#TheFinal5: Shuff on renewed statehood effort
D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) unveiled the latest attempt to grant statehood for the District, but the legislation faces longer odds with Republicans now in control of the House. Still, D.C. Vote Executive Director Bo Shuff says backers remain undeterred. He joins Jim on "The Final 5" to talk about the new efforts and why he’s not giving up the fight.
#TheFinal5: Breaking down DC’s “Height Act”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is calling for a federal law that governs the maximum building height to be revised as part of her push for more housing. But with the Height Act in the hands of Congress, will that become reality? Axios DC reporter Cuneyt Dil joins Jim on "The Final 5."
#TheFinal5: Dems say GOP putting politics above principle on debt
The U.S. has reached its self-imposed debt ceiling — and while Democrats have warned of catastrophic dangers if the nation defaults on its obligations, Republicans are calling for spending cuts as part of any effort to raise the limit. Zac Petkanas, senior advisor to the House Accountability War Room, says the GOP is taking the wrong approach.
#TheFinal5: Women hold record number of U.S. governorships
A record 12 women have either been elected or re-elected to their respective posts as governor across the U.S. But while women have made particular inroads in representative government, the record number of female state executives holds particular meaning for Amanda Hunter, executive director of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation. She is Jim’s guest on "The Final 5."
#TheFinal5: Why debt ceiling talks could pay off
The late Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) gained notoriety for his willingness to use the debt ceiling as leverage in cost-cutting talks. John Hart, who worked with Coburn and co-authored the book “The Debt Bomb” says he believes that could pay off again, as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns of a possible default as early as this week. Hart is Jim’s guest on “The Final 5.”
#TheFinal5: Eric Rittmeyer and the art of the SMILE
The new year may bring renewed efforts for people to improve their communication skills. Mental toughness expert Eric Rittmeyer joins Jim on "The Final 5" to lay out what he calls the “SMILE” method and how it could help you at work, at home, or in your social life.
#TheFinal5: Special counsel tapped on Biden docs controversy
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a special counsel will look into the discovery of classified documents found at President Biden’s home from his time as Vice President. Case Western Reserve University School of Law professor Jonathan Adler joins Jim on "The Final 5" to talk about the documents, how it compares to the same accusations facing former President Trump, and why it’s happening in the first place.
#TheFinal5: Top priorities for the new GOP-led House
Now that Republicans have assumed control of the House, the focus turns to a sweeping agenda that Speaker Kevin McCarthy had promised. But in a divided Washington, how many will become reality? Republican strategist Jack Kalavritinos joins Jim on "The Final 5" to talk action, investigations, and whether McCarthy compromised too much to gain the gavel.
#TheFinal5: Ben Jealous on national unity, healing
Former NAACP chairman Ben Jealous is issuing a call for national unity and healing, using his mixed-race background and personal experiences with discrimination. In his new book, “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free: A Parable for American Healing,” he lays out ways for Americans to bridge the divide and come together. He joined Jim on "The Final 5" to explain why it was so personal.
#TheFinal5: Margaret Carlson on Kevin McCarthy’s new challenges
Now that Kevin McCarthy is Speaker McCarthy, a series of new challenges faces him as he tries to get a divided G.O.P. on board with his agenda for the new Congress. Washington Monthly contributor Margaret Carlson, who penned the new piece “We Need to Talk about Kevin McCarthy,” joins Jim on "The Final 5" to look at the deals he brokered to get the gavel, and what’s next.
#TheFinal5: What's in McCarthy's compromise?
Fourteen ballots with no speaker, and while Rep. Kevin McCarthy has made leeway with many of the Republicans who have thus far derailed his candidacy, there are concerns about what concessions he's made to seal the deal. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) joined Jim on Friday evening to break down the count, talk of McCarthy's agreement with some detractors to cut defense spending, and what it's like to buck party leadership.
#TheFinal5: Speaker drama hits second day
Another day came and went without Republicans coalescing behind a candidate for Speaker of the House. What will it take to heal the fractured GOP? Princeton University political science professor Dr. Lauren Wright is Jim's guest on "The Final 5."
#TheFinal5: McCarthy fails to win speakership amid GOP discord
For the first time in over 100 years, the House of Representatives was unable to elect a speaker on the first ballot – and after three roll call votes, the newly-minted Republican majority failed to come together. What does it mean for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who has long coveted the gavel? Oma Seddiq from Insider joins Jim on "The Final 5."
#TheFinal5: Jim shares his favorite holiday tradition
'Tis the season of holiday traditions! Jim Lokay tells us about his favorite holiday tradition from when he was growing up in Pittsburgh, and shares why he carries on that heartwarming tradition today.
#TheFinal5: Reviewing the 2022 sports year with Boomer Esiason
FOX 5's Final 5 program is looking back at 2022, as we approach New Year's. To review the year in sports, Jim Lokay sat down with University of Maryland alum, former NFL star, and current sports broadcaster Boomer Esiason.
#TheFinal5: Real or fake 2022 headlines
FOX 5's Final 5 program is looking back at the year that in politics in 2022. Producer Loreto joined the show to ask Jim Lokay, Tracy Dietz and Kelly Gibson to judge which outrageous headlines from 2022 were real and which ones were fake.
#TheFinal5: Reviewing the biggest political moments of 2022
2022 has been an interesting year in politics! Jim Lokay, Tracy Dietz and Kelly Gibson sit down to talk about biggest political moments of the year.
#TheFinal5: How much longer will U.S. support Ukraine?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, capped off by a speech to a joint session of Congress, underscores the U.S. commitment to support Ukraine in its efforts to fend off the Russian invasion, but how will the dynamic change in the new year? Jamil Jaffer, the founder of the National Security Institute at George Mason University, says there could be some reasonable adjustments made to satisfy calls for accountability, but doesn't think support should be cut off. He joined Jim on "The Final 5" to explain more.
#TheFinal5: Lauren Zelt on the GOP’s 2022, and looking to 2023
Even as Republicans didn’t see the “red wave” they predicted for 2022, conservatives will go into 2023 with more power in Washington than they did at the end of 2022. Political strategist Lauren Zelt of Zelt Communications joins Jim on "The Final 5" to look ahead.
#TheFinal5: Kevin Walling on Biden’s 2022, what’s ahead in 2023
Democrats are celebrating some major wins in 2022, even as the political landscape changes for 2023. Democratic strategist and former Biden campaign surrogate Kevin Walling joins Jim on "The Final 5" to look at where Dems prevailed (and failed), and the challenges ahead looking at 2023.