Elon Musk, the unelected billionaire tasked by President Trump with finding government efficiencies, is in many ways treating the federal bureaucracy as if its a private company he just bought. Columnists Ruth Marcus, Dana Milbank and Matt Bai talk about Musk and Trumps strategy to demoralize those they cant fire, whether theyre actually saving any money with his actions and what sort of legal hiccups they are running into along the way.
Feb 04, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast One thing we can control is how we spend our money. So should the places where we shop align with our values, or is the politicization of corporate America just one more way the country is fracturing? Post Opinionss Drew Goins, Molly Roberts and Heather Long discuss boycotts on both sides of the aisle, from Chick-fil-A to Budweiser, and whether voting with your dollars can change anything. Additional Reading: Targets DEI cuts have Black entrepreneurs saying clear the shelves Subscribe to The Was...
Jan 31, 2025•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Trump wants to take over Greenland and clean out Gaza and is threatening both friends and foes of the United States. Is Trump's shock-and-awe approach a smart tactic, or is he weakening America by alienating our allies? Columnists Dana Milbank, Catherine Rampell and Max Boot discuss the pitfalls of Trump bringing his real estate developer instincts back to the world stage. Read more from our columnists: Max Boot: Why McKinley makes an alarming Trump presidential role model Eduardo Port...
Jan 28, 2025•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Social media is in flux. X has become Elon Musks megaphone, Meta just ended its fact-checking program, and TikToks future is up in the air. Some on the left are flocking to Bluesky as other platforms shift right. As these online spaces become as divided as our politics, are they still serving us? Assistant editor Drew Goins talks with columnists Molly Roberts and Philip Bump about the good, the bad and the ugly of todays social media scene.
Jan 24, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast The first day of Donald Trumps presidency featured a fire hose of execution orders, pardons for the Jan. 6 defendants and lots of long speeches. Columnists Ruth Marcus, Dana Milbank and Jim Geraghty discuss what stood out to them among the barrage of actions, what might not pass legal muster and how presidential pardons are getting out of hand. Additional Reading: Ruth Marcus: Big Techs power surge Jim Geraghty: Trumps inauguration vow to uphold the law clashes with his TikTok stance Subscribe t...
Jan 21, 2025•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Its Dry January, non-alcoholic drink sales are soaring and the surgeon general is warning people about the links between alcohol and cancer. But is it really so bad to have a few drinks at a weekly happy hour? Opinions editor Drew Goins chats with contributing columnist and physician Leana Wen and columnist Molly Roberts about the hierarchy of cancer risks and how to weigh the pleasures and perils of drinking. Additional Reading: Leana Wen: The right lesson to draw from the surgeon generals alco...
Jan 14, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Theres a housing crisis in America: high interest rates, not enough homes, and regulations that seem to favor building massive McMansions instead of more diverse housing stock. How did we get here, and can we find our way out? Post columnist Heather Long talks to the Atlantics Jerusalem Demsas, whos written a book on the housing crisis, and Bryan DeHenau, a Michigan roofer who sees the struggles in the building industry on the ground every day. Additional Reading: Heather Long and Amanda Shendru...
Jan 07, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast When we look back on 2024, its easy for the campaign and the election to drown out everything else that happened. But there was so much more! The Posts Alexandra Petri, Molly Roberts and Drew Goins talk about this chaotic year and the stories that stuck with them.
Dec 24, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson captivated America, as it played out in an almost cinematic fashion. But there are disturbing issues underneath this crime the simmering anger over health-care costs and the growing normalization of violence in the United States. The Posts David Von Drehle talks with columnists Molly Roberts and Matt Bai about what it means when citizens try to take justice into their own hands. Read the Washington Post column by Catherine Rampell referenced in ...
