What A Day

Jason Zengerle, New Yorker staff writer and author of Hated by All the Right People, discusses Tucker Carlson's many reinventions from print to prime-time. He outlines Carlson's knack for tailoring messages, how clip culture amplified him, and what his shifting priorities reveal about power, media, and the future of the right.

Radley Balko, investigative journalist known for exposing police misconduct, discusses federal immigration enforcement and DHS body-cam plans. He compares federal tactics to local policing. He explores masking, window‑breaking, illegal stops, rhetoric that enables violence, and why these practices feel authoritarian.

Marc Elias, voting rights lawyer and founder of Democracy Docket, breaks down recent FBI ballot seizures and why they matter. He explains how seizing voter files could be used to suppress votes, outlines a two-part playbook to undermine elections, and warns these actions may be rehearsals for future interference. He also discusses mid-cycle gerrymandering and where legal fights could reshape key races.

Tim Kaine, U.S. senator and former Virginia governor, discusses pushing legislation to reform DHS, ICE, and CBP. He outlines proposals for body cameras, warrants for home entries, and stronger accountability. Conversations cover bipartisan negotiations, public pressure driving change, and civic actions like peaceful protest and voting.

Alex Wagner, journalist and Runaway Country host reporting from Minneapolis, gives on-the-ground coverage of life under intense immigration enforcement. She describes community networks ferrying families, mutual aid and childcare rotations. She also recounts local protests, memorials and the strain on churches and schools as residents organize and resist.

Patricia Mazzei, Miami bureau chief for The New York Times who covers South Florida politics, discusses Cuban-American political organizing and its sway in Washington. She explores why Cuban Americans trend Republican, the role of anti-communism in U.S. policy toward Cuba and Venezuela, and how migration waves and immigration laws shape Miami’s power.

Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota, speaks briefly about how increased ICE activity is disrupting schools and student attendance. Jamie Raskin, Maryland congressman and constitutional lawyer, discusses using congressional leverage, investigations, and reforms like IDs and body cameras for DHS operations. They cover policy fights, political strategy, and community impacts in short, direct conversations.

Laura Jedeed, freelance journalist who applied to ICE and reported on its recruitment, shares her inside account. She describes the career expo vibe, a six-minute interview, and how she received a final offer after minimal screening. She raises concerns about vetting and unanswered questions from DHS. Short, revealing scenes about who shows up and how the process unfolded.

Ken White, a former federal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, dives into the high-stakes legal drama surrounding Donald Trump. He discusses Jack Smith's House Judiciary testimony and the aggressive tactics used against perceived political enemies. Their conversation touches on the implications of Trump's weaponization of the DOJ and how this landscape could evolve. White also critiques recent federal charges related to protests, revealing complexities within the legal system, while highlighting ICE's controversial practices. A must-listen for anyone interested in the intersecting worlds of law and politics!

Dan Pfeiffer, a former White House communications official and co-host of Pod Save America, dives into Donald Trump's alarming polling decline. Discussing the fallout from Trump's Greenland proposal and canceled tariffs, Pfeiffer emphasizes how these unpopular stances have damaged his image. He explores the political landscape, explaining why independents and minority voters are turning away from Trump, and warns about the dangers of a weakened yet unpredictable leader. Expect insights on issues Republicans handle better, despite Trump's overall unpopularity.