Jason Palmer wants to bring Americans "Together!"
Maryland businessman Jason Palmer, who notched a surprising win in the American Samoa Democratic caucus over President Biden last month, is focusing to a new effort aimed at bringing together younger Americans in the name of civic engagement and common sense. "TOGETHER!" officially launched in late March, and Palmer joins Jim on "The Final 5" to explain what it's all about. MORE: togetherpurple.org
Arizona's abortion ruling, MTG's letter to Johnson
One day after Donald Trump said he'd prefer states set their own limits on abortion, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a 19th-century law outlawing the procedure in almost all instances would take effect. That, coupled with a scathing "Dear Colleague" letter from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) calling for the ouster of House Speaker Mike Johnson, made for an eventful day in Washington. Reese Gorman from The Daily Beast joined Jim on The Final 5 to explain more.
It's the March Sadness finale!
32 names from all sides of the political spectrum -- but only one can win. Who has had the saddest year in politics? Tonight is the final night for "The Final 5's" March Sadness poll -- and you can weigh in. Jim Lokay breaks down the final matchup with Chief Sadness Correspondent Loreto Cruz III. (VOTE: fox5dc.com/final5)
Altimont Wilks and his run for Congress
On "The Final 5," Jim talks with Altimont Wilks, one of the many Democrats seeking their party's nomination for Maryland's soon-to-be-open 6th Congressional District seat. Wilks talks about the motivating factor for his candidacy, and how his life experience in the criminal justice system shapes his approach to the campaign.
New jobs numbers impress, now what?
The economy added 303,000 new jobs in March, a number that President Biden touts as a sign his policies are working. What does this mean for inflation, and interest rates? Jim breaks it down with economist and former White House associate OMB director Vance Ginn on The Final 5.
White House vows $20B in climate push
The Biden administration plans to spend $20 billion towards green energy efforts in a new push, aimed at addressing climate concerns. Jim gets reaction from conservative climate advocate Christopher Johnson on "The Final 5."
George Gluck runs for Congress in Maryland's 6th
The crowded field of candidates seeking to succeed Rep. David Trone (D) in Maryland's 6th Congressional District includes Democrat George Gluck. He joins Jim on "The Final 5" to make his case.
RFK's veep-stakes, and the Tulsi factor
A week after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his choice of Nicole Shanahan as his running mate, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard reportedly declined his previous overtures. Still, Gabbard is seen as a potential Trump running mate. Jim discusses with Axios reporter Erin Doherty.
U.S.-Israel dynamic changes amid more Gaza violence
Israel claims the deaths of 7 aid workers from D.C.-based World Central Kitchen was the result of "misidentification," but the dynamic between the U.S. and Israel has seen some changes as the Gaza war rages on, and calls to mitigate the deaths of innocent civilians grow louder. Jamil Jaffer from the National Security Institute at George Mason University is Jim's guest on "The Final 5."
Berney Flowers speaks up
He served in the Air Force for decades, but now that he's retired, Berney Flowers has entered the political arena. But before he discusses why he thinks immigration could be a major issue in Maryland's 3rd Congressional district, he discusses the recovery effort ahead for the Baltimore area after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Neil Parrott makes bid for Maryland's 6th District
Former Maryland Del. Neil Parrott (R) was his party's nominee for the 6th Congressional District seat in 2020 and 2022. He lost to Rep. David Trone, but as Trone vacates the seat for a Senate bid, Parrott says the seat is competitive. He tells Jim what's different about 2024 on "The Final 5."
"Get Off My Neck:" a former prosecutor's call for reform
Former Baltimore prosecutor and assistant Maryland Attorney General Debbie Hines is telling her stories from the system in the new book "Get Off My Neck." She shares her ideas to improve race relations in the criminal justice system and more with Jim on "The Final 5."
The Final Five: March 22, 2024
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
Business expert: EPA EV push underscores power of collaboration
As the EPA issues new rules seeking to put more electric and gas-hybrid vehicles on the roads, they're doing so with input from automakers and other stakeholders. Business expert Mark LaScola of On The Mark joins Jim to talk about the power of collaboration in a business environment.
Johnson's speakership on the line? MTG thinks it should be
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) officially filed a motion to vacate the chair, the first official threat to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Many Republicans are angry that Johnson worked with Democrats on a government funding measure. Coupled with the imminent departure of Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Friday underscored the strife within the GOP majority. Jim talks about it with Axios congressioanl reporter Stephen Neukam on "The Final 5."
"It's the economy, stupid!" - Biden looks to message on gains for 2024
Polls show voters are still wary of President Biden's handling of the economy, even as unemployment numbers are at historic lows. Rhett Buttle, founder of Public Private Strategies and a former Biden campaign business advisor, says there are other numbers to pay attention to. He joins Jim on "The Final 5" to weigh in.
Survey: Dems touting "economic populism" saw more midterm success
The Center for Working Class Politics is out with a survey looking at the nearly 1,000 Democrats who ran for federal office in 2022, suggesting those who ran on a platform of "economic populism" did better than Democrats who did not. Jim Lokay discusses this and more with Fox 5 contributor Kevin Walling, including how Democrats are messaging ahead of the November elections.
Small business group: Trump tax cut act needs revamp
A consortium of small business owners are calling for a fresh look at Donald Trump's signature Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The group Small Business for America's Future says while the act made a positive impact in its nascent stages, many of the components aimed at helping their companies are set to expire. Group co-chair Walt Rowan joins "The Final 5" to explain why.
House GOP looks ahead past Buck's departure
Another departure looms for House Republicans, when Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) departs next week. While the GOP still holds the majority, the priorities they face happen against the backdrop of November's election, where all 435 seats go up for grabs. Former GOP leadership aide Brittany Martinez joins Jim on "The Final 5" to offer her take.
"Disproven:" Trump 2020 insider recounts failed search for voter fraud
Ken Block got the call on the day after the 2020 election: the Trump campaign sought out his expertise in data analysis and software to probe for the voter fraud that the former POTUS claimed led to his defeat. While the fraud didn't exist, Block - a former Republican candidate for Rhode Island governor - says what he's learned should be a cautionary tale for election officials to preserve public confidence in the system. He joined Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" to discuss his new book, "Disproven: My Unbiased Search for Voter Fraud for the Trump Campaign, the Data that Shows Why He Lost, and How We Can Improve Our Elections."