What A Day

You may have noticed that misogyny seems to be everywhere right now, especially online. As American women continue to move further to the political left, men on the American Right appear to have responded by losing their minds completely. Helen Lewis, a staff writer for the Atlantic, coined a term for these kinds of people. She calls them "masculinists." And she argues that "masculinism" has become a bonding agent for the American right wing that can paper over other divides. Helen joins the show to discuss her article, "The Men Who Want Women to Be Quiet." And in headlines, what we do and don't know about Trump's alleged Iran deal, Tulsi Gabbard resigns as National Intelligence Director, and Pro-Palestine Activist Mahmoud Khalil takes his deportation case to the Supreme Court. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/4mfbz2s5202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

Republicans had a filibuster-proof immigration bill that would allocate $70 billion to immigration enforcement and fully reopen the Department of Homeland Security. But then, Trump got involved. First, he wanted $1 billion for "security" for his beloved beautiful ballroom. Then, the Department of Justice announced that $1.776 billion slush fund for Trump's allies. After Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Senate Republicans to make the case for the slush fund on Thursday, everyone got so mad that Senate Majority Leader John Thune gave up on getting a vote together for the immigration bill and sent everyone home for the holiday. To unpack the reconciliation bill mess, we spoke to Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle. He's the ranking member of the House Budget Committee. And in headlines, Iran is reportedly reviewing the U.S.'s latest peace proposal, the Trump administration eases restrictions on planet-warming "super pollutants" used in air conditioners and refrigerators, and the Democratic National Committee finally releases its autopsy of the 2024 election. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

A swath of President Donald Trump’s handpicked candidates won their primary elections Tuesday night – and one of Trump's biggest opponents in Congress, Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie, lost. It was the continuation of Trump’s weeks-long revenge tour against Republicans he views as disloyal. So, for more about what we learned from Tuesday’s primaries, we spoke with Alex Wagner. She’s the host of Crooked Media’s Runaway Country. And in headlines, President Donald Trump gives a commencement speech to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s graduates, the so-called Board of Peace needs money, and the Department of Justice announces charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro as the Trump administration escalates pressure on the island. Show Notes: tinyurl.com/mrmmsw8d202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

The World Health Organization met on Tuesday in Switzerland to discuss a deadly outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. According to the WHO, the outbreak, which has killed more than 130 people and infected more than 500, could last for months. Those numbers could be much, much higher than what they've been able to report. The Ebola outbreak comes in the midst of another deadly health crisis you've probably heard a lot about: hantavirus. It's part of a family of extremely dangerous viruses that are primarily spread by rats and mice. As all this is going on, you're probably wondering who's running the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? And who is currently the Surgeon General of the United States? The answer to both? Currently, no one has been confirmed by the Senate. To find out more about what's happening with America's public health system, we spoke with Apoorva Mandavilli. She's a science and global health reporter at the New York Times. And in headlines, President Donald Trump shows off the White House ballroom construction site, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche sits for a Congressional hearing, and guess who's making a lot of money trading stocks? You're not going to like the answer. Show Notes: www.nytimes.com/by/apoorva-mandavilli202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th, 2022. And despite President Donald Trump's promise to end the conflict on his first day back in office, the two countries are still at war. So far, over 300,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war, compared to roughly 150,000 Ukrainian soldiers. The fighting is brutal, and it seems to keep… going. So how can both sides end this conflict – and what will the U.S. do to help (or hurt) the peace process? To find out, we spoke with Lucian Kim. He's a senior Ukraine analyst for the International Crisis Group. When we spoke, he had just returned from an 11-day trip to Ukraine. And in headlines, Trump holds off on striking Iran, a data analytics firm unveils just how much several Polymarket accounts have made betting almost exclusively on U.S. military operations, and Trump's approval rating continues to dip. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/ytkkh6d3202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

It's rather obvious Americans have not exactly been … cheerful for the last few years. And it's showing up in the data – the General Social Survey, the Consumer Sentiment Survey from the University of Michigan, the World Happiness Report, and even the Federal Reserve all report that Americans are less happy than they were a decade ago. Whether that's with their jobs, the economy, the state of the world – no matter the metric, Americans are not having it. To find out why we're feeling down, we spoke with Derek Thompson. He's the co-author of the book "Abundance," and he writes a popular Substack called, well, Derek Thompson. And in headlines, President Donald Trump is once again threatening Iran via Truth Social, House Speaker Mike Johnson talks about the administration's priorities, and Taiwan's president stresses the importance of arms purchases from the United States. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/zzsjpf7a202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

Life is pretty expensive right now – and Americans are not happy about it. Trump came into office claiming he would lower prices, QUOTE, “on day 1.” But that didn’t happen – and his own policies are partially to blame. To talk more about the economy, inflation, and what we can do when our lives feel way too expensive, we spoke with Stacey Vanek Smith. She’s a reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek and co-host of the Bloomberg podcast, Everybody’s Business. And in headlines, Trump says Chinese President Xi Jinping offered his help in making a deal to end the Iran war, FBI Director Kash Patel allegedly went snorkeling on his “not vacation” in Hawaii, and did the Supreme Court just become a feminist? Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/y2zannt6202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais last month dismantled a critical portion of the Voting Rights Act. And since then, a slew of states — largely in the South — have moved to redraw voting maps. In doing so, they’re eliminating majority-Black voting districts. There are not many people who have done more to fight for Black voting power and for the rights of Black voters in the South than Stacey Abrams, host of Crooked Media’s Assembly Required. So we talked to her about the racist implications of Louisiana vs. Callais and where we go from here. And in headlines, Senate Republicans once again block legislation that would halt President Donald Trump’s war of choice with Iran, Vice President JD Vance takes more steps in the administration’s anti-fraud initiative, and a Politico analysis finds that the Trump administration has lost in court more than 10,000 times in ICE detention decisions. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

President Donald Trump is arriving in Beijing today on a long-awaited trip – one that got delayed even further by Trump’s war in Iran. It’s Trump’s second trip to China and his first in nearly a decade. It’s also a trip where both sides see big opportunities (mostly to make money). But, the global balance of power has shifted – arguably, in China’s favor. Trump is in the midst of an unpopular war with no clear exit plan and he’s looking to make deals, not problems. Meanwhile, China has become an economic and military powerhouse more than able to stand up to the US and Trump’s trade wars. So to talk more about Trump’s trip to China and what’s at stake, we spoke to Phelim Kine. He is the DC based China correspondent at POLITICO. And in headlines, Secretary of War/little boy Pete Hegseth returns to the Hill, Food and Drug Administration head Marty Makary steps down, and the What A Day newsletter investigates a new video game that parodies Trump’s second term in office. Show Notes: politico.com/staff/phelim-kine202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

The impact of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes has been felt in so many places, from the halls of Congress to the royal families of Britain and Norway. Here in the U.S., it’s taken the work of student journalists to uncover the worrying details about Epstein’s hidden relationship with another important institution: Harvard University. Epstein didn’t go to Harvard (actually, he didn’t graduate from college at all). But back in 2020, Harvard released a report aiming to detail its relationship with Epstein, including the millions of dollars he donated to the university. As journalist Pablo Torre and student journalists at the Harvard Crimson discovered, Harvard was actually keeping a lot of secrets about its relationship with the convicted sex offender. We spoke with Torre about his investigation and what he wants Harvard to do now. And in headlines, President Donald Trump participates in a Maternal Healthcare Event in the Oval Office, the Supreme Court is leaving access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, and the man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner pleads not guilty. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/yjn2ndp2202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

Over the last year and a half, the Trump Administration has made a big effort to limit which words are used in federal documents. Across government memos and wide-ranging agency material, hundreds of terms and ideas have been explicitly or implicitly forbidden from use. These terms include words like “accessible” or “activism.” Another example? Intersectionality. It’s been nearly 40 years since Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality.” And in that time, the word has been twisted into something barely recognizable. We spoke with Crenshaw about her work, her new book, and how her past has given her the strength to keep talking back. And in headlines, Iran responds to the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal, Democrats respond to the Virginia Supreme Court ruling on redistricting, and the cruise ship roiled by hantavirus anchors in the Canary Islands. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/4ndwy3rx202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

There’s a lot going on in this year’s midterm elections. Tennessee Republicans approved a new map on Thursday, splitting the majority-Black voting district that encompasses the city of Memphis – and possibly eliminating the state’s only blue congressional seat. The president also got to flex his muscles this week in Indiana’s Republican primary. Candidates with his support beat at least five Republican incumbents who had voted against his redistricting plans in the state. So what does all of this mean for the midterms? To find out, we talked to Jon Favreau. He’s a co-host of Pod Save America. And in headlines, Russia preps for its annual Victory Day Parade, two reports shed new light on the Iran war, and President Donald Trump tries to square up with a child in the Oval Office. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

President Donald Trump made a lot of promises when he took office for the second time. One of those promises included becoming the most pro-cryptocurrency president ever! (Probably because the Trump family is trying to make as much money as possible from the enterprise.) But the wheels appear to be falling off both Trump’s crypto adventures and the industry itself. Though millions of Americans own crypto, Bitcoin isn’t going to replace the dollar any time soon. To learn more about the crypto industry, who it’s for, and where it’s headed, we spoke with Ben McKenzie. He's an author, actor, and filmmaker who has been covering cryptocurrency for years. His new documentary "Everyone Is Lying To You For Money" centers on unmasking the cryptocurrency industry. And in headlines, the Washington Post found Iran has hit more U.S. military assets than reported, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testifies before Congress about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and Stephen Colbert teases a possible 2028 presidential run. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/4apne3tp202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

President Trump was elected, in part, due to his many promises to lower the cost of living. Unsurprisingly, he gave up on that pretty much the second he walked into the Oval Office again. Some Democrats see this as an opportunity not just to beat Trump but to move forward as a party. Last week, members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus announced a series of bills they’re calling “The New Affordability Agenda.” But will it appeal to the same voters who thought Trump held the key to a more affordable life in 2024? Texas Democratic Representative Greg Cesar joins the show to make his case for why it does. And in headlines, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth neither confirms nor denies the existence of kamikaze dolphins, The Strait of Hormuz still remains mostly closed, and Republicans try to get YOU to pay for the White House Ballroom. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

The Supreme Court surprised many on Monday allowing the commonly used abortion medication mifepristone to stay available via mail for at least one more week. But even with this decision, the current Supreme Court still feels like a mystery. For a body that intends to examine the law through a Constitutional lens, the court is kind of… freestyling a lot of the time. And in the era of Trump, a lot of that freestyling has been in his favor. So is this the Supreme Court’s fault? Or… the Constitution’s? To find out, we spoke with Melissa Murray. She’s a co-host of Crooked Media’s Strict Scrutiny, and author of the new book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader. And in headlines, President Donald Trump talks about the “mini-war” in Iran, the Department of Justice holds a press conference about its most recent beef, and Trump threatens to stay in power for another eight or nine years. Show Notes: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-U-S-Constitution/Melissa-Murray/9781668221938202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

Last week's Supreme Court decision gutting the Voting Rights Act is big news. But there are tons of other ways that the Trump Administration and the GOP are trying to make it harder for you to vote. Take the Technical Guidelines Development Committee, or TGDC. It's supposed to be a nonpartisan federal committee that determines the standards for voting equipment used in elections across the country. But back in April, a group of election officials sounded the alarm. The Trump Administration has been blocking new appointees to the TGDC and won’t say why — which is a big, big concern with midterm elections just a few months away. So to explain what’s going on with our nation’s voting apparatus, we spoke to Jacob Knutson, a reporter at Democracy Docket. And in headlines, Trump tells Congress that the war in Iran is currently not a war, Tucker Carlson gives a long and winding interview to the New York Times, and we send a bittersweet goodbye to Spirit Airlines. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/4rjytz3b202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

From the alleged attempted assassination of President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey (and everything in between), it’s been a long week in the United States. But one thing is for certain. Trump is one of the most powerful people on Earth. And yet, he spends so much of his time focused on trivial issues. Take that $400 million ballroom for example. A ballroom which most Americans oppose building by a 2-to-1 margin, according to new polling by the Washington Post and ABC News. So how does he get his base to buy in? How did we get to this place where his whims direct the news cycle? And how should Democrats respond – and get their own messages in front of the American people? To find out, we spoke with Keith Edwards. He’s a Democratic strategist, political commentator, and host of The Keith Edwards Show. And in headlines, raw milk is out and Fox News is in, the Department of Homeland Security is finally going to reopen, and Alina Habba takes on the ladies at The View. Show Notes: The Keith Edwards Show202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court struck down a 2024 Louisiana district map that created a second majority-Black voting district for use in future elections. In a 6-3 decision, the Court found that the Voting Rights Act did not authorize states the ability to create majority-minority voting districts. The ruling didn't overturn Section Two of the Voting Rights Act, but in the dissent, Justice Elena Kagan argued that it had done so in all but deed. Leah Litman, host of Crooked Media's legal podcast Strict Scrutiny, joins the show to tell us what this means for the future of Black voters, redistricting, the midterms, and America. And in headlines, the House Armed Services Committee grills Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over his handling of the war with Iran, Jerome Powell isn’t backing down in his feud with Trump, and a Japanese airport tries out baggage handling humanoid robots. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/7dfbhmc5202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

Secretary of War/little boy Pete Hegseth will be testifying before Congress this week — starting with a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee today. And if you ask him, everything in Iran and everything else is going just fine! Great, even! But Colorado Democratic Rep. Jason Crow serves on the committee – and he has a lot of questions for Hegseth. We asked him to give me a preview ahead of today’s hearing. And in headlines, gas prices are still on the rise, King Charles speaks to Congress, and a beach day turns into a federal indictment for former FBI Director James Comey Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff were supposed to fly to Islamabad, Pakistan, this week to negotiate an end to the Iran war. Yet once again, the Trump administration couldn't follow through on its promises. But let's back up. Why is Ivanka Trump's husband involved in these talks in the first place? To find out, we spoke with Judd Legum. He's the author of Popular Information, an independent newsletter dedicated to accountability journalism. And in headlines, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump is charged, Republicans continue to push for Trump’s $400 million ballroom, and King Charles flies to D.C. for a tea and beehive tour. Show Notes: https://popular.info/202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyhttps://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/crooked.com/whataday