
In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt
In the Bubble is the go to place to learn more about the most important news events on YOUR mind. We take the time that’s needed to go beyond the headlines with A list guests from Andy's bubble. From Tina Fay to Tony Fauci. From the next vaccine to the next election issue. To an occasional dad joke. It’s Actual Facts from Actual Experts, every Wednesday from Lemonada Media.
Latest episodes

Oct 14, 2022 • 44min
The Six Senate Races That Matter (with CNN’s John King, Part 2)
CNN’s Chief National Correspondent John King is back in the bubble to break down the major House and Senate races this midterm that will determine which party controls Congress next year. From John Fetterman in Pennsylvania to Herschel Walker in Georgia, Andy asks John which candidates are most likely to flip their state, who’s spending the most money in the final weeks, and what to watch closely on Election Day. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow John King on Twitter @JohnKingCNN. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! CVS Health helps people navigate the healthcare system and their personal healthcare by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. At CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at cvshealth.com. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 12, 2022 • 34min
Will Election Deniers Win in the Midterms? (with CNN’s John King, Part 1)
With less than a month until Election Day, CNN’s Chief National Correspondent John King returns to the bubble to dig deep into the key themes and dynamics unique to this midterm. Andy asks which issues are galvanizing voters, what the polls tell us (and if we should believe them), and whether a swarm of election deniers will win state races. Tune in Friday for part two of this conversation, when John and Andy pick apart the key House and Senate races. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow John King on Twitter @JohnKingCNN. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! CVS Health helps people navigate the healthcare system and their personal healthcare by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. At CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at cvshealth.com. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 10, 2022 • 51min
Upcoming SCOTUS Cases that Could Change America (with Leah Litman)
The last SCOTUS term was monumental, with a leaked draft and major precedents like Roe v. Wade overturned. What can we expect from this upcoming term? Michigan Law Professor Leah Litman ranks the most important cases coming before the court, from affirmative action to fair elections. Andy asks Leah why she calls this six-justice conservative supermajority a YOLO court, and how life could have been different had Justice Ginsburg retired during Obama’s term. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Leah Litman on Twitter @LeahLitman. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! CVS Health helps people navigate the healthcare system and their personal healthcare by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. At CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at cvshealth.com. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Check out Leah’s podcast, Strict Scrutiny: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/strict-scrutiny/ Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 7, 2022 • 41min
Navigating Putin’s Escalating Threat of Nuclear War
President Biden says Vladimir Putin is not joking about his threats to use nuclear weapons to get out of the war in the Ukraine. As tensions escalate worldwide, America continues to supply the Ukrainian army with the equipment it needs to fight Russia. Andy speaks with Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Andrew Weiss, experts on Putin and Russian intelligence, about what it would take for Putin to follow through on that threat. They discuss what the war looks like now, how it’s impacting oil prices heading into winter, and the calculated moves President Biden must make to ensure the war doesn’t spiral into something much more dangerous and widespread. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Andrew Weiss on Twitter @AKendallTaylor and @andrewsweiss. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! CVS Health helps people navigate the healthcare system and their personal healthcare by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. At CVS Health, healthier happens together. Learn more at cvshealth.com. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Pre-order Andrew’s graphic novel, “Accidental Czar: The Life and Lies of Vladimir Putin”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250760753/accidentalczar Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 5, 2022 • 48min
Trump and Putin (with Peter Baker and Susan Glasser)
Donald Trump is taking center stage in the midterm elections, even though he isn’t on the ballot. And to this day there are still unanswered questions about his presidency: what was the true nature of his relationship with Putin? Can he be held accountable for his crimes? Andy talks with veteran journalists Peter Baker of The New York Times and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker who have written a historic accounting of Trump’s presidency in their new book, The Divider to try and get some answers. The husband-and-wife team tell Andy what they learned when they were given unprecedented access to Trump and the people in his orbit. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Peter Baker and Susan Glasser on Twitter @peterbakernyt and @sbg1. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Order Peter and Susan’s book, “The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021”: https://www.amazon.com/Divider-Trump-White-House-2017-2021/dp/038554653X Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 3, 2022 • 49min
How Hunger in America Drives the Obesity Epidemic
At its first hunger summit in 50 years, the White House announced a plan last week to end hunger and reduce obesity by 2030. Is that really possible, and what will it take to get there? Andy speaks with Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, who specializes in obesity medicine, about the link between obesity and hunger plus how race, stress, and poverty play a role. Using examples from her life and her practice, she explains why obesity should be viewed and treated as the disease it is, using methods like medicine and surgery in tandem with diet and exercise. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford on Twitter @askdrfatima. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Listen to Fatima’s TED Talk about “The Three Pandemics,” weight bias, racism, and COVID-19: https://www.ted.com/talks/fatima_cody_stanford_the_three_pandemics Read Biden’s plan to end hunger and reduce obesity by 2030: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/28/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-announces-more-than-8-billion-in-new-commitments-as-part-of-call-to-action-for-white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/ Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 30, 2022 • 46min
On the Road with Asylum Seekers
An immigrant’s unpredictable journey to America doesn’t end when they get to the border. Political stunts by Governors Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis sending asylum seekers to the steps of the U.S. Capitol and Martha’s Vineyard is the latest reminder. Andy speaks with two people embedded in the journey to the U.S., LA Times reporter Molly O’Toole and New York Times reporter Michael Shear, who explain the messy, lengthy process asylum seekers face. They discuss why deterrence policies don’t work, the flawed myths behind “good” and “bad” immigrants, and why we'll see more Afghan immigrants crossing through Central America. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Molly O’Toole and Michael Shear on Twitter @mollymotoole and @shearm. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Read Michael’s piece about how Biden hopes small changes to the asylum seeking process will go a long way on immigration issues: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/27/us/politics/biden-immigration-asylum.html Listen to Molly’s Pulitzer Prize winning story about the Trump Administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/688/the-out-crowd Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 28, 2022 • 43min
How Much Pain Will It Take to Crush Inflation? (with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari)
The Federal Reserve is continuing to raise interest rates in an attempt to crush record high inflation. But how far will they go, could it lead us into a recession with massive job loss, and how will stock markets react? Neel Kashkari, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, offers a candid look at the tools at the Fed’s disposal and explains why they’re taking strong actions at the risk of economic pain for Americans. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Neel Kashkari on Twitter @neelkashkari. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Watch Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s latest speech announcing the third interest rate increase in a row: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-federal-reserve-chair-jerome-powell-gives-update-after-decision-on-interest-rates Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 26, 2022 • 52min
Why Democracy Really Is in Danger (with David Leonhardt)
Election denialism represents a fundamental breakdown in our democracy, a problem America has never experienced in its history. But that’s not it. There’s also an increasingly alarming disconnection between public opinion and the power to shape American politics. Andy explores these two threats with New York Times senior writer David Leonhardt, who explains why candidates that win the most votes are less and less able to take power and address the country’s problems. They also dig into the specific policy changes that could help protect our democracy, from Electoral College reform bills to ranked choice voting. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow David Leonhardt on Twitter @DLeonhardt. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Read David’s piece, “‘A Crisis Coming’: The Twin Threats to American Democracy”: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/17/us/american-democracy-threats.html Check out the findings in the latest New York Times/Siena College Poll: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/22/upshot/donald-trump-approval-poll.html Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 23, 2022 • 44min
How We Can Put Every Kid through College
What if every baby could receive a college savings account, regardless of the financial situation they’re born into? That’s the mission behind baby bonds, a government policy championed by Senator Cory Booker that would provide children with a nest egg to start off adulthood. Andy speaks with economist Darrick Hamilton, who proposed the policy in 2010 as a mechanism to reduce the racial wealth gap in the United States, and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, who created a program in his city. They explain how baby bonds could eliminate college debt, why we should invest in kids we don’t personally know, and the money and public support it would take to expand local programs to the national level. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt. Follow Darrick Hamilton and Mayor Melvin Carter on Twitter @DarrickHamilton and @MayorCarter. Joining Lemonada Premium is a great way to support our show and get bonus content. Subscribe today at bit.ly/lemonadapremium. Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows: https://lemonadamedia.com/sponsors/ Check out these resources from today’s episode: Read how Darrick helped bring the concept of baby bonds to the national conversation: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-03-17/baby-bonds-eyed-as-way-to-close-u-s-racial-wealth-gap Learn more about Mayor Carter's baby bonds program, College Bound St. Paul: https://collegeboundstp.com/ Find vaccines, masks, testing, treatments, and other resources in your community: https://www.covid.gov/ Order Andy’s book, “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response”: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165 Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com/show/inthebubble.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.