U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks during an event with fellow House Democratic members on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, as members of the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington after a 53-day break, for a vote that could bring the longest U.S. government shutdown in history to a close, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
airs Friday, Nov. 14 2025 at 8PM on PBS (check local listings)
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Rapidly Shifting Political Fortunes
Democrats and Republicans are grappling with their respective party's rapidly shifting political fortunes. Despite the Democratic Party's off-year election wins last week, the split over the direction of their party was further accelerated after some moderates brokered a deal with Senate Republicans to reopen the government. And instead of enjoying a victory lap after finally ending the longest government shutdown in the nation's history, President Trump was forced to go on defense and House Republicans are even more divided after the surprising release of Jeffrey Epstein's emails.
Joining guest moderator and staff writer at The Atlantic, Vivian Salama, to discuss this and more:
- Natalie Andrews, White House Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal
- Nancy Cordes, Chief White House Correspondent, CBS News
- Andrew Desiderio, Senior Congressional Reporter, Punchbowl 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.
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