Face the Nation Moderator Margaret Brennan went to Williamsburg, Virginia to interview former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on how today's threats compare with those of the past. Before retiring from public service, Gates served under eight different presidents from both political parties. He's now the chancellor of William & Mary. The former secretary said we are facing aggressive nuclear powers, both in Europe and in Asia, collaborating like never before. He also discussed President Trump's trip to the Middle East and what current policy decisions mean for the broader region. This is an extended version of the full interview with Former Secretary Gates, a portion of which aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 18, 2025.

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This week on Face the Nation, President Trump is back from the Middle East and facing new headwinds on the domestic front, especially on the economy and working with Congress to fund the president’s agenda. While the president's whirlwind deal-seeking trip to some of the monied parts of the region may be over, his efforts pushing for cease-fire deals in both Gaza and Ukraine are stepping up, as the fighting in both conflicts intensifies. We'll speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio exclusively on the latest on both fronts. We'll also get the worldview of former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as he assesses the modern challenges America faces.  Plus, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink and retired Army General Stanley McChrystal join us. Finally, Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen tells us more about the fight ahead in Congress over that high-stakes spending package to implement the president’s campaign promises. 

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Newly-elected Pope Leo XIV became the first American to lead the world’s Catholic faithful. This is an extended version of Ed O’Keefe’s full interview with U.S. Cardinal Blase Cupich on the future of the Catholic Church, a portion of which aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 11, 2025. 

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After another air traffic control blackout at Newark airport, are our skies safe? This is an extended version of Ed O’Keefe’s full interview with Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, a portion of which aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 11, 2025. 

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This week on Face the Nation, the papal conclave comes to a surprise ending. After recent air traffic control blackouts at Newark airport, are our skies safe?  Will travelers see more airline delays or higher ticket prices this summer?  We talk to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. Plus, surprise and jubilation here in the U.S. and at the Vatican on the selection of a new pope, the first-ever American in Church history. What kind of impact will Pope Leo XIV, with his American roots and Peruvian ties, have on the Catholic Church?  We talk to Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich. Then, as President Trump prepares for his first formal international trip, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's open to peace talks with the Ukrainians, as tensions rise between India and Pakistan.  Texas Republican Congressman Mike McCaul, New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and British Ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, will all weigh in on the news of the week. 

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This week on Face the Nation, President Trump begins the next phase of his agenda with a key staff shakeup. Mike Waltz is out as National Security Adviser, and Secretary Marco Rubio is in, adding another job to his growing list of responsibilities. With Trump's push for a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia's war in Ukraine, we'll ask Republican Mike Turner about the impact of the shuffle. We'll also get insights from one of Trump's national security advisers in his first term, retired Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster. Plus, Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth will join us with an update on the Armed Services Committee's bipartisan request for a probe into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's conduct. As the U.S. and Ukraine finalize their new economic deal, what does that mean for the security relationship between the two countries? We'll get the latest and more from Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova. And finally, as President Trump seeks to end federal funding to public broadcasting, we'll ask NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS CEO Paula Kerger about the impact and how they plan to fight back.

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President Trump said last week that the Kremlin occupation of Crimea is not being discussed right now, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tells "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" that the occupation is a "done deal." Russia does not "negotiate its own territory," Lavrov said. Russian President Vladimir Putin forcibly took the territory from Ukraine in 2014, and returning the territory is considered a red line for Ukraine.

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This week on Face the Nation, as Trump 2.0 nears the 100 day mark, what do Americans think of the job he's doing? As the impact of those changes are now being felt from coast to coast, what kind of progress report is America giving President Trump on the issues that got him elected, like the economy and border security? 

We'll check in with the first term head of Trump's national economic council Gary Cohn and the administration's point person on immigration, Border Czar Tom Homan.  

Plus, what about Trump's campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine on day one?  Mr. Trump has been pushing hard for a cease fire, but he's frustrated with the pace of negotiations and the parties involved.  In a rare interview, we talked with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov who gave us some insights from the Kremlin. 

Finally, as embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues the fight to keep his job, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen weighs in on the impact of the chaos at the Pentagon.  

It's all just ahead on Face the Nation.

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This week on Face the Nation, the Trump's administration's showdown with the courts over deportations, and a closer look at Trump's agenda on education, environmental policy and more. In a rare overnight ruling, Supreme Court justices blocked the Trump administration's plans to deport a group of Venezuelans held at a detention facility in Texas. Trump also deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia -- a Maryland resident who officials admit was expelled by mistake. Senator Chris Van Hollen is just back from visiting Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, we ask him what's next. Then, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is violating its own "Easter truce." And as President Trump signals the U.S. may walk away from its push for peace negotiations, we check in with Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, who's just back from a trip to Ukraine's front line. Plus, we talk with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey about her state's fight with Washington over higher education and more. And Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee joins us with an update on the economy. Finally, ahead of Earth Day, we hear from the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin.

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An extended version of Margaret Brennan's full interview with Dr. Peter Marks, the former head of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, a portion of which aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on April 13, 2025. 

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