What It Means to Be Patriotic

What is driving the concern over online gambling? The lawyer who took on Big Tobacco, Richard Daynard, says it is an addictive product. The Public Health Advocacy Institute, which he heads up, is suing the sports betting platform DraftKings for deceptive advertising. Audie talks with Daynard, who’s made a career of bringing lawsuits in pursuit of public health, a strategy he calls “wholesale” rather than “retail.” We also hear from NBA star Rex Chapman, author of the memoir, “It’s Hard For Me To Live With Me.” Chapman gives us insight into both the world of sports and the world of gambling. While he’s never participated in sports betting himself, he reflects on his experiences gambling millions on horse racing and blackjack. -------  Read DraftKings’ statement in response to Daynard’s Public Health Advocacy Institute’s lawsuit:  "As a customer-first organization, DraftKings takes consumer protection and responsible gaming seriously. DraftKings respectfully disagrees with the claims and allegations made by the Public Health Advocacy Institute. The disclosures and explanations provided to customers before they make an initial deposit are detailed, clear, conspicuous and informative. Multiple examples are provided. Regrettably, the Institute ignored our multiple attempts to engage in an in-person dialogue to carefully examine their concerns in light of these disclosures and, instead, filed suit.”   The company also said in a statement:  “DraftKings is committed to educating consumers about the importance of playing responsibly. We have created tools like “My Stat Sheet” an innovative feature that gives players the ability to assess, track and interact with their personal stats through intuitive charts and information that can help empower players to make data-driven decisions on their own play, as well as offer customers the ability to control how they engage with our app through cool-off periods, deposit and wager limits. Furthermore, we collaborate with organizations such as the National Council for Problem Gaming, Responsible Online Gaming Association, Kindbridge Behavioral Health and the American Gaming Association. A core priority for DraftKings is ensuring that customers are using our products as intended, for safe and responsible entertainment.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 Huhti 202438min

When James Carville criticized the “preachy females” at the forefront of Democratic politics, he kicked off a firestorm of outrage and perhaps a little introspection. Did “The Ragin’ Cajun” have a point, however impolitely made? Do Democrats have a problem with men? Especially Black men and other men of color? Jamil Smith is an award-winning writer and the new editor-in-chief of The Emancipator, a nonprofit newsroom run by the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, co-founded by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Huhti 202431min

We're taking a short break on The Assignment, and today we’re bringing you a powerful episode from the latest season of All There Is with Anderson Cooper. Following Naomi Judd's death by suicide in 2022, her daughter Ashley discovered her body. In a poignant and candid discussion, Ashley Judd opens up about the challenges she has confronted in addressing her own mental health struggles, the profound sense of loss she experiences, and the enduring presence of her mother's spirit in her life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 Maalis 202442min

Sarah Longwell always felt she could argue the big issues with her fellow Republicans and still have a place in the “big tent” party. That all changed with the emergence of Donald Trump, who espoused policies and politics Longwell could never accept. Instead of sulking over her lost party, Sarah got to work, trying to bridge the gap between the Republican party she knew and what it’s become. Longwell is publisher of the center-right publication, The Bulwark, and hosts podcasts, including “The Focus Group,” where she hears directly from Republican voters about their opinions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25 Maalis 202437min

We're taking a short break on The Assignment, and we want to bring you an episode of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s excellent CNN podcast Chasing Life. It's a special episode he put together about IVF after the Supreme Court of Alabama declared embryos as children, potentially subjecting those who discard frozen embryos to wrongful death charges. This decision raises questions about the implications for fertility doctors and patients in the state, as well as potential ramifications on a national scale. Dr. Gupta interviews IVF expert Dr. Eve Feinberg from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Dr. Feinberg elaborates on the handling of embryos during the IVF process and discusses the controversial nature of the ruling for fertility care providers. Additionally, CNN Correspondent Isabel Rosales shares insights into the reactions of families and fertility clinics in Alabama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

21 Maalis 202431min

Audie talks with journalists Amy Chozick and Abby Phillip about being a reporter on a presidential campaign bus. Amy is the creator and executive producer of the new Max dramedy “The Girls On The Bus,” which follows a group of four women on a fictional campaign trail. Amy covered Hillary Clinton’s campaigns for the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. CNN’s Abby Phillip was a consultant on the show, she is the host of NewsNight with Abby Phillip.  “The Girls On The Bus” is streaming on Max (which, like CNN, is part of Warner Brothers Discovery).   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

18 Maalis 202434min

Kara Swisher is a journalist turned entrepreneur, a podcast star with high wattage guests, a punchy interviewer who never backs down, and now an important voice in the public debate over whether and how to regulate tech companies.  Audie talks with Kara about her new memoir, “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story.” Their conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at American University’s Sine Institute of Policy & Politics, where Kara is a 2024 Fellow.  Kara Swisher is the host of “On with Kara Swisher,” and co-host of “Pivot” with Scott Galloway. She is also a CNN Contributor and regular panelist on The Chris Wallace Show, Saturdays at 10a ET on CNN.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Maalis 202437min

When the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that fertilized embryos should be treated as “extrauterine children,” they threw IVF procedures into the abortion rights fight. In his State of the Union speech, President Biden warned Republicans that they “have no clue about the power of women.” And Senator Katie Britt — from the state that has put IVF in peril — was chosen to give the Republican response. Audie talks with writer Ana Marie Cox about how this fight is guiding both parties in their attempt to draw women voters in this year’s presidential election.   Ana Marie Cox is the host of the podcast Getting Better with Ana Marie Cox.   Mentioned in our conversation: Voter Suppression Is the Anti-Abortion Movement’s Secret Sauce  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11 Maalis 202427min