PBS NewsHour - Politics

As the government shutdown continues, several key programs are at risk. One of them is Head Start, the federal program that provides early childhood education, health and food support for low-income families. William Brangham discussed the potential impacts with Tommy Sheridan of the National Head Start Association, a nonprofit that advocates for Head Start funding and works with its programs. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC join William Brangham to discuss the week in politics, including the government shutdown barreling toward the date when funding begins to lapse on some government benefits, President Trump suggests sending federal troops to more cities and next week's key off-year elections. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Thursday, the Trump administration is slashing the number of refugees it allows into the country each year, reports out of Sudan say the RSF paramilitary force killed more than 460 people inside a hospital, Red Cross vehicles escorted the remains of two Israeli hostages out of Gaza and French authorities arrested five more people in connection with the heist at the Louvre. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As the federal government shutdown reaches the one-month mark, Lisa Desjardins reports on the progress toward a resolution and the growing consequences of the continuing closure. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Virginians head to the polls this coming Tuesday to pick their next governor. But the results may also serve as a referendum on President Trump's first 10 months in office, and offer clues of what to expect across the country in next year’s midterms. Liz Landers catches up with the candidates and the voters. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Following Charlie Kirk’s death, conservative activists have stepped in to fill the void at his Turning Point USA organization and complete his tour of college campuses. His widow, Erika Kirk, and Vice President JD Vance are scheduled to speak on Wednesday at the University of Mississippi. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports from the event. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In his new book, ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl offers a behind-the-scenes look at key moments on the 2024 campaign trail that ended one party's hold on the White House and brought another back to power. Geoff Bennett sat down with Karl to discuss "Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As the federal government shutdown continues, Geoff Bennett discussed political implications and how to resolve it with former White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short. He led President Trump’s congressional negotiating team nearly seven years ago during the 35-day shutdown, the longest ever. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Election Day is a week away, and while there are some gubernatorial races getting attention, there is also a trio of votes for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that continues a trend of big spending in judicial elections. Pennsylvania is a swing state where the court could decide the fate of election laws, redistricting and abortion. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Monday, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are still off the job as the government shutdown enters its 27th day, Indiana is joining the growing fight over redistricting ahead of next year's midterm elections, former President Biden says the nation is in "dark days" and the Navy is investigating two separate crashes involving aircraft from the USS Nimitz this past weekend. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump testing political boundaries by hinting at the possibility of a third term, the government shutdown stretches into its fifth week and what to watch for ahead of next week's elections. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, President Trump says he's ending trade negotiations with Canada because of a television ad making the case against U.S. tariffs, Secretary of State Rubio expressed confidence that the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas would hold and the Pentagon said it accepted a $130 million donation from a private donor to help pay the military during the government shutdown. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The government shutdown reached day 24 on Friday, marking another milestone for federal workers as they missed a paycheck. That is putting the squeeze on family finances, and many federal workers are now turning to local food banks to help put food on the table. Lisa Desjardins discussed more with Radha Muthiah, the CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr of the Boston Globe join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the demolition of the entire East Wing of the White House, President Trump seeking payment from the Department of Justice, the redistricting battle intensifying across several key states and the Gaza ceasefire holding after two weeks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel is under fire. In a text chain obtained by Politico, Paul Ingrassia made multiple racist remarks, including saying the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell,” and admitting to what he called "a Nazi streak in me from time to time." Geoff Bennett discussed more with Jeff Sharlet. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Several colleges and universities are pushing back on pressure from the Trump administration. The president offered nine schools priority access to federal funding if they signed an agreement to meet his demands. So far, seven schools have rejected the deal. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

New Jersey is one of only two off-year gubernatorial races this fall, and it’s seen as a bellwether ahead of next year's midterms. After President Trump made inroads with minority voters in the last election, they’ve continued to be a major focus for both candidates in this close race. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Karine Jean-Pierre has spent most of her career as a Democrat, working on four presidential campaigns and serving in the Obama and Biden administrations. But her days as a member of the Democratic Party are over and that’s the focus of her new book, “Independent." Amna Nawaz sat down with Jean-Pierre to discuss the book and why she left the party. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Republicans in North Carolina moved forward with a plan to redraw the state’s congressional map and eliminate its only swing district. It's part of a GOP push to maintain control of Congress through maps that have the effect of diluting Black political power and diminishing the voting strength of communities of color. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including the millions taking to the streets to protest President Trump’s agenda, the government shutdown entering its third full week with no resolution, whether GOP redistricting efforts could help them win and the start of work on Trump’s White House ballroom. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In March, Trump signed an executive order to begin shutting down the Department of Education, though it would take an act of Congress to actually close it. In the meantime, the department is taking dramatic steps toward fulfilling a conservative vision of a reshaped primary and secondary education system. John Yang speaks with ProPublica investigative reporter Jennifer Smith Richards for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Millions turned out across the country Saturday for a coordinated day of protest against Trump and his administration’s policies. A similar event in June brought out more than 5 million demonstrators, but organizers say the mobilization was even bigger this time. Ali Rogin speaks with Robert Weissman, co-president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, for more on the protests. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, John Bolton pleaded not guilty to federal charges he mishandled classified documents, President Trump appeared to confirm reports that Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro offered the U.S. a stake in the country's oil wealth and other natural resources and Britain's Prince Andrew says he will give up his royal titles after renewed attention on his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Trump administration authorized a $20 billion financial lifeline for Argentina as it faces an economic crisis. The deal has raised major questions and criticism about its merits. President Trump also said it’s contingent on Argentine President Milei’s party winning elections later this month. John Yang discussed more with Monica de Bolle of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As the government shutdown heads into its third full week, the Trump administration is halting billions worth of infrastructure funding. It’s the latest of Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought's moves during the shutdown, using the moment to enact the president’s political agenda and conduct mass layoffs. Liz Landers reports on Vought’s efforts to reshape the government. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump commuting the sentence of former GOP Rep. George Santos, the government shutdown enters its third week as Trump shows no signs of wanting to negotiate, the Young Republicans’ hateful group chat and reporters refusing the Pentagon's new press rules. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A federal grand jury in Maryland indicted former national security adviser John Bolton on 18 charges of retaining and transmitting classified information to two of his relatives. Bolton served as U.N. ambassador and then national security adviser in the first Trump administration before emerging as one of the president’s most vocal critics. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Mary McCord. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Fallout is growing after a Politico investigation revealed offensive text messages exchanged in a private Young Republicans group chat. The report details racist, homophobic and antisemitic language shared among about a dozen members over several months. Geoff Bennett spoke with Politico reporter Emily Ngo to discuss what the messages reveal and how party leaders are responding. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority signaled it could upend a central pillar of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The question at the heart of arguments is whether lawmakers can use race as a factor when drawing congressional districts. Ali Rogin discussed the case's potential to reshape electoral maps with News Hour Supreme Court analyst and SCOTUSblog co-founder Amy Howe and David Wasserman. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The government shutdown has far-reaching effects for federal workers. Hundreds of thousands have been furloughed and many others are working without a paycheck. Some may be out of work permanently after the Trump administration announced plans for mass layoffs. We hear from dozens of federal employees, and Lisa Desjardins reports on how many workers are off the job. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

It's Day 15 of the federal government shutdown, one of the longest lapses in funding in U.S. history. To discuss the politics of the shutdown, Geoff Bennett spoke with Democratic strategist Faiz Shakir and Republican strategist Doug Heye. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tuesday marks the deadline for journalists to decide whether to comply with the Pentagon's new rules for keeping credentials. Virtually every news organization, including PBS News, has refused to sign it, arguing that it infringes on First Amendment protections. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Nancy Youssef of The Atlantic and David Schulz of the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy served on the nation’s highest court for three decades. He was often described as the swing vote in landmark decisions from marriage equality to campaign finance. It’s a label he’s long resisted, even years after his 2018 retirement. He explained why when he sat down with Geoff Bennett to discuss his new memoir, "Life, Law & Liberty." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said today the U.S. is “barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns” in history. That stark warning on the 13th day of the shutdown comes as impacts are starting to ripple across the country, with federal workers facing their first week without a paycheck. White House correspondent Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump taking a victory lap abroad after the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East and the government shutdown enters another week with no clear end in sight. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Saturday, Trump directed the Defense Department to ensure U.S. troops are paid on time as the government shutdown continues, authorities said there are no survivors from Friday’s blast that leveled a Tennessee explosives plant, and actor and producer Diane Keaton died at age 79. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As the federal government shutdown heads into its second weekend, the Trump administration has begun what it calls “substantial” layoffs of federal workers. President Trump and his team had suggested this would be coming, but it was Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought who made it official. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports on the agencies affected. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

As the government shutdown continues and the Trump administration begins mass layoffs, Geoff Bennett spoke with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for reaction from the Democrats. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

An unlikely partnership between a utility and climate activists managed to convert a community to geothermal heating and cooling. Science correspondent Miles O'Brien reports on this project for our energy and climate series, Tipping Point. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump celebrating the Gaza peace deal while targeting political enemies at home and the government shutdown entering its second weekend. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Formal negotiations are at a standstill on day nine of the government shutdown. But Thursday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered his Democratic colleagues a potential off-ramp. Amna Nawaz spoke with Sen. Thune about a potential vote on extending health care subsidies. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy