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Receipts with Catherine Rampell

The Bulwark

On Receipts, Catherine Rampell follows the money, challenges conventional wisdom, and digs into the data behind the biggest economic and political stories of the moment. What’s actually happening? Who’s responsible? And what does it mean for you?

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19 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 52 min
English

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#19
Friday · 55 min
19: Bessent vs. Lutnick: Trump’s Cabinet Feud Explodes Into Public View | Receipts Live
Scott Bessent publicly throws Howard Lutnick under the bus as the Nvidia scandal widens, raising new questions about Trump’s involvement, potential conflicts of interest, and the national security consequences. Catherine Rampell and JVL follow the money, examine the risks to the broader economy, and discuss rising inflation, Palantir head Alex Karp’s sudden political makeover, and why companies are already cutting ties with Don Jr. after the Democratic midterm victories.
#18
Tuesday · 1 hr 29 min
18: Neera Tanden Thinks Democrats Can Finish Off MAGA for Good (Plus: John Arnold)
Trump’s billionaire allies may be in for a rude awakening. Catherine Rampell talks with Neera Tanden about what Democrats could discover when they start investigating the Trump administration, why corporate America may have some explaining to do, and what the election means for MAGA’s future. Plus, billionaire investor John Arnold explains how Trump’s attacks on clean energy are driving up costs—and how a bipartisan deal could finally put a stop to them. Give the gift of quality this holiday season with Quince! Shop premium cashmere, cozy outerwear, beautiful jewelry, and everyday essentials at prices 50–80% less than similar brands. Download the Quince app for exclusive offers, or visit https://www.quince.com/catherine for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too! When Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was Receipts.
#17
Tuesday · 42 min
17: Trump’s Favorite Tech CEO Caught in Chinese Spy Sex Scandal
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to an extramarital affair with a woman U.S. intelligence reportedly identified as a Chinese spy. But the story goes far beyond a sex scandal: Trump was briefed about the relationship, his administration failed to intervene, and questions are mounting about China’s access to America’s most advanced AI technology. Catherine Rampell is joined by New York Times national security reporter Julian Barnes and Wall Street Journal tech reporter Robbie Whelan to examine what Trump knew, why investigations stalled, and what this could mean for NVIDIA and the AI industry.
#16
November 6 · 51 min
16: Elon Musk Loses $80 Billion as Tesla Pulls the Plug on the Cybertruck | Receipts Live
Elon Musk’s Cybertruck is on its way out, corporate America is lawyering up, and Donald Trump seems strangely subdued after a historic election defeat. Catherine Rampell and JVL discuss the possibility of Trump stepping aside, the investigations Democrats are preparing, and the government insiders who may be sitting on a mountain of evidence of wrongdoing.
#15
November 3 · 58 min
15: Brendan Boyle Has a Warning for Trump’s Project 2025 Mastermind (Plus: Sam Stein)
Rep. Brendan Boyle joins Catherine Rampell to discuss what Democrats plan to do if they take back the House, from reversing Trump’s healthcare cuts and tariffs to confronting the economic fallout from his Iran war. Plus Sam Stein and Catherine look ahead to Election Day, Trump's closing economic message, and how rising costs and voters' frustrations over the economy could shape decisions at the polls.
#14
October 30 · 49 min
14: Alina Habba’s $50 Million Payday Sends Trump Into a Rage (w/ JVL)
Catherine Rampell and JVL discuss Trump’s fury over Alina Habba’s $50 million payday, the growing infighting among his allies over who gets a cut, and the oil companies cashing in on his Iran war while Americans pay more at the pump. Plus, Trump’s latest threats to the Federal Reserve and a suspiciously timed effort to oust Lisa Cook just after the midterms.
#13
October 27 · 1 hr 4 min
13: Mark Cuban Goes Nuclear on America’s Healthcare Giants
Mark Cuban joins Catherine Rampell to discuss how he believes America’s healthcare giants inflate drug prices, bury hidden fees, and profit from a system that leaves patients paying the price. He explains how he’s fighting back, why he thinks Democrats have Medicare for All all wrong, and what he really thinks of the Trump administration’s healthcare agenda. Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RECEIPTS at https://www.oneskin.co/RECEIPTS #oneskinpod
#12
October 23 · 50 min
12: Oil Prices Spike to $117 Over Fear of Iran War Escalation (w/ JVL)
Oil prices are soaring, inflation fears are returning, and even some of Trump’s own voters are turning against him. Catherine Rampell and JVL discuss the economic fallout from Trump’s Iran war, why Republicans are suddenly afraid to mention his beloved tariffs, and new polling that suggests his political coalition is starting to fracture. Plus, the bizarre report that Trump’s Fed chair is consulting AI versions of dead economists.
#11
October 19 · 46 min
11: Kara Swisher Warns Elon Musk: A Reckoning Is Coming
Why is Elon Musk pouring hundreds of millions into Republican campaigns, and what is he afraid will happen if Democrats regain power? Kara Swisher joins Catherine Rampell to explain Musk’s increasingly desperate alliance with Trump, how Silicon Valley billionaires are buying political influence, and why Big Tech’s loyalty to MAGA may have an expiration date. Plus, Swisher dishes on JD Vance, her surprising new partnership with Hillary Clinton, and why she’s walking away from CNN. Read Catherine Rampell's "Receipts" Newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts
#10
October 16 · 50 min
10: The Trump Corruption Poll That Should Terrify the White House
Even Republicans are starting to notice Trump’s staggering corruption. Catherine Rampell and JVL take on the latest scandals engulfing Trump’s inner circle, new polling showing his own voters recognize the grift, and the economic damage being inflicted on ordinary Americans while Trump’s friends cash in.
