Left, Right & Center

Americans are mad about data centers being built near them. President Trump, however, argues building more of them on home soil helps the country’s economy and is critical to our national security. How can lawmakers on both sides of the aisle balance those benefits alongside the anger of the public?

Plus, ICE switched up its enforcement strategy to attract fewer headlines and increase arrests. But it hasn’t changed the public’s sentiment that the agency’s earlier crackdown was far too harsh. We talk about the state of immigration enforcement and how it could be an issue that tips the scales in the midterms.

And we take your questions on how to fix the country’s massive deficit. 

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: Susan Davis 

Guests: 

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“Economic D-Day” – that’s how President Trump described his latest strategy in the Iran War. He’s promising to starve the country’s economy. A lot may rely on whether other countries play ball, especially China.

Trump isn’t just going after Iran. He’s pushed us into a new tariff war with Canada, and our polite neighbor to the north is in no mood to cave. 

We’ll talk about the pros and cons of economic warfare, how to know if policies like this will help or hurt Americans, and whether this will sway voters’ choices this fall.

Also, Flock cameras are a sleeper issue in these upcoming midterms. They’re AI-powered and used by police to tackle crime, but some communities hate their surveillance power. 

And we remember the late Dolly Parton, a talented musician with unique appeal to audiences all over the political spectrum.  

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: 

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw

The political lives of some Republicans literally depend on their carefully crafted messaging around an unpopular war and unpopular president. Many know they can’t abandon Trump, and getting on his bad side doesn’t generally end well for Republicans, either. 

We talk about dire conditions reported on the USS Abraham Lincoln where its extended Middle East deployment has pushed some sailors to the brink. It’s put a spotlight on the morale of our troops, as well as what our military strength looks like to other countries.

Plus we take listener questions, including from one who thinks a progressive swing left is a losing strategy for Democrats who’ll need the South to win the next presidency. 

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: 

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw

Part of any midterm election year is trying to guess the larger trends to see how our politics are evolving in one direction or another. 

“Progressives are gaining momentum!” Except not in Wisconsin this past week. “President Trump can steer any primary vote his way!” Or not, given that his ally Mike Lindell didn’t advance in the Minnesota Governor’s race.

We talk about the nuance and surprises from the latest primaries, and how the emerging message might be that voters just want new faces and new energy. 

Plus, President Trump faces the inescapable reality that he’s lost support for the war in Iran among voters and his own party. The Washington Post also breaks the story that Trump secretly flew out of Turkey last month because of a threat, leaving Air Force One – and reporters and key Trump officials on board – to be used as a decoy. 

And the WNBA has been getting its moment of glory, while also getting dragged into the culture wars. 

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: 

Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Senate primary, but he’ll have to beat Republican Mike Rogers who wants to flip this seat for the GOP. 

Can El-Sayed and other progressive candidates win over independent voters this fall? Polls suggest they have a lot of work to do, with a lot at stake for Democrats. 

Also, how our legal system pushes back against a president who often acts like he’s above the law. 

And in Ohio, a Republican congressman clings to his re-election hopes even after his ex-wife accused him of domestic violence. That ex-wife also happens to be the daughter of a U.S. senator.

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: 

What does “affordability” mean, and who should we trust to deliver it? Democrats are pounding the affordability message hard, saying President Trump began a global tariff war and a war in Iran that have both pushed prices up for Americans. 

We’ll talk about what actual ideas Democrats are offering to bring relief. The boldest ideas so far have come from their more progressive members, which could be a potential challenge for the more moderate wing of the party. Republicans have their own challenge: GOP lawmakers seem willing to work on bipartisan solutions on affordability, but President Trump keeps undermining them.

Mo and Sarah have their own policy debate to stump for proposals that can bring prices down, and also pick each other’s ideas apart.

Plus, Dr. Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions about Covid in a congressional hearing, and we talk about whether he was justified.

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: 

Progressive Democrats are surging in primary elections across the country, but the party establishment is worried they’ll lose this November. Republicans think those progressives will be easier to beat, too.

So how will this intra-party fight among Democrats play out and determine control of Congress? And why is the GOP so sure they can beat progressive Dems when some polls show their party is underwater with voters on the economy?

Plus, the president campaigned to secure elections using false claims. House Republicans advanced his elections bill – the SAVE America Act – just as two election deniers advanced in Arizona’s Republican primaries.

And we talk about the Iran war. Republicans passed extra military spending to keep it going, so do those Republicans now own an unpopular war?

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: Susan Davis 

Guests: 

Senator Mitch McConnell was absent from Capitol Hill for weeks. Rumors and conspiracies swirled until he recently reappeared and said he was in medical care recovering from a fall.

He’s not the only politician who’s hid their health from the public eye – Joe Biden, for instance, tried to keep concerns about his health quiet before the 2024 election – until it was too hard to ignore.

We talk about what aging and ailing lawmakers owe to the public especially if it impairs their ability to serve.

Plus, immigration enforcement is surging. ICE doubled the number of arrests compared to earlier this year, and has been doing it without the massive protests that rocked the country. But now, with two headline-grabbing shootings of motorists by ICE agents, what is the future of that strategy?

We also talk about how congress came together on a massive affordable housing bill.

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: Mike Madrid 

Guests: 

Democrats badly want to win control of the Senate this fall, but they just suffered a bad blow: Graham Platner, their candidate in Maine, dropped out of the race after facing rape allegations. Whose job was it to vet Platner? And what do Democrats do with this race now? 

Then, from cryptocurrency profits to calling the head of FIFA, what is President Trump’s relationship with corruption? He seems to embrace the image of being able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Is there a disciplined message Democrats can craft to combat the power of his persona? 

And David gives a tribute to Don Gonyea, who is stepping away from NPR after a legendary political reporting career.

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: 

The Supreme Court finished its term with some pre-July 4th fireworks by issuing decisions that continue to shape the powers of the presidency. But how solid is this narrative out there that Trump benefits from a conservative-leaning court? 

The justices also loosened the leash for how much the parties can coordinate with and help fund congressional candidates. We look at what impact this could have for Republicans and Democrats, as well as the influence of big money in politics. 

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: