Washington Week with The Atlantic

News and Public Affairs Series / 22 Seasons

Washington Week with The Atlantic is the longest-running primetime news and public affairs program on television. The show features a group of journalists participating in a roundtable discussion of major news events and can be found at 8pm ET on most local PBS stations.

Watch Latest: S2024 E47

26m 46s

Trump faces new legal challenges and Republicans criticisms

8m 4s

President Trump faced another week of legal challenges after his real estate company was found guilty of tax fraud, more classified documents were discovered in a Florida facility he used, and the Jan. 6 committee indicated it would send a criminal referral for him to the Department of Justice. Trump was also the target of GOP criticisms for comments he made about suspending the Constitution.

McCarthy struggles to secure votes to become speaker

17m 11s

House Democrats celebrated this week as they elected a new and younger leadership team. Meanwhile, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is expected to be the next Speaker of the House, but he has yet to secure the votes needed to be elected to the position as some hardliners in the Freedom Caucus continue to withhold their support.

Jan. 6 committee could soon announce criminal referrals

3m 57s

With only weeks left to complete their work and before Democrats lose power in the House, the January 6 committee met to discuss whether to make criminal referrals to the Justice Department. Members say the probe’s final report will be released later this month. Plus, the founder of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, was found guilty of seditious conspiracy for his role in the Capitol attack.

Did anti-LGBTQ rhetoric motivate Colorado Springs shooter?

11m 2s

In Colorado Springs, a gunman opened fire inside an LGBTQ nightclub long considered to be a safe space for the community within the historically conservative city. The panel discusses if recent anti-LGBTQ rhetoric may have motivated the deadly mass shooting.

Some Republicans speak out against Trump's role in the GOP

9m 50s

A rift is growing among Republicans over the party’s current and future leaders. This week, prominent members of the GOP called on the party to put former President Trump behind them after multiple election losses. Still, Trump remains popular among many in the base which will be critical to winning the presidential nomination.

Why the red wave fell flat

11m 24s

While it’s still unclear at this time which party will control the House or the Senate, what is certain is that the Republican red wave simply did not happen. The panel discusses why it fell flat and what it means for the Biden administration's agenda for the next two years.

How midterms impact Trump's plan to launch campaign

11m 28s

Former President Trump is widely expected to announce another run for the White House next week. But some Republicans are openly criticizing him after the GOP's performance in the midterms. Plus, President Biden has also signaled he intends to run but has left the door open that, perhaps, he may not. The panel discusses the questions swirling within both parties about the future.

Pelosi attack highlights concerns over political violence

11m 6s

The brutal attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband comes as threats to American lawmakers are at an all-time high. The incident highlights recent concerns over political violence in the years following the January 6 attack on the Capitol.

Republicans, Democrats focus on economy in final days

12m 19s

With less than two weeks until Election Day, President Biden and Democrats are telling voters if the GOP takes control of Congress, the threat of government shutdowns, defaults and other cuts will create economic chaos. But Republicans are arguing they are best qualified to get the economy back on track and are confident a red wave is coming.

Do Democrats have any hope of holding onto Congress?

6m 45s

The midterm election is just 18 days away and Republicans are feeling confident about their chances of winning control of the House and the Senate. Democrats had been hoping they could hold onto power, but gas prices and inflation are on the rise again and back at top of voter concerns.

Midterm candidates meet face-to-face before Election Day

16m 18s

This election season has been notable for the limited number of debates, but several candidates in key races went face-to-face this week. The panel analyzes the performances as midterm candidates clashed over guns, abortion and the future of democracy.

Biden says nuclear risk at highest level since in decades

4m 51s

President Biden says because of Russia’s recent military setbacks in Ukraine and threats by Vladimir Putin, the global nuclear risk is at a level not seen in decades.

Will abortion allegations impact Senate race in Georgia?

11m 9s

The midterm election is just a month away and several key Senate races are heating up. In Georgia, Republican Herschel Walker is facing accusations of hypocrisy after the alleged mother of one of his children says he paid for her to have an abortion in 2009. Plus, Republicans are stepping up their claims that the Democrats are to blame for spikes in crime.

Analyzing the first week of the new Supreme Court term

6m 51s

The U.S. Supreme Court term is underway with oral arguments in an Alabama redistricting case that challenges the state’s new congressional map as it dilutes Black voter strength. It also marked the debut of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the court.

Biden, DeSantis put feud on hold for hurricane response

7m 54s

Political feuds are put aside to coordinate the response to Hurricane Ian. But with the midterm elections less than six weeks away, the flow of negative political ads continues to air in Florida.

How can world leaders respond to Putin's nuclear threat?

5m 43s

President Biden deals with a dangerous situation abroad as Russian President Putin annexes Ukrainian territory and says he will defend the region with the veiled threat of nuclear force.

Will Ginni Thomas' Jan. 6 testimony make an impact?

8m 57s

The committee investigating the January 6 attack continues its work as Ginni Thomas, right-wing activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, testifies behind closed doors. The committee was also given a video of Trump ally Roger Stone advocating for political violence and sharing his plan to overturn the presidential election results.

How Western aid to Ukraine pushed Putin to desperate moves

8m 34s

Russian President Putin responded to the success of Ukraine’s counter-offensive by calling up 300,000 reservists, ordering a referendum on joining Russia in four occupied regions, and threatening a nuclear response if Ukraine’s advance continues. At the United Nations, President Biden rebuked Putin by name and called out Russia’s “outrageous acts” and shameless violation of the U.N. charter.

Can Trump survive investigations as trouble accumulates?

14m 25s

Former President Donald Trump had to endure a week of legal blows. The New York attorney general announced the state is suing Trump and his children for fraud, an appeals court ruled the Justice Department can resume reviewing classified documents seized from his home and the special master appointed to review the files gave Trump a deadline to back up his claim that the FBI planted evidence.

Subpoenas reveal new insight into Jan. 6 investigation

12m 10s

Subpoenas issued by the Department of Justice provide new insight into the scope of its investigation into the efforts former President Trump and his allies took to overturn the 2020 election and their involvement in the Capitol attack. Plus, the Secret Service hands over thousands of records in response to a subpoena from the House committee investigating January 6.

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