The Takeout

This week, CBS News election law expert David Becker joins the show to address the storming and desecration of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on January 6th. Becker said that the violence on the Hill this week "flows from the creation of an alternate reality," by President Trump. He also discusses the lack of evidence the Trump campaign presented on election fraud as it pertains to the 2020 presidential election. This episode was recorded on January 7th, 2021. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Major is joined by Washington, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine. Racine said that his level of anxiety is "high" due to potential protests on Jan. 6th by pro-Trump protesters in Washington, adding that President Trump has encouraged hateful and violent behavior since taking office. Racine and Major also discussed police reform steps that have and should be taken in Washington, D.C. and other cities to stop violence against Black Americans. This episode was recorded on December 29th, 2020. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a special Christmas episode, Major interviews Armando Varricchio, the Italian Ambassador to the United States. They discuss the COVID-19 experience in Italy, the decline in Italian holiday tourism and the Italian government's reaction to the 2020 presidential election. This episode was recorded on December 10th, 2020. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Major hosted a conversation led by the Economic Club of Minnesota between Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN) about negotiations on Capitol Hill for COVID-19 relief, the National Defense Authorization Act, and efforts to avoid a last-minute government shutdown. Senator Klobuchar said that she is hopeful that COVID relief will be passed by Congress this weekend or early next week. Rep. Emmer refused to call Joe Biden as President-elect, days after the Electoral College certified Biden's victory. This episode was recorded on December 17th, 2020. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Major is joined by businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein to talk about the 2020 election results, Donald Trump's impact on American politics, Rubenstein's "patriotic philanthropy," and the future of music and art in Washington, D.C. Rubenstein, who is Chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, says that he hopes to get in-person events back at the Kennedy Center by mid-2021. The two also talk about what the American workforce and workplace will look like post-COVID-19. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's leading infectious disease expert, joins Major to talk about the pandemic and the incoming Biden administration. Fauci says he has not spoken with Vice President-elect Joe Biden but has talked with his incoming chief of staff and will meet with members of the transition team today. Fauci said British regulators "really rushed through...approval" of the Pfizer vaccine instead of scrutinizing trial data closely. Fauci worries there could be "a surge superimposed upon a surge" following the Thanksgiving holiday and said "it is possible" there could be another 250k deaths by the end of January.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Thanksgiving week, we're thankful for all the restaurants who have hosted us and our podcast guests over the past few years. Since the option of dining *in* is currently off the table, we decided to connect virtually with four D.C.-area restaurateurs to see how they're handling the logistical challenges posed by the pandemic. Major talks community, food and restaurant reinvention with: -Greg Casten (co-owner of D.C. seafood restaurants Ivy City Smokehouse/Tony & Joe's + wholesale company ProFish) -Simone Jacobson and Jocelyn Law-Yone (co-owners and chef at Thamee, a Burmese restaurant in the H Street NE Corridor) -Joancarlo Parkhurst (chef and owner at La Famosa, a Puerto Rican restaurant in Navy Yard) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World renowned chef, restaurateur and activist Tom Colicchio of "Top Chef" fame joins Major for a conversation about the restaurant industry, its pandemic-induced challenges and what he would like to see congress and the president do to help the industry and its employees. Colicchio fears restaurants could be facing an "extinction event" if Washington doesn't act. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said she's concerned that the federal agency overseeing the presidential transition has not yet formally started the process, since President-elect Joe Biden must begin planning his administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic. "President-elect Biden needs to hit the ground running," Gillibrand said on the podcast. "He needs to be able to have a comprehensive plan in place." Gillibrand also slammed President Trump's legacy at the White House, saying, "President Trump has really damaged our institutions and damaged our democracy in a way that is really unforgivable." This episode was recorded on November 12th. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America decided. But America is still counting. We still don't know the outcome of Tuesday's election. Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania are all still too close to call. Major is joined by CBS News political aces Ed O'Keefe and Anthony Salvanto to discuss this history-making week. Join us for a beef stew lunch in the cafeteria at CBS News' Times Square election headquarters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer joins Major for a discussion on the 2020 race for the White House, the kidnapping plot against her and President Trump's attacks on her handling of the coronavirus outbreak. "It's just a lie," Whitmer said of the president's accusation that Michigan is under lockdown orders. "He's propagating things that are demonstrably false. But he's whipping up anger by doing this, by lying to the crowd and feeding into the anxiety and fear and anger that people have. And it's downright dangerous and it's got to stop." Whitmer said she gets death threats each time the president attacks her. Join us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brown University Political Science and Economics professor Mark Blyth joins Major from his home music studio to discuss the upcoming election and why Blyth says, despite what polling shows, President Trump "has got a lot more left than people give him credit for." Come for a fascinating conversation on the parallels between Facebook algorithms and cocaine-fueled parties. Stay for Blyth's take on the differences between nationalism here and abroad. Join us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) provide their thoughts on the Senate confirmation hearings for judge Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett, who was tapped by President Trump to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg's vacant seat on the Supreme Court, is likely to be confirmed before election day. Senator Murphy said that the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the fill the “pivotal” SCOTUS seat would result in the United States, “looking very, very different. Senator Blunt also downplayed Democratic concerns, telling Major that he thinks Judge Barrett is “going to look at the case, look at the law, look at the Constitution, and make a good decision.” This episode was recorded on October 15th, 2020. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump campaign senior advisor Corey Lewandowski and 2016 deputy campaign manager David Bossie join Major to discuss the president's health, the 2020 race and their new book "Trump America First." When will the president be healthy enough to resume campaigning? Why did Lewandowski nearly come to blows with former White House chief of staff John Kelly? This episode was recorded Wednesday, October 7th. Lewandowski joined from Texas, Bossie from Washington, DC. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Major Garrett spoke with former congressman and presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke about the work that he and other Democrats have been doing to flip typically Republican states like Texas and Georgia in the 2020 presidential race. O'Rourke addressed the passing of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and President Trump's effort to replace her on the court, as well as Trump's "failure in leadership" during the coronavirus pandemic. This episode was recorded on September 25th, 2020 for the Texas Tribune Festival. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The battle to confirm a Supreme Court justice is about to heat up in Washington just as the 2020 race for the White House enters the homestretch. Major talks to Carrie Severino, President of the Judicial Crisis Network, and Elizabeth Wydra, President of the Constitutional Accountability Center, about what's at stake this fall. This episode was recorded Thursday, September 24. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is Major's guest this week on The Takeout. Sanders new book, "Speaking for Myself," chronicles her time as President Trump's top spokesperson. She told Major if she were still in that role, she would not have advised the president to speak to Washington Post report and author Bob Woodward. Sanders also slammed former national security advisor John Bolton, whom she says is someone "who sometimes forgot that he wasn't the president." All that and more, this week with Major Garrett. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow joins Major to discuss the administration's response to coronavirus and the reporting in Bob Woodward's new book. Kudlow, a member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, explains what the White House would like to see in another economic stimulus package. Also, Kudlow weighs in on systemic racism in the United States and his personal struggle with substance abuse. Join us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CBS Correspondent Mo Rocca joined Major Garrett this week to discuss his podcast and book "Mobituaries," his fascination with under-appreciated historical figures, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julián Castro, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former 2020 Democratic candidate for President, joined Major Garrett this week to discuss the Trump-Pence campaign's rhetoric against Black Lives Matter protesters around the country after yet another Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot by police in Wisconsin. Castro discusses the best ways Democrats can push back against the rhetoric that Vice President Pence used in his Republican National Convention speech, and how Democrats can win in the November 3rd general election. Secretary Castro also talked about the Trump campaign's use of the White House during the RNC, which in his opinion represented a clear violation of the Hatch Act. Plus: Major asks Castro if he would accept a potential cabinet position should Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win in November.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/ad