Sunday shows preview: US strikes back after soldier deaths in Jordan; border bill still a mystery

The United States military fired strikes Friday in retaliation for the recent attack that killed three U.S. soldiers, which will likely be the focus of this week’s Sunday talk shows.

Additionally, Congress is still stuck in a battle over the southern border bill, which will also likely be a focus as tensions rise over continued negotiations.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it began airstrikes around 4 p.m. EST in Iraq and Syria on Friday in response to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and “affiliated militia groups.” The strikes were in response to an attack by Iran last Sunday that left three service members dead and injured at least two dozen more.

House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) is set to join CBS’s “Face the Nation,” where he will likely speak about the strikes and what will happen in the Middle East as a result. Turner recently released a statement that said he was sad to hear about the soldiers’ death and called on the Biden administration to take “serious action” in response.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the committee, will also join CBS’s “Face the Nation” where he will likely discuss his perspective — likely more supportive of the Biden administration’s decision to wait days to respond to the attack.

The battle over the border continues, now stretching into February and extending the months-long negotiations. The text of the Biden-backed bill, expected sometime this weekend, has yet to be released, but faces resistance among House Republicans after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the deal would be “dead on arrival” in the House.

Johnson is set to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, where he will likely talk about both the bill and the U.S. airstrikes. Johnson criticized the Biden administration for what he called a slow response to the attack. He also used his first floor speech as the top lawmaker to criticized President Biden for his management of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Speaker has also faced backlash for appearing to give in to pleas from former President Trump to block the bill and prevent Biden from garnering a legislative victory, but he denied the allegations he was doing so.  

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will join ABC “This Week” where he will likely talk about the strategy to get the bill moved forward in the House, even if Johnson and Republicans don’t come around.

Trump, the GOP front-runner, has urged Republicans in both chambers to kill the bill and deny Biden the border victory ahead of the 2024 election. He denied the idea that he was trying to block his rival from securing the bipartisan deal, but slammed the bill as a “catastrophe waiting to happen.”

Trump will join Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” where he will likely talk about the election as he heads to Nevada for the caucus and his opposition to the border bill.

Here’s the complete lineup for the Sunday news shows:

NBC’s “Meet the Press” – House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D).

ABC “This Week” – Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio); House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

CNN’s “State of the Union” – Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.).

FOX’s “Fox News Sunday” – Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

CBS’s “Face the Nation” – Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio); Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.); IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.

Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” – Former President Trump; Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R); South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R).