How China Passed The “Jello” Test For Suppressing Democracy

Briefing the press, framing the President's agenda, and deciding on the political messaging of a presidency are all part of the job for the White House Press Secretary.On Today's Show:Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary, MSNBC host, and the author of Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World (Simon & Schuster, 2024), offers advice on effective communication in Washington, and beyond.

Why are "grievances" big and small motivating so much of our politics -- on both the left and the right, and what does it mean for democracy?On Today's Show:Frank Bruni, New York Times op-ed columnist and the author of The Age of Grievance (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2024), discusses.

After reporting from some of the most troubled corners of the earth, our guest discusses the intersection of hope, and journalism.On Today's Show:Nicholas Kristof, opinion columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including the new memoir Chasing Hope (Penguin Random House, 2024), reflects on his long career covering tough stories, including war, genocide and addiction, and explains how he remains optimistic despite it all.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer and incumbent Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who are vying for the Democratic nomination in New York's 16th Congressional district.On Today's Show:Tara Rosenblum, anchor, host and reporter for News 12, and Chris McKenna, reporter at The Journal News and lohud.com, recap the debate in what Politico called, "likely the most contentious in the nation."

Amid back-and-forth over declined ceasefire terms, we look at the US's position on the conflict in Gaza.On Today's Show:Francesca Chambers, a White House Correspondent for USA Today, talks about the news from Washington and beyond.

Nicholas Wu, Politico congressional reporter, talks about the latest news coming out of Congress, including the bipartisan vote that kept Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House.

President Biden is staking his legacy, and his reelection campaign, on massive amounts of domestic spending, spurred by the passage of four major laws. But a Politico analysis found billions of dollars Congress approved by passing these bills has not yet been spent.On Today's Show:Jessie Blaeser, data reporter at Politico, and Ben Storrow, reporter at Politico's E&E News, explain the delays, and why they are a threat both to the president's legacy and his reelection.

What does it mean that global forces like China and Russia and the domestic MAGA movement are working to discredit democracy?On Today's Show:Anne Applebaum, staff writer atThe Atlantic, historian and author of the forthcomingAutocracy Inc. (Penguin, 2024), talks about herAtlanticcover story, “Democracy Is Losing the Propaganda War," about the rise of autocracy around the world.

Congress has taken on the "complicated" task of legislating antisemitism. Annie Karni, congressional correspondent at The New York Times, talks about the latest national political news of the week, including legislation that recently passed the House on antisemitism, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's latest attempt to oust Speaker Mike Johnson and more. 

The Department of Justice plans to change the way the federal government classifies cannabis, which will loosen restrictions on weed. Natalie Fertig, federal cannabis policy reporter for Politico, reports on the change, including how it will affect people, businesses and research in states where cannabis is legal (and not).