Talking Feds

With less than a week until the midterms, Democrats are poised to retake the House, with the Senate also in play. But as a blue wave builds, Trump and his allies are launching dubious lawsuits that challenge states’ authority over elections. The cases may fail in court, but could serve a larger purpose: fueling Trump’s familiar claims that any Republican defeat was the result of a rigged election. Harry speaks with Amanda Litman, Tara Setmayer, and Glenn Thrush to break down the final stretch of the midterms, both in court and at the polls.

Mentioned in this episode:The ⁠video version⁠ of this episode.Amanda’s Substack.Glenn’s ⁠reporting⁠.Tara's Substack.Harry's Substack.

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Nearly every pundit says the midterms will be about the economy. So how, exactly, is the economy doing? Harry turns to economist Justin Wolfers for answers. Slicing deep into some elaborate pie metaphors, the two explore how President Trump’s policies have let down the Americans they were supposed to help, what commentators are missing in the conversation about gas prices, and how a new Congress could start to put things right.

Mentioned in this episode:Platypus Economics on Youtube.Platypus Economics on Substack.

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What if ICE raids polling places on election day? What if MAGA sheriffs seize ballot boxes? What if a red-state official refuses to certify a Democrat’s narrow victory? These are the nightmare scenarios that could dam an anti-Trump midterm wave and plunge our democracy into crisis. That’s why champions of voting rights have spent years preparing for them. In this special episode Harry speaks with Jonathan Diaz, David Ogden, Joyce Vance, and Wendy Weiser about the crucial effort to protect the midterms—and just what precisely will happen if Trump or his cronies try to steal them.

Mentioned in this episode:

Jonathan’s Campaign Legal Center.

David’s Democracy Defenders Fund.

Joyce’s Substack.

Wendy’s Brennan Center for Justice.

Harry’s column about the DOJ’s latest election moves.

The “866 Our Vote” election protection site.

Key federal laws protecting voting rights.

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Reporter Glenn Thrush joins Harry to shine a klieg light into the recesses of a Department of Justice running itself into the ground to please Donald Trump. Armed with previously unreported details, Glenn shares the inside story of why Trump loyalists departed the vaunted “grand conspiracy” investigation, which he calls “essentially dead.” Glenn also explains Todd Blanche's precarious position and why Cassidy Hutchinson has become a top target. Plus, Glenn warns that the midterms—”regardless of the result”—will bring a grave reckoning for the DOJ.Mentioned in this episode:Glenn’s reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/by/glenn-thrush#latest.

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Michelle Cottle, David Gura, and Charlie Sykes join Harry to discuss Republicans’ closing moves ahead of the midterms, new politicization at DOJ, and Pete Hegseth’s bid to livestream a firing squad. Will Trump’s battleground tour staunch Republican bleeding, or worsen it? Can administration lawyers keep getting away with casually disobeying judges? And will Trump pull the plug on the Pentagon’s effort to get the U.S. into the exclusive club of nations that perform public executions—joining current members Afghanistan and Iran?

Mentioned in this episode:Michelle’s analysis.David’s reporting.Charlie’s Substack.Harry’s column about Cassidy Hutchinson.Michael Tomasky’s piece about the planned livestreamed execution.Congressman Thomas Massie’s Hegseth impeachment resolution.
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