THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent

Republicans are furious over Trump's conviction, talking about defunding prosecutions. Democrats are divided on how to proceed. Veteran Democratic strategist suggests ways for the party to unify. Discussion on GOP response, character contrasts, and Democrat strategy in prosecuting Trump. Internal struggles within the GOP highlighted, focusing on countering narrative and mobilizing voters. Strategies for engaging young and minority voters, including discussions on the economy and abortion rights.

Prominent Never Trump lawyer George Conway calls out a GOPer for lying on CNN about Trump. He discusses media's handling of pro-Trump propaganda, challenges journalists face in countering misinformation, and unfair media portrayal of Trump and Biden.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusses the Alito flag scandal and the lack of transparency and accountability in the Supreme Court. Whitehouse criticizes the 'omerta' code among right-wing justices and calls for hearings into the Alito mess. The podcast explores strategies for enforcing ethics in the Supreme Court and delves into a congressional inquiry into Trump's alleged billion-dollar solicitation from big oil companies.

Donald Trump recently said he’s “looking at” imposing restrictions on contraception if he is elected president, and even promised a concrete policy. Then he quickly walked it back. But certain constituencies on the right have not given up—far from it. We chatted with Politico reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein, co-author of a great new piece detailing the blueprint that Trump’s MAGA allies are developing for him to restrict birth control through executive action, about how far this could get if he regains the White House. It isn’t pretty. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, Judge Aileen Cannon temporarily denied special counsel Jack Smith’s latest request for a gag order on Donald Trump’s lie that the FBI was set to use lethal force on Trump at Mar-a-Lago. In keeping with a shady pattern of favoritism to Trump, Cannon said No, but she may feel pressure to grant the gag order later, lest Smith seek her removal. We talked to legal scholar Matthew Seligman, who has done great work road-mapping Trump’s legal travails, about why Cannon’s move may not help Trump in the long run—and why it’s premature to assume he won’t face a federal criminal trial before the election. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Stelter joins to discuss how Fox News fabricated a false narrative about the FBI planning to use lethal force at Mar-a-Lago under Biden. They explore the dangerous consequences of pro-Trump propaganda in a hypothetical second term, media vulnerabilities to government pressure, and the risk of disengagement from critical news coverage.

Nicholas Grossman, an expert in international relations, discusses Trump's Putinist tendencies and how he may be compromising US foreign policy for personal gain. The podcast delves into Trump's relationships with autocratic leaders, his transactional behavior in foreign relations, and his undisclosed connections with Saudi Arabia, highlighting concerns over conflicts of interest and weak congressional oversight.

Federico Finchelstein, an expert on fascist movements, discusses how Trump's unfounded claims about the FBI targeting him reveal his 'wannabe fascism.' The podcast explores the manipulation of FBI guidance by Trump and Republicans, the concept of 'wannabe fascism' in modern politics, and the dangers of personalized leadership in a democracy.

On Monday, the prosecution rested its case in Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan. This comes after Trump’s defense team concluded their efforts to destroy former Trump fixer Michael Cohen’s credibility as one of the chief witnesses against Trump. So has the prosecution proven its case? We talked to New York Law School professor Rebecca Roiphe, who has prosecuted cases like these in New York, about why she thinks a conviction is now likely—even as it still remains very possible that Trump could beat the rap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The GOP’s embrace of Donald Trump’s authoritarianism is growing more blatant. Republicans have joined him in attacking his criminal trials as illegitimate. Those angling to be his running mate say they wouldn’t have certified his 2020 loss. And many Republicans are echoing his refusal to say he’ll respect the 2024 outcome. We talked to Tom Nichols, a leading Never Trump conservative and staff writer at The Atlantic about why he is now arguing that his former party’s support for Trump has driven it into the abyss. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices