Sunday shows preview: Va. lawmakers discuss Charlottesville aftermath

Violence in the small college town of Charlottesville, Va., shook the nation and left Americans questioning how to address the racism and white supremacist groups that spurred last weekend’s deadly events.

The topic has taken a front seat in Washington, D.C. discourse, as lawmakers rushed to condemn white supremacist and neo-Nazis. But the events have also stirred up trouble for President Trump whose slow response to the tragic rally has driven a week of backlash. 

On Tuesday, Trump faced a barrage of questions from reporters about why he did not immediately condemn by name racist protesters and the KKK after a woman was killed and more than a dozen were injured after the Charlottesville rally.

The president told journalists that he wanted to “know the facts” before saying more than what he initially said Saturday, before doubling down on his earlier comments and saying there is “blame on both sides.”

“What about the alt-left that came charging at the — as you say, the alt-right?” Trump asked reporters.

“Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do,” he said. “As far as I am concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day.”

Trump also defended Confederate stateus at the press briefing and later Thursday in a series of tweets.

{mosads}“So this week it’s Robert E. Lee. I noticed that Stonewall Jackson’s coming down. I wonder, is it George Washington next week? And is it Thomas Jefferson the week after? You know, you really do have to ask yourself, where does it stop?” he said.

The discussion over last week’s events is likely to continue Sunday, as Virginia lawmakers take to Washington’s Sunday talkshow circuit to offer their perspective on the racially-heated atmosphere felt across the U.S.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who said he will support legislation to remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol, will appear on CBS News’ “Face the Nation. 

The only African-American Republican serving in the Senate, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) will also appear the program. 

Scott spoke against Trump earlier this week, calling him “morally compromised.”

Rep. Scott Taylor (R-Va.) will appear on CNN’s “State of the Union,” after he ripped Trump’s response to the violence in Charlottesville, saying he “exhibited a failure of leadership.”

Trump critics Gov. John Kasich (R-Oh.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) will also appear on “State of the Union.” 

Here’s the full lineup: 

NBC’s “Meet the Press”: 

The former director of the African-American civil rights organization Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Andrew Young will appear on the program, along with president of the Southern Poverty Law Center Richard Cohen. Mark Bray, who authored “Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook,” will also offer his perspective on the program. 

CBS’s “Face the Nation”: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) will appear on the program. 

ABC’s “This Week”: To be announced. 

CNN’s “State of the Union”: Gov. John Kasich (R-Oh.), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rep. Scott Taylor (R-Va.) will make appearances. 

“Fox News Sunday”: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) will talk to the program.