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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.

Talking Feds

For the latest Talking San Diego conversation, Harry sits down with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in front of a packed-house in San Diego. They discuss the experiences that have shaped the governor, from his long-shot bid to rescue Soviet Jews, to his fight for abuse victims, to the arson attack on his family, and more telling stories from his new best-selling memoir “Where We Keep the Light.”But Governor Shapiro also speaks to this “dangerous moment" for a U.S. at war with Iran, facing a rising tide of division and hatred domestically, all worsened by what the governor calls President Trump’s “corrosive, cruel politics.” Against that grim backdrop, Governor Shapiro lays out his vision for repairing the country and makes his case that our challenges calls for a new brand of leadership.This Talking San Diego event was made possible by our venue partner Congregation Beth Israel and bookselling partner Warwicks. You can find a video version of this episode (and all 1-on-1 conversations) on the Talking Feds YouTube channel.
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Josh Shapiro Wants the Ball

As a second week of war slips by without Iran’s promised collapse, David French, David A. Graham, and Juliette Kayyem join Harry to assess the administration’s apparent unpreparedness and growing tally of grave mistakes. The group discusses the dangers that could come with a prolonged conflict and the cold comfort provided by Pete Hegseth’s rant-filled briefings. Finally, they turn to the vital news being overlooked amid the war: Trump’s relentless push to overhaul voter requirements and collect states’ voter data ahead of the midterms.

Mentioned in this episode:

David French’s analysis: https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-french#latest

David A. Graham’s reporting: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/david-a-graham/

Juliette’s analysis: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/juliette-kayyem/

ProPublica’s report about the Pentagon’s moves around civil casualties: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-defense-department-iran-hegseth-civilian-casualties

The Atlantic’s report about a potential overhaul of the JAG Corps: https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/03/hegseth-comes-lawyers/686351/
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Hegseth: Unleashed and Unhinged

Professor Kim Lane Scheppele has watched democracies fail before. She tells Harry there's still time to stop Trump's autocratic revolution, but only if its opponents match their effort to the scale of the threat. Professor Scheppele talks through the democracies that have degraded into autocracies including which ones most nearly resemble America under Trump's onslaught. The two then take up how grassroots activism can help turn the tide and how huge the task will be for any future pro-democracy president who wants to rebuild from the rubble.
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“Nobody Cancels Elections. They Just Rig Them."

In this episode, Harry and guests Jonathan Alter, Conor Lamb, and Mara Liasson break down a fast-moving week with massive overtures in domestic and international news. The discussion starts with the escalating war with Iran — including new reporting on Russia reportedly providing intelligence to Tehran and the growing debate in Washington over war powers and the cost of the conflict. Then, they turn to the 2026 midterm landscape, where early primaries in places like Texas and North Carolina offered the first real clues about the fight for Senate control. And finally, they discuss the first cabinet sacking of Trump’s 2.0, as Kristi Noem was the first head to roll.
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A Man, No Plan, Iran

You won’t see Stacey Abrams’s name on a ballot this year, but you will see her impact. As Trump gears up to take desperate measures to avoid getting clobbered in the midterms, Abrams is mobilizing voters to counter the president. She and Harry talk through Trump’s plays thus far: seizing election records, pushing legislation that strips voting rights from millions, and sowing doubt. In response, Abrams lays out a program of ten things any American can do to help stop the country’s slide toward Trumpian tyranny.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Abrams's newest book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697037/coded-justice-by-stacey-abrams/ 

Abrams's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/assembly-required-with-stacey-abrams/id1760004996 

Abrams's piece in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/22/us-black-history-dei

Abrams's 10 steps: https://10stepscampaign.org/
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Stacey Abrams’s 10 Steps to Save Democracy—Or Lose It

Susan Glasser, Bill Kristol, and Jon Lemire join Harry to assess the prospects for military action against Iran, the ways DOJ incompetence and testimony from the Clintons are changing the Epstein story, and Trump's longest-ever State of the Union address. Why hasn't Trump tried to sell his operation against Iran to the American people, and what's his endgame for it? Is the DOJ's Epstein transparency becoming a blatant coverup? And is it time to retire the traditional State of the Union?

Mentioned in this episode:Susan's columns: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/susan-b-glasser

Bill's conversation series: https://conversationswithbillkristol.org/

Jonathan's reporting: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/jonathan-lemire/
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Bombs and Bombast

In their newest mashup, Harry and Molly Jong-Fast trade questions about the latest eyebrow-raising news in the Epstein scandal and the fallout from Trump's tariff defeat. Molly gets Harry to walk her through the intricacies of the so-called 302s—detailed victim statements taken by the FBI—some of which the DOJ failed to produce for a victim who told the FBI that Trump abused her. Harry has plenty of Epstein questions of his own for Molly, but also asks what happens with tariff refunds and the Democrats' strategy heading toward the midterms.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Molly's book: ⁠ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738849/how-to-lose-your-mother-by-molly-jong-fast/

Molly's podcast: ⁠ https://fastpoliticspod.com/

Molly's Substack: ⁠ https://mollyjongfast.substack.com/
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Molly Mashup: The 411 on the Missing Epstein 302s

In the wake of the Supreme Court verdict striking down Trump's tariffs, Harry breaks down the decision with a trio of top-notch legal analysts: Kyle Cheney, Adam Klasfeld, and Mimi Rocah. The group digs into the court's rare rebuff of the president and the infighting among the conservative Justices. Next, the panel turns to the lower courts' angry rulings against Trump's deportation drive, even including—finally—a contempt finding. To finish, they examine the arrest of ex-Prince Andrew and weigh the chances for similar accountability in the U.S.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Kyle's reporting: https://www.politico.com/staff/kyle-cheney

Adam's Substack: https://www.allrisenews.com/⁠

5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling: https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26884355/ca5detention.pdf

Judge Provenzino's contempt order: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.231253/gov.uscourts.mnd.231253.23.0.pdf

Judge Provenzino's follow-up order, noting the purged contempt: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.231253/gov.uscourts.mnd.231253.23.0.pdf

SCOTUS tariffs ruling: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf

Roger Sollenberger's Epstein-Trump article: https://substack.com/home/post/p-188009135
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Tariffs Trumped

In his first term as governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro has managed to sustain a 60% approval rating—including 30% of Trump voters—in a quintessential battleground state. How? Shapiro talks Harry through his bipartisan, pragmatic approach to governing, and how it can overcome Trump’s reckless, divisive style. He lays out a roadmap for countering the president's most abusive policies, even while respecting the "righteous frustration" that motivated his voters. And Governor Shapiro is coming to San Diego for a live, in-person conversation with Harry about his memoir. Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-conversation-with-josh-shapiro-tickets-1983419713756

Mentioned in this episode:

Evan Segal's essay about basketball star Connie Hawkins and Harry's parents: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/a-tribute-to-my-parents-and-a-pittsburgh
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Josh Shapiro's Game Plan

Talking Feds stalwarts Norm Ornstein, Tara Setmayer, and Charlie Sykes join Harry to review Pam Bondi's flailing theatrics before Congress as well as a raft of other embarrassments for the Trump administration. After panning the DOJ's determination to avoid transparency on Epstein, the group turns to the sudden federal retreat in Minnesota and a searing courtroom humiliation for Pete Hegseth. To close, they break down the stirrings of mutiny within Trump's party and the president's effort to rewrite election rules.

Mentioned in this episode:Norm’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970Tara’s Substack: https://tarasetmayer.substack.com/Charlie’s Substack: https://charliesykes.substack.com/Harry’s column about the administration’s Epstein strategy: https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/the-administrations-long-con-with

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Stacey Abrams’s 10 Steps to Save Democracy—Or Lose It

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