WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Donald Trump orders "independent" agencies to run their regulations through the White House, an assertion of executive authority and democratic accountability that could help upend how Washington works. Plus, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. considers reshaping a CDC vaccine committee, while a measles outbreak in Texas hits 90 cases and 16 hospitalizations, mostly children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Volodymyr Zelensky says Donald Trump is in a “disinformation space” after the President blamed Ukraine for starting the war with Russia, then Donald Trump calls Zelensky “a dictator” in return. Is this part of a bigger strategy to turn Americans against Ukraine? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump picked Lori Chavez-DeRemer as a thank you to the Teamsters for staying neutral in the 2024 election. But given her past support for bills that would override right-to-work laws and bolster public unions, will Republicans in the Senate go along with her confirmation? And as union membership falls to a historic low of 9.9%, is courting labor bosses a good GOP strategy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York mayor's attention shouldn't be diverted from supporting the White House's efforts against illegal immigration, a Justice Department memo argues. Adams denies there was a quid pro quo, as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul considers exercising her authority to remove him from office. But with a mayoral primary coming in June anyway, is that a decision best left for the voters? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The markets see another tariff reprieve, as the president orders his cabinet to examine America's trading relationships and recommend ways to balance them. But is trying to micromanage 13,000 tariff line-items, across 200 countries, a good way to help the economy and government efficiency? Plus, Elon Musk appears in the Oval Office to explain what DOGE is doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump wants to negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia, but will Volodomyr Zelensky have a say in any negotiations with Vladimir Putin? And what kind of security guarantees will Ukraine have? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump signs an order imposing broad 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, upending U.S. supply chains, as NFIB's index of small-business uncertainty hits its third-highest figure on record. Meantime, the Labor Department reports that inflation is heating up again, with the consumer-price index rising 3% over the 12 months ending in January, as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies on Capitol Hill about how these crosscurrents might affect monetary policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump’s executive actions have been dominating Washington news, yet the fate of his agenda rests in his historically slim majority in the U.S. House. That House GOP is finally focusing on a budget bill to provide Trump border and defense dollars, and extend the 2017 tax cuts. But will a famously fractious Republican House conference once again fail to come together? On this episode of All Things, House Republican Policy Chair Kevin Hern gives the latest on the budget reconciliation fight, breaks down the GOP's tax- and spending-cut priorities, explains where DOGE fits in, and discusses the new Democratic threat of a government shutdown. He also dives into one of his own priorities--explaining where the federal government can aid in the state school-choice revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CBS raised eyebrows last fall when two of its shows aired Kamala Harris giving different answers to the same question during a "60 Minutes" interview. Donald Trump is suing the network, claiming $20 billion in damages, while the FCC takes comments on a public complaint of “news distortion." But what does the full CBS tape reveal, and does it even make sense for the FCC to regulate broadcast news, in an era of endless unregulated cable TV, podcasts, and internet streaming? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans are giving Donald Trump approval rating highs due to his brisk executive actions, but could Democrats use rising prices and new tariffs against him? Plus, many of Donald Trump’s cabinet picks will face votes this week, with Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. looking to continue the Trump administration's successful confirmation streak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump orders the Treasury to draw up a plan for a sovereign wealth fund, which would let the government make investments, including in private companies. What could go wrong? Plus, the White House and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency effort are being sued over federal buyouts, USAID, access to payment systems, and a firing at the NLRB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump makes an offer for the United States to “own” the Gaza Strip and rebuild it, while Palestinians would relocate to countries like Egypt and Jordan. Is he sending a message to Hamas, or is this another element of Donald Trump’s unusual approach to foreign policy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds everything from polio eradication in Indonesia to DEI projects in Serbia, has closed its headquarters and told its staff they're going on administrative leave. Is this an America First end to foreign aid, or merely a restructuring, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggests? And can President Trump do this without Congress? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Gigot sits down with the Wall Street Journal Opinion’s Daniel Henninger, who recently published his final ‘Wonder Land’ column. The two discuss how covering news and culture has changed over time, the polarizing nature of today’s media from all political sides, and what Henninger hoped readers would draw from his weekly column. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is issuing executive actions at the speed of light, targeting the border, government bureaucracy, tariffs and the economy. How does it all shake out? Former chief of staff Mick Mulvaney draws on his own time in the Trump White House to analyze the big orders--their purpose, impact and legality. What's Trump up to with tariffs on Mexico and Canada? Is it really possible to reform the civil service? How and where will DOGE hit a wall? Plus, insights on the Impoundment Control Act fight to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada, the three countries negotiated a last-minute 30-day pause. Who blinked on the tariff showdown, and what comes next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's pick for director of national intelligence faces skepticism from both sides at her Senate confirmation hearing. Is her nomination in jeopardy, after she refuses to call Edward Snowden a traitor and then deflects a question on reforming Section 702 surveillance? Plus, FBI Director designate Kash Patel splits with Trump on commutations for violent Jan. 6 rioters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his confirmation hearings for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was questioned about his controversial views on vaccines and abortion, while seeming not to know much about Medicare and Medicaid. Did he win over skeptics? Plus, what does the Trump Administration's funding freeze rollout and rollback tell us about the new White House? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration tells government agencies to pause federal grants, loans, and assistance programs so that they can be reviewed, but three days later the White House rescinds that order, after an uproar in Washington and a temporary stay issued by a judge. Did President Trump overstep his authority, as Democrats claim, or was this more a matter of fumbled execution? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump promises to impose tariffs and more on Colombia, causing President Gustavo Petro to back down after he had refused two U.S. military planes with deported migrants. Is this a sign of how Trump plans to use U.S. economic pressure elsewhere? Plus the CIA says it now believes, though with low confidence, that a lab leak was the most likely origin for the Covid-19 virus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices