What A Day
What A Day
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
11 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 20min
Gen Z Is Angsty: Here's Why
A candid conversation about why many young voters swung in 2024 and whether that shift will last. Hunger, housing insecurity, stagnant job markets, and the struggle of recent grads come into sharp focus. The discussion covers apprenticeships, job-training, and public works as policy responses. They also dig into AI's threat to jobs, local impacts of AI data centers, and U.S. pressure on Cuba.
11 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 25min
The Great Social Media Reckoning
Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, joins to discuss the rising backlash against tech. He talks about recent jury verdicts holding platforms accountable, how public opinion has shifted about youth harms, and possible policy fixes like age limits and design changes. The conversation focuses on liability, addiction framing, and what stricter rules could mean for social media users.
25 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 22min
Democrats Add Tax Cuts To Affordability Agenda
Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator from Maryland known for fiscal and tax policy work, outlines a plan to cut taxes for middle- and lower-income Americans. He discusses funding those cuts with a millionaire surtax and supports wealth taxes to shore up Social Security and Medicare. He also weighs in on DHS funding, immigration enforcement, and condemns escalation in Iran.
11 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 24min
What Is ICE Really Doing In Airports?
Andrea Flores, former DHS official and founder of Securing America’s Promise, brings insider perspective on immigration policy. She breaks down why ICE at airports feels political and not equipped for TSA tasks. They talk about enforcement risks around crowded lines, mask-related fear, and how deployments shape funding fights and immigration enforcement trends.
10 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 25min
The Iran War Is Fueling Antisemitism
Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent at Vox who covers politics and policy, digs into how anti-war rhetoric is bleeding into antisemitism. He traces conspiratorial claims that blame Israel and American Jews for U.S. policy. He explains how both right and left narratives can slip into dangerous territory and why this matters amid rising violence.
16 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 26min
The Uncertain Fate of America’s Dreamers
Matt Berg, Crooked Media Washington correspondent who delivers headline reporting, and Laura Barrón-López, MSNBC White House reporter focused on immigration, discuss the uncertain fate of DACA recipients. They cover arrests and detention stories, renewal and legal limits of DACA, pressure to self-deport, and why only Congress can offer a permanent solution.
20 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 26min
Can Trump's FCC Manufacture War Propaganda?
Matt Berg, Washington correspondent covering heated Senate hearings and political headlines. Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters analyzing media behavior and FCC moves. They dig into Brendan Carr’s threats to broadcasters and what license enforcement could mean for journalism. Also covered: tense confirmation hearings, global intelligence testimony, and a New York Times investigation into Cesar Chavez.
21 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 27min
MAGA Meltdown Over Trump’s War
Matt Berg, Crooked Media Washington correspondent, offers on-air political reporting. Jonathan Lemire, Atlantic staff writer and Morning Joe co-host, brings national political analysis. They unpack Joe Kent’s resignation over the Iran war and its significance for the MAGA right. They also discuss Chief Justice Roberts’ warning about attacks on judges, the Save America Act’s pressure on Senate leaders, and Kash Patel’s Quantico optics.
20 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 23min
Meet Trump's Pick To Lead DHS
Burgess Everett, Congressional bureau chief at Semafor who covers Capitol Hill and nominations, breaks down Markwayne Mullin’s contentious DHS nomination. Short takes cover Mullin’s background, why Trump picked him, the Senate hearing dynamics, the DHS funding stalemate, and other Hill battles to watch this week.
21 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 21min
Can Big Oil Grease The Courts?
Mike Meno, communications director at the Center for Climate Integrity and climate accountability advocate. He digs into municipal lawsuits against oil and gas companies. He outlines evidence of industry deception. He explains why Big Oil asked the Supreme Court to intervene and the political and legislative moves to shield companies.
