CNN One Thing

16-year-old Colt Gray was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole this week for the killing of four people at his Georgia high school in 2024. The emotional hearing offered a sounding board for victims’ family members and a peek into Gray’s possible motivation, which investigators say included a desire to get the attention of a previous school shooter. Can this tragedy teach authorities anything about preventing the next one?  For more: Georgia school shooter Colt Gray sentenced to life in prison without parole  ---  Guest: Isabel Rosales, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Senior Director of Podcasts: Zach Goldbaum  Photo: Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This midterm season, one issue has become something of a litmus test for Democratic candidates: support for Israel. However, some Jewish progressives fear the fine line between policy disagreements and antisemitism is starting to fray, leaving some to ask: should Jewish candidates should even try to run for president?  For more: As Israel becomes Democratic litmus test, Jewish progressives warn about a tilt into antisemitism  ---  Guest: Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The arrests of misogynist influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate in Miami have shaken the so-called manosphere and given hope to many women who say they were abused by the pair (allegations they strongly deny). While it appears Trump administration will not intervene in their extradition fight, there are still questions as to whether their brand of toxic masculinity is too deeply embedded in the culture to remove. We talk to a reporter who uncovered how the brothers allegedly exploited women and leveraged social media to make millions.  Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and violence.  For more: New documents detail rape charges against the Tate brothers in the UK. Here’s what we know  ---  Guest: Heidi Blake, The New Yorker investigate reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump gave a primetime speech on Thursday revealing what he said was new information related to foreign efforts to influence US elections. However, experts say the documents he declassified did not back up his claims and that his continued focus on the 2020 election could sow mistrust in the upcoming midterms. We hear from a federal election official recently fired by Trump and take a closer look at the elections security bill Trump is desperate for Congress to pass.  For more: Trump’s speech claiming US election vulnerabilities, annotated  ---  Guests: Benjamin Hovland & Zachary Wolf, CNN Politics Senior Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Ariel Edwards-Levy  Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The killings of two individuals in Houston and Maine in the span of a week are once again putting the tactics of federal immigration agents in the spotlight. In response, ICE is pausing most traffic stops, according to a source familiar with the guidance. On the ground, competing narratives and fights for access to crucial evidence are only increasing tensions. So is this an issue of training, or a push for more arrests? And is true accountability achievable in a department that has become politicized?  For more: Lack of body cameras on ICE agents fuels more uncertainty over fatal shootings ---  Guest: Josh Campbell, CNN Senior Correspondent Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Ryan Murphy/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been hospitalized for nearly a month, but it remains unclear why or what his condition is. His prolonged absence comes just after Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) disappeared for over 100 days, for what he later revealed was treatment for depression. These incidents are reigniting a prickly debate over what information lawmakers owe voters, the limits of medical privacy, and if Congress is just too old.  Note: This episode was recorded before McConnell's statement revealing that his hospitalization was due to a fall. Read more ⁠here⁠. It was also recorded before the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. ---  Guest: Casey Burgat, The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Tom Brenner/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump’s request for FIFA to review a controversial red card against US striker Folarin Balogun has raised questions about fairness and preferential treatment at the World Cup. But experts say soccer’s governing body has long been open to possible political influence and corruption. We explore how that came to be and why fans continue to love the tournament despite FIFA.  For more: Breaking down 36 disastrous hours for American soccer as World Cup bubble bursts  ---  Guest: Simon Kuper, Financial Times reporter and co-author, ‘Soccernomics’  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court finished its blockbuster term by striking down President Donald Trump’s executive order that would have limited birthright citizenship. But experts say it was not a total loss for Trump and some Republicans still want to push ahead. We break down the implications and examine how future presidents will also benefit from expanded executive authority thanks to this court.  For more: Trump’s audacious bid to end birthright citizenship was not an entire loss at the Supreme Court  ---  Guest: Joan Biskupic, CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ahead of America’s 250th birthday, CNN tracked down multiple descendants of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence to ask: do you feel like we are living up to their vision? Their answers were as complicated as the country itself.  For more: Descendants in a divided America  ---  Guest: Catherine Shoichet, CNN Senior Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Tristen Rouse/CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the past few weeks, a small player protest over Pride uniforms has kicked off a controversy in Major League Baseball. Some LGBTQ fans and politicians are angry (for very different reasons), and the episode is raising questions about LGBTQ progress and whether professional sports should play a role. We look at whether this drama on the diamond can tell us anything about Americans’ shifting attitudes on social issues under the second Trump administration.  For more: Americans are divided on ‘culture war’ issues, a new CNN poll finds. Republicans are trying to leverage that in the midterms  ---  Guests: Terri Hupfer & Hannah Keyser, CNN Sports Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo by: Scott Marshall/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new report from global energy think tank Ember found that solar generated more US energy than coal in May 2026 for the first time on record. It comes at a time when the Trump administration has been actively hostile towards the development of wind and solar projects, despite a growing need for more electricity as more AI data centers come online. So, is this a minor blip, or a sea change? And is the current political climate making talk of climate change taboo on the campaign trail?  For more: ‘Afraid to get my next bill’: Americans brace for higher costs to cool their homes this summer  ---  Guest: Jane Flegal, Searchlight Institute Senior Fellow  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By: RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California has long been a target of President Donald Trump dating back to Trump’s first impeachment trial. Now he is reportedly under investigation by Trump’s Justice Department for mortgage fraud (allegations Schiff denies). In a conversation recorded live at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, Schiff explains how he is preparing for possible legal action, how Democrats should respond if they take back the House of Representatives in the midterms, and if they have the right leadership in place to effectively push back against what he sees as a corrupt administration. ---  Guest: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is set to fully reopen on Friday after Iran and the US sign a memo of understanding to end hostilities that will end the war and kickstart further negotiations. But will it bring down gas prices for American drivers – and when? We look at the complicated business of unwinding a war’s unintended consequences.  For more: The tanks in Cushing, Oklahoma, are hitting bottom. The oil market is about to hit a tipping point  ---  Guest: David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Chris Isidore Photo By: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The recent Pentagon releases of declassified files detailing sightings of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) has piqued the interest of UFO enthusiasts and curious Americans alike. But despite increased transparency, a lack of hard evidence remains. Why do many of us want to believe there is intelligent life out there somewhere? And if scientists found that evidence, would we even accept it?  ---  Guest: Adam Frank, University of Rochester astrophysicist   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Mario Tama/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A scheduled UFC fight at the White House on Sunday is being billed as a kickoff for America’s 250th birthday celebrations. But some critics are calling it a disrespectful money grab, and those who follow combat sports closely believe it is just an extension of a relationship that has served both sides financially and politically for years. So beyond the optics of the octagon, what purpose does this event serve? And can it help Trump and the GOP win back young male voters?  For more: Young men are leaving Trump. Can a UFC fight at the White House get them back in the ring?  ---  Guests: Francisco Muñiz & Luke Thomas  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Kit Maher Photo by: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dramatic shakeup of 60 Minutes under CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss culminated this week in the firing of longtime correspondent Scott Pelley. He, and some other employees who have recently left, have accused management of editorial interference in an effort to curry favor with the Trump administration (claims CBS denies). So is this a long overdue shakeup of an aging medium, or a sign of corporate media meddling? And what does it mean for the rest of the content we consume on TV?  ---  Guest: Brian Stelter, CNN Chief Media Analyst  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early on in his second term, President Donald Trump called for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eliminated. Now, the White House appears to be cleaning up the mess left behind at the agency by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who sources say fostered a culture of fear, distrust, and operational chaos (an official who claims he teleported to a Waffle House also made an appearance). But with Atlantic hurricane season upon us, will FEMA be ready to answer the call after the next big disaster?  For more: Exclusive: Power struggles and paralysis: Inside FEMA’s lost year as storm season approaches  ---  Guest: Gabe Cohen, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By:  Al Drago/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erin Brockovich rose to fame after the release of a 2000 Hollywood movie, starring Julia Roberts, which told the story of her real-life fight to bring justice to a small town affected by a utility company’s pollution. Now, she is lending her voice to the growing opposition to AI data centers, which tech companies say are needed to fuel economic growth and national security. But who is the true villain in this story?  For more: Why Utah residents are protesting a massive AI data center project backed by Kevin O’Leary  ---  Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Alan Freed/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FIFA expects more than 6 million soccer fans will descend on North America in less than 3 weeks for the 2026 World Cup. But amid cuts to public health programs under the Trump administration, will Ebola, hantavirus or measles join the crowds? We hear from an infectious disease specialist leading a new initiative that will track public health threats during the tournament.  For more: Exclusive: Trump admin shutting key US researchers out of global virus response talks, documents and sources reveal  ---  Guest: Rebecca Katz, Director of Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science & Security  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Deidre McPhillips Photo By:  Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephen Colbert signed off from the “Late Show” for the final time Thursday after CBS ended the iconic late night franchise. While many believe his criticism of President Donald Trump played a factor, the network insists it was purely a financial decision. But can political comedy and media consolidation coexist? And how will pressure from Trump’s FCC influence broadcasters going forward? A working comedian weighs in.  For more: watch ‘The Last Laugh: Stephen Colbert’  ---  Guest: Michael Ian Black, “Have I Got News for You” team captain  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Support: Sophie Tran  Photo By: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a gunman killed two children and injured 27 others at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis at the start of the school year, parents, teachers, and students have been left to pick up the pieces. It is a process that might feel familiar to countless other communities who have encountered school shootings, but what does it look like for these families? How do you live the rest of your life after everything changes? CNN went to Minneapolis to find out.  For more: The shooting finally stopped. Then came everything else. ---  Guest: Michelle Krupa, CNN Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Emily Smith  Photo: Liam James Doyle for CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From tariffs to tough talk, President Donald Trump has long positioned himself on being tougher on China than any US president. Now, he heads to Beijing for a high-stakes state visit needing their help on a massive political problem: the war with Iran. We look at how both sides might navigate this moment and how Trump's pressure campaign may have helped China prepare for this moment of global instability.  For more: The shadowy network of Chinese oil refineries funding Iran  ---  Guest: Simone McCarthy, CNN Senior China Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the urging of President Donald Trump, multiple Republican-led states in the South have move quickly to redraw congressional maps in the wake of the Supreme Court decision last month that critics say will significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In Louisiana, the Black congressman who represents the district at the heart of that Supreme Court case says Democrats can't stand by and need to act. So what happens now? And with the midterms less than six months away, how could it impact voters across the country?  For more: How the Republicans pulling ahead in the redistricting war affects the midterms  ---  Guest: Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Ethan Cohen Photo by: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of CNN One Thing, we look back on the life and legacy of CNN founder and media pioneer Ted Turner. Photo: CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump has amplified (and been the subject of) many conspiracy theories during his time as a public figure. Online speculation, without evidence, that recent assassination attempts against him in Butler, Pennsylvania and the White House Correspondent’s dinner were staged have only grown in recent weeks. But the conversation around the death and disappearance of multiple top government scientists is perhaps the most curious item to grab Trump’s attention – in part because of the path it took to get to his desk. We look at how the story reached the White House and why conspiracy theories continue to fester in the age of Trump.  For more: How a speculative story about dead and missing scientists went from the fringe to the White House  ---  Guest: T.M. Brown, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the killings of two American citizens in Minneapolis and the firing of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation is attempting a bit of a reset. From calling ICE agents “NICE” agents on social media to reducing visible presence on the streets, it’s clear new Secretary Markwayne Mullin wants federal agents out of the spotlight. But are the goals of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation push any different? Plus, we hear from someone caught in the middle of the administration’s crackdown on legal immigration.  For more: Exclusive: Trump moves to accelerate deportations of migrant children in US custody  ---  Guest: Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

King Charles is in the midst of a four-day state visit to the US to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. The visit comes at a time when US-UK relations are notably strained, thanks to the war with Iran and calls for greater Jeffrey Epstein-related accountability. But President Donald Trump is usually receptive to royalty – so will this trip help mend fences, or give European allies more to worry about?  For more: Epstein scandal lingers in background of King Charles’ visit to Washington  ---  Guest: Jack Blanchard, POLITICO Playbook Author/Managing Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Henry Nichols/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman are set to face off in court this week in a case centered on OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model. Musk alleges Altman and his company have strayed from their founding mission to develop artificial intelligence for the good of humanity rather than corporate profit (OpenAI denies the allegations). But is this just petty billionaire beef, or could it tell us something about our own AI futures? ---  Guest: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Carlos Barria/Kenny Holston/Pool/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday aimed at beefing up research of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine that could be used in mental health treatments. Some veterans and people who have struggled with addiction who have used ibogaine say this could be a breakthrough that could lead to wider access, but some medical experts are warning approvals shouldn’t be rushed. We hear why a leading advocate group says while it’s a good start – much more has to be done.  For more: Trump accelerates research on psychedelic treatments and asks, ‘Can I have some?’  ---  Guests: Samantha Juan & Melissa Lavasani, Psychedelic Medicine Coalition Founder/CEO  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katherine Dillinger Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roughly 95,000 employees left federal science agencies between September 2024 and December 2025, according to the Partnership for Public Service. Former NASA climate scientist Kate Marvel recently joined that group, citing the administration’s funding cuts and attacks on climate and environmental regulations in her resignation letter. However, she remains hopeful about the future of the study of climate change – if her fellow scientists are willing to get angry about it.  For more: Trump admin is pulling supercomputers out of key weather and climate research center  ---  Guest: Kate Marvel, former NASA climate scientist  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Andrew Freedman Photo: Reid Wiseman/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, US Vice President JD Vance was dispatched abroad for a pair of high-profile assignments. But after stumping for Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister suffered a huge election loss and marathon talks Vance led to end the war with Iran wrapped up without a deal. So what does this say about the political power of the MAGA movement’s heir apparent? And how does someone shaped by Catholicism feel about President Donald Trump’s beef with the Pope?  For more: How Vance is navigating peace talks with Iran — and his own political future  ---  Guest: Alayna Treene, CNN White House Correspondent   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration’s effort to build a national citizen database is running into roadblocks in court and alarming some election officials on both sides of the aisle. But what is this data for? And how could it be used? We hear from one election official about why he’s pushing back, and look at how election integrity concerns are playing out in other parts of the country.  For more: Trump is trying to build a massive voter database. Election officials are afraid of what he’ll do with it  ---  Guests: David Yates, Jefferson County (KY) Clerk & Tierney Sneed, CNN Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Carlos Osorio/Reuters/File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The firing of the US Army chief of staff and two other generals is just the latest personnel shakeup under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But why do this during wartime? We examine whether disagreements between Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll are behind the move, and how Hegseth’s ongoing fixation on so-called “culture wars” and loyalty could impact service members.  For more: Trump and Hegseth on Iran war: ‘God is good’  ---  Guest: Haley Britzky, CNN National Security Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amid a stalled Surgeon General nomination, a federal court ruling striking down vaccine overhauls (at least for now), and anger from ‘Make America Healthy Again’ activists, some are wondering whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lost his grip on the movement that helped propel President Donald Trump back to the White House. We hear from one activist outraged by an executive order about weedkiller who says some voters “will not be coming back.” Plus, what’s going on with all the whole milk hype videos?  For more: How RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda keeps hitting roadblocks  ---  Guests: Kelly Ryerson, ‘Glyphosate Girl’ & Sarah Owermohle, CNN Health Policy Reporter  Host/Producer: David Rind  Senior Producer: Matt Martinez  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A crew of four astronauts are preparing for a historic mission that will take them around the far side of the moon and back, the furthest human space travel in more than 50 years. Like any space mission, the run-up has been filled with delays and safety concerns, but experts say this mission is a key part of an ambitious plan from the Trump administration to establish a lunar colony and eventually visit Mars. But is any of this feasible? And can Americans still be inspired like they were during the Space Race of the 1960s? For more: Why haven’t humans been back to the moon in over 50 years?  ---  Guest: Pam Melroy, former astronaut & NASA Deputy Administrator  Host/Producer: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Sam Lott/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable on all counts in a case that accused the tech giants of intentionally addicting a young woman and injuring her mental health. Experts say the landmark decision could open the door to a flood of other litigation that could reshape how these companies operate. But will anything actually change? We also hear from one of the hundreds of other plaintiffs suing social media companies who are hoping this verdict bodes well for them.  Note: this episode contains discussions of eating disorders.  For more: Listen to CNN’s “Terms of Service” podcast  ---  Guest: Caroline Koziol & Clare Duffy, CNN Tech Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war with Iran has sent shockwaves through the global oil markets and jacked up gas prices in the US. But it has also caused a surge in fertilizer prices, which is straining US farmers who were already dealing with the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. We hear from one Iowa soybean and corn farmer who says his industry is suffering from the Trump administration’s self-inflicted wounds.   For more: Fertilizer prices bring more pain for American farmers amid war in Iran  ---  Guest: Joshua Manske, Iowa soybean and corn farmer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Gordon Ebanks Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prediction markets are opening new doors to bet on pretty much anything - even outcomes during war. But things can get pretty heated when money is on the line, and now at least one state is stepping in to accuse a major prediction market of running an illegal gambling operation. WIRED’s Kate Knibbs talks about the “casino-ification” of everything and what this could mean for the future of politics and betting.    For more: Iran-related bets on prediction sites scrutinized over ‘death markets’ and possible insider trades  ---  Guests: Jesus Martinez & Kate Knibbs, WIRED Senior Writer   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not been shy about how his Christian faith has shaped him. However, some activists fear his views could be encroaching on the secular military in unprecedented ways and influencing how commanders are framing the war in Iran. We explore a controversial pastor connected to Hegseth who is leading a growing movement rooted in Christian nationalism and the idea that women should be “submissive” to their husbands.  For more: Inside one pastor’s crusade for Christian domination in the age of Trump  ---  Guests: Pamela Brown, CNN Anchor/Chief Investigative Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Shoshana Dubnow Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took a chainsaw to the federal government, slashing jobs and cutting programs in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. While it did not reduce spending, current and former government officials tell CNN that some of the cuts are hampering government readiness amid the Iran war. Now, the government is looking to ramp up hiring again – but only with workers who align with the Trump administration’s priorities. We hear from a former federal worker about how last year’s cuts impacted her, and from an expert who says he's concerned about adding more political appointees to the mix.  For more: ‘A shell of our former self’: How Trump and Musk’s spending cuts are hampering US government readiness amid the Iran war  ---  Guests: Melissa Patsalides & Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service President and CEO  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil. As a result, ships are stuck and gas prices are climbing in the US. We look at the Trump administration’s possible solutions, and the key psychological benchmark that could push their political problem to a breaking point.  For more: The grim choice facing the Trump administration: Economic or naval collapse?  ---  Guests: Martín Izaguirre Salgado & David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Vanessa Yurkevich Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anger directed at OpenAI is spreading after it struck a deal with the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after its rival, Anthropic, refused. OpenAI said it had shared Anthropic’s concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, so why did they sign? And what does this mean for other companies looking to do business with the Trump administration?  For more: Some OpenAI staff are fuming about its Pentagon deal  ---  Guests: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent & Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: WH Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Iran continues to retaliate against the US and Israel, civilians in major Gulf countries are caught in the crossfire. Will these nations be forced to respond? And do they have the military firepower needed to keep up? We break down what we can learn from the military operations thus far and look at how an Iranian power vacuum could complicate the endgame.  For more: The rationale for striking Iran was already a mess. Trump just made it worse.  ---  Guests: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Chief International Security Correspondent & Mark Kimmitt, Brigadier General (Ret.)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Natasha Maguder, Natalie Wright Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of planning, the US and Israel struck Iran as part of a massive operation aimed at unseating the hardline Iranian regime. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, according to Israeli sources. Iran has retaliated, hitting US military bases and major population centers across the region. So how long will the conflict last? And is regime change even feasible? We break down what we know as of Saturday afternoon.  For more: Trump launches the regime-change effort in Iran that he pledged to avoid  ---  Guest: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The killing of Mexican cartel boss Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes shocked the country and set off cartel violence in the streets, trapping American tourists in the process. However, experts say the operation could say even more about President Donald Trump’s war on drugs than Mexico’s.  For more: The death of ‘El Mencho’ exposed the reach of Mexico’s cartel crisis. Will US tourists stay away?  ---  Guest: Steven Dudley, InSight Crime co-founder  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: @morelifediares via REUTERS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein say the historic arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles III, is a step in the right direction. But high-profile figures in the US still have not faced similar consequences, weeks after the Justice Department released more than 3 million documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. We hear from a group of survivors who say this feels like the beginning of the story, not the end.  For more: ‘This is not over.’ Corporate America’s Epstein reckoning gathers steam  ---  Guest: MJ Lee, CNN Senior National Enterprise Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson Photo: Kent Nishimura/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A raft of resignations from some of Silicon Valley’s top AI companies came with some dire warnings about user safety and potential impacts on the American workforce. Are these concerns worth paying attention to, or overhyped? We hear from one former safety researcher who says companies are not fully grappling with the implications of advertising within chatbots.  For more: AI researchers are sounding the alarm on their way out the door  ---  Guest: Zoë Hitzig, former OpenAI researcher  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Hadas Gold Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Those words from ICE attorney Julie Le to a federal judge earlier this month underscores the toll the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis is taking on the Justice Department. But what happens now that the surge is winding down? And will any new prosecutors want to sign up for this work?  For more: Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his Justice Department and judges  ---  Guest: Doug Kelley, former Assistant US Attorney  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katelyn Polantz Photo: Steve Karnowski/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the Winter Olympics in Italy, American athletes are speaking out, Vice President JD Vance was booed, and some locals are protesting against ICE. Some are asking if the US has achieved “villain” status. Experts say moments like these underscore the loss of American standing on the world stage under President Donald Trump. But is this a brand problem, or something deeper?  For more: Trump’s growing volatility is putting the world on edge  ---  Guest: Stephen Collinson, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Amber Searls / Imagn Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Critics fear ICE is using a growing slate of facial recognition and surveillance tools to track not only undocumented immigrants, but also protesters opposing operations in Minneapolis and beyond. So with Democrats and Republicans at odds over changes to ICE ahead of a looming deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security, what data is being collected and what does it mean for the average American?  For more: ICE shunned body cams in Minnesota. So why are agents using phone cameras?  ---  Guests: Nicole Cleland & Juliette Kayyem, CNN Senior National Security Analyst  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: John Moore/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Officials in Georgia are sounding the alarm after the FBI searched an elections office in Fulton County last week in connection with alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election. Now, as President Donald Trump calls on Republicans to “nationalize the voting,” some state officials across the country are wondering if they will be able to run their midterm elections without interference from Washington. Plus: what does Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard have to do with all of this?  For more: DNI Gabbard put Trump on the phone with FBI agents who searched Fulton County elections office, sources say  ---  Guests: Robb Pitts & Mo Ivory, Fulton County Board of Commissioners & Marshall Cohen, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TikTok was on the verge of being banned in the US as President Donald Trump took office last year. Now, its US operations are in the hands of new owners after a deal backed by the Trump administration. Since those owners took control, some users on the left claim they’ve been having trouble posting about sensitive topics like ICE or Jeffrey Epstein. So is this a tech hiccup, or a possible sign of political censorship?  For more: The Trump-approved US TikTok is off to a rough start  ---  Guest: Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Tech Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo Credit: Brook Joyner/CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We know the Trump administration is extremely online. But experts have started to notice that some of the memes and videos posted by official government accounts have a distinct far-right flavor that draw disturbing parallels with white supremacist and neo-Nazi propaganda. Is this a mistake? Trolling? Or something darker? We hear from an expert who says white nationalist groups are getting the message that "our guys are in control." For more: The US government seems to have a clear message for White nationalists  ---  Guest: Jon Lewis, Research Fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House says President Donald Trump is going to travel the country starting this week, selling his economic accomplishments ahead of the midterms. But after calling affordability a Democrat-led ‘hoax,’ will anyone buy it? We break down three recent Trump administration proposals about housing, health care, and credit cards and examine whether they could actually bring down prices.  For more: Affordability may finally be improving. Trump’s scorched-earth tactics are only part of the reason  ---  Guest: Tami Luhby, CNN Senior Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Minneapolis remains on edge two weeks after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good. As the Department of Justice opens criminal investigations into local and state officials and vows to press charges against protesters who disrupted a church service on Sunday, some activists are wondering if it's safe to continue speaking out. We hear from one of them and get an explainer on the legal issues that soon could become relevant in other cities.  For more: Trump officials investigate protesters who interrupted Minnesota church service, targeting ICE official  ---  Guest: Rachel Moran, University of St. Thomas law professor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Maggie Koerth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump has not backed down on his threats to take control of Greenland, potentially by military force. Danish officials have also not backed down on their insistence that their territory is not for sale. So where does this go from here? How could things play out if Trump does follow through? And how do Greenlanders feel about being caught in the middle? CNN went to the island to find out. For more: Worried Greenlanders fear for future as Trump threatens US takeover  ---  Guest: Nic Robertson, CNN International Diplomatic Editor   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Caroline Paterson & Benjamin Brown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tensions in Minneapolis remain high after an ICE agent killed Renee Nicole Good in her car last week. Despite widespread outrage, the Trump administration is sending in hundreds more law enforcement agents to enforce immigration orders. So what does this mean for activists keeping tabs on ICE? And why are federal agents using such aggressive tactics?  For more: New documents shed light on Renee Good’s ties to ICE monitoring efforts in Minneapolis  ---  Guests: Loretta Capeheart, Héctor Reyes, & Josh Campbell, CNN Senior Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in a case that could decide whether states may ban transgender students from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. It comes as President Donald Trump has moved to punish institutions that are inclusive of trans athletes. We break down the legal case and hear from a transgender former college athlete who says this is about way more than a game.  For more: Do transgender women have an athletic advantage? Here’s what the science does – and doesn’t – say  ---  Guests: Mayumi Berry, former NCAA athlete & John Fritze, CNN Supreme Court Reporter   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After US forces executed the stunning seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Máduro, President Donald Trump said American companies would work to rebuild Venezuela’s crumbling oil industry. But energy experts say that work will be costly, complicated, and dangerous – if any companies want to do it at all.   For more: Trump said Venezuela stole America’s oil. Here’s what really happened  ---  Guest: Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America Energy Program at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early Saturday morning, US forces struck targets in Caracas and abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to face new drugs and weapons charges in New York. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the US is “going to run” Venezuela in the aftermath of the brazen operation. We break down what this seismic moment could mean for US troops and the people of Venezuela. For more: Trump’s snatching of Maduro shows a new level of unrestrained global power  ---  Guests: Mary Triny Mena, freelance journalist & Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent  Host/Producer: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Caroline Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you binge-watched “The Diplomat” or “Death by Lightning” this year, you’re not alone. These politics-centric dramas have united audiences at a time when real-life politics can feel toxic and fractured. Why is this genre so resilient? And could Washington, DC itself become a new home for Hollywood storytelling? We hear from someone who is banking on it.  ---  Guest: David Beaubaire, Founder & CEO, Sunset Lane Media  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Liam Reilly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump’s second term has been norm-busting and extraordinarily consequential, but cracks are starting to form in Trump’s base. As 2025 comes to a close, we take stock of whether his political pull is reaching its limit and how discontent with his policies could shape the midterms. For more: Americans have a new thing to worry about: A stuck job market with no quick fix  ---  Guest: Aaron Blake, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The killing of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner has shocked Hollywood and movie fans alike. What made his films timeless? And what does his political activism say about our current moment? We hear why his first major role provided the blueprint for the rest of his career – and his life. For more: Trump’s reaction to Reiner’s murder is indefensible — but America has been here before  ---  Guest: Alan Sepinwall, TV critic, “What’s Alan Watching”  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that blocks states from enforcing their own regulations around artificial intelligence, arguing that a “single national framework” will help boost innovation. However, some GOP-controlled state legislatures are pushing back, arguing it infringes on states' rights. We explore what’s driving this wedge and how it could impact the 2026 midterms.   For more: Pro-AI super PAC launches first candidate ads  ---  Guests: Utah state Sen. Heidi Balderree (R) & Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Netflix has a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s (CNN’s parent company) Hollywood assets. Paramount thinks they have a better offer for the entire business and is hoping to have President Donald Trump in its corner as it launches a hostile takeover bid. But what does this corporate clash mean for your streaming bill? Or your local movie theater? We hear from an antitrust lawyer who believes that no matter who wins, the average consumer is set to lose.  For more: Battle of the Davids: The future of Hollywood is playing out before our eyes ---  Guest: Alvaro Bedoya, former FTC commissioner   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: David Goodman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Green card holders. Refugees. Asylum seekers. Even naturalized citizens. Fear and confusion are gripping immigrants of all stripes across the country as President Donald Trump expands his restrictions on legal immigration in the wake of the National Guard shooting in Washington, DC. Is this about public safety, or something else? And could Trump’s xenophobic “garbage” comments about Somalis encourage more hateful rhetoric? We hear why the recent moves could jam up a system that’s already plenty clogged.  For more: How Trump is intensifying his crackdown on every form of immigration to the US  ---  Guests: Elissa J. Taub, immigration lawyer & Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Rob Kuznia Episode art: Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for investigations into reports that the Trump administration carried out second strike killing survivors on a suspected drug boat off the coast of Venezuela that had already been attacked. While the administration continues to insist it is operating legally, experts are raising concerns about what will happen if it starts ground operations amid a pressure campaign against Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. We hear how average Venezuelans are reacting, and then David talks to a former military lawyer who says the campaign against alleged drug boats is degrading the long-term effectiveness of the military.  For more: Trump is threatening to attack a country with more oil than Iraq  ---  Guests: Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Contributor & Michael Schmitt, Professor of International Law at the University of Reading  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Caroline Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The eyes of the international soccer world will be on North America next summer when the FIFA World Cup comes to the US, Mexico and Canada. President Donald Trump has been intimately involved with the planning – going so far as to threaten to move games from cities that don’t cooperate with his policies. Ahead of the tournament draw, we examine what’s behind Trump’s fascination with the tournament and whether international fans will want to come amid stories of detention and deportation.  For more: Trump muses about what it would take to strip US World Cup host cities of games just months before the tournament kicks off  ---  Guest: Don Riddell, CNN World Sport Anchor and Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Kyle Feldscher, Jennifer Bernstein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the thought of holiday shopping stresses you out, you’re not alone. Some of America’s top retailers also aren’t sure how to navigate economic pressures like tariffs that are taking a bite out of consumer confidence. We hear how Macy’s, Old Navy, and Walmart are adjusting ahead of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and beyond - and whether President Donald Trump has an answer to Americans’ affordability concerns.  For more: One of America's last department stores is betting on in-store shopping this holiday  ---  Guests: Tori Lightcap & Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Business & Politics Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Kate Trafecante, Allison Cho, Jeremy Moorehead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As fears of an artificial intelligence bubble mount, one company is being scrutinized above all the rest: Nvidia. As the AI chipmaker's valuation continues to soar, some experts are wondering whether the whole industry is built on a shaky foundation. We hear why its CEO has become cozy with President Donald Trump – and what it all could mean for you.  For more: The world’s biggest company just told everyone to chill out⁠ ---  Guest: Phil Mattingly, CNN Chief Domestic Correspondent and Anchor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is breaking with President Donald Trump and apologizing for “taking part in toxic politics,” after years of divisive comments of her own. Is this contrition, or posturing for a post-Trump future? We hear from someone who has covered Greene for years who says a GOP revolt over the Jeffrey Epstein files could signal more trouble for Trump in the months ahead.  For more: The key issues that are suddenly dividing MAGA  ---  Guest: Tia Mitchell, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Washington Bureau Chief  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump has pardoned more than 1,600 people who played significant roles in matters involving him personally across his two terms, including dozens who worked to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Presidents always flex pardon power, so what makes these so unusual? We hear from a constitutional law expert who says part of the answer lies in the man in charge of the review process.  For more: Trump’s pardons aren’t just political; more importantly, they’re transactional  ---  Guest: Kim Wehle, former Assistant US Attorney  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chicago remains on edge as immigration enforcement operations in recent weeks have sparked tense standoffs and legal questions over federal agents’ use of force. However, local resistance groups have taken it upon themselves to (loudly) alert neighbors of ICE’s presence. We hear from some of them and then look at the controversial Border Patrol official in charge of ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ and where he might be heading next. For more: ‘There is no sanctuary here’: Meet the Border Patrol chief in charge of Trump’s Chicago crackdown  ---  Guests: Loretta Capeheart, Héctor Reyes, Laura Tober, & Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever since Tucker Carlson interviewed White nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, Republicans have been at odds over how to deal with what some see as a growing embrace of hateful voices like Fuentes’ within the party. But experts say voices like his might hold too much sway with young, disaffected Republicans to easily remove from the picture.  For more: Fierce backlash within GOP after Tucker Carlson gives White nationalist Nick Fuentes a platform  The world according to Candace Owens  ---  Guest: Will Sommer, Senior Reporter, The Bulwark  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oz Pearlman insists he reads people, not minds - and don't call him a magician. But as corporate titans, celebrities, and pro sports teams continue to pay him tens of thousands of dollars to reveal intimate personal details for parties and team-building events, he thinks the average person can use his skills to get ahead in business and life. David goes one-on-one with one of the internet’s favorite mentalists - and walks away with his heart racing.  Oz’s book is “Read Your Mind: Proven Habits for Success From the World’s Greatest Mentalist.”  ---  Guest: Oz Pearlman   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Technical Director: Dan Dzula Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump made big gains with Latino voters across the country last fall. But two key governors' races on Tuesday could tell us whether that rightward shift will actually stick. We hear from voices across New Jersey about whether major issues like immigration enforcement are impacting their vote.  Guests: Kennith Gonzalez, New Jersey Republican State Committee & Hector Lora, Passaic Mayor  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Arlette Saenz, Jeff Simon, Liz Turrell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nearly 42 million Americans could lose critical food assistance this week because of the ongoing government shutdown. But it’s far from the only real-world impact people are starting to feel. So why are both sides of the aisle still refusing to budge? We hear what it might take to end the stalemate and why one SNAP recipient feels like a political pawn as she tries to put food on the table for her family.  Guest: Aaron Blake, CNN Senior Reporter  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since the pandemic, the US economy has been resilient – but a weakening labor market and stubborn inflation have some experts concerned. We hear from two job seekers about their struggles and look at whether certain ‘recession indicators’ are actually worth worrying about.  Guests: Elie Bryan, Amy Suman, & Diane Swonk, KPMG Chief Economist  ---  Host/Producer: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Alicia Wallace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video of himself wearing a crown and flying a fighter jet dumping what appears to be waste on peaceful protestors. While experts say this kind of online trolling is not out of the norm for some politicians in 2025, the continued coarsening of political dialogue could have profound consequences for all Americans. Guests: Steve Heimler & Nicole Hemmer, Associate Professor of History, Vanderbilt University  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump publicly admitted he has authorized he authorized the CIA to operate inside Venezuela to crack down on flows of illegal drugs and migrants to the US. It comes as Trump continues to authorize deadly strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean. But is this really about drugs – or regime change?  Guests: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent & Steven Dudley, co-director, InSight Crime  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Dan Bloom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump hailed the “historic dawn of a new Middle East” after Hamas freed all living hostages from Gaza and Israel released Palestinian prisoners as part of a US-brokered ceasefire deal. But while many have commended his peace efforts, critics say it’s unlikely he will take the same approach with his domestic moves. We break down what might be coming next and whether he has a chance at winning the Nobel Peace Prize next year. Guest: Stephen Collinson, CNN Politics Senior Reporter  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the appetite for artificial intelligence rises, so does the need for power-hungry data centers. While residents who live near them complain of the noise and pollution, data suggests they could spike utility bills far and wide. We hear from an electricity law expert on why regulators are thinking of reforms – but will it be too late?  Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Ari Peksoe, Director, Harvard Law School Electricity Law Initiative  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump’s move to deploy National Guard troops to Portland and Chicago has been met with outrage from locals and pushback from judges. We hear what’s really happening on the ground in Chicago and why community leaders say the ingredients for dangerous escalation are already in place. Guests: Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf, Senior Minister, Lake Street Church of Evanston & Omar Jimenez, CNN Anchor & Correspondent ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Whitney Wild Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The announcement that Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February has angered some right-wing voices due to his LGTBQ advocacy and criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. It comes amid another SNL appearance and an upcoming world tour that will skip the continental US. We explore why he is so beloved in Puerto Rico and how the NFL is banking on his star power as it looks to grow.  