Tag: Michael Gerson

Washington Post columnists Michael Gerson and Jonathan Capehart join William Brangham to discuss the week’s political news, including when we might see resolution on the border wall and government shutdown, lessons from the midterm elections and how the Mueller investigation could produce a "polarization machine." For some analysis on this week in politics, I'm joined by Washington Post columnists Michael Gerson and Jonathan Capehart. He's been talking about it as president. As for the Democrats, I actually do think that they do want to have a solution, not just when it comes to a border wall, but also when it comes to immigration. Republicans still control the House, they still control the Senate, and President Trump is still in the White House. Michael Gerson: Well, I think you're correct, Jonathan, that Democrats have the elements of maybe a deal on this. And the president has said no to them. William Brangham: Can I ask you a question about — specifically about the president's rhetoric about immigration and the impact that has on this debate? Michael Gerson: I think it's a very possible outcome that you will have a report that is strong enough for every Democrat to support impeachment in the House of Representatives and not strong enough to bring any Republican senators in the Senate. That's going to put huge strains on American political life.

We look back at the life of former first lady Barbara Bush. Barbara Bush: What’s the matter with Americans? President George W. Bush: Yes. There was a lot of psychobabble about my relationship with my parents during the presidency, and it’s natural, because people haven’t had a chance to ask many presidents, what it’s like to be president with your father being a former president and mother a former first lady? President George W. Bush: I did, yes. I look out in the pews, and there is the president’s parents, you know, President George Bush, Barbara Bush. Judy Woodruff: And you have told us that you went on to have a great friendship with them. Bonnie Steinroeder: It was a huge part of her life and of President Bush’s life as well. You could see it in the motivation that they felt to help other people, to be good people, to be kind, to be generous. And I do think that’s probably what helped her at the end of her life to have that sense of peace, because we had talked a long, long time ago about her beliefs that she knew she would be reunited with the people she loved who had gone before her.