Washington Week with The Atlantic

News and Public Affairs Series / 23 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: S2025 E21

26m 46s

'Politburo' hid Biden's decline, Tapper and Thompson say

12m 2s

Jake Tapper's and Alex Thompson's new book, "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," has enthralled Washington and much of the nation. They joined Jeffrey Goldberg to discuss the protective 'politburo' that they say hid Biden from his Cabinet, the press and the nation.

When Biden started showing signs of decline

11m 33s

Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, authors of "Original Sin," speak with Jeffrey Goldberg about when Joe Biden started showing signs of decline and how some behind the scenes were questioning his fitness to serve as president.

Trump resets U.S. foreign policy during Middle East visit

12m 25s

It was a homecoming of sorts for President Trump this week. After being welcomed in royal style by Gulf leaders, the president announced enormous deals and made dramatic new foreign policy decisions on the fly. The panel examines the president’s trip to the Middle East and what it tells us about America’s place in the world.

Is Trump turning Netanyahu into a sucker?

11m 13s

President Trump is seeking a new nuclear deal with Iran and engaging in transactional diplomacy with other Middle Eastern leaders. The panel discusses what Trump's shift means for Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel.

Trump's shifting policies prove to be a challenge

16m 30s

As the president prepares for the first major foreign trip of his second term, the panel assesses America’s ambiguous and contradictory role in conflict zones across the globe.

How will Trump coexist with Pope Leo on the world stage?

7m 22s

Among the people who must try to understand President Trump’s vision for the world is Pope Leo XIV. As best as we can tell, he doesn’t think like Trump on a huge range of issues. The panel discusses how the first American pope could get along with an American president not known for sharing the stage.

Mike Waltz becomes first casualty of Signalgate

12m 40s

President Trump is looking for a new national security adviser after pushing out Mike Waltz. It’s the first axe to fall after the moderator of this show reported he was mistakenly added to a Signal chat about military attack plans.

Judge criticizes Trump's deportation agenda as 'unlawful'

6m 11s

A Trump-appointed federal judge in Texas called the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act "unlawful." The panel discusses the pushback from this judge and others across the country that have ruled against Trump.

Trump's first 100 days and what comes next

11m 57s

If President Trump's goal is to exhaust everyone in his first 100 days, mission accomplished. It’s hard to reckon with how much has changed in the economy, in foreign relations and across the institutions that have made us a knowledge-based democracy. The panel discusses what Trump has accomplished and what he hopes to achieve.

What Trump said before his interview with The Atlantic

3m 29s

Jeffrey Goldberg, along with two colleagues from The Atlantic, interviewed President Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday. That interview will be part of a story that comes out on Monday on theatlantic.com. Goldberg and Ashley Parker discussed their meeting with Trump and what was said.

Trump's evolving views on ending the war in Ukraine

8m 16s

President Trump's views on ending the war in Ukraine have evolved. From saying he would end it on day one, to his Oval Office scolding of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and now his online plea of "Vladimir, STOP!" The panel discusses how far Putin can push Trump before he takes Ukraine's side.

Why Republicans in Congress won't stand up to Trump

9m 57s

Sen. Lisa Murkowski told voters in Alaska that she's anxious about using her voice in Washington "because retaliation is real." The panel discusses why Republicans are still afraid to stand up to President Trump.

What's next in Trump's battle with the courts

13m 39s

President Trump believes that the executive branch is first among equals, continuing his conflict with the judicial branch. The panel discusses his steps to exert power and influence.

In a battle of wills between Trump and Xi, who blinks first?

8m 13s

President Trump claims China will want to make a deal over tariffs, but Xi Jinping does not seem interested in doing so. The panel discusses what's happening and which leader blinks first.

What's next for Trump after triggering economic chaos?

15m 17s

Is there a method to the seeming madness we’ve all experienced this past week? Donald Trump, a famously transactional president, apparently believes quite deeply in something few economists believe, that high tariffs are the key to strengthening the American economy and society.

What's behind Trump's abrupt firing of NSA leadership?

12m 48s

President Trump is facing criticism after firing the head of the National Security Agency. Far-right activist Laura Loomer took credit for the firings on social media and said she discussed staff loyalty in an Oval Office meeting with Trump.

Is there a lesson for the press after Signal controversy?

14m 40s

The panel discusses if there's a lesson for the press after the Trump administration's response to Jeffrey Goldberg's report that he was added to a Signal chat with senior officials sharing classified information regarding military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.

Consequences of Trump administration's security breach

9m 2s

Despite the Trump administration’s enthusiastic efforts to deflect attention away from Signalgate and their extraordinary security breach, Senate leaders of both parties are calling for an investigation, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who first included Jeffrey Goldberg in the Signal group, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are facing calls to resign.

Why Elon Musk visited the Pentagon

6m 38s

Elon Musk visited the Pentagon on a day after reports he would be getting a briefing on potential U.S. war plans. President Trump denied the story and said Musk was there to discuss reducing costs.

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