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.
101episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
David Frum’s Unified Thesis of Trump’s Failings
Today00:33:58Summary readyThe U.S. war with Iran is not—despite promises from the White House—over. Nonetheless, premier national commentator David Frum is ready to declare a loser: Donald Trump. Together Harry and David piece through the interlocking personal failings of the president that foretold a winnable war against a far weaker enemy would become a debacle. And the two tackle how those traits shape Trump’s more successful pursuits: self-enrichment, going around the Constitution, and Mar-a-Lago-ifying the nation’s capital. Mentioned in this episode: David's columns: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-frum/ David's piece "Why Trump Lost": https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/05/why-trump-lost-iran/687291/ David's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDamP-pfOskNgMNI1eg0pajQfRu-q3NUO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryPurges, Payoffs, and Paxton
3d ago01:00:15Summary readyAs Trump puts a blue Texas in reach, Harry talks with Jonathan Alter, David A. Graham, and Senator Heidi Heitkamp to discuss the fall’s premier Senate race and the latest outrages from the DOJ. Should Democrats go all out to beat scandal-plagued Ken Paxton? Or does an obsession with Texas distract from other, less flashy pickup chances elsewhere? Can Trump’s “self-deal steal” survive sudden gusts of political and legal headwinds? And why is the DOJ now reportedly targeting E. Jean Carroll, a private citizen?Mentioned in this episode: Jonathan’s Substack: https://oldgoats.substack.com/David’s reporting: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-a-graham/Harry’s latest column: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/not-too-shabbyHarry’s conversation with Congressman Jamie Raskin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7rpqMubPEQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryPatrick Radden Keefe’s “London Falling” and Death in the Time of Oligarchs
1w ago00:40:59Summary readyA teenager hurtles from the balcony of a luxury apartment complex into the Thames. That unexplained death animates the newest book from one of America’s great nonfiction writers, Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick joins Harry to unspool the story's web of shady characters, complacent police, and desperate parents. The two delve into the transformation of London into a playground for the extremely and unscrupulously wealthy—like Russian oligarchs—that made the fatal fall possible and draw out the way Trump is overseeing a similar shift in the United States. And Harry digs into Patrick’s approach to writing, including how his law degree informs his precise, almost prosecutorial reporting. Mentioned in this episode: London Falling: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704979/london-falling-by-patrick-radden-keefe/ Patrick's reporting: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/patrick-radden-keefe Patrick's story about Trump, Mark Burnett, and the Apprentice: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/01/07/how-mark-burnett-resurrected-donald-trump-as-an-icon-of-american-success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryOrange Slush (Special DOJ Episode)
1w ago01:04:41Summary readyFor Talking Feds' latest special episode on the Department of Justice, Harry bears down on the DOJ's sinister creation of $1.8 billion slush fund for Trump's nastiest allies. Expert observers of the Department—Ken Dilanian, Glenn Kirschner, and Mimi Rocah—join Harry to dive into the nefarious details and the avenues for pushing back. The panel then surveys the sorry state of field offices, including a disturbing pattern of grand jury misconduct by DOJ lawyers. The group ends with a look at DOJ's ongoing battles with James and Maurene Comey. Mentioned in this episode: Ken's reporting: https://www.ms.now/author/ken-dilanian-2 Glenn's Substack: https://glennkirschner.substack.com/ Glenn's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GlennKirschner2 Mimi's piece about the slush fund: https://www.contrariannews.org/p/doj-facilitates-a-heist Harry's latest column about the slush fund: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/a-metastasizing-scandal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryHow SCOTUS is Slanting the Midterms
2w ago00:36:48Summary readyHarry talks with Rick Hasen, one of the country’s leading experts in election law and a prophet of Chief Justice John Roberts’s decades-long project to tear down voting rights. Hasen explains why Roberts—after taking a slow and steady approach for so long—is suddenly masterminding an aggressive “two minute offense.” Hasen lays out the damage dealt to American democracy by the decision, the prospects for court reform, and the signals that Roberts knows time is running out for him and the conservative dominance of the Supreme Court. Mentioned in this episode: Professor Hasen’s analysis: https://slate.com/author/richard-l-hasen Professor Hasen’s 2013 New York Times piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/opinion/the-chief-justices-long-game.htmlHarry’s column about the history behind the Callais decision: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/callais-caps-the-roberts-courts-comprehensive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryTrump's "Systematic" Undermining of the Economy
2w ago00:36:00Summary readyWith gas prices surging and inflation on the rise once more, Harry turns to economist Justin Wolfers to get a handle on what Trump is doing to the U.S. economy. Wolfers explains why the real cost of the war with Iran is vastly higher than the figures quoted so far by the Pentagon, how long exorbitant fuel costs could last, and the deeper, unremarked ways that Trump is challenging the foundations of American prosperity. Mentioned in this episode: Platypus Economics on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@PlatypusEconomics? Platypus Economics on Substack: https://newsletter.platypuseconomics.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryRace to the Bottom (Early Roundtable)
3w ago01:01:31Summary 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
SummaryRedistricting Roulette
3w 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
4w 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
May 400:58:27Summary 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
Summary