

Pod Save the People
Crooked Media
On Pod Save The People, host DeRay Mckesson explores social justice, culture, politics – and the various ways they all collide – with cohosts Myles E. Johnson and Sharhonda Bossier.
Each Tuesday, the crew digs into the current events driving the political discourse – bringing cultural context, actionable insights, and a hot take or two – to help empower listeners to engage as thoughtful members of their communities…and their group chats.
Alongside special guests, the show uplifts overlooked news stories that impact people of color and amplifies underrepresented voices who are working to create meaningful change.
Each Tuesday, the crew digs into the current events driving the political discourse – bringing cultural context, actionable insights, and a hot take or two – to help empower listeners to engage as thoughtful members of their communities…and their group chats.
Alongside special guests, the show uplifts overlooked news stories that impact people of color and amplifies underrepresented voices who are working to create meaningful change.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 47min
The Aunties on Self-Reparations
FDA targets popular gay party drug, majority-Black town starts armed protection group, and Dems draw thousands at 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally. Myles interviews filmmakers Charlyn Griffith-Oro and Jeannine Kayembe-Oro to explore their short film The Aunties which shares the story of Black land stewards & culture bearers Donna Dear and Paulette Greene. NewsA majority-Black town starts armed protection group after neo-Nazi rallyFDA crackdown on poppers prompts rush on popular gay party drugAOC and Bernie Sanders draw thousands of people at 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally in DenverHeavyweight boxing legend George Foreman dies aged 76 Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram.

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 27min
Ebonee Davis on Collective Identity
White House ignores federal orders, Fulbright scholars left stranded internationally, and California cannabis contaminated with pesticides. Myles interviews world renowned artist and model Ebonee Davis about her journey toward authorship of her book titled Daughter. NewsExclusive: How the White House ignored a judge's order to turn back deportation flightsMany Fulbright scholars say they feel stranded after the Trump administration suspended their fundingContamination fears drive push to remake state cannabis agencyVulgar Rangers hat selling big on secondary market as other team hats removed from MLB online shop Follow @PodSavethePeople on Instagram.

Mar 11, 2025 • 1h 31min
Nic Stone on Fiction vs. Reality
The dark history of retinol, the causal myth of bacterial vaginosis, and Abel Selaocoe crosses time and cultures in new album. DeRay interviews Nic Stone about her new book, Dear Manny. NewsRetinol: The Skin-Care Ingredient With a Horrifying HistoryA Third of Women Get This Infection. The Fix: Treat Their Male Partners.South African cellist Abel Selaocoe fosters dialogue across time and cultures in a new albumHouse votes to censure Rep. Al Green with Democrats' helpLouisiana college student's death investigated as possible hazing incident Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram.

Mar 4, 2025 • 1h 45min
Brian Benjamin on the Power of State
Dems veer right, Trump-Zelensky heated exchange, and Curry J. Hackett use of AI in art, design, and urban planning. DeRay interviews former Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin. NewsPlaybook: Democrats in despair'It never should have happened': Americans frustrated by Trump-Zelensky spatCurry J. Hackett has a vision for Black futurity that drives his work in art, design, and urban planning Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram.

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 31min
Michael Harriot on Histories Untold
Jury finds Alabama police force operated as a 'criminal enterprise', Joy Reid's MSNBC show canceled, Luigi Mangione's lawyer receives key evidence from HBO doc, and Voletta Wallace, mother of Notorious B.I.G., passes at 78. In the final week of Blackest Book Club, Kaya interviews author Michael Harriot about his book titled Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America. NewsAlabama police force put on leave after grand jury says it operated like a "criminal enterprise"Luigi Mangione's Lawyer: NYC Mayor Shared Key Evidence on HBO 'Before Defense Had Even Seen It'Voletta Wallace, the Notorious B.I.G.’s Mother, Dead at 78Joy Reid’s MSNBC Show Canceled in Major Shake-UpMSNBC's Joy Reid addresses homophobic blog post controversyKennedy Center reeling from 'stunning' ticket sales collapse after Trump takeover: report Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram.

Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 57min
Dr. Brittany Friedman on the Racial Divide
AI program jails innocent man for 17 months, Katt Williams imperialist rant, Congress members denied access to Department of Education. Pod Save The People is back with the Blackest Book Club reading list in collaboration with Reconstruction and Campaign Zero. DeRay interviews author Dr. Brittany Friedman about her new book titled Carceral Apartheid: How Lies and White Supremacists Run Our Prisons. NewsMan jailed over police AI program, then freed 17 months after victim raised doubtsTrump says he'd deport US citizens convicted of crimes 'in a heartbeat' if legalMembers of Congress denied access to Department of EducationMusk to rehire DOGE staffer with history of racist tweetsKatt Williams Imperialist RantAkilah Hughes on non-voters Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram

Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 36min
Aaron Robertson on Building Black Utopia
Trump rewrites history on White House website, study on Harvard finds 43 percent of white students are legacy, athletes, or related to donors/staff, and the rise of Black educators on TikTok. Pod Save The People is back with the Blackest Book Club reading list in collaboration with Reconstruction and Campaign Zero. DeRay interviews author Aaron Robertson about his new book titled The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America. NewsThe Rewriting of a Pioneering Female Astronomer’s Legacy Shows How Far Trump’s DEI Purge Will GoStudy on Harvard finds 43 percent of white students are legacy, athletes, related to donors or staffHillmanTok: The rise of Black educators on TikTokTrump pauses 25% tariffs on Canadian goods after deal will Trudeau Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram.

Jan 28, 2025 • 59min
The Performance Art of Politics
Automated grocery prices increase depending on the shopper, Target follows suit in abandoning DEI initiatives, ICE officers issued an arrest quota, and the legacy of Florence Price - the first Black women to premiere works by a US orchestra. NewsAutomation in Retail Is Even Worse Than You ThoughtMeet Florence Price, the first Black woman to have her work premiered by a US orchestraTarget rolls back DEI initiatives, the latest big company to retreatTrump officials issue quotas to ICE officers to ramp up arrests Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram.

Jan 21, 2025 • 1h 39min
This is Not A Drill
Whistleblower exposes Russian political interference operation, Louisiana governor evicts homeless people ahead of Super Bowl, Mississippi infrastructure neglect leads to parasites in impoverished residents, and Doechii stuns in Black sitcom inspired music video. DeRay interviews Andrew Bakaj and Naomi Seligman of Whistleblower Aid. NewsThe Westminster whistleblower: how my friend Sergei tried to expose the Kremlin plot against BritainGovernor forces removal of homeless people by New Orleans Superdome before Super BowlInfrastructure neglect and poverty lead to parasites in the Mississippi DeltaWatch Doechii’s life literally blow up on ‘Denial is a River Show” Follow @PodSaveThePeople on Instagram.

Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 25min
Make Government Boring Again
Meta makes up with MAGA, Black students barred from empowerment clubs, tow companies allowed to sell people's cars, and the legacy of Dada Masilo. Support California wildfire relief efforts with a donation to Vote Save America & Crooked Ideas Action FundDisplaced Black Families GoFundMe DirectoryNewsBehind the Curtain: Meta's make-up-with-MAGA mapGone in 15 Days: How the Connecticut DMV Allows Tow Companies to Sell People’s CarsWorld of dance mourns death of ‘brilliant light’ Dada Masilo at age of 39DC Public Schools hit with federal civil rights complaint over 'student affinity group'‘Essential’: nearly 800 incarcerated firefighters deployed as LA battles wildfiresI talked to Meta’s Black AI character. Here’s what she told me.