Left, Right & Center

The World Cup Is Getting Outplayed By Politics

Politics cast a big shadow over several big sporting events this week. The President’s immigration policies are affecting players’ and fans’ plans to travel to World Cup events in the U.S., the Administration hosts a UFC event on the White House lawn, and Trump caused disruption and was met with boos when he visited Madison Square Garden for an NBA Finals game. We dig into the all-important senate race in Maine where Democrat Graham Platner won his party’s nomination despite a series of damaging revelations about his past. Also, could counting votes a little faster in California and elsewhere help head off conspiracy theories about voter fraud in the future? 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]

Why Did Iowa Republicans Snub The Trump-Backed Candidate?

Iowa Republicans picked Zach Lahn over the Trump-backed Randy Feenstra in the gubernatorial primary. Lahn’s a farmer who spoke about the pain of high fertilizer prices and cancer caused by pesticides, earning him support from the MAHA. Was this some rebuke of Trump, or just voters looking for the right person to make their lives better?  Critics say ICE detainees face horrific conditions. Trump won over a lot of voters arguing that tough immigration policies were needed to keep the country safe. Does what’s unfolding at these detention centers cross a line?  Plus, the President’s short-lived Anti-Weaponization Fund seems to be dead, and one listener asks when AI political ads cross a line.  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]

Introducing "Intention to Treat: Money and Misdiagnosis"

We bring you an episode of "Intention to Treat: The Race Equation." It's a new series from the New England Journal of Medicine that investigates how race-specific diagnostic tools harm Black patients and contribute to growing health inequities.

Senate Control Rides On Paxton, Texas’ Flawed GOP Pick

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 Texas Republicans are pinning their hopes on Senate candidate Ken Paxton, the state attorney general who was impeached for abusing his office. Maine Democrats are pinning theirs on Graham Platner, who’s had to explain an old tattoo that looks like a Nazi symbol. Welcome to the 2026 installment of the race to control the U.S. Senate.   Pope Leo used his platform to warn about the dangers of A.I. It’s a big topic here in the U.S., but neither the Trump White House nor Congress seem eager to do much.  Plus, a listener incensed over taxpayer dollars being used for Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” asks what he should do with his anger.    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]

Trump’s $1.8B Fund Draws Cries of ‘Brazen Corruption’

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 What is an anti-weaponization fund? Is it a legit use of taxpayer dollars to help people of all political stripes who were wronged by their government, or is it a corrupt slush fund to help President Trump and his political allies? One immediate question on the minds of Democrats is if people who attacked the Capitol on January 6 will be some of the early beneficiaries.  Also, despite Trump’s sagging poll numbers, he continues to hold sway over his party with one primary vote after another against sitting Republicans. Is there a political cost for Trump and the GOP if a coalition of lame ducks starts growing with an eye towards their own counter-revenge?  And we’ve got some great questions from you this week, including whether we really need politicians at all to run a government.  Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene [https://www.kcrw.com/people/david-greene]  Guests:  * Elizabeth Bruenig [https://www.kcrw.com/people/elizabeth-bruenig], staff writer, The Atlantic (@ebruenig [https://x.com/ebruenig]) * Mike Dubke [https://www.kcrw.com/people/michael-dubke], veteran GOP communications strategist and advisor. He was the White House Comms Director under Donald Trump in 2017 (@MikeDubke [https://x.com/mikedubke?lang=en])