Washington Week with The Atlantic
@washingtonweekpbs.bsky.social
Analysis of the week's top stories by the best reporters in Washington. Moderated by The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg. Friday nights at 8/7c on PBS.
With the longest government shutdown in U.S. history still ongoing, more Americans are feeling the effects. Major airports have begun cutting thousands of flights, and millions who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program face growing uncertainty.
November 9, 2025 at 6:48 PM
With the longest government shutdown in U.S. history still ongoing, more Americans are feeling the effects. Major airports have begun cutting thousands of flights, and millions who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program face growing uncertainty.
Tonight on Washington Week, we took a moment to remember the life of Paul Ignatius, former Secretary of the Navy and father of David Ignatius, who died this week at 104.
November 8, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Tonight on Washington Week, we took a moment to remember the life of Paul Ignatius, former Secretary of the Navy and father of David Ignatius, who died this week at 104.
"[Dick Cheney] was such a giant in the Bush years. I mean, first of all, there's never been a vice president like him in terms of power, in terms of profile, in terms of the agenda he had, but also, he so welcomed the Darth Vader image," said @markleibovich.bsky.social.
November 8, 2025 at 1:53 AM
"[Dick Cheney] was such a giant in the Bush years. I mean, first of all, there's never been a vice president like him in terms of power, in terms of profile, in terms of the agenda he had, but also, he so welcomed the Darth Vader image," said @markleibovich.bsky.social.
"There's going to be a battle for the soul of the [Democratic] party," said David Ignatius.
"[What] is probably going to be the unifying spirit for the party is be local, you know, don't get dragged down by the issues that were so prominent in 2024."
"[What] is probably going to be the unifying spirit for the party is be local, you know, don't get dragged down by the issues that were so prominent in 2024."
November 8, 2025 at 1:41 AM
"There's going to be a battle for the soul of the [Democratic] party," said David Ignatius.
"[What] is probably going to be the unifying spirit for the party is be local, you know, don't get dragged down by the issues that were so prominent in 2024."
"[What] is probably going to be the unifying spirit for the party is be local, you know, don't get dragged down by the issues that were so prominent in 2024."
"The idea that the administration has chosen to not find money to fund the food assistance program for some 42 million Americans, 1 in 8 Americans, but they have found money for military payments and ICE officers and others — that's a choice," said @jeffzeleny.bsky.social.
November 8, 2025 at 1:20 AM
"The idea that the administration has chosen to not find money to fund the food assistance program for some 42 million Americans, 1 in 8 Americans, but they have found money for military payments and ICE officers and others — that's a choice," said @jeffzeleny.bsky.social.
"We're 38 days into a government shutdown. It is really starting to hit the American public. People are starting to feel it, and, you know, probably most impactfully, are the people who can't afford food, who are on food stamps, the SNAP program," said @lacaldwelldc.bsky.social.
November 8, 2025 at 1:18 AM
"We're 38 days into a government shutdown. It is really starting to hit the American public. People are starting to feel it, and, you know, probably most impactfully, are the people who can't afford food, who are on food stamps, the SNAP program," said @lacaldwelldc.bsky.social.
As President Donald Trump traveled back from Asia last week, he wrote on Truth Social that he has "instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately."
November 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
As President Donald Trump traveled back from Asia last week, he wrote on Truth Social that he has "instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately."
"The nuclear option would be ending the filibuster," said Paul Beckett.
"The Republican leadership in the Senate doesn't want to end it. Neither party in the Senate wants to end it. ... There's very little appetite in the Senate for ending this procedure."
"The Republican leadership in the Senate doesn't want to end it. Neither party in the Senate wants to end it. ... There's very little appetite in the Senate for ending this procedure."
November 1, 2025 at 12:29 AM
"The nuclear option would be ending the filibuster," said Paul Beckett.
"The Republican leadership in the Senate doesn't want to end it. Neither party in the Senate wants to end it. ... There's very little appetite in the Senate for ending this procedure."
"The Republican leadership in the Senate doesn't want to end it. Neither party in the Senate wants to end it. ... There's very little appetite in the Senate for ending this procedure."
What impacts can we expect in the next few days from the government shutdown?
"The threat to Thanksgiving travel ... if air traffic controllers are not showing up."
"The other real-world consequences involve nutrition assistance," said Jeff Mason.
"The threat to Thanksgiving travel ... if air traffic controllers are not showing up."
"The other real-world consequences involve nutrition assistance," said Jeff Mason.
November 1, 2025 at 12:21 AM
What impacts can we expect in the next few days from the government shutdown?
