{"_":"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
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Eight Democratic senators break from the party to cut a deal with Republicans and end the shutdown without any meaningful concessions on health insurance premiums. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss the timing of the deal, the reactions from other elected Democrats and the party's base, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's apparent inability to hold his caucus together. Then, they jump into the rest of the news, including Trump's preemptive pardons for scores of allies who tried to overturn the 2020 ...
Live from Crooked Con, Jon Favreau is joined by Skye Perryman and Norm Eisen to hash out a strategy for the most effective ways to fight back against the Trump administration’s grave abuses of power. Then, Tommy Vietor talks with Morris Katz, Samson Signori, and Alex Ball about the 2025 election campaigns and what they’ll mean for America and our politics. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and inclu...
The episode opens with Barack Obama reflecting on recent Democratic victories, emphasizing unity and youth engagement. The hosts and guest Alex Wagner then analyze the election data, highlighting significant voter shifts away from Trump and the challenges facing the Republican Party's messaging, especially on affordability. Later, Representative Jasmine Crockett discusses the ongoing government shutdown, the need for Republican accountability, and her considerations for a Texas Senate bid, while the hosts also delve into the disturbing rise of extremist views within the GOP.
This episode breaks down Democrats' triumphant election night, analyzing key gubernatorial victories in Virginia with Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey with Mikey Sherrill, alongside Zoran Mamdani's historic mayoral win in New York City. The hosts discuss how these diverse wins, coupled with significant gains in Georgia and California's Prop 50, collectively represent a powerful rejection of Donald Trump's economic policies and political influence, highlighting the emergence of dynamic new leadership and a mobilized Democratic base.
This episode delves into the most shocking moments from Trump's 60 Minutes interview, including his views on nuclear testing, potential foreign wars, and his push to end the filibuster, all while hosting a lavish party during a government shutdown. The hosts also examine the political fallout from Tucker Carlson's interview with Nick Fuentes and feature a powerful interview with George Redis, a combat veteran illegally detained by ICE, highlighting the need for accountability for federal officers.
Who is worth debating? Where do we draw the line? Will all journalism eventually devolve into debate? Jon Favreau is joined by Abby Philip, anchor of CNN NewsNight, to talk about her viral cable news show, the battle between traditional journalism and punditry, and her new book on the presidential campaigns of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, who rewrote the rules of the Democratic Party and helped pave the way for Barack Obama’s rise. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here ....
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker asks the Department of Homeland Security to suspend ICE operations — including the use of tear-gas — during Halloween to protect trick-or-treaters, but Secretary Kristi Noem insists operations will continue. President Trump concludes his tour of Asia with a new trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping that gives China access to powerful AI computer chips. Jon and Dan discuss those developments and the latest news, including Trump's continued threat to deploy tro...
Trump insider Steve Bannon says "there's a plan" for Donald Trump to serve a third term, and Trump says he'd "love to do it." Jon, Lovett, and Tommy speculate what that plan may look like and what it means for this year's elections and the 2026 midterms. Then, they discuss the latest from the ongoing government shutdown, Trump's new tariffs on Canada in response to a TV ad he didn't like, and Republicans' attempts to make Zohran Mamdani the face of the Democratic Party. Then, election attorney M...
President Trump demolishes the White House’s East Wing to make room for his ostentatious 90,000 square foot ballroom. Jon, Dan, and Alex Wagner — host of Crooked Media’s newest podcast “Runaway Country” — react to the the demolition and the latest news, including Trump’s demand that the Justice Department pay him $230 million in taxpayer money, his pardon of a crypto CEO convicted of failing to report terrorist organizations who used his platform to launder money, and the latest from 2025’s most...
The hosts condemn Trump's divisive rhetoric, the reckless Marine Corps artillery demonstration, and the politicization of federal agencies for targeting perceived enemies. They also analyze the precarious state of US foreign policy in Venezuela, Ukraine, and Gaza. Later, Maine Senate candidate Graham Plattner addresses his controversial Reddit posts and a false "Nazi tattoo" accusation, sharing his journey of military disillusionment and his vision for reforming the Democratic Party.
Why have CEOs been so eager to bend the knee? How are tariffs actually affecting the economy? Is the next major financial crisis already underway? New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin stops by the studio to talk to Lovett about our weird economy under Trump 2.0. They discuss big business's refusal to stand up to Trump, the prospect of a crypto-crash big enough to tank the U.S. economy, and why this moment is eerily similar to the stock market crash that kicked off the Great Depr...
When a group of Young Republicans' racist private messages—which included praise for Hitler and slavery and jokes about gas chambers—get leaked to POLITICO, JD Vance says "that's what kids do" and that we all need to move on. President Trump names new targets for prosecution, including Sen. Adam Schiff, Andrew Weissmann, and Jack Smith, even as Trump's DOJ indicts his old nemesis, John Bolton. Jon and Dan react to Vance and Trump's comments, discuss the Trump administration's plan to weaponize t...
President Trump travels to Israel and Egypt to celebrate the return of the hostages and the end of military operations in Gaza. Tommy and Lovett react to the ceasefire, discuss what's next for Gaza, Israel, and Benjamin Netanyahu, and debate how much credit Trump deserves for brokering this peace deal. Then they turn to ICE's latest violence against immigrants and protesters, a new attack on constitutionally protected free speech at The Pentagon, and the latest from the ongoing government shutdo...
Donald Trump ramps up his attacks on American citizens, fighting in court to be able to deploy national guard troops to Chicago, and declaring that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be imprisoned. Jon and Dan react to Trump's threats, the deployments to Chicago and Portland, and the White House's "Antifa roundtable," where the president and his cabinet portrayed Antifa—which doesn't even really exist—as a shadowy, nationwide terrorist network that must be dismant...
Donald Trump orders National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, making good on his promise to generals to use American cities as "training grounds." Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss the court order—issued by a Trump-appointed judge—that blocked the deployment in Portland, the military-style immigration raids that rocked Chicago last week, and the signals that Stephen Miller and the rest of the Trump administration are sending about what's next for blue America. Then, the guys check in on the on...
What is civility? Who does it serve? When, if ever, is incivility called for? New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay joins Alex Wagner to discuss the right's recent calls for political civility and why Roxane believes those calls are based on a fantasy of our politics. The two unpack the political discourse in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination and the ongoing government shutdown, talk about Roxane's belief that the "manosphere" has always been with us, and debate whether there's a p...
Dan Pfeiffer and Alex Wagner discuss the government shutdown over ACA subsidies, analyzing the Democrats' strategy and public perception. They expose Russ Vogt's Project 2025 efforts to dismantle government agencies and Trump's divisive rhetoric, including racist AI videos and threats to use the military against "enemies within." The hosts emphasize the critical need for clear Democratic messaging on healthcare and highlight instances of judicial resistance and Pope Leo's progressive stance on life issues.
The hosts delve into the complexities of a potential government shutdown, exploring Democratic strategies to fight for healthcare subsidies against Trump's refusal to compromise and his administration's willingness to use the shutdown for political retribution. They also cover Trump's brazen political prosecution of James Comey, the unsettling deployment of federal troops to Portland, and a controversial national security directive targeting left-wing organizations. Finally, the discussion touches on Trump's dubious Middle East "peace plan" and his foray into AI-generated content promoting QAnon medical conspiracies.
Just days after the President demanded the Justice Department prosecute his political enemies and ousted a career prosecutor who refused to comply, Trump's handpicked replacement indicts former FBI Director James Comey. Jon and Dan react to Trump's weaponization of the Justice Department and then discuss Jimmy Kimmel's powerful pro-free speech monologue, a government shutdown that now seems inevitable, and why Vice President JD Vance called Jon a "dipshit" on Twitter earlier this week. Then, Geo...
Disney reverses course and announces, despite pressure from the FCC, Jimmy Kimmel will return to the air. President Trump, speaking at the White House, declares — without scientific evidence — that acetaminophen use during pregnancy causes autism. The DOJ shuts down an FBI investigation into border czar Tom Homan, who was caught, on tape, accepting a $50,000 bribe in a Cava bag. Favreau, Lovett, and Tommy react to it all and discuss Charlie Kirk's NFL stadium memorial service, Sen. Ted Cruz's de...
