Podcast appearances and mentions of james hohmann

On the final episode of Sidebar, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger breakdown the shaky ceasefire between Iran and Israel – and whether it will hold. And having decided to enter the conflict, President Trump is now trying to play peacemaker.Then, the crew breaks down Trump's stunning turn of fortune since Sidebar began – from being found guilty in his New York hush money and election interference trial, to winning the presidency for a second time and seeing his federal charges dismissed.Later, the crew reflects on their time hosting Sidebar and other Washington Post coverage.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the evolving news on Iran – from trading strikes with Israel to President Trump's increasing involvement.The crew breaks down what Trump says he might do, what his endgame is – and whether Israel is luring the United States into a war of its choosing.Then, Trump's 2024 financial disclosures have been released – and the President made money from all kinds of ventures, from his golf courses to crypto to signed guitars. Which ones earned him the most money?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down just how much President Trump wants to remind you that he's Commander-in-Chief – from deploying the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, to Saturday's military parade in D.C.Plus, Democrats accuse Trump of intentionally provoking protests in an attempt to justify escalating use of military force.And later, video journalist Anna Liss-Roy joins the show to discuss what it's like along Saturday's parade route near the White House, where tanks will drive down Constitution Avenue.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the Republican drama surrounding President Trump's signature "Big, beautiful bill" – starting with the dramatic social media breakup occurring between Trump and Elon Musk. And are GOP senators on board with Trump's plan?Then, Trump seems to be reacting to that drama by creating distractions – from a new travel ban to a dubious investigation of his predecessor.Plus, former president Joe Biden's former White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, says she's leaving the Democratic Party. Why?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down some of the most controversial provisions in Republicans' giant spending and immigration bill: Provisions that would affect Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.While the bill has already passed the GOP-controlled House, it might have a tougher time getting through the Senate, where some Republican senators have already expressed doubts – like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Ark.), who has said it is “wrong to cut Medicaid for the working poor.”Plus, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told a town hall last week that "we all are going to die," then doubled down in an Instagram video on Saturday. Is that a politically risky move – or just what Trump would do?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe to delve inside the ongoing drama in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's inner circle: Who is at odds with whom, and what does it mean for Hegseth's job security.Then, President Trump has been on a spree of issuing pardons and commutations for convicted felons – many of whom are his supporters. The crew breaks down who got pardons, and why.Finally, Elon Musk is out of government; did he accomplish what he set out to do, and was it a success?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann dive into the ways institutions are fighting back against President Trump – both culturally and legally – starting with Harvard University and NPR, which are both embroiled in lawsuits with the administration.Plus, how are those two institutions bellweathers for the rest of America, from other universities to media outlets and free speech?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down a busy week in Washington, starting with the shocking shooting of two Israeli embassy employees. Then, the crew dives into the GOP's "big, beautiful" budget bill: What's in it, what the sticking points were, and what had to be negotiated.Later, the crew breaks down the chaotic meeting in the Oval Office between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – and how Trump is using Oval Office meetings to set up televised showdowns with other world leaders.Plus, technology reporter Drew Harwell joins the show to preview Trump's morally-murky dinner with investors in his crypto meme coin.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" – the 1,100-page proposal for a measure that includes a whole of of the GOP's priorities, all in one package. But does Trump have the support of his own caucus, or does he need to convince Republicans in both the House and the Senate to vote for it? The crew dives into what changes it would make to U.S. law, which tax cuts it would extend, and how Republicans have structured the bill to bypass Democrats' votes entirely.Plus: The timing of former president Biden's announcement that he has cancer raises questions.

Republicans are haggling over the details of how much to cut Medicaid and food stamps while also trying to give bigger tax breaks to the richest Americans. Meanwhile, the rating agency Moody's has downgraded the United States' perfect economic score for the first time, because of how much this bill could run up the national debt. Dana Milbank, James Hohmann and Natasha Sarin talk about whether the Republicans can get this legislation over the finish line and why America is suffering from “boy-who-called-wolf energy” when it comes to the federal debt.Check out our Memorial Day Sale to subscribe to the Washington Post. It's just $2, every four weeks, for your first year. Additional reading by our columnists:Natasha Sarin: The Trump administration's tax math doesn't add upSubscribe to The Washington Post here.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down how President Trump is trying to remake Washington in a MAGA image – from hanging huge photos of himself from federal buildings to taking over cultural institutions and firing people, in some cases, seemingly simple for their gender or skin color.Then, the crew breaks down Trump's long history of financial conflicts of interest with the presidency, how he has ignored norms, how past presidents have divested from those conflicts of interest – and the vast amounts of money Trump has made in the early months of his second presidency.Plus, the crew reveals the weirdest gifts in presidential history – and whether or not presidents got to keep them.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by national security reporter Abigail Hauslohner to discuss President Trump's trip to the Middle East. The crew breaks down Trump's sit-down with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and his plan to attract Saudi investment in the U.S. Then, the release of the last American hostage in Gaza, Edan Alexander. And is it a snub for Trump to skip meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?Plus, Trump says he plans to accept a 747 jet to use as Air Force One from Qatar – but can he legally accept it?

Since President Trump took office, people with money have been cozying up to him — from tech billionaires donating to his inauguration fund, to Qatari royals offering him a $400 million plane. And Trump's newfound love of cryptocurrency is providing an easy vehicle to get money into his and his family's coffers. Dana Milbank, Molly Roberts and James Hohmann discuss the return on investment people are getting (or not) for trying to curry favor with the president. Additional reading by our columnists:Molly Roberts: With crypto, Democrats finally put up a fightDana Milbank: As the world goes to hell, Trump is living his best lifeSubscribe to The Washington Post here.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by religion reporter Michelle Boorstein and Rome bureau chief Anthony Faiola to discuss the papal conclave and the election of the first American pope, Leo XIV.The crew breaks down the process the cardinals followed, then dives into the politics of the conclave: How cardinals make themselves candidates, and how they try to elevate their positions behind the scenes while adhering to the strict traditions surrounding the process.And finally, the crew breaks down whether the cardinals take American politics, or world politics, into account at all when choosing a new leader for the Catholic Church.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid to break down whether President Trump is setting up his second term to make him a chief executive associated with prosperity, or with austerity. Having run on a platform of economic populism, Trump now says the country will have to endure "pain" – but is that what voters wanted?Then, Trump is using the power of the presidency to influence, or even bully, American institutions, from law firms to colleges and universities to the news media. And is his social media post showing an AI-generated image of himself in papal clothing a joke that's landing in the Catholic community?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House reporter Emily Davies to discuss President Trump's first 100 days back in office – from his campaign-trail promises to his shock-and-awe campaign to change the federal workforce, immigration the economy. What has Trump delivered on? And where has he gone farther than voters expected or wanted?Plus, how do Americans feel about Trump and his early policies – and is it what they voted for?

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, James Hohmann and JM Rieger discuss the ongoing fallout between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump's top Cabinet and administration officials, as well as the CEO's announcement Tuesday that he will step away from his U.S. DOGE Service responsibilities as a "special government employee."Musk, a GOP megadonor and close adviser to Trump, has seen his net worth crumble in the aftermath of the current trade war, as his Tesla stock plummets amongst a shaky quarterly earnings report that showed a 71 percent drop in profits.Musk touted a proposal to cut $2 trillion from the annual federal budget on the 2024 presidential campaign trail, and while his DOGE team has caused chaos with numerous job cuts and potentially illegal access to sensitive data information, the actual savings achieved by the DOGE initiative may be just a fraction of what was promised.https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/24/elon-musk-doge-scott-bessent-tesla/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=can-he-do-thathttps://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/04/18/irs-shapley-bessent-musk/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=can-he-do-that

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, James Hohmann and JM Rieger discuss the latest allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information about military plans on a group chat – this time, one that reportedly included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. The crew breaks down Hegseth's attempts at damage control, and why he's still in the job.Then, we go inside the reported chaos, screaming matches and proposed DOGE cuts at the Pentagon. And a former Hegseth aide says he was pushed out by a faction of Defense Department employees with an ulterior motive.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down President Trump's broadside at Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Thursday, saying he looks forward to Powell's "termination." The crew explains why Trump wants Powell out as Fed chair – and his long history of targeting the country's central banking system for criticism.Then, a federal judge said he would launch an investigation into whether Trump officials should face criminal contempt charges for defying his order not to remove Venezuelan migrants from the United States. What would happen if an official actually faced a contempt charge?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down whether President Trump has a plan to enact his biggest policy priorities – or if major changes to government and policy are being undertaken without detailed objectives. And is there anyone in the White House who Trump truly listens to?Plus, Trump has targeted another University – this time going after Harvard.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down President Trump's apparent strategy of pushing norms and testing the U.S. court system to see how far he can push his policies. The crew looks at how Trump has approached firing federal workers and immigration, and how the court system has handled legal challenges on both policy fronts. Plus, has the Supreme Court largely given his policies a pass, or is it reigning him in?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss the latest on the economy and Trump's tariffs – starting with the short-lived morning rally in the U.S. stock markets. The crew breaks down whether President Trump and his administration might be willing to negotiate with countries on the import duties Trump has put in place.Plus, will a proposed Senate bill that would limit the president's power to put tariffs in place without congressional approval actually pass?Then, the crew breaks down a change to the way the Justice Department will investigate cryptocurrency fraud.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski to discuss the latest on the massive set of tariffs President Trump is putting into place. Plus, how will tariffs affect consumers – and is Congress finally preparing to take some of its own power back?Then: The deadline for a TikTok sale is coming up soon. The crew breaks down the latest on attempts to negotiate some kind of sale to a U.S. buyer.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House economic reporter Jeff Stein to discuss President Trump's proposed sweeping tariffs – and the day he and his team have referred to as "Liberation Day." What effect will those tariffs have, how will the costs be passed on to American citizens, and why is Trump so set on remaking the United States' relationship with the rest of the world?Plus, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) speaks for hours and hours on the Senate floor in protest of Trump's early months in office.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger discuss the Signal leak by Trump administration officials, whether there could be investigations, and why some of the officials involved are denying classified information was sent in the group chat that included a magazine editor.Plus, President Trump and his administration seem to be creating a climate of fear at the country's borders, checking visitors' phones and in several cases arresting people who are in the country legally – including a Tufts University student. And will Trump's tariffs on automobiles affect the economy?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the Trump administration's leak of national security information to a magazine editor – and how Congress reacted to it in a fiery hearing on Tuesday.Plus, is the Trump administration transparent – or just claiming to be?

On this episode, Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann, and immigration reporter Maria Sacchetti discuss the deportation of hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador without due process under the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely invoked law from the 18th century.In response to a court placing a restraining order on the deportations, the President called for the judge to be impeached, Trump and his allies' defiant tone against the judiciary drew the ire of Chief Justice John G. Roberts in a rare public rebuke.Plus, reaction to President Donald Trump's high-stakes call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they negotiated the terms of a potential cease-fire in Ukraine.

On this episode, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann, and JM Rieger take a closer look at President Donald Trump's transformation from vocal crypto critic to now spearheading the U.S. government's full-throated embrace of cryptocurrency and digital commodities.Trump's new love of crypto was on full display during White House Crypto Summit on March 7, led by crypto and artificial intelligence czar David Sacks. The Trump administration, along with tech industry leaders, touted deregulation, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a Digital Assets Stockpile, executive orders and legislation.Plus, Sam Bankman-Fried lobbies for a pardon from prison on Tucker Carlson's podcast and reaction to the White House's surprise decision to withdraw their Center of Disease Control and Prevention nomination, former congressman Dave Weldon, who found out as he was driving to the Capitol to testify.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger explain why Washington is once again under the cloud of a looming government shutdown – and why fiscal conservatives might have to hold their noses and vote to keep the government open.Plus, how Vice President JD Vance is finding a role for himself as a go-between for members of Congress who want access to the White House.

As President Trump stays bullish on tariffs, sending markets spiraling and personal anxieties soaring, the Republican-led Congress is trying to pass a budget. Do Democrats have any levers to pull, or should they just let Republicans own whatever happens next? Dana Milbank, Heather Long and James Hohmann talk through the negotiations in Washington this week and how Trump's unclear messaging could hurt business.Additional reading:Heather Long: A Trump recession has become a real possibilitySubscribe to The Washington Post here.

In this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann decode President Trump's efforts to redefine America's role on the world stage – from seemingly starting trade wars with China, Mexico and Canada to straining alliances with Europe that have defined American foreign policy since the Second World War.Plus, what is Trump really trying to accomplish – and is he playing chess, with a longer strategy in mind, or just checkers?

On this episode, Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann, and Washington Post DOGE reporter Faiz Siddiqui take a closer look at “special government employee” Elon Musk who continues to upend the federal government, overseeing the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency while joking that he is merely “tech support” during his appearances at the White House.What is the current relationship between President Donald Trump and Musk? Will his “move fast, break things, rebuild” Silicon Valley management mantra ends up disabling key government functions? When does he sleep?

On this episode, Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, and James Hohmann discuss the fallout from Elon Musk's email to federal workers that threatened firings if they did not respond to a request to detail their work responsibilities last week.This comes at a time when Republican lawmakers in the House are finalizing language of the so-called “big beautiful bill”, a Trump-endorsed legislative package that would become a federal budget resolution if and when it comes up for a floor vote. With only a three vote majority in the house, House Speaker Mike Johnson will need almost every Republican representative's approval to pass the legislation. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reaffirmed on Tuesday that no Democrats will vote in support of the House GOP budget reconciliation resolution as it stands.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger sit down with media reporter Jeremy Barr to break down the Trump administration's recent spats with the media – from barring The Associated Press from Oval Office events, to removing media organizations from workspaces at the Pentagon. Plus, Trump settles with Facebook and Twitter, and demands a $20 billion settlement from CBS.Then, are Republican senators ceding all of their power to Trump and the executive branch? And why was Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) – until recently his caucus' leader – alone in his opposition to several of Trump's cabinet nominees?

The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the pushback to President Trump and Elon Musk's attempts to drastically downsize the federal government – from what Congress is or isn't doing, on both sides of the aisle, to lawsuits and federal judges who have started to put some of Trump's efforts on hold.And is the GOP's rhetoric about the judiciary getting dangerous?Plus, Washington Post Investigations Editor David Fallis joins the show to discuss how listeners can share tips with Post reporters in secure ways.

As the Trump administration challenges Congress's “power of the purse” and grumbles at court orders slowing down its deluge of executive actions, it seems like a showdown among the three branches of government is brewing. But is this panic warranted, or will President Trump and his allies do what the courts say? Columnists Ruth Marcus, James Hohmann and Jason Willick get into it. Additional reading by our columnists:Ruth Marcus: Can the courts — can anyone — stop Trump?Jason Willick: Save the panic over Trump's ‘power grabs.' It might be needed later.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the buyout offer made to federal workers as Elon Musk's DOGE continues to try to downsize government: What is the offer, is it legal, and what are union leaders saying? Plus, some breaking news on the deadline for employees to decide whether to take it.Then, how will cutting employees and programs affect Americans – and people around the world?Finally, The Post's Anna Liss-Roy joins the show to share what federal workers told her at protests outside the Office of Personnel Management.

The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the big story in Washington this week: The Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal government, led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. Is Musk allowed to access Americans' sensitive data, and eliminate government programs he doesn't like?Plus, what effect will Musk's efforts have on the federal workforce – and how will cutting programs affect Americans and people around the world?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down President Trump's news conference after the Washington, D.C. plane crash – and how Trump chose to blame his predecessors, Democrats and diversity programs rather than embracing the role of consoler-in-chief. Plus, three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees had Senate confirmation hearings on the same day: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard. The crew breaks down their hearings, and whether all three will end up being confirmed.

The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski to discuss President Trump's first week back in office – and what happened the night he decided to fire more than a dozen government inspectors general.Plus, Trump's pause on government grants and loans is throwing Washington – and government programs around the globe – into chaos. Who will be affected by it most?And three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees are set to undergo Senate confirmation hearings later this week. Will RFK Jr. be derailed by a letter to senators penned by his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, calling him a "predator"?

The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger are joined by immigration reporter Nick Miroff to break down the way President Trump is attempting to rapidly change the United States' immigration system – and create a culture of fear among undocumented immigrants.Plus, how is Trump quickly changing America's foreign policy – and what is he trying to accomplish by demolishing decades of affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion policies?

Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and Aaron Blake break down President Trump's decision to pardon or commute the sentences of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rioters, just hours after he was inaugurated for the second time.And Trump signed a whole lot of other executive orders; Which ones definitely matter, which ones might end up mattering, and which ones probably won't?Plus, the tech billionaires came to Washington – including Elon Musk.

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down the Trump cabinet nominees whose hearings have gotten underway on Capitol Hill – and whether Democrats are effectively rallying votes against any of them. Plus, President Biden gave his farewell speech on Jan. 15 – and it wasn't the speech everyone expected. Then, what is the crew looking out for on inauguration day on Monday?

In this special episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by JM Rieger in Washington and criminal justice reporter Shayna Jacobs in New York, to discuss the sentence handed down to president-elect Trump in his New York hush money case – and why he escaped punishment after being convicted on 34 felony counts.Plus, is this the end of Trump's legal troubles?

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down president-elect Trump's angry, grievance-filled news conference – and why Trump is so focused on those grievances despite winning the election, with Republicans winning both houses of Congress.Then, the crew recaps the latest on Trump's New York hush money case, and whether the Supreme Court might intervene before the sentencing hearing scheduled for Jan. 10.

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann recap the most important moments in American politics in 2024 – plus a few runners-up.

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down Elon Musk's successful effort to torpedo a government spending bill – and what that means about how president-elect Donald Trump's White House will function. Plus, how are Democrats preparing for a Trump presidency in which they are the minority in both the House and Senate? Later, the crew looks at longtime members of the Senate who won't be back in the next Congress – and their final messages as they prepare to leave Washington. Finally, Trump's criminal racketeering case in Georgia may be on ice after prosecutor Fani T. Willis was disqualified by an appeals court.

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss what's left of the Democratic party after its 2024 election losses – from who's left in Congress and who will have positions of authority, to the fading presence of the party's biggest voices in recent decades. The crew breaks down who could step up as Democrats' ideological leader – and who definitely won't be in the picture. Then, what's the status of Trump's cabinet picks? Right now, it looks like the ones left standing will all make it to January confirmation hearings.

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss whether Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for secretary of defense, can make it through the nomination process. Plus, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are on Capitol Hill touting their Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – but how much power will they really have?Then, President Biden pardoned his son Hunter last weekend. Does that represent a final departure from the norms Biden promised to uphold?And who's really president right now? President Biden is on a foreign trip, but Capitol Hill and foreign leaders are all focused on Trump.

This week, the crew breaks down former rep. Matt Gaetz's sudden withdrawal as Trump's intended nominee for attorney general.Then, Libby Casey, James Hohmann and JM Rieger examine president-elect Donald Trump's promises: What does he say he will do on his first day in office? And what priorities will come later?Plus, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Trump's pick for Health and Human Services secretary – but will his proposed policy changes conflict with big business priorities? And can he actually take the flouride out of your water?