Josh, David, and Kate discuss the Volker-Taylor-Sondland text messages, Trump’s on-air message to China and how all of the almost-daily Ukrainian revelations will factor into next week’s Democratic debate.

Attorney General William Barr has been bending over backward to serve Trump’s ends. After his busy summer of traveling to pressure foreign leaders to entertain MAGA conspiracy theories, it’s coming clear just how heavily implicated Barr is in the global strong-arming. Kate, David and the Joshes dig into the whats and whys of Barr’s involvement, and the continuously unfurling Ukrainian scandal.

As part of our membership drive, Josh, Kate and David discuss TPM, the importance of independent journalism today and how the media business has changed over the years.

There has been so much news since Tuesday that we’re back with a breaking news podcast, discussing the release of the whistleblower complaint and acting DNI Joseph Maguire’s testimony before Congress. Catch up on what has happened and where the story may be going next.

TPM investigative reporter Josh Kovensky outlines the recent history leading up to the burgeoning scandal involving Trump pressuring the Ukrainian government to dig up dirt on Joe Biden. Before coming to TPM, Josh reported from Kyiv and is familiar with all the players involved. He helps break down everything you need to know about the whole saga.

In the last 24 hours, the story of the DNI whistleblower has exploded, tying together Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s Spanish gallivanting, President Donald Trump’s alarming phone call in which he reportedly tried to pressure the Ukrainian president and the political machinations of Ukraine’s new regime. Reporter Josh Kovensky, who has long been covering these dynamics and came to us from an outlet Kyiv itself, breaks it down with Kate and Josh.

Corey Lewandowski stonewalled Democrats throughout his appearance before the House Judiciary Committee this week before making the headline-grabbing statement that he doesn’t need to tell the truth to the media. CNN decided that was good reason to have him on TV. TPM newswriter Nicole Lafond joins Kate, Josh and David to talk about it and to dig into the New York Times’ Kavanaugh debacle. TPM managing editor John Light also joins to discuss Trump’s attack on Obama’s climate legacy.

Josh, Kate and David review the latest investigative reporting on evangelical scion Jerry Falwell Jr.’s alleged mismanagement of Liberty University, with a heap of weird sex stuff thrown in. They also discuss why the Trump-hurricane-Sharpie saga is a story we should take seriously, and Tuesday’s special election in North Carolina.

Josh, David and Kate talk 2020, and how recent polls have shown President Trump trailing a number of Democratic candidates in general election match-ups. They also address the Biden war story imbroglio and Vice President Pence’s out-of-the-way trip to a Trump resort in Ireland.

Josh Marshall, Kate Riga, David Taintor and Josh Kovensky discuss the President’s bank’s refusal to say whether it has his tax returns. Then, they review two weeks of escalating presidential bizarreness — from plans to nuke hurricanes to the G7 summit.