WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, a group of Republican backbenchers plot to remove Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker. But apart from the power play, it isn't clear what they hope to accomplish. And what happens if they succeed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Trade Commission under Lina Khan sues Amazon for "monopolistic practices," but is the online retailer actually a monopoly, given its competition from brick-and-mortar stores, and is its behavior anticompetitive in a way that harms consumers? Plus, the House fails to pass a stopgap funding bill, setting up a possible government shutdown, as the Biden Administration prepares to close national parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seven GOP candidates debated at the Reagan library to see who can emerge as the main alternative to the former President, who has a big lead in the polls. Did anyone come out ahead? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden makes history by joining a United Auto Workers picket line, as Donald Trump plans a speech in Michigan in lieu of joining the 2024 Republican debate at the Reagan library. Plus, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to erase medical debt from credit reports, as the CFPB's funding goes to the Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A veto-proof GOP Legislature passes a universal voucher program, steamrolling Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Next up, Texas, as Gov. Greg Abbott calls a school-choice special session? Plus, another study shows charter successes, as Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates sends her son to a private school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez says he'll be exonerated of corruption charges, so why are his fellow Democrats calling on him to resign? Plus, two new polls deliver bad news about Joe Biden's chances for re-election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the summer heat waning, migrant crossings at the southern border are again nearing records. Meantime, President Biden grants temporary protected status, or TPS, to about 500,000 Venezuelans, which will allow them to work in the U.S. Plus, Nikki Haley unveils an economic plan that includes raising the retirement age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The second Republican debate is scheduled next week, but Donald Trump will instead give a speech to union workers in Detroit. Does he not think voters deserve to hear his positions on abortion, Ukraine, his electability, and more? Plus, a new poll in New Hampshire puts Ron DeSantis in fifth place, as the GOP field fractures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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