Shows / The Nation Podcasts
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 PodcastsElon Musk and Jeffrey Epstein w/ Ed Niedermeyer | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Ed Niedermeyer to discuss the years-long relationship between Elon Musk and Jeffrey Epstein, and how their relationship sheds light on…
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From the Straits of Hormuz to the Streets of Minneapolis, plus Mamdani and the Midterms / Start Making Sense
Trump’s war in Iran is bringing economic chaos and suffering to much of the world, but for American voters, the biggest effect is the soaring price of gasoline…
The Nation PodcastsHow Iran Turns Into a Ground War w/ Harrison Mann | American Prestige
Writer and former U.S. Army intelligence officer Harrison Mann joins the show to talk about the U.S–Iran war and what a ground invasion could actually look…
The Nation PodcastsHow is Mamdani Doing? w/ Don Guttenplan | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
Former Nation editor Don Guttenplan is now bringing municipal politics to the magazine with a weekly column tracking the progress of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. I…
The Nation PodcastsTree-Based Horror: Nicholas Russell on Algernon Blackwood’s The Wendigo and Other Stories | Reading Writers
Jo and Charlotte turn their attention to Nobel Laureate Kenzaburo Oe’s mindblowing A Personal Matter and Troubled Lands: Stories of Mexico and Cuba, a…
The Nation PodcastsNews - Iran War Escalation and Hormuz Crisis, U.S. Minab School Bombing Fallout, Sudan Drone Warfare | American Prestige
We’re putting out, what, an episode a day at this point? But the news roundup must go on. This week: In the Iran war, casualty and displacement figures rise…
The Nation PodcastsThe Left Doesn't Hate Technology w/ Gita Jackson | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Gita Jackson to discuss why the left’s hatred of AI is justified, why a different approach to technology is necessary, and how they’re…
The Nation PodcastsSpecial - International Law and the War on Iran w/ Maryam Jamshidi | American Prestige
Derek welcomes back legal scholar Maryam Jamshidi to discuss the legal aspect of the U.S.–Israel war on Iran. They talk about the administration’s shifting…
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War in Iran, News in America / Start Making Sense
Tom Stevenson analyzes the latest news and long-term prospects of Trump's Iran war, for both Iran and the US. Tom is a contributing editor for the London…
The Nation PodcastsEspionage and Empire in the Cold War w/ Alfred McCoy | American Prestige
Danny and Derek speak with historian Alfred McCoy about how the Cold War operated as a global conflict influenced by decolonization, covert action, and…
The Nation PodcastsBill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein w/ Tim Schwab | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Tim Schwab to discuss the evolving story of Bill Gates and his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the issues that arise from…
The Nation PodcastsStopping the Iran War w/ Emma Ashford | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
The US/Israel War against Iran is shaping out to be a much bigger mess than expected even by critics. As it turns into a regional conflict that has embroiled…
The Nation PodcastsSpecial - War in the Gulf and the Global Economy w/ Esfandyar Batmanghelidj | American Prestige
Derek welcomes back Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder and CEO of the Bourse and Bazaar Foundation and professor at Johns Hopkins University, to discuss the…
The Nation PodcastsTethered to Life: Maya Binyam on Joy Williams’ “The Excursion” | Reading Writers
Charlotte and Jo go deep on jealousy, self-hatred, love, and vulnerability in a conversation that touches on A Separate Peace, The Go-Between, Beowulf, and…
The Nation PodcastsIran War Widens, Afghanistan–Pakistan Fighting, New U.S. Operation in Ecuador | American Prestige
We don’t have whatever they were giving JFK to power through the Cuban Missile Crisis, but we’re keeping up here. This week’s news: in the Iran War, the U.S…
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Trump’s Attacks on Voting, and on Iran / Start Making Sense
After Senate Democrats block the SAVE act, Trump is likely to declare a national security emergency – claiming China could interfere in the midterms – as a…
The Nation PodcastsIran and the End of Restraint w/ Trita Parsi and Akbar Shahid Ahmed | American Prestige
Danny and Derek are back with a two-part episode on the war with Iran. First, they speak with Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute about the Trump…
The Nation PodcastsThe Imperial Presidency and the Iran War w/ Matt Duss | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
Writing in Foreign Policy, Matt Duss argues that Donald Trump’s rush to war is both stupid and illegal. It is also wildly unpopular with the public. But he…
The Nation PodcastsDeeply Heterosexual: Jamie Hood on Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook | Reading Writers
Jo takes us on a whirlwind tour of their recent reading, including Mary Helen Washington’s Paule Marshall: A Writer’s Life, and Charlotte explains why Susanna…
The Nation PodcastsIran Talks Under Strike Threat, Mexico Cartel Killed, Pakistan Attack in Afghanistan | American Prestige
Warner Brothers shamefully won’t consider Danny and Derek’s aggressive offer. In this week’s news: U.S.-Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva amid reports that…
The Nation PodcastsThe Luddite Club is For Everyone w/ Amanda Hanna-McLeer & Lucy Jackson | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Amanda Hanna-McLeer and Lucy Jackson to discuss the story of The Luddite Club, from its beginnings as a high school organization to its…
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State of the Union: Not Good; plus Jackie Robinson v. Paul Robeson / Start Making Sense
Trump’s State of the Union speech was predictable, but nevertheless revealing of his state of mind. John Nichols has our analysis. Also: In 1949 when Jackie…
The Nation PodcastsOn the Brink with Iran w/ Dalia Dassa Kaye | American Prestige
Derek and Danny are joined by Dalia Dassa Kaye to talk about the decades-long hostility between the U.S. and Iran and the current escalation between the two…
The Nation PodcastsUncategorizable Interactions: Brittany Newell on Samuel R. Delany’s Times Square Red, Times Square Blue | Reading Writers
Charlotte and Jo revisit Rebecca Novack’s Murder Bimbo before taking a quick tour of the Russian Civil War and comrade crushes through Nikolai Ostrovsky’s How…
The Nation PodcastsWhat’s Driving the Push For Humanoid Robots w/ James Vincent | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by James Vincent to discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, how close we are…
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Election Protection in the Midterms, plus Slaves Escaping by Sea / Start Making Sense
Trump, facing the wave of popular opposition to pretty much everything he’s doing, is working to block Democrats from voting in the midterms, and “election…
The Nation PodcastsInside the American War Machine w/ Ben Freeman and William Hartung | American Prestige
Derek and Danny are joined by Bill Hartung and Ben Freeman to discuss the system that drives permanent war for the United States. They talk about the growth of…
The Nation PodcastsBookforum Live: Stephanie Wambugu on Vincenzo Latronico’s Perfection | Reading Writers
At last, the audio from December's Bookforum x Reading Writers live holiday event! The justly celebrated novelist Stephanie Wambugu joins Charlotte and Jo to…
The Nation PodcastsU.S.-Iran Talks, West Bank Rule Changes, Cuba Fuel Crisis | American Prestige
Danny and Derek feel that their ice dance routine was strong, but ultimately respect the IOC judges. In this week’s news: the first round of indirect U.S.-Iran…
The Nation PodcastsThe Green Transition Needs so Much Mining w/ Thea Riofrancos | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Thea Riofrancos to discuss the global struggle to move away from fossil fuels and the future of the green transition, including the…
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The Battle for Minneapolis, and the Fight for Texas / Start Making Sense
The size and scale of the resistance to ICE in Minneapolis is too vast to fully comprehend. John Nichols has our report – he’s The Nation’s executive editor…
The Nation PodcastsThe Decline of Newsrooms w/ Borzou Daragahi
Journalist Borzou Daragahi joins Danny and Derek to talk about the end of international journalism as we know it. They talk about how podcasting and…
The Nation PodcastsTrump is Using Terrorist Charges to Wage Political War w/ Josh Kovensky | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
Over at Talking Points Memo, Josh Kovensky has written an essay on the Trump administration’s use of anti-terrorism law to target political groups it doesn’t…
The Nation PodcastsIran Strike Delayed, Gaza Aid Suppressed, Nigeria Militant Attack | American Prestige
Danny and Derek are still in talks with The Muppets' people about an appearance, so we’ll keep things buttoned up for now. This week: The U.S. and Iran hold…
The Nation PodcastsNetflix Buying Warner Would be a Disaster w/ AS Hamrah | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by AS Hamrah to discuss the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros Discovery merger and what it might mean for the state of decline already facing…
The Nation PodcastsThe fight to Stop ICE—in Congress, and at the Super Bowl | Start Making Sense
The next two weeks Democrats in Congress will be working to use the budget to set limits on ICE-to require judicial warrants, masks off and body cameras on…
The Nation PodcastsThe End of the Postwar Consensus w/ Paul Starr | American Prestige
Danny and Derek are joined by sociologist Paul Starr to talk about the transformation of American politics from the postwar period to the present. They discuss…
The Nation PodcastsThe Nation’s “A Day for Gaza” w/ Jack Mirkinson | American Prestige
Derek speaks with Jack Mirkinson, senior editor at The Nation, about “A Day for Gaza,” a one-day project where the magazine is devoting its entire website…
The Nation PodcastsWar Clouds Over Iran w/ Amir Handjani | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
Donald Trump is sending over what he calls “a massive Armada” to Iran with the promises to do a reprise of his quick attack on Venezuela that ended with the…
The Nation PodcastsMoral Discord: Noah Kulwin on Ross Macdonald’s Black Money | Reading Writers
The hosts discuss Stephanie Wambugu’s justly-hyped novel Lonely Crowds before they’re joined by Noah Kulwin, an avowed Macdonaldhead who details the pleasures…
The Nation PodcastsUS Signals Possible Iran Strike, Myanmar Junta Consolidates Power, Syria Ceasefire Extended | American Prestige
While Danny looks after his gold assets, Always at War’s Alex Jordan once again helps Derek bring you headlines from around the globe. This week: the Bulletin…
The Nation PodcastsElon Musk Profits Off Non-Consensual Deepfakes w/ Kat Tenbarge | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Kat Tenbarge to discuss the explosion of abusive deepfakes on X, including how Elon Musk is profiting from the sexual exploitation of…
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Freezing ICE Funding in the Senate, plus Standing Together in Israel and Palestine / Start Making Sense
We have the power to rein in ICE and protect our neighbors, Leah Greenberg argues – she’s co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, the group that…
The Nation PodcastsThe Rise of Shareholder Primacy w/ Sean Delehanty | American Prestige
Danny and Derek speak with historian Sean Delehanty about the invention of shareholder value and the transformation of the American corporation in the late…
The Nation PodcastsMark Carney Proclaims the End of American Hegemony w/ Stephen Maher | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made headlines at Davos with a much-noticed speech where he candidly acknowledged that the US led alliance system created…
The Nation PodcastsEach Brick in This Wall: Hanif Abdurraqib on Gloria Naylor’s The Women of Brewster Place | Reading Writers
Charlotte and Jo spring into the new year with a conversation about ancient poetry: Beowulf, The Iliad, and Dante’s Inferno as translated by Mark Musa, Mary Jo…
The Nation PodcastsSyria Offensive Against SDF, Israel Moves on Rafah, Trump and Greenland | American Prestige
While much of America endures an Arctic freeze, Danny and Derek bring to you scorching hot headlines. This week: renewed fighting breaks out between the Syrian…
The Nation PodcastsBring Back Meddling with Tech Hardware w/ Chris Person | Tech Won't Save Us
Paris Marx is joined by Chris Person to discuss the state of hardware and manufacturing in the tech industry, ways to hack your stuff, options to undermine…
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Minneapolis: the Landscape of Resistance—Plus, the Destruction brought by DOGE | Start Making Sense
The landscape of resistance in Minneapolis, John Nichols reports, includes surprisingly powerful and effective faith groups, plus unions, neighborhood mutual…
The Nation PodcastsA Year in Reading | Reading Writers
In this host-only bonus episode, Charlotte and Jo discuss some of their most memorable reads of 2025. Authors discussed include Shon Faye, Sarah Schulman, Ai…
The Nation PodcastsBombing Iran Won’t Help the Protesters, with Annelle Sheline | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
Iran is facing upheavals at home and abroad. For more than two decades, the Islamic Republic has faced waves of protests from citizens demanding a more…
The Nation PodcastsUS Plan for Venezuela’s Oil, Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two, Iran Protests w/ Matt Lech and Negar Mortazavi | American Prestige
Derek welcomes Matt Lech to the show to bring you the news while a sick Danny convalesces. This week: Trump pushes U.S. oil companies to reenter Venezuela and…
The Nation PodcastsReimagining Our Relationship with Digital Tech w/ Paris Marx
Paris Marx marks the beginning of 2026 by discussing some of the big themes that will be moving the conversations he’ll be having this year, particularly…
The Nation PodcastsTrump, from Minneapolis to Caracas—Plus, How Capitalism Came to Communist China | Start Making Sense
As Trump’s support collapses, he has lashed out in two directions--sending an unprecendented number of ICE agents to Minneapolis, where one of them murdered…
The Nation PodcastsCan American Power Be Redeemed? w/ Shadi Hamid | American Prestige
Danny and Derek are joined by Shadi Hamid, columnist at The Washington Post and author of The Case for American Power, to talk about American hegemony and…
The Nation PodcastsStinking and Miserable: Clio Chang on Cheryl Strayed's Wild | Reading Writers
In a scandalous rejection of holiday spirit, Jo and Charlotte reflect on the dark, elegant pleasures of Gabrielle Wittkopf’s The Necrophiliac alongside…
The Nation PodcastsUS Kidnaps Maduro, Israel Escalation, Yemen Separatist Collapse | American Prestige
Danny and Derek return from their holiday retreat at Bohemian Grove to bring you news from around the world. This week: Delcy Rodríguez assumes Venezuela’s…
The Nation PodcastsVenezuela in American Politics, plus VA Housing for Homeless Vets | Start Making Sense
Trump’s attack on Venezuela is likely to weaken his political support even further, because it does nothing about affordability or health care. And it’s not at…
The Nation PodcastsVenezuela, Latin America, and the Future of US Foreign Policy w/ Greg Grandin | American Prestige
Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes. Danny and Derek are joined by historian Greg Grandin to go in depth on the recent U.S. operation in…
The Nation PodcastsFort Bragg and the Rise of U.S. Special Operations w/ Seth Harp | American Prestige
Danny and Derek are joined by journalist Seth Harp to discuss his book The Fort Bragg Cartel, which covers murder and drug trafficking around the North…