Audio

Extraction Behind the Green Transition—With Thea Riofrancos

Extraction Behind the Green Transition—With Thea Riofrancos Extraction Behind the Green Transition—With Thea Riofrancos

Danny and Derek welcome back to the show political scientist Thea Riofrancos to talk about the politics of extraction in the global energy transition. 

May 21, 2026 / Podcast / Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

Prediction Markets Want to Financialize Everything—With Jathan Sadowski 

Prediction Markets Want to Financialize Everything—With Jathan Sadowski  Prediction Markets Want to Financialize Everything—With Jathan Sadowski 

Polymarket and Kalshi are everywhere. But what are they doing to society? 

May 21, 2026 / Podcast / Paris Marx

Nadine Seiler attends a rally for voting rights in front of the Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC, on December 7, 2022.

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

Students marching in the “No Kings” rally in Burlington, Vermont.

Building Local Power to Win—With Dan Denvir Building Local Power to Win—With Dan Denvir

Aaron and Jonathan talk to Dan Denvir about his local organizing project, Reclaim RI.

May 19, 2026 / Podcast / Matt DaSilva, Aaron Regunberg, and Jonathan Smucker

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and President Trump at the White House on April 6, 2026.

The CIA’s Assassination Campaign in Mexico The CIA’s Assassination Campaign in Mexico

Alexander Aviña on Trump’s new imperialism in Latin America.

May 17, 2026 / Podcast / Jeet Heer

Trump-Xi Summit, Iran Ceasefire Breakdown, CIA Mexico Strike

Trump-Xi Summit, Iran Ceasefire Breakdown, CIA Mexico Strike Trump-Xi Summit, Iran Ceasefire Breakdown, CIA Mexico Strike

Danny and Derek fight fake news as they fight their allergies. 

May 15, 2026 / Podcast / Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

The UK Government’s AI Obsession Is a Big Risk—With Will Dunn The UK Government’s AI Obsession Is a Big Risk—With Will Dunn

What happens when a government goes all in on AI? It creates some huge vulnerabilities. Will Dunn joins Paris Marx to dig into how the UK government is using chatbots to write laws…

May 14, 2026 / Podcast

Washington Wizards' John Wall, left, and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, pose for photos after Tatum announced that the Wizards had won the first pick in the NBA basketball draft lottery in Chicago, Sunday, May 10, 2026.

The NBA Lottery, Those Nova Knicks, and Movies We Love to Hate The NBA Lottery, Those Nova Knicks, and Movies We Love to Hate

Arya Shirazi joins the show to talk NBA lottery and movies.

May 13, 2026 / Podcast / Dave Zirin

House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks at a press conference with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus on the Supreme Court decision in “Louisiana v. Callais,” at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on April 29, 2026.

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

Jeff Bezos at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.

Journalism in the Age of Oligarchy—With David Sirota Journalism in the Age of Oligarchy—With David Sirota

Danny and Derek speak with David Sirota, founder and EIC of The Lever, about journalism, independent media, and the consolidation of presidential power. 

May 12, 2026 / Podcast / Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

x