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The Al Franken Podcast

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The Al Franken Podcast

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.

#349

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on Reducing Violent Crime

Baltimore, Maryland is one of Donald Trump's most frequent targets when talking about crim... more

14 Sep 2025

41 MINS

41:31

14 Sep 2025

#348

War Correspondent Tim Mak on the War in Ukraine

Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin in Alaska last month and came up... more

07 Sep 2025

46 MINS

46:13

07 Sep 2025

#347

BEST OF: Bob Odenkirk on Comedy (and Drama)!

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our 2022 conversation with comedian and actor Bob Oden... more

31 Aug 2025

53 MINS

53:46

31 Aug 2025

#346

Barbara McQuade and Daniel Richman on Trump’s Politicization of the DOJ

In his second term, Donald Trump has upended many American institutions, but perhaps none ... more

24 Aug 2025

54 MINS

54:53

24 Aug 2025

#345

Ari Berman on the GOP’s Gerrymandering Plot

With Donald Trump and the Republican Party low in the polls, Texas is resorting to one of ... more

17 Aug 2025

49 MINS

49:20

17 Aug 2025

#344

Franklin Foer on the Famine in Gaza

Gaza faces mass starvation as Israel blocks critical food and aid to the region. We're joi... more

10 Aug 2025

50 MINS

50:15

10 Aug 2025

#343

Jonathan Alter on Trump’s Authoritarian Police State

We're joined by journalist and best-selling author, Jonathan Alter, to dig deeper into the... more

03 Aug 2025

47 MINS

47:49

03 Aug 2025

#342

Kevin Nealon on His Career in Comedy!

We're thrilled to welcome an old friend from Al’s SNL days, comedian Kevin Nealon! Kevin a... more

27 Jul 2025

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:02

27 Jul 2025

#341

Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Economic Policies

We’re joined by Washington Post columnist and co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend, Catherine Ra... more

20 Jul 2025

39 MINS

39:49

20 Jul 2025

#340

Dahlia Lithwick on The Godawful SCOTUS Term

Another devastating term of Trump's Supreme Court has come to a close. There's a lot to be... more

13 Jul 2025

48 MINS

48:54

13 Jul 2025

#339

Marc Elias on Trump’s Authoritarian Second Term

One of Donald Trump's priorities when he returned to the White House was to target law fir... more

06 Jul 2025

46 MINS

46:24

06 Jul 2025

#338

CNN’s Kasie Hunt on Her Career & Trump II

We are joined by CNN Anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst Kasie Hunt for her first ti... more

29 Jun 2025

50 MINS

50:48

29 Jun 2025

#337

Molly Jong-Fast on her Bestselling Memoir!

We are joined by Molly Jong-Fast this week to discuss her new book, “How to Lose Your Moth... more

22 Jun 2025

47 MINS

47:15

22 Jun 2025

#336

Heather McGhee on Trump’s Wars on DEI and Immigration

The Trump administration is waging war on DEI. But what does that mean? We ask one of our ... more

15 Jun 2025

47 MINS

47:59

15 Jun 2025

#335

YouTube Sensation David Pakman on The Big, Beautiful Bill and More!

First time guest David Pakman joins us for this week's show! David is a political commenta... more

08 Jun 2025

40 MINS

40:06

08 Jun 2025

#334

George Packer on Vice President JD Vance

JD Vance has had an unorthodox rise to power. After a troubled childhood, he joined the Ma... more

01 Jun 2025

33 MINS

33:17

01 Jun 2025

#333

225: BEST OF: Ed Shelleby on Being My Senate Communications Director

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Al’s former Senate Communication... more

25 May 2025

49 MINS

49:30

25 May 2025

#332

224: Michael Lewis on Amazing Government Workers

From the start of Donald Trump's second term, he's been eager to cut the federal workforce... more

18 May 2025

32 MINS

32:10

18 May 2025

#331

223: Dahlia Lithwick on the Courts vs. Trump

We're joined by Dahlia Lithwick, award-winning journalist, author, and host of the Amicus ... more

11 May 2025

44 MINS

44:13

11 May 2025

#330

222: Mark Leibovich and Molly Jong-Fast on Trump’s 100 Days

Trump’s first 100 days back in office have been a whirlwind filled with chaotic, confusing... more

04 May 2025

46 MINS

46:36

04 May 2025

#329

221: Robert Reich on Fighting The Trump Autocracy

Every day we see this country inch closer to authoritarianism under Donald Trump. We're jo... more

27 Apr 2025

45 MINS

45:39

27 Apr 2025

#328

220: BEST OF: Tim Alberta on Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Tim Alberta, the author of the p... more

20 Apr 2025

59 MINS

59:35

20 Apr 2025

#327

219: Atul Gawande on Musk’s Destruction of USAID

Elon Musk and DOGE have been taking a chainsaw to the federal government since Trump was r... more

13 Apr 2025

43 MINS

43:50

13 Apr 2025

#326

218: Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Tariffs and DOGE

Despite widespread warnings about what economic havoc they could cause, Donald Trump annou... more

06 Apr 2025

53 MINS

53:04

06 Apr 2025

#325

217: Jessica Yellin on Our Anxiety Producing News Cycle

A potentially catastrophic breach of security within The White House has set off alarm bel... more

30 Mar 2025

37 MINS

37:57

30 Mar 2025

#324

216: Norm Ornstein on Another Terrible Week in D.C.

It's been another chaotic week in Donald Trump's America, and we're thrilled to have our g... more

23 Mar 2025

34 MINS

34:31

23 Mar 2025

#323

215: BEST OF: Trae Crowder on Comedy and The Liberal Redneck

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Trae Crowder, the viral comedian... more

16 Mar 2025

42 MINS

42:48

16 Mar 2025

#322

214: Mark Leibovich on the Week in Washington

We're joined by our friend Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic to break down a wild week in Was... more

09 Mar 2025

39 MINS

39:45

09 Mar 2025

#321

213: War Correspondent Tim Mak on Russia and Ukraine

As Trump and his administration try to rewrite history and say that Ukraine started the wa... more

02 Mar 2025

50 MINS

50:01

02 Mar 2025

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#349

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on Reducing Violent Crime

#348

War Correspondent Tim Mak on the War in Ukraine

#347

BEST OF: Bob Odenkirk on Comedy (and Drama)!

#346

Barbara McQuade and Daniel Richman on Trump’s Politicization of the DOJ

#345

Ari Berman on the GOP’s Gerrymandering Plot

#344

Franklin Foer on the Famine in Gaza

#343

Jonathan Alter on Trump’s Authoritarian Police State

#342

Kevin Nealon on His Career in Comedy!

#341

Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Economic Policies

#340

Dahlia Lithwick on The Godawful SCOTUS Term

#339

Marc Elias on Trump’s Authoritarian Second Term

#338

CNN’s Kasie Hunt on Her Career & Trump II

#337

Molly Jong-Fast on her Bestselling Memoir!

#336

Heather McGhee on Trump’s Wars on DEI and Immigration

#335

YouTube Sensation David Pakman on The Big, Beautiful Bill and More!

#334

George Packer on Vice President JD Vance

#333

225: BEST OF: Ed Shelleby on Being My Senate Communications Director

#332

224: Michael Lewis on Amazing Government Workers

#331

223: Dahlia Lithwick on the Courts vs. Trump

#330

222: Mark Leibovich and Molly Jong-Fast on Trump’s 100 Days

#329

221: Robert Reich on Fighting The Trump Autocracy

#328

220: BEST OF: Tim Alberta on Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism

#327

219: Atul Gawande on Musk’s Destruction of USAID

#326

218: Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Tariffs and DOGE

#325

217: Jessica Yellin on Our Anxiety Producing News Cycle

#324

216: Norm Ornstein on Another Terrible Week in D.C.

#323

215: BEST OF: Trae Crowder on Comedy and The Liberal Redneck

#322

214: Mark Leibovich on the Week in Washington

#321

213: War Correspondent Tim Mak on Russia and Ukraine