What A Day

Pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia and UCLA, while Congress passes controversial Anti-Semitism Awareness Act. Arizona reverses Civil War-era abortion ban. Federal Reserve keeps interest rates flat, potential bird flu vaccine availability. Defamation lawsuit and docu-series revelations discussed.

Krishna Andavolu discusses the DOJ's move to reclassify marijuana, impacting businesses, medicine, and criminal justice. Other topics include Trump's hush-money trial, Columbia University protest, and new breast cancer screening recommendations.

Longtime Washington journalist Todd Zwillich discusses New York's special election and its impact on Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's majority. Other topics include Columbia University suspending students, a federal ruling on gender-affirming care coverage, and Elon Musk's legal battle with the SEC.

President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to discuss developments in the latest round of cease-fire talks. The White House says Biden also “reiterated his clear position” against Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have taken refuge since the start of the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed back to the Middle East on Sunday ahead of meetings with Arab leaders this week.And in headlines: Pro-Palestine protesters and counter-protesters supporting Israel clashed on UCLA’s campus Sunday morning, Biden roasted former President Donald Trump at Saturday’s White House Correspondents Dinner, and Republican vice presidential hopeful and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem writes about killing a puppy in her upcoming memoir.Show Notes:What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Exploring the historic vote for autoworkers union at a Volkswagen plant in the South. Delving into the obstacles faced by unions in Southern states since the Civil War. Discussing the impact of racism, foreign influence, and decline of unions in the US. Uncovering the reasons behind the recent success of collective bargaining in the South.

Guest Leah Litman discusses Trump's claim of immunity from criminal charges, questioning democracy and the rule of law. Pro-Palestinian protests escalate on college campuses, Weinstein faces retrial, and Apple forecasts grim headset sales.

Jay Willis, Editor-in-chief of Balls and Strikes, discusses the SCOTUS case on Trump's immunity and its implications on the 2024 election. Also, the court's conservative justices express skepticism about an Idaho abortion law. Biden signs foreign aid package, TikTok ban bill. UN calls for investigation into mass graves in Gaza.

Police arrested hundreds of college students in the last week amid intensifying campus protests over the Israel-Gaza war. While demonstrations have been ongoing at some universities since the start of the war, they reached new levels after Columbia University’s president called in the New York Police Department to clear an encampment on campus shortly after testifying in front of Congress. We talk to two student journalists about what’s happening on their campuses: Esha Karam, a junior at Columbia University and managing editor of the Columbia Daily Spectator, and Aarya Mukherjee, a freshman news reporter at University of California, Berkeley’s The Daily Californian.And in headlines: Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker detailed the tabloid’s ‘catch and kill’ strategy during former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush-money trial, the Supreme Court hears arguments today in a case that could decide whether states have to provide emergency abortion care to pregnant patients, and Pennsylvania Congresswoman Summer Lee edged out a more moderate challenger in the state’s Democratic primary.Show Notes:Columbia Daily Spectator – www.columbiaspectator.comThe Daily Californian – www.dailycal.orgWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and attorneys for Donald Trump gave their opening statements on Monday in the former president’s criminal hush-money trial. Prosecutors also called their first witness to the stand: former ‘National Enquirer’ publisher David Pecker. Washington Post federal courts and law enforcement reporter Shayna Jacobs was in the courtroom and details what happened.Pennsylvania holds its primary election today, and there’s plenty to watch for as returns come in. Pro-Palestinian organizers want Democrats to write in ‘uncommitted’ instead of voting for President Joe Biden. First-term Democratic Congresswoman Summer Lee is also looking to fend off a more moderate challenger and hold onto her seat.And in headlines: The Supreme Court appeared divided in a case over whether cities can criminalize homelessness, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security are reportedly looking into granting protections for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, and a new report says Israel hasn’t offered any proof to back up claims that a significant number of workers with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency are tied to terrorist organizations. Show Notes:The Washington Post:"Prosecutor: A tabloid pact led to Trump faking business records" - https://tinyurl.com/bz68rrbpWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

After months of delay, House lawmakers this weekend passed a package of bills to send foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Included in that package of legislation is also a bill that could end up banning TikTok. Hard-right Republicans are threatening to oust Speaker Mike Johnson over his decision to bring Ukraine aid up for a vote. At the same time, the legislation heads to the Senate for consideration later this week. The Supreme Court hears a case today over one of the country’s most heartbreaking and increasingly intractable issues: homelessness. In Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, the justices will weigh whether penalizing people experiencing homelessness is “cruel and unusual” and, therefore, a violation of the Eight Amendment. Jeremiah Hayden, staff reporter for Street Roots in Portland, explains what’s at stake in the case.And in headlines: We’ve got a roundup of climate news in honor of Earth Day, opening statements begin in former President Donald Trump’s criminal hush-money trial, and workers at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee join the United Auto Workers union. Show Notes:OPB: "Grants Pass v. Johnson: Here's what led to key homelessness case before high court" - https://tinyurl.com/56an9dv2What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday