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The Nation Podcasts
Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
Episodes
The Nation PodcastsIsrael Escalates Lebanon Strikes, Taiwan Arms Sale Stalls, US Stockpiles Run Low / American Prestige
The AP UFC dome is regrettably being held up by Producer Jake’s HOA. In this week’s news: an update on the U.S.-Iran talks and U.S. airstrikes near Bandar…
The Nation PodcastsDo Chatbots Really Belong in Schools? w/ Tom Mullaney / Tech Won't Save Us
Generative AI is making its way into many parts of society, and schools are no different. Tom Mullaney joins Paris Marx to discuss how generative AI has been…
The Nation PodcastsStopping Trump’s Slush Fund, plus the Transformations of Bill Gates / Start Making Sense
Trump’s Billion Dollar Ballroom is a familiar kind of corruption, but his slush fund to pay the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence…
The Nation PodcastsIt's the Corruption, Stupid w/ David Sirota
You may have noticed that corruption is legal in our country. At this point, it’s almost like the air we breathe or the water we swim in—it’s everywhere, and…
The Nation PodcastsThe Christian Right Weaponizing Scripture w/ John Fugelsang / American Prestige
Danny and Derek welcome to the show John Fugelsang, host of Tell Me Everything and author of Separation of Church and Hate, to talk about the rise and…
The Nation PodcastsThe Crackdown in Bahrain w/ Aamer | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
The US/Israel war against Iran is not only a conflict between states but also within states. This is most visible in Gulf states such as Bahrain, which are…
The Nation PodcastsIran Talks Stall, Hezbollah Drones Limit IDF, Cuba Pretexts Build / American Prestige
Danny and Derek have reconciled with their disappointment in the new Star Wars film and can now bring you the news roundup. This week: in Iran, talks stall as…
The Nation PodcastsPrediction Markets Want to Financialize Everything w/ Jathan Sadowski / Tech Won't Save Us
Polymarket and Kalshi are everywhere. But what are they doing to society? Jathan Sadowski joins Paris Marx to discuss the rise of prediction markets and their…
The Nation PodcastsWinning State Legislatures and Winning Midterm Elections / Start Making Sense
State legislatures have a lot of power in America—the States Project focuses on expanding that. Daniel Squadron explains. His new book is The Fourth Branch…
The Nation PodcastsExtraction Behind the Green Transition w/ Thea Riofrancos / American Prestige
Danny and Derek welcome back to the show political scientist Thea Riofrancos to talk about the politics of extraction in the global energy transition. They…
The Nation PodcastsBuilding Local Power to Win w/ Dan Denvir / Fighting Fascism
Aaron and Jonathan talk to Dan Denvir, not about his famous lefty podcast The Dig, but about his not-so-famous local organizing project, Reclaim RI. We swap…
The Nation PodcastsThe CIA’s Assassination Campaign in Mexico w/ Alexander Aviña | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
CNN is reporting that the CIA has been actively engaged in assassination campaigns in Mexico targeting alleged members of drug cartels. While both the CIA and…
The Nation PodcastsTrump-Xi Summit, Iran Ceasefire Breakdown, CIA Mexico Strike / American Prestige
Danny and Derek fight fake news as they fight their allergies. In this week’s news: Trump and Xi meet; Trump rejects Iran’s ceasefire terms (3:09); Gulf states…
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The UK Government’s AI Obsession Is a Big Risk w/ Will Dunn / Tech Won't Save Us
What happens when a government goes all in on AI? It creates some huge vulnerabilities. Will Dunn joins Paris Marx to dig into how the UK government is using…
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Democrats After the Voting Rights Act, plus Jews Against Zionism / Start Making Sense
Last week was one of the roughest for Democrats since Trump won the election in 2024 - the Supreme Court ended Black congressional representation in most of…
The Nation PodcastsJournalism in the Age of Oligarchy w/ David Sirota / American Prestige
Danny and Derek speak with David Sirota, founder and EIC of The Lever, about journalism, independent media, and the consolidation of presidential power. They…
The Nation PodcastsDown with the AI Overlords w/ Sarah Myers West / Fighting Fascism
You've already heard us rant about AI. What if you could hear someone who's actually super smart and profoundly informed... also rant about AI? We're joined by…
The Nation PodcastsWhat Jeffrey Epstein Taught Peter Thiel and Steve Bannon w/ Branko Marcetic | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
The late Jeffrey Epstein was friends with all sorts of elite figures in the US and many other countries. This extensive network is now sometimes described as…
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Iran Talks Near Deal, Israel Ignores Ceasefires, Cuba Sanctions Expand | American Prestige
Producer Jake regrettably had his pet rat confiscated after an ill-fated cruise. In this week’s news: Iran considers a U.S. peace proposal (1:37), Project…
The Nation PodcastsMuskism Is the New Fordism w/ Ben Tarnoff & Quinn Slobodian / Tech Won't Say Us
Paris Marx is joined by Ben Tarnoff and Quinn Slobodian to discuss their new book Muskism which explores how Elon Musk exemplifies a new economic system…
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Election Protection in the Midterms, plus Racists and Neo-Nazis in the 1940s and 50s / Start Making Sense
Trump’s efforts to block Democratic voting in the midterms, or overturn the results, is not going to work—Ian Bassin explains the widespread preparations…
The Nation PodcastsRadical Liberalism w/ Alex Zakaras I American Prestige
Danny and Derek welcome to the show Alex Zakaras, professor of political science at the University of Vermont, to talk about the history and future of radical…
The Nation Podcasts"If we have a chance, it lives in the tenant union" w/ Tara Raghuveer | Fighting Fascism
Tara Raghuveer joins us to talk about her work building tenant unions, her belief that tenant unions can be to working-class people in the 21st century what…
The Nation PodcastsIran Talks Collapse, UAE Leaves OPEC, Mali Rebels Seize Kidal / American Prestige
King Charles paid his respects at AP HQ, but was put off by Danny’s pet ferrets. In this week’s news: Iran talks collapse as Trump weighs a blockade and…
The Nation PodcastsTim Cook’s Real Legacy at Apple w/ Brian Merchant / Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss Apple’s announcement that Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO, including his history and legacy, and what may be…
The Nation PodcastsMay Day Action—Plus a Confederate Monuments Takedown I Start Making Sense
In this week’s political rundown, John Nichols explains why Trump may never succeed at building any of his ICE prison camps, and how this Friday’s May Day…
The Nation PodcastsCold War Liberal Empire w/ Daniel Bessner and Michael Brenes I American Prestige
Derek speaks with Danny and Mike Brenes about Cold War liberalism, its shaping of the American empire, and more from their new co-edited volume. They discuss…
The Nation PodcastsFDR, the OG Antifascist w/ Eric Rauchway | Fighting Fascism
Aaron and Matt are joined by Eric Rauchway, author of Why the New Deal Matters, to discuss America’s OG antifascist, FDR. What lessons can we learn from his…
The Nation PodcastsThe End of American Global Power? W/ Anusar Farooqui | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
The conflict in the Middle East is currently in an intermittent holding action with an extended ceasefire but no diplomatic breakthrough. To assess where…
The Nation PodcastsIran Ceasefire Amid Blockade Standoff, Japan Arms Exports Expand, CIA Operatives Die in Mexico | American Prestige
Danny and Derek will livestream from Route 3 as they take to the World Cup on foot. This week’s news: in Iran, Trump extends the ceasefire after talks fail…
The Nation PodcastsThe Problem with "CEO Said a Thing" Journalism w/ Karl Bode | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Karl Bode to discuss how tech journalists coupled with corporate interests are irresponsibly boosting the profile of tech CEOs, further…
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Ro Khanna: AI for the People; plus Trump’s Downward Spiral / Start Making Sense
We need an AI revolution that works for the people, not just the billionaires. That’s Ro Khanna’s “AI Manifesto.” He’s the member of Congress who represents…
The Nation PodcastsIsraeli Annexation in the West Bank w/ Oren Ziv | American Prestige
Danny and Derek welcome to the show Oren Ziv to talk about Israeli settlement expansion and political changes in the West Bank. They discuss the legal and…
The Nation PodcastsHow Hungary Fought Their Fascists w/ Zack Beauchamp and Jennifer McCoy | Fighting Fascism
We have, of course, always been experts on Hungary…but just in case we’re missing something, we brought on two actual experts. Senior Vox reporter Zack…
The Nation PodcastsPalestine and the Iran War w/ Yousef Munayyer | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
As negotiations proceed in ending the Iran War, the question of the relationship between the US and Israel becomes more salient. I spoke with Middle East…
The Nation PodcastsLebanon Ceasefire, Orbán Loses Hungarian Election, Trump Prepares Cuba Incursion | American Prestige
Subscribe now to get lots of bonus content (and no ads). Danny and Derek are considering attending the Met Gala. In this week’s news: Iran talks amble along…
The Nation PodcastsCybertrucks Are a Safety Disaster With Dara Kerr | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Dara Kerr to discuss how Elon’s decision to prioritize aesthetics over safety has created a safety crisis, causing people to burn alive…
The Nation PodcastsA People's Climate is Nominated for a Webby!
