What A Day

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson faced her second day of questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday during her Supreme Court confirmation hearings. Like Tuesday, there were some moments of substance in there, but many Republican senators didn’t let up on a bad faith effort to drum up controversies around Judge Jackson that just don’t exist. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the U.S. government formally accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine. Part of the assessment was based on intelligence, but Blinken also specifically referred to attacks on civilians in Mariupol. Julia Knyupa, a Ukrainian refugee who is currently in Poland, joins us to discuss her experience fleeing the country. And in headlines: Two tornadoes devastated New Orleans and killed at least one person, the Taliban turned away thousands of Afghan girls from secondary school, and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon will DJ at this year's Lollapalooza festival. Follow us on ...

Tuesday was the second day of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings. She faced questions from senators on the Judiciary Committee on a variety of topics, including her religion, abortion rights, critical race theory, war crimes, and child pornography sentencing. The World Health Organization said that as of March 18, at least 62 healthcare facilities had been hit in Ukraine. There are estimates that as many as 10 million people have either left the country or gone to western Ukraine to escape the conflict. Avril Benoit, the executive director of Doctors Without Borders, joins us to discuss the work her organization is doing to provide humanitarian aid to those in need there. And in headlines: Two Republican governors vetoed anti-trans bills, Amanda Bynes was released from her conservatorship, and the Democratic Party proposed letting some states move up their 2024 presidential primaries to before March. Show Notes: Doctors Without Borders: “MSF assesse...

Ukraine rejected Russia’s demand that soldiers surrender the city of Mariupol, on Monday, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying in part, “Ukraine cannot fulfill ultimatums.” And in Kyiv, a Russian missile struck a mall, killing at least 8 people according to officials. Republican-led state legislatures have passed an overwhelming amount of anti-abortion legislation in recent months, particularly after SB8 went into effect in Texas. Rosann Mariappuram, executive director at Jane’s Due Process in Texas, joins us to discuss what the fight for abortion rights looks like in the state. And in headlines: a passenger jet crashed in China, the U.S. declared that Myanmar’s military committed genocide against Rohingya Muslims, and Hong Kong plans to relax some of its COVID restrictions. Show Notes: AP: “As Mariupol hangs on, the extent of the horror not yet known” – https://bit.ly/3ttgyFx Wall Street Journal: “Russia Relies Increasingly on Missiles, Artillery to Pressure Ukraine”...

Russia's attacks on the Ukrainian city of Mariupol continued through the weekend, with missiles striking an art school where 400 people had taken shelter. Russia is claiming that a bombing it carried out on a Ukrainian ammunition storage site was done with a hypersonic missile, and if this claim is true, it could mark the first use of this kind of weapon in combat. Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson begin this week. If confirmed, Brown Jackson would be the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court, joining the most conservative reactionary court in decades. And in headlines: The SEC is expected to announce climate risk disclosure rules for companies, Maury Povich is retiring after hosting 31 seasons of daytime television, and NBC will debut a new competitive singing show based on the famous Eurovision Song Contest. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Teachers in the Minneapolis Public School district are in the second week of their strike, led by The Minneapolis Federation of Teachers Local 59. Tequila Laramee, an associate educator who has been with Minneapolis Public Schools for ten years, joins us to discuss what she and the union are advocating for. At least 130 survivors have been rescued from the theater in Mariupol that had been serving as a shelter for up to 1,300 people when it was bombed by Russian air forces. A Russian court has extended the detention of WNBA player Brittney Griner until May 19, and state department officials say that have had no access to her so far. And in headlines: Washington state’s governor signed a measure into law that prohibits legal action against anyone seeking an abortion, President Biden announced a new White House COVID-19 response coordinator, and Selena’s family plans to release a posthumous Selena album. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed U.S. Congress on Wednesday to ask for a number of things including a no-fly-zone over his country. The Biden administration did not agree to that request, but it did announce $800 million in military aid to Ukraine including anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles, drones, and more. Christopher Miller, a correspondent for BuzzFeed News currently in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, joins us to discuss what things look like on the ground. And in headlines: The Federal Reserve bumped up a key interest rate by 0.25 percent, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked eastern Japan, and nearly 23,000 mail votes were thrown out in the Texas primary election. Show Notes: Christopher Miller on Twitter – https://twitter.com/ChristopherJM “This Ukrainian Mother Buried Both Of Her Sons Just Six Days Apart” by Christoper Miller – https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christopherm51/ukraine-brothers-killed-same-family Follow us on Instagram – https://www.i...

