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The Washington Post

The Washington Post’s Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann gather for a weekly in-depth conversation about politics and power. From presidential candidates to members of Congress to the judicial system, Sidebar dives deep on the topics and people at the forefront of the political conversation.

The crew sits down each Thursday (with the occasional breaking news episode) to discuss what has happened that week, and what’s coming up the next week – with guest appearances from Washington Post reporters.

The Trump Trials: Sidebar

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down how President Trump is trying to remake Washington in a MAGA image – from hanging huge photos of himself from federal buildings to taking over cultural institutions and firing people, in some cases, seemingly simple for their gender or skin color.

Then, the crew breaks down Trump's long history of financial conflicts of interest with the presidency, how he has ignored norms, how past presidents have divested from those conflicts of interest – and the vast amounts of money Trump has made in the early months of his second presidency.

Plus, the crew reveals the weirdest gifts in presidential history – and whether or not presidents got to keep them.

How Trump has made billions as president

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe to delve inside the ongoing drama in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's inner circle: Who is at odds with whom, and what does it mean for Hegseth's job security.

Then, President Trump has been on a spree of issuing pardons and commutations for convicted felons – many of whom are his supporters. The crew breaks down who got pardons, and why.

Finally, Elon Musk is out of government; did he accomplish what he set out to do, and was it a success?

Hegseth's drama, Trump's pardoning spree, and Elon Musk is out

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the Republican drama surrounding President Trump's signature "Big, beautiful bill" – starting with the dramatic social media breakup occurring between Trump and Elon Musk. And are GOP senators on board with Trump's plan?

Then, Trump seems to be reacting to that drama by creating distractions – from a new travel ban to a dubious investigation of his predecessor.

Plus, former president Joe Biden's former White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, says she's leaving the Democratic Party. Why?

Elon Musk's messy breakup with Trump

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss what's left of the Democratic party after its 2024 election losses – from who's left in Congress and who will have positions of authority, to the fading presence of the party's biggest voices in recent decades. The crew breaks down who could step up as Democrats' ideological leader – and who definitely won't be in the picture.

Then, what's the status of Trump's cabinet picks? Right now, it looks like the ones left standing will all make it to January confirmation hearings.

Who's left for the Democrats?

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down Elon Musk's successful effort to torpedo a government spending bill – and what that means about how president-elect Donald Trump's White House will function. 

Plus, how are Democrats preparing for a Trump presidency in which they are the minority in both the House and Senate?

Later, the crew looks at longtime members of the Senate who won't be back in the next Congress – and their final messages as they prepare to leave Washington.

Finally, Trump's criminal racketeering case in Georgia may be on ice after prosecutor Fani T. Willis was disqualified by an appeals court.

Congress gets more Trumpy

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann recap the most important moments in American politics in 2024 – plus a few runners-up.

The biggest political moments of 2024

This week, reporters Marianna Sotomayor and Marianne Levine join the show to discuss the House speaker drama that could unfold as GOP holdouts say they might not vote for current House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Plus, what are Republicans' early legislative priorities – and are there signs that after winning the White House and both houses of Congress in November that the Republican party is far from unified?

Speaking of Congress ...

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down president-elect Trump's angry, grievance-filled news conference – and why Trump is so focused on those grievances despite winning the election, with Republicans winning both houses of Congress.

Then, the crew recaps the latest on Trump's New York hush money case, and whether the Supreme Court might intervene before the sentencing hearing scheduled for Jan. 10.

The sore winner

In this special episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by JM Rieger in Washington and criminal justice reporter Shayna Jacobs in New York, to discuss the sentence handed down to president-elect Trump in his New York hush money case – and why he escaped punishment after being convicted on 34 felony counts.

Plus, is this the end of Trump's legal troubles?

Unconditional discharge

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down the Trump cabinet nominees whose hearings have gotten underway on Capitol Hill – and whether Democrats are effectively rallying votes against any of them.

Plus, President Biden gave his farewell speech on Jan. 15 – and it wasn't the speech everyone expected.

Then, what is the crew looking out for on inauguration day on Monday?

Trump's ongoing loyalty test

The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski to discuss President Trump's first week back in office – and what happened the night he decided to fire more than a dozen government inspectors general.

Plus, Trump's pause on government grants and loans is throwing Washington – and government programs around the globe – into chaos. Who will be affected by it most?

And three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees are set to undergo Senate confirmation hearings later this week. Will RFK Jr. be derailed by a letter to senators penned by his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, calling him a "predator"?

Trump's chaotic pause of federal grants

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