

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

Oct 12, 2023 • 21min
The View From Tel Aviv
As Israel sends thousands of troops to the border with Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to form an emergency war cabinet with members of the country’s political opposition. It comes as Israel continues to pound the Palestinian territory with airstrikes, intensifying fears that the assault will create a humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, Israel is on edge over the fate of over a hundred hostages taken by Hamas – as well as the prospect of an unprecedented ground invasion of Gaza. We caught up with Itamar Karbi, a PhD student living in Tel Aviv, to hear more about how the conflict has upended everyday life. Show Notes:LA Times (Opinion): I’m an Israeli student and peace activist. Here’s what being in Tel Aviv has been like since Hamas attacked – https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-10-10/israel-hamas-war-peaceVote Save America: Ohio – https://votesaveamerica.com/state/ohio/What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastCrooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 11, 2023 • 15min
Not Some Distant Tragedy
The devastation from the war between Israel and Hamas continues to unfold. As of Tuesday, nearly 2,000 people combined have been killed in Israel and Gaza, with many more injured. President Biden confirmed that at least 14 Americans are among the dead, and U.S. citizens are among the hostages held by Hamas.Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Israel today in a show of solidarity. The U.S. has already repositioned military assets in the region as Israel gears up for what could be an unprecedented assault on Gaza.And in headlines: thousands of people are feared dead following Saturday’s powerful earthquake in Afghanistan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he’s running for president as an independent, and economic historian Claudia Goldin won a Nobel Prize for tracing the history of women in the workplace.Show Notes:What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastCrooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

18 snips
Oct 10, 2023 • 24min
Israel Declares War on Hamas
The podcast covers the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, including the high death toll. It discusses international responses and the impact on Gaza. Updates on the Maui wildfires and recovery efforts in Lahaina are also highlighted, along with challenges faced by the community. The trauma experienced by Native Hawaiians and concerns surrounding reopening West Maui to tourists are explored. The discussion includes supporting Native Hawaiians, advocating for accountability, and upcoming elections.

18 snips
Oct 9, 2023 • 57min
SCOTUS Is Back! Term Preview from Strict Scrutiny
The hosts preview the upcoming Supreme Court term and discuss the importance of its decisions. They reflect on the summer without rights, Alabama's challenge to voting rights, tester standing, textualism and discretionary sentencing. They also discuss the CFPB's funding structure and conservative legal interests in relation to the 14th Amendment. The episode concludes with a discussion on dissent in the judiciary.

Oct 6, 2023 • 17min
Putting Alabama On The Map
Federal judges chose a new congressional map for Alabama on Thursday, after a major, two year legal fight. The final, court-approved map gives Black Alabamians more political power, and could also give Democrats an edge in 2024.Talks between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP resume today, after negotiations to end the Hollywood actor’s strike restarted earlier this week. It’s not clear if they’re close to a deal, but the use of artificial intelligence may be a major sticking point.And in headlines: the Biden administration has cleared the way to allow more border wall construction in Texas, Canadian voters elected a First Nations member to lead the province of Manitoba, and the CDC is phasing out its paper COVID vaccine cards.Show Notes:What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastCrooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 5, 2023 • 23min
Reading Is Fundamental, Honey
Republicans are divided over who should lead their House majority after Kevin McCarthy's ousting. Banned Books Week gains significance due to GOP-led states' censorship legislation. Conrrado Saldivar defends the right to read. President Biden cancels $9 billion student loan debt. Over 75,000 Kaiser Permanente employees strike. Voting is open for Fat Bear Week 2023.

Oct 4, 2023 • 20min
Kevin Knows I'm Miserable Now
Rumblings in the House GOP as Kevin McCarthy is voted out as Speaker of the House. The Supreme Court hears arguments in a case against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Donald Trump faces a gag order in his civil fraud trial. Tennessee state Rep. files a federal lawsuit against House leaders. TikTok gains popularity for hosting the entire run of 'Mean Girls'.

12 snips
Oct 3, 2023 • 22min
Introducing Laphonza Butler
Laphonza Butler, the new junior U.S. Senator from California, is discussed in this episode. They talk about her background, the significance of appointing a black woman in power, and speculation on her tenure. Other topics covered include Trump's civil fraud case, Supreme Court cases, Nobel Prize in Medicine, and Mariah Carey's new Christmas tour.

Oct 2, 2023 • 25min
Shutdown, Swerved
Just hours before the Saturday night deadline, a bill to fund the government through mid-November passed both chambers of Congress and was signed by President Biden. The bill – which ensures the federal government can keep paying its workers for about 45 more days – included funds for natural disaster relief, but notably did not include any added funding for Ukraine.Senator Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving woman in the U.S. Senate, died Thursday night from natural causes at her home in Washington, D.C. She was 90 years old. Now, it's up to California Governor Gavin Newsom to choose her replacement ahead of next year's primary election, though he has promised to name a Black woman for the role.And in headlines: at least 13 people were killed after a fire broke out at a nightclub in the Spanish city of Murcia, New York City is still drying out after Friday’s round of heavy rain, and Beyoncé's Renaissance tour could be coming soon to a theater near you.Show Notes:What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastCrooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Sep 29, 2023 • 21min
Shut Up Or Shut Down
Republicans held their first hearing Thursday in their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The six-hour hearing before the House Oversight Committee tried to make the case that the president benefitted from his son's business dealings – even though the Republicans' own witnesses said they didn't have any evidence to prove it.Meanwhile, the U.S. government notified federal workers that a shutdown is on the horizon if Congress doesn't reach a deal by 12:01 a.m. ET Sunday. The disruption could impact millions of government employees and military families, and affect many critical services.And in headlines: Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York is set to start on Monday, California will raise the minimum wage for fast food workers, and Netflix has rolled the credits on its DVD-by-mail service.Show Notes:What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastCrooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffeeFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday