CNN One Thing

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has been hospitalized for nearly a month, but it remains unclear why or what his condition is. His prolonged absence comes just after Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) disappeared for over 100 days, for what he later revealed was treatment for depression. These incidents are reigniting a prickly debate over what information lawmakers owe voters, the limits of medical privacy, and if Congress is just too old.

Note: This episode was recorded before the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. Read more ⁠here⁠.

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Guest: Casey Burgat, The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management

Host: David Rind

Producer: Paola Ortiz

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo By: Tom Brenner/Reuters
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President Donald Trump’s request for FIFA to review a controversial red card against US striker Folarin Balogun has raised questions about fairness and preferential treatment at the World Cup. But experts say soccer’s governing body has long been open to possible political influence and corruption. We explore how that came to be and why fans continue to love the tournament despite FIFA.

For more: Breaking down 36 disastrous hours for American soccer as World Cup bubble bursts

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Guest: Simon Kuper, Financial Times reporter and co-author, ‘Soccernomics’

Host: David Rind

Producer: Paola Ortiz

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
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The Supreme Court finished its blockbuster term by striking down President Donald Trump’s executive order that would have limited birthright citizenship. But experts say it was not a total loss for Trump and some Republicans still want to push ahead. We break down the implications and examine how future presidents will also benefit from expanded executive authority thanks to this court. 

For more: Trump’s audacious bid to end birthright citizenship was not an entire loss at the Supreme Court 

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Guest: Joan Biskupic, CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images
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Ahead of America’s 250th birthday, CNN tracked down multiple descendants of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence to ask: do you feel like we are living up to their vision? Their answers were as complicated as the country itself. 

For more: Descendants in a divided America 

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Guest: Catherine Shoichet, CNN Senior Writer 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Photo: Tristen Rouse/CNN
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Over the past few weeks, a small player protest over Pride uniforms has kicked off a controversy in Major League Baseball. Some LGBTQ fans and politicians are angry (for very different reasons), and the episode is raising questions about LGBTQ progress and whether professional sports should play a role. We look at whether this drama on the diamond can tell us anything about Americans’ shifting attitudes on social issues under the second Trump administration. 

For more: Americans are divided on ‘culture war’ issues, a new CNN poll finds. Republicans are trying to leverage that in the midterms 

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Guests: Terri Hupfer & Hannah Keyser, CNN Sports Writer 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo by: Scott Marshall/AP
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