Pod Save America

In a special New Year’s episode, Jon, Jon, Tommy, Dan, Erin Ryan, DeRay Mckesson, Ana Marie Cox, Ira Madison, and Louis Virtel discuss their resolutions for 2019. 

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.

The Department of Justice effectively accuses the President of directing an illegal scheme to manipulate the 2016 election, Mueller uncovers more connections between the Russian government and Trump’s campaign, and the President struggles to keep his Administration staffed. Then Congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar talks to Tommy about Democratic plans for the new Congress, and her support for the BDS movement.

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.

Trump lashes out at everyone after his midterm defeat, Democrats see opportunities and challenges in the Midwest and Florida, and the party debates how best to take on Trump in 2020. Then Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum talks to Jon and Dan about the recount effort, and what he learned by running against America’s mini-Trump. 

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.