Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 70 Days  Donald Trump appears to try to back out of the presidential debate that's in two weeks. But he's got a history of doing that. Plus, there's a dispute over the microphones that could force both sides to back out.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 71 Days A look back at what the Trump campaign was doing during the DNC as it looks like Trump has shifted gears and the campaign is sprinting to election day.  WARNING: There is some explicit language in this episode Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 72 Days  Robert F Kennedy Jr. drops out of the race and endorses Trump telling his supporters to do the same. Will it affect the race? Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Kamala Harris accepts the nomination of the Democatic Party becoming the first woman of color to lead a major US ticket. Plus, was night 4 of the DNC a bummer? Grant interviews Marquette University professor, conventions expert and contributor to the Good Politics, Bad Politics podcast/substack Julia Azari about how to understand this year's unprecedented DNC. Tech problems prevented this wee...

Election Day Countdown: 74 Days Night 3 of the DNC makes for some awkwardness as the party tackles their toughest issues and has a large cast of speakers. Oprah gives a surprise speech and Tim Walz makes the case for Democrats to own the idea of Midwestern.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 75 Days Night 2 of the DNC and Harris and Walz play hooky to rally in WI. The Obamas take the stage and Doug Emhoff steals the show.   Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 76 days The DNC kicks off in Chicago. Kamala Harris makes a surprise showing on stage and Biden gives a speech to cement his legacy with the party and the country.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 77 Days  The DNC starts tonight in Chicago, but why are conventions are the way they are and what actually happens at them?  The pod is now on video! Check out the Youtube page at the link below.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 78 Days  The Democrats release the schedule for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 4 nights of looking back and looking forward, plus an explainer of what Malort is.  As promised in the episode how to watch the convention here: https://demconvention.com/news/press-releases/how-to-watchdemocratic-national-convention-announces-streaming-partners-and-first-ever-ver...

Election Day Countdown: 79 Days  On today's MIMS Mini, Kamala Harris lays out her economic plan; food, homes and kids. Some of it is new, some of it isn't, either way Grant breaks it down before the next phase of the campaign and the Democratic National Convention.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_He...

Election Day Countdown: 80 Days The Trump campaign is still struggling to find a path forward in the campaign as Trump himself continues to spiral. The Harris campaign is riding high but questions are starting about when she'll sit down for an interview and when the campaign will turn away from introductions and toward policy.  Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) joins the pod breakdown whether H...

Election Day Countdown: 81 Days  New polling is out showing some major changes in swing states as the Harris campaign rides its good vibes wave and that's hitting races down ballot too. Plus Grant explains the Electoral College.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 82 Days The US economy hits a major post pandemic milestone which sets up an interesting look at the race for president where the top issue is inflation and the economy.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 83 Days Donald Trump does a Q&A with Elon Musk on X Spaces and gives a wide ranging, lie filled interview with a friendly voice, maybe when he needs it most.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 85 Biden sits down for his first interview since dropping out of the race. He talks about his decision, his family and name checks Nancy Pelosi. He also breaks norms by talking about Donald Trump explicitly.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Day Countdown: 85 days In this MIMS Mini, Grant talks about the recent hack into the Trump campaign, allegedly from the Iranian military that's giving 2016 foreign interference vibes all over again.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election countdown: 86 days  Grant sits down with Gabe Ramos (@GabeRamos19) from New Politics.  New Politics recruits veterans and former US service members to get involved with politics. Gabe talks about the recent attacks on Gov. Tim Walz's service record, the backlash against Sen. JF Vance's record and current conversation around having two veterans on the presidential tickets.  Exten...

In this episode, Grant looks at the state of the new race after Kamala Harris picks her running mate, MN Gov. Tim Walz. The right has found their first line of attack on their new opponents after spending a few weeks getting caught flat footed while Harris is staying away from reporters and Trump is doing the opposite.  Grant also interviews former GOP Strategist Matthew Bartlett (@MRBartlettNH) a...

Election Day Countdown: 88 Days  In this MIMS Mini-episode Grant fact checks the new line of attack against Tim Walz, his military service record and takes a look at JD Vance's time as a marine. Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

Election Countdown: 89 days  In this MIMS Mini, Grant breaks down the latest polling in a very new race between Harris and Trump. Plus, a little insight into how polls actually work and whether the VP picks matter at all.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tiktok: Grant_Hermes

This is the first MIMS Mini episode! With 90 days to go in an already crazy election cycle, Grant will be dropping mini episodes. Every. Single. Day.   Today's mini, getting to know Gov. Tim Walz, VP Kamala Harris' running mate and Democratic ticket debuts at a rally in Philly.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo: @GrantHermes   X: @GrantHermes Insta: @Grant__Hermes Tik...

Democrats are working through the VP sorting process at breakneck speed as long as that speed is determined by midwestern standards. The Republicans are having a lot of trouble with their pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.  Jeff Timmer, senior advisor to the Lincoln Project, talks about the stakes of the election less than 100 days out.  TLTO: 31:48 Transcript of the extended interview is up on the MIMS su...

President Biden drops out of the race for the White House. Grant breaks down how we got here, Biden's national address and what's next for VP Kamala Harris. He also interviews Prof. Emeritus of political science Kenneth Mayer from the University of Wisconsin about how to understand Biden's decision compared to other presidents.  Support the show Follow along on social media  SaySo:...

Welcome to Make It Make Sense a weekly guide to the biggest stories of the week backed by expert reporting and interviews. Hosted by journalist Grant Hermes, the podcast gives a breakdown of the headlines, one deep dive into the biggest story you need to know and an expert interview on that story.  Realized you tuned out? No Problem! At the end of each episode there's a TLTO or Too Long Tuned...