Podcast
Talking Feds
Hosted by Harry Litman · EN
Talking Feds is a roundtable discussion that brings together prominent former government officials, journalists, and special guests for a dynamic and in-depth analysis of the most pressing questions in law and politics.
95episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Race to the Bottom (Early Roundtable)
Today01:01:31Summary readyAs Republicans falter on their gerrymandering plans and Trump looks for a creative new way to pocket taxpayer dollars, Harry talks with Alisyn Camerota, Adam Klasfeld, and Elliot Williams. The tri-state trio dig into the stark racial politics of the post-Callais south and Republicans' sudden hesitation in their redistricting crusade. Next, the group turns to reports that the DOJ may be planning a swift surrender in Trump’s collusive lawsuit against the IRS. Finally the panel considers whether the president will get his wish and coat D.C. in Trumpian gold leaf.Mentioned in this episode: Alisyn’s new show: https://www.scrippsnews.com/shows/connected-with-alisyn-camerotaAdam’s reporting: https://www.allrisenews.com/Elliot’s book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768052/five-bullets-by-elliot-williams/NYT reporting about Democrats mulling drastic changes to Virginia’s Supreme Court: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/us/politics/democrats-virginia-plans-gerrymandering.htmlHarry’s piece about the Trump IRS case: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/a-judge-calls-out-trumps-self-dealing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summary
Redistricting Roulette
3d ago00:59:01Summary readyAfter a bombshell redistricting ruling in Virginia shakes the midterms map, Harry talks with three top political minds—David French, Mara Liasson, and Mike Murphy—to try to get a sense of the outlook for November. Will two seismic court verdicts end Democrats’ hopes of retaking the House? Or will a strong anti-Trump tide power them to a win anyway? Can Trump keep Republicans in line, even as his approval rating hits record lows? And is there any rhyme, reason, or endpoint to Trump’s latest skirmishes with Iran? Mentioned in this episode: David’s columns: https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-french Mara’s reporting: https://www.npr.org/people/1930401/mara-liasson Mike’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hacks-on-tap/id1467297559 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryA Modern Reader's Guide to a Besieged Constitution
1w ago00:52:54Summary readyLeading SCOTUS scholar Melissa Murray joins Harry to discuss her new book on the constitution and her concerns about the Justices now tasked with interpreting it. Melissa guides Harry through key points from her book—"The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader"—from the fears of slave rebellion that shaped the 2nd amendment to the expansive promise of liberty that has been gradually erased from the 14th. The two close with a closer look at the Justices, including why Melissa sees John Roberts as the "Victor Frankenstein of American government."Mentioned in this episode: Melissa’s new book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-U-S-Constitution/Melissa-Murray/9781668221938New York Times reporting on the origins of the shadow docket: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/us/politics/supreme-court-shadow-docket.htmlNoah Feldman’s book “Scorpions”: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/books/review/ACohen-t.htmlCarol Anderon’s book “The Second”: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/books/review/the-second-carol-anderson.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryDemocracy Demolition Derby
1w ago00:58:27Summary readyIn the wake of the Supreme Court’s seismic redistricting decision, Harry talks with David Gura, Juliette Kayyem, and Tara Setmayer to take stock of the ruling’s impact, the aftershocks of the White House Correspondents' Dinner attack, and Jerome Powell’s stand against Trump. How will the Callais ruling reshape the political map and Black representation in the South? Will Powell’s successor prove a Trump lapdog? And what are the political and policy ramifications of the latest episode of political violence? Mentioned in this episode: David's reporting: https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AWxIJr64omw/david-gura Juliette's analysis: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/juliette-kayyem/ Tara's Substack: https://tarasetmayer.substack.com/ Juliette's piece about the WHCD attack: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/safety-security-whcd-prevention/686969/ Atlantic piece on the rise of so-called normie extremists: https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/04/cole-allen-whcd-trump-extremism/686993/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryThe Global Aftershocks of Trump’s Blunder in Iran
2w ago00:33:39Summary readyJake Sullivan helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Now, as he watches Trump try to superglue some version of that deal back together, Sullivan tells Harry the president “has no idea what he is doing because he has no idea quite why he's doing it.” Drawing on his four years of experience as Biden’s national security advisor, Sullivan plumbs the depth of Trump’s strategic catastrophe in Iran and its disastrous consequences everywhere from American gas stations, to the Ukrainian frontline, to the Taiwan strait. Mentioned in this episode: Sullivan's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-with-jake-sullivan-and-jon-finer/id1850526014 Sullivan and Finer's January opinion piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/opinion/trump-venezuela-force-risk.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryMolly Mashup: ‘Lots of Smoking Guns’
2w ago00:31:49Summary readyIn their newest mashup, Harry and Molly Jong-Fast swap questions about the scandals swamping Trump’s administration and the chances for real accountability for the culprits. Molly asks Harry what it’ll take to prosecute people like Kristy Noem and how far the Supreme Court might go to rescue Trump in the midterms. Harry fires back with questions about J.D. Vance’s political implosion and what the Democrats need to do to stick the landing in November. Mentioned in this episode: Molly's podcast: https://fastpoliticspod.com/Molly's Substack: https://mollyjongfast.substack.com/ Harry's Substack about the SPLC indictment: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/funding-extremism-please Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryKash Crash
3w ago00:56:45Summary readyAs scandals shake Trump’s cabinet, Harry sits down with Emily Bazelon, Conor Lamb, and Charlie Sykes to discuss the revelations about Kash Patel, a Democratic redistricting win in Virginia, and the administration’s latest retaliations. Along the way, the trio discuss what it will take to revive the rule of law and whether there’s a path away from endless gerrymandering. They close by digging into the jaw-dropping details from Emily’s reporting about how Trump turned DHS into an agency incompetent at real law enforcement but adept at inflicting suffering. Mentioned in this episode: Harry’s Substack on the SPLC indictment: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/funding-extremism-pleaseEmily’s reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/by/emily-bazelon#latest Charlie’s Substack: https://charliesykes.substack.com/ Emily's DHS article: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/14/magazine/trump-dhs-ice-officers-immigration-deportations.html Emily’s conversation with Harry about her oral history of the DOJ under Trump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PDKeMe1mXU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryJersey’s New Governor Knows How to Take On a Don
3w ago00:32:09Summary readyNearly 100 days into her tenure, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill thinks she’s cracked the code for handling Trump. She tells Harry how she’s used the president’s negotiating tactics against him, why she’s putting in place some of the nation’s most ambitious bulwarks against ICE abuses, and how she ended up in a high-stakes battle with another venal, unpopular entity: FIFA. Plus, Governor Sherrill delivers her thoughts as a former federal prosecutor on the legal wreckage left by ousted U.S. attorney and Trump crony Alina Habba. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryTrump's "Absolute Fiasco"
3w ago00:58:36Summary readyIn our latest Contrarian episode, Norm Eisen, Norm Ornstein, and Jen Rubin join Harry to assess new flashpoints in Trump's nonstop quest to escape accountability and his hasty efforts to claw free of his war in the Middle East. The group takes stock of Trump's stumbling attempts to find a deal with Iran, which seem likely to leave the U.S. weakened and isolated. The panel also weighs the bombshell state charges against an ICE agent and the odds that Trump could name two new Supreme Court justices before year's end. Mentioned in this episode: The Contrarian: https://contrarian.substack.com/ Norm Ornstein's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970 The Robert Kagan article about America's changing place in the world: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/trump-national-security-greenland-spheres-of-interest/685673/ The profile of Justice Alito: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/samuel-alito-supreme-court-conservative/686756/ Norm Ornstein's kakistocracy article: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/american-kakistocracy/542391/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryThe 'No Kings' Plan to Make Trump the Next Orbán
4w ago00:43:26Summary readyHarry talks with Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin, the principal force behind the massive and wildly successful No Kings protests. They fill Harry in on the politics and mechanics of building one of the biggest popular mobilizations in American history, and how to harness the popular forces in a concrete way to defeat Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summary