Can He Do That?

By The Washington Post

What's Can He Do That? about?

Donald Trump’s historic presidency will look unlike any other that’s come before it. From his outsider status in Washington to his family’s continued residence in New York to his complicated business empire, each episode of this podcast will focus on one aspect of Trump’s time in the White House that defies conventions and ask the question, “Can he do that?”

Hosted by Allison Michaels and co-hosted each week by a different Post reporter, “Can He Do That?” features original reporting that will illuminate the ways Donald Trump can reshape the presidency and explain what that means for people in the United States and the rest of the world.

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How much can a president af...

08.09.2019

After two mass shootings, President Trump is considering background checks and red-flag laws. But he has suggested action on gun control in the past, only to later backtrack. Will this time be different?

Can He Do That? episodes:

08.09.2019 How much can a president affect gun policy? After two mass shootings, President Trump is considering background checks and red-flag laws. But he has suggested action on gun control in the past, only to later backtrack. Will this time be different?
08.02.2019 How far can a president go to get the intelligence chief he wants? Some officials have questioned whether President Trump’s pick for the Director of National Intelligence might use the position to serve Trump’s political interests. Reporter Shane Harris explains the role of the law in the job’s qualifications.
07.25.2019 ‘Problematic is an understatement’: Robert Mueller testifies before Congress Wednesday’s hearings marked the first time former special counsel Robert Mueller answered questions about his investigation. The Post’s Justice Department reporter Matt Zapotosky explains the significance of Mueller’s answers.
07.19.2019 How Trump’s racist comments can be used against him in court President Trump’s language may be part of his political strategy, but this moment raises questions about what consequences the president can face for using inflammatory language. Fred Barbash explains how Trump’s words can legally work against him.
07.12.2019 Trump avoids releasing his business information to the courts — for now A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit claiming President Trump is illegally profiting from foreign and state government visits to his D.C. hotel. Post legal affairs reporter Ann Marimow untangles the details and implications for our country.
07.04.2019 'The Framers would not recognize the modern presidency.' For this special Fourth of July episode, we’re going back to the beginning. Jeff Rosen, president of the National Constitution Center, explains how the Founding Fathers intended the presidency and how it has evolved.
06.28.2019 Trump vs. Iran: A president's choices as commander in chief The president has significant power when it comes to war. Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe explains what led to this escalation with Iran, Trump’s strategy going forward and how recent events affect international perceptions of U.S. might.
06.21.2019 Introducing: ‘Moonrise’ The 'Can He Do That?' team presents a new Post podcast, 'Moonrise' and showcases a segment from the Post's daily podcast 'Post Reports' about developments in Iran and what it has to say about President Trump's approach to foreign policy.
06.14.2019 How the sprawling Democratic field will winnow down to Trump's single opponent What are the pros and cons for Trump in facing a huge number of candidates? National political reporter Michael Scherer explains how the upcoming Democratic primary debates may help narrow the field and what we can expect as campaign season ...
06.07.2019 Here's what happens if Trump imposes tariffs on Mexican imports Does the law allow Trump to tax Mexican imports? Can the Senate stop him from following through on his threat? Economic policy reporter Damian Paletta explains the potential consequences of Mexican tariffs for American consumers and the economy at large.
05.31.2019 Investigating an investigation: Barr’s newfound power to declassify materials President Trump gave Attorney General Barr full declassification authority for his audit of the Russia investigation. Reporter Devlin Barrett explains the president's unusual move and how Barr's power is perceived in the intelligence community.
05.24.2019 Will they or won't they? Where House Democrats stand on impeachment President Trump cut short a bipartisan infrastructure meeting, telling Democrats he won't work with them until they stop investigating him. Congressional reporter Mike DeBonis explains how Democrats might move forward with legislation and investigations.
05.17.2019 Why didn't the White House back an international effort to fight online extremism? At the intersection of regulation and free speech, the "Christchurch Call" presents a challenge for a president who alleges political bias from social media sites. Tech policy reporter Tony Romm explains the potential consequences of Trump's decision.
05.10.2019 What happens when a president asserts executive privilege? The conflict between Congress and the White House accelerated as President Trump blocked access to the unredacted Mueller report. Reporter Carol Leonnig explains executive privilege and what Trump's assertion means for Congressional investigations.
05.03.2019 How does Attorney General Barr view presidential power? Reporter Devlin Barrett weighs in on Attorney General William Barr's contentious week on the Hill -- a week that raised questions about Barr's views on presidential power and his role as the top national law enforcement officer in the country.
04.26.2019 Will Trump stop Congress from obtaining documents and testimonies? Our country is facing a largely unprecedented battle between the White House and Congress. Post investigative reporter Tom Hamburger explains this week's subpoena fights and how the tension between Trump and House Democrats might escalate.
04.18.2019 The Mueller report, unpacked After nearly two years, America finally gets its first look at special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's report. The Post's Justice Department reporter Matt Zapotosky explains new insights we've gained from an early look at the details.
04.12.2019 Trump dismantled leadership at DHS. Can he fill key vacancies however he wants to? Reporter Nick Miroff explains what shakeups at the Department of Homeland Security mean for U.S. immigration enforcement. Plus, a look at the president's power to fill important vacancies, from Stanford law professor Anne Joseph O'Connell.
04.05.2019 Trump's decision to definitely, maybe close the border now -- or a year from now Will Trump ultimately decide to shut down the border? And why keep the country -- including his own administration -- in suspense awaiting a border closing decision? Damian Paletta, the Post's economic policy reporter, explains.
03.29.2019 Trump's latest fight against Obamacare: Destroy it in the courts The Post's David Weigel explains the potential political consequences of Monday's Justice Department filling arguing that the Affordable Care Act should be thrown out.
03.25.2019 Mueller report: What we still don't know National security reporter Devlin Barrett explains what we know so far about the findings of the special counsel's Russia investigation, what clarity we’ve gained from Attorney General William P. Barr's summary, and what questions remain unanswered.
03.22.2019 Does a president ever stop campaigning? President Trump’s campaign for 2020 began shortly after he won the 2016 election. Post reporter Jenna Johnson and U.S. Naval Academy professor Brendan J. Doherty explain how presidents grapple with the inherent tension between campaigning and governing.
03.15.2019 Does the president get to decide which planes can fly? Reporter Toluse Olorunnipa explains how global pressure, calls with industry executives and self-proclaimed expertise contributed to Trump's decision to announce an emergency grounding of Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 airplanes.
03.08.2019 Congressional Democrats ramp up investigations into Trump With congressional reporter Karoun Demirjian, we look at how Capitol Hill's investigations work, how the Democrats are trying to hone their oversight strategy and which lines of inquiry might have significant consequences for the president.
03.01.2019 What we learned from Michael Cohen's scathing testimony Marc Fisher wraps up this week's hearings, plus a look at what it was like for reporters experiencing the public hearing in realtime.
02.22.2019 Will Trump’s emergency survive legal and congressional challenges? How will legal battles over President Trump's emergency play out in the courts? How will Democrats push back in Congress? Is there anything stopping Trump from starting to build the wall today? The Post's legal affairs correspondent Fred Barbash explains.
02.14.2019 Trump to declare a national emergency and Barr is confirmed Can Trump get funding for a border wall by declaring a national emergency? And can the new U.S. attorney general decide what happens to the Mueller report? Here's a refresher episode answering key questions surrounding Thursday's news moments.
02.06.2019 Better, faster, stronger? Fact-checking Trump's State of the Union address Which of President Trump's Tuesday night claims were accurate? Salvador Rizzo and Meg Kelly of The Washington Post's Fact Checker team unpack the truth behind some of the biggest claims around immigration, the economy and foreign policy.
02.01.2019 How much power does an attorney general have to protect a president? William Barr's delayed confirmation vote for attorney general means there's less clarity on who'll see Robert Mueller's report. Post reporters Dan Balz and Devlin Barrett look at history, precedent and law regarding special investigations.
01.25.2019 The Supreme Court allowed Trump’s transgender troops ban to proceed. What happens next? In a vote Tuesday, the court allowed Trump's restrictions on transgender troops to go into effect. The Post's courts reporter Fred Barbash explains how a president’s policy rises to the Supreme Court, and how it reflects a president's power.
01.18.2019 The longer the shutdown lasts, the weirder the consequences get Can Nancy Pelosi postpone the State of the Union address? Can Trump cancel Pelosi's travel? Can Trump and Pelosi find a way to reopen the government? The Post's Colby Itkowitz and Joshua Dawsey unravel details of our country's ongoing political ...
01.11.2019 Does Trump have the power to declare a national emergency to get border wall funding? Can a president choose to invoke emergency powers whenever he wants? Liza Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice explains the extent of Trump's power in states of emergency. The Post's Philip Rucker breaks down the challenges of border wall ...
