CNN One Thing

Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California has long been a target of President Donald Trump dating back to Trump’s first impeachment trial. Now he is reportedly under investigation by Trump’s Justice Department for mortgage fraud (allegations Schiff denies). In a conversation recorded live at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, Schiff explains how he is preparing for possible legal action, how Democrats should respond if they take back the House of Representatives in the midterms, and if they have the right leadership in place to effectively push back against what he sees as a corrupt administration. ---  Guest: Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz is set to fully reopen on Friday after Iran and the US sign a memo of understanding to end hostilities that will end the war and kickstart further negotiations. But will it bring down gas prices for American drivers – and when? We look at the complicated business of unwinding a war’s unintended consequences.  For more: The tanks in Cushing, Oklahoma, are hitting bottom. The oil market is about to hit a tipping point  ---  Guest: David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Chris Isidore Photo By: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The recent Pentagon releases of declassified files detailing sightings of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) has piqued the interest of UFO enthusiasts and curious Americans alike. But despite increased transparency, a lack of hard evidence remains. Why do many of us want to believe there is intelligent life out there somewhere? And if scientists found that evidence, would we even accept it?  ---  Guest: Adam Frank, University of Rochester astrophysicist   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Mario Tama/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A scheduled UFC fight at the White House on Sunday is being billed as a kickoff for America’s 250th birthday celebrations. But some critics are calling it a disrespectful money grab, and those who follow combat sports closely believe it is just an extension of a relationship that has served both sides financially and politically for years. So beyond the optics of the octagon, what purpose does this event serve? And can it help Trump and the GOP win back young male voters?  For more: Young men are leaving Trump. Can a UFC fight at the White House get them back in the ring?  ---  Guests: Francisco Muñiz & Luke Thomas  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Kit Maher Photo by: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dramatic shakeup of 60 Minutes under CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss culminated this week in the firing of longtime correspondent Scott Pelley. He, and some other employees who have recently left, have accused management of editorial interference in an effort to curry favor with the Trump administration (claims CBS denies). So is this a long overdue shakeup of an aging medium, or a sign of corporate media meddling? And what does it mean for the rest of the content we consume on TV?  ---  Guest: Brian Stelter, CNN Chief Media Analyst  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early on in his second term, President Donald Trump called for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eliminated. Now, the White House appears to be cleaning up the mess left behind at the agency by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who sources say fostered a culture of fear, distrust, and operational chaos (an official who claims he teleported to a Waffle House also made an appearance). But with Atlantic hurricane season upon us, will FEMA be ready to answer the call after the next big disaster?  For more: Exclusive: Power struggles and paralysis: Inside FEMA’s lost year as storm season approaches  ---  Guest: Gabe Cohen, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo By:  Al Drago/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erin Brockovich rose to fame after the release of a 2000 Hollywood movie, starring Julia Roberts, which told the story of her real-life fight to bring justice to a small town affected by a utility company’s pollution. Now, she is lending her voice to the growing opposition to AI data centers, which tech companies say are needed to fuel economic growth and national security. But who is the true villain in this story?  For more: Why Utah residents are protesting a massive AI data center project backed by Kevin O’Leary  ---  Guest: Elizabeth Martorana & Erin Brockovich, consumer advocate  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo By: Alan Freed/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FIFA expects more than 6 million soccer fans will descend on North America in less than 3 weeks for the 2026 World Cup. But amid cuts to public health programs under the Trump administration, will Ebola, hantavirus or measles join the crowds? We hear from an infectious disease specialist leading a new initiative that will track public health threats during the tournament.  For more: Exclusive: Trump admin shutting key US researchers out of global virus response talks, documents and sources reveal  ---  Guest: Rebecca Katz, Director of Georgetown University Center for Global Health Science & Security  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Deidre McPhillips Photo By:  Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephen Colbert signed off from the “Late Show” for the final time Thursday after CBS ended the iconic late night franchise. While many believe his criticism of President Donald Trump played a factor, the network insists it was purely a financial decision. But can political comedy and media consolidation coexist? And how will pressure from Trump’s FCC influence broadcasters going forward? A working comedian weighs in.  For more: watch ‘The Last Laugh: Stephen Colbert’  ---  Guest: Michael Ian Black, “Have I Got News for You” team captain  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Support: Sophie Tran  Photo By: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a gunman killed two children and injured 27 others at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis at the start of the school year, parents, teachers, and students have been left to pick up the pieces. It is a process that might feel familiar to countless other communities who have encountered school shootings, but what does it look like for these families? How do you live the rest of your life after everything changes? CNN went to Minneapolis to find out.  For more: The shooting finally stopped. Then came everything else. ---  Guest: Michelle Krupa, CNN Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Emily Smith  Photo: Liam James Doyle for CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From tariffs to tough talk, President Donald Trump has long positioned himself on being tougher on China than any US president. Now, he heads to Beijing for a high-stakes state visit needing their help on a massive political problem: the war with Iran. We look at how both sides might navigate this moment and how Trump's pressure campaign may have helped China prepare for this moment of global instability.  For more: The shadowy network of Chinese oil refineries funding Iran  ---  Guest: Simone McCarthy, CNN Senior China Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the urging of President Donald Trump, multiple Republican-led states in the South have move quickly to redraw congressional maps in the wake of the Supreme Court decision last month that critics say will significantly weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In Louisiana, the Black congressman who represents the district at the heart of that Supreme Court case says Democrats can't stand by and need to act. So what happens now? And with the midterms less than six months away, how could it impact voters across the country?  For more: How the Republicans pulling ahead in the redistricting war affects the midterms  ---  Guest: Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Ethan Cohen Photo by: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of CNN One Thing, we look back on the life and legacy of CNN founder and media pioneer Ted Turner. Photo: CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump has amplified (and been the subject of) many conspiracy theories during his time as a public figure. Online speculation, without evidence, that recent assassination attempts against him in Butler, Pennsylvania and the White House Correspondent’s dinner were staged have only grown in recent weeks. But the conversation around the death and disappearance of multiple top government scientists is perhaps the most curious item to grab Trump’s attention – in part because of the path it took to get to his desk. We look at how the story reached the White House and why conspiracy theories continue to fester in the age of Trump.  For more: How a speculative story about dead and missing scientists went from the fringe to the White House  ---  Guest: T.M. Brown, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: David McNew/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the killings of two American citizens in Minneapolis and the firing of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation is attempting a bit of a reset. From calling ICE agents “NICE” agents on social media to reducing visible presence on the streets, it’s clear new Secretary Markwayne Mullin wants federal agents out of the spotlight. But are the goals of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation push any different? Plus, we hear from someone caught in the middle of the administration’s crackdown on legal immigration.  For more: Exclusive: Trump moves to accelerate deportations of migrant children in US custody  ---  Guest: Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

King Charles is in the midst of a four-day state visit to the US to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. The visit comes at a time when US-UK relations are notably strained, thanks to the war with Iran and calls for greater Jeffrey Epstein-related accountability. But President Donald Trump is usually receptive to royalty – so will this trip help mend fences, or give European allies more to worry about?  For more: Epstein scandal lingers in background of King Charles’ visit to Washington  ---  Guest: Jack Blanchard, POLITICO Playbook Author/Managing Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Henry Nichols/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman are set to face off in court this week in a case centered on OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model. Musk alleges Altman and his company have strayed from their founding mission to develop artificial intelligence for the good of humanity rather than corporate profit (OpenAI denies the allegations). But is this just petty billionaire beef, or could it tell us something about our own AI futures? ---  Guest: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Carlos Barria/Kenny Holston/Pool/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday aimed at beefing up research of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine that could be used in mental health treatments. Some veterans and people who have struggled with addiction who have used ibogaine say this could be a breakthrough that could lead to wider access, but some medical experts are warning approvals shouldn’t be rushed. We hear why a leading advocate group says while it’s a good start – much more has to be done.  For more: Trump accelerates research on psychedelic treatments and asks, ‘Can I have some?’  ---  Guests: Samantha Juan & Melissa Lavasani, Psychedelic Medicine Coalition Founder/CEO  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katherine Dillinger Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roughly 95,000 employees left federal science agencies between September 2024 and December 2025, according to the Partnership for Public Service. Former NASA climate scientist Kate Marvel recently joined that group, citing the administration’s funding cuts and attacks on climate and environmental regulations in her resignation letter. However, she remains hopeful about the future of the study of climate change – if her fellow scientists are willing to get angry about it.  For more: Trump admin is pulling supercomputers out of key weather and climate research center  ---  Guest: Kate Marvel, former NASA climate scientist  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Andrew Freedman Photo: Reid Wiseman/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, US Vice President JD Vance was dispatched abroad for a pair of high-profile assignments. But after stumping for Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister suffered a huge election loss and marathon talks Vance led to end the war with Iran wrapped up without a deal. So what does this say about the political power of the MAGA movement’s heir apparent? And how does someone shaped by Catholicism feel about President Donald Trump’s beef with the Pope?  For more: How Vance is navigating peace talks with Iran — and his own political future  ---  Guest: Alayna Treene, CNN White House Correspondent   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration’s effort to build a national citizen database is running into roadblocks in court and alarming some election officials on both sides of the aisle. But what is this data for? And how could it be used? We hear from one election official about why he’s pushing back, and look at how election integrity concerns are playing out in other parts of the country.  For more: Trump is trying to build a massive voter database. Election officials are afraid of what he’ll do with it  ---  Guests: David Yates, Jefferson County (KY) Clerk & Tierney Sneed, CNN Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Photo: Carlos Osorio/Reuters/File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The firing of the US Army chief of staff and two other generals is just the latest personnel shakeup under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But why do this during wartime? We examine whether disagreements between Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll are behind the move, and how Hegseth’s ongoing fixation on so-called “culture wars” and loyalty could impact service members.  For more: Trump and Hegseth on Iran war: ‘God is good’  ---  Guest: Haley Britzky, CNN National Security Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amid a stalled Surgeon General nomination, a federal court ruling striking down vaccine overhauls (at least for now), and anger from ‘Make America Healthy Again’ activists, some are wondering whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lost his grip on the movement that helped propel President Donald Trump back to the White House. We hear from one activist outraged by an executive order about weedkiller who says some voters “will not be coming back.” Plus, what’s going on with all the whole milk hype videos?  For more: How RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda keeps hitting roadblocks  ---  Guests: Kelly Ryerson, ‘Glyphosate Girl’ & Sarah Owermohle, CNN Health Policy Reporter  Host/Producer: David Rind  Senior Producer: Matt Martinez  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A crew of four astronauts are preparing for a historic mission that will take them around the far side of the moon and back, the furthest human space travel in more than 50 years. Like any space mission, the run-up has been filled with delays and safety concerns, but experts say this mission is a key part of an ambitious plan from the Trump administration to establish a lunar colony and eventually visit Mars. But is any of this feasible? And can Americans still be inspired like they were during the Space Race of the 1960s? For more: Why haven’t humans been back to the moon in over 50 years?  ---  Guest: Pam Melroy, former astronaut & NASA Deputy Administrator  Host/Producer: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Sam Lott/NASA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A California jury found Meta and YouTube liable on all counts in a case that accused the tech giants of intentionally addicting a young woman and injuring her mental health. Experts say the landmark decision could open the door to a flood of other litigation that could reshape how these companies operate. But will anything actually change? We also hear from one of the hundreds of other plaintiffs suing social media companies who are hoping this verdict bodes well for them.  Note: this episode contains discussions of eating disorders.  For more: Listen to CNN’s “Terms of Service” podcast  ---  Guest: Caroline Koziol & Clare Duffy, CNN Tech Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Mike Blake/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war with Iran has sent shockwaves through the global oil markets and jacked up gas prices in the US. But it has also caused a surge in fertilizer prices, which is straining US farmers who were already dealing with the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. We hear from one Iowa soybean and corn farmer who says his industry is suffering from the Trump administration’s self-inflicted wounds.   For more: Fertilizer prices bring more pain for American farmers amid war in Iran  ---  Guest: Joshua Manske, Iowa soybean and corn farmer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Gordon Ebanks Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Prediction markets are opening new doors to bet on pretty much anything - even outcomes during war. But things can get pretty heated when money is on the line, and now at least one state is stepping in to accuse a major prediction market of running an illegal gambling operation. WIRED’s Kate Knibbs talks about the “casino-ification” of everything and what this could mean for the future of politics and betting.    For more: Iran-related bets on prediction sites scrutinized over ‘death markets’ and possible insider trades  ---  Guests: Jesus Martinez & Kate Knibbs, WIRED Senior Writer   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not been shy about how his Christian faith has shaped him. However, some activists fear his views could be encroaching on the secular military in unprecedented ways and influencing how commanders are framing the war in Iran. We explore a controversial pastor connected to Hegseth who is leading a growing movement rooted in Christian nationalism and the idea that women should be “submissive” to their husbands.  For more: Inside one pastor’s crusade for Christian domination in the age of Trump  ---  Guests: Pamela Brown, CNN Anchor/Chief Investigative Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Shoshana Dubnow Photo: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took a chainsaw to the federal government, slashing jobs and cutting programs in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. While it did not reduce spending, current and former government officials tell CNN that some of the cuts are hampering government readiness amid the Iran war. Now, the government is looking to ramp up hiring again – but only with workers who align with the Trump administration’s priorities. We hear from a former federal worker about how last year’s cuts impacted her, and from an expert who says he's concerned about adding more political appointees to the mix.  For more: ‘A shell of our former self’: How Trump and Musk’s spending cuts are hampering US government readiness amid the Iran war  ---  Guests: Melissa Patsalides & Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service President and CEO  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Tami Luhby Photo: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil. As a result, ships are stuck and gas prices are climbing in the US. We look at the Trump administration’s possible solutions, and the key psychological benchmark that could push their political problem to a breaking point.  