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
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.
25 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 22min
Why Trump Abandoned America First
Tommy Vietor, former National Security Council spokesperson and co-host of Pod Save the World, joins to unpack how Trump’s America First promise collided with growing interventionist impulses. They trace covert operations turning into larger strikes, debate neoconservative alignment with Trump, and explore political and economic fallout as the GOP embraces a more hawkish posture.
24 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 24min
The Cost Of War Is More Than Oil
Mark Kelly, U.S. senator from Arizona and retired Navy captain, brings military and oversight experience. He discusses accountability for a deadly strike, confusion in administration messaging, targeting and civilian casualty concerns, the strategic rationale for fighting Iran, and links between the conflict and fuel prices.
28 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 28min
Trump, Iran And A Brewing Economic Crisis
Matt Berg, Washington correspondent who tracks global headlines, and Rogé Karma, Atlantic staff writer focused on labor and the economy. They dig into sudden February job losses and messy revisions. They trace how tariffs, pandemic scarring, and war-driven oil shocks froze hiring. They compare present risks to 1970s stagflation and weigh how Iran escalation and funding fights could tip the balance.
27 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 23min
The War With Iran Has No Exit Plan
Robin Wright, a New Yorker foreign-policy writer on the Middle East and Iran, offers expert analysis. She discusses Mostafa Khamenei’s rise and why it likely means continued hardline rule. She explores damage to Iran’s military and ongoing covert threats. She examines U.S.-Israel differences on objectives and the lack of a clear exit plan.
9 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 21min
Can States Stop Trump’s Election Meddling?
Aaron Ford, Nevada Attorney General and former state legislator who leads voting-rights litigation, breaks down threats to state control of elections. He talks about passport-style ID rules, risks to military and overseas ballots, mail-ballot deadlines, and plans states are using to resist federal overreach. The conversation focuses on legal strategies and preparing for potential nationalization attempts.
