Talking Feds

The Supreme Court argument in the Mississippi abortion case, already shaping up as the biggest of the Term, transformed during oral argument this week into the most important case of a generation, as it became clear that the new conservative majority was poised either to sharply restrict, or flatly overrule, the Court’s landmark abortion jurisprudence. Harry and a panel of top Supreme Court experts analyze the argument and gauge the immense impact on American women and the court’s own standing. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Harry is joined by a fantastic panel of experts – Senator Cory Booker, award-winning author Michael Pollan, and sustainable farming activist Leah Penniman – to discuss the country's deeply flawed farming and food production systems. The group breaks down the economic, health, and environmental harms of Big Agriculture; the legislative policies that have allowed them to persist; and the diverse movement working to improve the ways we produce and consume food. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The week ended with a thunderous 1-2 stroke of the passage in the House of the Build Back Better Bill, arguably the most significant piece of legislation in a generation, followed by the announcement of the across-the-board acquittals in the Kyle Rittenhouse case. An all-star panel comprising CNN anchor Laura Jarrett and Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Jamie Raskin join Harry to break down both developments and place them in the broader context of the country’s continuing partisan divide. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Bannon indictment is the biggest game-changer in many months in the pursuit of the truth about various aspects of the Trump presidency. “From the White House to the Big House to Rittenhouse" features a stellar panel—Alisyn Camerota, Jen Rubin, & Rick Wilson-- to unpack the broader legal, cultural & political implications of the landmark indictment. We also cover the Rittenhouse trial, which is morphing into a litmus test of partisan divisions on issues of race, gun control, and vigilantism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our quarterly review of goings-on at the Department of Justice, with seasoned DOJ stalwarts Katie Benner, Matt Miller, and Andrew Weissmann. The group analyzes the progress of the Jan 6 investigation and assesses the criticism the Department is attracting from all corners, including the federal bench. They then canvass new DOJ policies on cybercrime and white collar crime and consider whether the changes are real or cosmetic. Finally, they take up the latest from special counsel John Durham. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Talking Feds brings you our first Q&A session with host Harry Litman. Listeners submitted questions, and Harry answered, covering the January 6 committee, Bannon’s subpoena avoidance, and questions regarding the legal proceedings of the insurrection’s trial. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Biden goes to Rome at a crucial juncture at home and a time of extraordinary challenge on the international front. He had hoped to carry with him the buoying victory of the passage of spending bills to bolster the country’s claim as the world’s leading democracy, but his efforts fell just short. A trio of national and international experts – Michael McFaul, Francis Fukuyama, and Juliette Kayyem – analyze Biden’s vexing agenda with respect to China, Russia, NATO, and climate change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a week of push coming to shove, as a series of high-stakes disputes moved to an endgame with no clear picture of how they would come out. Talking Feds regulars Laura Coates, Matt Miller, and Senator Al Franken join Harry to work through what happens next in the referral of Steve Bannon to the DOJ on charges of criminal contempt. They then turn to the apparent endgame of filibuster reform and voting rights before assessing Merrick Garland’s appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After a roaring start to his presidency that evoked comparisons to the New Deal and Great Society, President Biden finds himself at 45% approval ratings and with his signature transformative legislation stalling. A great group of Talking Feds regulars—Laura Jarrett, Joe Lockhart, and Phil Rucker–join Harry to analyze the path ahead for Biden. They then take up the January 6 select committee subpoena showdowns, focusing on Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Clark,before turning to the vaccine mandate wars. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A special episode focusing on the growing and acute threat of domestic terrorism.  After 20 years of reflexively looking at terrorism as a threat arising from faraway lands, the country is confronting a scourge of terrorists-predominantly far-right white supremacists — in the homeland. Three of the country’s most prominent experts — Sen Bob Kerrey, Julia Ioffe, and Davd Kris — discuss the magnitude of the threat, its connection to Trumpian politics, possible prescriptions for defeating it, and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Supreme Court starts its annual term this week at a hugely fraught moment for the court and the country, and with public confidence in the court’s integrity near a historic low. This is the term when the new majority must lay its cards down in a series of blockbuster cases and reveal where they are willing to take the country. Three great experts--Emily Bazelon, Jen Rubin, and Steve Vladeck-- join Harry to break down the law and politics of this extraordinary moment in the court’s history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Peter Baker, Alexi McCammond, and Congressman Ted Lieu join Harry to analyze a contentious week in Washington: liberal and moderate Democrats were at loggerheads on the two big spending bills; Republicans and Democrats were at loggerheads over raising the debt ceiling; Congress and former Executive Branch officials were at loggerheads over demands to testify before the January 6 Select Committee; and all comers jumped on President Biden for the Haitian migrant crisis playing out in Texas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a week that put to the test the adage “As California Goes, So Goes the Nation,” but with unclear results. CA Gov Gavin Newsom handily turned back a recall effort, which Biden ascribed to Newsom’s COVID policies while others credited to the increasing unpopularity of Donald Trump. 3 of the country’s sharpest political minds – Jonah Goldberg, Norm Ornstein, & former Sen Barbara Boxer – take the recall as a prism for discussion of the national mood re Trump, COVID, voting rights and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a week that put to the test the adage “As California Goes, So Goes the Nation,” but with unclear results. CA Gov Gavin Newsom handily turned back a recall effort, which Biden ascribed to Newsom’s COVID policies while others credited to the increasing unpopularity of Donald Trump. 3 of the country’s sharpest political minds – Jonah Goldberg, Norm Ornstein, & former Sen Barbara Boxer – take the recall as a prism for discussion of the national mood re Trump, COVID, voting rights and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 20th anniversary of 9/11 finds the country down in the dumps about that milestone, with many highlighting lost opportunities to consolidate the U.S.’s position as the world’s moral leader and new daunting challenges in combatting international and domestic terror. The DOJ entered forcefully into the fray of the Texas abortion case, but harbingers of a future demolition of abortion rights remain. And COVID’s resurgence gives rise to anxiety about continuing dislocation of present-day life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 20th anniversary of 9/11 finds the country down in the dumps about that milestone, with many highlighting lost opportunities to consolidate the U.S.’s position as the world’s moral leader and new daunting challenges in combatting international and domestic terror. The DOJ entered forcefully into the fray of the Texas abortion case, but harbingers of a future demolition of abortion rights remain. And COVID’s resurgence gives rise to anxiety about continuing dislocation of present-day life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the end of a week of turmoil from Afghanistan to Austin, Jon Alter, Matt Miller, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon join Harry to assess the damage and analyze the portents. The 4 begin with the Texas abortion statute that the Supreme Court refused to enjoin, and the possibility of effective pushback by Congress or the Executive Branch. They then assess the withdrawal in Afghanistan and the diplomatic path ahead before taking up the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 select committee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At the end of a week of turmoil from Afghanistan to Austin, Jon Alter, Matt Miller, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon join Harry to assess the damage and analyze the portents. The 4 begin with the Texas abortion statute that the Supreme Court refused to enjoin, and the possibility of effective pushback by Congress or the Executive Branch. They then assess the withdrawal in Afghanistan and the diplomatic path ahead before taking up the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 select committee. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An episode devoted to the savage terrorist attack at the Kabul airport and its national-security implications at home and abroad. Four leading national security experts—Frank Figiliuzzi, with Elizabeth Neumann, Ken Dilanian, and David Laufman—dig into the sharp difficulties for combating terror our withdrawal from Afghanistan presents. They then pivot to the ominous possibility of increased far-right terrorism in the US, as exemplified by the boos that greeted Trump for endorsing the vaccine.

An episode devoted to the savage terrorist attack at the Kabul airport and its national-security implications at home and abroad. Four leading national security experts—Frank Figiliuzzi, with Elizabeth Neumann, Ken Dilanian, and David Laufman—dig into the sharp difficulties for combating terror our withdrawal from Afghanistan presents. They then pivot to the ominous possibility of increased far-right terrorism in the US, as exemplified by the boos that greeted Trump for endorsing the vaccine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.