Winning State Legislatures and Winning Midterm Elections Winning State Legislatures and Winning Midterm Elections
On this episode of Start Making Sense, Daniel Squadron argues that state governments provide the key check on Trump, and John Nichols reviews the political landscape.
May 20, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
Democrats After the Voting Rights Act—Plus, Jewish Anti-Zionism Democrats After the Voting Rights Act—Plus, Jewish Anti-Zionism
On this episode of Start Making Sense, Harold Meyerson argues Democrats remain likely to win the House in November, and Adam Hochschild talks about the Bund in prewar Europe.
May 13, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
Election Protection in the Midterms—Plus Racism and Antisemitism in the 1940s and ’50s Election Protection in the Midterms—Plus Racism and Antisemitism in the 1940s and ’50s
On this episode of Start Making Sense, Ian Bassin of Protect Democracy talks about preparations for voting in November, and historian Steven J. Ross discusses the far right post-W...
May 6, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
May Day Action—Plus, a Confederate Monuments Takedown May Day Action—Plus, a Confederate Monuments Takedown
John Nichols explains why Trump may never succeed at building any of his ICE prison camps, and how this Friday’s May Day strike is a test of our power to resist.
Apr 29, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
Ro Khanna: AI for the People—Plus, Trump’s Downward Spiral Ro Khanna: AI for the People—Plus, Trump’s Downward Spiral
On this episode of Start Making Sense, the member of Congress from Silicon Valley presents an “AI Manifesto,” and Harold Meyerson reports on Trump’s continuing decline.
Apr 22, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
Minnesota Changed Everything—Plus, History on the Road, With Deepak Bharvaga Minnesota Changed Everything—Plus, History on the Road, With Deepak Bharvaga
On this episode of Start Making Sense, Deepak Bharvaga explains the lessons of the resistance in Minneapolis, and Beverly Gage describes a historian’s road trip across America.
Apr 8, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
Adventures With AI Adventures With AI
I used several AI chatbots to trace an unattributed quote—and learned just how fallible our robot replacements are.
Apr 7, 2026 / Jon Wiener
Protest After No Kings—Plus, Abortion After “Dobbs” Protest After No Kings—Plus, Abortion After “Dobbs”
John Nichols analyzes the post–No Kings political landscape, and Amy Littlefield explains why there are more abortions now despite the restrictions.
Apr 1, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
No Kings Day: We Are Everywhere—Plus, Trump and Antisemitism No Kings Day: We Are Everywhere—Plus, Trump and Antisemitism
Leah Greenberg of Indivisible talks about Saturday’s No Kings demonstrations, and David Myers comments on Trump’s new attacks on Harvard and UCLA
Mar 25, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
From the Strait of Hormuz to the Streets of Minneapolis—Plus, Mamdani and the Midterms From the Strait of Hormuz to the Streets of Minneapolis—Plus, Mamdani and the Midterms
On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols analyzes the politics of the Iran war, and Maurice Mitchell talks about political movements and voting.
Mar 18, 2026 / Podcast / Jon Wiener