Dec 17, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast America has lost faith in experts, and its certainly showing in some of Donald Trumps Cabinet picks. Beyond a lack of qualifications, there are concerns over character problems with several nominees too. But do either really matter in American politics anymore? Deputy Opinions Editor David Von Drehle talks with columnists Ruth Marcus and Dana Milbank about what, if anything, can sink a nominee in todays political culture.
Dec 10, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump is promising Mexico a lot of deported migrants with a side of trade war. How will Mexico and its new president handle a neighbor like Trump? Opinions assignment editor Damir Marusic talks to columnists Len Krauze and Eduardo Porter about the view from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Dec 03, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast As many head off for Thanksgiving after a disorienting month, our columnists tried to find anything in the world in news and politics and their lives to be grateful for. They had to dig deep, but they found gratitude for traditions forcing them toward normalcy, for the systems that work and for Matt Gaetz making Cameos instead of being the next attorney general. Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Nov 26, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast As potential deep cuts to federal agencies dominate headlines, its more important than ever to understand the people who make the government run. In the final installment of our Who is Government series, comedian and filmmaker W. Kamau Bell delves into the antitrust division of the Justice Department and learns about the surprising ways it can help America live up to its promise. Watch Bells video or read his column here: The Rookie And be sure to check out the rest of the Who is government? ser...
Nov 23, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast People are justifiably alarmed at the prospect of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being in charge of U.S. health policy. He amplifies conspiracy theories, is anti-vaccine and makes bizarre health claims that aren't backed up by evidence. But underneath his rhetoric, Kennedy has floated some interesting ideas, like limiting processed foods or banning pharmaceutical ads. Deputy Opinions editor Charles Lane talks with physician and columnist Leana Wen and editor Rob Gebelhoff about separating fact from ficti...
Nov 19, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trumps election might feel like dj vu. But America is in a different place than it was eight years ago. Contributing columnists Amanda Ripley, Matt Bai and Theodore Johnson talk through how theyre thinking about Trumps second term, how to set boundaries between the personal and political, and what type of civic involvement is actually useful.
Nov 12, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump won. But why? Were Americans really just mad about their grocery bill? Columnists Ruth Marcus, Dana Milbank and James Hohmann grapple with this election result as an X-ray into our national soul. Read more from Washington Post columnists: No, the way to cope with a Trump win isnt moving to Canada A big win for the Blow It Up Party, but what then? Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Nov 06, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast None of us can know the outcome of the election, but our columnists talk through the campaigns final spasms. Ruth Marcus, Dana Milbank and James Hohmann discuss the shifting mood in Pennsylvania, whether abortion will be as motivating this time around and if Donald Trump can get crypto bros and the guy who vapes to actually vote. Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Nov 04, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the final stretch of the campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is making a play for Republicans who dont like Donald Trump. But can they be swayed to vote for a lifelong Democrat? Columnists Megan McArdle, Jim Geraghty and Ramesh Ponnuru discuss what theyre hearing from fellow conservatives about this election and the future of the GOP. Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Oct 29, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Americans dont seem to have a shared understanding of when or how much to tip. Yet, millions of people rely on what we give to make a decent wage. Columnists Theodore Johnson, Heather Long and Molly Roberts talk about why things have become so confusing and get into the real issues beneath the campaign proposals to end taxes on tips. Read more from The Washington Post: Tipping is more confusing than ever. Heres how to handle it. Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Oct 22, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the final stretch of the presidential campaign, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are turning to popular lifestyle and comedy podcasts to woo different audiences. We were curious whether the candidates sounded any different in these environments than at their rallies. So columnists Charles Lane, Molly Roberts and Perry Bacon listened in and discussed what they learned. Listen to the podcasts we discussed in the episode here: Donald Trump on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von Donald Trump on Flag...
Oct 15, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The National Archives might seem like a distant trove of documents and arcane laws for Americans far from Washington. But many of these national treasures are actually relevant to our lives. Author Sarah Vowell found the people inside the Archives who are making sure everybody can access these documents and find their stories. Read Sarah Vowells full story here: The Equalizer And check out the rest of the Who is government? series. The Canary , by Michael Lewis The Sentinel , by Casey Cep ...
Oct 12, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast As tensions between Israel and Iran soar, columnists David Ignatius and Josh Rogin talk with Damir Marusic about the broader forces at play in the conflict, the lack of plans for a stable future and what a Trump victory would mean for the U.S.-Iran relationship. Read more from David Ignatius on this issue: What the Oct. 7 attacks didnt change Trump courts disaster by underestimating Iranian death threats Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Oct 08, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The IRS may be one of the most hated departments in the federal government, but it turns out it does more than just collect taxes. Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks got to know the folks in charge of the IRSs cybercrime unit which investigates criminals who use cryptocurrency. In this bonus episode, Brooks talks with Michael Lewis about what she learned. Read Geraldine Brookss full article here: Meet the black-belt, tattooed IRS official who saved 23 children from their abuser...
Oct 05, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the vice-presidential showdown JD Vance tried to remake himself by being nice, while Tim Walz directed his attacks at Donald Trump. Columnists Karen Tumulty, Dana Milbank and Ruth Marcus discuss the Jan. 6 moment and what Vances soft talk on abortion says about Republicans fear of how the issue will hurt them at the ballot box. Subscribe to The Washington Post here ....
Oct 02, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The skittish inflation number that flies across headlines might feel arbitrary; in fact, its anything but. To arrive at that number, it takes millions of calculations into granular details such as the chemical composition of turkey meat and the flavor notes of olive oil. In this episode, John Lanchester chats with Michael Lewis about what the government counts and how tracking these things tells us a lot about what a country values. Read John Lanchesters full article here: This number has shaped...
Sep 28, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jeopardy! has been on the air and wildly popular for 60 years. What makes it endure, and what does that say about American culture? Contributing columnist Amanda Ripley talks to Alexandra Petri, Drew Goins and Ryan Vogt Post Opinions staffers whove been contestants on the show about its staying power, and if Jeopardy! can still bring Americans together. Correction: In this episode, we mistakenly said Bob Eubanks hosted The Match Game in the 1970s. Gene Rayburn was the host of that show. We regre...
Sep 24, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast The scope of the federal government is vast, and in one corner lies NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab, where the search for new planets and new life continues. As part of the Post Opinions Who is government? series, author Dave Eggers takes a look at the labs latest innovations and gets to know the people who are reaching for the stars. In this special episode, Michael Lewis talks to Eggers about what he learned. Read Eggers' entire article here: The Searchers . And be sure to check out the rest of the "...
Sep 21, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Many economists and politicians are alarmed that Americans, like others around the world, are having fewer kids. But, apart from wanting a growing labor force, is this really a problem? Opinions columnists Shadi Hamid and Heather Long talk with Style columnist Monica Hesse about whats really behind the baby bust and whether we just need to prepare for a lower fertility future. Read more from our columnists about this topic in the Washington Post: Editorial board: A reader quiz on world bir...
Sep 17, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Did the debate cause a vibe shift? Columnists Charles Lane, Megan McArdle, Dana Milbank and Jim Geraghty discuss how much voters care about policy, whether Trump made any good points and how his false claims about pet-eating immigrants mask a genuine issue. And don't forget to check out the first two stories in our series, Who is Government? Seven writers go in search of the essential public servant. The Canary , by Michael Lewis The Sentinel , by Casey Cep Keep an eye on Washington Post O...
Sep 11, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The evidence is in. American men are facing a crisis in health, in education and in the labor force. But under all of that runs deeper trends disconnection, loneliness and a lack of role models. Columnists Theodore Johnson and Shadi Hamid talk with Richard Reeves, founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men, about the dueling visions of masculinity on the political stage and a hopeful way forward for the modern man. Check out some of the work Richard Reeves mentioned in the show: Me...
Sep 03, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast