Best Azari Podcasts (2024)

1
How do direct primaries impact American self-government? 50:10

15m ago50:10

50:10

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James explore America’s reliance on direct primaries in federal elections with Nick Troiano. Troiano is the Executive Director of Unite America and the author of The Primary Solution: Rescuing Our Democracy from the Fringes (Simon & Schuster, 2024). What are direct primaries? Why do Americans …

1
Why do Americans use primary elections to select candidates for office? 44:03

1M ago44:03

44:03

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee discusses the history of primary elections and options for reform with Robert Boatright. Boatright is professor of political science at Clark University and the world’s leading expert on the American primary system. He is also the director of research for the National Institute of Civil Discourse …

1
Who rules America? 45:36

2M ago45:36

45:36

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Ari Berman joins Julia and Lee to discuss voting rights in the United States. Berman is Mother Jones’ national voting rights correspondent. He is the author of numerous books, including Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2024). Why is American po…

1
Why is it amateur hour on Capitol Hill? 36:12

3M ago36:12

36:12

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Rachel Porter joins Lee to consider the consequences of political amateurs in Congress. Porter is an Assistant Professor of Political Science. Her research interests include American political institutions and political methodology, with a particular focus on Congress, elite behavior, and methods for …

1
Is American democracy in crisis? 1:06:34

3M ago1:06:34

1:06:34

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Jake Grumbach joins Lee and James to consider whether American democracy is in crisis. Grumbach is an associate professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. He studies the political economy of the United States, with interests in democratic institutions, labor, federalism, racial a…

1
#039 –Chris Cuomo EXCLUSIVE (Part 2): Serial Killers, Menendez Bros., Natalie Holloway & More! 48:03

3M ago48:03

48:03

In this continued conversation, Sara and Jim are up close and personal with Chris Cuomo who shares about his vast coverage of the Natalie Holloway murder and Van her Sloot; serial killers including Rifkin; and the Menendez Brothers: did Chris change his mind about their defense or have the times changed? Chris dives deep into how the media chooses …

1
#038–Chris Cuomo EXCLUSIVE (Part 1): Headline Crime, Mental Illness, & Literally Everything! 36:38

3M ago36:38

36:38

Sara and Jim sit with veteran journalist, Chris Cuomo. Chris shares his vast experience covering crime stories over decades. He explains the fascination with crime, including with Murdaugh and the Gilgo killer, the need for transparency, the presumption in the court of law and public opinion, and so much more. Sara presses Chris on whether he reall…

1
#037-Bakari Sellers on Police Brutality and Use of Force, Mica Miller & O.J. Simpson 48:11

4M ago48:11

48:11

This week Sara and Jim chat with lawyer, author, and political analyst Bakari Sellers. They dive into Bakari's high profile police brutality case, the case of Ricky Cobb, a Minnesota man who was unjustifiably shot to death by a state trooper. The hosts and Sellers take a close look at what the O.J. Simpson case would look like it if it was tried to…

1
What is the state of American Democracy? 42:41

4M ago42:41

42:41

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Congressman John Sarbanes, D-Md., joins Lee to talk about the health of American democracy. Sarbanes has represented Maryland’s third congressional district in the House of Representatives since 2007. He serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and is chair of the Democracy Reform Task For…

1
#036-Dean Masserman on the State of Life, Choice, & IVF in America 49:55

4M ago49:55

49:55

Sara and Jim sit with reproductive law guru Dean Masserman this week. Dean unpacks the latest IVF decision by the Alabama Supreme Court. The decision comes with a price which the hosts discuss at length with Dean. Should the rest of the country be worried? How do we balance unnecessary destruction of genetic tissue with the need for efficacy in a f…

1
Do white rural Americans pose a threat to democracy? 52:38

5M ago52:38

52:38

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Thomas Schaller and Paul Waldman join Lee and James to discuss the urban-rural divide in American politics. Schaller is a professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Waldman is a journalist and author whose writing has appeared in numerous publications, including MS…

1
#035 – Will Folks on All the Things, Including Murdaugh 59:25

6M ago59:25

59:25

On this week's show Sara and Jim sit with Will Folks. The irreverant founder and editor of Fits News shares about how the news operation started, his one too many kids, and his journey of sobriety. Up close and personal, talks openly about his relationship with newsmaker and politician Nikki Haley. Will also shares about his coverage of corruption …

1
What is the right way to do politics? 46:00

6M ago46:00

46:00

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Matt Glassman joins Lee and James to discuss the right way to do politics. Glassman is a senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. Before that, he worked on congressional operations, separation of powers, appropriations process, agency design, and congressional histor…

1
#034 Pat Harris EXCLUSIVE: New Evidence May Lead to New Trial for Scott Peterson 1:03:16

6M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Pat Harris, Scott Peterson’s attorney, sits down with Sara for an exclusive interview about shocking new evidence regarding the disappearance and murder of his wife Laci Peterson and son Connor, as well as Scott Peterson’s road to a possible new trial. Sara and Pat talk at length about the extensive defense investigation over the past two decades, …

1
#033 – Elizabeth Kelley on Representing People with Mental Illness and Disabilities, & Addiction 50:31

7M ago50:31

50:31

Elizabeth Kelley joins the show this week sharing her expertise representing people struggling with mental illnesses or mental disabilities. Elizabeth, Sara and Jim begin the show by discussing the difference between these two, “illness” and “disability”, and how those afflicted are treated in the criminal justice system. They also discuss more spe…

1
Is the House broken? 35:52

7M ago35:52

35:52

In this week's episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James ask Representative Chip Roy, R-Texas, if the House of Representatives is broken. Roy is a devoted husband and father of two, serving his third term in Congress representing Texas's 21st Congressional District. He serves on the House Judiciary, Rules, and Budget Committees and is the Hous…

1
Why can't Americans compromise? 46:38

8M ago46:38

46:38

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Jonathan Rauch joins Lee and James to consider why Americans can’t compromise. Rauch is a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program and the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer of The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 Nat…

1
#032 – Theories, Conspiracies, and Mysterious Circumstances Surrounding James Brown’s Death 35:52

8M ago35:52

35:52

This week, criminal trial attorneys Sara Azari and Jim Griffin break down the conspiracy theories surrounding the death of legend and godfather of soul, James Brown. They also discuss the mysterious death of Brown’s son-in-law, and whether or not the two deaths are linked. Jim shares his experience representing two of Brown’s biological daughters i…

1
Are Americans democracy hypocrites? 37:45

8M ago37:45

37:45

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee and James talk about Bonnie Tyler, Tina Turner, and Americans’ views of democracy. What is democracy? How do Americans view it? Do they think about democracy differently when it gets in their way? Does that make them “democracy hypocrites?” Why are Americans holding out for a hero in such moments?…

1
#031 - Savannah Chrisley (Part 2): Advocacy for Prison Conditions, and the Pursuit of Criminal Justice 30:42

8M ago30:42

30:42

Jim and Sara continue their conversation with justice warrior, Savannah Chrisley. This week, the conversation is focused on the deplorable prison conditions that are impacting prisoners and families all across the nation, including Savannah’s father, Todd. They challenge prison policies that muzzle inmates and violate the 1st amendment. They also d…

1
#030 - Savannah Chrisley (Part 1): The Fraud Case Against Todd and Julie Chrisley 41:15

8M ago41:15

41:15

Savannah Chrisley has been advocating for criminal justice after her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, were convicted of multiple counts of fraud in 2022. Today she joins Sara and Jim for a conversation about the way her family was treated in both the media and at trial, and how it led to a violation of not only their presumption of innocence, but …

1
#029 – The Constitutionality of Forensic Genetic Genealogy with Professor Natalie Ram 1:00:05

8M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Today’s guest Prof. Natalie Ram specializes in examining the intersection between the advancements in forensic genealogy, and its role in the criminal justice system. For 15 years, Prof. Ram has made a case that forensic genetic genealogy raises constitutional and ethical concerns, including 4th amendment violations, based on the lack of voluntarin…

1
#028 – Jan 6th Trump Mock Trial, Crisis Management, and Defending Gov. Cuomo + Sen. Franken, w/ Lanny Davis 57:28

8M ago57:28

57:28

Sara and Jim are excited to release their first new podcast of 2024. The hosts welcome lawyer, crisis manager, and political consultant Lanny Davis to the show, and discuss the recent mock trial that Sara and Lanny participated in. They also highlight the importance of the presumption of innocence, and how innuendos in journalism and media create a…

1
What does 2023 tell us about what could happen in American politics in 2024? 38:36

9M ago38:36

38:36

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Julia, Lee, and James discuss what happened in 2023, and what could happen in 2024. What did we learn in 2023? Was American politics less fluid and surprising than it was in 2022? Will the 2024 presidential election be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump? What are t…

1
How can Americans bridge the urban-rural divide in their politics? 46:45

9M ago46:45

46:45

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Jonathan Rodden joins Julia and Lee to discuss the challenges presented by urban-rural polarization in American politics. Rodden is a professor in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University. His work focuses on the comparative political economy of institutions. He has written on variou…

1
#027 – Hip Hop’s 50th Birthday, plus the Murders of Tupac & Jam Master Jay with Naima Cochrane 57:59

9M ago57:59

57:59

In honor of Hip Hop’s 50th birthday, Sara and Jim are joined by music industry veteran and leading voice in Black music and culture, Naima Cochrane. Naima, Sara and Jim discuss the recent headline-making developments in two unsolved murder cases that have shaken the Hip Hop world for decades: Tupac Shakur and Jam Master Jay. As always, the hosts pr…

1
#026 – The Truth About Lie Detectors, with Polygraph Expert Johnny Hartley 1:00:09

10M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

This week Sara and Jim sit down with polygraph examiner Johnny Hartley to learn everything you could possibly ever want to know about the science of lie detection. Johnny speaks at length about just how different the reality of being testing via polygraph is to how the process seems on TV and in movies. He also answers questions about admissibility…

1
#025 – Jim Griffin Episode w/ Hope Griffin. Plus Treasure Hunters, a Sting Operation, & Cat Justice 1:02:44

10M ago1:02:44

1:02:44

Jim is in the guest seat this week to discuss some of the wildest cases he’s defended over the years. Helping to share some behind the scenes stories is surprise co-host, and Jim’s daughter, Hope Griffin. The group dives into the controversies surrounding a drug detection device called the ‘Quadro Tracker’, and why bringing home a present for your …

1
What does political polling miss? 52:20

10M ago52:20

52:20

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee takes a big picture look at political polling with Michael Podhorzer. Podhorzer is a senior fellow at the Center for American Process where he writes weekly on election data and political strategy. He is the former political director of the AFL-CIO. Podhorzer founded the Analyst Institute, the Ind…

1
Why are political leaders important? 46:55

10M ago46:55

46:55

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, James discusses the importance of political leadership with Daniel Stid. Stid is the Executive Director of Lyceum Labs. He previously served as the founding director of the Hewlett Foundation’s U.S. Democracy Program. From 2013-22, Daniel led $180 million in grantmaking to shore up U.S. democracy in a…

1
#024 – Bryan Kohberger’s Phone 'Off'? Plus Digital Forensics, and Kirby Smith Trial w/ Jim Persinger 1:05:25

10M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

First up- some important announcements, and an expression of our gratitude! Sara and Jimmy G. then welcome forensic cell data expert, Jim Persinger to the podcast to discuss his extensive training and background in the constantly changing field of digital and cell phone technology. They talk with him about phone and cell tower analysis software, as…

1
What will American democracy look like in the 21st century? 58:31

10M ago58:31

58:31

In this week’s episode of Politics In Question, Lee considers what American democracy will look like in the 21st century with Archon Fung. Fung is the Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at Harvard Kennedy School and director of Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. His research explores p…

1
#023 – Dick Harpootlian on the Murdaugh Jury, The Clintons, and Convicted Killer Pee Wee Gaskins 58:57

11M ago58:57

58:57

South Carolina State Senator, and Jim’s co-counsel on many cases, Dick Harpootlian makes his debut appearance on the podcast. Sara chats with Dick and Jim about the history of their working relationship as well as their decades long friendship. Jim and Dick share some BTS moments that may have landed one of them in a hot tub! They share the latest …

1
#022 – Jerome Buting on Steven Avery, Jail and Bail, and Prosecutorial Misconduct 1:03:16

11M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Sara and Jim welcome high profile trial attorney Jerome Buting to talk about defending a case with pre-trial publicity. They discuss Jerome’s defense of Steven Avery, the flaws in the criminal justice system, as well as the lasting impact of the docuseries ‘Making a Murderer’. Later, Sara and Jim offer a couple of parallels to what Jim has experien…

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