The Washington Sun Cast

Reporter Evan McMorris-Santoro takes us to New Mexico for the state’s first 2028 cattle call. Sen. Ben Ray Luján was the host of the first annual “Fourth in the Nation Matanza Rally” and brought out several likely 2028 Democratic candidates like Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly to test their messages and red and green chilis.

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Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin is finishing up a long and illustrious career in DC. Congressional reporter Paul Kane chats with the retiring senator – including his observations on how Congress has changed since he was first elected to the Senate and the House, his long pursuit of immigration reform and what he’ll miss about Washington.

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Today we’re joined by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who is poised to be one of the top Democrats in the Senate next year. Whether that’s in the majority or the minority, we’ll find out in a few short weeks. Schatz and host Igor Bobic talk about the midterms and what Democrats need to do to convince voters they are more than just an anti-Trump party.

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It’s October, which means the midterm election is just weeks away. Our intrepid Washington Sun Cast reporters take a look at the fight for control of the House and Senate. We’re taking a quick pit stop from the campaign trail to open up our notebooks and share what we’ve learned on the ground in some key battleground races.

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We’re about a month out from the midterm elections. Washington Sun reporters Oriana González, Al Weaver and Paul Kane are taking a step back to look at where things stand in the race to control the House and Senate.

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Today, reporter Kadia Goba speaks with one of the giants of the Democratic Party: South Carolina congressman Jim Clyburn. He’s represented a district in the central and eastern part of the state since 1993 and spent more than 15 years in House leadership before stepping down from that role in 2024. He talks about his confidence in Democrats’ ability to turn out the vote this midterm election, South Carolina’s status as the first Democratic primary state and what makes a good fish fry.

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In this episode, reporters Oriana González, Reese Gorman and Jeff Stein go all in on doomer AI warnings and the new calls for regulation from inside and outside the industry. We talk about the state of play for AI regulation, how it’s playing on the campaign trail and what, if anything, we can expect on Capitol Hill this year.

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Welcome all of you to The Washington Sun Cast, formerly On NOTUS! Today, managing editor Kate Nocera chats with reporter Igor Bobic about our name change. Then, Igor is joined by congressional reporters Al Weaver and Avani Kalra for a deep dive on President Trump’s new ads in battleground states and how data centers are shaping midterm races.

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Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed could determine the fate of the upper chamber. He sat down with NOTUS’ Alex Roarty to explain his recent apology, his campaign against Republican nominee Mike Rogers and Michigan football.

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Election Day is only a few short weeks away, and we have a special look at the fight for control of the House of Representatives. Reporters Oriana Gonzalez, Reese Gorman, and Kadia Goba spent some time talking to top leaders and candidates and share their reporting on how each party is making their pitch.

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NOTUS congressional reporter Oriana González is joined by her colleagues Igor Bobic and Lissandra Villa de Petrzelka to talk about how the Senate map could shake out in November, plus new NOTUS reporting on why “body people” are essential to making the Capitol work.

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Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) sits down with NOTUS’ Igor Bobic to talk about his “For Our Republic Act,” a ten-point plan aimed at limiting the executive power he says President Trump is abusing. Merkley also discusses his views on divides inside the Democratic Party and his priorities if he becomes Budget Committee Chairman next year.

Ahead of the August recess, some Republicans are urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to keep the chamber in Washington to pass President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act, despite lacking votes to move the legislation forward. Igor Bobic is joined by his colleagues Avani Kalra and Al Weaver to talk about the divides inside the Senate Republican Conference and the limits of the president’s power on the Hill.

Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-California) sits down with NOTUS’ Oriana González to talk about key issues for Latino voters in the midterm elections, the future of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and her rationale for voting to end all U.S. aid to Israel.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Connecticut) sits down with NOTUS’ Kadia Goba to talk about his concerns that President Donald Trump could meddle in November’s midterm elections, the fight over reauthorizing the government’s top surveillance tool, and his belief in a “big tent” Democratic Party.

California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla sits down with NOTUS’ Igor Bobic to talk about transparency over illness in Congress, California’s proposed billionaire tax, and his concerns over whether President Donald Trump might interfere in November’s midterm elections.

America celebrated its 250th anniversary with dueling entities planning events — including one backed by President Donald Trump that mixed partisanship with patriotism. Oriana González is joined by her colleagues Anna Kramer and Jenna Monnin to discuss their reporting on what went into the Trump-sponsored event and how bipartisan plans took a back seat. Plus, Kadia Goba and Al Weaver discuss their reporting on the president’s focus on remaking D.C. and how the 250th celebrations overshadowed the one-year anniversary of the Republican tax law.

Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky sits down with NOTUS’ Reese Gorman to talk about the Oversight Committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, his likely gubernatorial bid, and his view on the difference between the business dealings of the Trump family and the Biden family.

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis sits down with NOTUS’ Al Weaver to talk about his second thoughts about voting for Pete Hegseth, the divisions inside the Senate Republican Conference and his major problems with President Trump’s ill-fated anti-weaponization fund.

Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen sits down with NOTUS’ Igor Bobic to talk about the need for “dramatic change” in Washington and his party’s stance on Israel heading into the 2028 election.