The Al Franken Podcast
The Al Franken Podcast
A five-time Emmy winning SNL comedy writer/producer, joins a four-time #1 NYT bestselling author, a three-time highest-rated national progressive radio host, a two-time Grammy winning artist, and a former US Senator. So, it gets a little crowded in the booth when Al talks public policy and sometimes political comedy with notable guests. Think “The Daily” without the resources of the NYTimes.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 4, 2020 • 7min
1: A Fourth of July Conversation with Thomas Jefferson
Al sits down with the author of the Declaration of Independence on the anniversary of our nation's birth
Jun 28, 2020 • 54min
14: Melvin Carter Talks About Being St. Paul’s First Black Mayor and the Son of a Cop
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter Discusses the Aftermath of George Floyd’s Murder
Jun 21, 2020 • 53min
13: Frm. Obama Speechwriter David Litt Explains How the GOP Has Systematically Undermined Democracy.
In his new book: Democracy: In One Book or Less fmr. Obama speechwriter and NY Times bestselling author brings fascinating and often startling detail to all the ways the GOP thwarts democracy.
Jun 14, 2020 • 54min
12: Atlantic Writer George Packer on How the Pandemic and George Floyd’s Murder have Laid Bare America’s Weaknesses
Packer and Al discuss the how a corrupt political class, a heartless economy, systemic racism, and Donald Trump have led to the failures Americans have been witness to and the victims of these last several months.
Jun 7, 2020 • 54min
11: Donna Edwards and Al Discuss Race, Cops, and Photo Ops
Former Congresswoman Edwards talks about being the mother of a young black man and whether George Floyd's murder has finally brought us to an inflection point.
May 31, 2020 • 52min
10: NEA President Lily Eskelsen García on Teaching During a Pandemic and a DeVos
The host (and former member of the Senate Education Committee) and the president of the National Education Association talks about an important subject: how awful Betsy DeVos is. But also, education.
May 27, 2020 • 6min
1: COVID-19 Trailer
This COVID-19 pandemic is arguably the greatest global crisis since World War II. Since the coronavirus hit, Al has been talking with guests about the various aspects of this horrible scourge. To date, guests include:
Andy Slavitt, former head of Medicare/Medicaid;
Austan Goolsbee, former Chair of the President's Council of Economic Advisors;
Dr. Leana Wen, former president of Planned Parenthood; and
Michael Lewis, author of the Fifth Risk.
May 24, 2020 • 53min
9: Paul Krugman on Arguing with Republican Zombies
The NYT columnist and Nobel Prize winner discusses how Republicans operate in bad faith on issues like climate, tax cuts, deficits, income and wealth inequality, and now, the pandemic.
May 17, 2020 • 55min
8: Steve Schmidt Tears Trump and the Republican Party A New One
The former GOP strategist trashes Trump and his enablers. And gives a surprisingly personal explanation of why it took him so long to leave his old party.
May 10, 2020 • 53min
7: Epidemiologist Larry Brilliant on Where We Go From Here
From 1973-76, Dr. Larry Brilliant was part of the World Health Organization team that eradicated smallpox and is Chairman of the Board of Ending Pandemics. He discusses how we go forward on Covid-19 after blowing it in the first six months.
