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 E4

26m 46s

Will abortion rights be a factor in midterm elections?

12m 34s

The fallout from the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion on Roe v. Wade continued this week, with the issue likely to play a role in this year’s midterm elections. A vote in the Senate to protect abortion access failed, as demonstrators staged protests outside the homes of some Supreme Court justices. Meanwhile, the power of former President Trump's endorsement was seen in GOP primary races.

GOP seeks source of leak, Dems try to secure abortion rights

18m 48s

A leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion sent shockwaves across the nation this week with revelations that the majority of justices support overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark case that has federally protected a woman’s right to an abortion. Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed the authenticity of the text but said it is not final, while also announcing an investigation into the leak.

Trump's influence on display in key Republican primary races

4m 5s

Former President's Trump's impact on the Republican Party was highlighted this week as the primary election season began in Ohio and Indiana, where the majority of the candidates he supported scored victories in key races. Chief among the winners was Senate candidate JD Vance, an author and venture capitalist, who was once a Trump critic before turning into a vocal supporter.

'This Will Not Pass' uncovers new revelations about Jan. 6

14m 44s

The newly released book “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden and the Battle for America’s Future,” contains eye-opening findings on the actions of former President Trump, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and others, in the days surrounding Jan. 6. New York Times national political correspondents Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin, who co-authored the book, join Yamiche Alcindor to discuss.

Biden requests billions for Ukraine as Putin warns the West

13m 46s

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine now in its tenth week, Russian missiles struck Kyiv as the U.N. secretary general was visiting. That came amid fears the war could expand beyond Ukraine’s borders. Russian President Putin warned the West that any outside interference in the conflict would be met with a quick response, while President Biden asked Congress for $33 billion more in aid for Ukraine.

VP Harris catches COVID, Fauci walks back pandemic comments

6m 33s

COVID-19 struck deep within the White House this week when Vice President Kamala Harris's office announced that she had tested positive for the virus. The revelation came as Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, raised eyebrows when he told the PBS NewsHour Tuesday that the U.S. is now "out of the pandemic phase," a comment he later walked back.

Biden moves to end Title 42 amid backlash on Capitol Hill ov

3m 6s

President Biden is facing pressure from Republicans and Democrats over his repeal of a Trump-era immigration restriction known as Title 42. The policy has forced migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico because of health concerns during the pandemic. Now, the Department of Homeland Security is focusing on how to handle a likely influx of migrants if Title 42 is lifted.

After three months of war, what has Russia gained?

11m 50s

As the war in Ukraine enters its third month, we take a look at Putin’s claims of victory in Mariupol and how the U.S. is responding to the conflict. Join Yamiche, Dan Balz of the Washington Post, Laura Barrón-López of Politico and David Sanger of the New York Times as they discuss the latest developments.

How is the GOP reacting to the leaked McCarthy audio?

8m 1s

New audio obtained by the authors of a soon to be released book reveals that in the days after January 6th, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy considered asking former President Trump to resign, and told GOP lawmakers that Trump acknowledged bearing some responsibility for what happened.

The mask mandate for travel is over. Or is it?

4m 3s

After a federal judge overturned the federal mask mandate for air travel and public transportation, the Justice Department signaled they’d appeal to reinstate the rules. But how will the public react?

Biden takes message on the road as inflation hits new high

8m 21s

As inflation reached a new record high, President Biden traveled to Iowa and North Carolina to talk about what his administration is doing to address rising prices. Also, many Republicans are focusing their midterm election strategy on culture wars with issues like abortion, guns and medical care for young transgender people.

Putin warns the West on military aid to Ukraine

15m 26s

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is entering its eighth week as the fallout over the atrocities committed by Russian forces against civilians has reached new levels. President Biden for the first time this week called the actions of Russian President Putin “a genocide,” and announced an additional $800 million in military supplies to Ukraine, as Russia warns the West of “unpredictable consequences.”

Jan. 6 panel questions members of Trump's inner circle

14m 57s

The House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection has in recent weeks conducted interviews with several members of former President Trump's inner circle, including his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and top aide Stephen Miller. This comes as more Republicans are being tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Global outrage grows over Russian atrocities in Ukraine

14m

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is now entering its seventh week, as the world saw carnage and brutality unlike anything seen before in the conflict. Russia’s military withdrawal , from Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv, exposed atrocities against Ukraine’s civilians. President Biden this week introduced a new round of sanctions targeting Russian banks and elites, including President Putin’s daughters.

Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history on the Supreme Court

9m 23s

After a contentious confirmation hearing, Ketanji Brown Jackson made history this week as the first Black woman to ascend to the highest court in the land. Three Republicans joined 50 Democrats in voting to confirm Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. She celebrated her confirmation at the White House Friday with President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Republicans block COVID aid as cases rise in Washington

13m 36s

A number of high-profile leaders in Washington this week tested positive for COVID-19, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Sen. Susan Collins, and others. This comes as Senate Republicans blocked a $10 billion COVID aid bill over their desire to keep Trump-era border restrictions in place. Also, new revelations are discovered

What the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act does for civil rights

11m 37s

President Biden on Tuesday signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act into law. The law makes lynching a federal hate crime for the first time in U.S. history. The bill's named after Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy who was brutally murdered in 1955 by a group of white men in Mississippi. His mother's decision to have an open casket funeral for him made a huge impact on the civil rights fight.

A Look Inside Efforts to Overturn the 2020 Election

11m

This week, new reports emerged that Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, repeatedly pressed former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to pursue efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The panel also discusses the growing rift between former President Donald Trump and Republican congressman Mo Brooks.

President Biden's Challenges Here and Abroad

10m 46s

The Biden Administration warned this week the government is running out of critical money aimed at pandemic mitigation efforts. The panel discusses why billions of dollars meant to fight the pandemic was stripped from Congress’ funding bill.

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