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In the first episode of this three part mini-series, Dan Pfeiffer and Alyssa Mastromonaco break down the vetting for vice presidential candidates - how it happens, why it's so secret, and what can go wrong. They'll talk you through the history of the vetting process, their experiences on the Kerry and Obama campaigns, and how they think the Biden campaign is approaching the process.
Alyssa Mastromonaco joins as a guest host to talk about the Covid resurgence, what Tuesday’s progressive primary victories mean for the Democratic Party, and Joe Biden’s commanding lead over Donald Trump in the battleground states. Then Jamaal Bowman talks to Tommy about his upset victory in the primary for New York’s 16th Congressional district.
Trump tanks in Tulsa with a small crowd and rambling speech, fires a U.S. Attorney who was investigating his allies, loses a legal battle to stop John Bolton’s book from being published, and loses the Supreme Court decision over DACA. Then Jon Stewart talks to Jon Favreau about money in politics, the media, and his new movie, Irresistible.
Color of Change Chair Heather McGhee joins as a guest host to talk about Trump’s speech on police reform, the Senate Republican bill, where Joe Biden and the Democrats stand, and how we can ensure that this moment becomes a durable political movement to fight systemic racism. Then Reverend William Barber talks to Dan about the Poor People’s Campaign and this weekend's Moral March on Washington.
Police kill Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta as Republicans in Congress balk at reform proposals, Trump moves the date of his Juneteenth MAGA rally even as some advisors suggest he attack the Black Lives Matter movement, and Covid cases rise in 22 states as the President pretends the pandemic is over. Then ACLU attorney Chase Strangio talks to Jon L. about the landmark Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ rights, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowrey discusses his reporting on the nationwide pr...
Trump prepares for a potential speech on race and unity by attacking an elderly protester and defending Confederate-named buildings, Republicans feel the pressure on police reform, and Joe Biden opens up a big lead in the polls. Then Stacey Abrams talks to Jon about the voting disaster in Georgia and her new book, Our Time Is Now.
The mass demonstrations against police violence and racism have ignited a debate about transformational change, Republican and military leaders start to abandon Trump, and the President celebrates double-digit unemployment. Then Los Angeles District Attorney candidate George Gascón talks to Tommy about progressive criminal justice reform.
The nationwide protest against racism and injustice shows early signs of progress, Trump’s presidency reaches a dangerous new low, and Joe Biden and Barack Obama remind us what a real president sounds like. Then LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, talks to Dan about organizing and mobilizing black voters ahead of November.
George Floyd’s murder sparks nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism, Donald Trump responds by hiding in the White House and tweeting, and Joe Biden ventures out to meet with protesters and black community leaders. DeRay Mckesson joins to talk about what police reforms actually work, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms talks to Jon F. about grappling with this crisis as a mayor and a mother.
The two candidates mark the pandemic death toll reaching 100,000 Americans in starkly different ways, a masked Biden emerges from his home, and both campaigns compete for black voters amid new incidents of racism and violence. Then Obama veteran Paul Tewes talks to Jon about recruiting an army of organizers to beat Trump in 2020. Adopt A State: http://votesaveamerica.com/adopt
Six battlegrounds will likely determine whether Trump or Biden wins in November, and Crooked Media content chief Tanya Somanader joins to talk about why you should Adopt a State and start organizing from home. Then Jon, Jon, and Tommy answer listener questions about the VP selection process, what a virtual convention might look like, how we’ll celebrate if Mitch McConnell loses, and when Ronan might cut Lovett’s hair. Adopt A State: votesaveamerica.com/adopt...
The President takes a dangerous drug to own the libs, Ted Cruz gets in a Twitter fight with the pod, our new Change Research poll shows Joe Biden with a small lead in Michigan, and Republicans are done with helping the economy. Then Dave Weigel of the Washington Post talks to Dan about the digital strategies shaping the Biden and Trump campaigns.
The President continues his purge of government officials who expose corruption, the Trump campaign uses a kitchen sink strategy to define Joe Biden, Barack Obama reminds us of what a normal president sounds like, and House Democrats pass an economic relief bill with some defections. Then Senator Sherrod Brown and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Connie Schultz talk to Jon L. about Senate negotiations over the next stimulus bill, and what it’s like to quarantine together.
Trump tries to make the election about Barack Obama, Democrats come up short in a California special election, Joe Biden announces a set of policy unity task forces, and Democratic strategists offer his campaign plenty of advice. Then Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal talks to Jon about her Paycheck Guarantee Act and her role as the co-chair of Biden’s health care unity task force.
The White House’s robust testing and contact tracing program finds two cases inside the West Wing, Attorney General Bill Barr drops the charges against one of the President's convicted criminal friends, Barack Obama speaks out, and Trump falsely accuses California Democrats of rigging an election by allowing more people to vote. Then New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe talks to Tommy about his new Crooked podcast Wind of Change, and CNN’s Harry Enten weighs in on the latest polling and the 20...
Trump surrenders in the War Against the Invisible Enemy, pivots to a message about rebuilding the economy, and tries to make the race about Joe Biden. Then Jon and Dan break down the latest polls, answer some listener questions, and Dan interviews Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias about his legal battles to protect our right to vote in November.
The President steps up his efforts to blame China for the coronavirus, the Trump campaign is divided over its re-election message, Joe Biden responds to Tara Reade’s allegations, and the Vice Presidential selection process begins. Then Austan Goolsbee, one of Obama’s top economic advisors, talks to Jon F. about how to dig ourselves out of this crisis.
Republicans’ top priority is giving corporations the freedom to let their workers and customers get sick, former Republican Justin Amash explores a third party bid for president, and new reporting emerges about an allegation of sexual assault against Joe Biden. Then Congressional candidate Christy Smith talks to Jon about her May 12th special election in California’s 25th district.
The White House weighs cutting back on Trump’s daily briefings, Republicans start to worry about November, and Joe Biden’s campaign adjusts to life in the midst of a pandemic. Then Senator Brian Schatz talks to Jon L. about the next economic relief bill and the Senate map in 2020.
Trump responds to falling poll numbers with a temporary ban on some forms of immigration, Mitch McConnell wants to hit pause on economic relief, and we answer some questions from listeners. Then former White House Chief Technology Officer Jason Goldman talks to Dan about how Joe Biden and Democrats can get creative with their digital strategy ahead of November.
Trump encourages Trump supporters protesting against Trump’s social distancing guidelines, governors in both parties plead for help with testing, Congress nears a deal on another economic relief bill, and China becomes a 2020 issue. Then Senator Bernie Sanders talks to Jon and Jon about why our response to this economic crisis should be more ambitious, how progressive candidates can win, and what he hopes to see from Joe Biden.
Democrats win a stunning upset in Wisconsin, Joe Biden wins the endorsements of Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren, and Data for Progress polling guru Charlotte Swasey joins Jon and Dan to break down brand new polling that details which arguments about Trump’s handling of the coronavirus are most persuasive to voters.
Trump reignites the debate over when to re-open the country against the advice of public health experts in his own administration, his campaign launches a Blame China strategy, and Democrats use their leverage to fight for a relief bill that helps workers and voters. Then Salon writer Amanda Marcotte talks to Tommy about her reporting on a sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden. Crooked non-medical masks, with proceeds going to the Coronavirus Relief Fund: crooked.com/store...
The general election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump begins as Bernie Sanders suspends his campaign, COVID-19 trutherism gets worse as Trump media tries to spin the death toll, and Democrats look for a way to make voting safe and easy despite opposition from Trump and his allies. Alex Wagner, the host of Crooked Media’s new podcast Six Feet Apart, joins to break down the news, and Stacey Abrams talks to Dan about protecting the right to vote, the coronavirus response, and 2020 veepstakes. Sub...
Donald Trump and Jared Kushner let the states fend for themselves, Republicans in Wisconsin fight Democratic efforts to make voting safer, and Bernie Sanders’s advisors encourage him to end his candidacy. Then Elizabeth Warren talks to Jon F. about her plans to fix our public health and economic crises, and how she’s thinking about the November election. Crooked has started a Coronavirus Relief Fund for organizations supporting food banks, health care workers, restaurant workers, seniors, kids w...
Donald Trump says he’ll have done a “great job” if the coronavirus death toll is between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans, some reporters praise his somber delivery of this news, and Nancy Pelosi begins to float ideas for a fourth economic relief bill as weekly jobless claims surpass six million. Then Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler talks to Jon about how he’s fighting to ensure a safe and fair election on April 7th, and the importance of voting by mail in November. Crooked has started ...
The United States becomes the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump blames everyone but himself for the bungled response, and public health officials persuade him to abandon his Easter deadline. Then PBS's Yamiche Alcindor talks to Jon L. about covering the Trump White House during this crisis. Crooked has started a Coronavirus Relief Fund for organizations supporting food banks, health care workers, restaurant workers, seniors, kids who depend on school lunches, and others in need. Donat...
The Senate passes the largest economic relief bill in history, Trump spreads the deadly lie that letting the virus run wild will boost the economy, and the daily White House briefings get record cable ratings. Then Governor Gretchen Whitmer talks to Dan about Michigan’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Crooked has started a Coronavirus Relief Fund for organizations supporting food banks, health care workers, restaurant workers, seniors, kids who depend on school lunches, and others in need....
Trump refuses to force the production of life-saving medical equipment, Democrats fight to eliminate a corporate slush fund from Mitch McConnell’s stimulus bill, and the coronavirus pandemic upends the 2020 campaign. Then, health care workers share stories about how they’re grappling with this crisis. Crooked has started a Coronavirus Relief Fund for organizations supporting food banks, health care workers, restaurant workers, seniors, kids who depend on school lunches, and others in need. Donat...
Trump’s failures put the U.S. behind the rest of the world on testing, Congress debates the size and scope of the next economic relief package, and Joe Biden moves closer to clinching the Democratic nomination. Then Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, host of Crooked Media’s America Dissected, answers some of your questions about the coronavirus pandemic. Crooked has started a Coronavirus Relief Fund for organizations supporting food banks, health care workers, restaurant workers, seniors, kids who depend on sc...
