The Race to Define Kamala Harris
Election Day is just over 100 days away, and the Trump team is scrambling to define Kamala Harris before she can do it herself. Jon and Dan discuss the Harris campaign rollout so far, the Right's attack playbook, and Joe Biden's Oval Office address about passing the torch. Then, former UN Ambassador Susan Rice joins the show to talk about what it really means to say Harris is a "DEI candidate,"...
1hr 5m Jul 26, 2024
1hr 5m
Kamala Harris Starts Hot (feat. Pete Buttigieg)
And she's off! Kamala Harris has clinched the majority of delegates, she's breaking fundraising records and driving voter registration, and she's out on the trail offering a clear contrast to Donald Trump and his dark vision for America. Tommy and guest host Ali Velshi dissect Harris's campaign rollout, the shifting dynamics of the race, and Benjamin Netanyahu's polarizing address to Congress. ...
1hr 31m Jul 25, 2024
1hr 31m
Biden Passes the Torch to Kamala
In a historic moment in what was already a norm-shattering campaign, Joe Biden withdraws from the presidential race and endorses Kamala Harris. As the rest of the party moves to unite behind the VP, Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy talk how Biden arrived at his decision, the particular strengths that Harris brings to the race against Donald Trump, and how the GOP will look to blunt the new burst of ...
56m Jul 22, 2024
56m
Bidin' His Time
Is Biden inching toward dropping out, or is he committed to staying put? If he did make a move, when would he do it, and how? Live in Madison, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan parse the latest news and discuss the worst and the weirdest of the Republican convention alongside guest host Errin Haines of The 19th and special guest Ben Wikler, chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Then, Sen. Tammy...
1hr 23m Jul 20, 2024
1hr 23m
Trump Is So Beatable
Donald Trump returns to form in a rambling, divisive, and endless acceptance speech certain to remind swing voters why they don't like him, and to remind Democrats that they can beat him. The question now is, who will be the Democratic nominee to turn the race around? With more and more party leaders (and most voters) asking for a change, it looks more likely than ever that Biden will go. Jon, ...
51m Jul 19, 2024
51m
Vance Vance Revolution
JD Vance makes his debut as Donald Trump's running mate and doesn't exactly hit a home run. Joe Biden tests positive for COVID, details leak out about Chuck Schumer's tough-love conversation with the president, and the DNC blinks in the standoff over its plan for a virtual roll call. Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan break down a truly packed day of news, from the problems with Vance's speech to the ...
40m Jul 18, 2024
40m
Fear and Unity in Milwaukee
Donald Trump's former rivals compete to see who can praise him the hardest and who can spread the most vile lies about immigration and crime, as a smiling Trump looks on from the audience. Trump's pollster claims Republicans have put solidly blue states like New Jersey in play, and Trump himself tries to convince RFK Jr. to endorse him by spewing nonsense about childhood vaccines in a recorded ...
46m Jul 17, 2024
46m
Trump's Shooting Upends 2024
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, ...
1hr 6m Jul 16, 2024
1hr 6m
Was Biden's "Big Boy Presser" Enough?
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 Trump—or for himself—to 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 le...
53m Jul 12, 2024
53m
Is the Biden Dam Breaking?
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 position—and 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 versio...
48m Jul 11, 2024
48m
Biden Digs In
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 he’s staying the race no matter what. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy lay out President Biden’s strategy and size up whether it’s working so far. And as the fight over Biden’s future moves to Capitol Hill, Lovett talks w...
1hr 31m Jul 09, 2024
1hr 31m
Why No One’s Winning Young Voters (Ep. 5)
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 Z’s opinions of our octogenarian presidential candidates, their...
1hr 12m Jul 07, 2024
1hr 12m
Democrats Debate Biden's Future
President Biden’s 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 Court’s stunning round of right-wing decisions deals damage to American institutions, and further raises the sta...
51m Jul 03, 2024
51m
Joe vs. The Unknown
Democrats begin to grapple with two huge questions: is it possible to replace Biden at the top of the ticket—and 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 episo...
1hr 17m Jun 29, 2024
1hr 17m
A Brutally Honest Debate Recap
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.
40m Jun 28, 2024
40m
The First (and Last?) Debate
The first debate is upon us, and you’re 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 Scrutiny’s Melissa Murray joins the hosts to break down the latest from the Supreme Court and what’s still to come this...
1hr 36m Jun 27, 2024
1hr 36m
This Is Your Debate on Drugs
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 w...
47m Jun 25, 2024
47m
How Democrats Can Win Latinos Back (Ep. 4)
Jon is joined by Carlos Odio and Stephanie Valencia, founders of Equis Research, the nation’s 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 Biden’s border actions? And what issues are they most fo...
