All Things with Kim Strassel

Now Congress has voted to require the Justice Department to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, what types of information are about to land, and what damage might that information cause? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel queries former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty about both the legal and political angles, including Donald Trump’s reversal on producing the files, the likelihood of a smoking gun, and the risk this precedent sets for victims and future prosecutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tucker Carlson's interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes--and Heritage Foundation President Kevin Robert's initial defense of it--is highlighting a rift in the conservative movement. While the Heritage president has since walked back that support, the fight underscores fringe elements of today's New Right movement and risks to the coalition going forward.  On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel looks to that future with Tim Chapman, president of conservative advocacy group Advancing American Freedom. The two discuss the recent rise of the New Right/National Conservative movement under Donald Trump, its abandonment of longstanding free-market principles, and some of its more toxic cultural elements. Why does Carlson's "grievance politics" appeal to younger conservatives? How do JD Vance and other prominent New Righters navigate this political landscape? And what does the wider conservative coalition look like post-Trump?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What will New York City's election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani mean for the future of the Democratic Party? Why is New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli so outperforming his Virginia counterpart, Winsome Earle-Sears? And how much will Tuesday's elections really matter to next year's midterms and Donald Trump's governance? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with National Review senior writer and commentator Noah Rothman about the big races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shutdown pain for federal workers and programs like Obamacare is all the news, but the 50 states are also starting to feel the crunch. How and when did the states become so dependent on Washington, D.C. dollars and what's that doing to the national debt? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with Senior Executive Vice President at the State Policy Network Tony Woodlief about how states have “perfected the art” of getting federal money, which now had grown into “an addiction” that is leading to more costs and worse policy. The pair also discuss the first steps toward weaning states off that money.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government shutdown has been going on for more than three weeks, and neither side is budging. On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel talks to House Speaker Mike Johnson about the closure calculations of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, why he hasn't yet sworn in Arizona's Adelita Grijalva, and the likelihood that the shutdown could soon grow painful for far more Americans--as more flights are delayed, troops miss paychecks, and the feds run out of money for programs like the Women's, Infants and Children supplement. Johnson also talks through the reform demands House Republicans might have in any future negotiations over Obamacare subsidies.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana and author of 'How to Test Negative for Stupid,' shares his witty insights on politics. He discusses the current government shutdown, revealing the dynamics at play and the need for reforms in healthcare and Senate structure. Known for his humor, Kennedy contrasts today’s political climate with the Reagan era and reflects on candidness in Congress, notably about his fellow senator Lindsey Graham. His passionate advocacy for common sense shines through as he critiques the dysfunction in Washington.

With negotiations at a standstill, the government is headed for a shutdown. Can Democrats sell a healthcare message, or will voters view this as yet more anti-Donald-Trump resistance? Is this a liability for the White House, or OMB Director Russ Vought's opportunity to produce more sweeping federal-worker firings? What exactly gets shut down, how inconvenient will it be for Americans, and when will it end? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel breaks down the shutdown with Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford. They also discuss the true source of the dysfunction--Congress's inability to get its spending bills done--and Lankford's ‘Preventing Government Shutdowns Act,’ legislation that would force Congress to stay in Washington, D.C. until spending deals get done.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recent threats by Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute "hate speech" and by Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr to penalize ABC affiliates over Jimmy Kimmel's comments have thrust the nation into a muddled conversation over free speech. On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel asks Institute for Free Speech Chairman Brad Smith to sort through the basics: What does the First Amendment actually cover? What are the limits to free speech? Should the federal government have any role moderating media comments, and where does the legal system stand on that question? And how corrosive is cancel culture to our broader free-speech tradition?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The assassination of Charlie Kirk and the rising tide of political violence is turning a spotlight on how best to keep Congress and other members of government safe. What kind of protection do political leaders have now, and what more do they need? What challenges come with protecting members both in Washington, D.C., and also in their home districts and states? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with chairman of the Committee on House Administration, Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil, about current and planned resources, what might be done to turn down the political temperature, and whether these events threaten the ability of politicians to engage in their core duty of interacting with constituents.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump is considering declaring a national housing emergency to deal with high home costs, but what can the federal government actually do, and will it make a difference? On this episode of All Things, Kim Strassel speaks with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson about cutting regulatory burdens, increasing tax incentives, expanding financing for unconventional homes, and the great opportunity that rests in transferring some federal land for housing development. They also discuss the politics of housing--an issue that, like crime, transcends demographics and voting groups.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices