Early Sunday morning, a gunman opened fire at a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, and it came just 1 year after a white gunman opened fired during a Bible study at a black church in Charleston, killing nine people. The shooting once again raises questions about gun violence and hate crimes.

One year ago, Donald Trump launched his unlikely campaign for the Republican nomination. Within weeks, he was leading the polls as the frontrunner, a position he would maintain until becoming the presumptive GOP nominee in May. "We’ll see how long he stays in," The Washington Post's Dan Balz said days after Trump entered the race with a speech that said Mexican immigrants are "rapists"

Less than three weeks after Hillary Clinton ended her 2008 presidential campaign, she stood on a stage with Barack Obama in Unity, New Hampshire, in an effort to bring the Democratic Party together after a bruising primary fight. Now, eight years later, Clinton once again wants to bring Democrats together after a long primary campaign. This time she came out on top.

Amid tensions over Syria and Ukraine, President Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet in New York during the United Nations General Assembly on September 28. Alexis Simendinger of RealClearPolitics explains the challenges the two sides face trying to find common ground on their profound differences. Plus, what led to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's downfall?

As the Iran nuclear deal survives a vote in Congress, Hillary Clinton gave a speech backing the deal and promising a reset the fractured U.S.-Israel relationship. Plus, how has Clinton's long-term strategy shifted from her first presidential campaign eight years ago. And Republican Rick Perry suspended his troubled second presidential campaign after week's of low fundraising. CNN's Jeff Zeleny r

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is expected to officially launch his presidential campaign this month, but several key Bush family supporters aren't sold yet. But at the White House, a new guest is already moving in, but it’s not who you would expect. A hawk has taken up residence on the White House grounds. And officials in Boston deal with a new terror threat.

How did the U.S. claim jurisdiction over a global soccer scandal? Carrie Johnson of NPR reports on the role of U.S. banks in the FIFA investigation. Plus, John Harwood of CNBC and The New York Times gives a behind-the-scenes look into Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. And CNBC and Slate Magazine's John Dickerson previews what's to come come as he becomes the new host of “Face the Nation.”

The Pentagon recently ended its suicide prevention program, Vets4Warriors. Yochi Dreazen reports on why the program, which has assisted hundreds of thousands of veterans, is at risk. Dan Balz explains the role super PACs will play in the primary elections. Plus, why no one should underestimate certain 2016 "underdogs" and a report on the state of the infrastructure bill in Congress.

Our panelists have covered their fair share of conventions. Between the 2012 Republican and Democratic National Conventions, we asked them which was their most memorable convention. John Harwood, of CNBC and the New York Times, tells us why the 1988 Republican National Convention, with George H.W. Bush announcing Dan Quayle as his running mate made it one of the more dramatic conventions.

Our panelists have covered their fair share of conventions and we asked them which was their most memorable convention. Alexis Simendinger, of Real Clear Politics, tells us why the 1992 Democratic National Convention is her favorite. From Bill Clinton to Ross Perot, she shares the highlights from the convention in New York City.

Gwen Ifill hosts an immigration electronic town hall with PBS Stations in Arizona and California.

What is the Obama doctrine? Coming into office facing two wars, President Obama has embraced covert programs and new technologies that allow his administration to wage secret wars. Get "The Backstory" from David Sanger, The New York Times, on the secret cyber-war the U.S. and Israel are waging against Iran, how the president handled the Arab Spring and how Obama’s foreign policy has changed.

As Wisconsin voters get ready to vote in the recall election of Republican Governor Scott Walker, a look back at how the issue of collective bargaining for public workers sparked outrage in the state. Those embers ignited a divisive electorate 16-months later. Joining Gwen: Martha Raddatz, ABC News; Major Garrett, National Journal; Karen Tumulty, Washington Post; Pete Williams, NBC News.

Britain's Supreme Court wants to deport Wikileak founder Julian Assange to Sweden to face sex-crime allegations. Assange is also facing espionage charges in the U.S. for publishing hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. military and diplomatic documents. The case against Assange from the Vault with Gwen Ifill, Karen Tumulty, Washington Post; Pete Williams, NBC News; and Martha Raddatz, ABC News.

What's it like to be a reporter covering a president who's also running for re-election? Gwen Ifill gets "The Backstory" from Peter Baker of The New York Times who explains what it's like traveling on on Air Force One with President Obama, the time pressures and fine line between official duties and campaigning.

The 2008 financial crisis and bank bailouts have undoubtedly shaped the current economy and the politics leading to the 2012 Presidential election. How did the 2008 presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama approach these subjects in their campaigns? Joining Gwen: Jeff Zeleny, New York Times; Charles Babington, Associated Press; John Dickerson, Slate/CBS News; Jeanne Cummings, Politico.

After President Obama voiced his support for same-sex marriage last week, it has increasingly become a topic in the 2012 presidential election. In 2004 Congress considered a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. Joining Gwen: Karen Tumulty, Time Magazine; Gebe Martinez, The Houston Chronicle, Anne Kornblut, The Boston Globe; Ceci Connolly, The Washington Post.

Martha Raddatz, ABC News Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent, recalls a personal conversation with her son on the night Osama bin Laden was killed. She also discusses how September 11th changed Americans and changed journalism in Washington Week's "The Backstory."

America post-9/11 has seen an unprecedented claim of presidential power. Military and intelligence elements have taken greater steps to strike potential national security threats. But are counterterrorism excesses eroding our civil liberties? Award-winning national security correspondent James Kitfield of National Journal analyzes one year after Osama Bin Laden's death.

Why aren't video cameras allowed in Supreme Court hearings? Would they change the outcome of the case or the way the public sees the court? In the week following the oral arguments on the Affordable Care Act, Gwen got the Backstory from Pete Williams of NBC News and Joan Biskupic of Reuters.