The West Wing Weekly

Former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney joins Josh and Hrishi to discuss the main character's secret plan to fight inflation, press briefings gone wrong, flawed behavior when interacting with police officers, the risky game and potential cover-up in the episode, discrepancies in closed captioning and scripts, challenges and responsibilities of being a press secretary, ranking past press secretaries, and CJ's qualities as a press secretary.

Josh and Hrishi team up with the FiveThirtyEight Elections Podcast to discuss how polling is used in The West Wing, by looking at a few scenes from the show. This episode was recorded live at the Crest Theatre in Los Angeles. We talk about scenes from seasons 1–4, so there are spoilers throughout. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Like Toby in this episode, Josh and Hrishi go to shul to try and learn more about the death penalty and faith. They have a conversation with Rabbi Jonathan Spira-Savett. Plus, we email Aaron Sorkin to ask how Marlee Matlin came to be cast as Joey Lucas. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This episode of the West Wing deals with hate crimes, and our discussion comes close on the heels of the massacre in Orlando. So, we asked Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) about the current state of hate crime legislation. We also talk to Liza Weil (@liza_weil) about her role as Karen Larson, as well as the Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation (matthewshepard.org). Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Is it right to defend someone, even when they've asked you not to? Josh and Hrishi debate. Plus, a supercut of The West Wing opening theme music with accompanying lyrics, from submissions sent to us by West Wing Weekly listeners. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Live from the ATX Television Festival, a panel discussion looking back at the West Wing. With Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill, Melissa Fitzgerald, and Joshua Malina, moderated by Lawrence O'Donnell. (For any of listeners watching the series for the first time, there are spoilers throughout the discussion.) Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

According to Encyclopedia Brittanica, Josh and Hrishi are joined by William Duffy (@WilliamDuffy_) and Peter James Smith (@PJSActor), who played Ed and Larry. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

On this Memorial Day, we bring you a special episode with Melissa Fitzgerald (@maffyfitz) talking about her work with Justice for Vets. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Richard Schiff (@Richard_Schiff) joins Josh and Hrishi to talk about "In Excelsis Deo." His performance as Toby in this episode earned him his first Emmy win. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The path to a Supreme Court nomination takes us through a discussion of the right to privacy. Plus, Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) tells us about the real-life short list that he put together for President Clinton that led to the appointment of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices