

PBS News Hour - Brooks and Capehart
PBS News
Listen to David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart analyze the political news of the week. Posted each Friday by 9 p.m., the Brooks and Capehart podcast includes the full audio of every on-air segment. Is this not what you're looking for? Don't miss our other podcasts for our full shows, individual segments, Politics Monday, Brief but Spectacular, and more. Find them in iTunes or in your favorite podcasting app. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Dec 26, 2025 • 12min
Brooks and Atkins Stohr on Trump's return and its impact on the country
Join David Brooks, a New York Times columnist known for his keen political insights, and Kimberly Atkins Stohr, an opinion columnist for The Boston Globe, as they dissect the implications of Trump's return to power. They discuss the populist currents driving his resurgence and the troubling erosion of the rule of law. Brooks emphasizes the need for new civic institutions to combat authoritarianism, while Atkins Stohr highlights the Democrats' crucial role in maintaining election integrity. It's a lively exploration of the current political landscape!

Dec 19, 2025 • 11min
Brooks and Capehart on Trump's approval ratings and mental acuity
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump's attempts to address his sinking approval ratings on the economy, the Department of Justice begins to release the Epstein files and the renaming of the Kennedy Center. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Dec 12, 2025 • 10min
Brooks and Capehart on Trump's recent series of setbacks
David Brooks, a New York Times opinion columnist, and Jonathan Capehart, an MSNBC host, dive into Trump’s recent political struggles. They discuss Trump's dwindling approval ratings and the economic anxiety facing voters. The duo highlights Indiana GOP lawmakers defying Trump’s redistricting wishes as a bold stand. They also explore how White House intimidation has backfired and examine racial rhetoric's role in distracting from key economic issues. Additionally, they address the looming healthcare crisis as ACA subsidies face expiration.

Dec 5, 2025 • 10min
Brooks and Capehart on the political fallout over Trump's boat strikes
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the fallout over the Trump administration's controversial boat strikes, a Pentagon watchdog report on Defense Secretary Hegseth's use of Signal and Dan Bongino's comments on promoting false claims. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Nov 28, 2025 • 11min
Capehart and Wehner on Trump's reaction to the National Guard shooting
Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW and Peter Wehner, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, join John Yang to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump's push for an even tougher crackdown on immigration in the days following the shooting of two National Guard members by an Afghan national on the streets of Washington. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Nov 21, 2025 • 12min
Capehart and Continetti on Trump's warm welcome of Mamdani
Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW and Matthew Continetti of the American Enterprise Institute join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump playing nice with Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office but calling six other Democrats traitors and saying the video they posted could be punishable by death and the president hosting the Saudi crown prince at the White House. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Nov 14, 2025 • 11min
Brooks and Atkins Stohr on the end of the shutdown and affordability concerns
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr of the Boston Globe join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, affordability becoming a focus in Washington and new developments regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Nov 7, 2025 • 10min
Capehart and Gorman on Democrats' election wins and Trump's push to end the filibuster
Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC and Republican strategist Matt Gorman join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including Tuesday's elections that brought resounding wins for Democrats across several states, the negotiations to reopen the federal government as the shutdown becomes the longest in history and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's retirement announcement. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Oct 31, 2025 • 12min
Brooks and Capehart on the pressure to end the government shutdown
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC join William Brangham to discuss the week in politics, including the government shutdown barreling toward the date when funding begins to lapse on some government benefits, President Trump suggests sending federal troops to more cities and next week's key off-year elections. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Oct 24, 2025 • 10min
Brooks and Atkins Stohr on the East Wing demolition
New York Times columnist David Brooks and Kimberly Atkins Stohr of the Boston Globe join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the demolition of the entire East Wing of the White House, President Trump seeking payment from the Department of Justice, the redistricting battle intensifying across several key states and the Gaza ceasefire holding after two weeks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy


