Kagro in the Morning - March 30, 2026

In this wide-ranging episode of 'Kagro in the Morning,' host David Waldman opens with a personal story about unexpectedly attending the Duke-UConn basketball game, where UConn pulled off a stunning upset. He reflects on the emotional weight of the game, the absurdity of rooting against Duke, and the cultural significance of college basketball. The conversation then pivots sharply to politics, dissecting the ongoing DHS funding shutdown, with a scathing critique of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to bring the Senate’s bipartisan compromise to the floor—highlighting how internal GOP infighting is prolonging the crisis. Waldman debunks the myth that 'whoever starts a shutdown loses,' arguing instead that Republicans have weaponized shutdowns for political gain, a strategy that has backfired as public opinion turns against them. He also critiques the Trump administration’s handling of the war in Iran, citing a New York Times analysis that warns of a dangerous overreliance on technology and a lack of cultural understanding in military strategy. The episode further explores the bizarre story of FBI Director Kash Patel’s hacked personal emails, revealing his questionable security practices and lavish lifestyle, while also covering Trump’s increasingly surreal behavior—like claiming to have negotiated for $5 gold-embossed Sharpie pens. The show closes with a deep dive into the legal and political chaos surrounding Trump’s executive order to pay TSA agents during the shutdown, questioning its legality and the broader implications for democratic norms.