Pod Save America

David Plouffe, Senior Advisor to the Harris-Walz campaign and campaign manager for Barack Obama in 2008, joins Dan to talk about where the race stands in the final stretch, which voters the campaign is targeting, and where they're planning to use their resources to greatest effect. Then, Carlos Odio from Equis Research stops by to talk about the Latino vote, how the economy is shaping voter behavior, and what Harris can do to win over those Americans who are still on the fence.

With 25 days left until Election Day, the quadrennial October Freakout is upon us! Jon and Dan break down the tightening polls, the rival campaigns' strategies for the final push, and the reasons why it's okay to worry—but not to panic. Then, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen joins Lovett to talk about her tight race for reelection and how she plans to pull off a win. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Donald Trump cancels on 60 Minutes as Kamala Harris and Tim Walz face tough questions and then kick off a full-scale media blitz, with appearances on The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Howard Stern. Donald Trump responds with an interview tour through the friendliest of conservative outlets. Jon and guest host Jen Psaki break down the dueling media strategies, the highlights and lowlights, and whether it’s all working. Then, Jon chats with Joyce Craig, the Democratic candidate for the must-win governor’s seat in New Hampshire. You can support disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene and Milton by donating now at votesaveamerica.com/relief For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Live from Philly, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, Dan, and MSNBC's Symone Sanders Townsend discuss Trump's rally with Elon Musk, Kamala Harris's media blitz, and reports that she plans to distance herself more from Joe Biden. Then, Senator Bob Casey drops by to nerd out about Pennsylvania electoral maps and to talk about his re-election fight against a Connecticut hedge fund guy—and why Pennsylvania voters have everything on the line this November. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Live from Ann Arbor, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan are joined by special guest host Leah Litman, co-host of Strict Scrutiny and Michigan’s own legal whiz! With just four weeks until Election Day they dive into the latest in the presidential race—Kamala Harris’s more aggressive strategy, Donald Trump’s wild new conspiracy about Hurricane Helene, and Melania Trump’s surprise stance on abortion. Plus, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin stops by to talk about her Senate race and what Democrats need to do to win in November. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast. 

October is here... and so are the surprises. Special Counsel Jack Smith brings Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy back into the headlines, while Harris teams up with Liz Cheney to campaign in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Harris and Biden face fresh challenges: Hurricane Helene recovery and spiraling Middle East tensions. Dan and Jon explore how Trump’s legal troubles could shape the final stretch of the race, and whether Harris will turn the spotlight back to Trump's threat to democracy. Plus, Stacey Abrams stops by to break down Georgia’s new voting restrictions and how to make sure your vote counts.To hear the rest of this Inside 2024 episode, and to catch all past and future episodes, be sure to sign up for Friends of the Pod at crooked.com/friends. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy break down Tim Walz's great arguments about democracy and reproductive rights, JD Vance's distortions on Obamacare and immigration, and the other moments that might—might!—break through from a surprisingly collegial vice presidential debate. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tim Walz and JD Vance prepare for the last big moment of the campaign: Tuesday's vice presidential debate. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy handicap Walz's strengths and weaknesses and offer their advice on lines of attack. Plus, just a day after threatening a "really violent" police purge, Donald Trump travels to hurricane-ravaged Georgia to lie about Joe Biden and Kamala Harris deliberately holding up aid. Then, legendary strategist James Carville stops by to talk about where the race stands and how Harris can pull out a win.You can support disaster relief efforts for Hurricane Helene by donating now at votesaveamerica.com/helene For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Harris gives another big economic speech and sits for an interview about protecting consumers and growing the middle class. Trump, meanwhile, claims Iran is trying to kill him, accuses Harris of lying about working at McDonald’s, defends newly indicted Mayor Eric Adams, and engages in yet another grift: selling branded watches. Jon and Dan break down all the latest, including Harris’s upcoming border visit, and chat with Strict Scrutiny’s Melissa Murray about her new MSNBC special on Black women and their potential to decide the election.

Lovett and guest host Errin Haines break down Kamala Harris's efforts to close the gap with Donald Trump on the economy, and what might be behind Trump's deranged new appeal to women voters. Then, Fox News's Jessica Tarlov, cohost of The Five, stops by to talk about what it's like to be a Democrat on the network Democrats love to hate, and how she survives her daily confrontations with Fox's most opinionated conservatives. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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 Chenjerai Kumanyika about his new series, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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 Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's, um, online interests. Then, Tommy, Jon, and Dan debrief Lovett on his (spoiler alert!) brief but iconic run on Survivor. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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 hall in Michigan. Then they break down the latest polls and the overall state of the race with less than 50 days to go before the election. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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, Kamala Harris does more interviews, and the Trump family plunges into the crypto business. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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 freakout over Taylor Swift's endorsement. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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-eating story, and Taylor Swift's big post-debate endorsement. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast. 

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 troll Trump. Meanwhile, Trump plays the hits with new threats to arrest his political opponents and incite violence. Then, Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks joins Tommy in studio to talk about why people need to pay close attention to the Maryland Senate race, and about getting to know Kamala Harris over the years. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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 about his crucial Senate race against Kari Lake and what Democrats need to do to win Arizona in November. Plus, a Kari Lake-themed game.

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, “clear underdogs.” Then, CNN’s Dana Bash joins the show to talk about the debate that changed everything and what to expect in next week’s big face-off. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

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 makes time for fantasy football.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.