After surviving a horrifying assassination attempt, Donald Trump announces J.D. Vance as his VP pick and promises to shift the tone of the Republican convention. Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy talk about the VP selection, whether it's possible to "lower the temperature" of our political discourse, and Joe Biden's testy interview with Lester Holt. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name o...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jon and Dan break down Joe Biden's big press conference, whether he did enough to calm nervous Democrats, and whether he's making a sharp enough case against Donald Trumpor for himselfto move the numbers and create a plausible path to victory. Plus, the latest signals from the campaign about what its strategy will be going forward, and how the Trump veepstakes is playing out with only days left to go. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, ...
Jul 12, 2024•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast The effort to remove President Biden from the ticket picks up momentum as more Democratic members of Congress speak out. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi reveals more about her positionand says "time is running short" to make the right decision. MSNBC's Jen Psaki joins Lovett to break down the latest, and to talk about openly about what Biden needs to do to hang on. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and ...
Jul 11, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden stays on the offensive, calling into his favorite morning show to excoriate the naysayers, rallying support among old allies, and vowing to everyone who will listen that hes staying the race no matter what. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy lay out President Bidens strategy and size up whether its working so far. And as the fight over Bidens future moves to Capitol Hill, Lovett talks with Rep. Ro Khannaa key Biden surrogateabout which way House members will go, and what Biden could be doing...
Jul 09, 2024•2 hr 31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jon is joined by youth polling experts John Della Volpe and Kristen Soltis Anderson to talk about apathy among young voters this election cycle. Why are they so disengaged? Are some truly defecting to Trump? And what message, if any, can get them out for the polls? Jon, John, and Kristen dive into the focus group tape to unpack Gen Zs opinions of our octogenarian presidential candidates, their top economic issues, and the war in Gaza. And Anderson Clayton, the 26-year-old Chair of the North Caro...
Jul 07, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Bidens campaign fights to contain fallout from the disastrous debate, as Democrats begin to go public with concerns. Jon, Tommy, and Dan discuss the polling and the media-frenzy, what Biden should be doing, and how all this drama could impact down-ballot races. The Supreme Courts stunning round of right-wing decisions deals damage to American institutions, and further raises the stakes of this election. Steve Bannon goes to prison. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click ...
Jul 03, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Democrats begin to grapple with two huge questions: is it possible to replace Biden at the top of the ticketand is it wise? Mehdi Hasan joins Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan, live in Boston, to debate the options. Plus, Gov. Maura Healey joins the show to give her own debate reaction and talk about rising to the challenge on immigration and abortion. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the nam...
Jun 29, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Biden turns in a disastrous debate performance, missing an opportunity to take advantage of Donald Trump's (many) lies and unhinged moments, and sowing real doubt about his strength as a candidate over the long run. Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan discuss what went wrong and what might happen now.
Jun 28, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast The first debate is upon us, and youre not the only one feeling nervous. Guest host Stacey Abrams joins Jon, Jon, Tommy, and Dan, live in Brooklyn, to talk about what we can learn from the 2020 debates, and what would constitute a win for Biden on Thursday night. Then, Strict Scrutinys Melissa Murray joins the hosts to break down the latest from the Supreme Court and whats still to come this term, and Run for Something co-founder Amanda Litman talks with Dan about why its so important to have pr...
Jun 27, 2024•2 hr 37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump vows to cut education funding by half, throws his support behind displaying the Ten Commandments in public classrooms, and offers a new, anatomically specific theory for how Joe Biden gets his pre-debate uppers. With Biden holed up in debate camp, his campaign works to set expectations, and marks the second anniversary of the end of Roe v. Wade with a blistering new attack ad and waves of surrogate events around the country. Plus, its publication day at last: Democracy or Else: How ...
Jun 25, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jon is joined by Carlos Odio and Stephanie Valencia, founders of Equis Research, the nations leading polling and research firm focused on the Latino electorate, to talk about what Democrats can do to win back the Latino voters who left the party for Trump in 2016 and 2020. Why are some of them leaning towards Trump? How did they react to Bidens border actions? And what issues are they most focused on in 2024? Jon, Carlos, and Stephanie dive into the focus groups to answer these questions and Leo...
Jun 23, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Biden heads to Camp David to prepare for next week's debate, Donald Trump bungles the expectations game, and both sides prepare for the post-broadcast clip war. Meanwhile, a new Fox News poll shows Biden ahead, and Trump lashes out at the betrayal. Then, former White House Counsel Bob Bauer stops by to talk about playing Trump in debate prep in 2020, the Supreme Court, and his new book, The Unraveling: Reflections on Politics without Ethics and Democracy in Crisis. To pre-order Democracy or ...
Jun 21, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Biden makes a big new move on immigration, and Democratic governors and progressive groups quietly make plans to fight back against the second-term agenda that Trump is promising, from mass deportations to bans on medication abortion and gutting the civil service. Strict Scrutiny's Kate Shaw joins Jon and Lovett to talk about the legal challenges in store for both Trump and Biden, the Supreme Court's dangerous decision on bump stocks, and what else we can expect from the justices with so man...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Biden campaign puts big money into a new ad slamming Trump as a convicted felon, fraudster, and sexual predator, and painting Biden as a fighter for working families. Trump courts the Black vote in front of a mostly white audience in Detroit, and CNN announces the final rules for next weeks debate. Plus: Jon, Lovett, and Tommy talk about whos up and whos down in the race to be Trumps VP.To preorder you copy of Democracy or Else, visit http://crooked.com/books For tickets to upcoming live sho...
Jun 18, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Trump returns to the Capitol for the first time since January 6th and receives a heros welcome from House and Senate Republicanswhere he calls Milwaukee a horrible city, refers to the Justice Department as dirty bastards, and complains about Taylor Swift not endorsing him. Meanwhile, the same Republicans attempting to overturn Trumps conviction are instead trying to prosecute Attorney General Merrick Garland. Plus, SCOTUS affirms legal access to abortion medication, Biden takes voters cost of li...
Jun 14, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan and The Bulwark s Sarah Longwell break down the chaotic Republican response to the Hunter Biden news and what the conviction might mean for the Biden campaign, which of Donald Trumps rumored VP picks scare them the most, and the latest from Tuesdays primaries. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast....
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump meets with a probation officer for his pre-sentencing interview just a day after holding an unhinged rally in Nevada where Marjorie Taylor Greene compared him to notable defendant Jesus Christ. Trump's crew of hard-right advisors plots a new round of tax cuts for the rich while the Biden campaign sharpens its lines of attack. Then: Jon and Tommy land the world-exclusive first interview with newly minted reality TV persona Jon Lovett, who suffers through a quiz about all the news he ...
Jun 11, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jon is joined by pollster Terrance Woodbury and Lavora Barnes, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, to talk about the black voters who may cast their ballots for Trump this November. Who are they? Why are they leaving the Democratic Party? And how can we bring them back into the fold? Jon, Terrance, and Lavora dive into focus group tape, the Trump campaigns strategy, and Bidens recent speeches to find a message that works for these voters and then John Taylor, co-founder of Black Male Initiat...
Jun 09, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Republican voters are starting to second-guess their support for convicted felon Donald Trump, whos now threatening to lock up President Biden and other Democrats if he wins. Meanwhile, one of Trumps most loyal henchmen, Steve Bannon, is finally going to jail. In Normandy, Biden makes the case for democracy with a fist bump at the D-Day anniversary, while Republicans block a bill to protect access to birth control. Grab your tickets for all of the upcoming shows at crooked.com/events now! For a ...
Jun 07, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast President Biden issues an executive order temporarily closing the US-Mexico border to migrants. Tommy and Addisu Demissie discuss Democratic backlash to the action and why Republicans, despite having killed a bipartisan border bill, are claiming its too little, too late. Donald Trump joins TikTok, attends a UFC fight, and exploits MAGA backlash to his conviction to close his fundraising gap. And Tommy sits down with Michael Tyler, Communications Director for Biden-Harris 2024, to chat about upco...
Jun 05, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Republicans fall in line behind convicted felon and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump as he lobs insults at prosecutors, witnesses and the rule of law. President Biden fights back, labeling Trump a white collar crook while jury selection begins for his sons criminal gun charge trial in Delaware. And, as the White House pushes for a ceasefire, Republican and Democratic congressional leadership invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the nations capitol to address Congress. F...
Jun 04, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast A jury of Donald Trump's peers finds him guilty on all 34 counts in the Manhattan election interference trial. CNN Legal Analyst Norm Eisen shares what it was like in the courtroom when the verdict came down, and Jon and Dan talk about the political fallout and which voters the conviction might sway. Then, Strict Scrutiny co-host Melissa Murray joins the show to talk about next steps for sentencing and possible appeal. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript...
May 31, 2024•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Manhattan jury begins its deliberations, and the Trump team thinks it may have a sympathizer on the inside. Tommy and Strict Scrutiny's Melissa Murray break down the range of potential outcomes, from conviction to full acquittal to a hung jury. Plus: Robert De Niro mixes it up with protestors outside the courthouse, and Justice Alito formally refuses to recuse himself over what he says is his wife's constitutionally guaranteed freedom to fly insurrectionist flags. For a closed-captioned vers...
May 29, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast John Legend joins Jon Favreau to discuss the impact of celebrity political endorsements, his political origins, working with Obama, and why a second Trump presidency would be a disaster. To unlock more episodes from our Friends of the Pod exclusive shows, sign up for Friends of the Pod on Apple. Podcasts or learn more about our community at crooked.com/friends For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and i...
May 29, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jon is joined by longtime pollster Sarah Longwell and former Republican strategist Tim Miller to get inside the minds of two-time Trump voters who are no longer sure if theyll vote for him again. Whats changed? Well, January 6th, a few criminal trials, and some obviously bogus claims that the election was stolen. But is that enough to get them over the line for Joe Biden? Jon, Tim, and Sarah listen to a focus group tape of these voters to figure out how theyre leaning in 2024 and then Ben Wikler...
May 26, 2024•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back to The Wilderness. Jon talks about what it will take to rebuild 2020s anti-Trump coalition with political analyst Ron Brownstein, political scientist Lynn Vavreck, Democratic strategist Addisu Demissie, Democratic strategist Jen Palmieri, and Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg. Theyll talk about the risks of a second Trump term and how you can help prevent it. It may be a challenging road ahead, but by taking the time to persuade the persuadables in your life its possible to fina...
May 26, 2024•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast The world gets some clues about the "special project" that's keeping Lovett away from the show, Nikki Haley abandons her principles and endorses Trump. With head-to-head polling showing a race locked in place, Trump and Biden spar over who deserves the support of Black voters. Then, former prosecutor Andrew Weissmann stops by to talk with Jon and Dan about where Trump's Manhattan trial stands ahead of closing arguments and jury deliberations. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click...
May 24, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump is forced to remove a video promising "a unified Reich" as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris go on the attack against Trump's latest nod to Nazi language. Dan and Addisu Demissie discuss how Democrats should capitalize on Trump's mistakes, including an interview where Trump left the door open to bans on contraception. Then, Jon chats with friends of the pod Brian Wallach, Sandra Abrevaya, and Katie Couric about their new documentary on turning Brian's ALS diagnosis into an opportunity to ...
May 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast The prosecution rests in Donald Trump's Manhattan trial, and the defense begins to present their case. Biden pitches young Black voters while Trump compares himself to Abraham Lincoln. Then: Justice Samuel Alito is outed for showing solidarity with the "Stop the Steal" movement, and Dan explains why Democrats should be running hard against the MAGA Supreme Court. Plus: Rudy Giuliani gets served! For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please...
May 21, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jon, Dan, and CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen break down the highlights and lowlights of the Manhattan prosecutors case against Donald Trump and look ahead to what might happen next. Plus, Dan and Jon discuss whats at stake for Trump and Biden in a prime-time face-off thats now just six weeks awayand why it might work to Bidens advantage to start debating so early in the race. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@cro...
May 17, 2024•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
