Terror threat to top Sunday talk shows in wake of Paris, Mali attacks

WASHINGTON — The terror threat seen through the prism of presidential politics is expected to dominate the Sunday talk shows, with major Republican candidates set to make appearances.

Businessman Donald Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson are among the leading GOP contenders, while at least two former defense secretaries also are on the day's schedule a little more than a week after Islamic State terrorists struck Paris in a series of coordinated attacks that left 130 dead.

Terrorists struck again Friday in Mali, where gunmen took control of a local hotel in an attack that left at least 20 dead. An affiliate of al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for that assault.

The Sunday lineup:

• ABC's This Week: Trump; Carson; Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley; Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz.; and Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn.

• NBC's Meet the Press: Republican presidential candidate John Kasich; New York Police Commissioner William Bratton; and former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

• CBS' Face the Nation: Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul; Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., ranking Democrat,Intelligence Committee; Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of House Homeland Security; and Brett McGurk, presidential envoy to Global Coalition to Counter ISIL (Islamic State).

• CNN's State of the Union: Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie; Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Rep. Devin Nunes, D-Calif.; and former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

• Fox News Sunday: Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio.

•  WUSA9 Capital Download: Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; former Maryland Lt. Governor, Anthony Brown D.; political round-table with Reid Wilson, Morning Consult; and Margaret Talev, Bloomberg