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
Jun 8, 2017 • 26min
Special episode: What we learned from Comey's testimony
The Post's national security reporter Matt Zapotosky explains what Comey's words at Thursday's Senate Intelligence Committee hearing mean for the multiple investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, and what happens next.
Jun 2, 2017 • 27min
Is Trump isolating our strongest allies by backing away from key agreements?
The Post's White House bureau chief Philip Rucker offers insight from his trip abroad with the president. Plus, former ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder explains the relationship between the U.S. and Europe, and the value of international agreements.
May 26, 2017 • 26min
What can Michael Flynn's actions tell us about the Russia investigation?
Harvard's Alex Whiting explains where former national security adviser Michael Flynn's actions might break the law. Plus, The Post's Greg Miller tells us how Flynn fits in the story of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.
May 19, 2017 • 22min
Amid turmoil in the U.S., can Trump's first international trip turn things around?
President Trump leaves for his first international trip after two tumultuous weeks back home. Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent Kevin Sullivan joins us right off the plane from Saudi Arabia -- Trump's first stop.
May 16, 2017 • 16min
Special episode: Can a president reveal classified information?
Greg Jaffe, one of The Post reporters who broke news of Trump revealing classified information to Russian diplomats, is on the show to explain presidential power when it comes to classified information and what happens next in this developing story.
May 12, 2017 • 22min
How much power does a president have to affect an investigation?
As the fallout from Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey continues, we take a look at the limitations of presidential power when it comes to investigations. Plus, we assess how history measures up, with Bob Woodward and Marc Fisher.
May 10, 2017 • 21min
Special episode: Can Trump fire the FBI director?
The timing of FBI Director James B. Comey’s termination raises a lot of questions. The Post's national security reporter Matt Zapotosky discusses what we know now and what more there is to learn as this critical story unfolds.
May 5, 2017 • 28min
Would Trump be able to break up the 9th Circuit Court?
Can President Trump break up a federal circuit court because he disagrees with their decisions? Are there consequences for suggesting he'd do so? With political reporter Amber Phillips, we talk to historians and legal experts to answer these questions.
Apr 28, 2017 • 27min
100 days: Is Trump in violation of his contract with American voters?
Post reporters convene in a round-table conversation about Trump's achievements and failures in his first 100 days and what it means for the next four years of his presidency.
Apr 21, 2017 • 30min
Do power struggles in the White House make Trump a more effective president?
Do staff tensions interfere with Trump's ability to govern? And are these rivalries by Trump's design? White House bureau chief Philip Rucker talks to former Trump aide Sam Nunberg about what it's like to work for Trump -- and to get fired by him.
