US President Donald Trump shows a signed Executive Order related to a new AI-powered government website, America.gov, during the website's National Design Studio launch event at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., US, September 29, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Washington Week with The Atlantic airs October 2, 2026 at 8PM on PBS (check local listings)
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The President’s Preoccupations
President Trump kicks off an aggressive campaign schedule to solidly red states, as a way to generate voter enthusiasm after calling on the electorate to “pretend” he’s on the ballot.
It’s the president’s first real pivot to the midterms, to maintain his party’s control of Congress, after being preoccupied with America and China’s AI race and remaking Washington in his image.
Joining editor in chief of The Atlantic and moderator, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss this and more:
- Zolan Kanno-Youngs, White House Correspondent, The New York Times
- Janay Kingsberry, Staff Writer, The Atlantic
- Michelle Price, White House Reporter, The Associated Press
- Steve Inskeep, Host, NPR's Morning Edition
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, Leonard and Norma Klorfine, Robert and Susan Rosenbaum, and PBS.
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