WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Donald Trump argues the Smithsonian Institution has lost sight of America's ideals and become too focused on the country's historical failures, as his staff launches a review of selected museums and exhibitions. Does he have a point, and what might result from this audit, or does the outcome depend on whether it's done in a thoughtful way that Americans can support?  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWi...

Donald Trump dismisses the Fed Governor for "cause," citing allegations aired on social media that she claimed two primary residences while applying for mortgages. Cook says she'll refuse to go, setting up a serious legal and constitutional fight. But is this really about Trump's demand for lower interest rates, and do Americans want Fed monetary policy to follow political orders? Hosted by Simple...

President Trump pushes the Senate to give confirmation hearings to his nominees, after a federal judge rules that Alina Habba has been unlawfully acting as a federal prosecutor since July, and that Trump's maneuvers to retain her don't follow the law. The White House will appeal, but the Senate seems reluctant to end its "blue slip" tradition for vetting home-state appointees. Hosted by Simplecast...

Socialist Zohran Mamdani now leads the polls by a wide margin. Andrew Cuomo attacks Mamdani by calling him "very rich" and demanding he immediately move out of his rent-stabilized apartment. And two former aides to Mayor Eric Adams face separate scandals, after one is indicted for bribery and another hands a reporter a potato-chip bag containing at least $140. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz comp...

Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, takes to social media to accuse Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud. Pulte has also made similar criminal referrals for Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Aren't investigations supposed to happen before announcements, and didn't Donald Trump promise to end lawfare? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWi...

After President Trump invokes an exclusion for national security, several agencies terminate collective-bargaining deals with unionized government employees, including the VA, the EPA, and FEMA. Since most Americans aren't union members, is this a good political fight for Trump, who can argue that such contracts make Washington more expensive and less efficient? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...

The White House considers taking a 10% stake in the chip maker, after Donald Trump meets with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, shortly after he demanded Tan's immediate resignation. Is this another example of MAGA corporate statism, along with Trump's "golden share" on the Nippon-U.S. Steel deal, his "export tax" on AI chips, and his talk of a sovereign-wealth fund? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....

President Trump meets with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, as he pushes to end the Ukraine-Russia war. He says the U.S. will contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine, but what would that require for Ukraine to feel secure? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin head into negotiations over ending the Ukraine war, three years after Russia's invasion. But news leaks suggest Putin wants territorial gains that would let him leapfrog Ukraine's "fortress belt." Meantime, Trump is sounding more serious all the time about increasing U.S. leverage, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky isn't at the table. Hosted by Simplecast,...

Governor Gavin Newsom reveals his plan to redraw congressional lines in California to combat Texas’ plan for redistricting. Newsom says his new map will 'end the Trump presidency,' but will voters in his state agree? Plus, the gerrymandering wars reflect the growing trend of politically influenced migration across red and blue state lines. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz....

President Trump chooses Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni to lead the BLS, the federal agency that collects data on inflation and the nation's jobs numbers. What is Antoni's public record? Does he have concrete plans to improve the statistics? Can he win Senate confirmation? And what about public trust, given how Trump fired former BLS director Erika McEntarfer? Hosted by Simplecast, an Ad...

After declaring a crime emergency, Donald Trump orders temporary federal control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, while also calling in 800 troops from the D.C. National Guard. What's the reality about violent crime in the nation's capital? Since D.C. is a federal enclave, is Trump within his rights? And has local control by the D.C. City Council proven to be a failure? Hosted by Simple...

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska to work towards an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Can a deal be made without Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to participate? Plus, White House Council of Economic Advisers chair Stephen Miran is tapped to fill a temporary spot on the Federal Reserve Board. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

Donald Trump signs an executive order designed to combat 'debanking,' which deprives individuals and businesses of financial services. How bad is the problem, what's in the Trump order, and will it be enough to rein in regulators that put pressure on banks to cancel customers that supposedly pose "reputational risk"? Or does Congress also need to pass legislation making the changes permanent, refo...

Republicans started the latest round of redistricting conflict in Texas, but Democrats are promising to fight back in California and Illinois, and now Republicans are promising to escalate further in other states. What's the end game? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Israel faces a hard decision of whether to reoccupy Gaza and risk more casualties, or stepping away and giving Hamas a chance to return to running the territory.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dozens of Texas lawmakers flee the state, denying a legislative quorum that Republicans need to enact a new U.S. House map that could gain them five seats in the 2026 midterms. But how long can the absent Democrats stay away, since Gov. Greg Abbott can keep calling special sessions? And will Democrats really retaliate by redistricting California, New York or Illinois? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...

After fresh numbers show that hiring has substantially slowed, Donald Trump responds by firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accusing the agency of manipulating the figures to make him look bad. But denying negative economic news doesn't change reality, and the White House's newly unveiled list of reciprocal tariff rates isn't doing much for business certainty. Hosted by Simplecast,...

The Environmental Protection Agency moves to repeal the 2009 "endangerment" finding that underpins federal regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions as pollutants. Plus, the Energy Department releases a report that reviews the science of climate change, but with an emphasis on uncertainty, and without the catastrophic outlook that is now in common circulation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company...

The Federal Reserve chooses not to change interest rates despite calls from the Trump administration to cut them.  So how much will President Trump’s August. 1 deadline for reaching tariffs agreements contribute to the economy, which is growing slowly, but still confounding the experts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pe...

A top official at the Food and Drug Administration steps down after the agency changes course on a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. What does this episode say about the Trump Administration's approach toward drug development and innovation? Plus, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he plans to overhaul the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...

Donald Trump unveils trade agreements with the European Union and Japan that will set baseline tariffs at 15%, with promises that they'll also invest billions of dollars in the U.S., details unspecified. Yet the United Auto Workers warns that this could disadvantage U.S. carmakers, and the question now is whether more deals are coming before Trump's Aug. 1 deadline. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...

Polls give him so-so marks, especially on the issues of inflation and the economy that helped him win the Presidency a second time. The good news for the President is that Democrats are in worse shape. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Border czar Tom Homan and acting ICE director Todd Lyons say that masked immigration agents are merely trying to protect their identities from online “doxxing” efforts targeting them and their families. On the other hand, critics worry that routine masking of police will erode accountability and public confidence, as Democrats push for legislation to prohibit the practice. Hosted by Simplecast, an...

Mike Johnson adjourns the House for the summer to prevent a vote on releasing files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. How did the GOP get into this mess, and how can it get out? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.