Best The CSPAN Podcasts (2025)

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How FDR Built a 12-Million-Strong Military: Robert Brigham on America’s WWII Mobilization 50:23

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8h ago50:23

50:23

Vassar College professor Robert Brigham discussed his upcoming memoir about his search for his biological father, who served as a Marine in Vietnam. This event was part of the 2025 LCpl. Benjamin W. Schmidt Symposium on War, Conflict, and Society at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…

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AW: David Gelles on How Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard Built a Purpose-Driven Company 57:56

1h ago57:56

57:56

Author David Gelles discussed how Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard built his business, made a fortune, and then gave it all away. Books Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera, California, hosted this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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David Gelles on How Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard Built a Purpose-Driven Company 57:56

3h ago57:56

57:56

Author David Gelles discussed how Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard built his business, made a fortune, and then gave it all away. Books Passage Bookstore in Corte Madera, California, hosted this event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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Weekend Edition: President Trump Pardons TX Democrat Henry Cuellar, AfghanEvac, and Electricity and Utility Prices on the Rise 29:07

17m ago29:07

29:07

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: President Trump stuns House Republicans with a surprise pardon this week for Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar – whose Laredo seat Republicans were hoping to pick up in the midterms. We'll get the scoop from Gabby Birenbaum Washington Correspondent for the Texas T…

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Pres. Trump attends World Cup draw, receives FIFA Peace Prize; CDC vaccine advisory committee votes not to recommend all newborns get hepatitis B shot 53:47

1d ago53:47

53:47

President Donald Trump attends the 2026 World Cup Draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC with the leaders of co-hosts Mexico & Canada. The three talking about what it means to co-host the world's largest sports tournament; President Trump receives the inaugural peace prize from world soccer's governing body, FIFA; Trump Administration release…

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FBI arrests suspect in 2021 RNC & DNC headquarters pipe bombs case; Pentagon briefs lawmakers on second strike against drug boat that killed survivors 58:41

1d ago58:41

58:41

A 30 year-old man from Woodbridge, Virginia is arrested and charged in the FBI's investigation of pipe bombs placed outside the Republican and Democratic party headquarters on the eve of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol; A Navy admiral tells lawmakers Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not issue a "kill them all" order against a suspe…

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Republican wins Congressional special election in Tennessee; President Trump rolls back Biden-era vehicle fuel economy standards 54:16

1d ago54:16

54:16

The Republican candidate wins the Tennessee 7th Congressional District special election by a comfortable margin, but not as big as President Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election. We get reaction from party leaders in Congress about what this may mean for the 2026 midterm elections; President Trump grants a full pardon to Rep. He…

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Defense Secretary Hegseth says he learned of survivors and second missile strike on alleged drug boat hours later, cites 'fog of war' 55:37

2d ago55:37

55:37

President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he did not see any survivors in the water when a second strike was ordered and launched on a boat alleging carrying illegal drugs in the Caribbean Sea in September, and President Trump says he does not want Somali immigrants in the United St…

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Ep. 247 Doug Most, "Launching Liberty" 1:04:38

3d ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Boston-based writer Doug Most's new book is called "Launching Liberty: The Epic Race to Build the Ships That Took America to War." Most, who spent 15 years at the Boston Globe, writes: "In total, American shipyards produced 2,710 Liberty ships in essentially four years, peaking in the spring and summer of 1943, when almost 800 ships were built in s…

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BN+: Doug Most, "Launching Liberty" 1:04:38

3d ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Boston-based writer Doug Most's new book is called "Launching Liberty: The Epic Race to Build the Ships That Took America to War." Most, who spent 15 years at the Boston Globe, writes: "In total, American shipyards produced 2,710 Liberty ships in essentially four years, peaking in the spring and summer of 1943, when almost 800 ships were built in s…

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White House says admiral ordered follow-on strike on alleged drug boat, insists attack was lawful 40:36

3d ago40:36

40:36

The White House confirmed President Trump will meet today with his national security team to discuss Venezuela as his administration intensifies its pressure campaign on the country…The meeting comes as lawmakers from both parties voice concerns over reports of a possibly unlawful follow-up strike on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean that kil…

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Peter Navarro Reflects on Politics, Prison, and the Trump Presidency 1:04:26

