

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 27, 2022 • 20min
Toxic Jobs May Be Hazardous To Your Health
Pennsylvania Senate candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz met on Tuesday for one of the most highly anticipated debates of this midterm election cycle. They covered everything from abortion rights to fracking to immigration, in a race that could determine control of Congress.U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently released a report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed workplaces and its impact on workers' mental health. Dr. Murthy joins us to discuss those findings, and how businesses are responding.And in headlines: Iranian protesters marked 40 days since Mahsa Amini's death, another woman claimed that Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker paid for her abortion, and Elon Musk made a splashy entrance to Twitter's headquarters just days before he's set to acquire the company.Show Notes:John Fetterman - Official Campaign Website – https://johnfetterman.com/The U.S. Surgeon General's Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being – https://tinyurl.com/yrp88n29COVID.gov - Find COVID-19 guidance for your community – https://www.covid.gov/Vote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 26, 2022 • 20min
Feeling Frost In Florida
Arizona election officials have referred at least six cases of alleged voter intimidation at ballot drop-off boxes to the Justice Department. The complaints describe groups of people – some armed with guns and wearing tactical gear – harassing and taking pictures of voters.Maxwell Frost, who is running for Florida’s 10th Congressional District, is on track to become one of the youngest members of Congress. He joins us to talk about his progressive platform, and what he hopes to accomplish if elected.And in headlines: a Russian court rejected Brittney Griner’s appeal of her 9-year prison sentence, Adidas cut ties with Ye amid backlash from his antisemitic remarks, and former Trump aide Hope Hicks met with the January 6 committee.Show Notes:Maxwell Frost for Congress – https://www.frostforcongress.com/Vote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 25, 2022 • 18min
It's Rishi, Bitch
There’s growing concern among Western countries that Russia could be planning a false flag operation in Ukraine – by deploying a so-called “dirty bomb” there, while blaming Ukraine. The Kremlin could use such an attack to justify an escalation in the war.Rishi Sunak won the fight to become Britain's next prime minister, making him the first person of color to serve in the role. This comes after Liz Truss’s abrupt resignation last week after just 45 days in office.And in headlines: a school shooting in St. Louis, Missouri left two people dead and several others injured, Brittney Griner will formally appeal her nine-year Russian prison sentence, and Hollywood agency CAA dropped Kanye West over his antisemitic remarks.Show Notes:Vote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 24, 2022 • 19min
Debt Relief It Or Not
A federal appeals court has temporarily put a hold on the Biden administration’s student debt forgiveness plan. The challenge comes from six Republican-led states, though the White House said borrowers should still apply for relief.The January 6th committee officially subpoenaed former president Donald Trump, a little over a week after the panel unanimously voted to issue it. It calls on Trump to hand over documents and appear for a deposition under oath – and could set up a historic legal fight if he doesn't comply.And in headlines: Russia launched a new wave of attacks aimed at disabling Ukraine’s power grid, Hurricane Roslyn made landfall in southwest Mexico, and Chinese President Xi Jinping secured a historic third term.Show Notes:Studentaid.gov | Apply for Federal Student Loan Debt Relief – https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/applicationVote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 21, 2022 • 25min
No Truss, No Fuss
Liz Truss abruptly resigned as Britain’s prime minister on Thursday, after just 45 days in office — making her the shortest-serving prime minister in the history of the United Kingdom.Hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills are moving through legislatures across the country, many of which specifically target transgender people. Oklahoma House Representative Mauree Turner — the first out non-binary state lawmaker in the country and the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature — tells us how they’ve used their position to fight for their constituents and their communities.And in headlines: Ukrainians face rolling blackouts in the wake of Russian drone strikes, disgraced actor Kevin Spacey was found not liable for battery in a civil sex abuse case, and L.A. city council member Kevin de Léon said he won’t resign.Show Notes:Vote Save America – https://votesaveamerica.com/TRANSform the Vote – https://transformthevote.org/ Mauree Turner for Oklahoma House District 88 – https://www.maureeturner.com/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 20, 2022 • 21min
Defund The Florida Election Police
In August, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the arrests of several people accused of illegally voting in the 2020 election. But newly released police body camera footage from some of those arrests debunk DeSantis' claims of mass election fraud.Women-led protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini are in their second month, and have become the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic in a decade. Jasmin Ramsey, the deputy director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, tells us what her group is hearing from activists and ordinary Iranians.And in headlines: Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in four illegally annexed Ukrainian territories, British Prime Minister Liz Truss faced more calls to resign, and actress Anna May Wong will become the first Asian American to appear on U.S. currency.Show Notes:Center for Human Rights in Iran – https://iranhumanrights.org/Vote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 19, 2022 • 22min
One More Reason To Roe To The Polls
President Biden promised to codify abortion access into federal law next year if voters elect more Democrats to the Senate and maintain their majority in the House. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, joins us to discuss the historic investments her organization is making to mobilize voters ahead of the midterm elections.And in headlines: the U.S. will release another 15 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves, Brittney Griner spent her 32nd birthday in Russian prison, and Amazon warehouse workers in upstate New York rejected a bid to unionize.Show Notes:Planned Parenthood Action Fund – https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/Abortion Finder – https://www.abortionfinder.org/Vote Save America: Fuck Bans Action Plan – https://votesaveamerica.com/roe/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 18, 2022 • 20min
Understanding Russia's "Kamikaze" Drones
Another deadly round of Russian attacks hit Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early Monday morning – this time, from so-called "kamikaze" drones believed to be made in Iran. Military analysts believe Russia is relying on those weapons because its stockpiles of other weapons are running low.A new ACLU report found that Atlanta’s Fulton County jail is overcrowded — and many inmates haven’t even been charged with a crime. And as the city struggles to find a solution, the overcrowding issue has led to deteriorating conditions and more violence on the inside. And in headlines: extreme floods have killed more than 600 people in Nigeria, Arkansas' ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth went on trial, and rapper Kanye West said he will buy the right-wing social media site Parler.Show Notes:ACLU: “There Are Better Solutions: An Analysis of Fulton County’s Jail Population Data, 2022” – https://tinyurl.com/2v3bzwy3Vote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 17, 2022 • 21min
One Month Of Women-Led Protests In Iran
It’s been one month since women began burning their hijabs and leading daily protests in the streets of Iran over the killing of Mahsa Amini. In that time, Iranian security forces have reportedly killed at least 233 protesters — including 32 children.The Biden administration soft-launched its student loan forgiveness application site over the weekend. This comes after President Biden announced the plan in August that would cancel up to $20,000 worth of federal student loans for individual borrowers.And in headlines: China’s political leaders kicked off the 20th Communist Party Congress, thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Paris over inflation and rising energy costs, and Elon Musk said SpaceX will continue to pay for a critical satellite internet service in Ukraine.Show Notes:Studentaid.gov: Apply for Federal Student Loan Debt Relief – https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/applicationStudentaid.gov: How to Avoid Student Loan Forgiveness Scams – https://studentaid.gov/articles/avoid-student-loan-forgiveness-scams/Vote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Oct 14, 2022 • 20min
Don-Subpoena Relationship
The House select committee investigating the January 6th insurrection held its latest — and potentially last — public hearing on Thursday, and voted to question former President Donald Trump about his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. What a Day’s Juanita Tolliver recaps what we’ve learned so far, and what’s at stake with the midterm elections on the horizon.And in headlines: the Parkland school shooter was sentenced to life in prison, Social Security recipients will get their biggest cost-of-living increase in more than 40 years, and Netflix is set to launch a new, ad-supported subscription tier.Show Notes:BLK presents "No Voting No Vucking" - ft. Saucy Santana and Trina (YouTube) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KtAkBcd2PQVote Save America: Every Last Vote – https://votesaveamerica.com/every-last-vote/Crooked 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/whataday/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday