The Political Junkie is turning his analytical gaze west. Ken Rudin, known to NPR listeners from his many years talking all things politics with Neal Conan on "Talk of the Nation," joins Insight host Beth Ruyak for our signature segment that puts California politics in the context of the national scene. Rudin joins us from Washington D.C. in an effort to put it all in perspective.

This week he forecasts the chances of a short-term spending deal on Capitol Hill to prevent a government shutdown, and the vulgur comments that Senator Dick Durbin alleges President Trump made that created the latest impasse.