Best Host Frank A Bassett Podcasts (2025)

1
George Packer on Vice President JD Vance 33:17

18m 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 …

1
225: BEST OF: Ed Shelleby on Being My Senate Communications Director 49:30

6d 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…

1
224: Michael Lewis on Amazing Government Workers 32:10

13d 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…

1
223: Dahlia Lithwick on the Courts vs. Trump 44:13

20d 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…

1
222: Mark Leibovich and Molly Jong-Fast on Trump’s 100 Days 46:36

27d 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…

1
221: Robert Reich on Fighting The Trump Autocracy 45:39

1M 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…

1
220: BEST OF: Tim Alberta on Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism 59:35

1M 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 …

1
McIlroy's Masterpiece: The Long Journey to the Career Grand Slam 1:11:41

2M ago1:11:41

1:11:41

By HOST: FRANK A. BASSETT

1
219: Atul Gawande on Musk’s Destruction of USAID 43:50

2M 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…

1
Behind the Ropes: DeChambeau, McIlroy, and Rose Share Their Augusta Strategies 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

By HOST: FRANK A. BASSETT

1
218: Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Tariffs and DOGE 53:04

2M 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…

1
217: Jessica Yellin on Our Anxiety Producing News Cycle 37:57

2M 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…

1
216: Norm Ornstein on Another Terrible Week in D.C. 34:31

2M 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…

1
Master of the Wind: McIlroy's Playoff Triumph 47:29

2M ago47:29

47:29

Rory McIlroy captured his second Players Championship title in a dramatic Monday playoff against JJ Spahn, cementing his place among golf's elite as only the fourth player to win multiple Players Championships and multiple majors. The concluding day at TPC Sawgrass featured brutal north-northwest winds that transformed the course into the challengi…

1
215: BEST OF: Trae Crowder on Comedy and The Liberal Redneck 42:48

3M 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…

1
214: Mark Leibovich on the Week in Washington 39:45

3M 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…

1
213: War Correspondent Tim Mak on Russia and Ukraine 50:01

3M 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…

1
Florida’s Wild Golf: Gators, 59s, and Birdies! 20:15

3M ago20:15

20:15

By HOST: FRANK A. BASSETT

1
212: Sarah Longwell on Voter Reactions to Trump's First Month 49:28

3M 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…

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

3M 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…

1
210: Molly O’Toole on Immigration 42:04

4M 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 …

1
Inside the Mind of Justin Thomas: Strategies, Stories, and the Future of Men's Golf 19:20

4M ago19:20

19:20

The episode captures the vibrant atmosphere of the WM, exploring how the tournament blends golf with community and celebration. Insights from Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, and Scotty Scheffler highlight both the competitive spirit and unique challenges of performing in front of large, enthusiastic crowds. • Exploration of the unique party atmospher…

1
209: Peter Beinart on Israel and Gaza 37:14

4M 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…

1
208: Molly Jong-Fast on Trump’s First Week 42:58

4M 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? …

1
207: Ian Bassin on Saving Our Democracy 44:34

4M 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…

1
206: Dana Milbank on The Nutcase Republican House 42:25

5M 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…

1
205: BEST OF: Scott Galloway 36:49

5M 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…

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

5M 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…

1
203: The Atlantic's George Packer on the End of Democratic Delusions 41:48

5M 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…

1
202: Anne Applebaum & Frank Foer on Syria, The Middle East, and Ukraine 44:14

6M 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…

1
201: WaPo's Aaron Blake on The Transition 36:15

6M 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…

1
200: BEST OF: Anne Applebaum on her book Autocracy, Inc. 34:18

6M 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…

1
Celebrating 15 Years of the RSM Classic: Golfing Legends, Rising Stars, and Heartwarming Victories 1:04:46

6M ago1:04:46

1:04:46

PGA Tour legend Davis Love III joins us to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the RSM Classic at Sea Island Golf Club. Discover the heartwarming journey of this beloved tournament, from its modest beginnings to becoming a cornerstone event on the PGA Tour, raising nearly $50 million for charity. Davis shares personal stories about the integral rol…

1
199: David Axelrod on The Trump Transition 40:49

6M 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…

1
198: David Weigel - Political Writer for Semafor 54:10

7M 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…

1
197: Norm Ornstein on the Coming Hellscape 50:58

7M 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…

1
PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN: Inside the Worldwide Technology Championship in Los Cabos 32:03

7M ago32:03

32:03

Join us as we explore the thrilling world of the PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN, where I, Frank Bassett, take you on a journey to the Worldwide Technology Championship in the stunning locale of Los Cabos, Mexico. This episode promises an inside look at the tournament's spectacular growth, fueled by a strong partnership between the PGA Tour and Worldwide Techno…

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

7M 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…

1
194: WaPo’s Catherine Rampell on how the Economy is Helping Harris (A Little) 44:36

7M 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…

1
193: Laura Bassett of The Cut and Sarah Zhang of The Atlantic 40:32

7M ago40:32

40:32

This election could all come down to abortion. Laura Bassett from The Cut and Sarah Zhang from The Atlantic have both been writing about the issue and how it's playing into this election. Sarah's recent piece in The Atlantic examined how Idaho's draconian abortion laws have set the state's healthcare back for women. Laura has been writing about the…

1
192: Frank Foer and David Rothkopf on Israel’s Wars in Gaza and Lebanon…and Nobel Climate Scientist Michael Mann on the Hurricanes 48:59

8M ago48:59

48:59

It's been a year since the horrific attack in Israel that set off the current wars in the Middle East. Frank Foer from The Atlantic and David Rothkopf from The Daily Beast to talk about the painful year and what happens moving forward. If a ceasefire is worked out, what is the future of Gaza and how will it rebuild? What political price is America …

1
191: Tim Miller and Aaron Blake on the VP Debate and Jack Smith's Filing 37:13

8M ago37:13

37:13

It's been a wild week and we're lucky to have Tim Miller from The Bulwark and Aaron Blake from the Washington Post to help break it all down. Special counsel Jack Smith's case against Donald Trump was unsealed this week. We got the best look yet at Trump's behavior on January 6th. It's filled with criminal activity and contradicts many of Trump's p…

1
Inside the President's Cup: Triumphs, Challenges, and Unforgettable Moments 56:37

8M ago56:37

56:37

Are you ready to uncover the triumphs and challenges of the President's Cup? In this episode, we promise an inside look at the intense competition and the pivotal moments that shaped the outcome. Listen as we dissect the strategic decisions and the incredible sportsmanship displayed by players like Scotty Scheffler. Hear from international team Cap…

1
190: Jamelle Bouie - Columnist for the New York Times 41:40

8M ago41:40

41:40

With so much happening on the campaign trail, we turn to Jamelle Bouie for his first visit to the podcast. We discuss Donald Trump and JD Vance's attacks on the truth with their harmful comments on Haitian immigrants and their lies about abortion. We look at different Senate races around the country and what they could mean for the next President. …

1
189: Dems Top Election Lawyer Marc Elias on the Legal Battles Ahead 44:50

8M ago44:50

44:50

Trump and the GOP are working harder to disenfranchise voters NOW than they were in 2020. They are no longer a majoritarian party and want to disrupt our electoral process as much as they can. How will we preserve the integrity of this election? What are some of the ways that Trump and GOP lawyers will attempt to derail the will of the people? Our …

1
188: NYT’s Jeremy Peters on Trump’s Bad Debate 35:33

9M ago35:33

35:33

Jeremy Peters from the NYT joins us to recap the wild debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. It was a complete meltdown for Trump while Harris delivered strong messages on abortion, democracy and Trump's crowd sizes. Trump rambled, made baseless allegations and looked terrible. Even Fox News had to admit that Trump lost the debate badly. So…

1
187: Author and Journalist Joe Conason 56:23

9M ago56:23

56:23

Joe Conason joins to discuss his new book "The Longest Con." In it, he lays out the rich and ugly history of right wing grifters. It's been happening for a long time. Joe goes back to the 1950s with the McCarthy era and takes us all the way through to one of the biggest grifters we've ever seen: Donald Trump. We discuss religious broadcasters and h…

1
Balancing Fairness in Golf: Tour Championship Format, Rising Stars, and Team Chemistry 55:05

9M ago55:05

55:05

How does the staggered start format impact the fairness of the Tour Championship? Join us on Golf Talk America as we debate this hot topic and explore whether rewarding players for their regular season efforts truly benefits the sport. Listen as we break down the latest performances, including Scottie Scheffler's standout moments in the FedExCup pl…

1
186: Martin Short: A “BEST OF” 42:08

9M ago42:08

42:08

As we enter the Fall season of the Presidential campaign, we are taking a break for Labor Day. So we're replaying this interview with comedian and actor Martin Short! The fourth season of Only Murderers in the Building just debuted on Hulu, and in this conversation from 2022, he discusses his role on the show and his 50+ years in showbiz. He also e…

1
185: Molly Jong-Fast and Mark Leibovich on The Democratic Convention 33:00

9M ago33:00

33:00

We're joined once again by Mark Leibovich from The Atlantic and Molly Jong-Fast, host of the Fast Politics Podcast! The Democrats just wrapped up their National Convention and nominated Kamala Harris to be the nominee for President. Can she carry this momentum all the way to Election Day? Meanwhile, Republicans were caught flat-footed when Joe Bide…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Host Frank A Bassett Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen