National

Shrinking budgets, withering newsrooms, and President Trump’s assault on the free press have made covering his second administration tougher than ever.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A federal judge in Rhode Island says the Trump administration didn’t comply with a court order to unfreeze federal funds. Yesterday Vice President J.D.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

“I Am Ready, Warden,” nominated for an Oscar, follows John Henry Ramirez in the days before he was executed in Texas for murder.

‘I Am Ready, Warden’: Does the death penalty truly bring closure?

“I Am Ready, Warden,” nominated for an Oscar, follows John Henry Ramirez in the days before he was executed in Texas for murder.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Russell Vought is known in conservative circles for being an architect of Project 2025. Now he has the job to implement its goals of remaking the government.

Russell Vought: The man Trump picked to remake government agencies

Russell Vought is known in conservative circles for being an architect of Project 2025. Now he has the job to implement its goals of remaking the government.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

KCRW unravels a disruptive White House week. Is the president just stirring outrage? Plus, we discuss Elon Musk’s influence on the foreign aid fight.

Can we make sense of Trump and Musk’s political approaches?

KCRW unravels a disruptive White House week. Is the president just stirring outrage? Plus, we discuss Elon Musk’s influence on the foreign aid fight.

from Left, Right & Center

The Department of Government Efficiency infiltrated the Treasury and other agencies after Trump’s inauguration, according to the Washington Post.

Fed employees say Musk’s AI plans are a big security risk

The Department of Government Efficiency infiltrated the Treasury and other agencies after Trump’s inauguration, according to the Washington Post.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

President Trump’s executive order seeks to cut federal funding for gender transition medical procedures. KCRW hears from a mom of a 17-year-old who’s been transitioning since age 4.

Denying gender-affirming care will cost lives, says mom and author

President Trump’s executive order seeks to cut federal funding for gender transition medical procedures. KCRW hears from a mom of a 17-year-old who’s been transitioning since age 4.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Army Corps of Engineers released water from two dams in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. State officials had no warning, and there seems to be no practical reason why it happened.

Trump executive order led to wasted water in California

The Army Corps of Engineers released water from two dams in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. State officials had no warning, and there seems to be no practical reason why it happened.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The staff working for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are mostly inexperienced engineers in their early 20s. They now have direct access to the U.S.

Elon Musk’s DOGE gains access to the Treasury Department

The staff working for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are mostly inexperienced engineers in their early 20s. They now have direct access to the U.S.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the world’s largest humanitarian aid program — the U.S. Agency for International Development. What lives are on the line as a result?

What’s the human cost of shutting down USAID?

The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the world’s largest humanitarian aid program — the U.S. Agency for International Development. What lives are on the line as a result?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) could fall under the purview of the State Department, or be dissolved entirely.

President Trump could shutter USAID. Is that legal?

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) could fall under the purview of the State Department, or be dissolved entirely.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Donald Trump bashed DEI policies in response to a tragic plane crash. He’s bucked heads with LA’s mayor over the wildfires. Is now the time to focus on policy?

Trump muddies disaster responses with theories of his own

Donald Trump bashed DEI policies in response to a tragic plane crash. He’s bucked heads with LA’s mayor over the wildfires. Is now the time to focus on policy?

from Left, Right & Center

On Monday, President Trump rescinded trillions in federal funding. On Tuesday, a federal court paused the freeze. Today, Trump walked the entire plan back.

Trump’s second term pushes boundaries of presidential power

On Monday, President Trump rescinded trillions in federal funding. On Tuesday, a federal court paused the freeze. Today, Trump walked the entire plan back.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The order states those identifying as a different gender from their “individual sex” do not meet military standards. Trans service members are defending their right to serve.

Transgender service members: Target of Trump’s latest executive order

The order states those identifying as a different gender from their “individual sex” do not meet military standards. Trans service members are defending their right to serve.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. begins Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday to lead HHS. His views of alternative medicine are increasingly embraced by the MAGA movement.

RFJ Jr. brings New Age thinking to MAGA

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. begins Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday to lead HHS. His views of alternative medicine are increasingly embraced by the MAGA movement.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

President Trump has deployed 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.

Trump deploys 1,500 troops to southern border. Is it legal?

President Trump has deployed 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Filmmaking legend Paul Schrader speaks on his confessional new project “Oh, Canada” which stars Richard Gere.

Paul Schrader on ‘Canada as a metaphor’ in his new film

Filmmaking legend Paul Schrader speaks on his confessional new project “Oh, Canada” which stars Richard Gere.

from The Treatment

Are Trump and Biden setting a dangerous precedent through their use of pardons? Will Congress retake its power to check the White House?

Trump tests limits of presidential powers with contentious first week

Are Trump and Biden setting a dangerous precedent through their use of pardons? Will Congress retake its power to check the White House?

from Left, Right & Center

This is the political season to be thankful for small favors of optimism, and in this edition of Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer and guest Joe Lauria, editor of the Consortium…

For once Trump gets it right

This is the political season to be thankful for small favors of optimism, and in this edition of Scheer Intelligence, host Robert Scheer and guest Joe Lauria, editor of the Consortium…

from Scheer Intelligence

President Trump’s executive orders on immigration face legal roadblocks. But he’s still sending U.S.

‘They want immigrants to be scared’: Trump’s executive orders, border action

President Trump’s executive orders on immigration face legal roadblocks. But he’s still sending U.S.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand