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Explore every episode of the podcast The Al Franken Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for The Al Franken Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Martin Short: A “BEST OF”01 Sep 202400:42:08

As we enter the Fall season of the Presidential campaign, we are taking a break for Labor Day. So we're replaying this interview with comedian and actor Martin Short! The fourth season of Only Murderers in the Building just debuted on Hulu, and in this conversation from 2022, he discusses his role on the show and his 50+ years in showbiz. He also examines his relationship with his co-star Steve Martin and breaks down some of his classic characters from over the years.

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Molly Jong-Fast and Mark Leibovich on The Democratic Convention25 Aug 202400:33:00

We're joined once again by Mark Leibovich from The Atlantic and Molly Jong-Fast, host of the Fast Politics Podcast! The Democrats just wrapped up their National Convention and nominated Kamala Harris to be the nominee for President. Can she carry this momentum all the way to Election Day? Meanwhile, Republicans were caught flat-footed when Joe Biden dropped out and Donald Trump is spiraling out of control. There's still a long way to go before Election Day! 


Read Mark's writing in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/mark-leibovich/


Watch Molly's YouTube video on the dangers of Project 2025: https://youtu.be/yUJSEvYIiy8?si=ZmiG6zibjMSDNJl6

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Norm Ornstein on The Debate & SCOTUS30 Jun 202400:42:04

Donald Trump lied over and over again at the debate. But it's been overshadowed by President Biden's terrible performance. Political scientist and an emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute Norm Ornstein joins us to recap Thursday evening's debacle. Is there a plan forward for the Democratic Party if Biden drops out? How can Biden prove that the debate was an anomaly and win his party back? Plus, the latest round of Supreme Court decisions dropped on Friday. Norm breaks down the terrible decisions and what they say about the direction they are taking this country. 


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Cecile Richards and David Axelrod on The Midterms06 Nov 202201:10:19

Our first one recorded in front of a live audience!

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Laboratories of Autocracy – David Pepper – It’s the States, Stupid!30 Oct 202200:55:32

The former Ohio Democratic State Chair on how state legislatures are dismantling democracy.

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MI Sec. of State Jocelyn Benson and Journalist Ari Berman23 Oct 202201:04:15

Our Democracy Under Threat

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Author Will Bunch – The Cost of College as The Source of Our Division16 Oct 202200:54:17

The GI Bill & Free College United Us. Today’s Steep Cost Has Created Deep Resentment

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Tim Miller, Former GOP Operative, on Why His Cohorts Caved To Trump09 Oct 202201:04:33

In his book, Why We Did It, Miller tells why they did it.

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Sarah Silverman – AGAIN!!!02 Oct 202201:20:00

She's great!

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Dahlia Lithwick On Her Inspiring New Book – LADY JUSTICE25 Sep 202200:59:34

Lithwick profiles heroic women attorneys who stepped up to fight injustice and won!


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NY Times Columnist Paul Krugman18 Sep 202200:56:55

On the economy

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Neal Katyal – Does Garland Indict Trump?11 Sep 202200:44:17

And On What Charges?

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Sandy Hook Mom Nicole Hockley and Former NRA Big-Wig Ryan Busse04 Sep 202200:55:24

A Great One!


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Never-Trumpers Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller on the Presidential Debate23 Jun 202400:37:26

Bulwark Founder Sarah Longwell and former Republican operative and host of the Bulwark podcast Tim Miller are worried about a dangerous potential second term of Donald Trump. The first step for Joe Biden defeating Trump? Have a good showing in this week's coming debate. Tim has prepped Presidential candidates to face Trump and shares his insight. And what messages should President Biden hit on during the debate? Sarah hosts The Focus Group podcast and shares what voters are looking for this November. Joe Biden has a LOT of policies that poll extremely well. So how does he take that message to the American people?


Listen to Tim and Sarah's podcast and read their great work at www.TheBulwark.com

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Cecile Richards on Dobbs and the Midterms!28 Aug 202200:48:46

Richards Discusses Roe-vember


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THE MIDTERMS - John Anzalone and D. Taylor21 Aug 202201:05:03

Biden’s Pollster, John Anzalone, and Hospitality Workers Union President, D. Taylor

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The Authors of "His Name is George Floyd" - Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa14 Aug 202200:50:29

Heartbreaking Bio of a Loving Son & Friend & Systemic Racism

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Mark Leibovich on his #1 NYT bestseller, Thank You For Your Servitude07 Aug 202200:56:59

Leibovich eviscerates the GOP politicians who caved to Trump.


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Russia-Born Journalist Julia Ioffe Gives an Update on Ukraine31 Jul 202200:43:29

It’s depressing....

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Jason Kander On His Battle With PTSD24 Jul 202200:40:39

Jason and Al discuss his stunning NYT bestseller, Invisible Storm

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Malcolm Nance on The Coming Civil War17 Jul 202200:39:20

His new book, They Want to Kill Americans, on the clear & present threat.

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Dahlia Lithwick on The Horrible SCOTUS Term10 Jul 202200:59:37

Could Not be Worse. Except Maybe Next Term!

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MARTIN SHORT!!! 03 Jul 202200:51:48

MARTIN SHORT!!! Plus Al Commentary on SCOTUS & Jan. 6.

