If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right? New episodes at 5:00 a.m. EST, Monday–Friday in your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. Being informed was never this easy.
Georgia has become one of the most closely watched states in America, but its story didn't begin with the last election. Jen, Mitch, and Errin explore the history, communities, and political forces that transformed Georgia into the center of the national conversation. Through interviews with civic leaders, elected officials, and everyday Georgians, they examine how the state's civil rights legacy, rapid growth, and changing electorate continue to shape both Southern politics and the future of the country. Guests: Sen. Jon Ossoff, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, LaTosha Brown (Black Voters Matter), Kyle Tibbs-Jones (The Bitter Southerner)
About a month ago, the Antwerp World Diamond Center, which deals with a large percentage of the world’s diamonds, made Donald Trump a very special gift purportedly for America’s 250th birthday . Then, just last week, the Trump Administration coincidentally exempted natural diamonds from its new sweeping global tariffs. Not a great look. It’s no secret that the Trump Administration is steeped in deals aimed at getting the President, his family, and his political organizations paid. As the Wall Street Journal reported, Trump is routinely asking for cash from companies and donors so he can build his ballroom or future design projects . The funnel of money aimed at this White House can be almost overwhelming. So what can we do about it? We spoke to Amanda Carpenter, a writer and editor at Protect Democracy , who has some ideas. And in headlines, July is on track to become the hottest month on record for the entire United States, about 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s tiny Ceuta territory in just 24 hours, and oil companies are profiting from the Iran war and the rising cost of gas. Show Notes: Check out Amanda's piece – tinyurl.com/3uk54psp Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
There are just 96 days until the November midterms — and while the battle between Democrats and Republicans is taking up a lot of headlines, many Democrats are also facing serious challenges from within their own party. Take Massachusetts's Eighth District, which includes parts of the city of Boston. Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch has represented the state in Congress since 2001 – and for much of that time, he hasn’t faced any serious primary challenges. But this year, he’s up against Patrick Roath, a 39-year old attorney who thinks that it’s time for a new generation in Congress. Today, we’re speak with both Patrick Roath and Representative Lynch about what they each think Democrats should do if they win back the House, and why they each are the best candidate for Massachusetts voters to send to Washington. And in headlines, the Iran war heats back up as United States and Iran continue to fire barrages of missiles , Trump’s approval rating among voters has dropped to 32 percent , and President Trump says he may temporarily pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the full-time AG position. Show Notes: Check out Rep. Lynch's campaign – www.stephenflynch.com Check out Patrick Roath's campaign – patrickroath.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
We don’t often talk about what the most moral path forward for the Senate, or Congress, or hell, politics in general might be — but it would probably look more like doing something about ensuring everyday Americans can afford groceries and less like going to war with Iran. Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock gives this a lot of thought in his new book, “The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America,” where he lays out some of the biggest problems facing our country. We speak with Senator Warnock about his book and how we might move forward together. And in headlines, the U.S. and Iran trade strikes after days of calm; the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady despite persistently high inflation and a spike in energy prices caused by the Iran war; and Dr. Anthony Fauci pleads the fifth to more than 100 questions posed by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members. Show Notes: Check out Sen. Warnock's book – tinyurl.com/583vnpz4 Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Today marked the start of two days of services for the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, with President Donald Trump joining foreign leaders at Washington National Cathedral for the funeral. Graham was arguably one of the biggest supporters of the Iran war. But now, he's gone – and the war he helped start is becoming increasingly unpopular. The Economist reported earlier this month that the war in Iran is America's least popular conflict since public poll tracking began . And thanks to a virtual Pentagon blackout on information , there's a lot we don't even know about this war in the first place. So, to talk more about the Iran war, we spoke with Tom Bowman. He's the Pentagon correspondent for NPR. And in headlines, wildfires across France and Spain have driven roughly 330,000 people from their homes and vacation sites; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent Kentucky Republican Senator McConnell a letter demanding that he prove that he can do his job; and a conservative activist group released audio tapes that appear to show former President Joe Biden sharing classified information with a biographer. Show Notes: Check out Tom's work – npr.org/people/5457129/tom-bowman Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is trying to get a bunch done ahead of the Senate’s long summer break , from sanctions legislation on Russia to funding the government . But none of that seems to matter to President Trump. He’s focused on the SAVE America Act – a sweeping piece of federal legislation that would dramatically change how Americans vote (and most likely, who gets to vote in the first place). Now, a group of far-right Senators – like Utah Sen. Mike Lee – are demanding Thune cancel vacation and put the SAVE America Act on the floor. So who is in charge in the Senate – John Thune, or Donald Trump? To find out, we spoke to Burgess Everett. He’s the congressional bureau chief at Semafor. And in headlines, Trump defended his sweeping tariffs during a speech at a General Motors facility in Michigan; a New York Times report revealed that the Trump Administration canceled major grants for clean-energy projects based entirely on politics; and President Trump finally got to perform his stand-up routine at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Show Notes: Check out Burgess' work – semafor.com/author/burgess-everett Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Andrew and Tristan Tate are facing extradition to the United Kingdom after their arrest in Miami last weekend. The brothers are facing 59 counts between them in the UK , including rape, sex trafficking, and more. And now, President Trump’s inner circle — including the White House — is backing away from the Tates. For more, we spoke to Madeline Peltz. She’s an independent journalist covering the right-wing media and author of the Substack, Number Two Pencil . And in headlines, the U.S. is facing its worst year for measles in decades , the DOJ withdraws its subpoenas of three New York Times reporters, and the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner 2.0 takes place tonight . Show Notes: Check out Madeline's work – substack.com/@numbertwopencil/posts Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
By now, you've probably heard more than you ever wanted about c yclospora , a parasite that spreads via infected water and food and causes explosive diarrhea. This has been a very bad year for cyclosporiasis. According to the New York Times , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention typically report an average of 2,800 cases of the illness in the U.S. every year. But this year, the CDC reports more than 11,000 cases across 41 states . So, for more on our summer of cyclosporiasis and why you should maybe skip the bagged lettuce, we spoke to Julie Rovner. She's the Chief Washington correspondent and host of the "What the Health?" podcast at KFF Health News. And in headlines, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, Ukrainian drones are targeting Russia's largest online marketplace , and the FDA reviews seven peptide injections the agency banned three years ago over safety concerns. Show Notes: Check out What The Health? – kffhealthnews.org/podcast-series/what-the-health/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Last week, President Trump dramatically reduced the size of two national monuments that aren't only beloved by everyday Utahns but contain priceless archeological treasures. But Utah is fighting back – against Trump, and against the Republican legislators letting private industries and a Shark Tank host run roughshod over what most people in the state actually want. To learn more, we spoke to Caroline Gleich. She’s an environmental activist and a professional ski mountaineer based in Park City. And in headlines, the Trump Administration announces a deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide the country with a civilian nuclear program, Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs overwhelmingly wins the GOP nomination for Arizona governor , and the power of the US passport has reportedly declined over the past 20 years. Show Notes: Check out Caroline's work – carolinegleich.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Lindsey Graham died a little over a week ago – and last Tuesday, his younger sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in to fill his seat. Given that she has absolutely no experience in politics, pretty much everyone thought that Darline Graham was just going to be filling in her late brother's seat until his term ended. But on Friday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he wants her to run to be the new Republican nominee in August's special primary election — and on Monday, she generously agreed. But many other Republicans have jumped into the race anyway … and whoever wins the nomination will be facing our guest today: Dr. Annie Andrews. She's a pediatrician who has focused her campaign not on Donald Trump, but on the health of everyday South Carolinians. And in headlines: Trump imposes new 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods , Arizona goes to the polls , and the New York Times reports that Trump denied nearly 6,000 clemency petitions from people who followed the Justice Department's stated policies for requesting pardons. Show Notes: Check out Dr. Annie Andrews – https://drannieandrews.com/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Over the weekend, the Pentagon announced that three US service members were killed as fighting intensified between the US and Iran. That brings the current death toll for US military personnel engaged in the war to 17. And with news from the New York Times that the Pentagon has been hesitant to share more information about further casualties. It's clear that the Iran war is far from ending, and may even be spiraling out of control. So to talk more about Trump's war of choice, we spoke with Mehdi Hasan. He's the editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo. And in headlines, US senators are pushing for more details about ICE's vetting practices for new agents, Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, is almost certain to become the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, and President Trump tries to steal the spotlight from Spain after the FIFA World Cup final. Show Notes: Check out Zeteo Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
President Donald Trump is obsessed with the past. Last night, Trump gave a primetime address about his favorite subject: the 2020 election, which he did not win. But as we have just celebrated America’s 250th birthday, many of us are thinking a lot about the past – and what our history has to do with the future of our country. Heather Cox Richardson is a history professor at Boston College and the author of the Substack “Letters from an American.” We talked about America’s past, what historical moments remind her most of right now, and why – despite everything – she’s hopeful about the future. And in headlines, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin gives a White House briefing doubling down on Trump’s election claims, the US expands its attacks in what feels like the never-ending war against Iran , and federal officials have identified a source of the outbreak of the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. Show Notes: Check out Heather's work – heathercoxrichardson.substack.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche went under the microscope this week as he took questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of his confirmation proceedings. A major line item for senators? The concern that Blanche — who once was President Donald Trump’s personal criminal attorney — might still be operating as Trump’s personal attorney in spirit. Blanche is in a tough spot, because history has shown that his future job security is dependent on doing exactly what Trump says. For more on how an attorney general who’s subject to the whims of Trump could impact the justice system, we spoke with Laura Coates. She’s chief legal analyst for CNN and host of Laura Coates Live . And in headlines: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt returns to her briefing podium, federal investigators are looking into a White House teleprompter operator accused of insider trading, and smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota darken U.S. skies. Show Notes: Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
It’s been less than a week since Graham Platner officially withdrew from the Maine Senate race after a serious allegation of sexual assault. Maine Democrats are planning a nominating convention two days before the deadline to select another candidate – and at least seven Democrats have already thrown their hats into the ring . But Maine voters who believed in Platner are left without the fresh, inspiring candidate they supported. Rebecca Traister is a writer at large for New York magazine and a Maine resident. While some on the Left claim that Platner’s existence was an embrace of masculinity and a rejection of QUOTE “Dem HR lady politics” , she found that Mainers, specifically women, had a far different view. We spoke to her about where those voters go next. And in headlines, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche gets grilled during his Senate confirmation hearing, the CDC imposes travel restrictions on Americans leaving the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the U.S. Mint will soon produce $1 gold coins with Trump’s face on them. Show Notes: Check out Rebecca's work – nymag.com/author/rebecca-traister/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
Last week, ICE agents killed a Mexican man in Houston, Texas, who was driving to work and was not the target of an ICE operation – despite what the Department of Homeland Security said initially. And yesterday, ICE agents in Maine killed a Colombian man who was legally permitted to work in the United States. He was also not the target of an operation. This marks two deaths at the hands of ICE officers in the last week alone. For more on what’s behind the recent surge of ICE activity – and violence — we spoke to David Bier. He’s the Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute. And in headlines, Trump reverses course on charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh makes his first appearance before Congress , and Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett testifies about the sharp increase in threats she’s experienced since joining the nation’s highest court. Show Notes: Check out David's work – cato.org/people/david-bier Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham passed away suddenly on Saturday evening at the age of 71. A preliminary report said he died of an aortic dissection, caused by heart disease. Today, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced Graham’s temporary replacement – his younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone. And she has big shoes to fill. Graham was a political lifer. Before winning a seat in the Senate in 2003, he served in the House of Representatives beginning in 1995. And like many Republicans, Graham went from a dedicated opponent of Donald Trump to one of Trump’s most committed partisans. So for more on Graham’s legacy and what happens next, we spoke with Matt Viser a few hours before McMaster’s announcement. Viser is a staff writer at The Atlantic . And in headlines, Trump said the United States is “reinstating” a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz , Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalization, and a federal immigration officer fatally shot a motorist in Maine. Show Notes: Check out Matt's work – theatlantic.com/author/matt-viser/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
A lot of Democratic voters want fighters in the battle against President Donald Trump and the Trumpified Republican Party, and it’s pretty obvious why. Even when Democrats control Congress and the White House, it feels like they focus more on making common cause with Republicans than on getting anything done. Brian Tyler Cohen is a progressive YouTuber who thinks that if and when Democrats win back the White House in 2029, they need to take the office they’ve won and run with it. His new book, “The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World” comes out next week. We talked about what it means for Dems to fight back in the Trump era. And in headlines: new details emerged in the ICE killing of a Mexican man in Houston, Trump dismantled a bipartisan board that oversees elections, and Israel reportedly told the U.S. that Iran hatched a new plot to kill Trump. Show Notes: Brian Tyler Cohen’s “The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World” – https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/thedayafter Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Since 84-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on June 14th after being found unconscious at his home, not one person — not even President Donald Trump — seems to know what is going on. McConnell is one of the most powerful Republican figures in political history. But over the last few years, he’s had a number of health issues, including freezing episodes during press conferences. And while he’s not running for reelection, his murky health status is not that uncommon for our very old Congress. To find out what that does for our politics and country, we spoke with Idrees Kahloon. He’s a staff writer at The Atlantic who wrote about the incredible power of elder Americans. And in headlines: Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner announced he will withdraw from his race — but he's reportedly waiting until the last possible second to make it official, the U.S. launched new airstrikes against Iran, and FBI Director Kash Patel is facing new criticism for his taxpayer-funded lifestyle. Show Notes: Idrees Kahloon’s “An Oligarchy of Old People” – https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/05/gerontocracy-wealth-power/686585/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner burst into the national spotlight last year with a campaign centering around his supposed working class bonafides and promises to fight the establishment. He easily won his primary despite multiple scandals, ranging from problematic Reddit posts to “unsettling” behavior from past partners. Then, on Monday, Politico published the most serious allegation yet — that Platner allegedly broke into a partner’s home while drunk and sexually assaulted her. He denied the allegations and dropped out of the race late Wednesday evening. There are a lot of questions about what comes next. To find out more, we spoke with Dave Weigel, political reporter at Semafor. And in headlines: President Donald Trump threatens to unleash more military strikes against Iran, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a man in Texas, and a federal judge orders $5 million to be released to E. Jean Carroll in her sex abuse and defamation case against Trump. Show Notes: Dave Weigel's work – https://www.semafor.com/author/david-weigel Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
NATO’s most important global summit has begun in Turkiye. It’s an event where the world’s leaders meet, mingle, and above all, try to keep President Donald Trump from doing something inconceivably stupid… like threatening to pull troops from Europe if the US does not gain control of Greenland. But NATO has even bigger problems: Russia’s war in Ukraine and the threat Russia poses to the entire coalition. So to talk more about NATO, Trump, and how the summit is trying to keep the president of the United States from throwing an epic temper tantrum, we spoke with Felicia Schwartz, diplomatic correspondent for Politico. And in headlines: Democrats are calling for Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race in light of a sexual assault allegation against him, a new lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration has been illegally sharing confidential information about Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian government, and French President Emmanuel Macron met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus restoring official diplomatic ties. Show Notes: Felicia Schwartz's work – https://www.politico.com/staff/felicia-schwartz Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
