WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has opened Pandora's box with his unprecedented indictment of Donald Trump, a first in U.S. history. Reports have Trump facing about 30 charges, but the evidence is yet to come. What does this mean for the 2024 Presidential race, especially Trump's rivals for the Republican nomination? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden takes a shot at Benjamin Netanyahu even after the Prime Minister had paused his controversial judicial reform in a search for compromise with the opposition. Is Biden trying to topple Israel's new government? Plus, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States may include a meeting with Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, much to the consternation of China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Republicans make a push for H.R.1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which Rep. Steve Scalise says will help make the U.S. less dependent on foreign oil. But can pieces of this legislation get through the Democratic Senate, and will Joe Manchin secure his permitting reform? Plus, Joe Biden changes course and approves the Willow drilling project in Alaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judge Kyle Duncan’s speech at Stanford Law School was met with not merely student protests, but prepared remarks from a diversity dean, Tirien Steinbach. The law school's dean, Jenny Martinez, released a letter in response, but is she taking a tough enough line, and what does this incident say about America's future elite lawyers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FDIC found a buyer for Silicon Valley Bank's assets after its spectacular collapse in First Citizens BancShares, and Fed chairman Jerome Powell has vowed to look into the supervisors and regulatory policies to prevent this from happening again. But where does the blame truly belong, and do all signs point to a recession later this year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After criticism for calling Russia's war a "territorial dispute," the Florida Governor and potential 2024 contender adds some nuance. But has he offered a clearer picture of what President DeSantis's foreign policy would look like? Plus, the House GOP suggests it wants to investigate Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg's pursuit of an indictment against Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Potomac Watch, Paul Gigot speaks with political scientist Ruy Teixeira about the political implications of an indictment against Donald Trump, why an emerging Democratic majority in Washington never materialized, and why Joe Biden has governed from the left. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first veto of Joe Biden's presidency gives retirement-fund managers more freedom to indulge in politicized investment decisions. But why are social-justice and climate-change funds getting priority over those that might yield higher returns? Plus, the White House and Democrats take aim at the Freedom Caucus' budget blueprint to reign in government spending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After UBS rescued Credit Suisse in a billion-dollar takeover bid, Janet Yellen warns investors that bailouts could be on the way for even smaller banks. But are these regulatory actions causing their own risks and harm? Plus, the world is on edge as Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin meet this week, raising questions about that alliance and the war in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former President signals he could be indicted this week on charges related to hush-money payments to his alleged mistress. What's behind Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's revival of a seven-year-old case, and what are the political implications? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testified on Capitol Hill that the economy is strong and the U.S. banking system is sound, despite the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the bailout of First Republic Bank. So what did the regulators miss, and what does Joe Biden plan to do about it? Plus, a decision on insulin prices by French drugmaker Sanofi could hold unexpected consequences for U.S. patients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite his hawkish past, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to a Fox News questionnaire by saying the war in Ukraine was not a vital U.S. interest. Was this a mistake by someone relatively new to the world of foreign affairs, and can it be fixed by the time he potentially launches a Presidential campaign? Plus, Donald Trump says he could end the Russia/Ukraine conflict in a day, and Mike Pence believes supporting Ukraine is part of the conservative tradition of Ronald Reagan. Learn...

News reports suggest that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg might be planning to indict Donald Trump for falsifying business records related to his hush money to Stormy Daniels in 2016. Could prosecutors be stretching the law to make this a felony, how would a criminal case affect the 2024 primaries, and could Trump run as a third-party candidate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Potomac Watch Podcast, Paul Gigot speaks with former Pennsylvania Senate candidate David McCormick about how the seeds of the current bank panic were planted years ago and what Joe Biden can do about it, whether the country is heading in the wrong direction, the need to invest in technology, and if he is considering another run for Senate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden tries to reassure financial markets about risks to the banking system, but investors weren't buying it Monday. What's behind the bank panic, and is Biden right to blame the Trump administration? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the FBI raising concerns about national security, the White House asks Congress for authority to block the Chinese social-media app from the U.S. Plus, the Senate votes 81-14 to stop an overhaul of the criminal code in Washington, D.C., with many Democrats crossing the aisle, wary of appearing soft on crime in the runup to 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President's fiscal 2024 budget proposal raises taxes far and wide, setting up a battle with Republicans in Congress. What does it say about his 2024 re-election strategy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

West Virginia reduces its income taxes, as Gov. Jim Justice eyes a challenge to Sen. Joe Manchin. North Dakota could adopt a flat tax, which Gov. Doug Burgum says would help the state compete for oil workers. And Michiganders could get a tax cut, too, despite the best efforts of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Plus, a plan to adapt subway service to post-Covid realities is blocked by New York City's transit union. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President commemorates the "Bloody Sunday" civil-rights march, while using his speech for partisan ends. But what's the reality of the Supreme Court's jurisprudence on the Voting Rights Act, and did the 2022 midterms support the Democratic claims abouts voting laws in states like Georgia? Plus, Biden teases his 2024 budget by proposing a tax increase for Medicare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As he considers a run for the White House, the Florida Governor offers his Sunshine State record on Covid, education and more as a model for Washington. Plus, Donald Trump shows in his CPAC speech that he has DeSantis on his mind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices