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President Trump seemed to catch his critics off guard Tuesday evening, as he gave an address to a joint session of Congress that lacked finger-pointing or vitriol. NPR’s Ron Elving makes a return visit to the Political Junkie with analysis of Trump’s remarks and observations about the President’s tone. There was something new about the Democrats as well: …
Eight years ago, when conservatives felt that President Obama was taking the country in the wrong direction and Republicans in Congress were being too accommodating, the Tea Party was formed. Now, it’s the left that is unhappy with the Trump administration and prepared to take action to stop it. Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive …
Andrew Puzder, President Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, removed his name from consideration moments after this week’s program was concluded. Nonetheless, there was still plenty to talk about, especially in light of Michael Flynn’s resignation as national security adviser. Aaron Blake of the Washington Post fills us in with the details of Flynn’s departure, as …
It was history in the making in the Senate, as Betsy DeVos was confirmed as secretary of education thanks to a tiebreaking vote by Vice President Pence. It was the first time that a member of the Cabinet was decided by the vote of a VP. Ed O’Keefe of the Washington Post notes, however, that if Democrats couldn’t defeat …
If you had to find the main headline of President Trump’s first two weeks, you’d have to lead with his announcement on Tuesday that Judge Neil Gorsuch of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is his nominee to replace Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. Robert Barnes of the Washington Post tells us who Gorsuch is and what the prospects …
Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th President … and wasted no time in making the changes he said he would do. But he also remains unable or unwilling, to let go of personal grievances and slights. Aaron Blake of the Washington Post gives an assessment after less than a week of the Trump presidency. While there’s …
With just days to go before Donald Trump is sworn in, Matthew Dallek of George Washington University talks about the history of inaugurations — including his choice of some of the more memorable ones. And while we will have a new president on Friday, it’s less sure when the new Cabinet will be in place; some of Trump’s …
It was a week of beginnings and endings. President-elect Donald Trump held his first press conference since July, a raucous event held at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Janet Hook of the Wall Street Journal is here with a scorecard. And President Obama gave his Farewell Address, a speech before 20,000 adoring supporters in Chicago, where he not only reminded …
Happy New Year! President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is just weeks away. Neal Conan, the former host of Talk of the Nation, joins us for a recap of 2016, and how the early goings of 2017 are shaping up. Bob Schieffer, the former host of CBS’ Face the Nation, talks about how he prepared for his …
Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Gonzales Political Report and Jill Lawrence of USA Today join Political Junkie Ken Rudin for a look back at the giants in the political world who passed away this year — it’s the 2016 Political Junkie Remembrances Special. Among those whose careers were remembered include Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, former Attorney General Janet …