Pod Save America
Politics
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].
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Recent Episodes
1129: Why Democrats Must Oppose Trump's Iran War
Mar 03, 2026The Trump administration struggles to justify its new war with Iran, while Democrats struggle to effectively explain why Americans should oppose it. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett react to Trump's first live ...
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Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor discuss the Trump administration's military strikes in Iran that began over the weekend, which have resulted in American casualties and sparked a regional conflict. They analyze the shifting rationales for war, criticize Trump's cavalier response, examine the political dynamics in Congress, and interview Senator Ruben Gallego about Democratic responses and the 2026 midterm strategy.
- Trump and Netanyahu's War with Iran
- Shifting Rationales and the Netanyahu Factor
1128: Graham Platner Isn't Backing Down
Mar 01, 2026Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate running for Senate in Maine, stops by the studio to talk with Jon about Trump’s impending conflict with Iran, the future of Medicare for All, and what community ...
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Graham Plattner, Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine, discusses his journey from combat veteran to oyster farmer to political candidate challenging incumbent Susan Collins. He shares his evolution from politically engaged history buff to anti-war economic populist, shaped by four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Plattner emphasizes grassroots organizing, Medicare for All, labor rights, and confronting corporate power as central to his campaign, while addressing controversies over his past Reddit posts and tattoo.
- The Whirlwind of Running for Office
- Addressing Past Controversies and Building Trust
1127: Trump's Dangerous War Games
Feb 27, 2026The White House debates going to extreme lengths to get the American public to stomach a war with Iran, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tries to force Anthropic into letting him use their AI mode...
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Dan Pfeiffer and Jon Favreau dissect the Trump administration's post-State of the Union messaging strategy, featuring J.D. Vance's fraud-focused campaign tour that fell flat. They examine the administration's alarming plans to use Americans as bait for war with Iran, the Justice Department's apparent cover-up of Epstein files implicating Trump, and Pete Hegseth's threats against AI companies refusing to enable autonomous weapons. The episode also features a conversation with Shelly Jackson about recruiting down-ballot candidates in Arizona, with encouraging signs of Democratic enthusiasm heading into the midterms.
- J.D. Vance's Fraud Czar Tour Falls Flat
- Stephen Miller Twitter Meltdown
1126: The State of the Union Is Long
Feb 25, 2026Donald Trump breaks his own record for longest State of the Union in history, delivering a meandering, angry, tone-deaf speech that utterly fails at its single most important goal: laying out a clear ...
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In a historic 1 hour and 47-minute State of the Union address, Donald Trump delivered the longest presidential speech ever recorded, focusing on claims of economic success and immigration while largely ignoring public concerns about rising costs, his unpopular tariffs, and controversial ICE actions. The speech featured theatrical elements including parading Olympic athletes and invited guests, but avoided addressing major crises like the looming Iran conflict and domestic controversies. Democrats and political analysts noted Trump's disconnect from reality as he celebrated 'winning' while polls show 60% of Americans preferred Biden's economy and his approval rating languishes in the high 30s.
- Trump's Victory Lap and the Longest Speech in History
- A Speech Crime: Missing the Political Moment Entirely
1125: Will Trump Bomb State of the Union/Iran?
Feb 24, 2026The State of the Union has arrived. Will war with Iran come with it? Jon, Tommy, and Lovett react to reports that Trump is considering launching air strikes against Iran in the coming days and then ju...
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Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor discuss Trump's potential war with Iran, his response to the Supreme Court's tariff ruling, Cash Patel's controversial Olympics trip, and preview the State of the Union address. The episode features an interview with MSNBC's Simone Sanders-Townsend and Eugene Daniels about their new podcast and Democratic responses to Trump's speech, plus analysis of the Texas Senate primary race.
- Trump's Iran War Plans and Diplomatic Crisis
- Supreme Court Tariff Ruling and Trump's Doubling Down
1124: Trump Loses At Supreme Court, Handles It Well
Feb 22, 2026The Supreme Court tanks Donald Trump's tariff program in a 6-3 ruling supported by two of his hand-picked justices. Lovett talks to Jerusalem Demsas, economics writer and editor-in-chief of The Argume...
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John Lovett interviews Jerusalem Demsas, founder of The Argument, about Trump's tariff policies following a Supreme Court rebuke, controversial polling on trans rights showing public backlash, housing affordability challenges, and the role of 'cringe' in political resistance. They explore why Democrats are losing ground on social issues, economic policy failures, and strategies for liberal politics moving forward.
