What A Day

This week, a court filing showed that the Trump Administration has declared the current funding structure for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be illegal. The agency was created in the wake of the global financial crisis to protect consumers and collect consumer complaints. Project 2025 architect Russell Vought is currently acting director of the CFPB. He has said repeatedly that he wants to see the CFPB close its doors, and back in February, he ordered employees of the agency to stop working. To talk more about the Trump Administration taking yet another axe to the CFPB and what happens next, we spoke to David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect. And in headlines, the Justice Department sues to block new Congressional district boundaries approved by California voters, the State Department makes it harder for people with conditions including cancer and diabetes to obtain visas, and Kristi Noem gives out $10,000 bonus checks to some TSA agents who worked through the shutdown. Show Notes: https://prospect.org/202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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 House returned on Wednesday and ended the longest shutdown in government history. House Republicans were joined by six democrats to fund the government through January 30th. Two Republicans voted against the bill. The final vote was 222-209. Earlier in the day, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three emails from and to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that appear to indicate that President Donald Trump knew more about Epstein's activities than he had previously suggested. So for more on Epstein, Trump, and what Congress might do next, we spoke to Hailey Fuchs, a congressional reporter for Politico. And in headlines, Planned Parenthood struggles to keep clinics open after absorbing the cost of Medicaid patients who were cut off by the Trump administration's funding ban, the Make America Healthy Again movement summit takes place in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Mint ceases the production of pennies after more than 200 years. Show Notes: www.politico.com/staff/hailey-fuchs202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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 government shutdown is inching closer to an end as members of the House of Representatives return to Washington today. They are expected to vote on a bill to end the shutdown this week, after eight Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to advance a budget package on Monday night. The package includes funding for the government until January and would also reinstate federal employees who were laid off during the shutdown. But, and there’s a big but, the budget package does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that make health insurance more affordable for millions of people. To discuss the potential end to the shutdown further, with no answers on healthcare, we spoke with Delaware Democratic Congresswoman Sarah McBride on Tuesday afternoon. And in headlines, CNN reports the United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, a judge ruled West Virginia National Guard troops can stay in DC, and President Donald Trump is pushing a 50-year-mortgage plan for prospective homebuyers. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

Monday night, the Senate passed legislation to reopen the government, sending it to the House. The eight Senate Democrats who reached a deal with Republicans over the weekend defended their compromise ahead of the vote Monday. But many Democrats publicly criticized them for caving to the GOP without guaranteeing an extension to Affordable Care Act subsidies. Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders has been one of the toughest critics of the Democrats who caved. We spoke with the senator ahead of Monday night’s vote about the shutdown, healthcare, and why he thinks the fight is nowhere near over. And in headlines, the Supreme Court rejects a long-shot ask to consider overturning its landmark 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage, President Donald Trump hands out early Thanksgiving pardons to a whole flock of 2020 election conspirators, and the shutdown continues to impact flights across the country. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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 Sunday evening, senators from both parties reached a deal that could bring an end to the government shutdown, which has lasted well over a month. The deal would include a new stopgap measure that would fund the government through January, plus three different spending measures. Democrats are also negotiating the rehiring of the more than 4,000 federal employees who were laid off during the shutdown. But Democrats aren’t getting the primary thing they’ve wanted. For weeks, Democrats insisted that Republicans extend the Affordable Care Act’s insurance subsidies. As of now, Republicans have only agreed to hold a vote on the issue next month, but have not guaranteed any support. For more on how the deal came together, we spoke with Stephen Neukam, a Congressional reporter for Axios. And in headlines, the fight to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program continues, the Treasury Secretary struggles to explain President Donald Trump’s promise that profits from tariffs will be paid out to the public, and two top executives at the BBC resigned following criticism over how the broadcaster edited a speech given by President Trump. Show Notes: Check out Stephen's reporting – axios.com/authors/sneukam Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8 What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow 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.

After Tuesday’s election results, everyone seems to have gotten the message that affordability is king. Democrats, Republicans, and even President Donald Trump have been talking about the costs of various things, like healthcare, groceries, and Thanksgiving dinner ever since. But for a lot of Americans, making ends meet has been hard for a while. To talk more about the disconnect between what the Trump administration is saying about the economy and how Americans are feeling, we spoke with Stacy Vanek Smith. She’s a reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek and co-host of the Bloomberg podcast, Everybody’s Business. And in headlines, the Federal Aviation Administration cancels flights across the U.S. reportedly to ease the strain on air traffic controllers during the longest ever government shutdown, California Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi announces her retirement after nearly 40 years in Congress, and the jury in the case of the man who slung twelve inches of vigilante justice at a federal officer has reached its verdict. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/y2zannt6202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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 was a big day for President Donald Trump as the Supreme Court heard arguments on his power to impose tariffs unilaterally. And the justices seemed… skeptical. Even Trump-friendly Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned Trump Administration lawyers on their claim that tariffs are foreign policy, so the President can do what he wants. Oregon is one of the states suing the Trump administration over tariffs. To find out more about what they argued at SCOTUS and what might happen if the justices give Trump a very rare loss, we talked to Dan Rayfield, the Attorney General of Oregon. And in headlines, the government shutdown is officially the longest in American history, California Republicans sue the state over Prop 50 just hours after it passes, and Israel and Hamas continue the grim exchange of remains under last month’s U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/2ds3y767202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

Tuesday was Election Day and Democrats won big! Voters in New York City elected Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as their next mayor. In Georgia, Democrats won their first statewide elections in 20 years, flipping two seats on the board that controls electricity costs in the state – a direct response to rising power prices. And in New Jersey, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill won a tough race to keep the state's governor's mansion blue. While in Virginia, former Democratic House Representative Abigail Spanberger won the governor's race, flipping the state's governor's seat back to the Democrats. For more on the Democrats' big night, we spoke with Pod Save America co-host Jon Favreau. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

A federal judge once again blocked the Trump Administration from sending the National Guard to Portland over the weekend — but if Trump is successful in the courts, Portlanders can look to the great city of Chicago for a preview of what may be in store. Since ICE began operations in September, there have been violent raids on apartment buildings and near-constant activity from aggressive federal agents rounding up immigrants who are being kept in facilities reportedly full of cockroaches and with horrifying examples of overcrowding. And, in some cases, US citizens are getting detained, too. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has faced the brunt of Trump’s attacks on the city, while also reckoning with Chicago’s crime rate and affordability crises that many big cities also face. We sat down with the Mayor to talk about what it’s been like to face down the President while trying to manage the nation’s third-largest city. And in headlines, President Trump’s tariffs are at the Supreme Court this week, a rundown of the high-profile Election Day races, and 20 Democratic-led states sue the Trump administration over a rule that could block certain public servants from getting their student loans forgiven. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

Last week, former Fox News host and conservative pundit Tucker Carlson invited white supremacist and antisemite Nick Fuentes onto his highly-ranked podcast for a friendly conversation about Israel and conservatism. The podcast episode has garnered millions of views – and highlighted a dangerous schism on the American Right. Because while many conservatives condemned Fuentes for his racism and antisemitism and Carlson for basically giving him a nice backrub for two hours, others seemed to find it necessary to defend Carlson. To discuss Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and the rift within the Right, I spoke with Robert Draper. He is a New York Times journalist focused on the politics of the right wing. And in headlines, a Syrian President may visit the White House for the first time in history, President Trump joins 60 Minutes after cashing out his $16 million lawsuit against CBS, and the government shutdown is only days away from becoming the longest of all time. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/k43ephx2202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

President Donald Trump announced a trade truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a 90-minute meeting in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday. But what actually came out of the truce seems… less than meets the eye. According to Axios, Trump reduced tariffs against China in exchange for promises from the Chinese president to buy American soybeans and oil. However, the deal appears to be largely temporary, with few actual binding details that would make it any different from those made during Trump’s first term in office or even earlier this year. So for more details on the trade truce and Trump’s Asia trip, I spoke to Evan Madeiros. He’s the Penner Family Chair in Asia studies at Georgetown University with a focus on East Asia and US-China relations. And in headlines, Immigration and Customs Enforcement refuses to cease operations during Halloween festivities in Chicago, the Trump administration restricts the amount of refugees it will allow into the US every year, and Trump administration officials held a classified briefing on the president’s escalating boat-strike campaign – but only invited Republicans. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

A Virginia judge allowed the state’s Democrats to pursue a redistricting plan on Wednesday that would permit them to amend the state’s constitution and redraw its congressional districts before next year’s midterm elections – despite a lawsuit from Virginia Republicans. Those Democrats are following a national trend, kicked off by President Trump. Back in August, Trump called on Texas to redraw its congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms in order to minimize Republican losses in the House. And after Texas redrew its maps, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom responded by putting forward a plan to redistrict his state through a ballot measure, Proposition 50, that would redraw California’s congressional districts and push five Republicans out of their seats. Californians will be voting on the proposition on Election Day next week. To explain the fight and how the 2026 Midterms became a battle royale, I spoke with John Bisognano. He’s the President of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. And in headlines, Congress continues to prove pointless as funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are set to expire for millions of Americans, the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates again, and immigration officials deport a man living in Alabama to Laos despite literally being ordered not to. Show Notes: democraticredistricting.com/202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

Highly anticipated elections are happening across the country on Tuesday. In states from California to Virginia, Americans will head to the polls in big numbers on November 4th. In New York City, voters are set to pick a new mayor – choosing between former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and the frontrunner, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. Even if you don't live in NYC, its election results are bound to affect you in some way— especially with the potential for the city's first Muslim mayor to be going up against a Trump administration more than willing to make him, and the city, a target. So to talk more about New York City's big decision and what Democrats can do, we spoke with Alex Wagner. She's host of Crooked Media's newest podcast, Runaway Country with Alex Wagner. And in headlines Elon Musk introduces Grokipedia, Israel tests the limits of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, and the government shutdown drags on…and on…and on. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/mrmmsw8d202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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 main issue keeping the government closed is healthcare — specifically, the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that have been in place since 2021 and further lowered premium costs for Americans. Democrats want the enhanced subsidies extended, Republicans don’t. Without them, folks who rely on healthcare plans they bought on the exchange will see their premiums skyrocket. But there are other countries with private insurance options where healthcare doesn’t cost so much that people risk going without it. To find out what’s going on here and what America could do about it, we spoke to Mark Shepard. He’s an associate professor of public policy at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. And in headlines, the U.S. extends its trade deal with Mexico for several weeks, USDA confirms food stamps will not go out November 1, and a rag-tag group of former USAID workers band together to fund some of the shuttered agency’s most critical programs. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/mt2avcma202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

Chinese and American negotiators announced on Sunday that they had agreed to a “framework of a deal” on tariffs ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But in the meantime, farmers are getting walloped by Trump’s trade war with China. During Trump’s first term in office, his tariffs led to steep price drops in American soybeans, prompting massive bailouts for struggling farmers. And now farmers are facing more of the same – with no certainty of another bailout this time. So we called Phil Verges, a soybean farmer in western Wisconsin, to talk about what he’s seeing and hearing from farmers just like him. And in headlines, President Donald Trump finds a private, billionaire donor to pay U.S. military service members during the government shutdown, Trump officials continue to play the shutdown blame game, and U.S. beef farmers beef with Trump over… beef. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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, FBI Director Kash Patel announced over 30 indictments as part of a massive investigation into a criminal gambling ring. Those indicted included prominent NBA players and coaches. Oh, and also the Mafia. The announcement comes just as the NBA begins its season and at a time when sports betting has never been more prominent. Bookmakers have deals with major sporting leagues and celebrity athletes, and advertise aggressively during broadcasts. And in 2024 the US sports betting industry brought in a record $13.7 BILLION. Mike Vorkunov, national NBA business reporter for The Athletic, joins the show to explain the FBI investigation and what makes the NBA so vulnerable to betting scandals.And in headlines, Vice President JD Vance wraps up his visit to Israel, the Senate kills a bill to get federal workers and military members paid during the shutdown, and the US national debt surpasses $38 TRILLION. Show Notes: nytimes.com/athletic/author/mike-vorkunov/202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

