George Packer is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers politics, foreign affairs, and culture. He joins Preet to discuss President Trump’s enduring effect on the American mind, the future of the Democratic Party, and why Congress has become more performance than politics.  

Then, Preet answers listener questions about malicious prosecution and the meaning of the phrase “eighty-six.”

In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Packer examine the prevailing personality trait among members of Congress, the public’s role in shaping our political environment, and why we’re experiencing national cognitive decline.

Join the Insider community for access to bonus content from Stay Tuned and weekly episodes of the Insider podcast hosted by Preet and Joyce Vance. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work.

Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. 

You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe.

Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront.

Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at [email protected], or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail.

Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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Will the Supreme Court restrict access to abortion pills nationwide? On this week’s Insider podcast, UC Davis law professor and reproductive rights expert Mary Ziegler joins Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance to break down the case challenging telehealth access to Mifepristone, and what it means for the future of abortion care in the United States.

In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent ruling preventing ICE from detaining undocumented immigrants without bond hearings.

This segment is available for free to listeners of Stay Tuned. To hear the full episode, become a member at cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe. You’ll also get access to other exclusive content.

CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis. 

Join Preet Bharara and Barb McQuade live at the 92NY on May 31st: cafe.com/barb

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network. 

Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Senior Audio Producer: Matthew Billy; CAFE Team: Celine Rohr, Nat Weiner, Jennifer Indig, and Liana Greenway.

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Jodi Kantor, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigative journalist, joins Preet to discuss her recent expose on the Supreme Court’s “shadow docket,” documenting its origin story, dynamics among the justices, and the implications of Court secrecy on democracy. They also discuss the legacy of her seminal reporting on the #MeToo Movement and the future of work. 

Then, Preet answers a listener question about “8647” products on Amazon and shares his thoughts on Aziz Ansari’s Kash Patel impression on SNL.

In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Kantor discuss how to build a fulfilling career, the importance of teachers, and why a good boss can make all the difference. 

Join the Insider community for access to bonus content from Stay Tuned and weekly episodes of the Insider podcast hosted by Preet and Joyce Vance. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work.

Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. 

You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe.

Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront.

Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at [email protected], or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail.

Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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Is the Voting Rights Act dead? On this week’s Insider podcast, Joyce Vance speaks with President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund, Janai Nelson, while Preet is out. They break down the Supreme Court’s decision in a major voting rights case, Louisiana v. Callais, which Nelson argued before the Court, and what the ruling means for the future of the Voting Rights Act.

This segment is available for free to listeners of Stay Tuned. To hear the full episode, become a member at cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe. You’ll also get access to other exclusive content.

In the full episode, Joyce and Janai delve into the preparation and process of arguing a case before the Supreme Court. Plus, what Supreme Court reform could look like and whether Congress will help reestablish the Voting Rights Act.

CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis. 

Join Preet Bharara and Barb McQuade live at the 92NY on May 31st: cafe.com/barb

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network. 

Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Senior Audio Producer: Matthew Billy; CAFE Team: Celine Rohr, Nat Weiner, Jennifer Indig, and Liana Greenway.

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Ben Smith, the former editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News and co-founder of Semafor, joins Preet to discuss today’s media industry, covering the news, and his latest venture.
Then, Preet answers listener questions on preemptive pardons, paternity leave for the Vice President, and…his favorite potatoes.
In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Smith discuss the decline of thoughtfulness, parent-child competition, and the trouble with wanting to be liked.
Join the Insider community for access to bonus content from Stay Tuned and weekly episodes of the Insider podcast hosted by Preet and Joyce Vance. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work.
Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.
You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe.
Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront.
Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at [email protected], or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail.
Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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Why is a civil rights organization being accused of funding white supremacist groups? On this week’s Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance break down the Justice Department’s 11-count indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center.

This segment is available for free to listeners of Stay Tuned. To hear the full episode, become a member at cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe. You’ll also get access to other exclusive content.

Topics covered in the full episode include: 

– The apparent attempted assassination of President Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner and the charges filed; and

– DOJ’s decision to drop the investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis. 

Join Preet and Barb McQuade live at the 92NY on May 31st: cafe.com/barb

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network. 

Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Senior Audio Producer: Matthew Billy; CAFE Team: Celine Rohr, Nat Weiner, Jennifer Indig, and Liana Greenway.

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How has the threat landscape changed in recent years? On a new episode of Stay Tuned, Rebecca Weiner, the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism, joins Preet Bharara to discuss the evolving nature of terrorism and targeted violence—from ISIS and Iran-linked plotting to grievance-fueled attacks and online radicalization. They explore what Weiner calls an “everything, everywhere, all at once” threat environment and how law enforcement is adapting to increasingly fast-moving and unpredictable risks.

Then, Preet answers listener questions about state laws required to fill Congressional vacancies, what options exist for reforming presidential pardon powers, and Supreme Court reform.

In the bonus for Insiders, Weiner reflects on the personal roots of her career in national security and shares her advice for young people considering a path in public service.

Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without the hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work.

Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. 

You can now watch this episode! Head to the Stay Tuned Youtube channel and subscribe.

Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at [email protected], or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail.

Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Insider podcast, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss a federal appeals court decision halting district court Judge James Boasberg’s criminal contempt probe over the Trump administration’s Alien Enemies Act deportations.

This segment is available for free to listeners of Stay Tuned. To hear the full episode, become a member at ⁠cafe.com/insider⁠ or ⁠staytuned.substack.com/subscribe⁠. You’ll also get access to other exclusive content.

Topics covered in the full episode include: 

– The Trump administration’s efforts to overturn Steve Bannon’s contempt of Congress conviction and the seditious conspiracy convictions of January 6th rioters;

– House Democrats’ articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; and

– The legal fight over construction of President Trump’s new White House ballroom.

CAFE Insiders click ⁠HERE⁠ to listen to the full analysis. 

⁠Subscribe⁠ to our YouTube channel.

This podcast is brought to you by ⁠CAFE⁠ and Vox Media Podcast Network. 

Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Senior Audio Producer: Matthew Billy; CAFE Team: Celine Rohr, Nat Weiner, Jennifer Indig, and Liana Greenway.

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Historian Timothy Snyder, author of On Tyranny and On Freedom, joins Preet Bharara to break down Viktor Orbán's election loss in Hungary and what it means for Trump, MAGA, and the future of American democracy. Snyder also explains what Hungarian politician Péter Magyar's victory reveals about beating authoritarians at the ballot box, why "democracy" alone doesn't rally voters, and why his most urgent lesson from On Tyranny — do not obey in advance — has never been more relevant.

Then, Preet answers listener questions. He explains whether the president has to comply with the law requiring him to preserve official records and whether it’s now legal to distill liquor at home.

In the bonus for Insiders, Preet breaks down his experience working to reform one of New York City’s most notorious prisons: Rikers Island.

Join the Insider community for access to bonus content from Stay Tuned and weekly episodes of the Insider podcast hosted by Preet and Joyce Vance. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work.

Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. 

You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe.

Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront.

Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at [email protected], or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail.
Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can the Department of Justice declare a law unconstitutional? On this week’s Insider podcast, former Westchester County, New York, District Attorney Mimi Rocah joins Joyce Vance to discuss the Office of Legal Counsel opinion declaring the Presidential Records Act (PRA) unconstitutional.

This segment is available for free to listeners of Stay Tuned. To hear the full episode, become a member at cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe. You’ll also get access to other exclusive content.

Topics covered in the full episode: 

– The Manhattan DA’s criminal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Representative Eric Swalwell prompting him to resign;

– Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s comments furthering President Trump’s election fraud claims; and

– Former AG Pam Bondi’s argument that she’s not required to comply with a congressional subpoena for testimony about her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files release since she no longer holds the role.

CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network. 

Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Senior Audio Producer: Matthew Billy; CAFE Team: Celine Rohr, Nat Weiner, Jennifer Indig, and Liana Greenway.

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CNN’s chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto joins Preet to discuss the Iran war, Trump’s psychology of force, and the return of great power conflict. 

Then, Preet answers listener questions. He explains the relevance of birthright citizenship to Native American tribes and the special treatment congresspeople are receiving at airports. 

In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Sciutto discuss the controversy surrounding press coverage at the Defense Department. 

Join the Insider community for access to bonus content from Stay Tuned and weekly episodes of the Insider podcast hosted by Preet and Joyce Vance. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work.

Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. 

You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe.

Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront.

Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at [email protected], or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail.

Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices