Episodes

  • Federal workers 'defiant' on Musk's buyout
    Feb 6 2025

    On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the buyout offer made to federal workers as Elon Musk's DOGE continues to try to downsize government: What is the offer, is it legal, and what are union leaders saying? Plus, some breaking news on the deadline for employees to decide whether to take it.


    Then, how will cutting employees and programs affect Americans – and people around the world?


    Finally, The Post's Anna Liss-Roy joins the show to share what federal workers told her at protests outside the Office of Personnel Management.

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    27 mins
  • Musk tries to delete the federal government
    Feb 4 2025

    The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the big story in Washington this week: The Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal government, led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. Is Musk allowed to access Americans' sensitive data, and eliminate government programs he doesn't like?


    Plus, what effect will Musk's efforts have on the federal workforce – and how will cutting programs affect Americans and people around the world?

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    28 mins
  • Confirmation hearings for controversial nominees
    Jan 31 2025

    On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down President Trump's news conference after the Washington, D.C. plane crash – and how Trump chose to blame his predecessors, Democrats and diversity programs rather than embracing the role of consoler-in-chief.


    Plus, three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees had Senate confirmation hearings on the same day: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard. The crew breaks down their hearings, and whether all three will end up being confirmed.

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    38 mins
  • Trump's chaotic pause of federal grants
    Jan 28 2025

    The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski to discuss President Trump's first week back in office – and what happened the night he decided to fire more than a dozen government inspectors general.


    Plus, Trump's pause on government grants and loans is throwing Washington – and government programs around the globe – into chaos. Who will be affected by it most?


    And three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees are set to undergo Senate confirmation hearings later this week. Will RFK Jr. be derailed by a letter to senators penned by his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, calling him a "predator"?

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    36 mins
  • A 'death blow' for DEI
    Jan 23 2025

    The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger are joined by immigration reporter Nick Miroff to break down the way President Trump is attempting to rapidly change the United States' immigration system – and create a culture of fear among undocumented immigrants.



    Plus, how is Trump quickly changing America's foreign policy – and what is he trying to accomplish by demolishing decades of affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion policies?

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    30 mins
  • Pardon?
    Jan 21 2025

    Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and Aaron Blake break down President Trump's decision to pardon or commute the sentences of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rioters, just hours after he was inaugurated for the second time.


    And Trump signed a whole lot of other executive orders; Which ones definitely matter, which ones might end up mattering, and which ones probably won't?


    Plus, the tech billionaires came to Washington – including Elon Musk.

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    33 mins
  • Trump's ongoing loyalty test
    Jan 16 2025
    On this week's episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger break down the Trump cabinet nominees whose hearings have gotten underway on Capitol Hill – and whether Democrats are effectively rallying votes against any of them. Plus, President Biden gave his farewell speech on Jan. 15 – and it wasn't the speech everyone expected. Then, what is the crew looking out for on inauguration day on Monday?
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    37 mins
  • Unconditional discharge
    Jan 10 2025

    In this special episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by JM Rieger in Washington and criminal justice reporter Shayna Jacobs in New York, to discuss the sentence handed down to president-elect Trump in his New York hush money case – and why he escaped punishment after being convicted on 34 felony counts.


    Plus, is this the end of Trump's legal troubles?

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    33 mins