What A Day

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the U.S. is on track to hit its debt ceiling by Thursday. The federal government has never defaulted on its debt, but House Republicans say they won’t lift the ceiling without spending cuts or other concessions.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reinstated coveted committee assignments to far-right members of his party – including Reps Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar. Both lawmakers were booted off their respective panels in the last Congress over controversial posts they made on social media.

And in headlines: a jury was seated in a case brought by Tesla shareholders against Elon Musk, China’s population dropped for the first time in decades, and climate activist Greta Thunberg was briefly detained during a protest in Germany.

Show Notes:

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Today marks 130 years since the United States illegally overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy. Healani Sonoda-Pale, an O’ahu-based community organizer and member of the Ka Lāhui Hawai’i political action committee, tells us what this day means to Native Hawaiians and the movement to restore Hawai’i’s sovereignty.

And in headlines: a Russian missile strike killed at least 40 civilians at an apartment complex in Ukraine, the family of a man who died after an LAPD officer repeatedly Tasered him is demanding answers, and the CDC hopes to track new Covid variants by analyzing lavatory waste from international flights.

Show Notes:

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to investigate how classified documents turned up at President Biden's home, and at an unsecured private office he used after his time as vice president. Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Crooked's Pod Save America, joins us to unpack what we know so far, and how the discovery compares to Donald Trump's case. 

And in headlines: an L.A.-based bank agreed to pay $31 million to settle allegations of lending discrimination, thousands of New York City nurses ended their three-day strike, and FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried defended himself on the newsletter platform Substack.

Show Notes:

• What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Thousands of flights across the U.S. were canceled or delayed early Wednesday morning after a Federal Aviation Administration computer outage. Officials are calling it the largest national grounding of flights since 9/11, though there’s no evidence to suggest that it was the result of a cyberattack.

New York Republican leaders publicly called for Representative George Santos to resign from Congress, following revelations that Santos fabricated many key aspects of his resume. Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is standing by him, even as Santos faces formal ethics complaints and potential criminal investigations.

And in headlines: President Biden’s lawyers reported finding classified materials at his former office space, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was released from the hospital, and Naomi Osaka announced that she’s expecting her first child.

Show Notes:

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit

 crooked.com/whataday

Another intense winter storm slammed into California Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, wind, and intense wind to the Golden State. It's the latest in a series of atmospheric rivers that have led to the deaths of at least 17 people since late last month, and put millions of Californians under flood warnings.

California Rep. Katie Porter announced she's running for Senator Dianne Feinstein's seat – even though Feinstein, a longtime incumbent, has not signaled her intention to retire.

And in headlines: at least 17 people were killed Monday in southern Peru during anti-government protests, the U.S. will train Ukrainian troops to operate the Patriot missile system in Oklahoma, and the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could limit how unions go on strike.

Show Notes:

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The first federal death penalty trial under the Biden administration began in New York on Monday against Sayfullo Saipov. Saipov faces murder and terrorism charges for allegedly using a rented truck to kill eight people on a bike path in 2017.

The Golden Globes makes its return to TV tonight after a year off the air. The organization behind the annual awards ceremony faced sharp criticism in 2021, after an investigation revealed it had no Black members, along with numerous instances of ethical misconduct. Jacqueline Coley, the Awards Editor for Rotten Tomatoes, tells us how Hollywood is responding to the comeback. 

And in headlines: the Georgia special grand jury looking into whether former President Trump and his allies interfered in the 2020 election completed its investigation, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was released from the hospital, and the TSA said a woman tried to bring a 4-foot boa constrictor onto a plane in Tampa.

Show Notes:

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday 

After four days and 15 rounds of voting, Rep. Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House early Saturday. But in order to get enough votes, he had to cut some deals with the most conservative and hardline members of the GOP.

Backers of Brazil's far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country's congressional building, the presidential residence, and its Supreme Court on Sunday, days after leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was sworn into office. Lula blamed his predecessor's baseless allegations of election fraud for riling up his supporters.

And in headlines: Iran executed two more prisoners for their involvement in anti-government protests, President Biden traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time since taking office, and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin continues to make progress in his recovery.

Show Notes:

• What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Once again, Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed to secure the votes he needed in the eleventh round of voting for Speaker of the House – even after offering new concessions to the far-right Republicans who continue to oppose him.

President Biden announced a major change to border policy, aimed at discouraging migrants from entering the U.S. from Mexico. It expands on a pandemic-era program used by the Trump administration to expel migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela who illegally cross the southern border.

And in headlines: South Carolina’s Supreme Court overturned the state’s six-week abortion ban, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's condition is improving, and the Federal Trade Commission proposed a ban on non-compete clauses in job contracts.

Show Notes:

• What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The House of Representatives adjourned for a second day without electing a new speaker, after Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed to convince 20 of his Republican colleagues to support his bid. He lost another three rounds of voting Wednesday, leaving no indication when the stalemate will end. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency amid a potentially catastrophic storm that’s bearing down on the Golden State. It's now the third atmospheric river to hit the state in just two weeks.

And in headlines: the FDA finalized a rule change that will make abortion pills more accessible, the organizer of the "Varsity Blues" college admissions cheating scandal was sentenced to federal prison, and Salesforce said it would lay off about 10% of its staff.

Show Notes:

• What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

Republicans made history on Tuesday by failing to select a new House Speaker on the first vote for the first time in 100 years. Rep. Kevin McCarthy couldn’t get enough support from his own party in three rounds of voting, as his colleagues clashed over who should get the speaker’s gavel.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition after he collapsed on the field during his team’s highly-anticipated game against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night. Lindsay Jones, the senior NFL editor at The Ringer, walks us through what happened, and how it could impact the league.

And in headlines: Ukraine said that Moscow may step up its use of drone attacks, Southwest Airlines said it would give out  frequent-flier miles to travelers impacted by last week’s holiday meltdown, and Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to defrauding FTX investors.

Show Notes:

• What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast

Crooked Coffee is officially here. Our first blend, What A Morning, is available in medium and dark roasts. Wake up with your own bag at crooked.com/coffee

Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/whataday/

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday