Impolitic with John Heilemann

Scott Galloway, a professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business and bestselling author, joins to discuss America's grim path toward oligarchy and kleptocracy. He argues that the dangers posed by Mark Zuckerberg's rollback on content moderation far exceed those of Elon Musk's changes to X. Galloway shares insights on the responsibilities of tech moguls in a society plagued by income inequality and misinformation. Plus, they musingly relate the joys of Great Dane parenthood and the genius of David Lynch, tying personal anecdotes to broader societal critiques.

Mallory McMorrow, Michigan State Senator and Majority Leader known for her viral Senate speech, discusses the evolving landscape of gender politics in the Trump era. She delves into why women are reacting differently to Trump's second term, the importance of focusing on actions rather than rhetoric, and the challenges faced by the Democratic Party. Mallory reflects on her rise to prominence and expresses her love for classic video games, while advocating for a renewed political passion to engage younger voters and drive meaningful change.

Tim Miller, an OG Never Trumper and host of The Bulwark Podcast, shares his candid thoughts on the current political climate as Trump gears up for his second term. He expresses disdain for the media's obsession with Trump’s legal woes and critiques the tech billionaire class's admiration for the former president. Miller opens up about his struggles against nihilism, finding joy in simple pleasures like crawfish boils and music festivals. He also muses on the cultural intersections of pop stars and politics, highlighting the significance of engaging younger voters.

John is joined by Jim Fallows—former Atlantic national correspondent, National Book Award winner, and author of Breaking The News on Substack—to discuss Jimmy Carter’s life and legacy. Fallows, who served as Carter’s chief White House speechwriter, discusses the qualities that made Carter an initially mesmerizing but deeply flawed and historically misunderstood figure; his long-underrated policy accomplishments; the personal attributes that made him formidable (focus, toughness), those that were his downfall (vanity, naivete), and those people saw in him that weren’t there at all (niceness). Fallows also opines on the importance of Carter’s surprising relationships with artists and outlaws such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and Hunter Thompson—arguing, in fact, that Thompson’s advocacy of Carter was what put him in the White House. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jiore Craig, a next-gen Democratic digital strategist and counter-disinformation specialist, delves into the social media landscape shaping the 2024 election. He critiques the outdated digital strategies of the Harris campaign compared to Trump's adeptness in engaging voters. The rise of right-leaning podcasts, especially among young men, is discussed, along with a compelling look at the Jordan Peterson phenomenon. Craig also highlights the pervasive subtleties of misinformation and the Democratic Party's struggle to connect with key voter demographics.

Kara Swisher, a prominent tech journalist and author, dives into the chaotic landscape of tech and politics in 2025. She humorously predicts slap fights among billionaires angling for Trump’s favor. The discussion reveals Elon Musk's ambitions that extend to Martian presidency, alongside his complex relationships with tech moguls like Bezos and Zuckerberg. Swisher critiques the political maneuvers of these elites and the ephemeral nature of Silicon Valley wisdom, all while imagining a future where social media evolves with niche communities.

John is joined by Wright Thompson, master of long-form narrative non-fiction and author of the book Heilemann adjudges the best of 2024 — The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi. Wright explains how he came to write The Barn, in which he blends history, journalism, and memoir to offer a new account of the 1955 torture and murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till a few miles from Wright’s boyhood home in Mississippi; what he learned in the process about race, the South, and himself; and why, now more than ever, the story still matters. Wright also discusses his previous book, Pappyland, about Pappy Van Winkle, the most magical bourbon known to man, and the family that makes it, and his career writing seminal magazine profiles of iconic athletes such as Tiger Woods. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Leitch, founder of Deadspin, and Pablo Torre, former ESPN writer, dive into the year's sports highlights with sharp insights. They discuss the remarkable rise of Caitlin Clark and the WNBA, and how sports provided solace during political tensions. The duo highlights the anticipation for the Paris Olympics and riffs on the evolving nature of sports media. They also tackle the complex role of athletes in activism and can’t resist taking jabs at Aaron Rodgers, blending humor with cultural commentary.

John is joined by his partner and Puck Superfriend Dylan Byers to look back on the year that was on the Byers beat. John and Dylan shake their heads and let the brickbats fly at the sight of a procession of mega-rich entertainment and tech CEOs bowing and scraping before Donald Trump. They also dig into Dylan’s year-end lists of the media industry’s most significant macro trends, its three biggest winners and three sorriest losers; and theorize on why 2024 saw a resurgence in the commercial fortunes and cultural sway of the podcast game. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John is joined by Rob Sheffield—longtime Rolling Stone writer and author of the recent bestseller Heartbreak Is The National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music—to size up the past year in music. Sheffield discusses the final show of the Eras tour (which, naturally, he attended), the otherworldly success of the tour and the album it spawned, The Tortured Poets Department, and Swift's vast cultural and commercial significance. Sheffield also weighs in on Rolling Stone’s Top 10 albums of the year and teases his own forthcoming list, gushes over the new Martin Scorsese-produced Beatles documentary, and reassures Bob Dylan devotees that their fears about A Complete Unknown, the imminent Dylan biopic starring Timothee Chamelet, are misplaced—it’s not bad, says Rob! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices