The Al Franken Podcast

ASF Productions

4.6 (7.7K)
POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

A five-time Emmy winning SNL comedy writer/producer, joins a four-time #1 NYT bestselling author, a three-time highest-rated national progressive radio host, a two-time Grammy winning artist, and a former US Senator. So, it gets a little crowded in the booth when Al talks public policy and sometimes political comedy with notable guests. Think “The Daily” without the resources of the NYTimes.

4 DAYS AGO

Ian Bassin on Saving Our Democracy

Donald Trump's unprecedented second term is upon us. As we prepare to endure another (at least) 4 years of this, we are joined by Ian Bassin, the co-founder and Executive Director of Protect Democracy. Trump has already promised to undermine democracy in America. How can we fight back? And how can we mount a defense to the coming onslaught? We also discuss where Democrats went wrong trying to counter Trump's message during the election and, more importantly, how to address it moving forward. Learn more about Protect Democracy at https://protectdemocracy.org/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

45 min
JAN 12

Dana Milbank on The Nutcase Republican House

Dana Milbank, Washington Post Opinion columnist joins us this week! His latest book, "Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theories and Dunces who Burned Down the House", chronicles the ineffectiveness of the members of the U.S House. He makes the case that the MAGA members in the House have turned it into a dysfunctional nightmare with no interest in making policy. From Lauren Boebert to Marjorie Taylor Greene, they have turned the "conservative" party into a party that exists solely to carry out the wishes of Donald Trump. We also discuss the latest Trump press conference in which he floats the idea of changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to The Gulf of America and doesn't rule out military force to acquire Greenland. Anyone ready for another 4 years of this?? Read Dana's column in the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/dana-milbank/ Check out Dana's book Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theories and Dunces who Burned Down the House: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/dana-milbank/fools-on-the-hill/9780316570923/?lens=little-brown See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

42 min
JAN 5

BEST OF: Scott Galloway

Professor Scott Galloway is our guest in this New Year's Best Of. Galloway has thoughts on the current political climate and how extreme most of the Republican agenda is these days. He also speaks about how modern politics and policies have left our young people disaffected and feeling left out of the political process. From minimum wage to college admissions, Galloway shares policies and solutions that can help ease his declared "war on young people". Listen to Scott's podcast, The Prof G Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-prof-g-pod-with-scott-galloway/id1498802610 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

37 min
12/29/2024

BEST OF: SNL's Jim Downey

In this Best Of episode, we revisit the conversation from earlier this year with SNL writer and producer Jim Downey. Al and Jim worked on several iconic sketches and remember some of their favorite political bits from the history of the show. They also discuss the importance of rewarding audiences for knowing stuff but not punishing them for not knowing stuff. Plus, Jim answers to Al's allegation that he helped George W Bush win the 2000 election! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1h 7m
12/22/2024

The Atlantic's George Packer on the End of Democratic Delusions

The Atlantic's George Packer joins us to discuss his recent piece titled The End of Democratic Delusions. Packer discusses the new era that Donald Trump has ushered in and what that means to politics moving forward. Trump won a close election, but it's a moment for the Democratic establishment to take a look at their shortcomings and redevelop their messaging and platform in the years ahead. Read George Packer's piece in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/01/trump-reelection-voter-demographic-change/680752/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

42 min
12/15/2024

Anne Applebaum & Frank Foer on Syria, The Middle East, and Ukraine

We're joined by two of our favorite foreign policy writers to examine what the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime means to Syria and the region. Frank Foer and Anne Applebaum from The Atlantic also look toward the incoming Trump administration and what lies ahead. Can Trump be a steady hand to stop escalating war around the world? How will Israel react? And what happens to our support of Ukraine in their efforts against the tyrant Putin? Read Anne's book Autocracy, Inc: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/725302/autocracy-inc-by-anne-applebaum/ Read Frank's work in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/franklin-foer/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

44 min
12/08/2024

WaPo's Aaron Blake on The Transition

As we move closer to the second Trump administration, we are learning more about his incoming Cabinet. Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author/host of The Campaign Moment newsletter and podcast for the Washington Post joins us to discuss some of Trump's Cabinet picks and their struggles to be confirmed. Also, the American people seem to overwhelmingly want a check on Trump's power. What will that look like with an administration that believes it has a mandate? Plus, we break down Hunter Biden's pardon and how that might impact Joe Biden's legacy. Read Aaron's work in the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/aaron-blake/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

36 min
12/01/2024

BEST OF: Anne Applebaum on her book Autocracy, Inc.

In this Thanksgiving Best Of, we revisit our conversation with our friend Anne Applebaum! We aired this a few months ago when Anne's newest book, Autocracy Inc., had been released. She chronicles the rise of authoritarianism around the world and how those autocracies work together to keep themselves in power. With Donald Trump elected President once again, could we be heading for a similar fate? Other countries thwarted authoritarian candidates over the last year, but America decided that another round of Trumpism was the way to go. We can only hope that the country can survive it. Read Anne's work in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/anne-applebaum/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

34 min

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TRAILER

COVID-19 Trailer

This COVID-19 pandemic is arguably the greatest global crisis since World War II. Since the coronavirus hit, Al has been talking with guests about the various aspects of this horrible scourge. To date, guests include: Andy Slavitt, former head of Medicare/Medicaid; Austan Goolsbee, former Chair of the President's Council of Economic Advisors; Dr. Leana Wen, former president of Planned Parenthood; and Michael Lewis, author of the Fifth Risk. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

E1

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6 min

4.6

out of 5

7,741 Ratings

The ACA is a continuation of Reaganomics

12/30/2024

Dr. Nomecat

We could only get the ACA passed by using previous GOP proposals, which pours taxpayer money into private insurance coffers with little regulation and less oversight. We must protect it while fighting for universal healthcare. Corporate Democrats have been almost as unwilling to reign in corporate greed, ceding territory in exchange for minimal cuts to benefits to the lower classes and increased hardship for the working and middle classes. Obama was a huge disappointment to those left behind by globalization and their children, who are strapped with student loans in jobs that did not actually pay them more than an unskilled laborer, despite predatory promises by for profit loan companies. Please have Sarah Kendzior on as a guest. Pretty please.
You go Al

3 days ago

Crappy, crap, crap

Seven minutes of commercials before a very boring interview. You go Al. Make the $$$$. Trump should help you out with more content.
What to do?

12/23/2024

pjlaam

First, let me say how much I enjoy your podcast. I have listened to many podcasts and read articles analyzing what the Democrats did wrong in the last election. What I am not finding are any suggestions about how to communicate with voters in a way that reaches them. Apparently they don’t read newspapers. Speaking on the floor of the house or the Senate means nothing. Biden should have put up a giant sign at the site of every proposed project saying that this project is going to add X number of jobs to the economy and was brought to them by Joe Biden and the Democrats. And if that area is republican representative, and or senator had voted against that should’ve been up there too. Why are Democrats so incredibly bad at tooting their own horn and slamming the opposition?
Wealth Inequality

12/22/2024

Che Block

Taxation bank law bush v gore lear lies mortgage bundle lies and no one punished = Trump

A five-time Emmy winning SNL comedy writer/producer, joins a four-time #1 NYT bestselling author, a three-time highest-rated national progressive radio host, a two-time Grammy winning artist, and a former US Senator. So, it gets a little crowded in the booth when Al talks public policy and sometimes political comedy with notable guests. Think “The Daily” without the resources of the NYTimes.