Washington Today

Christmas and holiday messages from President Joe Biden, Members of Congress, and leaders of Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Ukraine; Sen. Blumenthal on airline fare additional fees; NORAD Santa Tracker continues long tradition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Ethics Committee releases report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), says it found “substantial evidence” he, while in Congress, had sex with a 17-year-old girl, “regularly” paid women for sex, and used illegal drugs; Congressional reaction to President Joe Biden commutes 37 of 40 federal death row inmates' sentences to life in prison without parole. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) releases his annual Festivus 'Airing of Grievances' report on wasteful federal spending; President-elect Donald Trump floats U.S. taking control of Greenland and Panama Canal. 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 – a conversation about bridging political differences this holiday season with Brad and Dallas Woodhouse - brothers and political strategists on opposite sides of the political divide. Then, we talk about the potential of new regulations for the drone industry with Michael Robbins of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems. Plus, Benham Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies discusses the latest on Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government. But we begin with a discussion about efforts to bridge political differences this holiday season, with Brad & Dallas Woodhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House passes a bill to extend temporary government funding and avoid a shutdown that has supplemental aid for farmers and victims of natural disasters, but not raising the nation's debt ceiling, which President-elect Donald Trump has been calling for, President Joe Biden & First Lady Jill Biden visit Children’s National Hospital ahead of the holidays, top State Department officials meet with Syria's new leaders, U.S. Space Force celebrates its fifth anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House votes down new House Republican temporary government funding package that President-elect Trump supports, President Biden announces new climate goals, British Prime Minister Starmer is asked about threatened Trump tariffs, Secretary of State Blinken chairs a United Nations Security Council meeting on the civil war in Sudan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview with MarketWatch's Greg Robb on Federal Reserve cutting interest rates a quarter of a percent (4), Speaker Johnson defends temporary government funding bill from Republican critics, Senate joins House in passing annual defense programs bill, Senate does not pass bill giving local authorities power to track drones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some House GOP are upset with Speaker Johnson on the handling of the government funding extension, Pentagon and other agencies put out joint statement that drones seen on East Coast are not a threat, HHS Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. continues meetings with Senators, VP Harris encourages young leaders to 'stay in the fight' civically, new federal rule on how airlines deal with passengers in wheelchairs, NCAA President testifies before a Senate committee on impact of legalized sports betting, UN Security meeting on Syria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Trump announces SoftBank Group will invest $100 billion in U.S. over four years and answers questions on Health Secretary nominee RFK, Jr. and drone sighting; President Biden creates national monument to former Labor Secretary Frances Perkins (FDR); House Republicans say text of government funding extension bill is close to finished; Senate works on National Defense Authorization Act; 80th Anniversary of Battle of the Bulge ceremony at WWII Memorial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, we discuss the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria after 24 years in power, and what to expect from the rebel alliance which overthrew his government. That conversation with Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution. Next, Former Acting CDC Director Dr. Richard Besser will join us to discuss Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as Health and Human Services secretary. Plus, Tax Foundation's Senior Economist Erica York discusses new research on how much wealthy Americans pay in federal taxes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Malliotakis (R-NY) says the U.S. government knows what is behind the mystery drones; interview with Politico's Daniella Diaz on Continuing Resolution negotiations to fund the federal government and prevent a shutdown (11); Secretary of State Blinken meets leaders in Turkey & Iraq on the future of Syria; Sen.-elect McCormick (R-PA) and former NFL head coach Bill Belichick on the military & leadership; First Lady Jill Biden welcomes children to the White House for a Toys for Tots holiday event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Trump is named Time magazine's Person of the Year, interview with The Hill's Brett Samuels on President Biden pardoning 39 people and commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 more (11); FAA Administrator Whitaker says he will resign; House passes a bill to add new judgeships that President-elect Trump can fill; Secretary of State Blinken lands in Jordan for talks on Syria; White House National Security Adviser Sullivan is in Israel for talks on a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before House Committee on U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, House passes NDAA with controversial ban on some health care for transgender children, FBI Dir. Wray says he will resign at end of Biden Admin., President Biden & First Lady Jill Biden host first ever White House Conference on Women's Health Research, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger testifies before Senate Rules & Administration Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Joe Biden defends his economic record; House debates a bill blocking an Energy Department regulation washing machines efficiency, interview with Politico's Connor O'Brien on House starting work on National Defense Authorization Act (20); President-elect Trump nominees continue meetings with Senators, including Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio & Kash Patel; House hearing on drones of unknown origin spotted flying over New Jersey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today the US is determined to prevent the Islamic State terrorist group from reestablishing safe haves in Syria. Congress returns to work, including final versions in the House on two bills and the Senate continued work on judicial nominations. Plus, Republican Senators meet with two more of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First: A discussion with Samuel Morrison, a former Staff Attorney in the U.S. Pardon Attorney's office– about President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter. Then: Brennan Center’s Elizabeth Goitein discusses President-elect Trump potentially using presidential emergency powers to facilitate mass deportations. Finally: a conversation with Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber – chair of the Association of American Universities - on the state of higher education in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview with Axios' Maria Curi on a federal appeals court upholding the law banning TikTok in U.S. unless its China-based parent company divests (1); update from parents of U.S. hostage in Syria Austin Tice; November jobs report; White House responds to reports President Biden may issue preemptive pardons to potential targets of President-elect Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Final meeting of House Task Force on Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump with testimony from Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe; House Ethics Committee meets on whether to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL); Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth on misconduct accusations against him; DOGE co-leaders Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy meet with House & Senate Republicans; Veterans Department officials testify on budget shortfall; Justice Department concludes Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Blacks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hill's Zach Schoenfeld on Supreme Court case challenging Tennessee law banning transgender medical care for minors (1); House coronavirus subcommittee approves its final report; airline executives testify before a Senate subcommittee about seat & baggage fees; GOP chair of House immigration subcommittee says USCIS director's lack of answers at today's hearing is a 'dereliction of duty'; President Biden tours port in Angola where cross-continent railroad will start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden in Angola speaks of the brutal history of the slave trade and promise of a brighter future based on investment and equality. We'll talk with Reuters White House Correspondent Trevor Hunnicutt traveling with the president (7); South Korean President declares martial law, then says he will lift it; Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY) reelected; Michael Bloomberg calls RFK, Jr.'s nomination for Health Secretary 'beyond dangerous'; Speaker Johnson lights the Capitol Christmas Tree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The president took an action because of how politically infected these cases were." The words of White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as she answered questions about President Biden's pardon of his son Hunter. And reaction has been swift from both sides of the aisle. House Oversight Chair James Comer said in a statement QUOTE Joe Biden has lied from the start". Incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley said in part QUOTE I'm shocked. Meanwhile, House Oversight Democrat Greg Stanton saying QUOTE I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong. Congress is back this week following their Thanksgiving break. The Senate gaveled in today at 3pm. They'll work on more of the President's judicial nominations. The House is back tomorrow. On their agenda—a possible vote on whether to release the Ethics Committee's report of former Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz. And of course, we are just 18 days away from the next government funding deadline when Congress must pass a new federal spending bill to avert a shutdown. The Supreme Court heard a case today on whether the Food and Drug Administration unlawfully blocked the sale of some vaping products. The agency has denied more than a million applications of candy or fruit flavored products as part of wider crackdown saying they appeal too much to kids. But vaping companies say the FDA unfairly disregarded arguments that those flavors can help adults quit smoking without increased risk to kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices