Meadows' Lark

It was a week of intricate legal maneuvers with potential huge political consequences. A great group of legal & political commentators - George Conway, Al Franken, and Melissa Murray - join Harry to break it all down, including Mark Meadows' high-risk testimony in support of moving his state charges to federal court & Judge Tanya Chutkan’s selection of a trial date in March 2024. The group goes on to discuss Rudy Giuliani’s continued self-destruction & the latest grotesque episodes of rampage shootings.

Harry speaks with Al Franken, Melissa Murray, and George Conway

Can Ukraine Prevail?

We pause our coverage of Trump’s burgeoning legal minefield and the related political landscape for a periodic close look at the current status & future prospects of the Russia-Ukraine War. A phenomenal set of experts–former Ambassador Mike McFaul, columnist and CFR senior fellow Max Boot, & CFR fellow for Europe Liana Fix–join Harry for a clear-eyed look at whether full victory for Ukraine remains possible, the state of support in the West, the contours of an end game, and many related issues.

Harry speaks with Michael McFaul, Liana Fix, and Max Boot

(Trump's) Trials & (Our) Tribulations

In this week’s @talkingfedspod, a stellar set of expert commentators—Carol Leonnig, Alexi McCammond, and Norm Ornstein—dive in to the law and the politics of Trump’s long list of legal calamities. We take up Trump’s pugnacity in the 1/6 trial, the circumstances setting up cooperators against him in Fulton County, his political strategy for beating the raps, the grotesque encouragement of violence against judges & grand jurors, and a whole lot more, before moving on the mifepristone decision.

Harry speaks with Carol Leonnig, Alexi McCammond, and Norm Ornstein

A Theory of Everything: A Deep Dive Into the Fulton County Indictment

 In one of our signature series of first-cut nuts-and-bolts analyses of the indictments against Trump, two guests with in-depth knowledge of Georgia law and practice—Norm Eisen & Gwen Keyes Fleming-- break down Fani Willis’ omnibus indictment against Donald Trump and 18 other defendants.  They begin with a simplification of the basic RICO charge and then undertake a broad survey of the charges, the prospect for cooperators, how the case will be presented to a jury, the likely schedule, and more.

Harry speaks with Norm Eisen and Gwen Keyes Fleming

An Ordinary Defendant and a Special Counsel

It was a week when Trump, through his lawyers, became acquainted with Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will preside over the most important of the criminal cases against him. The judge left little doubt of her resolve to keep Trump from polluting the jury pool and threatening witnesses. A great group of guests—Peter Baker, Sadie Gurman, & Jason Kander–join Harry to discuss that hearing & other developments in the case and then take up of the appointment of a Special Counsel in the Hunter Biden case.

Harry speaks with Peter Baker, Jason Kander, and Sadie Gurman

Defending Donald

This week’s episode is a clear-eyed, sober exposition of the legal & factual claims Trump can be expected to bring in the 1/6 case. 3 great guests combining on-their-feet trial experience with renowned criminal law expertise--Dahlia Lithwick, Danny Cevallos, and David Sklansky—join Harry to analyze Trump’s strategy and likely maneuvers. The four dismiss out of hand two of the arguments that Team Trump has been putting front and center; but conclude that at least one Trump defense holds promise.

Harry speaks with David Alan Sklansky, Danny Cevallos, and and Dahlia Lithwick

A Deep Dive into the 1/6 Indictment

The indictment of Donald Trump on charges growing out of multiple schemes to steal the election is the most important case in the history of the Department of Justice and probably the country. We’ve had some quick reactions on cable TV. But in this special live tape episode, 3 of the country’s most knowledgeable commentators – Norm Eisen, Renato Mariotti, and Jen Rubin – join Harry for the most in-depth discussion out there of the most important legal and strategic issues the indictment presents.

Harry speaks with Jen Rubin, Norm Eisen, and Renato Mariotti

"Any Day Now"

While all eyes were focused on the courthouse in Washington DC, the DOJ and Jack Smith took us by surprise Friday afternoon with a superseding indictment against Trump + 2 defendants. In “Any Day Now,” Laura Coates, Greg Sargent and Rick Wilson join Harry to discuss the pros and cons of the superseding indictment, and its social and political importance in comparison with the coming 1/6 indictment before ending w/important new polling info and general observations about the coming election.

Harry speaks with Greg Sargent, Rick Wilson, and Laura Coates

DOJ Quarterly Review: On Target

Our quarterly DOJ Report Card arrives in a very propitious week that began with the receipt by Donald Trump of a second target letter from DOJ, moved through a hearing and subsequent order in the Mar-A-Lago documents case, and ended with significant charges out of Michigan that underscore the need for Jack Smith to begin to share information.  The well-known trio of regular DOJ alumni and experts join Harry for a lively and sophisticated discussion of what’s happening at 9th & Pennsylvania.

Harry speaks with Katie Benner, Andrew Weissmann, and Paul Fishman

Et tu, Jared?

The news that the Grand Jury recently heard testimony from Jared Kushner & Hope Hicks suggests that the feds are approaching an end-game for a new set of charges against Trump focused on the Big Lie and the series of post-election frauds, though their shape & timing remains opaque. The Mar-A-Lago case heads for the 1st important showdown and reveal of Judge Cannon’s bonafides. And the Republican clown car in Congress rolls on with a blockade of the defense bill & a grilling of the FBI director.

Harry speaks with Bill Kristol, Rep. Ted Lieu, and Norm Eisen