What's causing the rise in political violence in America? Can we overcome it? And if not, what’s in store for our democracy? Dr. Lilly Mason, a professor of political science at John Hopkins and expert on political violence, joins the show to give context to this moment — and offer some hope for what comes next. She talks to Tommy about what Charlie Kirk’s assassination means in our deeply polarized political climate, President Trump’s crackdown on late-night comedians and left-wing organization...
Jon, Dan, and Alex Wagner discuss Donald Trump's use of government power to silence media, exemplified by Jimmy Kimmel's cancellation, and his frivolous lawsuit against The New York Times. They delve into the implications of pro-MAGA billionaires gaining control over TikTok's algorithm and the White House's plans to crack down on left-leaning nonprofits and designated "Antifa" as a terrorist organization. The episode also critically examines the dangerous new CDC recommendations on childhood vaccinations, influenced by RFK Jr., and the revelations from Kamala Harris's tell-all book about her fraught relationship with President Biden.
In response to the murder of Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump vows retribution against his political opponents, JD Vance asks Americans to snitch on anyone criticizing Kirk's politics, and Stephen Miller pledges to "disrupt, dismantle, and destroy" left-wing organizations. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to these new threats, then break down the latest news about Kirk's killer, Kash Patel's mishandling of the FBI's investigation, and the bleak future of TikTok and of one the legacy media organizations it...
Charlie Kirk, one of the most influential voices in the MAGA movement and the co-founder of Turning Point USA, is shot and killed during a speaking event in Utah. Jon and Dan react to the news and discuss the reactions from the left and right, and why we're seeing such a troubling rise in political violence. Then, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen talks to Tommy about Charlie Kirk, Van Hollen's visit to Gaza, and his fight to get Kilmar Abrego Garcia back from CECOT. For a closed-captioned versi...
House Democrats get ahold of the infamous birthday letter Trump sent to Jeffrey Epstein and release it to the public. Turns out it's more disturbing than we imagined. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to the doodle and talk through the week's latest, including the administration renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War, a massive ICE raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia, and the emerging debate over whether Democrats should shut the government down when funding expires at the end of the...
It can feel like all is lost under Trump 2.0, but America has faced extremely dark chapters before and come out on the other side. Heather Cox Richardson—professor, historian and author of the most-read newsletter on Substack, Letters from an American —joins the show to share her long-view approach for this shortsighted era. She walks Dan through the biggest challenges to American democracy throughout history, how she believes we got to this MAGA moment, and what fuels her optimism about the fut...
The internet enjoys a brief freakout about the possibility that Trump might be dead. (He isn't.) Senators from both parties press RFK Jr. on his dismantling of the CDC and his accelerating war on vaccines. Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein hold a press conference on Capitol Hill to announce that they plan to release a list of Epstein's clients. Jon and Dan discuss the latest news and trace the through-line of Trump's authoritarian impulse from his attack on a Venezuelan speedboat to his renewed threa...
Pod Save America hits 1,000 episodes, and to celebrate, Favreau, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan sit down in studio to answer your questions. Among them: Why is JD Vance so grating? Should more Democrats take Newsom's lead on social media? And who would you rather be trapped in an under-sea habitat with—Don Jr., Stephen Miller, or Marjorie Taylor Greene? Plus, ranking the media platforms that matter in a preview of our subscription-only show: Inside 2025. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, c...
Donald Trump and RFK Jr. team up to fire the CDC director after she voices concerns over Kennedy's dangerous policies—including his announcement that the FDA will limit access to this year's COVID vaccines and his promise to release a report on the "causes" of autism. Dan and Jon sort through the dismantling of America's gold-standard research apparatus and check in on the craziest comments from Trump's three-hour cabinet meeting. Then they discuss the latest polling on Trump's D.C. deployment, ...
Trump's FBI raids the home of John Bolton—the former first-term Trump advisor turned vocal critic—as the President escalates his use of state power to target and threaten anyone who's criticized him, most recently Chris Christie, Wes Moore, ABC News, and NBC News. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to those threats and all of this week's fascist horrors, including the arming of the National Guard in D.C., the administration's pending deployment of troops to Chicago, and ICE's plan to deport Kilmar Abr...
