Lovett or Leave It

Marvel introduces a gay character (who's in one scene and has NO powers). Kamala Harris wipes the floor with William Barr. Hillary Clinton assumes her final form on Rachel Maddow. And we see if Texas can tell the difference between Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Arian Foster, Emily Heller, and Mercedes Fulbright join Jon on stage at the University of Houston to break down the week's news, and whether the Battle of Winterfell really was too dark to see. On to Dallas and more food.

Biden enters the race, Trump ignores subpoenas, Warren tackles student loans, CNN hosts marathon town halls, and Hannity is still worried about Hillary's emails. Returning champions Guy Branum, Negin Farsad, and Kiran Deol join Jon to break down the week's news, some hot royal gossip, and the fact that the Avengers movie is three hours long, which only bothers Jon because he saw it AFTER we recorded.

House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff joins Jon to discuss the release of the (redacted) Mueller report, the congressional response, and the role of impeachment. Then Jason Leopold, Paul W. Downs, and Mitra Jouhari help break down the Republican reaction, Bernie’s Fox News town hall, Notre Dame instagrams, and the 12 percent of Americans who have never heard of Mike Pence. Imagine that.

Trump purges DHS over immigration. Republican legislatures pass draconian anti-abortion laws. And Tucker Carlson can't understand code switching even though he does it on television every single night. Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang joins Jon on stage live in Boston to talk universal basic income and memes. Plus Cecile Richards, Sam Stein, and Janelle James join to talk about the democratic primaries, scammers at congressional hearings, the lessons of Shazam, and all the week's news. Oh and don't forget, HARVARD TAKES BRIBES. Thanks Boston!

Democratic presidential candidates are competing on fundraising, policymaking, and apology giving. Brexit is a MESS. And the Times reveals the secret market research on Trump and his cronies. Gabe Liedman, Tre'vell Anderson, and Patti Harrison join Jon to break down the week's news, and rant about Tabasco Sauce, vegetarian whoppers, Herman Cain, and the injustice endured by Patti when she was not cast in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical Cats.

And we're back! Mueller's report is IN and it's very good for Trump as long as we never ever read it ever. We cover the Barr Book Report, the Fox News reaction, Republican attacks on House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff, and how much we still don't know about what is in that sweet sweet 400 page document. Plus Mayor Pete weighs in on whether a hot dog is a sandwich. Mike Pence threatens to send people to the moon against their will. And we take a loving look back on all the people Mueller indicted along the way. Returning champions Emily Heller, Jamil Smith, and Mitra Jouhari join Jon to break down a wild week of news and finally answer the burning question: is chili... soup?

Well, a LOT happened this week. Jon Favreau joins Lovett in studio to talk about the insane college admissions scandal, Trump’s first veto over his fake national emergency, the Boeing 737 Max 8, Paul Manafort’s sentencing, Tucker Carlson’s bigoted radio interviews, Beto O’Rourke’s presidential announcement, and the terror attack in New Zealand. Then we go to our live show at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee with Move On’s Ben Wikler, activist Angela Lang, and returning champion Akilah Hughes. We cover corporate consolidation in the beer industry, Foxconn’s dirty deal with Republicans like Scott Walker, high top tables, and the scourge of standard time. Thanks for the curds, Wisconsin!

Trump literally hugs a flag, figuratively hugs Kim Jong Un, and speaks for two hours at a conservative conference for people who think Fox News isn't mean enough. Live from Madison, Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, Ana Marie Cox, and Akilah Hughes join Jon to talk about Scott Walker's legacy, the NFL's fantastic team owners, Trump's love letters to dictators, and the problems with punctuation marks in text messages. Anyway, too many cheese curds. Or maybe not enough.

Trump's ex-lawyer (and just plain ex-lawyer) Michael Cohen testifies before Congress and it was WILD. Fox & Friends is loving the dynamic between Trump and Kim Jong Un. And Green Book is drawing all the attention away from the fact that Bohemian Rhapsody is also bad. Live from the Chicago Theater, Peter Sagal, Akilah Hughes, and Kim Bellware join to break down a lot of big news along with rising health care prices, redlining in the housing market, and why Lovett actually likes Malort.

Bernie Sanders enters the race, Tucker Carlson can't handle criticism, Trump officials screw with the census, Roger Stone gets put in his place, measles makes a comeback, Amazon skips New York, and Jussie Smollett... well, you know. Emily Heller, Ira Madison III, and Hari Kondabolu join Jon to break down the week's news.

