President Biden reaffirmed his support for Ukraine during a fiery speech in Poland on Tuesday. His address followed his clandestine trip to Kyiv – and hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow will suspend its participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with the U.S. Wisconsin voters headed to the polls for the state’s Supreme Court primary — a nonpartisan race that will nevertheless decide the court's ideological majority. Shaniqua McClendon, Crooked...
Feb 22, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Fisk University made history in January when it became the first historically Black college to launch a women's gymnastics program. Head coach Corrinne Tarver tells us about her journey from being the first Black gymnast to win an all-around NCAA title, to training the next generation of trailblazers. Fisk University made history in January when it became the first historically Black college to launch a women's gymnastics program. Head coach Corrinne Tarver tells us about her journey from being ...
Feb 21, 2023•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Days after three objects were shot down over North American air space, President Biden confirmed they were not linked to Chinese spy activity – and they were taken down out of an abundance of caution. A report from the special grand jury investigating alleged election interference by former President Donald Trump and his allies was partially made public. It found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, and concluded that "one or more" witnesses who testified may have committe...
Feb 17, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s been nearly two weeks since a freight train derailed outside of East Palestine, Ohio and the controlled burn of toxic chemicals it was carrying. Though officials say the area is now safe, some residents are afraid to return home, amid worrying signs that toxins may be lingering in the surrounding environment. The CDC says teenage girls in the U.S. are “engulfed” in record-high levels of depression, violence, and trauma. According to a new report, early 3 in 5 said they persistently feel sad...
Feb 16, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast A shooting at Michigan State University Monday night left at least three students dead and five others critically injured. It came on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida school shooting, and has, once again, renewed calls for Congress to take on gun control reform. California Senator Dianne Feinstein announced that she will not seek re-election in 2024. As the oldest sitting member of the Senate, Feinstein’s pioneering political career spanned decades – though some have que...
Feb 15, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast For years, transgender activists and journalists have criticized the New York Times and other mainstream news organizations for their inadequate – and harmful – coverage of trans issues. Some of that reporting and opinion writing is now being cited in anti-trans state legislation across the country. Journalist Katelyn Burns, co-host of the Cancel Me, Daddy podcast, breaks down how it has a direct impact on trans livelihoods. And in headlines: tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated against bi...
Feb 14, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast After the U.S. military downed a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean last week, three more “unidentified aerial objects'' have been shot down in North American airspace since Friday. While we don’t yet know what they were – or where they’re from – lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they want answers from the Biden administration about its response. And in headlines: the death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquake reached over 33,000 people, the EPA said a major railway could be lia...
Feb 13, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's Super Bowl Sunday! We're pleased to present the latest episode of America Dissected, tackling America's love of what can be a dangerous (and sometimes deadly) sport just in time for the big game. Host Dr. Abdul El-Sayed reflects on his complicated relationship with football, then interviews Garrett Bush, sports commentator and former college football player, who recently went viral over a rant about the sport. Listen and subscribe to America Dissected wherever you get your podcasts...
Feb 12, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast The death toll from the earthquakes that have devastated Turkey and Syria passed 21,000 people on Thursday, with many more injured and without shelter. Dr. Houssam al-Nahhas, a Middle East and North Africa researcher at Physicians for Human Rights, tells us about the difficulties of getting relief to people in both countries. And in headlines: federal officials disclosed more information about the Chinese spy balloon that crossed the U.S. last week, an evacuation order was lifted near the scene ...
Feb 10, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Despite some combative moments from Republican lawmakers, Tuesday's State of the Union address was meant to deliver a message of unity to a divided Congress. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to What A Day co-host Juanita Tolliver about some of President Biden's bipartisan wins – and his challenge to Congress to "finish the job." And in headlines: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a surprise visit to the U.K., Disney announced a massive restructuring plan that will cut 7,000 jobs wor...
