Pod Save America

AOC vs. Bezos

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers a blistering response to Jeff Bezos's Washington Post after the editorial board attacks her for criticizing billionaires. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett mull what an AOC 2028 campaign could look like and discuss the latest news, including President Trump rejecting an Iranian counterproposal that could end the war, his proposal to make Venezuela the 51st state, and his upcoming trip to China, which will now include his billionaire buddies Elon Musk and Tim Cook. Then, they react to the Virginia Supreme Court's decision to throw out the state's voter-approved congressional maps, debate how much the GOP's new redistricting advantage will actually be worth in November, and preview Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's pivot back to reality TV. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/qFascTZA-so]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Will Raphael Warnock Hear the Call?

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock stops by the studio to talk to Jon about the Supreme Court's dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, his visit to an ICE detention facility, and whether the Democratic Party is doing enough to fight back against Trump. Then Jon and the senator, who serves as senior pastor at the congregation Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once led, discuss JD Vance lecturing Pope Leo on theology, increasing political violence in America, and what lessons from Dr. King can help us build a sustained political movement at this moment. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/3F-SQ89lyOg]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

It's One Ballroom, Donald, How Much Could It Cost?

Congressional Republicans plan to spend $1 billion in taxpayer money on Trump's ballroom, claiming the money is necessary for "security" — and creating a huge political problem for themselves. The president and his cabinet make a show of ignoring the pain Americans are feeling at the gas pump, as the US and Iran circle around an underwhelming peace deal. JD Vance's 2028 stock slides as Republican voters turn their attention to Marco Rubio. Dan and Jon discuss the latest, including how Democrats should respond to a new wave of Republican gerrymandering in the South and a new report from The Atlantic that Kash Patel has been handing out personalized bottles of bourbon while on the job. Then, Tom Steyer stops by the studio to talk to Lovett about his race for California governor. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/SwiPDnS7vjE]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Trump Is Falling. Are Democrats Rising?

Just like the ceasefire with Iran, Trump's standing in the polls has effectively collapsed, but Democrats aren't performing better on the generic ballot. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss why, and what Democrats can do about it. They also react to the latest chaos in the Strait of Hormuz, the Trump administration's effort to blame the demise of Spirit Airlines on Joe Biden, and whether Republicans really might convince John Fetterman to switch parties. Then, Jon talks to Strict Scrutiny's Melissa Murray about the recent court rulings on mifepristone, new threats to safe and legal abortion, and Melissa's new book "The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader." Friends of the Pod subscribers on Apple Podcasts will receive today’s ad-free episode a few hours later than the regular release due to a technical issue. Thanks for your patience! For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/9k_IPPGbZrY]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Bernie vs. the Robots

Lovett sits down with Senator Bernie Sanders about what we need to do rein in AI, getting super PAC money out of Democratic politics, and building support for stopping weapons sales to Israel. Then, Lovett speaks with Puck Political writer Peter Hamby to talk about his reporting on the embrace of political violence and conspiracy theories in certain corners of the political left, the big news in the Maine Senate race and the latest in the California governor's race. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/zLb5AUMhB10]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.