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.
115episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Blanche in the Arena
Today00:58:54Summary 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
5d 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
1w 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
2w ago01:10:37Summary 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
2w ago00:58:51Summary 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
3w ago00:32:29Summary 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
SummaryKick Out Your Tired and Poor
3w ago00:54:18Summary readyOur latest Contrarian episode comes with the end of the SCOTUS term looming, primaries shaking the Democratic party, and a key court ruling threatening Trump’s slush fund. A pair of Contrarian stalwarts—Maria Cardona and Norm Eisen—join Harry to break it all down. Has the Supreme Court just further broken our immigration system? And what will its final rulings of the term bring? Have mainstream Democrats lost their mojo? And could a new avenue of judicial scrutiny doom Trump’s ugliest self-deal? Mentioned in this episode: The Contrarian: https://www.contrariannews.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryChris Murphy on Fighting Trump and Pursuing Happiness
4w ago00:35:55Summary ready“The fight,” Senator Chris Murphy tells Harry, “shouldn’t just be to get rid of Trump. The fight should be to create a different economy and a different culture.” That’s the message of the senator’s new book—Crisis of the Common Good—which offers a host of provocative ideas for fixing the cracks in our society through which Trump crawled his way to power. After the two look at some of the latest Trump-induced crises, like Iran and the slush fund, Harry digs into the book’s many big ideas. He closes by asking the senator about the steps any American can take toward a happier life and a healthier democracy. Mentioned in this episode: Senator Murphy's book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621117/crisisofthecommongood/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryWill the FBI Stand Up to Trump?
4w ago01:02:31Summary readyThree veterans of the FBI—Michael Feinberg, Andrew McCabe, and Asha Rangappa—join Harry for a special deep-dive on the Bureau. The panel explores the dangerous, erratic leadership of Kash Patel, whose blunders keep embarrassing his agents and harming their mission. They dig into the costs of Patel’s relentless purge of old personnel, of which Michael was an early victim. Finally, the trio zeroes in on the crucial leaders within the Bureau whom they urge to stand up to Patel—as their oath requires—or watch him turn the FBI into a corrupt and politicized tool of Trump. Mentioned in this episode: Andrew’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unjustified/id1317481380 Michael’s analysis: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/mfeinberg Asha’s Substack: https://asharangappa.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryMolly Mashup: “Who’s Not Mad at Trump Right Now?”
Jun 1800:29:43Summary readyIn their newest mashup, Harry and Molly Jong-Fast trade questions about the president's weak deal with Iran and latest failures in federal courts. Molly wants to know where the slush fund stands and whether the Kennedy Center fiasco is the beginning of the end for Trump’s makeover of D.C. Harry asks about the political price the president will pay for the Iran deal, and if Trump can get away with a self-styled “bit of intrigue” aimed at installing ultra-loyalist Bill Pulte at the nexus of the U.S. intelligence services. Mentioned in this episode: Molly's podcast: https://fastpoliticspod.com/Molly's Substack: https://mollyjongfast.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summary