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Talking Feds: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Harry Litman
Talking Feds is a roundtable discussion that brings together prominent former government officials, journalists, and special guests for a dynamic and in-depth analysis of the most pressing questions in law and politics.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday33 min
David Frum’s Unified Thesis of Trump’s Failings
The U.S. war with Iran is not—despite promises from the White House—over. Nonetheless, premier national commentator David Frum is ready to declare a loser: Donald Trump. Together Harry and David piece through the interlocking personal failings of the president that foretold a winnable war against a far weaker enemy would become a debacle. And the two tackle how those traits shape Trump’s more successful pursuits: self-enrichment, going around the Constitution, and Mar-a-Lago-ifying the nation’s capital. Mentioned in this episode: David's columns: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-frum/ David's piece "Why Trump Lost": https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/05/why-trump-lost-iran/687291/ David's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDamP-pfOskNgMNI1eg0pajQfRu-q3NUO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 4 days ago1h 0m
Purges, Payoffs, and Paxton
As Trump puts a blue Texas in reach, Harry talks with Jonathan Alter, David A. Graham, and Senator Heidi Heitkamp to discuss the fall’s premier Senate race and the latest outrages from the DOJ. Should Democrats go all out to beat scandal-plagued Ken Paxton? Or does an obsession with Texas distract from other, less flashy pickup chances elsewhere? Can Trump’s “self-deal steal” survive sudden gusts of political and legal headwinds? And why is the DOJ now reportedly targeting E. Jean Carroll, a private citizen?Mentioned in this episode: Jonathan’s Substack: https://oldgoats.substack.com/David’s reporting: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-a-graham/Harry’s latest column: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/not-too-shabbyHarry’s conversation with Congressman Jamie Raskin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7rpqMubPEQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago40 min
Patrick Radden Keefe’s “London Falling” and Death in the Time of Oligarchs
A teenager hurtles from the balcony of a luxury apartment complex into the Thames. That unexplained death animates the newest book from one of America’s great nonfiction writers, Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick joins Harry to unspool the story's web of shady characters, complacent police, and desperate parents. The two delve into the transformation of London into a playground for the extremely and unscrupulously wealthy—like Russian oligarchs—that made the fatal fall possible and draw out the way Trump is overseeing a similar shift in the United States. And Harry digs into Patrick’s approach to writing, including how his law degree informs his precise, almost prosecutorial reporting. Mentioned in this episode: London Falling: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704979/london-falling-by-patrick-radden-keefe/ Patrick's reporting: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/patrick-radden-keefe Patrick's story about Trump, Mark Burnett, and the Apprentice: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/07/how-mark-burnett-resurrected-donald-trump-as-an-icon-of-american-success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 4m
Orange Slush (Special DOJ Episode)
For Talking Feds' latest special episode on the Department of Justice, Harry bears down on the DOJ's sinister creation of $1.8 billion slush fund for Trump's nastiest allies. Expert observers of the Department—Ken Dilanian, Glenn Kirschner, and Mimi Rocah—join Harry to dive into the nefarious details and the avenues for pushing back. The panel then surveys the sorry state of field offices, including a disturbing pattern of grand jury misconduct by DOJ lawyers. The group ends with a look at DOJ's ongoing battles with James and Maurene Comey. Mentioned in this episode: Ken's reporting: https://www.ms.now/author/ken-dilanian-2 Glenn's Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.com/ Glenn's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GlennKirschner2 Mimi's piece about the slush fund: https://www.contrariannews.org/p/doj-facilitates-a-heist Harry's latest column about the slush fund: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/a-metastasizing-scandal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago36 min
How SCOTUS is Slanting the Midterms
Harry talks with Rick Hasen, one of the country’s leading experts in election law and a prophet of Chief Justice John Roberts’s decades-long project to tear down voting rights. Hasen explains why Roberts—after taking a slow and steady approach for so long—is suddenly masterminding an aggressive “two minute offense.” Hasen lays out the damage dealt to American democracy by the decision, the prospects for court reform, and the signals that Roberts knows time is running out for him and the conservative dominance of the Supreme Court. Mentioned in this episode: Professor Hasen’s analysis: https://slate.com/author/richard-l-hasen Professor Hasen’s 2013 New York Times piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/opinion/the-chief-justices-long-game.htmlHarry’s column about the history behind the Callais decision: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/callais-caps-the-roberts-courts-comprehensive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago36 min
Trump's "Systematic" Undermining of the Economy
With gas prices surging and inflation on the rise once more, Harry turns to economist Justin Wolfers to get a handle on what Trump is doing to the U.S. economy. Wolfers explains why the real cost of the war with Iran is vastly higher than the figures quoted so far by the Pentagon, how long exorbitant fuel costs could last, and the deeper, unremarked ways that Trump is challenging the foundations of American prosperity. Mentioned in this episode: Platypus Economics on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@PlatypusEconomics? Platypus Economics on Substack: https://newsletter.platypuseconomics.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago1h 1m
Race to the Bottom (Early Roundtable)
As Republicans falter on their gerrymandering plans and Trump looks for a creative new way to pocket taxpayer dollars, Harry talks with Alisyn Camerota, Adam Klasfeld, and Elliot Williams. The tri-state trio dig into the stark racial politics of the post-Callais south and Republicans' sudden hesitation in their redistricting crusade. Next, the group turns to reports that the DOJ may be planning a swift surrender in Trump’s collusive lawsuit against the IRS. Finally the panel considers whether the president will get his wish and coat D.C. in Trumpian gold leaf.Mentioned in this episode: Alisyn’s new show: https://www.scrippsnews.com/shows/connected-with-alisyn-camerotaAdam’s reporting: https://www.allrisenews.com/Elliot’s book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768052/five-bullets-by-elliot-williams/NYT reporting about Democrats mulling drastic changes to Virginia’s Supreme Court: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/us/politics/democrats-virginia-plans-gerrymandering.htmlHarry’s piece about the Trump IRS case: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/a-judge-calls-out-trumps-self-dealing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago59 min
Redistricting Roulette
After a bombshell redistricting ruling in Virginia shakes the midterms map, Harry talks with three top political minds—David French, Mara Liasson, and Mike Murphy—to try to get a sense of the outlook for November. Will two seismic court verdicts end Democrats’ hopes of retaking the House? Or will a strong anti-Trump tide power them to a win anyway? Can Trump keep Republicans in line, even as his approval rating hits record lows? And is there any rhyme, reason, or endpoint to Trump’s latest skirmishes with Iran? Mentioned in this episode: David’s columns: https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-french Mara’s reporting: https://www.npr.org/people/1930401/mara-liasson Mike’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hacks-on-tap/id1467297559 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About Talking Feds
Talking Feds is a roundtable discussion that brings together prominent former government officials, journalists, and special guests for a dynamic and in-depth analysis of the most pressing questions in law and politics.
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