The Al Franken Podcast

News EN ↓ 391 episodes

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.

Author

The Al Franken Podcast

Episodes

84: Adam Schiff on The Curious Case of Donald Trump and His Goons 24.10.2021 45:47

Ripping Yarns of Collusion, Mendacity, and Treason from the Chairman’s New Bestseller: Midnight in Washington .

83: Economist Austan Goolsbee on Build Back Better 17.10.2021 1:06:15

Goolsbee breaks down BBB into its incredibly popular provisions.

82: Author Jackie Calmes Did the Investigation on Brett Kavanaugh the FBI Should Have Done 10.10.2021 48:46

The FBI sent the tips from the Kavanaugh Tip Line to White House Counsel Don McGahn, who tossed them in the waste basket. Calmes tracked them down. Not pretty!

81: The Brilliant Dahlia Lithwick – Slate’s (and Al’s) Expert on SCOTUS 03.10.2021 1:01:00

Lithwick brings her depth and breadth of knowledge, plus her wit.

80: Lead Dem Election Lawyer Marc Elias on the Epic Battle for Our Democracy 26.09.2021 52:55

Democrats have a limited time to prevent America from becoming an authoritarian state.

79: Alex Gibney Talks Opioids & His Doc “The Crime of the Century” 19.09.2021 53:38

Gibney traces the opioid epidemic & the criminal culpability of bad actors like Purdue Pharma, federal regulators, & doctors. It’s ugly.

78: R.I. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the Corporate Capture of the Courts 12.09.2021 1:04:11

A great discussion on how the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence isn’t conservative. It’s corporatist.

77: Author Michael Wolff Discusses Trump’s Disastrous Last Year as POTUS 05.09.2021 48:45

The chilling, yet hilarious saga of a deeply insane President

76: Ben Rhodes, Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor, on Afghanistan & Our Foreign Policy Reset 29.08.2021 47:25

How our 20 Year War on Terror Distracted Us from Climate, China, Social Media, and Democracy

75: Laurie Garrett and Andy Slavitt – Where We Are NOW on COVID-19 22.08.2021 1:08:02

The Pulitzer-Winner (Garrett) and Biden Covid Advisor (Slavitt) take a deep dive.

74: Atlantic Monthly’s Adam Serwer on his book about the Trump Administration: The Cruelty is the Point 15.08.2021 55:22

Separating kids from their parents at the border? Mocking a disabled journalist? Cutting food stamps? The Cruelty is the Point!

73: Bryan Fogel, Producer of The Dissident, on the Brutal Murder of Jamal Khashoggi 08.08.2021 44:39

Mohammed bin Salman made the Washington Post columnist pay in the worst way possible for his dedication to reform in his home country.

72: Atlantic Monthly Journalist Edward-Isaac Dovere's Fascinating New Book, 'Battle For The Soul’, Chronicles the Democrats Fight for the 2020 Nomination. 01.08.2021 54:05

This one is pure candy. If you're at all a political junkie - do not miss this one!

71: Norman Lear Discusses His 99-Years on the Planet 25.07.2021 47:12

The legendary creator of groundbreaking TV sit coms - All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Sons, The Jeffersons, et al, on flying 50 bombing missions in WWII, the joy of comedy and, dare I say, satire.

70: Heather McGhee - An Encore of My Best Podcast Ever! 18.07.2021 57:23

McGhee discusses her powerful book, The Sum of Us, about how white people have been told that anything that benefits people of color hurts them - i.e. a zero-sum game. It ain't true!

69: Al Solo! 11.07.2021 46:36

I just had to get some things off my chest.

68: Andy Slavitt On His New COVID Book - Preventable 04.07.2021 54:51

Slavitt Explains How Trump’s Refusal to Hold Himself Accountable Caused Untold Death and Suffering

38: Thomas Jefferson Explains Inconsistencies in the Declaration of Independence 02.07.2021 7:13

Al interviews our third President on the 4th of July.

67: George Packer on How It Got So Bad in America & How it Could Get Slightly Better 27.06.2021 55:06

Packer dissects the 4 Americas: The Rich Right-Wing Bastards, The Smug Liberal Elites, The Pissed-Off Not-so-Bright Tea Partiers, and The Woke Social Justice Police.

66: Michael Harriot: Senior Writer for TheRoot.com, the Nation’s Largest Black Online Newspaper 20.06.2021 53:21

Is America Racist? Hmm

65: Norm Ornstein & Tom Mann - Who Called the GOP a Sham Years Ago! 13.06.2021 1:05:57

In 2012 Ornstein & Mann wrote It’s Even Worse Than It Looks. And, man, were they right!

64: Ed Shelleby - My Communications Director–On Working for a Different Kind of Senator. Plus, a Rant on Voting Rights 06.06.2021 1:04:00

Al Talks with His Senate Communications Director on Why the Franken Office was a Blast & Got Stuff Done! & Al on Democracy. Hitler didn’t end it. The Confederacy didn’t end it. Let’s not let Senate Republicans!

63: Louis King – The Real Deal 30.05.2021 53:03

For 25 yrs. Louis has provided job training for thousands of folks from the Northside of Minneapolis. He walks a good walk. And talks a good talk.

62: Amy Klobuchar & Al Discuss Anti-Trust & The Ted "Carnival" Cruz Joke 23.05.2021 1:03:35

The Chair of the Anti-Trust Subcommittee discusses her new book, Anti-Trust. From Facebook & Amazon & Google to Coffins & Sunglasses & Diapers.

61: Howard Fineman on Republican Nihilism 16.05.2021 1:08:51

The Republican Party has entered new territory. And it’s ugly.