- Supreme Court Rebukes Trump's Emergency Tariffs
- Long-Term Economic Damage from Tariff Chaos
1123: Trump: "I've Won Affordability"
Feb 20, 2026Trump's economic messaging tour takes him to Georgia, where he claims "I've won affordability"—as White House advisors concede in a high-level meeting that he "will do what he wants to do, say what he...
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Pod Save America hosts Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer return from their Australia/New Zealand tour to discuss Trump's escalating threats against Iran, his contradictory messaging on affordability, the contentious Texas Senate Democratic primary between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, and the Colbert/CBS controversy over equal time rules. The episode features extensive criticism of Trump's immigration policies and the treatment of detained children at facilities like Dilley.
- Trump's Board of Peace and War Threats Against Iran
- Trump's Affordability Message Failure
1122: Fascist Mile High Club
Feb 16, 2026Live from Sydney, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan discuss the lurid details of The Wall Street Journal exposé on Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski's eye-opening behavior at (and high above) the Department...
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This is the final stop of Pod Save America's touring show, recorded live in Sydney, Australia. The hosts discuss Trump administration chaos including Kristi Noem's DHS scandals, the Republican push for voter ID laws, and the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement. They also analyze Barack Obama's recent interview comments on Democratic Party strategy and stage a debate over potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates.
- Trump's Voter ID Push and Election Security Threats
- Kristi Noem's DHS Scandal: Affair, Deportation Planes, and Incompetence
What can we learn from other countries that have lived through dictatorships? How can artists fight authoritarianism? How should an Oscar nominee react to an encounter with ICE on the way to the Acade...
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Alex Wagner interviews acclaimed Brazilian actor Wagner Moura about his Oscar-nominated role in 'The Secret Agent,' a film set during Brazil's 1970s military dictatorship. The conversation explores parallels between historical authoritarianism and today's political climate in both Brazil and the United States, touching on masculinity, resistance, artistic responsibility, and the erosion of democratic norms. Moura discusses ICE raids in Minneapolis, the alignment of tech oligarchs with power, representation in Hollywood, and the critical role artists play in resisting authoritarianism.
- Introduction to The Secret Agent and Political Context
- Masculinity, Violence, and the ICE Raids
1122: Dems Freeze ICE
Feb 13, 2026Live from Melbourne, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan react to Democrats’ decision to stand firm on ICE funding and force a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, Pam Bondi’s epic meltdown in fro...
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Pod Save America's live Melbourne show covers the latest Trump administration scandals, including Attorney General Pam Bondi's disastrous congressional hearing on the Epstein files, failed attempts to indict Democratic lawmakers, ICE's controversial immigration enforcement operations, and a bizarre incident involving CBP shooting down a party balloon with a Pentagon laser. The hosts also play trivia testing American and Australian citizenship knowledge, and close with a segment mocking Megyn Kelly's meltdown over Bad Bunny's Spanish-language Super Bowl halftime performance.
- Pam Bondi's Disastrous Congressional Hearing
- The Epstein Files as Political Liability
1119: MAGA: Defenders of the Epstein Class
Feb 10, 2026Epstein revelations continue. New files reveal that the notorious sex offender had closer relationships than previously known with Trump’s inner circle, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Gh...
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Does Trump know ball? Is he afraid of Bad Bunny—or did MAGA just fumble the halftime show? This Super Bowl Sunday, Tommy sits down with journalist and sportswriter Pablo Torre to unpack how America’s ...
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Tommy Vietor sits down with Pablo Torre to examine how Donald Trump and his administration leverage sports for political gain and profit. The conversation explores Trump's relationships with NFL owners and sports leagues, the explosive growth of sports gambling following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling, and how figures like Riley Gaines have weaponized trans athlete debates. Torre reveals troubling connections between the Trump family and betting companies, the dangers of "event contracts," and how gambling has become increasingly predatory while oversight has weakened.
- Trump's Complex Relationship with the NFL and Sports Culture
- Colin Kaepernick, Race, and the NFL's Pendulum Swing
1117: Trump Threatens to Steal the Midterms
Feb 06, 2026Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, and Mike Johnson hint at plans to steal the midterm elections, from "nationalizing" the voting to straight-up sending ICE to "surround" the polls. Jon and Dan sound the ala...
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Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer discuss Trump's escalating threats to interfere with the 2026 midterms, including deploying ICE agents at polling places and seizing voting machines. They cover ICE's operations in Minnesota and Maine, the collapse of the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos, and interview Maine Governor Janet Mills about her Senate race against Susan Collins and her response to ICE operations in her state.
