Washington Today

Senate Democrats say they will block six-month CR to avert shutdown unless there is a vote on one-month CR; President Trump responds to reports that half of the Education Department's workforce is being fired; Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the effect of a CR on military readiness; Secretary of State Marco Rubio with an update on the Ukraine war 30 day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has accepted and is now being considered by Russia; court hearing for a Palestinian student activist at Columbia University who has had his green card revoked by the Trump Administration for demonstrations against the war in Gaza; Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin makes the annual St. Patrick's Day pilgrimage to Washington to meet with President Trump, and give him a bowl of shamrock, and attend luncheon with the President and Congressional leaders; interview with USA Today international correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard about what Greenland's election results mean for President Trump's stated goal of making the territory part of the U.S. (45); Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announces she is not running for reelection in 2026.

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House passes a six-month extension of federal government funding (Continuing Resolution or CR) to prevent a government shutdown on Friday; President Donald Trump announces a doubling of tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, latest escalation in the trade war. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the previously announced 25% tariff on electricity to the U.S. will be suspended while further trade negotiations continue; White House reacts to Elon Musk comments about Social Security and other entitlements being the 'big ones' to find savings; Elon Musk joins President Trump at White House to buy a Tesla car; Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia and announces Ukraine has agreed to a 30 day ceasefire with Russia and the U.S. will resume military intelligence sharing with Ukraine; NTSB releases a preliminary report on the deadly helicopter & plane collision in January near Reagan National Airport and calls for a permanent change in the routes around that airport after finding a high risk of another collision.

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We are less than 5 days away from a potential government shutdown. The House rules committee is meeting this afternoon to set up floor debate for a bill that will fund the federal government until September 30th. That bill is expected to hit the House floor tomorrow. But passage is still not a sure thing. One House Republican says he will be voting no while several others are still undecided. House Democratic leaders say they'll be sticking together to vote no.

Markets continued their sell-off today, Marketwatch.com reporting that the Nasdaq recorded its worst day since 2020 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost 900 points amid fears of a recession. Meanwhile, President Trump says the tariffs he imposed and then adjusted on Mexico and Canada are part of his long-term strategy.

 And Canada has chosen its new leader. His name is Mark Carney and fighting back against those tariffs were a big part of his victory speech last night.

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In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman discusses his book, "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine." Then, Jack Brewer, former NFL player and chair of the Jack Brewer Foundation, discusses issues impacting Black men and boys in the U.S. Finally, U.S. Comptroller General and head of the Government Accountability Office, Gene Dodaro (doh-DAR-oh) discusses the GAO's latest report on federal programs deemed at high risk for mismanagement, fraud and waste.

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and President Trump on February jobs report, tariffs; House leaders on government funding deadline in one week; 'Stand Up for Science' rally in DC to oppose Trump Administration spending cuts to federal science agencies; President Trump hosts White House Digital Assets Summit; President Trump threatens sanctions on Russia over war in Ukraine; Sen. Tuberville supports making Daylight Saving Time permanent.

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Tense arguments on House floor after voting to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX), President Trump gives one month delay on tariffs on Mexico; Senate Democrats react to reports of a pending Presidential Executive Order to close down the Education Department; Congress passes bill to reverse Biden Administration archaeological assessment regulation for offshore drilling; FDA Commissioner nominee testifies on trust in science and rules for dispensing the abortion drug mifepristone; Steve Witkoff, Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East on President Trump's "last warning" to Hamas to release hostages; Ukrainian President Zelensky meets European leaders on a military aid package.

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President Donald Trump grants a one-month exemption on tariffs on automobile imports from Mexico and Canada to the Big Three U.S. car companies; House Republicans move to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX) after his extended protest during President Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress; Vice President JD Vance visits the U.S.-Mexico in Texas to discuss the administration's border security and immigration policy; Democratic mayors of New York City, Chicago, Boston and Denver testify in Washington before a House committee about their "sanctuary city" immigration policies; NIH Director nominee Dr. Jay Bhattacharya testifies before the Senate Health Committee about vaccines and autism, and cuts to the NIH research budget; National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on when U.S. talks with Ukraine on ending the Russia-Ukraine war may resume; new Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX) dies.

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President Donald Trump delivers a speech to a joint session of Congress; Canada, Mexico and China retaliate against President Trump's tariffs; Supreme Court hears a case filed by Mexico against U.S. gun manufacturers for violence in Mexico; Vice President JD Vance defends pause on U.S. military aid to Ukraine; Mardi Gras on Capitol Hill.

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President Trump said today that tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada would go into effect tomorrow. The announcement ended a month-long delay after both U.S. neighbors struck temporary deals to avoid the new tariffs.

The President also said he doesn’t think a proposed investment deal to secure access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals is dead and---in a social media post--- that the US will QUOTE not put up” with perceived resistance by President Volodymyr Zelensky to end Russia's war with Ukraine.

Meanwhile, in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced today a coalition of the willing to advance peace following a meeting in London with European and Canadian leaders.

The President's comments come as he prepares a speech to Congress tomorrow. It's expected that a large part of his speech will be about his domestic agenda. 

And just 11 more days until a possible government shutdown. Punchbowl News is reporting that House Republican leaders don’t plan on putting a continuing resolution on the floor until early next week. 

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In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal.

First, a discussion with Brookings Institution's Elaine Kamarck (KAY-mark), in which she compares the Trump Administration's efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, to a similar effort she made in the Clinton Administration.

Then, Run GenZ Founder and President Joseph Mitchell discusses his organization's effort into recruiting and training young conservatives into political office.

Finally, Breaking Defense Editor in Chief Aaron Mehta (MEH-tuh) discusses President Trump's firings of Pentagon leaders, his nomination of retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine to be the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and potential budget cuts at the department.

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