Best Louise Crooks Podcasts (2024)

1
Is Trump Winning the Sun Belt? 1:10:00

24h ago1:10:00

1:10:00

Six weeks out from Election Day, new polls show Harris leading nationally, but Trump still ahead in key Sun Belt states. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy dive into Harris's push for a second debate, Trump's undisciplined campaign operation, and Mark Robinson staying in the North Carolina governor’s race— even after his team quit. Then, Tommy chats with Chenj…

1
S4 Ep28: From 'Closer' to 'Crooked': NYC Detective Louis Scarcella's Fall from Grace 48:20

31m ago48:20

48:20

When Det. Louis Scarcella retired in 1999, he was a New York City hero. He had closed dozens of homicide cases during his decades-long run as a cop nicknamed 'The Closer' for his ability to get suspects to confess to him. Years after he retired, however, one of his highest-profile cases got another look, and a judge exonerated the man convicted. Th…

1
Kamala Up, Lovett Down 1:03:19

11m ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Another day, another round of maddening polls showing the race locked in place—with Harris ever-so-slightly ahead—even as voters agree that she beat Trump handily in the debate. Jon and Dan go through the latest numbers, preview the Harris campaign's reproductive rights event with Oprah Winfrey, and attempt to process the revelations about North Ca…

1
Harris Denounces Trump's Pet-Eating Conspiracy 1:01:50

6d ago1:01:50

1:01:50

Kamala Harris drives a contrast message with an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists and gives a searing answer about Trump and Vance's lies about Haitian immigrants. Dan and guest host Addisu Demissie discuss Harris's off-the-cuff performance, how she can keep her momentum up post-debate, and Donald Trump's snoozer of a town…

1
Trump Blames Harris for Assassination Attempt 55:59

1h ago55:59

55:59

Donald Trump wastes no time blaming Kamala Harris and Joe Biden for the latest attempt on his life. JD Vance defends spreading lies about Haitian immigrants as a way to draw attention to border policy. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss how Democrats can respond to the blame game, and whether or not to make the pet-eating smears a campaign issue. Plus,…

1
S4 Ep27: From Hero to Traitor: How Benedict Arnold Slid into Infamy 50:45

8d ago50:45

50:45

Before Benedict Arnold's name became synonymous with 'traitor,' he had been hailed as a hero of the American Revolutionary War. His rise from militiaman to trusted ally of George Washington was the stuff of legends. But instead of being honored with, say, his likeness on American currency, he committed an act of treason so heinous that his name is …

1
Trump Is Too Afraid to Debate Harris Again 48:00

12d ago48:00

48:00

Two days after getting trounced in the debate, Trump turns to a familiar playbook: claim a win, trash the moderators, and—above all—refuse to debate again. The only hitch? All those Trump advisors and endorsers talking to the press about how poorly he did. Jon and Dan discuss Trump's attempt at spin, Harris's post-debate agenda, and the MAGA freako…

1
Kamala Dominates Trump at the Debate 42:19

6d ago42:19

42:19

In what may be the last huge moment of the campaign, Kamala Harris pulls off an overwhelming win: drawing a clear contrast with Donald Trump, presenting herself as a change candidate, and luring her opponent into getting angry, defensive, and confused. Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy react to Harris's best moments, Trump's tantrums, the crazy pet-eatin…

1
All Tied up Before the Debate 1:07:24

9d ago1:07:24

1:07:24

Debate day has arrived, and new polls show that the race couldn't be closer. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy offer their final thoughts before Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's first, and potentially only, face-off. Harris lays out her strategy for dealing with Trump in a new radio interview, updates her website with policy proposals, and releases an ad to t…

1
S4 Ep26: How the Horrifying Murder of Adam Walsh Changed America 1:00:24

10d ago1:00:24

1:00:24

In 1981, a 6-year-old boy accompanied his mother to a Sears department store, where she left him for mere minutes in the toy department. Two weeks later, the boy's head was discovered in a ditch. Learn how the horrifying case -- and the South Florida police department's decades-long bungling of it -- changed parenting in America. "Crimes of the Cen…

1
Trump's Happy-Go-Lucky Debate Strategy 1:25:29

17d ago1:25:29

1:25:29

Kamala Harris prepares for Tuesday's debate while Donald Trump has "policy time" and complains about his legal woes. Live in Phoenix, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, Dan, and guest host Jane Coaston discuss the upcoming debate, some surprising Republican endorsements for Harris, and the GOP's continued turn to weird. Then, Rep. Ruben Gallego talks with Dan abo…

1
Kamala Harris: Still the Underdog 1:19:45

7d ago1:19:45

1:19:45

As the final campaign sprint begins, both candidates roll out plans on the issue that matters most to undecided voters: the economy. Republican truth-teller Liz Cheney throws her support behind Kamala Harris, while other Republicans quietly cross their fingers for a Trump defeat—even as Harris and Walz remain, in their campaign manager’s words, “cl…

1
Doug Emhoff Is Ready to Win (Fantasy Football) 53:49

20d ago53:49

53:49

Doug Emhoff stops by the Crooked studio! The Second Gentleman talks with Jon, Lovett, and Tommy about why Kamala Harris is such "a badass," masculinity and winning over young men, and his role fighting the rise of antisemitism. Plus: the hug with Tim Walz that his friends are still giving him shit about, Kamala's kitchen skills, and why he still ma…

1
Pollercoaster: State of the Race with Dan Pfeiffer (Subscription Preview) 31:02

22d ago31:02

31:02

Lean into the long Labor Day weekend with a special 'Best Of' preview episode of Crooked’s subscriber-exclusive series, Pollercoaster. In this episode, enjoy highlights featuring Dan Pfeiffer and expert guests as they share their insights on latest polls and the state of the Presidential elections. Don’t miss out on future episodes – be sure to sig…

1
S4 Ep25: The Clutter Family: The Case Behind Truman Capote's In Cold Blood 47:10

11d ago47:10

47:10

The horrific killing of four members of the Clutter family in 1959 led author Truman Capote to write In Cold Blood, the book credited with launching true crime as a genre. But how much of what Capote wrote was as "immaculately factual" as the author led the world to believe? "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forg…

1
Harris and Walz Meet the Press 51:40

14d ago51:40

51:40

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz sit down with CNN's Dana Bash for their much-hyped first big interview—and they pass the test. Donald Trump tries again to tack to the left on reproductive rights, and his campaign leans into their fight with Arlington National Cemetery over politicking at gravesites. Then, Jon and Dan go through the latest batch of natio…

1
Harris Hits the Airwaves 1:04:05

15d ago1:04:05

1:04:05

Lovett and guest host Symone Sanders Townsend of MSNBC discuss the Harris-Walz campaign's latest moves: new ads hitting Trump and touting her housing plan, and a big bus tour through southeastern Georgia. Then, they look at Trump's counter-programming—notably, selling trading cards of himself—and who benefits most from muted mics at the September 1…

1
Kamala Harris's Path to 270 1:01:11

17d ago1:01:11

1:01:11

Trump threatens to bail on the September debate, his campaign signals yet another attempt to keep their candidate on message, and his newest big endorser now comes with even more dead-animal baggage. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz prepare to hit the road on a Georgia bus tour and sit for a high-stakes interview. Jon and Tommy break down the …

1
S4 Ep24: How Catherine of Aragon Changed Europe 49:54

25d ago49:54

49:54

The Catholic Church lost its grip on England largely thanks to a woman who refused to quietly let her husband trade her in for a younger model. Catherine of Aragon's impact on Europe has lasted for centuries, and it all began with a single crime: bigamy. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from tim…

1
Kamala Crushes It 46:13

21d ago46:13

46:13

In the biggest speech of her life, Kamala Harris gives a dazzling address making the case for herself and her vision, and absolutely torching Donald Trump and Project 2025. Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy talk about why the speech was so effective and why it was so different than what we've seen at past conventions. Then, Gov. Gavin Newsom stops by the…

1
To the Winfrey, to the Walz (feat. Gretchen Whitmer) 1:07:54

1M ago1:07:54

1:07:54

Tim Walz gives a model acceptance speech in front of thousands of roaring delegates, his beaming family, and the football players he coached. Oprah Winfrey makes a surprise appearance, RFK Jr. plans to drop out and endorse Donald Trump, and Trump complains about Barack Obama's "nasty" criticisms. Then, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joins the pod to talk ab…

1
Obama Night at the DNC (feat. Julia Louis-Dreyfus) 1:07:19

1M ago1:07:19

1:07:19

Barack and Michelle Obama and Doug Emhoff make the argument for Kamala Harris with a trio of pitch-perfect speeches to the delegates in Chicago. Harris accepts the nomination with a surprise live greeting broadcast from her packed rally in Milwaukee. Then, California Senator Laphonza Butler joins the show to talk about the Kamala Harris she's gotte…

1
The Late Show with Joe Biden 57:10

25d ago57:10

57:10

Joe Biden takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention—after an interminable pre-program that pushes him out of prime time—and tells the adoring crowd that it's time for Kamala Harris to finish the work he started. Hillary Clinton calls on history, AOC leans into the dignity of work, and Steve Kerr promises to say "Night night" to Donald T…

1
S4 Ep23: Cassie Chadwick: The Impostor Heiress of the Gilded Age 41:42

25d ago41:42

41:42

Cassie Chadwick of Cleveland wasn't who she said she was. Even she admitted that -- though in her version, she wasn't the con artist daughter of a Canadian farmer, but rather the illegitimate daughter of Andrew Carnegie, America's wealthiest man. She used that lie to bilk businessmen, bankers and entire institutions out of boatloads of money, earni…

1
How Kamala Beats Trump (Final Ep.) 55:56

27d ago55:56

55:56

On the final episode of this season of The Wilderness, Jon is joined by UCLA political scientist Lynn Vavreck and senior Harris campaign advisor David Plouffe. Lynn and Jon discuss why, despite all of this election's wild changes, Lynn is still expecting a close outcome in November and then David Plouffe sits down with Jon to talk about what we can…

1
Republicans Beg Trump to Be New Person 48:23

29d ago48:23

48:23

More and more Republicans are asking Donald Trump if it might be possible for him to stop the personal attacks on Kamala Harris and focus on a persuasive message. His answer? Absolutely not. In yet another country club press conference, Trump says he's "entitled to personal attacks" because he doesn't respect Harris, calls her stupid, and rants abo…

1
The "Let Trump Be Trump" Strategy 44:08

1M ago44:08

44:08

Jon and guest host David Axelrod discuss Donald Trump's struggles to define Kamala Harris, his rambling interview with Elon Musk, and why the Trump campaign keeps letting their candidate run his mouth so much. Then, they look at Trump and Harris's competing economic messages, how Tim Walz is faring out on the trail, and what the Harris team needs t…

1
Trump Rages, Harris Rises 49:57

1M ago49:57

49:57

Kamala Harris pulls ahead in three key swing states as Donald Trump continues to flail and fume to donors and supporters. JD Vance tries to go on the attack in a trio of network interviews on Sunday, but things don't go quite as planned. Then, as Harris starts laying out her own policy agenda, the officially defunct Project 2025 ends up back in the…

1
S4 Ep22: The Largest Art Heist in American History 47:16

1M ago47:16

47:16

When several men dressed as cops entered the Isabella Gardner Museum in March of 1990, the nighttime security detail didn't think much of it -- until one of the "officers" handcuffed the guards' wrists and announced, "This is a robbery." Thirty-four years later, theories abound about who was behind the largest -- and most mystifying -- art heist in…

1
Kamala Harris’s Winning Message (Ep. 7) 54:19

1M ago54:19

54:19

Jon is joined Democratic message guru Anat Shenker-Osorio and longtime political strategist Michael Podhorzer to talk about how swing voters are reacting to a Harris-Walz ticket and what message the campaign will need to win them over in November. They break down why Tim Walz has been a uniquely effective messenger, how Kamala Harris is reclaiming …

1
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Meltdown 59:39

1M ago59:39

59:39

Trump throws a temper tantrum at Mar-a-Lago, boasting he draws bigger crowds than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did for the “I Have a Dream” speech. Is he freaking out because Harris is surging in the polls? Meanwhile, Harris and Walz hit Detroit, where they score a UAW union endorsement and tout her economic record. Brian Tyler Cohen discusses his n…

1
Tim Walz Keeps the Good Vibes Going 55:38

2M ago55:38

55:38

VP Kamala Harris hits the road with her new running mate, Tim Walz, who lands his first official couch joke of the campaign against his GOP counterpart, JD Vance. Meanwhile, Trump tries to brand Walz as a communist. Then, Dan and guest host Melissa Murray break down Biden’s Supreme Court reforms, Trump’s January 6th case and the infinite shadiness …

1
VP Picks Her VP 51:56

2M ago51:56

51:56

We're just hours away from the announcement of VP Harris's running mate—and she's reportedly narrowed it down to Gov. Tim Walz and Gov. Josh Shapiro. Jon and Lovett talk about what they love about both finalists, what the influx of Obama veterans like David Plouffe could mean for the Harris campaign, why Trump doesn't want to debate the Vice Presid…

1
S4 Ep21: Sex, Lies and a Government Conspiracy: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study 50:32

2M ago50:32

50:32

In 1932, hundreds of men in Tuskegee, Alabama, signed up for something they'd never had much access to: healthcare. The best part? It was free. Told for decades they were being treated for "bad blood," the participants were never informed they had tested positive for syphilis and were being studied by the US government to see how the disease progre…

1
Trump Revives Birtherism 48:54

1M ago48:54

48:54

Donald Trump doubles down on the racism and birtherism he unleashed onstage at the NABJ convention—repeating his attacks in social media posts and even a rally backdrop. Jon and Dan talk about what Trump's strategy might be, whether he's feeling buyer's remorse about JD Vance, and the latest on Kamala Harris's VP short list. Then, Project 2025 says…

1
Trump's Worst Interview Ever? (feat. Stacey Abrams) 56:10

2M ago56:10

56:10

Donald Trump suggests that Kamala Harris isn't actually Black, claims that nobody died on January 6, and belittles his interviewers before his campaign yanks him off the stage at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. Jon Lovett and guest host Stacey Abrams react to the train wreck in real time. Stacey describes the scene at Kama…

1
Harris Surges, Vance Sinks (feat. Gov. Tim Walz) 1:00:06

2M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Donald Trump and friends try out new lines of attack on Kamala Harris as they struggle to confront her momentum—and the new reality of the race. JD Vance still can't figure out how to move past his "childless cat ladies" comments, and Joe Biden introduces a slate of Supreme Court reforms. Then Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stops by to talk about maki…

1
S4 Ep20: Terror in Munich: The 1972 Olympic Games 45:20

2M ago45:20

45:20

After Munich, Germany, was named the host of the 1972 Olympic Games, organizers were determined to highlight the country's softer side after the horrors of World War II. This was, after all, the first Olympics to be held in Germany since 1936's Berlin Games, during which Hitler used the festivities to spread propaganda and Nazi ideology. Unfortunat…

1
What Undecided Voters Think of Kamala Harris (Ep. 6) 42:07

2M ago42:07

42:07

Jon is joined by longtime pollster Sarah Longwell to discuss how swing voters are reacting to Kamala Harris’ unexpected campaign for president. How did they react to Biden’s decision to withdraw? What concerns do they have about Kamala Harris’ chances against Trump? And is her candidacy reigniting their capacity for hope? Sarah shares new focus gro…

1
The Race to Define Kamala Harris 1:05:22

2M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Election Day is just over 100 days away, and the Trump team is scrambling to define Kamala Harris before she can do it herself. Jon and Dan discuss the Harris campaign rollout so far, the Right's attack playbook, and Joe Biden's Oval Office address about passing the torch. Then, former UN Ambassador Susan Rice joins the show to talk about what it r…

1
Kamala Harris Starts Hot (feat. Pete Buttigieg) 1:31:45

2M ago1:31:45

1:31:45

And she's off! Kamala Harris has clinched the majority of delegates, she's breaking fundraising records and driving voter registration, and she's out on the trail offering a clear contrast to Donald Trump and his dark vision for America. Tommy and guest host Ali Velshi dissect Harris's campaign rollout, the shifting dynamics of the race, and Benjam…

1
Biden Passes the Torch to Kamala 55:48

2M ago55:48

55:48

In a historic moment in what was already a norm-shattering campaign, Joe Biden withdraws from the presidential race and endorses Kamala Harris. As the rest of the party moves to unite behind the VP, Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy talk how Biden arrived at his decision, the particular strengths that Harris brings to the race against Donald Trump, and h…

1
S4 Ep19: The Time Mobile, Alabama, Sentenced a Man to Death For Stealing $1.95 36:52

2M ago36:52

36:52

When a handyman from Mobile, Alabama, was accused of stealing $1.95 from a woman who employed him in 1957, no one could have guessed the fervor it would cause, not just nationally but overseas. Jimmy Wilson was sentenced to death for the theft in a case that threatened America's reputation on a global scale. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast f…

1
Bidin' His Time 1:23:37

2M ago1:23:37

1:23:37

Is Biden inching toward dropping out, or is he committed to staying put? If he did make a move, when would he do it, and how? Live in Madison, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan parse the latest news and discuss the worst and the weirdest of the Republican convention alongside guest host Errin Haines of The 19th and special guest Ben Wikler, chairman of t…

1
Trump Is So Beatable 50:59

2M ago50:59

50:59

Donald Trump returns to form in a rambling, divisive, and endless acceptance speech certain to remind swing voters why they don't like him, and to remind Democrats that they can beat him. The question now is, who will be the Democratic nominee to turn the race around? With more and more party leaders (and most voters) asking for a change, it looks …

1
Vance Vance Revolution 40:29

2M ago40:29

40:29

JD Vance makes his debut as Donald Trump's running mate and doesn't exactly hit a home run. Joe Biden tests positive for COVID, details leak out about Chuck Schumer's tough-love conversation with the president, and the DNC blinks in the standoff over its plan for a virtual roll call. Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan break down a truly packed day of news…

1
Fear and Unity in Milwaukee 45:41

2M ago45:41

45:41

Donald Trump's former rivals compete to see who can praise him the hardest and who can spread the most vile lies about immigration and crime, as a smiling Trump looks on from the audience. Trump's pollster claims Republicans have put solidly blue states like New Jersey in play, and Trump himself tries to convince RFK Jr. to endorse him by spewing n…

1
Trump's Shooting Upends 2024 1:06:58

2M ago1:06:58

1:06:58

After surviving a horrifying assassination attempt, Donald Trump announces J.D. Vance as his VP pick and promises to shift the tone of the Republican convention. Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy talk about the VP selection, whether it's possible to "lower the temperature" of our political discourse, and Joe Biden's testy interview with Lester Holt. For …

1
S4 Ep18: The Pimlico Poisoning: The Trial of Adelaide Bartlett 43:04

2M ago43:04

43:04

Soon after London bade farewell to 1885 and welcomed the new year, a woman named Adelaide Bartlett roused her sleeping house with screams. Her husband, Edwin, who had seemed to have turned a corner on his recent illness, was dead. Housemates who arrived in a panic immediately noticed a chemical smell in the room that suggested Edwin hadn't died of …

1
Was Biden's "Big Boy Presser" Enough? 53:02

2M ago53:02

53:02

Jon and Dan break down Joe Biden's big press conference, whether he did enough to calm nervous Democrats, and whether he's making a sharp enough case against Donald Trump—or for himself—to move the numbers and create a plausible path to victory. Plus, the latest signals from the campaign about what its strategy will be going forward, and how the Tr…

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