What A Day

FBI Director Kash Patel spoke on Tuesday about a massive rise in the number of investigations into so-called NVEs, which stands for “nihilistic violent extremists.” He defined them as people who “engage in violent acts motivated by a deep hatred of society.” Some experts would use that term to describe the suspect in the Charlie Kirk shooting. Utah prosecutors said Tuesday that the suspect allegedly wrote video game references and online jokes on the bullet casings. We've chosen not to reference the name of the alleged shooter because we think it's important not to give people who commit acts of violence the infamy they crave. To talk more about the online spaces where Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter spent most of his time and the rise of NVEs, we spoke to David Gilbert, who covers disinformation and online extremism for Wired Magazine.And in headlines: President Donald Trump is suing the New York Times again, Israel officially launches its ground offensive in Gaza City, and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Susan Monarez testifies to a Senate panel about her ouster by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Show Notes:David's work — https://www.wired.com/author/david-gilbert/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Memphis, Tennessee, is the latest city in President Donald Trump's Crime Takeover-A-Go-Go. On Monday, Trump signed a presidential memorandum establishing a "Memphis Safe Task Force" and announced that he would send the National Guard to the city.During a press conference detailing the decision, Trump said that he wanted to accomplish in Memphis – and everywhere else – what federal authorities did in Washington, D.C. But the question is…what exactly did the administration accomplish in D.C.? We asked Emma Uber, a reporter covering crime and criminal justice for the Washington Post.And in headlines, the suspect in Charlie Kirk's killing reportedly confessed to the murder in a Discord group chat, according to the Washington Post, Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Qatar, and a longtime federal prosecutor — who happens to be James Comey's daughter — sues the Trump administration over her firing.Show Notes:Check out Emma's reporting – https://tinyurl.com/49wzspyfCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The clock is ticking until the federal government runs out of money and potentially shuts down—again. Now you might be thinking, "Didn't we do this? Like, a few months ago?" And yeah, we did. In March, the Senate approved a short-term spending bill with the support of 10 Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. And if Republicans want to keep the government open, they'll need a lifeline from Democrats. But Democrats want something in return: an extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits that are due to expire at the end of the year. Will the two sides reach a deal? We asked Daniella Diaz, who covers Capitol Hill for NOTUS, a nonprofit D.C. journalism organization.And in headlines, Utah's governor reveals new details about the man suspected of killing Charlie Kirk, Trump eyes Memphis for his crime crackdown, and a federal judge says it appears the Trump administration is trying to pull a fast one on the courts with its latest deportations.Show Notes:Check out Daniella's reporting – www.notus.org/daniella-diazCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The search for a suspect in Charlie Kirk's death continues. The FBI released some grainy photos of a person of interest wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap — all in black — in the hope it might trigger tips or other information from the public. The FBI also said it recovered a bolt-action rifle that may have been used in the shooting. With no suspect in custody, no motive has been established either. And let's be incredibly clear: as of this moment, we still do not know why someone shot and killed Charlie Kirk. We spoke with Graeme Wood, Atlantic staff writer, about the growing trend of political violence in America.And in headlines, Senate Republicans go nuclear to push through Trump's nominees, the U.K. fires its ambassador to the U.S. over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, and the Department of Education ends grant funding for minority-serving colleges.Show Notes:Check out Graeme's piece – https://tinyurl.com/3p6ed8cjCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

On Wednesday, 31-year-old conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an on-campus event near Salt Lake City, Utah. He was there as part of his “American Comeback Tour,” an event series produced by Turning Point USA, the right-wing organization he founded when he was 18 years old. He was a force in the conservative movement who held real political capital. Local officials are calling his killing an act of political violence, and it's the latest in a string of disturbing incidents. For more on who Kirk was, we spoke with reporter Tess Owen, who covers political violence.And in headlines, former Vice President Kamala Harris calls former President Biden's decision to seek re-election "recklessness," President Trump doubles down on his effort to fire a Federal Reserve official, and suspected Russian drones cross into Poland.Show Notes:Check out Tess's work – https://x.com/misstessowen?lang=enCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Millions of kids have started school over the past few weeks – that includes students in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C, and now Chicago, all cities targeted by the Trump administration for immigration enforcement and, of course, crime. It's worth saying that, like in other cities that Trump has mentioned as evil dens of criminal miscreants, violent crime has gone down in the city of Chicago over the last year. But the president, who posted an "Apocalypse Now" inspired meme over the weekend, implying he wants to go to "war" with Chicago, doesn't seem to care much about facts and figures. But teachers do. So to learn more about how teachers in Chicago are handling a new school year and the potential for more federal incursions on the city, we spoke to Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union. And in headlines: revised job numbers show a much weaker job market than previously thought, Israel strikes Qatar, dealing a major blow to ceasefire talks, and American high school students' test scores hit a historic low.Show Notes:Check out the Chicago Teachers Union – https://www.ctulocal1.org/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Say what you will about President Donald Trump's first administration, but at least some of the people given top jobs had a morsel of experience doing those jobs. Now, the Trump administration is chock full of the weirdest people the MAGA world has to offer, united by their personal allegiance to one man – Donald J. Trump. From Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, whose qualifications are “co-hosted the weekend edition of Fox and Friends” to Paul Ingrassia, the former podcaster nominated to run the Office of Special Counsel, who thinks the descendents of slaves should pay the descendants of slave-OWNERS reparations….to Laura Loomer, a Jewish, white nationalist, 9/11 truther, who made headlines in 2018 when she chained herself to the doors of Twitter's office to protest getting banned from the platform.It's a cavalcade of the worst people ever to be given a high-speed internet connection. Especially when they now have real power. So we spoke to Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark, to help us understand how the craziest people in America rose to the very top of the federal government.And in headlines: Trump goes to the Museum of the Bible to talk about how much he loves religion, Pete Hegseth hypes up the troops in Puerto Rico, and Democrats release a very NSFW birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein, allegedly signed by Trump himself.Show Notes:Check out Will's work – substack.com/@willsommerCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

A crucial race for Georgia's Public Service Commission is coming up in November. And though the name sounds boring, it's a race that really matters. That's because the commission is in charge of regulating public utilities in the state, including electric, gas, and telecommunications. Right now, all five commissioners are Republicans…but two of them are up for election this fall. And the Democratic challengers are strong. To learn more about the importance of this race, we spoke with John Taylor, Executive Director of the Black Male Initiative, a nonprofit focused on civic engagement in Georgia.And in headlines, President Donald Trump continues to threaten Chicago…but this time with war, Russia attacks Ukraine in its latest aerial strike, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. might have to refund some money it's collected from Trump's infamous tariffs.Show Notes:Check out the Black Male Initiative – www.bmifund.org/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

President Donald Trump really, really, really hates wind and solar power. He made sure to make that point very clear during a Cabinet meeting last week, where he ranted about windmills for…way too long. At the end of August, the Trump team ordered construction be stopped on a 4-billion-dollar wind farm project off the coast of Rhode Island that was nearly finished. The administration alluded vaguely to national security threats, suggesting, among other things, that wind farms could be used to launch drone attacks on the U.S. None of this is good. Not just for, you know, preventing the very worst outcomes of climate change that could put billions of lives at risk and alter the very nature of human existence. But also for Americans dealing with spiraling energy bills. So we spoke to Bill McKibben, environmentalist and author of a new book, Here Comes The Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and a Fresh Chance for Civilization, about climate change, to help us feel more optimistic about the future of the Earth.And in headlines, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vs. the Senate Finance Committee, and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has some thoughts on how we got here.Show Notes:Check out Bill's new book – wwnorton.com/books/Here-Comes-the-Sun/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Congress is back. It's back and it has a lot of work to do. If Congress doesn't fund the government by the end of September, the government will close up shop. And while Democrats have demanded meetings with President Donald Trump and his loyal GOP to drum up a bipartisan spending bill, Republicans don't seem too inclined to work with their colleagues across the aisle. But preventing a shutdown is just one bullet point on Congress' agenda. On Wednesday, survivors of convicted sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein spoke on Capitol Hill in an effort to get answers and more information on his crimes. It came a day after the House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 documents related to the Epstein investigation. So, for more on Epstein, and a potential government shutdown, we spoke with Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen.And in headlines: Florida's Surgeon General tries to connect vaccine mandates to slavery, Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver of New Jersey tells the Washington Post she's going to keep working after the House rejected a resolution to censure her, and rumors are floating around that the Trump administration might offer New York City Mayor Eric Adams a new gig.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and held hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Beijing this weekend. Their talks came during the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting, an event that marked the first time in seven years that Presidents Modi and Xi met in person. It also comes as the US navigates a rocky relationship with China, combats India's frustration over President Donald Trump's tariffs, and tries to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. To discuss further what Putin's latest bromance with Xi and Modi means for his on-again, off-again relationship with Trump, we spoke with Tommy Vietor. He's the co-host of Crooked Media's Pod Save the World.And in headlines: The Trump family amasses billions after launching a new cryptocurrency, Americans are losing faith in hard work, and a postwar plan to turn Gaza into an AI-powered smart city is floating around the Trump administration.Show Notes:Check out Pod Save The World – www.crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-the-world/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Trump administration is preparing a major Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Chicago, and it may come as soon as this week. The details have been few and far between, but it would likely increase the number of ICE and Border Patrol agents in the city significantly. According to “border czar” Tom Homan, the White House is even considering taking over a Naval base north of Chicago to hold the “large contingent” of federal agents. Chicago, unsurprisingly, has long been in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump's threats to federally invade cities as part of his so-called crackdown on crime. And Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is not having it. On Saturday, he signed an executive order instructing local police not to cooperate with troops or federal agents if the President's threats come to fruition. For more on the impact that federal arrests have on federal courts, we spoke with Jessica Brand, a lawyer and Executive Director of Wren Collective, a non-profit aimed at criminal justice reform and prosecutorial power.And in headlines: Congress is back in session, a federal judge blocks the Trump administration from deporting hundreds of migrant children to Guatemala, and more than 800 demonstrations take place across the country on Labor Day to protest billionaires taking over the government.Show Notes:Learn more about The Wren CollectiveCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The What A Day team is off. But we're excited to bring you the first episode of Season 2 of Crooked's award-winning limited series, Shadow Kingdom: Coal Survivor.On New Year's Eve 1969, Jock Yablonski, a union hero, is mysteriously gunned down in his bed. Jock's son is convinced the head of the United Mine Workers' Union is behind it. But why, and can he prove it? Decades later, lawyer Nicolo Majnoni embarks on a journey to uncover who killed Jock and discovers a conspiracy at the heart of the union.Shadow Kingdom is a series from Crooked Media and Campside Media. Each season begins with a crime, and as the layers are peeled back to uncover the perpetrator, a larger system at play is revealed.Get early access to the full season by joining Crooked's Friends of the Pod at crooked.com/friends or subscribe directly on the Shadow Kingdom Apple Podcasts feed. 

This week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending cash bail in Washington D.C. and other jurisdictions around the country. He summarized the largely successful criminal justice reform policy like this: "They kill people and they get out." Well, it may come as a surprise (to no one) that this statement is… not accurate. All it means is that a person's release, before they stand trial, is NOT determined by how much money is in their wallet. But despite the data showing the policy works, Trump and his MAGA buddies want to end it. To gain a better understanding of all this, we spoke with Rena Karefa-Johnson, Vice President of National Initiatives at FWD.U.S.And in headlines: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is undergoing a major staffing shake-up, National Guard members are picking up trash in D.C., and President Donald Trump proposes military funeral honors for the January 6th rioter who was killed by an officer at the insurrection…. four and a half years later. Show Notes:Learn more about FWD.usCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

President Donald Trump's administration is full of sycophants. That was made quite apparent this week (if it wasn't already) during a three-hour-long televised Cabinet meeting. The lengthy meeting allowed for department secretaries to sing their lord and savior's praises while the world watched on. The excessive fawning over the dear leader would raise more suspicions if it were taking place literally anywhere else. But it's happening in the United States. And we are in trouble. We spoke with Bill Kristol, editor at large for The Bulwark, to find out what we can do to meet the challenge of the moment.And in headlines: the Department of Homeland Security now prohibits state agencies and volunteer groups from receiving federal funds if they help undocumented immigrants, an alleged sandwich thrower dodged federal charges, and the Food and Drug Administration approved updated Covid-19 vaccines.Show Notes:Check out Bill's piece – https://tinyurl.com/2ynd2f8vWatch Favs sandwich guy interview – https://tinyurl.com/aaf4ajh3Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

In the federal government's latest excursion into the private sector, the US announced last week that it took a 10% stake in Intel. The move comes after the Defense Department became the biggest shareholder in a mining company, and the Trump administration made deals with AI chipmakers. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is continuing to direct his ire at the Federal Reserve— this time specifically on Fed Governor Lisa Cook, whom he tried to fire on Monday. So for more on state-sponsored capitalism and the seemingly never-ending Federal Reserve fight, we spoke with Scott Lincicome. He's the vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute.And in headlines: President Trump makes a lengthy television appearance with his Cabinet, a whistleblower says the Department of Government Efficiency put Social Security data at risk, and a federal judge dismisses a Department of Justice lawsuit against Maryland's entire federal bench.Show Notes:Check out Scott's Op-Ed – https://tinyurl.com/2ud35mxwCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

A lot has happened so far since President Donald Trump took office for a second term, but one thing is certain- he's indisputably unpopular. According to Gallup, Trump's six-month approval rating was around 37-percent, which is lower than that of any other president at that point in their presidency. That's, of course, with the exception of Trump in his first term. But polling can be confusing. Because while Trump's approval ratings have taken a dive, so has the Democratic Party's favorability. According to The Wall Street Journal, 63-percent of voters have a negative view of the Democratic Party. So where does that leave us? Can we trust the polls to tell us how Americans really feel? To find out more, we spoke with Crooked's resident polling expert, Dan Pfeiffer.And in headlines: President Trump hosts South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a strike on a hospital in Gaza was a "tragic mishap", and Trump signs an executive order to crack down on anyone who burns or desecrates the American flag.Show Notes:Subscribe to Crooked's substack –crookedmedia.substack.com/s/exclusive-contentCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Third Way, a center-left think tank, released a list of words it thinks Democrats should stop using on Friday. The list included words like “intersectionality,” “body shaming,” “cisgender,” and “LGBTQIA+.” It sparked an online debate around the terms, which has caused many people to ask “what do Democrats and liberals actually believe?” Jerusalem Demsas is CEO and founder of a new media outlet called “The Argument,” and she joins the show to answer the question: What is a liberal?And in headlines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov defends the Russian war in Ukraine on NBC's “Meet the Press,” Kilmar Abrego Garcia – a Salvadoran immigrant who was deported despite a court order allowing him to stay in the country – returns home to Maryland only to be immediately threatened with deportation to Uganda, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticizes President Trump over threats to deploy the National guard to Chicago, and the Department of Justice releases hundreds of pages of interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, a collaborator of Jeffrey Epstein.Show Notes:Check out The Argument – www.theargumentmag.com/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

On Thursday, California lawmakers passed a redistricting plan aimed at winning Democrats up to five more U.S. House seats in the 2026 elections. It was the latest escalation in a gerrymandering battle between red and blue states, after the GOP-controlled Texas House approved redrawn congressional maps Wednesday. Other states, like New York and Indiana, may soon follow. Former U.S. Representative and current Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Colin Allred of Texas, breaks down what this means for the Lone Star State and the 2026 midterms.And in headlines, Russia strikes an American-owned electronics plant in Ukraine, the Department of Justice goes after gender-affirming care for young people, and President Donald Trump thanks troops patrolling Washington, D.C.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The White House announced it's leading a "comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions" to ensure that the museums "celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions."Why? One reason is that White House special assistant Lindsey Halligan got in Trump's ear and complained that there was too much focus on slavery across the Smithsonian Institution. Halligan even told Fox News that in museums, there should QUOTE: "be more of an overemphasis on how far we've come since slavery." To discuss who's behind the changes in our cultural institutions, we spoke with Zachary Small. He's a New York Times reporter with a focus on the art world.And in headlines, the Israeli army says it's calling up 60,000 reservists ahead of its expanded assault on Gaza City, the Trump administration announces cuts to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the new price of the PS-5 Pro is making gamers angry.Show Notes:Check out Zachary's article – https://tinyurl.com/rt222e7tCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice announced it's launching a much-needed and super important investigation into Washington D.C.'s crime statistics. The DOJ said it's looking into whether the stats have been QUOTE: "manipulated" to make the crime rate seem lower. Why, might you ask, is the DOJ using time, money, and resources to look into this? Probably because it's searching for a way to justify President Donald Trump's takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and deployment of National Guard troops to the district. However, it has been roughly two weeks since Trump's takeover, and we have some questions. Is DC's crime problem really that bad? And is it better now after federal intervention? We spoke with journalist Josh Barro. He's also co-host of the podcast "Serious Trouble".And in headlines, the Trump administration decides it doesn't want feedback from its federal employees, the White House says arrangements for a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin are underway, and Oklahoma is making sure teachers from California and New York aren't "woke".Show Notes:Check out Josh's post – https://tinyurl.com/2rrxxrsfCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The conversation surrounding artificial intelligence in the US is hard to avoid right now. Powerful companies like Nvidia are making AI chips, doctors are using AI to revolutionize and enhance healthcare, and companies like Waymo have implemented the technology in self-driving cars. But even with all these advances, concerns continue to grow over how children are using AI. Reports about chatbots engaging children in "sensual" conversations have led to amplified concerns. However, others have found that students and teachers alike are using AI to complete schoolwork and create class assignments. For more information about the intersection of AI and America's children, we spoke with Lila Shroff, Assistant Editor at The Atlantic.And in headlines, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spruces up for his White House visit, President Donald Trump rants about the evil that is mail-in ballots, and MSNBC is changing its name to MS NOW.Show Notes:Check out Lila's work – theatlantic.com/author/lila-shroff/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Trump administration's crackdown on universities across the country for alleged antisemitism has made its way from the East Coast to the West Coast. Earlier this month, the administration demanded the University of California Los Angeles pay $1-billion to the federal government to resolve what it's calling civil rights violations. That was on top of more than half a billion dollars in cuts to federal research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other federal sources. But, a federal judge on Friday said the cuts to UCLA's funding violated a previous order and ruled some of the funding must be restored. To talk more about the impact the funding cuts have had, we spoke with Dr. Aradhna Tripati, a professor of climate science and geochemistry at UCLA. Joining her in the conversation is Monique Trinh, a program Manager in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.And in the headlines: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends the department's decision to halt visitor visas for people from Gaza, and more National Guard troops are headed to DC at the behest of Trump.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Check out Save Our Science – https://sites.google.com/view/saveourscienceinitiative/home?authuser=0Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Nvidia, a U.S.-based chip manufacturer that's now the richest company on earth, has agreed to pay the federal government 15 percent of its profits from selling its chips to China, in a deal that became public this week. Basically, the United States government is now a partner in not one, but two private companies that are selling AI technology to the country that is supposed to be our biggest competitor. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the model could "expand in the future to other companies." But for critics, the deal is giving serious mob vibes, while also posing a national security risk. Ashley Gold, senior tech and policy reporter at Axios, explains what the deal does and why so many people — including some Republicans — are concerned about it.And in headlines: President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska today, California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a redistricting plan to go head-to-head against Texas Republicans, and the Trump Administration got more bad news from the Labor Department.Show Notes:Check out Ashley's – work www.axios.com/authors/agoldCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine (which Putin started). While Trump insisted Wednesday there would be “very severe consequences” if Putin doesn't agree to some kind of ceasefire, the Russian president has given no indication he plans to give up his goal of eventually taking over all of Ukraine. And Ukraine continues to insist it will not cede any of its territory to Russia. In short: The war is still at a stalemate, and the president of the United States wants to move the needle by hosting the aggressor — an international pariah who faces an arrest warrant on war crimes from the Hague – right here on American soil. Julia Ioffe, a founding member of Puck News and a long-time Russian politics expert, joins us to talk about the Alaska summit and what could come out of it.And in headlines: Trump suggested he may extend federal control of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department beyond the 30-day limit, a panel of appeals court judges opened the door for the White House to suspend or terminate billions in foreign aid funding, and fewer Americans say they're drinking alcohol.Show Notes:Pre-order Julia's book – https://tinyurl.com/2btnv3pkCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

National Guard troops began showing up on the streets of the nation's capital overnight, a little more than a day after President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy hundreds of them to Washington, D.C., and federalize the city's police department. But during his press conference Monday, the president suggested more cities could be next. He specifically called out Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore and Oakland. All of these cities have declining crime rates – as does the United States as a whole. All of them also happen to be majority-minority cities run by Black Democratic mayors in Democratic-run states. Baltimore Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott joins us to talk about the president's ' racist talking points' and how Democratic mayors like him can't let Trump distract them from running their cities.And in headlines: Trump announced his new pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White said UFC will host a first-ever White House fight next year to celebrate the country's 250th birthday, and YouTube will test a new AI feature to determine the age of its users.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing massive backlash — both domestic and international — over his government's decision late last week to take over Gaza City. Thousands marched in Tel Aviv Saturday to protest the decision, while the families of some of the remaining hostages called for a nationwide strike. On Monday, Australia became the latest country to announce plans to recognize a Palestinian state, while French President Emmanuel Macron called the Israeli plan 'a disaster of unprecedented gravity.' Already Palestinian health officials say 61,000 people in Gaza have died since the start of the war. Matthew Chance, chief global affairs correspondent for CNN, joins us from Jerusalem to talk about the latest in the war, the Israeli killing of five Al Jazeera journalists Sunday, and the risks that come with yet another escalation in the conflict.And in headlines: President Donald Trump ordered a federal takeover of Washington D.C.'s police, a federal judge blocked the release of Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell's grand jury transcripts, and AOL said it's ending its dial-up internet service.Show Notes:Check out Matthew's reporting – www.cnn.com/profiles/matthew-chanceCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this week to discuss a potential end to the war in Ukraine (which Russia started.) To call the meeting ‘high stakes' would be an understatement — already critics are warning of the potential for a ‘1938 Munich Moment,' when Britain and France allowed Nazi Germany to take control over a swath then-Czechoslovakia in a bid to preserve peace on the continent. But the parallels to WWII don't end there. Earlier this month, Trump said nuclear submarines were ‘in the region' ahead of special envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with Putin in Moscow. As we mark 80 years this month since the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, historian Garrett Graff, author of the new book ‘The Devil Reached Toward the Sky,' joins us to talk about what we learned — and we didn't learn — in the decades since the U.S. dropped those bombs.And in headlines: Thousands of people in Israel demonstrated against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to take control of Gaza City, Trump ramped up threats to take federal control of Washington D.C., and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued to remove 13 Democratic state lawmakers from office amid an ongoing fight over redistricting.Show Notes:Check out Garrett's new book –https://tinyurl.com/y28cfex3Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

If you got a COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna or Pfizer, congratulations, you got a vaccine that uses mRNA to teach your cells how to fight the disease. But Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is doing his best to undermine their future use. On Tuesday, he announced the cancellation of $500 million in grants and contracts aimed at developing more mRNA vaccines. The decision has received near-universal condemnation from public health experts — even President Donald Trump's first-term Surgeon General said it will 'cost lives.' Dr. Fiona Havers, an infectious-disease specialist at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a former senior advisor on vaccine policy for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, joins us to talk about Kennedy's dangerous decision and the risk it poses to public health.And in headlines: President Donald Trump says he wants a new Census, The U.S. Air Force said it's denying the option to retire early to all trans service members who have served between 15 and 18 years, and tariff day is (unfortunately) finally here.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

We're starting to hear the horror stories from some of the Venezuelan men who the Trump Administration deported to the Salvadoran super-max prison known as CECOT. Many of the migrants, who were abruptly released and sent back to Venezuela last month as part of a prisoner exchange with the U.S., allege they suffered physical, psychological and sexual abuse during their detention. At least one man is trying to sue the U.S. government over his time in CECOT. And then there's Andry José Hernández Romero, the gay makeup artist whose story garnered national attention after his arrest. He says he faced constant harassment in the prison because of his sexual orientation. Melissa Shepard, director of legal services at the Immigrant Defenders Law Center and one of Romero's legal representatives, joins us to talk his story and others who were detained at CECOT.And in headlines: President Donald Trump suggested he may soon meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Texas Democrats were forced to evacuate their Illinois hotel because of a fake bomb threat, and the Department of Homeland Security lifted age limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.Show Notes:Check out Immigrant Defenders Law Center – www.immdef.org/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Voting Rights Act turns 60 today. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, with the goal of ensuring that Black Americans could actually exercise their constitutional right to vote. But the landmark legislation — or at least what's left of it — is facing new challenges. Roughly a decade ago, the Supreme Court gutted one of its key provisions. And late last week, the justices signaled they could be ready to strike a second major blow to the law. It all comes amid an increasingly ugly redistricting fight that's pitting red states against blue states ahead of next year's midterms. Rick Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California, Los Angeles, joins us to talk about the latest threats to the Voting Rights Act, and why decades later we're still talking about decades after its passage.And in headlines: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly weighing a full occupation of Gaza, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a task force on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and Rwanda became the third African nation to agree to take in U.S. deportees.Show Notes:Check out Rick's blog – https://electionlawblog.org/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The fallout from President Donald Trump's decision last week to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics over what he called a ‘rigged' jobs report continued Monday, as White House officials rushed to defend his actions. Amid growing bipartisan outcry, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett put the blame on a familiar culprit in the Trump Cinematic Universe: The Deep State. He told CNBC, “All over the U.S. government, there have been people who have been resisting Trump everywhere they can.” Trump is expected to announce his new pick to run the BLS this week, but already he's made that person's job – and the bureau's job – harder by making Americans even less likely to trust their data. Heidi Shierholz, who served as the chief economist at the Department of Labor under President Barack Obama and now runs the nonpartisan labor think tank the Economic Policy Institute, joins us to talk about the BLS, the important data it compiles, and what the hell a revision is.And in headlines: Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott escalated the redistricting fight with state Democrats, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace announced her campaign for South Carolina governor, and the Trump administration has reportedly backtracked on the president's campaign promise to make health insurers cover IVF.Show notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to Gaza Friday to tour an Israeli-backed aid site, amid growing global outcry over the country's handling of its war with Hamas. New polling from Gallup shows barely a third of Americans support Israel's actions in Gaza, a new low. And two Israeli human rights organizations last week concluded Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a first since the start of the war almost two years ago. But as of now, there's no indication Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government have any plans to wind down the war. Yair Rosenberg, a staff writer at The Atlantic, talks about the ‘corrupt bargain' that went into the making of Netanyahu's coalition.And in headlines: White House officials defended President Donald Trump's decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after a bad jobs report, Texas House Democrats fled the state to block Republicans from redrawing the state's congressional map, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting said it would shut down.Show notes:Read Yair's work - https://www.theatlantic.com/author/yair-rosenberg/Learn More About The Texas Redistricting Push - https://tinyurl.com/4x9f9ee8Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Republicans in the Texas State House released their plans to redraw the state's congressional map this week. It's a nakedly partisan gambit to maximize GOP wins in next year's midterm elections, all at the behest of President Donald Trump. In response, some Democrats want the party to fight fire with fire. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday he wants a special election in a bid to offset Texas's shenanigans. Justin Levitt, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and a former White House senior advisor to the Biden Administration, lays out the stakes for this mid-cycle redistricting war and why all of us should care.And in headlines: Trump slaps a 35 percent tariff on Canada after complaining about the country's plans to recognize a Palestinian state, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are headed to Gaza, and Trump signs an executive order to bring back the Presidential Fitness Test to schools.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Emil Bove as a federal appeals court judge, a lifetime appointment to a perch one rung below the U.S. Supreme Court. Bove, who served as President Donald Trump's personal attorney, ascended to the top ranks of the Justice Department when Trump returned to office in January. Ahead of his Senate confirmation, he became the subject of multiple whistleblower complaints, with some alleging Bove told DOJ subordinates they may need to ignore court orders to enact Trump's agenda (Bove denies the allegations). Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe joins us to talk about what Bove's confirmation signals to the rank and file at the DOJ. He also weighs in on what's happening at his former agency right now and — maybe more importantly — what's not happening.And in headlines: President Donald Trump announced a new 25 percent tariff on India ahead of his Aug. 1 deals deadline, former Vice President President Kamala Harris announced she won't run for governor of California next year, and the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged for a fifth time this year.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Friday is President Donald Trump's alleged tariff deadline, the day when dozens of countries either have to reach a new trade deal with the U.S. or face the possibility of sky-high duties on their imported goods. Even an island mostly inhabited by penguins won't be spared from the president's economic demands. And while Trump has announced deals with major trading partners like the European Union and Japan, there are still a ton of unanswered questions about what comes next — hell, even what's happening now! To help us understand what's going on, and what we can expect come August 1st, we spoke with Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at the progressive think tank Groundwork Collaborative. He also served as an economic policy advisor for former President Joe Biden and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.And in headlines, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would recognize a Palestinian state in September if Israel doesn't reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to gut the agency's own ability to regulate greenhouse gases, and a group of states sued the Trump administration over it's demands for state data on food stamp recipients.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Listen to our episode about the 'endangerment finding' - https://crooked.com/podcast/new-epa-argues-greenhouse-gases-are-totally-fine/Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Global outrage is building as the hunger crisis in Gaza descends into new depths of horror. Even aid workers themselves — the people tasked with helping Palestinians find food and water — say they, too, are starving. The ballooning crisis comes amid months of severe aid restrictions imposed by Israel, which has justified its actions with claims that Hamas has been stealing food and other supplies to maintain its control of the territory. But even President Donald Trump said Monday that Israel needs to do more to let aid in. Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen joins us to talk about the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza, how the U.S. is complicit, and what should be done next.And in headlines: President Trump declines to rule out a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, former North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper announces a Senate run, and a federal judge blocks Medicaid cuts for Planned Parenthood clinics.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Sometime this week, the Trump Administration is expected to launch an assault on one of the major cornerstones of U.S. climate policy, known as the 'endangerment finding.' It's the scientific conclusion that greenhouse gases are dangerous to people's health and safety, and should therefore be regulated by government agencies that are supposed to protect our interests. While the specifics of the administration's plans are still unknown, if successful, it could be one of the most devastating blows to the federal government's ability — and the world's ability — to mitigate the increasingly devastating effects of a warming planet. Zack Coleman, who covers climate change for Politico, tells us more about the 'endangerment finding' and the potential consequences of gutting it. Later in the show, Crooked Climate Correspondent Anya Zoledziowski debunks the latest right-wing weather conspiracies around this month's devastating floods in Texas.And in headlines: President Donald Trump announced a new trade agreement with the European Union, the president called for Beyonce to be prosecuted for something that never happened, and Israel began airdrops of aid and daily pauses in fighting amid rising deaths from starvation in Gaza.Show Notes:Check out Zach's work – www.politico.com/staff/zack-colmanCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Trump Administration is quickly ramping up its efforts to arrest and deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible, now that extra money is starting to roll in thanks to President Donald Trump's new tax and spending law. It set aside more than $170 billion in new funding for immigration enforcement, including $45 billion to build and expand detention centers and $29 billion to help hire new immigration agents. The most notorious symbol of the administration's immigration crackdown is the pop up detention center in the Florida Everglades the administration calls ‘Alligator Alcatraz.' But more facilities are popping up all over the country, as are allegations of horrific conditions. Katie Blankenship is an attorney and co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, which provides legal services and civil rights representation throughout the region. She's currently representing clients in ICE detention centers, and joins us to talk about what she's hearing from them.And in headlines: Trump and embattled Fed Chair Jerome Powell publicly bicker during a tour of the central bank headquarter's ongoing renovations, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his country would recognize the state of Palestine, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Jeffrey Epstein's former fixer Ghislaine Maxwell.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday    

While pressure mounts on the White House to release documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, President Donald Trump is doing his damndest to turn the public's attention to his latest conspiracy (which is really just a remix of an old one). The president is alleging, despite zero evidence, that former President Barack Obama and members of his administration lied about Russian efforts to swing the 2016 election for Trump and made up intelligence to support those claims. This time, though, Trump's wild allegations are being fueled by his own Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. She's been releasing documents she says contradict the intelligence community's well-established conclusions about Russia's interference in the 2016 election, claiming they're proof of a ‘coup' to undermine Trump during his first term in office. Atlantic Staff Writer David Frum, host of the new podcast ‘The David Frum Show,' joins us to talk about the return of ‘Russia, Russia, Russia,' and what Trump's willingness to go after his political opponents– including a former president – says about where his second term is headed.And in headlines: The Justice Department reportedly informed Trump his name appears in the so-called Epstein files, a federal judge ruled a Maryland man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador should be freed from custody at the Tennessee jail where he's currently being held, and President Trump announced a new tariff deal with Japan.Show Notes:Check out David's podcast – https://youtu.be/0kISxha7bJA?feature=sharedCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

House lawmakers will start their Summer break a few days early today, vacating the capital until September. They're leaving early because Republican Speaker Mike Johnson is trying desperately – desperately – to avoid holding any votes on releasing materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Over at the White House Tuesday, President Donald Trump did his best to turn attention away from Epstein and toward his latest conspiracy de jour, which is really just a remix of his favorite first-term conspiracy surrounding Russia's interference in the 2016 election (A.K.A. Russia, Russia, Russia). But House Democrats say no dice. California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, talks about what Democrats are doing to keep the Trump administration in check.And in headlines: Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba is out of a job…maybe, Trump announced a new trade deal with the Philippians, and the United Nations delivered a stark warning about mass starvation in Gaza.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Despite President Donald Trump's best efforts, his administration can't escape the conspiracies swirling around convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — conspiracies Trump and his allies helped stoke before he returned to the White House.On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not permit a vote this summer on a non-binding resolution calling for the release of documents and records related to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 before his federal sex-trafficking trial. And on Friday, Trump sued The Wall Street Journal for billions of dollars over a story alleging he sent Epstein a lewd birthday card in the early 2000s, when the two were known to be friends. Trump has always denied any knowledge that the disgraced financier was abusing underage girls and young women, but there's no denying the two men frequently hung out together, often in the presence of young, attractive women.Matthew Goldstein, a New York Times business reporter who covers white collar crime, joins us to talk about the backstory of Trump and Epstein's friendship, and why the administration can't make this story go away.And in headlines: Some foreign travelers will have to pay a new $250 fee to enter the U.S. thanks to a provision in Trump's new Big Beautiful Law, a new Human Rights Watch report alleges 'dehumanizing' conditions across immigration detention centers in Florida, and Texas Republicans kicked off a special legislative session to potentially redraw the state's congressional map to help Trump in next year's midterm elections.Show Notes:Check out Michael's piece – nytimes.com/2025/07/19/us/politics/inside-trump-epstein-friendship.htmlCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday