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Subscribe to RSSSeven American Presidents over the course of 40 years have granted NBC News exclusive access to produce the television tradition, “Inside the White House.” This week, for the first time in history, our cameras will document a day behind the scenes on Capitol Hill.
Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News,” will lead viewers through this unprecedented look at life under the dome of the U.S. Capitol in an upcoming special, “Taking the Hill: Inside Congress.” The hour-long “Dateline” documentary will air on Sunday, July 31, at 7:00pm ET on NBC.
As negotiations over our nation’s debt stutter, stall, and start up again, NBC’s cameras and crews will spread throughout the Capitol complex to capture a first-hand, up-close view of a legislative day unfolding. Our lenses will follow the relationships and conversations behind the headlines as Williams interviews key lawmakers -- House and Senate leaders from both parties -- and the staffers out of the spotlight who keep this institution running.
“No one has ever taken the Hill quite the way we plan to,” said Brian Williams. “We are going to flood the zone with cameras and journalists -- we intend to chronicle all the moving parts -- warts and all, heroes and villains. If it moves, we will see it and record it. There has never been an hour of television like it, and this is a vital time to be on the Hill.”
“For decades, Presidents have trusted NBC News to give the public a fair window into their lives -- we’re honored and excited to now take our cameras inside Congress,” said Mark Lukasiewicz, senior vice president of NBC News Specials. “Thanks to generous cooperation from leaders in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle, Brian and our team of journalists will have extraordinary access to showcase newsmakers and nuance in an honest, in-depth broadcast about the inner workings of the American legislative process.”
- Follow NBC crews all week at @InsideCongress
- Join the conversation on Twitter via #InsideCongress
- As the shoot progresses, more information can be found online at insidecongress.msnbc.com
Leave a Comment:
I was enjoying watching Brian WIlliams program on Capitol Hill. The program was ruined when Brian interviewed Rep Noem of South Dakota and kept showing shots of her office and her talking to constituents. She is a complete embarrassment to the State of South Dakota. You mean to tell me NBC could not find any other freshman Reps to interview? Give me a break. NBC is fortunate to have had the great opportunity to have one of South Dakota's best in Tom Brokaw. Brokaw is a role model--not Noem. Shame on NBC!
I cannot believe that one of our elected officials just made the statement that he hasn't seen his wife in a week to Brian Williams. This is part of his job. Are we to feel sorry for him? How long do you think it has been since our men and women in the service have seen their families? Think about it!
Totally agree Doris, it is totally about them. I wish I could wave a wand and get rid of them all.
Getting to the end of the Dateline Special on Congress. Great stuff! I learned who did what inside congress when I was in junior high. Considering that was back in the '60's...I was surprised at how much I retained over the years.
Great special. Kudos to Brian Williams and crew. Granted...subject matter being argued is extremely volatile and touchy at this point. Well done.
While I was already thoroughly disgusted with Washington and both sides of the aisle. it took some doing to want to watch a show on "The Great American Embarrassment". It underscored the juvenile attitudes and behaviors they all swore they were going to Washington and end. Compromise, Teamwork, Tolerance and Common Ground are seemingly foreign concepts, while both sides claim to being doing the American people's business. Brian, PLEASE do in in depth follow-up investigation showing how we Americans can take back our government, initiate change own how Washington works and promote non-partisan non-profits organizations whose aim are to do just that.
They could call the show America takes back the Hill! Mr. Clean, the American voter, needs to clean his House and Senate too in the coming election to let these bickering children know who is the boss that sent them there to legislate.
Just watched "Taking the Hill" and I now understand how pitiful this country is. We have these idiots running the place, I admit I was frustrated watching the bickering back and forth but when the guy from North Dekota sat in the meeting holding that damn dog, all I could think of was nut-house. I shames me that we pay these people and once they are in we basically do nothing about getting the idiots out, they have become "made-men" or "women" what ever be the case, not necessarily referring to B. Frank. I see them sitting there eating out of fine china at their so called meetings and think, " I am paying for this!!!". This country does not have much longer to exist, so I guess everyone should get anything and everything they can out of what is left of this government and country.
Just finished watching"Taking the Hill".Thought it was interesting and very well done, in regards to how things take place. Does not change my thought that every current elected Senator & Congressman should NOT be re-elected!!! AND they should only have the same health-care and retirement benefits that the average citizen has. Thanks to Brian Williams for an informative and well-done program.
Applause, applause. Too bad these comments do not come across the lower part of our TV screens so others in this nation get the hint that changes need to be made.
What a biased piece of crap this show was. Of course it matches tbe news broadcasts so not a surprise. Brain Williams bias is VERY prevalent here.
That should be Brian, sorry - Williams is NOT a Brain
@Betty - Yes, anything that was negative they showed a Repub, anything good it was a Dem. Yet more bias at its best.
What a piece of crap. Brian Williams does trivia (badly). If this is what news has become, it, like congress, is broken and useless.
Thank you so much for an hour of unprecedented insights into our government. I want to show it to my kids so they can get to know the people and the places behind the news. Is this program going to be rebroadcast?
Ohio's John Boehnor...thinks and acts...like this is a game! He states to Brian "I'm a happy Warrior". Unfortunately, this is neither a video nor a game. He is playing "warrior" with working class Americans future. Once again he embarrasses all Americans and hard working Ohio residents. Read more at ohiofraudclosure dot blogspot dot com.
Try sending John Boehner an e-mail in regard to the follies of Congress and the reply will leave you in tears with an answer that is full of same old same old rhetoric.
Todays' immediate climate presents itself has extremely frightening to the American people, not knowing the outcome of our future as it lays in the hands of the elected officials who have taken an oath of office to proctect the public, ensure the United States Constitution is adhered. Today's presentation demonstrated the "wizard" behind the curtain. We as Americans sometimes become forgetful what a wonderful institution we have in our government, the ability to enter the hallowed halls of the hill, become engaged with our elected officials, to have the freedom to conversate.
The presentation this evening, exposed the "wizard", as just plain "men" and "women" attempting to resolve an issue. This issue as tremendous and forever reaching in our future and the future of yet to be born Americans. It is easy for me and others, to say "just figure it out", "fix it". This situation is not new, but is complex. Tough decisions must be made, concessions must be done, comprise is required by all sides.
Thank you, for reminding me that the US Government is human. As humans subject to make mistakes, hopefully it can learn from them.
It was especially a pleasure to witness, Gifford's staff working deligently for her district.
Thank you once again.
Ohio FRAUD......Mr. Boehnor is no embarrassment to the Buckeye State, I am very proud. Please don't try to represent me for I am both an American and hard working.
Will this full episode be posted online for those of us that missed it on television??
My son was a Page during the Clinton Admin. and I would love for him to see the full episode as he is currently in the foreign service overseas.
I think it is stupid that someone needs to bring there dog to work,I certainly could not bring mine to work with me and I hope the taxpayers are not paying for "Doggie Day Care."
Was it really necessary to villify Boehner for smoking? I don't even care for Boehner as a politician, but I thought you crossed the line in taping him on a smoke break. Did your cameras follow the politicians to the local bar, perhaps showing some overindulging in alcohol? It's time we stop treating smokers as criminals and people who use alcohol as cool. You can't have it both ways, folks. Enough already.
What this special, and the media coverage of the entire debt debate, illustrated is that Congress does work. It isn't pretty sometimes, but it was apparent to me that our elected representatives were as anxious to solve this issue as we were. In fact, the one person I heard during this special say "broken" the most times was Brian Williams.
I don't believe our Constitution is broken. But even Kelly O'Donnell implied that the impasse in Congress might point to a flaw in our Constitution. There were references that the "checks and balances" weren't working. Weren't they? Wasn't the Left checking the Right, the House checking the Senate, the White House checking Congress?
If anything, this Dateline special showed us that Congress does work hard, and that there are impassioned folks on both sides of the aisles.
Now, us John Does weren't happy to see Congress take until the eleventh hour to solve this problem, but it's a big one. And I don't think we elect officials to go to Washington just to be cheery-eyed does. We want debate, even rancor, of our representatives. I'm not naive to think all of Congress will agree on anything; that's the very nature of representative government. But, y'know what? It works. "Politics" is not a dirty word; it's the business of a democracy. And if we don't want disagreement and "politics," then we really don't want our Constitution.
As I said, it wasn't pretty to those of us on the outside, the John Does of America, but then we also have the ultimate power to change what we don't like: the vote.
John Doe Speaks.
johndoespeaks.tumblr.com