Al and James discuss Kamala’s presidential prospects, James’ ideas to move the party forward, and Trump’s plans for retribution before welcoming FT’s US national editor Ed Luce. They look at how the center and far left united in French elections to defeat Le Pen, and weigh whether Macron will be able to govern effectively. Then, they break down the…

In the aftermath of the presidential debate, Al and James sound the alarm on rising Christian Nationalism and welcome veteran journalist Ron Brownstein. They discuss the debate's impact on the race, weigh what Biden can do to counter a terrible performance, explore whether it's feasible to replace him, and game out what the process would look like …

On the eve of the presidential debate, Al and special guest host Jill Wine-Banks discuss the upcoming contest, the impact of Dobbs on the election, and whether Biden will recapture a diverse voter coalition. Then, Al is joined by former US Deputy SOS Jim Steinberg to cover recent developments in the Gaza and Ukraine wars, explain the turmoil in Isr…

James and Al call out the Republican congressional caucus, review the political situation in Israel, mark Juneteenth, remember Willie Mays, and welcome veteran political strategist Bob Shrum. They discuss the format of the upcoming presidential debate, Biden’s prospects, how he should handle the age issue, Trump’s weaknesses, the importance of deba…

James and Al explain the impact of Hunter Biden’s conviction, emphasize the political power of falling crime rates, and welcome Lisa Lerer, author of The Fall of Roe. They expose the right-wing movement that gave us Dobbs, call out Supreme Court corruption, debate the role of role of Alito’s leaked decision, discuss the failures of the progressive …

James and Al defend Dr. Fauci and analyze Biden’s improving electoral prospects after the Trump trial verdict and the recent primaries before welcoming propaganda expert Peter Pomerantsev. They discuss how the successful British information campaign against the Nazis broadcast from an in-group and absurdist perspective to undermine the party’s lead…

James and Al preview Trump’s imminent Manhattan verdict, call for the SCOTUS to be on the ballot, demand a higher minimum wage, and welcome the Financial Times’ Ed Luce. They discuss Labor’s prospects in the upcoming British elections, how the conservatives have decimated the country, the rising radicalism of the Right, Europe’s leadership post-Bre…

James and Al lay out the hard choices facing the Biden campaign, blast corruption on the Supreme Court, and welcome Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi to dive into geopolitics. They start by exploring US-Sino relations, covering President Xi’s governing philosophy, the enslavement of the Uighurs, what a successful trade policy looks like, how to bolster our …

James and Al tear into Trump for seeking bribes from Big Oil, blast the MSM for failing to cover what matters, share their take on the recent polls and primaries, and welcome historian Heather Cox Richardson. They draw parallels between contemporary politics and the Civil War era, exploring MAGA’s regressive roots, our democracy’s war with demagogu…

James and Al reflect on Trump’s ongoing trial, the need for Biden to run a focused campaign, and the future of Gaza before welcoming author and journalist Katherine Stewart. They discuss the rise of the Christian nationalism movement in the USA, exploring how it relates to popular Christianity, its exploitation of the culture war and other politica…

Guest host Paul Begala joins Al to analyze the factors driving the ‘24 election and the dangers of another Trump term before speaking with UC President Emeritus Mark Yudof. They discuss where the pro-Palestine protests fit in the history of campus movements, how an oppressor/oppressed schema contributes to anti-Israel and anti-Semetic sentiment, wh…

James and Al game out Trump’s prosecution, reluctantly give credit to Speaker Johnson, and castigate the SCOTUS, before welcoming retired General John Allen to discuss our place in world affairs. They look at the effects of the foreign aid package, how to continue to support our allies, and the next phase of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars…

James and Al dive into Congress’ handling of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and analyze the politically transformative effects of Dobbs on the Republican party. Then they welcome legal expert Fred Wertheimer to discuss the progression of Trump’s first criminal trial, how the charges can be proven, and developments in the other legal …

James and Al decry Islamophobia and welcome MN Senator Tina Smith to discuss foreign relations and the Dobbs decision’s role in our politics. Following anti-abortion revanchism under the Comstock Act and extreme restrictions in red states, they analyze how to fight back by enacting legislation to secure women’s rights, the policies that will energi…

James and Al critique coastal elitism, explore how the Israel-Gaza war ends, and welcome Justice Breyer to discuss the role of the Supreme Court and its judges. They compare textualism and pragmatism using Justice Scalia as a foil, weigh the factors that go into reading the Constitution, debate politics’ place on the bench, review the ethics govern…

James and Al take Rep. Jim Jordan to task for continuing to spew lies about the 2020 election and review the status of Trump’s many trials, their possible outcomes, and their effect on the race. They also debate what NBC’s firing of Ronna McDaniel says about the state of network journalism, and weigh how RFK Jr. affects the election after his vice …

James and Al tear into the Orban government and analyze Trump’s influence on the Ohio Senate race before welcoming Admiral James Stavridis to discuss the global military landscape. They explore strategies for success in the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas conflicts, game out an effective response to threats against Taiwan, and look at how war fight…

James and Al destroy the RNC and Senator Katie Britt’s SOTU response, before welcoming authors of “White Rural Rage” Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman for a demographic deep dive. They expose the disproportionate influence of rural White voters, analyze the factors driving their regional decline, and explain how Republicans have leveraged their grievan…

James and Al give their take on Super Tuesday and the impact of a Trump conviction, before welcoming journalist Evan Osnos. They analyze Biden’s electoral prospects and the validity of the polls, looking at how his personality has changed, whether he is fit to serve, and how to win over the doubters. Then, they preview the potential and peril of th…

James and Al expose the hypocrisy of Jim Jordan and Matt Schlapp and welcome PA Senator Bob Casey. They discuss the role of President Biden in down ballot elections, what it will take to win in PA, and the issues most important to voters. They cover how Republican obstruction is exacerbating the border crisis and undermining national security, layi…

James and Al skewer the radical Republicans complicit in the events of J6 and welcome former presidential advisor and Lincoln biographer Sidney Blumenthal. They shut down the corruption allegations targeting President Biden, discuss the capture of MAGA by Putin and propaganda, and lay out the threat Russia poses to our elections and allies. Then, t…

James and Al celebrate the Democrats win of George Santos’ seat, blast Republicans for stopping the border bill, take on Robert Hur, and welcome law professor Pam Karlan. They discuss what will go into the SCOTUS rulings on Trump’s immunity and ballot cases and whether the justices will attempt to “split the baby”. Then they debate Judge Cannon’s i…

James and Al fire off on the continuing MAGA takeover of the Republican Party that led to the scuttling of the Democrats’ national security and immigration bill, and welcome NYT journalist Adam Nagourney. They discuss the role of The New York Times as a media institution, its mission, its leadership, and the scandals and financial challenges it has…

James and Al break down the border battle and skewer Republican attacks on Taylor Swift, before welcoming historian Sean Wilentz. They discuss the best media practices for covering Trump, recent parallels to the Civil War, the role the SCOTUS plays in maintaining our democracy, and how to put an end to Trump’s rolling coup. Then, James and Al are j…

James and Al analyze the New Hampshire primary results and lay out the evidence of the Republican Party’s capitulation to Trump. Then, they welcome journalist Joshua Green to explore how the combination of the 2008 financial crisis and pandemic’s economic effects led to the rebellion on the Democratic Left, represented by Elizabeth Warren, AOC, and…

James and Al dive into the state of the race after the Iowa caucus by examining the performances of the candidates and the role of third parties before welcoming Rep. Rosa DeLauro. They game out the upcoming budget battle facing the divided Congress, explain why we’re stuck with continuing resolutions, and weigh the potential replacement of Speaker…

James and Al dive into the upcoming primaries, the budget battle being waged by Speaker Johnson, and the intensifying debate around border policy. Then, they welcome former executive editor of The New York Times, Jill Abramson, to consider the implications of Claudine Gay’s firing and discuss how the media is dealing with Trump ahead of the Iowa ca…

James and Al skewer so-called family values Republicans after recent scandals and welcome polling experts Fred Yang and Jim Gerstein. They dive into the weak numbers being put up by the Biden campaign, analyzing what’s bringing them down, the composition of the electorate, the role of 3rd party candidates, the messaging challenges ahead, and how to…

James and Al welcome Stanford Law’s Pam Karlan, academy member George Stevens, and economic maven Roger Altman to get their takes on the year ahead in their field of expertise. In the financial arena, they cover the importance of the economy to a Democratic victory in 2024, the factors driving inflation, and how we managed to avoid the predicted re…

In this special holiday episode, James and Al take Netanyahu to task for his failures and welcome their spouses Judy Woodruff and Mary Matalin. They explore the causes driving the partisan divisions that have come to define our politics, including the demise of local media, the salience of racism, and how we’ve come to disregard anything that comes…

James and Al analyze the ominous poll numbers confronting President Biden, dissect the issues driving them, and try to find the way forward. They also compare his support with Trump’s, and look ahead to the effects of the ongoing criminal cases and weigh whether the Supreme Court will throw him a lifeline. From there, they fire off on the Ivy Leagu…

James and Al tear apart the premise and political opportunism of the renewed attempt to impeach President Biden, and welcome Professor Marci Hamilton for a wide ranging conversation about religion and speech. They break down how the lowering of the barriers between Church and State goes against the principles of the founding, and look at the conseq…

James and Al share how Hunter Biden has outmaneuvered the partisan investigations of his family, give an update on the Republican primary, and welcome journalist Tim Alberta to discuss the modern evangelical movement and its alliance with Trump. They investigate how the faith has been co-opted by politics and culture, driven by the apocalyptic view…

James and Al discuss the Israel-Hamas cease fire, give tribute to Rosalynn Carter, and welcome Judge John Tunheim on the anniversary of JFK’s assassination. They dive into his work reviewing the confidential documents that were released, and weigh the events of that day in pursuit of the truth. They cover the single bullet theory, the importance of…

James and Al condemn Republicans in each branch of government and welcome polling expert and author of Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America, John Della Volpe. They analyze the growing cynicism of key parts of the Democratic coalition and discuss how vigorous campaigning, exciting young surrogates, and strong messagi…

James and Al celebrate the election wins by Democrats in typically Republican strongholds, and implore the Democrats to avoid division over the war in Gaza. Then, they welcome veteran journalist Thomas Edsall to delve into the return of the religious right exemplified by the speakership of Mike Johnson, how Republicans have forsaken their moderate …

James and Al analyze the growing presidential field, and fire off on Mike Johnson and Netanyahu, before diving into foreign affairs with AP Global Enterprise Editor Indira Lakshmanan. They break down the effects of the accelerating conflict in Israel in the Middle East, how long the conflict will last, and the changing tide of global opinion. They …

James and Al preview Rep. Mike Johnson’s upcoming speakership and are joined by former Israeli PM Ehud Barak to lay out the military options under consideration in Gaza, the goals that the war will seek to accomplish, and how the intervention might end. Then, they speak with Admiral James Stavridis to discuss the practicalities of a ground invasion…

James and Al are joined by Israeli foreign policy expert Alon Pinkas to explain the latest developments in the accelerating war in Gaza, its regional effects, and the roles of President Biden and PM Netanyahu. They explore the ramifications of the hospital explosion, the threat of Iran and Hezbollah, how the USA is viewed in the region, and if the …

Following the tragic attack on Israel by Hamas, James and Al are joined by political strategist Jim Gerstein to break down the situation on the ground and its regional ramifications. They delve into the potential for a wider conflict, how a follow-up invasion can destroy the prospects for Middle East peace, and how the Israeli government is respond…

James and Al are joined by the congressional challenger to Lauren Boebert in Colorado, Adam Frish. They discuss the factors that led to her near defeat in the last election, his strategy of drawing a contrast between the chaos of MAGA rule and sane governance, and the importance of fighting to win back rural areas. Then they welcome Professor Yasch…

James and Al contrast Senator Menendez with the crimes of Trump, preview the Republican field before the debate, and welcome PA Congressman Brendan Boyle. They discuss the likelihood of a government shutdown at Republican hands, why it’s proof that MAGA owns the party, and the financial dangers it poses. From lost job creation, cuts to schools, lea…

James and Al welcome election expert Elaine Kamarck to discuss the primary process, the placement of South Carolina as the first in the nation, presidential succession, and the impact of No Labels. Then they talk with VA Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Swecker to break down the upcoming elections in her state, how MAGA has supplanted traditional …

James and Al shame Republicans for threats of government shutdown and for prioritizing spending cuts that killed the expanded Child Tax Credit and threw millions of kids into poverty. Then they welcome Senator Chris Murphy to discuss the disastrous repeal of the assault weapons ban, celebrate Biden’s passage of a gun safety bill, and highlight the …

James and Al welcome journalist Frank Foer for an inside look at the Biden White House, its strengths and policy successes, how his novel transition strategy kicked off a strong first year, and the factors defining the 2024 race as we head into the fall. Then, they talk with Professor Kathleen Belew to discuss the growing domestic threat of white p…

James and Al lament the Trumpist takeover of the House Oversight Committee and the expiry of childcare support, and talk with financial maven Roger Altman. They look at the improving strength of the economy, and weigh the options of Jay Powell as the risks of recession and inflation's dangers seem to be declining. Then, they break down the effects …

James and Al give their take on the Republican field going into their first debate and preview the current legal outlook of Trump and his co-conspirators on the heels of Rudy’s prison booking. They also break down why the national mood has soured despite positive economic numbers and welcome journalist Sarah Ellison to discuss the love-hate relatio…

James and Al are joined by Professor Morgan Cloud to explain the difference between the federal and Georgia state RICO statutes, why Trump was indicted there, and if it will split the Republican party. Then, they sit down with Professor Sean Wilentz to discuss how the way history is being taught is changing with the growing trend towards presentism…

James and Al celebrate the collapse of the DeSantis campaign and the recent show of strength by Democrats in midwestern Republican strongholds post Dobbs. Then, they’re joined by historian and author Evan Thomas to discuss the surrender of Japan during World War II after our decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a focus on the key decision m…

James and Al emphasize how winning the upcoming elections is dependent on us all getting politically active and are joined by economics expert Professor Laura Tyson. Together, they give us the case for Bidenomics, explain the similarities and differences to what Clinton did, and why Democrats are historically far better for the economy than Republi…