A missile strike on apartment buildings in the Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv on Tuesday killed at least four people and resulted in fires for hours after. The attack prompted a frantic rescue effort, and Kyiv’s mayor announced a 35-hour curfew in the city. Hong Kong is experiencing its worst COVID outbreak since the start of the pandemic. Unlike the U.S., the province is still grappling with the highly transmissible Omicron variant, with scenes reminiscent of much earlier days in the pandemic. Shibani Mahtani, the Southeast Asia and Hong Kong bureau chief for The Washington Post, joins us to discuss what things look like on the ground. And in headlines: Authorities in Washington D.C. arrested a suspect in the shootings of at least five unhoused people in D.C. and New York City, an Indian court upheld a ban on wearing hijabs at schools and colleges, and Pfizer and BioNTech have asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize a second COVID booster shot for people 65 and older. Show ...

On Monday, delegations from Russia and Ukraine met again for talks in hopes of reaching a ceasefire, but the negotiations ended without reaching an agreement. Meanwhile, Russia expanded its missile attacks even further, hitting quiet residential neighborhoods in Kyiv and other cities. After 99 days, the Major League baseball lockout ended last Thursday with a full season set to begin on April 7. Hannah Keyser, a baseball writer for Yahoo Sports, joins us to discuss what comes next and what it all means. And in headlines: authorities in New York and Washington D.C. are looking for a man they say shot five unhoused people in both cities, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court said that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange cannot appeal his extradition to the United States, and Pete Davidson will be the next celebrity to board one of Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin flights. Show Notes: The New Yorker: “How Fossil-Fuel Companies Are Stonewalling Sarah Bloom Raskin’s Nomination to the Fed” – https://b...

Russia launched 30 missiles at a Ukrainian military base over the weekend, killing at least 35 people and wounding at least 134 more. New COVID cases in the U.S. have dropped from 800,000 cases per day at the pandemic’s peak to about 36,000 cases per day. Last week, the CDC announced that 98 percent of the U.S. population lived in areas where it’s safe to congregate indoors without masks on. Meanwhile, China’s daily cases of symptomatic COVID have more than tripled in recent days to its highest numbers in two years, with the Omicron variant driving much of that. And in headlines: Saudi Arabia executed 81 people, Texas’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled against abortion providers challenging SB8, and Uber announced that it will add a temporary fuel surcharge for its services in the U.S. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Russian forces continued to advance in Ukraine after diplomatic talks between the two countries failed to stop the fighting or even to reach a temporary cease-fire on Thursday. As the violence continued, Vice President Kamala Harris called for an investigation into whether Russia committed war crimes against the civilians of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian civilians face economic hardships because of the sanctions leveled against their country. Kristy Ironside, a historian of modern Russia and the Soviet Union and professor at McGill University, joins us to discuss how the war is changing daily life in Russia. And in headlines: The Transportation Security Administration is extending its mask mandate on airplanes and public transit for one more month, the 2020 Census missed counting nearly 19 million people, most of them Latino, Black and indigenous people, and over 27,000 mail votes in the Texas primary were flagged for rejection. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/what...

A Russian airstrike destroyed a maternity hospital in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Wednesday. This is the latest example of Russian forces hitting civilians and civilian infrastructure, with United Nations monitors reporting on Wednesday that over 500 civilians have been killed so far. Washington Post journalist Isabelle Khurshudyan, who is currently in Odessa, Ukraine, joins us to discuss the impossible choices that citizens face about leaving the country. And in headlines: Conservative candidate Yoon Suk-yeol won South Korea’s presidential election, a new study found that historically redlined neighborhoods have higher levels of air pollution, and a 1915 shipwreck in Antarctica has been located. Show Notes: Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan – https://wapo.st/3vVQzbw Ukrainian Congress Committee of America: donate to humanitarian efforts – https://www.mightycause.com/story/M1wzpf United Help Ukraine: donate to the life-saving medical supplies to Ukraine’s front ...

President Biden banned the import of Russian oil and natural gas into the United States on Tuesday, which is expected to have a serious impact on the Russian economy. Meanwhile on the ground, reports say that 2 million people have fled Ukraine, including one million children. Recent reports from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say that countries are not doing enough to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Mary Annaïse Heglar and Amy Westervelt, hosts of Crooked Media’s “Hot Take,” join us to discuss recent climate news. And in headlines: Minneapolis teachers took to the picket lines for their first strike since 1970, Missouri Republicans introduced a state bill that would allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps a Missouri resident get an abortion out of state, and January 6th rioter Guy Reffitt was convicted on all five criminal charges against him. Show Notes: The Hot Take Newsletter – https://www.hottakepod.com/ Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.c...

Today, workers in Hawai’i are rallying at their State Capitol to raise the state’s minimum wage for the first time since 2018. Christy MacPherson, the Lead Community Developer at the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, joins us to discuss how workers are being affected by low wages in the highest cost-of-living state in the nation. Russia and Ukraine engaged in their third round of talks on Monday, which once again ended without any major progress. The United Nations reported that at least 1.7 million Ukrainians are now refugees, half of whom are children, and tens of thousands of people who are still in Ukraine lack power, heat, water, medicine, and food. And in headlines: The Supreme Court said it will not review the decision that freed Bill Cosby from prison, the Pentagon announced that the US Navy will permanently close its Red Hill fuel storage facility in Hawai’i, and Lady Gaga announced the new tour schedule for her Chromatica Ball tour. Show Notes: Raise ...

Today marks 12 days since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Over the weekend, the violence continued in multiple Ukrainian cities, efforts to rescue civilians came under attack by Russian forces, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO nations for further military support and humanitarian aid. Ben Rhodes, Former Deputy National Security Adviser and host of Pod Save the World, joins us to discuss what’s happening on the ground in Ukraine, with the rest of the world, and with the refugee crisis. And in headlines: a series of tornadoes ripped through Iowa, the Walt Disney Company is facing blowback for not taking a stand against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, and the United States adaptation of the Canadian trucker convoy descended on Washington D.C. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Russian and Ukrainian delegates agreed to what’s being called “humanitarian corridors” so trapped Ukrainian citizens can leave the country. But after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly believes that the “worst is yet to come” as the invasion heads into its second week. A Texas judge issued a restraining order to halt the state’s investigation of a family that supported their trans kid’s gender-affirming health care. But an appeal by state Attorney General Ken Paxton put that order on hold, as well as a hearing that could’ve extended protections to more families. Adrí Perez with the Texas ACLU, which represents the family under investigation, explains how trans kids, adults and their families are all being harmed by the state’s anti-trans policies. And in headlines: A jury acquits the only officer on trial in the death of Breonna Taylor, Idaho advances its own Texas-like anti-abortion law, and Harvey Weinstein is caught with contraband Milk ...

Russian forces captured the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson yesterday, making it the first to fall since the invasion that began last week. Today, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to talk about Russia’s attack with NATO foreign ministers in Belgium, while another round of conversations between Ukraine and Russia are reportedly set to take place soon as well. March For Our Lives, the organization founded by student survivors of the 2018 Parkland shooting, released a statement following President Biden's State of the Union address last night, saying that Biden hasn’t treated gun violence like the “emergency it is.” David Hogg, one of the co-founders of March For Our Lives, joins us to discuss gun reform activists’ view of Biden as well as where the country is in terms of reform efforts. And in headlines: Texas GOP Governor Greg Abbott secured the Republican nomination in his quest for a third term, the White House unveiled its new coronavirus response plan, and th...

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued into its sixth day, with explosions shaking the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv, and the death toll rising. According to the United Nations, approximately 660,000 people have fled Ukraine already, and this could become “Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century.” President Biden gave his first State of the Union address last night. In it, he devoted large sections to address Ukraine along with the course of the pandemic, the economy and inflation, a “unity agenda,” and more. Jon Favreau, co-host of Pod Save America and the host of Offline, joins us to discuss his takeaways as someone who used to be in charge of writing State of the Union speeches for former President Barack Obama. And in headlines: Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that four Palestinian families facing eviction in Sheikh Jarrah can stay in their homes, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is investigating one of its own employees who has a transgender daughter, and M...

On Monday, Russian forces made progress in their efforts to encircle Ukraine’s capital Kyiv despite being slowed down by continued resistance from Ukrainian forces. Russia and Ukraine also sent delegations to southeastern Belarus for initial talks amid hopes that the two countries could come to some kind of agreement, but did not come to a resolution. Today, Texas holds the very first primary of the midterms. The elections will tell us a little bit about how strong of a hold former President Trump has on the GOP, and show us if the state is ready to elect more progressive candidates. Jessica Cisneros, a progressive-backed candidate who’s running for Texas’s 28th Congressional District, joins us to discuss how she’s feeling about her race. And in headlines: A new study shows that Pfizer-BioNTech shots offer barely any protection from infection in kids 5 to 11 years old, a new climate change report found that countries are not doing enough to combat global warming, and jury selection ...

Ukrainian officials will reportedly talk with Russia as early as today on the border of Ukraine and Belarus. Matt Duss, Senator Bernie Sanders’ foreign policy advisor, joins us to discuss today’s expected talks and what he thinks is on the negotiation table for both sides. President Joe Biden named Ketanji Brown Jackson his nominee for the Supreme Court to replace the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.  In headlines: The Supreme Court will hear one of the most important environmental cases today, thousands of African students in Ukraine have found themselves trapped in the country amid Russia’s attacks, and new studies confirm that COVID-19 originated at a live animal market in Wuhan, China.  And we talk with Chesa Boudin, District Attorney of San Francisco, about his decision to drop the case against a woman who was the victim of a sexual assault, but whose DNA from a rape kit was used by the SF Police De...

Russia invaded Ukraine early Thursday morning, and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said that over 130 people died – both soldiers and civilians – and hundreds more were wounded. In a televised statement, Zelensky called for everyone and anyone who is able to join the military to do so, and said Russia is on a “path of evil” in their attack on the country. Foreign policy expert Max Bergmann, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, joins us to discuss his view of the situation. Florida’s House of Representatives passed its notorious, Republican-backed “Don’t Say Gay” bill yesterday, bringing it one step closer to being signed into law. The measure would effectively ban educators from engaging in any and all discussions of queerness and gender identity in Florida classrooms. Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting and an LGBTQ+ activist with Equality Florida, joins us to discuss his reaction to the news.  And in headlines: Three former Minneapo...

In a televised speech early Thursday Moscow-time, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” to protect Donbas, the Russian-backed separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine. Around the same time, explosions were heard in multiple cities throughout the country including Kyiv, Kramatorsk, which is in the disputed Donetsk region, Kharkiv in the northeast, and more. The Supreme Court said that it will take up a case that could allow businesses to use their religious beliefs as an excuse to refuse service to LGBTQ customers. Leah Litman, professor of law at the University of Michigan and one of the hosts of Crooked’s podcast about the Supreme Court, “Strict Scrutiny,” joins us to discuss the case and its broader implications. And in headlines: The trial began for the only officer facing criminal charges for Breonna Taylor’s death, Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to investigate gender-affirming care for trans kids as ‘child abuse,’ and Amer...

President Biden announced sanctions against Russia on Tuesday while referring to President Vladimir Putin’s recent actions as the “beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.” CNN’s senior international correspondent Matthew Chance, who is currently reporting out of Kyiv, joins us to discuss what’s happening on the ground in Ukraine. And in headlines: Ahmaud Arbery’s killers were found guilty of committing federal hate crimes, members of the U.S. Women’s Soccer team reached a $24 million settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation, and the Supreme Court will hear a case that could allow businesses to refuse service to LGBTQ couples. Show Notes: CNN’s Matthew Chance – https://twitter.com/mchancecnn Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Russia-Ukraine crisis ramped up this past weekend, and in a controversial address on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of two Russian-backed territories in eastern Ukraine: the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. In response, the White House announced sanctions on Ukraine’s separatist regions but not yet Russia, as there had been hopes of further diplomatic solutions. Michael McFaul, the former U.S. Ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014 and professor at Stanford University, joins us to discuss his view of the situation. And in headlines: England is ending most COVID restrictions this week, the Supreme Court of Colombia decriminalized abortion, and the horse Medina Spirit was stripped of his Kentucky Derby title after he tested positive for a banned drug last May. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

On Thursday, there was a big spike in shelling across the front line between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists within Ukraine. The separatists claim that Ukrainians are the ones firing at them, and the fear is that Russia could use this as a “justification” for military action to invade.  The Beijing Winter Olympics conclude this Sunday. Ava Wallace, who has been in China reporting on the Olympic Games for the Washington Post, joins us to discuss what it’s been like to cover them. And in headlines: Over 100 people are dead and dozens more missing in Brazil after mudslides, Florida’s House Republicans passed a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and a judge ordered former President Trump to testify under oath within the next 21 days. Show Notes: WAD will be taking a break on Presidents’ Day, and will be back with a new episode on Tuesday, February 22. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode,...

On Wednesday, federal officials announced upcoming guidance changes, which reflects yet another new stage of the pandemic. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, epidemiologist and host of Crooked Media’s “America Dissected,” joins us to discuss what these new policies might look like and answers other questions about the future of COVID. And in headlines: Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva took first place in the women’s short program, San Francisco voters overwhelmingly ousted three members of the city’s school board, and President Joe Biden ordered the National Archives to hand over the Trump administration’s White House visitor logs to the January 6th committee. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the military has ordered some Russian troops near the borders of Ukraine to return to their bases, signaling the potential for a further de-escalation. However, President Joe Biden later said that “an invasion remains distinctly possible,” and that the U.S. had not yet verified if Russian troops are actually falling back. Matthew Chance, CNN’s Senior International Correspondent, joins us from Kyiv to discuss what things look like on the ground.  And in headlines: Remington Arms has settled with families whose loved ones were killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, American scientists say they have cured a woman of H.I.V., and a federal report predicts that sea levels along our nation’s coasts could rise one foot in just three decades because of climate change. Show Notes: CNN’s Matthew Chance – https://twitter.com/mchancecnn Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit cr...

Monday marked the start of in-person early voting in Texas ahead of the state’s March 1st primary. Texas is just one of nearly 20 states that will hold elections this year with more restrictive voting laws in place, a result of Republican-led efforts to validate former President Trump’s lies about the 2020 presidential election. James Slattery, a senior staff attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, joins us to discuss what’s happening in the state, what’s to come and what the rest of the country can anticipate as we head into the midterm elections.  And in headlines: The U.S. closed its embassy in Kyiv, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the country’s Emergencies Act for the first time ever, and a judge said he would throw out Sarah Palin’s defamation suit against the New York Times. Show Notes: The Texas Civil Rights Project – https://txcivilrights.org/ Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit cr...

Canadian police began arresting those who were part of the ongoing so-called “Freedom Convoy” protests, yesterday. It’s been almost a week since demonstrators blocked the Ambassador Bridge between the U.S. and Canada as an objection to vaccine mandates for truckers doing business across the border. We recap what led us to this moment.  The U.S. has reduced its Ukrainian embassy to a skeleton crew and continues to draw down national guard troops stationed in Ukraine, in the likely scenario that Russia invades. Several world leaders have taken a turn trying to talk Vladimir Putin down, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, but none have dissuaded Russia’s leader in his quest to flex his old man muscles.  And in headlines: Fully vaccinated Walmart employees will no longer have to wear masks while at work, Rudy Giuliani is expected to cooperate with the January 6th House committee, and Erin Jackson made Olympic history when she won the g...

The House January 6th Committee has found gaps in official phone logs from the White House on the day of the insurrection, during times when investigators know that former President Trump was making calls. Plus, new details have emerged regarding Trump’s handling of White House documents, causing concern that he may have destroyed or stolen “top-secret” materials. Representative Zoe Lofgren, one of the members of the Jan. 6 committee, joins us to discuss what this will for the House investigation. The Cincinnati Bengals are competing in the Super Bowl this weekend for the first time since 1988, so to discuss his hopes for the game, and his love for the city, we're joined by Mayor of Cincinnati Aftab Pureval. And in headlines: Canada’s “freedom convoy” blocked a third passageway to the U.S., Congress passed a bill that would end forced arbitration in cases of sexual misconduct, and the state of California sued Tesla for allegedly allowing racist discrimination in one of its factori...

Several states announced plans to lift mask mandates this week, but the federal government is taking a more cautious approach, and has communicated that hospitalizations and deaths are still high enough that relaxing guidelines at this point would be premature. Dr. Céline Gounder, a clinical assistant professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at NYU who has been in touch with the White House, joins us to discuss what comes next in this new, slightly less-masked phase of the pandemic. And in headlines: Top Russian military commanders flew into Belarus for a massive military exercise, families of the victims who died in the Bronx apartment fire last month are suing the building owners, and Russian figure skaters may have their Olympic medals stripped after one of their athletes failed a drug test. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

This weekend's Super Bowl LVI comes as the NFL is being sued by Brian Flores, a former head coach of the Miami Dolphins who has accused the league racial discrimination in hiring practices. To discuss the lawsuit and racism in the NFL, we're joined by Tyler Tynes, a staff writer for GQ who covers the intersection between race, politics, and sports. The nominees for the 94th Academy Awards were announced yesterday and Netflix’s "Don’t Look Up" is up for Best Picture. The climate change satire has been a huge hit for Netflix, though the critical response to it has been more mixed. David Sirota, who co-wrote the screenplay, joins us to talk about the movie and how the climate catastrophe gets covered in media. And in headlines: a new Freedom Convoy blockade emerged at the U.S.-Canadian border, Peng Shuai spoke to reporters in her first sit-down interview since last year, and federal agents arrested a couple for conspiring to launder $4.5 billion in stolen cryptocurrency. Follow us o...

