Left, Right & Center

Inauguration Day is President-elect Donald Trump’s chance to set the tone for the next four years. Currently, his favorability is the highest it’s ever been. He’s already started political action, including brokering a potential Israel-Gaza ceasefire. Will his second inauguration speech continue to ramp up his new coalition or will it alienate the American people? KCRW also answers audience questions on what this new moment could look like. How serious is Trump about expanding the U.S. to Greenland and Canada? And despite being convicted on 34 felony counts, Trump still won over America again. Have citizens given a pass to other presidents who committed wrongdoing? 

Joe Biden will wrap up over 50 years of public service when his presidential term ends later this month. How we define the administrations of former presidents often takes time. But as Biden exits the White House, some moments could be etched into his legacy: the way he handled inflation and its impact on Americans, and the fallout of his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. KCRW spends the full hour reflecting on Biden’s domestic and foreign policy record.

Nomination hearings for President-elect Trump’s Cabinet are scheduled to begin next week. Senate members on both sides of the aisle have signaled they may challenge some controversial picks. The toughest fights could surround important national security nominees like Pete Hegseth (defense secretary) or Kash Patel (FBI director). As investigations into several violent New Year’s terrorist attacks continue, is there an increased sense of urgency to get those positions filled?One of President Biden’s last acts will be eulogizing former President Jimmy Carter, who passed just before the new year. Both one-term Democratic presidents were everyman candidates who struggled to maintain popularity amid economic and foreign crises. KCRW examines Biden’s final days in office and how the sunset of his term feels oddly familiar to Carter’s.What stories or themes are positioned to stand out in 2025? Our Left, Right and Center panel has a few predictions.

Earlier this month, Disney reached a settlement with President-elect Donald Trump’s defamation case against ABC News. ABC News will pay $15 million to Trump after anchor George Stephanopolous made an on air claim that Trump had been found civilly liable for rape. Trump was in actuality, found liable for sexual abuse. Shortly after, Trump also sued a local Iowa newspaper and pollster Ann Selzer for reporting Kamala Harris had a large lead in the days leading up to the election. Trump’s back to back lawsuits raise concern over free press under his second term administration. Could these cases open the door for more lawsuits against media in the future?With 2025 right around the corner, the Left, Right, and Center panel takes a retrospective at the biggest stories of 2024. Believe it or not, there was an election in November! The electorate swung right. There are drones over New Jersey. The divisions between the elites and working class grew larger. Governments across the globe turned against incumbents. What’s on the horizon for 2025?As an end-of-the year treat, the panel opens up the podcast floor for listener questions. David, Mo, and Sarah answer your burning questions about what 2025 might politically have in store. Plus, David confesses his musical adoration for a soft rock superstar.