Guest: Vanessa Diaz, Professor of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Loyola Marymount University  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Sofía Hanalei Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth summoned US generals and admirals from around the world for an extraordinary meeting in Virginia on Tuesday, where he railed against ‘woke’ policies and stressed the need for stricter physical fitness standards. But what kind of ‘warriors’ does he actually want in uniform? Guest: Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, US Army (Ret.)  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration’s surprise announcement that it will boost H-1B visa application fees to $100,000 has caused widespread fear and confusion among foreign workers. The proposed changes are also sparking concerns for American businesses that won’t be able to foot the bill. Is American innovation at risk? Guest: Aizada Marat, Alma CEO ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Major medical groups are speaking out against claims made by President Donald Trump linking Tylenol use to autism. So where should pregnant people and parents of autistic children turn for guidance? We hear why a search for answers could lead vulnerable parents to blame themselves.  Guests: Meg Tirrell, CNN Medical Correspondent & Shannon Rosa, senior editor of Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Disney’s decision to yank ABC host Jimmy Kimmel off the air following FCC pressure has outraged fans, performers and Democratic politicians. Will other prominent anti-Trump voices be next? We hear from someone who used to be in charge of the FCC who says the regulator is going overboard.  Guest: Tom Wheeler, former FCC Chairman  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the days since the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel has been scrutinized for a series of missteps some believe hindered the investigation. However, experts say a series of other shakeups at the agency could have an even greater impact on US law enforcement going forward. Will President Trump stick with him? Guest: Evan Perez, CNN Senior Justice Correspondent  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The apparent assassination of Charlie Kirk has both sides of the aisle calling on Americans to ‘lower the temperature’ of political rhetoric. But we’ve been here before – is there actually any chance that happens? We hear why Kirk was so effective in motivating young conservatives and look at what could happen next.  Guest: Alex Stone & Lilliana Mason, SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins Professor of Political Science  ---  Host: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Donie O’Sullivan & Sean Clark Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A massive immigration enforcement operation at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in Georgia is being described as one of the most extensive immigration raids in recent US history. But the incident has ensnared South Korea, a key US ally, which is learning a lesson that doing business with the Trump administration is much more complicated than expanding investment. Guests: Charles Kuck, founding partner at Kuck Baxter Immigration & Allison Morrow, CNN Business Senior Writer  ---  Host: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As President Donald Trump threatens to send National Guard troops into other cities to fight crime, troops from at least six GOP-led states continue to patrol Washington, DC. We hear why the unorthodox mission is weighing on some guard members and their families back home.  Guest: Isabelle Khurshudyan, CNN Senior Enterprise Reporter/Writer  ---  Host: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s next for the CDC after its director was fired? Have politics fully infiltrated public health? And where should Americans turn for reliable health guidance? We turn to someone who used to run the agency for answers. Guest: Dr. Richard Besser, former acting CDC director Have something you think we should know? Call us at 202-240-2895.  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Jamie Gumbrecht Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 years after the levees broke, New Orleans continues to feel the impacts from Hurricane Katrina. We hear from three generations of Katrina survivors about how music has helped the city recover and move forward.  Guests: Michael White, Keith Frazier, Jaron “Bear” Williams  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump continues to insist that his aggressive tariff policies will not raise prices for consumers. But little by little, customers are starting to see the opposite. We hear about the phenomenon called ‘sneakflation’ (and why it may not actually be so sneaky) and how Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook could impact the entire economy. Guest: Justin Wolfers, University of Michigan Professor of Public Policy and Economics  ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Critics say President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Smithsonian museum system amount to an attempt to whitewash American history. A historian tells us why the administration's claims about ‘overemphasizing’ slavery do a disservice to all Americans. Guest: Leah Wright Rigueur, political historian & associate professor, Johns Hopkins University ---  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Support: Piper Hudspeth Blackburn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recent incidents involving aggressive ICE tactics have outraged critics of President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda. We hear from a former ICE official about whether its reputation as a lawless agency is warranted – and what it could mean for future recruiting efforts.  Guest: John Sandweg, former acting ICE director Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895.  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As President Donald Trump’s takeover of Washington, DC law enforcement continues, some critics are questioning just how much safer it will make the streets – and whether the tactics will soon be replicated in other cities. We hear from an expert who believes there may be other motivations behind Trump’s unprecedented actions in the capital.  Guest: Trevor Gardner, Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895.  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump is set to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska for a high-stakes meeting about the war in Ukraine. But will the country Russia invaded have any say into how it ends? A Russia expert explains how Putin’s time in the KGB has prepared him for this moment and why he will likely consider the meeting a success before it even begins.  Guest: Jill Dougherty, former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief  Have a question about the news? Have a story you think we should cover? Call us at 202-240-2895.  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Support: Emily Williams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices