
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.
Jul 22
19 min

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
Jul 21
20 min

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.
Jul 20
23 min

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.
Jul 17
24 min

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.
Jul 16
23 min

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
Jul 15
22 min

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.
Jul 14
21 min

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, a
Jul 13
18 min

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.
Jul 10
19 min

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-fu
Jul 9
22 min
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