PBS NewsHour - Politics

When Zelenskyy returns to the Oval Office on Monday, at least a half-dozen European leaders will join him in a high-profile display of unity. After meeting with Putin on Friday, Trump aligned himself with Russian positions, triggering fears that Ukraine could be pressured to accept Moscow’s terms. John Yang speaks with William Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, for more on what to expect. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In July, the Trump administration proposed revoking a landmark 2009 finding that’s been the basis for EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. If the proposal is finalized, experts warn that it could jeopardize the health of millions of Americans, especially children. John Yang speaks with pediatrician and clinical professor Dr. Debra Hendrickson for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a second special session to approve new congressional maps in favor of Republicans, Erin strengthened into the first hurricane of this year's Atlantic season and at least 280 people are dead after flash floods wreaked havoc on parts of northern Pakistan and India. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

City officials in Washington are declaring victory after they say the Trump administration backed away from a plan to appoint the nation's DEA chief as an “emergency police commissioner,” a move they call an unprecedented federal power grab. It comes after the city sued to block the president’s attempt to take control of the Metropolitan Police. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Marc Elias. 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's summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump's federal takeover of Washington and the battle over redistricting. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Trump administration’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C. is escalating with arrests at high-profile locations and homeless encampments torn down. Protests also erupted in the streets after the White House said federal agents would patrol around the clock. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Juliette Kayyem, a former Homeland Security official now at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Gov. Gavin Newsom threw down the gauntlet Thursday, saying California will move forward to redraw congressional maps in his party's favor if Texas Republicans do the same. Texas Democrats have blocked the plan by walking out on a special session, but a second special session is expected. Geoff Bennett discussed the strategy with state Rep. Ann Johnson, one of the Democrats who left Texas. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

President Trump moved to take over policing in Washington, D.C. to “rescue our nation’s capital from crime," but the data doesn’t back up many of his claims. Murder and violent crime dropped significantly across the U.S. last year, a trend that’s continued so far in 2025. The crackdown comes even as his administration cut funding for other kinds of crime prevention work. John Yang reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A right-wing political activist who has spread conspiracy theories and used hate speech has become a central figure in the hirings and firings of Trump staffers. Laura Loomer has successfully lobbied to remove aides in several key government roles, including the National Security Council. Stephanie Sy reports on Loomer's mission to shape the Trump administration in her vision. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In our news wrap Tuesday, National Guard soldiers were seen on the streets of the nation's capital as President Trump's temporary federal takeover of policing in Washington, D.C. begins, Texas GOP leaders say they'll call a second special session of the legislature if Democrats don't return by Friday, and police in Texas say the man who shot three people in a parking lot opened fire randomly. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The State Department released its annual human rights report Tuesday, but unlike in years past, this edition has come under scrutiny for omitting issues and countries with poor human rights records. Nick Schifrin looks at the report and at this active week of renewed Trump diplomacy with Russia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta has shaken many in the field of public health. Authorities say the 32-year-old gunman fired nearly 200 rounds at six buildings on the CDC campus and believed COVID-19 vaccines were to blame for his mental health problems. Geoff Bennett discussed rhetoric and hostility against health professionals with Dr. Megan Ranney. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In an unprecedented move, President Trump has taken over Washington, D.C.'s police department and activated its National Guard. The federal takeover invokes rare, but legal, presidential authorities, but local officials say he’s wrong to say that crime has spiraled out of control. Amna Nawaz discussed the legality behind this action and what this means with Georgetown law professor Steve Vladeck. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll extend the standoff over redistricting for as long as necessary. The Republican effort is being pushed by President Trump and Abbott, who called a special session. Democrats have called foul, and they’re trying to run out the clock by staying out of state. Stephanie Sy discussed more with the GOP lawmaker central to the debate, state Rep. Carl Tepper. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

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’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C., the redistricting battle in Texas and other states and Trump's upcoming meeting with Putin. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

More than one million immigrants work in healthcare and make up an increasing share of caregivers for elderly and disabled Americans. That includes not only medical professionals, but also workers who keep facilities running. The industry already faces labor shortages, and the Trump administration’s immigration policies could make it more difficult to find workers. William Brangham reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Since taking office, President Trump has called for the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, suggesting it could be dismantled as soon as December. Lately, his team has backed away from that idea, but there are still major changes underway and concerns that FEMA's response is at times politicized. Stephanie Sy looks at the changes and what they mean for disaster preparedness. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump’s call to exclude those without legal status from the census could reshape the country’s congressional districts. But opponents argue that it would violate the 14th Amendment’s requirement that the allocation of congressional seats be determined by “counting the whole number of persons in each state.” John Yang explores what Trump hopes to achieve with NPR's Hansi Lo Wang. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including Israel's plans to exert more control over Gaza have been criticized by global leaders but the Trump administration's response has been muted, the Texas redistricting battle and Trump's makeover of the White House. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

After months of delay and backroom dealmaking, the Trump administration has imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly 100 countries, sending U.S. import duties soaring to their highest levels in nearly a century. To help break down the impact of the new tariffs and interpret some signs we’re seeing across the economy, Geoff Bennett spoke with Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump's big budget law is expected to make the largest cuts ever to Medicaid, a program that currently provides health insurance for some 70 million Americans. As Lisa Desjardins reports, those impacts will be felt in House Speaker Mike Johnson’s home state of Louisiana, which has one of the highest rates of enrollment in the country. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump continues to direct his ire at Democrat-run cities for what he calls an out-of-control crime wave, despite FBI data showing crime down in every category. This week, he went as far as threatening a federal takeover of Washington D.C. William Brangham discussed the threats with George Derek Musgrove, author of "Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Many public health experts and scientists say they are stunned by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s decision to cancel nearly half a billion dollars in federal funding for future vaccine development. MRNA technology was central in the battle against COVID and can be developed more quickly than traditional vaccines. Geoff Bennett discussed the implications with Dr. Michael Osterholm. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Wednesday marks the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the law that ended the era of Jim Crow voting laws that blocked Black Americans from exercising their right to cast a ballot. But 60 years later, there’s renewed effort to give parties more control over the process by giving politicians more ability to pick their voters. William Brangham discussed more with Tony Plohetski and Rick Hasen. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury investigation into accusations that members of the Obama administration manufactured intelligence about Russia’s 2016 election interference. Stephanie Sy reports on the latest development in the lengthy saga and Geoff Bennett discusses more with former prosecutor and intel official Steven Cash. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The rise of artificial intelligence has sparked concerns across various sectors, including employment, education and national security. But one Kentucky county is taking a different approach, using the technology to boost something far more human: civic engagement. Judy Woodruff reports on an experiment that revealed surprising levels of agreement. It’s part of her series, America at a Crossroads. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

In our news wrap Tuesday, the Texas Attorney General is ramping up pressure on Democrats who left the state to block a vote on a new congressional map, a central California wildfire exploded in size to nearly 130 square miles and the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With new tariffs set to take effect on Friday, President Trump continued to battle and negotiate with several countries. He has said the new purchase of U.S. energy is a key to some of the biggest deals struck so far. But there are questions about whether these pledges will live up to the president’s claims. Stephanie Sy discussed more with David Goldwyn of Goldwyn Global Strategies. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump has a habit of courting unfounded conspiracies. That includes QAnon, the belief that some hidden figure in the government is explaining how Trump is waging a secret battle against dark, nefarious forces. His amplification of QAnon has also fueled speculation about the Jeffrey Epstein case. William Brangham discussed more with Will Sommer, author of “Trust the Plan." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Democrats from the Texas House of Representatives have fled the state in order to block the passage of a new congressional map. The redistricting is a priority for President Trump, but critics call it gerrymandering and election-rigging. Stephanie Sy reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Texas Democrats left the state to block a vote on a mid-decade redistricting plan that would benefit Republicans. Geoff Bennett discussed the move with Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, who is currently in Illinois. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump is expected to nominate a new head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics this week, days after firing Commissioner Erika McEntarfer following the release of a disappointing jobs report. The president dismissed the data as “rigged” and “manipulated for political purposes.” Geoff Bennett discussed more with William Beach, the commissioner of labor statistics during the first Trump term. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Jasmine Wright of NOTUS join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump fires the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after a weak jobs report and Texas Democrats risk arrest as they flee the state to block GOP-led redistricting. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Jasmine Wright of NOTUS join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump fires the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after a weak jobs report and Texas Democrats risk arrest as they flee the state to block GOP-led redistricting. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Trump administration has made sweeping changes to the country’s immigration system. In recent months, ICE agents have been arresting migrants outside courtrooms and courthouses. William Brangham spoke with Father Brian Strassberger, a Jesuit Priest who serves migrants on both sides of the border, about what he saw at an immigration court hearing in Harlingen, Texas. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The White House’s announcement Friday that it will impose hefty tariffs on imports from nearly 70 countries next week triggered the worst day on Wall Street in more than a month. Those economic jitters were compounded by a weaker than expected jobs report, which prompted Trump to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner who produced it. Economist Ernie Tedeschi joins Ali Rogin to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

President Trump announced another list of new tariffs on more than 60 countries, an unprecedented economic move that seeks to remake the global trade system. The tariffs, which range in rates from 10 to 41 percent, will take effect next week. It comes as the jobs report came in weaker than expected, with just 73,000 added last month. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Oren Cass of American Compass. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The Trump administration announced plans for one of the largest renovations to the White House in decades. It includes a 90,000 square foot state ballroom that will be built in the East Wing at a projected cost of $200 million. The White House says donations from President Trump and other private donors will fund it. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Tamara Keith of NPR. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump fires the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs report, the White House surveys the humanitarian situation in Gaza today and former Vice President Harris makes her first television appearance since losing the election. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

With hours to go before President Trump’s deadline, dozens of countries are facing the possibility of significant tariffs that could go into effect. But there’s uncertainty around the deadline as Trump announced a 90-day extension for Mexico. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Jason Furman, an economics professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the former head of the Council of Economic Advisers. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

A late-night congressional vote fell short of the number needed to block weapons sales to Israel. But in a dramatic shift, more than half of Democrats supported the measure, reaching its highest level of support to date. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was one of those yes votes. She joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

We continue our look at the FCC’s decision to allow Paramount, the parent company of CBS, to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance. The scrutinized media deal was approved in a 2-1 vote after Paramount agreed to a settlement with President Trump and Skydance agreed to other concessions. Geoff Bennett discussed more with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who voted in favor of the merger. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders