WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Assessing the latest Republican platform planks, starting with Tim Scott's economic agenda, which tackles spending, welfare reform, tax cuts and more. Plus, Ron DeSantis calls for the U.S. to achieve "energy dominance," Mike Pence gets tough on China, and Nikki Haley promises a plan to save America from Bidenomics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With 12 days left before government funding expires, the House GOP is again tactically divided. What do the dissenting Republicans want, and why do some believe they'd win a shutdown? Plus, Speaker Kevin McCarthy dares his critics to try to oust him with a motion to vacate, because who could replace him remains a mystery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken Paxton's impeachment trial ended in a full acquittal for the Texas Attorney General, exposing the problems of states ruled by one political party, as well as a split in the Texas Republican Party that resonates nationally. Plus, Donald Trump opposes a six-week ban on abortion but says he'd be open to a cognitive test for presidential candidates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

United Auto Workers go on strike at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis factories, as Joe Biden takes their side. Are their demands reasonable, and what role is the transition to electric vehicles playing? Plus, Hunter Biden is indicted on three gun felonies, but where is special counsel David Weiss going on the tax investigation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Republicans begin an impeachment inquiry to examine the extent of President Biden's involvement in his son Hunter's business dealings. What evidence are they looking for, and has impeachment been defined down? Plus, the emergency gun ban declared by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is blocked in court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wall Street Journal's Potomac Watch podcast features author Thomas Sowell, whose new book dissects the misconceptions that distort public understanding about differences among individuals and racial and other groups. And why do so many intellectuals fall for the 'chess piece fallacy' about human behavior? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fifth Circuit appeals court says federal officials, including in the White House, coerced social-media companies to take down more posts. Is this going to the Supreme Court? Plus, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham uses an emergency order to ban firearm carry in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, but local police won't enforce it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The anxiety is growing louder as Democrats look at polls showing that three quarters of all voters think President Biden is too old to run for a second term. Revelations about Hunter Biden and the family business don't help, and Vice President Kamala Harris could also weigh down the ticket. Democrats are counting on Donald Trump to rescue them as the Republican nominee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a town hall in Manhattan, Mayor Eric Adams says that the city lacks the resources to care for the thousands of migrants arriving each month, but he blames Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instead of his fellow Democrats, including Joe Biden's border policies. Plus, the impeachment trial begins for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The former Vice President takes aim at Donald Trump by saying populism without conservative principles is "Republicans in name only" and will ruin the GOP. Plus, Bernie Sanders goes all in on his support for Joe Biden, and Mitch McConnell says he's staying as the GOP's Senate leader. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Potomac Watch podcast, Paul Gigot sits down with 2024 presidential candidate and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie about where Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy are wrong on Ukraine, how he would handle trade policy with China, and why he's focusing on New Hampshire and not Iowa to win the nomination in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A legal argument now gaining attention is that Donald Trump can't serve again as president, because the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol counts as an "insurrection" under the 14th Amendment, which barred Confederates from office after the Civil War. Plus, a new WSJ poll shows Trump's support in the GOP primary rising to 59%. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign is on pause for Hurricane Idalia, but he's displaying the no-nonsense leadership that has put him in second place behind Donald Trump. Plus, Vivek Ramaswamy does a subtle shift on Taiwan, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez drops out after missing the GOP debate stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Vice President, Joe Biden maintained several email accounts under pseudonyms, some of which were used to conduct government business, as well as correspondence with his son, Hunter Biden. Why? Plus, concerns about Mitch McConnell and the future of the GOP Senate leadership arise after the Senate Minority Leader freezes in front of cameras for the second time in recent weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president announces the first 10 drugs for which the government will "negotiate" prices under the Inflation Reduction Act. What will this do to the incentive to develop new cures and launch generic alternatives? Plus, the plan faces legal challenges over whether the threatened penalty of a 1,900% tax is constitutional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia parents ask the Justices to strike down new admissions rules at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which they say are intended to block Asian students. Plus, listener emails on Mike Pence, a 2024 rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and Trump's plan for a 10% universal tariff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge set March 4, 2024, as the date for Donald Trump's federal trial for election interference, one day before voters go to the polls on Super Tuesday. How much time will the GOP frontrunner be spending in court and not on the campaign trail? Plus, the polls since last week's GOP presidential debate show gains for some of Trump's competitors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump says he wants universal tariffs on imports to the U.S., an enormous new tax on American consumers that also would provoke retaliation, which is one reason his last trade war failed. Plus, Joe Biden holds a summit at Camp David with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, a good step in countering China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Candidates Nikki Haley and Mike Pence took advantage of Donald Trump's absence and turned in impressive performances in Milwaukee, but did Ron DeSantis get the breakout moment he needed? Plus, though Donald Trump did not appear on the debate stage, questions about his indictment and his fitness for office loomed large over the contest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a visit to Hawaii, Joe Biden tries to connect by bringing up an old fire at his Delaware house. Are visits to disaster sites a political no-win, even when the president doesn't veer off script? Do renewable energy mandates compete with spending on wildfire safety? Plus, the panel previews the first GOP presidential debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices