Obsession-Worthy Stories: A Washington Summer Roundtable
Aug 1, 2026 · 46m
Summary
Jane Mayer, Evan Osnos, and Susan Glasser discuss the personalization of power in Washington, highlighted by Lindsey Graham’s funeral and Trump’s fundraising tactics. They analyze the shifting global order, noting China’s rising influence as US soft power declines. The hosts also cover the politicized hearings against Anthony Fauci and a legal challenge to Super PACs, concluding with summer book recommendations on populism and governance.
Topics discussed
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Seersucker suits and the John Birch Society in DC
Lindsey Graham's funeral and the shift in DC power
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China's rising global influence and US policy incoherence
Trump's contradictory views on China and admiration for Putin
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The political weaponization of Dr. Anthony Fauci
Legal challenges to Citizens United and super PACs
Summer book recommendations on politics and history
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