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.

US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) talks with voters during a campaign stop at Rainbow Bakery, a Puerto Rican–owned and –operated grocery store in Lorain, Ohio, on October 30, 2024.

Sherrod Brown: Winning Back the Working Class— Plus, “The Tide Is Turning” Sherrod Brown: Winning Back the Working Class— Plus, “The Tide Is Turning”

On this episode of Start Making Sense, the former Ohio senator talks politics, and Dahlia Lithwick argues that Trump is failing in the courts, and also with the public.

May 7, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Alger Hiss, accused of spying, talks with reporters.

From the 1950s Red Scare to Trump, Plus the Alger Hiss Case From the 1950s Red Scare to Trump, Plus the Alger Hiss Case

On this episode of Start Making Sense, historian Beverly Gage compares Trump’s attacks on universities with those of the McCarthy Era, and Jeff Kisseloff argues that Whittaker Cha...

Apr 30, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing a proclamation in the Oval Office at the White House on April 17, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Universities Join the Resistance, and the President Who Was Worse Than Trump Universities Join the Resistance, and the President Who Was Worse Than Trump

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan, talks about refusing to submit to the president, and Adam Hochschild explains Woodrow Wilson’s attacks ...

Apr 23, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

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

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