What A Day

Nathan Elias, editor-in-chief of the Daily Trojan at USC, shares his insights on the ongoing showdown between the Trump administration and universities. He discusses how students navigate the pressures of political demands while striving for diversity and inclusion. Elias highlights student activism and the challenges faced by international students, shedding light on the real effects of funding threats. He also examines the vital role universities play in research and social mobility during turbulent times.

Stephanie Ruhle, host of MSNBC's The 11th Hour, dives into the economic landscape as trust in Trump crumbles post-election. She discusses the impact of tariffs on consumer confidence, revealing how Amazon may adjust prices. Ruhle connects these economic policies to political shifts in Canada, where voters turned against Trump. The conversation highlights the unpredictable challenges tariffs pose for businesses and the psyche of consumers dealing with rising prices and market instability.

We made it, ya’ll. One hundred days of President Donald Trump’s second term down. Only 1,362 to go…. not that we’re counting (we're definitely counting). While the White House is pushing the narrative that Trump’s early days have been an unmitigated success, the American public clearly feels otherwise. A bunch of new polls show the president's approval rating hovering around 40 percent. He's also underwater on every issue respondents were asked about, from the economy to immigration. Jon Favreau, co-host of Pod Save America and founder of Crooked Media, stops by to help make sense of the 100-day wreckage and where we go from here.And in headlines: Spain and Portugal entered a second Dark Age amid a massive power outage, Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly announced his retirement, and Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a unilateral temporary ceasefire in May in honor of the Russian holiday Victory Day.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What 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

Rebecca Plevin, an equity reporter for the Los Angeles Times, discusses the harsh realities of immigrants self-deporting in response to aggressive Trump administration policies. She delves into the emotional toll this decision takes, highlighting personal stories of fear and vulnerability within immigrant communities. Plevin sheds light on the tough choices migrants face as they navigate uncertainty, and the role of community support in these challenging times. The conversation also touches on broader political shifts impacting these migrants’ lives.

Nahal Toosi, a Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent for Politico, delves into the recent reorganization at the State Department and its far-reaching implications for U.S. diplomacy. She highlights the elimination of key offices dedicated to war crimes and the shift towards a more transactional diplomatic approach, moving away from values-driven policies. Toosi also discusses significant U.S. foreign aid cuts to Africa and the potential geopolitical repercussions, particularly the rise of China’s influence as America retreats from its global commitments. This reshaping hints at a chaotic future for American diplomacy.

Matt Duss, Executive Vice President at the Center for International Policy and former Foreign Policy Advisor to Bernie Sanders, dives into the contentious U.S. peace proposals concerning Ukraine. He discusses how these plans push Ukraine to concede territory and recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea. Duss provides insights into the motivations behind Trump's approach, highlighting its implications for power dynamics and Ukrainian sovereignty. The episode also touches on the need for enhanced European support amidst fears of U.S. withdrawal.

Carter Sherman, a reproductive health and justice reporter for The Guardian, dives into the Trump administration's frantic measures to combat America's declining birth rates. She unveils the bizarre proposals, like baby bonuses, aimed at boosting fertility amidst a backdrop of budget cuts. The discussion also touches on the potential role of immigration in addressing this baby crisis, as well as broader economic challenges, from the Federal Reserve to Google's legal hurdles. Sherman's insights highlight a complex landscape of policy and societal implications.

Leah Litman, co-host of 'Strict Scrutiny,' dives into pivotal Supreme Court cases of the week, including the latest attacks on Obamacare and parental rights surrounding LGBTQ-themed children's books in schools. She emphasizes the court's looming challenge against the Trump administration's influence on rule of law. Listeners gain insight into California's emission standards debate and the broader implications of these legal battles on American rights and education.

President Donald Trump still hasn’t hit the 100-day mark of his second term, but it feels like the country is already hitting some kind of inflection point. On Saturday, we saw a second day of mass protests against the Trump administration’s agenda. Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healy compared this moment to the start of the Revolutionary War, saying, ‘Our freedoms are once again under attack.’ Even New York Times conservative columnist David Brooks wrote about how it’s ‘time for a comprehensive national civic uprising.’ Amid all these proverbial alarm bells, it might seem a little perverse for some Democrats to advocate for a return to a kind of New Deal-era of politics, where more centralized power allowed the government to do big things. But that’s exactly the argument made in the new book 'Abundance.' Co-author Derek Thompson joins us to talk about how America can go back to building and inventing new things, and how Democrats can get people to trust the government again.And in headlines: The Supreme Court issued an emergency decision blocking more flights of alleged Venezuelan gang members to an El Salvador super prison, Vice President JD Vance got an audience with the Pope, and the Israeli military admitted to several “professional failures” when it killed 14 Gaza rescue workers and a U.N. staffer last month.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What 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 Trump administration is running through our constitutional rights like a bull unleashed on the streets of Pamplona. For days now, the high-stakes back-and-forth between the administration, the courts and the Constitution over the wrongful deportation of a Maryland man has dominated headlines. But in the background, the administration is working overtime to dismantle regulations, particularly around the environment. Just since Monday, the administration got the ball rolling on gutting a key part of the Endangered Species Act, stopped construction on a major offshore wind farm, axed a $3 billion program to help farmers adopt climate-friendly practices, and kickstarted a bid to end a Biden-era rule to put conservation on par with things like drilling as a valid public land use. Crooked Climate correspondent Anya Zoledziowski looks at the fallout from an earlier anti-environmental decision from the Trump administration, to drop a Biden-era suit against a petrochemical plant in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley.”And in headlines: President Donald Trump met with Italy’s prime minister to talk trade, the Supreme Court said it would hear arguments over Trump’s bid to limit birthright citizenship, and a federal judge said Google has an illegal monopoly over online advertising technology.Show Notes:Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What 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