What A Day

President Donald Trump is arriving in Beijing today on a long-awaited trip – one that got delayed even further by Trump’s war in Iran. It’s Trump’s second trip to China and his first in nearly a decade. It’s also a trip where both sides see big opportunities (mostly to make money). But, the global balance of power has shifted – arguably, in China’s favor. Trump is in the midst of an unpopular war with no clear exit plan and he’s looking to make deals, not problems. Meanwhile, China has become an economic and military powerhouse more than able to stand up to the US and Trump’s trade wars. So to talk more about Trump’s trip to China and what’s at stake, we spoke to Phelim Kine. He is the DC based China correspondent at POLITICO.
And in headlines, Secretary of War/little boy Pete Hegseth returns to the Hill, Food and Drug Administration head Marty Makary steps down, and the What A Day newsletter investigates a new video game that parodies Trump’s second term in office.
Show Notes:

Check out Phelim's work – politico.com/staff/phelim-kine

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy

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 impact of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes has been felt in so many places, from the halls of Congress to the royal families of Britain and Norway. Here in the U.S., it’s taken the work of student journalists to uncover the worrying details about Epstein’s hidden relationship with another important institution: Harvard University. Epstein didn’t go to Harvard (actually, he didn’t graduate from college at all). But back in 2020, Harvard released a report aiming to detail its relationship with Epstein, including the millions of dollars he donated to the university. As journalist Pablo Torre and student journalists at the Harvard Crimson discovered, Harvard was actually keeping a lot of secrets about its relationship with the convicted sex offender. We spoke with Torre about his investigation and what he wants Harvard to do now.
And in headlines, President Donald Trump participates in a Maternal Healthcare Event in the Oval Office, the Supreme Court is leaving access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, and the man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner pleads not guilty.
Show Notes:

Check out Pablo's podcast – https://tinyurl.com/yjn2ndp2

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy

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 last year and a half, the Trump Administration has made a big effort to limit which words are used in federal documents. Across government memos and wide-ranging agency material, hundreds of terms and ideas have been explicitly or implicitly forbidden from use. These terms include words like “accessible” or “activism.” Another example? Intersectionality. It’s been nearly 40 years since Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality.” And in that time, the word has been twisted into something barely recognizable. We spoke with Crenshaw about her work, her new book, and how her past has given her the strength to keep talking back.
And in headlines, Iran responds to the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal, Democrats respond to the Virginia Supreme Court ruling on redistricting, and the cruise ship roiled by hantavirus anchors in the Canary Islands.
Show Notes:

Check out Kimberlé's book – https://tinyurl.com/4ndwy3rx

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy

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

There’s a lot going on in this year’s midterm elections. Tennessee Republicans approved a new map on Thursday, splitting the majority-Black voting district that encompasses the city of Memphis – and possibly eliminating the state’s only blue congressional seat. The president also got to flex his muscles this week in Indiana’s Republican primary. Candidates with his support beat at least five Republican incumbents who had voted against his redistricting plans in the state. So what does all of this mean for the midterms? To find out, we talked to Jon Favreau. He’s a co-host of Pod Save America.
And in headlines, Russia preps for its annual Victory Day Parade, two reports shed new light on the Iran war, and President Donald Trump tries to square up with a child in the Oval Office.
Show Notes:

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy

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

President Donald Trump made a lot of promises when he took office for the second time. One of those promises included becoming the most pro-cryptocurrency president ever! (Probably because the Trump family is trying to make as much money as possible from the enterprise.) But the wheels appear to be falling off both Trump’s crypto adventures and the industry itself. Though millions of Americans own crypto, Bitcoin isn’t going to replace the dollar any time soon. To learn more about the crypto industry, who it’s for, and where it’s headed, we spoke with Ben McKenzie. He's an author, actor, and filmmaker who has been covering cryptocurrency for years. His new documentary "Everyone Is Lying To You For Money" centers on unmasking the cryptocurrency industry.
And in headlines, the Washington Post found Iran has hit more U.S. military assets than reported, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testifies before Congress about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and Stephen Colbert teases a possible 2028 presidential run.
Show Notes:

Check out Everyone Is Lying To You For Money – https://tinyurl.com/4apne3tp

Call Congress – 202-224-3121

Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy

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