The Washington Post ’s Todd Frankel joins to talk about how Elon Musk and Trump’s claims of rampant fraud and waste at the Social Security Administration are overblown. Meanwhile, new rules on Social Security overpayments go into effect this week, CBS News reports. Erin Mulvaney with the Wall Street Journal explains why Trump is targeting law firms with executive orders. The leaders of NPR and PBS testified on Capitol Hill, as public media comes under attack. CNN’s Brian Stelte...
Mar 27, 2025•14 min
Earlier this month Venezuelans were designated as gang members by the U.S. with little to no due process, deported to El Salvador, and imprisoned. Photojournalist Philip Holsinger with Time , who was on the tarmac when they arrived, describes what he observed. Government officials faced hard questions in a congressional hearing about how a journalist ended up in a private conversation about war plans on a commercial messaging app. The Washington Post has the details. The Trump administrat...
Mar 26, 2025•15 min
Trump officials inadvertently added a journalist to a text thread discussing sensitive military plans, The Atlantic reports. It all took place over a non-government-sanctioned messaging app called Signal. Trump’s border and immigration crackdown is sweeping up unexpected people, including some with valid documents and some for expressing their opinions on the administration. NBC and Politico have details on individuals caught up in the chaos. The White House’s inconsistent mes...
Mar 25, 2025•15 min
Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education could hurt rural and low-income schools. Axios reports that states that voted for Trump might be hit the hardest. Venezuelans were sent from the U.S. to El Salvador after the Trump administration alleged, without sharing evidence, that they belonged to a gang. The Washington Post ’s Silvia Foster-Frau explains how the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 factors in. Canada doesn’t have the same issues as t...
Mar 24, 2025•14 min
Are the checks and balances that define American democracy breaking down? Ankush Khardori, an attorney, former federal prosecutor, and senior writer for Politico , joins to help us take stock of this moment — and where we go from here. Plus, Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education, former high-ranking government officials had their Social Security numbers leaked in the JFK assassination documents, and a woman was elected to lead the International Olympic ...
Mar 21, 2025•15 min
Health officials in Texas say the measles outbreak could take a year to contain. Stat has the details. A father in mourning spoke to The Atlantic about what it was like to lose a child to the disease. Reuters ’ Dawn Chmielewski explains the unusual role the White House is playing in the sale of TikTok. Justin Williams and Sabreena Merchant with The Athletic share what they’ll be watching for during March Madness . Plus, a jury ordered Greenpeace to pay more than $660 million i...
Mar 20, 2025•14 min
Two astronauts returned to Earth yesterday after spending more than nine months in space. Andrea Leinfelder, reporter at the Houston Chronicle , tells us about the journey. The latest from two crises overseas: Hours after Putin agreed in a phone call with Trump to pause attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Russia launched missiles and drones into Ukraine. And Israeli forces have resumed full combat in Gaza, the BBC reports. Florida offers an early window into how the Trump administr...
Mar 19, 2025•14 min
Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement early Tuesday after a wave of military strikes in Gaza killed more than 400 people, Palestinian authorities said. A federal judge pressed Justice Department officials to explain why flights carrying Venezuelan migrants were allowed to land in El Salvador despite a ruling he issued to turn the flights back. ABC News reports that the judge was skeptical of the administration’s argument justifying its action. The Wall Street Journal ’s...
Mar 18, 2025•16 min
The U.S. apprehended and deported valid visa and green-card holders over the past few months. Newsweek reports that among them was a doctor from Brown University’s medical school. Business Insider says the administration’s hardline immigration policy and trade war are scaring away tourists. Trump invoked a wartime law to deport hundreds of migrants allegedly affiliated with a Venezuelan gang over the weekend. NBC News reports that a judge blocked the law’s use, but not before the dep...
Mar 17, 2025•13 min
On today’s show: David Weigel of Semafor joins to talk about the various responses to the Trump administration from Democrats and those forming an early opposition to his moves. Plus, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer changes his position and backs the GOP’s funding bill, Trump’s effort to ban birthright citizenship makes it to the Supreme Court, and Donatella Versace steps down . Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu....
Mar 14, 2025•14 min
In recent weeks, there's been rising consumer backlash against Tesla. The Wall Street Journal ’s Becky Peterson explains how Elon Musk's role in Trump's government is impacting his businesses. The Washington Post ’s Mary Beth Sheridan examines Trump’s relationship with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. A judge says Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil will remain in a Louisiana immigration jail for now. There's been widespread condemnation of his arrest by human rights lawyers and first amendm...
Mar 13, 2025•15 min
On today’s show: Daniel Flatley of Bloomberg News explains Trump’s tariff policies and some of the economic pressures around them. The Guardian examines why the Department of Education is investigating allegations of antisemitism on college campuses. CNN ’s Deidre McPhillips looks at what happened the last time the U.S. faced a significant measles outbreak — and the valuable lessons learned from the public-health response. Plus, the House passed a stopgap funding measure to av...
Mar 12, 2025•15 min
On today’s show: Immigration authorities arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who led demonstrations on campus. NBC News reports on how Trump has promised that it’s the first of many such arrests to come. Amanda Coletta , Canada correspondent for the Washington Post , explains how Trump’s actions have affected politics in the country. Justine Calma, science reporter with The Verge , joins to discuss the impact of cuts at the Nation...
Mar 11, 2025•15 min
On today’s show: House Speaker Mike Johnson introduced a stopgap spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown scheduled for Friday. NBC News reports that Trump is on board but that it’s unclear if Republicans have the votes to pass the bill in either chamber. Sanne Wass, a reporter in Denmark for Bloomberg , joins to discuss how Trump’s comments about taking over Greenland have shaken up the territory’s upcoming elections. The Wall Street Journal ’s Kristina Peter...
Mar 10, 2025•13 min
On today’s show: Aaron Wiener of the Washington Post joins to discuss the confusion among federal workers as some returned to offices with canceled leases . ProPublica ’s Joshua Kaplan explains how an evangelical pastor and House Speaker Mike Johnson came to share a home in Washington, D.C. Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins joins this week’s Apple News In Conversation to talk about a bitter succession drama in the Murdoch family. Plus, Trump backs off certain tariffs, the fir...
Mar 07, 2025•12 min
On today’s show: ProPublica ’s Andy Kroll examines how Trump’s cuts at the IRS could make it harder for the federal government to root out fraud. Dylan Baddour of Inside Climate News joins to explain a case at the Supreme Court pitting Texas against the federal government on nuclear-waste disposal. Leslie Patton, a consumer reporter at Bloomberg News , examines what happened to one company as the backlash to black-plastic kitchen utensils grew. Plus, the Supreme C...
Mar 06, 2025•14 min
On today’s show: President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress last night, for the first time in his second term. In his speech he covered a wide range of topics as Republicans cheered and Democrats staged small protests. NBC News has the key takeaways. Trump has said he wants Palestinians out of Gaza. NPR breaks down a plan proposed by Egypt to keep them there and rebuild. Plus, Republicans are being advised not to hold in-person town-hall events after angry constituents confronte...
Mar 05, 2025•13 min
On today’s show: Trump’s tariffs against Mexico, Canada, and China went into effect Monday night, and China and Canada quickly retaliated. The Washington Post examines what it could all mean for the price of goods, and Bloomberg looks at the possible economic fallout in Mexico. Ann Marimow from the Washington Post joins to discuss an unusual case before the Supreme Court today pitting Mexico against U.S. gun manufacturers. The Wall Street Journal ’s Tarini Parti explains how th...
Mar 04, 2025•15 min
On today’s show: After a contentious meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, European leaders rallied around Ukraine and pledged increased economic and military support. ABC News has the details on the new aid and a proposed framework for a peace deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. Desmond Butler with the Washington Post reports that Elon Musk – whose DOGE team is trying to cut down on government funding — is himself one of the biggest beneficiaries of taxpayer money, having recei...
Mar 03, 2025•16 min
On today’s show: Zelenskyy and Trump will meet in Washington today to discuss a mineral-sharing agreement. The Wall Street Journal ’s Ian Lovett explains the stakes, and the Journal also reports on why it will be difficult to extract those minerals from Ukraine. Mary Steurer with the North Dakota Monitor told us about a trial that started this week involving Greenpeace. Environmentalists have warned that the trial could bankrupt the group and threaten the future of advocacy wo...
Feb 28, 2025•14 min
On today’s show: Aviation-safety reporter Darryl Campbell from The Verge explains why air travel remains safe, despite a recent string of crashes and near misses. NBC News ’s Lawrence Hurley talks about how a “reverse discrimination” case made its way to the Supreme Court and why the justices might rule unanimously on it. Three men who were recently detained by the Trump administration at a high-security military prison in Guantánamo Bay told Washington Post report...
Feb 27, 2025•14 min
On today’s show: Republicans narrowly passed a budget framework in the House, USA Today reports. The Washington Post ’s Jacob Bogage explains what happens next. Greg Ip with the Wall Street Journal unpacks what Trump’s attempting to do about inflation, and how voters are perceiving the issue in the early days of his presidency. Families with trans children are asking where they go from here, following the Trump administration’s actions targeting trans people. The N...
Feb 26, 2025•14 min
On today’s show: NBC reports on how Republicans in districts across the country faced furious voters at recent town halls, signaling that the Trump administration’s honeymoon period is waning. Pentagon staffers are concerned that personnel cuts will hurt critical work. The Washington Post ’s Alex Horton has the story. ProPublica ’s Lizzie Presser explains how pregnancy in Texas has become more dangerous as a result of the state’s abortion ban. P...
Feb 25, 2025•14 min
On today’s show: The Hill reports on how Elon Musk’s weekend email asking federal employees to describe their accomplishments led a number of agencies to push back. Soldiers are arriving at the border — but hardly any migrants are crossing. The Washington Post ’s Arelis Hernández reports from the town of Del Rio. The conservative Christian Democratic Union won elections in Germany on Sunday, likely making its leader, Friedrich Merz, the next chancellor. Reuters reports on...
Feb 24, 2025•14 min
On today’s show: Aboard a U.S. deportation flight of mostly Asian migrants to Costa Rica, half were minors, NBC News reports. Meanwhile, hundreds of people deported from the U.S. are being held in a Panama hotel, according to BBC News . Ankush Khardori, a senior writer at Politico Magazine , joins this week’s Apple News In Conversation to examine how Trump is testing the boundaries of executive authority. A Trump Cabinet selection received a rare Republican grilling. The Atlantic has...
Feb 21, 2025•15 min
On today’s show: President Donald Trump denounced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “a dictator without elections” on Wednesday. Reuters reports that major risks loom as Trump upends U.S.-Russia policy. Who can force out New York City’s mayor? Katie Honan from The City joins to discuss this and more questions . Health insurers deny 850 million claims a year. The Wall Street Journal ’s Julie Wernau reports that the few who appeal often win. The Journal also has five ste...
Feb 20, 2025•14 min
On today’s show: The top Social Security official exited after a clash with Elon Musk’s DOGE over data. The Washington Post ’s Jacob Bogage explains what is happening. Are 150-year-old Americans receiving Social Security checks, as Elon Musk said? Poynter examines the claim. Trump proposed eliminating FEMA and putting states in charge of disaster response. Politico reports red states don’t like that idea. Counter-narcotics programs in Mexico are suffering because of the T...
Feb 19, 2025•13 min
On today’s show: A Delta plane crashed at Toronto’s Pearson airport Monday afternoon. All passengers on board were accounted for. NBC News has the latest. Trump voters splinter over his rapid shake-up of Washington. Eliza Collins from the Wall Street Journal examines how some are thinking. European leaders gathered for an emergency meeting after Trump shut them out of Ukraine talks. Reuters explains what happened at that meeting. Plus, a team from Elon Musk’s SpaceX is being br...
Feb 18, 2025•13 min
On today’s show: NBC has what to know about a growing measles outbreak in Texas. Meanwhile, changes to a CDC vaccine panel under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could reshape policy. NPR explains how. The Justice Department is in turmoil after prosecutors who were ordered to drop charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams quit in protest. Reuters reporter Sarah Lynch discusses the resignations. Immigrants drive Nebraska’s economy. NPR reporter Jasmine Garsd describes how Trump&rsquo...
Feb 17, 2025•13 min
On today’s show: Hamas says it will release hostages as scheduled this weekend. But the future of the ceasefire deal is still somewhat uncertain. NPR ’s Kat Lonsdorf explains what’s going on. New reporting details frequent issues in the airspace near Reagan National Airport, where a helicopter collided with a passenger plane last month. The Washington Post ’s Ian Duncan has the story. Luis Rubiales, the former Spanish Football Federation president, is on trial for ...
Feb 14, 2025•12 min
