What are the chances of a government shutdown?
With the clock ticking to Friday's funding deadline, new House Speaker Mike Johnson may have the solution to averting a shutdown -- a two-tiered approach that keeps the government open, but once again, kicks the can down the road into the new year. Jim discusses the latest developments with Washington Examiner reporter Reese Gorman on "The Final 5."
Helping veteran-owned businesses
Many veterans are returning from service to open businesses, but the hurdles to success are vast. Julia Fletcher, a Navy veteran, is one of the owners of Bo & Ivy Distillers in Ivy City. She joins Jim to explain more, plus the history roots of their new "Navy Strength Gin."
New CDC data: youth vaping drops
A new CDC report shows younger people using vaping products is dropping, but many measures are having an unintended impact. Plus, a proposed federal ban on menthol cigarettes is attracting the public opposition from the family of Eric Garner. David Clement from the Consumer Choice Center is Jim's guest on "The Final 5."
After Tuesday's wins, Dems look to 2024 state races
Democrats emerged from Tuesday's elections with big wins in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, but for politicians from all sides, 2024 is already well underway. While the race for the White House is the marquee battle, more statewide and legislative races are on the ballot, so what was the winning formula? Abhi Rahman from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee joins Jim on "The Final 5," and also weighs in on the potential effects that President Biden's sagging poll numbers have on the 2024 outlook.
NYT poll suggests Biden 2024 in trouble
Even before Tuesday's big wins for Democrats in Virginia and across the country, a New York TImes poll suggested that President Biden's re-election campaign was in peril, citing numbers in key swing states that show Donald Trump gaining ground. FOX 5 contributor Kevin Walling, a former Biden campaign surrogate, weighs in on "The Final 5."
Debating the 3rd GOP debate on "The Final 5"
The third Republican presidential debate is in the books, with a smaller cast of candidates and a larger focus on some major issues, including foreign policy and abortion -- but an exchange over TikTok gave Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy some of the early headlines. Republican strategists Jack Kalavritinos and Sarah Selip joined Jim on "The Final 5" to break it all down.
Democrats celebrate gains in VA, OH, KY
Between the big Democratic victories in Virginia, abortion rights winning in an Ohio ballot question, and Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear winning re-election in one of the most pro-Trump states in America comes the messaging ahead of 2024. Democratic commentator Kaivan Shroff weighs in on that and where he thinks Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) will go next on "The Final 5."
Kerry Healey Moves Forward
She was once the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, serving under then-Gov. Mitt Romney, but now Kerry Healey is back in politics as one of the board members of the upstart Forward Party. She joins Jim on "The Final 5" to explain why, and how the party made gains in many local races on election night.
Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn on "Standing My Ground"
He was thrust into the spotlight when he became one of the most vocal members of law enforcement after January 6th. Now, Harry Dunn is a best-selling author, sharing his story in "Standing My Ground: A Capitol Police Officer's Fight for Accountability and Good Trouble After January 6th." He joins Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" to talk about the book, how he's dealt with the attention and the road back from January 6th, and rumors that he's considering a run for Congress.
Rebuilding relationships between youth, police
A new report from the non-profit Strategies for Youth calls for a wholesale re-evaluation of how America's law enforcement agencies deal with children and teenagers. Executive Director Lisa Thurau is Jim's guest on "The Final 5."
Countdown to Virginia's Election Day
Millions of dollars in ads are airing across the region ahead of Tuesday's Election Day in Virginia -- and the stakes are high for both Democrats and Republicans, plus Governor Glenn Youngkin has a lot on the line. J. Miles Coleman from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia is Jim's guest on "The Final 5."
Joel Griffin makes case for Virginia Senate
Democrats already control the Virginia Senate, but they're targeting the 27th District seat around Fredericksburg as a potential pickup opportunity as Joel Griffin is taking on incumbent Sen. Tara Durant (R). Griffin lays out his platform on "The Final 5."
Lee Peters runs for the Virginia House
In an election where control of the Virginia House of Delegates hangs in the balance, both parties see an opportunity in the newly-redrawn 65th district around Fredericksburg. Republican Lee Peters is seeking to win the open seat. He joins Jim on "The Final 5."
Oct. 26 is "Vote Early Day"
Election Day in Virginia is November 7th, but there's a growing push to allow voters to cast ballots early across the entire country. October 26th has been dubbed "Vote Early Day," and the head of the group backing effort, Bryce Bennett, explains why there's more enthusiasm for early voting now more than ever.
Rep. Glenn Ivey on New Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson
Now that the House of Representatives is back in session after a 22-day speaker stalemate, Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) joins Jim on "The Final 5" to weigh in on the election of Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as House Speaker, and what he has to say about Republicans who say Democrats bore some responsibility for the gridlock.
One-on-one with Gov. Glenn Youngkin
With the crucial Virginia legislative elections just weeks away, Gov. Glenn Youngkin is making his case to build the Republican majority in the House of Delegates and flip the Senate, as issues like abortion rights and education loom large in the campaign. Jim Lokay sits down with Gov. Youngkin on "The Final 5" to talk about that, his advice for House Republicans, and the 2024 question.
Preserving "The Soul of Civility"
In these uncivil times, it's easy to ignore social conventions. In her new book, "The Soul of Civility," author Alexandra Hudson outlines moments through history that teach people of the 21st century to live harmoniously and tolerantly, even if we have deep differences. Hudson joins Jim on "The Final 5."
How to better secure your online presence
It is "National Cybersecurity Awareness Month," and as new threats emerge daily, cybersecurity experts are offering new tips beyond just changing your password. Vivek Bhandari from Tanium joins Jim on "The Final 5."
Tekesha Martinez seeks to succeed Trone in MD-6
Tekesha Martinez is the first African-American mayor of Hagerstown, but she says her unique background in local politics and as a conflict mediator makes her especially qualified to serve in Congress. Martinez is one of many Democrats running to succeed Rep. David Trone in Maryland's 6th District as he runs for the U.S. Senate. She joins Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" to explain why she's running.
Speaker Battle: Day 3
No votes for Speaker of the House on Thursday as Republicans struggle to whip enough votes for Jim Jordan. Jim breaks down the new developments with Bloomberg Government's Maeve Sheehey on "The Final 5."