{"_":"Pod Save America is a no-b******t conversation about politics hosted by former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor. It cuts through the noise to break down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how they can help. They’re regularly joined by journalists, activists, politicians, entertainers, and world leaders. You can watch on YouTube or listen to new episodes every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.\n \n\n
Subscribe to Friends of the Pod! Your subscription makes Crooked’s work possible and gives you access to ad-free episodes of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World, plus exclusive content and a lively Discord community. Learn more and subscribe at crooked.com/friends or on Apple Podcasts.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
President Trump, days after storming out of a Meet the Press interview, returns to New York City to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss how New Yorkers are reacting to the president's visit, discuss the latest from Trump's wars, including the outbreak of more violence between Iran, Israel, and Lebanon, and debunk MAGA's new, unfounded claims about voter fraud in California. Then, Roger Bennett, host of Men in Blazers, joins Tommy to preview the World Cup and discuss h...
Will Sommer, author of The Bulwark's "False Flag" newsletter, sits down with Tommy to talk about the MAGA media world — including the right-wing personalities who may be considering a political future (Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens), those whose influence is crumbling (Ben Shapiro), and some of the most troubling — and strangest — rising voices. Tommy and Will then break down the ways some of MAGA's leading voices are abandoning the president, what their world will look like and whether it ca...
President Trump announces yet another D.C. construction project — a renovation to the Lincoln Memorial dubbed "The Trump Promenade" — as well as the nominations of his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche for Attorney General and shitposter-turned-FHA Administrator Bill Pulte for acting Director of National Intelligence. Alex Wagner joins Jon Favreau to discuss the latest, including California's torturously slow primary tallies, new allegations against presumptive Maine Democratic Senate nominee ...
Donald Trump thinks JD Vance is a bit of a loser and he's worried he may not be presidential enough to be the 2028 Republican nominee, according to The New York Times. After a series of court losses, the White House signals that it's about to ditch its $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund." Trump is reportedly "getting very bored" with the Iran negotiations. Democratic voters head to the polls to decide a series of contentious primaries in California and Iowa. Then, Senator Andy Kim talks to Jo...
Jon sits down with our own Ben Rhodes to talk about how American leaders tell the story of who we are — and who they think we should be — through the speeches they give. The two go through the seminal speeches Ben selected for his new book "All We Say," discussing their power for good (Frederic Douglass on human rights) and evil (Alexander Stephenson on the "moral truth" of white supremacy), and their own memories of writing presidential addresses for Barack Obama when the stakes were highest. F...
After Ken Paxton's victory in the Texas Senate Republican primary runoff, the MAGA faithful set their sights on James Talarico, attempting to disqualify him for being too much of a beta male for Texas. Will it stick? The White House is on the verge of getting Iran to the table to negotiate, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismisses concerns that the U.S. economy is heading toward stagflation, and Trump accelerates his quest to stamp his image on Washington, covering statues in gold and attempti...
Norm Eisen, President Obama's "ethics czar" and founder of Democracy Defenders, talks to Alex Wagner about Trump's latest avalanche of corruption: the $1.8 billion slush fund to pay off Jan. 6 rioters, the IRS immunity announcement, the ballroom, the reflecting pool renovation, the 3,000-plus stock trades placed while in office, and, unfortunately, much more. Together, they unpack how Democrats in Congress — or lawyers outside of it — could stop Trump's slush fund, and what impact this onslaught...
So much for Trump's iron grip on the party. Just days after Thomas Massie's defeat, Republicans in the Senate and House begin to buck Trump on his top priorities: ballroom funding, the taxpayer-funded slush fund for his allies, and the war in Iran. Could it be that his surprise endorsement of Ken Paxton over John Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary didn't help matters? Faced with mounting leaks, the DNC finally releases its 2024 autopsy — an incoherent, error-riddled mess that Chairman Ken Martin...
Trump's DOJ launches a $1.7 billion fund to make payments to his allies, as Democrats revive the debate about whether to make Trump's declining fitness—even his increasingly discolored hands—a campaign issue. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy weigh the pros and cons and react the rest of the news, including Trump taking revenge on Bill Cassidy and Thomas Massie, his new plotting against Cuba and Greenland, and the latest on negotiations with Iran. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here ...
David Axelrod joins Dan to discuss the Democratic Party's best messengers and its likely 2028 contenders. Together, they break down standout moments from some of the party's rising voices, examine what it'll take for Democrats to win the House despite new gerrymandered maps, and walk through some of this year's most important Senate races. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of th...
Republicans attempt to defend President Trump's admission that he does not "think about Americans' financial situations," while his Department of Justice is on the verge of giving him billions of taxpayer dollars to settle the lawsuit he brought against his own IRS. Jon and Dan react to the president's financial priorities and then turn to Democratic strategy, including how they should be talking about the administration's corruption, how they're fighting back against Republican gerrymandering, ...
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers a blistering response to Jeff Bezos's Washington Post after the editorial board attacks her for criticizing billionaires. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett mull what an AOC 2028 campaign could look like and discuss the latest news, including President Trump rejecting an Iranian counterproposal that could end the war, his proposal to make Venezuela the 51st state, and his upcoming trip to China, which will now include his billionaire buddies Elon Musk and Tim Cook. The...
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock stops by the studio to talk to Jon about the Supreme Court's dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, his visit to an ICE detention facility, and whether the Democratic Party is doing enough to fight back against Trump. Then Jon and the senator, who serves as senior pastor at the congregation Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once led, discuss JD Vance lecturing Pope Leo on theology, increasing political violence in America, and what lessons from Dr. King can help us build ...
Congressional Republicans plan to spend $1 billion in taxpayer money on Trump's ballroom, claiming the money is necessary for "security" — and creating a huge political problem for themselves. The president and his cabinet make a show of ignoring the pain Americans are feeling at the gas pump, as the US and Iran circle around an underwhelming peace deal. JD Vance's 2028 stock slides as Republican voters turn their attention to Marco Rubio. Dan and Jon discuss the latest, including how Democrats ...
Hosts Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss the reignited Iran war, spiking gas prices, and the political fallout from Spirit Airlines' bankruptcy, with Republicans blaming the Biden administration. They also delve into internal Democratic Party issues, including DNC leadership and the unreleased 2024 autopsy report, and explore the party's struggles on the generic ballot, using John Ossoff's anti-corruption message as a case study. The episode concludes with Melissa Murray analyzing the latest court rulings on mifepristone, threats to abortion access, and the significant impact of the Calais decision on the Voting Rights Act.
Lovett sits down with Senator Bernie Sanders about what we need to do rein in AI, getting super PAC money out of Democratic politics, and building support for stopping weapons sales to Israel. Then, Lovett speaks with Puck Political writer Peter Hamby to talk about his reporting on the embrace of political violence and conspiracy theories in certain corners of the political left, the big news in the Maine Senate race and the latest in the California governor's race. For a closed-captioned versio...
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court guts the Voting Rights Act, setting the stage for Republicans to grab more Democratic seats — but will they be able to do it in time for the midterms? Dan and Alex Wagner tackle all the latest with redistricting, Pete Hegseth's testy appearance on the Hill defending the war in Iran, and Trump's new pursuit of some very familiar enemies. Then, Iowa Senate candidate Zach Wahls stops by to talk to Tommy about the primary there and what's at stake for farmers in ...
DNC Chairman Ken Martin wanted to come on and respond to criticisms about his refusal to release the 2024 "after-action report" — despite his promise to do so — and about the Committee's fundraising struggles. In this bonus episode, he talks to Jon about why he thinks the report is a distraction, and why the fundraising numbers — in his view — tell a misleading story. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.c...
The hosts dissect the aftermath of the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting, criticizing Trump's quick pivot to blaming Democrats, leveraging the event for his ballroom project, and attacking Jimmy Kimmel's jokes. They explore the spread of conspiracy theories, the challenges of event security, and the broader context of political rhetoric. The episode also analyzes the ongoing stalemate with Iran, including Trump's decision to halt talks and the international implications. Finally, they interview Katie Porter, discussing voter apathy, her proposals for California, and her campaign strategy for governor.
Tommy and Sarah Longwell discuss insights from focus groups, highlighting widespread voter frustration over high costs and Trump's broken promises, particularly regarding foreign wars and transparency. They analyze the efficacy of corruption-focused messaging, the fracturing of political coalitions on both the left and right, and the societal impact of big tech oligarchs and the "Maha" movement. The conversation concludes with premature speculation on 2028 presidential contenders for both parties.
