Start Making Sense

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Start Making Sense is The Nation’s flagship weekly podcast, hosted by contributing editor Jon Wiener, featuring the magazine’s writers and editors as well as activists who shape the week in news. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, for new episodes each Wednesday.

Harvard Takes a Stand—Plus, Musk and the Technocrats

Harvard Takes a Stand—Plus, Musk and the Technocrats Harvard Takes a Stand—Plus, Musk and the Technocrats

On this episode of Start Making Sense, David Cole talks about Harvard’s decision not to submit to Trump’s demands, and Jill Lepore explains where Musk got his ideas.

Apr 16, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

The Tariffs We Want—Plus, Blocking Student Deportations

The Tariffs We Want—Plus, Blocking Student Deportations The Tariffs We Want—Plus, Blocking Student Deportations

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Lori Wallach outlines a progressive trade policy, and Jameel Jaffer explains the AAUP legal challenge defending activist students.

Apr 9, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford (R) greets supporters after her victory in the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court justice during an election night event on April 1, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Winning in Wisconsin and in the Courts Winning in Wisconsin and in the Courts

On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols on the defeat of the Musk-funded candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and Rob Weissman on saving the Consumer Financial P...

Apr 2, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

An Amazing Week for Resistance Rallies—Plus, Bad Voter Registration Laws

An Amazing Week for Resistance Rallies—Plus, Bad Voter Registration Laws An Amazing Week for Resistance Rallies—Plus, Bad Voter Registration Laws

On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols discusses Bernie and AOC on the road, and Elie Mystal talks about bad laws that are nevertheless popular.

Mar 26, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Protestors gather to demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil at Foley Square on March 10, 2025, in New York City.

Trump and the Universities: Submission and Resistance Trump and the Universities: Submission and Resistance

On this episode of Start Making Sense, David Cole finds the unifying thread in Trump's threatened funding cuts, and David Myers comments on “protecting Jewish students” as a ratio...

Mar 19, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol on March 4, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Trump, the Universities, and the Courts—Plus, the Case of Stephen Miller Trump, the Universities, and the Courts—Plus, the Case of Stephen Miller

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Erwin Chemerinsky asks about if Trump defies the courtsand David Klion talks about the architect of Trump’s attack on the undocumented.

Mar 12, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

The Supremes’ First Trump Case of 2025, plus This Week’s Protest Roundup

The Supremes’ First Trump Case of 2025, plus This Week’s Protest Roundup The Supremes’ First Trump Case of 2025, plus This Week’s Protest Roundup

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Robert Weissman on USAID funding, and John Nichols on recent anti-Trump rallies.

Mar 5, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

A woman completes her ballot at a polling booth in Fairfax on November 5, 2024.

Ro Khanna and Thomas Geoghegan on What Is To Be Done Ro Khanna and Thomas Geoghegan on What Is To Be Done

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Ro Khanna and Thomas Geoghegan talk about how the Democrats can win back working class voters.

Feb 26, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk joins President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Elon Musk’s First Political Contributions of 2025—and the History of Culture Wars Elon Musk’s First Political Contributions of 2025—and the History of Culture Wars

On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols reports on the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election, and Adam Hochschild looks at the Scopes Trial of 1925 and its echoes ...

Feb 19, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

https://www.c-span.org/video/?532147-1/university-presidents-testify-college-campus-antisemitism-part-1.

The Courts v. Trump and Musk The Courts v. Trump and Musk

On this episode of Start Making Sense, David Cole and Robert Weissman on Trump’s current losing streak in federal court.

Feb 12, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

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