Podcasts by Category

A five-time Emmy winning SNL comedy writer/producer, joins a four-time #1 NYT bestselling author, a three-time highest-rated national progressive radio host, a two-time Grammy winning artist, and a former US Senator. So, it gets a little crowded in the booth when Al talks public policy and sometimes political comedy with notable guests. Think “The Daily” without the resources of the NYTimes.
- 176 - Daniel Goldman, Legal Analyst, on the Jan. 6th Hearings
Chief Counsel for the House Managers in (the 1st) Trump Impeachment Weighs In. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 26 Jun 2022 - 43min - 175 - Author Anne Nelson on the 60-year history of the vast right-wing shadow network
Nelson lays out how this all brought us to January 6th. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 19 Jun 2022 - 47min - 174 - Ali Noorani on Immigration
Former director of the National Immigration Forum on The Border, DACA, Great Replacement Theory, Ukraine and Afghan Refugees See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 12 Jun 2022 - 52min - 173 - Carol Leonnig of WaPo and Ryan Reilly of NBC Preview this Week’s January 6th Hearings
Leonnig and Reilly on what to expect and possible gamechangers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 05 Jun 2022 - 52min - 172 - Patton Oswalt!
On Comedy – Seriously – But More Funnily See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 29 May 2022 - 1h 01min - 171 - Steve Schmidt Sounds the Alarm!
The Former GOP Operative & Lincoln Project Founder Warns of Coming Fascism See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 22 May 2022 - 53min - 170 - Dahlia Lithwick and Joyce Vance on the Alito Draft
Why we should all be alarmed! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 15 May 2022 - 58min - 169 - The Atlantic Monthly’s Anne Applebaum and Arms Expert Joe Cirincione on Ukraine
What We Know and What We Don’t Know See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 08 May 2022 - 52min - 168 - Former Firearms Exec & NRA Member, Ryan Busse, Exposes the Dark Underbelly of the Gun Industry
This Best-Of Repeat is Chilling See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 01 May 2022 - 47min - 167 - Michael Lewis on why U.S. COVID response was so…CRAPPY. (My word)
His latest book, Premonition - a riveting story of genius & dedication against a backdrop of institutional dysfunction. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 24 Apr 2022 - 59min - 166 - Bob Odenkirk talks about Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, and Drama
My old SNL colleague talks about his weird, amazing career arc! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 17 Apr 2022 - 52min - 165 - Amy Klobuchar on Anti-Trust
A Repeat Episode (It was That Good!) with the Chair of the Anti-Trust Subcommittee See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 10 Apr 2022 - 1h 04min - 164 - Bill Walton on Basketball, The Grateful Dead, and Life
The NBA Hall of Famer & Emmy-winning broadcaster has opinions See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 03 Apr 2022 - 42min - 163 - Dahlia Lithwick on the Insane Republican Awfulness in the Jackson SCOTUS Hearings
Wow, They’re Awful! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 27 Mar 2022 - 45min - 162 - Marc Lamont Hill, Anchor of Black News Tonight, Explains Basic Concepts Like Race as a Social Construct
America is built on bias. And why we care more about Ukraine than we did about Syria. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 20 Mar 2022 - 42min - 161 - Atlantic Monthly’s Franklin Foer Covers Lots of Ground on Ukraine
From Manafort to Zelensky, Foer has been covering Ukraine for years See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 13 Mar 2022 - 51min - 160 - Journalist/Author Michael Weiss on Putin's Grave Miscalculation
How Biden, Western Unity, and Zelensky Have Isolated Putin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 06 Mar 2022 - 40min - 159 - The NYT’s Jeremy Peters on How the GOP Went Batshit Crazy
HINT: They Always Were See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 27 Feb 2022 - 55min - 158 - Economist Austan Goolsbee on Guess What? The Economy
Historic Growth, High Inflation, & Strained Supply Chains. Oh, My! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 20 Feb 2022 - 1h 03min - 157 - Heather McGhee on Critical Race Theory & Other Stuff
My favorite guest - (sorry, other guests) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 13 Feb 2022 - 1h 00min - 156 - Jamie Raskin
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) talks about his son Tommy; being lead manager in the impeachment trial & the Jan. 6th Select Committee See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 06 Feb 2022 - 1h 00min - 155 - Max Bergmann Covers Europe, Ukraine, and Russia for The Center for American Progress
Guess why we have him on. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 - 56min - 154 - Marc Elias & Ari Berman on the GOP’s Assault on Democracy
From voter suppression to the capture of the electoral administration & certification. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 23 Jan 2022 - 48min - 153 - Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance Discusses Trump's Myriad Civil & Criminal Vulnerabilities
Federal Pridon? Rikers? NY State Prison? Georgia State Prison? Perjury? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 16 Jan 2022 - 57min - 152 - Andy Slavitt and Laurie Garrett Discuss Disturbing New COVID Realities
Turns Out This is Harder Than We Thought! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 09 Jan 2022 - 1h 04min - 151 - Michael Harriot, Acerbic (Funny, Biting, and Funny) Black Writer Talks About (Yikes!) Race
We’re repeating this one because you should hear what Michael has to say See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 02 Jan 2022 - 51min - 150 - David Letterman! Top Ten Reasons We’re Repeating This One: #1 – WE CAN!!!
Dave and Al discuss everything! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 26 Dec 2021 - 1h 09min - 149 - Jim Gaffigan and Al Discuss Stand-up & Netflix’s Release of his 9th Hour Special, Comedy Monster
The comic, who makes Trumpers AND Liberals laugh, discusses his decision to speak out in 2020 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 19 Dec 2021 - 59min - 148 - Dahlia Lithwick & Sarah Stoesz, CEO of Planned Parenthood in the Upper Midwest, on Abortion.
Dahlia on SCOTUS – Sarah on the reality on the ground. And the Future. Not pretty. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 12 Dec 2021 - 1h 10min - 147 - David Cay Johnston on His New Book – The Big Cheat. Who’s it about? Take a guess!
A one-stop romp through the crimes of Trump and his grifter family. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 05 Dec 2021 - 53min - 146 - Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Al Laugh About Her Getting Blowed Up!
