The Al Franken Podcast

Special correspondent for Vanity Fair and host of the Fast Politics podcast, Molly Jong Fast, discusses Congress, abortion, protests, Trump hush money scandal, and the Presidential election in a wide-ranging conversation on the podcast.

Author Ari Berman discusses GOP's undermining of democracy in America. Talks about historical compromises, voter suppression tactics, and the fight for democracy in Wisconsin. Explores anti-democratic forces in the Republican Party and unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.

Bestselling Authors Melissa Murray and Andrew Weissmann discuss the hush money trial involving Trump, exploring potential legal consequences, jury selection challenges, internal conflicts within the defense team, Trump's alleged scheme, and the upcoming Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. Includes insights on document falsification, unethical media practices, and the importance of citizen participation in the justice system.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair, Ben Wikler, discusses efforts to combat GOP gerrymandering in the state. They delve into challenges of fair elections, the impact of dark money, and the crucial role of state parties in politics. Ben highlights the fight for democracy in Wisconsin, organizing for Biden's win, and the ongoing battle against voter suppression and gerrymandering.

Democratic strategists Rachel Bitecofer and Justin Barasky discuss the importance of messaging for Democrats to defeat Trump and retain the Senate in the upcoming 2024 election. They highlight the need to remind voters that the Democratic Party represents their interests on issues like abortion and the economy, drawing insights from the Republican playbook.

Pulitzer Prize Winning Historian Anne Applebaum discusses the Moscow concert hall attack, US funding failures for Ukraine, dangers of a second Trump term, and rising global autocracy. Exploring implications of violence, aid skepticism, and Trump's admiration for dictators.

Covering the Trump trials, general election, Robert Hur report, RNC's financial woes, and the challenges of maintaining objectivity as a reporter. Analysis of Trump's denial of election loss, Hush Money trial, and the importance of verifiable truths in reporting. Insights into Ohio election results, party dynamics, and the controversy surrounding legal battles. Exploring the political landscape, third-party dynamics, and upholding democratic values amidst the autocracy threat.

Former Republican operative Tim Miller discusses Biden's re-election strategy and reacts to the State of the Union speech. Is there hope for funding efforts in Ukraine? Does Tim still find common ground with the GOP?

While anti-Semitism has run rampant among the far right, it has been growing among the political left. In Frank Foer's recent piece for The Atlantic, he explains how we got to this point. How have college campuses and schools become the center for anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic speech? How did college presidents mishandle the hate speech on their campuses? And what is the future of American Jews if Trump is elected again? Read Frank Foer's entire piece in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/04/us-anti-semitism-jewish-american-safety/677469/ Al is going back on tour! Get your tickets now!  https://www.alfranken.com/appearances

The podcast discusses the attack on reproductive rights, challenges faced by advocacy organizations, political strategies surrounding reproductive rights, personal experiences with adoption and parenting, and the importance of the upcoming election in protecting abortion access.