

Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt
Politicon
Master political strategist James Carville and revered journalist Al Hunt convenes a war room each week to discuss the battle for the soul of the nation! Join them as they gather the sharpest minds from across the country to see who has the most compelling case for the American people on the issues that matter most.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 21, 2022 • 1h 1min
153: Lis Smith: Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story
James and Al are joined by Pete Buttigieg’s Senior Communications Advisor Lis Smith for a conversation about her career journey as a political veteran, how to succeed on the campaign trail, and what to look for when you pick a candidate. They also take on the issues defining the midterms, what democratic messaging needs, and the importance of making the elections about the candidates instead of a referendum.
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guests:
Lis Smith:
Twitter | Georgetown | Author of “Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story”
Please Support This Week’s Sponsors:
Miracle Brand:
For 40% off high quality self-cooling sheets with 3 free towels, go to trymiracle.com and use the promo code: WARROOM
Raycon
Get 15% off your Raycon order when you go to buyraycon.com and use the promo code: WARROOM15
Reel Paper:
Get planet friendly Reel Paper with 30% off and free shipping at reelpaper.com when you use the promo code: WARROOM

Jul 14, 2022 • 1h 2min
152: Foreign Affairs with Ed Luce & Michael Abramowitz
James and Al are joined by Financial Times U.S. National Editor Ed Luce and Freedom House President Michael Abramowitz for a look at the recent upheavals in foreign affairs. In their conversations, they cover the resignation of Boris Johnson and its impact on Britain, the latest developments in our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and what it all means for the United States, Ukraine, and Europe.
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guests:
Ed Luce:
Twitter | Financial Times | Author
Michael Abramowitz:
Twitter | Freedom House
Please Support This Week’s Sponsor:
Chili Sleep
To save 30% off your purchase of any new Ooler or Cube Sleep System, go to chilisleep.com and use the promo code: WARROOM

Jul 10, 2022 • 14min
151: Revisionist History: The Triplicate Program and Opioid Epidemic
We’re sharing a bonus episode from our friends at Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked.
This season, Malcolm’s obsessed with experiments – natural experiments, scientific experiments, thought experiments. In this preview, we learn about Paul Madden, who ran the California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement in the 1930s. He enacted an expensive, burdensome, annoying bit of bureaucratic anti-drug hysteria known as the “triplicate program” that made every doctor in the state miserable because it involved a lot of paperwork. But Madden insisted this kind of paperwork would save lives.
Fast forward to the 90s and early 2000s, when opioids were being prescribed as painkillers at a rapid rate – and killing tens of thousands of Americans due to overdoses. The government looked to Madden’s triplicate program as a way of preventing the epidemic.
A handful of states started their own triplicate prescription programs, but most ignored the warning signs. The result was a devastating natural experiment.
You can hear more from Revisionist History at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/rhs7?sid=warroom.

Jul 7, 2022 • 1h 16min
150: Tim Miller: Why We Did It
James and Al are joined by Bulwark writer, author, and anti-Trump conservative Tim Miller to delve into the departure of the Republican party from the Reagan/Bush legacy in an appeal to the grievances of its base. They also look at the fire of political passion, the addiction of the campaign trail, and how it can drive people to go along to get along. When your candidate goes off course, what does it take to break free?
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guest:
Tim Miller:
Twitter | The Bulwark | SnapChat | Not My Party | Author of “Why We Did It”
Please Support This Week’s Sponsors:
Magic Spoon:
To get $5 of your next custom bundle of delicious Magic Spoon cereal go to magicspoon.com and use the promo code: WARROOM
Miracle Brand:
For 40% off high quality self-cooling sheets, go to trymiracle.com and use the promo code: WARROOM

Jun 30, 2022 • 58min
149: The State of the Supreme Court with Linda Greenhouse
The State of the Supreme Court with Linda Greenhouse

Jun 23, 2022 • 1h 7min
148: Ryan Grim from The Intercept
James and Al review the latest 1/6 hearing and upcoming Supreme Court rulings, then welcome D.C. Bureau Chief of The Intercept Ryan Grim to analyze the increasing ineffectiveness of progressive organizations and the perils of woke culture. In their conversation, they break down the fragmentation of the Left, and emphasize the need to build coalitions to achieve goals and win elections– even if it’s uncomfortable.
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guest:
Ryan Grim:
Twitter | The Intercept | Author | Deconstructed Podcast | On the Meltdown of Progressive Orgs
Please Support This Week’s Sponsors:
Blinkist
For a 7 day free trial and 25% off a premium membership go to blinkist.com
Raycon
Get 15% off your Raycon order when you go to buyraycon.com and use the promo code: WARROOM15

Jun 16, 2022 • 1h 5min
147: Rep. Ro Khanna
James and Al fire off on the ineffectiveness of liberal organizations and what they need to do to help win elections. They then welcome Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna to lay out his view of progressive capitalism and the need to bring our industries back home, highlighting the importance of common sense and why we shouldn’t give up on the promise of the USA.
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guest:
Congressman Ro Khanna:
Twitter | Website | House.gov
Please Support This Week’s Sponsor:
Chili Sleep
To save 30% off your purchase of any new Ooler or Cube Sleep System, go to chilisleep.com and use the promo code: WARROOM

Jun 9, 2022 • 1h
146: The Betrayal: How Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans Abandoned America with Ira Shapiro
James and Al break down the results of this week’s primary elections and are joined by author and congressional expert Ira Shapiro. In their conversation, they discuss how Mitch McConnell has contributed to the destruction of the Senate as an institution, its value as a check on executive power, and the need to unify against obstruction and to defend our values.
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guest:
Ira Shapiro:
Twitter | Website | Albright Stonebridge | Author
Please Support This Week’s Sponsor:
Blinkist
For a 7 day free trial and 25% off a premium membership go to blinkist.com
Magic Spoon
For $5 off your next order of Magic Spoon, go to magicspoon.com and use promo code: WARROOM

Jun 2, 2022 • 1h 5min
145: To Risk It All with Admiral James Stavridis
Following the Memorial Day weekend, James and Al welcome former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Admiral James Stravidis, to look back on some of our greatest naval heroes. Then, they discuss the ways the different branches of the armed forces are responding to modern challenges, the need for more ships, and how strategic ambiguity is being used to deter a conflict between China and Taiwan.
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guest:
Admiral James Stavridis:
Twitter | Website | Carlyle Group | Author of “To Risk It All” & Other Books
Please Support This Week’s Sponsor:
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Go to jordanharbinger.com or wherever you get your podcasts to start listening

May 26, 2022 • 1h 9min
144: It's The Economy Stupid with Roger Altman
James and Al go off on the growing epidemic of gun violence and the apathy of the public. Then, they welcome Fmr. US Deputy Treasury Secretary and Evercore Founder Roger Altman to understand what’s happening with the economy. In their conversation, they cover the role of the Fed, the possibility of recession, and what President Biden has done to strengthen the country’s prospects.
Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.
Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you’re from!
Get More From This Week’s Guests:
Roger Altman:
Evercore | The Hamilton Project
Please Support This Week’s Sponsors:
Reel Paper
Get planet friendly Reel Paper with 30% off and free shipping at reelpaper.com when you use the promo code: WARROOM
Blinkist
For a 7 day free trial and 25% off a premium membership go to blinkist.com
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Go to jordanharbinger.com or wherever you get your podcasts to start listening