James and Al lay out how the Republican electorate is pushing the party’s candidates towards extremism and call on people of faith to stand up for immigrants and refugees. Then, they bring on Catawba College’s Politics Chair Michael Bitzer to analyze the prospects of Democrats in North Carolina’s midterms. Will changing demographics reverse the state’s rightward turn? Keep a close watch on Cabarrus County! Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politi...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 162
James and Al give an update on the politics of the Ukraine War and the ongoing fight for our rights. Then, they bring on Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler to analyze the gubernatorial and senate races in his state, expound on the quality of the candidates, and tell us how to make an impact. Will extremism and retrograde Republican policies deliver them big losses in this crucial midterm election? Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politi...
Sep 15, 2022•54 min•Ep. 161
James and Al are joined by Bill Ballenger of the Ballenger Report for a thorough look at the midterm prospects for Democrats in the key swing state of Michigan. Together, they analyze the impact of recent political developments from Dobbs to the Mar-a-Lago seizure on our elections, the growing fissure in the Republican Party, and the shrinking chances of a red wave. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, we ...
Sep 08, 2022•55 min•Ep. 160
James and Al are joined by foreign affairs and Russian expert Stephen Kotkin for a deep dive into the history of the Soviet Union, how Putin is running the country in its aftermath, and the current state of the war in Ukraine. What role do the United States and the European powers have in repulsing their aggression? Will Ukraine hold firm? And how does the conflict impact the world? Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to inclu...
Sep 01, 2022•54 min•Ep. 159
James and Al are joined by Watergate Special Prosecutor Richard Ben Veniste to break down the differences between Trump and Nixon, and look at the role of the DOJ now that it’s faced with Trump’s crimes. Then, they welcome premiere journalist Mark Leibovich to discuss the state of the country, Trump’s impact on the nation, and why journalists need to stand up for their political beliefs. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to ...
Aug 25, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 158
James and Al reflect on the recent primary elections, the raid on Mar-a-Lago, and the Democrats’ growing odds in the midterms. Then, they bring on Princeton professor and author Sean Wilentz to dive into the potential of populism and an embrace of FDR’s and Bill Clinton’s legacies to revitalize the party. Will that be the key to defeating the growing radicalism of MAGA Republicans? Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to includ...
Aug 18, 2022•51 min•Ep. 157
James and Al lay out the current state of the midterm elections and the implications of the raid on Mar-a-Lago. Then, they are joined by author and Philadelphia Inquirer national columnist Will Bunch for a conversation about the disaster Republican moves to privatize and commoditize higher education have posed for young people around the country. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where y...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 156
James and Al celebrate Celtics star Bill Russell, then bring on accomplished author and WaPo associate editor David Maraniss to discuss the life and legend of Jim Thorpe. In their conversation they look at the struggles he faced throughout his life, the restoration of his status as an Olympic champion, and the many challenges Native Americans have suffered in our history. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your cit...
Aug 04, 2022•58 min•Ep. 155
James and Al highlight the need for Democrats to maintain solidarity in the primaries to protect democracy and the importance of the Dobbs referendum coming up in Kansas. Then, they’re joined by Emory Law School Professor Morgan Cloud for an in depth discussion of RICO laws and how federal statutes differ from those in Georgia. Will GA be more successful in prosecuting Trump’s actions after the election results came out? Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet ...
Jul 28, 2022•59 min•Ep. 154
James and Al are joined by Pete Buttigieg’s Senior Communications Advisor Lis Smith for a conversation about her career journey as a political veteran, how to succeed on the campaign trail, and what to look for when you pick a candidate. They also take on the issues defining the midterms, what democratic messaging needs, and the importance of making the elections about the candidates instead of a referendum. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @poli...
Jul 21, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 153
James and Al are joined by Financial Times U.S. National Editor Ed Luce and Freedom House President Michael Abramowitz for a look at the recent upheavals in foreign affairs. In their conversations, they cover the resignation of Boris Johnson and its impact on Britain, the latest developments in our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and what it all means for the United States, Ukraine, and Europe. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make s...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 152
We’re sharing a bonus episode from our friends at Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked. This season, Malcolm’s obsessed with experiments – natural experiments, scientific experiments, thought experiments. In this preview, we learn about Paul Madden, who ran the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement in the 1930s. He enacted an expensive, burdensome, annoying bit of bureaucratic anti-drug hysteria known as the “triplicate program” that made ...
Jul 10, 2022•14 min•Ep. 151
James and Al are joined by Bulwark writer, author, and anti-Trump conservative Tim Miller to delve into the departure of the Republican party from the Reagan/Bush legacy in an appeal to the grievances of its base. They also look at the fire of political passion, the addiction of the campaign trail, and how it can drive people to go along to get along. When your candidate goes off course, what does it take to break free? Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet t...
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 150
The State of the Supreme Court with Linda Greenhouse
Jun 30, 2022•58 min•Ep. 149
James and Al review the latest 1/6 hearing and upcoming Supreme Court rulings, then welcome D.C. Bureau Chief of The Intercept Ryan Grim to analyze the increasing ineffectiveness of progressive organizations and the perils of woke culture. In their conversation, they break down the fragmentation of the Left, and emphasize the need to build coalitions to achieve goals and win elections– even if it’s uncomfortable. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to ...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 148
James and Al fire off on the ineffectiveness of liberal organizations and what they need to do to help win elections. They then welcome Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna to lay out his view of progressive capitalism and the need to bring our industries back home, highlighting the importance of common sense and why we shouldn’t give up on the promise of the USA. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, we lo...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 147
James and Al break down the results of this week’s primary elections and are joined by author and congressional expert Ira Shapiro. In their conversation, they discuss how Mitch McConnell has contributed to the destruction of the Senate as an institution, its value as a check on executive power, and the need to unify against obstruction and to defend our values. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, we love...
Jun 09, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 146
Following the Memorial Day weekend, James and Al welcome former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stravidis, to look back on some of our greatest naval heroes. Then, they discuss the ways the different branches of the armed forces are responding to modern challenges, the need for more ships, and how strategic ambiguity is being used to deter a conflict between China and Taiwan. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to...
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 145
James and Al go off on the growing epidemic of gun violence and the apathy of the public. Then, they welcome Fmr. US Deputy Treasury Secretary and Evercore Founder Roger Altman to understand what’s happening with the economy. In their conversation, they cover the role of the Fed, the possibility of recession, and what President Biden has done to strengthen the country’s prospects. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include...
May 26, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 144
James and Al sound off on the politicians who would back Russia after their aggression. Then, they are joined by NYT political correspondents and authors of “This Will Not Pass” Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns to analyze where the parties stand going into midterms, and break down the most important results from this week’s primaries. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re fro...
May 19, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 143
Big Tech makes big decisions over our lives: What products we see, how we feel about world events, what to censor — to some degree, even what medical decisions we make. Yet who controls Big Tech? The firms are so powerful and rich they really act as judge and jury now. Increasingly, they are accountable to no one. “Defending Democracy (and us!) from Big Tech” is a 3-episode docu-series from the Debugger Podcast exploring the depths of the problem...and the potential for solutions. Link to Defend...
May 13, 2022•7 min•Ep. 141
James and Al take on the Supreme Court for invalidating abortion rights, and stress the need for activist groups on the Left to get out into the field and fight for us. Then, they welcome former Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen for an update of the situation in Ukraine and the fight for democracy here at home after the events of January 6th. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re ...
May 12, 2022•40 min•Ep. 142
James and Al fire off on the disastrous Supreme Court decision overturning Roe V. Wade, and the state of our judicial system after the leak. Then, they welcome former speech writer to Joe Biden, Al Gore, and many other leaders, Jeff Nussbaum. In their conversation they cover the history of the key moments and undelivered speeches that defined the world from Emperor Hirohito, to Eisenhower, Nixon and Hillary Clinton. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them ...
May 05, 2022•55 min•Ep. 140
From critically acclaimed podcast studios Pineapple Street and Wondery comes a new 8-part series called Will Be Wild that shines a light on the human stories left out of the headlines. It goes deep into the lives of people who took part in that day. People who saw it coming. And people who fear that January 6th was just the beginning of something, not the end. Follow Will Be Wild wherever you get your podcasts, or you can listen early on Amazon Music or early and ad-free by subscribing to Wonder...
Apr 29, 2022•6 min•Ep. 139
James and Al call on Democratic interest groups to kick things into high gear before the midterms and are joined by MI State Senator and viral star Mallory McMorrow. They discuss the increasing hate and personal attacks from Republicans, how to stand up for the values of the Democratic party, and the need to fight back with policy and hope when faced with culture war. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, w...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 138
James and Al lay out the case for Democrats to stop their internal criticism and infighting going into the midterms. They also welcome 4-Star USMC General John Allen for an in-depth analysis of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, our readiness, and the current threats we face. How is Ukraine fairing? What are the weaknesses of Russia’s military? And how can the USA and NATO help? Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include you...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 137
James and Al explain Trump’s weakening hold on the Republican Party and host PBS NewsHour’s Chief Correspondent Amna Nawaz for a discussion on immigration and incarceration. They look at the role of border issues in our politics, the need for increased immigration and streamlined commerce, our history of asylum, and the dangers of the nation’s growing emphasis on criminalization. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include ...
Apr 14, 2022•54 min•Ep. 136
James and Al are joined by author and former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper for a deep dive into the bellwether politics of his state, the hypocrisy of Republicans, and the need to meet their attacks head on. They also discuss the importance of winning local elections, mobilizing small donors, and reminding voters of President Biden’s many accomplishments going into the midterms. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sur...
Apr 07, 2022•57 min•Ep. 135
We’re sharing a special preview of the new season of Against the Rules from Pushkin Industries. On Against the Rules, bestselling author Michael Lewis takes a searing look at what’s happened to fairness in American life. In the preview you’re about to hear, Michael speaks with Todd Park, entrepreneur and former chief technology officer of the United States. Todd talks about the idea that, in any big company, the person who actually knows what you need to know to solve a problem is buried deep in...
Apr 05, 2022•10 min•Ep. 134
James and Al sit down with former U.S. National Security Council official and expert in Russian and European affairs Fiona Hill to discuss why Putin invaded, what he expected in the aftermath, and what happens next. Then, they welcome political consultant turned Academy Awards and comedy writer Jon Macks to analyze the events of the 2022 Oscars. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon . Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where yo...
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 133
