The Al Franken Podcast

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

In his second term, Donald Trump has upended many American institutions, but perhaps none more than the Department of Justice. He's filled the DOJ with lackeys, like AG Pam Bondi, who are corrupting our system of justice in ways never seen before.  We're joined by two veterans of the DOJ: Barbara McQuade, professor at University of Michigan Law School, and Daniel Richman, professor at Columbia Law School. We discuss the disturbing tendencies of Trump's Justice Department: from emphasizing immigration enforcement, to investigating Trump’s political rivals, to firing agents en masse for prosecuting the Jan 6th cases, and so on. The damage being done will take years, if not decades, to undo. Plus, the Epstein Files continue to impact Trump’s presidency. Why is Ghislane Maxwell being treated so well? It’s almost as if Trump hopes she’ll exonerate him in exchange for a sweetheart deal. READ Barbara's book “Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America”: https://www.sevenstories.com/books/4577-attack-from-within READ Daniel’s recent opinion piece in NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/opinion/trump-is-discovering-the-downside-of-a-justice-department-with-no-credibility.html Get 20% off your first order of low carb, keto-friendly bread from our newest sponsor, Royo! Use promo code FRANKEN at www.eatroyo.com

With Donald Trump and the Republican Party low in the polls, Texas is resorting to one of their favorite ways to win voters: cheating. They’ve drawn new maps to implement unprecedented gerrymandering, taking away five Democratic-held seats - all done at Trump’s insistence, of course. We're joined by Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, to walk us through Texas Governor Abbott’s scheme. Democrats are attempting to fight back in Texas and across the country… even if it is a fight they are likely to lose. We discuss how the Supreme Court continues to erode voting rights and how Chief Justice John Roberts is NOT the moderate that he'd like us to think that he is.  If history is any indication, Democrats SHOULD have a successful midterm election. But history may not be enough to overcome this gerrymandering lollapalooza and the attacks on voting rights. READ Ari's work in Mother Jones: https://www.motherjones.com/author/ari-berman/ 

Franklin Foer, a writer for The Atlantic with expertise in anti-Semitism, discusses the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He argues that Israel's policies are driving mass starvation, calling for urgent food aid. Foer delves into the nuances of recent campus protests, warning against anti-Semitism while acknowledging valid criticisms of Netanyahu. He also addresses the broader implications for free speech and political pressures on universities like Harvard and Columbia amidst these complex issues.