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Daniel Goldman, Legal Analyst, on the Jan. 6th Hearings 26 Jun 202200:43:52

Chief Counsel for the House Managers in (the 1st) Trump Impeachment Weighs In.

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WaPo Op-Ed Columnist Catherine Rampell16 Jun 202400:39:12

One of the biggest issues in the coming election will be the economy. So how has President Biden done on that front? We talk to Catherine Rampell about Bidenomics and how the President should tout his economic record. His opponent, Donald Trump could be a disaster for the economy if his previous term is any indication. Catherine discusses what a second Trump term could look like and the difficulty even Republicans have with working with him. 


Read Catherine’s latest here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/catherine-rampell/


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Author Anne Nelson on the 60-year history of the vast right-wing shadow network19 Jun 202200:47:54

Nelson lays out how this all brought us to January 6th.

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Ali Noorani on Immigration12 Jun 202200:52:33

Former director of the National Immigration Forum on The Border, DACA, Great Replacement Theory, Ukraine and Afghan Refugees

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Carol Leonnig of WaPo and Ryan Reilly of NBC Preview this Week’s January 6th Hearings05 Jun 202200:52:23

Leonnig and Reilly on what to expect and possible gamechangers

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Patton Oswalt!29 May 202201:01:23

On Comedy – Seriously – But More Funnily

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Steve Schmidt Sounds the Alarm!22 May 202200:53:48

The Former GOP Operative & Lincoln Project Founder Warns of Coming Fascism

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Dahlia Lithwick and Joyce Vance on the Alito Draft15 May 202200:58:25

Why we should all be alarmed!

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The Atlantic Monthly’s Anne Applebaum and Arms Expert Joe Cirincione on Ukraine08 May 202200:52:19

What We Know and What We Don’t Know

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Former Firearms Exec & NRA Member, Ryan Busse, Exposes the Dark Underbelly of the Gun Industry01 May 202200:47:13

This Best-Of Repeat is Chilling

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Michael Lewis on why U.S. COVID response was so…CRAPPY. (My word)24 Apr 202200:59:25

His latest book, Premonition - a riveting story of genius & dedication against a backdrop of institutional dysfunction.

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Bob Odenkirk talks about Comedy, Comedy, Comedy, and Drama17 Apr 202200:52:24

My old SNL colleague talks about his weird, amazing career arc!

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In Remembrance of Howard Fineman14 Jun 202400:54:03

My friend Howard Fineman died this week. He had a long career as one of Washington's most respected political reporters and began his career at the Louisville Courier Journal. There, he was able to witness the rise of Mitch McConnell and learn what kind of politician he was. In this episode from 2019, we discuss what makes McConnell tick and Howard's career. May his memory be a blessing.

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Amy Klobuchar on Anti-Trust10 Apr 202201:04:13

A Repeat Episode (It was That Good!) with the Chair of the Anti-Trust Subcommittee

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Bill Walton on Basketball, The Grateful Dead, and Life03 Apr 202200:42:05

The NBA Hall of Famer & Emmy-winning broadcaster has opinions

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Dahlia Lithwick on the Insane Republican Awfulness in the Jackson SCOTUS Hearings27 Mar 202200:44:17

Wow, They’re Awful!

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Marc Lamont Hill, Anchor of Black News Tonight, Explains Basic Concepts Like Race as a Social Construct20 Mar 202200:42:33

America is built on bias. And why we care more about Ukraine than we did about Syria. 

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Atlantic Monthly’s Franklin Foer Covers Lots of Ground on Ukraine13 Mar 202200:51:30

From Manafort to Zelensky, Foer has been covering Ukraine for years

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Journalist/Author Michael Weiss on Putin's Grave Miscalculation06 Mar 202200:40:25

How Biden, Western Unity, and Zelensky Have Isolated Putin

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The NYT’s Jeremy Peters on How the GOP Went Batshit Crazy27 Feb 202200:55:13

HINT: They Always Were

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Economist Austan Goolsbee on Guess What? The Economy20 Feb 202201:03:41

Historic Growth, High Inflation, & Strained Supply Chains. Oh, My! 

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Heather McGhee on Critical Race Theory & Other Stuff13 Feb 202201:00:11

My favorite guest - (sorry, other guests)

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Jamie Raskin 06 Feb 202201:00:08

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) talks about his son Tommy; being lead manager in the impeachment trial & the Jan. 6th Select Committee 

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Frank Foer of The Atlantic and David Rothkopf of The Daily Beast09 Jun 202400:51:44

The war in the Middle East continues, but is a ceasefire in sight? The Biden administration has an outline of a plan. Two of our leading foreign policy experts join us to discuss. Plus, now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, what could that mean for this election? And how does the Biden administration sell the undeniable success of the economy to the American people?


Read Frank's latest work in The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/franklin-foer/


Read David Rothkopf in The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/david-rothkopf



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Max Bergmann Covers Europe, Ukraine, and Russia for The Center for American Progress30 Jan 202200:56:29

Guess why we have him on.

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Marc Elias & Ari Berman on the GOP’s Assault on Democracy23 Jan 202200:48:25

From voter suppression to the capture of the electoral administration & certification. 

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Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance Discusses Trump's Myriad Civil & Criminal Vulnerabilities16 Jan 202200:57:13

Federal Pridon? Rikers? NY State Prison? Georgia State Prison? Perjury?

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