Antony Blinken was the 71st Secretary of State, serving under President Joe Biden. As the nation’s top diplomat, he worked on restoring U.S. ties with allies and multilateral institutions following Trump’s first term. He also led U.S. aid responses in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack. Both of those wars rage on today. Secretary Blinken joins Preet to discuss Trump’s latest peace proposal for Gaza, the President’s recent about-face on Ukraine, and the relevance of the U.N. Then, Preet answers your questions about the Comey indictment.  In the bonus for Insiders, Secretary Blinken shares his thoughts on his successor, Secretary Marco Rubio. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the Jim Comey indictment fatally flawed? In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the weaknesses in the case against the former FBI Director, who was charged with making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce further discuss the Comey prosecution. They also break down the Justice Department’s decision to close an investigation into Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, for allegedly accepting a $50,000 bribe.  CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network.  Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Audio Producer: Nat Weiner; Deputy Editor: Celine Rohr; CAFE Team: David Tatasciore, Matthew Billy, and Liana Greenway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making a false statement to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. In this recording from a Substack livestream, Preet and Joyce Vance, former U.S. Attorney and co-host of the Insider podcast, share their reactions to the Comey indictment and the danger of politicizing law enforcement, describing it as a moment that has “crossed the Rubicon.” They break down the lead-up to the charges, the merits of the case and the strength of the evidence, the reactions from Comey and from Trump’s supporters, and how the case is likely to unfold. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does common knowledge become… common knowledge? Steven Pinker is a cognitive psychologist and professor at Harvard University. He joins Preet to discuss his latest book, When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows...: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life, about how shared awareness shapes norms and shifts collective behavior.  Then, Preet answers your questions about America’s very first law enforcement agency and Border Czar Tom Homan’s alleged $50,000 bribe. In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Pinker discuss how laughter and comedy informs common knowledge and vice versa. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBhararaon Twitter or Bluesky with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why is President Trump’s recent Truth Social post directed at Attorney General Pam Bondi so dangerous? In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the president’s post urging AG Bondi to prosecute political rivals and what it reveals about Trump’s attitude toward his opponents.  In the full episode, Preet and Joyce break down Charlie Kirk’s assassination, from the investigation and charges that followed to the political aftermath, and the First Amendment controversies that have arisen since. CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network.  Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Audio Producer: Nat Weiner; Deputy Editor: Celine Rohr; CAFE Team: David Tatasciore, Matthew Billy, and Liana Greenway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder how special counsel investigations really work, and what goes on behind the scenes? Former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Stay Tuned contributor Elie Honig offers insider access to the key players in his latest book, When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, from Nixon to Trump. It is a riveting account of six modern special counsel cases compiled through dozens of interviews and firsthand stories.  In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Elie discuss what makes Elie such a prolific writer, plus, that one time the mob tried to kill Curtis Sliwa.  Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How is the Supreme Court emboldening President Trump's continuing expansion of power? In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Joyce Vance discusses the “appeasement theory” with Dahlia Lithwick, the Slate senior editor and host of the Amicus podcast. In the full episode, Joyce and Dahlia break down which cases to look out for in the Court’s upcoming term, how politics and culture wars are factoring into the Court’s decisions, and the dynamics between the nine justices. Preet will be back next week.  CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network.  Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Audio Producer: Nat Weiner; Deputy Editor: Celine Rohr; CAFE Team: David Tatasciore, Matthew Billy, and Liana Greenway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Programming Note: This conversation was recorded on Monday, 9/8, before the horrific and tragic killing of political activist Charlie Kirk. Gun violence is among the leading causes of death for children and teens in the United States. News of yet another mass shooting breaks almost weekly. And still, gun reform remains fiercely partisan. It is indeed a cultural flashpoint in a country that feels as divided and polarized as ever. This week, Preet is joined by John Feinblatt, the President of Everytown for Gun Safety, and Adam Winkler, a constitutional scholar and expert on the Second Amendment to discuss whether gun culture is changing for the better, whether legal reforms are making any progress, and whether the private sector can step up in the face of political deadlock.  Then, Preet answers your questions about Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to a minimum-security prison, and asks for your thoughts on Newsom’s posting. In the bonus for Insiders, Preet, John, and Adam discuss U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s decision not to federally prosecute individuals for carrying rifles or shotguns in D.C. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the Supreme Court ruling that loosened restrictions on immigration raids in Los Angeles, allowing ICE to make stops based on factors like ethnicity. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce break down: – A federal judge’s ruling that President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles was unlawful;  – A federal appeals court ruling, which, for the first time, struck down Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members; and – The Eleventh Circuit’s decision to block a district court order to shut down the so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center in the Florida Everglades. CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel.This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What comes first, a prosperous economy or stable democratic institutions? Nobel Prize-winning economist and MIT professor Daron Acemoglu joins Preet to discuss the economic stakes of shifting institutional norms in the U.S. He weighs in on President Trump’s decision to fire key personnel at the Federal Reserve and Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as the announcement that the government will take a roughly 10% equity stake in Intel.  Then, Preet answers a question about the latest developments in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation case and discusses Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent social media posts. In the bonus for Insiders, Acemoglu discusses what people often overlook when comparing the Industrial Revolution to the AI revolution.  Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss President Donald Trump’s threats that he will deploy National Guard troops to major cities. Trump has already done this in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles and has floated doing the same in Chicago, New York, and Baltimore.  In the full episode, Preet and Joyce break down Trump’s efforts to expand the National Guard’s role in D.C. law enforcement, and two separate law enforcement assault cases out of D.C., in which federal prosecutors failed to secure indictments before a grand jury. CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Preet's out this week, so we're excited to share an episode of Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov, which we think listeners of Stay Tuned with enjoy. We'll be back next week! Jessica Tarlov sits down for a wide-ranging conversation with Hillary Clinton to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time. They explore how Donald Trump could attempt to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, how Democrats should navigate their relationship with Israel amid the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and Trump's accelerating consolidation of power at home. Secretary Clinton shares her take on the perils of “dumb power” diplomacy, the fractures within the Democratic coalition, and the struggles facing young men in today’s economy. Plus, she also reflects on the stakes for democracy—and whether she believes America will ever be ready for a woman president. Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump’s recent meetings with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have raised urgent questions about America’s role in global affairs and the future of the war in Ukraine. Atlantic staff writer and national security expert Tom Nichols joins Preet to break down what’s at stake: the fragility of Western unity, the history behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and whether Trump can—or even wants to—deliver peace. They also discuss Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent social media tactics and what effective opposition to Trump looks like. Then, Preet answers your questions about Ghislaine Maxwell’s transfer to a minimum-security prison, and asks for your thoughts on Newsom’s posting. In the bonus for Insiders, Nichols discusses the redistricting battles happening around the country. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss the agreement between the D.C. government and the Trump administration, facilitated by a federal judge, preserving the local government’s authority over its police force. The resolution stemmed from the D.C. Attorney General’s lawsuit challenging Trump’s takeover of the District’s police and his deployment of the National Guard. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss:  – A federal appellate court’s decision allowing the Trump administration to continue to withhold billions of dollars in foreign aid; and – The voter fraud charges brought against a group of Latino Democratic political leaders in Texas for so-called “ballot harvesting.” CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel.This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should the law be more forgiving? Martha Minow, former dean of Harvard Law School, joins Preet for a wide-ranging conversation on what justice means today—inside and beyond the courtroom. They discuss the erosion of public trust in the legal system, the dangers of outcome-driven thinking, and why Minow believes we can’t “achieve” justice. Plus, they explore how self-interest in the Trump era has eroded our institutions, from the Supreme Court to Congress. In the bonus for Insiders, Minow explores whether judges should be more outspoken amid the rise of political attacks, death threats, and a breakdown in civic education. Then, Preet answers listener questions. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does President Trump have the legal authority to put Washington, D.C.’s police under federal control? In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss Trump’s executive order declaring a crime emergency in DC to seize control of the city’s police and deploy the National Guard. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce discuss:  – A federal judge’s decision to reject the Trump administration’s request to unseal grand jury testimony from the Ghislaine Maxwell case; and – The redistricting debate in Texas, as Democratic lawmakers have fled the state to block Republicans from redrawing the state’s congressional map to further strengthen GOP representation. CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network.  Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Audio Producer: Matthew Billy; Deputy Editor: Celine Rohr; CAFE Team: David Tatasciore, Nat Weiner, Noa Azulai, and Liana Greenway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joe Kennedy III is trying to rebuild Democratic power from the ground up—in places where the party has long been written off. The former Massachusetts congressman joins Preet to talk about his work with the Groundwork Project, an organization supporting grassroots organizing in rural America. They discuss what it means to do politics outside the spotlight, his disagreements with his uncle RFK Jr., and how Kennedy is navigating legacy, loss, and the long game of building trust where Democrats have stopped showing up. Then, Preet answers questions about posthumous criminal charges, whether a pardon can be revoked, and how we decide what to cover on this show.  In the bonus for Insiders, Kennedy discusses his work in Northern Ireland, and what we can learn from the country’s violent past. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it mean to be undocumented? And is it always illegal? In an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, Preet Bharara and Joyce Vance discuss whether violations of immigration law are treated as civil offenses or criminal acts under U.S. law. In the full episode, Preet and Joyce break down a new bill in Congress that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks. Plus, why president Donald Trump is exempt from the bill. CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network.  Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Audio Producer: Nat Weiner; Deputy Editor: Celine Rohr; CAFE Team: David Tatasciore, Matthew Billy, Noa Azulai, and Liana Greenway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump and the Justice Department are at the center of bipartisan furor over the case files of Jeffrey Epstein and the administration’s about-face on publicly releasing them. Preet is joined by former Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah, former Assistant US Attorney Elie Honig, and lawyer and former FBI agent Asha Rangappa to discuss what’s potentially unfolding behind closed doors at the Justice Department. They also break down the ongoing legal proceedings involving Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislane Maxwell, who just met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In the bonus for Insiders, they discuss whether Congress could release the Epstein files. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE’s Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deputy AG Todd Blanche met with Jeffrey Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. How unusual is that and where does this development fit within the ongoing Epstein files saga?  This is an excerpt from this week’s Insider episode, where Preet Bharara is joined by Lawfare editor-in-chief Ben Wittes, while Joyce is out.  In the full episode, Preet and Ben break down: – The battle over unsealing grand jury testimony in the Epstein case; – The firing of Maurene Comey, an SDNY prosecutor and daughter of former FBI director Jim Comey; – Whether there’s any merit to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s allegations that President Obama committed “treason” in the 2016 Russian election interference matter; and – The Department of Defense’s findings that the information shared erroneously by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth via Signal was indeed classified. CAFE Insiders click HERE to listen to the full analysis.  Not an Insider? Now more than ever, it’s critical to stay tuned. To join a community of reasoned voices in unreasonable times, become an Insider today. You’ll get access to full episodes of the podcast and other exclusive content. Head to cafe.com/insider or staytuned.substack.com/subscribe.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel. This podcast is brought to you by CAFE and Vox Media Podcast Network.  Executive Producer: Tamara Sepper; Supervising Producer: Jake Kaplan; Associate Producer: Claudia Hernández; Audio Producer: Nat Weiner; Deputy Editor: Celine Rohr; CAFE Team: David Tatasciore, Matthew Billy, Noa Azulai, and Liana Greenway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices