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The Washington Roundtable is joined by Jeff Stein, the veteran political reporter and founding editor of the newsletter “Spytalk,” to examine Donald Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as the new acting Director of National Intelligence, a position that, in theory, oversees the C.I.A., N.S.A., F.B.I., and fifteen other agencies. Pulte has no intelligence background and no national-security experience, but does have a track record of going after the President's perceived enemies. Plus, the panel discusses a recent Washington Post investigation that raised new questions about the outgoing director, Tulsi Gabbard, and her alleged ties to a religious cult. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Washington Roundtable is joined by Jeff Stein, the veteran political reporter and founding editor of the newsletter “Spytalk,” to examine Donald Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as the new acting Director of National Intelligence, a position that, in theory, oversees the C.I.A., N.S.A., F.B.I., and fifteen other agencies. Pulte has no intelligence background and no national-security experience, but does have a track record of going after the President's perceived enemies. Plus, the panel discusses a recent Washington Post investigation that raised new questions about the outgoing director, Tulsi Gabbard, and her alleged ties to a religious cult.This week's reading:“Everyone Wants to Touch the Blue Coating in the Reflecting Pool,” by Jesús Rodríguez“Chronicle of a Disaster Foretold,” by David Remnick“The Difference Between the Knicks and the White House Cage Fight,” by Adam Gopnik“How the Trump Administration Pushed Judges to Deport Children,” by E. Tammy Kim“Do Netanyahu's Domestic Opponents Offer a Real Alternative?” by Isaac ChotinerThe Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – June 17, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Oklahoma votes down minimum wage increase; “agreement” to end the war; Jeff Stein returns today; new flag poll; Klobuchar declining to endorse in Craig/Flanagan race. The post The Matt McNeil Show – June 17, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – June 17, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – June 10, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Keeping Democrats from screwing this up; today’s war updates; Jeff Stein; McLeoud County sheriff’s deputy charged in bar fight; previewing the Gaily Show’s conversation with Sec. Steve Simon; Forest Service cuts; Republicans doing an about face on fraud; Republicans target roadless rule. The post The Matt McNeil Show – June 10, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – June 10, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
Krystal and Saagar discuss chip stocks hammered, Trump floats gov stake in AI companies. Jeff Stein: https://x.com/jstein_star To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.com Merch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Krystal and Saagar discuss Iran and Israel exchanging fire, Trump rage quits NBC interview, Pentagon warns of Israeli spying. Jeff Stein: https://x.com/jstein_star To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.com Merch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
They are still counting ballots in California - but Republicans are holding their own. Is the Golden State poised for a Conservative resurgence? Josh Jones joins us to discuss along with Jeff Stein, and Liz Peek.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – June 3, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
CBS News fires Scott Pelley; war updates; Jeff Stein makes his return today; grocery stores; Orono man given work release for drunk driving deaths he caused; Demuth’s decision to remain in the governor’s race; Engen files to run for his state house seat; continued coverage of the GOP’s honoring Chauvin; thinning numbers in volunteer fire… The post The Matt McNeil Show – June 3, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
Best of Interviews - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – June 3, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The secret Democrat election autopsy report was leaked to media outlets...guest host Jeff Stein has a few ideas of why it came out at this point in the 2026 election cycle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein Joins Greg for the weekly interview The cost that we are covering for the Trump admin in the farm all the way to the table Why is the beef being imported. The post Jeff Stein Joins Greg for the weekly interview first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Matt has our weekly chat with national political expert Jeff Stein. Today they talk about mess that is the Iran war, Trump being a terrible negotiator and Indiana and Michigan election results. The post Matt McNeil with Jeff Stein (5/6/26) first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Beavers!; American media not accurately reporting about the Iran war; gas prices approaching $5/gallon; playing a tiny violin for the rich in New York City; Jeff Stein; where exactly are Uptown’s borders; Republicans don’t care about saving HCMC; problems with charter schools; A MN woman with major medical issues still being held by ICE The post The Matt McNeil Show – May 6, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Trump friends saying he believes he is the most powerful person ever; oil prices continue to surge; war updates; Jeff Stein makes his weekly appearance; Wisconsin Republican will retire after investigation into sexual misconduct; Roundup maker had meetings with the EPA to try to stop lawsuits; state flag; Walz’s final state of the state address. The post The Matt McNeil Show – April 29, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – April 29, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Indian student fools MAGA into giving him huge donations with AI creation; today’s war updates; Jeff Stein makes his Wednesday visit; Amanda Luke and Liz Short discuss Art In Bloom at MIA; Sen. John Hoffman’s proposal; costs of the federal invasion; rural Minnesota’s stick up its rear. The post The Matt McNeil Show – April 21, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – April 22, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – April 15, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Right-wing influencer having a bad time; war updates; large numbers of farmers unable to afford fertilizer; Jeff Stein talks the agricultural crisis and Iran issues; Wayzata school referendum passes; Republicans will desperately be trying to soften their losses; Klobuchar outrasiing competitors by a massive margin; Greg Bakun is in studio; Minnesota Reformer’s detailed dive on… The post The Matt McNeil Show – April 15, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – April 8, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Trump has lowest approval rating ever; alleged ceasefire in place for the moment; Jeff Stein returns this week; local news roundup; Republican crusade against mass transit; Star Tribune’s flattery piece on Demuth; Finstad suggests more federal farm aid. The post The Matt McNeil Show – April 8, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
Ralph welcomes international human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber to discuss the U.S. and Israel's illegal war on Iran. Then, Ralph speaks to investigative reporter David Cay Johnston about the finances of Donald Trump.Craig Mokhiber is an international human rights lawyer and activist, and a former senior United Nations human rights official. A human rights activist in the 1980s, he would go on to serve for more than three decades at the United Nations, with postings in Switzerland, Palestine, Afghanistan, and UN Headquarters in New York. In October of 2023, he left the United Nations, penning a widely read letter criticizing the UN's human rights failures in the Middle East, warning of unfolding genocide in Gaza, and calling for a new approach to Palestine and Israel based on international law, human rights, and equality.Anyone who pays attention knows that Iran wasn't attacked because it has nuclear weapons. It was attacked because it doesn't have nuclear weapons, and was therefore viewed by Israel and the U.S. as being a state that could be overcome militarily. But what really is, I think, most telling about this is the hypocrisy of the claims, because the only party in the region that has stockpiles of nuclear weapons (which are entirely undeclared and unsupervised) is the Israeli regime, not the Iranian. And the Israeli regime was joined in attacking Iran by another nuclear power—the United States.Craig MokhiberIsrael (which has attacked the United Nations throughout its entire life and declared that the United Nations is an anti-Semitic terror organization) fights like hell to stay in the United Nations, pays its dues every year to make sure that it stays in…and renews its treaty obligations as a member of the United Nations (that, of course, it violates with impunity). So it's very funny that Israel calls the UN an anti-Semitic terror organization, yet it insists on being a member and paying its dues to fund that so-called anti-Semitic terror organization.Craig MokhiberI don't think that putting Iran in an existential crisis is the best way to tell them you don't need nuclear weapons. I think stopping attacking them, their economy, their currency, their scientists, their political leaders, their military personnel, their civilians, their girls' schools—if you want a country to believe that it doesn't need to arm itself, this is not the way to go about it.Craig MokhiberDavid Cay Johnston is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, specialist in economics and tax issues, and a professor of practice teaching law, public policy, and journalism at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is the author of several books, including The Making of Donald Trump and It's Even Worse Than You Think: What The Trump Administration Is Doing To America. He is also the co-founder of DCReport, a nonprofit news service that reports what the President and Congress DO, not what they SAY.Convicting Donald Trump of tax fraud would be very easy. You establish these corporations [reporting major losses] don't exist. You establish that he took tax losses from these multiple corporations (in all, about 60 entries over the six years of tax returns). And there's no defense for that. It's flat-out fraud. It's blatant fraud. So Trump has gotten away with this because we don't seriously treat high-level tax fraud in this country.David Cay JohnstonNews 3/20/26* Our top story this week concerns a new study titled “Inequality, not regulation, drives America's housing affordability crisis.” As summarized in Hell Gate, this study demonstrates that the precipitous rise in rent prices are not primarily the result of insufficient housing supply or of vacancy rates. Moreover, contrary to the claims of the so-called Abundance movement, reducing regulations to spur new construction is unlikely to create significantly more housing. Even if it did, that would probably fail to bring down rents, because the real cause of the rental spike is “Steep national inequality.” So, what can be done to bring down rents? Maximilian Buchholz, the lead author of the study, puts it bluntly in this interview: “rent control, tenant protection policies like just cause eviction, and income supports for people toward the bottom.” Simply put, the best policies to lower rents are policies that lower rents. This has been demonstrated time and time again in different policy areas, yet on the whole, Democrats still seem to prefer byzantine policy formulae instead of straightforward policy solutions to the glaring issues facing the American people. * Speaking of rising costs, Washingtonian magazine is out with a new story on the Washington Post hiking prices for subscribers. Yet apparently not all subscribers are created equal. According to this story, these increases are accompanied by a simple yet insidious message: “This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data.” This is the latest deployment of what has become known as algorithmic – or “surveillance” – pricing. This piece notes other examples of surveillance pricing, ranging from the Princeton Review charging more for the same SAT tutoring package in areas with higher Asian populations (they called it the “tiger mom tax”) to Amazon charging local school districts vastly different prices for the same supplies. However, this new policy from the Post is especially brazen given the straits the paper has recently found itself in, declining by a million subscribers between 2021 and 2026 and hemorrhaging key reporters to a new rival paper sponsored by Robert Albritton, including Dana Milbank, Jeff Stein, Paul Kane and Paige Cunningham, among others, per the Hill.* In more media news, Variety reports that ratings for CBS Evening News are cratering, falling back to where executives at the news division behind the show “hoped never to return.” The nightly news program, anchored by Tony Dokoupil, has fallen below 4 million viewers; when the previous iteration of the program anchored by Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson fell to this nadir, Paramount Skydance pulled the plug. While this is perhaps just a symptom of the collapse of cable news, Variety notes that ABC's “World News Tonight,” averaged nearly 8 and a half million viewers and “NBC Nightly News” scored just over 6 and half million. Dokoupil did score a slight uptick in viewership when he took over the Evening News, but that seems to have been nothing more than a flash in the pan. This pathetic showing seems to confirm what seemed obvious all along: there is simply little audience for the editorial viewpoint espoused by CBS's new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.* The bad news for Bari doesn't end there, either. According to the Wrap, the new chief is locked in contentious negotiations with the unionized staff of CBS, specifically the 60-person unit behind the network's streaming service, “CBS News 24/7.” These workers staged a 24 hour walkout earlier this week. Their grievances include everything from new grueling 12-hour weekend shifts – despite no weekend-specific live programming – as well as CBS News' reported plans to lay off 15% of staff. CBS News already laid off roughly 100 people in October after Paramount merged with Skydance and many believe more layoffs will come if the merger with CNN, which is not unionized, goes through as part of the Paramount Warner Bros. deal.* In other news, a recent study reveals a fascinating disconnect between the self-description of Democrats and their policy preferences. The study, conducted on behalf of the New Republic by Embold Research, gave respondents five choices to describe their ideology: conservative, moderate, moderate-to-liberal, liberal, and progressive. Only 12% identified as moderate, but another 21% called themselves moderate-to-liberal. Yet, among this combined group, approximately 70% said Democrats are “too timid” on taxing the rich and corporations, and cracking down on corporate criminals. Fewer than 5% of moderates said Democrats are “too aggressive” on these issues. In a word, even the moderates among the Democratic base think the party should take a more strident economic populist line. This tracks with polling conducted during the Texas Democratic Senate primary which found that 47% of voters who identified as socialists also identified as moderates.* Our next several stories this week have to do with the intersection of foreign policy and energy. The AP reports that on Tuesday, Cuba reconnected its energy grid following a 29-hour long nationwide blackout. This story notes that this reconnection will only provide scant and temporary relief, because not enough power is being generated. The energy crisis in Cuba has gotten progressively worse since the beginning of the year, as the new government in Venezuela and the newly reinforced sanctions regime have both served to cut off the island from energy imports. That said, cracks in this blockade are beginning to form. Bloomberg reports that a “tanker carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude is expected to arrive in Cuba by the end of the month,” and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her administration is “looking into different possibilities” to resume fuel shipments to Cuba as well. Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico is “sovereign” and able to “have trade agreements with any country in the world,” per the Latin Times. The U.S. government has already eased sanctions on Russian oil sales to India, but has now announced that they will not allow the Russians to send oil to Cuba, per Bloomberg. As the ship is already on its way, it is an open question of how far the U.S. will go to prevent Russia from sending lifesaving resources to the country that has held out against American pressure for so long.* Next, a stunning story in the Wall Street Journal documents how the Trump administration settled on their final course of action in Venezuela. According to this piece, the Central Intelligence Agency consulted former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri, described as the oil company's man in “Man in Venezuela—and a CIA Informant.” Apparently, Moshiri warned that if the U.S. government tried to oust the Chavista government of Nicolás Maduro and install María Corina Machado and her exile comrades in its place, the country would turn into “another quagmire like Iraq.” Moshiri specifically warned that Machado did not have the support of the country's security services or control of its oil infrastructure. For their part, Chevron issued a statement claiming that “between spring of 2025 and the removal of Maduro, Chevron did not authorize anyone working for, or on behalf of, the company to engage with the CIA related to Venezuela's leadership, including assessments of government officials or opposition leaders.” Moshiri, formally left Chevron in 2017 and ended his consulting relationship with the company in 2024. Unlike many other oil companies, Chevron maintained a presence in Venezuela over the years, positioning the company to benefit most from the new extraction political environment under the leadership of upjumped Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.* Meanwhile, a story from NOTUS highlights why this kind of outside advice is likely more heeded than ever in the halls of power: the publication reports that six months ago, the State Department under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio, fired its in-house oil and gas experts, including laying off staff who “would have been responsible for gaming out possible scenarios if the Strait of Hormuz was closed” and “staffers with close professional relationships at oil and gas companies in the Middle East and experts tasked with maintaining diplomatic contacts at foreign energy bureaus.” This is a final nail in the coffin for the misguided logic of Elon Musk's DOGE initiative and serves as a crystal clear example of why it is so dangerous to purge experts with significant institutional knowledge from the federal bureaucracy.* Another consequence of this lack of diplomatic expertise is the ultimate cost to the taxpayer – $200 billion in additional Pentagon funding, to be exact, per CNBC. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, defending the request in typically childish terms, said “It takes money to kill bad guys.” In similarly childish terms, President Trump, asked why the Pentagon is seeking so much money, said, “We're asking for a lot of reasons,” and while he told a reporter he would not send U.S. troops to the region, he added, “If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you.” Beyond the flippant attitude towards the immense sums of taxpayer money they are requesting from Congress, to say nothing of the cost in American and Iranian lives, the American people would do well to remember how casually the political class treats $200 billion when it is to be spent on war instead of social programs. All this as gas prices spike, with price increases rippling out to all other consumer goods.* Finally, the BBC reports a Belgian court has ruled that a former diplomat, Etienne Davignon, can stand trial in connection with the 1961 killing of Congo's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Davignon, 93, is the “only surviving member of the 10 Belgians accused in a criminal case brought by Lumumba's family in 2011.” At the time, Davignon was a diplomat in training. He would go on to become a vice-president of the European Commission. Lumumba meanwhile was ousted in a Belgian and U.S.-backed coup led by Mobutu Sese Seko, who would rule Congo (renamed Zaire) until 1997. In 1961, Lumumba was executed by a Belgian-backed Congolese firing squad and his body was dissolved in acid. Lumumba's grandson, Mehdi Lumumba, is quoted saying “We are all relieved…Belgium is finally confronting its history.” Many have remarked that while this has taken over 50 years, it sets a powerful precedent that justice can be found even after so many decades. Many of the war criminals that walk the Earth today are far younger than Mr. Davignon.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
Jeff Stein of KXEL/Waterloo and the Iowa Politics Report joins Matt every Wednesday at 3:30 to cover national politics. The post Jeff Stein with Matt – March 18, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
The Matt McNeil Show - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota
10 most popular dog breeds; man vanzalizes Seattle museum; Fed keeps rates stable; Israel attacks Iranian oil infrastructure; Jeff Stein returns this week; CVS torn down in St. Paul; shrimp troubles; school threats; Markwayne Mullin nomination hearingsl Walz releases supplemental budget proposal; Rogers basketball team alleged sexual assaults in hazing; Paige Bueckers makes big donation… The post The Matt McNeil Show – March 18, 2026 first appeared on AM 950.
When the weather gets rough the airlines can't fly and that has, once again, backed up travel during a very busy time. That story kicks us off today on this the 17th of March. In other news, President Trump is not happy with the way the media is reporting on the war in Iran. And, there are threats. Bank of America enters into a settlement with victims of Jeffery Epstein. In more legal news today closing arguments began in the Twitter case against Elon Musk. The war in Iran has made some Central Bank decisions more difficult. We'll check the numbers in The Wall Street Report and Kraft Heinz is betting on more health food options. For the conversation we'll visit with Jeff Stein from News/Talk 1540 KXEL based in Waterloo, Iowa about an Ag Day event that celebrates farming…and yes, there is a free lunch involved. Let's go! Thanks for listening! The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.
The president of the student body at Iowa State University has been impeached by the Student Government Association because he is part of a group with ties to Turning Point USA. They claim he acted with "malfeasance" because he supports conservatives running for student government. Colby Brandt will now face a Supreme Court trial to determine if he will be removed from office. Ironically, at the same meeting the SGA approved funding for an Iranian student group and other far-left causes. It's time for the Department of Education to put up or shut up when it comes to universities that silence conservative students. All federal funding to Iowa State University must be frozen. Jeff Stein from KXEL Radio joins to discuss. And be sure to read more about this story at www.toddstarnes.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.