PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/29/25
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Aug 30, 2025 Dan Balz, a veteran political correspondent for The Washington Post, shares his remarkable journey after 47 years in journalism. He reflects on the evolution of political reporting and the momentous shifts in American politics, highlighting the transition from cooperation to confrontation. Balz discusses the resilience required to protect democracy amidst challenges like information overload and the strategic role of leadership, while also examining the dual nature of threats and promises in the current presidency. A masterclass in political insight!
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Early Career Story About BLS
- Dan Balz began his DC reporting in 1972 with a deep dive into the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its methods.
- He recounts Nixon-era disputes over interpretation and even an ordered ethnic headcount at BLS staff.
Politics Repeats But Gets Meaner
- Politics repeats themes but the context changes and makes each iteration harsher.
- Dan Balz says politics has grown
Trust In Government Declined Long-Term
- Public trust fell sharply after Vietnam and Watergate and rarely recovered.
- Balz notes only a brief post-9/11 trust spike that faded within about a year.