So That Happened

This week, President Barack Obama picked Judge Merrick Garland to fill Antonin Scalia's vacant seat on the Supreme Court. But who is Merrick Garland, and why? Answers are coming. Meanwhile, is the Democratic Party still the party of the working class and the little guy? Our guest, Thomas Frank, says this is not the case, and he joins us to talk about it. Finally, Wisconsin Representative Reid Ribble is back with us, talking about his plans to travel to Cuba with President Obama.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, the intensity of the 2016 campaign season ratched up another hundred notches or so. On the Democratic side, a surprise win in Michigan from Bernie Sanders flummoxed the pollsters, boosted the Vermont Senator's chances, and put the Clinton campaign back into arrears. But as life bloomed anew for Sanders, on the Republican side, Florida Senator Marco Rubio looked to be headed to his end, with only one debate left to alter his fortunes in Florida. Full coverage of these races are on the way. Meanwhile, the Flint water crisis has shone a despairing light on what life is like in poorer cities, and the infrastructural problems that need fixing across the nation. But now that the Michigan primary is over and Flint is no longer a campaign talking point, are we poised to forget about our nation's lead pipe problem just as attention is cresting? Finally, the biggest threat to reproductive freedoms in two decades is currently before the Supreme Court, and it comes in the form of some restrictions on...

This week, we had a Tuesday that some would say was far more super than most other Tuesdays, as voters in eleven states took to the polls to weigh in on who should be the presidential nominees. But beyond the winners and losers, what we learned from Super Tuesday is that big realignments are afoot for both the Republicans and the Democrats. Meanwhile, we put a spotlight on the War on Terror this week. Joining us is Amal Alderat, whose father and brother, both Libyan-American businessmen, were detained by the United Arab Emirates in 2014, jailed, and brutally tortured. Our big question: Why are two Americans being tortured by a US ally, and what does this portend for our ongoing strategy in Libya? Finally, we welcome comedian Anthony Atamaniuk who has been touring the country with James Adomian as the two men offer the nation their take on a Trump vs. Bernie debate. We'll talk about what inspired Tony to take up the task of imitating Donald Trump, and his very real fears of a Trump presidency.  See

This week, one of President Barack Obama's oldest campaign promises -- his pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility -- is back in the news after the Pentagon put forth the latest version of a plan to finally fulfill this commitment. Meanwhile, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder is coming to Washington to testify about the Flint Water Crisis. We'll talk to one member of that committee about the extent to which Snyder is himself culpable for the poisoning of Flint's citizens. Finally, Alexis Goldstein joins us to talk about a great new plan from DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schutlz that would gut a new rule from Elizabeth Warren's consumer financial protection bureau that would regulate the predators in the payday loan business.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, the passing of Supreme Court Justice has created yet another opportunity for a gigantic political meltdown between President Barack Obama and his opponents in the Senate, as well as a new round of talking points for candidates on the campaign trail. We'll explain where battle lines have been drawn and what's likely to happen next. Meanwhile, our guest this week is Maryland State Senator and law professor Jamie Raskin, who's gotten into the crowded Democratic primary to replace Representative Chris Van Hollen in Maryland's 8th District. He'll make his case for why he belongs getting the nomination over some well funded, but less experienced opponents. Finally, we've been talking on this show about the dangers to the economy posed by Too Big To Fail banks, and we have some good news to report: our overwhelmingly sound arguments have convinced former bailout czar and current president of the Minneapolis Fed Neel Kashkari to join us. This was pretty unexpected, but now we're gonna gloat.  S

This week, the 2016 campaign went to New Hampshire for the Granite State's first in the nation primaries, and after all the hoopla, we ended up with the blowout wins for Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders that the polls predicted. Meanwhile, payday lenders are scammy, terrible scourge on this earth, preying on the poor in order to profit from consuming their incomes in a cycle of indebtedness. But in the state of Mississippi, there's new hope for everyone who'd like to see these predators brought to heel. Finally, we circle back to another big story -- the Flint lead-water crisis. This time we're talking about something positive: specifically how Flint's residents and local activists may actually achieve something that's been lacking in other similar lead water crises around the country -- namely, accountability.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Zephyr Teachout wants in! The Fordham law professor has set her sights on New York's 19th District's House seat. Meanwhile, Reid Ribble wants out! The reform-minded Wisconsin Republican announced that he'd be retiring from the House at the end of the year. We'll chat him up about the 2016 scene, his plans for his last year, and what he hopes life after government is like. And Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy joins us to talk about reforming the U.S. relationship with the brutal and warlike regime in Saudi Arabia. Finally, the presidential race has finished its sojourn in Iowa, and the moveable feast moves on to New Hampshire. We'll discuss everything we learned about voters and the numbers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

So, that happened. This week, we have interviews galore. First up, Hollywood Director Adam McKay. Next up, award-winning author and Atlantic reporter-slash-essayist Ta-Nehisi Coates is on hand to offer his perspective on about reparations, Reconstruction, and the Democratic primary. Finally, Florida Representative and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has drawn an opponent in her Democratic primary. We talk to her challenger, Tim Canova. You can listen to our show at itunes.com/panoply or itunes.com/sothathappened or by searching for "so that happened" on stitcher.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

So, that happened. The water crisis in Flint, Michigan has reached a fever pitch, as 2016 candidates weigh in and various emergency declarations get made. We're going to step away from the sideshow this week and attempt to figure out how all of this actually came to pass. Joining us to discuss this is a man who was there when the fateful decisions got made, former Flint City Councilman Josh Freeman. Meanwhile, we are mere days away from the Iowa Caucus, and across this land, the geek show is in full effect. The GOP is slowly starting to cotton to the notion that they may have to accept Donald Trump, even as he uses Sarah Palin to rub their faces in their failings. And the Democratic side of the ledger has taken a veer into edgy chaos as well. We go searching for constants in a race where the norms have slipped and the scripts have flipped. Finally, Washington DC played host to the U.S. Conference of Mayors this week, and the scene was more electric than usual. Flint's lead pipes, Baltimore's inequality... &

So, that happened. Another GOP debate is in the books, as the remnants of the Establishment do battle to preserve their bid against the firebrands currently dominating the race. And what of those two firebrands? Will Donald Trump successfully paint Ted Cruz as...Canadian? Your Huffington Post team is in full effect with post-debate analysis Meanwhile, as a wise man once said, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. Or something. The point is, President Barack Obama delivered his final State Of The Union this week, and like all States of the Union, it was mostly pageantry. What's the point of these things anyway? We'll talk to one camera shy member of Congress, our pal Wisconsin Representative Reid Ribble, about what these addresses are like when you're in the midst of them. Finally, here's a phrase you might have heard if you'd been tuning in to the Democratic debates: "reinstall Glass Steagall." Is this some home repair tip, where you take your plastic Steagal out and put in a glass... &

This week, President Barack Obama has kicked off 2016 by issuing a new set of executive actions intended to reduce the number of people who end up as casualties to America's gun culture. But it's an open question as to how significant, and how lasting, these orders will be. Joining us to discuss this is Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy. Meanwhile, out on the 2016 campaign trail, Hillary Clinton has launched some hot broadsides against Bernie Sanders' Wall Street policies. Which is...very strange? It's not where Sanders is vulnerable and, if I recall correctly, Clinton is routing Sanders in most of the primary polls. So why make these attacks at all? We will try to figure it out. Finally, for food stamps beneficiaries, 2016 could be a troublesome year, as Congressional desire to kick people out of the program continues to run a few miles ahead of where the economic recovery really is. Now, hundreds of thousands of Americans face a new year of unexpected and unnecessary food insecurity. We'll talk with one... &

This week, it's time to bid farewell to an old year and move on to a new one. And in a few short months, at last, we'll have the Iowa Caucus -- you know, when the story we spent all of 2015 talking about finally starts. Some things don't change, though: the GOP, with Donald Trump, is having a hot mic moment. But is this a dark cloud or a silver lining? Joining us to discuss is our friend Ana Marie Cox of the Daily Beast and the New York Times and the Brouhaha podcast.Meanwhile, you know who else has a lot of unfinished business here at the end of the year? Congress, who continues to leave an absurd number of judicial vacancies unfilled. What, this again? Ahh, but it gets even dumber -- remember how we're at war with ISIS? If you answered yes, could you maybe run for office? Finally, what other burning questions do we have about the coming year? Did Wall Street leave us any money? Will a grand jury ever indict a police officer? Will Zach Carter move out of his tent into a real apartment? Finally we can...

This week, it's Christmas, and we're celebrating the holidays by talking about our favorite Christmas movies, and adding a lot of silly economic and political wonkery. What do our Christmas entertainments teach us about our life and times? Let's find out. Meanwhile, in America, you can't have Christmas without also having a war on Christmas. So how did this year's war go? Here to discuss everything from blood red Starbucks cups to the Lifetime Channel's quick shots of false Yuletide hope is comedy writer and reporter Katla McGlynn. Finally, you know what the best gift we received all year was? A government agency not shot through with grotesque regulatory capture. Our pal Alexis Goldstein joins us to discuss what a mitzvah the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, the Mayor of Flint, Michigan declared a state of emergency over the amount of lead that's been in the city's drinking water. But why did it take so long? Joining us to talk about it is the woman who's been beating the drum about this emergency for months, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha. Meanwhile, for months, political observers have been struggling to understand what it is about Donald Trump that has made him so appealing. Well, for once we're going right to the source -- a self-professed Trump admirer who appreciates the Donald's message -- even if he's not yet ready to actually cast a vote for him. Finally, we got debates! The GOP candidates met out in Las Vegas to talk National Security this week. We'll break down who helped their own cause, and who's headed for the exits. Also, there's another Democratic debate coming up…on a Saturday night. Do the Democrats even want people to watch?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Donald Trump said some crazy stuff -- but what does it matter? How to solve a problem like Donald Trump? We've got guests who'll do their best to answer just that including Wisconsin Republican Congressman Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wisc), and writer and podcaster Ana Marie Cox. Meanwhile, Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders seem to want to have a serious debate over the future of the Democratic party. So why doesn't the Democratic party want anyone to watch? Can Clinton's plan to rein in Wall Street immunize her against the charges that she's under their thumb. Also: Martin O'Malley will be there. Finally, Congress needs to pass an omnibus funding bill to keep the government from shutting down -- again. Last time we did this, some big banks used the leverage to make off with some of your money and paid no price for the extortion. So guess what's happening this time, just guess!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we live through the horrors of two mass shootings -- one in Colorado Springs, one in San Bernadino. We'll fight this battle of broken records with our August 28 interview with Senator Chris Murphy. In hopeful news, world leaders have assembled in Paris to discuss the next steps to combat climate change, and observers are coming away feeling fairly optimistic about what's unfolding. And closer to home, a few lawmakers have hit upon one of those small ideas that make a big difference -- a way to help working class parents make ends meet by providing them with diapers, a product that poor parents spend an astonishing portion of their income procuring. Joining us to discuss this is Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) Meanwhile, in Washington, a big winner has emerged in the fight to pass a highway funding bill and, naturally, it's an obscure bank with enough lobbying clout to get key lawmakers to just hand it money. Finally, the ostensible mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, is presiding over the...

This week, it's Thanksgiving, and we've got a diverse array of guests around our table. Here to join us to talk about his biennial budgeting reform proposal, Wisconsin Representative Reed Ribble. And giving us a lesson in how to get along with everyone at Thanksgiving dinner is the host of the Brouhaha podcast, our pal Ana Marie Cox. Meanwhile, by the time you hear this, it will be Black Friday. Do you remember when Black Friday didn't use to start on Thanksgiving Day? We'll talk about the backlash that's beginning to brew behind the retail industry's most evil invention.Finally, it's becoming more and more clear that Donald Trump intends to make angry, racist, lying the centerpiece of his campaign. Now, a group of Republicans have ordered the Code Red, forming one of those shady dark money organizations just to stop Trump. But what if RNC's Chair Reince Priebus' worst fear is realized, and Trump runs as a third party candidate?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's been a week since a cell of European ISIS-supporting death cultists launched a horrific attack on the city of Paris. None of us would be here were it not for France, we are going to try to do right by them. But why have so many American politicians chosen this moment to demonize the most defenseless people on the planet, refugees from war-torn Syria? We'll talk about this with Massacusetts Representative Jim McGovern. Meanwhile, what do the terrorists of the so-called Islamic State hope to gain by attacking Parisiens? As it turns out, there's something very specific that they hope to destroy called the "Grayzone of coexistence." So what does that mean? We shall explain as best we can.Finally, while the world's been watching Paris, your Congresscritters have moved a law through the House of Representatives that would make it easier for auto dealers to practice racial discrimination in the issuance of car loans. And guess what? This passed with massive bipartisan support. It's the latest chapter in a... &#

This week, students at the University of Missouri, angry about the school's indifference to racist incidents on campus, forced the resignation of the anthropomorphic shrug emoticon that had managed to become the school’s president. What next? Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, the GOP met for their fourth debate and, it didn't end in tears and angry remonstrations like the last debate -- but are we any closer to a candidate? Finally, it was a big week for the Fight for $15 movement, with their fast food strike earning them a place at the GOP debate. It wasn't a good week for those who want to close Guantanamo Bay prison, with Congress once again throwing barriers in front of one of President Obama's oldest campaign promises. We'll figure out what happens next.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, the GOP candidates, furious at the rough treatment they received at the hands of CNBC, rebelled against the debate process. The first casualty of all this nonsense was a debate scheduled to take place on Telemundo. It's just one of a series of slights suffered by the Latino community so far this election cycle. Meanwhile, if you've ever applied for a job, you've seen the box on the application, asking you to detail any history of criminal conviction. This week, President Obama ordered Federal agencies to remove that from their forms, joining a growing, bipartisan movement to "ban the box.”Finally, the 2015 election is over and in Kentucky the big loser wasn't Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Jack Conway -- though he did lose. Rather, it was the thousands of poor Kentuckians who now might lose their health insurance as a result of Republican Matt Bevin's ascension. Will this finally be the moment Democrats realize that they are functionally dead as a party at state-level? Probably not!  Se