"The threat to Thanksgiving travel ... if air traffic controllers are not showing up."
"The other real-world consequences involve nutrition assistance," said Jeff Mason.
"The threat to Thanksgiving travel ... if air traffic controllers are not showing up."
"The other real-world consequences involve nutrition assistance," said Jeff Mason.
"This is actually in Project 2025. This is one of the proposals — to resume bomb testing. It's very controversial with nuclear experts," said Andrea Mitchell.
"So you're sending a signal that we don't have an understanding."
"So you're sending a signal that we don't have an understanding."
November 1, 2025 at 12:15 AM
"This is actually in Project 2025. This is one of the proposals — to resume bomb testing. It's very controversial with nuclear experts," said Andrea Mitchell.
"So you're sending a signal that we don't have an understanding."
"So you're sending a signal that we don't have an understanding."
"The President really did seem to be enjoying himself on this [Asia] trip," said @seungminkim1.bsky.social.
"But now, especially that world leaders have learned to pull out all the stops for President Trump, he's really having a good time."
"But now, especially that world leaders have learned to pull out all the stops for President Trump, he's really having a good time."
November 1, 2025 at 12:08 AM
"The President really did seem to be enjoying himself on this [Asia] trip," said @seungminkim1.bsky.social.
"But now, especially that world leaders have learned to pull out all the stops for President Trump, he's really having a good time."
"But now, especially that world leaders have learned to pull out all the stops for President Trump, he's really having a good time."
TONIGHT: Paul Beckett, Jeff Mason, Seung Min Kim and Andrea Mitchell join guest moderator Vivian Salama to discuss whether it’s time for President Trump to get directly involved in funding talks as millions of Americans are about to lose critical federal aid.
Watch at 8/7c on PBS
Watch at 8/7c on PBS
October 31, 2025 at 10:00 PM
TONIGHT: Paul Beckett, Jeff Mason, Seung Min Kim and Andrea Mitchell join guest moderator Vivian Salama to discuss whether it’s time for President Trump to get directly involved in funding talks as millions of Americans are about to lose critical federal aid.
Watch at 8/7c on PBS
Watch at 8/7c on PBS
This week saw the demolition of the White House’s East Wing as part of construction on President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom.
The project is the largest structural change to the White House since 1948, when President Harry Truman added a balcony overlooking the South Lawn.
The project is the largest structural change to the White House since 1948, when President Harry Truman added a balcony overlooking the South Lawn.
October 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This week saw the demolition of the White House’s East Wing as part of construction on President Donald Trump’s $300 million ballroom.
The project is the largest structural change to the White House since 1948, when President Harry Truman added a balcony overlooking the South Lawn.
The project is the largest structural change to the White House since 1948, when President Harry Truman added a balcony overlooking the South Lawn.
@sbg1.bsky.social: "Not only is Trump ignoring the bigger national security threats, but it seems to be part of a conscious shift in the administration's view of what is national security."
"What you're seeing is the pivoting of the role of the U.S. military … to a focus on the Western Hemisphere."
"What you're seeing is the pivoting of the role of the U.S. military … to a focus on the Western Hemisphere."
October 25, 2025 at 1:01 AM
@sbg1.bsky.social: "Not only is Trump ignoring the bigger national security threats, but it seems to be part of a conscious shift in the administration's view of what is national security."
"What you're seeing is the pivoting of the role of the U.S. military … to a focus on the Western Hemisphere."
"What you're seeing is the pivoting of the role of the U.S. military … to a focus on the Western Hemisphere."
Toluse Olorunnipa: "When you think about the 250 years of this country's history, ... one of the reasons that the founders ... didn't put all of these things in writing was because there were checks and balances."
October 25, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Toluse Olorunnipa: "When you think about the 250 years of this country's history, ... one of the reasons that the founders ... didn't put all of these things in writing was because there were checks and balances."
David Ignatius: "This is the People's House, and [President Trump] is treating it like his own personal property. He's treating every part of the government like his own personal property."
@peterbakernyt.bsky.social: "They didn't announce [the East Wing demolition]. They tried to hide it."
@peterbakernyt.bsky.social: "They didn't announce [the East Wing demolition]. They tried to hide it."
October 25, 2025 at 12:49 AM
David Ignatius: "This is the People's House, and [President Trump] is treating it like his own personal property. He's treating every part of the government like his own personal property."
@peterbakernyt.bsky.social: "They didn't announce [the East Wing demolition]. They tried to hide it."
@peterbakernyt.bsky.social: "They didn't announce [the East Wing demolition]. They tried to hide it."
"Seeing the White House being torn down in a way that was never expected, in the way that [President Trump] promised that he wouldn't do, I think that was a big shock to a lot of people," said Toluse Olorunnipa.
October 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
"Seeing the White House being torn down in a way that was never expected, in the way that [President Trump] promised that he wouldn't do, I think that was a big shock to a lot of people," said Toluse Olorunnipa.
"Washington's a historic city, and if you try to change your door or your front yard in a lot of different parts of the city, you would have to go through a whole big bureaucratic process," said @peterbakernyt.bsky.social.
"Not if you're President of the United States, it turns out."
"Not if you're President of the United States, it turns out."
October 25, 2025 at 12:20 AM
"Washington's a historic city, and if you try to change your door or your front yard in a lot of different parts of the city, you would have to go through a whole big bureaucratic process," said @peterbakernyt.bsky.social.
"Not if you're President of the United States, it turns out."
"Not if you're President of the United States, it turns out."
During tonight’s episode of Washington Week with The Atlantic, moderator Jeffrey Goldberg shared an update about the show’s backdrop.
October 25, 2025 at 12:13 AM
During tonight’s episode of Washington Week with The Atlantic, moderator Jeffrey Goldberg shared an update about the show’s backdrop.
The Pentagon press corps vacated their workspaces and exited the building last week, after most news organizations rejected the Defense Department's new media rules and refused to sign documents acknowledging the policy.
October 19, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The Pentagon press corps vacated their workspaces and exited the building last week, after most news organizations rejected the Defense Department's new media rules and refused to sign documents acknowledging the policy.
"In the time since we have been evicted, we had journalists do exceptional coverage just this week," said @nancyayoussef.bsky.social.
"In this bid to sort of limit our ability to do our jobs, I think we also saw a press corps this week that continued doing their job."
"In this bid to sort of limit our ability to do our jobs, I think we also saw a press corps this week that continued doing their job."
October 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"In the time since we have been evicted, we had journalists do exceptional coverage just this week," said @nancyayoussef.bsky.social.
"In this bid to sort of limit our ability to do our jobs, I think we also saw a press corps this week that continued doing their job."
"In this bid to sort of limit our ability to do our jobs, I think we also saw a press corps this week that continued doing their job."
"What's important about the Tomahawks isn't the weapon and what it can do ... what's important is the symbolism — you know, the fact that the U.S. is giving a sophisticated weapon to Ukraine," said @anneapplebaum.bsky.social.
October 18, 2025 at 12:46 AM
"What's important about the Tomahawks isn't the weapon and what it can do ... what's important is the symbolism — you know, the fact that the U.S. is giving a sophisticated weapon to Ukraine," said @anneapplebaum.bsky.social.
When a chief executive deploys prosecutors to go after his political enemies, what do you call that?
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social: "I call that not rule 'of' law ... but rule 'by' law."
Stephen Hayes: "I think the only question is who and how can we stop him?"
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social: "I call that not rule 'of' law ... but rule 'by' law."
Stephen Hayes: "I think the only question is who and how can we stop him?"
October 18, 2025 at 12:46 AM
When a chief executive deploys prosecutors to go after his political enemies, what do you call that?
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social: "I call that not rule 'of' law ... but rule 'by' law."
Stephen Hayes: "I think the only question is who and how can we stop him?"
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social: "I call that not rule 'of' law ... but rule 'by' law."
Stephen Hayes: "I think the only question is who and how can we stop him?"
"Prior to ... President Trump's call with Putin yesterday, there was an expectation that the U.S. was going to give Ukraine Tomahawks, which it has desperately wanted to fire these long-range missiles into deeper targets in Russia," said @tylerpager.bsky.social.
October 18, 2025 at 12:22 AM
"Prior to ... President Trump's call with Putin yesterday, there was an expectation that the U.S. was going to give Ukraine Tomahawks, which it has desperately wanted to fire these long-range missiles into deeper targets in Russia," said @tylerpager.bsky.social.
"It's a whole other level of difficulty in there — you know, as an alliance, an actual alliance between the U.S. and Israel — that there really isn't between the U.S. and Russia right now, though Donald Trump wants to be on friendly terms with Vladimir Putin," said Stephen Hayes.
October 18, 2025 at 12:21 AM
"It's a whole other level of difficulty in there — you know, as an alliance, an actual alliance between the U.S. and Israel — that there really isn't between the U.S. and Russia right now, though Donald Trump wants to be on friendly terms with Vladimir Putin," said Stephen Hayes.