In this Best Of episode, we revisit our June 2025 conversation with CNN Anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst Kasie Hunt! It's a very fun conversation covering her work and what inspired her to follow her passion for journalism.

She discusses the early days of her career covering Obama, Congress, and the passage of the Affordable Care Act. We also talk about how much Congress and the information ecosystem has changed over the years. And Kasie shares her thoughts about watching Donald Trump pardon the rioters on his first day back in office after being present in the Capitol that day.

Plus, immigration raids, tariffs and the Big, Beautiful, Bill. Trump and the Republicans might actually pass the BBB, but at what cost to working Americans?

WATCH Kasie on CNN, weekdays at 4pm ET: https://www.cnn.com/profiles/kasie-hunt

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Guest Host Norm Ornstein welcomes Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) to cover all the news happening in Congress. We cover the war in Iran and how it’s driving prices up across the country and the world, consequently having a major impact on Americans' wallets. DeLauro calls this a "war of choice" and discusses what Congress can realistically do to invoke the War Powers Act and reclaim its constitutional authority.

DeLauro is the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and reveals how the Trump administration is taking the power of the purse away from Congress. 

Plus, the midterms are rapidly approaching. Can Democrats make enough gains to slow down the Trump administration?

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One of Donald Trump's most successful initiatives in his second term has been making himself and his family richer than ever. In this Best Of episode, we revisit our November 2025 conversation with The New Yorker’s David Kirkpatrick, who wrote a piece outlining all the ways the legendary grifters have cashed in during Trump’s presidency. 

The Trump family has long been associated with shameless cash grabs, but we have reached new levels of corruption by using his office for their money-making schemes: international real estate deals, Trump-branded merchandise, and cryptocurrency.

David lays out the long list of ethical implications involved and calculates the staggering amount of money Donald Trump and his family have made off his presidency.

READ David's piece “The Number” in The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/08/18/the-number 

Guest Host Trae Crowder is joined by his friend and fellow standup comedian, Geoffrey Asmus! The two dig into the state of Trump's base, including Geoffrey's own MAGA dad showing signs of buyer's remorse, and why economic pain at the dinner table may finally be doing what years of political argument couldn't. They trade theories on why so many working-class voters remain Republican even when their actual policy views skew left and what it would take to build a real alternative.

They also get into the comedy culture wars: the rise of right-wing adjacent comics, the Riyadh comedy festival, and explain the term "clapter.” Geoffrey and Trae also address the threat of artificial intelligence to creative work, Joe Rogan's bizarre evolution, the Kill Tony phenomenon, and how the manosphere targets young men hungry for acceptance and direction.

LEARN more about Trae and see his standup! https://www.traecrowder.com/

WATCH Geoffrey's standup special and see him on tour! https://www.whitecomedian.com/

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A little over a year ago, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live! For this Best Of episode, we revisit our February 2025 conversation when we switched things up a bit as Executive Producer Peter Ogburn asked Al about his history with the show.

We pull the curtain back on what a typical week looks like building up to the live show on Saturday and learn about how Al and his writing partner, Tom Davis, found themselves writing on the first season of the show.

We also chat about some iconic sketches and the birth of Al's legendary Stuart Smalley character.

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 Guest Host Heather McGhee, author of the groundbreaking book “The Sum of Us” and expert in economic and social policy, is joined by The Atlantic's Adam Serwer! They discuss a number of issues facing the country, including the continued unrest in Minnesota and the No Kings protests happening nationwide. From the steps of the Supreme Court to the streets of Minneapolis, McGhee and Serwer explore how the struggle for Black freedom has historically paved the way for immigrant rights and why that "inheritance" is currently under its most aggressive attack in generations.

Heather and Adam also examine the recent SCOTUS arguments on birthright citizenship and how this could create a whole new class of undocumented immigrants in this country, particularly Chinese immigrants. 

They also examine Adam's recent writing following the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson  about what Rev. Jackson’s message meant to the movement. They dissect his 1980's vision of cross-racial, cross-class solidarity and explain why his "Patchwork Quilt" philosophy is more relevant today than ever.

LEARN more about Heather McGhee: https://heathermcghee.com/

READ Adam Serwer's writing in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/adam-serwer/

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Donald Trump and the Republican Party have the backing of Evangelicals and fundamentalist Christians. But if you read the Bible or listen to the teachings of Jesus Christ, it would be clear that their policies are anything but Christ-like. In this Best Of episode, we revisit our October 2025 conversation with comedian, radio host, and NYT bestselling author John Fugelsang to discuss his book, “Separation of Church and Hate.”

Fugelsang shares his unique perspective as a Christian who was raised by a former nun and a Franciscan Brother. He shows the disconnect between what far-right Christians claim Jesus taught versus what he actually said in the Bible. Jesus promoted peace, love, compassion, and mercy... None of which are evident in today's Republican Party.

We also break down many social issues that right-wing Christians use their faith to justify. Jesus advocated against the death penalty, provided for the poor, and never once said that homosexuality is a sin. Not to mention abortion, which was weaponized in the 1980s to consolidate power under Ronald Reagan.

We hope this interview can help you engage with right-wing Christians in a civil way by pointing to actual scripture, which might help them see the contradictions and lies that their party embraces.  

READ John's bestselling book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Separation-of-Church-and-Hate/John-Fugelsang/9781668066898

LISTEN to The John Fugelsang Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-fugelsang-podcast/id1464094232

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Guest Host Norm Ornstein welcomes Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) to discuss legislation they're working on to curb the President's pardon power after the onslaught of blatantly corrupt pardons from the Trump administration. Rep. Dean was the former impeachment manager for Trump's second impeachment, so she also addresses how the blanket pardon of all January 6th insurrectionists especially grotesque. 

We also discuss the latest on the "stolen documents" case and what Trump might have intended for them. Plus, people are making LOTS of money on insider trading around the Iran War.

Rep. Dean shares her thoughts on the ICE brutality her constituents in Pennsylvania and around the country are facing. And she shares her first hand account of the Dilley detention center, where ICE is mistreating detainees and neglecting children.

LEARN more about Rep. Madeleine Dean: https://dean.house.gov/biography

LISTEN to Norm's podcast "Words Matter" with fellow friend of the show David Rothkopf: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970

JD Vance has had an unorthodox rise to power. After a troubled childhood, he joined the Marines, graduated from Yale Law School, became a best-selling author, and then won a seat in the U.S. Senate. And now, at only 41, he is Vice President to Donald Trump, a man who Vance once described as "America's Hitler" and "cultural heroin."

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our June 2025 conversation with The Atlantic’s George Packer. His piece, “The Talented Mr. Vance,” explores Vance's political transformation and whether he genuinely evolved his political views or cynically abandoned his principles for ambition.

We also look at the Democrats' path forward. Packer shares how they can respond to Trump's appeal to disengaged voters.

Read Packer’s writing in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/george-packer/

Trump can call it whatever he wants, but we are at war with Iran. Podcast host and YouTube star Brian Tyler Cohen joins us again to break down how Trump has dragged us into this wildly unpopular war. How long will we be there? What are our objectives? And who is behind the bombing of the Iranian girls' school that killed 175 people? Early investigations suggest America is responsible, but Trump blames... the Iranians?

And the GOP attack on democracy continues as voters become disillusioned with the Trump agenda. Will John Thune and the Republicans blow up the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act?

Plus, the gutting of ACA subsidies, Medicaid cuts, food assistance slashed, and how Trump's trade war has made good on absolutely none of his cost-of-living promises.

SUBSCRIBE to Brian's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/briantylercohen

LISTEN to Brian’s podcast, “No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-lie-with-brian-tyler-cohen/id1515399733

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America is at war with Iran. It's the eighth time that Donald Trump has attacked another country since he began his second term (despite pledging "no new wars" during his campaign). To break it all down, we're joined by foreign affairs expert David Rothkopf and Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq War vet and CEO of the Independent Veterans of America.

We take a look at the difficult history between America and Iran along with the current military campaign Trump has started in the region. Trump and his administration have yet to outline exactly WHY we are fighting, and with Americans already dying, it's no surprise that this war is extremely unpopular. Not to mention, this is costing our country a billion dollars a day and will only become more expensive as the war expands. 

David and Paul discuss the long term impact this might have for America and the Middle East and how it may escalate in the region and could signal a scary moment for the global nuclear arms race.

READ David Rothkopf in The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/david-rothkopf/

SUBSCRIBE to David's Substack "Need to Know": https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/

LISTEN to David’s podcast "Words Matter" with fellow friend of the show Norm Ornstein:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970

LEARN more about Paul's organization, Independent Veterans of America: https://independentveteransofamerica.org/

LISTEN to Paul's podcast, Independent Americans: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff/id1457899667

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