President Donald Trump made big gains with Latino voters across the country last fall. But two key governors' races on Tuesday could tell us whether that rightward shift will actually stick. We hear from voices across New Jersey about whether major issues like immigration enforcement are impacting their vote. Guests: Kennith Gonzalez, New Jersey Republican State Committee & Hector Lora, Passaic Mayor --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: A...
Nov 02, 2025•22 min
Nearly 42 million Americans could lose critical food assistance this week because of the ongoing government shutdown. But it’s far from the only real-world impact people are starting to feel. So why are both sides of the aisle still refusing to budge? We hear what it might take to end the stalemate and why one SNAP recipient feels like a political pawn as she tries to put food on the table for her family. Guest: Aaron Blake, CNN Senior Reporter --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunn...
Oct 29, 2025•21 min
Since the pandemic, the US economy has been resilient – but a weakening labor market and stubborn inflation have some experts concerned. We hear from two job seekers about their struggles and look at whether certain ‘recession indicators’ are actually worth worrying about. Guests: Elie Bryan, Amy Suman, & Diane Swonk, KPMG Chief Economist --- Host/Producer: David Rind Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Alicia Wallace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...
Oct 26, 2025•22 min
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video of himself wearing a crown and flying a fighter jet dumping what appears to be waste on peaceful protestors. While experts say this kind of online trolling is not out of the norm for some politicians in 2025, the continued coarsening of political dialogue could have profound consequences for all Americans. Guests: Steve Heimler & Nicole Hemmer, Associate Professor of History, Vanderbilt University --- Host: David Rind Prod...
Oct 22, 2025•19 min
President Donald Trump publicly admitted he has authorized he authorized the CIA to operate inside Venezuela to crack down on flows of illegal drugs and migrants to the US. It comes as Trump continues to authorize deadly strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean. But is this really about drugs – or regime change? Guests: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent & Steven Dudley, co-director, InSight Crime --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Ed...
Oct 19, 2025•20 min
President Donald Trump hailed the “historic dawn of a new Middle East” after Hamas freed all living hostages from Gaza and Israel released Palestinian prisoners as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal. But while many have commended his peace efforts, critics say it’s unlikely he will take the same approach with his domestic moves. We break down what might be coming next and whether he has a chance at winning the Nobel Peace Prize next year. Guest: Stephen Collinson, CNN Politics Senior Reporter ...
Oct 15, 2025•20 min
As the appetite for artificial intelligence rises, so does the need for power-hungry data centers. While residents who live near them complain of the noise and pollution, data suggests they could spike utility bills far and wide. We hear from an electricity law expert on why regulators are thinking of reforms – but will it be too late? Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Ari Peksoe, Director, Harvard Law School Electricity Law Initiative --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felici...
Oct 12, 2025•20 min
President Donald Trump’s move to deploy National Guard troops to Portland and Chicago has been met with outrage from locals and pushback from judges. We hear what’s really happening on the ground in Chicago and why community leaders say the ingredients for dangerous escalation are already in place. Guests: Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf, Senior Minister, Lake Street Church of Evanston & Omar Jimenez, CNN Anchor & Correspondent --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patink...
Oct 08, 2025•21 min
The announcement that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February has angered some right-wing voices due to his LGTBQ advocacy and criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. It comes amid another SNL appearance and an upcoming world tour that will skip the continental US. We explore why he is so beloved in Puerto Rico and how the NFL is banking on his star power as it looks to grow. Guest: Vanessa Diaz, Professor of Chicana/o...
Oct 05, 2025•21 min
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth summoned US generals and admirals from around the world for an extraordinary meeting in Virginia on Tuesday, where he railed against ‘woke’ policies and stressed the need for stricter physical fitness standards. But what kind of ‘warriors’ does he actually want in uniform? Guest: Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, US Army (Ret.) --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Oct 01, 2025•19 min
The Trump administration’s surprise announcement that it will boost H-1B visa application fees to $100,000 has caused widespread fear and confusion among foreign workers. The proposed changes are also sparking concerns for American businesses that won’t be able to foot the bill. Is American innovation at risk? Guest: Aizada Marat, Alma CEO --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Sep 28, 2025•20 min
Major medical groups are speaking out against claims made by President Donald Trump linking Tylenol use to autism. So where should pregnant people and parents of autistic children turn for guidance? We hear why a search for answers could lead vulnerable parents to blame themselves. Guests: Meg Tirrell, CNN Medical Correspondent & Shannon Rosa, senior editor of Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad ch...
Sep 24, 2025•25 min
Disney’s decision to yank ABC host Jimmy Kimmel off the air following FCC pressure has outraged fans, performers and Democratic politicians. Will other prominent anti-Trump voices be next? We hear from someone who used to be in charge of the FCC who says the regulator is going overboard. Guest: Tom Wheeler, former FCC Chairman --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Sep 21, 2025•23 min
In the days since the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel has been scrutinized for a series of missteps some believe hindered the investigation. However, experts say a series of other shakeups at the agency could have an even greater impact on US law enforcement going forward. Will President Trump stick with him? Guest: Evan Perez, CNN Senior Justice Correspondent --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad ch...
Sep 17, 2025•20 min
The apparent assassination of Charlie Kirk has both sides of the aisle calling on Americans to ‘lower the temperature’ of political rhetoric. But we’ve been here before – is there actually any chance that happens? We hear why Kirk was so effective in motivating young conservatives and look at what could happen next. Guest: Alex Stone & Lilliana Mason, SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins Professor of Political Science --- Host: David Rind Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Donie...
Sep 14, 2025•20 min
A massive immigration enforcement operation at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in Georgia is being described as one of the most extensive immigration raids in recent US history. But the incident has ensnared South Korea, a key US ally, which is learning a lesson that doing business with the Trump administration is much more complicated than expanding investment. Guests: Charles Kuck, founding partner at Kuck Baxter Immigration & Allison Morrow, CNN Business Senior Writer --- Host: David Rind S...
Sep 10, 2025•21 min
As President Donald Trump threatens to send National Guard troops into other cities to fight crime, troops from at least six GOP-led states continue to patrol Washington, DC. We hear why the unorthodox mission is weighing on some guard members and their families back home. Guest: Isabelle Khurshudyan, CNN Senior Enterprise Reporter/Writer --- Host: David Rind Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Sep 07, 2025•18 min
What’s next for the CDC after its director was fired? Have politics fully infiltrated public health? And where should Americans turn for reliable health guidance? We turn to someone who used to run the agency for answers. Guest: Dr. Richard Besser, former acting CDC director Have something you think we should know? Call us at 202-240-2895. --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Editorial Support: Jamie Gumbrecht Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...
Sep 03, 2025•21 min
20 years after the levees broke, New Orleans continues to feel the impacts from Hurricane Katrina. We hear from three generations of Katrina survivors about how music has helped the city recover and move forward. Guests: Michael White, Keith Frazier, Jaron “Bear” Williams --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Aug 31, 2025•22 min
President Donald Trump continues to insist that his aggressive tariff policies will not raise prices for consumers. But little by little, customers are starting to see the opposite. We hear about the phenomenon called ‘sneakflation’ (and why it may not actually be so sneaky) and how Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook could impact the entire economy. Guest: Justin Wolfers, University of Michigan Professor of Public Policy and Economics --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola ...
Aug 27, 2025•21 min
Critics say President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Smithsonian museum system amount to an attempt to whitewash American history. A historian tells us why the administration's claims about ‘overemphasizing’ slavery do a disservice to all Americans. Guest: Leah Wright Rigueur, political historian & associate professor, Johns Hopkins University --- Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Support: Piper Hudspeth Blackburn Learn more about ...
Aug 24, 2025•21 min
Recent incidents involving aggressive ICE tactics have outraged critics of President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda. We hear from a former ICE official about whether its reputation as a lawless agency is warranted – and what it could mean for future recruiting efforts. Guest: John Sandweg, former acting ICE director Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895. Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil Showrunner: Fel...
Aug 20, 2025•21 min
As President Donald Trump’s takeover of Washington, DC law enforcement continues, some critics are questioning just how much safer it will make the streets – and whether the tactics will soon be replicated in other cities. We hear from an expert who believes there may be other motivations behind Trump’s unprecedented actions in the capital. Guest: Trevor Gardner, Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us a...
Aug 17, 2025•20 min
President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska for a high-stakes meeting about the war in Ukraine. But will the country Russia invaded have any say into how it ends? A Russia expert explains how Putin’s time in the KGB has prepared him for this moment and why he will likely consider the meeting a success before it even begins. Guest: Jill Dougherty, former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? C...
Aug 13, 2025•20 min
As schools start to reopen across the country, new CDC data shows that a record share of US kindergartners missed required vaccinations last school year. It comes as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to downplay vaccine efficacy and slash funding for research and development. We hear from a county health administrator in Texas who is concerned an ongoing measles outbreak could soon arrive on his doorstep. Guest: Dr. Philip Huang, Dallas County Health & Human...
Aug 10, 2025•19 min
President Donald Trump’s firing of the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics has some economic experts on edge just as new tariffs are about to take effect. We examine how Trump’s attempts to control official narratives are out of an authoritarian playbook and look at its potential impact on all Americans. Guest: Phil Mattingly, CNN Chief Domestic Correspondent & Anchor Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895. Host: David Rind ...
Aug 06, 2025•20 min
Climate scientists are sounding the alarm after the Trump administration proposed to repeal a landmark finding that human-caused climate change endangers human health and safety, which has been the basis for several federal rules limiting greenhouse gas pollution. We hear from a former EPA administrator who is worried the move could end up empowering bad actors in the business world. Guest: Christine Todd Whitman, former EPA administrator Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we...
Aug 03, 2025•21 min
Israel has taken some steps to relax restrictions on aid into Gaza in recent days amid a steady stream of horrific images of starving and emaciated Palestinians emerging from the besieged enclave. We hear from the leader of one aid group who believes much more needs to be done – and why only one man can help make it happen. Guest: Arwa Damon, president/founder of International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance (INARA) Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? C...
Jul 30, 2025•22 min
Former Texas governor and US Energy Secretary Rick Perry is not someone you’d think would be advocating for controversial psychedelic therapies to treat mental illness and PTSD. Yet he is one of a growing number of prominent Republican voices stepping forward to push for more research. In part two of our series, we trace why the politics of psychedelics have shifted over the decades, and whether HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will hurt or help the cause. Guest: Jane C. Hu, science journalis...
Jul 27, 2025•21 min
While President Donald Trump seems eager to move on from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the loudest MAGA voices don’t seem to be. But will the backlash actually hurt Trump’s presidency? We dig into just how much anger there actually is amongst Republicans and why there is a growing bipartisan push for transparency in Congress. Guest: Aaron Blake, CNN Senior Reporter Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895. Learn more about your ad ...
Jul 23, 2025•22 min