1hr 3m Jun 23, 2024
1hr 3m
Trump Loses It Over Fox News Poll
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...
1hr 20m Jun 21, 2024
1hr 20m
The Plan to Fight Trump's Second-Term Agenda
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 Supre...
1hr 6m Jun 19, 2024
1hr 6m
Biden Campaign Unloads on Trump's Conviction
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 week’s debate. Plus: Jon, Lovett, and Tommy talk about who’s up and who’s down in the race to be Trump’s VP...
48m Jun 18, 2024
48m
Trump Returns to the Scene of the Crime
Trump returns to the Capitol for the first time since January 6th and receives a hero’s welcome from House and Senate Republicans—where 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 Trump’s conviction are instead trying to prosecute Attorney Ge...
47m Jun 14, 2024
47m
The GOP Meltdown Over Hunter's Conviction
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 Trump’s rumored VP picks scare them the most, and the latest from Tuesday’s primaries. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here (https://youtu.be/8hx6IPQxtsw) . For a transcript of this episode, p...
1hr 3m Jun 12, 2024
1hr 3m
MTG: Jesus Was a Felon Too
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 inter...
57m Jun 11, 2024
57m
Could Trump-Curious Black Voters Swing the Election? (Ep. 3)
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 campaign’s strategy, and Biden’s recent spee...
1hr Jun 09, 2024
1hr
The MAGA Plot to Jail Democrats
Republican voters are starting to second-guess their support for convicted felon Donald Trump, who’s now threatening to lock up President Biden and other Democrats if he wins. Meanwhile, one of Trump’s 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 a...
54m Jun 07, 2024
54m
Biden Takes Action on the Border
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 it’s too little, too late. Donald Trump joins TikTok, attends a UFC fight, and exploits MAGA backlash to his conviction to close his fundraising gap. A...
55m Jun 05, 2024
55m
New Polling on Trump’s Felony Conviction
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 son’s criminal gun charge trial in Delaware. And, as the White House pushes for a ceasefire, Republican and Democratic congressional...
57m Jun 04, 2024
57m
TRUMP FOUND GUILTY!
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 senten...
51m May 31, 2024
51m
Trump Verdict Watch Begins
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 h...
52m May 29, 2024
52m
Inside 2024 (Full Episode): John Legend on Celebrities Getting Political, Endorsing Biden, and Avoiding a Second Trump Presidency
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
36m May 29, 2024
36m
The Trump Voters Who Are Sick of Trump (Ep. 2)
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 they’ll vote for him again. What’s 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 ...
55m May 26, 2024
55m
The Path to Defeat Donald Trump (Ep. 1)
Welcome back to The Wilderness. Jon talks about what it will take to rebuild 2020’s 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. They’ll talk about the  risks of a second Trump term and how you can help prevent it.  It may be a ch...
39m May 26, 2024
39m
Trump Heads to Tribal Council
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 a...
1hr 4m May 24, 2024
1hr 4m
Trump Promises "A Unified Reich"
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...
1hr 2m May 22, 2024
1hr 2m
Why 2024 Should Be About the Supreme Court
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...
52m May 21, 2024
52m
Trump Trial: "Jail Is on the Table"
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 what’s at stake for Trump and Biden in a prime-time face-off that’s now just six weeks away—and why it might work to Biden’s advantage to start debating so early in the race. For a close...
57m May 17, 2024
57m
Trump Subverts Gag Order with Wannabe VPs
Joe Biden surprises Donald Trump with a debate challenge, and Trump accepts. Tommy and MSNBC’s Jen Psaki discuss the strategy behind Biden’s move and how likely it is that those debates will actually happen, Trump’s courthouse surrogate operation, the latest with Israel and Gaza, and whether it’s true that Biden thinks the polls are wrong. Then, Tommy and Jen relive the best White House stories...
1hr 14m May 15, 2024
1hr 14m
Michael Cohen Incriminates Trump
The prosecution calls its star witness, former Trump fixer Michael Cohen, who testifies about disguising hush money payments to keep the Stormy Daniels story from voters. Jon and Dan discuss why Biden is behind almost everywhere in the new round of battleground polls from the New York Times. Then, Rep. Colin Allred stops by the studio to talk about his race to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, mak...
1hr 12m May 14, 2024
1hr 12m
Did a Worm Really Eat RFK Jr.'s Brain?
Dan and Alyssa Mastromonaco discuss Stormy Daniels's latest round of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial. Trump insults Jewish voters and prepares a huge giveaway to Big Oil. President Biden announces he won't send offensive weapons to Israel if the IDF invades Rafah. RFK Jr. says doctors found a dead worm in his brain, and Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to ditch Mike Johnson goes dow...
1hr 5m May 10, 2024
1hr 5m
Stormy's Steamy Testimony
Jon and veteran Democratic strategist Rebecca Katz discuss the graphic Stormy Daniels testimony in Trump's hush money case, Biden's trip to Wisconsin, and whether the campaign's new health care ad push could help unstick a very close race. Then, Rebecca dives into what she's seeing on the ground in Arizona, where she's working with Senate candidate Ruben Gallego to fend off Kari Lake and secure...
45m May 08, 2024
45m
Trump Holds VP Auditions
Ceasefire negotiations hit a major sticking point as Israel prepares an invasion of Rafah over Joe Biden's objections. Judge Merchan holds Donald Trump in contempt again and warns that jail time may be necessary to enforce the rules. Trump holds a retreat at Mar-a-Lago where he compares the Biden administration to Nazis and holds another public audition for running mate. Noted puppy-killer Kris...
50m May 07, 2024
50m
A Front Row Seat to Trump's Trial
Former White House Ethics Czar and author of Trying Trump, Norm Eisen, joins Dan and Jon to discuss his insights from the first three weeks of Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial. Plus, Trump uses a day off from court to hold rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan, attack college protesters and Palestinians, and fear-monger about refugees. Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris campaign capitalizes on Trum...
1hr May 03, 2024
1hr
Trump Details His Dictatorial Plans
Lovett and guest host Tim Miller discuss Donald Trump's mind-boggling interview with TIME Magazine, in which he details his plans to use the military to deport immigrants, allow states to monitor women's pregnancies, jack up prices on all imported goods, and much more. Plus, the Biden administration moves to reclassify weed, riot police move in on campus protestors, and Drew Barrymore asks Kama...
1hr 1m May 01, 2024
1hr 1m
Kissing Rings and Killing Puppies
Joe Biden cracks jokes, mocks Trump, and goes around traditional media outlets to get his message out on shows like Smartless and Howard Stern. Democratic and Republican politicians get involved in the debate over the Gaza protests on college campuses. One-time Republican Trump critics line up to kiss the ring, and Kristi Noem destroys her VP chances by coming out as an unapologetic puppy kille...
48m Apr 30, 2024
48m
Will the Supreme Court Grant Trump Immunity?
Tommy, guest host Alyssa Mastromonaco, and Strict Scrutiny’s Leah Litman break down the Trump team’s immunity argument at the Supreme Court, the latest with Idaho’s abortion ban, and why a New York court overturned Harvey Weinstein’s conviction. Plus, the Biden administration makes big moves to help out consumers and workers, and the TikTok ban moves forward. Then, Alyssa shares some behind-the...
54m Apr 26, 2024
54m
Scranton Joe vs. Park Ave Trump
Prosecutors in Donald Trump's criminal trial call their first witness: a former National Enquirer publisher who puts the former president at the center of a conspiracy to corrupt the 2016 election. Joe Biden wins a major endorsement from the building trades unions and works to define Trump as an out-of-touch rich guy who only wants to help his rich friends. In Pennsylvania, Connecticut hedge fu...
1hr 1m Apr 24, 2024
1hr 1m
Law and Odor: Trump Trials
Jon, Tommy, Dan, and Hysteria Co-Host Erin Ryan are live from the LA Times Festival of Books! As the first week of Donald Trump's Manhattan criminal trial ends, Trump defends himself by constantly violating his gag order and—allegedly—farting recklessly in the courtroom. President Biden hits the trail to highlight his plans to help the middle class and pass legislation restoring Roe v. Wade. Tr...
56m Apr 22, 2024
56m
So You Think You Can Be a Trump Juror?
Jon talks to Alex Garland, writer and director of the hit movie 'Civil War,' about why he wanted to make a blockbuster about the demise of American democracy. Plus, Jon and Dan talk about the 12 jurors who have officially been seated in Trump's hush-money trial, MAGA Mike Johnson’s gamble on foreign aid for Ukraine and Kari Lake encouraging her supporters to strap on a Glock as Arizona becomes ...
1hr 13m Apr 19, 2024
1hr 13m
Black Voters’ Views on Biden
Tommy is joined by Terrance Woodbury, Democratic strategist and pollster, to talk about President Biden's standing with young Black men and other groups he'll need to win the White House a second time. Plus, highlights from the opening days of Trump's criminal trial in New York, Biden's promise to tax the rich, and what new data says about the influence of third-party candidates like Robert F. ...
56m Apr 17, 2024
56m