Wednesday was ?Liberation Day? in Trump?s America. For everyone else, it was a day of sheer economic panic, as President Donald Trump unveiled heavy 'reciprocal' tariffs on dozens of countries, on top of a 10 percent blanket tariff on all imports. Trump billed it all as a fool-proof strategy to bring back American jobs that have moved overseas, and said specifically the levies would be a boon for unionized workers at domestic car companies. But Trump is no friend to unionized labor. He's spent the days since his inauguration slashing thousands of unionized government jobs. Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, talks about how unions are fighting back.

And in headlines: Wisconsinites gave Elon Musk the middle finger by sending a liberal judge to their state Supreme Court, a federal judge dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and Amazon makes an eleventh-hour bid to buy TikTok.

Show Notes:

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments today in a big case about healthcare access and Planned Parenthood. The years-long court fight centers on South Carolina?s bid to push the reproductive care provider off the state?s Medicaid program. The actual question in front of the justices is a technical one, but a decision in South Carolina?s favor could prompt a wave of states to strip Medicaid funding away from Planned Parenthood. Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood?s president, explains what?s at stake in the case.

And in headlines: Attorney General Pam Bondi said she would seek the death penalty for the man charged with murdering UnitedHealthcare?s CEO, the Trump administration admitted it made an ?administrative error? in deporting a Maryland father with protected legal status to El Salvador, and mass layoffs began at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Show Notes:

Economists, Wall Street traders ? really, anyone who has a stake in the health of the U.S. economy ? are all holding their breaths right now ahead of President Donald Trump?s planned ?Liberation Day? Wednesday. That?s when he?s promised to put in place a slew of new tariffs on imported goods from all over the world. But the scope of Trump?s plans is still unclear, and that?s injecting a ton of uncertainty into an already uncertain economy, all while polls show voters are losing confidence in the president?s ability to bring down prices. Neil Irwin, chief economic correspondent for Axios, explains what Trump?s murky tariff plans could mean for average Americans.

And in headlines: Republicans sweat over a pair of special Congressional elections in Florida today, the Trump administration said it deported more alleged gang members to El Salvador, and Attorney General Pam Bondi told the Justice Department to drop a Biden-era lawsuit against a Georgia voting law.

Show Notes:

Wisconsin voters will head to the polls Tuesday (if they haven?t already) to choose a new member of the State Supreme Court. The race between two state circuit court judges ? liberal Susan Crawford and conservative Brad Schimel ? is now the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, in no small part because the winner will decide control of the key swing state's highest court. But also because Elon Musk and his allies have been pouring millions into the race. Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, explains what's at stake in Tuesday's race.

And in headlines: President Donald Trump called up NBC to say some crazy shit, Iran rejected direct negotiations with the U.S. over its nuclear program, and the death toll from a massive earthquake in Myanmar climbed to around 1,700.

Show notes:

The Trump administration spends a lot of time trumpeting all the ways it?s cracking down on immigrants in the United States. From the very public raids in sanctuary cities that defined the first few weeks of Trump?s second term, to sending Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem down to El Salvador this week to pose in front of alleged gang members at a massive prison, the White House wants people to believe it?s nabbing all the bad guys. But arrest data shows that we may be seeing a shift in who the administration is targeting for deportation. Ted Hesson, immigration reporter for Reuters, explains what?s happening on the ground.

And in headlines: The Health and Human Services Department said it wants to lay off 10,000 full-time employees, Attorney General Pam Bondi suggests the Justice Department won?t pursue criminal investigations over Signal-gate, and President Trump withdrew his nomination of Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

Show Notes:

The Atlantic published the entire Signal conversation centered on strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen between multiple administration officials and, mistakenly, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Paul Rosenzweig, the former deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush, joins us to give us some context on the scale of the Signalgate scandal and what it would mean under any other president.

And in headlines: Trump announced 25% tariffs on imported cars, the Supreme Court upheld requirements to regulate ghost-guns, and a Democrat defied all odds and flipped a seat in the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Show Notes:

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were on Capitol Hill Tuesday for what was supposed to be a routine annual hearing in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Except it ended up being anything but routine, coming one day after The Atlantic published a damning report about how top Trump officials shared imminent battle plans in a private group chat on Signal. President Donald Trump and other top White House officials spent the day insisting no classified information was shared in that group chat. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, explains why their claims are hard to believe.

And later in the show, Wall Street Journal National Security reporter Alex Ward talks about why Signal-gate is such a big deal.

And in headlines: Russia and Ukraine agree to a partial ceasefire, the Department of Homeland Security said it has stopped processing some Green Card applications, and some Florida lawmakers have a solution to fill jobs vacated by deported migrants: child labor!

Show Notes:

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin has been busy since assuming office earlier this year. Zeldin's been pushing President Donald Trump's climate agenda by rolling back Biden-era climate protections, deregulating businesses, and cutting staff at the agency. Former EPA Administrator and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy joins us to discuss how states and cities are stepping up to protect their communities and the planet.

And in headlines: A reporter claimed that Trump administration officials disclosed war plans in a group chat on the messaging app Signal, the Supreme Court rejects challenge to a landmark freedom of the press case, and President Trump announced Susan Monarez as his nominee to lead the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Show Notes:

In just about two months, President Donald Trump has managed to thoroughly shake U.S. democratic structures to the core. From firing thousands of federal workers and plunging the U.S. into a trade war, to testing the limits of our three supposedly coequal branches of government, it's been a lot to process. And the constant chaos makes it hard to grasp what's actually happening, big picture: Are we watching a wannabe strongman fumble through enacting a policy agenda that will likely prove to be deeply unpopular, or are we actually watching the end of American Democracy as we've known it for roughly the last century. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor at New York University and author of the book 'Strongmen,' explains what history can tell us about our current moment and what we can do about it.

And in headlines: Venezuela said it would start accepting deportation flights from the U.S. again, Palestinian health officials said the death toll in Gaza has topped 50,000, and the White House said Second Lady Usha Vance is heading to Greenland? just for fun? scout's honor.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to officially start shutting down the Department of Education. The thing is... he can't do that, at least not unilaterally. Shutting down the Education Department will require an act of Congress. But the Trump administration has already done a pretty thorough job of gutting the department from the inside, cutting the DOE's staff in half earlier this month. Arne Duncan, who served as education secretary under President Barack Obama, talks about the potential catastrophes on the horizon.

And in headlines: Maryland Congressman Glenn Ivey became the first sitting Democrat to call on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to step down, a federal judge blocked the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing personal information on the Social Security Administration's data systems, and the United Kingdom and Germany issued travel warnings for the U.S.

Show Notes:

Are we in a constitutional crisis? That?s the big question on the minds of legal experts across the country right now, as President Donald Trump and his allies ramp up attacks on federal judges who rule against him. The president?s latest beef is with the federal judge who tried to block his administration from deporting more than 250 migrants, mostly from Venezuela. A swath of the American Right, including billionaire Elon Musk, has now decided that if federal judges won?t back Trump at every legal turn, they should be impeached and removed from the bench. Leah Litman, co-host of Crooked?s legal podcast ?Strict Scrutiny,? stops by to talk about this moment and its legal significance.

Later in the show, Crooked Climate Correspondent Anya Zoledziowski breaks down the craziness happening at the Environmental Protection Agency.

And in headlines: The Federal Reserve kept interest rates flat and warned Trump?s tariffs have thrown the economy's health into question, Trump said he had a ?very good telephone call' with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about a ceasefire with Russia, and Attorney General Pam Bondi called a recent string of vandalism attacks on Tesla dealerships ?nothing short of domestic terrorism.?

Show Notes:

Tuesday was a big day in foreign policy news. Israel launched a barrage of airstrikes on Gaza Monday night, its first attack since a ceasefire with Hamas took hold in January. Officials in Gaza say more than 400 people were killed. And President Donald Trump held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine. Putin ostensibly agreed to a 30-day limited ceasefire on energy and infrastructure targets ? far short of the unconditional ceasefire proposal Ukraine and the U.S. negotiated earlier this month. Oh, and Trump threatened ?dire consequences? for Iran over attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen. Crooked?s own Tommy Vietor, co-host of ?Pod Save the World,? breaks down all the big international headlines and what they say about Trump?s approach to foreign policy.

And in headlines: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts rebuked Trump over his calls to impeach federal judges, the Pentagon continued its purge of website pages honoring minority groups, and two stranded U.S. astronauts returned to Earth.

Show Notes:

In both court and in interviews Monday, the Trump administration doubled down on its decision over the weekend to deport more than 250 migrants, mostly Venezuelans. About half of them were removed under the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old war-time law President Donald Trump has invoked to deport suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua with little to no due process. It's just one of a handful of really scary anti-immigration efforts the White House has undertaken recently, including the push to deport Columbia University grad student Mahmoud Kahlil over his involvement in campus protests against the war in Gaza. Nico Perrino, executive vice president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, talks about how Kahlil's case sits at the intersection of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration and free speech.

And in headlines: Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the agency that runs Voice of America, the White House said it has expelled South Africa's ambassador to the U.S., and Harvard University announced plans to make attending the school more financially realistic for middle- and low-income families.

Correction: During our interview with journalist Josh Barro on Monday's show, we said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is 80 years old. He's 74. We regret the error.

Show Notes:

While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer may have kept the U.S. government from shutting down last week, his decision to help Republicans pass a spending plan has kicked off a civil war within the Democratic Party. Many on the left are desperate for a fight with President Donald Trump and seething mad at their own party, which they view as, at best, too complacent in the face of Trump's attacks. And Schumer is now the face of that white-hot rage, with questions swirling about his future as the party?s Senate leader. But Josh Barro, who writes the Substack newsletter ?Very Serious,? says Schumer did the right thing.

And in headlines: The White House said it deported hundreds of migrants under the Alien Enemies Act despite a judge?s order, the U.S. launched a wave of airstrikes on Yemen targeting Houthi rebels, and those American astronauts who?ve been stranded up in space for months could return to earth this week.

Show Notes:

It?s shutdown day in America, with lawmakers facing a midnight deadline to pass a government funding bill that keeps the proverbial lights on. After days of back and forth, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday he would vote to advance the House Republicans' spending plan to a final floor vote, signaling Democrats may fold on their earlier threats of a funding standoff. But Senate Republicans likely need at least seven more Democrats to help them break a filibuster and avert a shutdown, and it?s not yet clear they have those votes. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York talks about why his caucus remains opposed to the Republican plan, and what?s next if it passes.

And in headlines: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of fired probationary employees, Russian President Vladimir Putin added more conditions to a U-S backed ceasefire plan with Ukraine, and dozens of people were arrested while protesting the detention of a Columbia University student activist.

Show Notes:

It?s a rough time for people who worry about infectious diseases. A new study shows bird flu is more widespread in U.S. cows than previously thought. Around 250 Americans have been infected with measles, including two people who died. And globally, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is struggling to contain a Mpox outbreak, Uganda is battling Ebola, Tanzania is fighting Marburg, and Lassa fever is spreading in East Africa. In the face of all that, the Trump administration has gutted funding for programs that help protect Americans from these types of diseases. Anne Rimoin, an epidemiology professor at UCLA and director of the Center for Global and Immigrant Health, talks about what?s worrying her.

And in headlines: Senate Democrats said they?ll vote against a House bill to keep the government open past Friday, new government data showed egg prices hit another record last month, and President Donald Trump hosted the Irish Prime at the White House amid a growing trade war with the European Union.

Show Notes:

The Department of Education announced Tuesday it would lay off around 1,300 employees, or about half of its workforce. In a statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the job cuts part of the agency's 'final mission,' and a 'significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.' While President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to shutter the Education Department, McMahon said during her confirmation hearings last month that she wouldn't do so without Congress's approval. The layoffs could signify the administration's intent to gut the agency from within. John King, who served as Education Secretary under former President Barack Obama, talks about how the cuts will almost certainly hurt students. 

Later in the show, Brian Sumers, who writes 'The Airline Observer' newsletter on Substack, explains why Southwest Airlines is nixing its popular free bag check policy.

And in headlines: House Republicans and one Democrat passed a spending plan to avert a government shutdown, Trump administration officials said they would immediately lift a pause on military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and President Trump weighed in on the fate of a Columbia University grad student who's facing deportation for organizing pro-Palestine protests on campus.

Show Notes:

The Supreme Court announced Monday it will hear a challenge to Colorado?s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ kids. It?s the latest example of how Democratic state attorneys general are fighting a multi-front fight right now. They?re the top law enforcement officials in their respective states, responsible for protecting their laws and policies. At the same time, they?re pitched in a near-daily battle against the Trump administration?s push to upend the federal government. Colorado Democratic Attorney General Philip Weiser talks about how he?s managing both tasks.

And in headlines: Ontario?s premier announced a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S. in response to President Trump?s tariffs, Elon Musk blamed Ukraine for outage problems at X/Twitter, and the White House revamps a government app to help undocumented migrants self-deport.

Show Notes:

Will the government shut down this week? That's the big question rocking Washington right now. House Republicans floated a plan over the weekend that would boost funding for the Pentagon and deportations while cutting billions in non-defense spending. Democrats say they're a 'no' on that. But with slim margins in both the House and the Senate, some level of bipartisan support is necessary to keep the lights on. Nicholas Wu, who covers Congress for Politico, explains why there's a 50/50 chance the government stays open past Friday.

And in headlines: The Trump administration cancels $400 million in federal grants for Columbia University, Syria sees its worst violence since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, and staff at the Health and Human Services Department have been offered up to $25,000 to resign from their jobs.

Show Notes:

Dozens of Democratic governors across the country are facing a nearly impossible task: Manage the day-to-day operations of their state while also playing wack-a-mole with the waves of awful federal policies coming out of Washington right now. From tariffs to mass government layoffs to threats to shutter the Department of Education, it's a lot! New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul talks about how she's navigating Trump 2.0 and the ways she's taking 'the gloves off' with the administration.

And in headlines: Trump considers revoking deportation protections from nearly a quarter million Ukrainians, the president puts a pin in tariffs on a wide range of products from Mexico and Canada, and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom says it's 'unfair' to let trans athletes play women's sports.

Show Notes:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dealt one of its first blows to President Donald Trump?s aggressive agenda to reshape how the federal government works. It was a minor decision: The justices rejected an emergency request from the administration to keep frozen some $2 billion in foreign aid payments. Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberals, raising questions about how the court will handle the waves of litigation crashing against the White House with Trump back in office. Jessica Levinson, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School, helps us read the SCOTUS tea leaves.

Later in the show, Missouri Farmers Union Vice President Richard Oswald joins us to talk about how Trump's tariffs will hurt farmers.

And in headlines: The Trump administration puts a one-month pause on auto tariffs for Canada and Mexico, some fired federal workers go back to work, and climate change might be making allergy season longer.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump gave his first speech to the American people since taking office Tuesday night, and it was long. The president's address to Congress lasted more than 90 minutes breaking Bill Clinton?s 2000 State of the Union record. Trump talked about everything from tariffs to immigration to trans kids to the economy. Pod Save America?s Jon Lovett joins us to debrief the president?s rambling speech.

Show Notes:

Tonight, President Trump will give his first major address to the nation since the inauguration of his second term. He?ll probably talk about how great of a job he's doing, the Gulf of America and deporting undocumented immigrants. Who knows, he might even rant about the Russian influence investigation some more. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut tells us why he won?t be attending Trump's address ? and why the president is vying to become Russian President Vladimir Putin?s new best friend. 

And later in the show, California Democratic Representative Lateefah Simon is set to deliver the Working Families Party response to the president. She previews her speech for us.

In headlines: Trump?s 25-percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports are set to take effect today, First Lady Melania Trump made her first public appearance since Inauguration Day, and the Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as Education Secretary.

Show Notes:

European leaders met for an emergency summit in London Sunday to shore up support for Ukraine and wrest control of ceasefire talks with Russia. The rushed gathering came on the heels of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy?s disastrous Oval Office meeting Friday, where he was publicly berated by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance for being ?disrespectful? and ?gambling with World War III.' While the Oval Office blowup shocked the Western world, Kremlin officials praised Trump for his 'commonsense' approach to ending the war. Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia under President Obama, talks about how Trump?s actions benefit Russia and leave the U.S. weaker.

And in headlines: Israel halted all aid to Gaza as the first phase of the ceasefire expires, Elon Musk and the DOGE bros sent federal workers another email asking them to justify their jobs, and Trump signed an executive order making English the official language of the U.S.

Show Notes:

WAD is taking a break from the daily horror show that is political news to talk about the scandals plaguing another American institution: Hollywood. Specifically, the swirling controversies around this year?s Oscars race, which culminates Sunday at the annual Academy Awards ceremony. From ?Emilia Perez? going from a sure-fire Best Picture winner to cinematic albatross, to the use of AI in ?The Brutalist,? there?s been something for everyone to get mad at this year. Sam Sanders, host of KCRW?s ?The Sam Sanders Show? and ?Vibe Check,? explains why the Oscars are bad for America.

And in headlines: Pro-misogyny influencers the Tate brothers headed to Florida after Romania lifted their travel ban, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House to keep up the European pressure campaign on President Trump over Ukraine, and Defense Department leaders were given a deadline to identify transgender service members for removal from the force.

Show Notes:

Tax season is upon us, with millions of Americans preparing to file lots of complicated paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service to figure out how much they owe the federal government. Potentially complicating things this year, though, is the Trump administration's decision to fire thousands of IRS workers, just as all that complicated paperwork starts rolling in. Economist Lindsay Owens, executive director of the economic policy think tank Groundwork Collaborative, explains what tax cuts we can expect from Republicans' forthcoming legislation.

And in headlines: A pair of federal agencies directed government departments to prepare for mass layoffs, the U.S. records its first death from measles in a decade, and Jeff Bezos says The Washington Post's op-ed page will focus on 'personal liberties and free markets.'

Show Notes:

Right now, it feels like President Donald Trump and billionaire ?first buddy? Elon Musk are holding all the political cards. While we?re out here just trying to figure out if our local library will still carry books about the Civil Rights Movement, Musk is busy trying to fire every government worker he can find while Trump pitches a golden pathway to citizenship for millionaires. It?s? a lot. And Democrats are understandably upset about it. But what can they actually do about it? Journalist Matt Yglesias, who writes the ?Slow Boring? newsletter on Substack, talks about steps we can all take to expand the Democratic Party?s tent.

And in headlines: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans a trip to the White House, the Trump administration has a bad day in court, and new data shows U.S. consumer confidence is plummeting.

Show Notes:

As House Republicans prepare to begin voting on their big policy blueprint this week, one of the programs they're targeting for major cuts is Medicaid. The federal healthcare program covers around 80 million Americans, mostly people living near or below the poverty line. While President Donald Trump has endorsed the House's budget plan, he has also said that Medicaid is 'not going to be touched.' Sarah Kliff, investigative health care reporter for The New York Times, explains what the proposed Medicaid cuts would mean for actual people.

And in headlines: Trump had an awkward meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron over Ukraine, Trump officials continued to sow confusion over an email demanding federal workers justify their jobs, and the president picked right-wing podcaster Dan Bongino as the next FBI deputy director.

Show Notes:

The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, wrapped up Saturday. While billionaire Elon Musk ate up a lot of the attention by wielding an actual chainsaw on stage to symbolize his attacks on government waste (and subtlety), the annual conservative conference featured a host of other speakers with far-right ties. That included people like Jack Posobiec, a right-wing influencer who was recently invited to travel with members of President Donald Trump?s cabinet. Elle Reeve, CNN reporter and author of the book ?Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics,? talks about how the far-right got a foothold in the U.S. government.

And in headlines: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he?ll step down as president of Ukraine if it means his country can join NATO, President Donald Trump ousted the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Musk issued another ultimatum to federal workers.

Show Notes:

Thursday marked one month since President Donald Trump officially took office. Since then, he?s signed dozens of executive orders. And the fallout from all his unilateral actions is starting to become clear. The administration?s funding cuts for foreign assistance have already hit millions of people receiving aid around the world through USAID, as well as many American businesses and nonprofits who do business with the agency. Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin, who resigned in protest as deputy head of communications in East Africa for USAID this month, describes the toll Trump?s cuts are taking on vulnerable people in Kenya.

And in headlines: The Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the new head of the FBI, former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell announced he won?t run for re-election, and the administration slashes deportation protections for around 500,000 Haitian migrants.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traded public barbs on Wednesday, one day after top White House and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss ways to end the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Trump is living in a 'web of disinformation,' while Trump falsely accused Zelenskyy of being a 'dictator without elections.' With the three-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of its neighbor coming up next week, the Trump administration's decision to sideline Ukraine and Europe in favor of direct talks with Russia underscores the ways the president is throwing traditional U.S. alliances out the window. Julia Ioffe, Washington correspondent at Puck News and a long-time observer of Russian politics, explains what the U.S. selling out Ukraine could mean for the world order.

And in headlines: A top DOJ officials defended the decision to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in court, Trump signed an executive order to expand his control over independent regulatory agencies, and Civil Rights groups sues the Trump Administration over its anti-DEI and anti-trans actions.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump has a problem with journalists, particularly those who do or say things he doesn?t like. His latest fight is with the Associated Press, which refuses to go along with the president?s decision to unilaterally rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. But he?s also going after CBS?s ?60 Minutes? for how it edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris and the Des Moines Register over a late-election poll it published showing Trump losing Iowa in November (he didn?t). Katherine Jacobsen, the Committee to Protect Journalists? program coordinator in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, talks about the risks to press freedom under the Trump administration.

Also in headlines: Trump officials continued to move closer to Russia during peace talks in Saudi Arabia over ending its invasion of Ukraine, the White House says billionaire Elon Musk is not running the Department of Government Efficiency, and another top federal prosecutor in D.C. resigned.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump said on the campaign trail that he wants to end the Department of Education and return teaching ?to the states.? And now that he?s in office, he?s making good on that promise. The administration recently sent billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency bros to Education Department headquarters to cut contracts, staff and grants. Trump has also said he hopes his pick to head the department, Linda McMahon, ultimately puts herself out of a job. Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Teachers Federation, talks about what destroying the Department of Education could mean for kids.

And in headlines: DOGE eyes the Internal Revenue Service as its next target, Mexico?s President says she could sue Google for using ?Gulf of America? on its maps, and European leaders meet to discuss their options around the war in Ukraine.

Show Notes:

The Justice Department is in turmoil after more than half a dozen federal prosecutors resigned rather than sign their names to a motion to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. It's the latest indication that the Trump administration plans to use the DOJ, now led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, as an extension of the president's political agenda above all else. Ken White, a former federal prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney who writes the 'Popehat' newsletter, talks about what the crisis at the DOJ means for the agency charged with enforcing federal laws.

And in headlines: The U.S. seems ready to sideline Zelensky and Europe in favor of starting peace talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, thousands of federal workers at the CDC and NIH lose their jobs, and phase two of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is in doubt.

Show Notes:

Democratic state attorneys general have been a major thorn in President Donald Trump's side since he returned to the White House last month. They've successfully gotten federal courts to block some of the president's most questionably constitutional actions, from trying to end birthright citizenship and freezing trillions in federal grant money to letting Elon Musk run roughshod over government agencies. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin stops by the 'What A Day' studio to talk about how Democratic AGs are working together to push back on the Trump administration's agenda.

And in headlines: A vaccine skeptic is now running the Department of Health and Human Services, Trump's pick to run the Department of Education talked about her plans to dismantle the Department of Education during her first Senate confirmation hearing, and there's new hope the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will continue to hold.

Show Notes:

Inflation rose more than expected in January according to federal data released Wednesday, as the cost of things like groceries, housing and energy ticked up. While we?re still only a few weeks into Donald Trump?s second term, he did campaign on lowering prices for consumers on ?Day 1,? a promise he and his team have been backing away from since his election victory. The new inflation data raises big questions about the state of the economy and the potential effects of Trump?s policy plans to cut taxes, impose tariffs and slash the federal workforce. Victoria Guida, economics correspondent for Politico, helps us make sense of what?s actually going on with the economy right now and what it all means for Trump. 

Later in the show, Crooked Media?s climate correspondent Anya Zoledziowski talks about what?s happening at the Environmental Protection Agency.

And in headlines: Tulsi Gabbard is confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as the new director of national intelligence, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed ways to end Russia?s invasion of Ukraine over the phone (not on the call: Ukraine), and Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green presided over the first meeting of the House DOGE Subcommittee.

Show Notes:

More than two dozen Christian and Jewish organizations sued the Trump administration Tuesday over its decision to let immigration agents make arrests at places of worship. Also Tuesday, Pope Francis issued a stinging rebuke of President Donald Trump?s mass deportation plan in a letter to U.S. Catholic Bishops. And he had some seemingly pointed words for Vice President J.D. Vance, who in recent weeks has used his Catholic faith to justify the White House?s immigration crackdown. Terence Sweeney, an assistant teaching professor at Villanova University, breaks down the holes in the Trump administration?s interpretation of Christianity and Catholicism. 

Later in the show, Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics and trade policy at the Cato Institute, explains why Trump?s threats to a trade loophole could blow up your online shopping habits.

And in headlines: Trump and Elon Musk defended the Department of Government Efficiency?s draconian cost-cutting actions during a joint press conference, DOGE said it cut $900 million in Department of Education contracts, and a federal judge blocked the administration?s order to cut billions in funding for medical research.

Show Notes:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has become the latest federal agency in the Trump administration's crosshairs. On Friday, unelected billionaire Elon Musk and his minions gained access to the CFPB's computer systems. That same day, the White House named Russell Vought, the newly confirmed head of the Office of Management and Budget and longtime opponent of the CFPB, as the agency's new acting director. The next day, Vought ordered CFPB staffers to halt all work and to close the office, effectively shuttering the independent agency created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Helaine Olen, managing editor at the American Economic Liberties Project and a contributing columnist at MSNBC, explains why shuttering the CFPB would be bad for average Americans.

And in headlines: Trump doubles down on his plan to kick Palestinians out of Gaza, a federal judge says the White House has defied his order to unfreeze billions in federal grants, and the president slaps a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports.

Show Notes:

We're three weeks into President Donald Trump's second term, and already Democratic lawmakers are warning that we're in a constitutional crisis. They point to the fact that Elon Musk, an unelected billionaire, is getting a major say in how government agencies operate; the Trump administration shuttering USAID ? an independent agency created by Congress ? without Congressional approval; and the push to block funding that's already been appropriated. While federal courts have helped Democrats slow down some of Trump's more brazen actions, Vice President J.D. Vance fueled fears of a deeper constitutional challenge Sunday when he tweeted, 'Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.' Kate Show, co-host of Crooked's legal podcast' Strict Scrutiny,' helps us make sense of the legal drama.

And in headlines: Trump sat down with Fox News' Bret Baier for the traditional pre-game Super Bowl interview, Hamas released three more Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners as the ceasefire continued to hold, and the Trump administration moved to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Show Notes:

The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development continued Thursday. Multiple news outlets reported the Trump administration plans to retain fewer than 300 agency staffers ? out of more than 10,000 worldwide. Millions of the world?s poorest people rely on on the foreign aid agency for basic needs like food, medication and water. But that hasn?t stopped Elon Musk, the world?s richest man, from trying to feed USAID ?into the wood chipper.? Lindsay Branhum, a humanitarian filmmaker who?s worked on USAID-funded conflict resolution programs all over the world, explains what the cuts mean for people on the ground.

And in headlines: DOGE turns to A.I. in its quest to dismantle the federal government, the Justice Department sues the state of Illinois and Chicago over sanctuary city laws, and rapper Kendrick Lamar prepares to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Show Notes:

Elon Musk, the world?s richest man, has seemingly been waging a personal war on the federal government via his Department of Government Efficiency. In the last few weeks, he and his team have urged millions of federal workers to resign, fed the U.S. Agency for International Development 'into the wood chipper,' and gotten access the Treasury Department?s secure payment system. And on Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Musk's DOGE team would soon ?plug in? to the air traffic control system. Charlie Warzel, a staff writer at The Atlantic covering tech and media, says Musk's actions amount to 'an administrative coup.' 

Later in the show, Crooked Media?s news editor, Greg Walters, shares stories from federal workers dealing with the fallout.

And in headlines: The White House does damage control over Trump?s plans for the U.S. to ?take over the Gaza Strip,? the president signed yet another executive order targeting trans kids, and Scotland says it?s not banning cats.

Show Notes:

We?re a little over two weeks into President Donald Trump?s second term, and already his foreign policy doctrine could be generously described as ?all over the place.? From threatening to levy huge tariffs on our close allies only to delay them at the last minute to dismantling foreign aid efforts alongside the world?s richest man to now volunteering the U.S. to take control of Gaza, it?s all been a bit hard to keep up with. Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor to President Obama and co-host of Crooked?s ?Pod Save the World,? stopped by the studio to talk about the ripple effects of Trump?s early foreign policy decisions. 

And in headlines: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard inched closer to Senate confirmation, The Trump administration is preparing an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, and a D.C. Superior Court judge handed over The Proud Boys? trademark to a Black church that had been vandalized by members of the far-right group.

Show Notes:

As of Monday evening, President Donald Trump?s promised tariffs on Canada and Mexico are on hold for at least 30 days. But that could all change as the Trump administration continues to negotiate with U.S. allies. Scott Lincicome, Vice President of General Economics and Trade Policy at the Cato Institute, tells us what a trade war is and how it affects all of us.

And in headlines: Democrats put out a 10-part plan to ?push back against the far-right extremism,? Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he?s the acting director of USAID, and President Trump signed an executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund.

Show Notes:

Thousands of trans people serving in the armed forces are worried that their careers are in real peril after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that could ban them from the military. Army veteran Laila Ireland tells us about her experience as a trans service member and what she?s doing to fight back.

And in headlines: Trump signed an order imposing tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, The Department of Justice fired more than a dozen federal prosecutors, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama.

Show Notes:

An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, and an Army helicopter on a routine training flight collided over the Potomac River late Wednesday night. While investigators spent Thursday trying to piece together what happened, President Donald Trump took the opportunity to blame the tragedy on... Democrats and D.E.I. It was the latest outrage in too many to count since Trump took office not even two weeks ago. Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin joins us to talk about what Democrats can do to counter Trump?s onslaught of horrifying nonsense. 

Later in the show, Crooked Idea's climate correspondent Anya Zoledziowski shares some good news about Trump?s anti-climate orders.

And in headlines, Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel got their chance to flail in front of senators during their respective confirmation hearings, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he?s headed to Panama amid Trump?s threats to retake the Panama Canal, and a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the Laken Riley Act, a new law that requires law enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants who are accused ? not convicted ? of committing a crime. During the signing ceremony, Trump also announced his intent to sign an executive order to send migrants to a detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. It all comes amid a very public push by the administration to show Americans it's very serious about cracking down on illegal immigration, even as the details remain a little opaque. Michelle Hackman, a reporter covering immigration for The Wall Street Journal, breaks down what's actually happening.

And in headlines: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. flails in his first confirmation hearing to be the next health secretary, The Trump administration walks back its order to freeze federal funds for grants and loans? maybe? And former Sen. Bob Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.

Show Notes:

A federal judge late Tuesday paused a sweeping order from the Trump administration to temporarily freeze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans. It was welcome news amid a day of total chaos that left everyone from lawmakers to hospital administrators to preschool teachers scrambling to figure out what the hell the administration?s Monday night directive meant for them. White House officials spent the day insisting the funding pause was legal, even as they were forced to clarify its scope throughout the day. Casey Burgat, director of the Legislative Affairs program at George Washington University?s Graduate School of Political Management, explains why the administration faces an uphill legal battle defending it's order.

And in headlines: Newly confirmed Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem wants everyone to know she?s a ?Hot Mama,? the Trump administration offers deferred resignation to government employees, and President Donald Trump signed another executive order targeting trans people.

Show Notes:

The Trump administration late Sunday ordered federal health officials to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately. It followed President Donald Trump?s executive order last week to pull the U.S. out of the WHO entirely. The administration has also ordered health agencies to pause almost all external communications ? from updating websites to issuing scientific reports ? amid increasing fears over bird flu. Dr. Abdul el-Sayed, health officer for Wayne County, Mich., and host of the podcast ?America Dissected,? explains how Trump?s executive orders are rippling through the public health workforce. 

Later in the show, Bloomberg senior story editor Stacey Vanek Smith explains what?s happening with Chinese A.I. app DeepSeek.

And in headlines: Trump won?t stop announcing terrible new executive orders, the Department of Justice fires more than a dozen prosecutors who worked on criminal investigations into Trump, and Florida Republicans defy Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump fired up his social media account Sunday to say the U.S. would immediately slap a 25 percent tariff on all goods from Colombia, among other penalties. It was a response to Colombian President Petro Gustavo?s move to block two U.S. military planes carrying migrants from landing in the country. Trump also continued his push to dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ? or DEI ? programs, extending threats of punishment beyond the federal government to the private sector. Farah Stockman, a member of the New York Times editorial board, talks about the potential downsides of Trump?s anti-DEI orders.

And in headlines: President Trump said Jordan and Egypt should take Palestinian refugees from Gaza, Vice President Vance broke a Senate tie to confirm Pete Hegseth as the next Secretary of Defense, and Trump fires a bunch of inspectors general in an apparent violation of federal law.

Show Notes:

President Donald Trump was dealt his first major legal blow since returning to the White House when a federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked his executive order to end birthright citizenship for the future children of some immigrants. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, called the order "blatantly unconstitutional." In all of the nonsense this week, one executive order that's received less attention is the administration's move to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Keegan Hamilton, senior editor for legal affairs and criminal justice at the Los Angeles Times, explains the real-world implications of Trump's cartel order.

And in headlines: Trump signed an executive order to declassify documents related to the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., John F Kennedy, and Robert F Kennedy; the Department of Justice put a hold on all new civil rights cases until further notice, and the Senate advanced Pete Hegseth's nomination to be the next defense secretary despite allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse.

Show Notes: