Best If A Tree Falls Podcasts (2025)

1
Rahm Emanuel Wants to Save the ‘Weak’ and ‘Woke’ Democratic Party Brand 42:52

4m ago42:52

42:52

Rahm Emanuel has had just about every job in politics under the sun: congressman, White House chief of staff, U.S. ambassador, Chicago mayor, and more. “I’m pretty pragmatic about politics and almost cold to a point in my analysis,” he tells White House bureau chief Dasha Burns. Emanuel, who is widely believed to be considering a run for President …

1
Who Can Fix the Housing Crisis - NYT Pundits, German Shepherds, or Bilbo Baggins? 51:46

18m ago51:46

51:46

Jason, Rob, and Asher are taking out a huge, unaffordable mortgage on the housing crisis. What’s behind the shortage in housing? Why is it that no one, except canine Tik Tok influencers with billion-dollar bank accounts, can afford to own a home? While mainstream pundits press for an energy-blind buildout of desert sprawl and gleaming towers of gla…

1
Dr. Oz on the future of Medicaid, Trump’s megabill and AI avatar health care 46:35

2d ago46:35

46:35

Dr. Mehmet Oz, former TV host and Pennsylvania Senate candidate, is one of America’s most famous physicians. Now he’s running the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which means he’s in charge of programs that provide health care for about half of all Americans. He sits down with White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns to discuss potential Med…

1
Introducing: The Conversation with Dasha Burns 2:22

6d ago2:22

2:22

The Conversation with POLITICO’s Dasha Burns is a fresh take on the traditional Sunday show format, going beyond conventional wisdom and short sound bites to broaden the political conversation. Each week, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling – and sometimes unexpected – power players in Washington and beyond for a real discussion abo…

1
Listen Now: Mind the Game 4:33

13d ago4:33

4:33

LeBron James and Steve Nash sit down for an unfiltered, in-depth conversation about basketball—how it’s played, how it’s evolved, and what it really means to understand the game. From breaking down the Nash dribble and the evolution of the short roll, to dissecting playoff adjustments, body recovery, and how great players process the game in real t…

1
Bunkers, Bazookas, and Bespoke Moats: How to Be Safe in an Unsafe World 42:13

14d ago42:13

42:13

The world has gone bunking mad. The bespoke security industry is burying bunkers stocked with arsenals of automatic rifles and surrounded by flaming moats. Is there a better way to prepare for the polycrisis, the zombie apocalypse, or whatever hard times are on the horizon? Jason, Rob, and Asher have some fun at the expense of the bunker builders b…

1
Rumble, Young Man, Rumble II: The Inside Man 46:34

15d ago46:34

46:34

Doctor Octopus vs. Spider-Man... AGAIN! We’ve got Spidey crashin’ out We’ve got John Jameson We’ve got a heist that would make Vulture proud and Ock cashin' in we’ve got a rumble at Stark Industries and nullifiers galore Yeah, Spidey and Ock were enemies but now? Something more? And We’ve got me! We’ve got you We’ve got… no further ado... We’ve got…

1
Native Gardens For Lazy People with Host Stephanie Barelman 39:19

18d ago39:19

39:19

Show notes coming soon!By Stephanie Barelman

1
Golf with Trump, sit-downs with Zelenskyy: Bret Baier’s position of influence 24:45

25d ago24:45

24:45

Fox News anchor Bret Baier joins POLITICO’s Dasha Burns to discuss his unique position in President Donald Trump's Washington. The wide-ranging conversation covers Baier's golf outings with Trump, his interviews with global leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron, the media's problem of declining tr…

1
It Was Never Your Democracy Anyway: Thomas Linzey on Rethinking the Constitution 51:18

27d ago51:18

51:18

Democracy and environmental protection have two things in common: (1) they’re both supposed to be enshrined in the laws of the United States and (2) they’re both under severe attack right now. Asher speaks with Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights to uncover how the source code of the U.S. Constitution and the body of…

