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.
201
Trump Press Sec’s Flattery of Him Goes Awry as ...
As Karoline Leavitt’s apologetics for Trump’s corruption go haywire, a legal writer explains how the White House has now laid bare his deep contempt for public service, the rule of law, and the American people.
19 min
202
Trump Is Screwing His Voters So Badly that It S...
As Trump’s bizarre idea to control soaring prices backfires with farmers, a Democratic organizer in rural areas explains how badly Trump is hammering his own supporters—and why it gives Democrats an opening.
23 min
203
Deep in Texas Trump Country, a “No Kings” Displ...
A New Republic writer who covered a “No Kings” protest in MAGA congressman Chip Roy’s Texas district recounts what she saw—and explains why it amounted to a powerful repudiation of Trumpism.
24 min
204
Trump’s Fury at Dems Goes Nuclear as Crushing N...
As Trump’s anger grows amid another poll slide, Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg explains why Trump’s deep unpopularity should give you solace—even if beating him long term will be a brutal slog.
23 min
205
Trump Boat Bombings Take Darker Turn as Top Off...
As the head of the military’s Southern Command steps down, Adam Smith, the top Armed Services Committee Democrat, sheds new light on the departure—and on Trump’s appalling secrecy about the bombings.
23 min
206
Trump’s Scamming at DOJ Accidentally Exposed by...
As Trump’s wrecking of the rule of law worsens on many fronts, a legal expert explains how Rep. Jim Jordan revealed the bigger swindle underlying Trump’s grand project—and how Trump himself did the same.
22 min
207
Trump Erupts at ABC over Vance On-Air Fiasco as...
As Trump’s exchanges with reporters appear more power-crazed than usual, a sharp observer of our slide into authoritarianism explains why the resistance must find a new kind of response before it’s too late.
25 min
208
MAGA Rage at “No Kings” Boils Over—and It Quick...
As Trump allies smear the coming protests, a good writer on MAGA skewers the absurdity of these attacks on large swaths of Americans—and explains why our best recourse will be to turn out in force.
18 min
209
Trump ICE Raids Take Scarier Turn as Pritzker I...
With Trump’s occupation of Chicago worsening, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker shares new details about what’s happening—and tells us the time is now for Americans to rise up against authoritarianism before it’s too late.
24 min
210
Trump Threats to Jail Foes Take Darker Turn ami...
As ugly new information emerges about Trump’s efforts to prosecute James Comey and other enemies, a former federal prosecutor explains how his corrupt schemes are running into stiff internal resistance.
23 min
211
Marjorie Taylor Greene Just Wrecked Trump’s Ent...
As Greene admits the GOP is screwing the country on health care, a leading congressional scholar explains how Greene accidentally revealed the surprising weakness of Trump’s position in the shutdown standoff.
21 min
212
Trump’s Own Tweet on Portland Backfires as Judg...
As a judge’s blunt ruling blocks Trump from deploying troops in Portland, Oregon’s Attorney General tells us in an interview that Trump’s lawless threats are working against him—and discusses what comes next.
22 min
213
Trump Press Sec Seethes as Fresh Polls Show Him...
As Karoline Leavitt loses her temper under tough questioning about the government shutdown, a writer who closely tracks MAGA explains how all this reveals deepening cracks in Trump’s coalition.
24 min
214
Chris Murphy’s Extraordinary New Takedown of Tr...
The Democratic Senator has taken the lead in drawing attention to Trump’s authoritarianism. In an interview, he offers a stark new warning that should galvanize his fellow Democrats before it’s too late.
21 min
215
Trump Accidentally Admits He Screwed MAGA Voter...
As Trump reveals that his policies are killing MAGA country even as job losses mount, a writer who’s tracking the government shutdown explains why all this bad news should embolden Dems to hang tough.
22 min
216
Trump’s Rants to Generals Spiral into Madness a...
As Trump unleashes dark threats in a speech to the military, the author of a new book on Trump’s rhetoric explains how he and MAGA are supercharging old right wing tropes with a new turn into authoritarianism.
22 min
217
Trump Press Sec’s Vile New Effort to Exploit Mo...
As the White House works to take political advantage of the horrific mass shooting in a Michigan church, an expert on the religious right explains how this illuminates MAGA’s broader Christian Nationalist project.
19 min
218
Trump Is a Weak, Failing President. 5 Brutal Ne...
As new national polls show Trump’s approval tanking, a leading analyst explains how the data shows that Trump is far more unpopular than is commonly acknowledged—and details why this matters for 2026.
21 min
219
Trump’s Push to Jail James Comey Badly Undercut...
As Trump’s demand for prosecution of Comey suddenly looks even more corrupt, the author of a new piece on this travesty explains the deeper stakes of our plunge into lawlessness—and the recourse we have now.
23 min
220
Trump Just Accidentally Wrecked Fox’s Dumb New ...
As Trump threatens to take more action against the comedian, the author of a new piece on his suppression of dissent discusses why this is the stuff of dictators—and how civil society is finally mobilizing in response.
22 min
221
Trump’s Angry, Unhinged Tirades at UN Rattle Ex...
As Trump’s speech to the United Nations slides into grievance and solipsism, a sharp observer of global affairs explains the real and very unnerving message the rest of the world will take from this utter disaster.
24 min
222
Why Trump’s Angry New Tirade at Dems Unnerved E...
As Trump’s latest threat to prosecute Democrats goes awry, a reporter who covers Trumpworld explains how top officials were blindsided by his eruption—and what that says about our side into authoritarian rule.
18 min
223
Trump Drug Boat Bombings Take Darker Turn as Da...
As Trump’s military attacks on supposed drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea get worse, a legal expert explains what we know and what we don’t—and why we may be headed toward even darker lawlessness.
21 min
224
Trump’s Crazed New Rants Make Jimmy Kimmel Mess...
As Trump’s ramblings reveal how corrupt his pressure on ABC to suspend Kimmel really was, The Contrarian’s Jennifer Rubin explains what all this says about his consolidation of power—and how to fight it.
25 min
225
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