Migrants’ Legal Limbo

Tonight, President Trump will give his first major address to the nation since the inauguration of his second term. He’ll probably talk about how great of a job he's doing, the Gulf of America and deporting undocumented immigrants. Who knows, he might even rant about the Russian influence investigation some more. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut tells us why he won’t be attending Trump's address — and why the president is vying to become Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new best friend. And later in the show, California Democratic Representative Lateefah Simon is set to deliver the Working Families Party response to the president. She previews her speech for us.In headlines: Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports are set to take effect today, First Lady Melania Trump made her first public appearance since Inauguration Day, and the Senate confirmed Linda McMahon as Education Secretary.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

4 Mars 28min

European leaders met for an emergency summit in London Sunday to shore up support for Ukraine and wrest control of ceasefire talks with Russia. The rushed gathering came on the heels of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disastrous Oval Office meeting Friday, where he was publicly berated by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance for being ‘disrespectful’ and ‘gambling with World War III.' While the Oval Office blowup shocked the Western world, Kremlin officials praised Trump for his 'commonsense' approach to ending the war. Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia under President Obama, talks about how Trump’s actions benefit Russia and leave the U.S. weaker.And in headlines: Israel halted all aid to Gaza as the first phase of the ceasefire expires, Elon Musk and the DOGE bros sent federal workers another email asking them to justify their jobs, and Trump signed an executive order making English the official language of the U.S.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

3 Mars 25min

WAD is taking a break from the daily horror show that is political news to talk about the scandals plaguing another American institution: Hollywood. Specifically, the swirling controversies around this year’s Oscars race, which culminates Sunday at the annual Academy Awards ceremony. From ‘Emilia Perez’ going from a sure-fire Best Picture winner to cinematic albatross, to the use of AI in ‘The Brutalist,’ there’s been something for everyone to get mad at this year. Sam Sanders, host of KCRW’s ‘The Sam Sanders Show’ and ‘Vibe Check,’ explains why the Oscars are bad for America.And in headlines: Pro-misogyny influencers the Tate brothers headed to Florida after Romania lifted their travel ban, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House to keep up the European pressure campaign on President Trump over Ukraine, and Defense Department leaders were given a deadline to identify transgender service members for removal from the force.Show Notes:Check out Sam's Oscars episode – https://tinyurl.com/38x8c595Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

28 Feb 24min

Tax season is upon us, with millions of Americans preparing to file lots of complicated paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service to figure out how much they owe the federal government. Potentially complicating things this year, though, is the Trump administration's decision to fire thousands of IRS workers, just as all that complicated paperwork starts rolling in. Economist Lindsay Owens, executive director of the economic policy think tank Groundwork Collaborative, explains what tax cuts we can expect from Republicans' forthcoming legislation.And in headlines: A pair of federal agencies directed government departments to prepare for mass layoffs, the U.S. records its first death from measles in a decade, and Jeff Bezos says The Washington Post's op-ed page will focus on 'personal liberties and free markets.'Show Notes:Check out the Groundwork Collaborative work –groundworkcollaborative.org/Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

27 Feb 23min

Right now, it feels like President Donald Trump and billionaire ‘first buddy’ Elon Musk are holding all the political cards. While we’re out here just trying to figure out if our local library will still carry books about the Civil Rights Movement, Musk is busy trying to fire every government worker he can find while Trump pitches a golden pathway to citizenship for millionaires. It’s… a lot. And Democrats are understandably upset about it. But what can they actually do about it? Journalist Matt Yglesias, who writes the ‘Slow Boring’ newsletter on Substack, talks about steps we can all take to expand the Democratic Party’s tent.And in headlines: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans a trip to the White House, the Trump administration has a bad day in court, and new data shows U.S. consumer confidence is plummeting.Show Notes:Check out Matt's work – https://www.slowboring.com/Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

26 Feb 22min

As House Republicans prepare to begin voting on their big policy blueprint this week, one of the programs they're targeting for major cuts is Medicaid. The federal healthcare program covers around 80 million Americans, mostly people living near or below the poverty line. While President Donald Trump has endorsed the House's budget plan, he has also said that Medicaid is 'not going to be touched.' Sarah Kliff, investigative health care reporter for The New York Times, explains what the proposed Medicaid cuts would mean for actual people.And in headlines: Trump had an awkward meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron over Ukraine, Trump officials continued to sow confusion over an email demanding federal workers justify their jobs, and the president picked right-wing podcaster Dan Bongino as the next FBI deputy director.Show Notes:Check out Sarah's work – https://www.nytimes.com/by/sarah-kliffSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

25 Feb 26min

The Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, wrapped up Saturday. While billionaire Elon Musk ate up a lot of the attention by wielding an actual chainsaw on stage to symbolize his attacks on government waste (and subtlety), the annual conservative conference featured a host of other speakers with far-right ties. That included people like Jack Posobiec, a right-wing influencer who was recently invited to travel with members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet. Elle Reeve, CNN reporter and author of the book ‘Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics,’ talks about how the far-right got a foothold in the U.S. government.And in headlines: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he’ll step down as president of Ukraine if it means his country can join NATO, President Donald Trump ousted the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Musk issued another ultimatum to federal workers.Show Notes:Check out Elle’s Article – https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/trump-musk-alt-right-fascism-psychological-war.htmlSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

24 Feb 27min

Thursday marked one month since President Donald Trump officially took office. Since then, he’s signed dozens of executive orders. And the fallout from all his unilateral actions is starting to become clear. The administration’s funding cuts for foreign assistance have already hit millions of people receiving aid around the world through USAID, as well as many American businesses and nonprofits who do business with the agency. Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin, who resigned in protest as deputy head of communications in East Africa for USAID this month, describes the toll Trump’s cuts are taking on vulnerable people in Kenya.And in headlines: The Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the new head of the FBI, former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell announced he won’t run for re-election, and the administration slashes deportation protections for around 500,000 Haitian migrants.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8Support victims of the fire – votesaveamerica.com/reliefWhat 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

21 Feb 19min