Podcast
What A Day
Hosted by What A Day · EN
If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right? New episodes at 5:00 a.m. EST, Monday–Friday in your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. Being informed was never this easy.
507episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Tucker Carlson's Vision For America
Today00:20:33Summary readyIn a livestream Wednesday night, Tucker Carlson laid out some ideas for what he thinks would make Americans’ lives better – a vision, you could call it. And while he didn’t say that he’s going to run for President in 2028, a lot of people think he should – including some of Trump’s most prominent former allies. So we asked The Bulwark’s Will Sommer: What’s really behind Tucker Carlson’s long rant?And in headlines, a Senate committee votes to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, Uganda’s Defense Minister wins parliamentary approval to deploy troops to Gaza, and WK Kellogg says it will remove artificial colors from all its cereals by the end of 2026.Show Notes: Check out Will's piece – https://tinyurl.com/yawzsfkf Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
Jon Favreau Ranks Michigan Primary Hot Takes
Yesterday00:19:47Summary readyIt was a big night for Michigan Democrats, as progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed beat US Representative Haley Stevens in the race for a seat in the Senate this fall. But what did we actually learn from El-Sayed’s victory? Was this a win for progressives? A shot at the establishment? Is he too liberal to win in November? And what does this say about the midterms? Everyone has an opinion… but not all of them are good. To hear more about which takes we should be listening to, we spoke to Jon Favreau. He’s the co-host of Pod Save America.And in headlines, President Trump tells reporters a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come this week, the US is seeing more possible cyber attacks targeting water systems, and the Trump Administration is giving tariff refunds! But Americans are unlikely to see any of the money.Show Notes: Check out Pod Save America – youtube.com/@podsaveamerica Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
A New GOP Scandal Erupts
2d ago00:22:00Summary readyOhio Republican Rep. Max Miller is facing serious allegations of spousal and child abuse from his former wife, Emily Moreno. Miller has denied all of the allegations, and as of our recording on Tuesday, he’s shown no indications that he wants to resign from office – even as several Senate Republicans have said he should quit. But Miller is not the only House Republican under the microscope for bad behavior — something that isn’t making life any easier on House Speaker Mike Johnson just a few months before the midterms. For more, we spoke to Jake Sherman, co-founder of Punchbowl News.And in headlines, the Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination, Michigan voters head to the polls, and the Iran war has reportedly almost eliminated the U.S. stockpile of long-range precision missiles.Show Notes: Check out Punchbowl News Check out Jake's podcast – www.youtube.com/@punchbowlnews Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
The Panic Over Progressive Dems
3d ago00:21:17Summary readyYou’ve probably heard a lot about the Democratic Socialists and progressives running for office nationwide – and maybe even more about how establishment Democrats are terrified of them. A lot of that concern is because they think they’ll lose to their Republican counterparts. But many Republican candidates running for statewide office this term are in a league of their own… and not in a good way. So are establishment Democrats right? Will progressive candidates push voters to Republicans – even if they're the least qualified people around? To find out, we talked to Dan Pfeiffer. He’s the co-host of Pod Save America and the author of the Message Box newsletter on Substack.And in headlines, Iran and President Trump disagree over whether negotiations are back on, two Republican senators clear the way for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation, and the Michigan Department of Health announces the first confirmed deaths related to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak.Show Notes: Check out Message Box – www.messageboxnews.com Check out Pod Save America – youtube.com/@podsaveamerica Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
1: Georgia: The New Bellwether
5d ago00:24:38Summary readyGeorgia has become one of the most closely watched states in America, but its story didn't begin with the last election.Jen, Mitch, and Errin explore the history, communities, and political forces that transformed Georgia into the center of the national conversation.Through interviews with civic leaders, elected officials, and everyday Georgians, they examine how the state's civil rights legacy, rapid growth, and changing electorate continue to shape both Southern politics and the future of the country.Guests: Sen. Jon Ossoff, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, LaTosha Brown (Black Voters Matter), Kyle Tibbs-Jones (The Bitter Southerner)
Summary
Trump's Presidential Payday
6d ago00:21:24Summary readyAbout a month ago, the Antwerp World Diamond Center, which deals with a large percentage of the world’s diamonds, made Donald Trump a very special gift purportedly for America’s 250th birthday. Then, just last week, the Trump Administration coincidentally exempted natural diamonds from its new sweeping global tariffs. Not a great look. It’s no secret that the Trump Administration is steeped in deals aimed at getting the President, his family, and his political organizations paid. As the Wall Street Journal reported, Trump is routinely asking for cash from companies and donors so he can build his ballroom or future design projects. The funnel of money aimed at this White House can be almost overwhelming. So what can we do about it? We spoke to Amanda Carpenter, a writer and editor at Protect Democracy, who has some ideas.And in headlines, July is on track to become the hottest month on record for the entire United States, about 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s tiny Ceuta territory in just 24 hours, and oil companies are profiting from the Iran war and the rising cost of gas.Show Notes: Check out Amanda's piece – tinyurl.com/3uk54psp Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
The Battle For Massachusetts' 8th District
1w ago00:23:57Summary readyThere are just 96 days until the November midterms — and while the battle between Democrats and Republicans is taking up a lot of headlines, many Democrats are also facing serious challenges from within their own party. Take Massachusetts's Eighth District, which includes parts of the city of Boston. Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch has represented the state in Congress since 2001 – and for much of that time, he hasn’t faced any serious primary challenges.But this year, he’s up against Patrick Roath, a 39-year old attorney who thinks that it’s time for a new generation in Congress. Today, we’re speak with both Patrick Roath and Representative Lynch about what they each think Democrats should do if they win back the House, and why they each are the best candidate for Massachusetts voters to send to Washington.And in headlines, the Iran war heats back up as United States and Iran continue to fire barrages of missiles, Trump’s approval rating among voters has dropped to 32 percent, and President Trump says he may temporarily pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the full-time AG position.Show Notes: Check out Rep. Lynch's campaign – www.stephenflynch.com Check out Patrick Roath's campaign – patrickroath.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
Senator Raphael Warnock On Where Morality Meets Politics
1w ago00:24:46Summary readyWe don’t often talk about what the most moral path forward for the Senate, or Congress, or hell, politics in general might be — but it would probably look more like doing something about ensuring everyday Americans can afford groceries and less like going to war with Iran. Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock gives this a lot of thought in his new book, “The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America,” where he lays out some of the biggest problems facing our country. We speak with Senator Warnock about his book and how we might move forward together.And in headlines, the U.S. and Iran trade strikes after days of calm; the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady despite persistently high inflation and a spike in energy prices caused by the Iran war; and Dr. Anthony Fauci pleads the fifth to more than 100 questions posed by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members.Show Notes: Check out Sen. Warnock's book – tinyurl.com/583vnpz4 Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
Trump's Lonely War
1w ago00:24:18Summary readyToday marked the start of two days of services for the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, with President Donald Trump joining foreign leaders at Washington National Cathedral for the funeral. Graham was arguably one of the biggest supporters of the Iran war. But now, he's gone – and the war he helped start is becoming increasingly unpopular. The Economist reported earlier this month that the war in Iran is America's least popular conflict since public poll tracking began. And thanks to a virtual Pentagon blackout on information, there's a lot we don't even know about this war in the first place. So, to talk more about the Iran war, we spoke with Tom Bowman. He's the Pentagon correspondent for NPR.And in headlines, wildfires across France and Spain have driven roughly 330,000 people from their homes and vacation sites; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent Kentucky Republican Senator McConnell a letter demanding that he prove that he can do his job; and a conservative activist group released audio tapes that appear to show former President Joe Biden sharing classified information with a biographer.Show Notes: Check out Tom's work – npr.org/people/5457129/tom-bowman Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary
Can Senate Republicans Pass Trump's Agenda?
1w ago00:23:57Summary readySenate Majority Leader John Thune is trying to get a bunch done ahead of the Senate’s long summer break, from sanctions legislation on Russia to funding the government. But none of that seems to matter to President Trump. He’s focused on the SAVE America Act – a sweeping piece of federal legislation that would dramatically change how Americans vote (and most likely, who gets to vote in the first place). Now, a group of far-right Senators – like Utah Sen. Mike Lee – are demanding Thune cancel vacation and put the SAVE America Act on the floor. So who is in charge in the Senate – John Thune, or Donald Trump? To find out, we spoke to Burgess Everett. He’s the congressional bureau chief at Semafor.And in headlines, Trump defended his sweeping tariffs during a speech at a General Motors facility in Michigan; a New York Times report revealed that the Trump Administration canceled major grants for clean-energy projects based entirely on politics; and President Trump finally got to perform his stand-up routine at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.Show Notes: Check out Burgess' work – semafor.com/author/burgess-everett Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com
Summary