Progress Report

An update You’d think I’d be used to this by now, I’m going to be honest: the news that I need to undergo my third heart surgery since early 2024 really walloped me, to put it mildly. I’m a pessimist by nature, but mentally bracing for the worst out of habit and maybe superstition doesn’t really prepare you for when the bomb actually drops from the sky (or your doctor calls you at 6pm on a Wednesday evening with “disappointing news”).

Here we go again Welcome to a Friday edition of Progress Report. I was halfway through writing Wednesday’s newsletter when I got a call from my cardiologist. That part wasn’t a surprise; I’d underwent an MRI on Tuesday to establish a new physiological baseline nine months after my sixth major open heart surgery, so I was anticipating the call. I wouldn’t say I was looking forward to it, but I was hopeful I’d get the all-clear after a difficult rehab period.

And does needing $30 million in dark money really count? Welcome to a Sunday night edition of Progress Report. A few things before we start. Andy Burnham will become the new Prime Minister of Britain today. I was really impressed with his speech at the Labour conference last week, which was less a technocratic laundry list of policies than a narrative that explained the country’s decline and his vision for its revival.

A conspiracy hiding in plain sight. Welcome to a Wednesday night edition of Progress Report. I’m working on a few big stories and booking interviews for the upcoming weeks, so there’s a lot to be excited about. And on that note, if you’ve ever bought or sold anything online, you’ll want to watch tonight’s story — it’ll make you angry and ideally laugh some, too.

Playback speed × Share post Share post at current time Share from 0:00 0:00 / Playback speed × Share post 0:00 / Preview Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. The battle to save democracy in red states And more with LOLGOP Welcome to a Sunday edition of Progress Report.

Playback speed × Share post Share post at current time Share from 0:00 0:00 / Generate transcript A transcript unlocks clips, previews, and editing. Is this the next big progressive upset? A conversation with Kai Newkirk Welcome to a Friday night edition of Progress Report. Thanks to everyone who tuned into our interview last night; you can watch the whole thing above or read about it and watch clips below.

There's a lot to learn from this disgraced episode Welcome to a Tuesday night edition of Progress Report. Tonight we’re going to talk about — you guessed it — Graham Platner. And on another Democratic primary note, on Thursday evening we’ll be live with Kai Newkirk, the dynamic activist who is challenging Rep. Greg Stanton in Arizona. Keep an eye out for the invite. Note: The far-right’s fascist takeover of this country is being aided by the media’s total capitulation to Trump’s extortion.

Ugh he ruins everything Welcome to a Sunday night edition of Progress Report. How was your July 4th weekend? It felt strange to celebrate the country at this moment in time, but I always see it as a way to honor the people who have given everything to bring the US closer to the lofty ideals it espouses. That and an excuse to eat hot dogs and stand on my roof to watch amateur fireworks explode over Harlem, the Bronx, and Queens.

Playback speed × Share post Share post at current time Share from 0:00 0:00 / Generate transcript A transcript unlocks clips, previews, and editing. What the hell did the Supreme Court just do? Deep dive with an expert Welcome to a Thursday edition of Progress Report. It was a historic week at the Supreme Court, as the conservative justices took a wrecking ball to some segments of society and (barely) spared a few of Americans’ most basic constitutional rights.

This time in Colorado Welcome to a Tuesday night edition of Progress Report. It’s election night — again — and I’m happy to report that a candidate you probably first heard about here at Progress Report is headed to Congress. More below! Note: Tonight and tonight only, get 40% off a paid subscription to Progress Report and help keep this work going. Get 40% off for 1 year Donate to Progress Report! Another week, another earthquake upset in a Democratic primary. Several, in fact.