Love and hate are in the air. Trump declares a national emergency to please his TV dads. High speed rail slows down. Jussie Smollett confronts doubters. 2020 Dems sounds alike at times. The Oscars cut important awards. And a game with a special Valentine’s Day surprise that even melted Tre’vell’s heart. Michaela Watkins, Megan Gailey, and Tre’vell Anderson join Jon to break down a big week of news.

Trump's State of the Union never happened. Fox News is screaming about socialism. And Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins Jon on stage at the Anthem in Washington, DC to discuss her 2020 campaign, health care, and the ugly scandals unfolding in Virginia. She also becomes the first presidential candidate to face the "Queen for a Day" gauntlet on Lovett or Leave It. Alex Wagner, Alyssa Mastromonaco, and Akilah Hughes are here to help break down the week's news and rant about Marie Kondo and The Bachelor. This week was a mess. votesaveamerica.com/unify

Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, discusses Mueller, Trump's feud with intelligence officials, impeachment, congressional oversight, and vegan hamburgers. Plus Tawny Newsome and Naomi Ekperigin are back to break down the week's news on Howard Schultz, health care, and Netflix shows about serial killers. Then the panel quizzes the audience on Trump's approach to Venezuela. Sports podcaster Brandon Newman stops by to quiz Lovett on the game of football. And I still don't care that Starbucks burns the beans.

And we're back! Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor join Lovett to cover Trump's surrender on the shutdown and Roger Stone’s indictment. Then Zoe Lister-Jones, Mitra Jouhari, Andrew Ti, and D’Arcy Carden join to talk about Pelosi versus Trump, the nationwide teacher strikes, those MAGA teens, dueling Fyre Festival documentaries, Rudy Giuliani’s emo streak, and more. Season 3! Here we go.

Well, he came, he sniffed, he lied. Lovett, Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, and Julissa Arce play "OK, Stop" through Trump's absurd waste of an oval office address. Also, Lovett or Leave It is going on tour! Get your tickets now: crooked.com/events

2018 ends as it began: with a looming government shutdown, chaos in the White House, and Paul Ryan hiding behind a potted plant. In a special holiday episode, we highlight some of our favorite moments from Lovett or Leave It this year, from Fox’s take on Colin Kaepernick, to Ijeoma Oluo’s take on #MeToo, Emily Heller’s take on shark thieves, and Lovett’s take on the food pyramid, the downfall of Hooters, and policies that force people to work when they’re sick. Plus a dramatic reading with Mandy Moore and Taylor Goldsmith as the Conways, Ezra Miller stops by to play a game and so much more. Like Nancy Pelosi said to that gavel, see you in 2019.

Cohen faces the music. Trump faces Pelosi. And Favreau and Vietor face Lovett's 2018 quiz. What a week. What a year. Jon is joined by returning champions Alicia Garza, Megan Gailey, Louis Virtel, Jon Favreau, and Tommy Vietor to break down a wild week of culminations and confrontations. Plus: Lady Gaga's repetitive sound bites, romaine lettuce's bitter downfall, Amy Adams's many Oscar snubs, and we announce our 2019 Lovett or Leave It tour. Terrific.

And we're back! Wisconsin Republicans reject the will of the voters, Mueller closes in on Individual 1, Fox News launches a new streaming service, Lou Dobbs loses the plot, and the Women's Center for Creative Work's Community Chorus join us LIVE to sing a brand new holiday song about Obamacare open enrollment and Trump's efforts to sabotage it. Mitra Jouhari, Jen Statsky, and Hayes Davenport join Jon to break down the week's news, the new Grinch movie, and the reason people fall asleep on the couch instead of just getting ready for bed like a human being.

Stacey Abrams and Bill Nelson fight to count every vote, protesters target Tucker Carlson’s house, a lovely woman wants to marry a ghost, and RBG fell but Lovett couldn’t even bring himself to discuss it

We’re days away from the midterms and Republicans are doubling down on racist fear mongering as their closing argument. We play a game about what we can expect to see from Republicans if they’re voted into office and we try to convince some advice seekers why their vote matters! Erin Ryan is joined by Aparna Nancherla, Demi Adejuyigbe and Matt Pearce to break down the week in news.

Trump uses the fear of innocent refugees to rally his base. Fox News explains the motivation behind the migrant caravan. We recommend some Halloween costumes that will scare liberals straight and get a lesson in the hard and long fought history for voting rights in the US which, thanks to Republicans, is still not over! Erin Ryan is joined by Nicole Byer, Emily Heller and Andrew Ti to break down the week in news.

Mitch McConnell makes it clearer than ever that Republican’s are full of shit. We share some advice about what to do when you experience or see voter discrimination and we get a much-needed pep talk about that terrifying climate report. Guy shares his experience canvassing for the first time, the royal family just got bigger, and white women need to take a seat. Max Silvestri, Saru Jayaraman and Tre’vell Anderson join for Guy’s last week guest-hosting!

Brett Kavanaugh serves his first day on the Supreme Court, evil boat shoe Charlie Kirk has thoughts on Taylor Swift, history proves that not all hope is lost and we play a game that shows there's no good excuse not to vote on November 6th! Lovett officially left it but here to fill in is Guy Branum joined by Ike Barinholtz, Kiran Deol and Guy's very own former law professor Miranda McGowan.

Donald Trump's wealth began with brazen tax fraud, Brett Kavanaugh hurtles toward confirmation, Fox News wants a culture that never ever changes, and sure, we have bigger fish to fry, but paper straws are bad, OK? Neal Brennan, Amanda Seales, and Michaela Watkins are back to help break down the week's news. Plus with the help of expert Dave Fleischer, Jon and Michaela demonstrate the dos and don'ts of door-to-door canvassing. The election is one month away, people. Let's go. To canvass with the Leadership LAB, text or call 424-256-1994 to volunteer.

Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the one female lawyer hired to do their dirty work. Plus Trump has a bananas press conference, Lindsey Graham loses the plot, Facebook once again treats our privacy like a toilet, and 80s comedies are gross gross gross. Akilah Hughes, Guy Branum, and Louis Virtel join Jon to break down a heartbreaking week and talk about Glenn Close almost winning oscars.

Rod Rosenstein reportedly raised invoking the 25th amendment. Republicans plow ahead with Brett Kavanaugh's nomination despite sexual assault allegations even as Kavanaugh's allies offer bizarre theories to exonerate their pal. We look back at the Anita Hill hearings and elections decided by just a handful of votes. Plus rants on spiders, Bert and Ernie, women's sleeves, and Ted Cruz's shitty campaign tactics. VERY special thanks to the all-star, tournament-of-champion guests Emily Heller, Ira Madison III, and Erin Ryan for joining us in studio for a last-minute, first-ever studio recording of Lovett or Leave It. WHAT A WEEK.

Disturbing allegations emerge against Brett Kavanaugh, CBS ousts Les Moonves and confronts a misogynist workplace culture, Serena Williams deals with a bunch of bullshit, Tucker Carlson goes full fascist, and in honor of the high holidays, we atone for how our culture mistreated Monica Lewinsky, Marcia Clark, and Britney Spears. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii joins Jon to talk about the Supreme Court and being the best senator on Twitter, and Erin Ryan and comedian Janelle James join to break down a big week of news. Also, it's fine that Ronan doesn't listen to the podcast. He's busy.

Anonymous Trump officials write op-eds for the Times and tell Bob Woodward everything. Kavanaugh perjures himself before the Senate. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris go hard in the hearings. And huge shocker: Fox & Friends doesn't like Colin Kaepernick's Nike ads. Plus Trump officials sound a lot like Real Housewives, Republicans scare voters about socialism, and a lovely, innovative woman dips her chicken fingers in Diet Coke. We are joined by an all-star panel with Kara Brown, Josh Barro, and Emily Yoshida to break down a ton of huge news. WHAT A WEEK.

Mandy Moore and Dawes's Taylor Goldsmith join for a very special dramatic reading of Kellyanne and George Conway's public disagreements. Plus we break down the results of Democratic primaries, the GOP's list of Trump scandals, the racist message of Florida's GOP gubernatorial candidate, Louis CK's attempted return, the rise of electric scooters, and more with comedian Tawny Newsome, writer Dana Schwartz, and Cristobal Alex of the Latino Victory Fund. What a week. What an episode.

Paul Manafort is convicted and Michael Cohen pleads guilty while implicating the president. So we invited Andy Richter and Max Silvestri to help us imagine what it would be like for Paul and Mike to share a cell. Plus Trump sounds like a mob boss who lost a step, prisoners nationwide are striking for better working conditions, millennials are killing Hooters, and one-size-fits-all stores are evil. Alice Wetterlund, Jess Morales Rocketto, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste join Jon to break down one of the most consequential weeks of the Trump “presidency.”

Trump's White House is in turmoil over Omarosa's recordings. So we asked Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches to perform a dramatic reading of Omarosa's dramatic prologue. Plus, a year after Charlottesville, white nationalism has found a home on Fox News. The EPA is rolling back fuel standards with the help of spin from Sinclair. Black athletes have always been told to "shut up and dribble." And Mark Burnett should not be treated as a respectable figure while he engages in a coverup on behalf of Donald Trump. Also, Stephen Miller's uncle is done with his nephew's bullshit. And possible 2020 contenders should stop being coy. Christine Mai-Duc of the LA Times, Gonzalo Cordova, and Emily Axford join Jon to break down the week's news as we wait on the edge of our seats for more tapes.

Mar-a-Lago members are illegally running the VA, a congressman allegedly committed insider trading on the White House lawn, and Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross may have grifted millions. What a week. Ira Madison III, Emily Heller, and Awkwafina join Jon to break down the week's news. Plus we look at Omarosa's new book, Fox News' reaction to Facebook banning Alex Jones, and the new Oscar for "popular" movies.

Facebook is still a target for election interference. Giuliani is not making much sense. And even the “feel good” segments on local news are secretly sad now. Plus we talk about wildfires and climate change, Manafort’s expansive wardrobe, Tom Cruise dangling from a helicopter, and more. Lucia Aniello, Fatima Asghar, and Andrew Ti join Jon to break down the week’s news and the dedication of certain movie stars who are the perfect height. And thanks to KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis who stopped by to lead a game.

Trump’s ex-lawyer drops the first single off his album and claims Trump was fully briefed on the whole collusion thing. Plus Fox News struggles to spin Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Kavanaugh threatens Roe, Sean Spicer’s book faces the critics, and Frasier may finally get the reboot of our dreams. Naomi Ekperigin, Guy Branum and Planned Parenthood’s Dawn Leguens join Jon to break down the week’s news and Corporate’s Matt Ingebretson joins for a delightful dramatic reading. Also, hey No Man’s Sky: Now you’re a good game? Now?

Well it’s all out in the open now, huh? Trump walks back his Helsinki walk back. ICE is younger than Monster Energy Drink. Joe Lieberman is terrible. Republicans meekly criticize a disloyal President. And Air Force One is going to be insanely ugly unless Boeing steps up. Jon is joined by comedians Kiran Deol, Dani Fernandez, Ben Sawyer and Mitra Jouhari to break down the week’s news and enter the national debate over double negatives.

Jon joins Jon Favreau and Dan Pfieffer in-studio to talk through the latest developments on immigration, SCOTUS, and the growing outrage of Democratic voters. Then Jon is joined by Tawny Newsome, Jose Antonio Vargas, and Molly Lambert to commiserate and discuss pre-existing conditions, "farm to fork" restaurants, the Olympics, and so much more. Happy 4th of July!

Kennedy gets out. Ocasio-Cortez gets votes. Nazis get retweets. And we all get sick of bad surprises. Guy Branum, Taz Ahmed, and Adam Lustick join Jon to discuss the week’s news, Marco Rubio’s twitter, Pepsi cinema, and the hearty genes of Ashkenazi jurists.

Recorded live at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Jon is joined by Symone Sanders, Liliana Segura, and Benjamin Sawyer to break down the week's news. Trump shifts, but families are still separated. Fox & Friends gets a little too honest about who deserves compassion. Kellyanne Conway faces an unlikely critic. And sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a Trump stooge and a villain from X-Men. Anyway, awful week, but a great show at an amazing place.

Hollywood, baby! Home of rich celebrities, infuriating traffic and the systemic suppression of marginalized voices. We'll discuss Tinseltown's history of government censorship, the secret motivations of Candace Owens, and we'll even meet an audience member who hasn’t seen Ghostbusters or The Dark Knight. Nicole Byer, Hannah Hart, and Tre’Vell Anderson join Lovett to figure out whether L.A. really is a liberal La La Land, or if there might be some conservatism hidden deep under the La Brea Tar Pits. City Of Staaaaaaaaars!

DOJ refuses to defend Obamacare. Trump floats a self-pardon. Dems perform well in the California primaries. Lou Dobbs is not well. And poor JR Smith, said Lovett who just found out what happened. Erin Gibson, Bryan Safi, Brenda Gonzalez, and Professor Kimberly West-Faulcon join Jon to break down the week’s news. Plus Bryan and Jon develop some very exciting straight-guy characters. What a week.

Recorded live in Philadelphia, Jon is joined by the city's new district attorney Larry Krasner, Ezra Miller and his band Sons of an Illustrious Father, the Roosevelt Institute's Mike Konczal, comedian Franchesca Ramsey, and writer Dylan Marron for a special action-packed episode focused on economic inequality and what we can do about it. Yes, we cover all the hits. Corporate power and consolidation! Inequities in the justice system! Trump's racism and economic populism! Republican policies that make things worse and Democratic policies that don't go far enough! Plus, we yell about Paul Ryan, teachers being underpaid, and how we need to stop blaming globalization and robots for everything. It was a really fun show about an important issue and you will like it.

The big Korea summit is off. The NFL stands for nothing. Trump invents fake scandals and goes after women’s health and reproductive freedom. Plus how slow are American trains? And how fast is the Millennium Falcon? Lots of big questions to answer. Live from Boston Calling, Jon is joined by Alyssa Mastromonaco, Erin Ryan, and Blair Imani to break down the week’s news and make fun of Harvard.

A bunch of corruption and collusion stories break and it’s very bad for the crime gang! Trump calls people animals and we debate how nuanced it was. The Peace Prize hits a snag on the Korean peninsula. And yes there’s a royal wedding but we stopped caring about that AT YORKTOWN IN 1781. Anyway, great show. Paul Scheer (check out his new podcast! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unspooled/id1381507437?mt=2), Amanda Seales, and labor activist Saru Jayaraman join Jon to break down the week’s news. Plus we do like 30 seconds on Laurel/Yanni tops.

Facebook and Twitter are transforming our politics. Marginalized voices can find an audience, but so can extremists. We've given up privacy while also taking down barriers that divide people and protect the powerful. This week, in a special episode that combines the best moments from our live shows in Baltimore and Columbus, Jon is joined by experts, activists, journalists, and comedians to talk about social media and how it is totally perfect and making everything better, no exceptions. Special guests: Dr. Jennifer Golbeck, Ashley Feinberg, and Deray Mckesson in Baltimore and Dr. Robert Bond, Ana Marie Cox, and Ziwe Fumudoh in Columbus. Like, fave, rate, poke, survive.

Trump’s new legal eagle Rudy Giuliani collapsed under the withering questions of Sean Hannity. Kanye brought some free thinking to TMZ. Conservatives fled Michelle Wolf’s jokes in terror. And the teacher of the year takes on her toughest pupil: Donald Trump. Damon Young, Ziwe Fumudoh, and Wajahat Ali join Jon to break down the week’s news, recorded live in Pittsburgh, PA.

Trump calls his TV friends. Cosby is found guilty. Nunes can’t manage a scheme. Kanye is on his journey. A hand shake crosses the DMZ. And a debate about pizza gets VERY heated. Larry Wilmore, Negin Farsad, Grace Parra, Paul W. Downs, and Travis Helwig join Jon to break down the week. Also royal baby blah blah blah.

Propaganda is everywhere, from Sinclair stations to industry-funded research, from Trump tweets to the stories we tell about ourselves on Facebook and Instagram. Recorded live from Minneapolis in the midst of an historic April blizzard, Jon is joined by Professor Joanne Miller, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III, health care expert Andy Slavitt, and friend of the pod Erin Ryan for a special show devoted to misinformation, propaganda, and how we can fight for the truth in the age of Trump. Special thanks to everybody who came out to this show. Minnesotans don't mess around.

Ryan retires, Comey speaks, Rosenstein survives, Zuckerberg testifies, Cohen is screwed (and maybe did go to Prague?), Hannity loses his mind, and, late Friday, Trump launches military strikes in Syria. Erin Gloria Ryan, comedian Tien Tran, and activist Charlene Carruthers join Jon to break down an extraordinary week, recorded live at the Chicago Theatre. Also, pizza is debated and Malort is consumed.

The EPA administrator’s corruption eruption continues. Fox News once again tells a black celebrity to shut up. Florida faces climate change and climate change deniers. Teachers rebel against budget cuts. Trump attacks vulnerable asylum seekers. And the movie Blockers isn’t about sports after all. Live from Miami, Jon is joined by Akilah Hughes, Alicia Menendez and Natasha del Toro to break down the week’s news. Oh and there’s some light Rubio criticism, obviously. What a week.