What Does it Mean to Be an American?

Heather Cox Richardson on Trump’s 250th Celebrations

Historian Heather Cox Richardson joins Alex Wagner to discuss Trump's plans for America's semiquincentennial, put his fight on the White House lawn into historical context, and make sense of his mission to remake our nation's capital in his image. The two talk about what it means to be patriotic in this moment, the flaws in JD Vance's vision of blood and soil nationalism, and Heather's new series — 250 to 250 — where she's retelling the stories of "the people, places, and events that have helped to move us toward a more perfect Union." For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/VF-ebleliMY]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

LIVE(ish) from the Obama Presidential Center

Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan record from Chicago after the dedication ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center, reacting to Barack and Michelle Obama's speeches, what it felt like to walk through the museum for the first time, and what lessons Democrats in the Trump era can take from Obama. Then, they react to the emerging details of Donald Trump's MOU with Iran, which he signed at the Palace of Versailles, JD Vance's efforts to seem like a normal person during his book tour, and why the algae in the Reflecting Pool is such an apt metaphor for Trump's presidency. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/zWM002DtFNE]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

80-Year-Old Man Loses War

Trump ends his war against Iran without accomplishing any of the goals he set at the war's onset. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss how real the deal to end the war actually is, how it's playing out in MAGA world, and its implications for the economy and the midterms. Then, they react to the corruption at the UFC fight at the White House and Gov. Gavin Newsom's announcement that he and his wife are being targeted by Trump's Justice Department. Finally, Sen. Mark Warner talks to Tommy about the situation in Iran and Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/8AUhwE25aw0]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

David Sedaris is Mostly Bark, Some Bite

Legendary humorist David Sedaris stops by the studio to talk to Lovett about his new book of essays, "The Land and Its People," his father's support for Trump, and what he learned about liberals when he was bitten by a dog. They also unpack Sedaris's frustration with being labeled "queer," his nonnegotiable rule about what not to discuss in a relationship, and his unique approach to growing older. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/776iFac4Y7A] . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Cage Match Inside the White House

As Trump prepares for his UFC match on the White House lawn, Politico reports that "knives are out" inside the White House, with staffers reeling from a president "increasingly frustrated with everyone, from his own team to the Senate." Jon and Alex discuss the toxic workplace and then break down the rest of the news, including Trump's on-again, off-again relationship with Iranian negotiators, incredible new details about how the White House handled its Epstein crisis, and Trump admitting that he "love[s] the inflation." Then, veteran political journalist Ron Brownstein talks to Jon about the Democrats' chances of taking the House and Senate in November. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/gtPi8NLyXf4]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.