For more: The grim choice facing the Trump administration: Economic or naval collapse?  ---  Guests: Martín Izaguirre Salgado & David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Vanessa Yurkevich Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anger directed at OpenAI is spreading after it struck a deal with the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after its rival, Anthropic, refused. OpenAI said it had shared Anthropic’s concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, so why did they sign? And what does this mean for other companies looking to do business with the Trump administration?  For more: Some OpenAI staff are fuming about its Pentagon deal  ---  Guests: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent & Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: WH Pool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Iran continues to retaliate against the US and Israel, civilians in major Gulf countries are caught in the crossfire. Will these nations be forced to respond? And do they have the military firepower needed to keep up? We break down what we can learn from the military operations thus far and look at how an Iranian power vacuum could complicate the endgame.  For more: The rationale for striking Iran was already a mess. Trump just made it worse.  ---  Guests: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Chief International Security Correspondent & Mark Kimmitt, Brigadier General (Ret.)  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Natasha Maguder, Natalie Wright Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After months of planning, the US and Israel struck Iran as part of a massive operation aimed at unseating the hardline Iranian regime. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, according to Israeli sources. Iran has retaliated, hitting US military bases and major population centers across the region. So how long will the conflict last? And is regime change even feasible? We break down what we know as of Saturday afternoon.  For more: Trump launches the regime-change effort in Iran that he pledged to avoid  ---  Guest: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The killing of Mexican cartel boss Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes shocked the country and set off cartel violence in the streets, trapping American tourists in the process. However, experts say the operation could say even more about President Donald Trump’s war on drugs than Mexico’s.  For more: The death of ‘El Mencho’ exposed the reach of Mexico’s cartel crisis. Will US tourists stay away?  ---  Guest: Steven Dudley, InSight Crime co-founder  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: @morelifediares via REUTERS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein say the historic arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles III, is a step in the right direction. But high-profile figures in the US still have not faced similar consequences, weeks after the Justice Department released more than 3 million documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. We hear from a group of survivors who say this feels like the beginning of the story, not the end.  For more: ‘This is not over.’ Corporate America’s Epstein reckoning gathers steam  ---  Guest: MJ Lee, CNN Senior National Enterprise Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson Photo: Kent Nishimura/Reuters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A raft of resignations from some of Silicon Valley’s top AI companies came with some dire warnings about user safety and potential impacts on the American workforce. Are these concerns worth paying attention to, or overhyped? We hear from one former safety researcher who says companies are not fully grappling with the implications of advertising within chatbots.  For more: AI researchers are sounding the alarm on their way out the door  ---  Guest: Zoë Hitzig, former OpenAI researcher  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Hadas Gold Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Those words from ICE attorney Julie Le to a federal judge earlier this month underscores the toll the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis is taking on the Justice Department. But what happens now that the surge is winding down? And will any new prosecutors want to sign up for this work?  For more: Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his Justice Department and judges  ---  Guest: Doug Kelley, former Assistant US Attorney  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Katelyn Polantz Photo: Steve Karnowski/AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the Winter Olympics in Italy, American athletes are speaking out, Vice President JD Vance was booed, and some locals are protesting against ICE. Some are asking if the US has achieved “villain” status. Experts say moments like these underscore the loss of American standing on the world stage under President Donald Trump. But is this a brand problem, or something deeper?  For more: Trump’s growing volatility is putting the world on edge  ---  Guest: Stephen Collinson, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: Amber Searls / Imagn Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Critics fear ICE is using a growing slate of facial recognition and surveillance tools to track not only undocumented immigrants, but also protesters opposing operations in Minneapolis and beyond. So with Democrats and Republicans at odds over changes to ICE ahead of a looming deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security, what data is being collected and what does it mean for the average American?  For more: ICE shunned body cams in Minnesota. So why are agents using phone cameras?  ---  Guests: Nicole Cleland & Juliette Kayyem, CNN Senior National Security Analyst  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo: John Moore/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Officials in Georgia are sounding the alarm after the FBI searched an elections office in Fulton County last week in connection with alleged voter fraud in the 2020 election. Now, as President Donald Trump calls on Republicans to “nationalize the voting,” some state officials across the country are wondering if they will be able to run their midterm elections without interference from Washington. Plus: what does Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard have to do with all of this?  For more: DNI Gabbard put Trump on the phone with FBI agents who searched Fulton County elections office, sources say  ---  Guests: Robb Pitts & Mo Ivory, Fulton County Board of Commissioners & Marshall Cohen, CNN Senior Reporter  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TikTok was on the verge of being banned in the US as President Donald Trump took office last year. Now, its US operations are in the hands of new owners after a deal backed by the Trump administration. Since those owners took control, some users on the left claim they’ve been having trouble posting about sensitive topics like ICE or Jeffrey Epstein. So is this a tech hiccup, or a possible sign of political censorship?  For more: The Trump-approved US TikTok is off to a rough start  ---  Guest: Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Tech Editor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Photo Credit: Brook Joyner/CNN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We know the Trump administration is extremely online. But experts have started to notice that some of the memes and videos posted by official government accounts have a distinct far-right flavor that draw disturbing parallels with white supremacist and neo-Nazi propaganda. Is this a mistake? Trolling? Or something darker? We hear from an expert who says white nationalist groups are getting the message that "our guys are in control." For more: The US government seems to have a clear message for White nationalists  ---  Guest: Jon Lewis, Research Fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House says President Donald Trump is going to travel the country starting this week, selling his economic accomplishments ahead of the midterms. But after calling affordability a Democrat-led ‘hoax,’ will anyone buy it? We break down three recent Trump administration proposals about housing, health care, and credit cards and examine whether they could actually bring down prices.  For more: Affordability may finally be improving. Trump’s scorched-earth tactics are only part of the reason  ---  Guest: Tami Luhby, CNN Senior Writer  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Minneapolis remains on edge two weeks after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good. As the Department of Justice opens criminal investigations into local and state officials and vows to press charges against protesters who disrupted a church service on Sunday, some activists are wondering if it's safe to continue speaking out. We hear from one of them and get an explainer on the legal issues that soon could become relevant in other cities.  For more: Trump officials investigate protesters who interrupted Minnesota church service, targeting ICE official  ---  Guest: Rachel Moran, University of St. Thomas law professor  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Maggie Koerth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump has not backed down on his threats to take control of Greenland, potentially by military force. Danish officials have also not backed down on their insistence that their territory is not for sale. So where does this go from here? How could things play out if Trump does follow through? And how do Greenlanders feel about being caught in the middle? CNN went to the island to find out. For more: Worried Greenlanders fear for future as Trump threatens US takeover  ---  Guest: Nic Robertson, CNN International Diplomatic Editor   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Caroline Paterson & Benjamin Brown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tensions in Minneapolis remain high after an ICE agent killed Renee Nicole Good in her car last week. Despite widespread outrage, the Trump administration is sending in hundreds more law enforcement agents to enforce immigration orders. So what does this mean for activists keeping tabs on ICE? And why are federal agents using such aggressive tactics?  For more: New documents shed light on Renee Good’s ties to ICE monitoring efforts in Minneapolis  ---  Guests: Loretta Capeheart, Héctor Reyes, & Josh Campbell, CNN Senior Correspondent  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in a case that could decide whether states may ban transgender students from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. It comes as President Donald Trump has moved to punish institutions that are inclusive of trans athletes. We break down the legal case and hear from a transgender former college athlete who says this is about way more than a game.  For more: Do transgender women have an athletic advantage? Here’s what the science does – and doesn’t – say  ---  Guests: Mayumi Berry, former NCAA athlete & John Fritze, CNN Supreme Court Reporter   Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After US forces executed the stunning seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Máduro, President Donald Trump said American companies would work to rebuild Venezuela’s crumbling oil industry. But energy experts say that work will be costly, complicated, and dangerous – if any companies want to do it at all.   For more: Trump said Venezuela stole America’s oil. Here’s what really happened  ---  Guest: Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin America Energy Program at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early Saturday morning, US forces struck targets in Caracas and abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to face new drugs and weapons charges in New York. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the US is “going to run” Venezuela in the aftermath of the brazen operation. We break down what this seismic moment could mean for US troops and the people of Venezuela. For more: Trump’s snatching of Maduro shows a new level of unrestrained global power  ---  Guests: Mary Triny Mena, freelance journalist & Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent  Host/Producer: David Rind  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Caroline Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you binge-watched “The Diplomat” or “Death by Lightning” this year, you’re not alone. These politics-centric dramas have united audiences at a time when real-life politics can feel toxic and fractured. Why is this genre so resilient? And could Washington, DC itself become a new home for Hollywood storytelling? We hear from someone who is banking on it.  ---  Guest: David Beaubaire, Founder & CEO, Sunset Lane Media  Host: David Rind  Producer: Paola Ortiz  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Liam Reilly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices