A Week of Scandal, Reckoning and Resignations in Congress
The Daily
Warning: This episode discusses suicide.
This week, Congress was on the cusp of doing something that has never happened in U.S. history: forcibly removing four House members. Two of those members resigned.
Michael Gold, who covers Congress, explains what unfolded on Capitol Hill, and what the events tell us about how willing Congress is to hold itself accountable.
Guest: Michael Gold, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Senator Ruben Gallego admitted he had long heard, but disbelieved, rumors of impropriety involving Eric Swalwell.
- Mr. Swalwell resigned after allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staff member and engaged in misconduct with other women.
Photo: Michael McCoy for The New York Times
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?sou.... For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
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Raw Description
<p>This week, Congress was on the cusp of doing something that has never happened in U.S. history: forcibly removing four House members. Two of those members resigned.</p> <p>Michael Gold, who covers Congress, explains what unfolded on Capitol Hill, and what the events tell us about how willing Congress is to hold itself accountable.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-gold" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Michael Gold</strong></a>, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/us/politics/gallego-swalwell-congress-culture.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Senator Ruben Gallego admitted he had long heard, but disbelieved, rumors</a> of impropriety involving Eric Swalwell.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/us/eric-swalwell-resignation-sex-abuse-accusations.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mr. Swalwell resigned</a> after allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staff member and engaged in misconduct with other women.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Michael McCoy for The New York Times</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>
Show Notes
Warning: This episode discusses suicide.
This week, Congress was on the cusp of doing something that has never happened in U.S. history: forcibly removing four House members. Two of those members resigned.
Michael Gold, who covers Congress, explains what unfolded on Capitol Hill, and what the events tell us about how willing Congress is to hold itself accountable.
Guest: Michael Gold, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Senator Ruben Gallego admitted he had long heard, but disbelieved, rumors of impropriety involving Eric Swalwell.
- Mr. Swalwell resigned after allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staff member and engaged in misconduct with other women.
Photo: Michael McCoy for The New York Times
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?sou.... For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Raw Description
<p>This week, Congress was on the cusp of doing something that has never happened in U.S. history: forcibly removing four House members. Two of those members resigned.</p> <p>Michael Gold, who covers Congress, explains what unfolded on Capitol Hill, and what the events tell us about how willing Congress is to hold itself accountable.</p> <p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-gold" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Michael Gold</strong></a>, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.</p> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/us/politics/gallego-swalwell-congress-culture.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Senator Ruben Gallego admitted he had long heard, but disbelieved, rumors</a> of impropriety involving Eric Swalwell.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/us/eric-swalwell-resignation-sex-abuse-accusations.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mr. Swalwell resigned</a> after allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staff member and engaged in misconduct with other women.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Michael McCoy for The New York Times</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>