4d ago1:04:26

1:04:26

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro went to prison in 2024 after being found guilty of two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House January 6th Committee. In his book, "I Went to Prison So You Won’t Have To," Mr. Navarro describes the Justice Department's case against him, his arrest and tria…

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Q&A: Peter Navarro Reflects on Politics, Prison, and the Trump Presidency 1:04:26

6d ago1:04:26

1:04:26

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro went to prison in 2024 after being found guilty of two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House January 6th Committee. In his book, "I Went to Prison So You Won’t Have To," Mr. Navarro describes the Justice Department's case against him, his arrest and tria…

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FEEDDROP: Chef José Andrés on Food, Humanity, and Global Relief Efforts 1:03:38

5d ago1:03:38

1:03:38

Chef, humanitarian, and author Jose Andres discussed his career, his global relief efforts with World Central Kitchen, his books, and his love of food with David M. Rubenstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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Ken Vogel’s “Devils’ Advocates”: Inside Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and D.C.’s Hidden Foreign Influence Networks 1:09:30

5d ago1:09:30

1:09:30

New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel talked about the secret world of foreign lobbying in Washington, D.C., and the Americans involved in it, including Rudy Giuliani and Hunter Biden. This event was hosted by the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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AW: Ken Vogel’s “Devils’ Advocates”: Inside Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and D.C.’s Hidden Foreign Influence Networks 1:09:30

5d ago1:09:30

1:09:30

New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel talked about the secret world of foreign lobbying in Washington, D.C., and the Americans involved in it, including Rudy Giuliani and Hunter Biden. This event was hosted by the Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Weekend Edition: The US Economy and the "Affordability" Crisis, Mood of the nation this Thanksgiving, and the FCC in the Trump Administration 29:47

10d ago29:47

29:47

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: As the holiday shopping season kicks off – a discussion about the U-S economy and the "affordability" crisis with Heather Long - columnist and Chief Economist for Navy Federal Credit Union. Then: Pollster and strategist Frank Luntz discusses what his focus gr…

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Two Nat'l Guardsmen are shot & wounded in DC; Georgia judge dismisses criminal 2020 election interference case against Pres. Trump & co-defendants 51:59

10d ago51:59

51:59

Two National Guard troops patrolling Washington, DC not far from the White House are shot. A suspect, also shot is in custody; Judge in Georgia dismisses the election interference criminal case against President Donald Trump and co-defendants at the request of the prosecutor. We will talk with USA Today Justice Department reporter Aysha Bagchi (11)…

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Pres. Trump pardons Thanksgiving turkeys, says food prices are dropping; Pres. Trump says Russia-Ukraine peace deal 'very close'; DC Mayor Bowser (D) not running for reelection 46:11

11d ago46:11

46:11

Two days before Thanksgiving, President Donald Trump pardons two turkeys, named Gobble & Waddle, jokes that former President Joe Biden's turkey pardons are invalid due to his use of an autopen, and says food prices are coming down; Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announces she will not run for a fourth term in 2026; Attorney General Pam Bond…

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Ep. 246 Constitutional Scholar Akhil Reed Amar on America’s Equality Story 1:10:17

10d ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Yale constitutional law professor Akhil Reed Amar's second book in a trilogy is titled "Born Equal: Remaking America's Constitution, 1840-1920." In Professor Amar's introduction, he writes: "Millions of Americans can recite by heart Lincoln's opening line at Gettysburg. But how many of us understand it?" "This sentence," Professor Amar continues, "…

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BN+: Constitutional Scholar Akhil Reed Amar on America’s Equality Story 1:10:17

10d ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Yale constitutional law professor Akhil Reed Amar's second book in a trilogy is titled "Born Equal: Remaking America's Constitution, 1840-1920." In Professor Amar's introduction, he writes: "Millions of Americans can recite by heart Lincoln's opening line at Gettysburg. But how many of us understand it?" "This sentence," Professor Amar continues, "…

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Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) to Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth: Pentagon investigation over ‘illegal orders’ video won’t ‘intimidate me’ 33:52

12d ago33:52

33:52

The Pentagon announced today it is investigating Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over possible breaches of military law…It comes after the former Navy pilot along with a five other Democratic lawmakers called for troops to disobey illegal orders in a social media post last week… AND after President Trump ramped up the rhetoric by accusing the la…

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Enes Kanter Freedom Discusses His Memoir and Global Human Rights Advocacy 1:04:50

11d ago1:04:50

1:04:50

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, chosen third in the NBA draft in 2011, is the author of "In the Name of Freedom." In his book, he talks about advocating for human rights as a professional athlete. The Turkish American basketball player has been critical of the NBA and Nike for doing business with China and has called out LeBron James for sta…

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Q&A: Enes Kanter Freedom, "In the Name of Freedom" 1:04:50

11d ago1:04:50

1:04:50

Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, chosen third in the NBA draft in 2011, is the author of "In the Name of Freedom." In his book, he talks about advocating for human rights as a professional athlete. The Turkish American basketball player has been critical of the NBA and Nike for doing business with China and has called out LeBron James for sta…

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ABC: Chef José Andrés on Food, Humanity, and Global Relief Efforts 1:02:18

11d ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Jose Andres joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss his career, his global relief efforts with World Central Kitchen, his books, and his love of food. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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Geri Spieler on Housewife Assassin: The True Story Behind a Suburban Double Life 1:07:38

14d ago1:07:38

1:07:38

In September 1975, 17 days apart, two women, one in Sacramento and the other in San Francisco, attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford. The first attempt on September the 5th came from Annette Squeaky Fromm. The Charles Manson follower spent over 30 years in prison, is out on parole, and is 76 years old. The other attempt came on the non-ent…

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Former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty on Understanding Today’s Russia 1:02:53

13d ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty talked about her experiences covering Russia and Russian Presidents Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin. She spoke at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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AW: Former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty on Understanding Today’s Russia 1:02:53

12d ago1:02:53

1:02:53

Former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty talked about her experiences covering Russia and Russian Presidents Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin. She spoke at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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Weekend Edition: Ban Individual Stock Trading by Members of Congress, Sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia, and Chris Matthew's book "Lessons from Bobby." 32:37

15d ago32:37

32:37

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: A discussion with Investigative journalist Dave Levinthal about a new push to ban individual stock trading by Members of Congress – and whether HE thinks it'll finally pass. Then: Brad Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies takes a closer look at…

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President Trump Meets With New York City Mayor-Elect Mamdani; Rep. Vindman Calls for Release of Transcript of Trump's 2019 Call with Saudi Crown Prince 41:05

15d ago41:05

41:05

President Trump and incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met at the White House today…It's their first meeting since the New York city election earlier this month…And it comes after months of public hostility between the two…with the president calling the mayor-elect a communist and even threatening to arrest and deport him…While the mayor-e…

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Former President George W. Bush & former Rep. Liz Cheney give eulogies at former Vice President Dick Cheney's funeral 51:57

16d ago51:57

51:57

Former President George W. Bush says at the funeral service for his Vice President Dick Cheney that Cheney was "totally devoted to protecting the United States and its interests", while daughter Liz Cheney says her father knew "that bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we share as Americans"; President Donald Trump in online posts ca…

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Pres. Trump names Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally; Senate officially passes bill to release all Epstein investigation files, sends to the President 54:43

17d ago54:43

54:43

President Donald Trump at a U.S.-Saudi Arabia investment summit announces Saudi Arabia has been named a major non-NATO ally of the United States and visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has encouraged him to help stop the civil war in Sudan; Bill to require the Justice Department to release all documents in the investigation of the late …

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House passes bill 427-1 to release all of the Justice Dept's Jeffrey Epstein investigation files 54:26

18d ago54:26

54:26

House passes a bill almost unanimously to release all of the files in the federal investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, where the prince pledges to invest $1 trillion in the U.S and the president dismisses a question about the 2018 murder …

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BN+: Kenneth Feinberg, "What is Life Worth?" 1:01:52

17d ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Kenneth Feinberg is a Washington-based attorney who served as a special master of the US government's 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. Mr. Feinberg worked for 33 months, pro bono, deciding who should be compensated as a result of the deaths and injuries from 9/11. Kenneth Feinberg, who today is 79, was interviewed on C-SPAN's Q&A program about his b…

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Ep. 245 Kenneth Feinberg, "What is Life Worth?" 1:01:52

17d ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Kenneth Feinberg is a Washington-based attorney who served as a special master of the US government's 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. Mr. Feinberg worked for 33 months, pro bono, deciding who should be compensated as a result of the deaths and injuries from 9/11. Kenneth Feinberg, who today is 79, was interviewed on C-SPAN's Q&A program about his b…

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President Trump says he will sign a bill into law to release all Epstein investigation files if it passes Congress 46:51

17d ago46:51

46:51

President Donald Trump says he will sign a bill into law torelease all the files from the federal investigation of the late sex offenderJeffrey Epstein if it passes Congress, a reversal from his position a few days ago. He says he does not want the Epstein issue to be a distraction from all the legislative accomplishments of the Republican party. H…

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Q&A: Rep. James Clyburn on “The First Eight” and the Rise of Black Political Leadership 1:05:06

18d ago1:05:06

1:05:06

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) talks about eight Black representatives from South Carolina who served in Congress during the Reconstruction Era. The eight included Joseph Rainey, the first Black politician elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero who fled the Confederacy to fight for the Union Army. Both were for…

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Rep. James Clyburn on “The First Eight” and the Rise of Black Political Leadership 1:05:06

18d ago1:05:06

1:05:06

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) talks about eight Black representatives from South Carolina who served in Congress during the Reconstruction Era. The eight included Joseph Rainey, the first Black politician elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero who fled the Confederacy to fight for the Union Army. Both were for…

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ABC: Walter Isaacson on the Minds That Shape Our Modern World 58:27

18d ago58:27

58:27

Walter Isaacson is a Professor of History at Tulane. He has been the editor of Time Magazine, the CEO and Chairman of CNN, and the CEO of the Aspen Institute. He is the author of Elon Musk (2023), Leonardo da Vinci (2017), Steve Jobs (2011), Einstein: His Life and Universe (2007), Benjamin Franklin: An American Life (2003), and Kissinger: A Biograp…

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The 1967 Six-Day War and America’s Role in the Arab-Israeli Peace Process 1:15:59

21d ago1:15:59

1:15:59

The 1967 Six-Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War, and 2023 Israel-Hamas War have all garnered the United States' diplomatic involvement. Trinity College Professor James Stocker looks at the history of the U.S. negotiating ends to Israeli-Arab conflicts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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George Selgin, "False Dawn: The Rise and Decline of Bitcoin" 1:04:50

20d ago1:04:50

1:04:50

University of Georgia professor emeritus George Selgin argued that many of FDR's New Deal programs were counterproductive and impeded recovery during the Great Depression. He spoke at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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After Words: George Selgin, "False Dawn: The Rise and Decline of Bitcoin" 1:04:20

21d ago1:04:20

1:04:20

University of Georgia professor emeritus George Selgin argued that many of FDR's New Deal programs were counterproductive and impeded recovery during the Great Depression. He spoke at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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Weekend Edition: Congress Ends Government Shutdown, Midterm Elections, the Epstein files, and Veterans Day. 29:09

20d ago29:09

29:09

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First: as Congress ends the longest government shutdown in history – a conversation with Real Clear Politics President Tom Bevan on the winners and losers – if it'll matter in the midterm elections. Then – the other big political story this week on Capitol Hill: ren…

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New survey on Americans' views on affordability; Pres. Trump calls for investigation into Epstein ties to Bill Clinton, Larry Summers 50:51

22d ago50:51

50:51

New survey of Americans finds seven in 10 say raising children is now unaffordable; Trump Administration prepares to lower tariffs on some food items such as coffee & fruit, and announces a new trade deal with Switzerland; Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) visits a food bank in Chicago as federal food aid money through the SNAP program is now restarted with …

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Federal government reopens, but questions about timing of furloughed worker backpay, full SNAP benefits & air travel returning to normal 53:41

23d ago53:41

53:41

First day of the federal government reopening following a record-long shutdown, and now the work begins to send the government employees who were furloughed back pay, get SNAP food aid benefits that were held up to beneficiaries' accounts and get air travel back to normal; Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announces $10,000 bonuses for TSA of…

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House to join Senate in passing funding bill to end gov't shutdown; Trump mentioned in released Epstein emails 48:53

22d ago48:53

48:53

Longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history is about to end with the House Republicans expected to join the Senate in passing a bill to fund most of the government through January and part of the government for the full fiscal year, through September 2026. House Democrats are speaking out against the bill because it does not have an extensi…