#9
October 13 · 1 hr 2 min
9: Appeasing Trump Will NEVER Work! (w/ Chrystia Freeland & Andrew Egger)
Catherine Rampell is joined by Andrew Egger to discuss Elon Musk’s $276 million effort to rescue Republicans in the midterms, Trump’s DOJ targeting news organizations, and his latest deal with Vladimir Putin. Then, former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland shares what she learned negotiating with Trump, why appeasing him doesn’t work, and what America’s billionaires should learn from the rise of Russia’s oligarchs. Read Catherine Rampell's "Receipts" newsletter: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts Buy "Unreliable Boyfriend": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H4HKTLQB
#8
October 9 · 55 min
8: Trump's Huge Problem: Voters Don't Buy His Economic Spin (w/JVL)
Catherine Rampell and JVL break down Trump’s escalating war on the Federal Reserve, including his latest attempt to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook and the growing threat to the central bank’s independence. They discuss how Trump’s tariffs and war with Iran are fueling inflation, driving up prices for everything from tomatoes to Texas brisket, and potentially hurting Republicans in key Senate races. Plus, JD Vance struggles to define socialism, the administration’s crackdown on H-1B workers raises questions about anti-immigrant politics, and why both parties may be moving toward a more government-controlled economy. Read and watch more from Catherine: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/receipts
#7
October 6 · 1 hr 2 min
7: This Scott Bessent Interview Got Weirder by the Minute (Plus: Mateo Kehler) | Receipts
Catherine Rampell and Sam Stein discuss Scott Bessent’s strange interview, from his “I am the house” bravado and boasts about Melania’s friends to his temper and possible political ambitions. They also react to Trump’s latest pitch for $5,000 checks and his remarkable claim that he knows more about basically everything than anyone. Then Jasper Hill Farm’s Mateo Kehler joins to explains how Trump’s trade war with Canada wiped out his cheese company’s fastest-growing export market and why policies sold as a lifeline for American dairy farmers are instead driving up costs and squeezing businesses.
#6
October 2 · 52 min
6: BREAKING: September Jobs Report Falls Far Short of Forecasts (w/JVL)
Catherine Rampell and JVL break down the weak jobs report, the impact of immigration and tariffs on the labor market, and the economic challenges facing Trump’s manufacturing agenda. They also discuss Trump’s ideas for dealing with the national debt, including his suggestion that inflation could help pay it off, and what his attacks on the Federal Reserve could mean for America’s borrowing costs. Plus, they examine why Republican counties are losing population, the country’s declining fertility rate, the economic consequences of an aging population, and Trump’s reported reliance on Grok to kidnap Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro.
#5
September 29 · 40 min
5: Trump’s War With Canada Has Officially Lost the Plot (w/ Sam Stein)
Catherine Rampell and Sam Stein bring the receipts on Trump’s increasingly baffling fight with Canada, his latest promise of $5,000 checks and the ugly polling behind it, and his move to weaken fuel-efficiency standards while gas prices are sky-high. Plus, Sydney Sweeney’s unexpected conversion news.
#4
September 25 · 53 min
4: Higher Mortgages, Higher Bills, and Trump’s Latest “Fix” (w/ JVL)
Catherine Rampell and JVL break down the latest economic warning signs, from surging Treasury yields and 7% mortgage rates to the fallout from the Iran war and rising energy prices. They discuss why Scott Bessent’s efforts to push down bond yields are running into broader problems with inflation, government debt and uncertainty over the war. Catherine also explains why Donald Trump’s proposed diesel export ban could backfire by raising prices for gasoline and other petroleum products while disrupting global energy markets. Plus, they discuss the growing influence of corporate leaders in the Trump administration, the erosion of the rule of law and what economic uncertainty means for long-term business investment. And they debate Jensen Huang’s argument that students may not need to learn basic math in the age of AI—and what gets lost when foundational skills are treated as obsolete. Bulwark Live Shows: https://www.thebulwark.com/events
#3
September 22 · 56 min
3: Trump’s Fed Chair Put Him in a Very Awkward Spot (w/ Jason Furman)
Catherine Rampell welcomes former Obama economic adviser Jason Furman to make sense of an economy that keeps confusing almost everyone. They also talk about Trump’s pressure on the Fed, the White House’s economic spin, the risks of politicizing scientific research, and why Democrats may be learning the wrong lessons from inflation and the affordability crisis. If you like the kinds of conversations Catherine is having on Receipts, with smart people willing to question conventional wisdom, challenge their own side, and follow the evidence wherever it goes, help us spread the word. Rate and review the show, and recommend it to someone you think would enjoy it. Those small things really do help a new show find its audience. Thank you.
#2
September 18 · 49 min
2: Canada’s Break With Trump Just Got MUCH Bigger (w/ JVL)
Catherine and JVL take on Canada’s accelerating break with the United States, Trump’s self-inflicted inflation problem, and the dangerous game unfolding between the White House and the Federal Reserve. Plus, DOGE somehow managed to spend $9.5 billion paying federal workers not to work, while government data that could expose tax cheating is quietly disappearing.
#1
September 1 · 50 sec
1: Receipts with Catherine Rampell
On Receipts, Catherine follows the money, challenges conventional wisdom, and digs into the data behind the biggest economic and political stories of the moment. What’s actually happening? Who’s responsible? And what does it mean for you?

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