Talking Feds

Harry mines Marc Elias's unrivaled expertise in election law to dig into the alarming contents of the SAVE Act, the Supreme Court's possible lurch to ban mail-in voting, and the progress of the DOJ's efforts to seize personal information about as many voters as possible. Mentioned in this episode: Democracy Docket: democracydocket.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his latest effort to trace the Department of Justice’s downward spiral, Harry talks with DOJ veterans Paul Fishman and Stacey Young, along with reporter Evan Perez. The panel assesses the DOJ’s obstructive tactics on the Minnesota investigations, the retribution prosecutions that keep coming despite loss after humiliating loss, and the new revelations about Trump’s misuse of classified documents. Finally, the panel closes with some reflections on the life and work of former FBI Director Robert Mueller. Mentioned in this episode: Evan’s reporting: https://www.cnn.com/profiles/evan-perez-profile Justice Connection: https://www.thejusticeconnection.org/ Sara Bloom’s organization: https://massdeportationdefense.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even before Trump started raining bombs down on Iran, harassing allies to clean up his mess, and yanking sanctions off Russia, the global order that kept Americans safe for generations was in shambles. Historian and foreign policy expert Robert Kagan discusses his landmark article explaining how Trump broke the “Grand Bargain” that promoted peace and prosperity after World War II. The crucial question now—according to Kagan—is not whether that order is coming back, but what will replace it. Mentioned in this episode: Kagan’s article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/03/trump-national-security-greenland-spheres-of-interest/685673/ Kagan’s latest book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714679/rebellion-by-robert-kagan/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three superb journalists—Natasha Korecki, Ali Vitali, and Jacob Weisberg—join Harry to break down another grinding week of war with Iran. Ali explains why a major Trumpworld resignation offered another sign that MAGA will soon be an “utter mess.” Back in D.C., Democrats stormed out over Pam Bondi’s prevarications; Jacob lays out a strategy for them to hold Bondi to her subpoena. Finally, Natasha gives the panel a tour of the Illinois primaries and what the results signal for the shape of a resurgent Democratic party. Mentioned in this episode: Natasha’s reporting: https://www.nbcnews.com/author/natasha-korecki-ncpn1286792 Ali’s Way Too Early: https://www.ms.now/way-too-early Juliana Stratton’s campaign ad: https://www.facebook.com/JulianaForIL/videos/they-said-it-were-all-thinking-it/967001489339870/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices