Washington Today

President Donald Trump announces tariffs on what he is calling 'Liberation Day'; Senate to vote on overturning president's 'national emergency' on fentanyl used as legal basis for imposing tariffs on Canada; interview with CQ/Roll Call legal affairs reporter Michael Macagnone on Supreme Court case involving South Carolina barring Planned Parenthood from Medicaid if the organization provides abortion services (23); Republicans celebrate two wins in Congressional special elections in Florida, while Democrats are happy by a victory in a contest for Wisconsin State Supreme Court judge, where the losing candidate was heavily financed by billionaire Elon Musk; Education Secretary Linda McMahon meets with House Democrats about Trump Administration plans to close the Department and they both end up outside at the same news conference; special assistant to Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. explains the rationale for reducing that department's workforce by 20,000. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair nominee Lt. Gen Dan Caine (ret) tells the Senate Armed Services Committee he never wore a red MAGA hat as President Trump claims; Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) pushes his resolution to repeal the president's emergency declaration that has allowed his tariffs on Canadian goods, a day before the president will unveil more tariffs; Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) gives a marathon speech on the Senate floor to emphasize his opposition to President Trump's policies; Senate Republican version of Budget Reconciliation looks a little different than the House Republican version. We will talk about it with Wall Street reporter Richard Rubin (23); a handful of House Republicans join Democrats to vote down an House Republican leadership effort to block a vote on a resolution – from a House Republican – to allow proxy voting for Members of Congress who are new parents; First Lady Melania Trump speaks at the International Women of Courage Awards ceremony at the State Department; JFK movie director Oliver Stone calls for reopening the investigation into the assassination of former President Kennedy at today's House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets hearing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global markets saw sharp swings today in advance of President Trump's tariff announcements that are expected tomorrow. The S&P 500 finished up just over half a percent after being down over 1 percent this morning and after one of its worst losses of the past couple of years last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also ended up higher after initially falling. White House press secretary talked about the market response today. Congress is back to work this week in the Senate. Republicans aim to begin drafting their budget plan by Wednesday and are utilizing the reconciliation process to avoid collaborating with Democrats. This comes on the eve of special elections in two states: Wisconsin and Florida… both seen as early referendums on the Trump agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, as tax season gets into high gear – a conversation with Nina Olson – who previously served as IRS Taxpayer Advocate. We discuss DOGE's impact on the functioning of the Internal Revenue Service - and the privacy of taxpayer data. Then, Shai Akabas of the Bipartisan Policy Center discusses the debt limit so-called "X-date" as Congressional Republicans begin their budget reconciliation process. Finally we talk with Benji Backer – founder of the American Conservation Coalition about his new push to make environmentalism NON-partisan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President JD Vance visits a U.S. military base in Greenland, accusing Denmark of "under-investing" in Greenland 'security architecture" against threats from Russia, China and other nations and that is why President Donald Trump has been saying America needs to have Greenland; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. will enhance its military alliance with the Philippines as it aims to “reestablish deterrence” to counter “China’s aggression” in the Indo-Pacific region; President Trump speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about tariffs, while uncertainty on that front and a new inflation report that is higher than expected, leads to another drop in the stock market; Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. travels to West Virginia to discuss his battle to reduce chronic disease, encouraging governors to ask for waivers to the SNAP nutrition assistance program to no longer include soda; there are two special congressional elections in Florida next Tuesday in seats previously held by Republicans. We will talk with Mitch Perry, Senior Reporter for Florida Phoenix about the chances of Democratic upset victories. (40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announces a reorganization and downsizing of his department, calling the current setup a “sprawling bureaucracy; President Donald Trump & Attorney General Pam Bondi announce the arrest in Virginia of a top leader of the MS-13 gang, who they say is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador; Secretary of State Marco Rubio is asked about a Tufts University graduate student from Turkey in the U.S. with a student visa who was detained in Boston for allegedly for supporting Hamas; President Trump withdraws the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations over concerns about the super-thin House Republican majority and the need for every vote in upcoming legislative battles; President Trump's announcement a 25 percent tariff on imported cars and auto parts is being criticized by virtually every foreign leader. We will talk about it with Brett Samuels. (38) The Hill's White House report; Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee holds a hearing on the investigation of the midair deadly collision near Reagan National Airport between a commercial plane and Army helicopter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reaction to Atlantic magazine publishing texts of Trump Admin. group chat on Houthi military strikes; President Trump imposes a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks; NPR & PBS CEOs testify before House DOGE Subcommittee; NTSB Chair before House Appropriations Subcommittee on the effects of Elon Musk-led cuts in the government workforce; Supreme Court hears a case challenging the constitutionality of FCC fee subsidizing telecom for poor, rural areas, libraries, schools; memorial service in Tucson, AZ for late Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump stands by National Security Adviser Waltz in fallout over journalist added to group chat on military plans against Houthis, while DNI Gabbard & CIA Dir Ratcliffe tell Senate Intelligence Committee no classified material was revealed; White House announces Russia & Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea; Mike Huckabee, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel, testifies before Senate Foreign Relations on his past statements supporting Israeli settlements in the West Bank; Speaker Johnson & Senate Majority Leader Thune on Budget Reconciliation negotiations; Social Security Commissioner nominee Frank Bisignano goes before the Senate Finance Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg says Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior Trump Administration officials mistakenly included him in a discussion on an unsecure app about war plans against the Houthis; U.S. Court of Appeals hears the case involving the alleged Venezuelan gang member deportation flights and whether the Trump Administration violated a federal judge's order to pause them; President Donald Trump hold his third cabinet meeting at the White House, joined by Elon Musk to discuss his Department of Government Efficiency cost cutting, with Cabinet Secretaries providing examples of what they say are wasteful contracts; House and Senate Republican leaders plan to meet this week to work out differences the budget reconciliation bill that could contain tax cuts, border security measures, energy promotion and rest of their agenda. We get an update from Reese Gorman, reporter with NOTUS; President Trump announces Hyundai will build a $5 billion steel plant in Louisiana; Canadian party leaders gear up for a snap election in a month… and President Trump's tariff policy is a primary issue; former Rep. Mia Love (R-UT), the first Black Republican woman ever elected to Congress, has died. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First: A discussion with former Rep. James Greenwood (R-PA) and Nick Penniman of the advocacy group Issue One – about their push for Congress to reassert itself against the executive branch. Then, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure of the Century Foundation and Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute discuss potential cuts to Medicaid as Congress considers the upcoming budget. Finally, an update on Ukraine-Russia ceasefire talks with Doug Klain, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth say Elon Musk's meeting at the Pentagon this morning was to talk about government efficiency and innovation, and not, as the New York Times reported, U.S. war plans for a potential war with China. The two also announce Boeing will be building the next generation of Air Force fighters, the F47. President is also asked about reports the U.S. may relinquish the top military position in NATO and the ongoing court case involving alleged gang member deportation flights to El Salvador. United Nations Security Council holds a meeting about the war between Israel and Hamas and the rising number of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. More contentious town hall meetings with Members of Congress: Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis is asked whether she will run for governor when her husband Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) term expires in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump signs an executive order calling for closure of the Education Department; Attorney General Pam Bondi says three people have been charged with destroying Tesla cars and face up to 20 years in prison for 'domestic terrorism''; Oil executives meet with President Trump and his National Energy Dominance Council chaired by Energy Sec Doug Burgum. We will talk about it with New York Times energy reporter Rebecca Elliott (26); National Transportation Safety Board gives an update into the investigation of last year's Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore; An Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas before being freed in a prisoner exchange testifies before the United National Security Council about the brutal conditions of his captivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump says he had a 'very good" phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky on ceasefire efforts in the Russia-Ukraine war; Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady and Fed Chair Jerome Powell says President Trump's tariffs are partly to blame for inflation; Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) and Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) get pointed and sometimes heated questions from constituents about the President Trump's efforts to cut government spending; federal judge who is reviewing whether the Trump Administration violated his order concerning the deportation of alleged gang members gives the federal government another day to respond; USA Today's Josh Meyer on release of tens of thousands of pages of government documents on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (40); on C-SPAN Founders Day, a preview of "The C-SPAN Story: A Brian Lamb Conversation". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russian President Putin in a phone call with President Trump agrees to a partial 30 day ceasefire in war in Ukraine; Chief Justice Roberts pushes back on President Trump calling for judge in alleged gang members deportation case to be impeached; Sen. Schumer says he is "best leader for the Senate" Democrats after backlash for supporting Republican bill to prevent a government shutdown; Vice President Vance says populist and tech-forward arms of the conservative movement can co-exist peacefully; United Nations Security Council holds meeting on resumption of Israel-Hamas fighting in Gaza; Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams return to Earth after nine months in space that was originally scheduled for a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House continues to defend this weekend’s deportation flights of hundreds of mostly alleged gang members from the U.S. to a prison in El Salvador. A federal judge hears arguments this afternoon on whether the Trump administration violated a federal court order stopping the removals from the country. We'll hear from Trump Border Czar Tom Homan and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. President Trump says he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow about a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. The State Department says South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. has until Friday to leave the country. That comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused him on social media of being a “race-baiting politician” who hates President Trump. The New York Times reports that Houthi militia in Yemen has vowed to retaliate after U.S. military strikes on targets controlled by the group that it says killed at least 53 people. Those strikes were the subject of today's Pentagon briefing, the first of the second Trump administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, we discuss what the Constitution says about the role of the executive branch and the importance of checks & balances with National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen. Then, the Wall Street Journal's Richard Rubin discusses his recent examination of how government spending has grown and where the money is going. Finally, University of Ottawa Prof. Charles Etienne Beaudry discusses the Trump Administration's tariff threats against Canada and vows to make the nation America's "51st State." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate passes a federal government funding extension to prevent a shutdown tonight; President Trump gives a speech at the Justice Department on 'law and order'; Secretary of State Rubio gives updates on negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and Hamas saying it is willing to release an American hostage; Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator nominee, testifies before the Senate Finance Committee; former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY) dies at age 93. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says he will vote for the GOP-written federal government funding extension to prevent a shutdown Friday night; President Trump says he will put a 200% tariff on European wine in retaliation for an EU 50% tariff on U.S. whiskey; President tariff policies a major topic at today's Senate confirmation hearing for the nominees for U.S. Ambassadors to Canada and Mexico; President Trump meets with NATO's Secretary General at the White House, as Russian President Vladimir Putin says he generally supports a 30 day ceasefire with Ukraine, but has reservations; White House withdraws nomination of Dave Weldon for CDC Director right before his scheduled Senate confirmation hearing; Senate Health Committee approves nominees to lead NIH and FDA; Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) dies after battle with cancer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Democrats say they will block six-month CR to avert shutdown unless there is a vote on one-month CR; President Trump responds to reports that half of the Education Department's workforce is being fired; Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the effect of a CR on military readiness; Secretary of State Marco Rubio with an update on the Ukraine war 30 day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has accepted and is now being considered by Russia; court hearing for a Palestinian student activist at Columbia University who has had his green card revoked by the Trump Administration for demonstrations against the war in Gaza; Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin makes the annual St. Patrick's Day pilgrimage to Washington to meet with President Trump, and give him a bowl of shamrock, and attend luncheon with the President and Congressional leaders; interview with USA Today international correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard about what Greenland's election results mean for President Trump's stated goal of making the territory part of the U.S. (45); Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announces she is not running for reelection in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House passes a six-month extension of federal government funding (Continuing Resolution or CR) to prevent a government shutdown on Friday; President Donald Trump announces a doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, latest escalation in the trade war. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the previously announced 25% tariff on electricity to the U.S. will be suspended while further trade negotiations continue; White House reacts to Elon Musk comments about Social Security and other entitlements being the 'big ones' to find savings; Elon Musk joins President Trump at White House to buy a Tesla car; Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia and announces Ukraine has agreed to a 30 day ceasefire with Russia and the U.S. will resume military intelligence sharing with Ukraine; NTSB releases a preliminary report on the deadly helicopter & plane collision in January near Reagan National Airport and calls for a permanent change in the routes around that airport after finding a high risk of another collision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices