With the debt ceiling deadline now projected for June 1st, House Democrats are taking action in case negotiations fail. The move would allow Democrats to collect signatures to force Congress to consider a “clean” bill to raise the debt limit and avoid a catastrophic default. Members of the Writers Guild of America are officially on strike after negotiations with Hollywood studios failed to reach a new contract. Alex O’Keefe, one of the writers behind the hit FX series “The Bear,” joins us from t...
May 03, 2023•24 min
The Writer’s Guild of America, the union representing thousands of film and TV writers, has called for a strike against Hollywood studios, after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a new contract. It’s the first major work stoppage to hit the entertainment industry since the 100-day strike of 2007-2008. And in headlines: JPMorgan Chase will acquire First Republic Bank, Montana State Representative Zooey Zephyr sued over her removal from the House floor, and pilots with American Airlines h...
May 02, 2023•18 min
For more than two months, Nebraska State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh has filibustered nearly every single bill that has passed through the state legislature. It’s an effort to keep her Republican colleagues from following other red states to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. Sen. Cavanaugh joins us to talk about how she’s managed to hold the floor – and keep fighting. And in headlines: authorities in Texas are searching for a man accused of fatally shooting five of his neighbors, fightin...
May 01, 2023•23 min
Writer E. Jean Carroll, who is suing Donald Trump for allegedly raping her in 1996, faced hours of cross examination Thursday – leading to a heated exchange with Trump’s lawyer, who questioned her memory and actions surrounding the alleged attack. The Biden administration has announced plans to open migrant centers throughout Latin America in an effort to slow down the influx of migrants heading to the U.S. The announcement comes as Title 42, which border officials have used to turn away asylum-...
Apr 28, 2023•20 min
Montana Republicans voted to censure Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the first openly transgender person to be elected to the state’s legislature. The vote comes after Rep. Zephyr last week said supporters of a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for young people would have “blood on their hands.” And in Florida, Disney sued Governor Ron DeSantis for revoking the company’s long-standing control over its Disney World Resort. The suit claims DeSantis engaged in "a targeted campaign of government r...
Apr 27, 2023•21 min
There are growing calls for the Supreme Court to adopt stronger ethics rules. It follows revelations earlier this month that Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose gifts and lavish vacations paid by a major Republican donor, along with a new report from Politico involving a real estate deal between Justice Neil Gorsuch and a law firm that had business before the high court. Jay Willis, editor-in-chief of Balls & Strikes, joins us to discuss what’s being done to address the allegations. And i...
Apr 26, 2023•20 min
In a series of high-profile cable news firings Monday morning, Fox News announced that the network agreed to part ways with top host Tucker Carlson — and just minutes later, news broke that CNN terminated longtime anchor Don Lemon after 17 years with the network. President Biden is expected to announce his 2024 bid for re-election as soon as today. Multiple outlets reported that he tapped White House Senior Adviser Julia Chavez Rodriguez as his campaign manager, signaling that he’s already geari...
Apr 25, 2023•24 min
The Supreme Court issued a decision preserving access to the abortion drug mifepristone, meaning access to the medication will likely remain unchanged at least into next year. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unveiled his plan to raise the debt ceiling last week. The proposal has a long list of demands that take aim at the Biden administration’s agenda — including cutting climate change investments, blocking student loan forgiveness, and adding work requirements for Medicaid and food stamp recipient...
Apr 24, 2023•15 min
The Pentagon is moving American troops to Sudan to prepare for a possible evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in the region. This comes amid a dayslong series of clashes between two warring military factions that has led to hundreds of deaths and injuries. Buzzfeed is shutting down its entire news division after elevating reporting that rivaled many more established, legacy media outlets for over a decade. The company will also cut another 120 people across its teams, laying off about 15% of its work...
Apr 21, 2023•24 min
In the latest in the fight against mifepristone, the Supreme Court has delayed its ruling on the abortion pill until Friday at midnight — extending the continued use of mifepristone for a couple more days. In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court sided with Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed in his years-long effort to get post-conviction DNA evidence to try and prove his innocence. And in headlines: the mother of Tyre Nichols sued the city of Memphis and its police department over the death of her so...
Apr 20, 2023•21 min
The defamation trial brought by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News was called off after both parties agreed to settle for $787.5 million at the last minute. Crooked news contributor Max Fisher joins us to break down what happened and what comes next. And in headlines: The white homeowner who shot 16-year-old Ralph Yarl turned himself in to Missouri authorities, a Russian judge ruled that Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich must remain in pretrial detention, and Nebraska lawmakers...
Apr 19, 2023•24 min
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy proposed a one-year debt ceiling increase on Monday, calling the idea a “responsible, sensible” solution — but it’s unclear if he has the support of his own party to pass the divisive measure. A new report from The Washington Post revealed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas claimed income for two decades from a now-defunct real estate firm. This is the latest in a series of recent reports that call into question the justice's willingness to skirt ethical guid...
Apr 18, 2023•22 min
The defamation lawsuit brought by the election technology company Dominion Voting Systems against Fox News is scheduled to start on Tuesday. Crooked news contributor Max Fisher tells us what’s at stake, and what we can expect over the next few weeks. And in headlines: a shooting in Alabama left at least four people dead and 28 others injured, French President Emmanuel Macron signed into law his controversial plan to raise the country’s retirement age, and lawmakers in Montana approved a statewid...
Apr 17, 2023•20 min
The FBI has arrested 21-year old Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard suspected of leaking classified government documents on Discord early last month. The materials revealed sensitive information about the war in Ukraine, and how the U.S. spies on some of its allies. A federal appeals court partially blocked the decision by a Texas judge to suspend the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, but with tightened restrictions. The Justice Department is now asking the Supreme Cou...
Apr 14, 2023•21 min
In a unanimous vote, county officials sent State Representative Justin Pearson back to his seat in Tennessee’s House of Representatives. His reinstatement comes less than a week after he and another Black Democratic colleague were expelled for leading a protest on gun reform. And in headlines: California Senator Dianne Feinstein will temporarily give up her seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Donald Trump is suing his former lawyer Michael Cohen, and NPR has decided to ditch Twitter after th...
Apr 13, 2023•18 min
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a lawsuit against Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, accusing him of a “brazen and unconstitutional attack” on the criminal prosecution and investigation of former President Donald Trump, and organizing a “transparent campaign to intimidate and attack” the D.A. The Biden Administration has laid out two tough options it may take to solve the Colorado River water crisis, though both would lead to dramatic water cuts to states like California, Nevada, and ...
Apr 12, 2023•20 min
The Justice Department has appealed a Texas judge's decision that suspends the FDA's nationwide approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Meanwhile, a separate ruling in Washington state would bar the agency from taking the medication off the market in at least 17 states. The Pentagon has launched an investigation after highly classified military documents were leaked online in recent weeks. The materials show sensitive information about the war effort in Ukraine, as well as how the U.S. is sp...
Apr 11, 2023•19 min
Tennessee House Republicans voted to expel two of three Democratic lawmakers for "disorderly behavior," after leading a demonstration inside the state Capitol against gun violence. It marks the first time in state history that any House member has been removed for violating the chamber's rules on decorum. In a bombshell report, the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica found that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been treated to lavish gifts and vacations by a GOP mega donor for years. The ...
Apr 07, 2023•23 min
Judge Janet Protasiewicz won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, giving liberals control of the state’s highest court for the first time in 15 years. Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, joins us to discuss the impact it will have on the battleground state. And in headlines: former Vice President Mike Pence won't appeal a ruling ordering him to testify in the DOJ's January 6th probe, a judge said Rupert Murdoch can be forced to take the stand in the Fox News defamation tria...
Apr 06, 2023•21 min
Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Leah Litman, co-host of Crooked’s Strict Scrutiny podcast, breaks down all the charges and where the case goes from here. And in headlines: Janet Protasiewicz won the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee moved to expel three Democrats for leading a demonstration for gun control, and Rupert Murdoch ...
Apr 05, 2023•21 min
Former President Donald Trump will make his first court appearance in Manhattan today, to answer to criminal charges handed down by a grand jury on Thursday. He’s expected to face dozens of charges related to hush money he paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Starbucks is facing more scrutiny, after former CEO Howard Schultz was grilled by Senate lawmakers last week over the company’s labor practices and allegations of union-busting. Michelle Eisen, who helped form the chain’s first-ever barg...
Apr 04, 2023•23 min
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York grand jury, making him the first U.S. president to face criminal charges. Harry Litman, senior legal affairs columnist for the LA Times and a former deputy assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice, tells us what we can expect in the coming days and weeks. And in headlines: an explosion in Saint Petersburg, Russia killed a prominent pro-war Russian military blogger, Mexican authorities arrested five people in connection ...
Apr 03, 2023•23 min
We quickly recap the reported indictment against former President Trump for his alleged role to cover-up his relationship with Stormy Daniels.
Mar 31, 2023•3 min
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testified before the Senate HELP Committee on Wednesday. Lawmakers questioned him about the coffee chain’s union-busting activities that have been recorded and reviewed by the National Labor Relations Board over the past several months. The Senate voted 66-30 across party lines to repeal authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq. The vote follows the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Iraq invasion, and its repeal would prevent presidents, current an...
Mar 30, 2023•19 min
A federal judge ruled that former Vice President Mike Pence must testify in the Justice Department's investigation of former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He will be expected to testify about any potential illegal acts committed by Trump. At least 40 migrants died Monday night after a fire at a migrant detention center in Ciudad Juarez, a border city in northern Mexico. The blaze reportedly began during a protest by migrants, after they learned th...
Mar 29, 2023•21 min
Six people – including three young children – were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee. Police say the shooter, a 28 year-old, was a former student, and was armed with two assault rifles and a handgun. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to pause a plan to overhaul the country's judicial system until the next parliamentary session next month. The decision comes amid widespread protests against the reforms, which critics say undermine Israel’s democra...
Mar 28, 2023•18 min
Severe weather continued across the Deep South, after intense tornadoes struck Mississippi and Alabama over the weekend, leaving at least 26 people dead and destroying rural towns in one of the poorest areas of the country. A collective of New York Times contributors released an open letter to the newspaper last month, calling out widespread editorial bias in its reporting on transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people. Freelance journalist Harron Walker and TV critic Sean Collins...
Mar 27, 2023•23 min
TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified before Congress Thursday. Lawmakers grilled him for more than five hours over their concerns about the app’s safety, and its ties to China. The Michigan state appeals court ruled that the parents of the Oxford High School shooter can face trial for involuntary manslaughter. They’re accused of ignoring warning signs before the attack, and could be the first parents to be held accountable for a mass shooting committed by their own child. And in headlines: President B...
Mar 24, 2023•22 min
As Donald Trump faces possible criminal charges in New York, the former president faces another, and potentially more serious, legal threat. An appeals court ruled Wednesday that one of his own attorneys must testify before the grand jury investigating his handling of classified documents. The Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point. It’s the ninth rate hike in a row the central bank has made over the past year to fight inflation, despite concerns it coul...
Mar 23, 2023•19 min
Contrary to what he told his supporters, former President Donald Trump was not arrested on Tuesday — though most observers seem to agree that he’ll be indicted soon, over a 2016 hush money scheme involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. A Fox News producer filed a pair of lawsuits against the network. She alleges that she was coerced into giving misleading testimony in Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against the company, and that she faced discrimination and sexism as a staffer. ...
Mar 22, 2023•23 min
