PBS honors Gwen Ifill with special Washington Week broadcast
The network will air a primetime special titled 'America Responds' to mark the legacy of the longtime journalist.
By Chinedu Schneider ·
A special edition of Washington Week will air on PBS to honor the career of Gwen Ifill.
The broadcast is part of a primetime event called America Responds. The program features Ifill discussing major political and social issues from her years on the panel. The network presents this collection of her work as a tribute to her trailblazing role in journalism.
Ifill served as a moderator and panelist on Washington Week for many years. She joined the show when it launched in 1998. At that time, she was one of the few women of color hosting a weekly political talk show on major American television. Her presence on the program helped expand the range of voices heard in national political discourse.
The special episode includes segments from various points in Ifill's career. Viewers will see her discussing the health care reform debate and U.S. relations with Israel. The broadcast also covers the agreement reached with Russia during those years. In other clips, Ifill and her panelists answer viewer questions about the State of the Union address.
The program looks back at specific historical moments through Ifill's lens. One segment addresses the earthquake in Haiti and the country's history. Another segment features a discussion on the new bank fee and a close Senate race. The special also includes coverage of the tenth year of the war in Afghanistan and the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Ifill moderated debates and panels during the 2012 presidential election cycle. The special shows her interacting with candidates and analysts about the deficit supercommittee. She discussed the harsh tone of the GOP debate and the economic climate. The broadcast includes her reflections on the 9/11 anniversary and the legacy of David Broder, a longtime Washington Week panelist.
The final segments of the special focus on the Supreme Court's role in politics. Ifill discussed the court's hearings on the health care law and the indecency case. The program also covers the U.S. credit rating downgrade to AA+ status. The special concludes with a look at the political dynamics surrounding the Obama doctrine and the National Journal Political Insiders Poll.
The special edition of Washington Week is scheduled to air on PBS as part of the America Responds lineup. The network has positioned the broadcast within its Passport streaming library. Members can access the extended library of dramas, arts performances, and documentaries through their PBS accounts. The event serves as a final look at Ifill's contributions to the show before her passing.
