Pod Save America

The Kavanaugh hearings have begun and Senate Democrats came ready to fight. Do we have a shot at stopping his nomination? President Trump spent his Labor Day weekend attacking union leaders and slashing wages for workers, so that was cool. Then we read our favorite excerpts from Bob Woodward's new book, and Jon and Jon interview former President Jimmy Carter.

The Florida race for governor will be a contest between the Republican mini-Trump and the Democrats’ future, Paul Ryan’s SuperPAC is blowing louder dog whistles, and Senate Democrats make a deal on judges that gets them nothing in return. Then EMILY’s List President Schriock joins Jon and Dan to talk about the record number of women candidates who are running and winning elections in 2018.

John McCain leaves behind a complicated legacy after a lifetime of service and sacrifice, Republicans worry that Democrats will investigate the scandals they’ve been covering up, and Democrats reform the party’s presidential nominating process. Then Democratic candidate for Governor Gavin Newsom talks to Jon and Jon about his vision for California and the future of the Democratic Party.

The President has been implicated by his lawyer in a crime that involves the cover-up of extramarital affairs through illegal campaign contributions, and Republicans in Congress refuse to do anything about it. Then CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joins Jon and Dan to talk about what’s next for the Mueller investigation, the Kavanaugh confirmation battle, and his new podcast, “RBG: Beyond Notorious.”

Mueller gets another witness, Trump and Rudy become more unhinged, conservative donors reward the politicians who made them richer, and Republicans try to suppress the vote in Georgia. Then first-time candidate and 2016 Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes talks to Tommy about her race for Congress.

Trump is acting like a guilty man who’s bad at covering up crimes, and Democrats are nominating history-making candidates while they decide on a message for the fall. Then Wesley Bell, the Democratic nominee for St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney, joins Jon and Dan to talk about his upset victory and his plans to reform the criminal justice system. 

White nationalists fail to organize a rally but succeed in organizing the GOP, Omarosa has secret recordings, and Democrats decide whether to take money from corporate PACs. Then Democratic candidate Rashida Tlaib joins to talk about the history she’ll make as the first Muslim woman in Congress, and Ana Marie Cox talks about following Ted Cruz around Texas.

Tuesday’s special election and primaries deliver some Democratic victories and a warning against complacency, another Republican is indicted for corruption, and Dan offers tempered thoughts on Mark Leibovich’s Paul Ryan profile. Then Matt Rivitz of Sleeping Giants talks to Tommy about their success in persuading companies to remove ads from right-wing news outlets that promote bigotry and hate.

The President potentially incriminates his son on Twitter, Republicans try to rush the Kavanaugh confirmation, and more Democratic incumbents face progressive challengers. Then Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talks to Jon Lovett about her big upset and the future of the Democratic Party.

Trump obstructs justice via Twitter, Manafort faces a jury, and the Koch brothers pick a fight with Trump Republicans on trade. Then Dan talks to Nick Thompson of Wired about the fantastic job Facebook has been doing lately. And Jason Kander joins Lovett and Dan to talk about protecting the vote and his new book, “Outside the Wire.”

Trump’s lawyer argues that collusion with a hostile government isn’t a crime after reports that Michael Cohen might implicate the president, and both parties fight to define the stakes of the 2018 midterms. Then Vox’s Dara Lind joins Jon and Jon to talk about the latest developments in the family separation crisis.

A secret recording of Trump and Cohen conspiring about hush money is released, the President retreats from his own trade war, and he steps up his attacks on the media. Then Democratic candidate Danny O’Connor joins Jon and Dan to talk about his campaign to win the special election for Ohio’s 12th congressional district on Tuesday, August 7th.

Trump spends the weekend rage-tweeting, the Nunes Memo is exposed as a fraud, and Jim Comey blesses us with punditry. Then students from Parkland, Florida and Chicago talk about their efforts to register young voters and reduce gun violence, and DeRay Mckesson joins to talk about his upcoming book, On The Other Side of Freedom.

Trump tries and fails to clean up his Putin mess, but Republicans in Congress make it clear that they won’t be doing anything about it. Then Crooked Contributor Tim Miller joins Jon and Dan to talk about the state of the Republican Party, and why it’s become a Trump cult.

President Trump betrays America by siding with Vladimir Putin over the United States, a few days after our government indicted 19 Russian military operatives for sabotaging the 2016 election in order to help Trump win. Then journalist Marcy Wheeler joins Jon, Jon, and Tommy to talk about the next steps in the Mueller investigation, as well as her decision to go to the FBI and become a witness.

Democrats target Brett Kavanaugh’s views on presidential power, Trump blows up the NATO summit, and House Republicans defend Rep. Jim Jordan against accusations that he turned a blind eye towards sexual abuse allegations. Then Senator Dick Durbin joins Jon and Dan to talk about the Kavanaugh nomination and immigration.

Trump nominates Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, escalates his trade war with China, and gets played by North Korea. Then former Supreme Court clerk and White House lawyer Karen Dunn talks to Jon, Jon, and Tommy about how Democrats should approach the coming Supreme Court battle.

The Wilderness is a new documentary podcast from Crooked Media and Two-Up Productions about the history and future of the Democratic Party. Jon Favreau tells the story of a party finding its way out of the political wilderness through conversations with strategists, historians, policy experts, organizers, and voters. In fifteen chapters, the series explores issues like inequality, race, immigration, sexism, foreign policy, media strategy, and how Democrats can build a winning majority that lasts. Coming July 16th. Subscribe to The Wilderness now.

Democrats debate strategy after one of the worst months in Trump’s presidency. Then we answer some of your questions, and play an excerpt from Jon F.’s new podcast, The Wilderness.

Republicans try to hide the fact that Trump will nominate a justice who will overturn Roe v. Wade, and more Democrats join calls to abolish ICE. Then we interview people at Saturday’s Families Belong Together march in Los Angeles, including Senator Kamala Harris, Mayor Eric Garcetti, DeRay Mckesson and activist Ady Barkan.