1
Ex-Pelosi Adviser Tees Off On Jeffries, Democrats 44:44

1M ago44:44

44:44

Former Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris adviser Ashley Etienne joins Rachael Bade to assess House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ first 100 days leading his caucus. They also discuss what Democratic kingmakers need to do to win back voters—from building a better ground game, to ditching attention-grabbing stunts, to coordinating their messaging so…

1
Patience, Mistakes, and #Garden Goals (Re-run of #12) with Host Stephanie Barelman 22:22

1M ago22:22

22:22

Patience, Mistakes, and #gardengoals Episode Introduction In today's episode, Patience, Mistakes, and #gardengoals, we go over common mistakes beginner and even intermediate gardeners can make; the virtues of serenity, patience, and open-mindedness in the garden; and how your best-laid plans can come true. Host Stephanie Barelman Stephanie Barelman…

1
The Touch-Me-Notzees II: Follow The Money! 1:17:00

1M ago1:17:00

1:17:00

In this episode, we talk tariff conspiracies, charismatic authority, and pontificate something fierce on the need to find your lane and put the pedal through the floor... Somewhere in there Namor and The Invaders put fascists in the only place they ever should be, on their backs. Bonus Episodes contain curses, we apologize for nothin'! And this Bon…

1
Do I Have ADHD? Why I Start Everything and Finish Nothing 7:34

2M ago7:34

7:34

Ever start a million projects and never finish a single one? Same. In this episode, I open up about my personal struggle with focus, unfinished ideas, and the creeping suspicion that I might have ADHD. From creative bursts to burnout, we explore what it really means to live in a world full of distractions — and whether there’s more going on beneath…

1
Going #2: The Dueling Rules of Nature That Every Good Earthling Needs to Know 50:31

1M ago50:31

50:31

Happy Earth Day! There are two concepts that every person should understand to be a better Earthling: entropy and self-organization. It seems like a paradox, but systems on Earth are simultaneously breaking down into disorder and arranging themselves into complex superorganisms. Everything on Earth (well, really in the whole universe) is subject to…

1
Democrats’ new path to power | Doug Sosnik 36:29

2M ago36:29

36:29

Longtime Democratic strategist Doug Sosnik joins Deep Dive host Dasha Burns to discuss the current identity crisis within the Democratic Party. Sosnik discusses insights from a presentation he’s shared exclusively with Playbook that details the path forward for the Democrats, including how to connect with voters, elevate the right new leaders, and …

1
Native Edible Plants Part Five: Botanical Teas, Fruit, and Oddities with Guest Bob Henrickson 1:17:06

2M ago1:17:06

1:17:06

Show notes coming soon!By Stephanie Barelman

1
Tariffs activated the conservative old guard. Here’s what one of their top thinkers sees coming. 36:17

2M ago36:17

36:17

Robert Doar, the President of the American Enterprise Institute, joins host Rachael Bade to discuss how an institution long dedicated to promoting ideas such as free trade and strong American global leadership, is asserting itself in a Trump administration that often does not prioritize those views. In this episode, they discuss who in the White Ho…

1
Inside RFK Jr.’s MAHA agenda | Calley Means 39:13

2M ago39:13

39:13

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is making some big shakeups at the Department of Health and Human Services — and Calley Means is one of his key strategists. In this episode, POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns sits down with Means to break down the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, and how Secretary Kennedy is planning to channel its ener…

1
The Modern Gardener's Dilemma with Guest Christina Musgrave 1:13:57

2M ago1:13:57

1:13:57

The Modern Gardener's Dilemma Turning Big Garden Plans into Small Actionable Projects Episode Introduction In today’s episode, The Modern Gardener's Dilemma, I chat with my friend and garden designer Christina Musgrave on how the average person can fight overwhelm and tackle their garden projects with a dose of reason. Host Stephanie Barelman Steph…

1
Even AI Chatbots Hate Us: The Rise of the New Luddites, with Brian Merchant 1:09:46

2M ago1:09:46

1:09:46

Who knew that the breakthrough moment of AI sentience would come from interacting with an annoying neo-Luddite? After failing to raise a single dollar for PCI’s newest initiative — the $350 billion Transdisciplinary Institute for Phalse Prophet Studies and Education (TIPPSE) — Jason, Rob, and Asher devise the only profitable pitch for raising capit…

1
Who will be Trump’s fall guy for Signalgate? | John Bolton 29:28

2M ago29:28

29:28

Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton joins POLITICO's Rachael Bade to discuss the Signalgate controversy and the broader battle over who will define Donald Trump’s foreign policy — Reagan-era hawks or America First types and isolationists — and who might take the fall for this national security scandal. Rachael Bade is Capitol Bureau …

1
The Trump White House’s “Oracle” speaks | James Blair 41:44

2M ago41:44

41:44

White House deputy chief of staff James Blair is one of the most important people in politics you’ve never heard of — yet. On this week’s episode of Deep Dive, he talks with POLITICO Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Columnist Rachael Bade to pull back the curtain on how Trump 2.0 has managed to do so much in just two months; Susie Wiles’s…

1
Inside Trump’s “swift kick in the ass” to the world | Chris LaCivita 35:03

2M ago35:03

35:03

Chris LaCivita co-managed Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. On this episode of Deep Dive, he’s sharing some of his secrets about Trump’s inner circle, as well as where he thinks Trump’s presidency is headed next. He joins POLITICO White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns to discuss the truths about Project 2025 and Donald Trump; what actual power Elon Musk…

1
A Temporary Techno Stunt: Tom Murphy on Falling out of Love with Modernity 54:21

3M ago54:21

54:21

Recovering technology booster Tom Murphy visits Crazy Town to discuss his journey from shooting lasers at the moon, to trying to "solve" the energy predicament, to falling out of love with modernity itself. Asher, Jason, Rob, and Tom discuss the roots and short-lived nature of modernity, which has not only shaped the world we inhabit but conquered …

1
The Truth About Dandelions with Host Stephanie Barelman 14:09

3M ago14:09

14:09

The Truth About Dandelions Episode Introduction In today's episode, The Truth About Dandelions, we discuss what it means for a plant to be useful, what bees really want in their bento box, and resources for you to grow a rebellious garden year-round that humans and wildlife can enjoy. Host Stephanie Barelman Stephanie Barelman is the founder of the…

1
The Zingeroo Shuffle II: Guess Who's Comin' to Dinner! 45:22

3M ago45:22

45:22

Doctor Octopus, fresh off his victory against The King of Swing does the only thing any self-respecting would-be Kingpin of Crime should... subleases a room in the Forest Hills Queens section of New York City. What are the odds Spidey's not dead and the room belongs to his loving Aunt May? I mean it's comic books, sooooooo 100%! We've got Pete Park…

1
Shutdown, DOGE, and trans athletes | Rep. Brendan Boyle 42:46

3M ago42:46

42:46

House Budget Committee ranking member Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) joins the show to discuss how his Democratic colleagues should respond to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent pivot on trans athletes in sports, President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress, the looming government shutdown and the GOP’s possible cuts to Medicaid in reconciliation. …

1
Back to Business with Host Stephanie Barelman 8:45

3M ago8:45

8:45

Back To Business Episode Introduction Host Stephanie Barelman Stephanie Barelman is the founder of the Bellevue Native Plant Society, a midwest motivational speaker surrounding the native plants dialog, and host of the Plant Native Nebraska Podcast. Episode Sponsors Today's episode is sponsored by: Lauritzen Gardens laurtizengardens.org Listen, rat…

1
Eating the Future: The NY Times Goes Full Ecomodernist on Food and Farming 47:00

3M ago47:00

47:00

How will we feed people living in the megacities of the 21st century, especially while confronting climate chaos and the depletion of fossil fuels and fossil water? According to the mainstream media: ecomodernism! Massive deployment of technology on factory farms and an extreme ramp-up of industrialization will save the day – right? RIGHT?!? If you…

