Left, Right & Center

How TSA Lines Are Shifting Political Leverage On Immigration

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw [https://incogni.com/kcrw] The political brinksmanship over ICE enforcement goes on as travelers in some U.S. airports face hours of wait times at TSA checkpoints. History says voters would blame the party holding things up – Democrats – but polls suggest otherwise, which may be why Republicans are trying so hard to find a compromise. But Democrats aren’t budging, and President Trump isn’t throwing his own party a bone.  With ICE officers deployed to more than a dozen airports, there’s concern that they might be at polling sites this fall, too. The administration hasn’t completely ruled it out, citing potential security issues. Plus, the Supreme Court also tackled voting questions in a case about mail-in ballots. We’ll talk about the substance, and how President Trump might be using the case for political gain.  We also answer a listener’s question about talking to family from across the political aisle. Sarah Isgur is with us on the right and Mo Elleithee joins us on the left. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene [https://www.kcrw.com/people/david-greene]  Guests:  * Mo Elleithee [https://www.kcrw.com/people/mo-elleithee], executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee [https://twitter.com/MoElleithee] * Sarah Isgur [https://www.kcrw.com/people/sarah-isgur], senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons [https://twitter.com/whignewtons]

Iran War Triggers Homeland Security Threats With Leadership In Flux

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw [https://incogni.com/kcrw] With our nation at war and under threat, the last thing you’d want is uncertainty and a staffing shakeup at the agency responsible for protecting our country. But here we are. We talk about why Joe Kent, the U.S. head of counterterrorism, resigned, and whether we may be better off with a replacement given his history of promoting conspiracy theories.  Also, President Trump vowed to take Cuba. We try to understand the foreign policy that’s taking shape where he seems to favor cutting the head of a country but leaving the body. In other words, don’t get too caught up in the details of what’s next because it’s not my administration’s problem.  Plus we take your questions, including what’s the difference between professional politicians and professional candidates. Mo Elleithee joins us on the left, and Sarah Isgur is with us on the right. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene [https://www.kcrw.com/people/david-greene]  Guests:  * Mo Elleithee [https://www.kcrw.com/people/mo-elleithee], executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee [https://twitter.com/MoElleithee] * Sarah Isgur [https://www.kcrw.com/people/sarah-isgur], senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons [https://twitter.com/whignewtons]

Oil Markets Hang On Trump’s Every Word About Iran

A president’s words alone can have a big impact. Like when President Trump told a reporter that the war in Iran is nearly over, oil prices dropped. That was a good sign for consumers, but was that responsible leadership from the president? We’re asking the same question of Congress where one senator said let’s not debate the war because a publicly divided legislative branch isn’t good for our troops abroad.  Also, there will be a change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, with Kristi Noem out and Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin picked to take her place. We’ll talk about the next secretary’s immense challenges ahead, including funding for the agency on hold and concerns about our preparedness for possible terrorist attacks.  Plus, we’ll take your questions as we talk with our panelists Mo Elleithee on the left and Will Swaim on the right. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene [https://www.kcrw.com/people/david-greene]  Guests:  * Mo Elleithee [https://www.kcrw.com/people/mo-elleithee], executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee [https://twitter.com/MoElleithee] * Will Swaim [https://californiapolicycenter.org/], CEO of the California Policy Center - @WillSwaim [https://x.com/WillSwaim]

Trump Goes to War While Congress Sits Back

The U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, killing that country’s leader and sparking celebration from some Iranians. What’s not clear is why. President Trump’s reasoning for all this has been a moving target. We’ll talk about the stakes for the region and for the Trump presidency.  Also, the Congressional effort to limit the president’s war powers falls short. Is it time to just give up on Congress playing a role in authorizing military action?  The midterm elections kicked off with primaries in several states on Tuesday, and we talk about what we learned from the results in Texas where the race for Republican John Cornyn’s senate seat is heating up. We talk with Mo Elleithee on the left and Sarah Isgur on the right. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene [https://www.kcrw.com/people/david-greene]  Guests:  * Mo Elleithee [https://www.kcrw.com/people/mo-elleithee], executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee [https://twitter.com/MoElleithee] * Sarah Isgur [https://www.kcrw.com/people/sarah-isgur], senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons [https://twitter.com/whignewtons]

Does Trump’s Economic Vision Match What Americans See?

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw [https://incogni.com/kcrw]  The way President Trump saw it in his State of the Union address, our nation is getting stronger, safer and more affordable for American families. Polls paint a different picture where far more people think the economy has gotten worse, not better in Trump’s second term.  The president insists he has more levers to pull, including tariffs, despite the fact that the Supreme Court just shot his tariff policy down. We’ll talk about that defeat for Trump in court – what it says about the court’s makeup, and whether we should take this decision as a major check on presidential power.  Speaking of checks – we talk about the outrage over the way the gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team responded in a congratulatory presidential phone call. There’s also outrage over a comment by California’s governor that struck some as racist. We examine when outrage is truly meaningful in this political climate – and who decides – with Mo Elleithee on the left and Sarah Isgur on the right. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene [https://www.kcrw.com/people/david-greene]  Guests:  * Mo Elleithee [https://www.kcrw.com/people/mo-elleithee], executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee [https://twitter.com/MoElleithee] * Sarah Isgur [https://www.kcrw.com/people/sarah-isgur], senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons [https://twitter.com/whignewtons]