What A Day
Crooked Media
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Oct 17, 2025 • 24min
America Has No Kings
Erica Chenoweth, a political scientist known for her work on protest movements and democracy, joins to discuss the No Kings protests sweeping across America. She predicts a diverse turnout and emphasizes that these events are largely peaceful, debunking claims of violence and outside funding. Chenoweth also explores the threat of governmental crackdowns on dissent, particularly through targeting left-wing groups, and reaffirms the importance of First Amendment rights amidst rising tensions.
14 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 21min
Rural Healthcare Is At Stake In The Shutdown Fight
Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Democratic U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, dives into the implications of the government shutdown on rural health care. She discusses the critical nature of ACA subsidies and how their potential loss threatens farmers and access to local hospitals. Baldwin emphasizes the urgency of the situation for constituents and advocates for policies to lower health care costs, including transparency measures. With pressing issues like these at stake, she shares insights on the urgent need for a government reopening to support federal workers.
30 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 20min
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene Sounds Like A Democrat Lately
Annie Karni, a congressional reporter for The New York Times, dives deep into Marjorie Taylor Greene's surprising political shifts. Once a conspiracy theorist, Greene is now adopting more liberal stances, even labeling the Gaza situation as genocide and challenging GOP foreign policy. Karni discusses how Greene’s independence and confrontations over issues like Epstein reveal her evolving role. While she may not be uniting Republicans, she is certainly challenging the party and reshaping power dynamics in Congress.
23 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 26min
Your Shutdown Outrage Won’t Change The Next Election
Lakshya Jain, head of political data for The Argument, dives into the implications of the ongoing government shutdown. He discusses why Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to negotiate could lead to a prolonged standoff. The conversation explores whether voters will remember this shutdown by the next midterms and challenges the notion that shutdowns significantly shift electoral outcomes. Jain emphasizes the limited impact on most voters and suggests that the blame could eventually shift to either party, making the political landscape unpredictable.
12 snips
Oct 13, 2025 • 22min
Trump Is Prosecuting His Enemies
Peter Neronha, Attorney General of Rhode Island and former federal prosecutor, dives into the complex world of politicized prosecutions. He discusses recent indictments against figures like Letitia James and James Comey, questioning if these moves represent retaliation against Trump's political foes. Neronha also examines how the Department of Justice's norms have shifted under the current administration, impacting the integrity of legal processes. He highlights the role of state AG coalitions in legal battles against federal policies, showing the intersection of law and politics.
27 snips
Oct 10, 2025 • 25min
What A Week!
Tommy Vietor, co-host of Pod Save America and former White House National Security Council spokesperson, dives into pressing U.S. political challenges. He analyzes the recent phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, highlighting its uncertainties. Vietor discusses the ongoing government shutdown's effects on Washington politics and addresses Trump’s controversial deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago and Portland. He also touches on shifting CDC vaccine guidance and economic impacts on Halloween candy prices.
Oct 9, 2025 • 27min
Trump's War And Peace Plans
Ken Klippenstein, an independent journalist focused on national security, breaks down National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 and its implications for political freedoms. He discusses the administration's framing of 'left-wing terrorism' and how this affects civil liberties. Klippenstein also explains the legal reach of NSPM 7, warning indicators like anti-capitalism, and the potential chilling effects on speech and nonprofits. Additionally, he comments on Israel and Hamas's peace negotiations and critiques Trump's claims about Antifa.
31 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 25min
Will SCOTUS Greenlight Trump’s Worst Ideas?
Kate Shaw, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and co-host of Crooked Media's Strict Scrutiny, dives into the new Supreme Court term and its focus on presidential authority. She discusses pivotal cases like Chiles v. Salazar regarding conversion therapy and its First Amendment implications. Shaw highlights how conservative justices are approaching high-stakes issues, including Trump's power over the Federal Reserve and tariff policies. The conversation reveals the increasing significance of the shadow docket in shaping legal precedents.
14 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 28min
Fed Versus Blue
Elizabeth Goitein, a senior director at the Brennan Center for Justice, explores the controversial deployment of the National Guard to cities protesting against federal policies. She discusses the legal implications of these actions, the differences between Guard and police roles, and historical precedents for federalizing the Guard. Goitein warns about the erosion of rights under militarized policing and shares advice for residents in affected areas to document and protest peacefully. She also anticipates legal challenges could escalate to the Supreme Court.
26 snips
Oct 6, 2025 • 25min
The Politics Of 'AI Slop'
In this insightful discussion, Jason Koebler, co-founder of 404 Media and a tech journalist, dives into the world of 'AI slop'—the attention-grabbing, AI-generated content flooding our feeds. He explains how this profit-driven phenomenon exploits social media algorithms and how apps like Sora are blurring the lines of reality with lifelike videos. Koebler also sheds light on the impact of AI slop in politics, how to identify it, and why it's here to stay. A must-listen for anyone curious about the future of online content!
