C-SPAN Radio - Washington Today

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Senate Democrats try again in committee and on the Senate floor to compel the release of the FBI files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but are blocked by Republicans; two Senate Republicans call for a Special Counsel to investigation the Trump Administration allegations that former President Barack Obama pushed a false narrative on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election; former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain testifies in closed session in the House Oversight Committee's investigation of former President Joe Biden's mental fitness in office; President Donald Trump tours the Federal Reserve headquarters renovation project with Chair Jerome Powell; Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announces a major reorganization that will send more than half of the department's DC area employees to hubs around the country; Trump Administration announces a $200 million settlement with Columbia University over accusations of not protecting Jewish students; U.S. withdraws its delegation from the latest Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks, saying Hamas is not serious about reaching a deal; legendary pro wrestler Hulk Hogan has died. He spoke at the  2024 Republican National Convention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump presents an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan focusing on deregulation to encourage growth of the industry and making sure AI is not biased. We will talk about the plan with Wired senior writer Kate Knibbs (6); President Trump announces a trade deal with Japan that includes a relatively low tariff rate for Japanese imports combined with large Japanese-funded investments in the U.S., as directed by President Trump; FEMA's Acting Administrator defends the agency's response to the deadly Texas floods, in testimony before a U.S. House subcommittee; while a special legislative session in Texas will consider aid to flood victims, it also will take up redrawing the state's congressional district lines and that is getting attention from Democrats in Washington, DC; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard briefs reporters on new documents she and the president say show former President Obama led an effort to tie falsely Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to Russia; House Speaker Mike Johnson gets more questions about the decision to not bring any bills to the floor this week that could be used for vote to release the FBI files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the war in Gaza, as aid groups warn of 'mass starvation' due to restrictions by Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is canceling much of this week's legislative agenda and telling Members of Congress to begin their month-long August recess early to avoid votes on releasing the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; House Oversight Committee and Justice Dept seek to interview Ghislane Maxwell, former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, now in prison related to his crimes; President Trump when asked about Maxwell pivots to the accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, accusing former President Barack Obama of 'treason' for allegedly manufacturing evidence; Senate takes its first vote on fiscal year 2026 spending bills, with Democrats warning Republicans unilateral push for rescissions packages is undermining any bipartisan goodwill in the appropriations process; President  Trump meets with the Filipino President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr in the WH Oval Office to talk trade & Indo-Pacific security and China; President Trump announces the United States will withdraw again from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural, education and scientific organization due to, the president says, its woke agenda and anti-Israel bias. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is back in session this week with the House wrapping up its work before its August recess. On the agenda: legislation to increase financial oversight of the Veterans Affairs department, and votes on bills to increase penalties on people who reenter the U.S. after being deported, and to reform the Clean Water Act's permitting process. The Senate still has another work week before leaving for their annual break. On their agenda: confirmation votes for several executive nominations. Hanging over all of this--the ongoing issue of the Jeffrey Epstein files. House Speaker Mike Johnson says doesn't have any plans to put a resolution on the floor that calls for the Trump administration to release Epstein files. Instead, he wants to give administration time to put out documents on its own. And yesterday was the six-month anniversary of the second Trump administration, and polls say Americans are giving the president mixed reviews. A new Decision Desk HQ poll shows the president's disapproval rating near its highest level since January. Meanwhile, a new CBS News poll shows Americans say they want the president to focus on consumer prices instead of raising tariffs. And the Washington Post's polling average showing a clear downturn in the president's approval rating on immigration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.  First, Cliff Young, president of Polling & Societal Trends for Ipsos, discusses public opinion shifts on President Trump's term so far.  Then, a discussion about the Justice Department and FBI's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files with Tom Fitton - President of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch.  Finally, Max Stier (STYE-urr) from the Partnership for Public Service discusses President Trump's renewed efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump sues Wall Street Journal after its latest article about the President & the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the controversy continues at the White House and in Congress over whether and how to release files related to that case; House joins the Senate in passing a $9 billion rescissions package in a late night vote, sending the bill to the president to be signed into law to cancel funds for foreign aid & public broadcasting; President Trump signs into law the first major bill regulating digital currency, on the subset of cryptocurrency called stablecoins; Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) flips her vote on an amendment on the relocation of the FBI headquarters, allowing for now the bureau to go to the Ronald Reagan building in DC instead of a site in Greenbelt, Maryland; Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz meets US Def Sec Israel Katz at the Pentagon; House pays tribute to the late former Congressman William Lacy "Bill" Clay, Sr., a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, who has died at age 94. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate passes the $9 billion rescissions bill, canceling foreign aid and money for public broadcasting, in a very early morning vote, sending the revised bill back to the House, which has until Friday to act on it or the money will be spent; Senate Democratic effort to force the Trump Admin to release all files related to the case of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is blocked by Republicans; Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans vote to approve Emil Bove for a federal appeals court judgeship on their own, after committee Democrats walk out in protest saying they were not given enough time to debate what they say is a controversial nominee; White House responds to recent photos of President Donald Trump showing swelling in his legs, saying he has diagnosed with the blood circulation condition called "chronic venous insufficiency", and of bruising on his hands, saying it is irritation from frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin” for his heart, and overall, the president is in excellent health; House passes three cryptocurrency bills, including one banning a central bank digital currency, after three days of intense negotiations between the Speaker and conservative Republicans. We will talk about it with Politico reporter Jasper Goodman (41); Attorney General Pam Bondi & Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visit Alcatraz in San Francisco after President Trump ordered it be reopened as a federal prison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says it is "highly unlikely" he will fire the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell after many media outlets reported he signaled he would after meeting privately with some House Republicans; President Trump criticizes Republicans who are calling for release of filing on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the questions surrounding the suicide and a client list a "hoax", labeling the Republican "weaklings" who are doing "Democrats work", and saying he does not want their support anymore; Senate moves into the home stretch on the $9 billion rescissions bill that cuts foreign aid and public broadcasting money with a vote-a-rama, a long series of votes on amendments; President Trump signs a bill to toughen prison sentencing for trafficking the drug fentanyl; NYC Mayor Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani meets with U.S. House Democrats in Washington; former Chief of Staff to former President Jill Biden, Anthony Bernal,  pleads the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination at the U.S. House Oversight Committee's investigation of former President Joe Biden mental fitness while in office and his use of an autopen; Israel launches airstrikes at Syria's capital city Damascus; tonight is the annual Congressional Women's Softball Game for charity, pitting a bipartisan team of Members of Congress against a team of DC reporters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Republicans make changes to the rescissions bill to gain necessary Republican support ahead of the first procedural vote, restoring $400 million for PEPAR, the global anti-AIDS program and protecting funding for some rural public broadcasters; Inflation report from the Labor Dept – up 0.3% in June, an annual rate of 2.7%, highest since February and maybe a sign President Trump's tariffs are leading to increases prices; House Republicans vote down a Democratic motion to make public FBI files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after the Trump Admin stated Epstein did not keep a client list and did commit suicide in prison, which some of the president's MAGA supporters are questioning, while President Trump tells reporters General Pam Bondi should release "whatever she thinks is credible" on Jeffrey Epstein; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Mike Waltz testifies before Senate Foreign Relations Committee about reforming the UN and on the Signal Chat controversy when he was National Security Adviser; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with Senators on Capitol Hill about supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump is upping the ante with Russia to end its war with Ukraine. He made two announcements today: First--100 percent tariffs on any country that trades with Russia, unless a cease-fire is reached within in 50 days. And second---a deal with NATO members to send weapons to Ukraine. This comes as a bipartisan Senate bill that puts sanctions on Moscow that its two lead sponsors say could be the sledgehammer the president needs to end the conflict. Also in the Senate, Republicans are focused on their bill to take back more than 9 billion dollars in federal funds--including for public broadcasting and foreign aid. This is the same bill House Republicans passed last month and the Senate has until Friday to approve it. But it's facing opposition from handful of Republicans and all Senate Democrats, who say any rescissions would hurt future bipartisan government funding talks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion about Medicaid provisions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," with Paragon Health Institute's Ryan Long and Center for Economic and Policy