This episode delves into the continued stalemate of Trump's Iran war, its global economic impact, and the firing of key Pentagon officials. The hosts celebrate Democrats' significant redistricting victories, including in Virginia, which are seen as a strategic response to GOP gerrymandering. They also cover internal Republican struggles, including Kash Patel's scandals, before Mark Leibovich joins to break down California's tumultuous gubernatorial race and the ethical dilemmas surrounding Trump's attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Pod Save America discusses Donald Trump's premature Iran victory claims and his strategy to sway Joe Rogan by fast-tracking psychedelics. The show also scrutinizes FBI Director Kash Patel's lawsuit against The Atlantic, detailing his alleged incompetence. Finally, it analyzes the early moves of 2028 Democratic hopefuls like Jon Ossoff, Pete Buttigieg, and Kamala Harris, followed by an in-depth interview with Ilan Goldenberg of J Street on progressive, pro-Israel policy and the future of US aid to Israel.
Dan Pfeiffer and David Pakman delve into the evolving political landscape, examining the recent critiques of Trump from his former MAGA media allies and the potential impact on the upcoming elections. They analyze the White House's attempts to pivot to an economic message, dissecting the efficacy of policies like
This episode delves into Donald Trump's ongoing "holy war" with Pope Leo over theology and the Iran conflict, alongside his administration's confused messaging on the economy and Republicans' midterm anxieties. It also covers the strange revelation from RFK Jr.'s diary and features an interview with Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who speaks about her Senate bid, the severe impact of ICE operations in her state, and the imperative for post-Trump accountability and progressive Democratic leadership. The conversation highlights the political and social challenges facing the country.
President Trump attacks Pope Leo as "weak on crime" in a long social media screed before posting an AI-generated photo of himself as Christ healing the sick. JD Vance fails to broker a peace deal with Iran, Trump announces plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by blockading it, a horrifying scandal upends the race for California governor, and Democrats' Senate hopes show signs of life. Then, LA councilmember Nithya Raman stops by the studio to talk about her campaign for LA mayor and how she plan...
Political commentator Hasan Piker stops by the studio to talk to Jon about his move into electoral politics and the discussion inside the Democratic Party about whether candidates should associate themselves with him and his audience. Then they debate Hasan's views on Israel and Hamas, and Jon asks him about how he thinks about the words he chooses and his theory of political organizing. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email t...
The MAGA media revolt over Iran is in full swing and Trump posts a nearly 500-word screed declaring "I no longer care" — before attacking each critic in obsessive detail. Meanwhile, the ceasefire hangs by a thread as it becomes clear that Trump has no idea what's in it, calls to invoke the 25th Amendment grow louder, JD Vance heads to Islamabad to negotiate with the Iranians, and Melania Trump makes a baffling appearance to defend herself against Epstein allegations that no one was asking about....
This episode delves into Donald Trump's "Strait Up War Crimes" threats against Iran, analyzing the humanitarian and economic fallout of his reckless foreign policy, and critiquing his proposed budget that drastically increases defense spending while cutting social programs. The hosts also expose Stephen Miller's escalating, yet more subtle, mass deportation campaign and dissect Trump's unexpected endorsement in the California governor's race, which has significant political implications for Democrats. The discussion highlights the administration's lack of empathy and long-term strategy, concluding with an interview with Rep. Sarah McBride on congressional dynamics and progressive economic policies.
Senator Cory Booker joins Jon Lovett to delve into his ambitious "Keeping Your Pay Act," a tax proposal designed to provide significant relief by eliminating federal income tax for most Americans. The conversation also explores the politicization of the Justice Department, Trump's controversial Iran policy and congressional inaction, and the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Booker emphasizes the need for big, bold ideas to address America's structural problems, reform campaign finance, and restore a sense of national unity and economic fairness for working-class families.
Jon and Dan react to President Trump's confusing primetime address on the ongoing Iran war, dissecting his claims of victory while highlighting the lack of a coherent exit strategy and negative market reactions. They also cover the abrupt firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi and speculate on her replacement. The episode delves into Trump's legal challenges, including his personal appearance at the Supreme Court to push against birthright citizenship and his controversial executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting. Finally, the hosts discuss the resolution of the DHS shutdown and the strange "bimbofication" scandal involving Kristi Noem's husband.
