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.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson talks to former senator Doug Jones

Senate Confirmation Hearings and the Missing Fight About the Constitution Senate Confirmation Hearings and the Missing Fight About the Constitution

Joseph Fishkin and William E. Forbath on the Supreme Court, plus P.E. Moskowitz on antidepressants.

Mar 24, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

What the Media Should Do During Wartime

What the Media Should Do During Wartime What the Media Should Do During Wartime

Founder of Jacobin and president of The Nation Bhaskar Sunkara weighs in. 

Mar 17, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Putin’s War: What Is to Be Done?

Putin’s War: What Is to Be Done? Putin’s War: What Is to Be Done?

Katrina vanden Heuvel on Ukraine, plus Elie Mystal on the Constitution.

Mar 3, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Canadian Truckers: a Working-Class Protest?

Canadian Truckers: a Working-Class Protest? Canadian Truckers: a Working-Class Protest?

Jeet Heer on the "Freedom Convoy," plus Amy Wilentz on Paul Farmer.

Feb 24, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Mitch McConnell frog face

Will Trump’s Senate Candidates Lose in November? Will Trump’s Senate Candidates Lose in November?

John Nichols on Congress, plus Peter Richardson on Hunter S. Thompson.

Feb 17, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Biden and the Border

Biden and the Border Biden and the Border

Ahilan Arulanantham on immigration, plus Amy Wilentz on Haiti.

Feb 10, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

The Progressives’ Agenda: What’s Left?

The Progressives’ Agenda: What’s Left? The Progressives’ Agenda: What’s Left?

Ro Khanna on the midterms, plus Katha Pollitt on The Right to Sex.

Feb 3, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Our Coronavirus Criminals

Our Coronavirus Criminals Our Coronavirus Criminals

John Nichols on pandemic profiteers, plus Eric Foner on slaveholders in Congress. 

Jan 27, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference

California Dems’ Big Moves on Health Care California Dems’ Big Moves on Health Care

Sasha Abramsky on politics, plus Ellen Schrecker on the ’60s.

Jan 20, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Beto O’Rourke

Beto Can Win Beto Can Win

Steve Phillips on Texas, plus Dave Lindorff on atom spies.

Jan 13, 2022 / Audio / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

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