The Takeout

Starting May 27th, CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett brings you the day's political happenings five nights a week. Join us for in-depth discussions on politics, policy, pop culture and more. You can listen to the new and improved Takeout - still relentlessly curious, still steadfastly nonideological - on the free Audacy app, or wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump swept into office this week with a deluge of executive actions aimed at reshaping the federal government in his image. The bounds of presidential power have evolved over the country's nearly 250 year history and each occupant of the office has exercised authority differently, often reflecting the times in which they governed.. This week, Major speaks with University of Chicago law professor Eric Posner about presidential power and its limits. Join us….and stick around until the end for a special message from Major. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump swept into office this week with a deluge of executive actions aimed at reshaping the federal government in his image. The bounds of presidential power have evolved over the country's nearly 250 year history and each occupant of the office has exercised authority differently, often reflecting the times in which they governed.. This week, Major speaks with University of Chicago law professor Eric Posner about presidential power and its limits. Join us….and stick around until the end for a special message from Major.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join us for a look back at history that might tell us something about the present. Major sits down with author and historian H.W. Brands, author of the new book "America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War." What does the pre-World War II period and historical figures like Charles Lindbergh mean for foreign policy today?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The nation has spent the better part of a week saying farewell to the 39th president, Jimmy Carter. Major sat down with Carter's biographer, Jonathan Alter, for a discussion about Carter's lasting impact at home and abroad. Alter argues that Carter's presidency was better than history gives him credit for and says many of his accomplishments are still with us today. We're at The Lambs Club in New York City. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to 2025! Want to be a little happier this year? Who doesn't? Major's guest this week is Arthur C. Brooks, noted professor and bestselling author who has written extensively on the topic of happiness (recently with Oprah....yes, THE Oprah). Brooks explains some of the science behind our moods and best practices for maximizing those good vibes. We're at Fish Taco in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The man of many voices, Matt Friend, is back! We're ringing in the holidays at The Dubliner near Capitol Hill. Join Major, Matt and all of Matt's “friends:” Donald Trump, Joe Biden, JD Vance, Tim Cook, Bill Gates, Gavin Newsom, Mitt Romney, Jeff Goldblum, Jennifer Coolidge and many, many more. Happy Holidays, all!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deal or no deal? Lawmakers are scrambling to salvage a spending agreement that would fund the government beyond December 20th. Otherwise, disaster relief funds won't go communities in the southeast hit hard by Hurricane Helene, TSA agents would go unpaid during a heavy travel period and national parks would likely close. Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin, the soon-to-be the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, explains why he believes a negotiated bipartsan deal fell through. Plus, will Raskin, an outspoken Trump critic, attend the inauguration next month? Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) sits down with Major for samosas and roti at Indigo, an Indian joint near the Capitol. On the menu: a discussion about how Democrats can regroup after the 2020 election, transgender rights, the Biden administration's successes and failures and, as always, the three threshold questions. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major sits down with CBS News immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez to discuss Donald Trump's sweeping plans to overhaul the U.S. immigration system. Trump has proposed the largest deportation effort in American history. Can he do it? What are the potential impacts on families, communities, and the economy? Join us for a comprehensive conversation on how these policy proposals could reshape America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How will the incoming Trump administration handle challenges in China, the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine? Join Major as he goes around the world with the editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy, Ravi Agrawal. This episode was recorded on November 22, 2024.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is headed for the exits after 14 years in the senate. Manchin was a Democrat for most of his political life but left the party to become an independent earlier this year. Join us at The Dubliner for a candid conversation about the 2024 election, the successes and failures of the Biden administration and learn what's next for the 77-year old Manchin who leaves congress after a career serving as a state legislator, secretary of state, governor and U.S. senator. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President-elect Donald Trump roiled Washington this week with his picks for Defense Secretary, Director of National Intelligence and Attorney General. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), a member of the Judiciary Committee, will have a say on whether Matt Gaetz, Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department, gets confirmed. He joins Major at the CBS News Washington Bureau to rehash the busy week that was in politics and to look ahead at what's to come when the new administration sweeps into town in January. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The people have spoken. Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, will be the 47th president come January. How did Trump win? What will he do next? We've got the sharpest political minds at CBS News to break it all down over cheesecake and omelets at Junior's in New York City. CBS News Director of Elections and Surveys Anthony Salvanto and Senior White House and Political Correspondent Ed O'Keefe join Major for a coffee-fueled chat about the election and the incoming administration. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 60 million Americans have already voted in the 2024 election. Who they voted for remains a mystery, but there are plenty of clues about voting patterns says Democratic data guru Tom Bonier of analytics firm TargetSmart. Voter registration data can also provide breadcrumbs to a public hungry for hints about the election outcome. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hurricane Helene ran roughshod over western North Carolina in late September, killing nearly 100 and making life difficult for thousands more. Major speaks to Appalachian State professor and former CNN correspondent Chris Moody who lives in the region and has been tracking the clean up effort. Major is also joined by elections expert and CBS News contributor David Becker who explains how voting will change in North Carolina to accommodate storm victims. Join us.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CBS News Executive Director of Elections and Surveys Anthony Salvanto joins Major this week to explain how CBS News digests data, conducts polls and makes Election Day projections. A recent CBS News poll found that Harris voters and Trump voters can't even agree on basic facts about the economy, FEMA relief and immigration. Join us for a behind the scenes look at CBS News's preparations for the upcoming election that is shaping up to be one of the tightest races in recent memory.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"The Apprentice," a Donald Trump biopic starring Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stand, depicts Trump's early business career and his relationship with controversial mentor Roy Cohn. The film premiers on October 11th, but there's at least one person who doesn't want you to see it: Donald Trump. His lawyers threatened to sue the filmmakers earlier this year to block the film's release (they haven't sued so far) and his campaign team calls the movie, "pure malicious defamation." That's not how director Ali Abassi sees it. In fact, Abassi tells Major there's plenty in the film for Trump haters and Trump lovers alike. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last month, Major traveled to Wisconsin and interviewed two prominent figures spreading the gospel of Trumpism via the growing white Christian nationalist movement. This week, Major sits down with Jim Wallis, a D.C.-based public theologian and justice activist who believes many of that movement's leaders are, "power brokers who are using religion to promote fear and hate." In his latest book "The False White Gospel," Wallis makes the argument that the teachings of the Christian nationalist movement are "antithetical to the teachings of Jesus," and if democracy is to be refounded, we must raise up the faith in all of us.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D) believes her battleground state will remain competitive until the last vote is counted on Election Day. What advice does she have for Vice President Harris's presidential campaign? Do the Democrats have a chance of winning the House of Representatives? What can Congress get done between now and the end of the year? Rep. Dingell takes on these questions and more in this week's show. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major traveled to Atlanta earlier this month to speak with four battleground state election administrators - Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Member Bill Gates (R), Philadelphia City Commissioner Seth Bluestein (R) and Chief Operating Officer for Georgia's Secretary of State Gabriel Sterling (R). All four shared a sense of cautious optimism roughly two months ahead of Election Day, but they sounded the alarm on threats of violence rooted in lies and misinformation. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Election Day 2024 is roughly 5 Scaramuccis away. A Scaramucci, of course, is the length of time former Trump White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci lasted in that role (11 days). And how times have changed. Scaramucci is now an outspoken critic of the former president and has endorsed her opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. The always colorful Scaramucci tells Major why he thinks Harris will win in November and why he now views his former boss as unfit for office. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lance Wallnau headlines the so-called "Courage Tour," an evangelical road show that aims to mobilize religious conservatives to vote, serve as election workers and spread the gospel of Trumpism. Wallnau, 68, is a business consultant, self-proclaimed prophet and firebrand influencer in the growing charismatic Christian movement. He views Donald Trump as a once-in-a-thousand years figure - flawed but divinely chosen to navigate chaotic times. Major travels to Eau Claire, Wisconsin to speak with Wallnau and religious scholar and author Matthew Taylor about the impact evangelicals could have on the 2024 election. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three years ago this week, as U.S. forces were clearing out of Afghanistan, a suicide bomber killed thirteen American service members and about 170 Afghan civilians outside Karzai International Airport. What followed was what the U.S. had spent decades trying to prevent: the Taliban swiftly seized control of the country. Filmmaker Ibrahim Nash'at spent months chronicling a Taliban commander as he and his lieutenants go about converting the spoils of war - about $7 billion of left behind military equipment - into usable gear. While making “Hollywoodgate,” Nash'at tells Major he was not always welcomed by his hosts and often at great personal risk. Join us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

George Washington University Professor Timothy Shenk recently wrote an op-ed in The New York Times on how Kamala Harris can re-position her party for the long term. Major sat down with Shenk in the CBS Bureau to discuss how history intersects with 2024 election and why Shenk believes this could be an inflection point for the party of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Vice President Harris, he argues, ought to give working class voters a compelling reason to vote for her this fall. Find Shenk's book “Left Adrift” in October.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign manager, is Major's guest this week. Join us for a spirited conversation about the state of the 2024 race for the White House. Mook believes it's a 50-50 toss up and Vice President Kamala Harris, riding a wave of enthusiasm, has limited time to define her candidacy for voters. Mook says Harris is better positioned to beat Donald Trump than President Biden was, but the race is only going to get tougher. We're at the CBS News Washington bureau. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorusch sat down with Major to discuss his new book “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law.” Gorsuch, who was nominated to the bench by Donald Trump in 2017, believes too much law can be dangerous. Sharing stories of a fisherman and a magician, Gorsuch explains his perspective that the law has become overwhelming for average Americans. In this exclusive sit down, Major pushes Gorsuch on the role of Supreme Court justices amid calls for ethics reforms and recent decision on abortion and affirmative action. Join us at the Supreme Court.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new documentary “War Game” simulates a future scenario where Washington is beseiged by a heightened version of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Major sits down with co-directors Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber and former Marine Captain Janessa Goldbeck to discuss how disillusionment among military members and growing extremism inspired the film. In “War Game,” policymakers and experts role play how they would handle a insurrection in order to preserve democracy. We're at Carmine's in Penn Quarter. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major is in Nashville, TN, to interview independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The hourlong chat covers Kennedy's assessment of the race now that President Biden is out, parallels to the 1968 campaign, his history of childhood vaccine skepticism, his view of January 6th rioters, 9/11, his health, cryptocurrency and much, much more. Join us in Music City.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Major visits Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to cover the Republican National Convention. His guests include former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Milwaukee County Executive and Joe Biden surrogate David Crowley and former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With President Joe Biden's health in question, Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) is one of at least 13 House Democrats to publicly call for Mr. Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. Smith joined Major to explain why there needs to be a new candidate, emphasizing that Mr. Biden can no longer carry the message of the party. The congressman, who called Mr. Biden one of the best first term presidents ever, envisions an optimistic future for both the country and the Democratic party with Kamala Harris as the nominee.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the AIDS crisis in the 1980s to advising on the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci has seen the country through the toughest of times. His new memoir 'On Call' covers his accomplished career, while providing insight into the high-pressure demands of his job and the minds of the presidents he has worked with. In his fifth (editorial note: actually, it's his sixth!) appearance on the show, Major sits down with Dr. Fauci to discuss Joe Biden's mental capability, the consequences of Donald Trump's optimism in the pandemic and the emotional toll experienced in the field of medicine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the course of the past decade, an endless stream of mis- and disinformation has made it increasingly difficult to parse fact from fiction. We sat down this week with a man who has a plan to restore trust in insitutions and hold social media platforms accountable for divisive content that's often pushed for profit. Author and journlist Steven Brill, who cofounded the misinformation tracking tool NewsGuard, joins Major for appetizers at Buck's Fishing and Camping in upper Northwest D.C. His new book "The Death of Truth" is out now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gene Sperling has served multiple presidents - real and ficticious. He was an economic advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama and currently serves as a senior advisor to President Biden and coordinator of the American Rescue Plan. In between White House stints, Sperling served President Jed Bartlet as a consultant on the hit TV show "The West Wing." In this episode, Major presses Sperling on the causes of and solutions for inflation, economic perceptions versus reality and whether President Biden's age and health are in decline. Join us for ice cream at Thomas Sweet in Georgetown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can the lead up to the war in Iraq teach us about America's foreign policy today? Journalist and author Steve Coll joins Major to discuss his new book "The Achilles Trap," which chronicles the rise and reign of Saddam Hussein and the miscalculations that led to war in the Middle East. Join us. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Turn on certain cable news channels and you'll hear how immigrants pose a threat to the nation. Listen to this episode (or read our guest Zeke Hernandez's book, “The Truth About Immigration”), and you'll hear just the opposite. Hernandez, a UPenn business school professor and immigrant himself, lays out a data-driven argument that immigrants are essential to economic prosperity in the U.S. Join us for lunch and a great conversation at Chef Geoff's in Washington's West End.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The presidential debates, as currently contemplated, will look and feel different in 2024. President Biden and former President Trump are scheduled to meet twice at events sponsored by CNN and ABC. That leaves the Commission on Presidential on Debates, the organization that has produced presidential and vice presidential debates for 35+ years, out in the wilderness. Major sits down with Frank Fahrenkopf, the commission's co-chair, to find out whether his organization has a future without debates in 2024. Join us at Unconventional Diner in downtown D.C.!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every summer for the past seven decades, 50 high school seniors—one from every state—descend on Mobile, Alabama to take part in one of the country's most lucrative scholarship competitions for teen girls. The Competition takes you behind the scenes of the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) program, and follows seven girls as they experience the highs and lows of competing for two weeks, away from home and under the most high-stress circumstances. Some girls enter for the money, some for prestige. All of them are used to being the best and the brightest. But only one will walk away with the top prize.Host Shima Oliaee (Dolly Parton's America, Pink Card) was Nevada's contestant in 2001. More than 20 years later, she returns to Alabama as a judge. What can two weeks with 50 of the country's most ambitious teens tell us about girlhood in America?Listen to The Competition on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial by visiting Wondery.fm/The_Competition now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Major sits down with authors Brody and Luke Mullins to talk about Washington's favorite pastime - and it's not baseball. Their new book, “The Wolves of K Street,” argues that the last few decades of lobbying members of congress and policymakers has only benefited corporations and the lobbyists themselves, leaving behind the general public. Join us at The Dubliner on Capitol Hill (where lawmakers and lobbyists have been meeting for 50 years!). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the U.S. Navy needed something in the South Pacific or Asia, Leonard Francis seemed to be able to provide just about anything. Nicknamed "Fat Leonard," Francis showered senior officers with bribes - lavish dinners, prostitutes and gifts. In exchange, the officers kept lucrative contracts flowing to Francis's companies, which often overcharged the government for services and supplies. Francis was also able to extract something even more valuable than Navy contracts: classified information. Join us for a conversation with author and Washington Post reporter Craig Whitlock whose scintillating new book "Fat Leonard" dives into one of the wildest scandals in U.S military history. We're at Ris in Washington, D.C.'s West End neighborhood.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a freshman Democrat from the Dallas area, joins Major in the Longworth House Office Building for a lively chat about the speakership, Democrats' congressional prospects in 2024, Israel and Gaza and much more. Crockett weighs in on Donald Trump's appeal to voters, how abortion will play as an issue this cycle and President Biden's re-election chances. Join us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bestselling author and New York Times reporter David Sanger joins Major at Macintyre's Pub in D.C.'s Woodley Park neighborhood. Sanger's new book, "New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West," looks at some of the knottiest foreign policy challenges facing the Biden White House and how previous administrations have dealt with them. Join us for a trip around the world.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.