We only repeat the best ones! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 28 Nov 2021 - 43min - 145 - Atlantic Monthly Writer Frank Foer Tears Facebook a New One
A friggin’ brilliant excoriation of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 21 Nov 2021 - 47min - 144 - Norm and Al look Past Build Back Better to Saving Our Democracy
Infrastructure & Build Back Better Will Transform our Nation. Can The Freedom to Vote Act Save It? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 14 Nov 2021 - 1h 08min - 143 - Our Climate Guy – Nobel Prize Recipient Michael Mann on COP-26
What to look for coming out of COP -26 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 07 Nov 2021 - 51min - 142 - Ryan Busse, Once an NRA Hero, Gives us the Dirt
Former gun exec & author of Gunfight on how the NRA turned from teaching gun safety into a pernicious threat to public safety & democracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 31 Oct 2021 - 53min - 141 - Adam Schiff on The Curious Case of Donald Trump and His Goons
Ripping Yarns of Collusion, Mendacity, and Treason from the Chairman’s New Bestseller: Midnight in Washington. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 24 Oct 2021 - 45min - 140 - Economist Austan Goolsbee on Build Back Better
Goolsbee breaks down BBB into its incredibly popular provisions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 17 Oct 2021 - 1h 06min - 139 - Author Jackie Calmes Did the Investigation on Brett Kavanaugh the FBI Should Have Done
The FBI sent the tips from the Kavanaugh Tip Line to White House Counsel Don McGahn, who tossed them in the waste basket. Calmes tracked them down. Not pretty! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 10 Oct 2021 - 48min - 138 - The Brilliant Dahlia Lithwick – Slate’s (and Al’s) Expert on SCOTUS
Lithwick brings her depth and breadth of knowledge, plus her wit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 03 Oct 2021 - 1h 01min - 137 - Lead Dem Election Lawyer Marc Elias on the Epic Battle for Our Democracy
Democrats have a limited time to prevent America from becoming an authoritarian state. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 26 Sep 2021 - 52min - 136 - Alex Gibney Talks Opioids & His Doc “The Crime of the Century”
Gibney traces the opioid epidemic & the criminal culpability of bad actors like Purdue Pharma, federal regulators, & doctors. It’s ugly. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 19 Sep 2021 - 53min - 135 - R.I. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the Corporate Capture of the Courts
A great discussion on how the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence isn’t conservative. It’s corporatist. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 12 Sep 2021 - 1h 04min - 134 - Author Michael Wolff Discusses Trump’s Disastrous Last Year as POTUS
The chilling, yet hilarious saga of a deeply insane President See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 05 Sep 2021 - 48min - 133 - Ben Rhodes, Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor, on Afghanistan & Our Foreign Policy Reset
How our 20 Year War on Terror Distracted Us from Climate, China, Social Media, and Democracy See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 29 Aug 2021 - 47min - 132 - Laurie Garrett and Andy Slavitt – Where We Are NOW on COVID-19
The Pulitzer-Winner (Garrett) and Biden Covid Advisor (Slavitt) take a deep dive. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 22 Aug 2021 - 1h 08min - 131 - Atlantic Monthly’s Adam Serwer on his book about the Trump Administration: The Cruelty is the Point
Separating kids from their parents at the border? Mocking a disabled journalist? Cutting food stamps? The Cruelty is the Point! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 15 Aug 2021 - 55min - 130 - Bryan Fogel, Producer of The Dissident, on the Brutal Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
Mohammed bin Salman made the Washington Post columnist pay in the worst way possible for his dedication to reform in his home country. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 08 Aug 2021 - 44min - 129 - Atlantic Monthly Journalist Edward-Isaac Dovere's Fascinating New Book, 'Battle For The Soul’, Chronicles the Democrats Fight for the 2020 Nomination.
This one is pure candy. If you're at all a political junkie - do not miss this one! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 01 Aug 2021 - 54min - 128 - Norman Lear Discusses His 99-Years on the Planet
The legendary creator of groundbreaking TV sit coms - All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Sons, The Jeffersons, et al, on flying 50 bombing missions in WWII, the joy of comedy and, dare I say, satire. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 25 Jul 2021 - 47min - 127 - Heather McGhee - An Encore of My Best Podcast Ever!
McGhee discusses her powerful book, The Sum of Us, about how white people have been told that anything that benefits people of color hurts them - i.e. a zero-sum game. It ain't true! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 18 Jul 2021 - 57min - 126 - Al Solo!
I just had to get some things off my chest. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 11 Jul 2021 - 46min - 125 - Andy Slavitt On His New COVID Book - Preventable
Slavitt Explains How Trump’s Refusal to Hold Himself Accountable Caused Untold Death and Suffering See our Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and our California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 04 Jul 2021 - 54min - 124 - Thomas Jefferson Explains Inconsistencies in the Declaration of Independence
Al interviews our third President on the 4th of July. See our Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and our California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Fri, 02 Jul 2021 - 07min - 123 - George Packer on How It Got So Bad in America & How it Could Get Slightly Better
Packer dissects the 4 Americas: The Rich Right-Wing Bastards, The Smug Liberal Elites, The Pissed-Off Not-so-Bright Tea Partiers, and The Woke Social Justice Police. See our Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and our California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sun, 27 Jun 2021 - 55min - 122 - Michael Harriot: Senior Writer for TheRoot.com, the Nation’s Largest Black Online NewspaperSun, 20 Jun 2021 - 53min
- 121 - Norm Ornstein & Tom Mann - Who Called the GOP a Sham Years Ago!Sun, 13 Jun 2021 - 1h 05min
- 120 - Ed Shelleby - My Communications Director–On Working for a Different Kind of Senator. Plus, a Rant on Voting Rights
Al Talks with His Senate Communications Director on Why the Franken Office was a Blast & Got Stuff Done! & Al on Democracy. Hitler didn’t end it. The Confederacy didn’t end it. Let’s not let Senate Republicans!
Sun, 06 Jun 2021 - 1h 04min - 119 - Louis King – The Real Deal
For 25 yrs. Louis has provided job training for thousands of folks from the Northside of Minneapolis. He walks a good walk. And talks a good talk.
Sun, 30 May 2021 - 53min - 118 - Amy Klobuchar & Al Discuss Anti-Trust & The Ted "Carnival" Cruz Joke
The Chair of the Anti-Trust Subcommittee discusses her new book, Anti-Trust. From Facebook & Amazon & Google to Coffins & Sunglasses & Diapers.
Sun, 23 May 2021 - 1h 03min - 117 - Howard Fineman on Republican NihilismSun, 16 May 2021 - 1h 08min
- 116 - Sen. Tammy Duckworth Tells Her Story
Sen. Duckworth tells about growing up in Thailand, joining the Army, and being grievously wounded in combat. Gruesome, harrowing, and…very funny!
Sun, 09 May 2021 - 46min - 115 - Neo-Con Bill Kristol on How Trump Made Him Do Some Re-ThinkingSun, 02 May 2021 - 57min
- 114 - Replay of My Conversation with Judge Steve Leifman and Norm Ornstein
Judge Leifman has pioneered the widespread use of crisis intervention teams in Miami, saving lots of lives and money
Thu, 29 Apr 2021 - 38min - 113 - Malcolm Nance on Russia and Jan. 6th
The former intel analyst calls Putin “a Mafia don w/nukes” & updates us on the investigation into Jan. 6
Sun, 25 Apr 2021 - 59min - 112 - Replay of My Conversation with Vice President Walter MondaleTue, 20 Apr 2021 - 51min
- 111 - Marc Elias and Ari Berman on Georgia and Worse
Super Election-Lawyer & Mother Jones Voting Rights Writer Stoke Al’s Worse Fears About Republican Legislatures
Sun, 18 Apr 2021 - 53min - 110 - Mini-Podcast: Peter Bergen on Afghanistan and Bin LadenWed, 14 Apr 2021 - 14min
- 109 - Uncle Sam (Roger McNamee) & Auntie Trust (Zephyr Teachout) Talk Facebook, Google, Amazon & Democracy
Early Facebook Investor McNamee & Anti-Trust Lawyer Teachout Discuss Dangers Posed by Data Behemoths
Sun, 11 Apr 2021 - 1h 14min - 108 - Our Southern Border - National Immigration Forum Executive Director Ali Noorani
Al and Ali discuss what brought us here, where we are, and what we need to do going forward. A list of organizations that humanely helps immigrants at the Southern Border: El Paso: The Annunciation House Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center McAllen: Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Arizona Kino Border Initiative
Sun, 04 Apr 2021 - 1h 01min - 107 - David Letterman!Sun, 28 Mar 2021 - 1h 16min
- 106 - Andy Slavitt (Again!) But Now He’s a Big Shot!Sun, 21 Mar 2021 - 56min
- 105 - Heather McGhee – On What Racism Costs EveryoneSun, 14 Mar 2021 - 1h 02min
- 104 - WaPo Columnist Catherine Rampell Wonks Out w/Al on Economics, Race, Healthcare – You Name It!Sun, 07 Mar 2021 - 1h 00min
- 103 - Nobel Climate Scientist Michael Mann on Denier Tactics and IdiocySun, 28 Feb 2021 - 1h 04min
- 102 - Dr. Anthony Fauci Answers the Questions You’ve Been Wanting to Ask
When will we be back to normal? Will we be able to find a vaccine for a contagious variant? Now that I’ve been vaccinated, can I see my grandchildren?
Sun, 21 Feb 2021 - 42min - 101 - Al Recreates McConnell’s Post-Acquittal Impeachment SpeechWed, 17 Feb 2021 - 09min
- 100 - 3 Heroes in the DC Public Schools (One’s My Daughter)
Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, Jackie Iloh, and Thomasin Franken on addressing the enormous challenges facing students in DCPS as a result of the pandemic.
Sun, 14 Feb 2021 - 45min - 99 - Al Gives His Closing Argument for the Impeachment Trial
Any intellectually honest Republican Senator would vote to convict after hearing this. Unfortunately, that’s not near enough.
Tue, 09 Feb 2021 - 17min - 98 - Adam Schiff on (You Guessed It) ImpeachmentSun, 07 Feb 2021 - 56min
- 97 - Super Bowl Edition: Journalist/Author Reid Forgrave on Football and Concussions
Forgrave tells the heartbreaking story of 24-year-old Zac Easter who committed suicide after struggling for years with traumatic brain injury.
Sun, 31 Jan 2021 - 42min - 96 - Norm Ornstein & Al (Again!)
Norm & Al on the Biden Agenda, a 50-50 Senate, and Fox’s Bizarre Objection to the Mere Mention of Racism in the Inaugural
Sun, 24 Jan 2021 - 51min - 95 - Former U.S. Attorneys Joyce Vance and Preet Bharaha Discuss Legal Problems Ahead for Trump, the Rioters, and Cruz and HawleySun, 17 Jan 2021 - 58min
- 94 - Rick Wilson, Co-Founder of The Lincoln ProjectSun, 10 Jan 2021 - 1h 00min
- 93 - Al Explains the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact to TommyWed, 06 Jan 2021 - 06min
- 92 - Top Dem. Election Lawyer Marc Elias Reviews Trump Legal Team's 59 Post-Election LossesSun, 03 Jan 2021 - 48min
- 91 - A Holiday Repeat of Conan O'Brien with a Brand New Timely Intro!Sun, 27 Dec 2020 - 47min
- 90 - The Ground Game in Georgia!
D. Taylor – President of UNITE HERE – reports on what their 600+ canvassers are hearing at the doors. (Good News – no one’s pulled a gun on them like they did in NV and AZ during the general.)
Sun, 20 Dec 2020 - 35min - 89 - Maria Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino on the Key Role Latinos Played in Electing Joe BidenSun, 13 Dec 2020 - 54min
- 88 - Joe Biden’s Closest Ally in the Senate, Chris Coons
Al and Sen. Coons discuss foreign policy, a COVID relief package, and fondly recall a Coons-led trip to Africa where Coons got violently ill from food poisoning,
Sun, 06 Dec 2020 - 47min - 87 - Fmr. Facebook Exec Tim Kendall on How Social Media is Destroying the World
One of the Silicon Valley Guilty Parties who stars in Netflix’s Most-Watched Documentary Ever explains why humanity is doomed unless we do something.
Sun, 29 Nov 2020 - 52min - 86 - Laurie Garrett & Andy Slavitt on the Covid Spike, the Vaccines, & Trump's Negligent Homicide
The Good News: The Vaccines. The Bad News: Covid Surge & Trump Blocking Coordination Between His Team & Biden's
Sun, 22 Nov 2020 - 1h 02min - 85 - Al On The Election & Lincoln Project’s Stuart Stevens On What The GOP Has Become
Al heaps scorn & ridicule upon Trump & his team. And former GOP political operative Stuart Stevens on his mea culpa – It Was All A Lie.
Sun, 15 Nov 2020 - 46min - 84 - SuperPundit Norm Ornstein on the ElectionSun, 08 Nov 2020 - 51min
- 83 - Dick Gephardt and Ian Bassin – Can Trump Steal this Election?
The Fmr. House Majority Leader and the Founder of Protect Democracy discuss the perils of the 2020 election and Its immediate aftermath
Sun, 01 Nov 2020 - 54min - 82 - Montana Sen. Jon Tester on How Dems Win Back Rural America
Tester discusses his new book, Grounded. Covering everything from how he lost three fingers in a meat grinder at 9 to the meat grinder in DC.
Sun, 25 Oct 2020 - 54min - 81 - A Preview of the Final Trump-Biden Debate
President Donald Trump (Anthony Atamanuik) and Vice President Joe Biden (Dana Carvey) face off in a preview of the final debate of 2020.
Wed, 21 Oct 2020 - 09min - 80 - Al Rails About Coney Barrett Hearing w/ Brian Fallon of Demand JusticeSun, 18 Oct 2020 - 46min
- 79 - Al’s Questions for Amy Coney BarrettTue, 13 Oct 2020 - 23min
- 78 - Maria Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino and Marc Elias, Dems' Election Lawyer, on Voter Suppression
Voto Latino is on its way to registering 500,000 new voters this cycle. Elias is fighting to make sure their votes will be counted.
Sun, 11 Oct 2020 - 1h 02min - 77 - Norm Ornstein on the Sh*tsh*w in Cleveland. Franklin Foer and Natasha Bertrand on Russian Interference.
Norm was at the debate in Cleveland and gives us all the dirt. Frank and Natasha tell us all the dirt in the 900+ page Senate Intel Report. Hint: LOTS of collusion!
Sun, 04 Oct 2020 - 1h 15min - 76 - Dahlia Lithwick and The Day the President Laughed
The great Dahlia Lithwick discusses RBG, SCOTUS, and the Election. Depressing? Yes. But then the exciting world premiere of The Day the President Laughed!
Sun, 27 Sep 2020 - 53min - 75 - Debate Prep Vets James Carville and Phillipe Reines on the Upcoming Debate
Carville and Reines (who played Trump in Hillary's debate prep) game out the Most Important Event in the History of the World. And Al on RBG.
Sun, 20 Sep 2020 - 59min - 74 - Laurie Garrett, Pulitzer Prize Winner for her Writing on Pandemics and Andy Slavitt, Obama's Head of Medicare and Medicaid on the (Most Likely) Premature Introduction of a Coronavirus Vaccine
Garrett and Slavitt examine the erosion of trust in our public health institutions - The Federal Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Department of Health and Human Services under Donald Trump. And the tragic consequences now and in the future.
Sun, 13 Sep 2020 - 55min - 73 - Douglas Boin, Author of Alaric the Goth – An Outsider’s History of the Fall of Rome, Discusses the Uncanny Parallels Between Trump’s America and 410 AD Rome,
Hatred of immigrants, religious intolerance, systemic racism. Asshole emperor. Sound familiar? Al and Douglas Boin tells the story of Alaric, the Goth who led the sacking of Rome. Also, Al establishes once and for all that the Romans killed Christ, not the Jews! Plus, Sen.Tammy Duckworth discusses Trump's particular aversion to amputees
Sun, 06 Sep 2020 - 54min - 72 - David Axelrod on the Election. Spoiler Alert: He's for Biden
The political consultant who consulted Barack Obama all the way to the White House discusses how we get Biden there.
Sun, 30 Aug 2020 - 53min - 71 - Repeating My Conversation with Chris Rock Because It's So Damn Great!
Chris discusses being a comedian, being black, being a black comedian, being bussed for nine years as a kid, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
Sun, 23 Aug 2020 - 50min - 70 - Author Susan Nieman on Germans/Holocaust vs. Americans/Slavery – Germans Win
Nieman contrasts how Germans have come to terms with The Third Reich and how Americans have processed slavery, the Civil War, Jim Crow, lynching, and systemic racism.
Sun, 16 Aug 2020 - 50min - 69 - Paul Begala on How to Beat Trump
The stable half of the consultant team that elected Bill Clinton tells us how to beat this psychopath – on the podcast and in his new book, You’re Fired.
Sun, 09 Aug 2020 - 54min - 68 - Andrew Yang and Al Discuss Each OtherSun, 02 Aug 2020 - 54min
- 67 - Fmr. DC and Philly Police Chief Charles Ramsey Talks Police ReformSun, 26 Jul 2020 - 54min
- 66 - Dahlia Lithwick on SCOTUS 2019-20 Term and Trump's Commutation of Roger Stone's 40-Month Sentence
Al and Dahlia discuss the Court's top decisions, including Bostock, which held that federal law prohibits employment discrimination agains LGBT workers, and whether Alito's dissent in that case was "very gay."
Sun, 19 Jul 2020 - 55min - 65 - Epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed Blames the Latest Covid Spikes on Guess Who?Sun, 12 Jul 2020 - 56min
- 64 - Democratic Election Lawyer Marc Elias Talks to Two Texas Teenagers About Winning Them the Right to Vote By Mail in November
Recent high school graduate Rajit Gulhjati contacted Al for guidance on how he and his friends could vote by mail. So, Al brought in Democratic super lawyer Marc Elias.
Sun, 05 Jul 2020 - 56min - 63 - A Fourth of July Conversation with Thomas Jefferson
Al sits down with the author of the Declaration of Independence on the anniversary of our nation's birth
Sat, 04 Jul 2020 - 07min - 62 - Melvin Carter Talks About Being St. Paul’s First Black Mayor and the Son of a CopSun, 28 Jun 2020 - 54min
- 61 - Frm. Obama Speechwriter David Litt Explains How the GOP Has Systematically Undermined Democracy.
In his new book: Democracy: In One Book or Less fmr. Obama speechwriter and NY Times bestselling author brings fascinating and often startling detail to all the ways the GOP thwarts democracy.
Sun, 21 Jun 2020 - 53min - 60 - Atlantic Writer George Packer on How the Pandemic and George Floyd’s Murder have Laid Bare America’s Weaknesses
Packer and Al discuss the how a corrupt political class, a heartless economy, systemic racism, and Donald Trump have led to the failures Americans have been witness to and the victims of these last several months.
Sun, 14 Jun 2020 - 54min - 59 - Donna Edwards and Al Discuss Race, Cops, and Photo Ops
Former Congresswoman Edwards talks about being the mother of a young black man and whether George Floyd's murder has finally brought us to an inflection point.
Sun, 07 Jun 2020 - 54min - 58 - NEA President Lily Eskelsen García on Teaching During a Pandemic and a DeVos
The host (and former member of the Senate Education Committee) and the president of the National Education Association talks about an important subject: how awful Betsy DeVos is. But also, education.
Sun, 31 May 2020 - 52min - 57 - COVID-19 Trailer
This COVID-19 pandemic is arguably the greatest global crisis since World War II. Since the coronavirus hit, Al has been talking with guests about the various aspects of this horrible scourge. To date, guests include: Andy Slavitt, former head of Medicare/Medicaid; Austan Goolsbee, former Chair of the President's Council of Economic Advisors; Dr. Leana Wen, former president of Planned Parenthood; and Michael Lewis, author of the Fifth Risk.
Wed, 27 May 2020 - 05min - 56 - Paul Krugman on Arguing with Republican Zombies
The NYT columnist and Nobel Prize winner discusses how Republicans operate in bad faith on issues like climate, tax cuts, deficits, income and wealth inequality, and now, the pandemic.
Sun, 24 May 2020 - 53min - 55 - Steve Schmidt Tears Trump and the Republican Party A New One
The former GOP strategist trashes Trump and his enablers. And gives a surprisingly personal explanation of why it took him so long to leave his old party.
Sun, 17 May 2020 - 55min - 54 - Epidemiologist Larry Brilliant on Where We Go From Here
From 1973-76, Dr. Larry Brilliant was part of the World Health Organization team that eradicated smallpox and is Chairman of the Board of Ending Pandemics. He discusses how we go forward on Covid-19 after blowing it in the first six months.
Sun, 10 May 2020 - 53min - 53 - Chief Democratic Election Lawyer Marc Elias Talks Elections During A Pandemic
Democrats want every eligible American to vote. Republicans don’t. Nationally renowned election lawyer Marc Elias discusses the battles ahead from now until November.
Sun, 03 May 2020 - 59min - 52 - Billy and Debbie Shore, Founders of No Kid Hungry, on Hunger in America During this Pandemic
The brother and sister team who have been doing this work for 35 years talk about how the pandemic has shined a light on childhood hunger and what we can do about it.
Sun, 26 Apr 2020 - 47min - 51 - Michael Lewis On How Trump’s Handling of Covid-19 Has Proven His Book, The Fifth Risk, Tragically Prophetic.
In The Fifth Risk, Lewis portrayed Donald Trump as a man totally ignorant of and disinterested in the actually functioning of the federal government. The book’s title refers to the potential catastrophe that an administration fails to plan for and prevent.
Sun, 19 Apr 2020 - 53min - 50 - Mental Health and Criminal Justice
Miami Dade County Judge Steve Leifman and Norm Ornstein on Judge Leifman’s remarkably successful Jail Diversion Program, which saves lives and big bucks. An inspiring, feel-good story about changing the lives of our society’s most vulnerable.
Sun, 12 Apr 2020 - 53min - 49 - Dr. Leane Wen Discusses the Tortuous and HIgh Stakes Path that Dr.'s Fauci and Birx Must Navigate
Dr. Wen is an emergency room physician, professor at GW School of Public Health, and fmr. Public Health Commissioner for Baltimore under two mayors. The second, who was recently sentenced to 3 years in prison, is arguably crazy, giving her unique insight into the dilemma that Fauci and Birx face in dealing with an inarguably crazy president.
Sun, 05 Apr 2020 - 55min - 48 - Austan Goolsbee on Virus Economics
The former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama speaks with clarity and common sense about how virus economics are different than normal economics.
Sun, 29 Mar 2020 - 1h 12min - 47 - Andy Slavitt, Former Medicare/Medicaid Head Discusses the Pandemic
One of the earliest and most outspoken critics of Trump's mishandling of the pandemic, Slavitt reviews its tragic consequences and where we go from here.
Sun, 22 Mar 2020 - 53min - 46 - MSNBC's Andrew Zimmern Talks About Food, Immigration, Climate and Addiction
Turns out food is important. Andrew Zimmern, host and producer of MSNBC’s new series, “What’s Eating America” talks about the intersection of food and health, immigration, climate, and addiction – including his own harrowing journey to sobriety and grace.
Sun, 15 Mar 2020 - 57min - 45 - Documentarian Alex Gibney Tells the Cautionary Tale of the Oligarch Who Defied Putin
Russia’s transition from a brutal dictatorship to a fledgling capitalist democracy and back to a brutal dictatorship.
Sun, 08 Mar 2020 - 54min - 44 - Pulitzer Prize Winner Dave Fahrenthold Catches Us Up on Trump’s Corruption
In a time of an international health and economic crises, it’s good to have a POTUS who can be trusted by the world community. Instead, we have a grifter with an entire family of money-grubbing, lying grifters.
Sun, 01 Mar 2020 - 55min - 43 - Is Democracy in Danger? Legal Experts Dahlia Lithwick and Ian Bassin On Trump, Barr and The Abuse of the Criminal Justice System
Dahlia Lithwick of Slate and Ian Bassin of Protect Democracy discuss Trump's sickening lurch toward autocracy post-impeachment with the cooperation of Bill Barr.
Sun, 23 Feb 2020 - 58min - 42 - Intelligence Expert Malcolm Nance Makes the Convincing Case that Trump is a Russian Asset
The author, commentator, and career intelligence officer lays out Donald Trump's decades-long relationship with Putin, the KGB, and Rusky Oligarchs. With a cast of unsavory characters like convicted Russian stooges Paul Manafort and Roger Stone, Nance leaves little doubt that the President of the United States has been and continues to be in cahoots with corrupt money-launderers and murderers. A fun show!
Sun, 16 Feb 2020 - 1h 04min - 41 - A Conversation with Jimmy Kimmel
Al and Jimmy discuss his radio days, Jimmy Kimmel Live’s rough start, then success, bad guests, his emotional appearance after his son’s birth, and his passionate support of universal health care.
Sun, 09 Feb 2020 - 53min - 40 - John Mayer on Playing Guitar and Singing at the Same Time
John Mayer talks about how he transitioned from pop star/tabloid fodder (recurrent Sexiest Man Alive) to the impossible challenge of filling Jerry Garcia’s gigantic shoes with Dead and Company, the current iteration of the Grateful Dead. (If you guessed Al is a big Dead Head, you might be right). Plus, an angry Al vents about the week's impeachment news.
Sun, 02 Feb 2020 - 52min - 39 - How We Got Here. Norm Ornstein on the Erosion of Norms from Gingrich to McConnell to Trump
Veteran Washington observer Norm Ornstein tracks the erosion of norms that once allowed Washington to work. From Newt Gingrich instructing Republicans to demonize Democrats as “sick, corrupt, traitors” to Mitch McConnell denying Merrick Garland a hearing. The abandonment of fact-based evidence, shutting down the government, using the filibuster to grind the Senate to a halt, to a pathological President attacking the media as “enemies of the people.”
Sun, 26 Jan 2020 - 52min - 38 - Paul Tough on How the College Admissions System Preserves Our Nation’s Economic and Social Disparities
The Felicity Huffman/Lori Loughlin scandal pales in comparison to the scandal of our higher education admissions system, which protects the privileged and leaves everyone else behind.
Sun, 19 Jan 2020 - 51min - 37 - MSNBC's Second Most Popular Host, Lawrence O'Donnell, Is Guest
Lawrence O’Donnell - Son of Dorchester, West Wing writer, Moynihan Senate Staff director - tears Trump and CNN a new one.
Sun, 12 Jan 2020 - 55min - 36 - Al and Conan O’Brien
Al and Conan discuss their time together at SNL, including Tina Fey’s shameless theft of Al’s Fart Doctor sketch and the time Al scared the bejeezus out of George Harrison. Very little public policy discussed.
Sun, 05 Jan 2020 - 50min - 35 - Sara Silverman and Al Talk About Comedy and Politics
A replay of one of our favorite shows from early in 2019. Al and Sara discuss the risky comedy, politics and much more.
Sun, 29 Dec 2019 - 53min - 34 - Al Solo! - Al Rants on Impeachment, Trump, McConnell, and GOP Bad Faith.
I rant about the dishonesty (and/or stupidity) of House Republicans during the impeachment debate. Also, about the shameless bad faith exhibited by Mitch McConnell. And the unraveling of Donald Trump’s mind – to the extent it was ever raveled. Plus, my frustration with the Democratic presidential debate our candidates failing to lay a glove on Trump. And with the Democratic candidates, who beat up each other, but failed to lay a glove on Trump.
Sun, 22 Dec 2019 - 52min - 33 - Guilty! Al Discusses Impeachment with Harvard Law Professor, Nancy Gertner and Max Bergmann, Not a Harvard Law Professor
Al concludes that Trump is guilty, yes,guilty!, of high crimes and misdemeanors and so is AG Bill Barr after discussing facts with Harvard Law Professor Nancy Gertner and Max Bergman, director of the Moscow Project. They make the case that assuming Trump will be acquitted in the Senate is a mistake. Al concludes that "When you assume, you 'Make an Ass out of Uma Thurman.'" Uma discusses Pulp Fiction.
Sun, 15 Dec 2019 - 56min - 32 - Obama National Security Advisor Susan Rice Talks Foreign Policy Successes and Failures
Al and Rice discuss how immensely consequential decisions are made in real time. Sometimes you get it right. Sometimes you don't. And how you deal with tragic mistakes but have to keep on going.
Sun, 08 Dec 2019 - 55min - 31 - Immigration, Child Separation and Voter Suppression with Maria Teresa Kumar
A repeat of our first show with the President of Voto Latino, Maria Teresa Kumar with a new timely intro. Al finally took a week off. Okay?!
Sun, 01 Dec 2019 - 36min - 30 - Al talks to Ambassador Peter Galbraith About Trump's Tragic Betrayal of the Kurds, and Al weighs in on the Impeachment Hearings.
Foreign service veteran Peter Galbraith talks about his 35 year history with the Kurds and how Trump's rash decision to sell them out in Syria will undermine America's standing and security in the world for years to come.
Sun, 24 Nov 2019 - 54min - 29 - Al Talks To Executive Director of Foster America Sherry Lachman About The State of Foster Care And Al Gets Verklempt
Al talks to his former senior education counsel Sherry Lachman about her great organization, Foster America. She helped with a piece of legislation that is one of Al's greatest achievements as Senator. In the process of getting it passed, Sherry broke a cardinal rule of the Senate and got in a heated conversation with a sitting Senator, much to Al's delight. Plus, Al has some thoughts on the first day of the impeachment hearings. It turns out that the Republicans are acting as protectors for Donald Trump! Learn more about Foster America at www.foster-america.org
Sun, 17 Nov 2019 - 51min - 28 - Whoever Wins the Popular Vote Should Be President. The New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg and Al Discuss Why
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is a compact to award member states' electors to the candidate who receives the most votes nationwide It will take effect when states with 270 electors adopt it.So far, 14 states and DC (representing 187 electoral votes) have compact. Colorado's legislature and governor have approved it (9 more electors) and nervous Conservatives have put it on the ballot as a Referendum in 2020. Hertzberg explains it all and why it's good for every American except Donald Trump.
Sun, 10 Nov 2019 - 49min - 27 - Where There's Fire, There's Fire." Jeffrey Toobin and Dahlia Lithwick Discuss The Legal Issues Ahead in the Impeachment of Donald Trump
Jeffrey Toobin and Dahlia Lithwick examine the potential legal issues that may take center stage between now and the day the Senate decides whether Trump is guilty or not guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.
