3 Podcasts

Today I want to recommend 3 podcasts that are my favorites in regards to current events and politics: 

Pod Save America 

The Ezra Klein Show

The Weeds

All three podcasts have their place in my little liberal current events heart. 

If I want to know wonky policy information (like what exactly IS the Visa lottery???), I listen to The Weeds.

If I'm in the mood for a sit down one on one interview, The Ezra Klein Show it is.

If I want to hear some sometimes snarky commentary on what has been happening in the world over the past 24-48 hours, it's the dudes on Pod Save America.

I don't listen to every episode these podcasts put out. If I read the description and I'm not feeling it, I will skip.

Here's a little description of each podcast and episode recommendations if appropriate. (Dates included so you can scroll down and find it easily after you subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.)

Pod Save America:

The hosts of this podcast are all former advisors to Obama:

Jon Favreau (speechwriter for Obama)
Dan Pfieffer (Senior Advisor to Obama)
Jon Lovett (political speechwriter)
Tommy Vietor (National Security Council spokesperson)

Though these men are young, they are smart. Once in a great while they get a tinge bro-y... but for the most part they aren't. They can definitely be sarcastic and snarky... and HILARIOUS.

Description from their website: "A no-bullshit conversation about politics hosted by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor that breaks down the week’s news and helps people figure out what matters and how to help."

While all of these podcasts are skeptical of the current administration, this podcast is VERY partisan, so if you lean liberal you will find yourself in an echo chamber. The next two podcasts I believe take a more objective look at things, however, they do call it as they see it.

The Ezra Klein Show:

Ezra Klein is the founder and editor-at-large of Vox. He is SO smart and calm. He also has a soothing voice. Ezra sits down for one on one interviews that are extremely thought provoking. Ezra will make you a better thinker.

Episode suggestions:

What Life Is Like in North Korea (12-18-17)
Rebecca Traister on #MeToo, female rage, and Anita Hill (11-20-17)


The Weeds:

If you want to get into the weeds of POLICY and here a bunch of wonks explain it in a way you will understand, this is the podcast for you. Sometimes Ezra Klein is on the podcasts. Sarah Kliff and Matt Yglesias normally always are, as well as a girl named Darrah, who I can't figure out who she is yet. I will warn you, Matt's voice really bugs me but he's a good dude, so I put up with it.

Episode suggestions:

The Shithole Special (1-12-18)
Why is the US Life Expectancy Falling? (1-2-18)

Lie back, light up, and enjoy some executive time (1-9-18)
Net Neutrality Explained (12-5-17)

One thing all of these podcasts have in common are that they express FACTS. Now that is not to say the hosts won't share their opinions on a topic. But you can trust that if, for instance, Matt Yglesias on The Weeds lays out exactly how the Visa lottery works, you can trust that yes, indeed, that is how it works.

I know we're living in an era where some think facts don't matter, but I assure you, the hosts of these podcasts think facts matter a lot.

As much as I enjoy CNN, listening to the partisan commentators can get super boring and I feel dumber having had listened to it. With these podcasts, I actually feel like I have learned something after listening!

Have you listened to any of these podcasts?
Give us a recommendation!