- Trump's Election Interference Plans and the Threat to 2026 Midterms
- Democratic Strategy: Legal Action and State-Level Resistance
1116: Epstein Files: Worse Than You Thought
Feb 03, 2026The Justice Department releases more than three million more files related to Jeffrey Epstein, and the list of powerful people involved with the notorious pedophile is ... long. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett...
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Pod Save America discusses the shocking revelations from three million pages of newly released Epstein documents, Trump's escalating corruption including a $187 million deal with UAE and a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, updates on ICE operations in Minneapolis, and a surprise Democratic special election victory in Texas. The show concludes with an interview with musician and congressional candidate Bobby Pulido about his campaign in Texas's 15th district.
- Epstein Files Release: A Global Web of Elite Connections
- Trump's UAE Corruption: $187 Million for Advanced AI Chips
1115: Why Are Democrats Afraid of Power?
Feb 01, 2026Marc J. Dunkelman, author of "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress — and How to Bring It Back," stops by the studio to talk to Lovett about how Democrats — once they regain power — can make governme...
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John Lovett speaks with Mark Dunkelman, author of 'Why Nothing Works,' about the decline of progressive governance from the New Deal era to today. They explore how Democrats shifted from building powerful institutions that delivered results to prioritizing process and speaking truth to power, resulting in government that struggles to accomplish basic tasks. The conversation examines what progressives can learn from Trump's ability to act quickly (while rejecting his lawlessness), why America can no longer build infrastructure efficiently, and how to restore faith in government's ability to deliver.
- The Problem: From Building to Blocking
- New Deal Speed vs. Modern Paralysis
Minneapolis is a Turning Point
Jan 30, 2026Outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti spreads to nonpolitical and Trump-friendly spaces, even as Border Czar Tom Homan promises to "draw down" the DHS presence in Minneapolis and the White House cav...
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Pod Save America hosts discuss the Trump administration's ICE operations in Minneapolis, including the killing of Alex Preddy, the federal government's response, and the broader political implications. The episode also features an interview with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough about Trump's second term and a preview of their new subscriber-only show.
- Trump Administration Backtracks on Minneapolis ICE Operations
- Federal Judge Condemns ICE for Violating Nearly 100 Court Orders
Trump Retreats After Alex Pretti's Killing
Jan 27, 2026Donald Trump caves to the national outrage over Alex Pretti's killing, telling Governor Tim Walz that he'll agree to allow for an impartial investigation and "look into reducing the number of federal ...
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Pod Save America discusses the killing of Alex Preddy by federal agents in Minneapolis, the administration's dishonest response and subsequent retreat, and the political fallout. The hosts analyze Trump's age and health questions, Democratic leverage over government funding, and the community response in Minnesota. Lovett reports from Minneapolis on the protests and local impact of ICE operations.
- The Killing of Alex Preddy and the Government's Response
- The Administration's Callous Lies and Victim Blaming
How Dems Can Defeat MAGA Once and For All
Jan 25, 2026What will it take for Democrats to win not just in 2026, but in 2028 and beyond? What do we need to change to win again in Iowa, Texas, and Florida? What's more important: a candidate's ability to com...
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Trump's Arctic Humiliation
Jan 23, 2026Donald Trump announces that he's reached a "concept of a deal" on Greenland, agreeing to drop his tariffs for … well, the details aren't exactly clear. Jon and Dan discuss what we know, Trump's invita...
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This episode covers Donald Trump's chaotic Davos trip and his fabricated 'deal' over Greenland, ICE raids in Minneapolis raising constitutional concerns, Jack Smith's testimony defending his criminal investigations of Trump, and a new New York Times poll showing Trump's approval collapsing and Democrats leading the 2026 generic ballot by 5 points. The hosts also discuss how Trump's 2024 coalition has dissolved, with the economy as the primary driver of his declining support.
- Trump's Imaginary Greenland Deal
- Trump's Board of Peace and International Chaos
That'll Leave a Denmark
Jan 20, 2026Trump tells the Norwegian Prime Minister that he no longer feels an "obligation" to peace because he didn't receive the Nobel Prize and announces that he's imposing tariffs on a series of NATO allies ...
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Pod Save America's one-year Trump anniversary episode examines the president's threats against Greenland and Minneapolis, his corrupt pardons, tanking approval ratings, and Democratic party challenges. Tommy Vietor interviews Jason Zengerle about his new book examining Tucker Carlson's evolution from mainstream media figure to MAGA influencer, exploring how Carlson's career arc mirrors the conservative movement's transformation.
- Trump's Greenland Power Grab and NATO Threats
- Trump's Board of Peace: Privatizing International Order