The CFPB ruling. On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected a conservative-led challenge to the funding structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In a 7-2 ruling, the justices concluded that the CFPB's funding did not violate the Constitution, reversing a lower court decision. Justice Clarence Thomas broke with Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, whom he typically aligns with, to write the majority opinion. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” stor...
May 21, 2024•38 min
The Samuel Alito controversy. On Thursday, The New York Times reported that an American flag was hanging upside-down outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito for several days shortly after former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . In our latest YouTube video, Isaac went to the University of Pennsylvania to witness and report on the protests. 12 h...
May 20, 2024•24 min
Ari is on the road coaching the University of Vermont’s frisbee team in college nationals (Go Ari!). So this week, Isaac is going to do some mini coverage on ten topics that have been on his mind. Buckle up. You can watch our latest video, Isaac's interview with former Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) here . Check the next episode of our new podcast series, The Undecideds . In episode 3, our focus shifts from Donald Trump toward President Joe Biden. Much has been made in the media about his ag...
May 19, 2024•48 min
Biden's China tariffs. On Tuesday, President Biden announced major new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, advanced batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment, covering $18 billion worth of Chinese imports. The largest tariffs are on imports of electric vehicles, quadrupling the proportion of the tax from 25% to 100%. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . You can watch our latest vide...
May 16, 2024•37 min
The latest in Donald Trump’s New York trial. This week, Trump's one-time personal lawyer Michael Cohen testified in the former president’s trial for allegedly falsifying business records, commonly referred to as the "hush money" case. Cohen’s testimony comes a week after adult film star Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels, took the stand to describe her alleged relationship with Trump. Cohen and Daniels are key witnesses for the prosecution, which is claiming that Trump fal...
May 15, 2024•24 min
The bird flu. On Friday, the federal government unveiled a package of financial incentives to dairy farm owners that encourages broader testing of cattle for bird flu (also known as the avian flu or H5N1) and expands security measures to control a potential outbreak of the virus in cows. The package, which totals $98 million, includes up to $28,000 per farm over the next four months. The Department of Agriculture has made the money available to farms where infected cows have been identified. You...
May 14, 2024•25 min
Trump's trial delay in Florida. Judge Aileen Cannon, who is presiding over former President Donald Trump's classified documents case, indefinitely postponed his trial last week. The announcement all but assures the trial — once set to begin this month — will not be completed before election day in November. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . You can watch our latest video, Isaac's interview wit...
May 13, 2024•27 min
On today's Sunday podcast, Isaac shares some arguments about why Israel might be wise to pursue this invasion in Rafah. Then Isaac and Ari talk about lab grown meat, Kristi Noem shooting her dog, a little bit of a wealth tax convo, and and how much Philadelphia sports fans suck. You can watch our latest video, Isaac's interview with former Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) here . Check the next episode of our new podcast series, The Undecideds . In episode 3, our focus shifts from Donald Tr...
May 12, 2024•1 hr 2 min
For episode 3 , our focus shifts from Donald Trump toward President Joe Biden. Much has been made in the media about his age and memory and whether he’s cognitively capable of handling another term. But an unanticipated performance at the State of the Union reignited his base and left many questioning that narrative. And while Donald Trump faces a jury of his peers in court, the court of public opinion continues to weigh in on the effectiveness of Biden’s foreign policies, with an eye to the con...
May 10, 2024•1 hr 5 min
The Rafah invasion. On Monday, Israeli forces began striking targets in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. During the course of the war, over a million Gazan refugees fled to the Rafah region to shelter from Israel's incursion in the north. Several Hamas battalions have also fled south to Rafah and maintained a stronghold there, which Israel says it is aiming to dismantle with its latest push. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a n...
May 09, 2024•29 min
Trump’s pick for vice president. Over the weekend, former President Donald Trump headlined the Republican National Committee’s spring donor retreat in Florida, an event that doubled as a showcase of Trump’s potential running mates . These attendees — dubbed “special guests” — included Republicans like Sen. Marco Rubio (FL), Sen. Tim Scott (SC), Sen. J.D. Vance (OH), Gov. Doug Burgum (ND), Gov. Kristi Noem (SD), Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY) and Rep. Byron Donalds (FL), among others. You can read toda...
May 08, 2024•27 min
A global wealth tax. Late last month, G20 ministers from Brazil, Germany, Spain, and South Africa signed a motion and published an opinion piece in The Guardian calling for a global tax of 2% on the world's 3,000 billionaires. The proposal is to raise roughly €250 billion (or $270 billion) a year to fight against global poverty, and has also been backed by the head of the International Monetary Fund. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s...
May 07, 2024•25 min
Florida’s ban on lab-grown meat. On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill that bans lab-grown meat in the state, describing the bill as an effort to "save our beef" and protect cattle ranchers. The bill, S.B. 1084 , made it unlawful to "manufacture for sale, sell, hold or offer for sale, or distribute cultivated meat." You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . You can watch ou...
May 06, 2024•25 min
Isaac and Ari talk about the ongoing protest on college campuses, the value of the electoral college, and Donald Trump's flip-flop on mail-in voting. Plus, in this week's Airing of Grievances, Ari wants more work and the saga of Isaac's W key on his computer comes to an end. You can watch our latest video, Isaac's interview with former Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) here . Check the next episode of our new podcast series, The Undecideds. In episode 2, our undecided voters primari...
May 05, 2024•1 hr 11 min
Reclassifying marijuana. On Tuesday, Attorney General Merrick Garland submitted a proposal for a White House review to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous controlled substance, moving it from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III . You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . You can watch our latest video, Isaac's interview with former Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) here . Check the next episode of our new podc...
May 02, 2024•34 min
Biden's Title IX changes. Earlier this month, the Biden administration released new Title IX rules designed to protect LGBTQ students and reversed a number of Trump-era policies related to how schools can respond to allegations of sexual assault on college campuses or in K-12 schools. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . You can watch our latest video, Isaac's interview with former Congressman Ken Bu...
May 01, 2024•27 min
The NPR controversy. On April 9, National Public Radio's longtime business editor Uri Berliner published an essay in The Free Press titled "I've Been at NPR for Over 25 Years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust." Berliner detailed his experience at the network, castigating it for a leftward lurch that has left many of its longtime listeners disenchanted and moving on to other news sources. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here ...
Apr 30, 2024•29 min
Trump's immunity case. On Thursday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trump v. United States. During arguments, the court appeared ready to side at least partially with former President Donald Trump's lawyers, who argued he has absolute immunity from criminal charges for acts taken in his official capacity as president. Reminder: The case stems from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump for alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. As part of his defense...
Apr 29, 2024•27 min
Isaac and Ari talk about Isaac’s experience at TED 2024, some advice on how to interact with Ari if you meet him in person, and an introduction to the Tangle Live event at City Winery on April 17th, followed by the recording of the event, in full and uncut. You can watch our latest video, Isaac's interview with former Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) here . We just released the next episode of our new podcast series, The Undecideds. In episode 2, our undecided voters primarily talk about Trump’s...
Apr 28, 2024•2 hr 18 min
A couple of weeks ago, we sent Tangle News YouTube and podcast editor Jon Lall to the home of former Representative Ken Buck (R-CO). Buck, who recently retired from the House of Representatives, was enjoying his first few days of free time since leaving Congress. Long known as one of the most outspoken members of his party, Buck had been making waves in the news for criticizing the state of Congress, referring to his former colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene as "Moscow Marjorie," and bre...
Apr 26, 2024•39 min
The homelessness case before the Supreme Court. During oral arguments on Monday, the Supreme Court seemed divided on City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, a case about local and state restrictions on people camping and sleeping in public places. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . Watch our latest YouTube video, an interview with Edwin Raymond. He is a recently retired NYPD lieutenant, civil-rights activist and a...
Apr 25, 2024•29 min
Campus protests. Over the last week, protests on elite college campuses over Israel’s war in Gaza have boiled over, with hundreds of students arrested or suspended, and clashes between protestors and counter-protestors hitting a fever pitch. You can read today's podcast here , our “Under the Radar” story here and today’s “Have a nice day” story here . Watch our latest YouTube video, an interview with Edwin Raymond. He is a recently retired NYPD lieutenant, civil-rights activist and...
Apr 24, 2024•31 min
FISA reauthorization. On Saturday night, President Biden signed legislation reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the controversial warrantless surveillance program whose renewal had been held up by bipartisan concerns. Minutes after it lapsed at midnight on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a deal to vote on a package of amendments to the House-passed bill to reauthorize the FISA. The Senate approved the reauthorization 60-34....
Apr 23, 2024•29 min
The House foreign aid and TikTok bills. On Saturday, the House of Representatives passed three separate foreign aid bills for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, totaling $95 billion. The House also passed a bill that will ban TikTok from app stores if ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns it, does not sell the app to a U.S. company and also allows the potential transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) helped usher the package across the finish line despite thre...
Apr 22, 2024•30 min
House Speaker Mike Johnson. In a closed-door meeting of Republican legislators on Monday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced a new plan for voting on foreign aid that will split the $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the Senate into four different bills. The House would then vote on the bills funding Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan separately, with a fourth bill addressing other Republican priorities and sources of funding for the aid. The move comes in response to pressure fa...
Apr 21, 2024•25 min
Every now and again, we have so many reader questions in the backlog that we decide to devote a full edition to address them. Today is one of those days. I love reader mailbag editions because they give us a chance to cover a variety of topics in one newsletter. It can also be fun to answer questions that are a little more personal, or a little outside our standard U.S. politics realm (we love those kinds of questions, so don’t be shy !). In today’s edition, we’ll be tackling a wide range of top...
Apr 19, 2024•29 min
In episode 2 , The Undecideds primarily talk about Trump’s legal troubles. How do they feel about his alleged crimes? How would him being convicted - or exonerated - change the way they vote? What about his claims he should have immunity as president? You’ll hear how they consider these major themes of the race, and also what they made of Haley dropping out and Biden’s State of the Union Address. Each episode we’ll focus on a different storyline from the race, and hear how these undecided voters...
Apr 18, 2024•53 min
Donald Trump's trial. On Monday, jury selection began in Manhattan for former President Donald Trump's trial for allegedly falsifying business records, commonly referred to as the "hush money" case. The allegations brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg are that Trump orchestrated a scheme to influence the 2016 election by identifying and purchasing negative information about him and suppressing its publication, then covering his tracks by illegally falsifying busin...
Apr 16, 2024•28 min
Iran's attack on Israel. On Saturday, Iran launched 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles toward Israel. Iran had been promising the attack for two weeks since Israel’s bombing of an Iranian consulate building in Syria that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals. Despite years of Iran's proxies attacking Israel in a wide-reaching shadow war, Iran had never launched a direct attack on Israel until this weekend’s mi...
Apr 15, 2024•32 min
Isaac and Ari talk about Isaac’s recent trip to Bali, Biden’s new student debt forgiveness plan, a pro-Palestine protest at dinner event for UC Berkeley students, and whether Justice Sotomayor should retire. Plus, Ari finally has a grievance that Isaac agrees with. Watch our latest YouTube video, an interview with Edwin Raymond. He is a recently retired NYPD lieutenant, civil-rights activist and author of the riveting new memoir An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America. You ca...
Apr 14, 2024•1 hr 27 min
