Aug. 21, 2026 9:25 p.m. EDT
Full Episode: Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/21/26
Full Washington Week with the Atlantic broadcast from August 21, 2026.
Aug. 21, 2026 9:04 p.m. EDT
Clip: As national debt climbs, Trump gives Washington a makeover
The national debt reached a staggering new high of $40 trillion this week. It continues to pile on at a pace that is increasingly difficult to ignore. All the while, Trump has seemed preoccupied with helipads, ballrooms, flagpoles and landscaping.
Aug. 21, 2026 9:03 p.m. EDT
Clip: Trump shrugs off $40T national debt after vowing he'd cut it
President Trump, who campaigned on reducing the nation's debt, faces a fiscal picture that has continued to deteriorate under his watch. The national debt soared to $40 trillion this week as the Iran war grinds on with no clear end in sight.
Aug. 14, 2026 9:26 p.m. EDT
Full Episode: Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/14/26
Full Washington Week with the Atlantic broadcast from August 14, 2026.
Aug. 14, 2026 8:56 p.m. EDT
Clip: Carrier conditions become symbol of Iran war miscalculation
The Iran war is a shadow over President Trump and over the Republican Party. The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea since last November, and reports from sailors and their families describe concerning conditions. The panel discusses the political impact as the conflict drags on.
Aug. 14, 2026 8:55 p.m. EDT
Clip: Trump’s secret flight
As if Trump needed reminding that Iran now shadows his presidency, we learned this week that he had to be secretly moved – by catering truck, no less – off of Air Force One, which was allegedly being targeted by Iranian agents. It raises questions about Iran’s continued ability to wreak havoc on the U.S. and its friends.
Aug. 07, 2026 9:36 p.m. EDT
Full Episode: Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/7/26
Full Washington Week with the Atlantic broadcast from August 7, 2026.
Aug. 07, 2026 8:52 p.m. EDT
Clip: How will Trump's focus on vanity projects impact the GOP in the midterms?
Trump is facing low approval ratings, a weakening economy and an endless Iran conflict, but his focus seems to be on the Reflecting Pool and renovating the White House. The panel discusses how this will impact the GOP in the midterms.
Aug. 07, 2026 8:42 p.m. EDT
Clip: Has Trump squandered American military deterrence?
President Trump’s war against Iran has significantly depleted U.S. munitions and his threats to hunt down the "leakers" of this bad news don’t do anything to help the war’s cause. The panel discusses the shortfall and the overall unpopularity of the war.
Aug. 06, 2026 4:40 p.m. EDT
Preview: Coming up on Washington Week with The Atlantic
Washington Week with The Atlantic airs August 7, 2026 at 8PM on PBS (check local listings) *** Losing Control As Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz continues to tighten, and the U.S. runs low on critical munitions, President Trump appears to have lost control over the widening war in the Middle East. The unpopular war also looms over the upcoming midterm elections, causing Republican lawmakers to grapple with a conflict they were forced to fund, while new scandals that could threaten their ...
