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by What A Day
If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right?
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- Yesterday24 min
Trump's Lonely War
Today marked the start of two days of services for the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, with President Donald Trump joining foreign leaders at Washington National Cathedral for the funeral. Graham was arguably one of the biggest supporters of the Iran war. But now, he's gone – and the war he helped start is becoming increasingly unpopular. The Economist reported earlier this month that the war in Iran is America's least popular conflict since public poll tracking began. And thanks to a virtual Pentagon blackout on information, there's a lot we don't even know about this war in the first place. So, to talk more about the Iran war, we spoke with Tom Bowman. He's the Pentagon correspondent for NPR.And in headlines, wildfires across France and Spain have driven roughly 330,000 people from their homes and vacation sites; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent Kentucky Republican Senator McConnell a letter demanding that he prove that he can do his job; and a conservative activist group released audio tapes that appear to show former President Joe Biden sharing classified information with a biographer.Show Notes: Check out Tom's work – npr.org/people/5457129/tom-bowman Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
- 2 days ago23 min
Can Senate Republicans Pass Trump's Agenda?
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is trying to get a bunch done ahead of the Senate’s long summer break, from sanctions legislation on Russia to funding the government. But none of that seems to matter to President Trump. He’s focused on the SAVE America Act – a sweeping piece of federal legislation that would dramatically change how Americans vote (and most likely, who gets to vote in the first place). Now, a group of far-right Senators – like Utah Sen. Mike Lee – are demanding Thune cancel vacation and put the SAVE America Act on the floor. So who is in charge in the Senate – John Thune, or Donald Trump? To find out, we spoke to Burgess Everett. He’s the congressional bureau chief at Semafor.And in headlines, Trump defended his sweeping tariffs during a speech at a General Motors facility in Michigan; a New York Times report revealed that the Trump Administration canceled major grants for clean-energy projects based entirely on politics; and President Trump finally got to perform his stand-up routine at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.Show Notes: Check out Burgess' work – semafor.com/author/burgess-everett Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
- 5 days ago21 min
The Terrible Tates
Andrew and Tristan Tate are facing extradition to the United Kingdom after their arrest in Miami last weekend. The brothers are facing 59 counts between them in the UK, including rape, sex trafficking, and more. And now, President Trump’s inner circle — including the White House — is backing away from the Tates. For more, we spoke to Madeline Peltz. She’s an independent journalist covering the right-wing media and author of the Substack, Number Two Pencil.And in headlines, the U.S. is facing its worst year for measles in decades, the DOJ withdraws its subpoenas of three New York Times reporters, and the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner 2.0 takes place tonight.Show Notes: Check out Madeline's work – substack.com/@numbertwopencil/posts Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
- 6 days ago19 min
The Parasite Causing Explosive Diarrhea
By now, you've probably heard more than you ever wanted about cyclospora, a parasite that spreads via infected water and food and causes explosive diarrhea. This has been a very bad year for cyclosporiasis. According to the New York Times, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention typically report an average of 2,800 cases of the illness in the U.S. every year. But this year, the CDC reports more than 11,000 cases across 41 states. So, for more on our summer of cyclosporiasis and why you should maybe skip the bagged lettuce, we spoke to Julie Rovner. She's the Chief Washington correspondent and host of the "What the Health?" podcast at KFF Health News.And in headlines, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, Ukrainian drones are targeting Russia's largest online marketplace, and the FDA reviews seven peptide injections the agency banned three years ago over safety concerns.Show Notes: Check out What The Health? – kffhealthnews.org/podcast-series/what-the-health/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
- 1 weeks ago19 min
Trump Opens Utah For Mining
Last week, President Trump dramatically reduced the size of two national monuments that aren't only beloved by everyday Utahns but contain priceless archeological treasures. But Utah is fighting back – against Trump, and against the Republican legislators letting private industries and a Shark Tank host run roughshod over what most people in the state actually want. To learn more, we spoke to Caroline Gleich. She’s an environmental activist and a professional ski mountaineer based in Park City.And in headlines, the Trump Administration announces a deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide the country with a civilian nuclear program, Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs overwhelmingly wins the GOP nomination for Arizona governor, and the power of the US passport has reportedly declined over the past 20 years.Show Notes: Check out Caroline's work – carolinegleich.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
- 1 weeks ago20 min
A Woman Could Be South Carolina's Next Senator
Lindsey Graham died a little over a week ago – and last Tuesday, his younger sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in to fill his seat. Given that she has absolutely no experience in politics, pretty much everyone thought that Darline Graham was just going to be filling in her late brother's seat until his term ended. But on Friday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he wants her to run to be the new Republican nominee in August's special primary election — and on Monday, she generously agreed. But many other Republicans have jumped into the race anyway… and whoever wins the nomination will be facing our guest today: Dr. Annie Andrews. She's a pediatrician who has focused her campaign not on Donald Trump, but on the health of everyday South Carolinians.And in headlines: Trump imposes new 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, Arizona goes to the polls, and the New York Times reports that Trump denied nearly 6,000 clemency petitions from people who followed the Justice Department's stated policies for requesting pardons.Show Notes: Check out Dr. Annie Andrews – https://drannieandrews.com/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
- 1 weeks ago23 min
Iran: Trump's Forever War?
Over the weekend, the Pentagon announced that three US service members were killed as fighting intensified between the US and Iran. That brings the current death toll for US military personnel engaged in the war to 17. And with news from the New York Times that the Pentagon has been hesitant to share more information about further casualties. It's clear that the Iran war is far from ending, and may even be spiraling out of control. So to talk more about Trump's war of choice, we spoke with Mehdi Hasan. He's the editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo.And in headlines, US senators are pushing for more details about ICE's vetting practices for new agents, Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, is almost certain to become the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, and President Trump tries to steal the spotlight from Spain after the FIFA World Cup final.Show Notes: Check out Zeteo Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
- 1 weeks ago24 min
Amending The Constitution For The 21st Century With Heather Cox Richardson
President Donald Trump is obsessed with the past. Last night, Trump gave a primetime address about his favorite subject: the 2020 election, which he did not win. But as we have just celebrated America’s 250th birthday, many of us are thinking a lot about the past – and what our history has to do with the future of our country. Heather Cox Richardson is a history professor at Boston College and the author of the Substack “Letters from an American.” We talked about America’s past, what historical moments remind her most of right now, and why – despite everything – she’s hopeful about the future.And in headlines, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin gives a White House briefing doubling down on Trump’s election claims, the US expands its attacks in what feels like the never-ending war against Iran, and federal officials have identified a source of the outbreak of the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.Show Notes: Check out Heather's work – heathercoxrichardson.substack.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
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About What A Day
If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right?
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