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 E20

26m 45s

Health care policy, politics and consequences

S2017 E53 / 24m 19s

What is the state of health care in America? The Affordable Care Act has been law for seven years, but with 22 million people still uninsured and costs rising, how should lawmakers revise the health care system? We discuss the current health care situation and the plan being considered by Republicans in the Senate.

Senate Republicans debate Obamacare replacement bill

S2017 E52 / 25m 4s

Senate Republicans unveiled their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Five GOP lawmakers said almost immediately that they could not support the current bill. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to vote on the plan before the July 4th recess. What's in the bill? And can Republican find common ground to get 50 votes?

Calls for unity in the aftermath of Congressional shooting

S2017 E51 / 25m 3s

Republicans and Democrats came together for a moment of bipartisan unity after Rep. Steve Scalise was critically wounded in a shooting at a Congressional baseball practice. Moments like this are a test of leadership and civility for elected officials that so often retreat to partisan corners. But the united moment doesn't remove the very serious divides officials have on issues like health care.

War of Words: Trump and Comey accuse each other of lying

S2017 E50 / 22m 23s

Fired FBI Director James Comey accused President Trump of telling “lies, plain and simple” during testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Trump responded by calling Comey a “leaker” and denied any collusion between his campaign and Russia. The president said he would “100 percent” talk to special counsel Robert Mueller under oath. How did the relationship devolve to this point?

U.S. will withdraw from Paris climate change agreement

S2017 E49 / 22m 28s

President Trump announced that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate accord, the historic 2015 agreement that commits nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and seek to renegotiate a new deal that's "fair" for the American people. Global leaders called the move a mistake, and Trump's decision is raising questions about the U.S. role on the world stage.

Russian investigation reaches Trump’s inner circle

S2017 E48 / 25m 4s

The federal investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election reached President Trump’s innermost circle. Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner is a focus of federal investigations and officials believe he has information relevant to the probe. The cloud of the Russia investigations followed the president as he traveled on his first foreign trip.

New bombshells in Russia investigations

S2017 E47 / 24m 59s

As the president was the leaving the country on his first foreign trip, new reports were surfacing on the investigation into Russian meddling in the election and Trump's firing of the FBI director. One White House official is reportedly under investigation for ties to Russia, and Trump told Russia officials that ousted FBI Director James Comey is a "nut job."

The fallout from President Trump firing the FBI director

S2017 E46 / 24m 58s

In the days since President Trump abruptly fired FBI Director James Comey, the White House has offered many shifting reasons behind the dismissal. The big question that lawmakers are trying to figure out is how Comey's firing will impact the ongoing investigations into Russia's meddling in last year's presidential election.

Republicans revive health care reform

S2017 E45 / 25m 9s

Republicans in the House performed life-saving measures to revive their long-promised plan to replace Obamacare weeks after their original replacement bill fell short. The recrafted measure is likely to encounter hurdles when it is debated by the Senate, but President Trump counted the bill as a win and a fulfillment of a key campaign promise.

Donald Trump's first 100 days

S2017 E44 / 24m 59s

President Trump is reaching the end of his first 100 days in office. The president is learning on the job that governing isn't as easy as he thought it would be. The White House spent the week scrambling for last-minute executive action on trade and tax reform, but Congress is continuing to debate the future of health care.

President Trump's domestic agenda as 100-day mark approaches

S2017 E43 / 25m

President Trump is nearing the 100-day mark of his presidency and Congress is set to return from a two-week recess. On the agenda: a return to health care reform, averting a government shutdown and tax reform. Plus, what can Republicans and Democrats learn from special elections before the 2018 midterm elections? And Trump's foreign policy continues to take shape in his first months in office.

Dramatic shifts in the Trump Doctrine

S2017 E42 / 24m 59s

After campaigning on isolationism and populism, President Trump took surprisingly conventional stances on Russia, NATO and China this week. He said that NATO was "no longer obsolete" and that relations with Russia had potentially hit an all-time low. The president also told the Wall Street Journal that he would not be labeling China a currency manipulator, as he promised during the campaign.

Do strikes in Syria mark change in Trump foreign policy?

S2017 E41 / 25m 4s

Less than 100 days in office, President Trump is facing one the most significant test of his leadership so far. Trump ordered a missile strike against targets in Syria in response to a chemical attack on civilians. It’s the latest in a series of national security challenges this week including missile tests in North Korea. How is the new president being tested?

Mike Flynn seeks immunity as Russia investigations continue

S2017 E40 / 25m 4s

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn is willing to testify about the Trump campaign’s connection to Russia in exchange for immunity. So far there are no takers, but the Senate Intelligence Committee held its first public hearing about Russian meddling in the U.S. election. The House investigation is stalled after new questions about the source of information for the Republican chairman.

Health care reform indefinitely on hold

S2017 E39 / 25m 4s

President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the Republican health care reform bill from the House floor Friday after it became clear it did not have the votes to pass. Moments after the decision, Trump told The Washington Post's Robert Costa that he is open to a bipartisan deal in the future.

Defiant Trump defends unsubstantiated claims of wiretapping

S2017 E38 / 22m 28s

The Trump administration is aggressively defending the president's claim the Obama administration tapped his phones during the 2016 election, but the bipartisan leaders of the Congressional intelligence committees say there is no evidence. Plus, Trump proposed his budget plan that dramatically increases funding for the military and slashes funding for domestic programs.

Trump tries to sell wary Republicans on health care

S2017 E37 / 22m 8s

House Republicans unveiled their long-promised plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, but the bill faces growing opposition from Democrats and Republicans as well as health care stakeholders. President Trump placed his weight fully behind the bill and tried to convince wary Republicans to support their campaign promise. Meanwhile, Trump accused his predecessor of wiretapping his campaign.

AG Sessions under fire amid new questions about Russia

S2017 E36 / 22m 5s

Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from any investigation into Russia's communication with Trump campaign officials during the 2016 election. Sessions had two conversations with Russia's ambassador last year, which he did not disclose in his confirmation hearing. Can the White House turn the page from the ongoing questions about Russia meddling in the election?

Is President Trump redefining the Republican Party?

S2017 E35 / 24m 42s

President Trump riled up conservative voters in a fiery speech at CPAC Friday where he took on his favorite foil -- the press. After one month in the Oval Office, is Trump changing the core of the Republican Party? All week long Republican lawmakers have seen voter frustration up close in boisterous town hall meetings across the country.

President Trump defends administration from Russia concerns

S2017 E34 / 24m 41s

In a 77-minute press conference, President Trump defended his administration's accomplishments and shifted blame for its shortcomings just one month after taking the oath of office. His first solo news conference came just days after his national security adviser was asked to resign and new questions were raised about his campaign and administration's contact with Russian officials.

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