Lisa Desjardins

Washington, D.C.

Correspondent at PBS

My cat's name is Rocky. I'm a Correspondent, PBS NewsHour. Happy, grateful nerd. Remains a faithful Chester Arthur fan. Former Blue Check.

Articles

Trump has reshaped these 3 major things in his first 100 days

2 weeks ago | pbs.org | Lisa Desjardins

Politics Apr 30, 2025 3:50 PM EDT For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here’s the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, here. Neither the Constitution nor U.S. law see a president’s first 100 days as particularly special. But in modern politics, it is critical. A president’s power is generally strongest in the first year. And the first 100 days set the tone for an administration.
Keep these 4 things on your radar when Congress returns

3 weeks ago | pbs.org | Lisa Desjardins

Politics Apr 23, 2025 12:29 PM EDT For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here’s the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, here. When members of Congress return from recess next week, there are four major things worth keeping on your radar. 1. RescissionsCongress expects to get President Donald Trump’s list of suggested cuts from current spending sometime this week, we are told by a source familiar.
Your cheat sheet to Congress’ budget fight

1 month ago | pbs.org | Lisa Desjardins

For more politics coverage and analysis, sign up for Here’s the Deal, our weekly politics newsletter, here. The House is under pressure. This week, Republican leaders hope that the House approves the budget framework that passed the Senate over the weekend. Nothing less than President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda hinges on it. But the House GOP has struggled with the votes, though Speaker Mike Johnson is determined to get this done.
Markets plunge in wake of Trump’s new tariffs and fears of global trade war | PBS News

1 month ago | pbs.org | Geoff Bennett |Lisa Desjardins |Jackson Hudgins |Jonah Anderson

U.S. markets plunged in the wake of President Trump's announcement of new tariffs. Many stocks had their worst single day since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Leaders around the world denounced the tariffs and experts warned the president's action could risk more inflation, stall growth and even trigger a recession. Lisa Desjardins reports and Geoff Bennett discusses more with Ron Insana.
How Trump’s steep tariffs on imported vehicles may affect car prices and the auto industry

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Lisa Desjardins

NowPresident Trump has said that “tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented.” For someone who once called himself a “tariff man,” tariffs are the solutions to many economic problems. He has argued that imposing tariffs would protect American factories, spur manufacturing, create new jobs and bend …
Democrats grill Trump officials on why they used a commercial app to discuss war plans | PBS News

1 month ago | pbs.org | Lisa Desjardins |Jonah Anderson

A typically ordinary Senate hearing on threats to the U.S. became contentious following news of a major national security breach. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed Monday that he was accidentally put into a chat on Signal with top officials as they discussed military strikes in Yemen. Two of those officials testified in the Senate hearing. Lisa Desjardins reports.
The history of civil service and the impact of Trump’s slashing of the workforce

2 months ago | pbs.org | Lisa Desjardins

Mar 14, 2025 6:40 PM EDT Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Audio President Trump gave federal agencies a deadline this week to implement a large-scale reduction in force. The order would not only lay off thousands more government employees but eliminate positions altogether. Lisa Desjardins takes a look at the history of the civil service and the attempts to change its size and influence over time.
in memory of Rocky Desjardins

2 months ago | giveahand.com | Lisa Desjardins

Rocky Desjardins was a cat who loved his people. He loved sitting on their laps. He loved sitting in the sun, sometimes chasing leaves or birds. And he loved (we feel sure) the fact that millions of people felt better every time they saw him sitting calmly in the background of reporting on PBS NewsHour. He was born to be a star. After a tough battle with kidney disease, Rocky passed away March 11, 2025. He was surrounded by his family, love and warm blankets. We miss him already.
WATCH LIVE: Highlights and takeaways from Trump’s address to Congress

2 months ago | pbs.org | Deema Zein |Lisa Desjardins

Politics Mar 4, 2025 3:08 PM EST President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, laying out his vision for his administration and the United States. The joint session, which comes eight years after his first address to Congress, comes as he is pushing a major overhaul of the federal government and its workforce.
Trump issues more executive orders targeting immigration and DEI | PBS News

Jan 23, 2025 | pbs.org | Lisa Desjardins |Eliot Barnhart

President Donald Trump's second term in the White House began with a flurry of unilateral actions and he's showing no signs of slowing down. Day by day, the president's hardline immigration policy is taking shape. A new executive order targeting migrants at the southern border comes as the U.S. military is poised to beef up its presence there. Lisa Desjardins reports.