The U.S. government shut down on Wednesday morning. For the Democrats, it is an act of resistance against President Trump’s second-term agenda. The question is now whether their gamble will pay off or backfire.
In an episode recorded from the Capitol, Catie Edmondson and Carl Hulse, New York Times reporters who cover Congress, tell us what the decision-maki ... Show More
Today
The Firing of Kristi Noem
On Thursday, President Trump fired Kristi Noem, his secretary of homeland security, whose agency is at the center of his second-term agenda. Hamed Aleaziz, who covers the department, explains how Ms. Noem ended up losing the president’s trust. Guest: Hamed Aleaziz, who covers the ... Show More
30m 18s
Feb 2025
Congressional Republicans OK With Shifting Power Dynamics
Congress is supposed to hold the power of the purse. So what do Republicans in Congress think about what appears to be President Trump and Elon Musk's "cut first, ask later" approach? This episode: White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Susan Davis, and c ... Show More
14m 48s
Oct 2025
Democrats Accused Of “Playing Politics” As Shutdown Continues
While the government shutdown continues, Congress remains at a standstill on whether it can reopen the government anytime soon. Meanwhile, both Democrats and Republicans are fighting over who is to blame for the shutdown. Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of t ... Show More
34m 53s
Feb 2025
Roundup: Congress Works On Budget; Cabinet Meets; Good TV
Congress is trying to come up with a new budget, while also attempting to extend tax cuts put in place during President Trump's first term. But with a very small majority in both houses, Republicans have little margin for error. Then, we look at the first cabinet meeting of the T ... Show More
21 m
Oct 2025
How One Consequence Of The Government Shutdown May Mess Up More Than You Think
One task the federal government does a lot of is gathering data -- on prices, on the job market, and on a bunch of other things. When the government is shut down, those data aren't getting collected, and economic policy decisions based on those data aren't getting made with the f ... Show More
15m 16s