Advertise on podcast: The Arena with Kasie Hunt

CNN obtained new campaign-style ads funded by the American taxpayer, including one titled 'God Made Trump.' Rep. Jake Auchincloss reacts. Victims' rights attorney Gloria Allred and criminal defense attorney Bill Brennan discuss the special counsel appointment in the alleged Cornell rape case and where it goes from here. TIME's Eric Cortellessa shares what he's gleaned from his lengthy interviews with the president over the last year and a half. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new interview in which President Trump expressed confusion and frustration over why his midterm messaging does not seem to be landing. Trump won't rule out invoking the Insurrection Act around the midterm elections. Rep. Jason Crow reacts. Renee Good's family sues an ICE agent and Trump officials over her killing. Plus, the WSJ reports that the DOJ is reviewing whether prosecutors mistreated Richard Nixon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a speech to service members in which he slammed the military culture under past leaders and announced a 20% cut to senior officer ranks. Ken Paxton is expected at a Trump event tomorrow after the New York Times obtained audio of him bashing Trump's midterm convention. Israel says the stabbing on a Flydubai flight this morning was an “attempted terrorist attack” against Israelis and the UAE. Independent Montana Senate candidate Seth Bodnar joins to discuss where his race stands. Plus, Trump's "damn good" AI chatbot debunks many of his false claims about election fraud and inflation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump hosted top tech executives at the White House, where they signed a statement of principles on AI "self-policing.” Rep. Debbie Dingell talks about why she thinks Democratic candidates seem to have momentum in traditional GOP strongholds. Former special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Republicans grilled him on the two indictments he brought against Donald Trump in 2023. Plus, a source says Trump was directly involved in producing controversial taxpayer-funded ads promoting the president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House releases another taxpayer-funded ad weeks before the midterm elections. Rep. Ro Khanna discusses. CNN, Politico, and MS Now are expected to request an extension of a judge's block on the Trump White House's media ban. Speaker Johnson says a "Chinese psyop" is behind AI data center concerns, as the Anthropic CEO is expected to attend the White House meeting tomorrow following his private dinner with Trump.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chinese leader Xi Jinping heads home from his summit with President Trump. Sen. Chris Van Hollen discusses. In a win for Trump, the Supreme Court decides states can use a controversial citizenship data collection tool for reviewing voter rolls. Plus, Bill Gates issues a dire warning about the potential risk of AI.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN was allowed back into the White House following a judge's order. The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Robert Garcia, weighs in on the administration's media ban. President Trump welcomes Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the White House for a state dinner. With Xi and Trump set to discuss AI at their summit, technology journalist Jacob Ward explains where the AI race stands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN, MS NOW, and Politico appear in court as they seek to lift the White House's media ban. They react after the judge opted not to rule from the bench and promised to respond as soon as possible. The panel discusses the politics surrounding the ban, the stakes involved, and why the press must be free from government influence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump spoke before the United Nations General Assembly about the Iran war. New CNN polling shows just 36% approve of the president's handling of the war. The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, discusses the latest foreign policy news, including Trump's upcoming meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Trump defends the White House press ban and claims coverage of the Iran war is "very dangerous for our country." Plus, Kamala Harris joins Michigan Sen. candidate Abdul El-Sayed on the campaign trail. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez comments on her political future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN, MS NOW, and Politico sued President Trump over White House access. David Hume Kennerly, who photographed American presidents for six decades, shares what it's like to document the presidency up close. Trump now says his proposed DC arch will also deploy drones, position snipers, and store ammunition. Calls grow for ICE to release bodycam video after an agent shoots and wounds a Venezuelan immigrant in Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump says he’s "banning" CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. Trump answers questions from the White House about the decision. Presidential historian Tim Naftali reflects on how past presidents have interacted with the press. Rep. Jake Auchincloss reacts to the news and calls for all other outlets to "boycott in solidarity." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar openly breaks with President Trump, warning that Hispanic voters "feel betrayed" ahead of the midterm elections. President Trump is spotted with a "Kennedy Center demolished" poster, prompting further speculation about the institution's future.  Rev. Adam Hamilton discusses why he thinks he can be Kansas' first Democratic Senator since 1932. Macklemore pledges his Ed Sheeran tour salary to Palestinian aid amid concert controversy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates, despite pressure from President Trump. House Speaker Johnson sends lawmakers home until after the November elections, preventing the House from acting on AI regulation and other matters. Rep. Pramila Jayapal reacts. President Trump heads down to North Carolina to campaign for the GOP Senate candidate. VP Vance urges voters to "give us another chance" ahead of the midterms. Plus, the Kennedy Center closes after a board vote, despite a judge's order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Press briefing with Attorney General Todd Blanche at the White House, one day after the Supreme Court rejected the president's mail-in voting order. During a Senate hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel suggests that agents may be sent to the polls. Sen. Peter Welch, who pressed Patel on this matter, joins to discuss. President Trump calls into a Kennedy Center board meeting and yells at members over a vote on whether to add his name to the building. The Iran war has cost more than $38 billion through August 1st, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New industry warnings about AI cause Washington to scramble. Sen. Chris Coons weighs in. The Pentagon is denying a CNN report that Secretary Hegseth and political appointees pushed for the airmen shot down over Iran to participate in a '60 Minutes' report. Amy McGrath discusses. Plus, the Kennedy Center warns of bankruptcy unless Trump’s name returns.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices