Apr 28 Watch Specter’s Switch Further Tilts Senate Power Toward Democrats Long-time GOP Sen. Arlen Specter said Tuesday he will switch parties and join the Democrats, bringing the party within one seat of a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. Political reporters assess the news. Continue watching
Apr 28 Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter Switches Parties By PBS News Hour Five-term Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania said Tuesday that he plans to change parties, explaining that he finds his "political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."… Continue reading
Apr 24 Watch Shields, Brooks Mull Torture Memos, Obama’s Leadership Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the Obama administration's decision to release Bush-era memos on interrogation tactics and the shape of the president's first 100 days in office. Continue watching
Apr 02 Watch Pelosi Details Partisan Wrangling Over Final Budget Blueprint As Congress takes action on President Obama's budget plan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offers her perspective on lawmakers' spending priorities and how alternative budget proposals have fared in the debate. Continue watching
Mar 31 Watch New York State Election Carries National Implications A special election was held in New York state Tuesday to fill the state legislative seat vacated by now-U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg explains the national implications of the race. Continue watching
Mar 20 Watch AIG Bonus Outrage, Deficit Complicate Obama Agenda With Washington still railing against more than $160 million of bonuses at insurance giant AIG, Mark Shields and Byron York consider the impact of the furor and the new estimates of the growing federal deficit on President Obama's agenda. Continue watching
Mar 13 Watch Economic Strategy, Stem Cell Policy Top Week’s News Columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson weigh the news of the week, including President Barack Obama's approach on the economy, his decision to lift restrictions on stem cell research funding, and more. Continue watching
Mar 11 Watch Earmarks to Bear Tougher Scrutiny Under Obama Plan President Obama signed a $410 billion spending bill Wednesday, despite the fact that the bill contains the kind of earmarks he decried on the campaign trail. Congress watcher Norman Ornstein examines the issue. Continue watching
Mar 06 Watch Shields and Brooks Mull Obama’s Agenda, Economy’s Troubles Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks weigh the week's news, including February's spike in unemployment, President Barack Obama's priorities amid the economic crisis and the debate over the future of the GOP. Continue watching
Mar 04 Watch Obama Vows to Cut Waste in Government Spending Kwame Holman recaps the day's economic news, including President Barack Obama's new campaign against wasteful government spending and reactions to a plan for massive new spending on the economy. Continue watching