Sun, 03 Nov 2019 - 54min - 26 - Judd Apatow Discusses Comedy, Mental Health and Politics
Writer, director, producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The Larry Sanders Show, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Girls, Anchorman, Trainwreck) discusses comedy, mental health and politics. Al laughs and gets depressed.
Sun, 27 Oct 2019 - 50min - 25 - Al Talks with one of his Heroes, Harlem Children's Zone Founder Geoffrey Canada
One of Al's heroes, Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, talks about transforming the lives of some of our poorest, most disadvantaged kids and how we can replicate that across the country.
Sun, 20 Oct 2019 - 53min - 24 - Journalist Elizabeth Drew Explains Impeachment to Al
Al talks impeachment with Elizabeth Drew, veteran journalist and author of Washington Journal: Reporting Watergate and Richard Nixon's Downfall. Her heralded dissection of the Nixon and Clinton sagas makes her the go-to on the pending Trump impeachment.
Sun, 13 Oct 2019 - 51min - 23 - A Conversation with Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Al travels to Leader Reid’s home in Henderson, Nevada, to discuss his life and career, with a special focus on their relationship during the years he and Al overlapped in Senate.
Sun, 06 Oct 2019 - 1h 00min - 22 - A Conversation with Chris Rock
Mr. Rock is a well-regarded comedian, writer, and actor who is a friend of the host. They discuss a whole bunch of stuff.
Sun, 29 Sep 2019 - 49min - 21 - Rising Democratic Star and Afghanistan Vet Jason Kander Discusses Putting The Brakes On His Political Career To Treat His PTSD
Afghan vet and Dem Rising Star Jason Kander discusses his decision to put aside politics to treat his PTSD and his work meeting the housing and treatment needs of vets suffering from the psychological wounds of war. Learn more at VeteransCommunityProject.org
Tue, 24 Sep 2019 - 45min - 20 - Renaissance Man Bob Kerrey Talks to Man Al Franken
A great show for a change with Bob Kerrey, Medal of Honor recipient, Governor of Nebraska, two-term US Senator, 9/11 Commissioner, and University President, on why he can’t keep a job. Also, China, trade, Trump and 2020.
Tue, 17 Sep 2019 - 47min - 19 - How Corrupt is Trump? Veteran DC Watchdog Melanie Sloan Discusses the Trump Culture of Corruption in Washington
The least surprising episode of The Al Franken Podcast. Veteran DC watchdog Melanie Sloan tells us Trump is very corrupt. Also Ivanka and Jared. And Don Jr. and Eric. Plus the EPA, Interior, and Commerce. And, finally this week, the National Weather Service!
Tue, 10 Sep 2019 - 41min - 18 - Obama Chief Economist Austan Goolsbee Explains the Unexplainable: What The Hell Trump is Doing On Trade
Austan Goolsbee, former Obama chief economist, explains that "in a crisis, the president's credibility is all he has." So, someday soon, The New York Times headline may read, "World in Crisis, Turns Its Eyes to Donald Trump." And other scary stuff.
Tue, 03 Sep 2019 - 45min - 17 - A Conversation with Vice President Walter Mondale
Vice President Walter Mondale explains to Al why things have gotten so bad. And Trump is only part of it.
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 - 50min - 16 - A Conversation with Joe Cirincione
Nuke expert and President of the Ploughshares Fund Joe Cirincione explains why we’re now in a nuclear arms race with Russia and China. A very dark, but hilarious episode of The Al Franken Podcast.
Tue, 20 Aug 2019 - 53min - 15 - A Conversation with Heidi Heitkamp
The Founding Members of the Senate’s now defunct “Oh Ya! Caucus,” Former ND Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and Al discuss Heidi’s new organization, One Country. How do Democrats get more votes in rural America? 1 – show up. 2 – listen. 3 – keep coming back. 4- listen to the podcast. Heidi lost her re-elect in a state that has turned solidly red over the past ten years. Al won both of his races in a purplish-blue state by winning big in the Twin Cities and Duluth. But he did better all-around and in rural Minnesota in his second race (2014, a bad year for Dems) because he showed up, listened, and kept coming back. Turns out rural Americans care about what other Americans care about: health care; their kids’ education; keeping their kids close to them. Which means jobs.
Tue, 13 Aug 2019 - 54min - 14 - A Conversation with Andy Slavitt
Andy Slavitt returns to discuss the health care proposals of the Democratic candidates for POTUS. Al and Andy agree that it’s important for every contender to lay out their plans to get to universal coverage, but exhort them not to squander the enormous advantage we have over Trump and Republicans on an issue of such importance to every American.
Tue, 06 Aug 2019 - 54min - 13 - A Conversation With Howard Fineman
How awful do you think Mitch McConnell is? Well. He’s worse than that. Howard Fineman, who began his career at the Louisville Courier Journal, has been covering McConnell for decades. Fineman’s McConnell relishes being a big prick. When coal miners with black lung disease travel from KY to ask Congress to restore the tiny tax on coal that funds their treatment, McConnell gives them all of 30 seconds. Fineman explains. Hell – the miners aren’t going to vote for him; the coal companies have always supported him with tons of campaign funds; and these black lung miners came to D.C. just to embarrass him. Well, screw you, coal miners with black lung disease – you’re all going to die soon anyway. Al tells a lighter story about presiding over the Senate during the debate over Elena Kagan’s confirmation to SCOTUS. Mitch gave the most condescending, sexist speech, typified by the following: “No one has any doubt that Ms. Kagan is bright and personable and easy to get along with. But the Supreme Court is not a social club. If getting along in polite society were enough reason to put someone on the Supreme Court, then we wouldn’t need a confirmation process at all.” Al breaks up and gets a nasty case of church laughter, as McConnell grows more and more infuriated. Find out how it ends in this fun, if somewhat dark episode.
Tue, 30 Jul 2019 - 56min - 12 - A Conversation with Secretary Ernest Moniz
Former Sec. of Energy Ernest Moniz and Al discuss putting pragmatic meat on the bones of the Green New Deal. Al coins a new Kennedy-esque slogan, “We choose to go to zero-carbon not because it is easy, but because otherwise WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!” Moniz, who was the chairman of MIT’s physics department, negotiated the technical nuclear parts of the Iran Deal with his Iranian counterpart. Because Trump has repeatedly called the US negotiators of the Iran Nuclear Deal “very stupid people,” Al tries to determine throughout just how stupid Moniz is. Not very, it turns out. And Al opens with a monologue about a high school commencement in Willmar, Minnesota, explaining that Trump has no understanding of what America is. The valedictorian was a girl born in Ecuador, the class-speaker, a Somali-American girl, and the class president, a boy of Minnesota Norwegian/German stock. They’re all Americans.
Tue, 23 Jul 2019 - 1h 09min - 11 - A Conversation With Franklin Foer
In the monologue, Al talks about the appointment of Pat Pizzella as the acting Secretary of Labor. If you agree that the House should hold hearings on Pizzella’s past, check out Al’s petition here: https://alfranken.com/read/petition This week, author and Atlantic Monthly staff writer, Franklin Foer joins me to discuss Big Tech. Are filter bubbles dividing us? Is Facebook deliberately keeping us angry and upset? Is everyone's attention span dwindling? Is Google selling records of all your searches? Is the Big One coming? You know - the day everyone who's ever watched pornography will be revealed to everyone else who's ever watched pornography?
Tue, 16 Jul 2019 - 1h 05min - 10 - A Conversation with Dana Carvey
Al and Dana discuss political comedy and how some of the greatest moments in SNL’s political satire were created. Al promised Dana to blow smoke up his ass during this interview, and, indeed, smoke is blown. Al opens with a monologue in which he assesses the relative talents of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Hint: Reagan could read a speech.
Tue, 09 Jul 2019 - 1h 04min - 9 - A Conversation with David Mandel
Veep show runner, David Mandel discusses Veep and what the hell it is that a show runner does. Why Trump’s election made a dark, cynical show even darker and more cynical. Also, how David owes his entire career to Al – a career that includes writing and producing for Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Veep, all shows that Al had nothing to do with. In his opening monologue Al calls the 2020 presidential election “the second most important election in our lifetime.” The most important being last one.
Tue, 02 Jul 2019 - 48min - 8 - A Conversation with Michael Mann
Al talks to Michael Mann, Nobel Prize-winning climatologist for his work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We cover a lot of ground. How to talk about climate change to your crazy right-wing climate-denying uncle. “Uncle Hal, sea level is rising. For two reasons. Ice is melting. And water expands when it gets warmer.” If Uncle Hal insists sea level is rising because of all the rocks falling into the ocean, then just give up. We talk about how climate used to be a bipartisan issue, but since Citizens United, the Koch Brothers have threatened to primary any Republican who acknowledges the science. Addressing climate change has become a victim of our tribal politics. The answer right now? Win.
Tue, 25 Jun 2019 - 48min - 7 - A Conversation with Andy Slavitt
The guy who pulled the HealthCare.Gov baby out of a burning building and then headed up Medicare and Medicaid in the Obama Administration discusses healthcare with Al. How Obamacare got so popular. (Republicans won, and their plan to repeal and replace sucked tail-pipe.)
Tue, 18 Jun 2019 - 1h 14min - 6 - A Conversation with Jeffrey Toobin and Nancy Gertner
An in-depth, but somewhat snarky, look at the Trump administration’s success in packing the courts with right-wing, Federalist Society judges. Gertner, a Harvard Law professor, and Toobin, CNN chief legal analyst, discuss some of the most cynical, activist decisions by the Roberts Court. Al calls Justice Scalia’s dissent in marriage equality, “Very gay.”
Tue, 11 Jun 2019 - 43min - 5 - A Conversation with Michael Lewis
Al and Michael Lewis discuss his latest bestseller, The Fifth Risk, which Al calls the best book about the Trump Administration, in no small part because there’s very little focus on Trump himself. Instead, Lewis takes us inside of three Cabinet agencies – Agriculture, Commerce, and Energy – and the incompetent, venal, and/or corrupt appointees who find their way into crucial positions within the federal government. The head of science at the Agriculture Department is replaced by a right-wing talk radio host whose only qualification is that he endorsed Trump early in Iowa. Trump appoints the CEO of AccuWeather to head up the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, which includes the Weather Service. The CEO’s mission? To stop making Weather Service data publicly available to force Americans to get their weather forecasts from … AccuWeather! And, of course, there’s Rick Perry. At turns hilarious, insane, and just plain sad, this is a fascinating look into what happens to our federal government when the President of the United States has absolutely no understanding or interest in what the government does.
Tue, 04 Jun 2019 - 48min - 4 - A Conversation With Sarah Silverman
Al and Sarah discuss her evolution as a comedian, the hazards of using irony in comedy (the viral death-threat against Sarah from a Florida preacher’s sermon), and the importance of growing as an artist and a person. Alternately edgy and warm and fuzzy, you’ll leave this one smiling.
Tue, 28 May 2019 - 51min - 3 - A Conversation with Dahlia Lithwick and Matt Miller
Dahlia Lithwick, brilliant writer for Slate on all things jurisprudential, and Matt Miller, former spokesman for Attorney General Eric Holder, have a lively discussion with an impassioned Al who argues that it’s time for the House to go to an impeachment inquiry or get off the pot.
Tue, 21 May 2019 - 44min - 2 - A Conversation With Maria Teresa Kumar
The president of Voto Latino, discusses voter suppression, the Wall, and immigration. At turns funny, then tragic, and angry. A fun and moving interview. To help support the organizations mentioned in this episode, visit: https://annunciationhouse.org/ https://www.raicestexas.org/?rd=anp
Tue, 14 May 2019 - 34min - 1 - Al Franken Has A Podcast
In this trailer episode to The Al Franken Podcast, Al sits down with Amazon's Alexa (Siri had other commitments) to review highlights of the upcoming episodes featuring: Maria Theresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino, Nancy Gertner, Harvard Law School professor and former U.S federal judge, Jeffrey Toobin, legal analyst for CNN and The New Yorker, Michael Lewis, author of The Big Short and Moneyball, Andy Slavitt, former Acting Administrator of Medicare and Medicaid, Dana Carvey, actor, comedian, and Saturday Night Live alum, and David Frum, staff writer at The Atlantic and former speechwriter for George W. Bush.
Wed, 01 May 2019 - 06min
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