Trumpcast

Virginia Heffernan talks to Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) about why he’s called on Jared Kushner’s top-secret security clearance to be revoked, the process of gaining high-level security clearance, how Kushner’s access reflects on the administration, and what’s to come in the next few months.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yascha Mounk talks to Benjamin Wittes, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and editor-in-chief of Lawfare Blog, about why having more facts doesn’t help us understand what’s happening in the collusion story, potential narrative arcs from what we do know, and what we might be about to learn.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Garrett Graff, contributing editor at Wired and co-author of “Dawn of the Code War,”about takeaways from the Roger Stone indictment, the story buried over the weekend of Jared Kushner enabler Carl Kline, and sanctions lifted on Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Plus preview, Virginia Heffernan talks to former FBI special agent and CNN contributor Asha Rangappa about the procedural end of investigative work, from documentation and justification to putting your head down and just doing the next right thing.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

León Krauze talks to Simon Rosenberg, president of DC-based think tank NDN, about recent polls indicating more Democrats may be supporting Trump’s border wall. Plus deep considerations for how 2020 Democratic candidates could approach immigration.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yascha Mounk talks to Charlie Sykes, editor-in-chief of conservative outlet the Bulwark and author of How the Right Lost Its Mind,” about Trump and the GOP, conservative vs. liberal values, the rise of tribalism, constitutional norms, Steve King, and how to get both sides of the aisle talking in a meaningful way again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Bill Browder, financier and author of Red Notice, about Natalia Veselnitskaya, how the Kremlin influences even well-intentioned U.S. civil servants, the origins of the Magnitsky Act and the evolution of the Russian oligarchs, and what Putin might be doing next.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Sarah Kendzior, author of The View From Flyover Country and co-host of the podcast Gaslit Nation, on specific examples of Trump’s gaslighting, the strategies autocrats employ as they wield power, and why it’s important to be relentless about calling out lies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On his first show as Trumpcast co-host, Yascha Mounk talks to Sam Koppelman, speechwriter for the Jon Favreau-run communications firm Fenway Strategies, about what traits successful political candidates share, what strategies candidates like Beto O’Rourke are employing, and a speechwriter’s power in a candidate’s world. This episode is brought to you by Omax Health. Go to tryomax.com/trumpcast today to get 60 percent off a one-month supply, plus free shipping and a 60-day money-back Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Matt Miller, MSNBC Justice and Security Analyst, about why he’s supportive of Romney’s op ed in the Washington Post amidst cries that it comes off as hollow talk. Also, who is Romney now? What are his policies? Where is the GOP now? And are the Southern District of New York and the Justice Department competing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

León Krauze talks to Scott Detrow, NPR congressional correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast, about the Democratic presidential hopefuls for 2020. Why are there so many potential candidates? Who really has a chance? Are there any dark horse candidates? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

León Krauze talks to Dr. Cynthia Arnson, director of the Latin America program at the Wilson Center, about the crisis in Central America, who is migrating, how President Donald Trump’s policies affect the region, and the need to move beyond aid to building infrastructure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to Martha Brockenbrough, author of the YA novel “Unpresidented,” about breaking down the story of Trump, his bullying, and his ancestry. Includes forays into the dramatized letter Frederich Trump wrote to the prince regent of Bavaria to keep him from being deported; the Trump family’s history with real estate; Woodie Guthrie’s anti-Trump song; and the powerful influence of Roy Cohn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan hosts a roundtable with author Karen Schwartz and cyberwar expert Molly McKew exploring Russia’s relationship to tech, Facebook and Silicon Valley, the creepy control mentality of billionaire socialites, and the difference between mafias and oligarchic systems. Features a short cameo of Ex-FIFA official Chuck Blazer’s $6,000 Trump Tower apartment for cats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Trumpcast Plus trailer features part two of Virginia Heffernan’s talk with “Proof of Collusion” author Seth Abramson, where the pair put Trump’s trip to the Moscow Miss Universe Pageant under a microscopic lens. Plus, Trump’s ambition to build enormous Russian towers, his relationship with Evangelicals, and a sketch exploring how Trumpian logic could “fix journalism.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

León Krauze talks to Mike Spies, a reporter for nonprofit news outlet The Trace, which covers the U.S. gun violence crisis. Mike broke a story about how the NRA and the Trump campaign coordinated their advertising strategies during the 2016 presidential campaign. Also covered: The NRA’s $30 million contribution in support of Trump in 2016 -- which is an exceptional amount of money for the association -- Marina Butina, and what it will take to turn around the U.S. gun crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to David Corn, Washington Bureau Chief for Mother Jones and co-author with Michael Isikoff of Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump. Included: The lack of media attention on Trump-Russia ties around the election, the carnival cast of characters that come with political scandals, and of course, collusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan talks to analyst Mieke Eoyang, Vice President for Third Way’s National Security Program, about all things James Comey, including his testimony and takes on his role and righteousness, and what we would want to hear from him. Plus, Rex Tillerson, the new UN ambassador and how Trump elects women to his cabinet, and more Trump-Russia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virginia Heffernan tackles the history of Trump-Russia ties with Seth Abramson, author of “Proof of Collusion” and an arbiter of curatorial journalism. Virginia poses questions for Seth from Twitter, including a speed round examining the role of women whitewashing Trump, the prospective futures of Ivanka Trump and Michael Flynn, and the best and worst case scenarios for Trump at this point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Trumpcast Plus preview, Virginia Heffernan talks to Craig Unger, author of House of Trump, House of Putin, about Semion Mogilevich, Trump Tower and money laundering, and the odd connection with Chabad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices