Pod Save America

We like Stacey Abrams’s speech more than Trump’s. Virginia’s political scandals throw control of the statehouse into question. The Democratic presidential field takes shape. And Jaime Harrison joins Jon, Jon, Tommy, Dan, and Brittany Packnett live on stage in Charleston, South Carolina to announce his exploratory committee to challenge Senator Lindsey Graham.

Jon, Jon, and Crooked Media editor-in-chief Brian Beutler break down the bombshell BuzzFeedNews story that President Trump committed a crime by directing Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about the Trump Tower Moscow deal.

Pelosi tells Trump he can’t deliver the State of the Union until the government opens, Trump advisors tell him the shutdown is hurting the economy, Kirsten Gillibrand announces for president, Sherrod Brown announces he’s exploring a bid, and Beto O’Rourke takes a road trip to help him decide. Then the Atlantic’s Natasha Bertrand talks to Dan about Attorney General nominee William Barr’s confirmation hearings, and the latest in the Mueller investigation. Also – Pod Save America is going on tour! Get your tickets now: crooked.com/events

Trump hides the details of his chats with Putin while the FBI investigates whether he’s compromised, the government shutdown becomes the longest in history, Julian Castro and Tulsi Gabbard announce their presidential campaigns, and Republicans might finally take action against white nationalist Steve King. Then Jon Lovett talks to Los Angeles teachers on the first day of their strike. Also – Pod Save America is going on tour! Get your tickets now: crooked.com/events

Trump wastes America’s time with his primetime address, throws a temper tantrum during shutdown negotiations, and claims not to know that his campaign chairman was sharing internal polling with Russian intelligence. Then Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer talks to Jon and Dan about the Democratic strategy to end the shutdown. Also - Pod Save America is going on tour! Get your tickets now: crooked.com/events

The human toll of Trump’s shutdown grows as he plans a primetime address, Democrats debate how to talk about impeachment, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez triggers conservatives by doing literally anything. Then the Washington Post’s Dave Weigel talks to Tommy about his coverage of Elizabeth Warren’s first trip to Iowa as a presidential candidate.

Trump keeps the government shut down over his metaphorical wall, House Democrats bring back PAYGO, Elizabeth Warren kicks off her presidential campaign, and Mitt Romney writes a sternly-worded op-ed. Then Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal talks to Jon and Dan about the shutdown, immigration, and the priorities of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Donald Trump's government shutdown doesn’t stop Jon F. and Dan from answering listener questions in this special holiday mailbag edition of the pod. Then Katie Porter joins Jon to talk about turning California’s 45th district blue and the work waiting for her once she’s sworn in to Congress.

A judge’s shock over Michael Flynn’s crimes destroys right-wing conspiracy theories, Trump is forced to shut down his fraudulent charity, Trump may get his government shutdown after all, and a criminal justice reform bill just may become law. Then CNN’s Van Jones talks to Jon and Dan about what’s in the First Step Act, and how a bipartisan coalition got it done.

A Texas judge rules in favor of Republicans trying to dismantle Obamacare, Trump and Rudy flail against a legal onslaught, and a bipartisan coalition tries to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Then former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro talks to Jon Lovett about his plans to run for president in 2020.

Trump throws a tantrum over the wall in the Oval Office, Michael Cohen is sentenced to three years in prison, and more Democrats throw their support behind a Green New Deal. Then Stacey Abrams talks to Jon about her race for governor in Georgia, her new lawsuit to uphold voting rights, and her future plans.

Michael Flynn’s cooperation is rewarded, Republicans subvert democracy in Wisconsin, Trump’s tweets tank the markets, and Democrats begin the battle for the 2020 nomination. Then Senator Sherrod Brown joins Jon and Dan to discuss his conversation with Trump about GM, the Green New Deal, how he won Ohio, and his plans for 2020.

George H.W. Bush leaves a complicated legacy, Michael Cohen’s guilty plea pieces together a conspiracy that implicates Trump, and Republicans respond to their midterm defeats with power grabs in Wisconsin and Michigan. Then Congressman Hakeem Jeffries talks to Jon F. about his new position as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, as well as the party’s message and strategy in 2019.

Marcy Wheeler joins Jon and Dan to break down Individual-1’s very bad day and discuss the future of the Trump investigation, Pelosi wins her caucus vote for Speaker, Schumer kicks off shutdown negotiations, and Sherrod Brown shows Democrats how to talk about Trump and the economy.

The Border Patrol fires tear gas at unarmed migrants, Trump threatens to shut down the government over the wall, Mike Espy looks to pull an upset in Mississippi, and Democrats ponder their rural strategy. Then Vox’s Dave Roberts talks to Jon L. about the Trump Administration’s climate report, and the push for a Green New Deal.

Dan and Jon answer questions about the midterms, 2020, Never Trump Republicans, Iowa, the Senate, Fox News, the plutocracy, and our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. Then Doris Kearns Goodwin talks to Jon about her new book on presidential leadership.

Orange County turns blue, Stacey Abrams delivers a non-concession speech, and Democrats debate whether Nancy Pelosi should be Speaker. Then Congressman Adam Schiff joins Jon, Jon, and Tommy to talk about his new role as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the future of the Mueller investigation.

The Blue Wave is real, Kyrsten Sinema wins in Arizona, Trump takes a pass on honoring veterans because it rained, and House Democrats put voting rights at the top of their agenda. Then Stacey Abrams’ campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo talks to Tommy about the effort to count every vote in Georgia's governor’s race.

Democrats flip the House, Republicans keep the Senate, and Donald Trump fires Jeff Sessions. Jon, Jon, Tommy, and Dan break down the results of the midterm elections, and talk about what they mean for the future.

A final discussion about the state of the 2018 midterms, including our thoughts on why it’s close, the closing arguments, what races we’ll be watching on Tuesday, what’s making us nervous, and what’s making us hopeful. Then Democratic candidate Colin Allred talks about why he got into politics, and his race to flip the Texas 32nd on Tuesday.

With six days to go before Election Day, Trump floats repealing the 14th amendment via executive order, the most racist member of the Republican caucus, Steve King, faces a backlash, and we enter the home stretch with a huge number of districts in play. Plus, one of Trump’s dumbest supporters attempts to frame Robert Mueller, which goes poorly for him. And Kentucky congressional candidate and former fighter pilot Amy McGrath joins to talk about her experience and her race for the House.

Right-wing conspiracies echoed by Trump and some Republicans help fuel an anti-Semitic massacre in Pittsburgh, and the President responds by attacking Democrats and the media. Then Tommy talks to Democratic candidate J.D. Scholten about his race for Congress against white nationalist Steve King.

Tommy and Lovett discuss Trump's closing argument of lies and why the media needs to stop repeating them, they inexplicably have to explain why nationalism is bad, offer a health care policy update and the latest on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Then, Jon Favreau interviews Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for governor in Florida.

With 15 days to go, Jon and Dan give a midterm update, Trump uses caravans and voter fraud to scare people, Democrats try to flip state legislatures, and the Trump Administration wants to define transgender Americans out of existence. Then Democratic Congressional candidate Aftab Pureval talks to Jon about his race to flip the Ohio 1st, and why we need a new generation of leaders in Washington.

Tommy and Lovett discuss Senator Elizabeth Warren's October surprise, Democrats carping about Beto O'Rourke's fundraising, GOP voter suppression tactics, Kushner's taxes and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Then they talk with the Democratic candidate for Florida’s 26th congressional district, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

In the aftermath of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, Republicans feel energized, Democrats debate what’s next, and both parties hone their messages in the final month of the midterms. Then Democratic candidates Jesse Colvin, Abigail Spanberger, and Lauren Baer talk to Tommy about running for Congress with national security and military backgrounds.

The President mocks and lies about Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at a political rally, Republicans energize their base by attacking #MeToo, and Trump is exposed as a tax cheat by the New York Times. Then Democratic candidate Katie Hill talks to Dan and Alyssa Mastromonaco about her race to become the next Congresswoman for California’s 25th district.

Jon, Jon, and Tommy discuss the renewed FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh, Jeff Flake's change of heart, and the shifting politics of Supreme Court nominations. Then Jon F. talks to Ana Maria Archila about confronting Jeff Flake in an elevator and the importance of direct engagement.

Republicans respond to a second credible allegation of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh by accusing Democrats of a smear campaign, and The New York Times may have given Trump the excuse he’s been looking for to fire Rod Rosenstein. Then Lovett and Dan talk to The New York Times’ Mark Leibovich about politics, Paul Ryan, and his new book “Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times."

Brett Kavanaugh is credibly accused of sexual assault by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, throwing his nomination into question, and Paul Manafort agrees to fully cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Then former Secretary of State John Kerry talks to Jon and Tommy about negotiating the Iran Deal, what Democrats should do if they take the Senate, and the lessons he learned from his 2004 presidential campaign.

Obama returns to the campaign trail, Kavanaugh lies to the Judiciary Committee, and Democrats see their chances of taking back the Senate improve. Then musician Jason Isbell talks to Tommy about music, politics, and when artists become activists.

Trump administration officials confirm that the president is unstable in the New York Times and Bob Woodward’s new book, Kavanaugh struggles under tough questioning from Senate Democrats, and we talk about Ayanna Pressley’s primary upset in Massachusetts, and Colin Allred’s tight race for Congress in Texas. Then Jon Lovett interviews New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon about her race against Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the future of the Democratic Party.

The Kavanaugh hearings have begun and Senate Democrats came ready to fight. Do we have a shot at stopping his nomination? President Trump spent his Labor Day weekend attacking union leaders and slashing wages for workers, so that was cool. Then we read our favorite excerpts from Bob Woodward's new book, and Jon and Jon interview former President Jimmy Carter.

The Florida race for governor will be a contest between the Republican mini-Trump and the Democrats’ future, Paul Ryan’s SuperPAC is blowing louder dog whistles, and Senate Democrats make a deal on judges that gets them nothing in return. Then EMILY’s List President Schriock joins Jon and Dan to talk about the record number of women candidates who are running and winning elections in 2018.

John McCain leaves behind a complicated legacy after a lifetime of service and sacrifice, Republicans worry that Democrats will investigate the scandals they’ve been covering up, and Democrats reform the party’s presidential nominating process. Then Democratic candidate for Governor Gavin Newsom talks to Jon and Jon about his vision for California and the future of the Democratic Party.

The President has been implicated by his lawyer in a crime that involves the cover-up of extramarital affairs through illegal campaign contributions, and Republicans in Congress refuse to do anything about it. Then CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin joins Jon and Dan to talk about what’s next for the Mueller investigation, the Kavanaugh confirmation battle, and his new podcast, “RBG: Beyond Notorious.”