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Pod Save America

by gyutiu

Pod Save America is a no-b******t conversation about politics hosted by former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor. It cuts through the noise to break down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how they can help. They’re regularly joined by journalists, activists, politicians, entertainers, and world leaders. You can watch on YouTube or listen to new episodes every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Subscribe to Friends of the Pod! Your subscription makes Crooked’s work possible and gives you access to ad-free episodes of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World, plus exclusive content and a lively Discord community. Learn more and subscribe at crooked.com/friends or on Apple Podcasts. For a transcript of an episode of Pod Save America, please email [email protected].

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Oct 16, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Have Republicans Already Blown the Midterms?

    With two weeks until the midterms, Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, sits down with Dan to break down what she calls the most brutal political environment Republicans have faced in twenty years. They discuss whether the numbers indicate a "blue wave" or a…

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  2. Donald Trump: Ass Man

    Trump makes the case for Jon Husted in Ohio, praising the Republican senator's greatest asset: his athletic behind. Jon and Dan react to Trump's Ohio rally and his other messages to voters on the campaign trail, Politico reporting that Trump is considering replacing White House Chief of Staff…

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  3. One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest

    A right-wing conspiracy theory claiming that James Talarico, who has been off the campaign trail with the flu, was actually at a mental institution in Ohio is immediately debunked in humiliating fashion. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to the idiocy and all the other developments in the race to flip...

  4. Democrats' Closing Argument (with David Axelrod)

    As Democrats in competitive races across the country try to thread the needle on a closing argument, Jon and legendary political consultant David Axelrod discuss the most memorable exchanges from this week's Senate debates, the best messages of the cycle, and what candidates in frontline races...

  5. MAGA's Big Fat Greek Scandal

    The Wall Street Journal reveals brazen corruption by Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host (and Don Jr. fiancée) now serving as ambassador to Greece — and the Daily Mail piles on with eye-popping reports about misbehavior on the job. Jon and Dan react to the brewing scandal and take a look...

  6. Trump Plans to Shove What Where?

    With less than 30 days until the midterms, Trump hits the campaign trail, promising Republican voters that they're going to "win big" and "shove it up their ass." (Whose? He didn't specify.) Meanwhile, the polls tell a different story, showing Democratic Senate candidates leading in five…

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  7. Deep State Rebels v. Trump (with Michael Lewis)

    Michael Lewis, the New York Times bestselling author of "Moneyball" and "The Big Short," stops by the studio to talk to Lovett about "Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State," his latest book on the government employees who stood up to Elon Musk and Donald Trump during the heyday of DOGE. Lovett and...

  8. Beardos, Weirdos, and Donald Trump

    Pete Hegseth, in an unconventional speech, announces that beardos, weirdos, and wimps are no longer welcome at the Department of War as his boss officially hit the road to campaign for Senate Republicans — whether they want him to or not. Jon and Dan react to Trump's event with Ken Paxton in…

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  9. Impeach Pete Hegseth?

    Senate Democrats signal they may be open to impeaching Pete Hegseth after the election if the House has the votes for it. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss why that trial would be a great use of a new Democratic Senate majority, Trump saying that the American economy is "the best in the world"…

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  10. Choosin' Texas with Bobby Pulido

    Live from the Texas Tribune Festival, Jon, Tommy, Lovett, and Dan discuss the dream of a blue Texas and how the campaigns there are doing, from James Talarico's debate challenge to Ken Paxton, to Gina Hinojosa's momentum in the governor's race, to Donald Trump's decision to stay away entirely.…

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  11. Always Test Your Hopium

    The news is full of encouraging signs for Democrats. Is it all too good to be true? Dan and Jon react to Republican candidates running away from Trump on Iran, then break down the latest polls — including a surprising Times/Siena result from Maine — to take a sober look at the range of outcomes...

  12. Trump Bans Crooked Media

    Major television networks halt White House pool coverage after Trump announces that he's banning journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. Jon and Tommy react to Trump and JD Vance's justifications for the decision, before breaking down the details of the Ellisons' deal with the California...

  13. Fighting with Fox News feat. Jessica Tarlov

    Fox News host Jessica Tarlov, the lone liberal voice on "The Five," stops by the studio to talk to Tommy about her new book "I Disagree: Winning Arguments without Losing Friends." Tarlov offers Tommy a behind the scenes look into the making of Fox's most combative show and her relationships...

  14. Will the Blue Wave Be Bigger Than 2018?

    JD Vance begs voters to give the White House "another chance" as a series of new polls show a political environment even more favorable to Democrats than the one that propelled the blue wave in 2018. Jon, Dan, and Alex break down how much "hopium" we should be huffing, a new ad from a Florida...

  15. Artificial Intelligence, Actual Idiots

    Trump dismisses the AI CEOs at Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI who are calling for a "global slowdown" of AI development, saying the only government regulation the industry needs is a "high IQ" president. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett break down the "sick conspiracy" claim the administration and tech…

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  16. On the Ground in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed

    Tommy flies out to Detroit to talk to Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, asking him about his masculinity-forward campaign, the electorate's appetite for candidates who fight back, and how to restore trust in the American healthcare system. But first, Tommy sits down with Jon to...

  17. Dallas Bribers Club

    At the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Donald Trump promises that he'll give every American adult a $5,000 check if — and only if — Republicans retain control of the Senate and House, a plan so absurd that even his own defenders can't explain it. Jon and Dan process the most ridiculous moments...

  18. Will Trump's Postal Service Seize This Mail Bag?

    Jon, Tommy, Lovett, and Dan answer listener questions, diving into what they’re most hoping to learn from the 2026 midterms, their favorite political ads of all time, and the groyper takeover of the Republican Party. Then, Vote Save America’s Shaniqua McClendon returns to the pod to talk to Tommy...

  19. Poll Me Twice, Shame On Me

    Nate Silver, Clare Malone, and Galen Druke — the hosts of Crooked Media's new show Still Counting — join Lovett to talk about the Senate races they find most interesting and Trump doing everything in his power to help Republicans lose the midterms. The crew, who you may remember from the...

  20. Republicans Suddenly Have Plans Next Week

    Dozens of Republican lawmakers tell the press that they won't be attending Trump's midterm convention next week, citing a variety of unconvincing excuses, but the president seems unfazed by his party's lack of enthusiasm for more Trump, announcing Trump midterm ads, Trump coins, and the…

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  21. Is Trump Trying to Lose the Midterms?

    Weeks after a Republican campaign committee called AI data centers the "anchor hanging around" GOP candidates' necks, Trump weighs in to say that all Americans who oppose data center construction are "backwards and poor" — while he digs in on the trade war with Canada and the hot war with Iran.…

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  22. Obama's Campaign Manager's 2028 Scouting Report

    Jon sits down with legendary Democratic strategist David Plouffe to assess the race for the Senate and House and — why not? — look forward to 2028. The two talk through the new roster of early primary states and the political dynamics at play in each, and then do some (very) early handicapping of...

  23. Lake America Great Again

    With his approval rating 20 points underwater, Donald Trump previews his new midterm strategy: telling voters to pretend he’s on the ballot. Jon and Dan break down how that will play, react to the president renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” and preview the Republican Party’s midterm...

  24. Donald J. Plump

    As the Trump administration launches economic wars against Iran and Canada, the Washington Post reports on Trump's war with a third adversary: his weight. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett calculate Trump's BMI and then break down Scott Bessent invoking World War II when announcing new Iranian sanctions and...

  25. How to Reach the Unreachable Voter

    How can Democrats reach the elusive swing voter? Danielle Butterfield, executive director of Priorities USA, one of the most important PACs in Democratic politics, joins Dan to talk about Priorities' attempts to reshape how Democratic campaigns think about targeting voters on the internet. She...

  26. Total Eclipse of the Harp

    MAGA world continues to express outrage over Jon Ossoff's "travel with Natalie" remarks, including an over-the-top rant from Scott Jennings that is being seen as the pundit's shameless audition for the open White House press secretary job. Dan and Jon react to Harp-gate, an MS NOW report that…

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  27. Printer? I Hardly Know Her!

    Jon Ossoff attacks Trump for sidestepping his duties to "travel with Natalie," the White House aide known as Trump's "Human Printer," who has a suspiciously close relationship to the president. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss the new line of attack and the president's response, the end of the…

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  28. AI Apocalypse... Now?

    Is AI set to destroy the world, or could it all just be a bubble? Why does Sam Altman want ChatGPT to monitor everything you do on your computer? Who is set to win the AI Game of Thrones? Casey Newton, editor of the tech newsletter Platformer and co-host of Hard Fork, joins Tommy to talk about…

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  29. Trump's Mile-Hide Club

    Donald Trump hides in a catering truck and boards a secret plane to evade an Iranian security threat, leaving reporters, White House officials, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio alone aboard Air Force One to fend for themselves. Dan and Jon discuss the President's profile in courage and the rest...

  30. Can Dems Put Woke to Bed?

    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…

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  31. Is the Progressive Takeover Real?

    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...

  32. Tucker 2028?

    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…

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  33. Bonus: Abdul El-Sayed Wins in Michigan feat. Bernie Sanders

    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…

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  34. From Pirro to Zero

    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…

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  35. A Unified Theory of Trumpism

    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…

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  36. Abolish Bad Tweets

    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...

  37. Phones and Blame Fly at the DNC

    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...

  38. The Search for an Exciting Moderate

    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…

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  39. Trump's Wars Are Bankrupting America

    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...

  40. The Primaries Will Continue Until Morale Improves

    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...

  41. The Democratic Party's Civil War

    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...

  42. Trump's Explosive Diarrhea of the Mouth

    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...

  43. Trump Honors Dead Friend, Restarts War

    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...

  44. Can Soccer Save the World?

    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...

  45. The Race to Replace Graham Platner

    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…

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  46. Trump Works the FIFA Refs

    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…

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  47. Trump’s 4th Threesome

    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...

  48. Trump Held a Fair And (Almost) No One Came

    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...

  49. The MAGA Supreme Court's Assault on America

    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 —...

  50. Trump Sabotages Trump Agenda

    Donald Trump cancels the signing of a landmark bipartisan housing bill at the last minute, saying he won't approve it until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo ID to cast a ballot. Jon and Dan react to the President's…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Pod Save America is a no-b******t conversation about politics hosted by former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor. It cuts through the noise to break down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how they can help. They’re regularly joined by journalists, activists, politicians, entertainers, and world leaders. You can watch on YouTube or listen to new episodes every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Subscribe to Friends of the Pod! Your subscription makes Crooked’s work possible and gives you access to ad-free episodes of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World, plus exclusive content and a lively Discord community. Learn more and subscribe at crooked.com/friends or on Apple Podcasts. For a transcript of an episode of Pod Save America, please email [email protected].

HOSTED BY

gyutiu

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Pod Save America have?

Pod Save America currently has 1000 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Pod Save America about?

Pod Save America is a no-b******t conversation about politics hosted by former Obama aides Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor. It cuts through the noise to break down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how they can help. They’re regularly joined by...

How often does Pod Save America release new episodes?

Pod Save America releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 1000 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.

Where can I listen to Pod Save America?

You can listen to Pod Save America on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Pod Save America?

Pod Save America is created and hosted by gyutiu.
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