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Pod Save America is a no-bullshit 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, Wednesday and Friday.
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For a transcript of an episode of Pod Save America, please email [email protected] (edited)
“Iowa, you had one job."
As they wait for Iowa caucus results, Jon, Jon, Tommy and Dan talk about what went wrong in the first contest in the nomination process, what it means for the caucus moving forward and how the candidates move on from here, even as they learn more about the delegate counts.
51:1005/02/2020
"Secret poll results."
Republicans block witnesses, sealing up President Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate. The Des Moines Register cancels its highly anticipated Iowa poll the weekend before the caucus. Then, Jon, Jon, Tommy, and Dan talk about what they've seen and heard observing candidates on the ground in Iowa over the past few days.
01:09:2903/02/2020
“Democracy dies with Dershowitz.”
Trump's defense team argues that the President can do anything to get elected, Republicans close in on the votes to block witnesses, and a SuperPAC makes the case that Bernie isn’t electable. Then Senator Amy Klobuchar joins to talk about impeachment and her closing argument, and Crooked Media Content Chief Tanya Somanader discusses the new and improved VoteSaveAmerica.com
01:15:3330/01/2020
Iowa Episode 5: Voting is not enough
In the final episode of this five-part series on the Iowa caucuses, we take you back to Iowa one last time for the final sprint before caucus day. We explore how impeachment is impacting the campaigns, attend events with major surrogates like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and talk with Iowa elected officials about who they will endorse. Finally, we’ll walk you through the results of our exclusive Iowa poll, map out possible paths to victory for the leading candidates, and check in one last time with the true heroes of these campaigns, the field organizers. This series is hosted by Tommy Vietor and produced by Pineapple Street Studios.
48:2028/01/2020
“Bolton’s bombshell.”
John Bolton’s explosive new book upends Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, Adam Schiff joins to talk about what happens next, and Bernie Sanders extends his lead in Iowa as other candidates raise electability questions. Then Ezra Klein talks to Dan about his new book, “Why We’re Polarized.”
01:44:0427/01/2020
“Davos confessions.”
Schiff makes the case against Trump, Trump confesses to obstruction and floats cuts to Medicare and Social Security in Davos, and Bernie gains momentum with less than two weeks until Iowa. Then Desmond Meade of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition talks to Dan about fighting the Republican effort to keep returning citizens from voting.
01:09:3223/01/2020
“Hillary endorses Bernie.”
Trump’s lawyers kick off his impeachment trial by arguing that the President can’t be impeached, Mitch McConnell is forced to make concessions on the rules, Biden and Bernie tangle on Social Security, and the New York Times endorses Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren. Then Chris Lidell-Westefeld talks to Tommy about his oral history of the 2008 Obama campaign.
01:22:1221/01/2020
“Bernie is my friend.” (Debate recap special!)
Jon, Jon, Tommy, and Dan talk about Donald Trump’s impeachment trial and the final Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses, hosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register in Des Moines. BIG NEWS. Pod Save America is going on tour. Presale is January 15-17 using code CROOKED2020 and public on-sale is Saturday January 18. Get tickets: http://crooked.com/events
01:15:2416/01/2020
“It's wide open!”
The Trump Administration is caught lying about Iran, the public sours on the President’s handling of the crisis, and the Des Moines Register poll shows a very close race in Iowa between Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, and Joe Biden. Then Varshini Prakash of the Sunrise Movement talks to Jon L. about climate change and the group's endorsement of Bernie Sanders.
01:03:3013/01/2020
The Wilderness, Season 2 (coming January 13, 2020)
Jon Favreau looks for the path to victory in 2020 by talking to voters, strategists, organizers, and candidates in the battleground states that will decide the election.Subscribe to The Wilderness:Apple Podcasts: apple.co/thewildernessOther Podcast Platforms: crooked.com/thewilderness
04:0412/01/2020
“All is not well!”
Trump gives his Mission Accomplished speech after a momentary pause in the crisis he started, Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans get ready to vote for a rigged impeachment trial, and the endorsements start piling up in the Democratic primary. Then Senator Elizabeth Warren talks to Jon about the Iran crisis and her campaign strategy in the weeks before Iowa.
01:24:4409/01/2020
“A little noise from Iran.”
Trump starts a new conflict in the Middle East by assassinating an Iranian general, John Bolton says he’s willing to testify in the Senate impeachment trial, and the primary is too close to call with less than 30 days until Iowa. Then Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) talks to Tommy about what Congress can do to restrain Trump’s actions towards Iran.
01:03:5406/01/2020
“Resolutions of the Pod for 2020.”
In their second annual New Year’s resolutions pod, Jon, Jon, and Tommy react to resolutions from some of your favorite 2020 candidates. Then they hold themselves accountable for the resolutions they made a year ago - and make new resolutions for the big year ahead in 2020.
29:1130/12/2019
“Holiday mailbag!”
Jon F. and Dan answer your questions on 2020, the Senate, campaign finance, their top Spotify picks, and more.
48:3026/12/2019
“Whine cave.” (Debate recap special!)
Jon, Jon, Tommy, and Dan talk about the impeachment of Donald Trump and the final Democratic debate of 2019, hosted by PBS and POLITICO in Los Angeles, California.
01:08:1120/12/2019
“A jury of Trump’s peers.”
The House prepares to impeach Donald Trump as new polling shows an uptick in support, Chuck Schumer tries to prevent Mitch McConnell from rigging the Senate trial, and the Democratic presidential candidates prepare for their final debate of 2019.
48:4616/12/2019
“The Do Something Democrats.”
Democrats are on the verge of voting to impeach Donald Trump and to approve his trade deal, Bernie Sanders is underestimated, Joe Biden contemplates serving one term, and Pete Buttigieg releases his McKinsey clients. Then Mike Isaac of the New York Times talks to Dan about Uber, Facebook, and tech industry culture.
01:31:4312/12/2019
Iowa Episode 4: The final sprint
In episode four of this five-part series on the Iowa caucuses, we take you behind the scenes as the campaigns prepare for one of the biggest nights of the primary season, the Liberty and Justice Dinner. Obama’s speech at the event back in 2007 gave his candidacy an enormous boost, but we’ll explain why the evening is as much about what you say as how well you’ve organized. Then we’ll consider proposals to change the primary process that would reduce Iowa’s influence as we continue to wrestle with the question: is this really the best way to pick a president? This series is hosted by Tommy Vietor and produced by Pineapple Street Studios.
32:1510/12/2019
“Devin’s Gate.”
Alyssa Mastromonaco joins Jon, Jon, and Tommy to discuss the Inspector General’s report, Donald Trump’s response to the shooting in Pensacola, Joe Biden’s confrontation with an Iowa voter, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg’s transparency debate, and Michael Bloomberg’s massive ad buy.
56:4109/12/2019
“A global laughingstock.”
House Democrats prepare to draft articles of impeachment, Trump embarrasses himself and America at NATO, and Kamala Harris ends her presidential campaign. Then Senator Cory Booker talks to Jon about his strategy to make the December debate and build momentum ahead of Iowa.
01:29:1205/12/2019
Iowa Episode 3: Endorsements, surrogates and criticisms of Iowa
In episode three of this five-part miniseries on the Iowa caucuses, we dive into the all-important race to lock down the state’s key endorsements. These campaign surrogates, always critical, loom particularly large for the five US Senators running who may have to spend the bulk of January in impeachment hearings. We’ll also dig into all the criticisms of the Iowa caucuses, from the demographics of the state to the charge that the caucuses themselves are undemocratic. Plus: a ukulele. The series is hosted by Tommy Vietor and produced by Pineapple Street Studios.
30:0003/12/2019
“The Great Impeachment Bake Off.”
The next phase of impeachment begins as the Judiciary Committee plans hearings, the 2020 primary is wide open with two months until Iowa, and Pete Buttigieg debates his opponents over free college.
52:1402/12/2019
“Thanksgiving mailbag.”
Jon, Jon, and Tommy answer your questions on impeachment, 2020, politics, Thanksgiving, and more. Then Ady Barkan checks in with Jon F. about his endorsement of Elizabeth Warren and his fight to achieve Medicare for All.
01:13:4627/11/2019
Iowa Episode 2: The history and the rules
In episode two of this five-part miniseries on the Iowa caucuses hosted by Tommy Vietor and produced by Pineapple Street Studios, we’ll learn how violence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention led to Iowa becoming the first contest of the campaign season. We’ll take you to a house party with undecided voters and to an actual caucus location from 2016 to explain how the process works. And we’ll watch field organizers in action and learn how they hustle to get Iowans to commit to caucus.
37:0126/11/2019
“Everyone was in the loop."
The impeachment inquiry moves to a new phase, Republican Congressman Devin Nunes may be implicated in the scandal he’s supposed to be investigating, and Michael Bloomberg officially enters the Democratic primary. Then Democratic digital strategist Tara McGowan talks to Dan about why Democrats need to focus more on digital advertising.
01:33:5025/11/2019
“All that pizzazz.” (Debate recap special!)
Jon, Jon, Tommy, and Dan break down a week of pizzazz-filled impeachment hearings and the fifth Democratic primary debate in Atlanta, Georgia.
01:09:0421/11/2019
Iowa Episode 1: The Stakes
This is the first episode of a five-part miniseries on the Iowa caucuses hosted by Tommy Vietor and produced by Pineapple Street Studios. In episode one, Tommy looks back at Barack Obama's 2008 Iowa operation to explain how he won, how that victory propelled him to the White House, and why Obama says his Iowa caucus victory was more meaningful than the night he was elected president. Tommy also heads to the Iowa State Fair to talk with 2020 candidates and introduces you to some young campaign field staffers who we'll follow for the next few weeks.
27:2019/11/2019
“He loves your ass.”
Rep. Adam Schiff joins to break down all of the latest impeachment news, Pete Buttigieg takes the lead in Iowa, and Elizabeth Warren offers her own Medicare for All plan. Then Senator Sherrod Brown talks to Jon F. about impeachment, health care, and his new book, Desk 88: Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America.
01:20:2418/11/2019
“Welcome to the Schiff-show.”
Bill Taylor drops a bombshell on the first day of the impeachment hearings while Republicans peddle conspiracies, Democratic presidential candidates prepare to be Senate jurors, and Deval Patrick enters the primary. Then former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal offers his legal and Constitutional analysis of the hearing and talks about his new book, “Impeach: The Case Against Donald Trump.”
01:27:5214/11/2019
On The Ground in Iowa (coming 11/19)
A five episode limited series by Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor on the Iowa Caucuses. Tommy takes the listener to Iowa to spend time with the candidates, staffers and undecided voters who will determine who wins. Tommy will explain why Iowa is first, how the caucuses work, and try to figure out what it takes to win. And finally he'll explore the question: is this really the best way to pick a president?New episodes drop on Tuesdays right here in the Pod Save America feed. Produced in partnership with Pineapple Street Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
02:5812/11/2019
“Lights, camera, impeachment!”
Democrats and Republicans telegraph their strategies for the first public impeachment hearings, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg prepares to enter the Democratic primary. Then veterans’ advocate Paul Rieckhoff talks to Tommy about veterans policy and how America treats those who serve.
01:13:4511/11/2019
“The greatest defeat in history.”
Democrats win big victories in Virginia and Kentucky, a new Crooked Media/Change PollerCoaster 2020 survey shows majority support for impeachment, and the Medicare for All debate between Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden gets heated. Then Run for Something’s Amanda Litman talks to Dan about all the new candidates who won on Tuesday.
01:27:2607/11/2019
“Fighting words in Des Moines.”
The House prepares for the public phase of impeachment, Republicans move towards a defense of foreign interference, and the Democratic candidates make their best case to Iowa voters as the race gets incredibly close. Then Brian Beutler talks to Jon F. about Crooked Media’s new podcast on the impeachment process, Rubicon.
01:21:0204/11/2019
"Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Impeachment Inferno."
The House of Representatives votes to endorse the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, a parade of the President’s employees testify against him, and the Democratic candidates descend on Des Moines for the biggest event of the Iowa caucuses.
01:00:1731/10/2019
“Trump’s crack legal team.”
President Trump announces the death of the Islamic State’s leader in the most Trump way possible. A federal judge gives a boost to the House’s impeachment inquiry. And Jon L. and Dan examine what Joe Biden’s apparent shift on Super PACs says about his campaign. Then, What a Day co-hosts Akilah Hughes and Gideon Resnick join Jon to talk about Rep. Katie Hill’s resignation from Congress.
01:03:3028/10/2019
Announcing: What A Day
“What A Day,” Crooked Media’s new daily news podcast, is here! Hosted by comedian Akilah Hughes and politics reporter Gideon Resnick, “What A Day” cuts through the chaos and crimes to break down the biggest news of the day, help you understand what matters, and how you can fix it—all in 15 minutes or less. New episodes come out every morning, Monday through Friday, at 5 a.m. Eastern. Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts.apple.co/whatadaycrooked.com/whataday
03:0428/10/2019
“PizzaGaetz.”
New testimony from the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine all but assures the president will be impeached, while House Republicans stage a pizza sit-in to disrupt the ongoing impeachment inquiry. Jon F. and Dan also examine why some Democratic donors are freaking out about the party's current slate of potential presidential nominees, the importance of digital advertising to the race, and Elizabeth Warren's next moves on Medicare for All.
59:4224/10/2019
“Pierre Delecto, Welcome to the Resistance.”
Trump cancels his plan to host the G7 at his struggling hotel amid growing Republican criticism on everything from Ukraine to Syria, Pete Buttigieg is making moves in Iowa, and AOC endorses Bernie. MSNBC’s Chris Hayes joins as a guest co-host, and then Susan Rice chats with Tommy and Ben about her new book, Tough Love.
01:32:1421/10/2019
“Plans vs. Pipe Dreams.” (Debate recap special!)
Jon, Jon, Tommy, and Dan break down all the highs and lows of the fourth and largest Democratic debate hosted by CNN and The New York Times in Westerville, Ohio.
01:16:2617/10/2019
“Yovanovitch-hunt.”
Multiple Trump officials agree to testify for the impeachment inquiry, Trump’s call with Erdogan leads to disaster in Syria, and the Democratic candidates prepare for their fourth and largest debate yet. Then Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow talks to Jon Lovett about his new book, Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators.
01:22:2614/10/2019
“Maddow!”
Rachel Maddow joins as guest co-host to talk about the White House announcement that they intend to obstruct the impeachment inquiry, Trump’s decision to abandon our Kurdish allies, and Facebook’s refusal to pull down false ads about Joe Biden. Then we talk to Rachel about her new book, Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth.
01:07:5810/10/2019
“Where is the line?”
New evidence and whistleblowers further incriminate the President, Republicans are running out of believable excuses, and Joe Biden’s campaign weighs the best response. Then Federal Election Commission Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub talks to Jon about the crime of soliciting foreign interference in a U.S. election.(Production note: Dan's takes are recorded via phone this episode due to technical difficulties.)
01:13:5808/10/2019
“Ukraine, if you’re listening.”
Trump commits the impeachable offenses he’s accused of on live television, Congress subpoenas the White House and its Cabinet co-conspirators, and our latest PollerCoaster 2020 shows that Arizona is a top-tier battleground state. Then Congressman Jamie Raskin talks to Dan about the Judiciary Committee’s next steps on impeachment, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed talks to Jon about the new Crooked Media podcast he’s hosting, America Dissected.Subscribe to Crooked's new podcast America Dissected: http://apple.co/americadissected
01:29:2903/10/2019
“Drunk dialing for kompromat.” (LIVE from Seattle!)
New polls show a majority of Americans now support an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, while the President’s campaign hones a re-election message based in conspiracy and grievance. Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib joins Jon, Jon, Tommy, Dan, and VICE News’ Shawna Thomas on stage in Seattle, Washington. Subscribe to Crooked's new podcast America Dissected: http://apple.co/americadissectedDonate to Fair Fight 2020: http://votesaveamerica.com/fairfight
01:20:1530/09/2019
"Big Liddle’ Lies." (LIVE from Portland!)
House Democrats get moving on an impeachment strategy as a cascade of news reports sheds light on even more potentially impeachable behavior by President Trump and his goon squad. Student climate activist Ella Shriner joins Jon, Jon, Tommy, Dan and Shawna Thomas of Vice News on stage in Portland, Oregon.
01:13:0129/09/2019
“Do us a favor, though.” (LIVE from San Jose)
Donald Trump becomes the 4th U.S. President to face impeachment as an explosive whistleblower report is released, the Director of National Intelligence testifies, and Nancy Pelosi launches a formal impeachment inquiry. Housing activist Candice Elder joins Jon, Jon, Tommy, Dan, and Jessica Yellin on stage in San Jose, California.
01:09:3027/09/2019
“Rudy likes club drugs.” (LIVE from Las Vegas!)
The President admits to using the powers of his office to target Joe Biden and his son by pressuring the Ukrainian government to fabricate a scandal, and the Des Moines Register poll shows Elizabeth Warren leading the Democratic field for the first time. Then former UN Ambassador Samantha Power talks to Jon F. and Tommy about her life as a journalist, activist, and public servant. Subscribe to America Dissected with Abdul El Sayed: apple.co/americadissectedVolunteer for Voter Registration Day: votesaveamerica.com/volunteerDonate to Fair Fight 2020: votesaveamerica.com/fairfight
01:46:4823/09/2019
“Whistle while you spy.”
Trump promises a foreign leader something so alarming that an intelligence staffer becomes a whistleblower, Corey Lewandowski launches his Senate campaign during an impeachment hearing, and the President wages war on California. Then Obama campaign manager David Plouffe joins Jon and Dan to talk about the 2020 election and his new podcast, Campaign HQ.
01:19:4119/09/2019
“Fair Fight 2020!”
An attack on Saudi Arabia leads to Trump saber-rattling on Iran, new allegations surface against Brett Kavanaugh, the United Nations convenes a Climate Action Summit next week, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren avoid direct confrontation, and Crooked Media partners with Stacey Abrams to fund Fair Fight 2020. Then Politico’s Natasha Bertrand talks to Tommy about the news that the President may have used government resources to prop up his struggling hotels. Learn more about our partnership with Fair Fight 2020 & donate: votesaveamerica.com/fairfight
01:00:5916/09/2019
“Joe, put your records on.” (Debate recap special!)
Jon, Tommy, and Dan break down the highlights, lowlights, and weird jokes from the third Democratic primary debate hosted by ABC in Houston, Texas.
01:17:0916/09/2019