2022

HOW SCOTUS IS SLANTING THE MIDTERMS

Harry talks with Rick Hasen, one of the country’s leading experts in election law and a prophet of Chief Justice John Roberts’s decades-long project to tear down voting rights. Hasen explains why Roberts—after taking a slow and steady approach for so long—is suddenly masterminding an aggressive “two minute offense.” Hasen lays out the damage dealt to American democracy by the decision, the prospects for court reform, and the signals that Roberts knows time is running out for him and the conservative dominance of the Supreme Court. Mentioned in this episode:

Professor Hasen’s analysis: ⁠https://slate.com/author/richard-l-hasen⁠ Professor Hasen’s 2013 New York Times piece: ⁠https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/opinion/the-chief-justices-long-game.html⁠ Harry’s column about the history behind the Callais decision: ⁠https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/callais-caps-the-roberts-courts-comprehensive

Harry speaks with Rick Hasen

TRUMP'S "SYSTEMATIC" UNDERMINING OF THE ECONOMY

With gas prices surging and inflation on the rise once more, Harry turns to economist Justin Wolfers to get a handle on what Trump is doing to the U.S. economy. Wolfers explains why the real cost of the war with Iran is vastly higher than the figures quoted so far by the Pentagon, how long exorbitant fuel costs could last, and the deeper, unremarked ways that Trump is challenging the foundations of American prosperity. 

Mentioned in this episode: 

Platypus Economics on YouTube:  

https://youtube.com/@PlatypusEconomics?

Platypus Economics on Substack:  

https://newsletter.platypuseconomics.com

Harry speaks with Justin Wolfers

RACE TO THE BOTTOM

As Republicans falter on their gerrymandering plans and Trump looks for a creative new way to pocket taxpayer dollars, Harry talks with Alisyn Camerota, Adam Klasfeld, and Elliot Williams. The tri-state trio dig into the stark racial politics of the post-Callais south and Republicans' sudden hesitation in their redistricting crusade. Next, the group turns to reports that the DOJ may be planning a swift surrender in Trump’s collusive lawsuit against the IRS. Finally the panel considers whether the president will get his wish and coat D.C. in Trumpian gold leaf.

Mentioned in this episode:
Alisyn’s new show: https://www.scrippsnews.com/shows/connected-with-alisyn-camerota
Adam’s reporting: https://www.allrisenews.com/
Elliot’s book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768052/five-bullets-by-elliot-williams/
NYT reporting about Democrats mulling drastic changes to Virginia’s Supreme Court: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/us/politics/democrats-virginia-plans-gerrymandering.html
Harry’s piece about the Trump IRS case: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/a-judge-calls-out-trumps-self-dealing

Harry speaks with Alisyn Camerota, Adam Klasfeld, and Elliot Williams

REDISTRICTING ROULETTE

After a bombshell redistricting ruling in Virginia shakes the midterms map, Harry talks with three top political minds—David French, Mara Liasson, and Mike Murphy—to try to get a sense of the outlook for November. Will two seismic court verdicts end Democrats’ hopes of retaking the House? Or will a strong anti-Trump tide power them to a win anyway? Can Trump keep Republicans in line, even as his approval rating hits record lows? And is there any rhyme, reason, or endpoint to Trump’s latest skirmishes with Iran?

Mentioned in this episode:

David’s columns: https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-french

Mara’s reporting: https://www.npr.org/people/1930401/mara-liasson

Mike’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hacks-on-tap/id1467297559

Harry speaks with David French, Mara Liasson & Mike Murphy

A MODERN READER'S GUIDE TO A BESIEGED CONSTITUTION

Leading SCOTUS scholar Melissa Murray joins Harry to discuss her new book on the constitution and her concerns about the Justices now tasked with interpreting it. Melissa guides Harry through key points from her book—"The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader"—from the fears of slave rebellion that shaped the 2nd amendment to the expansive promise of liberty that has been gradually erased from the 14th. The two close with a closer look at the Justices, including why Melissa sees John Roberts as the "Victor Frankenstein of American government."

Mentioned in this episode:

Melissa’s new book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-U-S-Constitution/Melissa-Murray/9781668221938

New York Times reporting on the origins of the shadow docket: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/us/politics/supreme-court-shadow-docket.html

Noah Feldman’s book “Scorpions”: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/books/review/ACohen-t.html

Carol Anderon’s book “The Second”: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/books/review/the-second-carol-anderson.html

Harry speaks with Melissa Murray

DEMOCRACY DEMOLITION DERBY

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s seismic redistricting decision, Harry talks with David Gura, Juliette Kayyem, and Tara Setmayer to take stock of the ruling’s impact, the aftershocks of the White House Correspondents' Dinner attack, and Jerome Powell’s stand against Trump. How will the Callais ruling reshape the political map and Black representation in the South? Will Powell’s successor prove a Trump lapdog? And what are the political and policy ramifications of the latest episode of political violence?

Mentioned in this episode:

David's reporting: https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AWxIJr64omw/david-gura

Juliette's analysis: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/juliette-kayyem/

Tara's Substack: https://tarasetmayer.substack.com/

Juliette's piece about the WHCD attack: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/safety-security-whcd-prevention/686969/

Atlantic piece on the rise of so-called normie extremists: https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/04/cole-allen-whcd-trump-extremism/686993/

Harry speaks with David Gura, Juliette Kayyem, and Tara Setmayer

THE GLOBAL AFTERSHOCKS OF TRUMP'S BLUNDER IN IRAN

Jake Sullivan helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Now, as he watches Trump try to superglue some version of that deal back together, Sullivan tells Harry the president “has no idea what he is doing because he has no idea quite why he's doing it.” Drawing on his four years of experience as Biden’s national security advisor, Sullivan plumbs the depth of Trump’s strategic catastrophe in Iran and its disastrous consequences everywhere from American gas stations, to the Ukrainian frontline, to the Taiwan strait.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sullivan's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-with-jake-sullivan-and-jon-finer/id1850526014

Sullivan and Finer's January opinion piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/opinion/trump-venezuela-force-risk.html

Harry speaks with Jake Sullivan

MOLLY MASHUP: 'LOTS OF SMOKING GUNS'

In their newest mashup, Harry and Molly Jong-Fast swap questions about the scandals swamping Trump’s administration and the chances for real accountability for the culprits. Molly asks Harry what it’ll take to prosecute people like Kristy Noem and how far the Supreme Court might go to rescue Trump in the midterms. Harry fires back with questions about J.D. Vance’s political implosion and what the Democrats need to do to stick the landing in November.

Mentioned in this episode:

Molly's podcast: ⁠ https://fastpoliticspod.com/

Molly's Substack: ⁠ https://mollyjongfast.substack.com/

Harry's Substack about the SPLC indictment: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/funding-extremism-please

Harry speaks with Molly Jong-Fast

KASH CRASH

As scandals shake Trump’s cabinet, Harry sits down with Emily Bazelon, Conor Lamb, and Charlie Sykes to discuss the revelations about Kash Patel, a Democratic redistricting win in Virginia, and the administration’s latest retaliations. Along the way, the trio discuss what it will take to revive the rule of law and whether there’s a path away from endless gerrymandering. They close by digging into the jaw-dropping details from Emily’s reporting about how Trump turned DHS into an agency incompetent at real law enforcement but adept at inflicting suffering.

Mentioned in this episode:

Harry’s Substack on the SPLC indictment: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/funding-extremism-please

Emily’s reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/by/emily-bazelon#latest

Charlie’s Substack: https://charliesykes.substack.com/

Emily's DHS article: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/14/magazine/trump-dhs-ice-officers-immigration-deportations.html

Emily’s conversation with Harry about her oral history of the DOJ under Trump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PDKeMe1mXU

Harry speaks with Emily Bazelon, Conor Lamb & Charlie Sykes

TRUMP'S "ABSOLUTE FIASCO"

In our latest Contrarian episode, Norm Eisen, Norm Ornstein, and Jen Rubin join Harry to assess new flashpoints in Trump's nonstop quest to escape accountability and his hasty efforts to claw free of his war in the Middle East. The group takes stock of Trump's stumbling attempts to find a deal with Iran, which seem likely to leave the U.S. weakened and isolated. The panel also weighs the bombshell state charges against an ICE agent and the odds that Trump could name two new Supreme Court justices before year's end.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Contrarian: https://contrarian.substack.com/

Norm Ornstein's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970

The Robert Kagan article about America's changing place in the world: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/trump-national-security-greenland-spheres-of-interest/685673/

The profile of Justice Alito: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/04/samuel-alito-supreme-court-conservative/686756/

Norm Ornstein's kakistocracy article: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/american-kakistocracy/542391/

Harry speaks with Norm Eisen, Norm Ornstein & Jen Rubin