What A Day

Crooked Media

If you’re looking for hype, fake outrage, and groupthink, kindly keep moving. Our mission at What a Day is simple: to be your guide to what truly matters each morning (and the fun stuff you might have missed) in just 20 minutes. Host Jane Coaston brings you in-depth reporting and substantive analysis on the big stories shaping today and the creeping trends shaping tomorrow—and when she doesn’t know the answers, she asks someone even smarter to fill us all in. Radical, right? New episodes at 5:00 a.m. EST, Monday–Friday in your favorite podcast app and on YouTube. Being informed was never this easy.

  • 19 minutes 53 seconds
    Gen Z Is Angsty: Here's Why

    Young voters are one of many groups that pushed Trump back into the White House in 2024. Some researchers saw this as a potentially massive realignment with game-changing implications for our politics — but one year into Trump's second term, it doesn't seem like it. Trump is 34 points underwater according to the Cook Political Report's poll aggregator. And those polls were taken before Trump launched a war with Iran, a decision most young people oppose. So what should Democrats do to reach young voters where they're at? To find out, we spoke to Florida Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost. He's the first Gen Z member elected to Congress.

    And in headlines, Trump reveals Iran's so-called gift to the U.S, Cuba is struggling amidst the U.S. oil blockade, and you can make your voice heard at a No Kings event this weekend.

    Show Notes:

    27 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 24 minutes 55 seconds
    The Great Social Media Reckoning

    On Wednesday, a California jury found Meta and YouTube each liable for harming the well-being of a young user who had sued the two companies. The plaintiff argued that the products had negatively impacted her mental health. This verdict follows a similar decision made by a jury in New Mexico earlier this week. Both decisions are part of a massive shift in how Americans are thinking about social media. New polling from Edison Research at SSRS – a major data and research firm – found that 57% of Americans ages 18 and older would support a social media ban for anyone under 16. But civil liberties groups, like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, are crying foul, arguing that curtailing speech and content on social media is curtailing speech, period. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business and author of "The Anxious Generation," joins the show to discuss what stronger regulations on young people could mean for all social media users.

    And in headlines, a Democrat flips the Florida state legislative seat in the district that contains Mar-a-Lago, new polling shows that a majority of Americans think that the U.S. military has gone too far in attacking Iran, and a report says the White House turned down Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA agents.

    Show Notes:

    26 March 2026, 4:20 am
  • 22 minutes 10 seconds
    Democrats Add Tax Cuts To Affordability Agenda

    Ahead of the midterms, several Democrats are trying to seize on the affordability messaging that has been connecting with voters across the country by talking about lowering taxes. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen have introduced separate measures aimed at easing the tax burden on middle- and lower-income people. And Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna released a plan to raise taxes on billionaires. But critics are raising concerns about what these proposals would mean for government funding moving forward. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen joins the show to discuss his plan.

    And in headlines, President Donald Trump sends more mixed messages about the war in Iran, new polling shows the president's approval rating is on the decline, and The Wall Street Journal's March Madness bracket tests whether AI is better than humans at predicting the winning teams.

    Show Notes:

    25 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 23 minutes 56 seconds
    What Is ICE Really Doing In Airports?

    It’s been more than a month since the Department of Homeland Security shut down, and American airports are definitely feeling it. Now, President Donald Trump has sent ICE agents to at least 14 airports across the country. A Truth Social post over the weekend from Trump, said in part that ICE in airports will, “do Security like no one has ever seen before, including the immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into our Country, with heavy emphasis on those from Somalia.” In other words, ICE isn’t really there to help decrease the long wait times on security lines. Andrea Flores, a former Homeland Security official and founder of the pro-immigration initiative, Securing America’s Promise, joined the show to talk more about what ICE agents are doing at American airports.

    And in headlines, Trump walks back his threats to escalate the war on Iran, the Supreme Court looks ready to limit mail-in voting, and closing arguments were heard Monday in a trial over whether Meta has been misleading users about the potential impact of social media on children.

    Show Notes:

    24 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 24 minutes 41 seconds
    The Iran War Is Fueling Antisemitism

    The MAGA Right is at war over the role that Israel has in American foreign policy and the war with Iran. If you listen to Tucker Carlson or former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent, you would think that President Donald Trump was bamboozled into this conflict, lured by the evil "Israel lobby." The way some on the American Right (and the American Left) are talking about Israel has edged into outright antisemitism. And with multiple violent attacks on synagogues around the world over the last few weeks, the lack of distinction between "Israel the country" and "Jewish people" is having a very dangerous impact. Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox, joins the show to talk about the rise of anti-war antisemitism.

    And in headlines, President Trump threatens to escalate the already high-stakes war with Iran, the Trump administration plans to make airport security lines even more unpleasant by sending in ICE officers, and the White House grounds welcome a statue of Christopher Columbus.

