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.
120episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Trump’s Botch Job
1w ago00:50:53Summary readyDonald Trump seems determined to make things hard for everyone: Americans, Republican senators, and even himself. Glenn Kirschner, Josh Marshall, and Ali Vitali join Harry to talk through a week packed with unforced errors by the administration that are derailing Trump's presidency in the run-up to the midterms. The panel discusses Trump’s no-holds-barred effort to save the slush fund, the embarrassing end to the prosecution of a former Olympian scapegoated for the disastrous Reflecting Pool flop, and Anthony Fauci’s unsettling return to the headlines. Update: Late on Saturday night, Senator John Cornyn and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a deal that seemed to finally kill off the so-called weaponization fund. Observers noted that the agreement could potentially be walked back in the future and that it did not fully foreclose Trump's tax amnesty. Nonetheless, it seemed to clear the way for Blanche's confirmation. Mentioned in this episode: Glenn's Substack Glenn's YouTube Josh's analysis Ali's show Way Too Early Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryRaphael Warnock Makes the Moral Case Against Trump
2w ago00:32:15Summary readyLike the prophets he quotes at the pulpit, Senator Raphael Warnock feels he’s watching his country descend into greed, injustice, and tyranny. He sees a MAGA movement “corrupting” his Christian faith and a president who seems to think charity begins (and mostly ends) at home. With his new book—The Crooked Places Made Straight—Senator Warnock lays out what Democrats must do to meet this moral moment: get money out of politics, resume the battle against poverty, reform the Supreme Court, end mass incarceration, and—crucially—defeat Donald Trump. Mentioned in this episode: Senator Warnock's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/780969/the-crooked-places-made-straight-by-raphael-g-warnock/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryHow To Lose a War in Six Months
2w ago01:01:02Summary readyAs casualties mount and gas prices rise, the White House knows it may be losing its chance to resolve its war with Iran in time to prevent a midterms wipe-out for Republicans. To plumb the depth of the political damage and assess the decisive races, Harry talks with Susan Glasser, Astead Herndon, and Juliette Kayyem. The group breaks down Trump’s decision to go back to war, Hegseth’s worrying obfuscations about American casualties, the transformed Maine Senate race, and the no-holds-barred fight for the future of the Democratic party playing out in Michigan. Mentioned in this episode:Susan’s analysis. Astead’s show America, Actually.Juliette’s Substack. Astead’s interview with Abdul El-Sayed. New Yorker reporting on former Biden administration officials and Gaza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryMaggie Haberman on a Year of “Pure Trump”
3w ago00:48:24Summary readyMaggie Haberman has been on the Trump beat for decades. Now she has written—with co-author Jonathan Swan—a tour de force on how the president is remaking our government in his image. Haberman gives Harry an inside look at a White House in thrall to a president who’s never been so uninhibited. She shares a swath of insights about Trump’s health, his reluctance to help Republicans in the midterms, just how close he came to invoking the Insurrection Act, and more. Mentioned in this episode: Haberman and Swan’s book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Regime-Change/Maggie-Haberman/9781668067246Haberman’s reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/by/maggie-haberman#latest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryBlanche in the Arena
3w ago00:58:54Summary readyAaron Blake, Conor Lamb, and Mimi Rocah join Harry to break down Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing, two new ICE killings, and a primetime election rant. Did Todd Blanche manage to persuade senators that he's a traditional do-the-right-thing prosecutor? Why is Trump suddenly embracing ICE’s abuses again, and could that cost him the midterms? Finally: was Trump’s big speech a prelude to a declaration of war on fair midterms, or a de facto admission that his endless claims of fraud are all baseless? Mentioned in this episode: Aaron’s reporting: https://www.cnn.com/profiles/aaron-blakeConor’s Substack: https://conorlambpa.substack.com/Mimi’s Substack: https://substack.com/@mimirocah1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryThe Biggest Epstein Questions for Blanche and Trump
4w ago00:33:27Summary readyOver the next two days, would-be Attorney General Todd Blanche will get a grilling from the Senate about how he and the Department of Justice handled transparency regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. Julie K. Brown—the reporter who has done the most to expose and explain the Epstein saga—knows what senators need to ask. She joins Harry to lay out how the DOJ continues to fail Epstein’s victims, why she thinks Trump will pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, and all the ways Epstein worked to manipulate the federal prosecutors tasked with delivering justice. Mentioned in this episode: Julie’s reporting: https://www.miamiherald.com/profile/218644665/ Julie’s Substack: https://jkbjournalist.substack.com/ Harry’s column about Katie Phang’s Epstein transparency suit: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/cutting-edge-legal-argument-could Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryTrump's Economy: Inflation, Instability, and Influence
4w ago01:02:26Summary readyStellar economic analysts Dean Baker, Paul Krugman, and Stephanie Ruhle join Harry for his periodic deep dive into the ways Trump is reshaping the U.S. economy. The panel weighs the immediate and long-term economic effects of Trump’s on-again, off-again war with Iran. Next, they take stock of Trump's record-breaking self-enrichment, and of how the Supreme Court has opened the door to more chaos and self-dealing. They close with a look at Kevin Warsh, Trump’s hand-picked new Fed Chair, tasked with keeping a fragile economy on track. Mentioned in this episode: Dean’s column: https://cepr.net/series/dean-bakers-beat-the-press/Paul’s Substack: https://paulkrugman.substack.com/Stephanie’s new show: https://www.ms.now/money-power-politics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryAdam Schiff is Ready to Battle Blanche
Jul 901:10:37Summary readyFor his latest Talking San Diego conversation, Harry sits down with California Senator Adam Schiff. The two start with a close look at the upcoming confirmation battle over would-be Attorney General Todd Blanche. Drawing on their shared background as federal prosecutors, the two discuss what makes Blanche a singularly troubling nominee. The senator then shares his analysis of Blanche's prospects, including his probable reception among critical Republicans. Senator Schiff then lays out tactics for defending the midterms, plans for righting Chief Justice John Roberts’s wrongs—including by packing the bench—and his efforts to protect California from a vengeful Trump. Harry and the senator also cover some slightly lighter fare, including the status of the senator’s comedy career and what life is like inside Trump’s brain, where the senator "lives rent free." This Talking San Diego event was made possible by our venue partner Congregation Beth Israel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummarySlaughterhouse-Six
Jul 600:58:51Summary readyIt’s our annual Supreme Court term wrap-up. To break down a term marked by juggernaut victories for the conservative legal movement—as well as a few key losses for Trump—Harry is joined by Amy Howe, Dahlia Lithwick, and Steve Vladeck. They break down the biggest cases and spotlight several overlooked decisions with enormous long-term consequences for executive power, immigration, and the structure of the American government itself. Finally, the trio looks ahead to the next term and posits ways to restrain a runaway court. Mentioned in this episode:Amy’s reporting: https://www.scotusblog.com/author/amy-howe/Dahlia’s reporting: https://slate.com/author/dahlia-lithwickSteve’s Substack: https://www.stevevladeck.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryDavid Brooks on Trump, AI, and Fixing America
Jul 200:32:29Summary readyHarry talks with David Brooks about how we can redeem the society that produced an epidemic of loneliness, a shallow public life, and of course, Donald Trump. The two discuss Brooks’s stubborn optimism and the solutions he thinks could turn the tide toward a stronger, more communal America. Brooks lays out his hopes and fears for AI, warning of a society riven not just by income inequality but “cognitive inequality.” And he describes the kind of leader he’d like to see funnel the widespread demands for change that continue to roil American politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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