Can He Do That? artwork

Can He Do That?

307 episodes - English - Latest episode: 22 days ago - ★★★★ - 4.4K ratings

“Can He Do That?” is The Washington Post’s politics podcast, exploring presidential power in the face of weakened institutions, a divided electorate and changing political norms. Led by host Allison Michaels, each episode asks a new question about this extraordinary moment in American history and answers with insight into how our government works, how to understand ongoing events, and the implications when so much about the current state of American life and the country’s politics is unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Government News Politics
Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

The longer the shutdown lasts, the weirder the consequences get

January 18, 2019 09:56

Can Nancy Pelosi postpone the State of the Union address? Can Trump cancel Pelosi's travel? Can Trump and Pelosi find a way to reopen the government? The Post's Colby Itkowitz and Joshua Dawsey unravel details of our country's ongoing political standoff.

Does Trump have the power to declare a national emergency to get border wall funding?

January 11, 2019 08:00

Can a president choose to invoke emergency powers whenever he wants? Liza Goitein of the Brennan Center for Justice explains the extent of Trump's power in states of emergency. The Post's Philip Rucker breaks down the challenges of border wall politics.

Will Trump face a challenger for the GOP's 2020 nomination?

January 04, 2019 08:00

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) wrote an op-ed asserting his independence from Trump -- a move that prompted speculation about a potential 2020 bid. The Post's Robert Costa explains what it would take for Romney, or another GOP contender, to challenge Trump.

Trump’s year of legal battles, Part 2: The Mueller probe

December 28, 2018 08:00

In the final days of 2018, Post reporter Rosalind Helderman recaps the year’s biggest moments in Robert Mueller’s investigation and weighs in on what to watch for as the probe continues.

Trump’s year of legal battles, Part 1: Suits and settlements

December 21, 2018 08:00

As this year comes to a close, Post reporter David Fahrenthold helps us unravel the details of the swirling lawsuits and investigations surrounding Trump's charity and business.

What does Cohen’s sentencing mean for Trump? Presented by ‘Post Reports’

December 14, 2018 08:00 - 6.92 MB

While host Allison Michaels is away this week, we’re bringing you a segment from the Post’s premier daily podcast ‘Post Reports’ on Michael Cohen’s sentencing and what it may mean for Trump.

Will Trump, "a tariff man," win the trade war with China?

December 07, 2018 08:00

Amid escalating tensions and stalled talks between the U.S. and China, financial reporter David J. Lynch and Beijing Bureau Chief Anna Fifield explain what's at stake for Trump, the two countries and the global economy.

What power does Trump have to push back on GM for closing U.S. plants?

November 30, 2018 08:00

The revival of American manufacturing is a key part of Trump's economic message. Now that GM faces cuts, he's threatened to impose import penalties, and revoke subsidies. What's within his power? Economic policy reporter Damian Paletta explains.

How much power does a president have over election recounts?

November 16, 2018 08:00

Amid recounts in Florida, the president has used strong rhetoric to cast doubt on our elections. Can he do that? Amy Gardner, reporting from Broward County, Fla., explains what's at stake for Republicans, Democrats and the president himself.

How will Democrats use their new power as a check on the president?

November 09, 2018 08:00

Will a Democratic House stop President Trump's agenda? Mike DeBonis explains how House Democrats might stall Trump's policies in Congress, and Karoun Demirjian breaks down how far the Democrats might go in investigating the president.

Trump forced out his attorney general. Can he do that?

November 07, 2018 23:52

Jeff Sessions and President Trump have had a tense relationship since Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation last year. So why did Trump request his resignation now? And what are the implications for control of Mueller’s ongoing probe?

How do the midterm election results reflect on the president?

November 07, 2018 19:23

After time on the trail tracking candidates and talking to voters, David Weigel offers insight on last night's results. Which party can claim the biggest wins? Was last night a referendum on President Trump? And will we see a new era of bipartisanship?

President Trump has played an outsize role in midterm campaigns. Can he do that?

November 02, 2018 07:00

Are midterm elections always a referendum on the sitting president? Reporters Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer explain whom Trump has endorsed, which candidates have embraced Trump's policies and how his presence might play out at the polls.

Trump says he'll stop a migrant group from crossing the U.S. southern border. Can he do that?

October 26, 2018 07:00

White House reporter David Nakamura explains which pieces of border operations and immigration law Trump can change or influence. Plus, Kevin Sieff recounts migrant experiences from his time traveling with the caravan in Mexico.

Trump faces a challenging moment in Saudi-U.S. relations. What's at stake?

October 19, 2018 07:00

Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggis disappeared from a Saudi consulate in Turkey. His editor, Karen Attiah, sheds light on Khashoggi as a person and a writer. Reporter Shane Harris breaks down this pivotal foreign policy moment.

Trump made some strange financial moves in the decade before he became president. Can he do that?

October 12, 2018 07:00

Trump's financial past includes $400 million in cash spending, $300 million in private loans and a $50 million loan to himself. David Fahrenthold and Jonathan O'Connell unravel their investigation into the mysteries of Trump's finances from 2005-2015.

How can the Supreme Court maintain impartiality in America's modern political climate?

October 05, 2018 07:00

What happens to the public's perceived independence of the Supreme Court when confirmation processes devolve into partisan battles? The Post's Robert Barnes explains the evolving relationship between politics and the judiciary.

Kavanaugh and Ford will testify at the Senate. Here's what to expect.

September 26, 2018 22:20

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford will testify in relation to sexual misconduct allegations that have arisen during Kavanaugh's confirmation process. With much at stake, Trump is standing by his nominee for now.

Trump ordered Russia investigation documents declassified. Can he do that?

September 21, 2018 07:00

At odds with the Justice Department, Trump wants some texts, interviews and warrants made public. We explore his exercise of presidential power when it pushes against well-established norms and creates conflicts of interest.

President Trump says we are “absolutely, totally prepared” for Hurricane Florence. Are we?

September 14, 2018 07:00

Trump called the handling of Hurricane Maria an "unsung success" and falsely said its high death count was generated to make him look bad. As we face Florence, reporter Joel Achenbach adds insight to Trump's claims and the state of our preparedness.

A harrowing book, an anonymous op-ed and a White House in chaos

September 07, 2018 07:00

After a week of revelations about what it's like to work for President Trump, White House bureau chief Philip Rucker offers insight into the state of the administration.

Exclusive: Phone call between President Trump and Bob Woodward

September 04, 2018 16:08 - 12.6 MB

Bob Woodward sought an interview with President Trump as he was writing "Fear," a book about his presidency. Trump called Woodward in early August, after the manuscript had been completed, to say he wanted to participate. This is audio of that call.

Trump threatened to "take a look" at Google for "rigged" results. Can he do that?

August 31, 2018 07:00

Does the administration have power to regulate the information technology companies distribute? Post technology reporter Brian Fung, technology ethicist David Ryan Polgar and law professor Genevieve Lakier explain how far Trump can take his concerns.

Michael Cohen spent years alongside Trump. What might he know?

August 24, 2018 07:00

Trump’s longtime lawyer and friend, who made a plea implicating Trump this week, has connections to the president’s charity and business. Post reporter Rosalind Helderman explains what we've learned from documents made public by Cohen’s plea.

Michael Cohen implicates Trump. Paul Manafort is found guilty. What happens now?

August 22, 2018 18:05 - 20.8 MB

Within a few minutes on Tuesday afternoon, two people close to Trump are declared guilty. This special break-in episode with Post reporter Devlin Barrett breaks down what these major developments mean for the President of the United States.

Trump is trying to enforce an NDA against Omarosa Manigault Newman. Can he do that?

August 17, 2018 07:00 - 20.9 MB

A former White House aide is releasing details from her time in the administration. Trump wants to stop her. White House reporter Joshua Dawsey and watchdog director Danielle Brian explain what happens when a president seeks NDAs for government employees.

Trump wants to distance himself from Paul Manafort’s trial. Can he do that?

August 10, 2018 07:00 - 19.3 MB

The ongoing trial of Trump’s former campaign manager can affect the future of the Mueller investigation. National security reporter Devlin Barrett and former federal prosecutor Robert Mintz explain what the jury’s verdict might mean for the president.

Trump says that even if there were collusion, there was no crime. Can he do that?

August 04, 2018 07:00 - 15.9 MB

What are the legal lines surrounding collusion? Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Carol Leonnig and white-collar defense lawyer Jacob Frenkel analyze the legal and political consequences of President Trump’s latest suggestion that “collusion is not crime.”

What Trump's rhetoric at his rallies can tell us about his approach towards policy and diplomacy

July 13, 2018 22:56 - 19.5 MB

In June, national political correspondent Jenna Johnson and producer Anne Li went to a Trump rally in Duluth, Minn. Johnson has been to dozens of Trump rallies, but this time, she and Li focused on something different - the crowd.

How to Flip the House: The takeaways for 2018

June 29, 2018 17:08 - 46.1 MB

Given what we've learned from the 1994, 2006 and 2010 midterms about how partisanship, divisiveness and polarizing presidents all affect affect both midterm elections and the powers of the presidency, we ask if Democrats can flip the House in 2018.

How to Flip the House: The secret heist of 2010

June 28, 2018 07:00 - 55.2 MB

2010 was the year of the Tea Party, the year of backlash against Obama, and the year of the biggest shift of power in the House in a century. But it’s also the year that Republicans executed a little-noticed strategy that cemented their place in power.

How to Flip the House: The 2006 blue wave

June 27, 2018 07:00 - 50.5 MB

To understand the identity crisis within the Democratic Party, you could look to the 2006 midterm election … and the story of a junior congressman named Rahm Emanuel, who needed to win 15 seats in the House to restore his party to greatness.

How to Flip the House: The 1994 Republican revolution

June 26, 2018 07:00 - 52.5 MB

Since childhood, Bill Paxon was a diehard Republican – a Nixon fanboy who watched House Republicans lose midterm elections for decades. Then he became a member of Congress. And he was finally in a position to help them get the 42 seats they needed to win.

How to Flip the House: A prologue on why midterm elections matter

June 25, 2018 07:00 - 7.16 MB

In the last 60 years, the House of Representatives has changed political control just three times: in 1994, 2006, and 2010. What do those midterms tell us about what it takes to flip the House? And about why midterm elections matter?

A week of mixed messaging on border separations

June 22, 2018 22:44 - 22.3 MB

Post reporter Mary Jordan helps us look back at a week of conflicting statements and rapid reversals amid an outcry over immigration policy and border separations.

The DOJ report on Comey: What you should know

June 15, 2018 21:35 - 24.9 MB

Post reporter Devlin Barrett joins us for a special episode to talk about the Justice Department inspector general's report on the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server.

'A meet-and-greet-plus': What to expect from Trump's sit-down with Kim Jong Un

June 09, 2018 07:00 - 29.2 MB

Trump is set to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday. How will the president navigate the high-stakes negotiations?

The Tale of the 'Trump Triers'

May 26, 2018 07:00 - 29.1 MB

Will tried-and-true Democrats in the Midwest who voted for Trump in 2016 continue supporting the president? And what do their evolving views say about the rest of the country?

What to expect in Year Two of the Mueller investigation

May 19, 2018 07:00 - 34.8 MB

One year into the Mueller investigation, we ask: What happens next? And what if President Trump is right, and this all turns out to be nothing?

The president is backing out of the Iran Nuclear Deal. Will ‘the Trump Doctrine’ work?

May 11, 2018 20:41 - 35.9 MB

President Trump’s decision could unilaterally kill the landmark agreement — and his unconventional foreign policy approach could have widespread repercussions.

Midterms and Trump: What to look for as we enter primary season

May 05, 2018 07:00 - 28 MB

What does the state of the midterm season say about President Trump, and his effect on the political landscape of the country?

Will Trump get Americans off of welfare?

April 28, 2018 07:00 - 25.5 MB

Recent Trump executive actions are part of an effort to curb the number of people who rely on the government-funded "social safety net." How will these new restrictions affect low-income Americans?

Will courts let the Trump administration put a citizenship question on the Census?

April 21, 2018 07:00 - 34.6 MB

The Trump Administration wants to ask people about their citizenship status on the 2020 Census. Why are Democrats fighting this?

Special episode: Trump’s lawyer got raided by the FBI. Now what will Trump do?

April 12, 2018 21:56 - 22.2 MB

This week, we talk with reporter Matt Zapotosky about the FBI raid on attorney Michael Cohen — and potential implications for President Trump and the future of Robert Mueller's investigation.

Will Trump change how America pays for its infrastructure?

April 07, 2018 07:00 - 34.9 MB

So far, there's no $1.5 trillion infrastructure package. But Trump is still having a significant effect on how America funds and prioritizes its most significant transportation projects.

Will Trump change America's relationship with internet privacy?

March 31, 2018 07:00 - 32.2 MB

Confused about the Cambridge Analytica scandal and how it relates to President Trump? You're not alone. Reporter Tony Romm and internet privacy expert Daniel Kreiss take us on a deep dive.

When will Trump stop firing people and settle on his ‘A-team’?

March 24, 2018 07:00 - 29.4 MB

The firings, resignations, and ousters in the White House have reached a crescendo. What does that say about Trump – as a manager, as a policy-maker, and as a public persona?

Will Trump convince Kim Jong-Un to give up nuclear weapons?

March 17, 2018 07:00 - 37.6 MB

President Trump says he will sit down with North Korea and negotiate a deal on nuclear disarmament. On this week’s episode of “Can He Do That,” we talk to someone who’s tried that before.

Does the President have the power to downsize the government?

March 10, 2018 08:00 - 22 MB

Since President Trump entered office, he's promised a radical restructuring of the federal government — including significant cuts to the size of the federal workforce. But that hasn't happened yet. On this episode, we ask: What's the hold-up?

Should the president run the White House like a family business?

March 02, 2018 21:22 - 28.2 MB

On this week's episode, we talk about presidential family members, and about Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and embattled senior adviser. What happens when a president's own children wield influence in the White House?

Books

The White House
3 Episodes