Ray Romano, Laura Coates, and Walter Kirn join the podcast to discuss Italian family stereotypes, racial segregation, trigger warnings on conservative op-eds, publishing controversies, Hunter Biden, Bradley Cooper, true crime podcasts, NSA monitoring, Die Hard as a Christmas film, changes in Bethlehem, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

When Laura Coates decided to become a prosecutor in Washington, D.C., she was told that the job would be “human misery.” She says she remembers thinking, “If there's one person in the justice system who could do something about human misery, surely, it's the powerful prosecutor.” After four years, she quit.Laura’s book is Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight For Fairness.We need your help. We are conducting a short audience survey to help plan for our future and hear from you. To participate, head to vox.com/podsurvey, and thank you!Say hello on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts: iTunes.com/CriminalShow.We also make This is Love and Phoebe Reads a Mystery.Artwork by Julienne Alexander. Check out our online shop. Episode transcripts are posted on our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Alberta is a staff writer at The Atlantic and author on evangelicalism in America. Laura Coates, a CNN anchor and legal analyst, joins alongside Buck Sexton, a former CIA analyst and radio show co-host. They humorously explore the influence of evangelicals in politics, especially their support for Trump. The discussion tackles voter engagement strategies, particularly among young Black men, while also critiquing gender identity and masculinity in today’s political landscape. Additionally, they offer a witty take on absurd political endorsements amidst serious global issues.

Ray Romano, Laura Coates, and Walter Kirn discuss topics such as the impact of weight loss drugs, the success of 'Everybody Loves Raymond', challenges for stand-up comedians, sports investments, Trump's immunity claim, and the shift in polling numbers for the 2020 Democratic candidates.

Journalist Tim Alberta, known for his insights at Politico, and legal analyst Laura Coates, a former federal prosecutor and CNN commentator, dive into pressing political questions. They discuss the implications of a former president's remarks on voting patterns among black men. The conversation shifts to the charisma over policy debate, examining leaders like Trump and Harris. They also analyze the complexities of legal accusations in politics, the rise of divisive politics, and the damaging effects of misinformation on democracy.