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

RNC meets in Florida and the Sanders movement

7m 21s

On the Webcast, Dan Balz returns from the RNC meeting in Florida to report on Republican preparations for an open convention in July. Plus, Doyle McManus answers the question "What's next for Bernie Sanders and his movement?" as he continues to fight for the Democratic nomination. And remembering music icon Prince who died this week at 57.

New York state of mind: Clinton, Sanders debate in Brooklyn

23m 51s

With days until the New York presidential primary, the 2016 race has descended on the Empire State. Democrats Clinton and Sanders, who both have New York roots, faced off in their most contentious debate -- arguing about gun control, the minimum wage and Wall Street. GOP frontrunner Trump holds a significant lead in his home state, but he says the RNC delegate system is "rigged."

States selecting RNC delegates, a woman on the $10 bill

11m 32s

A report on meetings happening across state parties to pick delegates to attend the Republican National Convention. While Donald Trump has won some state popular votes, Ted Cruz is setting himself up for second ballot success with many Cruz supporters in Trump uniforms. And why the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" may be slowing progress of updating the $10 bill with a woman's portrait.

LGBT rights in the states & Sanders' Political Revolution

11m 11s

North Carolina and Mississippi are the latest states to adopt controversial LGBT laws, leading to backlash from the business community. The Washington Post's Karen Tumulty explains the legislation and its impact on the presidential campaign. Bill Clinton, campaigning for his wife in New York, faced Black Lives Matters protesters upset with a crime bill passed during his presidency.

Sanders takes on Clinton in NY and down-ballot concerns

23m 51s

As the 2016 race shifts to New York, Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have their most contentious week yet as the two debate who is more "qualified" to be president. On the Republican side, Donald Trump is hoping to rebound after a double-digit loss to Ted Cruz in Wisconsin.

Nuclear Summit in Washington and Pledged vs. Super Delegates

9m 35s

Over 50 world leaders gathered in Washington to discuss nuclear security, but The New York Times' David Sanger calls the meeting more of a "bookend than a success" for the Obama administration. Plus CNN's Jeff Zeleny explains the Democratic delegate process full of pledged and super delegates.

Trump's Republican bona fides, Sanders & Clinton trade jabs

23m 52s

Republican frontrunner Donald Trump was the driving force in the presidential race this week, facing criticism for comments on abortion, foreign policy and nuclear weapons. Will his latest comments slow his momentum ahead of the Wisconsin primary? In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton traded attacks on campaign financing, trade and abortion.

Terror attack in Brussels, Obama's historic trip to Cuba

23m 49s

After a series of terror attacks in Brussels killed more than 30 people, including two Americans, the United States has renewed its fight against Islamic State militants. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that a special operations team killed ISIS' second-in-command in a raid this week.

Ryan pleads for civility, candidates wives take center stage

8m 5s

House Speaker Paul Ryan delivered a plea for civility in the 2016 race this week, but did not mention frontrunner Donald Trump by name, demonstrating the reservation by Republican leaders in Washington to directly take him on. Meanwhile, the war of words between Trump and Ted Cruz escalated again this week when the candidates wives took center stage.

Showdown over Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland

21m 14s

President Obama nominated Federal Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant after the death of Antonin Scalia last month, but Senate Republicans have vowed not to hold hearings or vote on his nomination. NBC's Pete Williams examines Garland's background and the potential ideological shift on the Court.

Obama's historic trip to Cuba

6m 47s

President Obama visits Cuba next week for the first time since the U.S. restored diplomatic relations with the island nation. Obama will be the first president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge in 1928. The New York Times' Peter Baker says this is one of the last big bucket list items for Obama.

Republican Race Turns Civil Ahead of Florida and Ohio

21m 13s

Republicans debated in Florida ahead of the state's winner-take-all primary next week. Debates have become raucous events for the GOP, but the policy-focused debate led Republican frontrunner Donald Trump to call the debate "civil." With over 300 delegates at stake on Tuesday, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich face crucial home state tests of their viability.

Remembering Nancy Reagan

8m 28s

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan was remembered today during a funeral service at Ronald Reagan's Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Reagan, who died last week at 94, was a true partner for her husband during his administration and the final years of the Cold War. Meanwhile, the Republican candidates are trying to carry the Reagan legacy in this year's presidential election.

Can establishment Republicans stop Donald Trump?

21m 26s

Donald Trump racked up seven wins on Super Tuesday and holds a 100 delegate lead over Ted Cruz which has establishment Republicans worried about his frontrunner status. Joined by 2008 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, Cruz and Marco Rubio have launched sustained attacks of Trump's conservative credentials and record. At times, the Republican race took a decidedly personal -- and anatomical -- turn.

Can Bernie Sanders stop Hillary Clinton?

12m 24s

As Hillary Clinton begins to shift her attention to a general election strategy, Bernie Sanders turns up the attacks on the Democratic frontrunner -- hoping to slow her momentum out of Super Tuesday. Sanders has struggled to win the support of minority voters, and as the race shifts to more industrial Northern states, can he gain their support? Or is Clinton's delegate lead insurmountable?

Trump, Rubio, Cruz battle ahead of Super Tuesday

23m 59s

The day after the final Republican debate before Super Tuesday, presidential frontrunner Donald Trump unveiled the endorsement of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio is ramping up his attacks on Trump, labeling the billionaire businessman a "con artist." Voters in 12 states head to the polls on Tuesday, and half the delegates needed for the GOP nomination are up for grabs.

Kasich, Carson try to break through, Graham criticizes GOP

8m 31s

Republican presidential candidates John Kasich and Ben Carson had trouble breaking through in the final GOP debate before Super Tuesday. Can either of them find a path to the nomination? Plus, former candidate Lindsey Graham had harsh words for his former rivals and the Republican Party, saying the GOP is "bats--t crazy." Can the dysfunction in Washington be fixed after the November elections?

The Fight to Replace Antonin Scalia at the Supreme Court

24m 2s

The sudden death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia threw the government and the 2016 campaign trail into an uproar this week. Senate Republicans immediately vowed to block any nomination put forward by President Obama to succeed the conservative justice. Republicans hoping to succeed the president are hoping to turn November's election into a referendum on the Court.

Antonin Scalia: American Original

11m 15s

On the Webcast Extra, long-time Supreme Court reporter Joan Biskupic tells stories of Antonin Scalia, the man who she literally wrote the book on. And as the fight to nominate Scalia's successor picks up, talk about a potential "sacrificial" nominee has picked up because Republicans have vowed to block anyone nominated by Obama.

Washington Week in Milwaukee: Democratic Debate Analysis

23m 36s

Just 24 hours after Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders squared off in their sixth debate, we examine the state of the 2016 presidential campaign from the site of the PBS NewsHour debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After a double-digit loss in New Hampshire, the former secretary of state is aiming to blunt Sanders' momentum.

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