DOJ Insider: Trying Trump

It’s our quarterly episode focusing on DOJ, and it coincides with a series of high-visibility cases—most but not all involving Trump—and the pivotal decisions they present for Garland, Smith, & Co. Our returning group of lawyers & journalists who know DOJ like the backs of their hands—Katie Benner, Paul Fishman, & Amy Jeffress—weighs in on fine-grained tactical decisions & larger priorities, while also giving us a sense of what it feels like these days inside the halls at 950 Pennsylvania.

Harry speaks with Katie Benner, Paul Fishman, and Amy Jeffress.

Gag!

It was a week in which Donald Trump & his party plunged to new rhetorical and physical lows, & a terrific roundtable of Alisyn Camerota, Kyle Cheney & Bill Kristol join Harry to consider the fallout. Released temporarily from the fetters of a gag order, Trump launched a series of tirades that can only be described as fascist, inc comparing his opponents to “vermin.” The group considers the implications of Trump’s dark turn, courts’ efforts to rein him in, and his R colleagues’ bullyboy conduct.

Harry speaks with Kyle Cheney, Bill Kristol, and Alisyn Camerota.

It's (Half) the Economy, Genius!

Our semi-annual focus on economics with a stellar set of guests – Dean Baker, Paul Krugman, and Stephanie Ruhle – falls this week at the starkest of crossroads: economic news and bellwethers are stunningly good while American’s views of the state of the economy are stunningly bad. Our roundtable discusses these trends, along w/ several other important economic factors—including the impact of two wars-- before moving to thoughts about AI and where we are as a country with economic inequality. 

Harry speaks with Stephanie Ruhle, Paul Krugman, and Dean Baker.

Leaning Tower of Trumps

It’s a week of stock-taking as well as explanation of the Trump developments on half a dozen separate fronts. With a fantastic panel of leading commentators – Norm Eisen, Hugo Lowell, and Jen Rubin, – we canvass the events of the week, especially in the NY fraud trial, but also double back to the nuanced, and largely under-appreciated, takeaways from recent events, involving Meadows and immunity, Trump’s motions in the Jan 6 case, Fulton County pleas, 14th Am §3, the Mar-A-Lago case, and more.

Harry speaks with Norm Eisen, Jen Rubin, and Hugo Lowell.

From Russia with Kompromat

8 years after reports surfaced of strange and worrisome connections between Donald Trump the presidential candidate & Russia, we still don’t know the full story, a glaring gap in the history & understanding of the Trump era. This special episode of Talking Feds plumbs the depths of what we do know & what we might discover, w/ an ideal set of guests: Jeannie Rhee & Andrew Weissman, senior members of the Mueller probe, and Adam Davidson, a journalist who has reported on the issue more than anyone.

Harry speaks with Andrew Weissmann, Jeannie, Rhee, and Adam Davidson.

Purging the Effects of Trumpism: Political Bipartisanship

It’s the 2nd of 2 special episodes taped live at the Texas Tribune Festival devoted to the cumulative effects of Trumpism on important institutions in American life, & the prospects for a restoration to a facsimile of normalcy.  This discussion covers political bipartisanship, starting, but not ending, w/ the abysmal state of Rs in Congress. 4 of the country’s most respected commentators—David French, Jason Kander, Bill Kristol, & Jen Palmieri--join Harry for a rich and thoughtful discussion.

Harry speaks with David French, Bill Kristol, Jennifer Palmieri, and Jason Kander.

Purging the Effects of Trumpism: Law Enforcement

The first of 2 special episodes taped live at the Texas Tribune Festival devoted to the cumulative effects of Trumpism on important institutions in American life, & the prospects for a restoration to robust function. This episode covers law enforcement & the series of vicious onslaughts against the supposed “deep state.” 4 of the country’s most well-known and thoughtful experts--Frank Figliuzzi, Juliette Kayyem, Asha Rangappa and Elie Honig–join Harry for a fast-moving & wide-ranging discussion.

Harry speaks with Juliette Kayyem, Harry Litman, Asha Rangappa, Elie Honig, and Frank Figliuzzi.

Foreign Policy in the Age of Trump

Our periodic focus on US foreign policy, with a twist. The Biden Administration must pursue foreign policy in a world keenly aware of the prospect of Trump’s return and all that entails for the U.S.’s trustworthiness. Meanwhile, the Administration's foreign policy initiatives have rekindled engagement on various fronts, extending beyond traditional alliances. In this episode, experts Natasha Bertrand, Amna Nawaz, & Robert Costa analyze the impact of these dynamics on the U.S.’s foreign affairs.

Harry speaks with Amna Nawaz, Robert Costa, and Natasha Bertrand

Remembering Diane Feinstein

The country, the Senate, & CA lost one of its longest-serving and most distinguished public servants last week. Senator Dianne Feinstein—the first woman mayor of SF who became the longest serving female senator in history—had far too many important accomplishments to chronicle in an hour. But with the aid of 3 of the people who knew her best—Senator Barbara Boxer, Jim Lazarus, and DeeDee Meyers—this special episode of Talking Feds paints a detailed portrait of DiFi the person & political leader.

Harry speaks with Barbara Boxer, Jim Lazarus, and Dee Dee Myers

Oyez, Oyez, Oy Vey

Our annual first Monday in October episode, marking the Supreme Court’s new Term. With the consolidation of power of the hard-right super-majority, the stakes of the Court’s work have grown vastly greater. At the same time, a series of unpopular–and legally controversial–decisions and ethical black eyes have deeply eroded the Court’s public standing. A great trio of Court commentators – Dahlia Lithwick, Mark Stern, and Steve Vladeck – join Harry to discuss the Court’s position and trajectory.

Harry speaks with Steve Vladeck, Dahlia Lithwick, and Mark Stern