With the government shutdown in its third week, the House of Representatives is still out of session – and votes aren’t getting scheduled. That includes a vote on legislation that would force the Department of Justice to release files centered on financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. At the same time, House Speaker Mike Johnson has delayed the swearing in of Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who was elected in a September special election. If and when Grijalva is sworn in, she would be the final signature on a petition forcing the Epstein legislation to the House floor for a vote. We spoke with California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna about co-sponsoring the legislation to release the Epstein files, the shutdown, and his willingness to cross the aisle to work with Republicans. And in headlines, President Donald Trump demolishes the East Wing of the White House to build a roughly $300 million ballroom, the new Pentagon press corps is made up of fringe right-wing outlets, and the Trump administration announces new sanctions on Russia. Show Notes: 202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

Since the start of September, President Donald Trump has ordered a series of lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea, killing dozens of people. His administration has justified the attacks by accusing the boats of carrying drugs. But, we’re more than two months in, and we still haven’t seen any substantial evidence that the people killed were involved in trafficking narcotics. Meanwhile, Trump appears to be focused on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and last week, Trump acknowledged he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. So, to talk more about Venezuela and the legality- or lack thereof- of the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign in the Caribbean Sea, we spoke with Tess Bridgeman, co-editor-in-chief of Just Security and Senior Fellow and Visiting Scholar at the Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU School of Law. She previously served as Special Assistant to the President, Associate Counsel to the President, and Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council (NSC), and at the U.S. State Department in the Office of the Legal Adviser. And in headlines, Vice President JD Vance visits Israel as Hamas continues to return the bodies of hostages, ICE recruits are going up against fitness testing, and the government is as shutdown as ever. Show Notes: justsecurity.org/author/bridgemantess/202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

In two weeks, millions of Americans will be voting — but a Supreme Court case could change elections as we know them. Last week, the court heard arguments in Louisiana vs. Callais, a case that centers on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Basically, the court is deciding whether or not states can use race to draw voting maps — and depending on what it decides, it could give Republicans the ability to eliminate at least six majority-minority districts and land about a dozen more seats in the House of Representatives. So we spoke to Stacey Abrams about the court’s deliberations. She’s the Host of Crooked Media’s Assembly Required and a New York Times Bestselling Author. And in headlines, Trump signs a critical minerals deal with the Prime Minister of Australia, universities publicly reject the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, aka “Mad Mike,” yearns to be happy again as the shutdown heads into week three. Show Notes: https://tinyurl.com/3yx73h78https://tinyurl.com/4nv3uzat202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.

Millions of Americans were in the streets over the weekend, rallying against President Donald Trump and his administration's latest authoritarian escalations. Organizers for the 'No Kings' protests said more than 7 million people turned out to more than 2,700 pro-democracy rallies across the country. Republicans tried their best to demonize the protesters saying the "hate America" demonstrations would be filled with radicals and violence. But, as it turns out, the protests were almost entirely peaceful. Chicago, Illinois, a focal point for the administration's crackdown on immigration, was just one of the cities that saw people gather in solidarity against Trump. So to talk more about the latest regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the back and forth on National Guard deployment, and what's really happening on the ground there, we spoke with Monica Eng. She covers Chicago for Axios. And in headlines, the Israel-Hamas ceasefire faces its first major test, Trump says he's ending financial aid to one of the country's closest Latin America allies, and the government shutdown stretches into a new week. Show Notes: www.axios.com/authors/meng202-224-3121https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/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.