Listened to Family Feud from On the Media | WNYC Studios

Bernie-Warren coverage, political hobbyism, and the rise of two American oligarchs.

A pre-debate news drop from CNN threatened the relative peace between Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. On this week’s On the Media, why the feud is more distracting than illuminating. Plus, why paying close attention to political news is no substitute for civic participation. And, the origins of two oligarchic dynasties: the Trumps and the Kushners.

1. Rebecca Traister [@rtraister], writer for New York Magazine, on the inevitability of the questions facing women in politics. Listen.

2. Eitan Hersh [@eitanhersh], political scientist at Tufts University, on the political hobbyism and news consumption. Listen.

3. Andrea Bernstein [@AndreaWNYC], co-host of WNYC's Trump, Inc. podcast, on the corruption, improbabilities, and ironies of the Trump and Kushner family histories. Listen.

The segment on political hobbyism is particularly interesting and apt. Definitely worth taking a closer look at and implementing.

👓 Kushner-backed health care project gets ‘devastating’ review | Politico

Read Kushner-backed health care project gets ‘devastating’ review by Arthur Allen (POLITICO)
The Pentagon report could delay the VA’s plans to install the multibillion-dollar software project begun under Obama.

👓 Jared Kushner’s Role Is Tested as Russia Case Grows | New York Times

Read Jared Kushner’s Role Is Tested as Russia Case Grows by Glenn Thrush (nytimes.com)
It is unclear how Jared Kushner’s high-profile woes will affect his hard-won partnership with his father-in-law, perhaps the most stable in an often unstable White House.

📺 Ivanka & Jared: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) | YouTube

Watched Ivanka & Jared: Last Week Tonight from HBO
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner hold an incredible amount of political power. That's troubling considering their incredibly small amount of political experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD8AwgO0AQI

Kushner and Flynn Met With Russian Envoy in December, White House Says | New York Times

Read Kushner and Flynn Met With Russian Envoy in December, White House Says by Michael S. Schmidt, Matthew Rosenberg and Matt Apuzzo (nytimes.com)
The president’s son-in-law and incoming national security adviser met with the ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak, for 20 minutes at Trump Tower in December.

Trump and Staff Rethink Tactics After Stumbles | The New York Times

Read Trump and Staff Rethink Tactics After Stumbles by Glenn Thrush, Maggie Haberman (nytimes.com)
One thing has become apparent to both the president’s allies as well as his opponents: When it comes to governing, speed does not always guarantee success.
Continue reading Trump and Staff Rethink Tactics After Stumbles | The New York Times