WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

From the award-winning opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, Paul Gigot, Kim Strassel, Bill McGurn and Kyle Peterson discuss the latest from Washington. Get critical perspective and the analysis you need on developments from the nation’s capital. Join them every weekday. Send your feedback to pwpodcast@wsj.com

Episodes

The Crisis of Confidence in the Western Tradition

September 8, 2025 • 30 mins
The values of the Western tradition have come under attack for unleashing a variety of sins, but is there a revival on the horizon? Paul Gigot speaks with historian Allen Guelzo about how “self-hatred” of Western civilization’s achievements has replaced thoughtful self-criticism, how much of this can be contributed to an ignorance of history, and the goals of Guelzo’s newest project, 'The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tra...
Mark as Played

The GOP's Worries About RFK Jr.'s Health Department Mess

September 5, 2025 • 26 mins
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gets grilled on Capitol Hill, including by Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Barrasso, both of them physicians, about his agenda on vaccines, views of Operation Warp Speed, and staff changes at his department. Meantime, Florida officials say they will push to end all state immunization mandates, including in schools. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Trump Strikes Venezuelan Traffickers / China’s Big Military Parade

September 4, 2025 • 24 mins
Donald Trump orders an airstrike on a speed boat in the Caribbean that he says was carrying narcotics, but should Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro also be worried, as the U.S. orders serious naval assets to the region? Meantime, Xi Jinping has a friendly photo-op with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, amid a military parade in Beijing that showcases an axis of American adversaries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
Mark as Played

A Political Brawl Over DEI at Virginia's Public Universities

September 3, 2025 • 26 mins
Democrats move to eject 22 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's board appointees at three colleges, which they say is to protect the schools from Trump Administration meddling. But the Education Department accuses George Mason University of “illegally using race” in hiring, and Republicans are going to the state Supreme Court, arguing that Youngkin's appointees aren't fired at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...
Mark as Played

Donald Trump’s 'Emergency' Tariffs Lose Again in Court

September 2, 2025 • 24 mins
President Trump has imposed global tariffs by citing a 1977 emergency law known as IEEPA, but a federal appeals court says 7-4 that this is outside of his legal authority. Otherwise, what would stop the next Democrat in the office from declaring a climate "emergency" to declare a carbon tariff? The White House plans to appeal, but will it have any better luck at the Supreme Court? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Mark as Played

‘Snap-Back’ Sanctions on Iran / Trump's Next Ukraine Move

August 29, 2025 • 26 mins
The pressure on Iran is rising again, as U.S. allies in Europe trigger "snap-back" sanctions, citing Tehran's uranium stockpiles and nuclear enrichment. Meantime, two weeks after President Trump's peace summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin, Russia hits Ukraine hard with new airstrikes. Plus, Taiwan wants to raise its defense budget to 5% of GDP to deter a Chinese invasion.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Mark as Played

Trump Wants to Fight Chicago Crime. JB Pritzker Says Stay Out

August 28, 2025 • 27 mins
Donald Trump considers sending federal forces, including National Guard troops, to clean up Chicago's streets, but Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says he doesn't want the help. Could Trump do it over the objections of state and local leaders? And is this a winning political issue for the GOP, as Mayor Muriel Bowser announces that carjackings in Washington, D.C., have dropped 87%? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Mark as Played

The White House Audit of Smithsonian Museum Exhibits

August 27, 2025 • 26 mins
Donald Trump argues the Smithsonian Institution has lost sight of America's ideals and become too focused on the country's historical failures, as his staff launches a review of selected museums and exhibitions. Does he have a point, and what might result from this audit, or does the outcome depend on whether it's done in a thoughtful way that Americans can support?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Trump's Federal Reserve Power Play, Firing Lisa Cook

August 26, 2025 • 31 mins
Donald Trump dismisses the Fed Governor for "cause," citing allegations aired on social media that she claimed two primary residences while applying for mortgages. Cook says she'll refuse to go, setting up a serious legal and constitutional fight. But is this really about Trump's demand for lower interest rates, and do Americans want Fed monetary policy to follow political orders? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Mark as Played

Donald Trump, Alina Habba, and the Senate's 'Blue Slips'

August 25, 2025 • 29 mins
President Trump pushes the Senate to give confirmation hearings to his nominees, after a federal judge rules that Alina Habba has been unlawfully acting as a federal prosecutor since July, and that Trump's maneuvers to retain her don't follow the law. The White House will appeal, but the Senate seems reluctant to end its "blue slip" tradition for vetting home-state appointees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Mark as Played

The New York City Mayor's Race Keeps Getting Worse

August 22, 2025 • 25 mins
Socialist Zohran Mamdani now leads the polls by a wide margin. Andrew Cuomo attacks Mamdani by calling him "very rich" and demanding he immediately move out of his rent-stabilized apartment. And two former aides to Mayor Eric Adams face separate scandals, after one is indicted for bribery and another hands a reporter a potato-chip bag containing at least $140. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Trump's Housing Regulator Goes After His Political Opponents

August 21, 2025 • 25 mins
Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, takes to social media to accuse Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud. Pulte has also made similar criminal referrals for Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Aren't investigations supposed to happen before announcements, and didn't Donald Trump promise to end lawfare? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Trump Ends Union Contracts for Thousands of Federal Workers

August 20, 2025 • 27 mins
After President Trump invokes an exclusion for national security, several agencies terminate collective-bargaining deals with unionized government employees, including the VA, the EPA, and FEMA. Since most Americans aren't union members, is this a good political fight for Trump, who can argue that such contracts make Washington more expensive and less efficient? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Does Trump Want Intel's Biggest Shareholder to Be... Uncle Sam?

August 19, 2025 • 27 mins
The White House considers taking a 10% stake in the chip maker, after Donald Trump meets with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, shortly after he demanded Tan's immediate resignation. Is this another example of MAGA corporate statism, along with Trump's "golden share" on the Nippon-U.S. Steel deal, his "export tax" on AI chips, and his talk of a sovereign-wealth fund? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

The Path to Durable Peace in the Russia Ukraine War

August 18, 2025 • 26 mins
President Trump meets with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, as he pushes to end the Ukraine-Russia war. He says the U.S. will contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine, but what would that require for Ukraine to feel secure? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Trump Welcomes Putin to Alaska for Ukraine Talks

August 15, 2025 • 26 mins
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin head into negotiations over ending the Ukraine war, three years after Russia's invasion. But news leaks suggest Putin wants territorial gains that would let him leapfrog Ukraine's "fortress belt." Meantime, Trump is sounding more serious all the time about increasing U.S. leverage, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky isn't at the table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
Mark as Played

Gavin Newsom’s Risky Gerrymander Gambit

August 14, 2025 • 28 mins
Governor Gavin Newsom reveals his plan to redraw congressional lines in California to combat Texas’ plan for redistricting. Newsom says his new map will 'end the Trump presidency,' but will voters in his state agree? Plus, the gerrymandering wars reflect the growing trend of politically influenced migration across red and blue state lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Trump's MAGA Pick for the Bureau of Labor Statistics

August 13, 2025 • 26 mins
President Trump chooses Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni to lead the BLS, the federal agency that collects data on inflation and the nation's jobs numbers. What is Antoni's public record? Does he have concrete plans to improve the statistics? Can he win Senate confirmation? And what about public trust, given how Trump fired former BLS director Erika McEntarfer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...
Mark as Played

Trump Takes Charge of the Police in Washington, D.C.

August 12, 2025 • 23 mins
After declaring a crime emergency, Donald Trump orders temporary federal control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, while also calling in 800 troops from the D.C. National Guard. What's the reality about violent crime in the nation's capital? Since D.C. is a federal enclave, is Trump within his rights? And has local control by the D.C. City Council proven to be a failure? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Mark as Played

Will Trump and Putin’s Alaska Summit Lead to a Ukraine Cease-Fire?

August 11, 2025 • 30 mins
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska to work towards an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Can a deal be made without Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited to participate? Plus, White House Council of Economic Advisers chair Stephen Miran is tapped to fill a temporary spot on the Federal Reserve Board. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

    NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

    Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

    New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

    New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

    Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!

    The Bobby Bones Show

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.