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Talking Feds

Harry Litman

Talking Feds is a roundtable discussion that brings together prominent former government officials, journalists, and special guests for a dynamic and in-depth analysis of the most pressing questions in law and politics.

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a few times a week
Avg 46 min
English

Episodes 48

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Today · 34 min
How Democrats Can Keep the Blue Tide Rising
In the wake of Republicans’ generational midterm defeat, Harry turns to political guru Josh Marshall to make sense of how it happened and what it means for the future of American politics. Josh breaks down the crucial role of Trump’s corruption, Black voters’ anger, and careful Democratic campaigns, then lays out what the victorious party will need to do to keep the trust of the millions of Americans who propelled them past Trump’s chosen candidates. Mentioned in this episode: Josh’s analysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thursday · 54 min
Lost in the Flood
Harry gathers Emily Bazelon, Jonathan Lemire, and Mike Murphy to pick through the political wreckage left after a historic Democratic deluge. The panel tackle the causes and implications of the country's momentous swing against Donald Trump. Together, they break down the Tuesday's biggest surprises, how long Trump will continue to accept the results, and what Democrats’ top priorities should be as they take command in Congress. Mentioned in this episode: Emily’s reporting. Emily’s Political Gabfest. Jonathan’s reporting. Mike’s podcast Hacks on Tap. Harry’s column on what Democrats’ accountability agenda should look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
November 2 · 28 min
Why Pollsters Are So Sure Democrats Will Stomp
The midterms are finally here. Harry sits down with top pollster Lakshya Jain for a data-rich conversation about the voters, candidates, and trends that will shape tomorrow's results. Jain explains why he—and nearly all of his peers—are so bullish on Democrats, what it would take for polls to be wrong this time, and how movements among crucial demographics this year remind him of Obama’s 2008 run. Plus, Jain points out the tell-tale races that will be early signals of a blue tsunami or red resilience. Mentioned in this episode: Jain's analysis. Split Ticket's midterms model. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 29 · 57 min
Red Alert: Blue Wave
With less than a week until the midterms, Democrats are poised to retake the House, with the Senate also in play. But as a blue wave builds, Trump and his allies are launching dubious lawsuits that challenge states’ authority over elections. The cases may fail in court, but could serve a larger purpose: fueling Trump’s familiar claims that any Republican defeat was the result of a rigged election. Harry speaks with Amanda Litman, Tara Setmayer, and Glenn Thrush to break down the final stretch of the midterms, both in court and at the polls. Mentioned in this episode: The ⁠video version⁠ of this episode. Amanda’s Substack. Glenn’s ⁠reporting⁠. Tara's Substack. Harry's Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 26 · 35 min
Will Voters Dump the Trump Economy?
Nearly every pundit says the midterms will be about the economy. So how, exactly, is the economy doing? Harry turns to economist Justin Wolfers for answers. Slicing deep into some elaborate pie metaphors, the two explore how President Trump’s policies have let down the Americans they were supposed to help, what commentators are missing in the conversation about gas prices, and how a new Congress could start to put things right. Mentioned in this episode: Platypus Economics on Youtube. Platypus Economics on Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 22 · 59 min
How to Stop a Steal
What if ICE raids polling places on election day? What if MAGA sheriffs seize ballot boxes? What if a red-state official refuses to certify a Democrat’s narrow victory? These are the nightmare scenarios that could dam an anti-Trump midterm wave and plunge our democracy into crisis. That’s why champions of voting rights have spent years preparing for them. In this special episode Harry speaks with Jonathan Diaz, David Ogden, Joyce Vance, and Wendy Weiser about the crucial effort to protect the midterms—and just what precisely will happen if Trump or his cronies try to steal them. Mentioned in this episode: Jonathan’s Campaign Legal Center. David’s Democracy Defenders Fund. Joyce’s Substack. Wendy’s Brennan Center for Justice. Harry’s column about the DOJ’s latest election moves. The “866 Our Vote” election protection site. Key federal laws protecting voting rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 19 · 36 min
Inside the DOJ's Clown Car
Reporter Glenn Thrush joins Harry to shine a klieg light into the recesses of a Department of Justice running itself into the ground to please Donald Trump. Armed with previously unreported details, Glenn shares the inside story of why Trump loyalists departed the vaunted “grand conspiracy” investigation, which he calls “essentially dead.” Glenn also explains Todd Blanche's precarious position and why Cassidy Hutchinson has become a top target. Plus, Glenn warns that the midterms—”regardless of the result”—will bring a grave reckoning for the DOJ. Mentioned in this episode:Glenn’s reporting: https://www.nytimes.com/by/glenn-thrush#latest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 15 · 56 min
The “Who’s Going To Stop Me?” Presidency
Michelle Cottle, David Gura, and Charlie Sykes join Harry to discuss Republicans’ closing moves ahead of the midterms, new politicization at DOJ, and Pete Hegseth’s bid to livestream a firing squad. Will Trump’s battleground tour staunch Republican bleeding, or worsen it? Can administration lawyers keep getting away with casually disobeying judges? And will Trump pull the plug on the Pentagon’s effort to get the U.S. into the exclusive club of nations that perform public executions—joining current members Afghanistan and Iran? Mentioned in this episode: Michelle’s analysis. David’s reporting. Charlie’s Substack. Harry’s column about Cassidy Hutchinson. Michael Tomasky’s piece about the planned livestreamed execution. Congressman Thomas Massie’s Hegseth impeachment resolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 12 · 38 min
A “Moonshot” Plan to Deal with AI’s Dangers
Ambassador Susan Rice led President Obama’s national security team and helped secure the Iran nuclear deal. As she looks around the world now, the threat she can’t stop thinking about isn’t Russia or China, but AI. She joins Harry to break down the dangers the technology poses to Americans and what she thinks the Trump administration needs to do to guard against them. Then Harry draws on Ambassador Rice’s wide-ranging expertise for her assessment of the endgame with Iran, the state of U.S. alliances, and what Democrats should do if they retake Congress. Mentioned in this episode: Ambassador Rice’s Substack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 41 min
Trump’s Midterm Pitch? Bomb L.A.
Guest host Jonathan Alter convenes David Graham and Molly Jong-Fast for a wide-ranging preview of the midterm elections now less than a month away. The trio dig into Republicans’ tactical retreat from previously competitive races, potential stumbling blocks for Democrats, a string of presidential gaffes, and the coming campaign trail confrontation between Trump and Obama. Mentioned in this episode: Jonathan’s Substack. David’s reporting. Molly’s podcast. Time Magazine’s interview with Trump. The Atlantic’s reporting about Kash Patel’s latest moves. Politico reporting about Democrats’ potential missed opportunities in governors’ races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 5 · 34 min
Rick Wilson on Why Republicans are “Running for the Hills”
Veteran political operative and former Republican strategist Rick Wilson takes Harry on a tour of a midterms map that just keeps looking better for Democrats. Rick breaks down why he thinks much of the MAGA coalition will stay on the sidelines, why Republicans' eleventh-hour attempts to break from Trump won't help them, and the Democratic campaigns that stand out in a swelling blue wave. It's a rollicking roadmap of the key races from Alaska to Florida. Due to a technical error, a previous episode’s audio populated in this feed. If you’re having trouble listening to the Rick Wilson conversation, please refresh the app and re-download the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 1 · 52 min
Schmitt's Creek
What were Republicans thinking going after Jack Smith again? Kyle Cheney, Conor Lamb, and Mimi Rocah join Harry to discuss that and the week’s cascade of big legal news. Will the Department of Justice actually pursue perjury charges against Smith? Will Judge Williams and Judge Boasberg get to push ahead toward contempt proceedings against Trump and the administration? And will Trump come to regret the acceleration of his deportation drive—boosted this week by SCOTUS—when midterm votes are tallied? Mentioned in this episode: Kyle’s reporting. Conor’s Substack. Mimi’s Substack. Mimi’s forthcoming book. Harry’s column about the latest in Judge Williams’s slush fund case. The New Yorker’s reporting about the hard choices facing DOJ attorneys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 28 · 33 min
Andy Beshear Explains His Why
Governor Andy Beshear discusses his three-part approach to governing as a Democrat in deeply red Kentucky—and what he’s learned along the way. He talks with Harry about how his faith shapes his policies, his vision for fixing a broken government, and why a post-Trump government can’t just restore the past but needs to become more efficient and effective. Plus, the stakes of the 2026 gubernatorial races, their impact on holding fair elections in the 2028 presidential election, and what comes next for Beshear. Mentioned in this episode: Governor Beshear’s new book, Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 24 · 53 min
Trump Goes Dark
