Sidebar

President Biden promised a government where“public servants serve all Americans, not themselves or narrow special interests.” But one set of brothers pose a challenge to Biden's efforts to return to transparency and accountability in government.  Related reading and episodes Lobbyist brother of top Biden adviser poses challenge to president’s ethics promises Not the'normal' Washington Biden p...

Can Biden rally the world’s democracies to meet today's challenges? And what might this trip reveal about the Biden foreign policy doctrine? On this episode, White House reporter Anne Gearan weighs in from Europe, as she travels with President Biden. Related reading and episodes Biden’s personal diplomacy to be tested on his first trip abroad Opinion: Joe Biden: My trip to Europe is about America...

What are the geopolitical implications of the intelligence community"redoubling its efforts" to identify the pandemic's origins? And what are the political challenges for President Biden in acknowledging a theory once touted by the Trump administration? Vaccine hesitancy at home, desperation abroad Coronavirus‘lab leak’ theory jumps from mocked to maybe as Biden orders intelligence review Timeline...

Discrimination is built into the American housing crisis. We examine the limits of President Biden's power to fix it, in this second episode in our occasional series about the policy challenges that President Biden faces during his first year in office. Promises made. Promises kept? How Biden stimulus bill will target homelessness Marcia Fudge confirmed as first Black woman to lead HUD in more tha...

Are the divisions within the Republican party causing real problems for Biden’s goals? And if he’s forced to move his agenda forward with only the help of his own party, how might Democratic factions and party discord make that more difficult? Related reading and episodes Promises made. Promises kept? As Biden faces a struggle to hold the Senate, Democrats’ divisions resurface The fight over Liz C...

As the president lays out a new vaccine strategy at home, how much can Biden also do to help curb the spread of coronavirus around the world? And what do the challenges with U.S. vaccine hesitancy mean for supply here -- and abroad?  Related reading and episodes Biden commits to waiving vaccine patents White House is split over how to vaccinate the world Will Biden get you a vaccine?

One hundred days into the Biden administration, how far has the president come on his campaign pledges? Biden promised a new way of governing, so has much changed? Reporter Matt Viser unpacks President Biden's progress and what's next on his agenda.  Related reading and episodes Biden’s big bet on big government Biden signed a $1.9 trillion bill. How much relief will Americans feel? Biden urg...

Will the Biden administration be able to strike a balance between politics and public health to regulate menthol cigarettes? And what are the implications if it does? We explain the pending decision and unravel the history of menthol marketing. Related reading and episodes Biden’s big bet on big government FDA weighs ban on menthol cigarettes

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, an economist, and a student all weigh in on what to do — or not — about student debt, in this first episode in our occasional series about the policy challenges that President Biden might face during his first year in office.  Related reading and episodes The faces of student debt Biden at odds with Democratic leaders over lawmakers’ call to cancel up to $50,000 in fede...

The political power of culture wars Republicans ramp up attacks on corporations over Georgia voting law, threaten‘consequences’ The Georgia voting law, explained

How did Biden become a president with an ambitious agenda for major government expansion? Where will his proposals position him in history? And is he likely to accomplish much of what he’s put forth? The Post’s Dan Balz weighs in. Related reading and episodes Biden is betting on bigger government. The pandemic may be helping him. Biden signed a $1.9 trillion bill. How much relief will Americans fe...

After tragedies in Colorado and Georgia, Biden has pledged to tighten gun laws. But the country has been here before, in the aftermath of mass shootings. Regardless of which party is in power, little reform has happened. Will this time be different?  Related reading and episodes How much can a president affect gun policy? Shootings spur Biden to call for tighter gun rules

We examine why transgender rights have risen to the forefront of our politics, and what the history of the modern Republican party reveals about how social issue battles work as a political tool, with reporter Samantha Schmidt and professor Brian Conley. Related reading and episodes A transgender girl struggles to find her voice as lawmakers attack her right to exist Transgender rights emerge as a...

Will low income Americans feel their lives change in tangible ways? On the other hand, might a fast-growing economy cause big problems? Plus, how might Biden make sure Americans know the government is responsible for some of economic changes they see? Related reading and episodes How to fix our democracy? Start in Kindergarten. Will Biden get you a vaccine? Biden wants to sell the stimulus. The Wh...

A new report draws a line from today’s civics crises to a long-standing failure to effectively teach American government and history in our public schools. On this episode, we explain what the potential outcomes for civic engagement.  Related reading and episodes Biden’s shifting benchmarks for reopening schools Investment civics education proposed to address eroding trust in democracy The Bi...

Can Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland rebuild confidence in the DOJ's independence? How might his efforts on Biden policies like combating far-right extremism and curbing police violence make the perception of an independent DOJ harder? Related reading and episodes The duty of a president during crisis Trump incited a mob. American Democracy suffered. How the Oklahoma City bombing case prep...

Can President Biden come through on this promise of reopening most schools within his first 100 days? How much can the president influence when and how schools welcome students back into the classroom? And what are the political consequences? Related reading and episodes Will Biden get you a vaccine? Biden’s goal to reopen schools meets high-stakes political test The battle over reopening schools

Some of the arguments in Trump's second impeachment trial get at the core of presidential responsibilities. We examine two of them to clarify the duties of a president during crisis and to understand how free speech applies to the commander in chief. -- Virtual event information: Want something fun to do on Presidents’ Day when you can’t leave the house? Join Presidential podcast host Lillian Cunn...

Families are still separated years after President Trump's policy ended. Latin America correspondent Kevin Sieff on the experiences of some migrant families. Plus, immigration policy expert Ali Noorani explains what it would take to reunite families. Related reading and episodes They were one of the first families separated at the border. Two and a half years later, they’re still apart. Will Biden...

How much power does Biden have to affect vaccine distribution and where is his power limited? What role should the federal government play in the process? Plus, officials on the ground explain what it's like to work to get vaccines to their communities. If you enjoy this podcast and you’d like to support the reporting that goes into it, the best way to do so is through a subscription to The Post....

President Biden campaigned on a promise to fix what’s broken, to repair divisions, to pull the country out of sickness, and to restore norms and institutions that were pillars of the Washington in which he built his career. Can he do that?  Related reading and episodes What’s next for Trump? The 46th president Biden pledges to defeat extremism and culture of lies If you enjoy this podcast and...

President Trump's businesses are taking a hit, he's been impeached a second time and he might face legal challenges after he leaves office. Reporter David Fahrenthold answers questions about what’s next for Trump. Related reading and episodes One impeachment is rare. Two is unprecedented. Trump incited a mob. American Democracy suffered. Does Trump’s refusal to concede put national security at ris...

Why impeach a president who is on his way out? When would a Senate trial start? Can President Trump be convicted after he leaves office? What does this mean for the GOP? Author of The Post’s Power Up newsletter, Jacqueline Alemany, answers key questions. Related reading and episodes Trump incited a mob. American Democracy suffered. Does Trump’s refusal to concede put national security at risk? Wha...

The breach of the U.S. Capitol was a remarkable moment in American history. Professor Sarah Binder explains how the usually uneventful vote was expected to unfold, and reporter Philip Bump lays out the challenges a divided GOP faces in the aftermath. Related reading and episodes Does Trump’s refusal to concede put national security at risk? What happens if Trump refuses to accept a loss? Two diffe...

Over the holiday break, we're bringing back an old episode that has resonance today. What happens to the public's perceived independence of the Supreme Court when confirmation processes devolve into partisan battles? Original air date: October 5, 2018