The May 2, 2025 episode of Washington Week with The Atlantic is now available to stream on PBS.org and the PBS App. This week’s program, moderated by Laura Barrón-López, featured in-depth political analysis from panelists Leigh Ann Caldwell (Puck), Michael Scherer (The Atlantic), Ali Vitali (MSNBC), and Alexander Ward (The Wall Street Journal).
The panel discussed several major developments dominating Washington headlines. Chief among them was former President Donald Trump’s abrupt dismissal of National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, amid the escalating “Signalgate” controversy—a political scandal tied to alleged misuse of encrypted communications by top officials. Analysts examined the implications for Trump’s reelection campaign and national security credibility.
Another key topic was a series of federal court rulings that struck down core elements of Trump’s newly revived deportation policies. The discussion focused on the legal pushback, the administration’s possible next steps, and how immigration will shape the 2024 presidential race.
The episode also touched on broader questions about institutional trust and the role of the courts, as well as voter reactions in key swing states. With the 2024 election season heating up, the panel offered insights into how recent events might influence public perception and campaign strategy on both sides of the aisle.
The episode runs approximately 26 minutes and is available to stream on PBS.org and the PBS App, accessible on platforms like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung Smart TVs.
