Best The Reason Roundtable Podcasts (2025)

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The Insanity of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill 59:22

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2d ago59:22

59:22

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie and Reason reporter Eric Boehm unpack the passage of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, focusing on its tax carve-outs, its special-interest subsidies, and what happens when key provisions expire in 2028. They also examine the potential fallout from Trump's lo…

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The Loyalty Trap: Inside the 2024 Biden-Harris Collapse 37:06

10m ago37:06

37:06

Josh Dawsey joins to discuss 2024: How Donald Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, digging into Kamala Harris’s campaign missteps, Biden’s loyalty hangups, and Hunter’s oversized influence. In the Spiel, a statistical deep dive tests whether so-called “100-year floods” are actually happening more often as seems to be the cas…

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Iranian Would-Be Assassins and Shoe Would-Be Bombers 36:08

16h ago36:08

36:08

An interview with Wall Street Journal reporter Josh Dawsey, co-author of 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, covers Biden’s decline, Trump’s courtroom rage, and the political strategy behind legal delays. Also , how potent are Iranian-directed assassination crews? And, as the TSA begins phasing out its decades-old…

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176: Mic Check Retreat Roundtable: Real Advice from Seasoned Podcasters 29:53

1d ago29:53

29:53

Ever wish you could eavesdrop on a candid conversation among seasoned podcasters? At Mic Check Retreat, I had the privilege of hosting a roundtable discussion with our incredible group of podcast attendees. We jumped into the real stories behind our shows—the triumphs, the hurdles, and the unexpected lessons that come with the territory. In this ho…

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Episode 58: Episode 58 – The 17 Reasons Your Florida Claim Wasn’t Paid 31:02

1d ago31:02

31:02

Nine months after hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Florida, new insurance claims data is revealing the growing amount of damage not covered by insurance. Of the more than half a million combined claims filed so far, 56% of Helene residential claims were closed without payment and about 43% of Milton residential claims. A closer look shows the ma…

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The Un "Fudge" America Tour Gets "Fudged" From Within 43:27

2d ago43:27

43:27

Zee Cohen-Sanchez, a Bernie Sanders campaign veteran, launched “Un**** America” (we're going with Unfudge America) to counter Charlie Kirk’s influence on college campuses. But internal drama and performative purity politics quickly sabotaged the project. She recounts how influencer apologies empowered whiny critics and fractured the left’s ability …

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Cascade PBS: Tapper, Thompson, and Pesca 47:22

4d ago47:22

47:22

Today on The Gist we play from Mike Pesca's panel at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival about the book Original Sin with the Authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://adverti…

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Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer’s Political Past and America’s Appetite for Spectacle 38:52

6d ago38:52

38:52

Leon Neyfakh joins the show to discuss Final Thoughts, his new podcast chronicling Jerry Springer’s transformation from charismatic progressive politician to ringmaster of daytime TV chaos. They explore how Springer’s earnest civic ambitions unraveled into tabloid infamy—and why he never fully distanced himself from the circus he hosted. Mike also …

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The Bane of the Blue Collar 45:22

7d ago45:22

45:22

Professor Joan C. Williams joins the show to discuss her book Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back. She explains how the decline of unions, elite cultural codes, and a failure to value stability over novelty have fueled resentment. Mike also examines Pixar’s box office collapse, the rise of “bean mouth” animation…

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Big Beautiful Blunder 39:08

8d ago39:08

39:08

The episode kicks off with a withering look at the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a deficit-busting tax cut that showers the rich while hacking away at Medicaid for the poorest Americans. Then, a trip to Minnesota’s Iron Range, where Bethany McLean discusses the bitter fight over Nippon Steel’s bid to buy U.S. Steel—and the awkward dance between union leade…

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Bonus: The Quiet Wins That Power Long-Term Podcasting Success ft. The Modern Editor 17:09

8d ago17:09

17:09

Are you celebrating your milestones? In today’s episode, I’m featuring my client Tara Whitaker of The Modern Editor. Tara is celebrating a huge milestone—50 episodes of her show—and sharing how working with Gaffin Creative has helped her get back on track after burnout. This episode originally aired on episode 50 of the The Modern Editor Podcast. T…

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Escaping the Nazis. Then Going Back 37:24

9d ago37:24

37:24

Daniel Kehlmann joins to discuss The Director, his novel reimagining the life of G.W. Pabst—a brilliant German filmmaker who escaped the Nazis, only to voluntarily return. Kehlmann grapples with how much human suffering we’re willing to accept as the cost of art. Later, Ben Wittes of Lawfare weighs in on the often exasperating logic behind internat…

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Did NYC Vote for Socialism or Against the Establishment? 1:06:42

9d ago1:06:42

1:06:42

This week, Reason editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson to analyze Zohran Mamdani's primary win over Andrew Cuomo in New York City's mayoral race and what it signals about the future of Democratic politics. They also discuss the Senate GOP's version of President Donald…

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The Cuomo Special 30:39

11d ago30:39

30:39

Today on The Gist, we go back into the vaults to our 2023 interview with Melissa DeRosa about her book on working with Andrew Cuomo, What's Left Unsaid: My Life at the Center of Power, Politics & Crisis. Then we play a Spiel from earlier in the week about Andrew Cuomo failing to get the Democratic nomination for mayor. Produced by Corey Wara Produc…

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The Wars We Carry: From Iraq To Port-au-Prince 36:55

12d ago36:55

36:55

Jim O’Grady and Thomas Brennan discuss Reveal’s episode on the Marines who fought in Fallujah, exploring how the battle’s brutality and moral injuries still haunt them 20 years later. In the Spiel, Haiti’s use of drones against gangs runs up against the oddity of international law experts declaring such violence not technically an “armed conflict.”…

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Closed Schools, Closed Minds 33:38

13d ago33:38

33:38

David Zweig, author of An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions, discusses public health’s blind spots—and when caution became the risk. Plus, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reshapes the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, swapping experts for skeptics and dredging up the long-debunked thimerosal panic on his way to decla…

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The High Point of Mt. Mamdani? 35:25

14d ago35:25

35:25

Zohran Mamdani is likely the next mayor of New York, and progressive enthusiasm is peaking—along with demands that you pronounce his name correctly. Andrew Cuomo, a man of few smiles and even fewer surrogates, concedes with the warmth of a trooper lawsuit. Mike considers whether this is Mamdani’s political high-water mark, as voters begin to discov…

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Tehran Target Acquired...Damaged...Destroyed...Debated 54:14

15d ago54:14

54:14

Jerusalem Post military correspondent Yonah Jeremy Bob, co-author of Target Tehran: How Israel Is Using Sabotage, Cyberwarfare, Assassination—and Secret Diplomacy—to Stop a Nuclear Iran and Create a New Middle East, explains how Israel coordinated hundreds of strikes and infiltrations across Iran, what the U.S. MOP strike on Fordow actually accompl…

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175: Your Podcast Is Working, Even If It Feels Like It’s Not 11:04

15d ago11:04

11:04

Think your podcast isn’t converting? Think again! In today’s episode, I’m sharing a personal story about the connection between a sale in my digital shop and a three-year-old episode of Clocking In. Plus, I’m diving into my tips for creating long-term success with your podcast. Clocking In with Haylee Gaffin is produced by Gaffin Creative, a podcas…

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Anti-War President Starts New War. Again. 1:10:09

16d ago1:10:09

1:10:09

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch examine the latest U.S. military strike on Iran, unpacking the bipartisan pattern of anti-war campaign rhetoric followed by hawkish foreign policy once in office. They debate whether intervention is ever justified, what escalation might look like, and why Congre…

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Fordow The Mop Tolls 42:05

16d ago42:05

42:05

The United States has bombed Iranian nuclear facilities—an extraordinary military action authorized by a President who campaigned against prolonged wars. In today’s interview, national security expert Michael Allen, host of NatSec Matters, offers insight into the Israeli strikes, Iran’s capacity to respond, and what Trump’s decision means for the r…

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113: What We’ve Learned About Motorcycle Camping 2:24:59

18d ago2:24:59

2:24:59

On this episode of RAW, we’re talking all things motorcycle camping — from the comfortable details that make a temporary stop feel like home, to the bike camping gear we thought we needed but never used. We swap stories about moto camp setup disasters and the hard-earned lessons that came with them, plus share some fresh picks for gear that’s worth…

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Chuck Todd and Mike Pesca Join On The Chuck ToddCast 58:38

18d ago58:38

58:38

Mike's Recent appearance on Chuck Todds Podcast "The Chuck ToddCast" Want to hear more from Chuck Todd? Check out his YouTube page: www.youtube.com/@TheChuckToddCast Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a…

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Funny You Should Mention: Rosebud Baker 1:03:26

19d ago1:03:26

1:03:26

Rosebud Baker joins Funny You Should Mention with the rare gift of making life’s toughest moments hilarious, and a point of view that’s inseparable from the punchline. Her Netflix special Motherlode delivers pregnancy, parenting, and political edge in one biting package. We talk about her SNL writing process and how to satirize breastfeeding pressu…

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Pesca Plus Special: Arlie Hochschild 39:28

20d ago39:28

39:28

Today on The Gist, we are sharing a Pesca Plus episode on this Holiday to give you a taste of what you can get by being a Pesca Plus Member. Weekly longer episodes, Ad Free listening and more. Click the links below to subscribe. Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the s…

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Unsympathetic Empathy 40:36

21d ago40:36

40:36

Veteran diplomat Stuart Eizenstat joins The Gist to discuss The Art of Diplomacy: How American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World, drawing on his work from Camp David to Holocaust reparations. He shares what it means to practice “unsympathetic empathy,” how German officials came to see moral obligation in restitution, an…

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Helen Lewis on Dead Parents, Paper Animals, And The Politics of Genius 41:18

22d ago41:18

41:18

Helen Lewis discusses The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea, her critique of how society defines—and distorts—the concept of genius. From Hans Eysenck’s wildly specific formula (preferably Jewish, born in February, lose a parent before age 10) to Picasso denying his granddaughter a paper animal because “this is the work of Picasso,…

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174: Building a Podcast That Supports Your Life—Not Just Your Hustle—A Personal Update 11:26

22d ago11:26

11:26

Grief doesn’t send a calendar invite. In this episode, I’m coming to you raw and vulnerable, sharing a deeply personal journey through one of the hardest seasons of my life. Over the past four months, I lost two of my grandparents—one just a week ago. Through these losses, I learned the real power of building a business and a podcast that supports …

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What Could Go Right, And Why We Rarely Hear About It 32:38

23d ago32:38

32:38

Zachary Karabell of The Progress Network and the What Could Go Right podcast lays out a case for “edgy optimism,” highlighting under-covered wins in medicine, education, and public policy. From New Mexico’s universal childcare to gene therapies for sickle cell disease, he argues the problem isn’t a lack of progress—it’s our inability to notice. Plu…

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Israel Strikes Iran. Is Escalation Inevitable? 1:05:24

23d ago1:05:24

1:05:24

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Matthew Petti to break down the fallout from Israel's strike on Iran, the likelihood of escalation, and what role the U.S. is already playing in the conflict. They also cover the Minnesota assassinations and the growing fears of political violence,…

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The Gist List Live with Kat Rosenfield 52:14

25d ago52:14

52:14

Replay of the interview Mike Pesca did with Kat Rosenfield on The Gist List. Click the link below to subscribe for free to The Gist List. ⁠The Gist List Produced by Corey Wara Production Coordinator Ashley Khan Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.li…

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Putting Death Metal On Your Plants Playlist: Is That Bs? 33:26

26d ago33:26

33:26

In another edition of Is That BS? Sadie Dingfelder joins to ask: is chatting with your ficus legit, or just verbal compost? The science of sound and strawberries might surprise you. Then in The Spiel, Mike breaks down Israel’s sweeping strike on Iran—targeting nuclear sites, scientists, and generals—in what may be a turning point for the region and…

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Not Even Mad: Allison Schraeger and Matt Yglesias 1:00:16

27d ago1:00:16

1:00:16

Economist Allison Schraeger and Slow Boring’s Matt Yglesias join Mike to discuss the unrest in Los Angeles — and how to protest without giving Donald Trump a win. Then, the trio surveys the NYC mayoral mess — or, if not a mess, whatever government-run grocery stores are. Plus, the Big Beautiful Bill is only one of those things, and it’s the worse o…

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Inside the Only Trump Trial (So Far) 49:54

28d ago49:54

49:54

New York Times reporter Jonah Bromwich joins to discuss Dragon on Centre Street: New York v. Donald J. Trump, his journalist account of the only Trump trial that resulted in a verdict. They explore how Alvin Bragg revived a politically fraught case using a little-known state election statute, and how, despite prosecutors’ storytelling edge in court…