Best David and Catherine Mann Podcasts (2025)

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Kevin Nealon on His Career in Comedy! 1:03:02

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4d ago1:03:02

1:03:02

We're thrilled to welcome an old friend from Al’s SNL days, comedian Kevin Nealon! Kevin and Al trade stories from working together on Saturday Night Live and discuss how the show has changed over the years. Kevin shares how he created several trademark bits, including Mr. Subliminal and Hans and Franz. Plus, we get backstories on some sketches tha…

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Dining Table Discworld - Soul Music TV Series 40:12

8d ago40:12

40:12

In our second special episode we watch the animated Soul Music TV show, from Cosgrove Hall. With praise for Christopher Lee, how to adapt a book about music into an audio visual format, and how aspects of the story have changed. You can find the Podcast on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiningTableDiscworld BlueSky: dtdiscworld.bsky.social E-Mail: din…

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Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Economic Policies 39:49

11d ago39:49

39:49

We’re joined by Washington Post columnist and co-host of MSNBC's The Weekend, Catherine Rampell! Catherine breaks down what the Big, Beautiful Bill means for Americans and why it's been so important for Trump and the Republicans to get it done. It will balloon our deficit and gut the social safety net. And for what? Tax breaks for the richest Ameri…

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Dahlia Lithwick on The Godawful SCOTUS Term 48:54

18d ago48:54

48:54

Another devastating term of Trump's Supreme Court has come to a close. There's a lot to be angry about, so we're joined by Dahlia Lithwick, our authority on all things SCOTUS and host of Slate’s podcast, Amicus. Dahlia explains how this Supreme Court is using the "shadow docket" to advance bad policy without full briefings or arguments and how the …

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Marc Elias on Trump’s Authoritarian Second Term 46:24

25d ago46:24

46:24

One of Donald Trump's priorities when he returned to the White House was to target law firms that he felt had wronged him. While some immediately caved to his demands, others fought back... and won. We're joined by Marc Elias, preeminent election lawyer and founder of Democracy Docket, to discuss Trump using his second term to settle personal score…

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CNN’s Kasie Hunt on Her Career & Trump II 50:48

1M ago50:48

50:48

We are joined by CNN Anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst Kasie Hunt for her first time on the podcast! It's a very fun conversation covering her work and what inspired her to follow her passion for journalism. She discusses the early days of her career covering Obama, Congress, and the passage of the Affordable Care Act. We also talk about ho…

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Molly Jong-Fast on her Bestselling Memoir! 47:15

1M ago47:15

47:15

We are joined by Molly Jong-Fast this week to discuss her new book, “How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir.” We've had Molly on the podcast many times, but you've never heard her like this! She discusses growing up in the shadow of her mother, feminist icon Erica Jong, and their relationship over the years. Molly shares stories of her mother…

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Dining Table Discworld - Maskerade 1:04:44

1M ago1:04:44

1:04:44

A book about dualities, double acts and the masks people wear. Agnes is trying to reinvent herself in the big city. Nanny is trying to keep Granny occupied, and find a new third witch for the coven. We mention the importance of stage management and the influence of Ankh-Morpork on Granny. Includes nuanced discussion of fatphobia. You can find the P…

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Heather McGhee on Trump’s Wars on DEI and Immigration 47:59

2M ago47:59

47:59

The Trump administration is waging war on DEI. But what does that mean? We ask one of our favorite guests, Heather McGhee, to break down how and why DEI has become such a focus for Trump and his allies. Heather wrote the groundbreaking book “The Sum of Us” and is an expert in economic and social policy. She explains that diversity is the backbone o…

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YouTube Sensation David Pakman on The Big, Beautiful Bill and More! 40:06

2M ago40:06

40:06

First time guest David Pakman joins us for this week's show! David is a political commentator and hosts one of the most watched independent progressive programs in the country. With over 3 million YouTube subscribers, David spreads truth and commentary on the devastating impact Donald Trump is having on our country. Al and David kick around news ou…

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George Packer on Vice President JD Vance 33:17

2M ago33:17

33:17

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 40, he is Vice President to Donald Trump, a man who Vance once described as "America's Hitler" and "cultural heroin." We’re joined by …

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225: BEST OF: Ed Shelleby on Being My Senate Communications Director 49:30

2M ago49:30

49:30

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Al’s former Senate Communications Director, Ed Shelleby, to relive their time working together. Ed tells tales of him TRYING to manage Al's comedic impulses in serious situations, but also talks about the great work they accomplished together. Ed shares several behind-the-scenes stories incl…

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Dining Table Discworld - Interesting Times 1:01:26

2M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Rincewind has returned, again. Sent to another part of the Disc, he meets old friends and runs away from new troubles. Can someone steal an empire? Are Geography teachers good at heists? What's with all the butterflies? Content note for discussion of rape jokes, orientalism and fatphobia. You can find the Podcast on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/Dini…

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224: Michael Lewis on Amazing Government Workers 32:10

2M ago32:10

32:10

From the start of Donald Trump's second term, he's been eager to cut the federal workforce. So, Elon Musk headed the newly minted DOGE to begin slashing tens of thousands of jobs. Our friend, Michael Lewis, author of "The Big Short" and, most recently, "Who is Government?," joins us to share stories of public servants who not only improved this cou…

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223: Dahlia Lithwick on the Courts vs. Trump 44:13

3M ago44:13

44:13

We're joined by Dahlia Lithwick, award-winning journalist, author, and host of the Amicus podcast. Dahlia looks at the judicial pushback against the Trump administration, as the Courts have stood up to Trump's policies on birthright citizenship and deportation. We also discuss Trump’s targeting of law firms. The Supreme Court notably ruled 9-0 that…

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222: Mark Leibovich and Molly Jong-Fast on Trump’s 100 Days 46:36

3M ago46:36

46:36

Trump’s first 100 days back in office have been a whirlwind filled with chaotic, confusing, and authoritarian behavior and very little thoughtful policy - the perfect opportunity to welcome back our friends, Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic and Molly Jong-Fast, host of the Fast Politics Podcast. These 100 days have been filled with bizarre stories th…

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221: Robert Reich on Fighting The Trump Autocracy 45:39

3M ago45:39

45:39

Every day we see this country inch closer to authoritarianism under Donald Trump. We're joined by Robert Reich, political economist, professor, author, and former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton. We cover how Reich thinks Democrats should fight back against this era of oligarchy in America. He explains the power of protest and lays out the me…

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Dining Table Discworld - Soul Music 1:01:06

3M ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Death takes a holiday again, but this time it's compassionate leave. Susan makes a smaller mistake than her father did, but unlike him she was given basically no training. Meanwhile Music With Rocks In is driving people wild in Ankh-Morpork, and there are more puns than you can shake a drumstick at. You can find the Podcast on: Facebook: www.facebo…

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220: BEST OF: Tim Alberta on Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism 59:35

3M ago59:35

59:35

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Tim Alberta, the author of the profoundly disturbing book "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory,” which was released before the 2024 election. In this interview, he explains how evangelicals have been turned into a political tool for the Republican Party. Alberta grew up in the evangelical …

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219: Atul Gawande on Musk’s Destruction of USAID 43:50

4M ago43:50

43:50

Elon Musk and DOGE have been taking a chainsaw to the federal government since Trump was re-elected. It could take us generations to fully recover from the damage inflicted by the careless and cruel nature of these cuts. We're joined by American surgeon, author, and public health advocate Atul Gawande to discuss just how devastating these actions a…

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218: Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Tariffs and DOGE 53:04

4M ago53:04

53:04

Despite widespread warnings about what economic havoc they could cause, Donald Trump announced his plan to put tariffs on nearly every nation in the world. Catherine Rampell, opinion columnist for The Washington Post and co-host of MSNBC’s The Weekend, gives her instant reaction to Trump's plan. If history (and the current stock market) is any indi…

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217: Jessica Yellin on Our Anxiety Producing News Cycle 37:57

4M ago37:57

37:57

A potentially catastrophic breach of security within The White House has set off alarm bells for both Republicans and Democrats in D.C. Independent journalist Jessica Yellin joins us to discuss SignalGate. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are both under fire after The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg was added t…

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Dining Table Discworld - Men at Arms 57:53

4M ago57:53

57:53

The Watch is growing, and they'll let anyone in nowadays. With Captain Vimes soon to retire and the more old school officers dubious about the new recruits the last thing the Night Watch needs is a high profile murder they absolutely are not supposed to investigate. We discuss policing, diversity, class consciousness and what counts as undead. You …

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216: Norm Ornstein on Another Terrible Week in D.C. 34:31

4M ago34:31

34:31

It's been another chaotic week in Donald Trump's America, and we're thrilled to have our good friend, Norm Ornstein, back on the podcast. We talk about Trump's Executive Order TO dismantle the Department of Education and what that could mean to communities across the country. We also break down the divisions in the Democratic Party and why Leader C…

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215: BEST OF: Trae Crowder on Comedy and The Liberal Redneck 42:48

5M ago42:48

42:48

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Trae Crowder, the viral comedian from Tennessee aka The Liberal Redneck. We talk about Trae's upbringing in a red state, why rednecks are Trumpies, and what happens to a community when the jobs leave. Listen to Trae’s take on Trump's appeal to voting rednecks, even though they might have see…

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214: Mark Leibovich on the Week in Washington 39:45

5M ago39:45

39:45

We're joined by our friend Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic to break down a wild week in Washington D.C.! Donald Trump gave his address to Congress. It was the longest one ever and didn't seem to say much (except blame Joe Biden for all of the country's problems). We also take a look at America's deteriorating relationship with Ukraine and how Republ…

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213: War Correspondent Tim Mak on Russia and Ukraine 50:01

5M ago50:01

50:01

As Trump and his administration try to rewrite history and say that Ukraine started the war with Russia, we're joined by Tim Mak, war correspondent and founder of The Counteroffensive. Tim has been living in Kyiv since the beginning of Russia’s invasion and discusses the toll that the war has taken on the people of Ukraine. He examines what kind of…

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Dining Table Discworld - Lords and Ladies 1:05:20

5M ago1:05:20

1:05:20

The witches are back! Nanny Ogg - nice but also underhanded. Magrat - almost queen, but somehow still being unfairly treated like a silly girl. Granny Weatherwax - realises the death that she feels coming may not be hers. We also discuss witchcraft's recruitment problem, being suspicious of anyone who seems too glamorous, why elves might look like …

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212: Sarah Longwell on Voter Reactions to Trump's First Month 49:28

5M ago49:28

49:28

A month into Donald Trump's second term, how do voters feel about the job he's doing? We talk to Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark and host of The Focus Group podcast. We discuss how Trump is currently in the "honeymoon" period of his presidency and how plenty of voters are just happy that Trump is doing SOMETHING. Sarah also gives advice to…

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211: SPECIAL: Al on SNL's 50th 1:03:20

6M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live this week! This special episode changes things up a bit as Executive Producer Peter Ogburn asks Al about his history with the show. We pull the curtain back on what a typical week looks like building up to the live show on Saturday and learn about how Al and his writing partner, Tom Davi…

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210: Molly O’Toole on Immigration 42:04

6M ago42:04

42:04

Donald Trump ran on a platform of mass deportations. Now that he's back in the White House, what does that look like? We're joined by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Molly O'Toole, whose upcoming book “The Route” details global migration through the Americas. Molly has spoken to hundreds of migrants making their way from war-torn countries to be …

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209: Peter Beinart on Israel and Gaza 37:14

6M ago37:14

37:14

With a confusing ceasefire deal underway in Gaza, we take a look at the path forward with Peter Beinart. Beinart serves as editor-at-large for Jewish Currents, is a frequent analyst on MSNBC, and has authored a new book, "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning." The book examines the history of Israel and how Jews have responded to…

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Dining Table Discworld - Small Gods 1:05:13

6M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

Sometimes you didn't mean to write a religious text, you just wanted to keep your barrel furnished. We discuss Pratchett's big work about religion, belief, philosophy and kindness against all odds. With examples of How To Be and a variety of tangents along the way. No one expects the simultaneous inquisition. You can find the Podcast on: Facebook: …

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208: Molly Jong-Fast on Trump’s First Week 42:58

6M ago42:58

42:58

President Donald Trump was sworn in (again) this week. Who better than Molly Jong-Fast from the Fast Politics podcast to join us to discuss his first week in office? We relive some quotable moments from his inaugural address and look at his most damaging executive orders. We also rundown some of the Cabinet nominees. Is anyone going to be stopped? …

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207: Ian Bassin on Saving Our Democracy 44:34

6M ago44:34

44:34

Donald Trump's unprecedented second term is upon us. As we prepare to endure another (at least) 4 years of this, we are joined by Ian Bassin, the co-founder and Executive Director of Protect Democracy. Trump has already promised to undermine democracy in America. How can we fight back? And how can we mount a defense to the coming onslaught? We also…

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206: Dana Milbank on The Nutcase Republican House 42:25

7M ago42:25

42:25

Dana Milbank, Washington Post Opinion columnist joins us this week! His latest book, "Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theories and Dunces who Burned Down the House", chronicles the ineffectiveness of the members of the U.S House. He makes the case that the MAGA members in the House have turned it into a dysfunctional nightma…

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205: BEST OF: Scott Galloway 36:49

7M ago36:49

36:49

Professor Scott Galloway is our guest in this New Year's Best Of. Galloway has thoughts on the current political climate and how extreme most of the Republican agenda is these days. He also speaks about how modern politics and policies have left our young people disaffected and feeling left out of the political process. From minimum wage to college…

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204: BEST OF: SNL's Jim Downey 1:07:15

7M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

In this Best Of episode, we revisit the conversation from earlier this year with SNL writer and producer Jim Downey. Al and Jim worked on several iconic sketches and remember some of their favorite political bits from the history of the show. They also discuss the importance of rewarding audiences for knowing stuff but not punishing them for not kn…

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Dining Table Discworld - Colour of Magic TV Special 39:14

7M ago39:14

39:14

In our first special episode we watch the Colour of Magic TV show, which also includes The Light Fantastic. We discuss how combining the 2 books works and our thoughts on casting and visual effects. You can find the Podcast on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiningTableDiscworld BlueSky: dtdiscworld.bsky.social E-Mail: [email protected] Ou…

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203: The Atlantic's George Packer on the End of Democratic Delusions 41:48

7M ago41:48

41:48

The Atlantic's George Packer joins us to discuss his recent piece titled The End of Democratic Delusions. Packer discusses the new era that Donald Trump has ushered in and what that means to politics moving forward. Trump won a close election, but it's a moment for the Democratic establishment to take a look at their shortcomings and redevelop thei…

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202: Anne Applebaum & Frank Foer on Syria, The Middle East, and Ukraine 44:14

8M ago44:14

44:14

We're joined by two of our favorite foreign policy writers to examine what the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime means to Syria and the region. Frank Foer and Anne Applebaum from The Atlantic also look toward the incoming Trump administration and what lies ahead. Can Trump be a steady hand to stop escalating war around the world? How will Israel reac…

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201: WaPo's Aaron Blake on The Transition 36:15

8M ago36:15

36:15

As we move closer to the second Trump administration, we are learning more about his incoming Cabinet. Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author/host of The Campaign Moment newsletter and podcast for the Washington Post joins us to discuss some of Trump's Cabinet picks and their struggles to be confirmed. Also, the American people seem to o…

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200: BEST OF: Anne Applebaum on her book Autocracy, Inc. 34:18

8M ago34:18

34:18

In this Thanksgiving Best Of, we revisit our conversation with our friend Anne Applebaum! We aired this a few months ago when Anne's newest book, Autocracy Inc., had been released. She chronicles the rise of authoritarianism around the world and how those autocracies work together to keep themselves in power. With Donald Trump elected President onc…

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Dining Table Discworld - Witches Abroad 1:05:45

8M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

The Witches are Abroad, spreading chaos across half a continent, beset by stories & pumpkins. Join us as we discuss how mirror magic is very relevant in the 21st Century, and the terrifying spectre of Granny Weatherwax not being The Good One. You can find the Podcast on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiningTableDiscworld BlueSky: dtdiscworld.bsky.soci…

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199: David Axelrod on The Trump Transition 40:49

8M ago40:49

40:49

Donald Trump's Cabinet selection is about as chaotic as we expected it to be. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name for Attorney General after a number of Republican Senators expressed concern with the pick. We're joined by David Axelrod, who says that Republicans in the Senate have more power than you might expect. David also examines how Democrats, the pa…

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198: David Weigel - Political Writer for Semafor 54:10

9M ago54:10

54:10

The incoming Trump administration has started announcing some of the picks for the incoming Cabinet. Somehow, they're worse than you could have imagined. We break down some of the unsavory characters who might be making policy in Trump's second term with political reporter for Semafor, David Weigel. Weigel also explains how the right wing media eco…

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197: Norm Ornstein on the Coming Hellscape 50:58

9M ago50:58

50:58

The nightmare we all feared came true last week. Donald Trump has been elected for a second term as President of the United States. We're joined by our friend Norm Ornstein to make sense of it all. If we take Trump at his word, we should expect mass deportations, economic instability, further deterioration of women’s rights, attacks on public educa…

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196: ELECTION PREVIEW with Molly Jong-Fast, Mark Leibovich, Jessica Taylor, & Jeremy Peters 1:17:33

9M ago1:17:33

1:17:33

Live from New York, it’s our pre-election podcast. After a contentious and exhausting election cycle, we have made it to Election Day. Last week, we gathered with some of our favorite guests to help us understand what we might see in the coming days and weeks. Can we finally vanquish Donald Trump? Can he actually win? And if so, what does that mean…

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Dining Table Discworld - Reaper Man 57:20

9M ago57:20

57:20

Only 2 things are inevitable, and even Death can't avoid the Revenoo. Like the religious community of Ankh-Morpork we find Mrs Cake somewhat problematic. With wizards, undead, snow globes and an employment tribunal at the End of the Universe. "Maybe life is something you acquire." You can find the Podcast on: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiningTableD…

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194: WaPo’s Catherine Rampell on how the Economy is Helping Harris (A Little) 44:36

9M ago44:36

44:36

The economy is always one of the most important issues in any election. So how does Kamala Harris's vision for America's economy stack up against Donald Trump's? Catherine Rampell from the Washington Post joins us to discuss. Trump's economic plan seems to revolve around tariffs, an issue that he seems to have a hard time understanding. Not only th…

David And Catherine Mann Podcasts