Pod Save America

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 slush fund. 
Trump backs down from yet another threat to completely destroy Iran, RFK Jr. lashes out at CNN's Dana Bash, and DNC Chairman Ken Martin faces new allegations of mishandling the infamous 2024 autopsy. 
Plus, the launch of Vote Save America's Crooked Dozen, updates on the disgusting Max Miller saga, and a conversation with surging Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong.
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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 it all went wrong, and debate what it'll take for the nation to heal from this moment, be it a reckoning of virtue, kindness, or democratic will. 
Jonathan also walks Lovett through the echoes of Goebbels recently displayed by Secretary Marco Rubio and Stephen Miller and why he believes the desire for a figure like Trump may have always been present within the Republican base.
Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends, on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel.
To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC).
You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

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 Democrats). Jon and Dan discuss the latest in all the key races, as well as Todd Blanche's failing nomination for attorney general, the administration's decision to deny disaster aid to four Democratic-led states, and Elon Musk's plan to pump $100 million into the midterms to support Republican candidates. 
Then, they check in on the AI singularity, which OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says has officially arrived, and debate how Democrats should talk about AI going forward.
Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends, on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel.
To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC).
You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

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 Martin before the midterms, and discuss how the DNC's new 2028 primary calendar, which starts with  South Carolina, could shape the race for president. They check in on the Michigan Senate race, the latest in Trump's continued back-and-forth with Iran, and his pitiful performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. 
Then, Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, stops by the new studio to talk to Jon about his new book "This Is the Plan" and what Democrats can do to restructure and protect American democracy.
For a transcript of this episode, email transcripts@crooked.com

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 embrace heterodoxy. 
The two discuss how the policy debate could play out in the upcoming presidential primary, the role charisma and attention-getting play in politics, and which Democrats are best positioned to win in 2028.
For a transcript of this episode, email transcripts@crooked.com