
Impromptu
Smart when you need it, fun when you want it — with hosts who feel like friends. Impromptu is your twice-a-week conversation with Washington Post columnists who bring fresh insight and perspective to the stories shaping the week. On Tuesdays, Dana Milbank and his colleagues dig into the political news that actually matters. Then, on Fridays, Drew Goins and Molly Roberts ease you into the weekend, breaking down the cultural moments you can’t stop thinking about.
Latest episodes

Jul 26, 2024 • 59sec
Introducing, "The Sports Moment"
Sports reporter Ava Wallace from The Washington Post covers the Summer Games in France, sharing personal victories and exclusive moments. Learn about The 7 podcast for quick news updates.

5 snips
Jul 23, 2024 • 26min
Can Kamala Harris win?
Debates around Vice President Harris as the new nominee, potential running mates, and her chances as a woman of color in 2024. Discussions on diversity on the ticket, challenges of a two-woman ticket, and a humorous take on President Biden's decision to step down.

Jul 16, 2024 • 25min
Republicans are euphoric. Can it last?
After a truly wild few weeks in politics, our columnists huddle up at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. They discuss the mood on the ground in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, how the unity message seems to be fraying and what recent events mean for the presidential campaign – and the country – going forward. Plus, humorist Alexandra Petri serves up an imagined J.D. Vance infomercial using his own words about Trump.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Jul 9, 2024 • 22min
Democrats feel doomed. What’s the least risky move?
With falling poll numbers and President Biden's public appearances doing little to reassure voters he’s still got what it takes to win, Democrats are faced with a difficult decision about how to proceed. Biden has dug in, pledging to the public that he isn’t going anywhere. Charles Lane, Karen Tumulty and Perry Bacon Jr. talk through whether Biden can salvage his campaign, how possible it really is to change course now and who else could step up.Read more from our columnists:“Kamala Harris walks into the storm — and keeps her footing”“What if Biden steps aside from the Democratic nomination?”“If not Biden, who? Five columnists weigh in.”

Jul 3, 2024 • 17min
America, we love you. But it’s hard.
It’s the week of the Fourth of July and the word patriotism is as divisive as the rest of American politics. Theodore Johnson, Karen Attiah and Jason Rezaian discuss the good and the bad about the United States, and how to reconcile its shortcomings while pushing for a better future. Read more from some of our columnists —Ted Johnson: “American democracy is fine. It's the republic that's in trouble.”“Buck up, America. Help is on the way.”Karen Attiah: “How to reckon with the cult of the gun”

Jun 28, 2024 • 20min
Biden finally overshadowed Trump, in all the wrong ways
President Biden’s debate performance has Democrats in a panic and Donald Trump supporters gleeful. Columnists Karen Tumulty, Dana Milbank and Jim Geraghty process how things feel the morning after, whether the president should step aside and how the truth was the night’s biggest loser. Read more from our columnists about the debate:Karen Tumulty: “The Great Democratic Freakout is upon us”Dana Milbank: “If America is failing, that debate showed why”Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Jun 26, 2024 • 23min
Is the smartphone panic dumb?
Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy recommended putting a warning on social media for minors last week, while governors from coast to coast have pushed for restrictions on teen phone use. But how worried should we really be, and what is there to do about it? Post columnists Amanda Ripley, Molly Roberts and Theodore Johnson talk through the dumbphone trend, how explicit lyric warnings on CDs backfired and what actually worked in the campaigns to stop kids from smoking. Listen to Murthy talking to our colleagues on the daily news podcast, Post Reports, about why he sees social media as such a threat to young people."How bullying shaped the surgeon general's fight against social media"Read more from the Washington Post: “Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels”“What research actually says about social media and kids’ health”“Opinion | Why a warning label for social media is so crucial”Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Jun 19, 2024 • 24min
Movie theaters are dying. Do you care?
It’s been a rough few years for movie theaters, and the dismal start to the summer blockbuster season hasn’t helped. If people go to theaters less often, will that change the type of movies that are made? Is the future of moviegoing a boutique, high-end experience? Matt Belloni, host of “The Town,” joins The Post’s Alyssa Rosenberg and Chris Suellentrop to talk about what’s going on with the movies and what, if anything, will get people out of their living rooms and into theaters.Read more from Belloni here and subscribe to his “What I’m Hearing” newsletter. Or you can find his podcast about the entertainment business, “The Town” wherever you listen.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Jun 12, 2024 • 20min
Why can't Americans agree on immigration?
A quarter of Americans, most of them Republicans, say immigration is the most pressing issue facing the country. Post columnists Karen Tumulty, León Krauze and Jim Geraghty discuss why this issue is top of mind for so many people, how politics continues to thwart policy and whether Americans still see our country as a cultural melting pot.Read more from the columnists.Karen Tumulty: “The U.S. is failing millions of undocumented essential workers”León Krauze: “Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge fall spotlights immigrant workers”Jim Geraghty: “Why America Needs a Secure Border | National Review”And here’s more information on the topics discussed in the show:“Immigration Named Top U.S. Problem for Third Straight Month”“The Economic Impacts of Removing Unauthorized Immigrant Workers”“Fueled by unprecedented border crossings, a record 3 million cases clog US immigration courts”Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Jun 5, 2024 • 26min
So you married a Supreme Court justice
The Alitos are the latest couple to face the question: When you are married to someone in public life — a Supreme Court justice, a member of Congress, a Post Opinions columnist — what compromises do you need to make? Should you be held to the same ethical standards as your spouse? Charles Lane, Ruth Marcus and James Hohmann discuss the politics of marriage, whether the Supreme Court is more partisan now than in the past and why they don’t think Justice Alito needs to recuse himself in the Jan. 6 case.Read more from the Washington Post:“The strange case of Alito v. Alito” “Sam Alito's flag flew upside down. Are his ethics?”“Read Justice Alito’s letter denying requests to recuse from Jan. 6 cases”