Pod Save America

Political commentator David Pakman joins the show to talk with Dan about the war brewing on the right between Trump and the MAGA influencers who once supported him. The two discuss whether this MAGA revolt is actually real, Trump's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened, and whether the White House's pivot back to the economy is their best message to win the midterms. Then, Dan asks David how the media ecosystem has changed over his career — and what it'll take for Democrats to build a media ecosystem that rivals the one built by the right.

JD Vance and Mike Johnson defend Donald Trump's fight against the pope, while Trump says "he's all about the Gospel" and Defense Secretary Hegseth leads soldiers in prayer using a fake Bible quote from "Pulp Fiction." More troops are on their way to the Middle East as the United States and Iran look for a short-term agreement before the ceasefire expires Tuesday. Republicans worry that Trump's "nonsense" is distracting from their midterm affordability message, and a New York Post reporter publishes an excerpt from Health Secretary Kennedy's diary in which he recalls cutting off the penis of a roadkill raccoon. Then, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan stops by the studio to talk to Tommy about her campaign for Senate, how ICE's operations in her state have reshaped the race, and what she wants to see from Democratic leadership in the Senate. 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.

President Trump attacks Pope Leo as "weak on crime" in a long social media screed before posting an AI-generated photo of himself as Christ healing the sick. JD Vance fails to broker a peace deal with Iran, Trump announces plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by blockading it, a horrifying scandal upends the race for California governor, and Democrats' Senate hopes show signs of life. Then, LA councilmember Nithya Raman stops by the studio to talk about her campaign for LA mayor and how she plans to tackle the city's most pressing crises: housing and homelessness.

Political commentator Hasan Piker stops by the studio to talk to Jon about his move into electoral politics and the discussion inside the Democratic Party about whether candidates should associate themselves with him and his audience. Then they debate Hasan's views on Israel and Hamas, and Jon asks him about how he thinks about the words he chooses and his theory of political organizing.

The MAGA media revolt over Iran is in full swing and Trump posts a nearly 500-word screed declaring "I no longer care" — before attacking each critic in obsessive detail. Meanwhile, the ceasefire hangs by a thread as it becomes clear that Trump has no idea what's in it, calls to invoke the 25th Amendment grow louder, JD Vance heads to Islamabad to negotiate with the Iranians, and Melania Trump makes a baffling appearance to defend herself against Epstein allegations that no one was asking about. Then, former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel stops by to talk about Iran and his widely rumored ambitions for 2028.

Donald Trump gives Iran until 8pm Tuesday night to "Open the Fuckin' Strait" or he'll level all of the country's power plants and bridges. In the meantime, he spends an hour in the White House briefing room congratulating himself for the rescue of the downed American airmen — spilling a bunch of sensitive details in the process. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to Trump's latest performance, his request for huge budget increases for defense and White House renovations, the latest with the mass deportation campaign, and why Trump decided to do California Democrats a huge favor by endorsing in the governor's race. Then, Rep. Sarah McBride stops by the studio to talk with Lovett about how Democrats should approach the Iran war debate, and why her Republican colleagues are so addicted to going viral.

Senator Cory Booker stops by the studio to talk to Lovett about his bold tax proposal that would see the majority of Americans pay no federal income tax. Jon and the senator debate what it means when both political parties become anti-tax and discuss Trump's war with Iran, AIPAC's role in the Democratic Party, and the president's sudden firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi. You can check out Senator Booker's new book, "Stand," wherever you shop for books. 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.

Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi and announces that Todd Blanche, his former personal attorney, will serve in the interim while he waits to appoint her replacement. Jon and Dan react to Bondi's sudden ouster and discuss the president's incoherent national address about his war with Iran. Then, they check in on Trump's long-shot bid to overturn birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court, his attempt to restrict mail-in voting via executive order, and what appears to be the endgame for the Department of Homeland Security shutdown — a deal House Republicans could've passed before they went on recess. Finally, Jon introduces Dan to 'bimboification' as they discuss Fox News' reaction to Kristi Noem's husband's double life.

Congressional Republicans consider massive cuts to federal healthcare spending in order to raise $200 billion to fund Trump's war in Iran. Jon and Lovett discuss how that plan could affect Republicans in the midterms, Trump's ballooning economic crisis, and his desperate attempt to calm the markets by saying negotiations have made "great progress" while simultaneously threatening Iran with war crimes. Then, the guys check in on how the war is playing among young Republicans at CPAC, House Republicans' fight with Senate Republicans over funding DHS, and Trump's real top priority — the construction of his poorly designed ballroom. Then, Josh Turek, a Democratic candidate for Senate in Iowa, stops by the studio to talk to Tommy about "prairie populism" and the president's disdain for disabled Americans. 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.

Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor turned independent journalist, talks to Alex Wagner about the charges the Department of Justice brought against him for covering an ICE protest inside a Minnesota church. Don shares new details about the days leading up to his arrest and the administration's war against a free and independent press. Then, they talk about the differences between independent and mainstream journalism, how MAGA media differs from the media on the left, and what's next for Lemon and the "Lemon Heads." Could it be a run for president?

Donald Trump's approval rating hits historic lows as voters react to soaring gas prices caused by his war of choice with Iran. Dan and Jon discuss what those new figures mean for the upcoming midterms and react to Florida Democrats flipping the state legislative seat that includes the president's home at Mar-a-Lago. Plus: the new report that Trump is tiring of the war even as he plans a ground invastion, his likely illegal attempt to pay TSA workers by executive order, and the election crisis facing Democrats in California.

Donald Trump backtracks on his threat to obliterate Iran's power plants, saying the administration has begun talks with Iran to end the war, despite Iran's insistence that no talks are underway. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett react to the reversal and debate its validity, discuss the White House's decision to lift sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil, and check in on the Pentagon's request for an additional $200 billion to wage this war. Then, they react to Trump's plan to send ICE agents into airports to assist the TSA, a Wall Street Journal report about a revolt brewing inside the Democratic Party over Chuck Schumer's leadership, and the president's disgusting comment on the death of Robert Mueller. Finally, Strict Scrutiny's Leah Litman stops by to talk to Lovett about the major mail-in voting case before the Supreme Court and the drama inside the New Jersey US Attorney's office.

Jen Psaki, Joe Biden's former White House Press Secretary and host of MS NOW's The Briefing with Jen Psaki, talks to Dan about the ways the Trump administration is trying — and failing — to sell its war with Iran to the American people. The two discuss the White House's meme-forward messaging campaign, MAGA media's break with the president over the war, and how Trump's cell phone interview habit is shaping media coverage. Then, Dan and Jen discuss how a series of contentious Senate primaries are reshaping the Democratic Party and whether "fuck Trump" is a strong enough message heading into the midterms. 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.

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.

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.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stops by the studio to talk to Jon Lovett about Trump's war in Iran, growing antisemitism and Islamophobia in America, and what it'll take for Democrats to learn how to do big things again. The two then unpack what it takes for a politician to honestly change their mind, ask the Governor's sister — who was sitting in the studio — to fact-check his claims about growing up as a troublemaker, and debate whether a calm, collected approach to politics can also be cool in our current political moment. 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.

President Trump suggests that the high price of oil—surging upward because of his war in Iran—is a good thing, because the United States makes "a lot of money." Jon and Dan discuss the President's unique affordability message, his claim that the war has already been won, and what Joe Rogan, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Gen Z men are saying about Iran. Then, they check in on the GOP, including the party's mass deportation messaging "hiccup," the lengths some on the right are going to in order to pass the SAVE Act, and MAGA's full embrace of Islamophobia. Finally, they react to former DOGE staffers trying to explain DEI under oath, and to Marco Rubio allegedly lying about his shoe size to the President of the United States.

The war in Iran enters its second week and Donald Trump declares that it's about to end — and also that it's going to last a very long time. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett react to the president's conflicting statements, the cascading global energy crisis he created, and the way Republicans — especially warmonger Lindsey Graham — are reacting to the war. Then, they discuss why some Democrats are hesitant to cut off funding for the strikes, the administration's arrests of American citizens protesting its deportation campaign, and the Trump sons' new business venture: drone warfare. Then, Tommy talks to Congressman Pat Ryan, an Iraq War veteran, about our new war and what Democrats can do to oppose it. 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.

California Governor Gavin Newsom sits down with Jon and Tommy before a live audience in Los Angeles to discuss Trump's war on Iran, the crowded California gubernatorial primary, and his new book Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery. The governor talks about his close childhood friendship with the Getty family, issuing the first same-sex marriage licenses nationwide as San Francisco Mayor, and his surprising childhood pet, Potter the otter. 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.

Trump abruptly fires Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Dan and Jon discuss the Congressional hearings that led to her dismissal, Trump's announcement that Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin will replace her, and the future of DHS. Then they react to the administration's ever-shifting justifications for their war with Iran, Republicans voting with Democrats to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of the Epstein files, how MAGA is already attacking James Talarico, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's new target: Dunkin' Donuts. Then, Dan talks to Politico senior political columnist Jonathan Martin about Tuesday night's results, the tense Republican runoff in Texas, and Jmart’s forthcoming podcast series, On the Road with Jonathan Martin.