Where It All Starts

Tomorrow is Election Day. Candidates are giving their closing arguments. Poll workers are preparing for a busy day ahead. And millions of people will stand in line tomorrow to cast their votes. Jane talks to Jennifer Palmieri, co-host of Long Play, about how candidates in some of the South's most contentious races are preparing and what, if anything, can happen in the last 24 hours before Election Day that will matter.Show Notes:Subscribe to Long PlayCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whataday...

On today's show, Jane is joined by Alex Wagner, host of Crooked's Runaway Country. The pair discuss the Trump administration, corruption, and the midterms before digging into Alex's new book, The Steal: Four Right-Wing Hard-Liners, One Republican Presidency, and the Raid on America's Courts.

Show Notes: Check out Alex's book – tinyurl.com/4a8hwa6sSubscribe to Runaway Country Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email...

We’re in the final stretch before Election Day, with early voting underway and new polls still rolling in. The latest CNN poll shows Kansas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton leading Republican Senator Roger Marshall by four points. On today’s show, Jane speaks with Hamilton, a pastor-turned-candidate, about what he would bring to the state, where rural hospitals face some of the highest risks of closure in the country.Show Notes:Check out Adam's campaign – adamhamilton.com/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – ht...

Israel, Brazil, and Serbia recently held elections. Jane talks to Tommy Vietor, co-host of Pod Save the World, about what links all three. And whether a "Trump effect" is at work abroad, or if these three are separate stories about corruption, war, and a local backlash.Show Notes:Check out Pod Save the World – www.youtube.com/podsavetheworldCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]

MAGA is getting nervous as polls in the Michigan U.S. Senate race show Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed leading. According to new polling from Detroit News/WDIV-TV, El-Sayed had 51.4% support, compared with Republican candidate Mike Rogers at 45.1%. Of the 600 likely voters, 3.6% were still undecided. Jane talks to Abdul El-Sayed about tariffs, cost of living, and how President Donald Trump and friends are resorting to their Islamophobic playbook to distract Michiganders from the issues.Show Notes:Check out Abdul's campaign – abdulforsenate.comCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube...

Georgia's first day of early voting set a midterm-voting record. But should record turnout reassure us, or can turnout be high and suppression still be real? Jane discusses this, ballot access, and how to secure your vote with Stacey Abrams, former leader of the Georgia House, lead organizer of the 10 Steps campaign, and host of Crooked Media's Assembly Required.Show Notes:Check out 10 Steps – 10stepscampaign.orgSubscribe to Assembly Required – youtube.com/@AssemblyRequiredPodcastCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.in...

As we know, the Trump administration is working hard to compromise the integrity of the upcoming midterm elections. So on today's episode, Jane speaks with Hawaii Democratic Senator Brian Schatz about how he's staying vigilant, his Election Day expectations, and the importance of voting.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]

A federal judge in California today ordered the Trump administration to halt investigations in nine states into whether noncitizens are registered to vote. The ruling comes as the administration steps up efforts to identify noncitizen voters nationwide in the months leading up to the midterm elections. On today's show, Jane speaks with California Attorney General Rob Bonta about protecting voters' rights and how the state is preparing for Election Day on November 3.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on In...

In American politics, candidates often say they care about kitchen-table issues and working-class voters. Yet, if you look at both parties' candidates, you'll find they are more alike than you think: the same five universities and four careers. Jane discusses how American politics keeps folks with a 9-to-5 out of the race with Nicholas Carnes and Noam Lupu, co-authors of "Keeping Workers Off the Ballot: How Democracy Undermines Working-Class Representation."Show Notes:Check out Keeping Workers Off the Ballot – tinyurl.com/yr7pkj2mCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat...

Executions are on the rise in the U.S., even as more Americans oppose the death penalty. An October 2025 Gallup poll found that 44% of Americans oppose capital punishment, the highest level since 1966. Recent headlines, including a proposed public execution by firing squad and the botched execution of Christa Pike, have brought the issue back into focus. Jane discusses the death penalty with Elizabeth Bruenig, a staff writer at The Atlantic who has covered the issue for years.Show Notes:Check out Elizabeth's work – theatlantic.com/author/elizabeth-bruenig/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4...

Nate Silver, statistician and host of Crooked Media's Still Counting, made a bold prediction about the 2026 Senate Midterm races today. Silver argues that Democrats have a 75% chance of winning the Senate, which feels VERY optimistic. Jane talks to Erinn Haines, co-host of Crooked's Long Play, who has been traveling through the South to talk to candidates and voters ahead of the election about whether Democrats can flip some historically red seats.Show Notes:Check out Long Play – crooked.com/podcast-series/longplay/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day –...

This weekend, Senator Bernie Sanders will rally with Florida Democratic State Representative Angie Nixon, who is challenging Republican Senator Ashley Moody for Florida's U.S. Senate seat. Running on a platform of lowering costs, raising wages, and putting everyday people first, Nixon joins Jane to discuss her campaign.Show Notes:Check out Angie's campaign – https://angienixon.com/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]

The midterms are just around the corner, and that means you’re probably seeing more political ads than ever in your mailbox and on your screens. But who’s funding those ads… and the campaigns they’re supporting? Jane speaks with Judd Legum, a contributor to the The Guardian newsletter How We Win, about dark money and the forces shaping our politics.Show Notes:Subscribe to How We Win — https://www.theguardian.com/hwwjlCheck out Judd’s Substack, Popular Information — https://popular.info/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouT...

Abortion is back on the ballot in a handful of states – including Missouri, where voters are being asked to repeal the rights they just instated two years ago. Jane sits down with Carter Sherman, co-host of the Guardian podcast, Stateside with Kai and Carter, to hear more about the states weighing abortion in the midterms.Show Notes:Check out Stateside with Kai and Carter — theguardian.com/us-news/series/statesideBuy your Crooked Con tickets — crookedcon.comCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – tinyurl.com/…What A Day – YouTube – youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – instagram.com/crookedmediaFor a transcript of th...

The Supreme Court is back in session — and nearly two years into Trump’s presidency, we have more questions than ever about the justices' ethics rules, shadow docket, and more. Jane sat down with Strict Scrutiny co-host Kate Shaw to hear her four ideas to reform the highest court in the land.Show Notes:Check out Kate’s piece – https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/opinion/supreme-court-reform-democrats.html Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of...

The 2026 midterm elections are anxiety inducing. Will Democrats take back the House? The Senate? Can we believe the polls? 2016 PTSD is getting real, so Jane spoke with POLITICO's Dasha Burns to break down what's really going on this cycle.Show Notes:‘The Conversation with Dasha Burns’ – https://www.politico.com/podcasts/the-conversationCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Republicans are working to keep voters who showed up for President Donald Trump in 2024 engaged in down-ballot races. One key battleground is Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, where freshman Republican Rep. Gabe Evans faces Democratic challenger Manny Rutinel. Rutinel joins Jane to discuss his campaign and why he believes voters should send him to Congress.Show Notes:Check out Manny's campaign – www.mannyforcolorado.comCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmed...

New polling out Thursday shows that concerns about artificial intelligence are crossing party lines. According to an AP-NORC survey, 64% of Americans think AI is developing "too fast." But we wanted to hear from someone who sees the opportunities AI presents and how the technology can make our lives better. On today's show, Jane speaks with Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei about his new book, "Simplify: Do 50 Percent More with 50 Percent Less."Show Notes:Check out Jim's book – https://tinyurl.com/4wjby6a2Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat...

The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with a top Senate Republican, began dialing back its funding for the North Carolina Senate race last week and shifted it elsewhere. Now a group affiliated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, WinSenate, is doing the same. Jane talks with Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, about what's happening in the race to replace retiring Republican Senator Tom Tillis and other races across the state.Show Notes:Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.yout...

This midterm election introduces a surprising ballot measure for Washington State voters to weigh in on -- whether to require girls to undergo genital inspections if they want to play sports. Jane speaks with Washington State House Speaker Laurie Jenkins about who's behind getting the issue on the ballot and what Washingtonians are saying about it.
Show Notes: Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email tran...

The Supreme Court is back, and once again a lot is on the docket. Like climate change, and what cities and states are allowed to do about it. This major climate case also saw Justice Samuel Alito's recusal — which is uncommon. To discuss what lies ahead for the court and Alito, Jane speaks with Leah Litman, host of Strict Scrutiny.Show Notes:Check out Strict Scrutiny – https://www.youtube.com/@strictscrutinypodcast Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia...

The Group of Seven wealthy democracies said Friday that they plan to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products in the coming weeks — starting with “substantial” amounts of diesel. The announcement comes as Trump’s trade battles and his war in Iran have increased U.S. prices for oil and other goods ahead of next month's midterms. To discuss the latest on the war and what's happening in the Middle East, Jane speaks with Tommy Vietor, co-host of Pod Save the World.Show Notes:Check out Pod Save The World – tinyurl.com/2kuvmdy8Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter...

The midterms are next month, and President Donald Trump's approval rating on issues like the economy is slipping. But are Democrats capitalizing on it? Is their messaging keeping pace with the moment? On today's show, Jane sits down with Sarah Longwell to discuss how Democrats can communicate their policy ideas more effectively and connect with voters. Longwell is the author of the new book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time.Show Notes:Check out Sarah's book – tinyurl.com/3xwu8naaSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https...

The Venezuelan man who was shot in the back by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Austin, Texas, last week has been charged with assaulting an officer. Burundi is the latest country to accept U.S. deportees to a country they have no relationship with, and the U.S. Supreme Court says third-country deportations are ok, for now. A lot is going on in the world of immigration. Jane talks about it all with Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR National Correspondent who covers immigration.Show Notes:Check out Sergio's reporting – tinyurl.com/5n7n48beSubscribe to the What A Day...

Let's talk about cowards. The people who surrendered to President Donald J. Trump's Administration – and why. Jane talks to Jacob Weisberg, author of the new book, “Profiles in Cowardice: A Study of Collaboration in the Trump Era, ” about five principal factors playing into the dynamics of “cowardice and capitulation."Show Notes:Check out Jacob's book – https://tinyurl.com/yyvnupbdSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]

If you watched NFL football on Sunday, you may have seen President Donald Trump's new ad campaign, featuring a 2024 Trump ad. The ad was re-released and shown dozens of times, paid for by the US government. Trump is fixated on making the midterms about him. Jane talks to political commentator and YouTube host Adam Mockler about whether this will help or hurt the GOP candidates.Show Notes:Check out Adam's podcast – https://www.youtube.com/@adammocklerSubscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://ww...

The Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling today lifting restrictions on a controversial federal voter database. The order grants President Donald Trump a win, for now, in his aggressive campaign against noncitizen voting. So what does this mean for the midterms? To find out, we spoke with Norm Eisen, co-founder of Democracy Defenders Action.Show Notes:Check out Democracy Defenders Action – democracydefendersaction.orgCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode...

With the midterms just around the corner, new polls are hitting the headlines every day. But why are there so many polls, and what can they actually tell us? On today's show, Jane talks with Galen Druke, co-host of Crooked's new podcast, Still Counting, about what he's seeing in the latest polling and what it could mean for November.Show Notes:Check out Still Counting – youtube.com/@StillCountingPodcastCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia...

The Constitution says states, not the federal government, run elections. But the Trump administration is trying to mess with the midterms. Jane talks to Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar about what states are doing to protect elections for their constituents.Show Notes:Check out Cisco's reelection campaign – https://cisconv.co/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected]

President Donald Trump delivered a very Trumpian speech before the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly today. He, of course, touted the United States as being the hottest country and made more threats of "annihilation" toward Iran in the midst of the ongoing war. Trump said that he believes the two nations will make a deal right after the midterm elections.To talk about pivotal elections in history, Jane speaks with CNN Anchor and Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash about her new book, "The Elections That Changed The World: Fifteen Pivotal Moments That Shaped How We Live."Show...

MSNOW, CNN, and Politico are suing the Trump Administration after it banned their reporters from the White House press pool. President Donald Trump said on Friday, "I don't want them in my office," because of the news organizations' coverage. Erin Ryan talks to Will Sommer, Senior Reporter for The Bulwark and author of the False Flag newsletter, about Trump's latest attacks on the media.Show Notes:Check out False Flag – thebulwark.com/s/false-flagCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagr...

A federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to provide notice before making any major physical changes to the building, on Thursday, including demolishing it, as President Donald Trump has threatened. But why is Trump so obsessed with the Kennedy Center? And what will he do if his name doesn’t end up being enshrined on the building? To find out, Jane speaks with Arts & Government reporter at The Washington Post, Jonathan Edwards.Show Notes:Check out Jonathan's work – washingtonpost.com/people/jonathan-edwardsCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – Yo...

On today's show, we get into a rebellion at the heart of President Donald Trump's empire, led by some of the least rebellious guys you can think of: the finance geeks at the Federal Reserve.Greg Walters is joined by labor economist and policy consultant Kathryn Anne Edwards to talk about Trump the Fed, gas prices, and you.Show Notes:Check out Kathryn's work – kathrynanneedwards.comCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript...

For a third time, the U.S. House has voted to end the Iran war, approving a war powers resolution that would halt President Donald Trump's ability to continue military action without congressional approval. And apparently the American people agree. According to new polling shared exclusively with Pod Save the World, 75 percent of independents think Trump is doing a bad job handling the conflict. So what is Trump's favorite television network saying about Iran these days? To find out, Jane speaks with Matt Gertz, Senior Fellow at Media Matters.Show Notes:Check out Matt's work – tinyurl.com/3xztsuxyCall Congress – 202-224-312...

One of the biggest elections everyone is watching this year is the Texas Senate race. But the race that's getting a lot of attention right now for allegations of bigotry is the Railroad Commissioner race. The Republican who wants the job spent his weekend complaining about non-white students at a University of Texas at Austin football game. To learn more, Jane spoke to Robert Downen. He’s a Senior Writer for Texas Monthly based in Austin.Show Notes:Check out Robert's work – texasmonthly.com/contributors/robert-downen/Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – tinyurl.com/…What A Day – Yo...

A string of recent warnings from AI industry insiders, including a former Anthropic employee who puts the odds of human extinction at over 10 percent in the next 10 years.Politicians on both sides of the aisle are feeling pressure to do something. And tomorrow we're going to see a very rare spectacle: Senator Bernie Sanders, lion of the progressive movement, sharing a stage with Steve Bannon, the MAGA bomb-thrower, at what they're calling a "Pro-Human Assembly." You don't see that kind of bipartisanship very often in DC these days.But will it be enough? Will the literal possible end of humanity...

Nate Silver, Clare Malone, and Galen Druke discuss the most competitive Senate races heading into the midterms in this excerpt from their new podcast, Still Counting. To hear the rest, head over to Still Counting and subscribe! New episodes drop every Wednesday evening.You can request a transcript by emailing [email protected]. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

In June 2022, a 14-year-old girl named Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her Utah home and held captive for nine months. She endured abuse and torture before police finally rescued her. Now, she's an advocate for other survivors, and she has a new true crime podcast, "The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart," which centers on their stories. Jane talks to her about what she's learned about getting through one of the worst things imaginable."The Survivor Files with Elizabeth Smart" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available every Monday on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.Show Notes:Check...

Friday marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. And earlier this week, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the release of records related to the government’s response in the aftermath of the attacks, as well as the settlement of two lawsuits brought by 9/11 Health Watch. On today’s show, Jane speaks with Andrew Carboy, an attorney for 9/11 Health Watch, about the survivors of 9/11 and the devastating health problems they have faced over the past two and a half decades.Show Notes:Check out the NYC 9/11 Document Portal Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e...

College football is back and so is Congress. What does one have to do with the other? More than you think. Jane talks to veteran college sports analyst Paul Finebaum, host of The Paul Finebaum Show, about the Protect College Sports Act and why some members of Congress have taken an interest in sports this session. Show Notes:Check out Paul’s showCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jyWhat A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode...