Impromptu

Donald Trump won. But why? Were Americans really just mad about their grocery bill? Columnists Ruth Marcus, Dana Milbank and James Hohmann grapple with this election result as an “X-ray into our national soul.”Read more from Washington Post columnists:“No, the way to cope with a Trump win isn’t moving to Canada”“A big win for the Blow It Up Party, but what then?”Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

None of us can know the outcome of the election, but our columnists talk through the campaign’s final spasms. Ruth Marcus, Dana Milbank and James Hohmann discuss the shifting mood in Pennsylvania, whether abortion will be as motivating this time around and if Donald Trump can get “crypto bros and the guy who vapes” to actually vote.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

In the final stretch of the campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is making a play for Republicans who don’t like Donald Trump. But can they be swayed to vote for a lifelong Democrat? Columnists Megan McArdle, Jim Geraghty and Ramesh Ponnuru discuss what they’re hearing from fellow conservatives about this election and the future of the GOP. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Heather Long, an Economy columnist at The Washington Post, and Molly Roberts, an editorial writer and columnist, dive into the murky waters of America's tipping culture. They discuss the pressure consumers face with preset tips and how this complicates the wage structure for service workers. The conversation also explores global tipping practices and political implications of tipping taxation. With a humorous critique of the absurdities in tipping, they advocate for clearer compensation systems to support service workers more fairly.

In the final stretch of the presidential campaign, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are turning to popular lifestyle and comedy podcasts to woo different audiences. We were curious whether the candidates sounded any different in these environments than at their rallies. So columnists Charles Lane, Molly Roberts and Perry Bacon listened in and discussed what they learned.Listen to the podcasts we discussed in the episode here:Donald Trump on “This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von”Donald Trump on “Flagrant”Kamala Harris on “Call Her Daddy”Kamala Harris on “All the Smoke”

The National Archives might seem like a distant trove of documents and arcane laws for Americans far from Washington. But many of these national treasures are actually relevant to our lives. Author Sarah Vowell found the people inside the Archives who are making sure everybody can access these documents and find their stories. Read Sarah Vowell’s full story here: The EqualizerAnd check out the rest of the “Who is government?” series.The Canary, by Michael LewisThe Sentinel, by Casey CepThe Searchers, by Dave EggersThe Number, by John LanchesterThe Cyber Sleuth, by Geraldine BrooksThe original version of this audio mistakenly referred to one of the Citizen Archivists as Bernard Weintraub, but his name is Joel Weintraub. We regret the error.

As tensions between Israel and Iran soar, columnists David Ignatius and Josh Rogin talk with Damir Marusic about the broader forces at play in the conflict, the lack of plans for a stable future and what a Trump victory would mean for the U.S.-Iran relationship.Read more from David Ignatius on this issue: “What the Oct. 7 attacks didn’t change”“Trump courts disaster by underestimating Iranian death threats”Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

The IRS may be one of the most hated departments in the federal government, but it turns out it does more than just collect taxes. Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks got to know the folks in charge of the IRS’s cybercrime unit which investigates criminals who use cryptocurrency. In this bonus episode, Brooks talks with Michael Lewis about what she learned. Read Geraldine Brooks’s full article here: Meet the black-belt, tattooed IRS official who saved 23 children from their abusersAnd check out the rest of the “Who is Government” series. The Canary, by Michael LewisThe Sentinel, by Casey CepThe Searchers, by Dave EggersThe Number, by John Lanchester

Karen Tumulty, a sharp political columnist, Dana Milbank, known for his contemporary insights, and Ruth Marcus, an expert in political analysis, delve into J.D. Vance's recent vice-presidential debate performance. They highlight how Vance's attempt to soften his stance on abortion reflects Republican anxieties ahead of the election. The trio also discusses the lingering impact of the Jan. 6 events, the dynamics of live fact-checking during debates, and the challenges candidates face in navigating polarized politics while aiming to connect with voters.

Join acclaimed author Michael Lewis, known for his deep dives into finance, and journalist John Lanchester, celebrated for his urban insights, as they unravel the complexities of government counting. They discuss how inflation numbers reflect national values and decision-making. The duo highlights the critical role data plays in governance, especially in crises like the pandemic. They also delve into the murky waters where fact meets fiction, emphasizing a growing mistrust in information and the urgent need for authentic narratives in policy debates.