2008 JULY
July 4, 2008

Analysts Consider Obama on Iraq, Legacy of Jesse Helms
Columnist Mark Shields and Ramesh Ponnuru debate the potential impact of presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama's statements on Iraq and other news, including the death of former senator Jesse Helms.

  

JUNE
June 27, 2008

Shields, Brooks Take Up Campaign News, Court Rulings
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama campaigned with former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton at a rally Friday in Unity, N.H. and the Supreme Court issues a week of weighty decisions. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks examine the week's political news.

  

June 20, 2008

Shields, Brooks Discuss Obama's Fundraising Shift, McCain's Energy Proposal
Tensions between the presumptive presidential nominees escalated over Sen. Barack Obama's refusal of public funds and Sen. John McCain's call to lift a ban on offshore drilling. Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the political news of the week.

  

June 13, 2008

Shields, Brooks Mull Campaigns, Reflect on Russert's Life
Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks weigh campaign news as the race between Barack Obama and John McCain gains steam, and they reflect on the career of NBC's Tim Russert, who died Friday from an apparent heart attack.

  

June 6, 2008

Obama, McCain Plot Campaign Strategies as Clinton Exits
With the Democratic primary race in the rear-view mirror, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are trading the opening shots of their general election campaigns. Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks assess the political road ahead.

  

MAY
May 30, 2008

Democrats Face Turning Point in Fla., Mich. Delegate Debate
On Saturday, the Democratic rules committee will meet to decide the fate of the delegates chosen in renegade primaries in Michigan and Florida -- a critical moment in the race between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Mark Shields and David Brooks examine the Democratic race.

  

May 23, 2008

Clinton Gaffe, McCain Health Records Top Campaign News
As Sen. Hillary Clinton apologized for citing the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy as a rationale for staying in the race, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama took harder punches at one another in the presidential contest. Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the news from the trail.

  

May 16, 2008

Analysts Weigh Bush-Obama Spat, Democratic Race
President Bush's comments about "appeasement" of dictators touched off a firestorm on the presidential campaign trail. Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the remarks, as well as Hillary Clinton's West Virginia win and recent GOP losses in state contests.

  

May 9, 2008

Shields and Brooks Examine Impact of Epic Contest
After Sen. Barack Obama won handily in North Carolina's primary and rival Sen. Hillary Clinton scored a narrow victory in Indiana, many pundits called for Clinton to exit the race and bring the Democratic battle to a close. Mark Shields and David Brooks analyze the state of the race and the rest of the week's news.

  

May 2, 2008

Shields, Brooks Debate New Polls, Rev. Wright and Gas Tax
With North Carolina and Indiana preparing to vote, columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss if Rev. Wright, the gas tax holiday or the economy may prove decisive in Tuesday's balloting.

  

APRIL
April 25, 2008

As Democrats Battle On, Shields and Brooks Size Up Tactics
Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are turning their attention to Indiana and North Carolina as the battle for the Democratic nomination rolls on while GOP Sen. John McCain has sought to hone his political message on the campaign trail. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's political news.

  

April 18, 2008

Clinton, Obama Enter Final Stretch in Pa. Primary Fight
For the first time in six weeks, Democratic voters will once again cast ballots in the hotly contested Pennsylvania primary Tuesday. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the state of the campaign and assess the fallout from Wednesday's debate in Philadelphia.

  

April 11, 2008

In Wake of Iraq Report, Troop Levels Stir Debate
This week, Gen. David Petraeus and Amb. Ryan Crocker spoke to Congressional panels about the current situation in Iraq and President Bush backed shorter Iraq troop tours. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week in the news.

  

April 4, 2008

Bleak U.S. Economic Outlook Stirs Recession Fears, Candidate Proposals
Large jobs loses, stock market tremors and a slumping housing market continued to build fears this week of a recession. NewsHour analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the latest economic developments and reflect on the Martin Luther King, Jr. anniversary.

  

MARCH
March 28, 2008

Iraq, Democratic Rivalry Top the Week's Headlines
New violence in Iraq pitted security forces against Shiite militias, likely GOP nominee Sen. John McCain outlined his foreign policy plans and Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean called for a cooling of the rhetoric between presidential rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week.

  

March 21, 2008

Shields and Brooks Weigh Obama's Speech, Iraq War
This week, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama delivered a high-profile speech on race in America and the Iraq war reached the five-year mark and U.S. economic anxieties continued to mount. Analysts David Brooks and Mark Shields reflect on the news of the week.

  

March 14, 2008

Shields and Brooks Mull Economic Woes, Delegate Showdown
More gloomy news emerged about the U.S. economy this week while Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama braced for a tight battle for delegates -- and debated whether Florida and Michigan should re-do their primaries. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the week in the news.

  

March 7, 2008

Shields, Brooks Weigh Democrats' Delegate Disputes
The fight for the Democratic nomination was shaken up once again this week as Hillary Clinton defeated Barack Obama in the Ohio and Texas primaries. Also, Florida and Michigan might hold new primaries after they were stripped of their delegates for holding early contests. Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.

  

FEBRUARY
February 29, 2008

With Texas and Ohio on Horizon, Shields and Brooks Assess the Race
Amid worsening economic reports and tightening poll numbers, the primary race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton entered a critical weekend ahead of primary votes in Texas and Ohio. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks provide their take on the week.

  

February 22, 2008

Shields, Brooks Mull Democratic Race, McCain Media Flap
This week, Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama debated in Texas before the state's primary, questions surfaced in the New York Times about presumptive GOP nominee John McCain's ties to a lobbyist and Cuban leader Fidel Castro stepped down. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.

  

February 15, 2008

Analysts Discuss Campaign News, Clemens Hearing
Presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., released a negative campaign ad, prominent lawmakers reconsidered their endorsements and Congress questioned pitcher Roger Clemens over steroid use allegations. Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.

  

February 1, 2008

Shields and Brooks Weigh '08 Race, Stimulus Debate
The 2008 presidential race saw more shake-ups this week with the exits of candidates John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani, while lawmakers debated the best way for the government to help boost an ailing economy. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.

  

JANUARY
January 25, 2008

Amid Tensions on the Trail, Democrats Head Into S.C. Contest
Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were on the offensive this week, gearing up for Saturday's South Carolina primary contest, as tumbles in world financial markets prompted new efforts in Congress for an economic stimulus. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week in the news.

  

January 18, 2008

Candidates Gear Up for Nevada, S.C. Nominating Contests
Ahead of the Nevada and South Carolina contests, presidential candidates are making last-minute pitches and voters are mulling their picks. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the week's news, including how issues like the economy may factor in at the polls.

  

January 11, 2008

Shields and Brooks Weigh Primaries, Chance of Bloomberg Bid
With the Iowa and New Hampshire nominating contests now complete and with several GOP and Democratic candidates still in contention to be their party's front-runner, analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks reflect on the week in political news and weigh speculation of an independent run by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

  

2007 DECEMBER
December 28, 2007

'08 Candidates Speak Out on Pakistan, Prepare for Iowa
After a report on how presidential candidates are responding to the week's events in Pakistan, analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the news of the week, including the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and the upcoming Iowa caucuses.

  

December 21, 2007

Campaigns Launch Holiday Ads; Dems Assess Year in Power
As presidential candidates grappled with shifting polls and new strategies for a condensed primary season, Democrats in Congress squared off with a unified Republican minority over spending priorities. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks examine the week in the news.

  

December 14, 2007

Shields and Brooks Mull Iowa Election Push, Baseball Scandal
The final Republican and Democratic debates took place in Iowa this week ahead of the state's Jan. 3 caucus, a spending fight continued in Congress and a report brought new focus on the use of steroids in professional baseball. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the events of the week.

  

December 7, 2007

Shields and Brooks Weigh CIA Tapes, U.S. Policy on Iran
CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden said his agency had destroyed tapes of terror suspect interrogations, a new report revealed surprising information on Iran's nuclear program and presidential candidate Mitt Romney discussed his Mormon faith in a key speech. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week in the news.

  

NOVEMBER
November 30, 2007

Shields and Lowry Weigh Republican Debate, Mideast Summit
Republican candidates clashed over immigration issues in a heated debate this week, a U.S.-backed Mideast peace summit was held in Annapolis, Md., and Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., announced he would step down from a 35-year career in Congress by the year's end. Mark Shields and Rich Lowry offer analysis of the week in the news.

  

November 23, 2007

Shields and Brooks Mull '08 Race, Pace of Economy
With Iowa's Jan. 3 presidential caucus quickly approaching, new opinion polls show a tightening Democratic race and quickly changing Republican field. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the latest news from the 2008 campaign trail and other news stories of the week.

  

November 16, 2007

Democrats Square-Off in Vegas Debate; U.S. Envoy Puts Pressure on Pakistan
Democratic candidates debated their policy views in heated exchanges in Thursday's Las Vegas debate and political turmoil engulfed Pakistan, straining its relations with the United States. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks look at the week's news.

  

November 9, 2007

Shields, Brooks Consider Mukasey Vote, Kerik Indictment
Michael Mukasey was sworn in as Attorney General on Friday after a divided Senate confirmation vote and former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news.

  

November 2, 2007

Mukasey Questioned on Torture, Clinton Attacked by Opposition
This week, lawmakers questioned Attorney General-nominee Michael Mukasey's stance on torture tactics and Democratic presidential hopefuls stepped up attacks on front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton. Analysts Mark Shields and Rich Lowry discuss the week's developments.