What A Day
If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right? New episodes at 5:00 a.m. EST, Monday–Friday in your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. Being informed was never this easy.
0
plays
Processing Settings
Toggle
2026-08-13 22:39:00
•
22:33
DOWNLOADED MAGA Media’s Trump Slump
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Donald Trump’s poll numbers are trash — and numbers for right-wing influencers on YouTube, Twitter and elsewhere are going down the tubes, too. As the New York Times reported at the end of last month, some of the biggest names in right-wing media are experiencing massive declines in clicks and views to their content. David Pakman is the host of the David Pakman Show on YouTube – and he’s been thinking a lot about the algorithms that control what we watch, read, listen to and think about. He stopped by to talk about how right-wing media has become a victim of its own success. And in headlines, Karoline Leavitt is leaving the White House at the end of the month to spend more time with her family, U.S. inflation declined slightly last month and what’s behind Zohran Mamdani’s approval rating after eight months in office. Show Notes: Check out David's show – Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-12 21:25:00
•
20:48
DOWNLOADED Is Wisconsin A Warning for Democratic Socialists?
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
On Tuesday, Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong narrowly lost to Milwaukee’s county executive, David Crowley, in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary. Now, the somewhat unknown is facing Republican Representative Tom Tiffany in November — but Crowley he may not have an easy time winning over the Democrats who voted for Hong. For more on what Democrats can learn from the race, we spoke with Holly Otterbein, senior politics reporter at Axios. And in headlines, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has convened a special grand jury in Washington, D.C., Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks to individuals, and the Trump administration plans to spend at least $900 million on White House construction. Show Notes: Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-11 22:06:00
•
24:41
DOWNLOADED What The Special Elections In The South Mean For The Midterms
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
It’s voting day in states across the country – including in two Southern states that have already voted once this year. In South Carolina, Republicans will select their new Senate nominee after Lindsey Graham’s sudden death. And in Alabama, voters in several congressional districts are heading back to the polls after the Supreme Court told the state to use a map from 2023… despite that map being struck down by lower courts for being racially discriminatory. All of this is happening in the orange-tinted shadow of Donald Trump — but the South isn’t owned by the 47th president. For more, we spoke to Mitch Landrieu. He’s the former mayor of New Orleans and one of the hosts of Crooked Media’s newest podcast, Long Play , which examines politics in the ever-changing South. And in headlines, Trump signs an executive order calling for revamped childhood vaccine recommendations, a Syrian court sentences ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his brother to death by abstentia, and a new report reveals The White House asked the Department of Justice to try charging the man accused of vandalizing the reflective pool with a different crime after his case was dropped. Show Notes: Check out Long Play – crooked.com/podcast-series/longplay/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-10 21:45:00
•
23:30
DELETED Netanyahu Bucks Trump's Board Of Peace 1 play
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Last month, Trump bragged that the Board of Peace had accomplished a monumental breakthrough : an agreement for the disarmament of Hamas in Gaza. However, this “agreement” didn’t really stand much of a chance because Hamas and the Israeli government were stuck in a classic standoff. And on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned down the deal. So not only are we nowhere near a peace deal, we’re not even close to peace. To talk more about the failures of Trump and the Board of Peace, we spoke with Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace with a focus on U.S. foreign policy. He is a former State Department Middle East negotiator in both Republican and Democratic administrations. And in headlines, more states are gearing up for primary elections tomorrow , Trump scoffs at Iran’s demand for reparations , and the Patriot Games have kicked off in Ohio . Show Notes: Check out Aaron's work – tinyurl.com/24enrkeb Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-07 21:39:00
•
18:27
DELETED The Hidden Cameras You Can't Avoid 5 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Automated License Plate Readers have been sweeping the country, with cameras popping up outside of stores and alongside roads in communities big and small. The largest manufacturer of those cameras is Flock, with around 100,000 readers in use across the country. According to Flock, the cameras are a boon to law enforcement. But as they become more prevalent , people are protesting their use – even blocking their views or destroying them. NewsNation reported earlier this week that 23 jurisdictions have cancelled contracts with Flock, citing privacy concerns. And as tech reporter Drew Harwell wrote for The Washington Post , some law enforcement officers are even using Flock cameras to stalk exes. And in headlines, the U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, the Senate overwhelmingly approves a Russian sanctions package, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement says its field officers across the country will have body-worn cameras by the end of September. Show Notes: Check out Drew's piece – Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-06 21:40:00
•
20:33
DELETED Tucker Carlson's Vision For America 10 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
In a livestream Wednesday night, Tucker Carlson laid out some ideas for what he thinks would make Americans’ lives better – a vision, you could call it. And while he didn’t say that he’s going to run for President in 2028, a lot of people think he should – including some of Trump’s most prominent former allies. So we asked The Bulwark ’s Will Sommer: What’s really behind Tucker Carlson’s long rant? And in headlines, a Senate committee votes to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, Uganda’s Defense Minister wins parliamentary approval to deploy troops to Gaza , and WK Kellogg says it will remove artificial colors from all its cereals by the end of 2026. Show Notes: Check out Will's piece – Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-05 21:26:00
•
19:47
DELETED Jon Favreau Ranks Michigan Primary Hot Takes 7 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
It was a big night for Michigan Democrats, as progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed beat US Representative Haley Stevens in the race for a seat in the Senate this fall. But what did we actually learn from El-Sayed’s victory? Was this a win for progressives? A shot at the establishment? Is he too liberal to win in November? And what does this say about the midterms? Everyone has an opinion… but not all of them are good. To hear more about which takes we should be listening to, we spoke to Jon Favreau. He’s the co-host of Pod Save America . And in headlines, President Trump tells reporters a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come this week , the US is seeing more possible cyber attacks targeting water systems , and the Trump Administration is giving tariff refunds ! But Americans are unlikely to see any of the money. Show Notes: Check out Pod Save America – youtube.com/@podsaveamerica Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-04 21:30:00
•
22:00
DELETED A New GOP Scandal Erupts 5 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller is facing serious allegations of spousal and child abuse from his former wife, Emily Moreno. Miller has denied all of the allegations, and as of our recording on Tuesday, he’s shown no indications that he wants to resign from office – even as several Senate Republicans have said he should quit . But Miller is not the only House Republican under the microscope for bad behavior — something that isn’t making life any easier on House Speaker Mike Johnson just a few months before the midterms. For more, we spoke to Jake Sherman, co-founder of Punchbowl News. And in headlines, the Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination, Michigan voters head to the polls , and the Iran war has reportedly almost eliminated the U.S. stockpile of long-range precision missiles. Show Notes: Check out Punchbowl News Check out Jake's podcast – Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-03 22:55:00
•
21:17
DELETED The Panic Over Progressive Dems 7 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
You’ve probably heard a lot about the Democratic Socialists and progressives running for office nationwide – and maybe even more about how establishment Democrats are terrified of them . A lot of that concern is because they think they’ll lose to their Republican counterparts. But many Republican candidates running for statewide office this term are in a league of their own… and not in a good way . So are establishment Democrats right? Will progressive candidates push voters to Republicans – even if they're the least qualified people around? To find out, we talked to Dan Pfeiffer. He’s the co-host of Pod Save America and the author of the Message Box newsletter on Substack. And in headlines, Iran and President Trump disagree over whether negotiations are back on, two Republican senators clear the way for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation, and the Michigan Department of Health announces the first confirmed deaths related to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak . Show Notes: Check out Message Box – Check out Pod Save America – youtube.com/@podsaveamerica Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-08-01 15:21:45
•
24:38
DELETED 1: Georgia: The New Bellwether 5 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Georgia has become one of the most closely watched states in America, but its story didn't begin with the last election. Jen, Mitch, and Errin explore the history, communities, and political forces that transformed Georgia into the center of the national conversation. Through interviews with civic leaders, elected officials, and everyday Georgians, they examine how the state's civil rights legacy, rapid growth, and changing electorate continue to shape both Southern politics and the future of the country. Guests: Sen. Jon Ossoff, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, LaTosha Brown (Black Voters Matter), Kyle Tibbs-Jones (The Bitter Southerner)
2026-07-31 21:08:00
•
21:24
DELETED Trump's Presidential Payday 5 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
About a month ago, the Antwerp World Diamond Center, which deals with a large percentage of the world’s diamonds, made Donald Trump a very special gift purportedly for America’s 250th birthday . Then, just last week, the Trump Administration coincidentally exempted natural diamonds from its new sweeping global tariffs. Not a great look. It’s no secret that the Trump Administration is steeped in deals aimed at getting the President, his family, and his political organizations paid. As the Wall Street Journal reported, Trump is routinely asking for cash from companies and donors so he can build his ballroom or future design projects . The funnel of money aimed at this White House can be almost overwhelming. So what can we do about it? We spoke to Amanda Carpenter, a writer and editor at Protect Democracy , who has some ideas. And in headlines, July is on track to become the hottest month on record for the entire United States, about 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s tiny Ceuta territory in just 24 hours, and oil companies are profiting from the Iran war and the rising cost of gas. Show Notes: Check out Amanda's piece – tinyurl.com/3uk54psp Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-30 21:31:00
•
23:57
DELETED The Battle For Massachusetts' 8th District 15 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
There are just 96 days until the November midterms — and while the battle between Democrats and Republicans is taking up a lot of headlines, many Democrats are also facing serious challenges from within their own party. Take Massachusetts's Eighth District, which includes parts of the city of Boston. Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch has represented the state in Congress since 2001 – and for much of that time, he hasn’t faced any serious primary challenges. But this year, he’s up against Patrick Roath, a 39-year old attorney who thinks that it’s time for a new generation in Congress. Today, we’re speak with both Patrick Roath and Representative Lynch about what they each think Democrats should do if they win back the House, and why they each are the best candidate for Massachusetts voters to send to Washington. And in headlines, the Iran war heats back up as United States and Iran continue to fire barrages of missiles , Trump’s approval rating among voters has dropped to 32 percent , and President Trump says he may temporarily pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination for the full-time AG position. Show Notes: Check out Rep. Lynch's campaign – Check out Patrick Roath's campaign – patrickroath.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-29 21:55:00
•
24:46
DELETED Senator Raphael Warnock On Where Morality Meets Politics 7 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
We don’t often talk about what the most moral path forward for the Senate, or Congress, or hell, politics in general might be — but it would probably look more like doing something about ensuring everyday Americans can afford groceries and less like going to war with Iran. Georgia Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock gives this a lot of thought in his new book, “The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America,” where he lays out some of the biggest problems facing our country. We speak with Senator Warnock about his book and how we might move forward together. And in headlines, the U.S. and Iran trade strikes after days of calm; the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady despite persistently high inflation and a spike in energy prices caused by the Iran war; and Dr. Anthony Fauci pleads the fifth to more than 100 questions posed by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members. Show Notes: Check out Sen. Warnock's book – tinyurl.com/583vnpz4 Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-28 21:39:00
•
24:18
DELETED Trump's Lonely War 9 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Today marked the start of two days of services for the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, with President Donald Trump joining foreign leaders at Washington National Cathedral for the funeral. Graham was arguably one of the biggest supporters of the Iran war. But now, he's gone – and the war he helped start is becoming increasingly unpopular. The Economist reported earlier this month that the war in Iran is America's least popular conflict since public poll tracking began . And thanks to a virtual Pentagon blackout on information , there's a lot we don't even know about this war in the first place. So, to talk more about the Iran war, we spoke with Tom Bowman. He's the Pentagon correspondent for NPR. And in headlines, wildfires across France and Spain have driven roughly 330,000 people from their homes and vacation sites; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent Kentucky Republican Senator McConnell a letter demanding that he prove that he can do his job; and a conservative activist group released audio tapes that appear to show former President Joe Biden sharing classified information with a biographer. Show Notes: Check out Tom's work – npr.org/people/5457129/tom-bowman Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-27 21:25:00
•
23:57
DELETED Can Senate Republicans Pass Trump's Agenda? 9 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is trying to get a bunch done ahead of the Senate’s long summer break , from sanctions legislation on Russia to funding the government . But none of that seems to matter to President Trump. He’s focused on the SAVE America Act – a sweeping piece of federal legislation that would dramatically change how Americans vote (and most likely, who gets to vote in the first place). Now, a group of far-right Senators – like Utah Sen. Mike Lee – are demanding Thune cancel vacation and put the SAVE America Act on the floor. So who is in charge in the Senate – John Thune, or Donald Trump? To find out, we spoke to Burgess Everett. He’s the congressional bureau chief at Semafor. And in headlines, Trump defended his sweeping tariffs during a speech at a General Motors facility in Michigan; a New York Times report revealed that the Trump Administration canceled major grants for clean-energy projects based entirely on politics; and President Trump finally got to perform his stand-up routine at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Show Notes: Check out Burgess' work – semafor.com/author/burgess-everett Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-24 21:45:00
•
21:29
DELETED The Terrible Tates 9 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Andrew and Tristan Tate are facing extradition to the United Kingdom after their arrest in Miami last weekend. The brothers are facing 59 counts between them in the UK , including rape, sex trafficking, and more. And now, President Trump’s inner circle — including the White House — is backing away from the Tates. For more, we spoke to Madeline Peltz. She’s an independent journalist covering the right-wing media and author of the Substack, Number Two Pencil . And in headlines, the U.S. is facing its worst year for measles in decades , the DOJ withdraws its subpoenas of three New York Times reporters, and the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner 2.0 takes place tonight . Show Notes: Check out Madeline's work – substack.com/@numbertwopencil/posts Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-23 21:23:00
•
19:43
DELETED The Parasite Causing Explosive Diarrhea
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
By now, you've probably heard more than you ever wanted about c yclospora , a parasite that spreads via infected water and food and causes explosive diarrhea. This has been a very bad year for cyclosporiasis. According to the New York Times , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention typically report an average of 2,800 cases of the illness in the U.S. every year. But this year, the CDC reports more than 11,000 cases across 41 states . So, for more on our summer of cyclosporiasis and why you should maybe skip the bagged lettuce, we spoke to Julie Rovner. She's the Chief Washington correspondent and host of the "What the Health?" podcast at KFF Health News. And in headlines, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, Ukrainian drones are targeting Russia's largest online marketplace , and the FDA reviews seven peptide injections the agency banned three years ago over safety concerns. Show Notes: Check out What The Health? – kffhealthnews.org/podcast-series/what-the-health/ Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-22 21:25:00
•
19:54
DELETED Trump Opens Utah For Mining 3 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Last week, President Trump dramatically reduced the size of two national monuments that aren't only beloved by everyday Utahns but contain priceless archeological treasures. But Utah is fighting back – against Trump, and against the Republican legislators letting private industries and a Shark Tank host run roughshod over what most people in the state actually want. To learn more, we spoke to Caroline Gleich. She’s an environmental activist and a professional ski mountaineer based in Park City. And in headlines, the Trump Administration announces a deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide the country with a civilian nuclear program, Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs overwhelmingly wins the GOP nomination for Arizona governor , and the power of the US passport has reportedly declined over the past 20 years. Show Notes: Check out Caroline's work – carolinegleich.com Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-21 21:17:00
•
20:12
DELETED A Woman Could Be South Carolina's Next Senator
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Lindsey Graham died a little over a week ago – and last Tuesday, his younger sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in to fill his seat. Given that she has absolutely no experience in politics, pretty much everyone thought that Darline Graham was just going to be filling in her late brother's seat until his term ended. But on Friday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he wants her to run to be the new Republican nominee in August's special primary election — and on Monday, she generously agreed. But many other Republicans have jumped into the race anyway … and whoever wins the nomination will be facing our guest today: Dr. Annie Andrews. She's a pediatrician who has focused her campaign not on Donald Trump, but on the health of everyday South Carolinians. And in headlines: Trump imposes new 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods , Arizona goes to the polls , and the New York Times reports that Trump denied nearly 6,000 clemency petitions from people who followed the Justice Department's stated policies for requesting pardons. Show Notes: Check out Dr. Annie Andrews – Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com
2026-07-20 21:30:00
•
23:07
DELETED Iran: Trump's Forever War? 4 plays
AI Insights
Original Description Hide Description
Over the weekend, the Pentagon announced that three US service members were killed as fighting intensified between the US and Iran. That brings the current death toll for US military personnel engaged in the war to 17. And with news from the New York Times that the Pentagon has been hesitant to share more information about further casualties. It's clear that the Iran war is far from ending, and may even be spiraling out of control. So to talk more about Trump's war of choice, we spoke with Mehdi Hasan. He's the editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo. And in headlines, US senators are pushing for more details about ICE's vetting practices for new agents, Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, is almost certain to become the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, and President Trump tries to steal the spotlight from Spain after the FIFA World Cup final. Show Notes: Check out Zeteo Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – What A Day – YouTube – Follow us on Instagram – For a transcript of this episode , please email transcripts@crooked.com