🗳️VOTE FOR A PEOPLE’S CLIMATE HERE 🗳️ https://wbby.co/57463N Be sure to confirm your vote via email for it to count. A People’s Climate is a top 5 Webby…
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Rebecca Solnit on Long Term Strategy, plus Resisting ICE in Small Town America / Start Making Sense
It’s been only a couple of weeks since the No Kings 3 protests, but we can see now how protest and resistance are changing in America: that one it wasn't just…
The Nation PodcastsThe Party of Chaos w/ Paul Heideman | American Prestige
Danny and Derek welcome to the show writer Paul Heideman to talk about the transformation of the Republican Party from the main party of business interests to…
The Nation PodcastsAmerica, Israel, and the Jews (w/ David Klion) | Fighting Fascism
Aaron and Matt are joined by Nation columnist David Klion to talk about the role that Israel has played in the rise of American fascism and what it all means…
The Nation PodcastsIsrael Bombs Lebanon, Iran Halts Hormuz Traffic, Orban Faces Election Defeat | American Prestige
Danny “Hollywood” Bessner and Derek “Bethesda” Davison are back with the news. This week: Israel bombs Lebanon and kills hundreds (2:09) as Iran halts traffic…
The Nation PodcastsTake A Break From The Feed w/ Amanda Mull | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Mull to discuss the effects of constantly “monitoring the situation” through custom news, social, or live feeds, including…
The Nation PodcastsMinnesota Changed Everything—Plus, History on the Road | Start Making Sense
Minnesota changed everything: how Minnesota’s resistance to ICE provides a model and inspiration for a national pro-democracy movement. Deepak Bhargava will…
The Nation PodcastsEurope, Iran, and the Transatlantic Relationship w/ Eldar Mamedov | American Prestige
Danny and Derek welcome to the show Eldar Mamedov, foreign policy expert and non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute, to talk about Europe’s response to…
The Nation PodcastsWhat If Democrats Didn’t Suck? (w/ Morris Katz) | Fighting Fascism
Aaron, Matt, and Jonathan are joined by Morris Katz, lead strategist for Zohran Mamdani and Graham Platner, to talk about why the Democratic Party sucks so…
The Nation PodcastsTrump Extends Iran War, Israel Expands Lebanon Occupation, Russian Tanker Reaches Cuba | American Prestige
Derek is monitoring The Situation, so Always at War’s Alex Jordan is back to deliver the news with Danny. This week: Trump extends the Iran war without an exit…
The Nation PodcastsWhy Iran is Attacking Data Centers w/ Sam Biddle | Tech Won't Save US
Paris Marx is joined by Sam Biddle to discuss what it means for data centers to become targets in a war, and how Silicon Valley is aiding the US war against…
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Protest after No Kings, plus Abortion after Dobbs / Start Making Sense
We’re still thinking about No Kings 3 day on Saturday: 8 million people. 3,300 events. ‘No Kings’ protests in almost every city and town in the country. 100…
The Nation PodcastsMarx Prestige, Episode 1: The Civil War and American Capitalism | American Prestige
In lieu of a standard episode today, we are premiering the first episode of Marx Prestige, a series where Danny, Derek, and historian Andrew Hartman discuss…
The Nation PodcastsLet’s Fight Some Fascists (w/ Astra Taylor and Mark Bray) | Fighting Fascism
Welcome to Fighting Fascism, a new podcast hosted by The Nation. Long-time political organizers Aaron Regunberg and Jonathan Smucker, and their normie friend…
The Nation PodcastsOrigins of the Imperial Presidency w/ David Sirota | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
As millions of Americans protest Donald Trump under the slogan of “No Kings,” it is worth asking how the nation ended up with such an authoritarian president…
The Nation PodcastsA Businessless Person: William C. Anderson on Thich Nhat Hanh’s Zen Battles | Reading Writers
In the Season 3 finale, Jo sells Charlotte on Alan Warner’s “amazingly textured” Movern Callar, which leads the hosts to reflect on some of the season’s…
The Nation PodcastsRussia Drone Barrage in Ukraine, West Bank Settler Violence, U.S. Destroys Ecuador Dairy Farm | American Prestige
Just a reminder: there was too much Iran news to fit into this episode, so we gave it a standalone special you can find here. Otherwise, this week around the…
The Nation PodcastsThe Long History of the US War on Iran w/ Spencer Ackerman | Tech Won't Save US
Paris Marx is joined by Spencer Ackerman to discuss the US and Israeli war on Iran, including the history that led to this moment and what we might see from…
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No Kings Day: We Are Everywhere; plus Trump and Antisemitism / Start Making Sense
The No Kings 3 protests this Saturday are going to be big – maybe the biggest day of protest in American history. Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-director of…
The Nation PodcastsIsrael’s War Consensus and Permanent Conflict w/ Udi Greenberg | American Prestige
Danny and Derek welcome back to the show historian Udi Greenberg to talk about Israeli public opinion, politics, and its strategy vis-à-vis the war with Iran…
The Nation PodcastsAfter Iran War, Can America Still Be Trusted? w/ Annelle Sheline | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
The US/Israel war against Iran has been devastating to many US allies, both in the Middle East and the wider world. It could easily lead to a Global…
The Nation PodcastsPain and Debasement: Rayne Fisher-Quann on Iris Owens' After Claude | Reading Writers
Charlotte puzzles over who exactly wrote Brighton Rock before Jo shares a newfound fascination with big machines, spurred in part by Don Gillmor’s On Oil. A…
The Nation PodcastsNews - Iran Assassinations Escalate, Israel Invades Southern Lebanon, U.S. Pressures Zambia Over Aid for Minerals | American Prestige
Derek wore his Fitbit to a CIA black site, both exposing the security state and meeting his daily step goal. This week’s news: in the Iran war, Israel…