The White House released a report yesterday detailing how it wants to increase union participation and collective bargaining in the workforce amid historic lows in union membership across the U.S. This is happening while workers at an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama are in the midst of a union election process after last year’s election result was overturned. Reyn McGuire, an employee at the warehouse who is actively organizing her coworkers, joins us to discuss how this vote is and isn’t different from last time.  And in headlines: Protests over Covid mandates in Ottawa prompted the city to declare a state of emergency, school mask mandates repealed in three states in the Northeast, and Frontier and Spirit Airlines announced plans to merge. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Republican-drawn congressional and state legislative maps constituted partisan gerrymanders that violated the state’s constitution. This is just the latest example of courts recently acting as a line of defense against maps that are very clearly drawn to increase Republicans' electoral odds. Michael Li, the senior counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, joins us to discuss the impact of redistricting efforts across the country. And in headlines: Amir Locke was killed by Minneapolis police after they entered his apartment during a no-knock raid, Olympic athletes took to social media to call out the poor living conditions for athletes in isolation in Beijing, and Southwest Airlines announced that it would resume serving alcohol on its flights. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

South Dakota became the first state to pass an anti-trans bill in 2022 yesterday, and according to a report by the Human Rights Campaign, roughly 280 anti-trans bills will likely move through state legislatures nationwide this year. Chase Strangio, a lawyer for the ACLU and transgender activist, joins us to discuss how we can get involved in the fight to combat these measures across the country. President Biden said that the U.S. had conducted a raid in Syria during which Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi, the leader of ISIS, died. There were at least three civilian deaths confirmed by the Pentagon with no American casualties. Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff said that the civilian deaths should be investigated “while keeping in mind the history of ISIS leaders using civilians as human shields.” And in headlines: The Biden administration accused Russia of planning a false flag operation, the FBI identified suspects amid a wave of bomb threats against histo...

Roe v. Wade was issued just over 49 years ago, and in the months ahead, we're faced with the very real possibility that the Supreme Court could effectively overturn it. Plus, conservative lawmakers in at least 29 states have been racing to pass new anti-abortion restrictions. We're joined by Destiny Lopez, co-president of All* Above All, to discuss what abortion justice organizers are doing to defend the right to choose and how we can support them. The Pentagon announced that 3,000 additional U.S. troops will be deployed to Eastern Europe to support NATO nations amid concerns of a possible Russian invasion into Ukraine. And in headlines: Tonga went into lockdown after reporting five cases of the coronavirus, Brian Flores filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL and CNN President Jeff Zucker stepped down. Show Notes: All* Above All - https://allaboveall.org/ National Network of Abortion Funds - https://abortionfunds.org/ Keep Our Clinics - https://keepourclinics.org/ Follow u...

The NAACP is urging the Justice Department to bring federal civil rights charges against Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer who murdered 17-year-old Laquan McDonald in 2014. Zooming out, it's not uncommon for people to look to the federal justice system when state courts or local law enforcement decline to hold police officers responsible in cases like these. The same avenues were pursued in the case of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who also was killed by police in 2014, though the DOJ has announced it will not reopen an investigation into that shooting. Later this week, employees at an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama will begin voting on whether to unionize their workplace after the National Labor Relations Board concluded that Amazon’s actions disrupted the process the first time around. To get a sense of where things stand, we hear from Reyn McGuire, an employee at the Bessemer facility that has been actively organizing her coworkers. And in headlines: Putin publicly add...

As we celebrate the beginning of Black History Month, conservatives are actively and aggressively silencing educators’ ability to talk honestly about history. Book bans are gaining steam with schools banning everything from "The 1619 Project," to Toni Morrison’s "Beloved," to Art Spiegelman’s "Maus." Journalist and activist George M. Johnson joins us to discuss the issue from an author’s perspective after their book, "All Boys Aren’t Blue," was targeted for removal in at least 14 states. And in headlines: A Georgia judge rejected plea agreements in the federal hate crime trial of Gregory and Travis McMichael, the FDA granted full approval of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, and The New York Times announced it had acquired Wordle. Show Notes: NYT: "Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S." - https://nyti.ms/3uah9wK Order "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson - https://bit.ly/34qKfNC Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, pl...

Concerns of a possible Russian invasion into Ukraine continue to mount, with Britain moving this week to broaden the sanctions it could impose in case of a Russian offensive. The U.S. has reportedly considered its own set of sanctions, which could have severe ramifications for individuals in Russia and conceivably others in Europe as well. Michael McFaul, the former US Ambassador to Russia, joins us to discuss everything we know and everything we don’t. And in headlines: New data suggests the omicron wave in the U.S. may have peaked, a massive winter storm in the Northeast left over a hundred thousand people without power over the weekend, and numerous celebrities have joined Neil Young’s boycott of Spotify. Show Notes: NYT: “U.S. Sanctions Aimed at Russia Could Take a Wide Toll:” – https://nyti.ms/3s6znfJ WAPO: "Ukraine’s Zelensky’s message is don’t panic. That’s making the West antsy" - https://wapo.st/3obGK4J AL: "Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black ...

President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court yesterday, and said that he would announce his choice by the end of February. Plus, Justice Stephen Breyer formally announced his retirement. We were joined by Dan Pfeiffer, former White House Communications Director during the Obama administration and one of the hosts of Pod Save America, to discuss the impact the SCOTUS shakeup could have for Democrats as we head into midterm election season. And in headlines: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the military to install measures to prevent civilian deaths caused by American airstrikes, countries across the globe advised their athletes to bring temporary cellphones to the Beijing Winter Olympics, and a study claimed that even when gas stoves are turned off, they often continue to leak unburned methane into their surroundings. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked...

The 83-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer intends to retire at the end of this Supreme Court term in June, according to multiple reports yesterday. The oldest justice on the court, Breyer has been under enormous pressure to retire while Democrats have the slimmest control of the Senate. Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of Michigan and co-host of the podcast Strict Scrutiny, joins us to discuss what comes next.  And in headlines: San Jose passed the first U.S. law requiring gun owners to carry liability insurance and pay an annual fee, France’s National Assembly voted unanimously to ban 'conversion therapy,' and a rogue SpaceX rocket is expected to crash into the Moon. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Russia conducted a series of military drills yesterday while Ukraine received a shipment of weapons including antitank missiles from the U.S. These were some of the latest turns since diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Russia have faltered and now both are accusing the other of ratcheting up tensions. Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration and co-host of Pod Save the World, joins us to discuss how we got here and what’s next.  And in headlines: Pfizer announced that it has begun testing a new vaccine designed to target the omicron variant, British police opened an inquiry into a series of parties held at 10 Downing Street during COVID lockdown, and Neil Young threatens to pull his discography from Spotify if the company doesn't drop Joe Rogan. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will hear cases on the right of universities to consider race in admissions. The court has historically ruled that universities have a limited right to consider an applicant’s race during the admission process, but the court’s conservative majority could upend decades of precedent. Lawyer and journalist Jay Willis joins us to discuss what we can expect, what this might mean for affirmative action, and the future of higher education. And in headlines: NATO said that its allies are sending military reinforcements to Eastern Europe amid tensions at the Ukrainian border, the Burkina Faso military announced that it seized control after overthrowing President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, and four attorneys general filed a privacy lawsuit against Google. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

New U.S. cases of COVID are down slightly from the peak brought on by the Omicron variant. Average daily cases are closer to 700,000 than 800,000, which is where they were earlier in the month, and hospitalizations are at a record high but have started to level off. We look at the numbers and discuss new data on the efficacy of booster vaccine doses. The Sarah Palin v. The New York Times libel case goes to trial today. Palin filed the suit after the New York Times suggested that an ad placed by Palin's PAC was linked to the shooting of former Arizona Representative Gabby Giffords in 2011. We review the case and its potential to change how we think about First Amendment protections for journalists. And in headlines: A fire in the Palo Colorado Canyon area forced hundreds of people to flee their homes along the California coast, a Saudi-led airstrike killed at least 87 people in a Yemen prison, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern canceled her own wedding because of COVID. ...

A number of inquiries into former President Trump’s interference in the 2020 election are advancing. Yesterday, the House committee investigating last year’s insurrection asked Ivanka Trump to testify. Meanwhile, a Georgia District Attorney asked a judge to convene a special grand jury in a separate, ongoing criminal investigation into the former president.  Famed fashion journalist and editor André Leon Talley passed away this week at age 73. He was American Vogue’s first Black male creative director and editor-at-large. We look into Talley’s life and legacy, as well as how he paved the way for Black and brown folks in the industry today.  And in headlines: Democratic lawmakers asked Biden to change his counterterrorism strategy on drone strikes, the Supreme Court rejected another attempt to overturn Texas’ six-week abortion ban, and the CIA said that a foreign country is most likely NOT responsible for cases of Havana Syndrome. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com...

Today is the first anniversary of President Biden taking office. Yesterday, he held his first formal news conference in months to discuss his administration’s accomplishments and progress over the past year. We share our biggest takeaways from the speech that covered COVID to Congress to Afghanistan, and more.  Verizon and AT&T agreed to turn on nationwide 5G service yesterday, except near airports and runways due to ongoing safety concerns from the Federal Aviation Administration. Despite this decision, some flights were canceled yesterday. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants CWA, joins us to discuss workers’ safety concerns. And in headlines: the Supreme Court denied Trump’s request to block the release of White House records pertaining to the January 6th insurrection, two abortion-rights advocacy groups threatened to pull support from Senator Kyrsten Sinema for standing in the way of voting rights legislation, and the University of Michigan reached a ...

Tensions between the U.S. and Russia are rising after last week’s summit in Geneva ended with no resolution between the two countries over Ukraine. We hear an excerpt of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s exclusive interview with Pod Save The World just hours before he went overseas yesterday to meet with Ukraine’s president and Russia’s foreign minister. Tomorrow, jury selection is expected to start in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights: Tou Thao, J. Keung, and Thomas Lane. All three were on the scene when their fellow officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd, and failed to stop him from kneeling on Floyd's neck.  And in headlines: Rudy Giuliani was subpoenaed by the House panel investigating the January 6th insurrection, Tonga gave its first status update after a volcano eruption and tsunami devastated its islands, and a federal judge approved a plan that would resolve Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy and re...

Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In addition to fighting racial inequality, working to pass major civil rights laws, and more, Martin Luther King Jr. was also well known for critiquing capitalism and how it disenfranchises the working class. Andrew Douglas and Jared Loggins, authors of the book, “Prophet of Discontent: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Critique of Racial Capitalism,” join us to dive deeper into the economic legacy of King’s words and ideas. And in headlines: The gunman who took four hostages at a Texas synagogue on Saturday died after a 10-hour standoff with authorities, 200,000 people on the East Coast were left without power after a massive winter storm, and Greece will fine citizens aged 60 and over for being unvaccinated. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Supreme Court yesterday blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to enforce a vaccine or testing mandate for private employers. Meanwhile, Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin said that they, again, will not support changing the filibuster rules to pass new voting rights measures.  More than 8,000 grocery store workers in Colorado have begun a strike against their employer, the Kroger-owned chain King Soopers. Kim Cordova, head of the workers’ union that represents them, joins us to discuss their demands. And in headlines: The FBI arrested the leader and founder of the far-right Oath Keepers militia for his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, teachers in France protested the country’s school COVID policies, and Prince Andrew was forced to give up all of his military and royal titles. Show Notes: We'll be back with a new WAD on Tuesday, January 18th after MLK Day. The Economic Roundtable: “Hungry At The Table: White Paper On Grocery Workers At The Kroger Company” – http...

Hollywood is going through some massive changes. The Golden Globes, usually the start of awards show season, was a non-event when it took place earlier this week because of problems that face the organization that puts it on, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Plus, theatres continue to struggle to lure back moviegoers except with big tentpole films. The Hollywood Reporter’s Senior Film Editor Rebecca Keegan joins us to discuss what’s going wrong and what the future of the film industry looks like. And in headlines: The White House promised 10 million free COVID tests to schools nationwide every month, more than 8,000 grocery store workers at Colorado King Soopers grocery stores went on strike, and inflation climbed to the highest it’s been in 40 years. Show Notes: Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Atlanta, Georgia yesterday to make a stand for voting rights. Absent from the audience to Biden’s speech were several Georgia voting rights groups that refused to attend. Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown joins us to discuss why activists like her sat this one out and what they’re concerned about ahead of this year’s midterm elections. And in headlines: Russia will begin withdrawing its troops from Kazakhstan this week, Chicago students and teachers are back in school after a long standoff between the city and the Chicago Teachers Union, and writer Maya Angelou is set to become the first Black woman to be depicted on the U.S. quarter. Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday