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The Washington Post

The Washington Post’s Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann gather for a weekly in-depth conversation about politics and power. From presidential candidates to members of Congress to the judicial system, Sidebar dives deep on the topics and people at the forefront of the political conversation.

The crew sits down each Thursday (with the occasional breaking news episode) to discuss what has happened that week, and what’s coming up the next week – with guest appearances from Washington Post reporters.

The Trump Trials: Sidebar

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann discuss what's left of the Democratic party after its 2024 election losses – from who's left in Congress and who will have positions of authority, to the fading presence of the party's biggest voices in recent decades. The crew breaks down who could step up as Democrats' ideological leader – and who definitely won't be in the picture.

Then, what's the status of Trump's cabinet picks? Right now, it looks like the ones left standing will all make it to January confirmation hearings.

Who's left for the Democrats?

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down Elon Musk's successful effort to torpedo a government spending bill – and what that means about how president-elect Donald Trump's White House will function. 

Plus, how are Democrats preparing for a Trump presidency in which they are the minority in both the House and Senate?

Later, the crew looks at longtime members of the Senate who won't be back in the next Congress – and their final messages as they prepare to leave Washington.

Finally, Trump's criminal racketeering case in Georgia may be on ice after prosecutor Fani T. Willis was disqualified by an appeals court.

Congress gets more Trumpy

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann recap the most important moments in American politics in 2024 – plus a few runners-up.

The biggest political moments of 2024

This week, reporters Marianna Sotomayor and Marianne Levine join the show to discuss the House speaker drama that could unfold as GOP holdouts say they might not vote for current House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Plus, what are Republicans' early legislative priorities – and are there signs that after winning the White House and both houses of Congress in November that the Republican party is far from unified?

Speaking of Congress ...

This week, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down president-elect Trump's angry, grievance-filled news conference – and why Trump is so focused on those grievances despite winning the election, with Republicans winning both houses of Congress.

Then, the crew recaps the latest on Trump's New York hush money case, and whether the Supreme Court might intervene before the sentencing hearing scheduled for Jan. 10.

The sore winner

In this special episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by JM Rieger in Washington and criminal justice reporter Shayna Jacobs in New York, to discuss the sentence handed down to president-elect Trump in his New York hush money case – and why he escaped punishment after being convicted on 34 felony counts.

Plus, is this the end of Trump's legal troubles?

Unconditional discharge

On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down the Trump cabinet nominees whose hearings have gotten underway on Capitol Hill – and whether Democrats are effectively rallying votes against any of them.

Plus, President Biden gave his farewell speech on Jan. 15 – and it wasn't the speech everyone expected.

Then, what is the crew looking out for on inauguration day on Monday?

Trump's ongoing loyalty test

Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and Aaron Blake break down President Trump's decision to pardon or commute the sentences of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rioters, just hours after he was inaugurated for the second time.

And Trump signed a whole lot of other executive orders; Which ones definitely matter, which ones might end up mattering, and which ones probably won't?

Plus, the tech billionaires came to Washington – including Elon Musk.

Pardon?

The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger are joined by immigration reporter Nick Miroff to break down the way President Trump is attempting to rapidly change the United States' immigration system – and create a culture of fear among undocumented immigrants.

Plus, how is Trump quickly changing America's foreign policy – and what is he trying to accomplish by demolishing decades of affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion policies?

A 'death blow' for DEI

The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski to discuss President Trump's first week back in office – and what happened the night he decided to fire more than a dozen government inspectors general.

Plus, Trump's pause on government grants and loans is throwing Washington – and government programs around the globe – into chaos. Who will be affected by it most?

And three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees are set to undergo Senate confirmation hearings later this week. Will RFK Jr. be derailed by a letter to senators penned by his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, calling him a "predator"?

Trump's chaotic pause of federal grants

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, James Hohmann and JM Rieger discuss the latest allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information about military plans on a group chat – this time, one that reportedly included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. The crew breaks down Hegseth's attempts at damage control, and why he's still in the job.

Then, we go inside the reported chaos, screaming matches and proposed DOGE cuts at the Pentagon. And a former Hegseth aide says he was pushed out by a faction of Defense Department employees with an ulterior motive.

Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon's 'month from hell'

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