In this sample from the CAFE Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the news that the Department of Justice has reportedly decided against bringing sex-trafficking charges against Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss: – Developments from the January 6 and classified documents special counsel investigations, including former Vice President Mike Pence’s invocation of the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause to avoid testifying, and the...
Feb 21, 2023•14 min
Preet speaks with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island about a bill he has introduced that would force the Supreme Court to adopt a code of ethics. Plus, what does the Senator think of the Supreme Court’s “investigation” into the Dobbs leak. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please write to us with your thoughts and questions at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 669-247-7338. For analysis of recent legal news, try the CAFE Insider membershi...
Feb 20, 2023•21 min
What’s going on with the UFOs? Preet speaks with Michael Morell, the former Deputy Director of the CIA and one of the nation’s foremost experts on spying. Morell, a national security analyst at CBS News and the host of the Intelligence Matters podcast, assesses what the Pentagon knows about the UFOs shot down over North America, and whether we’re in a new Cold War with China. Plus, a new ruling in Georgia’s 2020 election case, a resolution to expel George Santos from Congress, and Preet settles ...
Feb 16, 2023•1 hr 13 min
In this sample from the CAFE Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the subpoena issued to former Vice President Mike Pence by special counsel Jack Smith as part of the investigation into January 6th. They also break down the forthcoming legal battle over securing Pence’s compliance with the subpoena. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss: – The ruling by a Georgia judge to keep under seal most of the final report prepared by the Fulton County special purpose grand jury, w...
Feb 14, 2023•11 min
Preet speaks with Leigh Ann Caldwell, a political reporter at the Washington Post , about the future of the Senate’s “blue slip” policy, which gives United States Senators the power to veto the nomination of certain federal judges and prosecutors in their home states. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please write to us with your thoughts and questions at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 669-247-7338. References & Supplemental Materials: Lei...
Feb 13, 2023•21 min
David Remnick, the longtime editor of the New Yorker, has written a new profile of the novelist Salman Rushdie. In 1989, Iran’s Supreme Leader declared Rushdie’s book, “The Satanic Verses,” blasphemous and issued a “fatwa” calling for his assassination. Last August, Rushdie was attacked — and nearly killed — on stage at a conference in New York State. Preet speaks with Remnick about how Rushdie has responded to the threats on his life, the price he’s paid for his art, and the importance of free ...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 10 min
In this sample from the CAFE Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the involuntary manslaughter charges brought against actor Alec Baldwin for allegedly shooting and killing a cinematographer on the set of the movie Rust in 2021. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss: – The FBI’s search of President Joe Biden’s Delaware beach house which yielded no additional classified documents; – The expected FBI search of former Vice President Mike Pence’s Indiana home; and – Fulton C...
Feb 07, 2023•11 min
President Biden has a new chief of staff: Jeff Zients. Zients replaces Biden's longtime aide Ron Klain. Preet discusses the transition with Chris Whipple, the author of The Gatekeepers: How The White House Chiefs Of Staff Define Every Presidency. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please write to us with your thoughts and questions at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 669-247-7338. For analysis of recent legal news, try the CAFE Insider membership...
Feb 06, 2023•23 min
Elie Honig is a former federal and state prosecutor. He’s currently a CNN senior legal analyst and a contributor and host of Up Against The Mob at CAFE. He joins Preet to discuss his new book “Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away with It.” It documents the similarities between top mafia bosses and Donald Trump, how intimidation is used in and out of the courtroom, how prosecutors choose which cases to pursue, and more. Plus, the FBI searches Biden’s vacation home again, Rep. George Santos f...
Feb 02, 2023•1 hr 13 min
In this sample from the CAFE Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the fatal Memphis police beating of Tyre Nichols captured on videos, and the resulting indictments of the officers involved in the horrific killing. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss: – The reports indicating that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is starting to present evidence to a grand jury relating to former President Donald Trump’s alleged involvement in a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels; and – The n...
Jan 31, 2023•16 min
What is the debt ceiling? And how concerned should we be about the national debt? Preet speaks with Justin Wolfers, a professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please write to us with your thoughts and questions at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 669-247-7338. References & Supplemental Materials: Justin Wolfers’ biography Justin’s podcast, Think Like An Economist “The U.S. Hit ...
Jan 30, 2023•30 min
Longtime New York Times columnist Frank Bruni joins Preet to discuss a few of his favorite topics: food, politics, language, and culture. Bruni also talks about several of the recent changes in his life, including an unusual medical ailment that inspired him to write a book, and his recent appointment as a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke University. Plus, a hearing to unseal the Fulton County’s Trump investigation grand jury report, classified documents at Mike Pence’s house, a...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 9 min
In this sample from the CAFE Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the decision by a New Mexico District Attorney to seek involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin for allegedly shooting and killing a cinematographer on the set of the movie Rust in 2021. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss: – The search conducted by FBI investigators of President Joe Biden’s home in Wilmington, Delaware, which led to the discovery of additional documents with classifie...
Jan 24, 2023•17 min
Preet speaks with John Carlin, a top DOJ official in both the Obama and Biden administrations, about the threat of Chinese “overseas police stations” allegedly targeting Chinese nationals living abroad. The FBI reportedly recently searched an unlisted Manhattan office being used by Chinese officials to collect information. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please write to us with your thoughts and questions at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 66...
Jan 23, 2023•20 min
Preet speaks with Tim Heaphy, a former U.S. Attorney who served as Chief Investigative Counsel for the House January 6th Committee. Heaphy shares insights into the Committee’s process interviewing witnesses, its strategy behind the hearings, and its relationship with DOJ investigators. Plus, a special counsel has been appointed in the Biden classified documents case. And will we ever know who leaked Justice Alito’s draft opinion in the Dobbs decision? Don’t miss the Insider bonus, where Heaphy d...
Jan 19, 2023•1 hr 15 min
In this sample from the CAFE Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the appointment of former U.S. Attorney Robert Hur as special counsel to investigate the classified documents that were found at President Joe Biden’s home and former office. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss: – The differences and similarities between the respective classified documents investigations into President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump; and – The partially-unsealed transcript f...
Jan 17, 2023•14 min
Preet speaks with Dr. Andra Gillespie, a professor of political science at Emory University, about the political philosophy and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please write to us with your thoughts and questions at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 669-247-7338. References & Supplemental Materials: Letter from Birmingham Jail History of Dr. King & the FBI, Stanford The King Center Clayborne Carson’s ...
Jan 16, 2023•24 min
Ruth Marcus, associate editor and columnist for The Washington Post, has been covering national politics, Washington, and the Supreme Court since she began her career in journalism in the ‘80s. Preet and Ruth discuss the quality of writing at the Supreme Court, the theory of originalism, and the fate of Kevin McCarthy. Plus, how can DOJ protect itself from meddling by the new GOP Congress? And what is the likelihood that those prosecuted for January 6th will be pardoned by the next Republican pr...
Jan 12, 2023•1 hr 11 min
On the CAFE Insider docket this week: – The CBS News report that classified documents were found at a D.C. office that Joe Biden used before becoming President, and the ongoing federal investigation into the matter; – The conclusion of a Georgia special grand jury’s investigation into former President Donald Trump and his allies, and their efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state; – The decision by the North Carolina Attorney General to close a voter fraud investigation ...
Jan 10, 2023•4 min
Preet speaks with Mark Leibovich, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the book “Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times”. They discuss the on-field collapse due to cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin, and the NFL’s handling of the situation. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please let us know what you think! Email us at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 669-247-7338. References and Supplemental Materials: Leibovich book , “B...
Jan 09, 2023•24 min
Ian Bremmer, founder and president of Eurasia Group, has long been considered among the most trusted voices on global affairs in the 21st century. Preet and Bremmer discuss Eurasia Group’s annual “Top Risks'' report that sizes up the most urgent geopolitical challenges facing the world in the upcoming year. So, what are we up against in 2023? You’ll have to listen! Plus, some key takeaways from Trump’s tax returns, George Santos’ lies, and what exactly does the number 42 have to do with the mean...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 9 min
On the CAFE Insider docket this week: – The January 6 Committee’s newly released final report, which focuses on former President Donald Trump’s culpability for the attack at the Capitol; – The Committee’s newly released transcripts of interviews with key witnesses, including Cassidy Hutchinson, John Eastman, and Mick Mulvaney; and – The Supreme Court’s ruling to leave in place Title 42, a public health rule that Trump and Biden used to curb immigration during the height of the Covid pandemic, wh...
Jan 03, 2023•3 min
A war in Ukraine. The end of Roe. Deadly mass shootings. A historic SCOTUS confirmation . Landmark climate legislation. International protests for women’s rights. As 2022 comes to a close, Preet looks back at the year’s news through conversations on Stay Tuned , In Brief , and CAFE Insider . All of us at CAFE wish you a Happy New Year. Thank you for supporting and engaging with our work. We’ll be back in 2023 with more analysis of news at the intersection of law and politics. The news doesn’t st...
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Min Jin Lee, the celebrated author and National Book Award finalist, joined Preet in May for a conversation about Asian American identity and the immigrant experience. They spoke about the political value of “Asian American” as a category, the problem with the debate over affirmative action, and her famously rigorous research process. The conversation resonated with many of our listeners, and with the holidays approaching, we're re-airing it in full. (The episode originally aired on May 26th.) F...
Dec 22, 2022•57 min
On the CAFE Insider docket this week: – The January 6 Committee referred Donald Trump and a number of his allies to the Department of Justice for prosecution; – The Committee also released an executive summary of the upcoming report; and – A District of Columbia Bar panel determined that Rudy Giuliani violated attorney rules with his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Stay informed. For analysis of the most important legal and political issues of our time, become a member of C...
Dec 20, 2022•2 min
Preet speaks with Rebecca Heilweil, a tech reporter at Recode by Vox, about the new artificial intelligence model ChatGPT. What will be the implications of conversational AI for students, professionals, and the future of writing and researching? Stay Tuned in Brief i s presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please let us know what you think! Email us at letters@cafe.com, or leave a voicemail at 669-247-7338. References & Supplemental Materials: Rebecca Heilweil, “AI is finally ...
Dec 19, 2022•22 min
Preet speaks with Adam Liptak, the Supreme Court correspondent at the New York Times, about the direction of the Court, several of its high-profile cases, and the craft of legal journalism. Plus, the January 6th Committee considers making criminal referrals to DOJ. Don’t miss the Insider bonus, where Liptak discusses the legal philosophy — and legacy — of Chief Justice John Roberts. To listen, try the membership for just $1 for one month: cafe.com/insider . For show notes and a transcript of the...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 5 min
On the CAFE Insider docket this week: – The reported rejection by a federal judge of DOJ’s request to hold Trump’s legal team in contempt; – The conviction of the Trump Organization on charges of conducting a yearslong tax fraud scheme; – The January 6 Committee’s apparent plans to make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice; and – The Supreme Court oral arguments in Moore v. Harper , a case that could determine whether state courts have the power to review election rules passed by stat...
Dec 13, 2022•4 min
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to rule on the constitutionality of President Biden’s student debt relief program, Preet speaks with Blake Zeff, a journalist and former political staffer who has made a film about the student debt crisis. Zeff’s film, “Loan Wolves,” traces the origins of the crisis to a little-known provision in a 1998 law. Stay Tuned in Brief is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Please let us know what you think! Email us at letters@cafe.com, or le...
Dec 12, 2022•22 min
Ezra Klein is a New York Times columnist and host of The Ezra Klein Show podcast. He previously co-founded Vox, and prior to that, was a columnist and editor at the Washington Post. He joins Preet to discuss the state of news journalism in 2022, the roots and causes of political polarization in the U.S., and what he finds most appealing about being a podcast host. Plus, the Jan 6th Committee’s criminal referrals, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals decision doing away with the Mar-a-Lago special m...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 13 min
