Smart Political Commentary Without the Stuffiness
If Pod Save America has become your go-to source for making sense of our chaotic political moment, then you might enjoy some of the following podcasts as well.For listeners who crave this particular blend of progressive perspective, strategic thinking, and the occasional well-timed joke about political absurdity, there’s a growing collection of podcasts that share Pod Save America’s commitment to treating politics as both crucially important and entirely human.
These shows understand that the best political commentary doesn’t talk down to its audience, it invites them into a conversation that’s both informative enough to keep you sharp and entertaining enough to keep you coming back.
The Ezra Klein Show
Ezra Klein explores vital questions of our time. What happens when politics can’t solve climate issues? Are market forces controlling too much of society? Where is the GOP headed? What do psychedelics reveal about the mind? How does science fiction illuminate today’s reality? Can we create ethical food systems?
The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell
Lawrence O’Donnell analyzes today’s most significant political developments, leveraging his background as a former Senate Finance Committee chief of staff and Emmy-awarded executive producer and writer for ‘The West Wing.’ He delivers these insights nightly to viewers.
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas are siblings with diverse expertise. Ben practices law and partners with Colin Kaepernick in business ventures. Brett has won two Emmy awards for video editing in entertainment. Jordy previously worked as a successful advertising executive in New York. Their podcast blends humor with pro-democracy commentary, attracting millions of followers worldwide. Politicians regularly appear on their show for key interviews.
The Al Franken Podcast
A five-time Emmy award recipient from SNL who writes and produces comedy collaborates with a bestselling author who has topped the New York Times list four times, a progressive radio personality who has achieved the highest national ratings three times, a two-time Grammy-winning musician, and an ex-US Senator.
The Daily Beans
The Daily Beans is a progressive news podcast owned and run by women, designed for morning listeners. It features Allison Gill, the Webby award-winning creator of Mueller, She Wrote, alongside Dana Goldberg, who works as a comedian, fundraiser, and activist. The show delivers political and social justice updates with a witty edge.
I’ve Had It
“I’ve Had It” features Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan alongside various guest speakers in this uplifting comedy podcast that reveals all the irritating things listeners never realized bothered them.
The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
Every Monday, Jon Stewart takes the helm of The Daily Show, while Thursdays find him returning through audio format via The Weekly Show, a podcast that presents comprehensive discussions with various notable guests. Spanning from specialists and activists to key players and intellectual influencers, the program explores the obstacles, transformations, and concepts that are molding contemporary society.
Pod Save the World
“Pod Save America” co-presenter Tommy Vietor once considered international relations tedious and complex before receiving an invaluable learning experience while serving on President Obama’s National Security Council. Through “Pod Save the World,” he teams up with former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes to analyze current worldwide events and provide insider perspectives from individuals who witnessed these situations firsthand.
Weird Little Guys
Weird Little Guys is a weekly program where independent journalist Molly Conger examines obscure extremists and white supremacist groups. She reveals how these would-be terrorists and race warriors are often just ordinary, peculiar individuals whose real identities make them less intimidating than their public personas suggest.
Why Is This happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast
Each week, Chris Hayes poses the major questions that disturb his sleep. How can one comprehend this extraordinary period in global history? What causes these events to unfold? This podcast begins to address such inquiries. Authors, specialists, and intellectuals who are similarly seeking answers collaborate with Chris to analyze these issues and assist him in achieving more restful sleep.
Chapo Trap House
Chapo Trap House is a political comedy podcast that offers irreverent leftist commentary and criticism of both major political parties from a democratic-socialist perspective. Hosted by Will Menaker, Matt Christman, Felix Biederman, and others, the show combines political analysis with absurdist humor to challenge mainstream political discourse and appeal to a young, left-leaning audience.
Strict Scrutiny
Strict Scrutiny is a podcast where constitutional law professors Leah Litman, Kate Shaw, and Melissa Murray deliver sharp, accessible analysis of the Supreme Court and legal culture. They break down major cases and legal developments, explaining their real-world impact for both legal professionals and general audiences interested in court drama.
The Next Level
Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, and Jonathan V. Last deliver their distinctive political analysis and commentary to audiences through The Next Level podcast. Listeners can hear them examine weekly news events, analyze political campaigns and elections, and dive into popular culture controversies.
The PoliticsGirl Podcast
The Politics Girl Podcast aims to inspire listeners to fight for American democracy by showing what the country could become with the right efforts. This immigrant host motivates audiences to engage politically and believe they can personally make a difference in shaping America’s democratic future.
It Could Happen Here
It Could Happen Here began as an examination of potential civil conflict but has transformed into a daily program documenting societal breakdown and exploring pathways to improvement. Robert Evans, Garrison Davis, Mia Wong, and James Stout guide listeners through contemporary crises while envisioning the possibilities for a more promising future ahead.
Political Gabfest
Recognized as “Favorite Political Podcast” by Apple Podcasts audiences and endorsed by Stephen Colbert, the Slate Political Gabfest presents the casual, unfiltered conversations that Washington reporters typically share privately. Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz deliver the relaxed yet sharp political discourse found among media professionals during off-duty moments.
Democracy Now
Democracy Now! is an independent daily news program hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan González that provides advertisement-free global headlines, interviews, and investigative reports. The show focuses on exposing corporate and government misconduct while highlighting grassroots activism and social change efforts.
Lovett or Leave It
Former Obama speechwriter and Pod Save America co-host Jon Lovett presents a comedy show where he examines the most absurd political stories of the week. The program features various guests and helps audiences stay informed about current events through humor and political satire.
Today, Explained
Today, Explained serves as Vox’s daily news analysis podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King lead listeners through the day’s most significant stories.
Some More News
Comedian Cody Johnston hosts Some More News, delivering entertaining weekly news commentary every Tuesday, with co-host Katy Stoll joining for Even More News on Fridays. The shows blend humor with well-researched analysis to address current events and viewer frustrations with the news cycle.
5-4
5-4 is a podcast that critiques the Supreme Court from a progressive perspective. Hosted by Peter Shamshiri, Rhiannon Hamam, and Michael Liroff, the show examines landmark cases and explores how politics influences legal decisions through irreverent and sometimes provocative commentary.
Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov
Recognizing that elections are decided by moderate voters, bestselling author Scott Galloway and political strategist Jessica Tarlov provide centrist analysis of current politics. They offer perspectives aimed at audiences positioned between center-left and center-right viewpoints, questioning why politicians don’t better serve mainstream preferences.
Hacks On Tap
When David Axelrod and Mike Murphy discuss politics on Hacks on Tap, they draw from extensive campaign experience spanning from local races to presidential contests. These seasoned political operatives and their guests provide insider perspectives and strategic insights gained from decades working in the political arena across party lines, delivering sharp and entertaining analysis of behind-the-scenes decision-making.
The Bulwark Podcast
Tim Miller and guests examine current political developments through the flagship podcast of the Never Trump movement. The show delivers weekday analysis, political commentary, and extensive interviews that challenge false equivalencies while defending democratic principles, all presented with humor to make the content more digestible.