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Welcome to The PBS NewsHour's Political Wrap page where contributors share their stories and thoughts on various issues.

Photo of David Brooks, Mark Shields, and Judy Woodruff


	2013 MAY May 24, 2013 Brooks and Marcus Discuss Obama's National Security Address, Disaster Spending New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus discuss the week's top political news with Judy Woodruff, including President Barack Obama's speech on refining the fight against terrorism, controversies at the IRS and the Justice Department and the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma.

	May 10, 2013 Shields and Gerson on Immigration Debate, Benghazi Hearings, Sanford's Comeback Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson discuss the immigration reform bill's first day in Congress, Congressional hearings on the security leading up to the consulate attack in Benghazi and handling of the facts afterwards, as well as Mark Sanford's political victory in South Carolina.

	May 3, 2013 Shields and Gerson on Jobs Report Progress, Presidential 'Juice' Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson discuss the boost in the latest jobs report, President Barack Obama's effectiveness at the start of his second term, and political partisanship in battles over gun control and immigration reform.



	APRIL April 26, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Bush Legacy, NFL Draft Musings by syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks on the sport of politics and politics of sport, including the legacy of former President George W. Bush and the NFL draft.

	April 26, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Red Line Reluctance, Flexibility on FAA Furloughs Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk with Judy Woodruff about President Barack Obama's "red line" on Syria, the FAA furlough deal in Congress, repercussions of the Boston Marathon attack and George W. Bush's newly dedicated presidential center.

	April 19, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Resilience During National Trauma, Failure of the Gun Bill Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk to Jeffrey Brown about the Boston Marathon attack and the ensuing city-wide lockdown while authorities conducted a manhunt. They also discuss the politics and political consequences behind the failed gun legislation, and whether it can be revived.

	April 12, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Obama's Budget, Senate Gun Fight, Margaret Thatcher Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss development in the gun legislation battle and if background checks will amount to substantive gun control, plus backlash against President Barack Obama's budget, bipartisan efforts on an immigration bill and the legacy of Margaret Thatcher.

	April 5, 2013 Shields and Brooks on the Job Numbers, Obama's Budget Bargaining Prospects Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk with Judy Woodruff about the week's top political stories, including the March 2013 jobs report, whether President Barack Obama's proposed budget will include cuts to social security and how the U.S. should react to North Korea's nuclear threats.



	MARCH March 29, 2013 Shields and Brooks Discuss Shifting Values on Gay Marriage, Gun Control Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks analyze the week's political news with Judy Woodruff, including the Supreme Court examination of same-sex marriage laws and the societal and political sea change on that issue, plus why the push for new gun control legislation may be losing momentum.

	March 22, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Congressional Escapes, March Madness Brackets NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks talk with Hari Sreenivasan about the pre-holiday congressional scramble and how to pick a winning March Madness bracket.

	March 22, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Obama in the Mideast, GOP in Overhaul Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss bipartisan compromise in Congress on the budget, an election postmortem for the Republican party, President Barack Obama's "soaring rhetoric" and "realistic policies" for the Mideast and the 10th anniversary of the War in Iraq.

	March 15, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Cruz vs. Feinstein, March Madness In this edition of the Doubleheader, syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk with Hari Sreenivasan about an exchange between two senators over assault weapons, plus March Madness.

	March 15, 2013 Shields and Brooks on CPAC, Obama's Outreach to Congress, Pope Francis New York Times columnist David Brooks and syndicated columnist Mark Shields talk with Judy Woodruff about who was and wasn't at the annual CPAC meeting, whether President Obama's bipartisan outreach to Congress will produce results, plus words on what the new pope's leadership may mean for the Catholic Church.

	March 8, 2013 Brooks and Marcus Discuss Washington's Effect on the Economy, Budget Deal Hopes New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus talk with Jeffrey Brown about February's job report and how much politics and the government policy -- sequestration in particular -- effect the economy, plus the possibility of a bipartisan budget agreement and Rand Paul's John Brennan filibuster.

	March 1, 2013 Shields and Brooks on March Madness, Sequester Syndicated columnist Mark Shields, New York Times columnist David Brooks and Hari Sreenivasan tackle March Madness allegiances and whether President Barack Obama is making friends and influencing people.

	March 1, 2013 Shields and Brooks on the Cusp of Sequester, Voting Rights Act at Supreme Court Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the impending sequestration, strategies used by Democrats and Republicans to avoid the spending cuts and a provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act being argued at the Supreme Court.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 22, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Chinese Hacking, Oscar Picks On the Doubleheader, syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the revelations that a Chinese military unit has been targeting the U.S. in cyber-espionage, as well as what movies we think may win Academy Awards.

	Feb. 22, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Sequester Blame Game, Immigration Reform Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks analyze the week's news with Judy Woodruff, including the impending automatic spending cuts due to hit next week and immigration reform.

	Feb. 15, 2013 Shields and Gerson Discuss GOP Hold Up on Hagel, Looming Sequester Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson discuss public opinion versus the political battle on gun control, Congress heading home without a 'sequester' deal, the filibuster to block Chuck Hagel's nomination vote and takeaways from President Obama's State of the Union.

	Feb. 12, 2013 Shields and Brooks: Using SOTU to Set Agenda, Tackle 'New Budget Reality' Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss with Judy Woodruff what they're looking for in President Obama's first State of the Union address of his second term, the current political and economic realities and whether State of the Union speeches really matter.

	Feb. 8, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Bush Family Email Hacking, Super Bowl Results For our regular examination of the politics of sport and the sport of politics with syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks, we tackle the revelation that members of the Bush Family had their email hacked.

	Feb. 8, 2013 Shields and Brooks on DOJ Drone Memo, Brennan Hearing, Syria Strategy Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk to Judy Woodruff about the week's political news, including CIA director nominee John Brennan's confirmation hearing, the leaking of a Justice Department memo justifying targeted killing and the Syria strategy split within the Obama administration.

	Feb. 1, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Scott Brown, Super Bowl and Deer Antler Spray On this edition of the Doubleheader, syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks begin with the decision by former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown to not seek the seat vacated by John Kerry. Plus, the pundits pick Super Bowl favorites.

	Feb. 1, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Hagel's Rough Hearing, Movement on Immigration Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk with Judy Woodruff about Hillary Clinton leaving the State Department, Chuck Hagel's first confirmation hearing for Decretary of Defense, as well as congressional testimony on gun control and political momentum for immigration reform.



	JANUARY Jan. 25, 2013 Shields, Brooks on Obama's Second Term and Hillary Clinton's Exit From State Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk to Jeffrey Brown about what's ahead for President Obama's first 100 days during his second term, an identity crisis for the Republican Party, John Kerry's vision for foreign policy at his confirmation hearing and Hillary Clinton's legacy at State.

	Jan. 21, 2013 Shields and Brooks: More Sure-Footed Obama Lays Out Long Game Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk to Gwen Ifill about the content and tone of the 2013 inaugural address, including President Obama's mentions of climate change and social programs, and a greater sense of resolution and progressivism in his delivery.

	Jan. 18, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Political Retreats, Manti Te'o and Lance Armstrong The politics of sport and the sport of politics -- this is the essence of the Doubleheader with syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks. This week: what really happens at political retreats, Manti Te'o's bizarre tale and an ironman confesses.

	Jan. 18, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Obama's New Term, Gun Control and Culture in America Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk with Jeffrey Brown about the week's political news, including President Obama's executive actions on gun control, the future of gun culture in America, resolving the debt ceiling fight in Congress and the president at the beginning of a new term.

	Jan. 11, 2013 Shields, Brooks on Trillion Dollar Coins, 'Zero Dark Thirty,' Hall of Fame Woes In this installment of the Doubleheader, New York Times columnist David Brooks and syndicated columnist Mark Shields talk trillion dollar coins, "Zero Dark Thirty," and who the Baseball Hall of Fame did not elect into its ranks. Plus, a drubbing for Shields over his BCS wager.

	Jan. 11, 2013 Shields and Brooks Discuss U.S. Mission in Afghanistan, Cabinet Nominations Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week's top news with Judy Woodruff, including the Obama-Karzai talks on the future of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the integrity -- and insularity of Obama's cabinet nominees, plus the latest on gun control.

	Jan. 4, 2013 Shields and Brooks on Sandy Relief, Fighting Irish Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join us for the first Doubleheader of 2013.

	Jan. 4, 2013 Shields and Brooks on New Year's Predictions, Budget Fights, Chuck Hagel Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the week's top political news with Judy Woodruff, including the likely nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, the failure of the latest budget deal to address larger fiscal problems and Washington's inability to make tough choices.



	2012 DECEMBER Dec. 28, 2012 Shields and Brooks: Best Political Gaffes of 2012, NFL Playoff Predictions Mark Shields and David Brooks agreed on one thing in our year-end Doubleheader Friday: that the gaffes that defined 2012 were primarily from Republicans.

	Dec. 28, 2012 Shields and Brooks on the 'Fiscal Cliff' Precipice, Remembering Gen. Schwarzkopf Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk with Jeffrey Brown about last-minute attempts to wrangle a budget deal, what Republicans really want out of the negotiations and the political calculations for the president. Our political commentators also remember the late Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf.

	Dec. 21, 2012 The Very Best of the Shields and Brooks Doubleheader For loyal fans of the Doubleheader, this is the big enchilada. Each week this year we've talked to NewsHour regulars Mark Shields and David Brooks about the sport of politics and the politics of sports. And so now we give you the very best of their animated sessions of the year. Enjoy!

	Dec. 21, 2012 Shields and Gerson on Cabinet Noms, Gun Laws, Boehner's Leadership Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson discuss the week's top political news with Judy Woodruff, including the president's second-string Secretary of State John Kerry, House Speaker John Boehner's fledgling following and the NRA press conference.

	Dec. 14, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Gun Control Policy, Susan Rice, 'Fiscal Cliff' Talks Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk to Judy Woodruff about the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School and ways to approach gun control policy, as well as Susan Rice's decision not to pursue the nomination for Secretary of State and the state of the 'fiscal cliff' conversations.

	Dec. 7, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Pot Laws, RGIII and Heisman Picks 'Tis indeed another Friday which means it's time for the Doubleheader, where syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks tackle the sport of politics and the politics of sport.

	Dec. 7, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Jobs Report, 'Fiscal Cliff' Negotiations and Jim DeMint Judy Woodruff and NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's top political news, including the November jobs report, the U.S. budget negotiations and Sen. Jim DeMint's resignation for a job at the Heritage Foundation.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 30, 2012 Shields and Brooks on X Tax, Hoosiers and the Irish Political analysts David Brooks and Mark Shields talk to Hari Sreenivasan about a tax gaining traction among conservative think tanks, plus a big week for Indiana college sports teams.

	Nov. 30, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Obama's Bargaining Skills, Fiscal Mandates and Filibusters Jeffrey Brown talks to NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks about President Obama's repeated push to increase revenue by taxing the wealthy, the lack of constructive debate in Congress to solve America's long-term deficit, possible filibuster reform and continued criticism of UN Ambassador Susan Rice.

	Nov. 23, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Mideast Turmoil, Obama in Asia, Giving Thanks for Politics Jeffrey Brown and NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's top political news, including the U.S. role in an evolving and conflicted Middle East, President Obama's trip to Asia, criticism of Ambassador Susan Rice, Jesse Jackson Jr.'s resignation and what they are thankful for in U.S. politics.

	Nov. 22, 2012 Turkey Day Talking Points with Shields and Brooks Need some talking points to get through your holiday dinner? Need a comeback for your uncle who has wildly different views on health care and the fiscal cliff, or your brother-in-law, who had the other guy's name on his lawn signs? Want to sound super smart? Let us help you.

	Nov. 16, 2012 Brooks and Marcus on Campaign Negativity, Government 'Gifts' and Gaza Conflict Judy Woodruff talks to the New York Times' David Brooks and the Washington Post's Ruth Marcus about the lack of substantive rhetoric in the 2012 presidential election, comments by Mitt Romney that voters chose President Obama for "gifts," chances of fiscal cliff compromise and the violent conflict between Israel and Hamas.

	Nov. 9, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Super PACs, Subtraction and Spoiled Lakers On the latest edition of the Doubleheader, we examine outside spending groups' return on campaign investment, and we marvel at Mark Shields' mental arithmetic abilities.

	Nov. 9, 2012 Shields and Brooks Talk Petraeus, Fiscal Cliff and Obama's Emotional Gratitude NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the top news of the week, including the legacy of David Petraeus' career, whether taxes need to be increased for the health of the economy, the role President Barack Obama must play to encourage compromise in Congress, and Obama's emotional thanks to campaigners.

	Nov. 7, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Shifting Demographics, Future 'Grand Bargain' Judy Woodruff talks to NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks for post-Election Day analysis about how changing demographics affected the election, plus how some politicians' ideological purity has obstructed necessary negotiations to fix the debt crisis, as well as the potential for a future 'grand bargain.'

	Nov. 2, 2012 Shields and Brooks: Watching Indiana's Senate Race, Bobblehead Forecasts Mark Shields and David Brooks met up Friday in the NewsHour newsroom for a final Doubleheader before the 2012 election.

	Nov. 2, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Latino Voters, Last-Minute Election Factors Judy Woodruff talks to NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks for analysis on the top news of the week, including the chances of immigration reform being addressed in the next presidential term, the latest jobs numbers and the political aftermath of superstorm Sandy.



	OCTOBER Oct. 26, 2012 Shields and Brooks on Sununu and the Giants NewsHour political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks talk sports and politics with Hari Sreenivasan in the Doubleheader, addressing controversial comments by John Sununu, a surrogate for the Romney campaign, and the San Francisco Giants, who are heading into game three of the World Series with a 2-0 lead.