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 E45

26m 46s

The debate over transparency on the campaign trail

23m 27s

After building his political brand questioning President Obama's birth certificate, Donald Trump declared Friday that Obama was "born in the United States." The new position came during a week when both presidential candidates faced questions of transparency. After Clinton was diagnosed with pneumonia, she and Trump released new details about their health.

Michelle Obama hits the campaign trail

9m 18s

First Lady Michelle Obama campaigned for Hillary Clinton in battleground Virginia on Friday, proving to be an effective surrogate for her husband's former secretary of state. Meanwhile, both Clinton and Donald Trump answered questions about their health this week, but a candidate's health is often a determination of their fitness to serve as president.

Washington Week Extra: Colorado Edition - Swing-State Issues

24m 51s

Less than two months until voters head to the polls, what are the concerns on the minds of swing-state voters in Colorado? We're on the ground in Colorado Springs -- site of the U.S. Air Force Academy -- to find out. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each proposed solutions for the heavily bureaucratic Veterans Administration this week.

Washington Week in Colorado: Trump, Clinton & Nat'l Security

23m 28s

Labor Day has come and gone, and the general election is in full swing. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump debated who would be a better commander in chief. In a back-to-back forum, the candidates discussed their plans for national security and attacked each other. They presented almost completely contrasting views on the military and veterans, and voters were able to directly compare them.

Rick Perry joins "Dancing with the Stars"

7m 23s

Two-time presidential candidate and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has joined the cast of the upcoming season of "Dancing with the Stars" in an effort to promote veterans' issues. Perry, who will compete against Olympians and actors, has reportedly only danced four times in public and is not that good. GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida have survived primary challenges.

Trump visits Mexico & doubles down on immigration plan

20m 52s

Trump once again stole the campaign spotlight as he flew to Mexico for a meeting with President Enrique Peña Nieto hours before delivering a hard-line immigration speech. Trump reitered his plan to have Mexico pay for a wall on the southern border, but Peña Nieto said he told Trump it won't happen. Clinton spent much of the week off the campaign trail raising money for a record-setting August.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton trade accusations of racism

20m 53s

The presidential race got personal this week as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton exchanged insults. In an attempt to reach out to minority voters, Trump labeled Clinton a "bigot," while she shot back with some of his own past controversial statements. The Republican nominee also "softened" his immigration proposals including his plan for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Trump and Clinton look ahead to debates

9m 57s

The first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is just one month away, and both candidates have begun to prep. While Clinton's campaign sticks to a more traditional approach, Trump has reportedly abandoned past examples as he prepares to debate his Democratic rival.

Trump shakes up campaign staff and expresses "regret"

23m 28s

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced a major campaign shakeup as campaign chair Paul Manafort resigned and Breitbart's Steve Bannon and GOP pollster Kellyanne Conway stepped in. Trump also changed up his campaign tone by expressing "regret for some of his past statements. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton faced new questions about her private email server and her family's foundation.

Trump's link to Seinfeld & Bill Clinton's role as First Dude

11m 34s

If Hillary Clinton takes the White House next year, Bill Clinton will become the first "First Dude." His role would be different than past first ladies, and there is discussion he may take charge of the economy. And how is Trump's new chief executive connected to 90s TV sitcom "Seinfield"? Bloomberg Businessweek's John Green has the scoop on Stephen Bannon.

Donald Trump's meltdown and the debate over debates

8m 10s

TIME Magazine detailed Donald Trump's campaign troubles this week with a cover story called simply "Meltdown." Washington Bureau Chief Michael Scherer explains the choice. Plus, with a little more than a month before the presidential debates begin, Donald Trump has yet to say whether he'll participate. His concerns include potential moderators.

GOP leaders concerned about Trump; Clinton's polling bounce

23m 27s

Republican Party leaders are growing increasingly concerned about Donald Trump's ability to win the White House after a difficult week for his campaign and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton with a lead in most national polls. Trump's week has included a series of missteps that include an ongoing feud with a Gold Star family and suggesting the November election will be rigged.

Battle of the veeps and Donald Trump one-on-one

8m 54s

While Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton battle for the presidency, their vice presidential picks are displaying a different style on the campaign trail. Also this week, tea party Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas lost his reelection fight. Plus, The Washington Post's Phil Rucker shares behind-the-scenes details of his nearly hour-long conversation with GOP nominee Donald Trump.

Hillary Clinton makes history as Democratic nominee

23m 29s

Hillary Clinton declared a "moment of reckoning" for America when she became the first woman to accept the Democratic nomination for president, effectively kicking off the general election campaign. And the slickly-produced Democratic Convention speakers tried to undercut Republican nominee Donald Trump's credibility with voters.

Unseen convention moments & Donald Trump grabs headlines

8m 3s

Our panelists return from two weeks of political conventions to share the most memorable moments and behind-the-scenes things you only see at the conventions. From Michelle Obama's emotional speech to Joe Biden's indictment of Donald Trump, Democrats put together "compelling television," says The Wall Street Journal's Jeanne Cummings.

Washington Week in Philadelphia: RNC ends, DNC set to begin

23m 1s

The Republican National Convention ended with Donald Trump accepting the Republican Party's nomination for president, but was Trump able to successfully reframe his message to broaden his appeal before the general election? Meanwhile, the Democrats are preparing for their nominating convention in Philadelphia, and nominee-to-be Hillary Clinton makes her VP pick.

Washington Week Extra: Philadelphia Edition

24m 51s

Attention shifts from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland to Philadelphia, where Democrats will meet to officially nominate Hillary Clinton as their presidential candidate next week. Washington Week is on the ground in the city of brotherly love to hear what voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania care about in the 2016 election.

Washington Week in Cleveland: Trump picks Pence before RNC

23m 2s

The 2016 campaign has once again shifted to threat of terrorism and how the candidates respond to a major attack. Just days before the Republican National Convention meets in Cleveland to officially nominate Donald Trump as the GOP nominee, Trump announced Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice presidential running mate. And Hillary Clinton won the endorsement of her one-time rival Bernie Sanders.

Washington Week Extra: Cleveland Edition - What voters say

24m 54s

Days before the Republican National Convention begins in Cleveland, Washington Week is on the ground to hear what voters in the battleground state of Ohio care about in the 2016 election. From third-party candidates to drug addition to media accountability, voters in the Buckeye State turn the table on our Washington Week regulars.

Fatal police shootings, FBI closes Clinton email probe

23m 33s

Five police officers were killed in a sniper attack in Dallas during a protest following two police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana this week, and political leaders were once again trying to respond to the tragedy. But action in Congress remains unlikely. Plus, FBI Director James Comey recommended no charges for Hillary Clinton in use of a private email server.

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