The Al Franken Podcast

Harry Litman, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General and host of Talking Feds, provides a deep dive into the weaponization of the justice system by Donald Trump. He discusses the politically charged prosecutions of figures like Comey and James, emphasizing their potential illegality. Litman also addresses the controversial deployment of the National Guard in Democratic cities and its constitutional implications. Additionally, he analyzes the Louisiana case that could threaten the Voting Rights Act, forecasting dire consequences for minority representation.

John Fugelsang, a comedian and bestselling author, contrasts Jesus' teachings with modern political rhetoric, exposing the disconnect between Christ's message of love and compassion versus right-wing agendas. He shares insights from his book, discussing how Evangelicals misuse scripture to justify oppressive policies. With anecdotes from his upbringing and experiences, Fugelsang emphasizes the importance of civil discourse in addressing inconsistencies in faith-based arguments, particularly on issues like immigration, gun violence, and social justice.

We're thrilled to welcome David Hogg to the podcast. Hogg is a co-founder of March For Our Lives and his PAC, Leaders We Deserve. He shares about how the tragedy in Parkland, FL launched him into the political fray. Hogg notoriously served as a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee for a brief time. He tells us about some of the inner workings of the DNC and then what happened when shit hit the fan. He argues that too many long-serving Democrats in Congress are "asleep at the wheel" and believes that backing younger primary challengers is the solution. We also lay out what kind of messaging Democrats need to focus on to win back young voters and improve their brand. Donald Trump and the Republicans are wildly unpopular, but the Democrats are often even less popular. The answer? Be the party who fights for affordable healthcare and lowering everyday costs.  LEARN more about David's Political Action Committee: https://leaderswedeserve.com/ 

This week features Norm Ornstein, a political scientist and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He dives into the chaos of a federal government shutdown and its implications for healthcare policy. Norm discusses Trump's controversial Gaza peace proposal and the complexities surrounding its implementation. He also critiques recent political maneuvers, including a high-cost military address and the broader implications of current policies on democracy and public health. Expect both insight and humor as he navigates today's turbulent political landscape.

Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC Director and head of Resolve to Save Lives, and Brandy Zadrozny, an investigative reporter at NBC/MSNBC, dive into the chaos sparked by RFK Jr.'s rise in health policy. They discuss serious public health risks stemming from vaccine skepticism and misinformation. The guests highlight Trump and RFK Jr.'s troubling claims about Tylenol and autism, explore the impact of political interference on CDC morale, and unpack the dangers of eroding vaccine access and protections under new leadership.

Hear a teaser for The Global Story, the daily BBC news podcast that covers the intersection where the world and America meet. Find The Global Story on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

We are joined by Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, to discuss her new book, “Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy.” In the book, Weingarten details how there has been a systematic demonization of teachers and public education in America. She argues that one of the pillars of public education is critical thinking, which prevents fascism from flourishing in society - so fascists (and wannabe fascists) hate it. We explore a variety of topics facing schoolchildren and their parents today, including charter schools, artificial intelligence, phones in schools, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ students. We also discuss Trump’s proposed elimination of the Department of Education, attacks on teachers unions, and how we may have kept the schools closed for too long during Covid-19. READ Randi's new book: https://sites.prh.com/whyfascistsfearteachers

Baltimore, Maryland is one of Donald Trump's most frequent targets when talking about crime in America. As the President continues to threaten to send troops into American cities, we wanted to hear from Baltimore's mayor, Brandon Scott.  Since Mayor Scott took office, the city has seen a dramatic drop in violent crime. He explains his policies and how investing in the community has helped calm the violence in Baltimore. So it's no surprise that he does NOT want Trump sending troops to his city. Mayor Scott shares how growing up in Baltimore impacted his political ideology. He also discusses some of the major victories he's had, including lawsuits against a major gun dealer AND opioid manufacturers and distributors. Those lawsuits have brought hundreds of millions into the city and are being reinvested directly into the community. LEARN more about the Mayor of Baltimore’s work: https://mayor.baltimorecity.gov/ Get 60% off of your first box of meals for your dog with our newest sponsor, Ollie! https://www.ollie.com/franken 

Tim Mak, a journalist based in Kiev and founder of The Counteroffensive, sheds light on the grim realities of the ongoing war in Ukraine. He discusses the disappointment surrounding the recent Trump-Putin summit and the skepticism felt by Ukrainians about peace prospects. Mak emphasizes their unwavering desire for independence and the complexities of international diplomatic efforts. He highlights the challenges posed by sanctions on Russia and the uncertain future of the conflict, leaving listeners contemplating the difficult path ahead.

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our 2022 conversation with comedian and actor Bob Odenkirk! We got to hear from him about his memoir “Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, Drama” and his early beginnings writing comedy in grade school. We reminisce about our days together at Saturday Night Live and discuss some of our favorite sketches. We also talk about his sketch series, “Mr. Show with Bob and David.” Bob also shares about his 13 years playing Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul and how he nearly died of a heart attack on set. You'll also hear Bob discuss his then-new movie, Nobody, which was so successful, it got a sequel. Go see Nobody 2 in theatres now! https://www.fandango.com/nobody-2-2025-240144/movie-overview For information on our newest sponsor, Mint Mobile: www.mintmobile.com/franken