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Artwork for WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Paul Gigot, The Wall Street Journal
Donald Trump
Iran
Supreme Court
Trump Administration
China
Congress
Federal Reserve
Republican Party
Tariffs
United States
Inflation
Democratic Party
Russia
Ukraine
Venezuela
ICE
President Trump
Gerrymandering
California
Israel

From the award-winning opinion pages of The Wall Street Journal, Paul Gigot, Kim Strassel, Bill McGurn and Kyle Peterson discuss the latest from Washington. Get critical perspective and the analysis you need on developments from the nation’s capital. Join them every weekday. Send your feedback to pwpodcast@wsj.com

PublishesDailyEpisodes77Founded11 years ago
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Artwork for WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Latest Episodes

Why were some scientists blacklisted and censored for questioning the need for lockdowns during the Covid pandemic? And why did some in Washington encourage it? Paul Gigot speaks with the Wall Street Journal's James Taranto and executive producer Mic... more

Donald Trump explains that oil and stock prices drove his decision to sign the memorandum of understanding with Iran, in a surprising admission of U.S. weakness. What concessions did the U.S. make to Iran, and what did it get in return.?

Learn more ... more

The White House effectively bans the advanced Fable 5 model by placing it off limits to foreigners, even ones working at Anthropic. Plus, Donald Trump upends Jay Clayton's confirmation as director of national intelligence, while making new demands th... more

As D.C. holds its Democratic primary, the polling leader is Janeese Lewis George, who wants new taxes on businesses, "childcare for all," and more. But President Trump warns that D.C. is ultimately under federal control. Plus, two Dan Sullivans runni... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Matthew Hennessey
Editor of Free Expression, WSJ opinion columnist
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Donald Trump Announces an Iran Agreement After Cancelling Strikes
Elliot Kaufman
Editorial board member and analyst
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Are Israel and the U.S. on the Same Page on Iran?
Colin Levy
Reporter covering harassment of judges
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Are Israel and the U.S. on the Same Page on Iran?
Matt Pottinger
Former Deputy National Security Advisor; former US Marine; former Wall Street Journal reporter
White House/US government
Episode: Matt Pottinger on Competing with China and What's Next in Iran
Matthew Hennessy
Editor of Free Expression
WSJ / Free Expression newsletter
Episode: The GOP Agenda Gets Stuck on Trump's $1.776 Billion Settlement Fund
Kim Strassel
Columnist on WSJ Opinion pages
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: The GOP Agenda Gets Stuck on Trump's $1.776 Billion Settlement Fund
Kate O'Dell
Editorial board member
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: The GOP Agenda Gets Stuck on Trump's $1.776 Billion Settlement Fund
Zoran Mamdani
Mayor of New York City
City of New York
Episode: Iran Puts a Pause on Ceasefire Talks with the U.S.
Jessica Tisch
Police Commissioner of New York City
New York Police Department
Episode: Iran Puts a Pause on Ceasefire Talks with the U.S.

Hosts

Kyle Peterson
Host of Potomac Watch at The Wall Street Journal; provides informed political and policy analysis with a supply-side, market-oriented lens.
Paul Gigot
Host of Potomac Watch; veteran journalist and commentator offering conservative-leaning policy critique and governance perspective.
Matthew Hennessy
Editor of Free Expression; WSJ opinion page contributor providing economic and policy analysis.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 3.7k ratings
  • 5/11 guest was great.

    Hopefully Paul et al. leaned something

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    abp4567891234
    United Statesa month ago
  • Both sides

    I listen to find out what the Kool-Aid drinkers are up to.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Chattasteff
    United States2 months ago
  • WSJ Editorial Board in all its fanaticism

    Given the title of my review, why would I give it even 2 stars? Because, despite raising my blood pressure, the pod is the most intelligent exposition of this country’s kleptocratic business class. So I must force myself to listen to it to hear what the other side is saying. And I would rather listen to them and read this Murdoch rag’s editorials than any other disreputable outlet in his stable, certainly not the NY Post or Fox News,

    But I have to say something about the cast of characters: Bam... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sidneyhart
    United States2 months ago
  • Fox News-ish analysis weirdly in line with Putin’s interests.

    This WSJ podcast is the 156th most popular on itune news and politics offerings; there's a reason it's so poorly rated in spite of it's WSJ pedigree.

    I was terribly disappointed when I listened to Potomac Watch. On the recent Paris Climate Change Agreement episode it was shocking to hear that Gigot and his two contributor's knowledge of the withdrawal's effect on foreign policy, international trade or even macroeconomics was akin to what you'd expect to hear from three insurance salesman havin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Kickerofelves77
    United States2 months ago
  • Not a Good-Faith, Competent Discussion of Conservative Opinion

    I have opinions that differ in general from those often expressed on this podcast. I do my best to seek out opinions that differ from my own. While this podcast has been helpful at times with that, it has become clear that the opinion coverage here puts on such complete blinders to inconvenient facts and opposing arguments that it does not serve as good-faith or effective opinion coverage.

    I specifically am absolutely stunned that in the latest podcast about the ceasefire in Iran, which the ep... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    S. Cal.
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The discourse is widely regarded as intelligent and deeply sourced, though opinions may diverge.
Guests are valued for expertise, but episodes can be polarizing depending on viewpoints.
Some critics feel the show leans too conservative and lacks balance on certain topics.
Listeners appreciate sharp, policy-forward analysis with a business-friendly angle.
Regular hosts maintain a confident, provocative style that drives engaging conversations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#154
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#182
Italy/News
Apple Podcasts
#132
Colombia/News
Apple Podcasts
#148
South Korea/News
Apple Podcasts
#175
India/News
Apple Podcasts
#187
Chile/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are Israel and the U.S. on the Same Page on Iran?
Q: You've been doing some reporting on the harassment of judges in the judiciary, federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court, one of the latest episodes, so-called swatting case against Amy Coney Barrett's home. Tell us about it.
Colin Levy explains that swatting is an intimidation tactic designed to trigger armed police responses at judges' homes, risking dangerous confrontations and endangering families, highlighting the need for deterrence and better handling in the criminal justice system.
Iran Puts a Pause on Ceasefire Talks with the U.S.
Q: What is the significance of the MOU and its initial draft in shaping the next phase of talks?
The MOU's initial draft suggested that both sides agreed to move toward resolving key issues, particularly uranium enrichment, but the US modified terms to require top-level approval and to specify timelines and conditions; this creates ambiguity about commitments and whether Iran can satisfy ongoing demands while preserving its own strategic red lines.
Iran Puts a Pause on Ceasefire Talks with the U.S.
Q: What is driving the current pause in ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States?
The central driver appears to be a combination of ongoing military exchanges in the region, Iran's insistence on maintaining leverage through actions by allied groups like Hezbollah, and the US push to secure a more enforceable set of nuclear and strategic concessions; Iran's leadership and key factions, including the IRGC, seem to be influencing the negotiation posture and terms of acceptance.
Matt Pottinger on Competing with China and What's Next in Iran
Q: How should the U.S. handle arms sales to Taiwan in the context of China's leverage and the current geopolitical climate?
Arms sales to Taiwan should be pursued when they're in line with a credible deterrent and U.S. strategic interests; delaying or censoring these sales risks emboldening Beijing and compromising regional stability, while ongoing oversight and timely approvals help maintain deterrence and prevent a crisis.
Matt Pottinger on Competing with China and What's Next in Iran
Q: What do you think comes next in Iran, and how does the U.S. view Iran differently from other adversaries?
The U.S. approach has balanced pressure and deterrence, recognizing that Iran's nuclear ambitions and willingness to escalate via proxies require a robust posture and a credible path to preventing further enrichment, while also considering diplomacy as a tool to bridge gaps with a regime that has shown willingness to test red lines in the past.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

What is WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekday political and policy conversation led by a Wall Street Journal opinion panel that blends conservative-leaning analysis with data-driven commentary. Episodes typically cover high-stakes issues in Washington—from federal policy, regulatory debates, and monetary policy to foreign affairs and Supreme Court developments—often featuring regular hosts and several expert guests. The show is known for its brisk, argumentative style, deep dives into policy trade-offs, and a willingness to challenge opposing viewpoints, making it useful for listeners who want a clear, market-minded take on current events and governance.

Noteworthy traits include the strong emphasis on U.S. economic policy, regulatory issues, and national-security matters, an... more

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Which podcasts are similar to WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch?

These podcasts share a similar audience with WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch:

1. All Things with Kim Strassel
2. WSJ What’s News
3. The Editors
4. The McCarthy Report
5. The Journal.

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WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch launched 11 years ago and published 77 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch?

Recent guests on WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch include:

1. Matthew Hennessey
2. Elliot Kaufman
3. Colin Levy
4. Matt Pottinger
5. Matthew Hennessy
6. Kim Strassel
7. Kate O'Dell
8. Zoran Mamdani

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