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WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch
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WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Author: Paul Gigot, The Wall Street Journal

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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

1213 Episodes
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The Trump Administration moves to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll noncitizens on student visas, but it's temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Does the Ivy League school have a good case that this is mere retaliation by President Trump? Plus, the Supreme Court splits 4-4 on St. Isidore, the religious charter school, while signaling an end to so-called independent federal agencies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Republican tax-and-budget package squeaks through the House, 215-214, after late negotiations by the speaker to placate GOP fiscal hawks and SALT deduction enthusiasts. What are some of the highlights and lowlights of the 1,000-page bill, including on tax cuts, defense spending, food stamps, and green subsidies? And how much is the Senate likely to revise? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New details about President Biden’s difficulties in office have prompted debate about whether the 25th Amendment could have been invoked to remove him if necessary. But it's doubtful, given the procedure that the Constitution requires. Will Democrats pay a political price for covering for Biden? Plus, his office now says he didn't receive the PSA test for prostate cancer since 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Rep. LaMonica McIver is accused of striking and impeding federal officers amid a confrontation at a Newark immigration detention facility. She calls the charges "ridiculous," while New Jersey's interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba says her conduct that day can't be overlooked. Plus, the Secret Service interviews James Comey about his “86 47” seashell photo posted on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A new book reveals the errors made by Democrats and the media by covering for Joe Biden's mental and physical decline that was obvious to voters. Did their efforts lead to the election of Donald Trump for a second time? Plus, Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis raises questions about the transparency of medical tests and physicals performed on presidents.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The House Budget Committee votes down the Republican reconciliation package, amid a revolt by fiscal conservatives, including Rep. Chip Roy. What are their objections, and does Speaker Mike Johnson have a way to placate them without upsetting a different GOP faction? Meantime, Republican Senators are voicing a range of their own complaints about the House's handiwork. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On a four-day visit to the Middle East, Donald Trump gives a speech on his vision for the region, meets Syria's new leader, and urges Iran toward a better path. What does his agenda say about his view of U.S. foreign policy and the direction of his second term? Plus, how will Trump react to Vladimir Putin's refusal to attend the peace talks with Ukraine that were being held in Turkey? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Justices prepare to debate Donald Trump's executive order denying citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal aliens and temporary residents, including those with student or work visas, in a case that challenges a long consensus on the 14th Amendment. Plus, the court will also consider whether federal judges overstep their authority when they issue nationwide injunctions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
House Republicans outline their plan to extend the expiring 2017 tax cuts and prevent a $4.5 trillion tax increase, but the bill also includes a long list of political giveaways, including President Trump's promised tax exemption for tips and overtime, a tripling of the SALT deduction, and a $1,000 taxpayer contribution to "MAGA accounts" for babies. Is this the new GOP consensus? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The United States and China agree to a 90-day rollback of tariffs, signaling a deescalation in the trade war between the two countries. Is this an economic breakthrough or a tactical retreat by Donald Trump? Plus, the Trump administration is considering accepting a new Air Force One from Qatar, but the potential gift comes with ethical questions attached. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After campus agitators make another scene at Columbia University, new Acting President Claire Shipman calls the NYPD, which makes about 80 arrests. Meantime, President Trump escalates his confrontation with Harvard University, threatening to take away its tax exemption, as Education Secretary Linda McMahon tells the school that it shouldn't bother applying for future funding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer announce a preliminary trade deal after the pause on the President’s “Liberation Day” tariffs that caused distress in the financial markets. What does it mean for possible future pacts with Europe and China, and is the U.S.-U.K. agreement a sign of improvisational dealmaking?   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How much progress are Republicans making, as they keep plugging away on legislation to pass their agenda via the Senate's reconciliation process, avoiding a filibuster? Questions that still divide the GOP are whether to reform Medicaid and the SNAP food-stamp program, and what about the SALT deduction and Donald Trump's promise of no taxes on tips and overtime? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hundreds of flights through Newark, N.J., have been disrupted, after an incident in which air-traffic controllers reportedly lost radar and communications for a short time. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said planes weren't in danger, but why can't the U.S. fix this outdated system? Plus, 35 Democrats in the House vote to end California's mandate for electric vehicles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley talks about his book in which he argues that black Americans made faster educational and economic progress before the onset of racial preferences and welfare programs. They also discuss whether it makes sense for colleges to give preferences to students from poor economic backgrounds.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The U.S. economy shrank in the first quarter of 2025, according to data released this week, and public companies on their earnings calls have recently warned about tariff effects, slowing consumer spending, and coming price increases. On the other hand, the jobs figures for April look solid. Yet nobody knows whether President Trump's Liberation Day tariffs are coming back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump removes national security adviser Mike Waltz and his deputy after the Signal chat controversy. What does the move mean for the administration's foreign policy? Plus, House Speaker Mike Johnson gives an update on the “big, beautiful” spending bill tackling defense spending, student loans, and Medicaid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Does the First Amendment give a church the right to open a religious charter school? Or can states require that charter schools be secular, as part of the government's system of public education? The Justices wrestle with those questions in a case from Oklahoma, which could be a landmark ruling, with consequences for nearly four million students who now attend charters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The feds charge a state judge with helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE agents at the courthouse in Milwaukee. Is this an overreach by the Trump administration or a justified response to a violation of the law? Plus, amid President Trump's deal with El Salvador and new confusion about the circumstances of three deported U.S. citizen children, two polls suggest slipping public support. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump ends the first 100 days of his second administration with lower approval ratings than at this point in his first term. Are his tariffs and the economy to blame, and what are some accomplishments so far that could inspire optimism for the rest of his time in office? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Comments (57)

Bhisham Mansukhani

such despicable tone deaf genocidal talk. shame on you genocidal white supremacist trash.

Mar 21st
Reply

Burak

After listening to a lot of episodes, I'm still surprised by how ignorant you can be. The definition of fairness is obvious. You have to be fair, even to a murderer. Just remember what happened to post-WWI Germany after they were humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles.

Sep 29th
Reply

Burak

Funny how you praise debate culture, then immediately label campus protests as antisemitism.

Aug 17th
Reply

Ali Bagheri

is this supposed to be any more partisan?

Jul 31st
Reply

Burak

Alicia should be smart enough to know that anti-Israel≠pro-Hamas. The question is, is she smart enough to know that your listeners are also not dumb?

May 30th
Reply

Vorec6:17

Biden's "brave" visit to Ukraine is courage virtue signaling of strength. Unfortunately everyone can see through the signal to the fact of all his acts of weakness over the last two years.

Feb 23rd
Reply

Jr. Kruger

Zoe Thomas, Zoe Thomas, Zoe Thomas, Zoe Thomas!

Aug 16th
Reply

Taghizadeh MOHAMMADTAGHI

dsdssds

Jun 25th
Reply

Abdikadirm Farah

ILOVE all ask.yhsnks.

Sep 18th
Reply

Gabriella Arroyo

this woman's voice is hurting my ears

Sep 12th
Reply

Bhisham Mansukhani

the comments by the speakers here are sickening where there isn't a single word of acknowlegement for the women in Texas who will suffer. tone deaf idiots.

Sep 6th
Reply

Gabriella Arroyo

this episode is grossly negligent. you're not going to talk about the fact that bezos' "income" is less than 6 figures?

Jun 15th
Reply (2)

Sabine Schnittger

PW is normally good, but I'd call this episode very one-sided and almost blinkered.

Jan 13th
Reply

Marilyn Teague

As usual, taking up for the President. Kim saying it's the democrats fault. Obama? DACA? Trump insited a Resurrection!! Do you understand or care? I can't stand this show.

Jan 8th
Reply

Marilyn Teague

If all the people you talk to don't want the stimulus check or need it they can donate it to a food pantry. LOTS of people need this money. Obviously, not people you talk to.

Dec 23rd
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Steve C

your uk ad for adp says 90 p... it should be pence vs p

Nov 28th
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Ken Feindt

if only the Opinion page of WSJ read the news side of the WSJ so that this Hunter Biden "conspiracy" would be debunked. Maybe this is good for Fox News appearances but as news what a joke. I have been looking for podcasts to hear legitimate discussions from the right but this podcast is not it. Un-subscribing based on this poor and fake reporting.

Oct 24th
Reply

Ken Feindt

Did wall street journal forget Trump backed out of the 2nd debate?

Oct 17th
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Ken Feindt

Kim doesn't think Masks are effective..hahaha what a joke. I had no idea she is both a journalist and a doctor. Masks and distancing reduces the spread and allows economy to stay open. Excuses Excuses.

Oct 6th
Reply

Ken Feindt

Totally gloss over the presidents handling and subsequent COVID-19 diagnosis...what a joke

Oct 2nd
Reply