Russia, Through a Glass Darkly

Polls suggest that Russians overwhelmingly support the War of Russian Aggression. Is that really possible? Does it just reflect the extreme steps that the Putin government took to stifle dissent require pro-government media coverage? What are the real attitudes of the Russian people to the war and their government? This very special episode of TalkingFeds brings together 3 expert guests on the state of play inside Russia, including the operator of the last independent TV station in Russia.

Harry speaks with Anne Applebaum, Julia Davis, and Tikhon Dzyadko

Ruthless Ambition Unmasked

3 guests who know the US political landscape like the backs of their hands—Dem Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep Former Rep. David Jolly, and Dem Former Senator Barbara Boxer—join Harry to assess the political jockeying on the right, and particularly by Fla Gov DeSantis and Tex Gov Abbott to be the new party standard bearers. They then discuss the best strategies for Democrats in the midterms. They end by considering the legal and political implications of the court decision invalidating the mask mandate.

Harry speaks with Joaquin Castro, David Jolly, and Barbara Boxer.

Refer, Regulate, Restrict

At the end of a week where the recent sharp divides in the country have never seemed clearer, three of the country’s most knowledgeable and savvy commentators–Alisyn Camerota, George Conway, & Joe Lockhart—join Harry to assess the (fairly woeful) state of the Union. The group looks at the 1/6 Committee and a possible criminal referral of Trump to the DOJ; Biden’s ambitious, but possibly DOA, agenda on guns: and the series of highly restrictive anti-abortion statutes cropping up in red States.

Harry speaks with Alisyn Camerota, George Conway, and Joe Lockhart.

Cooperation and Covert Operations

Aided by guests with rich national security expertise, we take two deep dives down to where the currents roil in the 1/6 investigations and the War of Russian Aggression. Frank Figliuzzi, Norm Ornstein, and Asha Rangappa join Harry to analyze the 1/6 committee’s contempt referrals, the testimony of Ivanka and Jared, and the coordination with the DOJ’s investigation. They then turn to the war and the likely newfangled efforts ongoing in the subterranean “gray zone” away from the fields of combat.

Aided by guests with rich national security expertise — Frank Figliuzzi, Norm Ornstein, and Asha Rangappa — we take two deep dives down to where the currents roil in the 1/6 investigations and the War of Russian Aggression.

Current Events: Turning of the Tides?

It was a week of possible headway on many fronts: at home, in DOJ, which has broadened its investigation of the events leading to 1/6; the 1/6 Committee, which held 2 witnesses in contempt; the federal courts, which determined that Trump more probably than not had committed a crime. And in Ukraine, where fledging peace negotiations were underway. A fantastic panel — Sen. Mike Bennet, Amy Jeffress, and Carol Leonnig — joins Harry to chart the tides and set them all in the proper political context.

A fantastic panel — Sen. Mike Bennet, Amy Jeffress, and Carol Leonnig — joins Harry to chart the tides of the 1/6 investigation, the federal courts which determined that Trump more probably than not had committed a crime, and the fledgling peace negotiations in Ukraine.

Critical Republican Theory

After 18 hours of grueling testimony, Judge Ketanji Brown-Jackson appeared headed for narrow confirmation, but the week put on vivid display the degraded state of the confirmation process. Sen Al Franken, Aaron Blake, and Alexi McCammond join Harry to take apart the hearings and segue to states’ passage of voting rights restrictions and severe anti-abortion laws even before the Court’s expected abortion ruling. They end with analysis of the main stress points shaping up for the midterms.

Sen Al Franken, Aaron Blake, and Alexi McCammond join Harry to take apart Judge Ketanji Brown-Jackson's confirmation hearings, states’ passage of voting rights restrictions and severe anti-abortion laws, and the main stress points for the midterms.

Mr. Zelensky Goes to Washington

In an eventful week featuring an address to Congress by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the passage of a 1.5 trillion spending bill, Harry is joined by three of the country’s most prominent congressional reporters — CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash, Jon Lemire of Politico, and Seung Min Kim of the Washington Post — to assess the week of war and its portents and evaluate its impact on domestic politics. The group also discusses the upcoming confirmation hearing for Judge Jackson.

Harry is joined by three of the country’s most prominent congressional reporters — CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash, Jon Lemire of Politico, and Seung Min Kim of the Washington Post — to assess the week of war and its portents and evaluate its impact on domestic politics.

(Economic) Life During Wartime

This week we take a close look through an economic prism at the war and its effects in Russia and worldwide, joined by a terrific group of economic and political experts – Congressman Ro Khanna, Professor Justin Wolfers, and MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle. The group evaluates the efficacy of the sanctions, and whether any sanctions regime can upend Putin. Moving to the United States, the group discusses the overall state of the economy, focusing on inflation, which last week hit a 40-year high.

Harry speaks with Congressman Ro Khanna, Professor Justin Wolfers, and MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle.

The Darkest Hour 2: Midnight in Kyiv

It was one of those rare weeks when events bring into outline the contours of a new order. The world looks altered after 10 days of brutal—and ferociously resisted—Russian aggression on Ukraine. A fantastic group of guests with deep knowledge of the domestic and international fronts–Erin Burnett (who reported from Ukraine as the war began), Rick Wilson, & Congressman Eric Swalwell –join Harry to take on the bigger and richer questions involving the war and its implications for politics at home.

Harry speaks with Congressman Eric Swalwell, Erin Burnett, and Rick Wilson.

Rule of Law, Rule of Outlaws

After a week of near-constant breaking news, Harry is joined by Michael Schmidt, Katie Benner, and David Jolly to analyze the events unfolding on the domestic and global stages. They discuss the implications of Vladimir Putin’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine and the American response, Biden’s official nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, and various developments in the investigations into Donald Trump’s business practices and possible role in the 1/6 insurrection.

Harry speaks with Michael Schmidt, David Jolly, and Katie Benner.