logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2025
36m 54s

The ‘Grim Reaper’ of the Government Shut...

The New York Times
About this episode
During the continuing government shutdown, President Trump has posted memes depicting Russel T. Vought, the White House budget director, as the grim reaper. Coral Davenport, a Washington correspondent for The Times, explains how Mr. Vought, a once obscure official, has become one of the most influential figures in Washington. 
Up next
Yesterday
Hegseth in the Hot Seat
Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, went before Congress to answer for a war in Iran that has reached a stalemate and a management style that has caused controversy at the Pentagon. Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent, takes us inside Mr. Hegseth’s testimony. Gues ... Show More
28m 4s
Apr 30
A Landmark Supreme Court Ruling on Voting Rights
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court dealt what may be a final blow to the landmark Voting Rights Act when it struck down Louisiana’s voting map as unconstitutional. Adam Liptak explains the legal logic of the ruling, and Nick Corasaniti talks about how the decision will reshape Ameri ... Show More
29m 24s
Apr 29
Why Even Some Democrats Hate California’s Billionaire Tax Proposal
A landmark proposal for a one-time tax on billionaires in California recently reached a milestone. The labor union backing it said it had collected enough signatures to put the measure on the state’s ballot. Laurel Rosenhall, who covers California politics for The New York Times, ... Show More
27m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2025
How The Shutdown Is Affecting Federal Workers And Services
The federal government shutdown is in its seventh day, with negotiations on Capitol Hill over reopening the government at a stalemate. We discuss how the shutdown is affecting federal workers and the services they keep running, as well as warnings by the White House that they wil ... Show More
15m 31s
Oct 2025
How One Consequence Of The Government Shutdown May Mess Up More Than You Think
One task the federal government does a lot of is gathering data -- on prices, on the job market, and on a bunch of other things. When the government is shut down, those data aren't getting collected, and economic policy decisions based on those data aren't getting made with the f ... Show More
15m 16s
Oct 2025
The Health Insurance Fight Fueling The Government Shutdown
At the heart of the federal government shutdown is a fight on Capitol Hill over health insurance subsidies. We discuss the likely impact of not extending those subsidies past their expiration at the end of the year, plus how the government shutdown is forcing some family planning ... Show More
16m 46s
Oct 2025
How Trump’s using the government shutdown to remake America
<p>The US government has been shut down for more than a week, and Democrats and Republicans are locked in a political blame game. Shutdowns are nothing new in US politics, but this time President Trump has made an unusual threat: to permanently cut hundreds of thousands of jobs a ... Show More
28m 2s
Feb 2025
McConnell Announces His Retirement And Trump Signs Another Executive Order
Sen. Mitch McConnell announced today that he would not seek reelection when his term is over in 2026, ending his 40-year career in Congress. Then, Donald Trump signed another executive order on Tuesday, giving him expanded power over independent agencies. This episode: political ... Show More
16m 6s
May 2025
Roundup: Mike Waltz Is Out, Young Democrats Ask What's Next, And Can't Let It Go
Mike Waltz is out as President Trump's National Security Adviser, it's the first major departure for the Trump White House since the start of his second term. Then, young Democrats are expressing dissatisfaction with their party, and making moves: primarying sitting incumbent law ... Show More
21m 40s
Jan 2025
White House Walks Back Federal Funding Memo
On Monday, the White House budget office ordered a freeze on all federal funding. Yesterday, the White House walked that memo back after days of chaos and confusion. This episode: White House correspondents Deepa Shivaram and Tamara Keith and senior political editor and correspon ... Show More
13m 5s
Feb 2025
Roundup: Congress Works On Budget; Cabinet Meets; Good TV
Congress is trying to come up with a new budget, while also attempting to extend tax cuts put in place during President Trump's first term. But with a very small majority in both houses, Republicans have little margin for error. Then, we look at the first cabinet meeting of the T ... Show More
21 m
Feb 2025
DOGE's Quest To Reshape Government Continues
The unit, led by Elon Musk, has run into legal obstacles as it continues its rapid efforts to change the way the federal government functions. We look at the latest developments.This episode: White House correspondents Asma Khalid and Franco Ordoñez, and State Department correspo ... Show More
12m 49s
Jan 2025
Friday Roundup: More Hearings And Trump's First Two Weeks In Office
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard, his nominee for intelligence chief, had their hearings on Capitol Hill. Will they be confirmed?Then, a look back at President Trump's first two weeks in office. This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, ju ... Show More
26m 38s