What A Day - SCOTUS Deadlocks On Major Religion Case

In one of the most anticipated rulings of the term, the Supreme Court justices deadlocked Thursday in a case over the creation of a religious charter school in Oklahoma. The 4-4 split sets no precedent, meaning the justices could take up a similar case — and the underlying thornier questions around the separation of church and state — in the future. Later in the day, the justices also handed President Donald Trump a major temporary win, allowing him to fire the leaders of two independent federal agencies while the cases play out in the lower courts. Leah Litman, co-host of Crooked’s legal podcast ‘Strict Scrutiny’ and author of the new book “Lawless,” talks about Thursday’s decisions and gives us a preview of SCOTUS opinion season.

And in headlines: The Justice Department filed murder charges against a man suspected of killing two staffers of the Israeli embassy in D.C., the Palestinian health minister said more than two dozen children and elderly people had died of starvation-related causes in Gaza over the last two days, and the U.S. Treasury gets ready to bid adieu to the penny.

Show Notes:

What Next | Daily News and Analysis - TBD | Inside OpenAI’s Empire

OpenAI started as a non-profit dedicated to building safe A.I. Now, they’re obsessed with building artificial general intelligence by any means necessary - even if they don’t quite know what that is. 

Guest: Karen Hao, reporter and author of “Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI


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What A Day - Inside Diddy’s Federal Sex-Trafficking Trial

If you're a certain age, Sean' Diddy' Combs was inescapable during some really formative years of your music-listening habits. The entertainment mogul and producer showed up in music videos, hosted a reality show, and had a clothing line. His label Bad Boy Records helped launch the careers of iconic names in Hip-Hop and R&B, like Mary J. Blige, Usher and Notorious B.I.G. Now, he's standing trial on federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, and faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison, if convicted. Anne Branigin, a staff writer for The Washington Post has been covering the trial from the Manhattan courthouse. She joins us to talk about the latest developments in the case and what's still to come.

And in headlines: The U.S. government officially accepted a $400 million Boeing 747 from Qatar, President Donald Trump lectured the president of South Africa about a 'white genocide' in his country that's not happening, and Virginia Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly passed away at 75 after a battle with esophageal cancer.

Show Notes:

What Next | Daily News and Analysis - Can A “Morality Coalition” Succeed Against Trump?

Rev. Dr. Barber II is objecting to Republicans’ budget bill on the grounds of morality as much as politics—which is why he’s been praying, protesting, and getting arrested to stick up for those who will be affected by it. 

Guest: Reverend Doctor William J. Barber II, pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, North Carolina, professor at Yale Divinity School, and founder of the Forward Together Moral Movement.

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Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther.

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Cato Daily Podcast - Best of Cato Daily Podcast: Courage is the Secret to Liberty

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.


In presenting the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty to Danish newspaper editor Flemming Rose, former ACLU president Nadine Strossen discusses the importance of unfettered freedom of speech.


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What A Day - Why Medicaid Work Requirements Are A Bad Idea

As Congressional Republicans try to pass President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' through the House and Senate, Medicaid is one of the big programs in the party's legislative crosshairs. GOP lawmakers are eyeing upwards of $800 billion in cuts to the safety net health care program over the next decade, in part by imposing new work and eligibility requirements for recipients. But while the president keeps insisting 'no cuts to Medicaid,' the government's calculations suggest the party's plan could cost 10 million Americans their health care coverage. Matt Bruenig, founder of the People's Policy Project, explains why work requirements don't work.

And in headlines: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem got her constitutional rights all mixed up during a Senate hearing, Trump's FDA looks to limit access to Covid booster shots, and New Jersey U.S. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is charged with assault.

***CORRECTION:  In this episode, we said House Republicans were eying upwards of $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid in their spending and tax bill. The actual total of proposed cuts to the safety net health care program is estimated at more than $600 billion. We regret the error.

Show Notes:

What Next | Daily News and Analysis - If Trump Guts FEMA, Are Tornado Victims On Their Own?

One of the more surprising targets of Project 2025—and now, therefore, the Trump administration—is FEMA. How will proposed changes affect what FEMA can do, as hurricane season begins, and as a changing climate makes weather more unpredictable?

Guest: Thomas Frank, editor for E&E News’ climate finance team.

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Podcast production by Ethan Oberman, Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Isabel Angell, and Rob Gunther.


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