The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath

Dr. Maya Hornberg is senior researcher in elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law. She is the author of articles and papers and books. Her latest is, Stuck- How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress . We talked about our broken Congress, and Maya wasted no time in explaining that, even though Americans have always complained about Congress, some...

Gillian Brockell is a careful, thoughtful, hardworking journalist who has turned her talents towards one of the most important and hidden cruelties of the Trump Administration- ICE flights. We talked on my radio show on WCPT820 this week. It was a conversation that stayed with me long after. Gillian’s been tracking the 50-90 ICE flights conducted every day. I was surprised to learn that most of th...

I sat down with Amanda Marcotte, senior politics writer at Salon.com and star of the podcast Standing Room Only . Amanda is fearless. Her reporting and commentary focus on the where many are afraid to go- race, religion, gender. Where Donald Trump goes to divide us into factions, Amanda goes to find the sources of American strength. We talked about the tumbling down of Trump’s name from the Kenned...

Amazingly, Indivisible, founded just a decade ago, has become a well-known and powerful organizing force in our politics, giving structure to the collective voices of millions of American. Ezra Levin, the organization’s co-founder and co-executive director is passionate about what Americans can do together, and realistic about what we will fail to do individually. We talk from time to time about h...

Every week, Joe Walsh and I catch up on the news of the week. This week we spent little time on the crybaby in the White House (okay, Joe did call him that). A few minutes on the feckless handling of the Iran war. And a few more on his ill health. We talked about important and interesting evolution of both political parties. On the Dem side, there is passion for outsider candidates along with a ge...

Every week Joe Walsh and I let loose on the state of our politics. There’s a lot we don’t agree on, but both of us are determined to preserve American democracy and American freedom. That’s not something anyone can say about the GOP Congress these days. Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s news ecosystem can be confusing to many. But for a generation raised on multiple platforms and social media, it’s second nature. Each news consumer makes the key decision about who to trust. Then they double check to be sure they got it right. Many of them trust Aaron Parnas . I asked him about the stories he’s thinking about this week. Instead of leading with the China summit, or the ball...

David Roberts built Volts - a community built around his newsletters, podcasts, and social media focused on the intersection of politics, policy and climate. You won’t find reporting like Dave’s anywhere else. He also has some views on American politics that make a lot of sense. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation. Give a listen and let us know what you think! Get full access to It's the...

Oona Hathaway is a Yale professor multiple times over: at the Yale Law School, in the Department of Political Science, and at the School of Global Affairs. She directs the Yale Law School Center for Global Legal Challenges. And, she has recently become president of the American Society of International Law. She talked with me about the international order- a system of treaties and organizations th...

Dana Stroul directs research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She previously served America as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. That’s the Pentagon’s civilian official for that complicated part of the world. She has also worked at the Senate foreign Relations committee. We discussed the Iran war, the politics of the region, as well as the humanitarian cri...

Katie and I talked about building communities of small d democratic purpose. Red Wine and Blue is a fast-growing powerhouse and part of the reason I’m optimistic we will successfully put an end to this terrible chapter in American history. I think you are going to like what she has to say. Give a listen and, as always, let us know what you think. Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at ed...

This week Susan and I discuss Trump’s effort to pass himself off as Jesus. His continuing failures in Iran, his destruction of our economy, the rule of law, and the values that make us American. We also talk about the fall of Orban in Hungary and the growing resurgence of democracy around the world. Plus, we discuss whether it is wise for Democrats to impeach and remove Trump ASAP, and the imperat...

As usual… let us know what you think! Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe

Who talks of obliterating an entire civilization? Only madmen and monsters. Susan and I try to make sense of Trump’s horror show and to square it with the America will still believe in. Give a listen and let us know what you think. Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes on WCPT I join other show hosts to discuss important topics. This morning I joined Richard Chew to talk about the No Kings rally in Chicago and where we go from here. Listen, and let us know what you think. It's the democracy, stupid is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to It's the democr...

Ilan Goldenberg is Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at J Street. He comes to that role after serving as Middle East Advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris and Iran Team Chief at the Department of Defense during the Obama Administration. We talked about the war in Iran, the lack of good options for the United States and the recklessness of the decision to launch this war. We talked a...

As always…. thanks to those who joined us live. For those didn’t, give a listen and let us know what you think. Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe

Instead of more conversation about the disastrous war in Iran, the mess Donald Trump has made of the law, or the door mat that is our Congress, G. Elliot Morris and I talk about something we love- the American people. As we head into No-Kings weekend, it’s worth considering how far Americans have moved to reject the policies and practices of Donald Trump. On ICE, airports, cost of living… On getti...

Give a listen and let us know what you think Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe

Todd Huntley is Director of National Security Law Program at Georgetown Law, and a retired US Navy JAG captain. He joined me to talk about the legality of the various uses of our military this past year: in the Caribbean, in Venezuela, and in Iran. We discussed OLC opinions, AUMFs, the war powers described in the constitution, as well as international laws and treaties. I sure wasn’t left thinking...

It’s St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago. It’s also election day. Two things we do well here. Susan, Joan, and I talk about that normal stuff, and the absolutely abnormal behavior of our President. Give a listen and let us know what you think! Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe

This week we talked: * War in Iran * Kristi Noem and where the blame for ICE’s terrible behavior really belongs * The primaries in Texas and N. Carolina * GOP voter suppression As always, we have some fun and we disagree amicably. Thanks to all who participated live. For those catching the recording, leave a comment to tell us what you think. Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwine...

In a conversation about news, and how news works, we talked about * Jared Kushner and foreign money * The gap between the law and the reporting on tariffs * Disappearing Epstein files * What breaks through * The media habits we all need As always, give a listen and leave a comment to tell us what you think. Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe

This week Joe and I catch up on a few things: * The State of the Union * Trump’s latest effort to undermine the upcoming elections * Whether the GOP will survive its fawning deal with the devil * The missing Epstein files * Our mutual love for Texas (really) Thank you to all who joined us live, your comments were terrific. For those seeing the recording, leave a comment to let us know what you thi...

You are going to want to hear this. Get full access to It's the democracy, stupid at edwineisendrath.substack.com/subscribe