Preview: Coming Up on Washington Week with The Atlantic

Oct. 30, 2025 AT 4:18 p.m. EDT
U.S. President Donald Trump visits Tokyo

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the U.S. Ambassador's Residence in Tokyo, Japan, October 28, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

airs Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at 8PM on PBS (check local listings)

Trump Returns to Shutdown Pressure

After reaching several agreements with leaders in Asia earlier this week, President Trump has returned to Washington, where lawmakers have failed to make progress on re-opening the government, and federal food benefit and childhood education programs that serve millions of Americans are set to run out of money. As pressure mounts on to re-open the government, both sides are dug in, raising the question: is it time for President Trump to negotiate directly with Democrats?  
Joining guest moderator and staff writer at The Atlantic, Vivian Salama, to discuss this and more:

  • Paul Beckett, Senior Editor, The Atlantic
  • Jeff Mason, White House Correspondent, Reuters 
  • Seung Min Kim, White House Reporter, The Associated Press 
  • Andrea Mitchell, Chief Washington & Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC News

Major funding for Washington Week with The Atlantic is provided by Consumer Cellular, the Yuen Foundation, Sandra and Carl DeLay-Magnuson, Rose Hirschel and Andy Shreeves, Robert and Susan Rosenbaum, and PBS. Keep up with Washington Week anytime by visiting the website or joining the conversation on Facebook and Twitter@washingtonweek.

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