The Latest

This week, Joe and Alex get into the electoral fallout from the leaked SCOTUS decision. Has Joe ever seen a moment like this about one issue? Then an update from Ohio, where it's getting Trumpier by the day. And some good news from Michigan - and a possible blueprint to win.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and professor Jonathan Haidt joins us to talk about his recent Atlantic article on social media, polarization, and just what we can do about it. Did people change, or did the dynamics between us change? And what did one Twitter engineer describe as "handing a loaded gun to a four-year-old?" How do we "change the game?" Read Jonathan's latest article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disrupting the GOP's Outrage Machine will be a task Dems need to rally behind if we're going to restore democracy in the U.S. After this week's reports, what are Biden's next steps? Is the cancellation of federal student loan debt a realistic option? Does Rep. incumbent Mike Lee have a continued future in the UT Senate seat or can a Dem turn the tide? Plus, more listener questions answered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does it feel like Pres. Biden is struggling to move the ball when the economy is recovering and America's battle with COVID has vastly improved? Joe gives his advice for what Dems need to say now to win in November. Remember: a repeated lie gets more power than a silent truth. Then, Joe explains why the Dems might have a crucial advantage in their battle for the House, including some staggering numbers that may have you rethinking the landscape of 2022 voter enthusiasm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling author Don Winslow joins the pod to discuss his new book "City on Fire" - an Iliad-inspired crime novel set in Rhode Island we can't wait to read. You probably have also seen Don's viral videos taking down Trump and the GOP - how did Don get started with those? "If they wanted an alley fight, we'd go into the alley" And take it from someone who has no problems getting his point across -- how do we craft a winning message this fall and take on the right-wing outrage machine? Order "City on Fire" and catch up on Don's work at donwinslow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome back Simon Rosenberg, one of the clearest voices on Democratic economic messaging -- and ask him the question -- why aren't Democrats repeating a winning message? What do we have to do to turn this ship around? How do we redefine the Democratic Party as a force for economic success, and how do we make voters listen? Follow Simon on Twitter @SimonWDC. With Democrats, Things Get Better Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garrett Graff joins the pod to discuss his book Watergate: A New History, including some stories you might not know about just how close we came to a full cover-up of a "third-rate burglary at the Watergate". Then, he discusses the parallels with Jan. 6th and the Ukraine conflict -- before turning the table on Joe and interviewing him. Find Garrett's book here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Watergate/Garrett-M-Graff/9781982139162 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe and Alex are back to talk about the latest Russian plea to help their partner Donald Trump (key word: again!) Also - what are the implications of the Dems possibly moving Iowa back in the nomination process? What's going to happen to underdog candidates? And the listener question lightning round is back! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No, you aren't hallucinating. A Republican Senator actually said the quiet part out loud. Yes, their battle against Roe has far-reaching consequences, and their war on the Fourteenth Amendment could expand dramatically. Heather also discusses her recent interview with President Biden and how he's meeting the moment on a global scale. Find more from Heather: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe and Alex discuss President Biden's response to President Zelenskyy's appeal, how Biden's handling the Ukraine crisis, and what we have to get ahead of from the far-right propaganda machine. Plus, an update from The Union -- including a special town hall this coming Monday -- and what you can do to help. And of course, we find time for a few reader questions! Join The Union Town Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe's back to talk President Biden's momentum -- how can Dems most effectively message great jobs numbers and deficit reduction? And where should Democrats be focused first - the House or the Senate? Also, the latest on Rick Scott's effort to hand Dems a huge win on taxes and what on earth is going on with the far-right and Ukraine. If you're reading this on your parents' cell phone plan, well, don't get subpoenaed (cough cough, Stephen Miller). Nick Carmody's tweet thread: https://twitter.com/nick_carmody/status/1501670298805948416?s=21 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trygve Olson joins Alex this week for an update on how the flow of information from Ukraine is affecting the war on the ground. With anyone able to put 60 seconds of video online for global consumption instantly, how will this affect international perceptions of the war? Also - how does seizing a yacht change things? Finally, we discuss an important development in the Arizona Senate race. Joe'll be back next week, we promise! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Australian economist Nicholas Gruen joins the show -- and he's got some big ideas to get us past partisanship in democracy. How do you bridge the divide and bring people together to actually advance policy ideas? How do you pull people out of their partisan tribes? Find out about Nicholas's revolutionary idea and how he thinks we can get there. Follow Nicholas on Twitter @NGruen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome Trygve Olson back for the latest on the Ukraine situation. How far will Putin go? What can the international community do to stand with Ukraine? The fight for democracy is a global one. You either stand with Ukraine or stand with Putin. We know what we choose. Be sure to put #standwithukraine in your social post because every piece of awareness goes a long way. And don't forget to sign up to JoinTheUnion.us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe and Alex are joined by OSET's Greg Miller to discuss a truly game-changing project to fix the technology behind our voting system and defend our democracy. With the challenges we face both from external actors and partisanship, it's more important than ever to make sure every American has faith in our electoral system. That's where the Trust the Vote Project and ElectionOS come in. Find out more at: osetinstitute.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe and Alex discuss the latest on the Ukraine situation -- how has Joe Biden handled the American response so far? Could his strong leadership be one of the positive externalities Joe mentioned in his reasons for Dems to be optimistic this year? Also: Republican infighting keeps getting worse, and it's bleeding into costly primary fights. With a new poll showing Dems have a fighting chance this fall, where's the bottom... for the GOP? And a quick look at some of the under-reported elections that will be critical to defending our democracy. See Joe's interview on The Beat with Ari Melber: https://youtu.be/02h-8FOYwwk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for some (actual) legitimate political discourse, as Joe and Alex start with the RNC's revisionist history of the insurrection. Republicans are moving closer and closer to the point of no return, and even Mike Pence is speaking up. What's the latest in the fight for democracy? Then, a deep dive into the surprising win for Democrats with redistricting across the country. What looked like disaster may be opportunity, starting this year in the midterms. With hope for a return to "normal" in the next phase of COVID, plus a strong economy and good news with redistricting, is the worst behind us? Could Biden start to regain some steam and help push Democrats in the midterms? What other factors (SCOTUS) could help get voters energized? Support Joe and Alex and the fight for American democracy at https://jointheunion.us/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Ohio Democratic Party chairman and author of "Laboratories of Autocracy" David Pepper joins the show to discuss the threats to our democracy -- and what we all have to do about it. Check out David's book here: Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We welcome Trygve Olson back to the show with tensions in Ukraine growing. We discuss Trygve's experience in Eastern Europe and building democracy around the globe -- and what it means for the current situation. Is Putin between a rock and a hard place? How will he react? And what does it mean for our democracy at home? Lastly - Joe sets down a clear path for Dems to follow for the SCOTUS confirmation fight.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices