THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent
Every weekday, The New Republic’s Greg Sargent brings you a fresh way of thinking about the biggest political stories of the moment, offered up in an entertaining, information-packed conversation with a leading lawmaker, journalist, or newsmaker. We go deep into the stories behind the headlines leading TNR and other news outlets—while making it fun and fast.
1
Trump’s Epstein Spin Collapses as Kash Patel Bu...
As the FBI director falters under a tough grilling from Democrats, undermining Trump’s defense on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, an expert on the right explains why this fiasco is so awful for Trump and MAGA.
22 min
2
Trump Explodes in Rage at Journos as Shock Poll...
As Trump’s fury at the media boils over on numerous fronts, the author of a piece on Trump’s failing powers of persuasion explains how this moment is exposing large cracks in his authoritarian project.
22 min
3
Kash Patel Is Such a Fiasco for Trump that Even...
As a surprising Fox News report says the FBI Director is in trouble—even as Trump’s threats to unleash law enforcement on enemies are escalating—a former FBI agent explains why this moment is so dangerous.
22 min
4
Trump’s Threats Darken on Fox News as MAGA Rage...
As Trump declares open season on the left, a reporter who covers MAGA explains what far-right groups will take from this—and why it may spur a rise in organized violence.
22 min
5
Trump Drug Boat Bombing Takes Darker Turn as Da...
As Trump’s decision to kill 11 drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea suddenly starts looking even worse, a legal expert explains how brazenly Trump is stretching the law—and why it’s so unnerving.
17 min
6
Nancy Mace Erupts in Fury on House Floor after ...
Mace flew into a rage in response to Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs’s sharp criticism of GOP anti-trans rhetoric. In this episode, Jacobs talks to us about what can be learned from this fraught moment.
20 min
7
Trump Press Sec Seethes as Epstein Spin Falls A...
As Karoline Leavitt’s responses to the latest Jeffrey Epstein revelations go awry, a media observer explains why the MAGA disinformation machine’s treatment of this scandal is more unnerving than usual.
22 min
8
Trump’s Corrupt Firing of Lisa Cook Backfires a...
As new reporting blows holes in Trump’s effort to fire the Federal Reserve’s Lisa Cook, a legal writer explains why Trump’s use of this tactic is so alarming—and what might happen when this goes to the Supreme Court.
20 min
9
Raging Trump Suddenly Facing Worsening Legal Lo...
As Trump faces mounting failures in court on some of his most critical initiatives, a legal observer explains why there’s reason to be temporarily heartened by what we’re seeing—and why it could all soon go very wrong.
18 min
10
Fox News Accidentally Makes RFK Fiasco at Heari...
As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Implodes spectacularly under questioning, a media observer explains how Fox News’s coverage of the affair revealed just how precarious Trump’s political position has truly become.
25 min
11
Epstein Survivor Nukes Trump in Emotional Speec...
As pressure mounts on Trump and the GOP to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, a senior House Democrat explains why Republicans will have a very hard time maintaining the cover-up for much longer.
23 min
12
Trump’s Angry, Crazed Rants to Media Unnerve Le...
As Trump seethes at a court ruling that his occupation of L.A. was illegal, former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade explains why the ruling was so on point—and why his response signals a frightening escalation.
21 min
13
Trump Threat to Occupy Cities Takes Ominous Tur...
As the GOP rallies behind Trump’s vow to send the military into more blue areas, a media observer explains how the press is botching the politics of the story—and why that’s making Dems reluctant to take it on.
20 min
14
Trump Press Sec’s Dimwitted Spin Implodes as RF...
As Karoline Leavitt struggles to defend RFK Jr.’s purging of the Centers for Disease Control, a governing expert explains the enormity of the stakes involved in Trump’s destruction of our public health system.
22 min
15
Trump Explodes in Rage as Dem Governor’s Harsh ...
As the Illinois Governor infuriates Trump with an extraordinary response to his threat to send troops into Chicago, a political writer argues that pundits are wrong: Dems can challenge Trump on this issue—and win.
23 min
16
Trump Is Screwing His Voters So Badly that it S...
As startling new information about Trump’s policies angers a GOP lawmaker, a Democratic organizer in rural areas explains how badly his agenda is hurting people in these places—and how Dems can capitalize.
20 min
17
Trump’s Fury Erupts in Many Directions, Unnervi...
As Trump’s threats escalate on numerous fronts, a journalist and historian explains how the events of recent days suggest that little by little, our country really is crossing over into authoritarian and/or fascist rule.
21 min
18
Gavin Newsom’s Harsh New Takedown of Trump Will...
As Newsom escalates his warnings about Trump, a critic of Democratic Party failures explains how he’s offering a new approach to the information wars—and why it hints at an answer to MAGA authoritarianism.
26 min
19
JD Vance’s Scamming of Trump Voters Takes Ugly ...
As Vance defends Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill with lies and demagoguery, an economist and Democratic strategist explains how badly the bill shafts Trump voters—and how Democrats can make the GOP pay for it.
24 min
20
Stephen Miller Erupts in Manic Fascist Rant—and...
As Miller unleashes a wild tirade about Trump’s D.C. takeover, a sharp observer of his military occupations explains how he’s ominously consolidating power right before our eyes—and how Dems must fight back.
22 min
21
Trump Press Sec Rages at Media as Putin Mess Si...
As Karoline Leavitt browbeats reporters for failing to hail Trump as a world-historical peacemaker, an international relations expert explains the deeper reasons his handling of the Russia-Ukraine talks is so alarming.
19 min
22
Trump Accidentally Lets Slip Dark Truth about H...
As Trump says too much while unveiling his new push to end mail voting, a leading expert on right wing dirty tricks explains how he and the GOP hope to cheat and gerrymander their way to victory in the midterms.
22 min
23
Trump’s Angry New “Dictator” Rant to Media Alar...
As Trump’s ugly ramblings about his militarization of D.C. get worse, prominent legal observer Joyce Vance explains how and why this is all heading to a very dark place—and what we must do to stop it.
17 min
24
Best of the Daily Blast: Trump Hit by Harsh Tak...
As Trump gets harshly roasted on “The View” and the White House threatens retaliation in response, a skillful decoder of MAGA explains how this saga exposes his deep weaknesses—political and psychological alike.
22 min
25
Best of the Daily Blast: Trump’s Rage at Obama ...
As President Trump’s threats to prosecute Barack Obama fly off the rails and experts in democracy grow more alarmed, a scholar of democratic breakdown explains how we know authoritarian rule is now upon us.
28 min