Feb 09, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden delivered the annual State of the Union address Tuesday night, speaking to a divided government amid some swipes and heckling from far-right Republicans. Jon Favreau, co-host of Crooked’s Pod Save America, joins us to unpack the president’s message — and his agenda for the year ahead. And in headlines: the death toll from the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria rose to over 7,700 people, transgender rights activists occupied Oklahoma’s State Capitol to protest attacks on gend...
Feb 08, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake and a series of aftershocks struck Turkey and Syria early Monday, killing thousands of people and devastating a region already grappling with civil war and a refugee crisis. The U.S. military on Saturday shot down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean, days after it entered American airspace. The incident prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to postpone a trip to China, saying it “undermined” efforts to repair the relationship between the tw...
Feb 07, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast To kick off our series on Black History Month, What A Day host Juanita Tolliver sits down with Veda Tunstall and Emmett Lewis, descendants of enslaved people brought to Alabama aboard the Clotilda, the last known slave ship in American history, and whose stories are featured in the Netflix documentary "Descendant." What A Day is taking a short break, with a new episode on Tuesday, February 7th. Show Notes: Watch ‘Descendant’ | Netflix – https://www.netflix.com/title/81586731 What A Day – YouTube...
Feb 03, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tyre Nichols was remembered at a funeral service in Memphis, Tennessee on Wednesday. His family spoke about their grief in the company of political figures from around the country — including civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton, who gave the eulogy, and Vice President Kamala Harris. And in headlines: the College Board unveiled the official curriculum of its AP African American studies course, the Fed said it will raise interest rates by a quarter of a percent, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quart...
Feb 02, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Biden administration announced it will end the national and public health emergency declarations for COVID on May 11th, marking a new phase in the government’s response to the pandemic. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, host of Crooked’s “America Dissected” podcast, tells us about the potential health care consequences of the decision, and the benefits that will likely cease later this year. And in headlines: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied ...
Feb 01, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Manhattan district attorney’s office started presenting evidence to a grand jury about former President Donald Trump’s role in paying hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2016. Journalist Andrea Bernstein, who covers democracy for ProPublica and Trump legal matters for NPR, joins us to discuss the investigation – and whether it will bring criminal charges. And in headlines: two more Memphis police officers involved in the violent arrest that led to Tyre Nichols’ death were reli...
Jan 31, 2023•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Memphis authorities released video footage of the violent arrest of Tyre Nichols, who was pulled over during a traffic stop on Jan. 7 and died three days later. The release of the videos triggered nationwide protests over the weekend, and led to Memphis police disbanding the so-called SCORPION crime unit, whose officers are accused of murdering Nichols. And in headlines: Utah became the first state this year to pass a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth, U.S. Secretary of State An...
Jan 30, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with second degree murder for the killing of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died days after he was violently arrested on Jan. 7th. Footage of the incident is set to be released Friday night — and lawyers for Nichols’ family, who have seen the video, compared it to the infamous police beating of Rodney King in 1991. And in headlines: Israeli forces killed 9 Palestinians during a raid in the occupied West Bank, the College Board said it will rev...
Jan 27, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast After weeks of pressure, President Biden announced he would send Ukraine M1 Abrams tanks. The decision clears the way for Germany to send over a dozen of their own tanks to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian forces. In an interview with the Associated Press, Pope Francis called laws that criminalize homosexuality “unjust.” It’s the latest statement he's made in support of the LGBTQ+ community — though he maintained the Catholic Church’s view that being gay or lesbian is a sin. And in hea...
Jan 26, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor investigating Donald Trump's alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in that state, said criminal charges are "imminent." During a hearing over whether to unseal a special grand jury's final report on the matter, she argued it should remain secret – for now. The Senate Judiciary Committee held its highly anticipated hearing into Ticketmaster’s parent company, two months after the Taylor Swift ticket sale meltdown. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar...
Jan 25, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Host Josie Duffy Rice tells us about “Unreformed,” her investigative podcast series about Mt. Meigs — a juvenile reform school outside of Montgomery, Alabama, where thousands of Black children were subjected to abuse for decades. The series follows the stories of former students who were sent to Mt. Meigs as children during the Civil Rights era — and how their time at the facility impacted their lives as adults. And in headlines: the death toll from the mass shooting in Monterey Park, California...
Jan 24, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast The city of Monterey Park, California is reeling after a gunman opened fire inside a dance studio Saturday night, killing 10 people and injuring 10 others. Though authorities have not determined a motive, the mass shooting happened on Lunar New Year’s Eve in one of the largest Asian American communities in the U.S. Sunday marked 50 years since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision – and nearly seven months since the current Supreme Court overturned it. Morgan Hopkins, the president of All Above All,...
Jan 23, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast As expected, the U.S. government ran up against its legal debt limit of $31.381 trillion on Thursday. In response, the Treasury Department sent a letter to Congressional leaders stating that it has started taking “extraordinary measures” to avoid the government defaulting on its financial obligations. The Supreme Court announced that it has been unable to identify who leaked the draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade last May. Leah Litman, co-host of Crooked’s Strict Scrutiny, tells us more about...
Jan 20, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thinx, one of the most recognizable brands for period underwear, agreed to pay out $5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that its signature product contains PFAS — despite having advertised the underwear as safe. A recent New York Times investigation revealed that the National Restaurant Association coerced millions of restaurant workers nationwide into unknowingly funding the lobbying efforts that keep their wages low. Saru Jayaraman, the President of One Fair Wage, joins us to d...
Jan 19, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the U.S. is on track to hit its debt ceiling by Thursday. The federal government has never defaulted on its debt, but House Republicans say they won’t lift the ceiling without spending cuts or other concessions. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reinstated coveted committee assignments to far-right members of his party – including Reps Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar. Both lawmakers were booted off their respective panels in the last Congress over controvers...
Jan 18, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today marks 130 years since the United States illegally overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy. Healani Sonoda-Pale, an O’ahu-based community organizer and member of the Ka Lāhui Hawai’i political action committee, tells us what this day means to Native Hawaiians and the movement to restore Hawai’i’s sovereignty. And in headlines: a Russian missile strike killed at least 40 civilians at an apartment complex in Ukraine, the family of a man who died after an LAPD officer repeatedly Tasered him is demandi...
Jan 17, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate how classified documents turned up at President Biden's home, and at an unsecured private office he used after his time as vice president. Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Crooked's Pod Save America, joins us to unpack what we know so far, and how the discovery compares to Donald Trump's case. And in headlines: an L.A.-based bank agreed to pay $31 million to settle allegations of lending discrimination, thousands of New York Cit...
Jan 13, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thousands of flights across the U.S. were canceled or delayed early Wednesday morning after a Federal Aviation Administration computer outage. Officials are calling it the largest national grounding of flights since 9/11, though there’s no evidence to suggest that it was the result of a cyberattack. New York Republican leaders publicly called for Representative George Santos to resign from Congress, following revelations that Santos fabricated many key aspects of his resume. Meanwhile, House Maj...
Jan 12, 2023•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Another intense winter storm slammed into California Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, wind, and intense wind to the Golden State. It's the latest in a series of atmospheric rivers that have led to the deaths of at least 17 people since late last month, and put millions of Californians under flood warnings. California Rep. Katie Porter announced she's running for Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat – even though Feinstein, a longtime incumbent, has not signaled her intention to retire. And in headlines:...
Jan 11, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The first federal death penalty trial under the Biden administration began in New York on Monday against Sayfullo Saipov. Saipov faces murder and terrorism charges for allegedly using a rented truck to kill eight people on a bike path in 2017. The Golden Globes makes its return to TV tonight after a year off the air. The organization behind the annual awards ceremony faced sharp criticism in 2021, after an investigation revealed it had no Black members, along with numerous instances of ethical m...
Jan 10, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
