Courting Disaster

The Supreme Court starts its annual term this week at a hugely fraught moment for the court and the country, and with public confidence in the court’s integrity near a historic low. This is the term when the new majority must lay its cards down in a series of blockbuster cases and reveal where they are willing to take the country. Three great experts--Emily Bazelon, Jen Rubin, and Steve Vladeck-- join Harry to break down the law and politics of this extraordinary moment in the court’s history.

Host Harry Litman talks with Emily Bazelon, Jen Rubin, and Steve Vladeck

Build Back Better Bill: Biden on the Brink

Peter Baker, Alexi McCammond, and Congressman Ted Lieu join Harry to analyze a contentious week in Washington: liberal and moderate Democrats were at loggerheads on the two big-spending bills; Republicans and Democrats were at loggerheads over raising the debt ceiling; Congress and former Executive Branch officials were at loggerheads over demands to testify before the January 6 Select Committee, and all comers jumped on President Biden for the Haitian migrant crisis playing out in Texas.

Host Harry Litman talks with Peter Baker, Alexis McCammond, and Congressman Ted Lieu

Totalled Recall: Masks, Mandates and Manchin

It was a week that put to the test the adage “As California Goes, So Goes the Nation,” but with unclear results. CA Gov Gavin Newsom handily turned back a recall effort, which Biden ascribed to Newsom’s COVID policies while others credited to the increasing unpopularity of Donald Trump. 3 of the country’s sharpest political minds – Jonah Goldberg, Norm Ornstein, & former Sen Barbara Boxer – take the recall as a prism for discussion of the national mood re Trump, COVID, voting rights and more.

Host Harry Litman talks with Jonah Goldberg, Norm Ornstein, & former Sen Barbara Boxer.

9/11, Texas, Covid… And how was your week?

The 20th anniversary of 9/11 finds the country down in the dumps about that milestone, with many highlighting lost opportunities to consolidate the U.S.’s position as the world’s moral leader and new daunting challenges in combatting international and domestic terror. The DOJ entered forcefully into the fray of the Texas abortion case, but harbingers of a future demolition of abortion rights remain. And COVID’s resurgence gives rise to anxiety about continuing dislocation of present-day life.

Host Harry Litman talks with Jamie Gorelick, David Fahrenthold and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

Texas Two Step (Backwards)

At the end of a week of turmoil from Afghanistan to Austin, Jon Alter, Matt Miller, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon join Harry to assess the damage and analyze the portents. The 4 begin with the Texas abortion statute that the Supreme Court refused to enjoin, and the possibility of effective pushback by Congress or the Executive Branch. They then assess the withdrawal in Afghanistan and the diplomatic path ahead before taking up the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 select committee.

Host Harry Litman talks with on Alter, Matt Miller, and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon.

National Security Edition: “No Boots On the Ground to Booed On the Grounds”

An episode devoted to the savage terrorist attack at the Kabul airport and its national-security implications at home and abroad. Four leading national security experts—Frank Figiliuzzi, with Elizabeth Neumann, Ken Dilanian, and David Laufman—dig into the sharp difficulties for combating terror our withdrawal from Afghanistan presents. They then pivot to the ominous possibility of increased far-right terrorism in the US, as exemplified by the boos that greeted Trump for endorsing the vaccine.

Host Frank Figiliuzzi talks with Elisabeth Neumann, Ken Dilanian & David Laufman.

Voting Rights: You Beto Your Life

A special episode about the state of play for voting rights featuring Beto O’Rourke, Josh Marshall, and Laura Coates. We canvass the substantive and political landscape of federal legislation, including the For the People Act and the just-released John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would undo two Supreme Court cases that gutted enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. We also discuss the state of play on the state side, especially the wild and woolly goings-on in Texas.

Host Harry Litman talks with Beto O’Rourke, Josh Marshall, and Laura Coates.

CLOSING THE BARN DOOR ON THE STABLE GENIUS

With Donald Trump’s successful efforts to keep his misdeeds from becoming public, it falls to authors of books to write the first drafts of history. There has been a spate of books of late, and the one that has garnered the most attention and accolades is “I Alone Can Fix It,” by Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker. Harry sits down with Leonning and Rucker for an in-depth exploration of some of the bigger, finer, and more surprising points of the book, and their take on where things now stand.

Host Harry Litman talks with Carol Leonnig and Phil Rucker

DOJ: Garland Here for the Right Reasons?

Talking Feds returns to its roots, with the latest look at the goings-on and inner workings of the Department of Justice by 4 of the professionals that know it best. After a few months in which he repeatedly disappointed progressives, who wanted him to attack the abuses of the Trump DOJ head-on, AG Merrick Garland of late has made several decisions that seem to tack in the other direction. Was it just a matter of timing, or is Garland adjusting his approach as he finds full footing in the job?

Host Harry Litman talks with Amy Jeffress, Katie Benner and Matthew Miller

I See Your Trillion and Raise You Climate Change

“As California Goes, So Goes the Country,” could be the capsule description for this episode, which brings together 3 of California’s most prominent public officials, Sen. Alex Padilla, Congresswoman Karen Bass, and director of the State Office of Business Development (and former White House Press Secretary) Dee Dee Meyers. The 3 join Harry—the 4th Californian-- to discuss the most pressing national topics–covid, infrastructure, voting rights, and more–through the prism of the Golden State.