NPR’s Sam Sanders joins the pod as Donald Trump holds his first rally since leaving the White House, former AG William Barr reveals what really went down between him, Trump, and Mitch McConnell, Republicans’ obsession with critical race theory finds them a new enemy in the military, and Tucker Carlson gets outed as a secret source for reporters.

Show Notes

TRUMP RALLY AND WILLIAM BARR 

• NYT: Trump, Seeking to Maintain G.O.P. Sway, Holds First Rally Since Jan. 6 
• Politico: Trump dishes the red meat but keeps revenge on ice 
• Axios: Trump calls GOP Rep. Gonzalez a “sellout” in return to rally stage 
• Reuters: At Ohio rally, Trump knocks Biden on border, hints at 2024 plans 
• CNN: Romney: Trump rallies pushing big lie are entertaining but not real 
• BuzzFeed: The People Still Going To Trump Rallies Are Committed To Trump’s Fantasy: “He’s Our True President” 
• Forbes: Top Ohio Republicans Skip Trump’s First Post-White House Rally 
• The Atlantic: Inside William Barr’s Breakup With Trump 
• NYT: Trump Organization Could Face Criminal Charges in D.A. Inquiry 
• ProPublica: New Details Suggest Senior Trump Aides Knew Jan. 6 Rally Could Get Chaotic 
• Politico: Pelosi announces select committee will investigate Jan. 6 attack 
• Axios: Pelosi announces select committee to investigate Jan. 6 Capitol riot 
• CNN: Top US general rejected Trump suggestions military should ‘crack skulls’ during protests last year, new book claims 
• NYT: Officer Injured in Capitol Riot Asks McCarthy to Disavow Lies About It
• Newsweek: Officer Michael Fanone Injured in Capitol Riots Says ‘I Need a Drink’ After McCarthy Meeting

MAGA v. The Military

• WaPo Opinion: The challenge for educators amid the critical race theory backlash: How do you fight hot air? 
• Jeet Heer: The Right Versus the Military 
• Slate: The Problem Isn’t That Some Republicans Don’t Know What “Critical Race Theory” Is. It’s That Many of Them Do.
• WaPo Opinion: A message to GOP congressmen: In D.C., critical race theory is simple truth-telling 
• TIME: Accused of Being ‘Woke,’ Pentagon Pulled Into America’s Culture Wars
• WaPo: Top U.S. military leader: ‘I want to understand White rage. And I’m White.’ 
• MPR News: How critical race theory became the latest battle in the culture war 
• CNN: Top US general hits back against ‘offensive’ Republican criticism and defends Pentagon diversity efforts 
• NYT: General Milley pushes back on G.O.P. accusations of a ‘woke’ military. 
• NPR: Top General Defends Studying Critical Race Theory in the Military 
• NBC: Map: See which states have passed critical race theory bills 
• NYT: Disputing Racism’s Reach, Republicans Rattle American Schools Morning Consult poll: Many GOP Voters Hold Strong Views on Critical Race Theory? Democrats? Not So much 
• Economist/YouGov poll: Just one-third of Americans have heard of critical race theory and believe they know what it means 
• Axios: J.D. Vance to announce Senate run this week 
• HuffPost: Veterans Call On Their Insurance Co. To Yank Tucker Carlson Ads After He Calls Gen. Milley A ‘Pig’
• Forbes: Trump Hits Back At Gen. Milley Over Critical Race Theory Comments: ‘Sad And Pathetic’
• WaPo: Critical race theory is the hottest topic on Fox News. And it’s only getting hotter. 
• TIME: Accused of Being ‘Woke,’ Pentagon Pulled Into America’s Culture Wars
• The Hill: J.D. Vance emerges as wild card in Ohio GOP Senate primary
• Politico: J.D. Vance Is Making Everyone Mad on Twitter. Can It Win Him a Senate Seat?
• AP: ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author J.D. Vance quits firm after tweets
• Fox News: Identity politics, critical race theory ‘destroying our society’: J.D. Vance

INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE 

• NYT: ‘Not My Intent’: How Biden’s Impromptu Comments Upended a Political Win 
• NYT: Biden and Senators Reach Broad Infrastructure Deal 
• Politico Playbook: Moderate GOP senators ‘pissed’ over Biden infrastructure comments
• Politico: White House scrambles to manage fallout of Biden’s ‘tandem’ remarks

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