Saturdays & Sundays with Jonathan Capehart

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Market Turmoil. Dow futures open down 1,500 points as the impact of President Trump's tariffs continue to take a toll on markets around the world. This comes as Senate Republicans pass a budget plan that is already getting bi-partisan pushback. Rep. Brendan Boyle, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, tells me why he calls the Republican's plan a betrayal of the middle class. Health Scare. A second child has died of measles in Texas, as the Department of Health and Human Services lays off thousands of workers and attempts to scrap billions in public health grants. I'll discuss the impact with former HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra and two department employees, including one who was fired and told he "deserved it" by a Republican Senator. Faith and Fellowship. A lesson in bridging the divide in these troubled times from the organizers behind the first-ever White House Seder. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Mounting Opposition. Thousands take to the streets across the country to protest the extreme Trump Agenda, from market-busting tariffs to devastating cuts to federal agencies and more. I'll ask former Biden advisor Mitch Landrieu if this is a defining moment for Democratic resistance. A Rough Republican week. The markets tanked. Their advantage in ruby red congressional districts was cut in half. And a Wisconsin supreme court seat didn't go their way. Political analyst Charlie Sykes and former Biden White House official Andrew Bates weigh in on whether this week was a defining moment for the GOP. Fear Factor. The Trump administration is fighting a judge's order to bring back a man mistakenly detained and sent to that notorious prison in El Salvador. Maria Hinojosa joins me to discuss how these wrongful removals are sparking fear in the immigrant community. And, on the run. Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow is here to talk about her bid for a U.S. Senate seat and why she says it's time for a new generation of Democratic leadership. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Scare Tactic. The Trump Administration is now going after law firms that challenge the President's agenda in court. Janai Nelson of the Legal Defense Fund will tell me how attorneys are responding and why this is a troubling escalation in a very troubling Trump pattern. Standing Firm. Despite criticism from fellow Democrats, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he's not going anywhere while vowing to make Donald Trump the "quickest lame duck in modern history." Former Senators Doug Jones and Debbie Stabenow will tell me how Democrats can make that happen. And the Unthinkable. Five years after the police murder of George Floyd, some right-wing extremists are pushing for a pardon for his killer, Derek Chauvin. Floyd's girlfriend, Courteney Ross, joins me with reaction to this attempt to rewrite history. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Power to the People. As thousands pack anti-DOGE rallies and town halls, I'll talk to state leaders also leading the charge. Attorneys General Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Matthew Platkin of New Jersey will tell me what they're hearing from voters. Demanding Answers. A federal judge wants to know if President Trump defied his orders over deportation flights. I'll ask Ankush Khardori and Mark Joseph Stern if we are headed to a constitutional crisis or already in one. And President Petty. Trump revokes security clearances for his former opponents, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Meghan Hays and Jasmine Wright react to that and much more. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Rebooting the Resistance. After a bruising battle over the Republican's spending bill and a split among the leadership, Democrats are taking the fight to MAGA territory, as a brand new NBC poll shows many voters are souring on President Trump's handling of the economy. The chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rep. Suzan DelBene, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut join me to talk about the way forward for their party. Putin's Playbook: Growing questions on whether the Russian dictator is ready to accept a ceasefire deal with Ukraine. I'll ask former Rep. Jane Harmon if Vladimir Putin is seriously considering a truce or just playing President Trump. And Minor Majority: House Speaker Mike Johnson needs every vote he can get with the Republican's razor-thin control of the House, so a key special election in Florida could make all the difference. I'll talk to Gay Valimont about her bid to take the seat of former Rep. Matt Gaetz. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Where's the fire? The growing calls for stronger opposition to President Trump's extreme agenda, after Senate Democrats help pass the Republicans' continuing resolution. I'll discuss the real cost of capitulating to Republicans to keep the government open with Andrew Desiderio, of Punchbowl News, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi, Drew Hamill, and economic columnist Heather Long of the Washington Post. Vengeance is his: Trump brings his revenge tour to the Department of Justice, calling out his critics by name and even suggesting they should be jailed. I'll ask Rep. Jamie Raskin why he called Trump's speech a "desecration" of the department's values. And a run for the history books: Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist will talk to me about his bid to be the next governor of Michigan and the first Black person to hold the position, plus how he plans to flip a state that Donald Trump narrowly won. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Cliffhanger. Congress is set to vote this week on Speaker Johnson's short-term funding bill with just days to go before a possible government shutdown. Rep. Brendan Boyle, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, will tell me if Democrats will stand firm in their opposition and I'll also get his reaction to President Trump today refusing to rule out the possibility of a recession. Bloody Sunday. 60 years after the Selma marches that ushered in true American democracy, I'll talk with former Rep. Donna Edwards and Janai Nelson of the Legal Defense Fund about the state of civil rights today and Trump's assault on diversity. And Bad Science. The CDC plans to investigate a possible link between autism and vaccines, even though that theory has been debunked many times. Dr. Ashish Jha weighs in on that and new concerns over a measles outbreak. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Bully. President Trump is using the bully pulpit of the presidency to bend critics and the reluctant at home and abroad to his will. Ruth Ben-Ghiat will explain how this fits an authoritarian pattern. And Democratic Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove joins me to discuss Trump’s daily threats to federal workers and agencies, and his new demand of support for Speaker Johnson's new short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown in 6 days. D.C.'s Dilemma: The mayor of the nation's capitol, Muriel Bowser joins me for a wide-ranging conversation, from Trump’s threat of a federal takeover to why D.C.’s relationship with the President and Congress is way more fraught than any other city or state in the country. Social Insecurity. Martin O'Malley, former commissioner of the Social Security Administration, explains why he says recent cuts to the safety net for millions of seniors could collapse the program in 90 days or less. And, on Wisconsin: Another crucial race for that state's Supreme Court that could swing the ideological majority conservative. Judge Susan Crawford is running to ensure the court maintains its 4-3 liberal majortiy and explains her platform. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Showtime. President Trump is set to give his first address to a joint session of Congress after a chaotic and cruel start to his second term, including his embarrassing Oval Office ambush of an American ally. Sen. Chris Van Hollen joins me to discuss how the Democrats will respond and how this week changed everything. Crackdown: Trump signs an Executive Order making English the country's official language, a largely symbolic gesture in a nation with 42 million Spanish speakers. I'll ask Maria Hinojosa if this is really about policy or just political theater. Plot Twist: As we count down to tonight's Academy Awards, Chris Witherspoon, joins me with his predictions and details on a surprise special guest. Hint, It’s Kamala Harris! All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week’s edition of “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart:” Diplomatic Disaster. Direct negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine are now on hold after President Trump and Vice President Vance berated the Ukrainian President in the Oval Office while defending Vladimir Putin. Rep. Gregory Meeks, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joins me to talk about what Trump's gangster-like tactics mean for Ukraine and America's allies in Europe. Cuomo's Comeback: I'll ask Basil Smikle and Susan Del Percio about Andrew Cuomo announcing his bid to be mayor of New York, three years after resigning in disgrace as New York's governor. Controversial marching orders: The Pentagon says it is removing all transgender service members. I'll get reaction from one of the nation's highest ranking trans military leaders. And show your work: As federal employees get a new email demanding their weekly accomplishments, I'll talk to one of the fired government workers who says cutting their jobs is costing us all. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Dubious deadline. Elon Musk says federal employees must justify their job by Monday night or they'll be out of work. But even the leaders of the FBI and State Department are urging their staff not to comply. I'll discuss the chaos and the Democratic response with Rep. Jasmine Crockett and former Biden advisor, Mitch Landrieu. Blackout. The growing online movement to boycott major retailers abandoning diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Rev. Al Sharpton will tell me if this is an effective strategy. And a Bold Move. Three years ago tomorrow, Russia invaded Ukraine, but today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he's willing to resign if it leads to peace. Amb. Michael McFaul will discuss this and the unwillingness of some in the Trump administration to admit that Vladimir Putin started the war. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Pentagon Purge. In a late night social media post, President Trump fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest ranking military officer, and other high-ranking officials, possibly making way for people more loyal to Trump than the Constitution. Chris Meagher, former Biden Defense Department official, will explain why this is alarming. New Musk Ultimatum. Hours after President Trump called on him to "get more aggressive" today, First Buddy Elon Musk issued a new directive to the federal workforce: Tell me what you did last week or you're fired. Two federal employees caught up in all this chaos join the show with their stories. And scare tactic. The top prosecutor for Washington, D.C., wants an explanation from Rep. Robert Garcia of his comments on Trump and Musk by next week. Rep. Garcia joins me to tell me how he'll respond. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Testing the Limits. President Trump is snatching authority from Congress, sparking accusations that he's breaking laws and raising real concerns that he'll defy court rulings that go against him. I'll ask Sen. Peter Welch of the Judiciary Committee and Norm Eisen of the States Defending Democracy Fund whether they think we are well on our way to a Constitutional crisis. The Next Phase of the Purge: More federal workers got the ax, and there's new reporting on the strategy behind who's on the chopping block next. My political panel of Jonathan Lovitz and Tara Setmayer will weigh in. The Soul of the GOP. What it says about the Republican Party that Sen. Mitch McConnell is the principled voice against President Trump's unqualified cabinet nominees. I'll ask Matthew Dowd why his former party is totally unrecognizable right now. And No Seat At The Table, yet. What the President of Ukraine is telling NBC's Kristen Welker about any American-led peace negotiations that don't include Ukraine, and how President Trump is responding tonight. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Purge, Slash and Burn. The Trump Administration is ramping up its mass firings of federal workers, with hundreds of thousands more living in fear that they'll be next. Two federal workers join me to describe the chaos, and why it's not just bad for the country, it's personal. Global Disorder: The Vice President and rookie Defense Secretary are upending America's leadership on the world stage and alarming European leaders over Ukraine as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the National Security Advisor and the Middle East Envoy head to Saudi Arabia to initiate negotiations toward peace between Russia and Ukraine. I'll talk about the significance of all of this with David Ignatius of the Washington Post who is in Munich. And, Day 1 Dud: Prices aren't going down as Trump promised, inflation is up, and his tariffs threaten to drive them up further. What you should know about how all this could affect America's financial future. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Battling the Bromance. President Trump sings the praises of First Buddy Elon Musk in a new interview but Democrats at every level are fighting back, most effectively in the courts. I'll ask Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford about his recent legal victory and the stunning reaction from Vice President JD Vance. Then, I'll ask Rep. Becca Balint of the Budget Committee just how far Democrats are willing to go to stop the Trump-Musk agenda -- even if it means a government shutdown. Protest Vought: Russell Vought, Trump's Budget Director and key architect of Project 2025, is also now the acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and already taking steps to undermine it. Rep. Maxine Waters, ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, is not happy about any of this and she will tell us why. And, Oh Canada! Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doesn't think Trump's joking about making Canada the 51st state. Why this and Trump's pronouncements on Gaza, Greenland, the Panama Canal and more are detrimental to the global order America helped create, with the Atlantic's Tom Nichols. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': The Resistance. From the courts to Congress, the growing pushback against President Trump and First Buddy Elon Musk, and the wrecking ball they're taking to the federal government. Joining me are three of the lawmakers helping to lead the charge, Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Rep. Robert Garcia. Fired Up: Trump's legally dubious buyout offer to 2M government employees is on hold for now, but their future remains in jeopardy. I'll ask Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia what he's hearing from the thousands of federal workers living in his district. And Trump's Revenge: Jennifer Rubin and Ian Sams are here to talk about Trump's retribution tour, including new reporting from about who the President is banning from intelligence briefings and federal buildings. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Trumponomics: President Trump's tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China go into effect Tuesday, with Mexico and Canada planning retaliatory tariffs against the United States. Trump admits they may cause pain for the American consumer but says it will be worth the price. Rep. Suzan DelBene, member of the House Ways and Means Committee, explains the impact of what the Wall Street Journal correctly calls "The Dumbest Trade War in History." Lavender Scare: President Trump has embarked on an assault on LGBTQ Americans not seen since the 1940s and 1950s. His intense focus on transgender Americans is especially galling. I'll talk with Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, about how to protect the community from attack. The Purge: Trump, with an assist from First Buddy Elon Musk, is making good on his promise to decimate the federal workforce, even if it means breaking security rules. Former Rep. Joe Walsh and Ameshia Cross join me to talk about this assault on our democracy. And Thin ICE: Immigration enforcement is going way beyond undocumented immigrants who've committed violent crimes. Now, protections are being revoked for thousands of legal migrants. A view of the real-world impact with Dara Lind of the American Immigration Council. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': two major stories tonight. First, NTSB investigators share new information from the flight data recorders recovered after the deadly crash of a passenger jet and military helicopter. Aviation analyst Jeff Guzzetti unpacks the importance of the new findings. We also have breaking news on President Trump's newly imposed tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China. Rep. Gerry Connolly and Rep. Glenn Ivey weigh in on the cost to American consumers, and the flurry of chaos during the second week of Donald Trump’s presidency. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart': Deportation and Retaliation: President Trump slapped Colombia with major tariffs and sanctions today for refusing to admit deportation flights from the U.S. as the new Border Czar says he needs more money to get his job done. I'll ask Rep. Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, how far Congress will go to bankroll mass deportations and the rest of Trump's Imperial agenda. "You're fired!" Trump's executive orders are upending the federal bureaucracy and risk disrupting government operations that serve all Americans. Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service and NAACP President Derrick Johnson join me to discuss the consequences of the President's war on federal workers. All that and more on “The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”

On this week's episode of 'The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart': The Purge: President Trump fires at least a dozen Inspectors General of federal agencies, who are responsible for investigating fraud, waste and abuse. Why this stunning moveis a blow against government accountability. And, Birthright: With the stroke of a pen, President Trump attempts to wipe out an entire class of U.S. citizen. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins me to talk about how states are leading the charge to uphold the constitutional right to birthright citizenship. Plus, Riot Act: Trump's pardon of hundreds of violent Jan. 6th rioters is an affront to the rule of law. Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and former federal prosecutor Kristy Greenberg weigh in on the damage done and the consequences to come. All that and more on “The Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart.”