Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Grant Hermes
  • 4.9 (27)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Politics has never been more chaotic, and most podcasts just add to the noise. Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes cuts through it. Grant is an AP Award-winning journalist with over a decade of on-the-ground reporting on the biggest political stories, scandals, and elections in America. Twice a week, he takes the stories dominating the headlines and breaks them down in plain English — no jargon, no spin, no shouting. If you care about what’s happening in this country but you’re exhausted by how it’s being covered, this is the show for you. Real reporting. Clear explanations. Actual context. Make It Make Sense drops three times a week. Subscribe so you never miss it.

  1. 3D AGO

    Harvard Psychiatrist to Congress: Trump Is Too Dangerous to Have the Nuclear Codes

    36 doctors, psychiatrists, and Nobel laureates just signed an open letter, now part of the official Congressional Record, saying Donald Trump's mental and physical decline makes him too dangerous to hold the nuclear codes.  Grant sits down with Dr. Henry Abraham, one of the letter's lead authors and a former Harvard Medical School psychiatrist, to break down exactly what they're seeing, why they're speaking out now, and what it could mean for millions of lives. Why these doctors broke the "Goldwater Rule," and why they say they had no choiceThe specific symptoms they're tracking: tangential speech, rage, grandiose delusions, impaired impulse control, and manic late-night postingHow Trump's case compares to Biden's, and why the doctor says the Democrats "fooled us until they couldn't."The nuclear football problem: what happens when an impulsive president has unilateral launch authorityWhy the White House's cognitive test results are being hidden, and what that might meanRep. Jamie Raskin's bill to create an independent medical panel for 25th Amendment proceedingsWhat it would actually take to remove Trump from officeCHAPTERS: 0:00 - Trump's Health Is a Clear and Present Danger 2:27 - Intro: Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes 3:06 - Meet Dr. Henry Abraham 3:30 - How the Congressional Letter Came Together 8:51 - "Where Were You With Biden?" — The Doctor Answers 10:37 - Why Trump's Decline Looks Different Now 12:27 - Breaking Down the Symptoms: The Full List 14:16 - The Goldwater Rule — and Why They Broke It 17:44 - The Most Alarming Symptom 21:20 - Why Isn't This Movement Bigger? 27:03 - Authoritarianism and Denying What You're Seeing 29:15 - Three Physicals in One Year — What the White House Isn't Saying 31:08 - The Cognitive Tests and What They're Hiding 33:43 - Does the White House Doctor Have a Duty to Come Forward? 34:48 - Impeachment, the 25th Amendment, and What Comes Next 37:03 - The Raskin Bill: An Independent Medical Panel for Presidents 39:06 - Closing Thoughts LINKS:  Doctors' Open Letter Make It Make Sense Substack: The President Is Unwell PROMO CODES:  The news is chaotic enough — you shouldn't also have to wonder if you're only getting half the story. Ground News shows you how every outlet, left, right, and center, is covering the same event, so you can see the full picture instead of just one side's version of it. Their Blindspot feed even surfaces stories that are being ignored by one side of the political spectrum entirely. Less echo chamber. More clarity.  Go to https://bit.ly/4dvTblK for 40% off their best plan, the Vantage subscription. Support the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    40 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Your Money Is Worth Less Today Than It Was Last Month

    Inflation just hit 3.8%, the highest in three years, and wages can't keep up. Gas is nearly $4.50 a gallon, groceries cost more than ever, and the war in Iran is in its 11th week with no end in sight.  Today, Grant breaks down what the numbers actually mean for your wallet, why last week's "good" jobs report is more complicated than the headline, and what Trump is trying to do about it before summer. CHAPTERS 1:45 — Gas prices & the real cost at the pump 3:10 — Why wages aren't keeping up 4:30 — The jobs report explained (it's not as good as it looked) 6:00 — Trump's poll numbers on the economy 7:20 — The war in Iran: week 11, Hegseth testifies 9:15 — The Supreme Court vs. Trump's tariffs 11:00 — The gas tax holiday: a flip-flop breakdown 12:45 — Trump's trip to China and what it could change PROMO CODES: The news is chaotic enough — you shouldn’t also have to wonder if you’re only getting half the story. Ground News shows you how every outlet, left, right, and center, is covering the same event, so you can see the full picture instead of just one side’s version of it. Their Blindspot feed even surfaces stories that are being ignored by one side of the political spectrum entirely. Less echo chamber. More clarity. Go to https://bit.ly/4dvTblK for 40% off their best plan, the Vantage subscription. Support the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    16 min

  3. MAY 8

    The Democratic Party Is Lost. A Former Presidential Campaign Manager Explains Why

    Why is the Democratic Party so lost right now,  and is there actually a path forward? Former presidential campaign manager and Democratic strategist Maya Rupert joins Grant Hermes to break down the real state of the Democratic Party six months out from the 2026 midterms. We get into the DNC's 208-page playbook that says almost nothing about voters, why Chuck Schumer's days as leader are numbered, the devastating Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision gutting the Voting Rights Act, and why Maya believes the answer to all of it starts with one word: authenticity. Maya's new book, The Real Ones, digs into why authenticity in politics is a concept weaponized against candidates of color and women — and what it actually should mean for voters, candidates, and the media covering them. LINKS: Make It Make Sense Substack The Real Ones  PROMO CODE: The news is chaotic enough, you shouldn't also have to wonder if you're only getting half the story. Ground News shows you how every outlet, left, right, and center, is covering the same event, so you can see the full picture instead of just one side's version of it. Their Blindspot feed even surfaces stories that are being ignored by one side of the political spectrum entirely. Less echo chamber. More clarity.  Go to https://bit.ly/4dvTblK for 40% off their best plan, the Vantage subscription. Support the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    46 min

  4. MAY 7

    The Iran Peace Deal Is Just Obama's Deal (But Worse?)

    The White House is claiming a peace deal with Iran is close, but The deal on the table looks almost identical to the Obama-era agreement Trump tore up in 2018. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio openly told the press that the administration doesn't feel bound by the War Powers Act, and one Republican congressman from Michigan is trying to force the issue with a new bill. We break down what's actually in the proposed Iran deal, why the legal authority for U.S. military operations is murky at best, and what new intelligence reports say about Iran's missile stockpiles and their ability to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. Topics covered: - Iran peace talks and what's actually being offered - How the proposed deal compares to the 2018 Obama deal Trump scrapped - Rubio says the White House won't follow the War Powers Act - Rep. Tom Barrett's AUMF bill and what it means - Iran's missile stockpile is 70-75% intact, not 18% like Trump claimed - U.S. has burned through nearly half its critical missile stockpiles - Saudi Arabia suspended U.S. base access, here's why Subscribe for breakdowns of the news that actually matters. Full story + more at the Make It Make Sense Substack: The Company They Keep Promo Code: The news is chaotic enough — you shouldn't also have to wonder if you're only getting half the story. Ground News shows you how every outlet, left, right, and center, is covering the same event, so you can see the full picture instead of just one side's version of it. Their Blindspot feed even surfaces stories that are being ignored by one side of the political spectrum entirely. Less echo chamber. More clarity.  Go to https://bit.ly/4dvTblK for 40% off their best plan, the Vantage subscription. Support the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    18 min

  5. MAY 5

    Is the Iran War Actually Over? The White House Can't Get Its Story Straight

    The president told Congress the Iran war was "terminated." The Secretary of Defense says there's still a ceasefire. Then Trump called it a "mini-war" on camera. So... which is it? Today, Grant breaks down the War Powers Act deadline that forced Trump's hand, the new "Project Freedom" operation in the Strait of Hormuz, why gas just hit $4.50/gallon nationally, and what the polls say about where Americans actually stand. ⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Intro — Can't get the story straight 01:20 The War Powers Act deadline explained 04:10 What is "Project Freedom" actually? 07:30 Iran fires on US ships — is the ceasefire over? 10:15 $4.50 gas & the economic toll 14:00 What the polls say (and why Trump won't believe them) 17:30 What comes next 📬 Subscribe to the Make It Make Sense Substack for the full Civics Class breakdown on redistricting: How Does Redistricting Work? 🎙️ Make It Make Sense is a daily news explainer with Grant Hermes. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. PROMO CODE: The news is chaotic enough — you shouldn't also have to wonder if you're only getting half the story. Ground News shows you how every outlet, left, right, and center, is covering the same event, so you can see the full picture instead of just one side's version of it. Their Blindspot feed even surfaces stories that are being ignored by one side of the political spectrum entirely. Less echo chamber. More clarity.  Go to ground.news/mims for 40% off their best plan, the Vantage subscription. Support the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    19 min

  6. MAY 1

    Forget Gerrymandering, The Supreme Court Legalized Gerrymaxxing w/ Dave Daley

    It's like Looksmaxxing but for gerrymandering. GERRYMAXXING The Supreme Court just finished what John Roberts started 45 years ago, gutting the Voting Rights Act. And the political earthquake it's about to cause will be felt in every state, in every race, all the way down to your school board.  In this episode, Grant sits down with Dave Daley, author and senior fellow at FairVote, to break down the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, what it actually means for Black and Brown voters, and why this could lead to the largest reduction in minority representation in Congress since Reconstruction. They cover: What the Voting Rights Act actually required and what Justice Alito just replaced it withWhy the new "intent" standard is nearly impossible to meetThe "Gerrymaxxing" wave that's about to sweep the nation. Why competitive elections could drop to single digits out of 435 congressional seats by 2028What real fixes exist, and whether any of them are politically possibleWhat you can do right nowLINKS:  Dave Daley at Fair Vote  Dave's Books RatfuckedUnriggedSupport the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    42 min

  7. APR 30

    The Supreme Court Just Killed the Voting Rights Act

    The Supreme Court just gutted the Voting Rights Act. Grant explains what that means for your vote, your district, and the next election. Plus: four massive government deadlines expire TONIGHT, Congress goes on recess, and we learn the truth about six Americans killed at a base in Kuwait with zero protection. Today's episode breaks down: The Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais and why it sets American elections back 45–65 yearsWhich Southern states are already redrawing district maps, and what that could mean for 12–14 House seatsWhy Chief Justice John Roberts has been working toward this moment since the Reagan administrationDHS funding finally passing, what it covers and what it doesn'tThe Farm Bill, FISA/Section 702, and what's still unresolved tonightThe Iran War Powers Act deadline: midnight tonight, and the House just went on recessThe $25 billion cost of the Iran war and a Pentagon hearing about six Americans killed at an unprotected basePROMO CODES:  The news is chaotic enough — you shouldn't also have to wonder if you're only getting half the story. Ground News shows you how every outlet, left, right, and center, is covering the same event, so you can see the full picture instead of just one side's version of it. Their Blindspot feed even surfaces stories that are being ignored by one side of the political spectrum entirely. Less echo chamber. More clarity.  Go to ground.news/mims for 40% off their best plan, the Vantage subscription. Support the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    21 min

  8. APR 28

    The Shooting, The Ballroom, and The Fallout

    Someone tried to assassinate the President at the White House Correspondents' Dinner — and the political fallout may be almost as dangerous than the attack itself. On Saturday night, 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen traveled from California to Washington D.C. with a shotgun and a handgun — on Amtrak — checked into the hotel where the dinner was being held, and opened fire. Grant breaks down everything we know about the shooter, the security failures that made it possible, and the deeply strange political machine that kicked into gear within hours of the attack. From the DOJ filing that reads like a Trump social media post, to senators suddenly demanding a taxpayer-funded White House ballroom, to the FCC going after Jimmy Kimmel for jokes he made before the shooting happened. LINKS:  Politics is a lot right now. Make It Make Sense exists because you deserve clarity, not noise. But it only works with your support. Independent journalism that’s real reporting, not just hot takes, to cut through the chaos. Starting at $5/month. Make It Make Sense Substack PROMO CODES:  The news is chaotic enough — you shouldn't also have to wonder if you're only getting half the story. Ground News shows you how every outlet, left, right, and center, is covering the same event, so you can see the full picture instead of just one side's version of it. Their Blindspot feed even surfaces stories that are being ignored by one side of the political spectrum entirely. Less echo chamber. More clarity.  Go to ground.news/mims for 40% off their best plan, the Vantage subscription. Support the show Follow along on social media X: @mimsnewspod Instagram: @mimsnewspod TikTok: @mimsnewspod Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com YouTube: youtube.com/@MIMSnewspod Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social Follow Grant: X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

    26 min
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4.9
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Politics has never been more chaotic, and most podcasts just add to the noise. Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes cuts through it. Grant is an AP Award-winning journalist with over a decade of on-the-ground reporting on the biggest political stories, scandals, and elections in America. Twice a week, he takes the stories dominating the headlines and breaks them down in plain English — no jargon, no spin, no shouting. If you care about what’s happening in this country but you’re exhausted by how it’s being covered, this is the show for you. Real reporting. Clear explanations. Actual context. Make It Make Sense drops three times a week. Subscribe so you never miss it.

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