    Show Notes:

    23 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 26 minutes 5 seconds
    The Uncertain Fate of America’s Dreamers

    The Trump Administration’s crackdown on undocumented and documented immigrants hasn’t stopped — even for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Since Trump returned to the White House last year, his administration has made life harder and harder for the estimated half a million DACA recipients living in the US. The Trump Administration has said it’s deported nearly 100 DACA recipients — and that’s not including everyone who has been detained. To talk more about what Dreamers are having to endure under Trump, we spoke with Laura Barrón-López. She’s a White House reporter for MSNOW.

    And in headlines, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly plans to ask Congress for $200 billion to fund the war with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference just to prove he’s still kickin’, and rapper Afroman is — legally — serving up Lemon Pound Cake.

    Show Notes:

    20 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 26 minutes 12 seconds
    Can Trump's FCC Manufacture War Propaganda?

    The Iran War is not very popular with Americans – and the Trump Administration seems to think it knows why: the media is being too mean about the President’s war of choice. On Saturday, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr reposted a Trump Truth Social screed against The New York Times and Wall Street Journal on Twitter — adding, “The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.” Carr has real power in his role as FCC Chairman – power he wants to use on behalf of President Trump. So to talk more about the FCC under Brendan Carr, we spoke with Matt Gertz. He’s a senior fellow at the progressive media watchdog, Media Matters.

    And in headlines, the gloves came off during Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing, the government’s top intelligence officials testify about worldwide threats before the Senate, and The New York Times publishes a multiyear investigation revealing labor activist Cesar Chavez’s sexual abuse of women and girls.

    Show Notes:

    19 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 26 minutes 35 seconds
    MAGA Meltdown Over Trump’s War

    Joe Kent – someone you’ve probably never heard of – made huge news on Tuesday. He was the director of the National Counterterrorism Center – until he posted a resignation letter on Twitter. In it, Kent wrote directly to President Trump: “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.” This is the first major defection from the administration over the war – and it might not be the last. For more on Kent’s letter and what it means for the MAGA Right, we spoke with Jonathan Lemire. He’s a staff writer at The Atlantic and co-host of Morning Joe on MSNOW.

    And in headlines, the SAVE America Act is creating real problems for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Chief Justice John Roberts speaks out against targeting judges, and FBI Director Kash Patel hosts his own version of a meet and greet at Quantico.

    Show Notes:

    18 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 23 minutes 3 seconds
    Meet Trump's Pick To Lead DHS

    This week, the Senate will hold a confirmation hearing for Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's pick to replace Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security Secretary. In some ways, he’s not very different from his predecessor. Mullin also smeared Renee Good and Alex Pretti following their killings by federal immigration officials in Minnesota. He endorses the President’s debunked theory that the 2020 election was stolen. And he threatened to fight the head of the Teamsters union back in 2023 during a Senate committee hearing over a Twitter spat. Burgess Everett, Congressional bureau chief at Semafor, joins the show to talk more about Senator Mullin, the DHS shutdown, and what else to watch for on the Hill this week.

    And in headlines, FBI Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testify before Congress about global security threats, thousands of workers go on strike at a Colorado meatpacking plant, and Trump continues to insist the war with Iran will wrap up “soon.”

    Show Notes:

    17 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 21 minutes 11 seconds
    Can Big Oil Grease The Courts?

    The war in Iran has essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil transfer point, sending oil prices over $100 a barrel with the potential to go even higher. And yet, the odds of the Trump administration suddenly pivoting to invest in renewable energy are pretty much zero. Last year, the Department of Justice submitted a brief urging the Supreme Court to take up a case that could limit cities' and states' ability to sue oil and gas companies for environmental damage — and the court has agreed to hear it. For more on what's at stake here, we spoke with Mike Meno. He's the communications director for the Center for Climate Integrity, an advocacy organization that works with communities to hold Big Oil accountable.

    And in headlines, the head of the Federal Communications Commission makes another thinly veiled threat, the Kennedy Center Board is expected to vote on President Trump's grand renovation plans today, the department tasked with keeping Americans safe at home is still shut down.

    Show Notes:

    16 March 2026, 7:30 am
  • 22 minutes 29 seconds
    Why Trump Abandoned America First

    The war with Iran has already killed more than a thousand Iranians, including 175 people killed at an elementary school on February 28th. Remember America First? That swath of the MAGA movement that purportedly wanted to stay out of foreign entanglements and wars to focus on problems that Americans were facing right here at home? Today, the same GOP that called Kamala Harris a warmonger is giving the war with Iran two thumbs up. And while some notable anti-war figures on the right have been speaking out against the conflict, Trump and the Republican Party are full speed ahead despite struggling to justify their actions. Tommy Vietor, co-host of Crooked Media’s Pod Save the World and former spokesperson for the National Security Council in the Obama administration, joins to discuss the American First presidency that isn't.

    And in headlines, the Senate passes a housing bill with overwhelming bipartisan support but House GOP members are unlikely to get on board, Department of Homeland Security funding talks continue to stall, and the White House is keeping busy posting tasteless memes about the war.

    Show Notes:

    13 March 2026, 7:30 am
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