Pod Save America

Republicans amp up the fear-mongering on "communism" as Democrats try to move past some of their nominees' most controversial past statements. In the words of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "Woke 1 was crazy." Jon and Lovett discuss how Democrats can pivot, today's Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Trump's desperation to end the war he started, and his newest executive order on vaccines. They also react to the Senate Republicans' YOLO caucus surrendering on Todd Blanche's confirmation, Jesse Watters's disdain for the WNBA, and Hunter Biden's appearance on Tucker Carlson's show. Then, Lovett is joined by Montana congressional candidate and smokejumper Sam Forstag to discuss why he's running for office, the impact of the DOGE cuts, the housing crisis in his state, and more. Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel. You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

MS NOW's Chris Hayes joins Alex Wagner to talk about what Democrats should take away from the progressive movement's big primary win in Michigan and how the party's reaction may predict what's ahead in the 2028 presidential election. They debate whether Abdul El-Sayed should continue to campaign with leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, discuss how AIPAC's media strategy is backfiring with voters and how ideals of masculinity continue to influence our politics. Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel. To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC). You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Tucker Carlson, with the help of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie, explores launching a third-party bid for president. Jon and Dan discuss how his candidacy could upend the 2028 election and the latest from the 2026 midterm elections, including Trump debuting the Republican strategy against Abdul El-Sayed, a centrist think tank's $15 million war against the Democratic Socialists of America, and the disgusting allegations against two Republican representatives — Max Miller and Chuck Edwards — that could put their seats in play for Democrats. Then, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley talks to Dan about why he decided to jump back into the race for Wisconsin governor. Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel. To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC). You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan's democratic Senate nomination, defeating Rep. Haley Stevens by one point after a heated campaign about the future of the Democratic party. Jon and Dan sit down for a bonus pod to talk about how El-Sayed overcame $60+ million in outside spending against him, make sense of the closer-than-expected results, and to preview the general election message against Mike Rogers, the Trump-endorsed Republican nominee. Then, Senator Bernie Sanders, who endorsed El-Sayd's campaign on the day of its launch, talks to Jon about the future of the progressive movement. Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel. You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Trump trashes Jeanine Pirro — and may be on the brink of firing her — for admitting in court that his narrative about "vandalism" in the Reflecting Pool is a lie. Todd Blanche secures his path to confirmation after offering holdout Senators a meaningless written assurance on the weaponization slush fund. Trump backs down from yet another threat to completely destroy Iran, RFK Jr. lashes out at CNN's Dana Bash, and DNC Chairman Ken Martin faces new allegations of mishandling the infamous 2024 autopsy. Plus, the launch of Vote Save America's Crooked Dozen, updates on the disgusting Max Miller saga, and a conversation with surging Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong. Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel. To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC). You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Jonathan V. Last, editor of The Bulwark, stops by the show to talk to Lovett about his "Grand Unified Theory of Trumpism" — that Trump's opponent "will always choose surrender over discomfort." Together, they try to make sense of America's rotting political culture, breaking down when and where it all went wrong, and debate what it'll take for the nation to heal from this moment, be it a reckoning of virtue, kindness, or democratic will. Jonathan also walks Lovett through the echoes of Goebbels recently displayed by Secretary Marco Rubio and Stephen Miller and why he believes the desire for a figure like Trump may have always been present within the Republican base. Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel. To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC). You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Progressive candidates have serious momentum going into the upcoming primaries in Michigan and Wisconsin — but they'll have to figure out how to explain away some problematic old tweets. Meanwhile, Democrats land on a novel strategy for competing in deep red states (hint: it doesn't involve Democrats). Jon and Dan discuss the latest in all the key races, as well as Todd Blanche's failing nomination for attorney general, the administration's decision to deny disaster aid to four Democratic-led states, and Elon Musk's plan to pump $100 million into the midterms to support Republican candidates. Then, they check in on the AI singularity, which OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says has officially arrived, and debate how Democrats should talk about AI going forward. Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel. To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC). You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

A slew of new reporting details big problems at the DNC, from deepening financial woes to leaks, paranoia, and an allegation that Chairman Ken Martin threw his phone at a staffer. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett react to the disarray inside the Democratic Party, debate whether it's possible to replace Martin before the midterms, and discuss how the DNC's new 2028 primary calendar, which starts with South Carolina, could shape the race for president. They check in on the Michigan Senate race, the latest in Trump's continued back-and-forth with Iran, and his pitiful performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Then, Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, stops by the new studio to talk to Jon about his new book "This Is the Plan" and what Democrats can do to restructure and protect American democracy. For a transcript of this episode, email transcripts@crooked.com

What does a positive vision for the center-left look like? Can moderation still excite the Democratic base? Matt Yglesias, who writes the Slow Boring newsletter and hosts The Argument podcast, talks to Jon about his vision for the Democratic Party and why he believes more Democrats need to embrace heterodoxy. The two discuss how the policy debate could play out in the upcoming presidential primary, the role charisma and attention-getting play in politics, and which Democrats are best positioned to win in 2028. For a transcript of this episode, email transcripts@crooked.com

The White House doubles down on both of Trump's wars — the war against Iran and his trade war — sending Pete Hegseth to the Hill to request a $70 billion cash infusion for the Pentagon and imposing new tariffs on Canadian imports and prescription drugs. Jon and Dan discuss how Democrats should approach the administration's funding request, how voters — especially MAGA Republicans — are reacting to Trump's moves, and the president's warning to Americans that they "can't fight" the construction of new data centers in their communities. Then, the guys break down a series of new polls that show the Democrats carrying a big lead into November, the "fight to the death" at the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee to determine which state will lead off the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, and a new video showing the extent of Trump's Oval Office renovations. Then, Dan talks to former White House communications director Jen Palmieri about her new series, "Long Play," on winning back power in the South, available at youtube.com/@longplayseries or wherever you get your podcasts. 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, episode title, and episode date.

Troy Jackson locks down the nomination to replace Graham Platner in Maine, Wisconsin's gubornatorial primary devolves into chaos as the governor wades in with an unexpected endorsement, and Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed, who's locked in a heated race with Haley Stevens. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss all the latest from this summer's wild Democratic primaries, Donald Trump's embarrassing showing at the World Cup final, the deadly escalation of war with Iran, and a recent slate of ICE killings that show nothing has gotten better at the Department of Homeland Security — it's just gotten quieter. 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, episode title, and episode date.

Amanda Litman, president and co-founder of Run for Something, joins Dan to talk about what the spate of divisive of primaries means for Democrats and how progressives should be feeling heading into the midterms. They dive into the recruitment and vetting crisis that led to Graham Platner dropping out of the Maine Senate race, what comes next in the fight to unseat Susan Collins, and the increasingly contentious Michigan Senate primary between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed. Want to listen to Pod Save America without the ads? Become a subscriber on Apple Podcasts , Supercast , YouTube , or Substack . 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, episode title, and episode date.

Trump delivers an incomprehensible prime-time address to push election interference conspiracy theories, both old and new. Dan and Jon attempt to make sense of the speech and discuss what Trump's focus on election interference could spell for the midterms. They check in on three major corrupdates from the last 48 hours — Kalshi teleprompter bets, early access to Trump's Truths for Wall Street, and JD Vance using his helicopter for his son's golf lessons — as well as Vance's awkward appearance on Joe Rogan and Pete Hegseth's attempt to get the military on testosterone supplements. Then, Abdul El-Sayed talks to Alex Wagner about his heated primary for Michigan's Democratic Senate nomination. 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, episode title, and episode date.

Sen. Lindsey Graham unexpectedly dies and President Trump notifies Congress that the military has resumed strikes against Iran. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss Trump's announcement that the United States will become "THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT" and begin charging a 20% toll. Then, they discuss the legacy of Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell's unexpected and unconvincing proof-of-life photo after his own brush with death, and how both senators' absences will affect Trump's legislative agenda—before touching on the administration subpoenaing four journalists at The New York Times and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s role in an outbreak of explosive diarrhea across the country. Finally, Brian Tyler Cohen stops by to talk to Lovett about his new book, "The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World." 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, episode title, and episode date.

How is the world reacting to America's World Cup? Did Trump's red card interference ruin all the fun? And will the U.S. men's national team ever be good? Gary Lineker, host of The Rest Is Football and English soccer legend, joins Tommy to talk about the excitement, anxiety, and geopolitics surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Gary offers some advice to America on how to become a true soccer nation, discusses the successes and failures of this World Cup, and reminisces about his time playing in the 1986 World Cup — where he won the Golden Boot and played in the historic "Hand of God" match. 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, episode title, and episode date.

Graham Platner announces he's ending his Senate campaign, and Maine Democrats scramble to replace him. Dan and Alex Wagner discuss the state of the race, what it'll take to get a new name on the ballot, and why so many (but not Alex) were wrong about Platner. Then, they discuss Trump restarting the war with Iran, the administration's socialist plan to lower gas prices for a select few in Philadelphia, and why Trump is trading in his new Air Force One for the old one. Finally, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper talks to Dan about his campaign for Senate and what it'll take to flip the Tar Heel State blue for the first time since 2008.

After FIFA unexpectedly overturns the red card handed to U.S. star Folarin Balogun, Donald Trump confirms that he personally called FIFA's president and asked him to "review" the penalty. Tommy and Lovett react to Trump's meddling and discuss how it mirrors his relationship with European powers as the president heads to Turkey for a NATO summit. Then, they check in on Democrats' attempts to take back the Senate — discussing terrible new allegations against Graham Platner and Mallory McMorrow's decision to drop out of the Michigan Senate race — before turning to the contrasting ways Zohran Mamdani and Trump supporters celebrated America's 250th in New York and Washington, DC. 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, episode title, and episode date.

Trump kicks off his Fourth of July celebration at the Theodore Roosevelt Library, where he muses about giving his two sons and himself the Medal of Honor — describing doing so as a "threesome." Jon and Dan react to Trump's plans for Independence Day, including a Guinness World Records fireworks display, a marathon speech in 107-degree heat, and a plan for "250 pardons for 250 years." Then, the guys discuss the administration's desire to ban pregnant tourists from entering the country, Tuesday's progressive primary wins in Colorado, and the new New York Times/Siena poll that shows Democrats effectively tied in the states needed to retake 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, episode title, and episode date.

Trump's "Great American State Fair" draws almost no visitors — except for a MAGA live-streamer who gets arrested for public masturbation. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett react to Fox News's cope-heavy coverage of the fair and then discuss Monday's Supreme Court rulings on independent agencies and mail-in ballots, Trump losing interest in Congress's housing bill, and the momentum Democratic Socialists are feeling after last week's primary wins in New York City. Then, Heather Williams, the president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, stops by the studio to talk to Jon about building Democratic majorities in state houses across the country. 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, episode title, and episode date.

Dan is joined by Strict Scrutiny's Leah Litman to talk about this week's big Supreme Court decisions giving Trump the right to kick out Haitian immigrants and deny asylum claims for people stopped just shy of the American border, as well as a ruling — with some surprising ideological crossover — tossing out claims against Monsanto for how it labels Roundup, its popular weedkiller. Then Dan and Leah discuss all the major decisions still to come this week, on birthright citizenship, trans rights, and more. Lastly — rage warning! — Leah reacts to Susan Collins's claim that her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh *didn't* have an impact on Roe v. Wade getting overturned. 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, episode title, and episode date.