What A Day

Capitol Hill was surprisingly busy this week. Republicans and Democrats yelled at one another, Republicans yelled at other Republicans, and amazingly, some actual business got done – sort of. But it looks like it wasn’t enough to avoid a partial government shutdown. For more on a wild week in Congress, we spoke with Burgess Everett. He’s the Congressional bureau chief for Semafor.
And in headlines, President Donald Trump is losing to former President Joe Biden in the polls, a federal judge blocks the Pentagon from punishing Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, and after a long two months, the immigration crackdown in Minnesota is finally ending.
Show Notes:

Check out Burgess's work – www.semafor.com/author/burgess-everett

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8

What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Department of Justice fumbled yet another attempt to prosecute President Donald Trump’s enemies on Tuesday night. This time, it failed to get an indictment of the six Democrats who posted a video in November reminding U.S. troops they have an obligation to refuse illegal orders — no matter who they come from. Colorado Democratic Representative Jason Crow is one of those six lawmakers. We spoke about the investigation, Pam Bondi’s Congressional testimony, and how to protect U.S. troops from being targeted by the government they serve.
And in headlines, the House votes to rescind the tariffs Trump placed on Canada last year under the authority of a “national emergency,” revised government data shows President Trump’s first year in office wasn’t actually good for the job market, and Trump has a “very good meeting” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu… even though it sounds like not much happened.
Show Notes:

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8

What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Over the past year, the Trump administration has been eliminating policies aimed at slowing down climate change – and now, it may go even further. This week, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to repeal the “endangerment finding” that has been the scientific basis of rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions since 2009. To talk more about this endangerment finding and where the fight against climate change goes from here, we spoke to Leah Stokes. She’s an associate professor at UC Santa Barbara where she works on climate and clean energy policy and co-host of the climate podcast, A Matter of Degrees.
And in headlines, Department of Homeland Security officials testify before Congress, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick admits to lunching with his kids on Epstein Island, and the Trump administration takes down a rainbow flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City.
Show Notes:

Check out Leah's podcast – https://www.degreespod.com/

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8

What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Getting justice for Epstein survivors seems impossible in the United States. But in the United Kingdom, the Epstein files could bring down the British government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing calls to resign after admitting he knew the UK's former Ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, had ties to Epstein when he appointed him in 2024. To unpack how the United Kingdom is reckoning with Epstein, we spoke to Coco Khan, co-host of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the UK.
And in headlines, Vice President JD Vance becomes the first sitting US Vice President – or President – to visit Armenia, immigration officials are set to testify before the House Committee on Homeland Security, and a new report from CBS News finds that less than 14 percent of people arrested by ICE in the first year of Trump’s second term had violent criminal records.
Show Notes:

Check out Pod Save the UK – https://tinyurl.com/2kvufs9f

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8

What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Sunday was the Super Bowl, which means betting. A lot of betting. And even if you're not a gambler– and even if you don't particularly care about sports, you've probably noticed that in the last few years, sports betting has gone from obscure to nearly omnipresent. But that's not necessarily for the better. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, "43% of U.S. adults say the fact that sports betting is now legal in much of the country is a bad thing for society." So, we spoke with Hannah Vanbiber, a senior editor at The Athletic, to talk about sports betting ahead of Sunday's big game.
And in headlines, survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein release a Public Service Announcement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats are ready to shut down the government partially, and the Japanese prime minister's governing party secures a supermajority in parliamentary elections.
Show Notes:

Check out Hannah's reporting – www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/hannah-vanbiber/

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8

What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday