At History's Edge

A few days ahead of the most anticipated congressional hearings in 50 years or more, Harry welcomes Julie Zebrak, Josh Marshall, and Rep. Ted Lieu to preview the hearings, including the chief challenges for the January 6 committee. They then move to the rays of hope for change in federal gun violence legislation in the wake of a terrible bloody fortnight with multiple assault shootings, closing with a more politically focused discussion on how these developments may affect midterm elections.

Harry speaks with Julie Zebrak, Josh Marshall, and Rep. Ted Lieu.

Guns and Butter

A special economics-focused episode. With the U.S. and world economy in the apparent doldrums, & fears of an inflation-driven recession gripping the globe, a top policymaker--Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi—and two world-class economists--Austan Goolsbee and Betsey Stevenson—join Harry to work through key economic indicators & explain the state of play at home and abroad. The group ends with some individual thoughts about the horrific events in Uvalde, Texas, and possible policy responses.

Harry speaks with Raja Krishnamoorthi, Austan Goolsbee, and Betsey Stevenson.

Mapping Violence

The country’s bitter partisan divides played out this week at the highest stakes, and a trio of the most experienced and sage analysts in the country–Jon Alter, David Frum, and Norm Ornstein–join Harry to work through the implications. The group discusses in turn the work of the Jan 6 committee and the DOJ’s parallel investigation of possible high-level wrongdoers. They then move to the Buffalo shooting, w/ its racist manifesto, ending with reflections on the latest round of midterm elections.

Harry speaks with Jon Alter, David Frum, and Norm Ornstein.

DOJ: Here, There, and Everywhere

It’s our every 3 months return-to-roots Talking Feds classic, with three of the country’s most experienced and knowledgeable authorities on the Department of Justice. The group reads the tea leaves on the unfolding investigation of the political actors who may have conspired to overturn the lawful election results and helped foment the 1/6 riot. We next discuss the pending trial of Michael Sussmann and conclude with the DOJ’s potential involvement in the Supreme Court leak and the Ukraine War.

Harry speaks with Paul Fishman, Katie Benner, and Andrew Weissman.

Alito's Torpedo

An in-depth conversation with three prominent legal and political commentators – Melissa Murray, Jane Mayer, and Jessica Levinson – about the Supreme Court’s abortion case and the leaked Alito draft majority opinion. The group critiques the substance and tone of the draft and consider whether it likely will hold as an opinion of the Court. We then move to a consideration of the leak itself, including the likeliest source and the impact of the leak on the Supreme Court as an institution.

Harry speaks with Melissa Murray, Jane Mayer, and Jessica Levinson.

Russia, Through a Glass Darkly

Polls suggest that Russians overwhelmingly support the War of Russian Aggression. Is that really possible? Does it just reflect the extreme steps that the Putin government took to stifle dissent require pro-government media coverage? What are the real attitudes of the Russian people to the war and their government? This very special episode of TalkingFeds brings together 3 expert guests on the state of play inside Russia, including the operator of the last independent TV station in Russia.

Harry speaks with Anne Applebaum, Julia Davis, and Tikhon Dzyadko

Ruthless Ambition Unmasked

3 guests who know the US political landscape like the backs of their hands—Dem Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep Former Rep. David Jolly, and Dem Former Senator Barbara Boxer—join Harry to assess the political jockeying on the right, and particularly by Fla Gov DeSantis and Tex Gov Abbott to be the new party standard bearers. They then discuss the best strategies for Democrats in the midterms. They end by considering the legal and political implications of the court decision invalidating the mask mandate.

Harry speaks with Joaquin Castro, David Jolly, and Barbara Boxer.

Refer, Regulate, Restrict

At the end of a week where the recent sharp divides in the country have never seemed clearer, three of the country’s most knowledgeable and savvy commentators–Alisyn Camerota, George Conway, & Joe Lockhart—join Harry to assess the (fairly woeful) state of the Union. The group looks at the 1/6 Committee and a possible criminal referral of Trump to the DOJ; Biden’s ambitious, but possibly DOA, agenda on guns: and the series of highly restrictive anti-abortion statutes cropping up in red States.

Harry speaks with Alisyn Camerota, George Conway, and Joe Lockhart.

Cooperation and Covert Operations

Aided by guests with rich national security expertise, we take two deep dives down to where the currents roil in the 1/6 investigations and the War of Russian Aggression. Frank Figliuzzi, Norm Ornstein, and Asha Rangappa join Harry to analyze the 1/6 committee’s contempt referrals, the testimony of Ivanka and Jared, and the coordination with the DOJ’s investigation. They then turn to the war and the likely newfangled efforts ongoing in the subterranean “gray zone” away from the fields of combat.

Aided by guests with rich national security expertise — Frank Figliuzzi, Norm Ornstein, and Asha Rangappa — we take two deep dives down to where the currents roil in the 1/6 investigations and the War of Russian Aggression.

Current Events: Turning of the Tides?

It was a week of possible headway on many fronts: at home, in DOJ, which has broadened its investigation of the events leading to 1/6; the 1/6 Committee, which held 2 witnesses in contempt; the federal courts, which determined that Trump more probably than not had committed a crime. And in Ukraine, where fledging peace negotiations were underway. A fantastic panel — Sen. Mike Bennet, Amy Jeffress, and Carol Leonnig — joins Harry to chart the tides and set them all in the proper political context.

A fantastic panel — Sen. Mike Bennet, Amy Jeffress, and Carol Leonnig — joins Harry to chart the tides of the 1/6 investigation, the federal courts which determined that Trump more probably than not had committed a crime, and the fledgling peace negotiations in Ukraine.