What A Day

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

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

The 2022 Dobbs decision that reversed Roe v. Wade promised to return the issue of abortion back to the states. But for anti-abortion activists, that’s never been good enough. Some anti-abortion activists are pushing bills that could see women who get abortions imprisoned. And with the number of people who have gotten abortions only increasing over the last year, that’s a lot of punishment they want to mete out. Jessica Valenti, founder of the Substack Abortion, Every Day, has been tracking abortion rights for more than a decade. We talked about why the anti-abortion movement has gotten more extreme – and what we can do about it.
And in headlines, Republicans blast Trump’s new Iran memorandum, the Supreme Court rules marijuana users can own guns, and you heard it here first: the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is still green.
Show Notes:

Jessica’s Substack – https://jessica.substack.com/

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

President Donald Trump has been trying to get the SAVE America Act passed for months. The bill would require not just ID, but proof of citizenship to vote — effectively disenfranchising Americans who don’t happen to have their passport or birth certificate handy. Which is… millions of Americans. So what does Trump’s determination to get this bill passed mean for November? To find out, we spoke with Marc Elias, founder of Democracy Docket.
And in headlines: we finally hear what’s in the memorandum of understanding with Iran, one Georgia Republican spends $100 million to beat his Trump-backed opponent, and the World Cup’s underdogs are looking good.
Show Notes:

Democracy Docket – https://www.democracydocket.com/

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

Pride Month is here. It’s a month to celebrate the achievements of LGBTQ Americans and the impact they’ve had on our past and present. But it’s also a weird and very scary time for a lot of people. So what do we do now — at a time that somehow feels both great yet increasingly scary? To find out, we spoke with Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson.
And in headlines, Iran’s top diplomat says the tentative deal to end the war would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, House Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin announces an investigation into FBI Director Kash Patel, and Vice President JD Vance braves the most intimidating interview known to man.

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