Background Briefing (5am)
5:00 AM PACIFIC TIME: TUESDAYS - FRIDAYS
Trump mocks his own supporters, Epstein’s prosecutor is fired under political pressure, and Senate Democrats stage a walkout over a far-right judicial nominee. Ask ChatGPT
After Feeding Them Lies and Delusions For Years, Trump Now Calls His MAGA Cultists “Stupid” and “Weaklings” We begin with a reporter who I spoke with live on January 6, 2021 from the scene as the US Capitol was being stormed by Trump’s insurrectionists. We discuss how Trump is now castigating his followers for being … Continued
Joshua Landis/Bill Hing/Sylvia Allegretto
Israel Bombs Damascus as the Syrian Government Slaughters the Druze Minority, Exposing the Different Interests of Israel and the U.S. When it Comes to the Jihadi in a Suit Leading the New Syria We begin with the bombing of Damascus by Israel as the Druze in the south are being slaughtered by the Syrian army … Continued
Robert Hockett/David Halperin/Matthew Hongoltz-Hettling
Trump Escalates His War Against the Fed and Its Chairman Jerome Powell We begin with Trump’s escalating war against the Fed and its Chairman Jerome Powell and look into how Trump wants to follow the disastrous path of dictators he admires, Hungary’s Orban and Turkey’s Erdogan, who took political control of their central banks causing … Continued
Michael Kimmage/Casey Michel/Juan Cole
Trump’s Tough Talk Threatening Russia With a 50 Day Deadline For a Ceasefire We begin with Trump’s Oval Office meeting today with the NATO head Mark Rutte and assess his announcement that he is “very, very unhappy” with Russia and plans to deliver “top-of-the-line” weapons to Ukraine, threatening 100% tariffs on Russia if no ceasefire … Continued
Johnathan Buma/Kent Harrington/David Cortright
Trump’s Deliberate Effort to Destroy the FBI is Going Great Guns with Patel and Bongino in Charge We begin with what appears to be a deliberate effort to destroy the FBI from within to satisfy Trump by stopping investigations into white collar crime and corruption as well as counterintelligence investigations into Russian subversion given Trump … Continued
James Risen/Nina Burleigh/Stephen Semler
The Meltdown In MAGAworld Over the So-called Epstein “Client List” We begin with the MAGA meltdown over the so-called Epstein “client list” that is roiling Trump’s influencers with Laura Loomer, who is close to Trump in a number of ways calling for AG Pam Bondi to resign for “lying to the American people.” Joining us … Continued
Jeremi Suri/Tom Mockaitis/Dr. Annelle Sheline
Intergenerational Greed and Inaction Led to Underinvestment in Flood Prevention in Kerr County, Texas We begin with a local reaction to the deadly floods that took the lives of over 100 mostly young girls and we explore how intergenerational greed and inaction in Kerr County, whose capital Kerrville has the second-highest concentration of millionaires per … Continued
Jeff Masters/Olga Lautman/Sarang Shidore
Extreme Weather and Its Connection to Climate Change as Trump and DOGE’s Cuts Impacted The National Weather Service’s Response to the Tragic Flash Floods in Texas We begin with the White House’s overheated pushback against questions of whether cuts to The National Weather Service by Trump and DOGE contributed to the tragic loss of life … Continued