Category: 3-DailySometimeCommentary

The same day  Nintendo was officially introducing its latest console, Donald Trump was announcing his new global tariff plan. As a result, gamers were treated to an early preview of what a world bound up in tariffs would look like. Spoiler: It’ll probably cost you a lot more.

Guest: Jason Koebler, a co-founder of 404 Media

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Podcast production by Evan Campbell and Patrick Fort.

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When most of us woke up Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump was still very excited about the tariffs he imposed on dozens of countries that had gone into effect just after midnight eastern time. At the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner the night before, he even claimed the scheme would be ‘legendary in a positive way’ and bragged, ‘These countries are calling us up. Kissing my ass.’ But by Wednesday afternoon, Trump had blinked, announcing a 90-day pause on nearly all of the ‘reciprocal’ tariffs he unveiled last week (China was the exception; he boosted tariffs to 125 percent after Beijing retaliated with it’s own reciprocal tariffs). Alex Jacquez, chief of policy and advocacy at the progressive think tank Groundwork Collaborative and a member of former President Biden’s White House National Economic Council, explains why all this volatility leaves America worse off economically.

And in headlines: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made an uncomfortable guest appearance in the Oval Office, The White House said it’s freezing hundreds of millions in federal funding for Cornell and Northwestern universities, and two federal judges put limits on the Trump administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged foreign gang members.

Show Notes:

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• For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Thousands of “Hands Off!” protestors took to the street over the weekend. While it’s clear they were marching against the actions of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, what would “hands off” look like? If it’s removing these guys from office, why not tell the people with the power to do it?

Guest: Gabe Garbowit, former Senate staffer, current organizer at citizensimpeachment.com

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

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The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration three successive wins this week, albeit temporary ones. On Tuesday, the justices halted a lower court’s order to rehire thousands of temporary federal workers. And on Monday, the justices paved the way for the White House to resume deportations of alleged foreign gang members using a wartime statute. That decision came just hours after Chief Justice John Roberts paused a deadline to return a Salvadoran man who was wrongly deported. Leah Litman, co-host of Crooked’s legal podcast ‘Strict Scrutiny,’ tells us everything we need to know about the court’s decisions.

And in headlines: Elon Musk and White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro escalated their public fight over tariffs, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said he’ll direct the CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water, and a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore the Associated Press’ access to the White House.

Show Notes:

• Check out Leah's book – https://tinyurl.com/fz4yshmj
• Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8
• 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

Jonathan Majors was an actor on the rise—indie credits, prestige television, a Spike Lee joint, a superhero film. But all of that looked like it was over when Majors was found guilty of assault and harassment in 2023. 

 Now Majors is back on the promotional circuit for the film “Magazine Dreams.” Is this evidence of the #MeToo movement’s waning power, or is it more of the same from an industry that’s always eager for a man’s redemption story?

Guest: CT Jones, culture writer at Rolling Stone

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

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The stock market continued to have a not very good time Monday as a result of President Donald Trump's tariffs on everyone, even penguins. And counter to the desperate hopes of Wall Street executives, economists, and, really, most Americans, Trump reiterated that he is not, in fact, looking to pause them any time soon. To put it mildly, the whole thing is really freaking people out, and the word 'recession' is getting thrown around a lot. Jessica Roy, personal finance and utility columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle, shares some advice on how all of us should be thinking about our money right now.

And in headlines: The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration two temporary wins on its hard-ball immigration policies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House for a second time since Trump returned to office, and the Social Security Administration's website is reportedly having technical issues.

Show Notes:

• Follow Jessica – bsky.app/profile/jessicaroy.bsky.social
• Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8
• 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