Trump begins staffing top roles in his second administration with loyalists and sycophants—and demands that the senators running for majority leader agree to embrace a process that would allow him to appoint whoever he wants without Senate confirmation. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss whether Trump's opening moves are as chilling as we thought they'd be, what we do and don't know about his second-term plans, and how he might pursue revenge on his opponents. Then, Tommy speaks with New York Congre...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 952
The best way to understand what happened on Tuesday is to listen to what the actual voters have been saying. Dan checks back in with two strategists who run focus groups with key parts of the electorate: Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark , who's been talking to Trump-curious swing voters for months, and Carlos Odio of Equis Research, an expert on the Latino vote. Sarah and Carlos discuss some of the warning signs that were blinking red long before last week, and how we can recognize them—and act on ...
Nov 10, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 951
As Kamala Harris officially concedes after a terrible election, Democrats begin searching for lessons—and singling out others for blame. Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy discuss Harris's farewell message, the various conflicting and enraging theories being floated as to why she lost, and how we should think about campaigns going forward. Plus: Sen. Jacky Rosen appears to score a win in Nevada, and Democratic House candidates in uncalled races see a path to victory—and maybe even a narrow majority. Fo...
Nov 08, 2024•56 min•Ep. 950
After a night of resounding losses and a nationwide lurch to the right, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan begin to sift through the pieces—what we know, and we don't, about the race Democrats ran, what voters are looking for, and how to endure the turmoil of a second Trump term. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast....
Nov 06, 2024•54 min•Ep. 949
After a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live , Kamala Harris closes on optimism, unity, and lower prices—while Trump fantasizes about reporters getting murdered and says he regrets leaving office after losing reelection. With just one day to go, Jon, Lovett, and Tommy sort through the latest from the trail and the final batch of high-quality polls, including a stunning result from Ann Selzer in Iowa showing Harris up three points in a deep-red state. Then, the guys reflect on what we've al...
Nov 04, 2024•50 min•Ep. 948
With just two days to go, Dan sits down with Election Night guru and NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki for a pre-election deep dive. Steve breaks down the state of the race, shares insights on key battleground states, trends among key voter groups, and which counties he's watching to signal election night outcomes. Then, Steve and Dan dig into close Senate and House races, plus some quirks in ballot-counting that could affect how quickly we get results. For a closed-captio...
Nov 03, 2024•44 min
Donald Trump dresses up like a sanitation worker as a message stunt and says he'll "protect" women "whether the women like it or not." Kamala Harris seizes on those remarks in events in the swing states, sharpening her argument against Trump on abortion and health care. In the final Friday episode before Election Day, Jon and Dan discuss all the latest and what they're watching for in each of the battleground states on Tuesday. Then, Nebraska's independent Senate candidate, Dan Osborn, talks wit...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 947
Kamala Harris delivers a rousing closing speech, promising to be a president for all Americans and sharply contrasting her plans with Donald Trump's. Trump works to clean up that terrible Puerto Rico joke, getting assists from Sean Hannity and, unfortunately, President Biden, and Trump and surrogates like Elon Musk and Mike Johnson remind voters about their plans to take away health care and slash government budgets—and maybe crash the economy while they're at it. Jon Lovett and the Bulwark's Ti...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 946
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris offer two very different closing messages as we enter the last week before the election: Harris hits the trail with Beyoncé and Michelle Obama and pitches her economic plan for Puerto Rico, while Trump and his cronies light up Madison Square Garden with more vitriol, racism, and hate than even we're used to. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to a packed weekend of campaigning and discuss how the Harris campaign is making the final sale. Then, Alyssa Mastromonaco talks w...
Oct 29, 2024•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 945
Kamala Harris’s lead pollster, David Binder, sits down with Dan Pfeiffer to explain how the the campaign is looking at undecided voters, Harris’s gains with Republican women, and why Gen Z men are in the spotlight. Then, The Atlantic ’s Ron Brownstein dives into the big demographic shifts defining 2024, from widening gender gaps to key trends in swing states. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and in...
Oct 27, 2024•56 min
Donald Trump tries to win over the last few undecided voters by calling immigrants "garbage" and campaigning with Tucker Carlson, who says America is a "bad little girl" who needs a spanking. Harris strikes a different note, contrasting Trump's "enemies list" with her "to do list," and rallying with Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, and the Obamas. Jon and Dan break down all the latest moves, including the strategy behind the big closing argument speech Harris will deliver on Tuesday. Then, Texas Cong...
Oct 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 944
Donald Trump's former chief of staff, John Kelly, goes on the record about Trump praising Hitler, meeting the "definition of a fascist," and the "disturbing" idea of using the military against domestic opponents. Dan and MSNBC's Alex Wagner break down how damaging this might be for Trump, and how Kamala Harris is trying to use it to her advantage. Plus, they look at the Harris campaign's message and strategy in the final two weeks, including rallies with Barack Obama, Eminem, and Bruce Springste...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 943
Running on fumes with just two weeks to go, Trump raves about Arnold Palmer's genitalia and works the fryer at a McDonald's. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris campaigns across the battleground-state suburbs with Liz Cheney, and Barack Obama hits the trail for her in the Sun Belt. Then, Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss the legality of Elon Musk's million-dollar voter-registration giveaways, and Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz stops by to talk about the state of the race and what people can do to help. For a clo...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 942
Dan is joined by Amy Walter, Editor-in-Chief of the Cook Political Report, to break down Democrats' chances of winning the White House, Senate, and House. They dive into key battleground polling trends, the fight for control of the Senate, and whether Dems can flip the House. Then, Dan answers questions from subscribers. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast. From now...
Oct 20, 2024•53 min
Donald Trump gives a stunning answer to a Republican voter upset about Trump's behavior on January 6: "That was a day of love." Kamala Harris braves Fox News for a combative interview with Bret Baier, and JD Vance finally gives an answer on whether Trump lost the 2020 election. Then, Ben Wikler, chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, stops by to talk about how things are looking in the Badger state, and what everyone can do to help. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here...
Oct 18, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 941
Donald Trump spends 40 minutes at a Pennsylvania Q&A queueing up his favorite tunes, baffling the crowd (and everyone else). Tommy and Democratic strategist Rebecca Katz talk through whether Trump is, in fact, losing it, the key moments from his Fox News town hall on women's issues, and Kamala Harris's sit-down with Charlamagne Tha God. Then, Rebecca walks Tommy through the situation on the ground in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and some under-the-radar House races. For a closed-captioned version of t...
Oct 16, 2024•52 min•Ep. 940
"Fascist to the core." That's how Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs under Donald Trump, describes Trump in a new book—and that was before Trump's new comments about using the military against the "enemy within." Jon, Lovett, and Tommy break down the latest and scariest from Trump, Kamala Harris's big swing state tour, and why she's attacking Trump as weak. Then, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Florida, Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, stops by to talk about why it's so important ...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 939
David Plouffe, Senior Advisor to the Harris-Walz campaign and campaign manager for Barack Obama in 2008, joins Dan to talk about where the race stands in the final stretch, which voters the campaign is targeting, and where they're planning to use their resources to greatest effect. Then, Carlos Odio from Equis Research stops by to talk about the Latino vote, how the economy is shaping voter behavior, and what Harris can do to win over those Americans who are still on the fence. From now through ...
Oct 13, 2024•56 min
With 25 days left until Election Day, the quadrennial October Freakout is upon us! Jon and Dan break down the tightening polls, the rival campaigns' strategies for the final push, and the reasons why it's okay to worry—but not to panic. Then, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen joins Lovett to talk about her tight race for reelection and how she plans to pull off a win. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and ...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 938
Donald Trump cancels on 60 Minutes as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz face tough questions and then kick off a full-scale media blitz, with appearances on The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Howard Stern. Donald Trump responds with an interview tour through the friendliest of conservative outlets. Jon and guest host Jen Psaki break down the dueling media strategies, the highlights and lowlights, and whether it’s all working. Then, Jon chats with Joyce Craig, the Democ...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 937
Live from Philly, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, Dan, and MSNBC's Symone Sanders Townsend discuss Trump's rally with Elon Musk, Kamala Harris's media blitz, and reports that she plans to distance herself more from Joe Biden. Then, Senator Bob Casey drops by to nerd out about Pennsylvania electoral maps and to talk about his re-election fight against a Connecticut hedge fund guy—and why Pennsylvania voters have everything on the line this November. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here ...
Oct 07, 2024•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 936
Live from Ann Arbor, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan are joined by special guest host Leah Litman, co-host of Strict Scrutiny and Michigan’s own legal whiz! With just four weeks until Election Day they dive into the latest in the presidential race—Kamala Harris’s more aggressive strategy, Donald Trump’s wild new conspiracy about Hurricane Helene, and Melania Trump’s surprise stance on abortion. Plus, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin stops by to talk about her Senate race and what Democrats need to do to...
Oct 06, 2024•1 hr 18 min
October is here... and so are the surprises. Special Counsel Jack Smith brings Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy back into the headlines, while Harris teams up with Liz Cheney to campaign in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Harris and Biden face fresh challenges: Hurricane Helene recovery and spiraling Middle East tensions. Dan and Jon explore how Trump’s legal troubles could shape the final stretch of the race, and whether Harris will turn the spotlight back to Trump's threat to democracy. Plus, Stacey Abr...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 935
Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy break down Tim Walz's great arguments about democracy and reproductive rights, JD Vance's distortions on Obamacare and immigration, and the other moments that might—might!—break through from a surprisingly collegial vice presidential debate. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast....
Oct 02, 2024•42 min•Ep. 934
Tim Walz and JD Vance prepare for the last big moment of the campaign: Tuesday's vice presidential debate. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy handicap Walz's strengths and weaknesses and offer their advice on lines of attack. Plus, just a day after threatening a "really violent" police purge, Donald Trump travels to hurricane-ravaged Georgia to lie about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris deliberately holding up aid. Then, legendary strategist James Carville stops by to talk about where the race stands and how Har...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 933
Harris gives another big economic speech and sits for an interview about protecting consumers and growing the middle class. Trump, meanwhile, claims Iran is trying to kill him, accuses Harris of lying about working at McDonald’s, defends newly indicted Mayor Eric Adams, and engages in yet another grift: selling branded watches. Jon and Dan break down all the latest, including Harris’s upcoming border visit, and chat with Strict Scrutiny’s Melissa Murray about her new MSNBC special on Black women...
Sep 27, 2024•57 min•Ep. 932
Lovett and guest host Errin Haines break down Kamala Harris's efforts to close the gap with Donald Trump on the economy, and what might be behind Trump's deranged new appeal to women voters. Then, Fox News's Jessica Tarlov, cohost of The Five, stops by to talk about what it's like to be a Democrat on the network Democrats love to hate, and how she survives her daily confrontations with Fox's most opinionated conservatives. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transc...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 931
Six weeks out from Election Day, new polls show Harris leading nationally, but Trump still ahead in key Sun Belt states. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy dive into Harris's push for a second debate, Trump's undisciplined campaign operation, and Mark Robinson staying in the North Carolina governor’s race— even after his team quit. Then, Tommy chats with Chenjerai Kumanyika about his new series, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD . For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . F...
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 930
Another day, another round of maddening polls showing the race locked in place—with Harris ever-so-slightly ahead—even as voters agree that she beat Trump handily in the debate. Jon and Dan go through the latest numbers, preview the Harris campaign's reproductive rights event with Oprah Winfrey, and attempt to process the revelations about North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's, um, online interests. Then, Tommy, Jon, and Dan debrief Lovett on his (spoiler alert!) brief but iconic run on Surviv...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 929
Kamala Harris drives a contrast message with an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists and gives a searing answer about Trump and Vance's lies about Haitian immigrants. Dan and guest host Addisu Demissie discuss Harris's off-the-cuff performance, how she can keep her momentum up post-debate, and Donald Trump's snoozer of a town hall in Michigan. Then they break down the latest polls and the overall state of the race with less than 50 days to go before the election. For a clo...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 928