01.04.2019 Will Trump face a challenger for the GOP's 2020 nomination? Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) wrote an op-ed asserting his independence from Trump -- a move that prompted speculation about a potential 2020 bid. The Post's Robert Costa explains what it would take for Romney, or another GOP contender, to challenge ...
12.28.2018 Trump’s year of legal battles, Part 2: The Mueller probe In the final days of 2018, Post reporter Rosalind Helderman recaps the year’s biggest moments in Robert Mueller’s investigation and weighs in on what to watch for as the probe continues.
12.21.2018 Trump’s year of legal battles, Part 1: Suits and settlements As this year comes to a close, Post reporter David Fahrenthold helps us unravel the details of the swirling lawsuits and investigations surrounding Trump's charity and business.
12.14.2018 What does Cohen’s sentencing mean for Trump? Presented by ‘Post Reports’ While host Allison Michaels is away this week, we’re bringing you a segment from the Post’s premier daily podcast ‘Post Reports’ on Michael Cohen’s sentencing and what it may mean for Trump.
12.07.2018 Will Trump, "a tariff man," win the trade war with China? Amid escalating tensions and stalled talks between the U.S. and China, financial reporter David J. Lynch and Beijing Bureau Chief Anna Fifield explain what's at stake for Trump, the two countries and the global economy.
11.30.2018 What power does Trump have to push back on GM for closing U.S. plants? The revival of American manufacturing is a key part of Trump's economic message. Now that GM faces cuts, he's threatened to impose import penalties, and revoke subsidies. What's within his power? Economic policy reporter Damian Paletta explains.
11.16.2018 How much power does a president have over election recounts? Amid recounts in Florida, the president has used strong rhetoric to cast doubt on our elections. Can he do that? Amy Gardner, reporting from Broward County, Fla., explains what's at stake for Republicans, Democrats and the president himself.
11.09.2018 How will Democrats use their new power as a check on the president? Will a Democratic House stop President Trump's agenda? Mike DeBonis explains how House Democrats might stall Trump's policies in Congress, and Karoun Demirjian breaks down how far the Democrats might go in investigating the president.
11.07.2018 Trump forced out his attorney general. Can he do that? Jeff Sessions and President Trump have had a tense relationship since Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation last year. So why did Trump request his resignation now? And what are the implications for control of Mueller’s ongoing probe?
11.07.2018 How do the midterm election results reflect on the president? After time on the trail tracking candidates and talking to voters, David Weigel offers insight on last night's results. Which party can claim the biggest wins? Was last night a referendum on President Trump? And will we see a new ...
11.02.2018 President Trump has played an outsize role in midterm campaigns. Can he do that? Are midterm elections always a referendum on the sitting president? Reporters Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer explain whom Trump has endorsed, which candidates have embraced Trump's policies and how his presence might play out at the polls.
10.26.2018 Trump says he'll stop a migrant group from crossing the U.S. southern border. Can he do that? White House reporter David Nakamura explains which pieces of border operations and immigration law Trump can change or influence. Plus, Kevin Sieff recounts migrant experiences from his time traveling with the caravan in Mexico.
10.19.2018 Trump faces a challenging moment in Saudi-U.S. relations. What's at stake? Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggis disappeared from a Saudi consulate in Turkey. His editor, Karen Attiah, sheds light on Khashoggi as a person and a writer. Reporter Shane Harris breaks down this pivotal foreign policy moment.
10.12.2018 Trump made some strange financial moves in the decade before he became president. Can he do that? Trump's financial past includes $400 million in cash spending, $300 million in private loans and a $50 million loan to himself. David Fahrenthold and Jonathan O'Connell unravel their investigation into the mysteries of Trump's finances from 2005-2015.
10.05.2018 How can the Supreme Court maintain impartiality in America's modern political climate? What happens to the public's perceived independence of the Supreme Court when confirmation processes devolve into partisan battles? The Post's Robert Barnes explains the evolving relationship between politics and the judiciary.
09.26.2018 Kavanaugh and Ford will testify at the Senate. Here's what to expect. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford will testify in relation to sexual misconduct allegations that have arisen during Kavanaugh's confirmation process. With much at stake, Trump is standing by his nominee for now.
09.21.2018 Trump ordered Russia investigation documents declassified. Can he do that? At odds with the Justice Department, Trump wants some texts, interviews and warrants made public. We explore his exercise of presidential power when it pushes against well-established norms and creates conflicts of interest.
09.14.2018 President Trump says we are “absolutely, totally prepared” for Hurricane Florence. Are we? Trump called the handling of Hurricane Maria an "unsung success" and falsely said its high death count was generated to make him look bad. As we face Florence, reporter Joel Achenbach adds insight to Trump's claims and the state of ...

