Sidebar
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 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 27, 2019 • 33min
A whistleblower. A phone call. A tipping point.
Reporter Matt Zapotosky on how this fast-paced news week unfolded, what we learned from documents, transcripts and testimonies, and what happens next now that House Speaker Pelosi has opened a formal impeachment inquiry into the president.
Sep 20, 2019 • 27min
California wants its own strict air pollution standards. Trump has other ideas.
The latest move from the Trump administration threatens to set in motion a massive legal battle and plunge automakers into uncertainty. The Post’s Juliet Eilperin explains how much power a president has over national environmental policy.
Sep 13, 2019 • 26min
What happens when a president overrides science?
Weather editor Andrew Freedman explains how Trump’s inaccurate hurricane tweet led to worrying implications for NOAA and the NWS, and what happens when a president politicizes scientific institutions.
Sep 6, 2019 • 19min
Summer is an opportunity for presidents. Did Trump take it?
Some of President Trump’s allies described a lost summer, full of controversies and missed opportunities. White House reporter Ashley Parker explains how presidents have strategized in summer, and how Trump’s approach is different.
Aug 30, 2019 • 20min
Trump’s latest trade war escalation: Ordering businesses out of China. Can he do that?
The commercial war between two economic superpowers has entered a new phase. The Post’s Jeanne Whalen explains whether President Trump’s edict to U.S. business is enforceable and what the latest trade war developments mean for the global economy.
Aug 23, 2019 • 17min
Does the president have the power to buy Greenland?
President Trump abruptly canceled a trip to Denmark because the country’s prime minister wouldn’t discuss the purchase of Greenland. Economic policy reporter Damien Paletta explains whether Trump’s effort to purchase Greenland is as unusual as it seems.
Aug 9, 2019 • 18min
How much can a president affect gun policy?
After two mass shootings, President Trump is considering background checks and red-flag laws. But he has suggested action on gun control in the past, only to later backtrack. Will this time be different?
Aug 2, 2019 • 20min
How far can a president go to get the intelligence chief he wants?
Some officials have questioned whether President Trump’s pick for the Director of National Intelligence might use the position to serve Trump’s political interests. Reporter Shane Harris explains the role of the law in the job’s qualifications.
Jul 25, 2019 • 25min
‘Problematic is an understatement’: Robert Mueller testifies before Congress
Wednesday’s hearings marked the first time former special counsel Robert Mueller answered questions about his investigation. The Post’s Justice Department reporter Matt Zapotosky explains the significance of Mueller’s answers.
Jul 19, 2019 • 22min
How Trump’s racist comments can be used against him in court
President Trump’s language may be part of his political strategy, but this moment raises questions about what consequences the president can face for using inflammatory language. Fred Barbash explains how Trump’s words can legally work against him.