1
Are Trump and Republicans already baiting a backlash? 29:50

3M ago29:50

29:50

Trump’s rapid-fire approach to governing is shaking up Washington. But is he moving too fast for his own good? In this episode of Playbook Deep Dive, host Eugene Daniels talks with POLITICO’s senior Congress editor Mike DeBonis and West Wing Playbook co-author Sophia Cai to break down the risks of Trump’s high-speed strategy and what it means for t…

1
To resist Trump or work with him? This governor says you can do both. 32:10

3M ago32:10

32:10

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has an independent streak and a big job leading the National Governors Association. Here’s what he’s telling fellow governors about when to work with Trump and when to oppose him, how he thinks that Trump is hurting himself, and what the first thing Elon Musk and DOGE should cut is. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author f…

1
Inside the Resistance 2.0 | Rep. Jamie Raskin 38:42

4M ago38:42

38:42

Where is the Democratic “resistance” for Trump’s second term? Chief Playbook Correspondent Eugene Daniels asks Rep. Jamie Raskin, a longtime nemesis of President Trump’s and the current House Judiciary Committee ranking member, why the Democrats have been slow to counter the president’s aggressive governing, and what the plan is going forward to re…

1
Bargaining With Collapse: A Superabundance of Lab Grown Meat and Dryer Balls 37:32

4M ago37:32

37:32

Do you contemplate topics like climate change, biodiversity loss, and the risk of civilizational collapse? If so, then you probably understand something about bargaining – a psychological defense mechanism that’s one of the five stages of grief. With just a wee bit of embarrassment, Asher, Jason, and Rob reveal damning episodes of bargaining from t…

1
Trump and the GOP Congress’s fork in the road I Rep. Lisa McClain 33:58

4M ago33:58

33:58

House Republicans are facing tough choices on reconciliation, party unity, and whether or not to look the other way when President Trump steps on their authority. In this episode, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain gives the scoop on House leadership's hours-long meeting with the president on Thursday, and why she thinks that the House GO…

1
The House Is Quite Literally on Fire: Peter Kalmus on the Climate Emergency Hitting Home 53:48

4M ago53:48

53:48

Peter Kalmus, climate scientist and returning friend of Crazy Town, used to live in Altadena, California, where one of the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires struck on January 7th. Having learned that his former house had burned, Peter penned an emotional article for the New York Times about his family's decision to leave LA two years prior, out of s…

1
'I don't think they're going to get the battle that they want.' Inside Trump’s first clashes with Congress and the courts 47:56

4M ago47:56

47:56

Trump has moved aggressively to define his second presidency. POLITICO’s top reporters have thoughts on where he’s going, and how Congress, Democrats and the courts may try to stop him. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Rachael Bade is the Capitol Bureau Chief and Senior Washington Columnist for POLITICO. Ankush Khardori is a col…

1
The Turntable Tale II: The Hateful 008 49:23

5M ago49:23

49:23

We've waited over twenty issues for our favorite Monologuing Madman's return and 008 doesn't disappoint! Rooftop battle? Check! Pontification? Check! Paris Hilton? Check! That's Hot Explosions, flirtations, subleasing agreements? Check! Check! Check! All we seem to be missing is you! Bonus episodes of Me & my friend, Pete can be found at Patreon.co…

1
Chuck Grassley’s Trump 2.0 vibe check 33:51

5M ago33:51

33:51

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is the longest serving current U.S. senator and currently chairs the Judiciary Committee, which will have purview over President Donald Trump’s immigration policy. He is also the former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy — two big seats for the coming reconciliation bill. On…

1
Jason Smith on who’s getting the “candy” in reconciliation 33:20

5M ago33:20

33:20

Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith joins the show to elaborate on his vision for reconciliation, how he’s working with the diverse factions within the GOP to achieve it and why he believes he will prevail in passing “one big beautiful bill” with major tax cuts. Eugene Daniels is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO. Jason Smith is the Chair o…

1
The Frequent Flyer Tree: Losing the Last Bit of Sense in the Climate Emergency 30:28

5M ago30:28

30:28

In the world of college sports, money talks and the volleyball team walks, er, flies 33,000 miles to play games. The NCAA, like almost everyone else, is playing games with Mother Nature. What do we expect student-athletes to gain from ignoring the climate emergency (not to mention putting their health at risk)? Who cares, as long as we can wring a …

1
The Art of the Deal (Greenland edition) 32:25

5M ago32:25

32:25

Michael Froman — former U.S. Trade Representative, Deputy National Security Advisor and current president of the Council on Foreign Relations — joins Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels to discuss the state of affairs in the world that Trump is stepping into, how world leaders are watching and reacting to Trump’s every word and what he thinks Trump w…

1
Power Play: How the world's political power brokers are gearing up for 2025 26:06

5M ago26:06

26:06

Out with the old and in with the new or in the case of 2025, it’s back to the future with the return of Donald Trump to the White House. As America and her allies prepares for Trump 2.0, what can we be certain of in an increasingly unpredictable and fractious world? In the final episode of Power Play this year, host Anne McElvoy is joined by POLITI…

1
Does Trump have Justin Trudeau dancing to his tune? 37:36

6M ago37:36

37:36

One thing Donald Trump loves to say is that he knows how to make a deal. And even for our allies, sometimes the “Art of the Deal” can feel like a shakedown. Ask NATO about that, and you’ll get some nods. But lately, Canada is the ally that’s been caught in Trump’s line of sight. The president-elect has been trolling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on…

1
Shotgunning Hedwig: The Dilemma of Invasives and the Bizarre Decision to Slaughter Barred Owls 33:36

6M ago33:36

33:36

The US Fish and Wildlife Service decided to "manage" barred owls by shooting half a million of them over the next three decades. Jason, Rob, and Asher (along with the postal workers at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) are upset about this plan for addressing the predicament of invasive species. Surely there's a finer tool than a doub…

1
There Ain't No Punchlines to Fists Flyin' IV: The Tintinnabulating Tableau! 1:05:03

6M ago1:05:03

1:05:03

We've got the Amazing Spider-Man's fourth annual. The Wingless Wizard teaming up with the Master of Monologues himself... MYSTERIO! But no worries, Spidey ain't come alone! He's teaming up with the one and only-- well, the third and best Human Torch -The Long Island Igniter- himself, Jonathan Lowell Spencer Storm! Sign up for Bonus Episodes @ Patre…

1
How big business is making its relationship with Republicans great again 39:46

6M ago39:46

39:46

Donald Trump’s Washington is going to be packed with heavyweights from big business such as Elon Musk, Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick. But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents traditional business interests in D.C., has recently found itself estranged from its longtime allies in the Republican Party. On this episode of Playbook Deep Div…

1
003: The Forest Giants- Chapter 28 - The End 12:16

6M ago12:16

12:16

Send us a text Read by Ruma Tenbrink with the permission of Clete Barrett Smith: If We Were Giants is an uplifting, sometimes harrowing, tale by rock star and environmental activist Dave Matthews and Clete Barrett Smith. Inspired by the cooperative behavior of bivouac ants, Matthews conceived a story of small people who stood up against overwhelmin…

1
003: The Forest Giants- Chapter 27 10:56

6M ago10:56

10:56

Send us a text Read by Ruma Tenbrink with the permission of Clete Barrett Smith: If We Were Giants is an uplifting, sometimes harrowing, tale by rock star and environmental activist Dave Matthews and Clete Barrett Smith. Inspired by the cooperative behavior of bivouac ants, Matthews conceived a story of small people who stood up against overwhelmin…

1
How to dethrone a Democratic ranking member 35:58

6M ago35:58

35:58

Generational change. It’s been a hot topic for Democrats ever since Joe Biden announced he’d run for a second term, and it's been picking up steam this past week as House Democrats pushed aside aging ranking members on key committees in order to make room for some younger leaders. In this episode, Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels speaks with Rep. …

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