
The West Wing Weekly
An episode-by-episode discussion of The West Wing, one of television’s most beloved shows, co-hosted by one of its stars, Joshua Malina, along with Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder.
Latest episodes

May 8, 2019 • 59min
6.17: A Good Day (with Richard Schiff)
Richard Schiff returns as our guest this week to tell us about his experience directing "A Good Day."
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May 1, 2019 • 1h 14min
6.16: Drought Conditions (with Debora Cahn and Richard Schiff)
This week, we’re joined by Debora Cahn, to talk about her script for "Drought Conditions," and by Richard Schiff, to talk about his heartbreaking performance in it.
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Apr 24, 2019 • 35min
0.12: How Barack Obama Shaped Matthew Santos (with David Axelrod and Eli Attie)
"Tell me about Barack Obama." That's what Eli Attie said to David Axelrod in 2004, while searching for inspiration to help flesh out the character of Congressman Matthew Santos. In this episode, we talk to both of them to find out what Eli learned and how it shaped the sixth season. And David Axelrod tells us about his own experiences as the guy behind the guy, and what The West Wing means to him.
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Apr 17, 2019 • 1h 12min
6.15: Freedonia (with Eli Attie)
Eli Attie joins us to discuss the Santos campaign, the return of Amy Gardner, and the Marx Brothers.
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Apr 10, 2019 • 58min
6.14: The Wake Up Call (with Lawrence Lessig)
We’re joined by the real-life Professor Lawrence Lessig, who appears as a character in this episode, played by the real-life Christopher Lloyd.
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Apr 3, 2019 • 1h 20min
6.13: King Corn (with Karis Campbell, Evan Arnold, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, and Michael Grunwald)
We have so many great guests for our discussion of “King Corn” that you’re going to look at this podcast episode the way Will Bailey looks at an ice cream sandwich. We talk Ned & Ronna with Evan Arnold & Karis Campbell, we talk Turkey with West Wing writer Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, and Politico senior writer Michael Grunwald walks us through the political maize of supporting ethanol.
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Mar 26, 2019 • 38min
0.11: Big Block of Cheese Special
You sent in your queries; you know we've got answers—it's a feta compli. In the queso one or two questions, we got a little help from Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford, who sent us some really gouda answers of their own. We're always fondue these episodes, and we hope you'll think this one's grate, too.
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Mar 20, 2019 • 56min
6.12: 365 Days (with Fmr. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken)
There’s only a year left in the Bartlet Presidency—and only 9 months left in the TWWW Podcastency!—and it feels like the last chance to make history. We’re joined by Tony Blinken who once held the same NSA position as Kate Harper, to talk about how hard it is to make long-term plans while you’re putting out little fires everywhere.
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Mar 13, 2019 • 1h 5min
6.11: Opposition Research (with Mayor Pete Buttigieg)
We’re joined by Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 2020 Presidential hopeful, for our discussion of “Opposition Research,” in which Matt Santos travels to New Hampshire to introduce himself to the electorate.
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Mar 6, 2019 • 55min
6.10: Faith Based Initiative (with Bradley Whitford)
Bradley Whitford joins us this week to discuss "Faith Based Initiative," which he wrote! Incredibly, his first time writing for television was this episode of The West Wing. He tells us how it all came together, as we pick it apart.
For more, visit thewestwingweekly.com/610
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