What A Day

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell struck back on Sunday night after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into his handling of renovations to the Fed’s DC headquarters. Whether or not he lied to Congress about them, this is all happening as the Supreme Court is set to debate another one of Trump’s efforts to take control of the Fed – by getting rid of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. So to talk more about Jerome Powell, the Supreme Court, and Donald Trump’s various attempts to prosecute people he does not like, we spoke with Leah Litman. She’s cohost of Crooked Media’s legal podcast, Strict Scrutiny.And in headlines, Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly sues the Department of Defense over Pete Hegseth’s attempts to punish him for criticizing the Trump administration, The New York Times reports the E.P.A. plans to stop monitoring the health benefits of limiting pollution, and a new Gallup poll shows young people are abandoning both the Democratic and Republican parties in droves.Show Notes:Check out Strict Scrutiny – crooked.com/podcast-series/strict-scrutiny/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The United States Coast Guard seized another oil tanker, the Olina, on Friday. It is the fifth Venezuela-linked tanker seized by US forces under President Trump, and the third since the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Earlier last week, the US seized a vessel near Iceland following a slow chase across the Atlantic Ocean. That ship, the Bella 1, was renamed the Marinera and started flying the Russian flag after US forces first tried to board it back in December. So, what’s going on with all of these sneaky name changes? To find out, we spoke to Shelby Holliday. She’s a senior video producer and journalist for The Wall Street Journal, where she focuses on geopolitics.And in headlines, protests across the U.S. continue following the death of Renee Good at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on, and Trump weighs his options in Iran as state violence against protestors ramps up.Show Notes:Check out Shelby's story – https://tinyurl.com/mv2tz794Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Thursday, protestors continued to gather in Minnesota’s largest city to stand up to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after an officer fatally shot a woman on Wednesday. The victim’s name was Renee Good. She was a US citizen, a parent, and a recent transplant to Minnesota. She is being remembered as a deeply loving person – her mother telling The Minnesota Star Tribune she was “one of the kindest people I’ve ever known.” But none of that has mattered to the White House, which has been slandering her memory. To talk more about Minneapolis and the Administration’s disregard for Americans and American life, we spoke to Alex Wagner. She’s the host of Crooked Media’s podcast, Runaway Country.And in headlines, House lawmakers pass a bill to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired at the end of the year, New York City takes baby-steps toward universal child care, and President Trump reportedly wants to bribe every citizen of Greenland with greenbacks.Show Notes:Check out Runaway Country – https://tinyurl.com/47zmbdppCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are 435 members of the House of Representatives — and after the resignation of Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and the passing of California Representative Doug LaMalfa, the GOP’s majority is down to 218. It’s thin, even without discussing the number of Republicans that are going to leave office to retire, run for other positions, or just get away because being in Congress sucks right now. At the same time, Congress is struggling to get much done — whether it’s about healthcare, the President’s war powers, or more routine topics like permitting reforms. So what does all of this mean for Congress in 2026? To find out, we spoke to Burgess Everett. He’s the Congressional bureau chief at Semafor.And in headlines, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shoots a Minneapolis driver in broad daylight, the Pentagon confirms it’s reviewing the “effectiveness” of women in ground combat roles, and the Trump administration moves forward with its plan for Venezuelan oil.Show Notes:Check out Burgess's work – semafor.com/author/burgess-everettCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s been a strange 12 months for Trump. He won the 2024 election on a wave of economic discontent, and responded by blowing up a wing of the White House, decimating foreign aid, and attempting to deport undocumented immigrants and political dissidents alike, before deciding that what his second term really needed was military adventurism in South America. But since last summer, his poll numbers have declined and Democrats have been notching electoral victories in states like Florida, New York, Georgia and Arizona. Some Republicans in Congress are hitting the exits. And others are starting to talk about life after Trump. But is his power and influence really declining? To find out, we spoke to Jamelle Bouie. He’s a New York Times opinion columnist who writes about politics and American history.And in headlines, the Trump administration plans to freeze $10 billion in child care and social services funding fo five blue states, the President sets his sights on Greenland, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem tells Venezuelans in the US “Everything’s fixed! You can go home now!” It… isn’t.Show Notes:Check out Jamelle's work – nytimes.com/column/jamelle-bouieCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.