PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 2/27/26
Feb 28, 2026
Andrew Desiderio, congressional reporter at Punchbowl News, offers a look at Capitol reactions and procedural stakes. Sarah Fitzpatrick, staff writer at The Atlantic, walks through decades of mismanagement around the Epstein files. Stephen Hayes, editor at The Dispatch, analyzes the partisan dynamics and shifting political motivations. They discuss DOJ handling, testimony fallout, flight-log scrutiny, and possible future subpoenas.
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Bipartisan Breakthrough Forced Epstein Files Into Light
- The Epstein files saga shows long-term institutional mishandling plus a new bipartisan willingness to force transparency.
- Sarah Fitzpatrick says rank-and-file Republicans and younger Democrats broke from leadership, making release pressure politically unavoidable.
White House Frustration Over DOJ Flip-Flops
- The White House and President Trump are frustrated with DOJ's inconsistent handling and selective release of files mentioning his circle.
- Tarini Parti reports DOJ removed documents and the president wants the matter to disappear.
Right Wing Hype Collided With Weak Releases
- Early Republican energy around the files came from right-wing media promising dirt on Democrats, but momentum faded when released materials disappointed the base.
- Stephen Hayes points to the February 2025 binders episode as a turning point.