Research's Brandon Novick. Then, Politico trade reporter Daniel Desrochers discusses President Trump pushing off another tariff deadline… Finally, Run For Something co-founder & President Amanda Litman discusses her group's effort to help elect young progressives to public office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump & First Lady Melania Trump travel to Kerrville, Texas to see firsthand the damage from the catastrophic floods that killed at least 120 in the state's Hill Country, with another 170 still missing, meeting with first responders and local officials and promising help to recover and rebuild; federal judge in Maryland indicates she will issue an order to protect Kilmar Abrego Garcia from being quickly deported again if the federal government tries to if Abrego Garcia is released from custody in Tennessee while he is await trial on human trafficking charge; Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets China's Foreign Minister for the first time on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, discussing tariffs and Indo-Pacific security issues; Secretary Rubio also asked about President Trump's announcement that the U.S. will send Ukraine weapons through the NATO military alliance and NATO will pay for them; White House Budget Director Russell Vought promises to investigate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's handling of renovations at the Federal Reserve building in DC, which Vought calls a 'palace' with enormous cost overruns. Longtime DC media pundit and presidential adviser David Gergen has died at age 83. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal judge blocks President Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship nationwide by certifying a class action lawsuit; Senate takes up the first judicial nomination of the second Trump Administration, passing a procedural vote for Whitney Hermandorfer to be a federal appeals court judge for the 6th Circuit; Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson tells a meeting of the Indianapolis Bar Assn the state of U.S. democracy is what keeps her up at night; Senate Appropriations Committee gets started on the first three FY2026 federal spending bills, even though there is no agreement between Republicans and Democrats on how much total spending there should be. One of those bills is put in limbo after a Democratic amendment passes to block President Donald Trump's decision to move the FBI HQ to the Reagan Int'l Trade Building in DC instead of a site in Greenbelt, Maryland that had been chosen after a long competition, and then Republicans withdraw support from the underlying spending bill; Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he had a 'frank conversation' with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and expressed the U.S.'s frustration over not making progress to end the war in Ukraine; Secretary Rubio also asked about reports that someone has been impersonating him in texts and calls using artificial intelligence, contacting foreign ministers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate confirms Bryan Bedford to be FAA Administrator; President's nominee for NOAA Administrator, Neil Jacobs, promises at a Senate confirmation hearing to fully staff the National Weather Service, after the deadly floods in Texas; former White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor refuses to answer questions before the House Oversight Committee in the Republican investigation of President Joe Biden's mental fitness for office, invoking his Fifth Amendment Constitutional right and doctor-patient confidentiality; President Donald Trump holds a summit at the White House the leaders of five West African nations; President sends more letters to more countries informing them of their tariff rates; retired bicycle racer Greg LeMond receives the Congressional Gold Medal and talks about how Europeans viewed him as the first American winner of the Tour de France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump held an hour and 45 minutes cabinet meeting during which he said the new August 1st date when tariff levels he is imposing on other countries are to take effect will not be extended, compared Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to "Saturday Night Live" character of "The Pathological Liar" after Sen. Schumer called for an investigation into whether National Weather Service budget cuts impacted forecasting and warnings of the deadly central Texas floods, confirmed that defense weapons will be sent to Ukraine to help defend against Russia's latest air attacks, said he will meet again with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to advance a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, and called a reporter's question about Jeffrey Epstein a "waste the time"  and a 'desecration' when there are other important issues to discuss; Senate has two weeks to pass a nearly $10 billion rescissions package canceling funding for global health and foreign aid programs, and public broadcasting or the bill dies. We will talk about it Axios Senate reporter Stephen Neukam (22); TSA is no longer requiring air travelers to remove their shoes for security screenings; Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announces a plan to counter Chinese company purchases of U.S. farmland; State Department is asked about a person using Artificial Intelligence to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and contact foreign ministers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

White House pushes back on suggestions that Trump Administration budget cuts hampered the National Weather Service warnings to those in the path of the deadly floods in Texas, including children at a camp along the river; as the death tolls rises and frantic search and rescue efforts continue for the missing; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tells how his daughters were at a camp along the same river recently, calling the situation in Kerr County “every parent's nightmare"; President Donald Trump releases letters to seven countries informing them of specific U.S. tariff rates on their goods starting August 1st;  Japan and South Korea are at 25 percent, promising another seven or so this week; federal court hearing in Maryland in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, as his lawyers seek to ensure due process in case the federal government seeks to deport their client again, this time not to El Salvador, but to a third country; Justice Dept says the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, did not keep a client list and did not try to blackmail anyone, confirming what investigators found years ago, but contradicting what has been believed by some; Israeli Prime Minister M Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington to meet with President Trump to discuss the wars against Hamas and Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Ambassador Monica Crowley, Chief of Protocol for the United States, discusses the mission of America250, the start of celebrations on Thursday, and her role as principal media representative. Then, Documentary writer, producer, and correspondent Martin Smith discusses his latest PBS Frontline film: "Syria After Assad." Finally, a discussion with Erin Harkey – CEO of the group Americans for the Arts- on efforts by the Trump Administration to cut federal funding for arts and culture programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House passes tax cut & spending cut Budget Reconciliation "One Big Beautiful Bill", 218-214, sending it to the President to be signed into law, after a dramatic all-night session to convince enough Republican holdouts to vote yes, and after a record-breaking 8 hour, 44 minute speech against the bill by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); June jobs report: 147,000 jobs created, unemployment rate falls to 4.1%; Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall security preview; DC Mayor & Police Chief talk about the fatal shooting of an Capitol Hill college student intern from Massachusetts; First Lady Melania Trump meets with young patients at National Children's Hospital; President Donald Trump speaks by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin after reports the U.S. is pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House is slowing working on the modified Budget Reconciliation bill, the tax cut & spending cut 'One Big Beautiful Bill', passed yesterday by the Senate with VP JD Vance's tie-breaking vote, slowly because Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump have been meeting with both conservative and moderate Republicans opposed to the bill for different reasons, either it does not cut enough spending or cuts too much, and Republicans can only afford to lose 3 of their Members since all Democrats plans to vote 'no'; FCC Chair Brendan Carr lays out what he calls a 'Build America' agenda in his first major policy speech as chair to “unleash high-speed infrastructure builds…. restore America's leadership in wireless… boost the U.S. space economy…. and advance our national security'"; interview with Variety Senior TV Editor Brian Steinberg on Paramount settling a lawsuit with President Trump over the editing of a CBS News' "60 Minutes" interview with then Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris (24); State Department and Pentagon comment on the U.S. reportedly pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine, including air defense missiles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate passes the budget reconciliation bill, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill, containing President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans' domestic agenda of tax cuts, spending cuts and more money for border security and defense, by a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. Sen Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) provided the necessary 'yes' vote for passage after negotiating last-minute changes on health care and food aid; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirms that the Fed would have cut interest rates this year had it not been for President Trump's 'Liberation Day' high tariffs, whose impact on inflation is still uncertain; Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with the foreign ministers of Australian, India & Japan,  the so-called Quad, as tariffs and trade talks continue with those allies; President Trump visits a new immigrant detention center a remote area of the Florida Everglades dubbed Alligator Alcatraz and says it could be a model for similar facilities to increase deportations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate's vote-a-rama continues, as members offer and vote on amendments to the Republican's tax and spending cuts bill. But passage of the bill isn't a sure thing. Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have both said they're voting "no", while Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska haven't said how they'll vote. Congressional Republicans and President Trump have said they want the bill passed and signed into law by July 4th. Last night on the floor, Sen. Tillis criticized both the bill's Medicaid cuts and the president for breaking a campaign promise to not interfere with Medicaid benefits. That prompted responses from the president on social media, including one announcing he'd said he would back a primary challenge against the senator. Not long after, Sen. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection next year. A federal appeals court heard arguments today on the president's use of the Alien Enemies Act. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union say the Trump administration is unlawfully using the law to take away due process for possible deportees. The administration maintains that a Venezuelan gang is carrying out an invasion of the US at the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Congressman Adam Smith – top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee - discusses U.S. military action against Iran – and what comes next. Then - a discussion about the history and evolution of the War Powers Act Philip Wallach from the American Enterprise Institute. Plus, it was a stunning win for Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in this week's Democratic primary for New York City Mayor. We speak with Spectrum News New York One (NY1) political director Bob Hardt about what happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supreme Court rules that individual judges do not have the power to block a president's policies across the country, known as nationwide injunctions. The underlying case, whose merits have not been decided yet, involves President Donald Trump's Executive Order restricting birthright citizenship; Supreme Court also handed down other closely-watched decisions today, including in favor of Maryland parents who want to have their children opt-out of a curriculum with LGBTQ books and upholding a Texas law requiring age-verification for adult websites; Senate Republicans look to have their first vote on the tax cut & spending cut budget reconciliation bill on Saturday; House members get a classified briefing on the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear site; Foreign Ministers of Rwanda & the Democratic Republic of Congo meet in Washington to sign a peace agreement brokered by the White House; Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) talks about this year's Virginia governor election between Winsome Earle-Sears (R) and Abigail Spanberger (D). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supreme Court decides that South Carolina can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood because the group provides abortions, ruling that Medicaid patients are not allowed to sue over their right to choose their doctor; Senators get a classified briefing on the U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth & Gen. Dan Caine, Joint Chiefs of Staff chair hold a news conference with more details about the attack and fresh criticism of news outlets for their coverage of a Pentagon intelligence on the extent of the damage; On the tax & spend One Big Beautiful Bill, some Republicans want the Senate Parliamentarian fired for ruling some key Medicaid provisions cannot stay in the bill because they violate Budget Reconciliation rules; President Trump holds an event at the White House to champion the bill and the first Senate test vote is expected soon; former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) has died. She was known for supporting gun control, elected after a mass shooting that killed her husband and severely wounded her son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says the leaked U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency report suggesting Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months after the recent U.S. bombings is wrong, the nuclear sites have been destroyed – in his word 'obliterated' - and the reporters who published the DIA reports finding are 'bad people', 'sick' and are demeaning the hero pilots who carried out the U.S. attack; CDC Director nominee Susan Monarez says at a Senate confirmation vaccines are  "life-saving" and she has not seen evidence linking them to autism; Senate Commerce Committee approves Bryan Bedford, CEO of a regional airline, to be FAA Administrator; Claims of a Justice Dept whistleblower who says the Trump Administration planned to disregard court orders that would hinder immigrants deportations come up at several Senate hearings today, with the Attorney General Pam Bondi and former top Justice Dept official Emil Bove, nominated for a federal appeals court judgeship; Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell again points to the threat of inflation from President Trump's tariffs for not cutting interest rates; surprise win in the New York City Mayoral Democratic primary by Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump says a ceasefire between Israel & Iran is "in effect", after expressing frustration with both countries for apparently violating the agreement he mediated; President spoke before flying from Washington to The Hague, Netherlands for a NATO leaders' summit; House & Senate Democrats upset today that scheduled classified briefings by Trump Administration officials about the U.S. military attacks on Iran's nuclear sites have been postponed until later this week; House votes down an impeachment resolution against President Trump introduced by Rep. Al Green (D-TX) over the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities. A majority of House Democrats voted against the impeachment resolution; As Senate Republicans are still putting together the final text of tax cut and spending cut One Big Beautiful Bill, with debate and votes that could run into the weekend, Senate Parliamentarian has been knocking out bill provisions that violate budget reconciliation procedures – known as the Byrd Rule. We will talk about what is no longer in and how Senators could restore them if they want with Forbes Senior Writer Kelly Phillips Erb (32); Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tells a House committee that an interest rate cut in July is not likely; Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) wins a House Democratic Caucus secret-ballot vote to be the next ranking member of the Oversight & Reform Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump responds on social media, "Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered….There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was “set free,” because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done." On Capitol Hill, two bipartisan war powers resolutions are moving their way through Congress. In the House, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are leading one that blocks U.S. involvement in the conflict. In the Senate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) says he plans to push for a vote this week on a similar resolution and that Republican lawmakers in his chamber have expressed support for it. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European leaders urged Iran to return to the negotiating table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices