Talking Feds

Latest Episodes:

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

The start of the Todd Blanche era at the Department of Justice also marks the start of the video era at Talking Feds. Ken Dilanian, Frank Figliuzzi, and Katie Phang join Harry in technicolor (on YouTube, at least) to break down Blanche’s first moves as Attorney General, Katie’s lawsuit to force him to release Epstein material, Jeanine Pirro’s unsettling failures in a serious criminal case, and the looming trial of James Comey.

Mentioned in this episode:
The video version of this episode.
Ken’s reporting.
Frank’s Substack.
Katie’s Substack.
Katie’s YouTube.
Harry’s column about the MS-13 case.
Harry’s column about Comey’s vindictive prosecution motion.
Lawfare’s reporting about J6 reoffenders.

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Pacifying the President Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

David Graham, former Senator Heidi Heitkamp, and Norm Ornstein join Harry to break down another strange week in Trumpland. Alex Vindman’s shocking defeat in Florida’s Democratic Senate primary intensified debates about how much appetite the party has for the all-out “Resistance” tactics of Trump 1.0, including impeachment. Meanwhile, the story of the beleaguered USS Abraham Lincoln prompted new criticism of the administration’s wartime failings. And finally, what’s the deal with Trump’s emotional support aide and “human printer,” Natalie Harp?

Mentioned in this episode:
David's reporting.
Norm's podcast.
David Frum's article about the "Resistance."
Jonathan Chait's article about the "Resistance."

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The Biggest Threats to Free and Fair Midterms Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

The midterms are just around the corner and there's already a shadow war raging over their outcome. Election law guru Marc Elias spends his days battling the Trump administration’s attempts to stack the deck. With November looming, Harry asks Marc for a tour of worst-case scenarios of election theft or interference. For each, Marc lays out the dangers, the stakes, and the potential countermoves. Together, the two explain what listeners can rest easy about, and what threats aren’t getting enough attention.

Mentioned in this episode:
Democracy Docket.
Democracy Docket's YouTube.
Harry's column about grassroots protests again Citizens Bank's ties with ICE.

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Trump's Monumental Ego Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Faced with a worsening midterm map and spiraling conflict with Iran, Donald Trump is focusing on what really matters: his crusade to reshape Washington. Kristen Holmes, Adam Klasfeld, and Tara Setmayer join Harry to break down the monument mania. The panel digs in to the new Kennedy Center scheme, the ballroom appeal, and Jeanine Pirro’s mysterious special grand jury. The group then turns to an ugly scandal for an Ohio Republican that seems to tarnish his whole party—plus Trump's flight switcheroo in Turkey and its unsettling consequences.

Mentioned in this episode:
Kristen's reporting.
Adam's reporting.
Tara's Substack.

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The Rise, Fall, and Possible Rebirth of a DOJ Crown Jewel Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

After an ICE agent shot Renee Good, observers looked to the elite squad of federal prosecutors tasked with investigating such shootings: the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. The Division did nothing. It marked a sad chapter for an institution that, as historian Kevin M. Kruse explains, spent decades fighting for justice against long odds. Together, Kruse and Harry discuss the Division’s proud past, its perversion under Trump, and—zooming out—Trump’s attack on American history itself.

Kruse's forthcoming book bears this working title: The Division: John Doar, the Justice Department, and the Civil Rights Movement.

Mentioned in this episode:
Kruse's newsletter.

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Blanche Avalanche Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

Liz Oyer, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, and Charlie Sykes join Harry to break down a week of embarrassments for Donald Trump, offset partly by Todd Blanche’s confirmation as Attorney General. The panel weighs the iniquity of the Senate’s vote, then digs into a court’s forceful rejection of Trump’s ballroom and the fallout from the shambolic Reflecting Pool prosecution. Finally, the group focuses on the administration’s deportation push, which is speeding up even as it fades from the headlines.

Mentioned in this episode:
Liz's Substack.
Liz's podcast.
Charlie's Substack.
Penn Live's immigration coverage.
The D.C. Appeals Court's ballroom opinion.
Harry's column about the latest in the reflecting pool case.

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Anne Applebaum on Iran, Ukraine, and Trump’s Kleptocracy Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

“Sometimes the smaller power has advantages that you don't expect.” That’s the lesson Anne Applebaum says Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are learning as their weaker foes keep handing them setbacks. Applebaum explains to Harry how Ukraine's drone campaign is bringing the war home to Russians and why Iran looks poised to gain unprecedented control over the Strait of Hormuz. And, as Trump amasses wealth despite his failures, Applebaum makes the case that the U.S. is becoming a place where “political decisions are taken not because they're good for the country, but because they're good for the president's son.”

Mentioned in this episode
Applebaum's writing for the Atlantic.
Applebaum's Substack.

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Trump’s Botch Job Aug 03, 2026

Show notes

Donald Trump seems determined to make things hard for everyone: Americans, Republican senators, and even himself. Glenn Kirschner, Josh Marshall, and Ali Vitali join Harry to talk through a week packed with unforced errors by the administration that are derailing Trump's presidency in the run-up to the midterms. The panel discusses Trump’s no-holds-barred effort to save the slush fund, the embarrassing end to the prosecution of a former Olympian scapegoated for the disastrous Reflecting Pool flop, and Anthony Fauci’s unsettling return to the headlines.

Update: Late on Saturday night, Senator John Cornyn and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a deal that seemed to finally kill off the so-called weaponization fund. Observers noted that the agreement could potentially be walked back in the future and that it did not fully foreclose Trump's tax amnesty. Nonetheless, it seemed to clear the way for Blanche's confirmation.

Mentioned in this episode:
Glenn's Substack
Glenn's YouTube
Josh's analysis
Ali's show Way Too Early

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Raphael Warnock Makes the Moral Case Against Trump Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Like the prophets he quotes at the pulpit, Senator Raphael Warnock feels he’s watching his country descend into greed, injustice, and tyranny. He sees a MAGA movement “corrupting” his Christian faith and a president who seems to think charity begins (and mostly ends) at home. With his new book—The Crooked Places Made Straight—Senator Warnock lays out what Democrats must do to meet this moral moment: get money out of politics, resume the battle against poverty, reform the Supreme Court, end mass incarceration, and—crucially—defeat Donald Trump.

Mentioned in this episode:
Senator Warnock's book.

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How To Lose a War in Six Months Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

As casualties mount and gas prices rise, the White House knows it may be losing its chance to resolve its war with Iran in time to prevent a midterms wipe-out for Republicans. To plumb the depth of the political damage and assess the decisive races, Harry talks with Susan Glasser, Astead Herndon, and Juliette Kayyem. The group breaks down Trump’s decision to go back to war, Hegseth’s worrying obfuscations about American casualties, the transformed Maine Senate race, and the no-holds-barred fight for the future of the Democratic party playing out in Michigan.

Mentioned in this episode:
Susan’s column.
Astead’s show America, Actually.
Juliette’s Substack.
Astead’s interview with Abdul El-Sayed.
New Yorker reporting on former Biden administration officials and Gaza.

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