What A Day - What A Week!

Episode Date: October 10, 2025

This week has been… a lot. On Thursday, Israel’s cabinet approved the first phase of a peace agreement between Hamas and Israel, which would end the fighting in Gaza and return all Israeli hostages, living and dead. But the news didn’t stop there – with President Donald Trump threatening National Guard deployments in both Chicago and Portland, and both cities responding by heading to court. And don’t forget, we’re in the second week of a government shutdown with no end in sight. To unpack it all, we spoke to Pod Save America co-host Tommy Vietor.And in headlines, a federal judge temporarily blocks the President’s National Guard deployment in Chicago, the CDC quietly updates its COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for pregnant women, and trick-or-treaters this year might find their bags less full of chocolate and more full of gum.Show Notes:Check out Pod Save America – https://tinyurl.com/4829tpp9Call Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's Friday, October 10th. I'm Jane Koston, and this is What Today, the show congratulating Kendrick Lamar on defeating Drake again, this time in a federal court. On Thursday, a judge dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against his own record label for publishing and promoting Kendrick Lamar's anti- Drake disc track, not like us. The judge found that, quote, the average listener is not under the impression that a disc track is the product of a thoughtful or disinterested. investigation, conveying to the public fact-checked verifiable content. Or, as Lamar himself once said, quote, The audience not dumb. Shape the stories how you want. Hey, Drake, they're not slow.

On today's show, a federal judge temporarily blocks President Donald Trump's National Guard deployment in Chicago, and trick-or-treaters this year might find their bags less full of chocolate and more full of gum. But let's start with well, actually it's hard to know where to start, because this week has been a lot. First, there's the Trump

administration brokered ceasefire and the war in Gaza. On Thursday, Israel's cabinet approved the first phase of an agreement between Hamas and Israel. This phase would center on an end to the fighting in Gaza and the return of all Israeli hostages living and dead. And the reaction

in both Central Israel and in Gaza, appeared to be one of jubilance and relief. Here's the town of Kahn Yunus in Gaza. But this is just the first step in a long process, one with plenty of potential roadblocks. The news didn't stop there, with Trump-threatening National Guard deployments in both Chicago and Portland

and both cities responding by heading to court. And don't forget, we're in the second week of a government shutdown with no end in sight. So much has happened, in fact, that you may have missed Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announcing a brand new bat-shit theory to explain the rise in autism diagnoses on Thursday. There's two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It's highly likely because they're given Tylenol. So, you know, none of this is this positive, but all of it is stuff that we should be paying attention to. What?

So to get to Israel, Portland, the shutdown, but, sadly not RFK Jr's fascinating circumcision opinions, I spoke to Pod Save America co-host Tommy Vitor. Tommy, welcome back to O'Day. Good to see you. On Thursday, the Israeli cabinet approved the first phase of this peace plan. President Trump also said Thursday that the Israeli hostages will be released this coming Monday or Tuesday, but at the time of this recording, there are no details on a ceasefire timeline. So let's say this all happens like it's supposed to. We complete the first phase. What happens next? Right. Well, this is what's so hard about this. I'm of two minds of this. First of all, credit where credit is due, President Trump got a ceasefire deal done

that had not happened before. Joe Biden didn't get it done before. Hopefully that is a permanent end to the war, and that's a good thing. And apparently, all you have to do is just swear at Netanyahu. Well, and this is what makes me insane. All he needed to do was apply real pressure to Netanyahu finally. And that's what it took to get him to end the war. Joe Biden, I think, could have done this. I think Trump could have gotten this deal done six months ago, eight months ago. It took until now, and that's horrible because of the death toll, but here we are. Now, the challenge is Trump supporters are saying he solved the Middle East peace problem, and that's just not the case. Like, Trump's original 20-point plan, like steps 19 and 20,

alluded to beginning a process that might lead to the creation of a Palestinian state. What he's gotten them to agree to so far, it's just a ceasefire. And the IDF is still occupying the Gaza strip. The reconstruction process is going to take generations in Gaza, and it's going to take a lot of money and a lot of focus and a lot of time. There's always concern that Nanyahu could backslide and continue airstrikes or other combat operations in Gaza, kind of upend the deal. So we don't know. And even as you and I are talking here, like the hostages aren't home yet, nothing's done. They're spiking the football a little early, but I'm choosing to be hopeful. Right. Meanwhile, here in the United States, we are a week and a half into the government shutdown. And it doesn't really look like Democrats and Republicans are any closer to any kind of deal. What are they doing? And I think a better question is, what do you think is the tipping point for both parties in the shutdown? And who do you think is going to come out looking better if anyone does? In the end, I think most voters just don't want the government.

to shut down and they find it annoying and they're annoyed that people are fighting and that's kind of their takeaway. I think on balance, you're right. The conversation Democrats want to have about health care subsidies going up if we don't fix it is breaking through and that's really good and positive. And I think Democrats probably had some wind in their sales when they heard Donald Trump start talking about the need to deal with health care and fix these extended or enhanced ACA subsidies to ensure that people's premiums don't go up like 75%. You know, astronomical numbers. That said, previous shutdowns ended because there was like a gang of 14, right, or some like ad hoc gathering. This is, wow, this is all deeply triggering for

anyone who was alive in like 2013 or 2018. And if you aren't as lame as us, like these so-called gangs were like ad hoc groups of relatively moderate senators often who would forge a consensus and figure out a deal and a path out of a shutdown. There's just no evidence that that is happening. Right. And so I think Democrats are very dug in that they want to solve this problem and prevent the price of health care from going up. Republicans are very dug in that they don't want to give Democrats a win. I think maybe the Democratic path is you can sort of sense that Trump wants to fix the ACA, the prices issue, and maybe they can work with him directly. But it's not happening yet. I mean, I also think Democrats are under incredible amounts of pressure

to not look, and I say this, not look like bitches. But for a lot of Americans, government shutdowns are the kind of thing you notice slowly over time. People are starting to notice like flights getting canceled, and we might see members of the armed services not getting paychecks. When do you think a majority of Americans are going to start really feeling the effects of the shutdown? And do you think that's going to be what force is a deal?

I'm with you in that. I think shutdowns kind of are a slow burn. you notice them over time it's like a certain kind of hot wing right you take that first bite you're fine and then 10 minutes later you're like on the floor yeah yeah you need yogurt immediately yeah you're like I'm never going to breathe again

for me that happened this week I have a flight tomorrow out of an airport that on Monday had no air traffic controllers that got my wife's attention she's not hooked up to a news IV she was like what is this thing why is that happening so that kind of aha moment

will continue happen for people I do think this October 15th deadline of ensuring that members of the U.S. military don't just not get a paycheck. That's 1.3 million people. Like, that's going to be a big deal and a big pressure point. But I don't know. It's more of a headline thing. It's like a political pressure headline than like the whole country feeling it.

So President Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Portland and Chicago has also been a major news story this week. Yeah. There have been multiple legal challenges and a lot of news coverage. And I've been also interested in how the news coverage is contributing to these departments. Like, Fox News keeps pretending that Portland is 2020 and it's not. So where are we on this right now? It's funny you say this. I talked to Ben Smith from Semaphore earlier this week who has a piece out about Trump's information bubble and how it's evolved into even more right wing kind of like.

Is he even more online than he was like before? Well, remember back in the day, he used to like hate watch morning. Yes. So in addition to being mad and then complain about that. Yeah. He would at least get like accurate information. Now he's just living in like OAN world, which I think is. why he believes that Portland is being torn apart by thousands of Black Block Antifa

Warriors, when in reality, it's like 22 people, mostly seniors, outside of an ice facility, some of them wearing Halloween costumes. Right. So you're right. I think the media coverage is absolutely, like, contributing to these deployments, but it's like his weird, fringy right wing crap. And I was also interested, you know, the president has been sending National Guard troops from other states, namely Texas, to.

Portland and Chicago, and the Democratic governors of both California and Illinois have threatened to leave the National Governors Association unless their peers speak out against what Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called, quote, federal and interstate overreach. I was interested to see that on Thursday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, who's a Republican, came out and was like, if Joe Biden had sent troops, like federal troops to Oklahoma to enforce something, we'd all be furious. Yeah. I'm glad you brought this up. Because in February, of 2024, so a lifetime ago, then Governor Christy Noem said, if Biden sent National Guard troops into her state, they would have a war on our hands. If Biden is willing to do that and take away

my authority as governor as commander and chief of those National Guard troops, boy, we do have war on her hands. She called it a direct attack on states' rights. I believe Leah Lipman from strict scrutiny said basically it was a presidentially directed civil war to send one state's national guard to another without that governor as will. I think it's an obvious point. I'm wondering where all the state's rights, limited government people, you know whence? Maybe they're just being quiet now. Some of them are very mad.

And then some of them, I think, have decided that what they meant was their right to do stuff. Right. All their people's right to do stuff is just less important. That's like a lot of the free speech advocates, right? Yeah, you have the right to do my speech. My speech is so cool. I do think when you watch some of the videos coming out of Chicago or Portland right now, when you have like ice guys shooting pastors in their head with pepper balls.

Yeah. Hopefully when people see that, they realize, okay, this is not okay. This is bad. Right, especially. They are not responding to a natural disaster. They are not responding to an effort to block African Americans from attending school. They are responding to a thing that the federal government is also doing that is also, to me, bad, where you're just, you know, you're having.

American citizens tackled and having their licenses taken away and being told, you either come with us or you get the dog. This is a literal story that happened in Portland to a man who was trying to explain that he's from California. Like, it's bonkers. Now, before we go, is there an actual chance that President Trump will actually win the Nobel Peace Prize today? There is some reporting that suggests the committee had already chosen before this Gaza ceasefire. deal, so I'm guessing no, but who knows? I do think there's genuine concern among committee members that they may be targeted with sanctions and or drone strikes if they do not choose him. So we'll find out. Tommy, as always, thank you so much for joining me. Thanks for having me.

That was my conversation with Pod Save America co-host Tommy Vitor. We'll get to more of the news in the moment. But if you like the show, make sure to subscribe, leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads. What a day is brought to you by Magic Spoon. Magic Spoon makes high-protein zero-sugar cereal and treats reinvented from your childhood. Every serving of Magic Spoon high-protein cereal has 13 grams of protein, zero grams of sugar, and four grams of net carbs. And they come in nostalgic flavors like fruity, cocoa, and frosted. And MagicSpoon's high-protein treats are crispy, crunchy, airy, and an easy way to get 12 grams of protein on the go.

They come in mouth-watering flavors like marshmallow, chocolate peanut butter, and dark chocolate. Both are great on-the-go, pre- or post-workout, or as a midnight snack. Get $5 off your next order at magicspoon.com.com slash day. Or look for MagicSpoon on Amazon or in your nearest grocery store. That's magic spoon.com slash day for $5 off. Here's what else we're following today. Meanwhile, we have to rely upon the courts to protect us from a president just saying things and then doing it, even though it's unconstitutionally illegal. That was Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker speaking to Pod Save America Thursday afternoon before a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to the Chicago area for at least two weeks.

looks like relying on the courts has worked for now. A Justice Department lawyer said that the Guard's mission would be protecting federal properties and government law enforcers in the field. In making her decision, U.S. District Judge April Perry said allowing troops into the state would, quote, only add fuel to the fire, according to CNN. Perry also noted that she had not seen critical evidence, quote, that there is a danger of rebellion in the state of Illinois. Of course, this is the Trump administration, so on a people,

appeal is likely on its way. And Governor Pritzker had some thoughts on Trump's approach. So why are they sending troops in? Donald Trump is telling them to, and they're coming up with any argument that will work. The fight to keep National Guard troops out of Chicago resembles a similar fight in Portland, Oregon, where two dozen Democrat-led states have joined a legal challenge to deployment there. I couldn't be more pleased to announce that as of today, the COVID vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women, has been removed from the CDC recommended immunization schedule. That's Secretary Kennedy back in May, making a controversial change to the government's guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations.

Except now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seems to have changed its policy again. The adult immunization schedule says online that the COVID vaccine is recommended, quote, based on shared clinical decision-making with health care providers for all adults, including pregnant women. This means the vaccine will be much easier for expected mothers to get. The CDC's advisory committee on immunization practices voted on the recommendation back in September. But according to Politico, it's unclear if the panel members were aware it would undo RFK Jr's decision. An advisory committee workgroup will also be, quote, assessing the safety and effectiveness of the childhood and adolescent schedule, according to a document posted on the CDC website this week.

This all comes at the same time as a KFF poll published Thursday that, found that 59% of Americans don't approve of RFK Jr.'s performance as Health and Human Services Secretary, and 62% disapprove of how he's handled vaccine policy. No surprises here. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson went on C-SPAN Thursday morning as the government shutdown entered its ninth day, taking calls from people across the country, which no one should ever do. One caller from Virginia, whose husband is serving in the military, demanded that John, Johnson end the shutdown before troops missed their paychecks next week, saying they have bills to pay.

Medical bills. As a Republican, I'm very disappointed in my party, and I'm very disappointed in you because you do have the power to call the House back. You did that, or you refused to do that just for a show. I'm begging you to pass this legislation. My kids could die. Johnson could stop this. He could push his colleagues in the Senate to negotiate with Democrats to end the shutdown. He could also call the House back to pass separate legislation to get troops paid on October 15th.

But, oh no, not Johnson. He instead responded with this. I want you to hear something very clearly. The Republicans are the ones delivering for you. We had a vote to pay the troops. It was the continuing resolution three weeks ago. Every single Republican but two voted to keep the government open so that your paycheck can flow. Every Democrat in the House, except for one, voted to close it.

The Democrats are the ones that are preventing you. from getting a check. Blaming Democrats to a scared military spouse who is uncertain if their family will receive a paycheck. Great work, Mr. Speaker. Bravo. The short-term resolution Johnson referred to here would open the government up at the same funding levels as before the shutdown. But it wouldn't address the Affordable Care Act subsidies Democrats are fighting for,

which expire at the end of this year. Johnson also blamed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, saying sending a bill to the Senate would be pointless because Schumer would hold it up. A spokesperson for Schumer's office told NBC News, quote, We have no idea what Speaker Johnson is talking about. Chocolate lovers, brace yourselves. Coco prices have more than doubled since early 2024, sending candy costs to record highs just in time for Halloween.

Coco futures topped $12,500 per metric tonne earlier this year, the highest in decades. The cause? A disastrous harvest in West Africa, where Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, together produce about 60% of the world's cocoa. Heavy rains in late 2023 triggered a surge in, quote, black pod disease and crop rot,

which sound like things RFK Jr. might contract from getting down with roadkill. Subsequent El Niño induced droughts in 2024 the issue, and voila! A trip to the candy aisle now costs about 8% more than last year. Shoppers can expect smaller bars, higher prices, and fewer chocolatey options overall. Experts warn that some chocolate makers, might substitute other ingredients, adding more nuts or other fillers like cookie wafers. You can also expect candy bowls to be filled with cheaper alternatives this year, like chewing gum or suckers. And speaking of suckers, Trump's recently imposed tariff on cocoa products

didn't help either. Luckily, a National Confectioners Association survey found 94% of consumers planned to share chocolate and candy for Halloween, because in America, we annually pump our children full of sugar no matter what. And that's the news. One more thing. Let's talk about Argentina. Specifically, Argentina's president, Javier Malay. He's a libertarian economist and a self-described anarcho-capitalist who once said, quote, The state is not the solution.

The state is the problem. You might remember him as a guy who gave a very normal Elon Musk a chainsaw at the conservative political action conference this year. President Malay has a gift for me. Abier Malay from Argentina, you guys know what that is, right? This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy. Chainsaw! The chainsaw was supposed to represent Malay's commitment to cutting red tape,

slashing government spending and reducing the size and scope of government. After taking office in 2023, Malay fired 36,000 public workers, cut spending on universities, and closed government ministries focused on the needs of women and minorities. Sound familiar? Now, to be fair, Argentina was in a tough economic position when Malay took power. Like, really tough. The country's inflation was nearing 200%.

And in early 2024, it looked like Malay's, quote, economic shock therapy was working. Inflation was down, and deregulation did bring down prices. It's no wonder, then, that Malay got a ton of praise for his policies from Donald Trump, Musk, and a host of American libertarians who have been waiting for decades for someone to prove that they were right the whole time about pretty much everything. Here's a libertarian pundit John Stossel back in January. Malay has showed that cuts are possible. And as Malay cut government, he actually actually.

gained popularity. Freedom can work if only our politicians will learn from Javier Malay. Actually, I'd rather they didn't, because things have not exactly worked out in Argentina. As the Wall Street Journal reported, the country has 200,000 fewer jobs than when Malay took office, unemployment has risen to nearly 8%, and there's also a massive corruption scandal involving Malay's sister. Voters have noticed. Malay's political party lost badly in a September election in Buenos Aires. Times are tough for our anarcho-capitalist friend. But don't worry, he's getting a lifeline. From you! On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Besson announced that the U.S. would be sending Argentina a $20 billion bailout in order to prevent a financial crisis that

wouldn't just imperil Argentina, but also a bunch of wealthy investors who bet on Argentina's economy when Malay was waving a chainsaw round. So in the middle of a government shutdown, centered on the GOP's refusal to help everyday Americans afford health care, and as farmers face potential financial ruin because of Trump's sheriffs, the U.S. government is rescuing Argentina, so that Javier Malay can hold more book-launch-turned-rock concerts broadcast on state television. Before we go, the newest episode of Polar Coaster with Dan Pfeiffer just dropped. Dan breaks down Trump's federal interventions in cities like Portland and Chicago and what the latest CNN polls reveal. 75% of people say the Trump administration is not focused enough on lowering prices, and I can say, I do agree with that. To hear the full episode and get even more insights, become a friend of the pod today. You can get 20% off a full year subscription.

You will also get ad-free episodes of your favorite cricket shows, plus bonus content like Polar Coaster. It is the best way to support our work and keep us fighting for democracy. That 20% discount is only available this month. Head to cricket.com slash friends to learn more and subscribe. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review more than the closing of a hair museum. tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading, and not just about how Layla's Hair Museum and Independence, Missouri, which had a massive collection of intricately braided wreaths,

watchbands, and other trinkets all made from human hair, has closed following the passing of the museum's founder, like me. What a day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and subscribe at crooked.com slash subscribe. I'm Jane Koston. And don't worry. Many of the more than 3,000 pieces at the Hair Museum will be heading to other institutions. across the country. Maybe one right near you, so that you too will be close to, for example, a hair wreath made from the locks of every member

of the League of Women Voters from Vermont in 1865. Fun! What Today is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producers are Emily Four and Chris Alport. Our video editor is Joseph Dutra. Our video producer is Johanna Case. We had production help today from Greg Walters, Matt Berg,

Sean Ali, Gina Pollock, and Caitlin Plummer. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison, and our senior vice president of News and Politics is Adrian Hill. We had helped today from the Associated Press. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East. I don't know. I'm sorry.

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