Start Making Sense

Subscribe

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.

A boy searches through buildings, destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on November 10, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Katha Pollitt’s End-of-Year Giving List—Plus Bob Dylan’s Christmas Album Katha Pollitt’s End-of-Year Giving List—Plus Bob Dylan’s Christmas Album

On this episode of the Start Making Sense podcast, Gaza aid is number one on our list; plus Sean Wilentz explains Dylan’s holiday song selection.

Dec 28, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Cofounder of Moms for Liberty Tiffany Justice speaks ahead of former US Ppresident and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Moms for Liberty Summit in Philadelphia, Pa., 2023.

Feminists, Rape, and Hamas; Plus Moms for Liberty Feminists, Rape, and Hamas; Plus Moms for Liberty

On this episode of the Start Making Sense podcast, Katha Pollitt talks about the failures of women’s groups, and Randi Weingarten comments on culture war over the schools.

Dec 21, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US President Joe Biden in New York on September 20, 2023.

Democrats Are Sleepwalking Toward a Trump Victory; Plus Israel’s Future Democrats Are Sleepwalking Toward a Trump Victory; Plus Israel’s Future

On this episode of the Start Making Sense podcast, Harold Meyerson points to polls making it clear that Biden should not run again, and David N. Myers analyzes politics after Neta...

Dec 14, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Randi Weingarten on the Peace Movement in Israel; Gary Younge on ‘Rustin’

Randi Weingarten on the Peace Movement in Israel; Gary Younge on ‘Rustin’ Randi Weingarten on the Peace Movement in Israel; Gary Younge on ‘Rustin’

On this episode of Start Making Sense, the AFT president reports on her recent trip to Israel, and the former Guardian correspondent talks about the organizer of the 1963 March on...

Dec 7, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Israeli left-wing activists hold a demonstration near the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on November 11, 2023, calling for a cease-fire amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas.

D.D. Guttenplan on Ending the War in Gaza and John Powers on “Slow Horses” D.D. Guttenplan on Ending the War in Gaza and John Powers on “Slow Horses”

On this episode of Start Making Sense, The Nation’s editor talks about the peace movement, and our critic reviews the British spy show on TV.

Nov 30, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Israeli left-wing activists hold a demonstration near the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on November 11, 2023, calling for a cease-fire amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas.

Why We Need the Israeli Left More Than Ever Why We Need the Israeli Left More Than Ever

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Dahlia Scheindlin talks about Israel after Netanyahu, and David Kipen reads from California diaries.

Nov 22, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

A boy searches through buildings, destroyed during Israeli air raids in the southern Gaza Strip on November 10, 2023, in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Palestinian Lives and Deaths Palestinian Lives and Deaths

On this week’s episode of Start Making Sense, conversations from our archives, where Rachel Kushner reports on Palestinian refugees and Adam Shatz talks about Edward Said.

Nov 16, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

Voting signage outside a polling location in Toledo, Ohio, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Ohioans are considering a proposed amendment, called Issue 1, to prevent the state from interfering with reproductive decisions, including contraception, while allowing abortion bans with exceptions after fetal viability.

Abortion and the Democrats; Gaza and History Abortion and the Democrats; Gaza and History

On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols analyzes Tuesday’s elections, and Fintan O’Toole considers Gaza’s past and future.

Nov 9, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

People rally in support of Palestinians in Times Square in New York on October 8, 2023.

After a Gaza Cease-Fire: D.D. Guttenplan After a Gaza Cease-Fire: D.D. Guttenplan

On this episode of Start Making Sense, The Nation’s editor comments on the future of Israel and Palestine, and Harold Meyerson analyzes the autoworkers’ victory.

Nov 2, 2023 / Podcast / Jon Wiener

A group of Palestinians stands amid the rubble of a bombed building.

Adam Shatz on Israelis, Palestinians, and Hamas Adam Shatz on Israelis, Palestinians, and Hamas

On this episode of the Start Making Sense podcast, The Nation’s former literary editor comments on the Israeli war underway in Gaza.

Oct 26, 2023 / Podcast / Dave Zirin

x