If you're listening closely to the language currently being used by leaders of the United States and Canada about each other -- what a Republican president once said about the two countries might seem unfamiliar.

The American people know that putting up walls around our country is a prescription for ruin, not renewal.

What the world and the United States need now is more trade and more open trade. And that's why we've pushed for a new GATT round that includes the most ambitious multilateral trade negotiation agenda in history. That's why we've negotiated an historic trade agreement with Canada that will expand jobs, growth, and opportunity on both sides of the border.

That was President Ronald Reagan … March 11th, 1988 .. speaking at the White House with business leaders .. The topic: the recently signed United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement.

Against the backdrop of the current state of U.S.-Canada relations, the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly" look back – to the 1980s … when the tone was different and the policies even more different still.

What did President Reagan say about Canada?

What were his trade policies toward our Northern neighbor?

And what did President Reagan think about tariffs?

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October 31st, 2019.

The U.S. House debates and passes a resolution laying out the rules in the first impeachment inquiry of President Trump.

House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer addresses the House that day — but there's something else on his mind as well:

Today is a serious day. Last night was an extraordinary night. I rise for the millions of people who live in the Washington metropolitan area to congratulate and to exalt with all of our region

on the extraordinary achievement of the Washington Nationals.

What was the Washington Nationals' extraordinary achievement that Congressman Hoyer was talking about?

Find out in the next episode of C-SPAN's "The Weekly"...

Because ... it's our annual baseball episode!

And it's timed for two major events: The podcast drops on opening day of the 2025 baseball season ... and 2025 marks 20 years of baseball back in DC.

So, celebrate both milestones with something special — an oral history! — the biggest moments in Washington Nationals baseball history — as told by Congress.

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On the third day of his second administration, President Trump signed six executive orders. One was: Declassifying files pertaining to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. 

The inclusion of JFK was of particular interest to the C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly."

Three years ago -- in March 2022 — we did an episode marking the 30th anniversary of Oliver Stone's movie "JFK." ... That podcast featured only clips from Oliver Stone talking about "JFK" at the National Press Club. We heard Oliver Stone go after reporters and historians who doubted his conspiracy theory-driven version of the Kennedy assassination.

Now, in preparation for the upcoming assassination records release, this week's episode of "The Weekly" is a new twist on our original Oliver Stone "JFK" podcast... This time, instead of hearing Oliver Stone go after his detractors, we'll hear his detractors go after Oliver Stone.

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Next week is C-SPAN's 46th anniversary…. On March 19th, 1979, House TV began – for the first time Americans could watch live gavel to gavel coverage of the U.S. House floor on their television. … It was Day One of privately funded C-SPAN.

To mark this anniversary on this podcast, we're trying something new.

We asked three of America's greatest political podcasters to pick their favorite moment from the House on TV… We'll play the clip they picked… And then we'll talk to each of them about it.

It's an unrehearsed, free-flowing conversation – about the U.S. House on TV – and three favorite moments.

Our three podcast guests:

• Jen Briney – "Congressional Dish"

• Justin Robert Young – "Politics, Politics, Politics"

• Andrew Heaton – "The Political Orphanage"

Which clip did each podcaster pick?

And why did they pick it?

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When presidents come into office, traditionally their first big speech to Congress is about the budget. Like President Trump this past week.

Instead of a State of the Union address, new presidents share their economic agenda and vision for the coming four years.

And almost always in that big budget speech, they anguish over the escalating national debt.

Like President Ronald Reagan in 1981…

Our national debt is approaching $1 trillion. A few weeks ago I called such a figure, a trillion dollars, incomprehensible, and I've been trying ever since to think of a way to illustrate how big a trillion really is. And the best I could come up with is that if you had a stack of thousand-dollar bills in your hand only 4 inches high, you'd be a millionaire. A trillion dollars would be a stack of thousand-dollar bills 67 miles high. 

And President Bill Clinton in 1993 …

I well remember 12 years ago President Reagan stood at this very podium and told you and the American people that if our national debt were stacked in thousand-dollar bills, the stack would reach 67 miles into space. Well, today that stack would reach 267 miles. 

What have other new presidents said in their economic speeches to Congress about the debt?

Which presidents have blamed other presidents?

And how has rhetoric about the debt changed over past decades in these speeches to Congress?

Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." As we hear new Presidents fret about the debt.

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

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If someone were to ask you: name your favorite moment in Congress involving a character from Saturday Night Live -- how would you respond?

There’s a good chance you would say it was this: Chris Farley – as Speaker Newt Gingrich – with Speaker Newt Gingrich –– August 4th, 1995 … It was the 100th day of the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives. And Chris Farley – dressed up as Newt Gingrich and doing a doing masterful and frenetic impression of the Speaker – in front of the entire Republican conference.

This month, SNL is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

At C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly,” we’re marking an additional anniversary -- 30 years since that iconic moment on Capitol Hill when Chris Farley showed up in Congress as Newt Gingrich.

 What were the resolutions Newt Gingrich, er Chris Farley, introduced that day?

What did Chris Farley say about Democrats?

What did Newt Gingrich think of the impression?

And how hard did Chris Farley bang the speaker’s gavel on the podium?

Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly.”

 It’s part 2 of our look back at the impact Saturday Night Live has had on the U.S. Congress.

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"Saturday Night Live" – The comedy show has been on TV for half a century.

And it seems like Congress has been talking about it for nearly that long.

 Like Democratic Senator Al Gore in 1990: "I saw a television show recently called Saturday Night Live, Mr. President. They have the habit of putting on humorous pretend commercials that look like real commercials."

 And Republican Congressman David Drier in 1993: "Mr. Speaker, more than a few of us in this Chamber are aficionados of a television program known as Saturday Night Live. My friend, from San Diego, even tells me that he has seen it one time"

 As "Saturday Night Live" marks its 50th anniversary … the C-SPAN podcast "The Weekly" marks the many, many times members of Congress talk about it.

 What is it about Saturday Night Live that so interests Congress?

Which SNL skits and characters get their attention?

And – for Al Franken -- which job was more fun: Being a Senator – or working on "Saturday Night Live"?

All that – and much more Congress comedy -- in this week's episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

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Americans are celebrating Valentine's Day. So, let's remember – the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

Here's President Bill Clinton, speaking on February 15th, 1994 – the day after Valentine’s Day, to the law enforcement community in London Ohio …

In the last three decades, violent crimes have increased by 300 percent. Over the last three years, almost a third of Americans have either had themselves or someone in their families victimized by crime. Yesterday was the 65th anniversary of the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago, which captured the entire nation's attention. The country was riveted by the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. Some of you may be old enough to remember it as children; I have seen movies about it. It absolutely galvanized the nation. In 1929, seven people were killed -- that was a massacre in 1929. In most cities today, it's a normal weekend.

Which other politicians have connected the St. Patrick's Day Massacre to policy and legislation?

What do they get right – and what do they get wrong – about Al Capone's involvement?

And what did former Attorney General Merrick Garland get as a farewell gift that is closely associated with the Massacre?

Find out in this week's episode of C-SPAN’s podcast “The Weekly" … as we mark 

a romantic, sweet holiday – when Americans unify by celebrating love and friendship – by remembering a horrific bloody massacre .

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

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You might have seen or heard a new promo spot from C-SPAN – Presidents talking democracy … from Jimmy Carter through Donald Trump ….

Carter: "Democracy is always an unfinished creation"

Reagan: "Democracy is worth dying for"

Bush: "Democracy belongs to us all"

Clinton: "We are here in the sanctuary of democracy"

Bush: "Great responsibilities fall once again to the great democracies"

Obama: "American democracy is bigger than any one person"

Trump: "Freedom and democracy must be constantly guarded and protected"

Biden: "We are still, at our core, a democracy."

Trump: "This is also a massive victory for democracy and for freedom”

The spot ends with our new tagline -- Democracy Unfiltered.

C-SPAN's new slogan reflects what's new in America in 2025: A new presidency, a new Congress, a new moment in politics.

Wondering where those quick clips come from?

What was their context?

And what else did the presidents say about democracy? 

Find out in this week's "Democracy Unfiltered" episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly." 

Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

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Two presidents. Two eulogies. For each other.

Political opponents who became friends. Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.

Here's Jimmy Carter's eulogy for Gerald Ford in 2007.

For myself and for our nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land."

Those were the first words I spoke as president. And I still hate to admit that they received more applause than any other words in my inaugural address.

And here's Gerald Ford, through his son Steven, in 2025

As for myself, Jimmy, I'm looking forward to our reunion. We have much to catch up on. Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome home, old friend.

 Jimmy Carter – a Democrat - and Gerald Ford – a Republican - ran against each in 1976.

 So how did they become friends?

And how did they end up writing eulogies for each other?

And – what did they say about each other?

Find out in the latest episode of C-SPAN's podcast "The Weekly."

 Find C-SPAN's "The Weekly" wherever you get podcasts.

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