Older episodes

Can He Do That?

What's Can He Do That? about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Can He Do That? episodes:

How much can a president affect gun policy?

How far can a president go to get the intelligence chief he wants?

‘Problematic is an understatement’: Robert Mueller testifies before Congress

How Trump’s racist comments can be used against him in court

Trump avoids releasing his business information to the courts — for now

'The Framers would not recognize the modern presidency.'

Trump vs. Iran: A president's choices as commander in chief

Introducing: ‘Moonrise’

How the sprawling Democratic field will winnow down to Trump's single opponent

Here's what happens if Trump imposes tariffs on Mexican imports

Investigating an investigation: Barr’s newfound power to declassify materials

Will they or won't they? Where House Democrats stand on impeachment

Why didn't the White House back an international effort to fight online extremism?

What happens when a president asserts executive privilege?

How does Attorney General Barr view presidential power?

Will Trump stop Congress from obtaining documents and testimonies?

The Mueller report, unpacked

Trump dismantled leadership at DHS. Can he fill key vacancies however he wants to?

Trump's decision to definitely, maybe close the border now -- or a year from now

Trump's latest fight against Obamacare: Destroy it in the courts

Mueller report: What we still don't know

Does a president ever stop campaigning?

Does the president get to decide which planes can fly?

Congressional Democrats ramp up investigations into Trump

What we learned from Michael Cohen's scathing testimony

Will Trump’s emergency survive legal and congressional challenges?

Trump to declare a national emergency and Barr is confirmed

Better, faster, stronger? Fact-checking Trump's State of the Union address

How much power does an attorney general have to protect a president?

The Supreme Court allowed Trump’s transgender troops ban to proceed. What happens next?

The longer the shutdown lasts, the weirder the consequences get

Does Trump have the power to declare a national emergency to get border wall funding?

Will Trump face a challenger for the GOP's 2020 nomination?

Trump’s year of legal battles, Part 2: The Mueller probe

Trump’s year of legal battles, Part 1: Suits and settlements

What does Cohen’s sentencing mean for Trump? Presented by ‘Post Reports’

Will Trump, "a tariff man," win the trade war with China?

What power does Trump have to push back on GM for closing U.S. plants?

How much power does a president have over election recounts?

How will Democrats use their new power as a check on the president?

Trump forced out his attorney general. Can he do that?

How do the midterm election results reflect on the president?

President Trump has played an outsize role in midterm campaigns. Can he do that?

Trump says he'll stop a migrant group from crossing the U.S. southern border. Can he do that?

Trump faces a challenging moment in Saudi-U.S. relations. What's at stake?

Trump made some strange financial moves in the decade before he became president. Can he do that?

How can the Supreme Court maintain impartiality in America's modern political climate?

Kavanaugh and Ford will testify at the Senate. Here's what to expect.

Trump ordered Russia investigation documents declassified. Can he do that?

President Trump says we are “absolutely, totally prepared” for Hurricane Florence. Are we?

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