Asha Rangappa, Stuart Stevens, and Jasmine Wright join Harry to break down cratering Republican poll numbers, Trump’s quixotic media ban, Susan Collin’s quid-pro-quo scandal, and the news out of the UN General Assembly. Are polls showing a lopsided Democratic advantage to be believed? How is the allegation of a pay-to-play donation scheme changing the Maine Senate race? And hasn’t Trump’s move to ban a trio of outlets from the White House just cost him the attention he craves and requires? Mentioned in this episode: Asha’s Substack. Stuart’s Lincoln Square. Stuart’s Substack. Jasmine’s reporting. Harry’s column about the press ban. ProPublica’s reporting about Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. ProPublica’s reporting about Susan Collins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 21 · 52 min
The Cost of Capitulation
When Donald Trump retook the White House, many of the most powerful Americans—including many who resisted him in his first term—hurried to bend a knee. Jacob Weisberg wanted to understand why. He joins Harry for a conversation about his study of that capitulation: Profiles in Cowardice. Jacob breaks down the often confounding reasons these people knowingly betrayed their principles. After digging into some of the worst offenders, like Mitch McConnell, George W. Bush, and John Roberts, the pair turn to the tactics needed to counter what Jacob calls the “contagion of cowardice.” Mentioned in this episode: Jacob's book. Harry's column about a story of small-scale resistance succeeding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 17 · 54 min
Neither Snow, Nor Rain, Nor Trump
For the latest Contrarian episode, Norm Eisen, Rep. Tom Malinowski, and Jen Rubin join Harry to stake out their cautious optimism about Trump’s declining strength. The panel takes stock of the administration’s vital Supreme Court defeat in the mail-in ballots case before looking at the ways the wheels are falling off the DOJ's opaque "grand conspiracy" investigation. Finally, with rising gas prices lifting Democrats' midterm hopes, the group assess what actions Democrats need to take if they regain the House or Senate come November. Mentioned in this episode: Check out the video version of this episode. The Contrarian. Harry’s column about the mail-in ruling. Harry’s Substack Live with Steve Vladeck about the mail-in ruling. Jen’s column about how Democrats should use the power of the purse. Tom’s article about what Democrats should do with a majority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 14 · 37 min
The Midterms Seen from Michigan
The Michigan Senate race may make or break Democrats' hopes of wresting control of the Senate from Donald Trump. It also produced one of the party’s hardest primary fights, with three candidates representing different camps within it. State Senator Mallory McMorrow had better than a front-row seat. Having withdrawn late in the race, she’s now thrown her full support behind nominee Abdul El-Sayed. She fills Harry in on why she thinks the primary was ultimately good for the party, where Democrats are heading long-term, and the issues that will decide the winner in November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 10 · 57 min
Donald Trump's Quest for Eternal Life
Emily Bazelon, Erin Burnett, and Susan Glasser join Harry to try to decipher whether Trump would rather win the midterms or steal them. Time and again, the president has bewildered Republicans with politically damaging moves and comments. But if the Supreme Court lets Trump have his way with mail-in ballots, a stacked deck might more than compensate for his self-sabotage. Could Trump's postal voting overhaul turn the midterms? Will the Republicans rue their big convention in Texas? And what the hell is going on with Pete Hegseth? Mentioned in this episode: Emily’s reporting. Emily’s podcast. Erin’s show. Susan’s column and podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 7 · 26 min
Molly Mashup: “Trump Makes Nixon Look Like Lincoln”
In their newest mashup, Harry and Molly Jong-Fast trade questions about corruption, accountability, and Trump’s legal schemes. Molly asks how Trump officials and members of his family might ever face justice, even if Trump pardons them, and what the heck is going on with Trump’s Supreme Court fight over mail-in ballots. Harry wants to know what the Dems need to do to unite around a cohesive message heading into the midterms, and why celebrities and other famous figures have largely stayed out of the political fray in Trump 2.0 Mentioned in this episode: Molly’s podcast. ⁠ Molly’s Substack. Harry’s Substack on the ballroom ruling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 3 · 57 min
Democrats’ Path to Beating Trump
Harry's special roundtable this week focuses on the fortunes of the Democratic Party. Three top political thinkers—Micah Lasher, Amanda Litman, and Michael Steele—assess Democrats' prospects in the midterms and 2028. They break down what the party needs to do—beyond opposing Trump—and how it can harness the energy and message of recent progressive successes without falling victim to intra-party division. Finally, they offer their ideas for the longer-term vision of the country that the Dems should stand for. Mentioned in this episode: The ⁠video version⁠ of this episode. Micah's Substack. Amanda's Substack. Michael's analysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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