Synopsis
Jon Lovett, former Obama speechwriter and co-host of Pod Save America, is joined by comedians, actors, journalists, and many, many renowned Friends of the Pod for a roundup of the week's top news. Rants! Games! Bad impressions! Nuanced discussion! Recorded in front of a live audience.
Episodes
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Holy See You Next Tuesday
18/04/2026 Duration: 01h19minTrump starts a holy war, Pete Hegseth quotes from the Gospel of Tarantino, and JD Vance teaches the Pope how to be Catholic. This week, Kara Swisher stops by to remind us that time is money, while Kal Penn turns back the clock. And in the end, we sift through the sands of time for some precious, precious Second Thoughts.
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Strait Privilege
11/04/2026 Duration: 55minTrump walks up to and then back from the brink, the Strait of Hormuz tells America to get bent, and Melania reminds us she definitely, for sure, wasn’t friends with Jeffrey Epstein, even though no one was asking. This week, Joel Kim Booster and Symone pull into Lovett or Leave It station with their arms full of filthy anecdotes and apocalyptic thinking, and we send Lovett home stuffed to the gills with yet another helping of Second Thoughts.
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Bye Bye Bondi
04/04/2026 Duration: 56minPam Bondi slinks off to the private sector, Lindsey Graham escapes to Space Mountain, and Kristi Noem’s husband has something big to get off his chest. This week, Ben Platt answers our burning theater kid questions and does his best to sort the real fools from the April Fool’s. Then Jimmy Tatro joins to put his Passover and/or Rugrats fluency to the test. And of course, we wash down those bitter herbs with a sweet glass of Second Thoughts.
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Airport Security on ICE
28/03/2026 Duration: 01h14minICE chills out at the airport, Trump won't unthaw DHS funding, and hell freezes over before this administration will make sense on Iran. This week, Jorma Taccone stops by to talk Lonely Island, loving movies to death, and playing Pee-wee Herman, while Dylan Adler ponders whether Big Tech needs to know that much about our farts anyway. And we order one more round of Second Thoughts to go, before we turn in for the night.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Catch Dylan Adler on Tour! For tickets visit https://www.dylanaadler.com/Over Your Dead Body is in Theaters April 24th.
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MAGA’s Uncivil War
21/03/2026 Duration: 01h03minTrump counterterrorism chief Joe Kent abandons ship, Tulsi Gabbard and Markwayne Mullin flounder in front of Congress, and Trump steers the nation straight into disaster. Meanwhile, Republicans are at each other’s throats and hitting below the belt. This week, Maria Bamford riffs on stand-up, mental health, and doing impressions of your dad you know he’ll hate. Utkarsh Ambudkar and Nico Santos give Lovett a taste of his own medicine, the medicine being spooky ghosts. And to close us out, we look back at it, with a juicy round of Second Thoughts.
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Iran: Oops! All Ayatollahs
14/03/2026 Duration: 01h15minThe excursion/war continues, and no one can explain why. This week, Paul Feig pours us a stiff one (or three) to talk erotic thrillers, political affairs, and Sydney Sweeney, while Monét X Change hits all the right notes chatting about Traitors, Drag Race, and Survivor. And before we end up under the table, we lay our cards on it, with a candid round of Second Thoughts.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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Noem Wrecker
07/03/2026 Duration: 01h23minKristi Noem gets the boot and Trump gets us into war with Iran. Then Nick Offerman handles wood like a pro, while Milana Vayntrub looks to the future through night-vision contact lenses, and Lovett has some Second Thoughts about revealing his actual, real, we’re not making this up, secret urinal design.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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441: Skate of the Union
28/02/2026 Duration: 01h03minThis week, Trump leaves us in a state of disbelief, while the DOJ tries to paper over gaps in the Epstein files. Meanwhile, Kash Patel puts his FBI duties on ice, and the U.S. men’s hockey team finds itself on the rocks. Plus comedy legends George Wallace and Neal Brennan join to talk about what blocks us, and what doesn’t - from LA to Ibiza.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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440: Happy Valentine's Bidet
14/02/2026 Duration: 58minLovett is in the air for this this Valentine’s Day special episode! Sarah Lazarus and Halle Kiefer join in the studio to take a look at a few absurd stories we missed, and to address your romantic and revealing queries from the Discord. Plus we work through our collective feelings about the Trump administration’s new coal industry mascot, Coalie. Let’s just say, Lovett’s a fan…For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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439: The Kennedy Center Will Not Hold
07/02/2026 Duration: 01h14minTrump says we should smile more and talk less about the Epstein files, which is not going so well for him. In a barnburner of an episode, Lisa Rinna takes the Lovett or Leave It stage to take us behind the scenes of Traitors - and explain what happens when the inner Housewife is released. Then Rachel Bloom is back and we fall in love all over again. And we wrap it all up with a few second thoughts that are second to none.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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438: Minnesota Breaks the ICE
31/01/2026 Duration: 01h08minLovett brings the hot dish straight from Minnesota’s ICE protestors, Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem freeze in place, and the Trump administration is caught off guard by the bravery of nice people. This week, Andy Richter and Vic Michaelis join Lovett for a few rounds of Interview Roulette, and lend some constrictive criticism to Kristi Noem, the Melania movie, and one very fat, damp coyote. And we end with some Second Thoughts for our number one guy.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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437: Greenland New Deal
24/01/2026 Duration: 01h15minThis week, Trump plays chicken with Europe and lays a big ol’ goose egg, Minnesotans dish it out hot while ICE agents freeze, and JD Vance brings his trademark mid to the Midwest. Kevin Nealon tells it like it is, and then apologizes immediately after. Frankie Quiñones cracks us up with The Egg of Truth, and Lovett is second to none when it comes to having Second Thoughts.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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436: Nobel Peace Prize, Gently Used
17/01/2026 Duration: 01h12minThis week, Trump turns up the volume, and America shouts right back. ICE is no match for Minnesota nice. The Federal Reserve chair is forced to get less reserved, and Greenland gives America the red light. Robin Thede picks the ultimate rom-com bestie, while Michael Urie and Ted McGinley of Shrinking talk about acting with animals, babies, and Harrison Ford. And we end the show with Lovett and our three fabulous guests expressing a few very recent second thoughts.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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435: Don't Believe Your Lying Eyes
10/01/2026 Duration: 01h14minThis week, JD Vance and Kristi Noem lie about a killing in Minneapolis. Donald Trump seizes Venezuela’s oil and Greenland’s attention. George Civeris and Andy Kindler stop by to evaluate upside food pyramids and dictator athleisure, while Jameela Jamil questions our answers about trad wives, TikTok and Heated Rivalry. And we end the show by resolving to get even more annoyed in 2026. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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434: What a Year
20/12/2025 Duration: 01h31minHey 2025, don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. We close out the year with a bounty of hilarious segments lovingly hand-selected by the Lovett or Leave It team. FEATURING: Bob the Drag Queen, Jessica Kirson, Andy Richter, Jason Isaacs, Paula Poundstone, Tig Notaro, Stephanie Allyne, Alex English, Punkie Johnson, River Butcher, Gianmarco Soresi, Roy Wood Jr., Robby Hoffman, Rachel Bloom, David Krumholtz, Ana Gasteyer, and the one and only Henry Winkler. AND Lovett welcomes his writers Halle Kiefer and Sarah Lazarus to correct an injustice, and leaves you hungry for more. Happy holidays, everyone, and see you sluts next year!For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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433: Lovett or Leave It Presents: Bravo, America! (with Holly Madison)
16/12/2025 Duration: 01h01minIn our season finale of Bravo, America! Lovett sits down with The Girls Next Door star Holly Madison to discuss the dark side of life in the Playboy mansion on and off screen. Holly opens up about being the main character on the show, but feeling like an object to Hugh Hefner and the Playboy hierarchy. She also speaks about her decision to leave the show and what it’s been like to tell her story on her own terms as public sentiment has evolved pre and post #MeToo movement.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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432: Nothin' But Netflix
13/12/2025 Duration: 01h17minThis week, the nation tunes in to find out who will receive Donald Trump’s rose: Paramount’s David Ellison or Netflix’s Ted Sarandos? Meanwhile, Obamacare subsidies are set to expire, Trump’s poll numbers continue to plummet, and Marjorie Taylor Greene remains... on the level? What the hell? Director Cameron Crowe riffs on the gods of rock and the zoos we’ve bought. Tig Notaro brings the hot lesbian action, and we all look forward to the new year, taking stock of what we’d change, and what we hope will stay the same.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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431: Lovett or Leave It Presents: Bravo, America! (with Bronwyn Newport)
09/12/2025 Duration: 01h16minReal Housewives of Salt Lake City star, Bronwyn Newport, is in it for the friendships! Bronwyn opens up about leaving the Mormon church, becoming an American citizen, and striking a balance between vulnerability and self-preservation on the show. She reflects on what she's learned about herself from being on TV and the power of conversations she's had with family members when the cameras are rolling. Lovett also checks in on how Bronwyn is feeling ahead of the upcoming RHOSLC reunion and who her closest friends are going into that almost certainly messy conversation.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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430: More Like Pete Hague-seth
06/12/2025 Duration: 01h13minThis week, Pete Hegseth trolls and passes blame over lawless boat strikes. Trump falls hard, both asleep and in the polls. Mike Johnson tries to skirt the ladies of the GOP, while Kash Patel can’t help but jacket. Trixie Mattel gets Lovett’s house in order, and all Aparna Nancherla wants for Christmas is to sit still as we end our festive evening with a full color glossy spread of this year’s Lovett or Leave It gift guide.This holiday season, gift someone a Friends of the Pod subscription or treat yourself. Learn more at crooked.com/friends. Subscribing is the best way to support independent progressive media.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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429: Lovett or Leave It Presents: Bravo, America! (with Rachel Lindsay)
02/12/2025 Duration: 01h21minRachel Lindsay talks about what it's like to go from being a lawyer, to Bachelor contestant, to the first Black woman to be the Bachelorette. Can you actually find love on these shows? Can you ever trust that it's real? And what role to do fireball shots play in the process? Plus Rachel reflects on the moment she realized producers were preparing her to lead the franchise, even as they seemed to be worried about racial stereotypes in how she might be perceived by the audience. She talks about the perfect storm that led to Chris Harrison’s fateful interview on Extra which ultimately led to his ouster from the Bachelor world entirely. And Lovett does ask about the fantasy suites, but from a place of concern and confusion, mostly.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.