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What A Day

If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right? New episodes at 5:00 a.m. EST, Monday–Friday in your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. Being informed was never this easy.

Today, we bring you an episode from Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams. Stacey Abrams has committed her career to bold political advocacy and voting rights. In this episode, Stacey opens the show by answering audience questions about the Supreme Court's recent Voting Rights Act ruling and what it means for our democracy. Then she's joined by Jane Fonda, who explains why she's revived the Committee for the First Amendment, a group originally supported by her father in the 1940's. Stacey and Jane also discuss the Trump administration's attacks on Jimmy Kimmel, why the Warner Bros.-Paramount merger is so dangerous, and what Jane has learned after decades of activism, including her actions during the Vietnam War. Catch Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams, every Tuesday, on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn & Do More

 • 
Be Curious: • To learn more about Jane Fonda's extraordinary history of art and activism, check out the documentary 
Jane Fonda in Five Acts • from HBO. 

 • 
Solve Problems: • You can get involved in the fight against the consequences of the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Voting Rights Act. Check out the Louisiana-based organization Power Coalition for Equity and Justice at 
powercoalition.org • to learn about volunteer opportunities. The organization Civic Tennessee at 
https://www.mobilize.us/civictn/ • also has volunteer opportunities available.

 • 
Do Good: • The ACLU continues to be a powerful resource in its fight for Free Speech. Visit 
ACLU.org • and check out their campaigns in support of free speech and expression.

Stacey Abrams And Jane Fonda Discuss Why Activism Matters

July 1 is the start of big changes for colleges, universities and you – if you have student loans. Because of last year’s ugly Republican One Big Beautiful Law, there are new caps on student loans for graduate and professional programs, as well as for undergraduate students. And if you were enrolled in a Biden-era student loan plan known as Saving on a Valuable Education or SAVE, you need to look for other repayment options — because the Trump administration is ending that program. To learn more about what’s shaping the biggest changes impacting higher education, we spoke with Senior Higher Education Reporter for The Hechinger Report, Jon Marcus.

And in headlines: the House of Representatives is once again a big, fat, failure; President Donald Trump took a ride in his new Qatari "Bribe Force One"; and will Trump's July 4th celebrations include 250 pardons for 250 years?

Show Notes:

 • Check out Jon's work – 
hechingerreport.org/author/jon-marcus/ • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

The College Dropoff

On his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that would have made the children of undocumented immigrants and temporary visitors non-citizens — rendering them effectively stateless. And while six Supreme Court justices struck down that executive order today, three sided with Trump. So what does this ruling mean — and what’s next for the issue of birthright citizenship? To find out, we spoke to Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union. She argued before the Supreme Court in favor of birthright citizenship.

And in headlines, the Supreme Court issues major rulings on trans rights and campaign finance, Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. returns to D.C. after four months away, and White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought testifies before a House appropriations subcommittee on federal spending.

Show Notes:

 • Learn more about the ACLU – 
www.aclu.org • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

The Big One: Birthright Citizenship Is Upheld

On Monday, we got four more decisions from the nation’s highest court, and they were… well, confusing. For example, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump can fire federal independent agency commissioners, but he can’t fire a governor at the Federal Reserve – which is also an independent agency. We also got a surprisingly good ruling on mail-in voting, and a separate victory for privacy and the Fourth Amendment. So is there any method to the seeming madness in the Supreme Court’s decisions this term? To find out, we spoke to Kate Shaw. She’s a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and co-host of Crooked Media’s Strict Scrutiny.

And in headlines, Trump says the U.S. will meet with Iran in Qatar on Tuesday for further negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin admits Russia is facing fuel shortages in its war with Ukraine, and the WHO names Europe the fastest-warming continent on the planet.

Show Notes:

 • Check out Strict Scrutiny – 
youtube.com/channel/UCk-Km4tcqAbhpnbrvj1pJFw • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

SCOTUS Tells Trump: Hands Off The Fed

Vice President JD Vance has been given a job no one really wants: ending the incredibly unpopular Iran war. He’s been tasked with leading negotiations with Iranian counterparts to find a lasting solution that he thinks could QUOTE “transform the Middle East.” But there are many, many obstacles in his way. And as the US and Iran attempt to hammer out not just an end to the war, but a new nuclear deal, President Trump seems markedly uninterested in the whole thing. So for more on the mess that is trying to end the Iran war, we spoke with Tommy Vietor. He’s the co-host of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the World.

And in headlines, Moscow’s Defense Ministry says Ukraine launched a major Thursday night attack, ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to a single count of illegally retaining national defense information, and New York City approves a rent freeze on one- and two-year leases for people living in about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments.

Show Notes:

 • Check out Pod Save The World – 
www.youtube.com/@podsavetheworld • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

JD Vance Takes On Iran Negotiations

As so many World Cup fans are discovering ranch dressing and enjoying their visits to the U.S., the Supreme Court left a very different message for people who come to the U.S. for safety and protection: leave. In two 6-3 decisions today, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration can block asylum seekers at the border and withdraw deportation protections from immigrants fleeing violence and war in their home countries. For more on how the Court’s decisions will shape future U.S. immigration policy, we spoke to Andrea Flores. She’s a former Homeland Security official under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and the founder of Securing America’s Promise, a pro-immigration newsletter.

And in headlines, the White House formally requests $87.6 billion mostly to replenish the Pentagon , what the U.S. is doing to help after deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, and a new AP-NORC survey says most Americans are inundated with scam attempts on a daily basis. But you probably already knew that — just check your texts.

Show Notes:

 • Check out Andrea's work – 
securingamericaspromise.substack.com • 

 • Support Venezuela – 
https://tinyurl.com/426wdfpj • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

SCOTUS: Don't Give US Your Huddled Masses

President Trump has one clear talent: pissing off his purported allies, like when he was supposed to sign a big bipartisan housing bill. Republicans were hoping to campaign on the legislation and show that they care about the number one concern of American voters: the high cost of living. But Donald Trump doesn't care. Wednesday morning, he abruptly canceled the signing ceremony without telling Republican members of Congress, declaring he won't sign the bill until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. This massive federal elections bill would require Americans to show their passport or birth certificate to vote. To talk more about how Trump seems determined to derail Congress, even when it hurts his own party, we spoke with Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen.

And in headlines, the U.S. military reinstates flu shot requirements for recruits after an outbreak at a Texas Air Force base, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won big in Tuesday’s primary, and a federal judge permanently bars the Trump administration from implementing most of Trump’s first executive order on elections.

Show Notes:

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

Trump, GOP Shouting Match

It’s been 10 years since the UK voted to leave the European Union — a decision with major political implications that most of the country regrets. Since then, neither the Labour Party nor the Conservative Party have been able to keep a leader in power. Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned his post – becoming the sixth prime minister to quit in the last ten years. For comparison’s sake, the UK had just two prime ministers between 1990 and 2007. So what’s going on in the UK — and who’s up next for prime minister? To find out, we spoke to Nish Kumar, co-host of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the UK.

And in headlines, the US and Iran make conflicting claims over whether or not Iran is welcoming U.N. inspections of its nuclear sites, the Pentagon asks the Senate for roughly $80 billion to help pay for the Iran war, and no one wants to name their babies Donald. I wonder why!

Show Notes:

 • Check out Pod Save The UK – 
www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

UK Prime Minister Musical Chairs

The so-called “memorandum of understanding” that might end Trump’s war in Iran has felt pretty disappointing. But here in the U.S., voters may be more focused on the final outcome, and what that means going forward. To find out how Americans are feeling about the Iran war as midterms approach, we spoke to Sarah Longwell, who knows voter sentiment better than most. She’s the publisher of The Bulwark, host of The Focus Group podcast, and author of "How To Eat An Elephant," out on September 8.

And in headlines, at least five people have reportedly been arrested after Trump blamed vandals for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s post-renovation blues, Alligator Alcatraz is officially shutting down, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his resignation.

Show Notes:

 • Check out Sarah's podcast – 
www.thebulwark.com/s/thefocusgroup • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

Will The Iran War Cost Trump The Midterms?

A message from Jane on Juneteenth:

Happy Juneteenth! Juneteenth is a holiday to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States and the emancipation of millions of Black Americans held in human bondage. People like my great-great-grandparents. Their grandson, my grandfather, Oscar Coaston, served his country during World War II as part of a segregated unit that landed on Omaha Beach during D-Day.

Today, nearly 80 years since the U.S. military was officially desegregated, 20% of the military is Black. But since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, the administration has made it crystal clear that Black servicemembers are not to be treated with respect.

So to talk about the impact the Trump administration has had on Black members of the military, I spoke to Clint Smith. He’s a staff writer at the Atlantic.

Show Notes:

 • Clint’s piece in The Atlantic – 
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/07/black-military-patriots-hegseth/687306/ • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter –
 https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

How Trump Is Betraying Black Soldiers

It’s no secret that what we see on social media is highly choreographed. But a recent article in New York Magazine by Lane Brown confirms it by uncovering the world of artificial hype that drives what we perceive as buzz. The piece dominated the groupchats these last few days, and for good reason: it taps into a general unease about how we’ve ceded our reality to platforms that are manipulated by shadowy ad campaigns. Brown joins the show to lay it all out for us.

And in headlines, Trump’s “walk back weekend,” protestors clash with police outside a New Jersey ICE detention center, and voting begins in the the Colombian presidential election.

Show Notes:

 • The Feed Is Fake, by Lane Brown – 
https://www.vulture.com/article/social-media-feeds-chaotic-good-projects-clipping.html • 

 • Call Congress – 
202-224-3121 • 

 • Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – 
https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy • 

 • 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 •

Is Social Media Hype Even Real?

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