On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it will freeze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University after the school refused to comply with a list of requirements it said were unlawful. In a joint letter dated April 11 , the General Services Administration, Department of Education (ED) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanded that Harvard adopt its suggested reforms in order to maintain its funding. Among the required ch...
Apr 16, 2025•31 min
On Saturday, U.S. and Iranian officials initiated discussions in Oman over Iran’s nuclear program. The majority of the talks were indirect and mediated by Oman, with each delegation in separate rooms and exchanging messages through Oman's foreign minister. However, at the end of the roughly two-and-a-half-hour session, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reportedly spoke directly for 45 minutes (Iran claimed the e...
Apr 15, 2025•30 min
In the past week, U.S. courts have issued a pair of significant rulings on the deportation actions of the Trump administration. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled without dissent to uphold a federal judge’s order that the government must facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. after he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Separately, on Friday, an immigration judge in Louisiana ruled that the government could deport Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and recent Colu...
Apr 14, 2025•31 min
On today's Sunday podcast, Isaac and Ari talk tariffs (duh), there's so much more to say, whether Americans really want manufacturing to come back? And then a bunch of stories that we really have not gotten a chance to talk about; Proxy voting, Doge updates, Mahmoud Khalil, a Texas ruling from a Trump appointed judge that's pretty interesting. And a question that Isaac thinks we should all be thinking about: When was the last time you heard a story about abortion? They also discuss the latest in...
Apr 13, 2025•34 min
In today's Friday edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul talks with author and political commentator Richard Hanania. They discuss his evolution from being part of the alt-right to becoming a more moderate conservative voice. He reflects on his past writings, the impact of the Trump administration, and the complexities of navigating public perception amidst his changing views. Hanania also delves into the implications of Project 2025 and critiques the current administration's approach to DEI polic...
Apr 11, 2025•30 min
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on the individualized tariffs imposed on U.S. trading partners, with the exception of China. The pause came roughly 13 hours after the tariffs took effect, and the White House said tariff levels would return to 10% on all imports during the pause. Conversely, President Trump raised the tariff on Chinese imports from 104% to 125%, effective immediately, citing “the lack of respect that China has shown to the Wor...
Apr 10, 2025•36 min
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a 5–4 decision in Trump v. J.G.G. , lifting a pair of temporary orders from U.S. District Judge James Boasberg blocking the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify deporting alleged noncitizen gang members. In an unsigned majority opinion, the Supreme Court did not weigh in on President Trump’s application of the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to foreign-born gang members but specified that “the Fif...
Apr 09, 2025•30 min
On Tuesday, April 1, the Trump administration began large-scale layoffs at agencies across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he expected to cut 10,000 jobs in addition to the thousands of workers who have already resigned or been placed on leave. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been among the most impacted by the layoffs, with entire offices and d...
Apr 08, 2025•30 min
President Donald Trump’s decision to implement a baseline 10% tariff on all U.S. trading partners and additional, individualized tariffs on dozens of countries has prompted a range of responses from Republicans, Democrats, heads of state, and business leaders across impacted industries. With the individualized duties set to take effect on April 9, some countries have promised retaliatory countermeasures , while others have reportedly begun attempting to negotiate wi...
Apr 07, 2025•31 min
On today's Sunday podcast, Kmele Foster joins Isaac and Ari to discuss the ramifications of Trump's tariff policies, including what this means for the role of Congress. They discuss the emotion toll of consuming news and the how the media landscape shapes that, the Republican Party's stance on trade, the impact of globalization on American jobs, and what legacy DOGE may leave behind and how it has personally impacted them. Finally, the (understandably) longest Airing of Grievances yet. By the wa...
Apr 06, 2025•2 hr 40 min
In today's Friday edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul makes the case for due process for anyone on American soil — and explaining how the recent deportation stories represent a genuine threat to American citizens. This is a preview of today's special edition that is available in full and ad-free for our premium podcast subscribers. If you'd like to complete this episode and receive Sunday editions, exclusive interviews, bonus content, and more, head over to ReadTangle.com and sign up for a memb...
Apr 04, 2025•11 min
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a 10% across-the-board tariff on all U.S. trading partners, as well as heightened rates on specific countries. The 10% baseline tariff is set to go into effect on April 5, while the individualized duties will begin on April 9. Additionally, a 25% levy on foreign-made automobiles went into effect at midnight on Thursday. In concert with the announcement, President Trump issued an executive order declaring a national emergency ...
Apr 03, 2025•31 min
On Tuesday, voters in Florida elected two new U.S. representatives, while Wisconsin voters selected a new state Supreme Court justice. The races were the first general elections since President Donald Trump took office in January. In Florida, Republican candidates Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine defeated their Democratic opponents, preserving House Republicans’ narrow majority. In Wisconsin, the Democrat-backed Susan Crawford defeated the Republican-backed Brad ...
Apr 02, 2025•29 min
Beginning in February, President Donald Trump issued a series of orders targeting law firms that he claims have engaged in “conduct detrimental to critical American interests.” The firms named in the orders — Covington & Burling, Paul Weiss, Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale — have previously represented clients or hired lawyers that opposed Trump and his administration. Several firms have brought lawsuits to challenge the executive actions, while others have ...
Apr 01, 2025•30 min
On Monday, March 24, The Atlantic published a partial transcript of communications among Trump administration officials as they discussed impending military operations against the Houthis in Yemen over the Signal messaging app. The outlet’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had mistakenly been added to the chat and was privy to sensitive discussions about the details of the attack (including types of aircraft, missiles and launch times, as well as the name of a CIA...
Mar 31, 2025•34 min
A few months ago I made a decision that changed my life and the trajectory of Tangle for good. I was approached by a producer for a new podcast called “Question Everything,” hosted by Brian Reed (who you might know from the hit podcast S-Town). The producer, Zach St. Louis, told me they were doing a series about the state and future of journalism. They wanted to do an episode about Tangle, which I agreed to enthusiastically, and then Zach came down to the Tangle office and interviewed me for a f...
Mar 27, 2025•33 min
If you’ve ever read one of Vox’s famous “Explainer” articles , you’re probably familiar with Christian Paz’s work. His reporting is at the forefront of several animating issues in U.S. politics — immigration, the courts, the cultural impact of the Make America Great Again movement, and more. One recent story of his caught our eye and prompted us to reach out for an interview. The piece — titled “The Democrats’ young man problem is real” — offers a detailed look at the shift away ...
Mar 26, 2025•32 min
I lived in California for four years. In that time, I left San Francisco because of wildfire smoke twice, helped plant trees in burn scars three times, and got a taste of the constant concerns over the pressure of cataclysm that native Californians have gotten used to. I say all that not to establish myself as an expert in California and its issues, just to say that when the Los Angeles wildfires broke out earlier this year, I saw the continuing of a story that had been underway for decades, if ...
Mar 25, 2025•42 min
Today is the beginning of the Tangle team’s “spring break.” As part of fostering work-life balance and also assuring our small team can survive the nonstop stream of news, I give our staff three breaks a year: one during August recess when Congress is out, one between Christmas and New Year’s, and one in March — a “spring break.” Our March break begins today. The team is taking full advantage of it — we’re spread out from Japan to West Texas, taking vacation or recharging at home. However, as ou...
Mar 24, 2025•38 min
In today's episode, Will Kaback and Isaac Saul discuss all the craziness and numerous stories we missed this week. The fact that President Trump is complying with court orders and nobody seems to care. We give some tip of the hats to Grok, Starlink and our dear friend Elon Musk. Then we play a game where Isaac tries to remember things we did a year ago. And last but not least, the Airing of Grievances. This is a preview of today's special edition that is available in full and ad-free for our pre...
Mar 23, 2025•26 min
California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom recently launched a podcast called This is Gavin Newsom. The show is advertised as a way for Newsom to sit down with a wide range of political thinkers, with a special emphasis on MAGA personalities who see politics very differently than Democrats do. So far, it’s living up to its billing. Ad-free podcasts are here! Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we fin...
Mar 21, 2025•11 min
On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) announced they had carried out a series of airstrikes against what they said were Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The strikes targeted mid-level Hamas commanders, senior political officials and Hamas's military infrastructure, according to an Israeli official. The IDF claimed to have killed Essam al-Da'alis, the head of the Hamas government, in the strikes. Then on Wednesday, the IDF ...
Mar 20, 2025•31 min
On Saturday, the United States government transferred hundreds of noncitizens and alleged gang members to a detention facility in El Salvador, despite an order from a federal judge blocking the deportation flights. According to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, the deportees were transferred on three flights and included 238 alleged members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), as well as 23 alleged members of the street gang Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13). Pr...
Mar 19, 2025•31 min
Over the weekend, the United States carried out a series of aerial and naval strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. President Donald Trump said the strikes were retaliation for the Houthis’ attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, adding that the assault would continue until the attacks stopped. At least 53 people, including five children, have been killed by the strikes, according to a Houthi health ministry spokesperson. White Ho...
Mar 18, 2025•27 min
On Saturday, President Donald Trump signed a stopgap bill to fund the government through September and avert a government shutdown. The bill — called a continuing resolution (CR) — was sent to Trump’s desk after the Senate voted 54–46 on Friday to pass it, with two Democrats voting in favor and one Republican voting against. Prior to the final vote, the Senate invoked cloture 62–38. Refresher: The Senate’s cloture rule outlines the procedure of end...
Mar 17, 2025•30 min
In today's episode, Ari and Isaac discuss the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, the implications for free speech, and the legal rights of green card holders. They touch on immigration law and its intersection with free speech rights, political dynamics in Kentucky, the problem with Democrats, and the potential for a government shutdown. They also conduct an interview with River Page from the Free Press. And last but not least, the Airing of Grievances. This is a preview of today's special edition that i...
Mar 16, 2025•27 min
As part of the Tangle ethos, we solicit reader questions about politics and our work every day in our newsletter. And every few months, so many questions pile up on the back end that we decide to answer a bunch of them at once in a members-only reader mailbag. Today is one of those days. We think this is a healthy exercise that not only allows us to critically examine some of our own writing, but also provides readers with more perspectives that help us fulfill our core mission. If y...
Mar 14, 2025•26 min
The budget resolution and potential government shutdown. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through September 30 in a 217–213 vote. The spending package would extend much of current federal funding until the end of the fiscal year, with a $6 billion increase in defense spending and a $13 billion decrease in nondefense spending. The bill passed mostly along party lines, with Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) jo...
Mar 13, 2025•28 min
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump threatened to double his planned tariffs on all Canadian steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%. Trump’s announcement followed Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity the province supplies to 1.5 million American homes and businesses in response to Trump’s tariff threats. However, on Wednesday, Ford announced he would suspend the electricity surcharge after agreeing with U.S. Secretar...
Mar 12, 2025•30 min
On Friday, the Trump administration announced it will cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University in New York City for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students from harassment. Additionally, the administration has directed the Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services to form a Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism and investigate participants in pro-Palestinian protests on campuses last year. On Saturday, Immigration and Cus...
Mar 11, 2025•29 min
