Impromptu

Columnists Dana Milbank and Shadi Hamid discuss evolving views on politics and war, campus protests on Israel-Gaza, free speech double standards, and the impact on U.S. politics. They explore potential implications for the upcoming presidential election, particularly among young people.

The Supreme Court is set to decide to what extent former President Trump could be immune from prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021, as his lawyers have claimed. Post Opinions columnists Charles Lane, Ruth Marcus and Jason Willick discuss the strategy and timing of these arguments and what we might expect the justices to decide in this showdown about the future boundaries of presidential authority.Read Ruth Marcus on why she thinks this case is “simultaneously bogus and important.”: “How the Supreme Court should rule on presidential immunity.” And here’s her column on what she sees as the Trump team’s delay tactics: “How Trump could win by losing, and delay his trial date.”Check out Jason Willick’s column where he describes the “nightmare scenarios” that dominate this debate: “Trump’s immunity claim at the Supreme Court deserves to fail, as does his Jan. 6 prosecution.” Here’s more on his thoughts about how this case has been prosecuted: “Special counsel Jack Smith has exposed his error in prosecuting Trump.”

Some women are retreating to stereotypical, retro gender roles that embrace the patriarchy. Known as “tradwives,” they are all over TikTok. Style columnist Monica Hesse, letters and community editor Alyssa Rosenberg and senior editor for Opinions Amanda Katz discuss how this trend exposes a continued struggle over equality for men and women in modern society.Read Monica Hesse’s column: Tradwives, stay-at-home girlfriends and the dream of feminine leisureRead the Cut article that kicked off a lot of recent controversy over #TradWives: The Case for Marrying an Older Man

Exploring the challenges of the 2024 election, journalists discuss audience engagement, mental well-being, and delivering valuable coverage amidst chaos. Strategies to manage emotional responses to political news are shared, emphasizing the importance of seeking ways to move forward. Reflecting on the impact of a divisive candidate and the role of news media in providing essential information regardless of popular opinion.

Post columnists David Ignatius and Jim Geraghty just returned from Ukraine. They detail the mood on the ground, how much U.S. aid actually matters and whether the war seems winnable. Plus, Ignatius talks about his meeting with President Zelensky.Read David Ignatius’s interview with President Zelensky: Zelensky: ‘We are trying to find some way not to retreat’Read Jim Geraghty’s latest columns from Kyiv: Ukrainians have a message for Mike JohnsonHow Russians are joining the fight against Putin

The Biden administration wants America to transition to electric cars. Last week, the EPA announced a rule requiring more than two-thirds of new vehicles be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2032. This comes on top of pouring federal money into tax credits and developing charging infrastructure. But there are still bumps on the road to an electric-vehicle America. Charles Lane, Catherine Rampell and Megan McArdle talk about how to navigate them.Read Megan McArdle’s latest column on EVs: The best way to get everyone into electric cars? Hint: It's not a mandate. Catherine Rampell wrote this month about everything packed into the Inflation Reduction Act, including EV tax credits: Biden should fight climate change, not trade warsRead Charles Lane on the hard choices needed for an electric future: Electric vehicles won’t fix our carbon dilemma without some hard choices along the way Further reading:Electric Cars Are Coming. How Long Until They Rule the Road?Unsold EVs are piling up at car dealerships. What does that mean for the auto industry?Gasoline Superusers

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade back in 2022, it indicated that abortion was an issue to be relegated to the states. Instead, it has blown up American politics, firing up voters and leading to conflicting lower court rulings. Post columnists Ruth Marcus, Alexandra Petri and Amanda Ripley discuss how it feels to be a woman in the post-Dobbs world and what’s at stake when abortion returns to the Supreme Court this term as the justices hear a case on access to mifepristone. Ruth Marcus: Even after abortion pill ruling, reproductive rights remain in the balanceAlexandra Petri: I don’t know how to write about all that hasn’t happened since the fall of Roe

Smart when you need it, fun when you want it — with hosts who feel like friends. "Impromptu" is your twice-a-week conversation with Washington Post columnists who bring fresh insight and perspective to the stories shaping the week. On Tuesdays, Dana Milbank and his colleagues dig into the political news that actually matters. Then, on Fridays, Drew Goins and Molly Roberts ease you into the weekend, breaking down the cultural moments you can’t stop thinking about.