WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

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

Two federal agencies, the Energy Department and the FBI, reignite the debate over whether the Covid-19 pandemic began naturally or whether the virus escaped from a Wuhan lab. The White House says there's no consensus in the intelligence community, but why was the lab-leak theory dismissed for so long, and are we any closer to finding the truth? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a primetime opening hearing, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, led by Rep. Mike Gallagher, began a wide-ranging investigation into potential threats from China, including surveillance and threats of impending war. So what does this committee hope to accomplish? Plus, the Senate approves a measure to overturn a Biden administration ESG rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago voters fire Mayor Lori Lightfoot, but their next leader will depend on an April runoff. Might Chicago become another example of a blue city that is fed up with crime and dysfunction? Plus, Congress considers whether to override bills by the D.C. Council that would lower criminal penalties in Washington and let noncitizens vote in local elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Justices take up Joe Biden's plan to wipe out billions of dollars in student debt, with sparring on the "major questions doctrine" and whether the opponents have legal standing to sue. Meantime, the Commerce Department puts a child care mandate on semiconductor companies that receive federal funding from the Chips Act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot could lose her bid for re-election as rising crime has voters looking closely at her challengers. Plus, the race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court has implications for former Gov. Scott Walker's reforms and for national Republicans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foreperson Emily Kohrs gives several interviews revealing details from the Georgia grand jury that investigated 2020 election interference. How much does this taint the state's investigation of Donald Trump's conduct? Plus, the Federal Reserve's favorite price metric, the PCE, shows the inflation beast hasn't yet been slain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete Buttigieg finally visited the site of a major train derailment in rural Ohio, while Donald Trump arrived on the scene with promises of clean water for those he says were forgotten by the current administration. Did Joe Biden make a mistake by not going to the region himself? Plus, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy enters the 2024 race for President as Sen. Tim Scott gives a preview of his own possible ambitions in Iowa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Under a law called Section 230, internet platforms aren't liable for what their users upload, but does that immunity also protect the algorithms that sort and display content? The High Court considers that question in a case alleging that YouTube's recommendation engine spread the messages of the terrorist group ISIS, though some Justices seem to think changing the status quo is a job for Congress, not the courts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices