Trump's peacemaking dreams and D.C. pizza party

Post Reports

The Washington Post

Daily News, Politics, News

4.4 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 August 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, President Donald Trump claimed he’s ended six — or maybe even seven — wars. But his efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine, three years after Russia’s invasion, appear stalled.

Guest host Cleve Wootson speaks with White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski and White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about the latest in the negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, and they fact-check Trump’s peacemaking record. Plus, how Trump talks about the success of his federal takeover of the D.C. police force, and why the FBI is searching properties related to the former Trump national security adviser John Bolton.

Today’s show was produced by Arjun Singh. It was edited by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	We could do the Rose Garden patio if you want.
0:05.3	What is it about the Rose Garden patio?
0:06.8	I got a tour of it this week and heard Trump's playlist as he tested the sound system.
0:13.0	Trump played his music for cat.
0:16.2	And the Rose Garden patio.
0:17.3	And ten other reporters.
0:18.8	Isn't his playlist like mostly the musical cats?
0:22.2	No, Andrew Lloyd Weber was played.
0:24.8	It was an Elvis Presley.
0:27.1	The reason we got brought back out there, I think, is we just all of a sudden heard, God bless the USA blasting from that side of the building.
0:35.7	And I went back to the Ranglers and said,
0:38.2	is there a party happening?
0:39.6	And then all of a sudden they told us to line up at the door
0:42.6	and took us out to the Rose Garden.
0:45.7	What's on the playlist?
0:46.9	You are so beautiful.
0:48.3	Are you lonesome tonight?
0:51.2	Is there any symbolism in this?
0:53.7	Yeah.
0:55.0	Yeah. Yeah. From the newsroom of the Washington Post, this is Post Report's weekly politics roundtable.
1:05.0	I'm White House reporter Cleve Utson.
1:08.0	I'm feeling in for Colby Iikowitz this week.
	...

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