Migrants’ Legal Limbo

It's make-or-break week in the House for President Donald Trump's 'one big, beautiful bill.' House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday he still believes his party can pass the president's legislative agenda by the GOP's self-imposed deadline of Memorial Day. But deep divisions remain within the caucus over cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, state and local tax deductions, and the bill's implications for the national debt. Marianna Sotomayor, who covers the House for The Washington Post, breaks down the roadblocks facing House Republicans.And in headlines: The Supreme Court said the Trump administration can temporarily revoke deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a two-hour phone call to discuss a ceasefire with Ukraine, and the Justice Department is set to pay nearly $5 million to the family of a Trump supporter who was fatally shot by police during the insurrection.Show Notes:Check out Marianna's work – www.washingtonpost.com/people/marianna-sotomayor/Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

20 Maj 23min

The New York Times recently published a video op-ed by a group of Yale University professors who say they’re leaving the U.S. for jobs at the University of Toronto in the wake of President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. While their decisions are all complex and personal, the three professors — Marci Shore; her husband, Timothy Snyder; and their colleague, Jason Stanley — all study authoritarianism, and all warn the U.S. isn’t immune from the democratic backsliding seen elsewhere and throughout history. Professor Shore, an expert on the history of authoritarianism in Central and Eastern Europe, joins us to talk about how she and her family came to the decision they did.And in headlines: Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the Supreme Court blocked the White House from reviving deportations using a rarely used war-time law, and the Israeli military said its forces had started “extensive ground operations” in Gaza.Show Notes:Watch the NYTimes Video - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/opinion/yale-canada-fascism.htmlSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

19 Maj 23min

President Donald Trump is expected to wrap up the first major international trip of his second term today when he returns from the Middle East. His four-day trip to the Gulf was less about good, old-fashioned diplomacy, and more about doing deals. Lots of them: a $600 billion investment agreement with Saudi Arabia, the details of which remain extremely vague; a nearly $150 billion defense deal with the Kingdom; a major artificial intelligence deal with the United Arab Emirates. And of course, there’s that gifted plane from the Qatari Royal Family. Mohammed Sergie, Gulf editor for Semafor, talks about what Trump accomplished on his trip. Plus, author Casey Johnston joins us to talk about her new book, 'A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting.'And in headlines: The Supreme Court appeared torn over the enforcement of Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship, Russian President Vladimir Putin was a no-show at planned peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey, and Walmart executives said the company will have to raise prices because of Trump’s tariffs.Show Notes:Read Mohammed's reporting: https://www.semafor.com/author/mohammed-sergieRead Casey's newsletter: https://www.shesabeast.co/Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

16 Maj 26min

The Supreme Court hears arguments today in three cases challenging President Donald Trump's effort to end birthright citizenship. Lower courts have blocked the president's order, which he signed on his first day back in office. However, the primary debate in court today will center on something else: the legality of nationwide injunctions, or when a lower-court judge single-handedly puts a government policy on pause nationwide. These rulings have been instrumental in blocking some of the president's most egregious policies. Washington State Democratic Attorney General Nick Brown, leading one of the cases in today's hearing, talks about what's at stake.And in headlines: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy told lawmakers, 'I don't think people should be taking advice, medical advice from me;' the CDC reported drug overdose deaths dropped significantly last year; and Omaha, Neb., elected its first Black mayor.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

15 Maj 21min

Is the U.S. economy … good? Bad? Somewhere in the middle? If it feels like you're desperately shaking a Magic 8 Ball for economic tea leaves, and even it's telling you, 'Ask again later.' Well, it might be on to something. While we're all hearing anecdotes about empty cargo ships from China and fewer people eating at McDonald's, the hard data that would point to a possible recession hasn't shown up yet. Case in point: Tuesday's better-than-expected Consumer Price Index numbers, showed inflation cooled slightly last month despite uncertainty around President Donald Trump's tariffs. Ben Casselman, chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, explains why the vibes don't match the data.And in headlines: President Trump eliminated sanctions on Syria, Cassie Ventura began testifying in music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial, and the Trump Administration ended federal temporary protected status for Afghans in the U.S.Show Notes:Check out Ben's work – www.nytimes.com/by/ben-casselmanSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

14 Maj 25min

India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire Saturday, after days of fighting along their shared border and in the contested region of Kashmir. While the agreement between the two nuclear powers appeared to be holding, both sides blamed the other for violating the deal. The latest conflict was ignited by a terrorist attack last month in the section of Kashmir controlled by India, but the two countries have been fighting over the disputed region for decades, since the end of British rule and the 1947 partition. Joshua Keating, senior correspondent for Vox covering national security and foreign policy, explains why this latest round of conflict is different.And in headlines: President Donald Trump ordered pharmaceutical companies to voluntarily lower their U.S. drug prices, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley blasted his party over its plans to slash hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid, and the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily slash their tariffs.Show Notes:Check out Joshua's article – www.vox.com/world-politics/412332/india-pakistan-crisis-escalationSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

13 Maj 26min

It's 2025, and if you're a Millennial or Gen Zer, there's a good chance that you are qualified to manage and lead other people, even run for political office. Yes! Even you, the person who shares "I'm just a baby" memes! But taking that leap into leadership can be super intimidating, especially when it feels like the qualities needed to be a 'good leader' have changed so much in the last 10 to 15 years. Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run for Something and author of the new book 'When We're In Charge,' shares some tips and tricks for the next generation of leaders.And in headlines: Trump administration officials projected confidence after a weekend of trade talks with China, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited Russian President Vladimir to meet with him for direct peace talks in Turkey, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller says the administration is considering suspending the constitutional provision that allows people to challenge their detention in court.Show Notes:Check out Amanda's book – https://crooked.com/crookedmediareads/Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

12 Maj 22min

We have a new pope, and he’s from Chicago! On the second day of the papal conclave Thursday, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. He’s the first American citizen to hold the position, but he also spent two decades serving in Peru, before the late Pope Francis chose him for an influential post at the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV now has a very, very big job leading the world’s 1.36 billion Catholics amid major tensions within the church, between those aligned with Francis’ efforts to make the church more inclusive and those who think those efforts have undermined Catholic tradition. Christopher White, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and author of the forthcoming book ’Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy,’ tells us more about the new pope’s selection and what we can expect from his papacy.And in headlines: President Donald Trump unveiled his first big new trade deal with… the United Kingdom, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced plans for a much-needed update to the nation’s air traffic control system, and former President Joe Biden defended his time in office during an interview with The View.Show Notes:Check out Christopher's work –www.ncronline.org/authors/christopher-whiteSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

9 Maj 26min