to block Nippon Steel's proposed takeover of U.S. Steel, and layoffs at the U.S. company are a likely result. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As colleges begin the fall term, students at Columbia University are met by another round of disruptive protests against Israel. Have administrators learned any lessons from this spring's campus chaos? Plus, new reports at Columbia and Stanford find pervasive antisemitism, while UCLA won't appeal a judge's ruling that it must guarantee equal access for Jewish students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As millions of students head back to the classroom for another year, school-choice "evangelist" Corey DeAngelis joins Kim Strassel on All Things with the latest in the reform revolution taking place at the state level, and the challenges still to come. The senior fellow at the American Federation for Children breaks down the successes, the best policy prescriptions in the school-choice field, the campaign to replace rural, anti-choice Republicans with reformers, the union threat and his own call to eliminate the Department of Education.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel recovers the bodies of six hostages taken on Oct. 7, including U.S. citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, amid new calls both to eliminate Hamas and to offer concessions to obtain a deal with the terrorist group. Plus, Kamala Harris plays up her old summer job at a McDonald's fast-food restaurant, but her administration's policies would make that kind of employment less available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her first big candidate interview, Kamala Harris says her "values have not changed" when asked why she no longer wants to ban fracking, as she did in 2019. While her campaign might see the gaffe-free night as a success, did voters learn anything new about how she would govern? Plus, Donald Trump pledges to have the government provide for free in vitro fertilization treatments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special counsel Jack Smith announced a new superseding indictment against Donald Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election, despite losing a Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity earlier this year. The case won’t go to trial before November, but what does the indictment mean for the election campaign and prospects for a trial in 2025? Plus, Kamala Harris has her first sit-down interview since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee; will it also be her last? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lina Khan’s Federal Trade Commission goes to court to stop the supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons from combining, arguing it could raise food prices and limit competition for union workers. But the companies say the opposite, arguing that they're under pressure from club stores, online outlets, and more. Plus, the FTC loses a separate case on noncompete agreements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a red state, but last week's open primary had Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola on top, with 50.4%, going into November's ranked-choice election. Yet the GOP hopes to unify behind Nick Begich, while the No. 3 contender, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom drops out. Plus, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debate the next debate's "mute" button, as JD Vance says his boss would veto a federal abortion law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evangelicals propelled Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 presidential bids, though Kamala Harris is making a bid for their support. Faith & Freedom Coalition Chair Ralph Reed joins this episode of All Things to discuss the state of the evangelical vote, his coalition's big-dollar plan for driving turnout, his thoughts on "Evangelicals for Harris" and why issues like Israel, the Supreme Court and abortion could prove decisive in close battleground races.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel pre-empted an attack by the terrorist group Hezbollah, while Hezbollah’s response was mostly intercepted by Israel with little damage done. How will this missile exchange affect the negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza? Plus, it’s the three-year anniversary of the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a failure which looms large over the 2024 presidential election.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democratic National Convention ends with an acceptance speech in Chicago that continues the week’s overabundance of "joy,” while offering few details about how Kamala Harris would govern in the White House. Meantime, the Democratic Party showcases its next generation of potential leaders, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Plus, what effect will RFK’s dropping out have on the presidential race? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and tried to explain the difference between the way Republicans and Democrats define 'freedom.' But does the Vice Presidential nominee’s idea of freedom mean more government intrusion into people’s lives? Plus, as Kamala Harris prepares to accept her party’s nomination for president, will she give Americans more insight into her policies than the convention has?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A confrontation at the Israeli consulate leads to arrests of pro-Palestinian demonstrators Tuesday night, a day after thousands of protesters filled the city's Union Park. Collin Levy and Barton Swaim, who were there, describe what they saw and heard. Plus, Barack and Michelle Obama take the DNC stage to endorse Kamala Harris and urge the country to reject Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Direct from Chicago's Democratic National Convention, Kim Strassel sits down with Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) to discuss Joe Biden’s "bittersweet" convention goodbye, what the Kamala Harris campaign needs to know about appealing to Midwestern voters; the challenge the Biden climate change agenda presents to the auto industry, and what's up with those protestors at the DNC.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a late-night speech from Chicago, the President touts his administration's accomplishments, calls Donald Trump a threat to democracy, and says his best decision was picking Kamala Harris to be his VP. But the 81-year-old's delivery probably confirmed for some Democrats his decision to drop out. Plus, a closer look at the Democratic Party platform that delegates will approve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As President Biden prepares to speak on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, what is the legacy his tenure will leave? Plus, do Chicago's high crime and shaky finances under Mayor Brandon Johnson offer any lessons about Democratic governance, and will the anti-Israel protesters descending on the city this week distract from Kamala Harris's message? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following her “no tax on tips” proposal (mirroring Donald Trump), Kamala Harris finally goes into detail about her plans for fixing the economy, including proposals for price controls, housing payouts and an expansion of the child tax credit. But are any of her ideas different from Bidenomics, and how will the Trump campaign counter the Harris/Walz message? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minouche Shafik resigns as Columbia University’s president just as students are about to return to a campus that in the spring was rife with anti-Israel protests. What message does the move send to other college presidents as the new school year begins, as well as protestors heading to Chicago for the DNC? Plus, J.D. Vance and Tim Walz agree to a debate, while Donald Trump and Kamala Harris consider two head-to-head matchups.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden Administration asks the Supreme Court to reinstate its student-loan forgiveness program after losing at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Will Donald Trump make this expensive taxpayer write-off a campaign issue? Plus, the University of North Carolina launches a new school dedicated to classical liberal political thought. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ukraine now controls 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory after a surprise attack caught Vladimir Putin unprepared. Is the war coming to an inflection point, and will the U.S. send new weapons and support to help? Plus, JD Vance floats a new tax benefit for children that could cost $3 trillion over 10 years. But will Donald Trump and Republicans go along?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Kamala Harris firmly at the top of the Democratic ticket and Tim Walz as her running mate, what do the polls tell us about her race with Donald Trump? On this episode of All Things with Kim Strassel, pollster and researcher Scott Rasmussen talks about Kamala Harris’ long honeymoon phase with the media, the impact of JD Vance and Tim Waltz on the tickets, the major (and sleeper) issues that could decide the 2024 presidential race, and the bubble world of the "elite 1%." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris recently debuted a campaign pledge to end federal taxes on tips for service workers, echoing a message Donald Trump is also promoting to voters. Why are both candidates supporting a cutout for such a narrow group? Plus, Kamala Harris seems to be backing away her previous support for Medicare for All from 2019, which the GOP could use against her in 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris's new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, faces questions about his National Guard career and the circumstances of his retirement. Meantime, Donald Trump holds a rambling news conference and agrees to three presidential debates. Plus, Missouri Rep. Cori Bush is the second member of the progressive 'Squad' to lose a Democratic primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Kamala Harris takes the lead in election polls, Donald Trump seems puzzled about how to respond. He has the advantage on the economic and security fundamentals, but he's reverting to the kind of scattershot attacks and spats that cost him the 2020 election. Can he show the discipline to define Harris on her record and the issues? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris holds her first rally with her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, highlighting his background as a teacher, while drawing a contrast with J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's veep nominee. Meanwhile, Trump proposes that Social Security benefits should be tax free, which might be popular with seniors, but how much would it cost and wouldn't it be bad policy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kamala Harris selects Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate; how does Donald Trump respond? Kim Strassel asks Trump National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who brands Walz "one of the most far-left governors" in the country and says Harris bowed to progressives by skipping over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Also, the campaign's reaction to the latest Iranian aggression, Trump's future plans for Russian sanctions, and Republican moves to expand the electoral map, including to Walz's Minnesota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats have a new VP candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who comes with a seriously progressive governing record on a range of policy issues. Why did Kamala Harris pass over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a popular figure with a record of winning his pivotal swing state? What does it say about her willingness to buck the left? And is Donald Trump probably relieved? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stock markets plunge worldwide, as monetary policy and fear of a U.S. recession weigh on investors. Is this a normal correction, or do markets detect larger cracks in the economy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KSM and two other Sept. 11 plotters will plead guilty to murdering 2,976 people, and in exchange prosecutors will spare them the death penalty. Is this the justice that the families of 9/11 victims have been seeking for two decades? Plus, the panel responds to questions from Potomac Watch listeners about Joe Biden’s Supreme Court plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the first question, Donald Trump’s sit-down at the National Association of Black Journalists convention had explosive moments, including claims by the former President that Kamala Harris had “turned black.” What was he thinking? Plus, the Wall Street Journal celebrates the release of reporter Evan Gershkovich. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump's campaign tries to bury a 900-page white paper from the Heritage Foundation, after Democrats turned the document into a political weapon. But will the disavowal work with swing voters? Plus, what does this episode mean for the policy agenda of a second Trump term? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden unveiled his proposals to radically alter the Supreme Court, putting the full weight of the Democratic Party behind an attack on judicial independence. But what about the constitutional and practical concerns with term limits or outside ethics enforcement, and why aren’t Republicans making a bigger deal about this onslaught? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Kamala Harris inspiring a new Democratic enthusiasm to rival that of Donald Trump's GOP, what's afoot in the battleground states and districts? Club for Growth President David McIntosh gives the low down in the latest episode of All Things With Kim Strassel, reflecting on the “tug of war” over the future of the Republican party, why Ms. Harris may become the "John Kerry" of this cycle, and why the key to Election Day victory still rests with calls for limited government and reforms like school choice.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice Presidential candidates aren't supposed to be sources of controversy, but that's what has happened to J.D. Vance as Democrats and the press unearth his comments critical of Americans who don't have children. He also thinks the childless should pay higher taxes. Should Donald Trump drop him from the ticket? Plus, who are the front-runners to be chosen as Kamala Harris's running mate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden says he'll use his last months in office to push for "reform" of the Supreme Court, possibly including term limits, while Justice Elena Kagan comes out in favor of an "enforcement mechanism" for its ethics code. What are the pitfalls of these ideas, and will Kamala Harris, as the Democratic nominee for president, endorse them as the November election nears? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden uses an Oval Office address to the nation to explain why he is no longer seeking a second term in office, despite claiming a record successful enough to warrant one. Plus, Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Congress, with some notable absentees, and calls out anti-Israel protesters as “useful idiots” of Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democrats' new presumptive nominee travels to the swing state of Wisconsin, where she hammers Donald Trump’s legal issues and presents a vision for America that includes much more government. But is this a salable message with moderate voters? Plus, New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez announces that he'll leave office after his conviction last week on corruption charges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., is the Secret Service's biggest failure in a generation, but when Congress calls its director to testify on Capitol Hill, she doesn't offer many substantive answers. What are some of the biggest questions that remain? Plus, Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries set up a House task force to investigate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden's campaign finally bows out of the election, as Democrats unite around Kamala Harris to become their party’s nominee for President. But how will she fare against Donald Trump? On this episode of All Things with Kim Strassel, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna explains the merits of an open convention, his endorsement of Kamala for the top job, and his rationale for having two women on the ticket in November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden finally bends to pressure from fellow Democrats and ends his bid for a second term, endorsing his Vice President to succeed him. Why are Democrats uniting so quickly behind her, and how will the Trump campaign respond?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump softened his tone, at least for a while, in his nomination acceptance speech in Milwaukee. Will it win over swing voters? Plus, Democratic grandees push President Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee lest they go down to defeat with him.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican nominee for vice president gives his speech in Milwaukee, touching on his difficult upbringing, the "Mamaw" who raised him, and why voters should pick Donald Trump. Yet he also puts the GOP split on display by attacking the Nafta trade deal and blaming high housing prices in part on "Wall Street barons." Plus, more speculation about Joe Biden's departure, as his polls worsen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI, Paul Gigot, Kim Strassel and Kyle Peterson discuss how Donald Trump’s former rivals, including Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, took to the stage to a seemingly newly energized and unified GOP. Plus, questions still continue about the role J.D. Vance would have in a Trump administration and Democrats mull new and creative ways to possibly replace Joe Biden as the nominee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim Strassel sits down with House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI. The Ohio Rep. gives the latest on Congress's oversight of the investigation into the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, thoughts on what the choice of Sen. J.D. Vance as the Vice Presidential nominee means for the Republican party, and updates on the House's impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden and his family business.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did Sen. J.D. Vance shift from being a self-described “Never Trumper" to Donald Trump’s running mate? From the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI, Paul Gigot, Kyle Peterson, and Kim Strassel discuss what the Vice Presidential nominee is saying about his past criticisms and what the choice means for the future of the GOP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI, Paul Gigot, Kyle Peterson and Kim Strassel discuss the state of the GOP after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump's life now that the former President is officially the nominee. Plus, Joe Biden calls for unity during an address to the nation, but will any of the messaging from the Democrats change when talking about Donald Trump?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With only days to go before the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump still hasn't picked his newest apprentice. Three finalists are Doug Burgum, Marco Rubio, and J.D. Vance, though could there also be a wild card? Plus, Joe Biden holds a news conference to reassure Democrats that he's capable of serving four more years, but the calls keep coming for him to step aside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot interviews political scientist Ruy Teixeira about the Democratic Party debate over whether to dump President Biden from their 2024 ticket. Can Biden survive and beat Donald Trump? If the President bows out, is Kamala Harris the best choice, or should Democrats have an open convention?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president's forceful speech at this week's NATO summit, promising more air defenses for Ukraine, won't stop Democrats from worrying that he should step aside and cancel his re-election campaign. Plus, as the media tangles with Biden's press secretary about doctors visiting the White House, speculation rises about invoking the 25th Amendment to declare him unable to serve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of the Republican convention in Milwaukee next week, the party publishes a 16-page platform with a Trumpian spin. But Democrats are focused instead on a 900-page manifesto by the Heritage Foundation called Project 2025. Which is the best guide to a second Donald Trump term? Plus, NATO holds a summit in Washington, as the alliance steps up on Ukraine aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is next week’s Republican National Convention a chance for the party to unify after fractures during the primary? On the inaugural episode of the All Things with Kim Strassel podcast, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley explains why the party is rallying behind the theme “Make America Once Again”; the GOP's 2024 approach to election integrity; why it doesn't matter if it's Joe Biden or a replacement at the top of the Democratic ticket; and why even he doesn’t know who will be Donald Trump’s running mate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite calls from Democrats that he withdraw as a candidate for re-election, President Biden says he's committed to remaining and is appealing to his base of black and union voters to back him against what he calls the media and donor "elites" in the party. Will that be enough to fight off the critics? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The political rhetoric against the Supreme Court reached new highs this week, after the Justices ruled that the presidency has immunity for official actions. But look at the statistics: 45.8% of cases in the 2023-24 term were unanimous, including some big cases, and only half of the High Court's 6-3 decisions this year were split along ideological lines. Yet voters won't hear those figures from Joe Biden, as he runs against Donald Trump, and the Supreme Court, in November's election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Lloyd Doggett becomes the first Democrat in Congress to call on the 81-year-old president to withdraw from the 2024 election, while two more are saying he'll lose in November. What is Biden doing to try to calm Democrats, and if he stepped aside would Vice President Kamala Harris be a shoo-in, or could she face a real contest at the party's summer convention? Plus, Donald Trump and RFK Jr. distract from Biden's problems by making puzzling statements of their own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a 6-3 decision, the Justices abolish "Chevron deference," a doctrine that told judges to defer to regulatory agencies on the meanings of ambiguous laws. Does this really spell the end of expertise in Washington, as Justice Elena Kagan argues in dissent? Plus, the Supreme Court sends back to lower judges two laws in Florida and Texas that regulate social-media websites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a 6-3 decision, the Justices say that presidents, including Donald Trump, have immunity from prosecution for official acts, but not unofficial ones. What does this mean for the Jan. 6 case brought by special counsel Jack Smith? Plus, the High Court rules that Jan. 6 rioters can't be charged with obstructing Congress, and that homeless camping isn't constitutionally protected. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wall Street Journal columnist Kim Strassel tells listeners about her new podcast launching the week of July 8, featuring a newsy analysis of the workings of D.C. (and beyond) and a fresh look at the overhyped and overlooked events of the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 81-year-old president's poor performance confirmed what many voters already believe, which is that he's too old to do the job for another four years. Is it too late for Democrats to replace him at the top of the ticket, and does it have to be with Kamala Harris? Plus, what about the policy questions that Donald Trump dodged on Ukraine, his plans for mass deportations, and more? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices rule 6-3 in SEC v. Jarkesy that it violates the Constitution's right to a trial by jury for the securities agency to try fraud cases in internal proceedings. Plus, as Joe Biden and Donald Trump prepare to meet on the debate stage for the first time in 2024, what does each candidate need to accomplish, and will it matter that CNN is muting the microphones to stop crosstalk? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a 6-3 decision on legal standing, the Justices reject a First Amendment challenge to government pressure on social sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to remove disputed user posts, including on Covid-19. Plus, two federal judges appointed by President Obama block another student-loan forgiveness promise by Joe Biden, in rulings against the administration's SAVE plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Jeff Landry signs legislation requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public-school classroom in the state, but the ACLU sues, citing the First Amendment's ban on "establishment of religion." Plus, New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman, an antagonistic member of the Squad, faces a tough primary challenge from Westchester County Executive George Latimer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whoever wins the presidential election will have a chance to rewrite American tax policy in 2025, as Donald Trump's individual tax cuts that passed in 2017 are set to expire. Biden wants to raise taxes by $5 trillion over 10 years, while Trump says he wants to cut them further. Will that difference matter as the campaign goes on? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices uphold a law that prohibits gun possession by people who are subject to certain restraining orders for domestic violence, with an 8-1 majority in U.S. v. Rahimi saying that this does not infringe the Second Amendment. Plus, the High Court rules on a tax case, Moore v. U.S., that critics say could open the door to a progressive wealth tax on unrealized gains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the first presidential debate nears, the Biden campaign spends $50 million on an ad calling Donald Trump a convicted criminal. Is it working? A new poll shows Biden in the lead for the first time in months, and how will that influence the debate strategy for both candidates?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president takes executive action to offer legal status to 500,000 people who entered the country illegally but married U.S. citizens. How much does Biden's order weaken deterrence for future migrants, is it vulnerable to legal challenge as an abuse of discretion, and does such "pen and phone" governance make real immigration legislation less likely, by letting Congress off the hook? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump's recent musings on tax policy include proposals to exempt tips, impose huge tariffs to replace the current income tax, and cut the corporate tax rate to 20%, from today's 21%. What of this is good tax policy, versus a political effort to win swing voters, and how does it compare with Joe Biden's ideas, including his recent proposal to raise the corporate rate to 28%? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Supreme Court term nears its end, Paul Gigot interviews Manhattan Institute scholar and author Ilya Shapiro about the rulings so far and the cases still pending, including immunity for Donald Trump. Plus, Joe Biden and the Democrats start to run against the current Court in the election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats strangely refuse to declare victory, after the Justices unanimously reject a challenge to the FDA's regulation of the abortion pill mifepristone. Plus, the High Court sides with Starbucks in a dispute over the legal standard for NLRB injunctions, and it rules that the ATF cannot ban rifle "bump stocks" by redefining the law so that they qualify as machine guns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parties of the right made major gains in elections for the European Parliament, especially in France and Italy. What's behind the surge for the right and the losses for the green left? Plus, the leaders of the G-7 meet in Italy, though all but Italy's Giorgia Meloni may be political lame ducks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Posing as conservative fan at a Washington event, an activist audiotapes conversations with Justice Alito and his wife, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts. Their remarks on flags and U.S. polarization have been presented in the media as shocking, but are they really? Plus, the High Court rulings coming soon include big cases on Trump's immunity, guns, Jan. 6 and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After only three hours of deliberating, a federal jury in Delaware convicts Hunter Biden of three felony counts for buying and possessing a handgun while he was a drug addict in 2018. Does Hunter have a shot at appealing under the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court's precedent in Bruen? Plus, Joe Biden says he will respect the outcome and won't issue a pardon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Donald Trump’s felony conviction changed the minds of any potential voters? And is painting his opponent as a felon going to help Joe Biden? Paul Gigot speaks to Democratic pollster Doug Schoen about why the contest is still going to be about the issues, including the southern border and foreign policy, and the risks for both candidates in this month's presidential debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The school system sues UAW Local 4811, which represents 48,000 graduate teaching assistants and other workers, for striking on behalf of pro-Palestine campus protesters. At the same time, the UAW recently lost an election at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. Should unions, and Democrats, be worried about this kind of divide between hard hats and progressive activists? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden unveiled his plan for a cease-fire for Israel’s war in Gaza, but Hamas has refused to accept it so far. Will the president be able to get both sides to come to an agreement in time for Election Day? Plus, Hezbollah continues to attack villages in northern Israel and the International Atomic Energy Agency censures Iran for not cooperating with its inspectors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president's new policy will supposedly block asylum claimants who cross the southern border when the average number of daily encounters is 2,500 or more. But will migrants simply go to ports of entry, are legal challenges likely, and will this be enough to satisfy voters in November that Biden is taking immigration seriously? Plus, listeners write in on Hunter Biden’s gun trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The prosecution and the defense make their opening arguments in the federal trial of Hunter Biden for buying and owning a gun while addicted to illegal drugs in 2018. No one is above the law, the feds tell the Delaware jury, but is this a case of selective prosecution, how has Joe Biden's Justice Department handled it, and is a presidential pardon likely in store for the First Son? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House made a policy adjustment by allowing Ukraine to use American weapons to attack targets inside Russia, but the plan still includes limitations on the use of the most effective U.S. weapons systems. Plus, a major political figure calls for an American rearmament as global threats to national security increase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GOP's presidential candidate is convicted of 34 felonies in New York, for falsifying business records in connection with 2016 hush money to Stormy Daniels. Could Trump's defense team have done anything differently? How serious are his prospects for appeal? Has Joe Biden already said too much about the trial? And how is this verdict likely to affect the 2024 election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a letter to two Senators, Justice Samuel Alito explained why he is obliged to hear cases related to Donald Trump under the Supreme Court's code of conduct. What's behind the campaign to tarnish the reputations of the conservative members of the Court? Plus, 14 pro-democracy activists are convicted by a Hong Kong court under trumped up national security charges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former Republican governor of Maryland left office with sky-high approval, and if Larry Hogan can now win a Senate seat with a centrist pitch, it would upset expectations about party control after the 2024 elections. Plus, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declares victory after the state's GOP primary runoffs, saying he has won enough votes in the Legislature to pass his school-choice plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court upholds a U.S. House map in South Carolina that was challenged as a racial gerrymander, with an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito that also explains the high bar for future lawsuits to prove that a map was drawn using race. Plus, why is the EPA giving millions of dollars to a "climate justice" group with left-leaning views on capitalism and Palestine?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The International Court of Justice, part of the United Nations, issues a ruling that seemingly tells Israel to halt its operations in Rafah. But will this ruling carry any weight, and what about the Oct. 7 hostages still held by Hamas? Plus, the latest alleged scandal at the Supreme Court is that Justice Samuel Alito's vacation home flew a historical flag that dates to the Revolutionary War. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a primary season in which Donald Trump and NIkki Haley traded sharp barbs, Ms. Haley now states that she will be voting for the former President in November. Is she bidding to be a player in the veepstakes, or is it more about her future in the GOP? Plus, the witness list in Hunter Biden's felony gun trial comes to light, and Joe Biden appears to be using the U.S. Treasury as a way to secure votes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After testimony by Michael Cohen and a brief defense by Donald Trump's legal team, the New York trial nears its conclusion, with closing arguments and jury deliberation expected next week. Has Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg proved his case and provided enough evidence to convict, particularly given that these 34 bookkeeping felonies also require a second crime? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court applies for war-crimes warrants against three Hamas leaders, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense chief. Joe Biden condemns the ICC's move, saying there's no equivalence between Hamas and Israel. But does the U.S. have the tools to back up the President's words and hit back at the ICC? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York Times reported that an inverted American flag briefly flown outside the house of Justice Samuel Alito suggests support for the ‘stop the steal’ movement led by Donald Trump, the latest hit in a campaign against the conservatives on the Supreme Court. But how does a dispute between neighbors translate into judicial recusal? Plus, a new report from the Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance exposes the dangerous levels of antisemitism on the Ivy League campus.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justice Clarence Thomas writes that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's power to draw its funding from the Federal Reserve doesn't violate the Constitution, a question that splits the Court's conservatives. Plus, Joe Biden invokes executive privilege to shield audio recordings of his interview with special counsel Robert Hur in the inquiry into his mishandling of classified files. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With requests for no audience members, hypothetical mic muting and a contest coming before the RNC and DNC nominating conventions, the debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden are heading down an unprecedented road.  So why did both candidates agree to such an unorthodox plan and bypass the traditional Commission on Presidential Debates? Plus, the Biden campaign faces the reality of trailing Donald Trump in five out of six battleground states. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden raises tariffs on Chinese steel, solar cells and electric vehicles, but is this the right way to take on Beijing, or is the President using it as political cover for his green agenda? Plus, after weeks of Donald Trump demanding early presidential debates, Biden agrees to two of them, possibly starting as soon as next month, though he makes some interesting stipulations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The star witness in the New York hush-money trial finally testifies, saying Donald Trump's main concern about the Stormy Daniels story was how voters would react in the days before the 2016 election. But is Cohen a credible witness, and can he testify to the "second crime" that prosecutors need? Plus, voters go to the polls to pick Senate nominees in Maryland and West Virginia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden's threat to withhold weapons from Israel if it stages a large operation to clear Hamas from the city of Rafah in Gaza has shocked Israel and is causing a political backlash in the U.S., including among some Democrats. Will Israel go ahead anyway, and should it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Scott, Doug Burgum, J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio and more big names visited Mar-a-Lago recently for a Republican retreat, as Donald Trump fans speculation of whom he might name as his 2024 running mate. What would each bring to the ticket? Plus, one name falling in the veepstakes is Kristi Noem, after she tells a story in her new book about shooting her hunting dog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President reverses his policy that Hamas must be destroyed as he threatens Israel with an arms embargo if the Israeli Defense Forces enter Rafah in Gaza. Plus, House Speaker Mike Johnson defeats an effort to depose him. Is this the end of GOP dysfunction, or merely a pause? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking the witness stand in New York, she offers a detailed account of their alleged tryst in 2006, but did prosecutors go too far in eliciting salacious details that are irrelevant to this case about business bookkeeping? Plus, Trump is found in contempt again for breaking the court's gag order, as Judge Juan Merchan insists he does not want to order jail time but will do so if needed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After crossing into Hamas's last bastion, Israeli troops take control of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Meantime, Hamas says it had accepted a cease-fire deal, but why was that deemed insufficient by Israel, and what is the status of negotiations for the return of hostages? Plus, Joe Biden condemns antisemitism in a Holocaust remembrance address, as campus protests continue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What will become of Russia after Vladimir Putin, and what is the endgame for the war in Ukraine? Paul Gigot speaks with historian Stephen Kotkin about how the United States would handle Russia once a successor to Putin is in place, the role the Biden administration will continue to play as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues, and how much Russia is dependent on China in order to survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The third week of Donald Trump’s hush-money trial in New York included testimony from his former aide Hope Hicks and audio tapes secretly made by Michael Cohen. What are the defense and the prosecution each doing, and what's the atmosphere inside the courtroom? Kyle Peterson shares his experience observing the proceedings and discusses what's yet to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden made remarks that acknowledged the right to protest peacefully, adding that there is no place for violence or the disruption of classes at college campuses. But is there a bigger issue of the radicalization of young people at play? Plus, Jerome Powell says he doesn’t see the ‘stag’ or the ‘flation’ when it comes to the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A vote to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson is coming next week, Marjorie Taylor Greene promises. But will it backfire, now that Democrats say they'll help to table her motion? Plus, the New York Police Department takes back the Columbia University building that was occupied by anti-Israel protesters, with Mayor Eric Adams saying outside agitators had infiltrated the campus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anti-Israel protesters at Columbia University escalate by seizing an academic building in the middle of the night and barricading themselves inside. What should President Minouche Shafik do now, and where are the school's trustees in what has quickly turned into an institutional crisis for Columbia? Plus, New York Judge Juan Merchan holds Donald Trump in contempt and fines him $9,000 for violating a gag order by attacking the jury and witnesses in the New York hush-money trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump has increased his criticism of third-party presidential candidate RFK Jr. as a man of the left. Could the heir to the Kennedy name be a bigger threat to Trump than to Joe Biden? Plus, Biden says he's willing to debate Trump as he roasts the former President in front of a friendly press corps, and Trump tries to make peace with Ron DeSantis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the New York hush-money trial ends its first week of testimony, why are Alvin Bragg's prosecutors talking about "conspiracy" and "election fraud," considering Trump is charged with neither? Plus, the court hears testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, and listeners weigh in on the widening anti-Israel protests on college campuses, including Columbia University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Trump v. United States, the Justices consider if a President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution, and what constitutes an official action as opposed to a personal one? The implications extend far beyond Trump's fate in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grants Pass, Ore., wants to enforce a prohibition on public camping, but a lower court said no, citing the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. What does the Constitution say, and don‘t cities have the right to keep their streets clean and safe? Plus, the Justices also hear a challenge by Starbucks to a power of the National Labor Relations Board.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After New York police cleared an encampment on the Ivy League campus, arresting more than 100 people, the school says it will offer hybrid remote learning for the rest of the semester, while similar protests also engulf Yale, NYU, and other elite colleges. Why are university presidents apparently so reluctant to draw a hard line, especially considering the antisemitism on display? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Speaker Mike Johnson put his job on the line in seeking floor votes on bills to provide weapons for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. It paid off in victory, as bipartisan majorities united to pass the bills and defeat a rump group of GOP opponents. Will the same coalition be willing and able to save Mr. Johnson from a motion to vacate the Speaker's chair? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first week of Donald Trump's hush-money trial concludes with the seating of 12 jurors, while the former President fumes about a gag order by Judge Juan Merchan that bars him from criticizing jurors, witnesses and court staff. Plus, the Senate summarily dismisses the impeachment articles passed by the House against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson moves ahead with bills supporting Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan against their enemies. What's in the bills, what are their prospects for passing, and could they cost Johnson his job as a small group of Republicans threaten to move against him? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court hears an appeal from a former Pennsylvania cop, who says his conduct at the Capitol on Jan. 6 does not qualify as obstruction under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Prosecutors have charged more than 300 people using that law, but are they stretching it too far? Plus, the Justices rule that a local $23,420 permitting fee is covered by the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jury selection starts in New York, as the former president faces 34 counts of falsifying business records, tied to a 2016 payment to Stormy Daniels. But has Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought a weak case, with potential legal avenues for appeal, given that to convict on these felonies he must prove that Trump intended to commit or conceal a second unrelated crime? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot interviews Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, about Tehran's attack on Israel, whether it was really a 'win' for the Jewish state, how Israel is likely to respond, and whether U.S. policy toward Iran will finally change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden touts the IRS's new Direct File pilot program in 12 states, after Sen. Elizabeth Warren stuck it into the Inflation Reduction Act. But do Americans trust the agency to get it right? And if the complexity of the tax code is the reason that people turn to expert tax preparers, why isn't the answer just to simplify? Plus, the House passes a reauthorization of the Section 702 surveillance program, as FBI Director Christopher Wray warns about elevated threats to public safety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Higher prices make a comeback, roiling markets and complicating plans by the Federal Reserve for cutting interest rates. How big a threat is inflation to President Biden's re-election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nineteen Republicans break with Speaker Mike Johnson by blocking a bill to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, after Donald Trump comes out against. Section 702 lets the government collect communications from foreigners overseas, which can include messages with Americans. What reforms to this power are enough to ensure accountability? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House comes back to town facing a big decision on military assistance for Ukraine, as well as Israel and Taiwan. Will Joe Biden show the leadership needed to get funding over the finish line, and will Donald Trump intervene? Plus, Marjorie Taylor Greene intensifies her criticisms of Speaker Mike Johnson in a scathing letter to her colleagues calling for him to be replaced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conservatives expressed their disappointment with Donald Trump after he said abortion should be left up to the states instead of a federal ban. Was this a wise political move for his election campaign? Plus, Joe Biden announces another student loan forgiveness plan, which may end up in the courts again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New reporting by “60 Minutes” puts a spotlight again on Havana Syndrome, the debilitating neurological symptoms reported by U.S. government security agents and diplomats around the world. Plus, after months of trying to organize a 2024 unity ticket as an alternative to Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the group No Labels throws in the towel after no viable candidate emerges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Relations between Israel and the U.S. continue to deteriorate following an IDF strike that killed seven relief workers in Gaza. This comes as President Biden faces mounting pressure from the left to more forcefully condemn Israel and restrict military aid. Meanwhile, Iran vows to retaliate after an apparent Israeli strike that killed top Iranian generals at a consular building in Syria. As the conflict spreads throughout the Middle East, Donald Trump calls on Netanyahu to move faster to eliminate Hamas, but stops short of criticizing Biden's approach.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four states go to the polls, including Wisconsin, where 13% of Republicans vote for Nikki Haley and 8% of Democrats say they're uncommitted. Does this signal weakness for Donald Trump and Joe Biden? Plus, the Badger State bans "Zuckerbucks," and a report on the IRS's expansion plans shows the agency struggling to hire as it tries to ramp up audits on the wealthy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state justices let Gov. Ron DeSantis's six-week abortion ban go into effect, while approving a ballot initiative that will ask voters whether to protect abortion in the Florida constitution. Could this boost Joe Biden's turnout against Donald Trump, making Florida a swing state? Plus, the House tax bill faces warranted skepticism in the Senate over an expansion of the child tax credit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Environmental Protection Agency's new rules mean that 25% of long-haul truck sales might have to be electric by 2032, a target that the industry calls unachievable and that could shift costs onto drivers and consumers. Plus, as Joe Biden calls for tax increases to make the wealthy pay their "fair share," recent IRS data says the top 1% paid 46% of income taxes in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can states reject mail ballots if voters fail to fill in the date next to their signatures? Some federal judges have said no, but the Third Circuit appeals court now sets a precedent that could help stabilize the 2024 election rules. Meantime, Lara Trump says the GOP needs to play the early turnout game, plus FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been one year since Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested and imprisoned in Russia by Vladimir Putin, and the world shouldn't forget him. Plus, Sen, Joe Lieberman dies at age 82, leaving a legacy as a foreign-policy hawk that is hard to find among Democrats today. He was also a leader of the No Labels third-party movement. Is that now unlikely in 2024? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Ron DeSantis signs a law prohibiting social sites from giving accounts to kids ages 13 and under, with parental approval required for those 14 and 15. Does this tread on parental rights, or will it help families, and what about enforcement? Plus, the Justice Department files an antitrust lawsuit against Apple, and a listener asks how Donald Trump might use Truth Social in the White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices weigh a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration's dispensing rules, though the outcome could hinge on whether the plaintiffs even have standing to sue the FDA. Plus, Donald Trump's bond in New York's civil fraud case is cut to $175 million, which might keep Attorney General Letitia James from seizing his properties, as Truth Social goes public and surges in value. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ISIS has taken responsibility for a rampage by gunmen in Moscow that left at least 137 dead and rising fears about an Islamic State revival. How much is Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan to blame, and what are the risks of an ISIS attack on Americans? Plus, the Biden Administration's differences with Israel grow over the war in Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson passes a government funding bill, avoiding a shutdown or else another stopgap measure. But most Republicans vote no, and it passes with Democratic support. Claiming betrayal, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files a motion to vacate the chair, saying Republicans should oust the conservative Johnson as they did his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Environmental Protection Agency's new tailpipe emissions rules are a de facto mandate to make and sell electric cars and trucks that would force the phase-out of gas-powered vehicles. The costly, controversial and probably unworkable diktat will be a major political issue in the 2024 election campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law called S.B.4 to let Texas arrest border crossers and order them to leave the country. But after a strong hint from the Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals puts the law on hold for now. Plus, Bernie Sanders introduces a bill to create a 32-hour workweek, while a listener expresses reservations about the House bill on TikTok.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump's lawyers say he's unable to obtain a bond to guarantee the $464 million civil fraud judgment against him, in which case New York Attorney General Letitia James says she'll take his assets. What are his legal options? Plus, Democrats try to pick their Senate opponent in Ohio by meddling in the GOP's primary to help Bernie Moreno, a Trump-backed candidate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court heard the case of Murthy v. Missouri, which considers whether federal officials can pressure social-media sites to restrict posts they find to be either questionable or 'misinformation.' It could be a First Amendment landmark.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A judge rules that Fani Willis can continue to pursue her case against Donald Trump, but only if a deputy she was romantically involved with resigns. Has she compromised her underlying case? Plus, Elliot Kaufman discusses his recent reporting trip to Israel and Chuck Schumer’s wading into Israeli politics.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special counsel Robert Hur received criticism from both Democrats and Republicans when testifying on his report on Joe Biden's mishandling of classified documents. Did Democrats do a disservice to the President by focusing on Hur's observations about Biden's memory and fitness instead of the lack of an indictment? Plus, Joe Biden comes out against Nippon Steel's attempted purchase of U.S. Steel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In a rare and overwhelming bipartisan vote, the House passed a bill to force ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to sell the social-media site or it would be blocked in the U.S. Why did so many Republicans defy Donald Trump on the vote, and what will the Senate do? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few days after his State of the Union address, Joe Biden unveiled his 2025 budget proposal, which featured major tax increases and blowout spending on everything except national defense, even as threats compound across the globe. Does his plan have any chance of passing? Plus, Congress debates just how much of a risk the TikTok app on your phone is to national security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden criticized Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy to defeat Hamas in his State of the Union address, then spoke of the 'red line' the Israeli Prime Minister will cross if Israel takes the city of Rafah. So is the president trying to appease the anti-Israel wing of his party, and what will he do if Netanyahu moves ahead anyway, as he says Israel will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President delivers a very political address aimed at convincing voters that he isn't too old to beat Donald Trump or too weak to govern, if only Republicans would get out of the way. But while bringing up abortion and Roe v. Wade, immigration and the border, and democracy and Jan. 6, he didn't offer many bipartisan grace notes or propose an agenda that can pass Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As he gears up for a rematch against Donald Trump, the President is banking on a strong performance in his State of the Union Address to allay concerns about his age and unimpressive polling. His guest list suggests he'll highlight abortion rights, the importance of the NATO alliance, and student-debt relief. But he might also try to shift blame for inflation and the border crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump and Joe Biden rolled over the competition in the latest primaries, all but ensuring their nominations for President. How will the two compete for Nikki Haley's voters, who could decide the November race, after she dropped out on Wednesday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 229-page deposition transcript confirms many details, such as the identity of "the big guy," while Hunter nevertheless maintains that Joe Biden was not directly involved in his business dealings. Where does the House impeachment inquiry go next? Plus, is Super Tuesday the last stand for Nikki Haley's challenge to Donald Trump? And school choice is on the Texas ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court reinstated Donald Trump to the Colorado presidential ballot, stating that only Congress, and not the states, has the power to remove candidates seeking federal office. So what message does the 9-0 ruling send to those who support using 'lawfare' during the election process? Plus, Joe Biden gets even more bad news from the polls with Super Tuesday only a few days away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While visiting the U.S.-Mexico border on the same day, Biden and Trump each try to frame the immigration issue for the November election. Meantime, a federal judge blocks an effort by Texas to enforce its own immigration law. Plus, Congress manages to avert a government shutdown with short-term spending measures, as pressure rises on Speaker Mike Johnson over Ukraine aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court's decision to hear Donald Trump's appeal that he is immune from prosecution on election interference charges will push any trial close to the 2024 election or beyond. Why did the Justices take the case? Plus, Mitch McConnell says he'll step down from the Republican Senate leadership in November, leaving a legacy of remaking the federal judiciary, among other accomplishments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump wins the GOP primary with two-thirds of the vote, while continuing to antagonize backers of Nikki Haley, who took 27%. Meantime, more than 100,000 Democrats cast ballots for "uncommitted," as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nears ballot qualification in Georgia and Arizona. Plus, the Supreme Court debates whether the ATF can decree that "bump stocks" are machine guns.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices hear two challenges to laws in Texas and Florida that restrict how social-media sites may engage in "content moderation." Do these laws merely regulate Big Tech's conduct toward users? Or, as the industry group NetChoice argues, do websites like Facebook and Twitter have a First Amendment right to editorial control over the content that they serve? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump easily beats Nikki Haley in the South Carolina primary, but many Haley voters say they won't vote for him in November. Will they change their minds in a race against Joe Biden? Plus, what's next for Haley, and could Michigan Democrats shock the Biden campaign in this week's primary by voting "uncommitted” to protest his Israel policy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden digs into business dealings by his family, as investigators interview his brother, James Biden, as well as Tony Bobulinski, a former associate of the President's son Hunter. Do Republicans have the evidence? Plus, the Supreme Court declines a case on racial admissions policies at Virginia's selective Thomas Jefferson High School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump recently compared his criminal indictments to the plight of Alexei Navalny, who died in a Russian prison. Nikki Haley and Joe Biden both criticized the remark, as the candidates spar over U.S. policy toward the Kremlin and Ukraine. Plus, the Hunter Biden special counsel indicts FBI informant Alexander Smirnov for lying about information he provided about Hunter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump suggests at a town hall that Tim Scott, Kristi Noem and Vivek Ramaswamy might be potential running mates, but who else is plausible? Plus, Joe Biden's age and fitness are debated again after another slight stumble on the Air Force One stairway, while thousands of Americans with student loans are getting an email from the President saying he is forgiving their debts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nikki Haley vows to stay in the 2024 GOP primary, though the polls say she's far behind in her home state of South Carolina. Plus, Donald Trump finally reacts to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prison run by Vladimir Putin, while also decrying the $355 million civil fraud verdict against him issued by New York Judge Arthur Engoron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Mike Turner, who leads the House Intelligence Committee, calls on the White House to release details on a classified threat, sparking speculation and a murky confirmation of a Russian anti-satellite weapon. Plus, Donald Trump's hush-money trial gets a court date, while Fani Willis is grilled about whether dating one of her prosecutors requires her disqualification. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the second anniversary of Russia's invasion nears, Jillian Melchior reports from Kyiv on the war. Jillian says Ukrainians are determined to fight on, but their situation will be dire if the U.S. Congress fails to send more air defenses, artillery shells and other arms for the country's self-defense.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Congressional Budget Office says the U.S. is set to add more than $20 trillion to the debt in the next decade, with interest payments surpassing spending on national defense. Plus, House Republicans impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, despite no prospect of Senate conviction, and the GOP loses a seat in Congress, as New Yorkers choose Tom Suozzi to replace George Santos.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate passes a $95 billion bill with aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which also could pass the House, if Speaker Mike Johnson would permit a vote. But he's back to complaining that it doesn't address the U.S.-Mexico border, as Democrats sign a discharge petition to bypass him. Plus, New Yorkers vote on Tom Suozzi or Mazi Pilip to replace George Santos in Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The special counsel's report describing Joe Biden as a "well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” means Democrats can't ignore the issue of the President's age and mental frailty. Will anyone step forward to urge him not to run again? Plus, Donald Trump riles U.S. allies by suggesting he might not help a NATO ally against Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special counsel Robert Hur finds evidence that Joe Biden "willfully retained and disclosed classified materials," but recommends no criminal charges, in part due to the President's memory lapses. Biden responds in a fiery press conference that raises more questions about his age. Plus, even the Supreme Court's liberal Justices sound skeptical about removing Donald Trump from the ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Republicans defeated a border security bill they said they wanted, while House Republicans failed to pass a bill to help Israel fight Hamas and messed up the vote count as they tried to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Is this a failure of leadership, or the result of narrow majorities, or is Donald Trump's influence to blame? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is not immune from prosecution, a D.C. appeals court says, meaning his federal trial for trying to reverse the 2020 election might be back on the calendar. The ruling can be appealed to the Supreme Court, but do the Justices want to take it? Plus, the High Court will consider Colorado's decision to remove Trump from the ballot for "insurrection" under the 14th Amendment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nevada is holding both a primary and a caucus this week, so will Donald Trump and Nikki Haley both try to claim victory? Meantime, Joe Biden sweeps South Carolina, but he declines a Super Bowl interview on CBS and gets confused about who's the president of France. Plus, listener questions on the argument by Texas that the border crisis is legally an "invasion." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate's bipartisan border security bill negotiated by Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford is the most restrictive in decades. How does it change current law, would it limit migration, and how are the politics playing out on the right and left? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Greg Abbott, citing a migrant "invasion," is installing concertina wire along the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass. But the Border Patrol keeps cutting the razor wire, and now the feds say they're completely being denied access to the border. Who will win this legal standoff? Plus, MAGA internet pundits and provocateurs say Taylor Swift is part of a secret plot to re-elect Joe Biden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House passed what is being heralded as a bipartisan deal on business tax breaks and expanding the child tax credit. But why did Republicans decide to repeal part of their 2017 tax reform? Plus, the border-security talks run into more political opposition even before the details are released. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon is a frequent target for Elizabeth Warren, among others, but after its acquisition of iRobot fell through, the Roomba maker said it was cutting its workforce by 31% and reducing R&D spending. Meantime, a judge stops a merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, and Sen. Bernie Sanders demands that pharma CEOs testify before Congress to explain their pricing policies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A House committee meets to consider impeachment articles against the Homeland Security Secretary for failures at the U.S.-Mexico border. But are these "high crimes and misdemeanors" that merit the first cabinet impeachment in nearly 150 years? Plus, Sen. James Lankford defends his coming border legislation, and the IRS leaker Charles Littlejohn gets five years in prison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Americans were killed in a drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan, and Joe Biden has promised a response. But will the target list include Iran, whose proxy militias have been attacking U.S. ships and bases? Plus, Israeli intelligence exposes a link between United Nations Relief and Works Agency employees and the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Steve Daines, who's leading the Republican effort, sounds optimistic about the GOP's chances, with tossup races in Montana, Ohio and Arizona. But what if Republicans nominate candidates like Matt Rosendale and Kari Lake, both of whom have lost statewide races in the recent past? Plus, if Democrats hold the Senate, would they nuke the legislative filibuster? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House is stalling efforts to export more American liquefied natural gas (LNG) to U.S. allies. Given that LNG development is good for the economy, as well as for weaning Europe off of Russian energy, is this a political mistake for Biden, little more than a gesture to climate activists, akin to the controversy that killed the Keystone XL Pipeline? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump celebrated his win in the New Hampshire primary by again attacking Nikki Haley, while Haley stated her reasons for staying in the race, including Trump's record and age. Plus, Dean Phillips vows to continue his campaign for the Democratic nomination to prevent a Trump victory in November.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He says Republicans should pass legislation to secure the U.S.-Mexico border only if the bill is "perfect" and the GOP gets "everything." Could this attitude squander a real chance to improve immigration policy, given that at least some Democrats are eager to compromise as they try to save Joe Biden from a political mess? Plus, Speaker Mike Johnson helps to delay a possible shutdown until March. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nikki Haley sharpens her criticism of Donald Trump, including his mental fitness, as she tries to rally Republicans and independents to win the New Hampshire primary. Plus, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips hopes to put a scare in the Biden campaign in the Granite State, and what went wrong with Ron DeSantis's candicacy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The departing climate envoy claims companies are pulling back from electric vehicles because of a scare campaign. But with Hertz downsizing its Tesla fleet and Ford cutting production of its F-150 Lightning, does this explanation fly? Plus, the Supreme Court agrees to decide whether the Eighth Amendment includes a right to homeless encampments, in a case called City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New Hampshire primary may be the best chance for Haley to beat Trump, and the former President is going all out to attack her, including a slap at her Indian Sikh name. How will Haley fight back? Plus, Ron DeSantis shifts his focus to South Carolina, and a bad bipartisan tax deal is floated on Capitol Hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who should decide the meaning of an "ambiguous" federal law, regulatory agencies or judges? That's the question the Justices are considering in a pair of cases that challenge a doctrine known as "Chevron deference," named after a 1984 precedent. What is the history of this kind of deference to the executive branch, and why do critics view it as constitutionally problematic? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite low voter turnout and even lower temperatures outdoors, Donald Trump scored historic numbers in the Iowa caucuses, cementing his place as the Republican frontrunner to challenge Joe Biden. But as the contest moves to New Hampshire, Nikki Haley is in striking distance. Plus, Ron DeSantis bets on South Carolina after finishing second in Iowa, and Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his campaign.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden hits more than 60 targets in retaliation for dozens of Houthi attacks, including on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Will this send a strong enough message to the group's sponsors in Iran? Plus, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reportedly had a hand in the Yemen strikes, just after causing controversy by failing to inform the White House of his hospitalization.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Donald Trump took the stage alone at a competing town hall, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis debated one-on-one for the first time, days before the Iowa caucuses. But did their dueling barbs do more damage to their own campaigns than to the frontrunner? Plus, Chris Christie suspends his campaign before the New Hampshire primary, leaving questions about who will inherit his supporters and what his next political move might be.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin checked into a hospital last week, no one apparently informed President Biden or the White House, a breakdown of communication in Washington that is prompting calls for the Pentagon chief to resign. Plus, Hunter Biden makes a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill, as the House considers holding him in contempt for defying a subpoena. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With parts of the federal government scheduled to run out of money next week, the new House Speaker makes an agreement with Democrats on a 2024 spending level. What's in this deal, which largely tracks the plan advanced last year by the ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy? And can Johnson get Republicans on the same page, given opposition from the Freedom Caucus? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a week to go before the Iowa caucuses, Donald Trump tries to stop Nikki Haley's rise. Plus, Joe Biden tries to frame the presidential campaign as a fight over the legacy of Jan. 6, 2021, and the future of democracy. Will it work against Trump? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis have all revved up their attacks as the political world counts down to the contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. Can Nikki Haley continue her climb and go head-to-head with Donald Trump? Can Ron DeSantis live up to the early promise of his campaign? Or has Donald Trump won the nomination before the race even started?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More violence and disorder has broken out in the Middle East as ISIS takes responsibility for two bombings that killed dozens of people in Iran. Will Iran respond to the acts of terrorism and widen the war, and what could the U.S. and its allies do to prevent any escalation? Plus, Speaker Mike Johnson takes GOP members of the House to the border to pressure Joe Biden into reforming immigration policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid twin scandals involving academic plagiarism and campus antisemitism after Oct. 7, Claudine Gay resigns as president of Harvard. Could this be a moment for the Ivy League, and academia broadly, to refocus itself on learning instead of activism? Plus, a study commissioned by the Pentagon dispels some myths about the alleged rise of extremism in the U.S. military.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A second state has removed Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot, after Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows rules that the Jan. 6 riot was an insurrection. Will the Supreme Court decide this question for good, as other states consider following the lead of Maine and Colorado? Plus, the House passes a bill to increase transparency on foreign money going to U.S. universities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot, Kim Strassel and Kyle Peterson make their selections for the most significant stories of the year, including the Hunter Biden investigation, the indictments of Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy's election to Speaker of the House and his eventual removal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot interviews political scientist Ruy Teixeira on why Democrats have been losing working-class voters and what they can do about it as the U.S. enters a polarizing presidential election year.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House demands close scrutiny of a $14 billion acquisition by Japan's Nippon Steel, but is this merely political and union posturing? After all, Japan is a close ally, and the Pentagon only uses a fraction of annual U.S. steel production. Plus, the latest Census numbers show more Americans fleeing blue states, which could shake up the House after the 2030 census. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state Justices say that Wisconsin's legislative maps must be redrawn because they aren't contiguous. But previous rulings had upheld maps that connect municipal "islands," and the state Supreme Court now insists that remedial districts must be politically neutral as well. Is this really a Democratic power play, made possible by the election of liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Greg Abbott signed new laws into legislation to tackle the crisis at the border, enabling police to arrest migrants crossing into the U.S. illegally. But will courts strike down these new laws, as happened when Arizona tried to handle the issue on the local level? And is this what happens when Congress can't make a deal to fix immigration policy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Colorado Supreme Court's ruling to disqualify Donald Trump from the state presidential ballot hands the U.S. Supreme Court some political dynamite. Will it issue a unanimous ruling as many are hoping for? And what about the other looming cases on what some call the Court's 'Trump docket' next year? Plus, the Senate leaves Washington without a deal on Ukraine aid and border security.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Colorado Supreme Court rules to disqualify Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 presidential primary ballot, citing the 14th Amendment. How will the Supreme Court rule on this when it likely ends up in front of the Justices? Plus, even Donald Trump's rivals for the nomination are criticizing the decision, though they'd benefit from the former president's removal from the contest.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The annual defense bill includes a bipartisan provision saying that the President may not withdraw from the NATO alliance without Senate approval. This looks like Congress's insurance policy in case Donald Trump wins a second term in 2024, but can the legislative power of the purse really keep the U.S. in a military alliance against the will of the commander in chief? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world is watching as newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai faces charges of collusion with foreign forces, which carries a life sentence. Hong Kong and China are more on trial than Mr. Lai is. Plus, Houthi forces attack commercial vessels in the Red Sea to disrupt global trade routes, with all signs pointing to involvement from Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the government monitors foreigners outside the U.S. to protect national security, that information goes into a database that can be searched later, including for Americans. With Section 702 authority about to expire, some Republicans want to add a warrant requirement for queries on U.S. persons, while others are focused on better oversight and accountability for abuses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stock and bond prices soared after the Federal Reserve suggested that interest-rates cuts could begin as early as the spring. What would that mean for how voters view the economy and Joe Biden’s prospects in 2024? Plus, the global climate conference in Dubai announces an agreement to transition from fossil fuels. Does it matter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the House prepared to vote on opening a formal impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, Hunter Biden stood in front of the Capitol and refused to testify behind closed doors. Will the President's son face contempt charges, or will he get the public hearing he's demanding? Plus, the New York Court of Appeals orders a new congressional map, putting GOP seats, and the GOP House majority, in jeopardy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Volodymyr Zelensky came to Washington, D.C. to try to persuade Congress to give Ukraine the aid it urgently needs to defeat Russia. Will his visit break the stalemate that's holding up the deal? Plus, will Joe Biden make the "compromises" he says he will make on border security in order to make a Ukraine package happen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The moral equivocation by three university presidents before Congress about antisemitism has revealed a deeper problem of political conformity and illiberal values on campus. Are DEI policies part of the problem? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President's son says the new charges are a political effort to get at Joe Biden, but does the indictment instead vindicate critics of the previous plea deal cut by prosecutor David Weiss? Plus, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and onetime Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry are leaving Congress, as Speaker Mike Johnson tries to wrangle his small and fractious GOP majority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the former President skips another Republican debate, his rivals go after his age, his record, and his fitness for office. But did Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis or Chris Christie say anything that will change the polling as the Iowa caucus nears? Plus, the Senate fails to pass a bill with Ukraine and Israel aid, but why won't Joe Biden help by cutting a deal on immigration and the border? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson suggests he might soon hold a vote on the House's impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden and Hunter Biden’s business dealings. What is that latest evidence from Rep. James Comer's Oversight Committee? Plus, the fourth GOP presidential debate draws Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy, but Donald Trump is again a no show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new report says four public unions spent $700 million on politics in the 2021-22 election cycle, tilted toward Democrats and their causes. But when unions collectively bargain with the politicians they help elect, who speaks up for the taxpayer? Plus, a lawsuit challenges Wisconsin's landmark Act 10 union reform, aiming to overturn it at the liberal state Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden is looking to send more financial aid to Ukraine and Israel to assist in the conflicts those nations are facing against Russia and Hamas, but Republicans want funding for immigration reform as part of the deal. Why is it so hard for Congress to come up with a bipartisan deal that satisfies all parties, or are Democrats and Republicans looking for someone to blame if they can't come to an agreement?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two governors, a Florida Republican and a California Democrat, go head to head on which model of governance is right for America. Might DeSantis's performance help his 2024 candidacy, and is Newsom running a shadow presidential campaign, despite his denials? Plus, the House expels indicted New York Rep. George Santos, but what precedent does this set in a polarized age? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The statesman and former Secretary of State dies at age 100. Journal editors who knew him discuss his impact on U.S. foreign policy while serving President Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and and unofficially advising every President since. Plus, the Senate wrestles over how to tie immigration funding and aid to Ukraine into one bipartisan bill.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly 4,000 auto dealerships sign a letter urging President Biden to "tap the brakes" on his "unrealistic" targets for electric vehicles. "Customers are simply not ready to make the change," they write, pointing to high EV prices and unreliable charging stations. Plus, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley get big endorsements as each tries to be the GOP's 2024 alternative to Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court considers the constitutional right to trial by jury, in a case that involves a $300,000 fine issued via an administrative process at the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. How much could the Justices' decision affect America's sprawling regulatory state, and is there a critical distinction between a citizen's private rights and his so-called public rights? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hamas agrees to release more hostages as its pause in fighting with Israel is extended beyond its four-day beginning. The pause offers a terrible dilemma for Israel, which must choose between saving more hostage lives and perhaps compromising its war aims against the terror group. Meanwhile, pressure builds for a permanent cease-fire, and Democrats look to put conditions on future aid to Israel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Commission on Presidential Debates announces its dates and venues for 2024, but the GOP has already voted not to participate, Joe Biden might be looking for an escape, and what if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes the cut? Plus, Democrats go after the Spanish-language TV network Univision for an interview of Donald Trump that they say was too soft by journalist Enrique Acevedo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas will return 50 captives, while Israel will free 150 Palestinian prisoners and pause fighting for four days. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that the effort to root out Hamas terrorists is not over. Plus, Joe Biden faces a backlash to his Israel policy from bureaucrats in Washington's deep state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham back the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, which would tax imports from China and other countries with higher carbon emissions than the U.S., but is this protectionist interference in the economy? Plus, Major League Baseball gives Atlanta the 2025 All-Star Game, though Commissioner Rob Manfred doesn't say sorry for pulling the 2021 event over the state's election law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid an economic crisis and crippling inflation, voters in Argentina elected Congressman Javier Milei as their new President. He promises an agenda of smaller government and "freedom," but does he have the political skills to pull it off in the long-misruled country?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About 10,000 low-income Illinois students get scholarships through a program called Invest in Kids, but it's now set to sunset after inaction by Democrats in the Legislature, as well as Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Meantime, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott keeps pressing state lawmakers there to pass his bill to create universal Education Savings Accounts, or ESAs, as rural Republicans balk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. and Chinese Presidents meet in California and agree to reduce fentanyl production and renew military-to-military communications. But will the meeting overcome underlying disagreements? Plus, American CEOs look bad when they give President Xi a standing ovation, and Congressman George Santos chooses not to seek re-election after a critical report by the House Ethics Committee.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House passes legislation to fund the federal government through early 2024, but Speaker Mike Johnson is forced to rely on Democratic votes. This same move prompted a Republican revolt against his predecessor, Speaker Kevin McCarthy, but will the GOP's chaos caucus give Johnson more leeway, and is avoiding a holiday omnibus spending bill a kind of victory on its own? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All nine Justices sign a code of conduct setting out the ethics rules they follow, but Democrats such as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse say it needs outside enforcement. Plus, Donald Trump proposes that in a second term he'd launch a free online university, called the American Academy, to grant bachelor's degrees and use the federal government to compete with existing colleges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Tim Scott suspends his campaign for President. Why didn't his message resonate more with voters and could he join a ticket as Vice President? Plus, angst grows among Democrats over Joe Biden's age, a challenge by Rep. Dean Phillips, and a possible third-party campaign by Sen. Joe Manchin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices hear arguments in U.S. v. Rahimi, a dispute over whether the federal government can ban gun possession by people under certain civil restraining orders for domestic violence. Plus, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin says he won't run for re-election but will aim to build a movement to "mobilize the middle," leading to speculation about a third-party run for president.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five GOP hopefuls for the White House in 2024 took the stage in Miami, once again without frontrunner Donald Trump. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis stood out from the pack. Plus, Mr. DeSantis points to Election Day 2023 as a sign that the GOP is "tired of losing," but were the results as bad as they are being portrayed?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin ends up with a Democratic Legislature, voters in Kentucky re-elect Gov. Andy Beshear over the GOP's Daniel Cameron, and Ohio enshrines abortion in its state constitution. Does the success of Joe Biden's party buoy his prospects for 2024, and how will Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and company react at the coming Republican debate in Miami? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As voters go to the polls this election day, they will answer some big questions: Can Gov. Glenn Youngkin carry Republicans to full control of the Virginia Legislature, perhaps paving the way for a White House bid? Will the gubernatorial races in Kentucky and Mississippi end up as close as polls suggest? And could an abortion ballot measure in Ohio be a bellwether for 2024? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new poll shows Joe Biden is losing to Donald Trump in five of the six battleground states that could decide the 2024 election. Plus, Ron DeSantis gets a key endorsement, pro-Israel Democrats' criticism of Rep. Rashida Tlaib exposes a major party rift, and Donald Trump testifies in his New York fraud trial.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To protest a Pentagon policy of covering leave and travel for service members seeking abortions, the Alabama Senator has stalled hundreds of military promotions. Is this the right tactic, or does it risk undermining readiness at a dangerous moment in world affairs? Plus, law firms send a message to deans that the anti-Semitic rhetoric on campuses lately isn't tolerable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Donald Trump remains the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2024, Nikki Haley has surged in recent weeks to second place in Iowa and New Hampshire. Can she keep the momentum going and emerge as the main alternative to Trump? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson unveils a $14 billion bill for Israel, paid for by rescinding funds from the IRS. But the White House has threatened that Joe Biden would veto it, and GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has called for combined legislation that also includes funding for Ukraine, as well as border security. Do advocates of Israel and Ukraine have a path through this legislative thicket? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tentative deals with Ford, Stellantis and General Motors have ended a lengthy strike, with United Auto Workers leader Shawn Fain claiming a historic victory for labor. But will that make Detroit uncompetitive against auto makers in right-to-work states, particularly as they lose money on electric vehicles? Plus, the Tax Foundation publishes a new ranking of state business climates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former Vice President's past with Donald Trump proved too much of a distraction from his message of classic conservatism, and he hadn't qualified for next week's GOP presidential debate. But as Nikki Haley surges, is further Republican consolidation coming? Plus, the Supreme Court is set to hear two cases on whether public officials may block constituents on social media.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President's sagging poll numbers finally lure a Democratic primary opponent, as Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips files for the ballot in New Hampshire. But is Biden as weak as Phillips seems to think, and where do the two men disagree on substance? Plus, Jenna Ellis becomes the third attorney tied to Donald Trump to plead guilty in the Georgia 2020 election case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. economy grew a robust 4.9% in the third quarter, but how long can this keep going amid higher interest rates? Plus, the United Auto Workers union makes a deal with Ford to go back to work, putting pressure on other auto manufacturers to come to an agreement.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three weeks after a Republican revolt deposed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans finally find a consensus replacement, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Who is he, how did he get the job, and will he prove able to govern, as the House faces another funding deadline to prevent a government shutdown, amid bipartisan calls for military aid to Israel and Ukraine?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Violent crime dropped 1.7% nationwide in 2022, the headlines say, but not all states are doing the same. In California such offenses are up 13% since 2019, while in Florida they're down 32%. What do these numbers say about the way that Gov. Gavin Newsom and Gov. Ron DeSantis are handling public safety, especially since the two presidential aspirants have agreed to debate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As world troubles grow, Nikki Haley has been gaining support in the GOP presidential polls. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is fighting back, but Barton Swaim says he is clearly more comfortable on domestic issues. Plus, Kim Strassel talks about the latest candidates for Speaker of the House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an Oval Office address, President Biden makes the case that supporting Israel against Hamas, as well as Ukraine against Russia, is in America's national interest, while calling for more security assistance from Congress. Plus, House Republicans are back to square one, after Jim Jordan's bid to be Speaker fails a third time on the floor, with more votes turning against him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three weeks remain until Virginia's statehouse elections, and if Republicans take full control of Richmond, they can pass a broad legislative agenda, including repealing the state's mandate for electric vehicles, or EVs. Could a GOP win also propel Gov. Youngkin into the 2024 presidential race? Plus, another day without a Speaker of the House, after Jim Jordan can't find the votes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden lands in Israel, meets with Benjamin Netanyahu, and says that the U.S. believes an explosion at a Gaza hospital was an errant missile from a Palestinian terrorist group. Plus, Jim Jordan fails to win a second vote for Speaker of the House, leaving Republicans looking for alternatives, including an expanded role for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan issues a gag order to stop Donald Trump from disparaging prosecutors and witnesses, but will that hold up on appeal, and does it play into his 2024 campaign of grievances? Plus, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan fails to be elected Speaker of the House on the first ballot, amid lingering hard feelings in the GOP about the treatment of Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. President expresses firm support for Israel as it prepares for its ground campaign targeting Hamas in Gaza. But will that support hold if there are civilian casualties? Plus, GOP Rep. Jim Jordan spent the weekend trying to find 217 votes to become the next House Speaker. Will he get there?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits Israel to affirm U.S. support and send a message to countries like Iran. But can the U.S. handle the two military campaigns in Israel and Ukraine simultaneously? Plus, Donald Trump bumbles into the crisis with an attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a declaration that the Hezbollah militia is "smart." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Potomac Watch podcast, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Mark Dubowitz talks about how Israel underestimated Hamas, the impact of a potential second front opening in Israel's north, and the central role played by Iran. Will President Biden now change his Iran policy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South Carolina lawmakers say they drew the state's new House map using political data alone, but the local NAACP claims the First District is a racial gerrymander. Plus, Kari Lake drops her "Stop the Steal" act as she announces a 2024 run for Senate in Arizona, but have voters who rejected her last year already forgotten? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hamas's terrorism has left hundreds dead, including 14 Americans, President Biden says, with other U.S. citizens taken to Gaza as hostages. The U.S. is sending ammunition to Israel, while directing the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier to the region, but will this wake up Washington, including leaderless House Republicans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in 50 years, Israel has declared war in response to Hamas' shocking attacks, including killing hundreds of citizens and taking civilian hostages. So what will be the response from Joe Biden and the United States? Plus, how deep is Iran's role in the conflict?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Yorkers like Kathy Hochul and Eric Adams keep crying for help on the migrant flow, as President Biden says a 2019 appropriation gives his administration no choice but to build 20 miles of barrier in Texas. Plus, Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise jockey for Speaker of the House, as Donald Trump injects himself into the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices begin their new term by reviewing whether the unaccountable funding mechanism used by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, is also unconstitutional. Plus, does a "tester" plaintiff under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, have standing to sue hotels and inns that she never plans to visit? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eight GOP rebels join 208 Democrats to oust the Republican leader, sending the House into disarray. Was this motivated by policy as the malcontents claim, or was it personal as Mr. McCarthy says? Plus, can the GOP unite enough to elect a successor and govern?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The civil case against Trump alleges that he gave bankers misleading financial information, including by inflating the square footage of his Trump Tower triplex and the values of his golf clubs. Judge Arthur Engoron has already granted the state a partial victory, yet hanging over it all is the fact that Attorney General Letitia James campaigned on going after the Trump Organization, a corrosive abuse of prosecutorial power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, a group of Republican backbenchers plot to remove Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker. But apart from the power play, it isn't clear what they hope to accomplish. And what happens if they succeed?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Trade Commission under Lina Khan sues Amazon for "monopolistic practices," but is the online retailer actually a monopoly, given its competition from brick-and-mortar stores, and is its behavior anticompetitive in a way that harms consumers? Plus, the House fails to pass a stopgap funding bill, setting up a possible government shutdown, as the Biden Administration prepares to close national parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seven GOP candidates debated at the Reagan library to see who can emerge as the main alternative to the former President, who has a big lead in the polls. Did anyone come out ahead?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden makes history by joining a United Auto Workers picket line, as Donald Trump plans a speech in Michigan in lieu of joining the 2024 Republican debate at the Reagan library. Plus, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to erase medical debt from credit reports, as the CFPB's funding goes to the Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A veto-proof GOP Legislature passes a universal voucher program, steamrolling Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Next up, Texas, as Gov. Greg Abbott calls a school-choice special session? Plus, another study shows charter successes, as Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates sends her son to a private school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez says he'll be exonerated of corruption charges, so why are his fellow Democrats calling on him to resign? Plus, two new polls deliver bad news about Joe Biden's chances for re-election.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the summer heat waning, migrant crossings at the southern border are again nearing records. Meantime, President Biden grants temporary protected status, or TPS, to about 500,000 Venezuelans, which will allow them to work in the U.S. Plus, Nikki Haley unveils an economic plan that includes raising the retirement age.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second Republican debate is scheduled next week, but Donald Trump will instead give a speech to union workers in Detroit. Does he not think voters deserve to hear his positions on abortion, Ukraine, his electability, and more? Plus, a new poll in New Hampshire puts Ron DeSantis in fifth place, as the GOP field fractures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Assessing the latest Republican platform planks, starting with Tim Scott's economic agenda, which tackles spending, welfare reform, tax cuts and more. Plus, Ron DeSantis calls for the U.S. to achieve "energy dominance," Mike Pence gets tough on China, and Nikki Haley promises a plan to save America from Bidenomics.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With 12 days left before government funding expires, the House GOP is again tactically divided. What do the dissenting Republicans want, and why do some believe they'd win a shutdown? Plus, Speaker Kevin McCarthy dares his critics to try to oust him with a motion to vacate, because who could replace him remains a mystery.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Paxton's impeachment trial ended in a full acquittal for the Texas Attorney General, exposing the problems of states ruled by one political party, as well as a split in the Texas Republican Party that resonates nationally. Plus, Donald Trump opposes a six-week ban on abortion but says he'd be open to a cognitive test for presidential candidates.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

United Auto Workers go on strike at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis factories, as Joe Biden takes their side. Are their demands reasonable, and what role is the transition to electric vehicles playing? Plus, Hunter Biden is indicted on three gun felonies, but where is special counsel David Weiss going on the tax investigation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Republicans begin an impeachment inquiry to examine the extent of President Biden's involvement in his son Hunter's business dealings. What evidence are they looking for, and has impeachment been defined down? Plus, the emergency gun ban declared by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is blocked in court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wall Street Journal's Potomac Watch podcast features author Thomas Sowell, whose new book dissects the misconceptions that distort public understanding about differences among individuals and racial and other groups. And why do so many intellectuals fall for the 'chess piece fallacy' about human behavior? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fifth Circuit appeals court says federal officials, including in the White House, coerced social-media companies to take down more posts. Is this going to the Supreme Court? Plus, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham uses an emergency order to ban firearm carry in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, but local police won't enforce it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The anxiety is growing louder as Democrats look at polls showing that three quarters of all voters think President Biden is too old to run for a second term. Revelations about Hunter Biden and the family business don't help, and Vice President Kamala Harris could also weigh down the ticket. Democrats are counting on Donald Trump to rescue them as the Republican nominee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a town hall in Manhattan, Mayor Eric Adams says that the city lacks the resources to care for the thousands of migrants arriving each month, but he blames Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instead of his fellow Democrats, including Joe Biden's border policies. Plus, the impeachment trial begins for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former Vice President takes aim at Donald Trump by saying populism without conservative principles is "Republicans in name only" and will ruin the GOP. Plus, Bernie Sanders goes all in on his support for Joe Biden, and Mitch McConnell says he's staying as the GOP's Senate leader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Potomac Watch podcast, Paul Gigot sits down with 2024 presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie about where Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy are wrong on Ukraine, how he would handle trade policy with China, and why he's focusing on New Hampshire and not Iowa to win the nomination in 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A legal argument now gaining attention is that Donald Trump can't serve again as president, because the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol counts as an "insurrection" under the 14th Amendment, which barred Confederates from office after the Civil War. Plus, a new WSJ poll shows Trump's support in the GOP primary rising to 59%. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign is on pause for Hurricane Idalia, but he's displaying the no-nonsense leadership that has put him in second place behind Donald Trump. Plus, Vivek Ramaswamy does a subtle shift on Taiwan, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez drops out after missing the GOP debate stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Vice President, Joe Biden maintained several email accounts under pseudonyms, some of which were used to conduct government business, as well as correspondence with his son, Hunter Biden. Why? Plus, concerns about Mitch McConnell and the future of the GOP Senate leadership arise after the Senate Minority Leader freezes in front of cameras for the second time in recent weeks.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president announces the first 10 drugs for which the government will "negotiate" prices under the Inflation Reduction Act. What will this do to the incentive to develop new cures and launch generic alternatives? Plus, the plan faces legal challenges over whether the threatened penalty of a 1,900% tax is constitutional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia parents ask the Justices to strike down new admissions rules at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which they say are intended to block Asian students. Plus, listener emails on Mike Pence, a 2024 rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and Trump's plan for a 10% universal tariff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge set March 4, 2024, as the date for Donald Trump's federal trial for election interference, one day before voters go to the polls on Super Tuesday. How much time will the GOP frontrunner be spending in court and not on the campaign trail? Plus, the polls since last week's GOP presidential debate show gains for some of Trump's competitors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump says he wants universal tariffs on imports to the U.S., an enormous new tax on American consumers that also would provoke retaliation, which is one reason his last trade war failed. Plus, Joe Biden holds a summit at Camp David with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, a good step in countering China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Candidates Nikki Haley and Mike Pence took advantage of Donald Trump's absence and turned in impressive performances in Milwaukee, but did Ron DeSantis get the breakout moment he needed? Plus, though Donald Trump did not appear on the debate stage, questions about his indictment and his fitness for office loomed large over the contest.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a visit to Hawaii, Joe Biden tries to connect by bringing up an old fire at his Delaware house. Are visits to disaster sites a political no-win, even when the president doesn't veer off script? Do renewable energy mandates compete with spending on wildfire safety? Plus, the panel previews the first GOP presidential debate.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaked correspondence from Hunter Biden's attorneys, particularly a threat to call Joe Biden to testify at trial, shows the pressure federal prosecutors were under not to bring a serious case. Can special counsel David Weiss credibly keep his job, given his involvement in this fiasco? Plus, listeners write in on the Hunter inquiry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former President says his lead in the polls means he can duck the first Republican presidential debate on Wednesday. But his absence may give another candidate or two a chance to shine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As children return to the classroom this fall, states are reporting record demand for school-choice programs, though teachers unions keep throwing up roadblocks. Plus, Donald Trump strongly hints he will skip next week's Republican debate, while a political consultancy publicly airs its advice for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden and Democrats celebrated the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act this week, touting green jobs and electric vehicles. But is the multi-trillion-dollar spending bill a winner politically, especially for swing state Senators running for re-election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Pence unveils a plan to end the Education Department, and Chris Christie leaps over Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire, but Donald Trump might be a no show at the first GOP primary debate. Plus, as Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin fights to retake Richmond, might he be a fallback option to take on Joe Biden in 2024?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis unveils charges against Trump and 18 others for trying to overturn the 2020 election, including on that infamous phone call with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. How does this case differ from the federal indictment by Special Counsel Jack Smith, and will it affect the 2024 GOP primaries? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration is poised to make a deal with Iran, handing over $6 billion and getting five American prisoners in return. Democrats say the money will go to food and medicine, but critics say money is fungible and the $6 billion will help Iran fund mayhem in the Middle East. Will the money-for-hostages swap lead to a broader nuclear deal with Tehran? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Attorney General Merrick Garland names a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden, but it's David Weiss, the U.S. attorney who has been on the case all along. Does this appointment change anything? Might it work to President Biden's benefit, if he can use the inquiry as an excuse to dodge tough questions through 2024? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The consumer-price index rose modestly in July, or 3.2% for the last 12 months. Can the Federal Reserve declare victory?. Plus, President Biden’s executive order banning some U.S. tech investment in China walks an economic and security tightrope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an Ohio ballot question widely viewed as a proxy for abortion policy, the Republican position is rejected by double digits. A year after the Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs, overturning Roe v. Wade, does the GOP have to reevaluate its strategy in light of the Ohio result and similar referendums in Michigan and Wisconsin? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A law known as Section 702 lets the U.S. scoop up information from foreigners abroad, but agencies like the FBI also sometimes query the database for U.S citizens. Should this provision, created after 9/11, be allowed to expire, or is it still useful in stopping terrorism? What's the best way to maximize accountability and minimize abuse? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With demands from Democrats that Supreme Court Justices recuse themselves from hearing certain cases, Paul Gigot and James Taranto discuss the Journal's recent interview with Justice Samuel Alito that caused an uproar in the media and on the left.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fitch Ratings drops U.S. debt to AA+, from AAA, which Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen calls arbitrary and unwarranted. But the country's debt is high and going higher, and no one wants to tackle Social Security or Medicare. Plus, a handful of House Republicans threaten to vote down a GOP tax bill unless it expands the deduction for state and local taxes, or SALT, which is a subsidy to California, New York and New Jersey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is arraigned in federal court on charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Does special counsel Jack Smith have more evidence pointing to the former President's state of mind than the public has seen? Plus, the transcript of Hunter Biden's former business partner Devon Archer's testimony is released, showing that Joe Biden knew more about his son's business deals than previously revealed.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special counsel Jack Smith charges the former President with trying to overturn the 2020 election in the runup to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. What does the indictment allege, and how does it try to prove that Trump knew he had actually lost to Joe Biden? Given that lying to the public isn't a crime, could Trump potentially appeal the use of these laws against him all the way to the Supreme Court? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an effort to reignite his campaign before the first GOP primary debate, Ron DeSantis issues an economic plan that promises to set a target of 3% growth, rein in federal spending, and overhaul American education. But will the proposal's populist notes, including a pledge to dole out "strategic tax abatements," really appeal to Donald Trump's base? Or should DeSantis stick with the ideas that made Florida a success? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Hunter Biden's ex-business partner Devon Archer appears on Capitol Hill behind closed doors to testify about Joe Biden's involvement in his son's deals, the threat of a violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act looms over the proceedings. Plus, Democrat Rep. Jim Himes makes a bold statement about Hunter Biden's wrongdoings rarely heard from the left.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a superseding indictment, Special Counsel Jack Smith alleges that the former President tried to delete Mar-a-Lago security footage to cover up his retention of classified files. Does this undermine Trump's claim that he had a right to documents? Plus, Ron DeSantis plans a campaign reset after comments on Bud Light and RFK Jr.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As President Biden's son watched in the courtroom, his plea deal fell apart when the judge in the case asked if he could face prosecution on future charges. How will this affect the President, as the White House changes its line on his son's business deals.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justice Department sues Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott for installing floating barriers in the Rio Grande, as a federal judge puts President Biden's asylum policy on hold. Meantime, a new study says immigration is the only thing keeping America's labor force from shrinking. Plus, UPS and the Teamsters avoid a strike.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fortune 100 is between a rock and a hard place, as Democratic state Attorneys General write a letter to defend diversity hiring targets, which Republican AGs suggest are illegal. Plus, government contracts for disadvantaged businesses also face scrutiny after the Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The center-right Popular Party makes gains in Spanish elections against the ruling Socialists, which may produce a hung parliament. What does the result tell us about the political trend in Europe? Plus, the Federal Reserve seems set to end its interest-rate pause and raise rates again. Good idea? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler tell Congress about interference in the investigation of Hunter Biden on tax charges. Does this put the onus on Attorney General Merrick Garland to answer questions? Plus, a new report says Covid learning loss is being exacerbated by teacher turnover and poor instruction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Mark Milley says the Ukrainian effort against Russia is "far from a failure," but does Ukraine have the weapons it needs to retake territory in the east? Plus, Vladimir Putin tries to hold the world's food supply hostage as the Black Sea grain deal falls apart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thirteen state attorneys general warn the Fortune 100 that the recent ruling striking down college race preferences also has implications for corporate America. Plus, Joe Biden comes up with a backup plan to forgive student loans, after the Justices overturned his first attempt, but is another legal challenge coming? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate Judiciary Committee takes up a Democratic bill to impose "ethics" and recusal rules on the Justices. But would this restore or undermine public confidence, and is it constitutional? Plus, reporters question Justice Sonia Sotomayor's book tours and Venmo reimbursements for Clarence Thomas's Christmas parties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Joe Biden brought the country back to the bad old days of the 1970s? On this episode of the Potomac Watch podcast, Paul Gigot speaks with Kim Strassel about her new book, "The Biden Malaise: How America Bounces Back from Joe Biden's Dismal Repeat of the Jimmy Carter Years." They discuss how the Biden Democrats compare to the Carter Democrats, and how Republicans can make a comeback like they did in 1980. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passes in the House, with Republican provisions to override the Pentagon on diversity and abortion policy. Does this mean Sen. Tommy Tuberville will quit holding up military promotions? And what does it say about the GOP that amendments to block aid to Ukraine were voted down? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NATO overcomes objections from Turkey to invite Sweden as its 32nd member nation, while Ukraine gets a promise of future membership, albeit without a timeline. Plus, FBI Director Christopher Wray displayed his political skills while dodging questions from House Republicans, but he didn't do the bureau's reputation any favors.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan fails to stop Microsoft's $75 billion acquisition of the video-game developer Activision Blizzard, but her campaign against bigness continues. Plus, congressional Republicans want to hear from U.S. Attorney David Weiss about the Hunter Biden investigation and plea deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The alliance says Ukraine will be invited to join later, when "conditions are met" but without a specific timeline, drawing the ire of Volodymyr Zelensky. Plus, Turkey says it will no longer object to Sweden's NATO accession, and Joe Biden agrees to send cluster bombs to Ukraine, while noting America's dwindling ammo stockpiles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Potomac Watch podcast, Paul Gigot speaks with North Dakota Governor and 2024 GOP Presidential candidate Doug Burgum about how energy policy failures led to the war in Ukraine, why a flat tax would make sense for Washington, if sanctions should continue on Russian oil, and why a Jan. 6 riot would not happen during a Burgum administration.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president is trying to bolster his economic record as 2024 nears, but what exactly does he mean by "Bidenomics," or is this merely a new gloss he's putting on his push for industrial policy? Plus, the latest jobs numbers show hiring has slowed, but probably not enough to dissuade the Federal Reserve from raising rates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge rules that Biden officials broke the law by pressuring Facebook, Twitter and other tech platforms to censor views the government didn't like on Covid policy and other issues. Will the ruling hold up on appeal, and what are the stakes for the First Amendment? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Americans uneager for a 2024 rematch between President Biden and President Trump, the group No Labels says its polling shows that 59% of voters are open to a moderate independent candidate. Could a third party really win the Electoral College, and what would be its platform? Or would its candidate be a sure spoiler? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices finish another historic year by barring racial preferences in college admissions and overturning President Biden's regulatory overreach in forgiving student loans. What does this tell us about the new conservative majority, and how much credit does Donald Trump get for his three High Court appointments?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court finished its term by ruling to end Joe Biden's student-loan forgiveness program in a 6-3 decision. The move is the latest example of the Court trying to reign in executive-branch overreach. Plus, both parties weigh in, with 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls lauding the decision while Democrats vow to provide loan forgiveness by other means.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a landmark decision that will reach far beyond campuses, the Supreme Court rules that using race in college admissions is unconstitutional. The decision is a giant step for racial equality under the law and reinforces the plain meaning of the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the right of state courts to review voting laws and Congressional maps. But did the Justices muddy the issue even further and open the door for more election-related challenges? Plus, Lordstown Motors files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a hit to Joe Biden's electrical vehicles policies and subsidies.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two IRS investigators have blown the whistle on the probe into Hunter Biden, as questions continue to mount about the deal the President's son received in pleading guilty to two tax misdemeanors. Plus, Attorney General Merrick Garland defends U.S. Attorney David Weiss's actions in the case, and the panel takes a look at the contents of Hunter Biden's tax returns.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vladimir Putin is still in power after a failed rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenaries, but is U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken right that this shows "cracks" in support for the Russian President? And what does it mean for Ukraine's counteroffensive?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New polling from Gallup, a year after the Supreme Court returned abortion to the political process in the Dobbs case, shows how public attitudes have and haven't changed. Plus, as GOP presidential candidates try to find their footing, Tim Scott and Mike Pence take up abortion at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Special Counsel John Durham's testimony before Congress shows how too many in both political parties want prosecutors to become a tool against their opponents. Plus, Justice Samuel Alito defends himself in the Wall Street Journal against a ProPublica article, causing the press to attack the Justice instead of examining the substance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charter schools "produce superior student gains despite enrolling a more challenging student population," says the latest analysis by Stanford’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes, or Credo. But will this convince union states like New York, where Gov. Kathy Hochul has failed to lift the cap on charters? Plus, an Oklahoma board approves the nation's first religious charter school, which could go to the Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a five-year investigation, Hunter Biden reaches an agreement to plead guilty to tax misdemeanors, while admitting to felony gun possession. Did President Biden's son get a sweet deal? Plus, President Trump tries to defend his handling of classified documents during an interview with Fox News's Bret Baier.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GOP passes a bill, with 29 Democratic votes, to stop the Energy Department's "efficiency" rules that could ban the kinds of natural-gas stoves consumers want. If the Senate takes this up, is it destined for President Biden's veto? Plus, California Gov. Gavin Newsom challenges Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to a public debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a visit to the Wall Street Journal, the former Vice President says he's running as a conservative who can bring civility back to our political debates. He's also making the case for supporting Ukraine and reforming entitlements, despite the political risks. Can he break through in the Iowa caucuses? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts in the classified document indictment brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, then later shot back at his critics during an appearance in Bedminster, N.J. Is this how the 2024 campaign is going to look? Plus, the left wants Judge Aileen Cannon removed from the Trump case, and former Vice President Mike Pence explains to the Wall Street Journal Opinion page why he can't defend Donald Trump's actions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fourth Circuit upholds Virginia Tech's official Bias Intervention and Response Team, which encourages anonymous reports from students. But is the dissent by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III a signal flare for the Supreme Court? Plus, the CPI report shows 4% inflation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump denounces the Biden Administration's charges against him for mishandling documents, but former Attorney General Bill Barr says the charges are serious and strong. Does Trump have a good defense, and how will this affect the 2024 election campaign? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special Counsel Jack Smith unveils 37 counts against Donald Trump related to classified material, including at Mar-a-Lago. Is this a double standard, after Hillary Clinton wasn't charged for her email server, and how will the indictment shake up the GOP race for 2024? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former Vice President and former New Jersey Governor launch their presidential campaigns with direct criticism of the former President. Will it work? Plus, relatively unknown North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum jumps into the race focusing on the economy, energy and national security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flooding between Russian invaders and Ukrainian defenders might complicate any counteroffensive, to say nothing of the humanitarian disaster. Plus, Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy spar over whether supplemental military funds must fit under the debt-ceiling deal's spending caps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican presidential contest gets new entrants, but what do the former Vice President and New Jersey Governor bring? Plus, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu declines to run, while urging the GOP to unite around a candidate who can beat Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House is working hard to persuade the press that the President is fit and able to fulfill his duties, even as evidence builds that his capacities are declining. Many Democrats are now quietly wondering about the risks of another Biden campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices rule 8-1 against the Teamsters, who allegedly called a strike intentionally when it could have wrecked Glacier Northwest's concrete-delivery trucks. Plus, the Democratic Senate votes for a resolution to undo Joe Biden's student debt-forgiveness plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Speaker pushed the debt-ceiling bill through the House, winning policy victories from President Biden in the bargain. What does that herald for what the GOP can accomplish for the rest of this Congress?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the House prepares to vote on Kevin McCarthy's debt-ceiling bill, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin applauds a provision expediting the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Plus, a listener asks who got the better end of the negotiations, and Rep. Thomas Massie says he'll vote yes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy make an agreement to avoid national default, raising the country's debt limit while restraining spending and adding work requirements to aid programs. Despite some GOP dissent, is this a deal that Republicans should pass? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the state Legislature moves on universal vouchers, Gov. Roy Cooper declares a "state of emergency" for public schools, but is it only a stunt to scare voters? Plus, Illinois ends a scholarship for low-income children, while allies of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson outline an agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices say 5-4 in Sackett v. EPA that federal regulations on the navigable "waters of the United States" don't reach a property with wetlands that are only distantly connected. Plus, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation warns about summer blackouts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Florida Governor jumped into the GOP presidential contest on Wednesday with a technical glitch on Twitter but a substantial record of accomplishment in the state. Can he wrest the nomination from Donald Trump?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years into Covid-19, New York had lost 5.3% of its population and San Francisco dropped 7.5%, according to new census figures. But if crime and disorder reign, big cities won't recover. Target now says "inventory shrinkage," including theft, costs it $500 million a year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden announces the U.S. will support training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, only months after he said that was off the table. As Russia's invasion grinds on, why does the President always seem a step behind in giving Ukraine's defenders the weapons they need? And where is the war going on the ground, after grueling combat leaves Russia in control of Bakhmut? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The South Carolina Senator joined the 2024 Presidential contest with a message of optimism and expanding opportunity, a sharp contrast with Donald Trump's rhetoric of 'retribution.' What are his chances at getting the GOP nomination? Plus, Joe Biden raises the specter of the 14th Amendment to avoid a national default as he prepares to meet with Kevin McCarthy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a national default looming, President Biden cracks the door to accepting new work requirements in welfare programs, as Republican negotiators want, but there's still little progress on a broader deal. Plus, the Supreme Court lets the IRS demand bank records from innocent parties without any notice, and it won't hold Twitter or Google liable for ISIS attacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How would presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy promote faster economic growth? Would he cut taxes, how would he influence the Federal Reserve, and why hasn't he been more critical of Donald Trump and his record as President? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many asset managers proxy vote for activist shareholder proposals, including to make Costco accountable for "deforestation" and force Home Depot to do a "racial equity audit." But with Vanguard taking a stand and BlackRock getting more skeptical, is the public ESG backlash having an effect? Plus, Baltimore sues Kia and Hyundai, saying their cars are too easy to steal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special Counsel John Durham finishes his 306-page report on the FBI's 2016 investigation into Donald Trump and Russia. The document sheds more light on the flimsiness of the "Steele dossier," while arguing that the bureau opened the Trump inquiry without any real evidence. In response, some Republicans are saying it's past time to clean house at the FBI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Florida Governor hit the first 2024 presidential caucus state on the weekend as he prepares to enter the race. Will his message of looking to the future and not the past resonate with voters? Plus, the stakes are high for the United States as Turkey's presidential election heads to a runoff later this month.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee say that members of Joe Biden's family received millions of dollars from overseas entities in recent years, as the President continues to insist that everything was above board. Plus, the Supreme Court upholds a California law on pork production, which could lead other states to try to export their values in a similar fashion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sounding like the Donald Trump who appeared on CNN in 2016, the former President took the stage in front of a town hall audience filled with Republicans and undecided voters in New Hampshire. Will his non-committal answers on abortion appeal to primary voters, or will his potential GOP opponents see an opening to attack Trump on the Jan. 6 riot or his refusal to support Ukraine against Russia? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A New York jury finds Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. Did Trump's failure to testify affect the outcome, or what about his belligerent deposition, in which he doubled down on the "Access Hollywood" tape? How will his 2024 rivals for the GOP nomination respond to the verdict? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A committee created by California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature recommends that black American residents who are descendants of slaves receive cash payments as racial "reparations." But where will the money come from, and is it even legal? And will programs like this become a new progressive litmus test?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An ABC-Washington Post poll finds that a majority of Americans disapprove of the job the President is doing and don't think he has the mental and physical ability to do the job. Do Democrats have to start thinking of an alternative for 2024? Plus, Biden meets Tuesday with Congressional leaders over the debt-ceiling. Any chance of a breakthrough? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The migrant crisis is about to enter a new phase, as pandemic expulsions end. But now that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other big-city Democrats are warning this can't go on, does President Biden have political leeway to act? Plus listeners write in about the 2024 Senate map and the latest news on Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Reserve raises interest rates for the tenth time in 11 months, and Chairman Powell says the banking panic is over. But investors are still punishing midsize banks after the First Republic failure. Plus, who'll blink first in the debt-limit showdown? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Supreme Court "ethics" highlights what Democrats have in mind, including an open-ended process for "complaints" against the Justices that could look like an unending confirmation hearing. Plus, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice could help the GOP retake the Senate, if he can beat Sen. Joe Manchin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First Republic Bank is seized by regulators and acquired by JPMorgan Chase. CEO Jamie Dimon says the banking crisis is over, but are there still economic vulnerabilities as interest rates rise? Plus, the Supreme Court agrees to hear a case that could overturn Chevron deference, a doctrine that has empowered regulators in the modern administrative state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Democrats plan a hearing to attack the ethics of Supreme Court Justices, despite no evidence that there's a problem. What's their real agenda? Plus, James Taranto joins the podcast to talk about his interview with Justice Samuel Alito, who says he thinks he knows who was behind the Dobbs decision leak.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The company files a lawsuit arguing that Florida violated its constitutional rights by retaliating after former CEO Bob Chapek spoke up against DeSantis's agenda. Does it have a credible legal claim to the deals it cut with the Reedy Creek Improvement District that surrounds Disney World? Or is this the kind of special carveout for a favored business that should be ended anyway? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy kept Republicans together in the House as the bill raising the debt ceiling was passed and now heads to the Senate. But how will Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer handle getting it to the President's desk, despite Joe Biden stating he will not negotiate with the Speaker? Plus, a disappointing report on first-quarter GDP growth points to an economic slowdown and a possible recession.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She calls herself "pro-life" and "unapologetic," but Haley says Republicans must be realistic that federal abortion legislation cannot pass. Will GOP voters accept that message in 2024? Plus, the Supreme Court's ruling on the abortion pill mifepristone prompts a dissent from Justice Samuel Alito about the so-called shadow docket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a video featuring images of the Jan. 6 riot and a reference to "MAGA extremists," President Biden announces his reelection campaign, but voters might be skeptical of his age, track record, and running mate Kamala Harris. Plus, Donald Trump attacks Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis using left-wing talking points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A deposition transcript released by the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees reveals that the Biden campaign in 2020 helped spur an open letter signed by former intelligence officials claiming the Hunter Biden laptop story had the "earmarks" of Russian disinformation. Will anyone pay a price for that deception, and how much has it hurt the credibility of the press and the intelligence services? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The press raises more questions about Justice Clarence Thomas's relationship with Harlan Crow, who reportedly bought some family properties in Georgia for $133,000. Thomas will amend his financial disclosure, and Sen. Dick Durbin wants testimony from Chief Justice John Roberts, but is this a real threat of corruption? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House GOP officially introduced their plan for raising the debt ceiling, but President Biden called it "wacko" and still refuses to negotiate. Can the GOP stay united and force the President to make a deal? Plus, Paul Gigot gives an update on Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who remains unjustly imprisoned by Russia.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Florida Governor jokes about building a prison next to Disney World, as Donald Trump denounces this feud as a political stunt that will hurt the state's economy. Plus, the Supreme Court takes up Groff v. DeJoy, a case about a USPS mail carrier who asked for a religious accommodation to avoid working on Sundays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chairman Jim Jordan took the House Judiciary Committee on the road to New York City to look at Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg's record on crime. What did we learn from the feisty hearing? Plus, Mitch McConnell and John Fetterman returned to the Senate chamber as Republicans gear up to block a temporary replacement for Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Speaker lays out the House GOP's offer to President Biden in return for voting to raise the debt ceiling. But Biden still refuses to negotiate, which will test whether McCarthy can keep his caucus together as the borrowing limit nears.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health issues have kept 89-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein out of Washington, and some Democrats now want her to resign so President Biden's judicial nominees can get confirmed. But what about Biden's own age questions? Plus, the Congressional Budget Office says the deficit over the past six months was $1.1 trillion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The national debate over abortion continues to play out in the courts as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a national injunction and keeps the drug mifepristone on the market. Plus, Governor Ron DeSantis says he will sign Florida's 'heartbeat bill' that would ban most abortions after six weeks. Will that help or hurt his possible presidential campaign? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another campaign against Justice Clarence Thomas is afoot, this time citing his friendship with Texas billionaire Harlan Crow. Justice Thomas has reportedly spent time on Crow's ranch, yacht, resort and private jet, but without an apparent conflict of interest. Plus, Sen. Tim Scott launches an exploratory committee for President in 2024 with a welcome message of GOP optimism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After seizing the floor with a bullhorn to demand gun control, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson are booted from office, although the Nashville Metro Council has already reappointed Jones. Was their removal too strong a punishment, and what does President Biden mean when he calls it "undemocratic"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's national injunction on the drug mifepristone seems destined for the Supreme Court after the decision riles up both sides of the political debate on abortion. Plus, some Democrats are encouraging the Biden administration to simply ignore the ruling, defying a lawful order and creating a dangerous precedent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House publishes a 12-page document blaming President Trump for the American military's hasty withdrawal in 2021 under Taliban control, but what parts of the story does that leave out? Plus, the job market cools, with the economy in March posting the smallest net employment gain in two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bipartisan group of House Members led by Kevin McCarthy met with Tsai Ing-wen Wednesday on U.S. soil, in a move that even former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said should be “commended.” Plus, North Carolina Democrat Tricia Cotham switches parties and joins the Republican caucus, resulting in a GOP supermajority that could override the Democratic governor's veto. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With his indictment of Trump, the Manhattan district attorney will have to prove that the former President falsified business records to conceal another crime. But the DA isn't clear about what the other crime is. Plus, the left wins big in Chicago and Wisconsin, and the election in the Badger State is a warning to Republicans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While opposing crowds gathered in lower Manhattan today, Donald Trump appeared in court to plead his innocence to 34 felony counts, after Alvin Bragg became the first DA to charge a former President with a crime. Plus, Republican Asa Hutchinson unofficially announces his run for President and gives his thoughts on what he would do to bring the country together and why Donald Trump should withdraw from the 2024 election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two Democrats with different governing philosophies square off for mayor of Chicago, with crime at the top of voter concerns, and a contest for a swing seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court could have national implications. Plus, the world is becoming more dangerous for journalists as Russia arrests The Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich on a false accusation of espionage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has opened Pandora's box with his unprecedented indictment of Donald Trump, a first in U.S. history. Reports have Trump facing about 30 charges, but the evidence is yet to come. What does this mean for the 2024 Presidential race, especially Trump's rivals for the Republican nomination? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden takes a shot at Benjamin Netanyahu even after the Prime Minister had paused his controversial judicial reform in a search for compromise with the opposition. Is Biden trying to topple Israel's new government? Plus, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States may include a meeting with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, much to the consternation of China.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Republicans make a push for H.R.1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which Rep. Steve Scalise says will help make the U.S. less dependent on foreign oil. But can pieces of this legislation get through the Democratic Senate, and will Joe Manchin secure his permitting reform? Plus, Joe Biden changes course and approves the Willow drilling project in Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judge Kyle Duncan’s speech at Stanford Law School was met with not merely student protests, but prepared remarks from a diversity dean, Tirien Steinbach. The law school's dean, Jenny Martinez, released a letter in response, but is she taking a tough enough line, and what does this incident say about America's future elite lawyers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FDIC found a buyer for Silicon Valley Bank's assets after its spectacular collapse in First Citizens BancShares, and Fed chairman Jerome Powell has vowed to look into the supervisors and regulatory policies to prevent this from happening again. But where does the blame truly belong, and do all signs point to a recession later this year?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After criticism for calling Russia's war a "territorial dispute," the Florida Governor and potential 2024 contender adds some nuance. But has he offered a clearer picture of what President DeSantis's foreign policy would look like? Plus, the House GOP suggests it wants to investigate Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg's pursuit of an indictment against Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Potomac Watch, Paul Gigot speaks with political scientist Ruy Teixeira about the political implications of an indictment against Donald Trump, why an emerging Democratic majority in Washington never materialized, and why Joe Biden has governed from the left.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first veto of Joe Biden's presidency gives retirement-fund managers more freedom to indulge in politicized investment decisions. But why are social-justice and climate-change funds getting priority over those that might yield higher returns? Plus, the White House and Democrats take aim at the Freedom Caucus' budget blueprint to reign in government spending.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After UBS rescued Credit Suisse in a billion-dollar takeover bid, Janet Yellen warns investors that bailouts could be on the way for even smaller banks. But are these regulatory actions causing their own risks and harm? Plus, the world is on edge as Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin meet this week, raising questions about that alliance and the war in Ukraine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former President signals he could be indicted this week on charges related to hush-money payments to his alleged mistress. What's behind Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's revival of a seven-year-old case, and what are the political implications? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testified on Capitol Hill that the economy is strong and the U.S. banking system is sound, despite the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the bailout of First Republic Bank. So what did the regulators miss, and what does Joe Biden plan to do about it? Plus, a decision on insulin prices by French drugmaker Sanofi could hold unexpected consequences for U.S. patients.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite his hawkish past, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to a Fox News questionnaire by saying the war in Ukraine was not a vital U.S. interest. Was this a mistake by someone relatively new to the world of foreign affairs, and can it be fixed by the time he potentially launches a Presidential campaign? Plus, Donald Trump says he could end the Russia/Ukraine conflict in a day, and Mike Pence believes supporting Ukraine is part of the conservative tradition of Ronald Reagan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

News reports suggest that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg might be planning to indict Donald Trump for falsifying business records related to his hush money to Stormy Daniels in 2016. Could prosecutors be stretching the law to make this a felony, how would a criminal case affect the 2024 primaries, and could Trump run as a third-party candidate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Potomac Watch Podcast, Paul Gigot speaks with former Pennsylvania Senate candidate David McCormick about how the seeds of the current bank panic were planted years ago and what Joe Biden can do about it, whether the country is heading in the wrong direction, the need to invest in technology, and if he is considering another run for Senate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden tries to reassure financial markets about risks to the banking system, but investors weren't buying it Monday. What's behind the bank panic, and is Biden right to blame the Trump administration?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the FBI raising concerns about national security, the White House asks Congress for authority to block the Chinese social-media app from the U.S. Plus, the Senate votes 81-14 to stop an overhaul of the criminal code in Washington, D.C., with many Democrats crossing the aisle, wary of appearing soft on crime in the runup to 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President's fiscal 2024 budget proposal raises taxes far and wide, setting up a battle with Republicans in Congress. What does it say about his 2024 re-election strategy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

West Virginia reduces its income taxes, as Gov. Jim Justice eyes a challenge to Sen. Joe Manchin. North Dakota could adopt a flat tax, which Gov. Doug Burgum says would help the state compete for oil workers. And Michiganders could get a tax cut, too, despite the best efforts of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Plus, a plan to adapt subway service to post-Covid realities is blocked by New York City's transit union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President commemorates the "Bloody Sunday" civil-rights march, while using his speech for partisan ends. But what's the reality of the Supreme Court's jurisprudence on the Voting Rights Act, and did the 2022 midterms support the Democratic claims abouts voting laws in states like Georgia? Plus, Biden teases his 2024 budget by proposing a tax increase for Medicare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As he considers a run for the White House, the Florida Governor offers his Sunshine State record on Covid, education and more as a model for Washington. Plus, Donald Trump shows in his CPAC speech that he has DeSantis on his mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two federal agencies, the Energy Department and the FBI, reignite the debate over whether the Covid-19 pandemic began naturally or whether the virus escaped from a Wuhan lab. The White House says there's no consensus in the intelligence community, but why was the lab-leak theory dismissed for so long, and are we any closer to finding the truth? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a primetime opening hearing, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, led by Rep. Mike Gallagher, began a wide-ranging investigation into potential threats from China, including surveillance and threats of impending war. So what does this committee hope to accomplish? Plus, the Senate approves a measure to overturn a Biden administration ESG rule.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago voters fire Mayor Lori Lightfoot, but their next leader will depend on an April runoff. Might Chicago become another example of a blue city that is fed up with crime and dysfunction? Plus, Congress considers whether to override bills by the D.C. Council that would lower criminal penalties in Washington and let noncitizens vote in local elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices take up Joe Biden's plan to wipe out billions of dollars in student debt, with sparring on the "major questions doctrine" and whether the opponents have legal standing to sue. Meantime, the Commerce Department puts a child care mandate on semiconductor companies that receive federal funding from the Chips Act.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot could lose her bid for re-election as rising crime has voters looking closely at her challengers. Plus, the race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has implications for former Gov. Scott Walker's reforms and for national Republicans.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreperson Emily Kohrs gives several interviews revealing details from the Georgia grand jury that investigated 2020 election interference. How much does this taint the state's investigation of Donald Trump's conduct? Plus, the Federal Reserve's favorite price metric, the PCE, shows the inflation beast hasn't yet been slain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete Buttigieg finally visited the site of a major train derailment in rural Ohio, while Donald Trump arrived on the scene with promises of clean water for those he says were forgotten by the current administration. Did Joe Biden make a mistake by not going to the region himself? Plus, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy enters the 2024 race for President as Sen. Tim Scott gives a preview of his own possible ambitions in Iowa.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Under a law called Section 230, internet platforms aren't liable for what their users upload, but does that immunity also protect the algorithms that sort and display content? The High Court considers that question in a case alleging that YouTube's recommendation engine spread the messages of the terrorist group ISIS, though some Justices seem to think changing the status quo is a job for Congress, not the courts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion nears, President Biden makes a surprise visit to Kyiv, with additional remarks in Poland. What's the importance of his appearance, and what's in the aid package he announced? Plus, Ron DeSantis says Ukraine shouldn't get a "blank check," as Vladimir Putin suspends the New Start nuclear arms treaty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot speaks with author Philip K. Howard about how public unions have created a lack of accountability and an "anti-merit" system in government, and how legal challenges are needed to restore democratic government that works.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden finally addresses the American people about the mysterious objects and the Chinese spy balloon shot down over North America over the past two weeks. But what did we learn? Plus, Joe Biden gets a physical that declares him "fit to serve," but once again raises the question about the age and cognitive fitness of future Presidential candidates.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a partial report released by the judge in the investigation into Donald Trump's attempt in Georgia to overturn the 2020 election, the grand jury recommended possible perjury indictments for some unidentified witnesses in the probe. Plus, the Congressional Budget Office's annual budget review shows how much government has grown under Joe Biden.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley formally enters the 2024 Presidential race with a message of positivity, calling for a new generation of Republicans to lead. What bigger message will she bring to challenge Donald Trump and possibly Ron DeSantis? Plus, new numbers show inflation has slowed, but is still stubbornly dogging home buyers and consumers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After announcing a plan to create the School of Civic Life and Leadership--dedicated to free inquiry--the University of North Carolina faces a threat to its accreditation. Plus, Joe Biden used his State of the Union to take on so-called "junk fees," but the regulatory assault could be more harmful to consumers than he expects.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the fourth time in eight days, U.S. fighter jets were ordered to destroy various flying objects discovered in U.S. airspace. While Democrats and Republicans debate their intent, what do the presence of Chinese balloons and other aircraft say about our national security? Plus, Mitch McConnell and Rick Scott are taking sides about the Republican message on Social Security and Medicare.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden orders the Pentagon to take out a flying object near Alaska, a sign of increased vigilance since a Chinese spy balloon entered the U.S. last week. Should the President be more forthright about that balloon's capabilities, and is this a wakeup call about China? Plus, Biden holds a rally in Florida and calls out Gov. Ron DeSantis by name, a sign that the 2024 race is beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is Joe Biden picking a fight on Medicare and Social Security, and why hasn't his agenda changed now that Republicans hold half of Congress? The answer lies in his re-election strategy, which was hiding in plain sight in his State of the Union address. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden's speech Tuesday was a raucous affair, with cheers and jeers that called to mind the British House of Commons. What the President left out, though, was any compromise agenda that he thinks can actually pass a divided Congress. Plus, newly elected Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders gives a GOP response that focuses more on culture than policy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly half of states have lowered their income-tax rates, or are now moving to do so, within a period of only a few years. What's causing this trend, and if federal Covid-19 money is part of the story, how are Governors strategizing to avoid a revenue crunch once those funds end? Plus, Joe Biden prepares to deliver the State of the Union address, with no signs that he will change course on the economy or Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An F-22 jet fighter shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon on Saturday on President Biden's orders. But many questions remain about the episode, including: When did the White House first learn that the balloon had crossed into U.S. airspace, did it raise the issue with Beijing, and how did the Chinese respond? Plus, Democrats rework their 2024 presidential primary calendar to help the President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jobs growth pushes the unemployment rate down to 3.4%, the lowest since 1969, but with inflation still a problem, President Joe Biden and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell aren't out of the woods yet. Plus, the GOP House votes to remove Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee, which Speaker Kevin McCarthy says isn't merely a tit for tat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell raises interest rates again, but markets cheer. Is the economy doing much better than expected, leaving open the possibility of escaping a recession? Plus, the College Board changes its African-American Studies AP course, vindicating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's criticism.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy sit down face to face to discuss spending, debt, and an impending U.S. default. What does each side want, and is real negotiation in the works? Plus, the Justice Department searches Biden’s vacation home in Rehoboth Beach to look for classified documents.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden tells reporters that he won't be sending F-16 jet fighters to Ukraine, but the U.S. previously said the same thing about Abrams tanks, before the White House changed its mind under pressure from European allies. Plus, new IRS data says the top 1% of Americans pay 42% of the country's income taxes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The release of the video showing the arrest and beating of Tyre Nichols, and the subsequent charges of second-degree murder for the five officers involved, have increased calls for police reform. Can the Senate finally put together a plan despite failing in the past? Plus, Donald Trump visits two primary states over the weekend as he runs for president again, but the reception was underwhelming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Florida rejects an Advanced Placement course on African-American Studies, which Gov. Ron DeSantis says is full of political indoctrination and Critical Race Theory, or CRT. Does he have a point about the College Board's class design, and is school choice a solution for a divided nation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. economy rose 2.9% in the last quarter, which seems like good news, but hints at a lack of sustainability below the surface. Plus, Kevin McCarthy signals he will not support a consumption tax favored by some in his party, and the political world braces for Donald Trump's return to Facebook.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Germany is joining other European nations, as well as the United States, in sending more tanks to Ukraine to fight off a possible new offensive by Russia. So what took them so long to commit, and was the U.S. pledge for more aid the tipping point for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz? Plus, Mike Pence hands over classified documents found in his home, and a listener asks about the U.N.'s role in the Ukraine/Russia conflict.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Russian troops expected to go on offense soon, some NATO allies want to provide Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but Germany is saying no unless the U.S. also sends its Abrams tanks. What explains the German reluctance, and should President Biden agree to offer Ukraine some U.S. armor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Justice Department search of Joe Biden's home in Delaware finds another set of material with classification markings, as other Democrats begin to break from defending his actions. Plus, former Covid czar Jeff Zients could be the White House's next chief of staff, despite spending a career in business and not politics.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An internal investigation, including interviews with nearly 100 Supreme Court staff, has failed to discover who leaked the draft of Justice Samuel Alito's Dobbs abortion decision, while revealing how lax security protocols let it happen. Plus, the share of the workforce that's unionized drops to the lowest on record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The stakes are rising as the Ukraine war nears its first anniversary, and the West faces crucial decisions about how much military aid to provide and whether to let Ukraine expand its target to Russian territory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Striking ambulance drivers and four-hour ER waits are prompting calls to reform Britain's National Health Service, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledges that he has sometimes gone outside the system for his own medical care. Plus, China's population falls for the first time in decades, after its old one-child policy succeeded all too well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the government will hit its borrowing ceiling this week, and House Republicans are already promising a fight over lifting it. But can Speaker Kevin McCarthy get President Biden to negotiate, since this is money Congress has already agreed to spend? And how much leverage does the GOP really have? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden and Donald Trump both now have special prosecutors investigating their handling of classified material. That puts Attorney General Merrick Garland in the middle of two highly political inquiries as the 2024 presidential race nears, but is this really in the country's best interest? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After an FAA failure cancels 1,900 flights, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg calls it a "glitch," but maybe these systems would be better if they weren't run by the government. Plus, a member of the Consumer Product Safety Commission raises the idea of banning gas stoves, prompting outrage from America's kitchens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden started his day by announcing U.S. inflation had slowed for the sixth straight month and touting other positive signs for the economy. But by mid-afternoon, Attorney General Merrick Garland had appointed a special counsel to investigate the mishandling of classified documents after another stash was discovered in the garage (next to the Corvette) at the President's private residence.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Days before the November elections, about 10 documents marked as classified were discovered at a private office once used by Joe Biden. As the Justice Department investigates, how will this affect its inquiry into the classified material that the FBI seized from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate? Plus, listeners react to Joe Biden's latest student loan forgiveness policy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden's proposal to erase $10,000 in student loans per person is on hold at the Supreme Court, but the Education Department is now moving to wipe out more debt via income-based repayment plans. Won't this give colleges an incentive to raise tuition and offer marginal degrees, and will these policies prove popular, or is there an economic and generational divide? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new House Speaker cut many deals with conservatives to get the job, but they could limit his ability to govern. One problem: Defense is teed up for budget cuts. Plus, Joe Biden finally visits the U.S.-Mexico border, but will any policy changes come of it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amid political pressure and a pending Supreme Court case on Title 42, Joe Biden is going to El Paso and tweaking America's immigration policies, but will this be enough to stop the crisis at the border? Plus, Kevin McCarthy still isn't Speaker of the House after 13 ballots, but the momentum has turned his way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a tenth vote and reports of possible concessions to those preventing his rise to Speaker, Kevin McCarthy is still short of the votes he needs. Has McCarthy already made too many concessions that would undermine his ability to do the job? Plus, Gov. Ron DeSantis gives an inaugural address to show Washington what it can learn from Florida.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin McCarthy still can't get to 218, yet his Republican challengers haven't gained much ground either, after nominating Florida Rep. Byron Donalds. Does the GOP have an alternate candidate that it can rally around to end the stalemate, and could that person come from outside Congress? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican House spends its first day on multiple votes for Speaker, and still Kevin McCarthy can't muster a majority. But what do the GOP dissenters actually want, and do they have another option for Speaker who can win 218 votes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eighty-two people in Ohio, most of them unvaccinated children, have contracted the measles, as a new survey suggests the Covid-19 pandemic has increased vaccine hesitancy. Plus, House Democrats finally release Donald Trump's tax returns, but do the initial headlines support their political narrative? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the war in Ukraine to an historic Supreme Court term, soaring inflation and record spending by Congress, Potomac Watch looks at the biggest stories of 2022, and what they mean for 2023.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Expulsions at the U.S.-Mexico border under Title 42 will continue, as the Supreme Court agrees to hear a related case in February. Does this delay give Joe Biden a chance to put in place a plan for stopping illegal immigrants? Plus, the Census Bureau releases data showing that blue states like California are losing population, while red states like Florida are growing, and it isn't merely because of the weather. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brutal winter storm puts the U.S. power grid to the test, as natural gas is diverted to heating, forcing utilities to beg for customers to turn off lights and appliances. Plus, while sales of electric vehicles are on the rise, studies show that their range falls precipitously when the temperature drops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 845-page report targets Donald Trump as the man responsible for the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, but does it have the evidence to prove he committed a crime? Plus, the 117th Congress comes to a close with another giant last-minute spending bill that few Members will have read. Why did 18 GOP Senators help Democrats pass it?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an address to Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expresses gratitude for U.S. aid, which he says isn't charity but an investment in security from Russian aggression. Plus, the House Ways and Mean Committee votes to release Donald Trump's tax returns, another broken norm and bad precedent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Expulsions at the U.S.-Mexico border under Covid-19 pandemic rules can't go on forever, though the Supreme Court's intervention has bought a little extra time. What will happen when the policy expires, and does Joe Biden have a plan? Plus, the omnibus spending bill includes money for salmon, bees, plankton and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With lawmakers eager to head home for the holidays, Congress unveils an omnibus spending package that must be seen to be believed. Besides a $1.7 trillion price tag, the bill includes changes to the Electoral Count Act, aid for Ukraine, a ban on TikTok on government devices, tweaks to Medicaid rules, and new FDA powers over cosmetics. Is this really how Congress should be doing business? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During its final public hearing, the Jan. 6 Committee recommended the Department of Justice criminally prosecute Donald Trump on four charges related to his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. But is there enough evidence that he actually committed a crime? Plus, the Committee weighs what to do with GOP House members who defied their subpoenas, and the House Ways and Means Committee could create unintended consequences by releasing Donald Trump's taxes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China's control over the social-media app TikTok gets new attention, as the Senate passes a bill to ban it on government devices. Meantime, Sen. Marco Rubio wants to stop TikTok from operating in the U.S. entirely. Plus, the Biden administration debates sending Patriot missile systems to Ukraine to defend against further attacks from Vladimir Putin.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration announces that a nuclear fusion experiment has produced a net energy gain for the first time, but it could take decades to practically generate electricity this way. Does this highlight, though, a tradeoff between spending on research and funding for green subsidies, such as electric vehicle tax breaks? Plus, the European Union pushes forward with a carbon border tariff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawmakers are drawing up a $1.7 trillion framework, with a looming Friday deadline to fund the government. But what's the GOP's best strategy here? Sen. Mitch McConnell seems broadly supportive of the omnibus, while Rep. Kevin McCarthy is urging Republicans to delay any long-term spending package until they take control of the House in January. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What will the Federal Reserve do next? Consumer prices in November rose 7.1%, year over year, and the big question is whether this inflation is burrowing into the economy. Plus, Sam Bankman-Fried is indicted on fraud charges, while FTX's new CEO John Ray testifies on Capitol Hill to explain how the crypto exchange collapsed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk continues to release documents on Twitter's content suppression. What are the First Amendment implications, and will some media outlets ever cover the story? Plus, why can't Kevin McCarthy gather the voters to become the next Speaker of the House? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An $858 billion National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, passes the House, and it includes a provision to repeal the Pentagon's Covid-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. troops. Plus, Kyrsten Sinema waits until after the Georgia Senate runoff to announce she's leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent, possibly to avoid a primary challenger if she runs for re-election in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices take up Moore v. Harper, a case that asks who gets to draw North Carolina's new House districts: the Legislature or state judges? The implications of that question for 2024 probably aren't what you've heard, and New York's failed gerrymander explains why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court hears a case called 303 Creative, brought by Lorie Smith, a Colorado designer who says her Christian beliefs bar her from making websites for same-sex weddings. When does free speech trump antidiscrimination law? Plus, Sen. Raphael Warnock defeats Herschel Walker in the Georgia runoff, giving the Democrats a 51-49 Senate and a golden opportunity for Joe Biden.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's election day (again) in Georgia, as Sen. Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker rally voters for the final contest of the 2022 midterms. Although Democrats will hold the Senate regardless of what happens, there's a real difference between a chamber that's split 50-50 and one that's 51-49. Will GOP voters head to the polls at Gov. Brian Kemp's urging, and what role is Donald Trump playing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the release of internal Twitter emails from 2020 through journalist Matt Taibbi, the new Twitter CEO exposes the platform's collaboration with Democrats and its censorship of the New York Post's Hunter Biden emails story. Plus, Donald Trump creates a distraction from the censorship issue by calling for the termination of the Constitution.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She calls the gubernatorial election a "sham," but Kari Lake's loss to Katie Hobbs was big enough not to trigger a recount, and she widely underperformed other Republicans. That doesn't excuse Maricopa County's printer problems on Election Day, however. Plus, the Supreme Court agrees to hear a challenge to Joe Biden's student-loan forgiveness plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Republicans criticizing their own candidate for Speaker of the House while Democrats unify around their new leadership, the GOP isn't acting like it has the majority in the House next year. Why is Kevin McCarthy having a hard time getting the votes to lead his party? Plus, the House and Senate vote on bills to avoid an economy-crippling rail strike.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Republicans set to take over the House in a little more than a month, Democrats want one more spending blowout, as a Dec. 16 deadline looms for funding the government. Meantime, lawmakers are also considering the Electoral Count Act, the National Defense Authorization Act (or NDAA), and maybe even the debt ceiling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contrary to his reputation as a pro-union Democrat, President Biden calls on Congress to impose a labor deal on America's railroads, as a way to avert an economically damaging strike. Plus, Georgia voters turn out in huge numbers for the Senate runoff between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker, while Donald Trump's absence could improve the GOP's chances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Demonstrations have broken out in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as the government and state-run media tries to squash any opposition to China's zero-tolerance Covid policy. Plus, the U.S. eases sanctions on Venezuela as Chevron is allowed to pump oil in the country again.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From school applications to medical forms, Americans are often presented with checkboxes and asked to identify their racial backgrounds. But where did these six standard labels come from, and do they still describe an increasingly diverse country? Law professor David Bernstein answers those questions and more, as the public awaits the outcome of the Supreme Court's case on racial preferences at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden asks the Supreme Court to let him forgive billions of dollars in student debt, but until then his payment moratorium will continue through June 2023. How much longer can he use emergency powers for this, and might a Republican House do anything to stop it? Plus, Justice Samuel Alito is accused of prematurely revealing the outcome of a 2014 case, but the evidence seems thin.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron DeSantis, Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley, and other prominent Republicans speak at a GOP conference in Las Vegas, and they don't sound very cowed by President Trump's early announcement of a 2024 campaign. Plus, the White House quietly celebrates Joe Biden's 80th birthday, as questions continue about whether he plans to run for a second term. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Attorney General's decision won't give him the political insulation he wants, but does it mean an indictment is more likely? Plus, President Biden signs the U.S. up to pay climate reparations to the world's poor countries.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NATO says the blast that killed two Polish farm workers probably came from a Ukrainian defense system, not a Russian strike, but Vladimir Putin ultimately bears responsibility for it. Plus, law schools at Yale and Harvard say they will no longer participate in annual rankings published by U.S. News and World Report, which might be an effort to get ahead of the Supreme Court's ruling on racial preferences.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nearly nine days after Election Day, Republicans in the House crossed the threshold needed to take control and paved the way for Kevin McCarthy to become the Speaker of the House. But will he be able to unite his party in a way Nancy Pelosi was able to unite Democrats, and what is her legacy as she steps down from the Democratic leadership?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

His announcement speech at Mar-a-Lago featured the usual Trumpian boasts, plus deflection of blame for the GOP's failures last week on Election Day. But do Republican voters want Donald Trump back, especially given the rise of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis? And if Trump lost the GOP primary in 2024, would he sabotage the winner? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She was probably Donald Trump's best chance for a "Stop the Steal" candidate to win on Election Day. But according to the exit polls, Kari Lake lost independent voters, lost moderates, and even lost 9% of Republicans. Plus, Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan flops in court again, this time at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats secured control of the Senate by winning 50 seats, and they still look to claim another in Georgia. But with control of the House still up in the air, could Kevin McCarthy face a challenge for Speaker of the House as Mitch McConnell tries to remain Minority Leader? Plus, Republicans' poor performance with independents was a major factor in Democrats gaining ground on Election Day.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge in Texas vacates President Biden's plan to forgive student debt, calling it an "unconstitutional exercise." But will this ruling hold up on appeal, or should the President's critics keep an eye on a similar case in the Eighth Circuit? Plus, the latest inflation report shows prices up 7.7% year over year, which is down slightly but still way too high for comfort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two days after Election Day, control of the House and Senate is still in doubt, as Donald Trump's hand-picked candidates mostly lost what could have been winnable seats. Plus, Joe Biden takes a victory lap despite possibly losing both chambers of Congress, and a listener asks who should campaign for Herschel Walker in the Georgia Senate runoff election.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans started Election Day with hopes of winning the House and Senate by a decisive majority, but a strong GOP victory was nowhere to be found. What happened? Plus, Ron DeSantis emerges as the biggest election winner with a huge re-election victory as Florida Governor, even as Donald Trump's hand-picked GOP candidates lost big on Tuesday.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Republicans take the House and possibly the Senate, as most projections and polling suggest, then a divided government will block President Biden's progressive ambitions. But how else would a GOP Congress change the dynamic in Washington? Plus, Donald Trump promises a big announcement on Nov. 15, putting himself front and center ahead of Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Election Day nears, Republicans are well positioned to win the majority in the House, while the Senate remains a tossup. Is the GOP overestimating how successful their night will be, and are Democrats second-guessing their strategy a little too late? Plus, Donald Trump puts Ron DeSantis in his sights as he nears a decision on 2024, and Joe Biden claims it's time to shut down coal, much to the ire of Joe Manchin.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the midterms only four days away, the focus is on the House and Senate, but what else is being decided on Election Day? Ballot initiatives across the country include questions on abortion, electric vehicles, ranked-choice voting and union power. Meantime, state Supreme Court Justices are facing voters in several places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six days before the November midterm elections, Joe Biden gives an address warning about the dangers to democracy but seems to only identify Republicans as the danger. Plus, the Federal Reserve raises its rates again despite Wall Street's growing concern that it's going too far, too fast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats thought the overturning of Roe v. Wade would drive soccer moms their way, but The Wall Street Journal's latest poll says white suburban women have moved 27 points against them since August. Top of mind for voters seems to be inflation and the economy, plus crime, as Joe Biden schedules a primetime address to discuss threats to democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot speaks with legal scholar Ilya Shapiro about the Supreme Court's oral arguments Monday on racial preferences in college admissions. What did we learn about how the Justices are leaning, and what would a ban on preferences mean for schools and other institutions? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With only eight days left before the 2022 November midterm elections, Kim Strassel speaks with Wall Street Journal Opinion columnist and political strategist Karl Rove about why Republicans seem to be surging in the closing days, the contests to pay attention to, and why the attack on Paul Pelosi should be condemned by both Republicans and Democrats.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After months of speculation and legal wrangling, Elon Musk closes the deal on Twitter and starts by firing its top executives. What does Musk mean when he says free speech should live on Twitter, and will Donald Trump fire up his old account? Plus, listeners ask why U.S. test scores are sliding and whether Republicans will continue supporting Ukraine if they win the midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President hails Thursday's report that the economy grew 2.6% in the third quarter, but will it be enough to overcome inflation and falling real incomes? Plus, what can Republicans accomplish if they retake Congress with Biden still in the White House? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When does early voting become too early? Nine million ballots for the 2022 election are already cast, sometimes before the candidates even had a chance to debate. In Pennsylvania, John Fetterman's health becomes a factor in his debate with Mehmet Oz. In Florida, Ron DeSantis is non-committal on finishing a four-year term. And in New York, Lee Zeldin and Kathy Hochul tangle over crime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After trying to frame the 2022 midterms around abortion, Democrats are trying to shift their focus to issues like crime and the economy. But aren't Democratic policies on those issues part of the reason voters are unhappy? Plus, Joe Biden's latest gaffe about student loan forgiveness once again puts the president's role in November elections in the spotlight.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Assessment of Educational Progress announced the sharpest decline in math and reading test scores ever for fourth- and eighth-grade students. Is this another sign of the damage done by lockdowns, and how will this grim news play in the midterm elections? Plus, the U.K. has its third prime minister this year, as Rishi Sunak takes over after Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Bannon is sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress after he defied a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee. Hours later, Donald Trump is sent his own subpoena by the Jan. 6 inquiry. What's the precedent here on executive privilege and the Fifth Amendment? Plus, listeners send in questions on inflation relief checks and student loan forgiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After only 44 days in office, Liz Truss resigned as U.K. Prime Minister amid panic in her ruling Conservative Party. But was it her proposed tax cuts that caused her downfall, or was she a scapegoat for previous policy failures? Plus, Joe Biden tries to keep gas prices down in an effort to boost Democratic election hopes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three weeks from the midterm elections, the GOP's prospects for taking the House and Senate seem to be rising. President Biden pledges that his first bill in 2023 will be to protect abortion access, but the issues that are top of mind for voters include inflation and crime. One example is the race for Governor in New York, where Lee Zeldin is closing fast on incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Xi Jinping poised this week to win another term as China's leader, the country's course seems set for confrontational nationalism, and perhaps an attempt to take Taiwan by force. But the U.S. seems woefully unprepared for a new Cold War, as the Pentagon misses recruitment targets and Congress focuses on social spending instead of buying ships and airplanes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jury deliberations began in the federal trial of Igor Danchenko for his part in the 2016 Russia collusion narrative and the Steele dossier. What have we learned from the evidence at trial, and what does special counsel John Durham do next? Plus, the new U.K. chancellor reverses Prime Minister Liz Truss's proposed tax cuts as the ruling Tories melt down politically.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the House inquiry into the Capitol riot begins to wrap up, Rep. Liz Cheney moves to subpoena testimony from Donald Trump. But is he unlikely to agree, and what new information does she expect he would provide? Plus, Joe Biden extends the Covid-19 public-health emergency, and listeners weigh in on the DACA program and whether answering pollsters is a patriotic duty.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The last consumer-price report before the November midterm election shows inflation is still running hot at 8.2%. What does it mean for the economy, for the Federal Reserve, and when voters go to the polls in four weeks?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court hears a challenge to Proposition 12, a California law that says meat sold in the state must be produced under specific rules of animal confinement. But does the Constitution let California regulate farm production elsewhere? Plus, the Labor Department sets its sights on freelancers and the "gig economy." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vladimir Putin launches missile strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine after the weekend explosion of a key bridge linking Crimea and Russia. But the attacks don't seem to have weakened Ukrainian resolve to fight, and the West is promising more military aid. Are we at a hinge point in the war?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Republicans eager to take control of the Senate in the November 2022 midterms, the picture is still blurry. In which states does the GOP have the safest bets, and which ones are still in the air? Plus, will this election prove a referendum on Joe Biden, or could GOP "candidate quality" get in the way?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House says it will release millions of barrels in additional oil reserves, and it's reportedly thinking about loosening U.S. sanctions against Venezuela. But if President Biden wants more oil, why aren't American producers the answer? Plus, the September jobs report shows a cooling of the labor market, but should the Federal Reserve take its foot off the brake? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal appeals court rules that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was unlawful when President Obama created it in 2012. What happens to the Dreamers already protected by the policy? Is this heading to the Supreme Court? And is there any hope in Congress for an immigration deal that both protects the Dreamers and fixes the border crisis? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facing a trial in Delaware about his $44 billion deal, Elon Musk now says he will go through with the purchase. But what does he have in mind for Twitter? Meantime, the Supreme Court accepts a case touching on the Section 230 protections of internet sites, while bigger challenges percolate in Texas and Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge rules that Georgia's voting system isn't unconstitutional, which further undermines Abrams's narrative that Gov. Brian Kemp stole the state's 2018 gubernatorial election using voter suppression. Plus, listeners weigh in on a potential congressional stock-trading ban, as well as the debate over the Supreme Court's legitimacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices will hear cases on racial gerrymandering, interstate commerce, the administrative state, election law, and race-based admission preferences for college, among other issues that are sure to court controversy. Plus, an appreciation of the life and legal career of Judge Laurence Silberman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Democrats unveil a bill to ban Congress and other federal officials from trading individual stocks, but would it also deter good people from running for public office or accepting presidential appointments? Plus, as Joe Biden trims his student-loan forgiveness plan to avoid another lawsuit, is he tacitly admitting that he's exceeding his legal authority? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the world refuses to recognize Russia's annexation of four regions of Ukraine, the U.S. pledges $1.1 billion in additional military aid. But how long will it take for these weapons and other supplies to arrive? Plus, the panel discusses the political and climate implications of Hurricane Ian, the possible sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline, and answers a listener's email about student-loan forgiveness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a government shutdown looming, Sen. Joe Manchin withdraws his permitting proposal, while Sen. Chuck Schumer blames Republican obstruction. But does Manchin have only himself to blame? Plus, a lawsuit against Joe Biden's plan for student-loan forgiveness might solve the legal standing problem for the President's critics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress's process for counting the Electoral College has been broken for years, and this dysfunction helped produce the Jan. 6 riot. At long last, however, lawmakers might do something about it, as the House passes a bill to update the 1887 Electoral Count Act. How does this bill limit phony objections to election results? What does it say about the Vice President's role? And will the Senate get on board? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The West Virginia Senator's long-promised permitting bill will soon come to a vote, but he's struggling to find enough support to overcome a bipartisan filibuster. Why is he having so much trouble? Plus, Al Gore tries to engineer a coup against World Bank President David Malpass in the name of climate change.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James makes good on a campaign promise by filing a civil lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and three of his children for overestimating property size. Is politics overshadowing the rule of law? Plus a Democratic campaign finance bill is blocked by Senate Republicans over concern it’s an attempt to limit political speech. Plus, listener emails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's next after Putin calls up of as many as 300,000 reservists? Plus, the Federal Reserve and other central banks keep raising interest rates. Is a recession inevitable? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Potomac Watch, Paul Gigot sits down with economist and former Senator Phil Gramm about his new book The Myth of American Inequality, why government has failed to truly address the poverty problem in America, and why Republicans could learn from Democrats' understanding of "nitty-gritty" economic programs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Joe Biden announced his plan for forgiving student debt, Democrats thought they had a winning issue to run on in the November midterm elections. But Republicans are exposing problems with the plan and polls show Americans think it is unfair. Plus, another Federal Reserve rate hike is on the horizon, but will it be enough?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has challenged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to a debate, which could be a preview of the 2024 presidential election. Could DeSantis use the opportunity to show why he'd be a better candidate than Donald Trump? Plus, Joe Biden says the pandemic is over, and Sen. Joe Manchin's permitting deal could be in jeopardy.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justice Elena Kagan echoes Democratic criticisms of the Supreme Court, saying that judges lose legitimacy if they become political. But isn't that the argument against Roe v. Wade in the first place? Meantime, Chief Justice John Roberts points to the Constitution and asks, if the Court can't legitimately interpret it, then who will? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Texas Governor Greg Abbott continues to send busloads of migrants to Democratic strongholds, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis flew another group of migrants into Martha's Vineyard. Is this purely a political stunt, or is it highlighting the problems of "sanctuary city" policies? Plus, the Biden administration makes a tentative deal to avert a railway strike that could have further damaged the economy.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By proposing legislation to ban abortion nationwide at 15 weeks, with exceptions, Sen. Lindsey Graham might think he is drawing a line that Republicans can defend. But didn't conservatives argue for years after Roe v. Wade that abortion is a state issue? And won't this let Democrats change the subject from their own unpopular abortion proposals? Plus, Democrats get the Senate opponent they wanted in New Hampshire, as retired General Don Bolduc wins the GOP nomination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Hampshire's GOP Senate primary pits a mainstream candidate, Chuck Morse, against a retired general who has voiced conspiracy theories, Don Bolduc. So why are Democrats spending money to help Bolduc? Because they don't think he can beat Sen. Maggie Hassan. Plus, new figures show that consumer prices rose 8.3% year over year, which is not good news for Joe Biden.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are the major gains by Ukrainian troops against Russia in northeastern Ukraine a turning point in the seventh-month war? Vladimir Putin faces difficult choices, and he's capable of anything, including the use of a tactical nuclear weapon. How would NATO respond? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the United Kingdom mourns the loss of its seven-decade monarch, King Charles III pledges to follow in her footsteps. But can he rise to the occasion to become a unifying figure for the U.K. and the Commonwealth? Plus, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen goes to Michigan to defend President Biden’s economic record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To the surprise of many, Ukraine seems to be making gains after being at war with Russia for over six months. Could Vladimir Putin turn to more desperate measures in order to secure victory, including nuclear escalation? Plus, the U.S. pledges more financial and military aid to Ukraine, and leaders here and abroad try to come up with solutions to the worldwide energy crisis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Gavin Newsom signs a bill to create a state council that will oversee fast-food restaurants and might raise the minimum wage as high as $22 an hour. Could the unintended consequences include higher prices and restaurant closures? Plus, how does this fit into Newsom's rumored plans to run for President? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Liz Truss takes over as prime minister of the United Kingdom, the country is facing economic woes and an energy crisis. Will she be able to deliver growth and make a success of Brexit, as was pledged by her predecessor, Boris Johnson? Plus, Europe could be in for a long winter as Russia indefinitely stops the Nord Stream 1 natural-gas pipeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, show the damage done by lockdowns and remote learning, but are public officials or teachers unions now admitting that they were wrong? Plus, listeners write in on Alaska's ranked-choice voting system, student loan forgiveness, and the erosion of trust in government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During an address in Philadelphia, Biden says he is trying to stop an extreme force that threatens American democracy. But is this just political rhetoric, meant to insert Donald Trump into the November midterms? Plus, do the August jobs numbers show an overall economic turnaround, or is a recession still a possibility?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new Wall Street Journal poll shows Democrats gaining ground as the fall campaign gets underway. What's behind the party's comeback, and what can Republicans do to counter it? Plus, Sarah Palin's defeat in an Alaska special election for the House highlights the impact of ranked-choice voting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justice Department explains in a court filing that the FBI's raid on Mar-a-Lago found more than 100 classified documents, including three that were apparently in Donald Trump's office, not the club's locked storage area. But does this get prosecutors closer to justifying a criminal indictment? Plus, Michigan voters might face an all-or-nothing referendum on abortion rights on the November ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Trade Commission files a lawsuit to block Meta, formerly Facebook, from merging with a virtual-reality app developer. But is the government really defending fair competition here, or is the FTC merely skeptical of large companies, per se? Plus, Mark Zuckerberg explains Facebook's thinking in throttling the 2020 story about Hunter Biden's laptop.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did the Federal Reserve Chairman’s speech on Friday finally convince investors that the central bank means what it says about getting inflation back down to 2%? Plus, Europe faces a winter energy crisis, with implications for Ukraine and lessons for America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Florida judge releases the affidavit used to justify the FBI's raid on Mar-a-Lago, but how much new information does it provide the public, given the heavy redactions? Plus, the Potomac Watch team answers listener emails on the 2022 elections and President Joe Biden's plan to forgive student loans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President cancels student-loan debt for some 43 million Americans at a cost of half a trillion dollars. But even he had previously doubted he could do this without approval by Congress, which never appropriated a dime for it. Will it work politically for Democrats? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats claim midterm election momentum after they win a special election for Congress in New York where Republicans were favored. Has the Supreme Court's decision on abortion rights changed the political climate enough for Democrats to hold the House in November? Plus, Joe Biden unilaterally forgives student debt without Congressional approval. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday's House primary in Manhattan is a battle of East Side versus West Side, Rep. Jerry Nadler vs. Rep. Carolyn Maloney. If Democrats regret this choice, they have only themselves to blame. Meantime, Floridians consider whether Nikki Fried or Charlie Crist is best equipped to take on Gov. Ron DeSantis. Plus, a magistrate judge asks to see proposed redactions to the FBI affidavit related to the search of President Trump's Mar-a-Lago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican candidates endorsed by Donald Trump won several of the primaries for Senate in key states. But now they're struggling in the general elections, and they're counting on the Super Pac affiliated with Senate Minority Leader McConnell to save their campaigns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is using the agency's Covid-19 pandemic failures to justify an overhaul focused on "action" and "equity." But is this truly the kind of tough medicine that the CDC needs, or does the bungled response to monkeypox demonstrate that it hasn't learned its lessons? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican support for the former President seems to be rising since the FBI search of his home last week. Plus, former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg pleads guilty to tax fraud while working for the Trump Organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nineteen state Attorneys General tell the investing giant BlackRock that it seems to be pushing a social agenda over financial returns. How did ESG investing sneak so far into the economy, and is this the start of a backlash? Plus, Rep. Liz Cheney isn't going quietly after her primary loss in Wyoming, and will Alaska's ranked-choice voting system deliver a win to Sarah Palin?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday's elections include the hotly anticipated primary in Wyoming between Rep. Liz Cheney and challenger Harriet Hageman, which has become a referendum on the Jan. 6 committee and Donald Trump. Plus, Sarah Palin looks for a comeback in Alaska amid debate about the state's new ranked-choice voting system, and the Inflation Reduction Act heads to Joe Biden's desk.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last August was a tragedy for that country and a humiliation for the U.S. A year later, what are the consequences of that decision? Did the damage to U.S. credibility undercut deterrence against Vladimir Putin as he contemplated his invasion of Ukraine?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The details of the search warrant on Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home revealed little, and the list of items seized includes vague references to "Top Secret Documents." Are we any closer to getting the full story, and should Attorney General Merrick Garland say more? Plus, could this come down to a dispute over the President's broad power to declassify documents?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justice Department and New York Attorney General accelerate their legal pursuit of the former President. But do they want to block him from running for President again, or keep the public focus on him so he stays the face of the GOP in 2022 and 2024?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prices are up 8.5% from July 2021, the Labor Department says, but President Biden wants to talk about the monthly figure. So is inflation really cooling? Will Democrats take credit, though the House has yet to pass the Inflation Reduction Act? And might the Federal Reserve slow its pace on interest rates? Plus, Tim Michels wins the GOP gubernatorial nod in Wisconsin with the help of Donald Trump's endorsement, and Rep. Ilhan Omar narrowly beats a primary challenge in Minnesota.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A day after the FBI executed a search warrant on President Trump's home in Florida, there are still more questions than answers. What could have prompted such an unprecedented move by the Justice Department, and what are the ramifications if this proves to be prosecutorial overreach? Plus, the GOP primary in Wisconsin once again puts the focus on the certification of the 2020 election.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats are celebrating their victory in passing the tax, climate and health bill through the Senate, hoping it will help them keep their majorities in Congress in November. But will Americans like the bill as they learn what's in it, and will really reduce inflation?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than a week of silence, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema says she won't block the reconciliation bill, but she does want changes, including a 1% tax on stock buybacks. Plus, the panel responds to listeners' emails on Republican primaries, inflation, and the proposed changes to the Electoral Count Act.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tensions remain high after Nancy Pelsoi's visit to Taiwan, including Chinese military exercises around the island and boycotts of Taiwanese goods. Did anything good come from the visit, and how ready is the U.S. military to defend Taiwan? Plus, the Senate approves the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO, with an odd dissent from Sen. Josh Hawley.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday's Republican primary between Kari Lake and Karrin Taylor Robson still isn't over, and it could get ugly if the margin ends up exceedingly narrow. Plus, how to parse primary results in Missouri and Michigan, an anti-abortion referendum fails in Kansas, and the devil is in the details when looking at the Schumer-Manchin permitting deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With inflation near 9% and Joe Biden in the White House, Republicans seemed bullish about taking back the Senate in November's elections. But as voters in Arizona and Missouri go to the primary polls, the GOP's untested candidates elsewhere seem to be struggling. Plus, Donald Trump's and Mike Pence's dueling endorsements reveal the Republican divide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The official Congressional scorekeeper finds the bill would raise taxes on nearly everyone. Will Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema go along? Plus, moderate House Democrats might vote for a bill that doesn't have the state and local tax deductions they were insisting on.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

His tax-and-spend agreement with Sen. Chuck Schumer is delighting Democrats and frustrating Republicans, but what is Manchin getting in the bargain? The West Virginian says Democratic leaders have promised him reforms to federal permitting. But no details are public, and Joe Biden is already busy undoing Donald Trump's effort to streamline the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. economy shrank for the second straight quarter, and should we call it a recession or stagflation? Plus, Senators Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer make a deal on taxes and spending, making Senate Republicans look like chumps.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Nancy Pelosi hasn't confirmed reports that she plans to visit Taiwan, but Joe Biden, the U.S. military, and the Chinese foreign ministry are all weighing in on the idea. What could a visit like that accomplish, and how might China respond if it actually happens? Plus, Russia attacks the port in Odessa shortly after signing a grain deal with Ukraine, and two candidates remain in the race to replace Boris Johnson as British Prime Minister. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six employees of Democratic members of Congress are arrested for occupying Sen. Chuck Schumer's office to campaign for climate-change legislation. Does this tactic make any sense, and is it the kind of thing that could get worse if congressional offices continue to unionize? Plus, what does it say about the Democratic Party's division between progressives and moderates?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates again, even as the economy is slowing. Elizabeth Warren and Larry Summers square off on whether the Fed is right to keep tightening money. Who's right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House inquiry into the Capitol riot uses its final summer hearing to show that Donald Trump refused to send help once the violence began. What evidence did the committee reveal, and where is it going from here? Plus, does Steve Bannon's conviction for contempt of Congress raise the pressure on other witnesses to testify? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Joe Manchin and Sen. Susan Collins unveiled their proposal to update the 1887 Electoral Count Act in the wake of the chaos on Jan. 6. Will the new legislation get the 60 votes needed to fix the antiquated law that's been exploited by both parties? Plus, Joe Biden tests positive for Covid-19 and a look at how a semiconductor bill is expanding in the Senate thanks to Sen. Chuck Schumer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Under pressure from progressives, Joe Biden is weighing whether to declare a national emergency to fight climate change, as well as an emergency to protect abortion access. What powers do such declarations unlock, and would they be vulnerable to legal challenge? Plus, a legal gun owner stops a mass shooting in an Indiana mall, upending the political debate over gun control and the Supreme Court's rulings on the Second Amendment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress debates billions in subsidies for the semiconductor industry, ostensibly to prevent China from dominating the field. But isn't industrial policy a fool's errand, especially given the volatile nature of computer technology? Where is the Republican opposition to this bill? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a controversial fist bump and claims of confronting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the killing of Jamel Khashoggi, Joe Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia ended with criticism, mostly from his own party.  But was any progress made to end the world energy crisis? Plus, Sen. Bernie Sanders accuses Sen. Joe Manchin of "sabotaging" Joe Biden's agenda, but Manchin might be doing more good for Democrats than they realize.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After this month's 9.1% inflation figure, the West Virginia moderate says he won't support a reconciliation bill with climate spending and tax increases. But what does Manchin mean when he says he can still vote for a deal on prescription drugs? Plus, listeners write in with questions about codifying Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court leak, the Covid-19 emergency, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom's chances in 2024.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his first trip to the Middle East as President, Joe Biden's plan to keep a nuclear weapon out of the hands of Iran diplomatically is met with strong pushback from Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Is a show of force the only solution? Plus, Joe Biden's energy policies have caused him to have to sit down with leaders in Saudi Arabia, despite the country's record on human rights and murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As inflation hits another 40-year high, the White House says the new figures are already "out of date." But how will they affect the Federal Reserve's thinking on interest rates, and is a recession with high unemployment required to get inflation under control, as the economist Larry Summers suggests? Plus, Chuck Schumer and Joe Manchin are still looking for a reconciliation deal for Democrats to approve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden Administration reportedly plans to extend the Covid-19 public health emergency, which is currently set to end July 15. That means continued pandemic eligibility rules for Medicaid and food stamps, but the emergency has to end sometime, and the unemployment rate is 3.6%. Plus, Donald Trump weighs an early announcement of a 2024 presidential campaign, which could shake up the November midterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest twist in a long saga, Elon Musk abandons his plan to buy Twitter. What does that mean for the social-media site and its progressive censorship of alternative views? Plus, why Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated last week, was a great friend of America and the cause of freedom in the Pacific. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After announcing it would order Juul vaping products off the market, the Food and Drug Administration has stopped short. But it's hard to miss the contradiction in the scrutiny on vaping, as the country also liberalizes its marijuana laws. Plus, Joe Biden signs an executive order to protect access to abortion after the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After leading the historic Brexit movement and showing strong support for Ukraine after the invasion by Russia, Boris Johnson stepped down amid a swirl of controversy. But was it the lockdown party scandal that did him in, or was it his economic and energy policies? Plus, what can American conservatives learn from his fall?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First it was the pandemic, then it was Vladimir Putin, and now President Biden is blaming greedy gas-station owners for high prices at the pump. When will he admit his own policies might be the problem? Plus, listeners write in with questions about Biden's age, the presidential prospects of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the party politics of abortion laws. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signs new gun restrictions for "sensitive places," plus a "good moral character" standard for concealed-carry permits. But is the state flouting the Supreme Court's opinion in its gun ruling last month? Plus, the Marshal of the Court asks state and local officials to stop the protests outside the Justices' homes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President is calling for an "exception" to the Senate's filibuster to codify abortion rights, and he previously said the same thing about voting legislation. Doesn't he think Republicans will return the favor when they retake power? Plus, the Supreme Court ends its term with rulings on the "Remain in Mexico" policy and Native American reservations in Oklahoma. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against the Environmental Protection Agency, saying it overstepped its authority in trying to limit emissions in the name of fighting climate change. So if this decision puts more power in the hands of lawmakers on Capitol Hill, why are Democrats like Chuck Schumer so vehemently criticizing it? Plus, Joe Biden heads to Europe to praise NATO's unity against Russia, and the panel answers a listener's email about presidential criticisms of the Supreme Court and the Dobbs leak.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testifies that President Trump knew members of the crowd were armed before the Capitol riot, but is the committee getting closer to showing that crimes were committed? Attorney General Merrick Garland has said he is watching closely, but unlike the committee's hearings, any trial would be an adversarial process with a vigorous defense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican voters are choosing an opponent for Governor Kathy Hochul, but could blue New York really turn red? Plus Democrats meddle in GOP primaries in Illinois and Colorado, and the Supreme Court's opinion upholding a football coach's right to pray on the field could have major implications for church and state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Supreme Court ruling in favor of religious schools in Maine and a football coach's right to pray in public, plus the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade, the conservative legal movement are winning cases at an unprecedented rate. So why now? And will Democrats plan on going as far as they can to fight these decisions, including threatening the impeachment of Justices?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices