Washington Week (video) | PBS
277 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★ - 237 ratingsFor 50 years, Washington Week has been the most intelligent and up to date conversation about the most important news stories of the week. Washington Week is the longest-running news and public affairs program on PBS and features journalists -- not pundits -- lending insight and perspective to the week's important news stories.
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Episodes
“The Man Who Ran Washington” by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser
October 03, 2020 01:35 - 932 MB VideoPeter Baker discusses his latest book “The Man Who Ran Washington,” which chronicles the life of former White House chief of staff and Secretary of State James Baker.
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “The Man Who Ran Washington” by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser
October 03, 2020 01:35 - 932 MB VideoPeter Baker discusses his latest book “The Man Who Ran Washington,” which chronicles the life of former White House chief of staff and Secretary of State James Baker.
President Trump tests positive for COVID-19
October 03, 2020 01:28 - 1.8 GB VideoPresident Trump has been taken to Walter Reed Medical Center after testing positive for COVID-19. The panel discussed the implications of this development on national security and the election.
Nina Totenberg remembers Justice Ginsburg’s fight for gender equality
September 26, 2020 01:29 - 776 MB Video“She quite simply changed the way the world is for American women and I simply would not be here today in the job that I have if it had not been for her,” Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg told Washington Week. Totenberg remembered her 48-year friendship with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and discussed the Supreme Court justice’s life and legacy.
The Senate prepares for a confirmation fight as the nation remembers Justice Ginsburg
September 26, 2020 01:23 - 1.82 GB VideoWashington Week remembers Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and discusses the implications of a confirmation fight just weeks before the 2020 election. And President Trump prepares to announce his selection to fill Ginsburg’s seat.
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “Rage” by Bob Woodward
September 19, 2020 01:09 - 1.32 GB VideoLegendary Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward of The Washington Post discusses his new book “Rage.” The book chronicles the Trump presidency behind the scenes, including revelations from over a dozen conversations between Woodward and President Trump, in which the president assessed the COVID-19 pandemic differently in private than he did in publicly informing the American people.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Legacy
September 19, 2020 01:02 - 1.82 GB VideoSupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died Friday at age 87 after battling pancreatic cancer. The panel discussed Justice Ginsburg’s legacy and the consequences her death may have for the 2020 presidential election, as well as previewing a potential battle over a future Supreme Court nominee. Bob Woodward, author of the new book “Rage,” also discussed previously unreleased audio of President Trump assessing his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “Donald Trump v. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President"
September 12, 2020 01:58 - 1.35 GB VideoPulitzer-prize winning reporter Michael Schmidt of The New York Times discusses his latest book “Donald Trump v. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President,” a fascinating and detailed account of the White House during Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. The book looks focuses on two key players: former FBI Director James Comey, and former White House Counsel Don McGahn. This is part of our ongoing Washington Week Bookshelf series.
What the President Knew
September 12, 2020 01:54 - 1.82 GB VideoThe panel discussed the how the bombshell revelations in “Rage,” Bob Woodward’s new book about the Trump administration, will affect the 2020 campaign. President Trump told Woodward in February that COVID-19 is more deadly than the flu but has publicly downplayed the seriousness of the virus.
What does Joe Kennedy’s loss in Massachusetts mean for American politics?
September 05, 2020 01:27 - 1.28 GB VideoProgressive Senator Edward J. Markey held off a primary challenge from Congressman Joe Kennedy in Massachusetts. But does this race serve as a bellwether for the Democratic Party? And have we seen the last of the Kennedy family in American politics? The panel also discussed President Trump’s amplification of conspiracy theories.
American Carnage and American Character
September 05, 2020 01:14 - 1.64 GB VideoDemocratic nominee Joe Biden and President Trump visited Kenosha, Wisconsin this week after protests and violence roiled the quiet Midwest city in an important swing state. And President Trump responded to reporting from The Atlantic that he called Americans who died in combat “losers” and “suckers.” The panel discussed the latest from Washington and the campaign trail.
Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in the race of a lifetime
August 29, 2020 01:10 - 997 MB VideoThere are just 67 days until the presidential election. The panel discussed what comes next in the race for the White House. Amna Nawaz guest hosts.
What you need to know about the Republican National Convention
August 29, 2020 01:05 - 1.63 GB VideoRepublicans wrapped their unconventional convention on Thursday, with President Trump pummeling Democrats and presenting himself as the defender of American values. The panel discussed how the convention shattered long-standing norms, as the president used the White House as a political stage. And protests unfolded in Kenosha, WI and around the country after the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Amna Nawaz guest hosts.
What you need to know about the Democratic National Convention
August 22, 2020 01:23The conversation continues on the Washington Week Extra. The panel discussed the major moments of the convention, Michelle Obama’s speech and more.
Joe Biden makes his case against President Trump at the DNC
August 22, 2020 01:10This week’s Democratic National Convention revealed a party united against President Trump. The bitter primary fights from months ago seemed like ancient history, as Democrats made the case that President Trump poses a threat to American democracy. This week the panel discussed the latest from the Democratic National Convention and hearings on Capitol Hill about President Trump’s attack on the Post Office.
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump"
August 15, 2020 01:46Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mary Jordan discusses her newest books “The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump” and “Trump on Trial: the Investigation, Impeachment, Acquittal and Aftermath.”
Kamala Harris takes on President Trump
August 15, 2020 01:46Joe Biden’s search for a running mate ended this week with a history-making pick: Senator Kamala Harris of California. The panel discussed Harris’s record as a senator and California Attorney General as well as President Trump’s attacks on the US Postal Service.
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “To Start a War” by Robert Draper
August 08, 2020 01:11On the Washington Week Extra, New York Times Magazine writer at large and National Geographic contributing writer Robert Draper discusses his latest book, "To Start a War: How the Bush Administration Took America into Iraq.”
The Washington Week Bookshelf: "To Start a War: How the Bush Administration Took America into Iraq"
August 08, 2020 01:11On the Washington Week Extra, New York Times Magazine writer at large and National Geographic contributing writer Robert Draper discusses his latest book, "To Start a War: How the Bush Administration Took America into Iraq.”
President Trump defends his administration’s COVID-19 response
August 08, 2020 00:58President Trump has been eager to project optimism about the COVID-19 pandemic but has faced scrutiny from reporters. In an interview aired this week with Jonathan Swan of Axios, the president responded to rises in death rates by saying “it is what it is,” while insisting the White House is doing everything it can to combat the virus. Meanwhile, in Congress, Democrats and the White House could not agree to a new round of stimulus or an expansion of the $600 supplement to unemployed Americans ...
“The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency”
August 01, 2020 01:51On the Washington Week Extra, 60 Minutes Correspondent John Dickerson discusses his latest book, “The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency.”
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency”
August 01, 2020 01:51On the Washington Week Extra, 60 Minutes Correspondent John Dickerson discusses his latest book, “The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency.”
President Trump stokes fears about election security and the economy struggles
August 01, 2020 01:43Postponing election day, as suggested by President Trump Thursday, cannot be done without an act of Congress. But is this very suggestion a threat to democracy? The panel discussed the latest from the 2020 campaign and Capitol Hill, as the economy suffers a record drop and Congress fails to extend the $600 unemployment benefit.
President Trump stokes fears about election security
August 01, 2020 01:43Postponing election day, as suggested by President Trump Thursday, cannot be done without an act of Congress. But is this very suggestion a threat to democracy? The panel discussed the latest from the 2020 campaign and Capitol Hill, as the economy suffers a record drop and Congress fails to extend the $600 unemployment benefit.
Remembering civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis
July 25, 2020 01:26On the Washington Week Extra, the panel discussed the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis, who passed away July 17, 2020.
President Trump orders federal agents into cities as COVID-19 deaths rise
July 25, 2020 01:26President Trump’s plan to send thousands of federal officers into cities sparked outrage as the number of Americans who have tested positive for COVID-19 passed 4 million this week.
Could Democrats win back the Senate in November?
July 18, 2020 01:46Watch the Washington Week Extra for the latest on the 2020 Senate campaign. Jonathan Karl also discussed his Washington Post editorial about White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany’s briefings.
President Trump attacks Joe Biden as COVID-19 cases spike
July 18, 2020 01:27The 2020 race for the White House is heating up. President Trump lashed out at Joe Biden, making false claims about his opponent’s platform and saying Biden would “abolish the suburbs.” The panel also discussed the president’s uneasy relationship with his own public health officials as cases of virus surge and the White House pushes to reopen schools.
The Supreme Court rules on President Trump’s tax returns
July 11, 2020 01:40Few reporters know the Supreme Court like Joan Biskupic, CNN legal analyst and author of "The Chief: The Life and Turbulent Times of Chief Justice John Roberts. Join her and Yamiche Alcindor of the PBS NewsHour to learn more about the high court’s ruling on President Trump’s financial records.
President Trump commutes Roger Stone’s sentence and pressures schools to reopen
July 11, 2020 01:25President Trump commuted longtime confidant Roger Stone’s sentence Friday as COVID-19 cases surged across the country. The panel discussed the questions before leaders in Washington this week: will they encourage schools to reopen as early as next month? And will they pass another round of stimulus funding?
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump”
July 04, 2020 01:31On the Washington Week Extra, presidential historian Kate Andersen Brower discusses her newest book Team of Five: The President’s Club in the Age of Trump.
President Trump’s Declaration of Grievance
July 04, 2020 01:08President Trump is speaking Friday night at Mount Rushmore, ahead of Independence Day. The visit captures this president at this moment: turning to symbols from the past and rallying his base as his campaign faces mounting challenges. The panel also discussed reporting from multiple news organizations that Russia offered bounties to the Taliban to kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan.
DOJ Official alleges political interference in the case of Roger Stone
June 27, 2020 01:44Want even more #WashWeekPBS? Watch the Extra where the panel discussed allegations that Trump administration political appointees pushed the Department of Justice to drop a case against Trump ally Roger Stone and the latest news from the 2020 campaign trail.
Coronavirus infections spike and President Trump’s polls sink
June 27, 2020 01:33The coronavirus pandemic is spreading rapidly in many states, with more than 40,000 new cases on Thursday alone, and spikes in Florida, Texas, and California. This week the panel discussed how some Republicans may break with President Donald Trump on how to safely reopen the country. They also discussed how police reform efforts following the death of George Floyd have has stalled on Capitol Hill.
Supreme Court surprise rulings challenge notion of a strictly conservative bench
June 20, 2020 01:58The panel discussed the two opinions issued by the Supreme Court this week - upholding workplace protection for LGBTQ individuals and dismissing an attempt by President Donald Trump’s administration to disband the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program - and the significance of those rulings by a court considered relatively conservative.
Bolton allegations rock Washington, while leaders debate police reform
June 20, 2020 01:46President Donald Trump will take the stage in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday - his first rally in the era of the novel coronavirus. It comes amid reporting on explosive allegations from the forthcoming book by his former National Security Adviser, John Bolton. The panel also discussed where Washington leaders stand on police reform legislation.
How will the coronavirus pandemic affect voting access?
June 13, 2020 02:07This week has raised sharp new questions about voting access during a pandemic, after Georgia’s primaries were plagued by long lines and confusion. On this week’s Extra, the panel discussed how an election may unfold amid a pandemic.
Congress considers legislation as calls for policing reforms grow
June 13, 2020 02:01As calls for policing reform grow in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Congress is considering what action to take. Also, where does President Trump stand on possible reforms? The panel discussed the widening rift between the White House and military leaders.
American democracy is tested in the streets
June 06, 2020 01:49Washington Week Full show for June 5, 2020
How will nationwide protests affect the 2020 election?
June 06, 2020 01:19The panel continued the conversation on the nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, and discussed the potential relocation of the 2020 Republican National Convention from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Death of George Floyd spurs nationwide protests
May 30, 2020 01:26The panel continues the conversation on race and America in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, as a white police officer kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis.
Americans protest unarmed man's death as country passes a grim virus milestone
May 30, 2020 01:15Angry demonstrators across the nation protested, both peacefully and violently, the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, who said that he couldn’t breathe as a white police officer kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis. The Department of Justice has announced a federal civil rights investigation, and the officer has been fired and charged with third-degree murder. The panel also discussed a week of grim virus milestones, as the nation passed more than 100,000 covid-19 deaths and more tha...
Candidates ambitious in virtual veepstakes
May 23, 2020 01:28The panel discussed running mate possibilities for former Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Panel: Dan Balz of The Washington Post, Ayesha Rascoe of NPR, Stephanie Ruhle of NBC News, Jonathan Swan of AXIOS
What are Washington leaders doing to address the coronavirus crisis?
May 23, 2020 01:18As the coronavirus death toll passed 95,000 on Friday, states continued the process of reopening. The White House and Congress haven’t reached an agreement on what more aid would look like, if there will be any. The panel also discussed President Donald Trump’s campaign strategy and former Vice President Joe Biden’s apology for what he called “cavalier” comments about African American voters. Panel: Dan Balz of The Washington Post, Ayesha Rascoe of NPR, Stephanie Ruhle of NBC News, Jonathan ...
The politics of reopening the United States
May 16, 2020 04:38President Trump is optimistic about reopening the U.S. but health experts who testified on Capitol Hill this week warn it could be dangerous. The panel also discussed negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over the next round of coronavirus relief funding and President Trump’s tweets about the Michael Flynn case.
How to win an election during a pandemic
May 16, 2020 03:07There are fewer than 6 months left until the 2020 presidential election. The panel discussed Joe Biden’s search for a running mate, the Trump campaign’s strategy to win during a pandemic, and the latest polling data.
The Washington Week Bookshelf: “Pelosi”
May 09, 2020 01:13Molly Ball, author of “Pelosi,” a new biography of the speaker of the House, discussed Nancy Pelosi’s history, her leadership of the party and key moments from her career. The discussion was part of a new segment, “The Washington Week Bookshelf.”
President Trump Hits the Road as States Reopen
May 09, 2020 01:05President Trump started the week off with a visit to the battleground state of Arizona to tour a mask factory, as many governors are still struggling with securing supplies. And the country reported a staggering jobs loss, at levels not seen since the Great Depression. The panel discussed what’s going on behind the scenes at the White House, where things stand as the states begin to get back to business, and the tensions between the White House and scientific community.
Biden Under Pressure
May 02, 2020 01:54Former vice president Joe Biden was under pressure this week after more reporting was published about a former staffer’s sexual assault allegation. The panel also discussed how the allegations might affect Biden’s vice presidential search and looked ahead to the key stories to follow next week.
A Nation on Edge
May 02, 2020 01:35Economic and political pressures mounted for President Donald Trump and the number of coronavirus cases in the United States hit one million, leaving a nation on edge. The country also faced a mounting financial crisis as numbers showed the economy shrinking by 4.8%, the largest reduction since the Great Recession of 2008. The panel also discussed tensions over states deciding how and when to reopen and the latest on a sexual assault allegation against former vice president Joe Biden.