The Al Franken Podcast

<div> <p>Guest Host Norm Ornstein welcomes Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) to discuss legislation they're working on to curb the President's pardon power after the onslaught of blatantly corrupt pardons from the Trump administration. Rep. Dean was the former impeachment manager for Trump's second impeachment, so she also addresses how the blanket pardon of all January 6th insurrectionists especially grotesque. </p><p>We also discuss the latest on the "stolen documents" case and what Trump might have intended for them. Plus, people are making LOTS of money on insider trading around the Iran War.</p><p>Rep. Dean shares her thoughts on the ICE brutality her constituents in Pennsylvania and around the country are facing. And she shares her first hand account of the Dilley detention center, where ICE is mistreating detainees and neglecting children.</p><p>LEARN more about Rep. Madeleine Dean: <a href="https://dean.house.gov/biography">https://dean.house.gov/biography</a></p><p>LISTEN to Norm's podcast "Words Matter" with fellow friend of the show David Rothkopf: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970</a></p></div>

<div> <p>JD Vance has had an unorthodox rise to power. After a troubled childhood, he joined the Marines, graduated from Yale Law School, became a best-selling author, and then won a seat in the U.S. Senate. And now, at only 41, he is Vice President to Donald Trump, a man who Vance once described as "America's Hitler" and "cultural heroin."</p><p>In this Best Of episode, we revisit our June 2025 conversation with The Atlantic’s George Packer. His piece, “The Talented Mr. Vance,” explores Vance's political transformation and whether he genuinely evolved his political views or cynically abandoned his principles for ambition.</p><p>We also look at the Democrats' path forward. Packer shares how they can respond to Trump's appeal to disengaged voters.</p><p>Read Packer’s writing in The Atlantic: <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/george-packer/">https://www.theatlantic.com/author/george-packer/</a></p></div>

<div> <p>Trump can call it whatever he wants, but we are at war with Iran. Podcast host and YouTube star Brian Tyler Cohen joins us again to break down how Trump has dragged us into this wildly unpopular war. How long will we be there? What are our objectives? And who is behind the bombing of the Iranian girls' school that killed 175 people? Early investigations suggest America is responsible, but Trump blames... the Iranians?</p><p>And the GOP attack on democracy continues as voters become disillusioned with the Trump agenda. Will John Thune and the Republicans blow up the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act?</p><p>Plus, the gutting of ACA subsidies, Medicaid cuts, food assistance slashed, and how Trump's trade war has made good on absolutely none of his cost-of-living promises.</p><p>SUBSCRIBE to Brian's YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/briantylercohen">https://www.youtube.com/briantylercohen</a></p><p>LISTEN to Brian’s podcast, “No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen”: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-lie-with-brian-tyler-cohen/id1515399733">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-lie-with-brian-tyler-cohen/id1515399733</a></p><p>SUPPORT THE PODCAST BY VISITING OUR SPONSORS:</p><p>Save money on your wireless bill with Mint Mobile. Visit <a href="https://www.mintmobile.com/franken">https://www.mintmobile.com/franken</a>. Make sure you tell them you heard about this deal from The Al Franken Podcast!</p><p>Get up to 15% off your skincare subscription needs at <a href="https://www.oneskin.co/franken">https://www.oneskin.co/franken</a></p></div>

<div> <p>America is at war with Iran. It's the eighth time that Donald Trump has attacked another country since he began his second term (despite pledging "no new wars" during his campaign). To break it all down, we're joined by foreign affairs expert David Rothkopf and Paul Rieckhoff, Iraq War vet and CEO of the Independent Veterans of America.</p><p>We take a look at the difficult history between America and Iran along with the current military campaign Trump has started in the region. Trump and his administration have yet to outline exactly WHY we are fighting, and with Americans already dying, it's no surprise that this war is extremely unpopular. Not to mention, this is costing our country a billion dollars a day and will only become more expensive as the war expands. </p><p>David and Paul discuss the long term impact this might have for America and the Middle East and how it may escalate in the region and could signal a scary moment for the global nuclear arms race.</p><p>READ David Rothkopf in The Daily Beast: <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/david-rothkopf/">https://www.thedailybeast.com/author/david-rothkopf/</a></p><p>SUBSCRIBE to David's Substack "Need to Know": <a href="https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/">https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/</a></p><p>LISTEN to David’s podcast "Words Matter" with fellow friend of the show Norm Ornstein:<br><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970">https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/dsrs-words-matter/id1420216970</a></p><p>LEARN more about Paul's organization, Independent Veterans of America: <a href="https://independentveteransofamerica.org/">https://independentveteransofamerica.org/</a></p><p>LISTEN to Paul's podcast, Independent Americans: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff/id1457899667">https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/independent-americans-with-paul-rieckhoff/id1457899667</a></p><p>SUPPORT THE AL FRANKEN PODCAST BY VISITING OUR SPONSORS:</p><p>Refresh your wardrobe with Quince! Get free shipping and 365-Day returns at <a href="https://www.quince.com/franken">https://www.quince.com/franken</a></p></div>

<div> <p>We're joined by our friend and National Voting Rights Correspondent for Mother Jones, Ari Berman! Ari is here to break down the alarming ways the Trump administration is laying the groundwork to cheat and interfere in the 2026 midterms and what is standing in their way.</p><p>The seizure of ballots from Fulton County, GA is a remarkable escalation of Trump's war against democracy. What could he, Tulsi Gabbard, and the rest of his goons be up to?</p><p>We also do a deep dive on the SAVE America Act and all the ways it would disenfranchise voters. But Ari suggests that it might not have the intended outcome that Trump and the Republicans are hoping for. </p><p>Plus, we get analysis of all of the redistricting happening around the country and how some of Trump's demands could backfire. </p><p>READ Ari’s work in Mother Jones: <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/author/ari-berman/">https://www.motherjones.com/author/ari-berman/</a></p><p>SUPPORT THE SHOW BY VISITING OUR SPONSORS:</p><p>Visit American Giant to get their Classic Full Zip Hoodie and other cold weather staples. Get 20% off of your first order by entering the code FRANKEN at checkout! <a href="https://www.american-giant.com/">https://www.american-giant.com</a></p></div>