Best Matt Robison and Paul Hodes Podcasts (2024)

1
The High Stakes Fork in the Road Dilemma for Democrats 26:44

2h ago26:44

26:44

BONUS EPISODE: There are two paths in the road ahead for Biden and the Democrats after President Joe Biden's rough debate. There is a roadmap for how he can recover--but can Biden pull it off? And if he can't, what does the unprecedented pathway of him dropping out look like? CHECK OUT MATT'S NEWSWEEK ARTICLE COVERING THIS ISSUE IN DEPTH: https://w…

1
Debate Disaster for Biden. What Happens Now? 39:13

3h ago39:13

39:13

The debate went very badly for Joe Biden. And whether it's fair or not, the reality is that Biden's path to stopping Trump has gotten much harder. Matt, Paul, and Alicia delve into the key question of what happens next. Can Biden recover? What would that take? And if his team concludes that he can't, what would that look like? 01:32 Analyzing Biden…

1
How To Win the Long Fight for America's Soul 43:40

3d ago43:40

43:40

We're in the middle of a fight, as president Biden put it, for the soul of America. We face diametrically opposing visions of the future, and a ton of difficult questions. Even if we win the election, do we just have the bigger threat of everything Donald Trump has unleashed looming ahead of us? What about the way we're waging this fight? I just wr…

1
Biden's Blistering Attack Shifts the Campaign 36:46

7d ago36:46

36:46

Why did the Biden campaign decide to launch a blistering new line of attack right now? And what does it tell us about what his closest advisers are seeing from the inside? We connected a few dots to try to figure out the answer. Also, a flood of big news from the tech and political world, including. And, has the Trump campaign figured out how to ma…

1
Sentencing Trump: What Should We WANT to Happen? 33:13

10d ago33:13

33:13

With Donald Trump's sentencing in New York rapidly approaching, we ask, what should we want out of the judges sentencing? It's really not that clear cut, since the answer invokes issues of justice, precedent and practical politics. What will this mean for the 2024 election? How would different sentences change voters' perceptions and each sides' me…

1
An Insurrectionist [Trump] Returns to the Scene of the Crime 42:40

14d ago42:40

42:40

So what happened when Donald Trump went back to the scene of the crime? We're talking of course, about his visit to Congress, the independent branch of government that he urged his supporters to attack as he inspired them to attempted insurrection. We also got into the hunter Biden verdict, and the question of whether Members of Congress really mis…

1
The Real Behind the Scenes Power in America 41:06

17d ago41:06

41:06

Today, we look at the source of power that has driven the Republican Party for the last five decades, and has shaped the policies, politics, and politicians who in turn shape our lives. Political scientist EJ Fagan's new book 'The Thinkers,' dives into the origins, methods, and extensive power that these institutions quietly wield. 01:07 The Power …

1
It's Starting to Turn on Trump 38:40

21d ago38:40

38:40

Int he aftermath of Donald Trump's felony conviction, polls are suggesting that critical voters are turning on him. So why are all the big name Republicans so determined to stick with him, and suggest dangerous, scary reprisals? Also is Biden's big border executive order going to make a political difference. Plus, President Biden boxed in Bibi Neta…

1
After Trump? Reporter's Inside Look at the Crazy MAGA Future. 44:54

24d ago44:54

44:54

ProPublica reporter Andy Kroll just went deep inside the epicenter of MAGA insanity, and found some unsettling things. What drives the MAGA movement is not policy or even support for Trump anymore, but something worse, something that's been on full display since Trump's conviction in New York. And it paints a troubling picture of the post-Trump fut…

1
Bonus: How Much will the Conviction Hurt Trump 11:50

28d ago11:50

11:50

A quick interview with Howard Monroe about the impact of the Trump conviction

1
Emergency Pod: Trump Convicted, But Is He Finally Done? 41:24

29d ago41:24

41:24

We start with an emergency segment recorded late this evening on the news that Donald Trump has been convicted on all 34 counts int he New York fraud trial, and is now a felon. We sort through the legal next steps and the political implications. We then shift to our earlier recording and hit the big story from Congressman Jamie Raskin and his propo…

1
How Mega Companies Get Filthy Rich Off America's Poor with YOUR Tax Dollars 45:53

1M ago45:53

45:53

It's a shocking story we hear almost nothing about: huge corporations exploiting some of the $900 billion a year in government programs aimed at helping America's poor, and pocketing hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars along the way. Anne Kim, a Contributing Editor at Washington Monthly, shares some of the most riveting stories from her book '…

1
Trump Claims That He's Dead 35:08

1M ago35:08

35:08

Yes, Donald Trump did kind of tell supporters that he's dead. Our round table discussion started with deep, interesting question: after all the talk about polarization and division, is there actually a powerful emerging centrist movement in America? But then, Alicia dropped something kind of fascinating and disturbing into the conversation, an emai…

1
Is Biden REALLY in Trouble with Black Voters? 35:16

1M ago35:16

35:16

Are Democrats really shedding massive amounts of support from African American voters? There are certainly warning signs of trouble -- including a New York times poll showing Trump getting the support of more than 20% of Black Americans. But Mario Broussard and Ana Robinson of Global Strategy Group say that the actual picture is a lot more nuanced …

1
Who ACTUALLY Won the Presidential debate Standoff? 38:56

1M ago38:56

38:56

After a major standoff, Trump and Biden have agreed to two presidential debates. Did Biden win this exchange? And how much does it really matter? Also, a quick breakdown of Michael Cohen's testimony, and the question of whether Trump's political defenses in the hush money trial are actually kind of working. Plus, a very weird New York Times poll fr…

1
What Everyone Is Missing About Voters' Sour Mood on the Economy 41:49

2M ago41:49

41:49

Lauren Goldstein of Change Research dives into a fascinating study aims to get inside the minds of voters and could help explain why they feel so negative about the most important issue of the 2024 election - the economy. Also, why they do things differently than most opinion researchers, and how that can help change the way we talk to voters. 01:3…

1
Trump's Legal Danger Just Went Way Up...But Not Because of Stormy. 36:31

2M ago36:31

36:31

Was the big, headline grabbing testimony from Stormy Daniel actually the most significant thing that happened in the Trump trial this week? We make the case that the answer is actually...no. Trump should be a lot more worried about three other developments. Plus, what's driving the Biden administration's pause on arms transfers to Israel? And why d…

1
The Secrets You Need to Know to Succeed in Politics 59:32

2M ago59:32

59:32

What are the things you have to get right to succeed in the world of politics? What's the secret sauce to winning a campaign? (hint: it's actually not what most people think) And what are the unwritten rules that you have to know to be a member of Congress or to work in Congress? We tacked these questions and much more this week, when Matt was hono…

1
A Week of Bizarre, Hilarious Political Stories 36:38

2M ago36:38

36:38

This week, politics has been kind of amazing because there's been such a strange mix of ultra serious issues filled with moments that are just hilarious. We unpack the latest developments in the Trump trial and how Donald Trump's own lawyer ended up introducing some really humiliating evidence about him. Also, the crackdown on student protesters an…

1
There's a Way Out of MAGA Domination 38:47

2M ago38:47

38:47

Is there actually a light at the end of the tunnel, a way out of MAGA domination for the Republican Party? Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution and Peter Wehner of the Trinity Forum, walk us through their much-discussed plan outlined in a recent New York Times opinion piece for a new movement to return to a rational, conservative Republican …

1
What Should Universities Do About Increasingly Violent Protests? 39:27

2M ago39:27

39:27

As protests over the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, reignite and turn violent, the panel ask whether a line has been crossed and what universities that have been paralyzed for so long should do now. We also mark the historic passage of the foreign aid bill, which included long overdue money for Ukraine. And at the end, we ask whether a quote…

1
Why Are Right-Wing Media "Utterly Collapsing?" 45:55

2M ago45:55

45:55

The biggest right-wing news sites are seeing cratering traffic and influence. But why? And is that all good news for the rest of the anti-Trump world? Veteran reporter Paul Farhi joins to discuss his recent blockbuster article in The Atlantic on what's happening, and why it's significant. 00:59 How Big is the Collapse of Right-Wing Media Traffic 03…

1
Who's Fighting one of America's Biggest Threats? Meet the Lie Detectives. 48:07

2M ago48:07

48:07

What would you say is the biggest threat to America today? It might not be what you think. Many of America's senior leaders, especially the ones in the Democratic Party, believe that it's the insidious, intentional assault on our brains, from people using technology to pump them full of misinformation and disinformation. The torrent of lies may be …

1
The Shifting, Secret Trump Jury That Could Shape History 36:49

2M ago36:49

36:49

Former prosecutor Paul Hodes walks us through one of the most important jury selection processes ever, as jurors are added - and removed - from trump's fraud trial in New York. We also probe the impact of having two lawyers on the jury, and is the Biden White House taking the right approach politically by staying totally silent about the trial. Als…

1
Trump's Stock is Crashing Now. How Bad Will This Get for Him? 28:08

2M ago28:08

28:08

The dramatic decrease in value of Donald Trump's Truth Social stock has already erased billions in ill-gotten gains from the former President. Why the major fall, and more important, how bad could this ultimate get for Trump? We asked stock market expert Chris Hill, former host of Motley Fool Money. 00:00 The Crash of Trump's Truth Social Stock 02:…

1
Did the OJ Simpson Trial Foreshadow the Rise of Trump? 31:20

3M ago31:20

31:20

Did the basic elements of the OJ Simpson trial give us a preview of Trump's America? The comparison isn't as far-fetched as it might seem. Also, the impliations of the recent Arizona ruling implementing a total abortion ban, and how did that lead to Lindsay Graham being called a Republican in name only (RINO). Also... Lenny Kravitz's fashion choice…

1
Obama's AI Advisor: What's Good, What's Bad, And What's Scary 41:49

3M ago41:49

41:49

The implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be profound, wonderful, and maybe terrifying. Eric Daimler -- a former AI advisor to President Obama -- helps us sort through the good, the bad, and whether the AI apocalypse is actually a risk (hint: yes, sort of). 01:36 The Real Concerns and Misunderstandings of AI 08:04 The Surprising Origin…

1
The Best Movie About Politics EVER Isn't What You Think 42:22

3M ago42:22

42:22

We're talking about the best movie about politics ever today, and we'll bet it's not what you think. Maybe you brought to mind Mr. Smith goes to Washington, or the American President. Maybe even the Reese Witherspoon classic Election? NOPE. We want to make a case today that the most accurate, the most insightful, the most hilarious movie about poli…

1
How Trump Is Knifing Johnson Using Marjorie Taylor Greene 33:15

3M ago33:15

33:15

Marjorie Taylor Greene's is trying to remove Mike Johnson as House Speaker, supposedly over his government funding deal, but really over his proposal for Ukraine aid. But it's really a sign of how Trump's small MAGA sect -- and their patron Vladimir Putin -- continue to exercise leverage over the rest of America. Then, was there a critical shift in…

1
One Thing: the Right's Frankenstein Monster Is Back to Get Us 8:49

3M ago8:49

8:49

One thing to notice today is a news story in Politico about how the anti-abortion movement is scheming to turn the Republican party and ultimately all of America against in-vitro fertilization. What's amazing is that this is actually just the latest result of an intentional cynical, carefully calculated project begun in secret 50 years ago, it's so…

1
Are Republicans About to Melt Down...Again? And What About the Rest of Us? 6:53

3M ago6:53

6:53

On the surface, the day's big headline was about Republican dysfunction. Underneath, it really revealed something that's been going wrong with all of American politics for a long time. One polling number, and one long-forgotten episode of a television science fiction series, help illustrate the problem.…

1
Inside the Right Wing's Not-So-Secret Plan for a Radical Takeover 37:14

3M ago37:14

37:14

Imagine the leaders of America's right wing sitting down and writing a plan for a radical re-shaping of American government and society, a blueprint to put in place if they manage to elect Donald Trump again. It actually happened. Today, we go inside 'Project 2025' with Ben Olinsky from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and find out wha…

1
One Thing: How Daniel Kahneman Actually Changed the World 6:07

3M ago6:07

6:07

There were two significant deaths in the news on Wednesday: one got all the headlines, but the other one changed the world. And that's the one thing to pay attention to: how Daniel Kahneman led a quiet revolution in understanding how people think that is still rippling through the world and will for decades to come. He's even likely influenced the …

1
Trump Just Made Billions. Does It Change Anything? 35:54

3M ago35:54

35:54

Donald Trump just made billions by taking his media company built on Truth Social public. Is that really going to change anything politically? Or in terms of the fact that he seemed to be nearly bankrupt at the beginning of the week? (01:09). Then the Ronna McDaniel saga at NBC where she got hired and promptly fired. Alicia Preston shuts down the R…

1
Wait, HOW Often Do Ships Run Into Bridges??? (Hint: A LOT) 9:38

3M ago9:38

9:38

Today, we're testing a new concept: 10 minute daily episodes highlighting the things happening in the news that are worthy of your attention, but that don't make the headline skim. The kind of important number or idea that somehow slips down 8 paragraphs in the story, or onto the back pages. Something that might make you think about the world a lit…

1
He Stopped Trump from Stealing One Critical Swing State 30:55

3M ago30:55

30:55

Joe Khan was the lawyer for a critical swing county in Pennsylvania in 2020 when he noticed something...odd. He joins us to tell the story of how he and a group of lawyers banded together to defend the Pennsylvania election outcome - and ultimately American democracy - from the Trump onslaught. And now that he's running for Attorney General of Penn…

1
Is Most of the Music Industry About to Be Wiped Out? 42:37

3M ago42:37

42:37

There is a sneaky huge shift happening in American music right now right under our very noses (or ears). Private equity's takeover of the music business could have major consequences for what we hear and whether we hear anything new at all. Whitney Houston's catalog acquisition, Taylor Swift's battle over her masters, and the fight over Pink Floyd'…

1
Republicans' Spactacular, Epic, Hilarious Backfire 53:42

3M ago53:42

53:42

A Chaotic Republican Hearing and Trump's Legal and Financial Woes: the round table runs through a tumultuous Republican hearing meant to highlight Republicans' fantasy of wrongdoing by President Biden, which backfired spectacularly on themselves and Donald Trump. Also, Judge Aileen Cannon's ham-handed slow-walking of the Trump documents case, and t…

1
Trump is Beating Biden Right Now. Why That Probably Won't Last. 28:15

3M ago28:15

28:15

How on earth is Trump beating Biden right now? It's the question that has baffled and enraged Democrats for months. And it's the question that Matt Robison tackled in his new article for Washington Monthly. Matt lays out one of the biggest reasons, something that analysts tend to overlook, and adds material that didn't make it into the article. 00:…

1
Did Trump Just Beat (some of) the Rap? 36:33

4M ago36:33

36:33

Three charges were just dismissed against Donald Trump in Georgia. Will this make a major, lasting difference in his legal peril? Also, Never Trump Republicans fold bigly, is a MAGA takeover bid for TikTok a good thing, and is the AI apocalypse here? 00:46 Analyzing the Legal Implications and Prosecutorial Missteps 11:16 The Political and Legal Ram…

1
Whatever Happened in the Biggest Trump-Russia Scandal? 31:35

4M ago31:35

31:35

We look back today at the biggest, and probably most forgotten scandal in the whole Trump-Russia web of corruption. When Charles McGonigal, former head of counterintelligence at the FBI, was recently convicted for money laundering and working for Russia, the media barely took notice. In this interview recorded a year ago just after McGonigal's arre…

1
Biden Just Took His Strategy From A Hollywood Movie 33:17

4M ago33:17

33:17

Beyond Politics: Biden's Impact, Trump's Troubles, and Democratic Strategies Biden's recent turn in tone, language, and strategy that he started at the State of the Union seems ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script. Political analyst Cliff Schecter thinks it comes right out of "The American President," but Matt Robison has a couple other movi…

1
Did Biden's "Home Run" Speech Reset the 2024 Election? 36:36

4M ago36:36

36:36

President Joe Biden's fiery, fiesty State of the Union drew raves from analysts, with Politico writing "it’s hard to imagine how the SOTU could’ve gone much better for Biden." But what impact did it actually have with the swing voters that will decide the 2024 election? And will it reset a race that's been looking dangerous for the President? Polls…

1
Is This Make Or Break Week for Joe Biden? 34:58

4M ago34:58

34:58

With major polls showing President Joe Biden continuing to trail Donald Trump, Democratic insiders believe that the State of the Union speech this week has now become a make-or-break moment for the President. But is it? And what does he need to accomplish for it to be successful? Also, the hidden significance of Super Tuesday that could be sneaky g…

1
Will the Alabama IVF Ruling Continue to Shake American Politics? 25:25

4M ago25:25

25:25

When Alabama's Supreme Court redefined the legal status of stored embryos, equating them to children under a law from 1872, it unleashed a tidal wave of outrage, fear, and recriminations. Sabrina Talukder, Director of the Women's Initiative at the Center for American Progress, joins to talk through the continuing repercussions of the ruling, whethe…

1
Should Trump Or Biden Be More Scared By This Week's Primaries? 28:40

4M ago28:40

28:40

***PLEASE leave us a rating/review on Apple podcast app!*** What is the meaning of the Haley vote in South Carolina and the "uncommitted" vote in Michigan? Is Trump or Biden more vulnerable to weakness in his own party? Also, how should the Biden campaign shift strategy after the Supreme Court took up the Trump immunity case and pushed back the ele…

1
Emergency Pod: The Supreme Court Massively Shifts the 2024 Election 38:36

4M ago38:36

38:36

The Supreme Court's decision to consider Donald Trump's claim of absolute immunity could massively change the course and the outcome of the presidential election. With this decision, the Court seems to be taking away the biggest driver of voters turning away from Trump. Guest Andy Kroll of ProPublica helps examine why the Court did this, what the p…

1
Revisiting the Reporter Who Discovered Clarence Thomas' Dirty Secrets 41:17

4M ago41:17

41:17

Today, we revisit an interview with Justin Elliot from ProPublica on his groundbreaking investigation into corruption allegations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We cover the financial ties between Thomas, his wife, and right-wing billionaire Harlan Crow, which included expensive vacations and significant contributions to private sch…

1
A Staggering Disaster For 20 Million in America 34:18

4M ago34:18

34:18

There's a shadow healthcare crisis looming for 20 million, and you probably haven't heard about it. That's because it largely affects a group of people who have been swept up in the politics of immigration and border policy -- even though the vast majority of them are naturalized citizens, documented permanent residents, or Americans born in this c…

1
Russia-Republicans Swindle America AGAIN 25:46

4M ago25:46

25:46

Tell me if you heard this before--the whole impeachment case against President Biden was based on a Russian disinformation operation. AGAIN. Also, what is the impact of an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling regarding in-vitro fertilization? 00:00 Introduction: The Russian Disinformation Operation 01:12 The FBI's Role and Suspicion 01:59 The Hillary…

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Matt Robison And Paul Hodes Podcasts

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