Raging against the extremes. Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov are in the middle — and they’re mad, because being a moderate in America these days does NOT mean staying silent. New episodes every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Immigration enforcement suddenly halts in Minneapolis as Democrats push to disrupt ICE funding and shut down DHS unless major reforms happen. At the same time, Pam Bondi’s House hearing turns into a four-hour Epstein showdown — with survivors in the room and Democrats accusing the DOJ of stonewalling. Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down whether Bondi just handed the opposition a powerful midterm talking point. Cracks are also forming inside the GOP. House Republicans defy Trump on tariffs...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov explore a weekend that showcased two very different Americas: Bad Bunny celebrated unity across the continent, while Donald Trump leaned into culture wars, attacking an Olympic skier for expressing mixed feelings about representing the U.S. and amplifying a racist video of the Obamas. At the same time, Congress is reviewing Epstein files, Ghislaine Maxwell is publicly hinting at clemency deals, and Trump’s allies are facing political scrutiny. They also break do...
Jessica Tarlov is joined by Aaron Parnas to break down the growing cracks inside Trump world. Is Trump finally distancing himself from his “shadow president” Stephen Miller as immigration raids spark backlash—even in red states? They dig into the fallout from the Epstein files, the fight over the SAVE Act, and whether anyone will actually face accountability. Plus, Kamala Harris teases her next move, Polymarket pulls a flashy PR stunt, and the Super Bowl halftime show turns into a culture war. F...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down Trump’s signature move: flooding the zone. From a massive Epstein document dump that swallows the news cycle, to Trump inserting himself into active investigations and openly pushing to “nationalize” voting, the noise is the point. Then, they zoom out to Trump’s broader project — remaking Washington in his own image, from cultural institutions to public monuments — and ask whether it’s ideology, ego, or legacy-building. Finally, they look at a very di...
Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down the GOP fallout after fueling MAGA infighting, fresh impeachment buzz around Kristi Noem, and a high-stakes gamble on Tom Homan to placate Democrats. Then they turn to the rollout of “Trump Accounts,” a government-backed investment plan for kids that’s already drawing skepticism over the math, the branding, and who really stands to gain. Plus, the DOJ seizes voter records in Georgia as Trump once again relitigates 2020, while scrutiny intensifies around...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov dig into the political fallout from the killing of Alex Pretti and what it means for Democrats facing a high-stakes choice: use their leverage to rein in ICE, even if it risks a shutdown—or back down. They also unpack the GOP’s growing contradiction on the Second Amendment, as Republicans defend federal agents who killed a lawful gun owner. And finally, they take a look at Melania Trump’s glossy new documentary and what a $40 million payday says about her priori...
Trump declares victory on Greenland without actually winning anything. Just hours after a chest-thumping speech at Davos, he unveiled a so-called “framework”—later a “concept”—for a future deal, claiming it was enough to pause the European tariffs he’d been threatening. Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas (@aaronparnas1) break down the fallout from Davos—rattled allies, spooked markets, and plenty of smoke with little substance—before turning to Democrats’ brewing 2028 primary calendar fight: who go...
It’s officially been one year of Trump 2.0—and it’s hard to overstate just how much has changed. Trump is back in the Oval Office with fewer guardrails, a more loyal team, and a far greater willingness to push presidential power than ever before. Jessica Tarlov sits down with historian and Letters from an American writer Heather Cox Richardson to take stock of Trump’s first year back in office—how history may remember it, what it means to have a president with so few constraints, his open assaul...
ICE continues to terrorize cities in America. Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down the escalating federal occupation in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good, the protests that followed, and the growing standoff between state and federal authorities. They dig into whether rogue ICE agents ever face real accountability, what meaningful reform of the agency could look like, and what the chaos means for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Then, the talk about whether Donald Tru...
Jessica Tarlov is joined by @thebulwark’s Sarah Longwell to talk through this frantic moment in America. They discuss the battle for the narrative around the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis, the hypocrisy of the ICE defenders inside the administration, and the potential for this tragedy to galvanize the American public. Plus — Trump’s openly vengeful persecution of Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, and a new Gallup poll shows some surprising trends in the political identity of voters aro...
Jessica Tarlov is back with Friday regular Aaron Parnas (@aaronparnas1) to unpack the onslaught of big news at the start of the new year. They discuss the tragic and fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis and the growing clash between federal power and local authority. Plus, Trump’s escalating pressure campaign abroad, RFK Jr.’s controversial vaccine pullback and its public health risks, and whether renewed subpoenas in the Epstein files will finally deliver accountabil...
Nicolás Maduro is no longer ruling Venezuela -- he’s behind bars in the United States. Trump calls it a law-enforcement win. Democrats say it crossed a dangerous line. Jessica Tarlov is joined by Ben Meiselas of the Meidas Touch (@MeidasTouch) to break down how Democrats can defend the Constitution without sounding like they’re defending a dictator -- and whether Trump is successfully reframing a military operation as justice. Plus: the welfare-fraud scandal that forced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz t...
To wrap up a wild 2025, Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov turn the mic over to you . In our year-end episode, they dig into listener questions from El Paso to Rio — everything from whether life’s really about competition or cooperation, to how friendships survive political divide, to America’s tolerance for Trump-era grift. They settle a debate over “fiscally conservative, socially progressive,” tackle taxes, and hear from a listener navigating a gender transition and looking for support. Then, ...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov take stock of a dizzying year in American politics. They break down how Trump’s return to office in 2025 reshaped the presidency, the economy, and U.S. institutions--even as his political standing shows signs of strain. Then, they turn to AI. As layoffs mount and lobbying surges, what should Democrats’ response be when voters are anxious, states are being sidelined, and Congress can’t seem to act? And before signing off, they revisit the moments of 2025 that gav...
Jessica Tarlov is back with Friday regular Aaron Parnas for a packed end-of-week rundown. They dive into TIME’s Person of the Year debate — is 2025 really the year of AI, not Trump? — and break down rising tensions after President Trump’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker. They also unpack the GOP’s internal chaos over expiring ACA subsidies, the high-stakes showdown between Netflix and Paramount, and the growing influence of Zohran Mamdani as Brad Lander jumps into NY-10. Plus: predictions on ...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down Trump’s nationwide “affordability blitz,” where he’s touting falling gas prices and insisting his tariffs will help the middle class — even as consumer sentiment sinks, layoffs top a million, and businesses warn prices will jump in January. The White House is scrambling in response, launching a food price-fixing probe and rolling out a $12B farm bailout, all while Republicans splinter over how to handle Democrats’ ACA subsidy extension. From there, th...
Jessie Tarlov sits down with Aaron Parnas to unpack a week of political chaos. They dive into the Pentagon’s IG report exposing Pete Hegseth’s reckless sharing of classified military information on Signal and the controversial Caribbean boat strikes, with Aaron explaining why accountability—and potentially impeachment—should be on the table. They also discuss the Tennessee special election, what it means for 2026, and the ongoing healthcare debates as Republicans scramble to put together a viabl...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov dig into Trump’s latest anti-immigrant crackdown—from firing nearly 100 immigration judges to freezing visas and floating denaturalization — and what happens when policy is driven by panic instead of evidence. Then they break down the viral post arguing the real poverty line isn’t $32K… it’s closer to $140K, and why so many families feel stuck in the “Valley of Death.” Plus, Oxford just crowned “rage bait” as its Word of the Year, so they unpack how outrage beca...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov sit down and talk through these strange days for the MAGA movement, after former stalwart Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s abrupt resignation announcement, Trump’s praising of Zohran Mamdani and the dismissal of the case against former FBI Director James Comey. Plus, the latest on the Ukraine-Russia peace talks, and whether the Transportation Department’s new “civility campaign” can actually make holiday travel any less miserable. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTar...
Jessica Tarlov is joined by special Friday correspondent Aaron Parnas to talk about what comes next with the Epstein files release, now that the bill has sped through. They also look at the dangers of “sane-washing” Trump’s Truth Social threats, the latest legal challenges to midcycle redistricting in Texas and California, and the upcoming meeting between Trump and NYC mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov . Follow Prof G, @profgalloway . Follow Raging Moderates, @Rag...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down the MAGA civil war — Trump losing his grip, right-wing influencers turning on each other, and the 2028 power struggle already accelerating. Then they get into the growing intrigue around Chuck Schumer: he’s not stepping aside yet, but the quiet jockeying to replace him has begun. And finally, they unpack Michelle Obama’s tough-love message for Democrats — and what it means for the party’s future bench. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov . Follow Pr...
Will the new Epstein documents affect Republican candidates in next year’s midterms? Jessica Tarlov is joined by political journalist Galen Druke to talk through it, and to analyze some deeper insights from last week’s election results. Plus — whether the redistricting efforts in Texas and other states will wind up backfiring, whether Democrats will see ramifications from the long government shutdown, and early predictions for the 2028 presidential race. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov . F...
This episode critically examines Donald Trump's "affordability" agenda, from tariff rebate checks to 50-year mortgages, questioning their economic logic and the role of misinformation. The hosts then pivot to Governor Gavin Newsom's call for Democrats to address the male masculinity crisis, sparking a broader discussion on gender, economic opportunity, and universal childcare. They also touch on a Texas Democrat's OnlyFans controversy and the "Mar-a-Lago face" plastic surgery trend.
Jessica Tarlov is joined by Gen Z political voice and commentator Aaron Parnas to break down the post-election landscape — from what Democrats can learn from Zohran Mamdani’s surprise win in New York to why some of the GOP’s favorite culture-war tactics keep falling flat. They dig into Nancy Pelosi’s retirement announcement, the record-breaking government shutdown, and Trump’s latest standoff with Senate Republicans. Plus — could Marjorie Taylor Greene really be gearing up for a presidential run...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov take stock of the Trump economy one year after his 2024 election. If popular stock indices don’t tell the whole story, what other indicators should we look at? Plus — the government shutdown is on the verge of becoming the longest in US history, and lawmakers don’t seem close to a plan for the future. What comes next? And, the ugly MAGA infighting over Nick Fuentes’ antisemitism. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov . Follow Prof G, @profgalloway . Follow Ragin...
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov are joined by Sen. Raphael Warnock, pastor at MLK’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, to talk through the challenges Democrats face as the government shutdown extends to its fourth week. They talk about the disconnect between voters and their elected officials, the dangers of a political party too focused on its own self-preservation, and the necessity of balancing public assistance and personal responsibility. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov . Follow Prof G, @prof...
With just a week until Election Day, Scott and Jessica break down the races shaping the final stretch — from Andrew Cuomo’s last-minute unlikely comeback bid in New York City to Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill testing whether moderation still wins in purple America. Plus, California’s Prop 50 could shift the balance of power in Congress. Then: why every ambitious politician suddenly has a podcast, and why Kamala Harris hints she might not be done with presidential politics just yet. Follow...
How will MAGA Republicans find their way out of the government shutdown? Jessica Tarlov is joined by Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin to talk about some possibilities, and some fissures in Trumpworld that might signal the standoff’s end. Plus — how American farmers are grappling with the devastating effects of both tariffs and the Argentina bailout, how the Democratic Party can manage both its moderate and progressive wings, and the terrifying lines being crossed by the administration’s strikes i...
On the heels of the No Kings protests that drew an estimated seven million Americans, there seems to be a strong coalition to take on Trump and the GOP. But, what will the Democrats’ message be? Jessica Tarlov and guest host David Frum of The Atlantic discuss the Democratic Party’s predicament — and the value of tacking to the center. Plus: is there a justifiable rationale for the Trump administration’s deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean? And, Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s insurg...
Virginia voters will elect its new governor in less than a month — and the race has big national implications. Jessica is joined by Don Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, to talk through what’s at stake. They also discuss the rhetoric of political violence, why Democrats are standing their ground in government shutdown negotiations, and how we can start saying the Emperor has no clothes. Plus — Don Scott’s unconventional road to elected office includes serving seven years in fede...
