C-SPAN Radio - Washington Today

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion with Competitive Enterprise Institute's Ryan Young, about the Trump Administration's purchase of a 10% stake in the Intel corporation. Then, Nadia Bilbassy-Charters (bill-bey-zee) of Al Arabiya News Channel and Jacob Magid (MAG-id) of the Times of Israel discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict & President Trump's efforts to bring an end to the war. Finally, Journalist and author Trymaine Lee (trih-mane) discusses his documentary "Hope in High Water: A People's Recovery Twenty Years After Hurricane Katrina." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina devastating Louisiana, Mississippi and other parts of the Gulf Coast, tributes to those lost, pride in the rebuilding and recovery, and thoughts of preparing for future storms; President Donald Trump says he will cut $4.9 billion for foreign aid through a 'pocket rescission', which will not give Congress a chance to vote on it. Some Members of Congress, Democrats & Republicans, say that is illegal and unconstitutional; Transportation Department cuts nearly $700 million in contracts for 12 wind energy farms, calling the projects wasteful'; new tariffs on once-exempt small value packages have taken effect We will talk with New York Times business reporter Peter Eavis about what this means for you the next time you order something shipped from outside the U.S. (25); United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Russia's continued deadly bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv; former Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham (R-CA) has died. He was a war hero who went to prison after pleading guilty to taking bribes from defense contractors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez was removed from her position because she did not align with President Donald Trump's “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda. She is challenging the dismissal and her lawyers say she chose "protecting the public over serving a political agenda"; Questions to Secretary Kennedy & the White House over how to respond to gun violence like the shooting at the Catholic School in Minneapolis, where a gunman killed two children, and the Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota talks about what is known about the shooter's motives; Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) deploys police teams to cities to combat crime, and is asked whether it is in response to President Trump's threat to deploy National Guard to more U.S. cities; President Trump suggests holding a Republican National Convention in 2026 before the midterm election; Vice President JD Vance speaks in La Crosse, Wisconsin about the Republican tax cut & spending cut bill, the one dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill; Russian missiles hit a European Union building in the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv; Germany, France and Great Britain tell the United Nations they plan to re-impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, known as snapback sanctions under the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A gunman kills two children and injures 17 other children and adults at a Catholic school in Minneapolis during a mass celebrating the first day of school before killing himself. FBI Director Kash Patel says it is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime against Catholics; Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says the three weeks after President Donald Trump's sent federal law enforcement officers to help fight crime in DC, the crime rate has fallen. She says that shows what could be done if DC were able to hire additional police; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says his department will take over management of Union Station in Washington from Amtrak as part of the President's moves to reduce crime and homelessness. Duffy says the station has “fallen into disrepair” and it should be a “point of pride” for the city; AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in a pre-Labor Day "State of the Unions" address criticizes President Trump's policies, saying, “This is the choice working Americans have been given: chaos or the same broken status quo. An authoritarian who tells us only he can make things great again, or convincing ourselves everything is already great"; FDA approves COVID vaccines with more restrictions; United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on the war in Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyers for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook say she will sue after President Donald Trump said he is firing her after allegation of mortgage fraud. Cook says the president does not have that power; President Trump says he wants anyone who commits a murder in Washington, DC to be given the death penalty. DC Council repealed the death penalty in 1981; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says California, Washington state and New Mexico will lose federal funding if they do not comply with new federal rules on English proficiency for commercial vehicle drivers; Resolution calling for an end to U.S. weapons shipments to Israel, over the war in Gaza, fails at the Democratic National Committee summer meeting in Minneapolis; South Korea's President talks about strategy for his meeting Monday with President Trump to avoid what he calls a "Zelensky moment"; First Lady Melania Trump announced a new "Presidential AI Challenge" for students to use AI technologies to find solutions to community problems; Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce engagement comes up at a White House Cabinet meeting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump welcomes the South Korean President and signs executive orders on the National Guard in DC, ending cash bail and prosecuting burning the American flag; judge orders ICE to keep Kilmar Abrego Garcia in the U.S.; Democratic National Committee starts it summer meeting in Minneapolis. 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 Yevheniia Kravchuk -- a Member of Ukraine's Parliament about President Zelensky's White House meeting earlier this week - and a potential peace deal to end the fighting between her country and Russia.  Then, Steven Camarota of the Center for immigration Studies and David Bier of the Cato Institute discuss Trump Administration's deportation & immigration policies and their impact on the economy.  Finally, Bipartisan Policy Center's Matthew Weil discusses President Trump's vow to do away with mail-in ballots and some voting machines ahead of next year's midterms.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justice Department released a transcript and audio recordings of the interview that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted with Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. From July 24th, 2025 here is the complete first day of the testimony. And a warning, there might be language that some find offensive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justice Department released a transcript and audio recordings of the interview that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted with Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. From July 24th, 2025 here is the complete first day of testimony. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signals a possible cut in interest rates in the near future and stocks rally on Wall Street; FBI agents raid former National Security Adviser John Bolton's home in Maryland home and office in Washington. Sources tell media outlets it is part of a national security investigation involved classified material; Justice Department releases the full transcripts & audio of the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's prison interview with sex trafficker Ghislane Maxwell, one-time girlfriend of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; Republican National Committee elects a new chair, Joe Gruters from Florida, after chair Michael Whatley resigns to run for U.S. Senator from North Carolina; Texas Senate moves towards a final passage vote on a new election map designed to get Republicans five more U.S. House districts; President Donald Trump says Chicago and New York are the next two cities where he may deploy the National Guard; Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the agenda is not ready for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President JD Vance travels to Georgia to promote the Republican tax cuts & spending cuts bill known as the 'one big, beautiful bill', but he does not use that phrase, instead calling it the “working families tax cut” bill, while Sen. Josh Ossoff (D-GA) criticizes the law for its health care spending cuts; White House announces details of a trade deal with the European Union, including that the U.S. gets more access to the EU market and most EU exports to the U.S. will be subject to a 15% tariff; President Donald Trump says he will join police and the military tonight to patrol Washington, DC streets, as we near the end of the second week of his federalization of the DC police; California's legislature debates and heads to a vote on a new congressional redistricting map drafted by the Democratic majority, as Texas' House & Senate are nearing completion on their own new map. In both states, the goal to flip 5 U.S. House seats: to the Democrats in California & to the Republicans in Texas; New York appellate court throws out the $500 million civil fraud penalty against President Donald Trump in the case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, saying the penalty was excessive and violates the Constitution's Eighth Amendment, but the panel upholds the finding that Donald Trump, his company, and two of his children are liable for fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Congressional redistricting battle in the two most populous states moves from debate to votes. In Texas, Republicans are seeking to gain five more U.S. House seats for their party, and California, the exact opposite, with Democrats drawing a new map favoring their party in five more seats. We will hear debate from the Texas House of Representatives and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA); Vice President JD Vance travels to Union Station in Washington to visit with and thank National Guard troops President Donald Trump has called up to deal with what he says is an out of control crime and homeless problem in the city; DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is asked about the Justice Department reportedly investigating whether DC manipulated crime statistics so they would appear lower than they really are; President Trump calls on Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook to resign after allegations she committed mortgage fraud; Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC) tells residents of his state to take the threat of Hurricane Erin seriously, even though it is not expected to make landfall; Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia needs to be involved in developing Ukrainian security guarantees as part of a peace agreement to end to the war between Russia & Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says Boston will not comply with the ultimatum from Attorney General Pam Bondi to give up sanctuary city policies, saying,, "This has always been a city of revolution, of innovation, of standing up for the public good and never bowing down to tyranny"; California Assembly & Senate committees begin work on a new congressional districts map to favor Democrats to balance Republicans in Texas rewriting U.S. House seat lines to favor Republicans; President Donald Trump says there will be no U.S. troops in Ukraine as part of any security guarantees connected to a peace agreement with Russia; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirms that Intel must give the U.S. government equity in the company in exchange for billions of dollars in grants from the CHIPS Act for building semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump holds high level meetings with the President of Ukraine and the leaders of major European nations, and the NATO Secretary General, on how to end the war in Ukraine. President Trump not ruling out sending U.S. troops as part of security guarantees, and sounding hopeful that a trilateral meeting with himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could be set up soon. Some of the European leaders express their preference for a ceasefire before a peace agreement, something President Trump says is not necessary; Texas House Democrats end their protest blocking Congressional redistricting written the Republicans, returning to Texas and allowing the House to establish a quorum, after California's Democratic Governor leads an effort to redistrict to neutralize any Republican gains in Texas; former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who lost reelection, announces he is running for Senate again, against Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH); Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) responds to the news over the weekend that several Republican Governors have authorizing sending National Guard troops to DC to join the DC Guard that was called up by President Trump; former Attorney General Bill Barr gives the first deposition in the House Oversight Committee investigation the case of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; Canada Industrial Relations Board declares a strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants illegal, but union leaders says they will not return to work without a new contract. 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: With this week's federal takeover of the DC police, we speak with Jillian Snider – a senior fellow at the R Street Institute and former NYPD officer - about the opportunities – and challenges – of the crackdown. Then: Axios Senior Economics Reporter Courtenay Brown discusses the controversy over the President's pick for the Bureau of Labor Statistics – and if Americans can trust future jobs reports. Finally: National Journal's Kirk Bado (BAY-doh) discusses the electoral landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections including redistricting battles and races to watch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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