Daily Kos' The Brief
187 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 104 ratingsA one-hour weekly political conversation hosted by Markos Moulitsas and Kerry Eleveld highlighting on-the-ground leaders of the progressive movement.
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Episodes
RERUN: Has the Democratic Party learned how to message? It’s looking good!
July 05, 2023 04:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBJennifer Fernandez Ancona from Way to Win joins Markos and Kerry to talk about the new messaging the Democratic Party’s national candidates are employing going into 2024. Ancona was right about the messaging needed to win the midterms, and we think she’s right about 2024. Interview originally aired May 17, 2023.
The Republican Party is a hellscape. We speak with an insider
June 28, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBToday Kerry is joined by Tim Miller. Miller is a political consultant and writer. A former Republican, Miller left the party after years of disappointment. His book "Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell" is an introspective look at his personal journey through (and out) of the conservative movement.
Donald Trump gets indicted … again!
June 14, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBDonald Trump is facing even more legal jeopardy and the sharks in the Republican Party seem to sense there is some blood in the water. Chris Christie has made his campaign all about going directly at Trump, and Ron DeSantis seems to be closer and closer to becoming completely isolated from the field.
Can any Republican beat Trump!
June 07, 2023 04:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBToday we talk about the field of Republicans willing to go up against the MAGA monster that is Trump. It’s a veritable who cares of the Republican Party, but it is also indicative of the rot inside of the conservative world.
We are Rural Organizing! And it’ll make the difference in 2024
May 31, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBToday we have Rural Organizing’s Aftyn Behn. Markos and Aftyn talk about what has been happening in rural communities across the country and progressives’ efforts to engage those voters. Behn also gives the podcast a breakdown of which issues will make the difference in the coming elections.
North Carolina’s Democratic Party chair has a plan
May 24, 2023 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBWe speak with Anderson Clayton, the 25-year-old chair of North Carolina’s Democratic Party. Clayton has a big-picture plan for 2024, and explains the granular changes needed to get out the vote on college campuses and in the rural communities of the Tar Heel State.
Has the Democratic Party learned how to message? It’s looking good!
May 17, 2023 04:00 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBJennifer Fernandez Ancona from Way to Win joins Markos and Kerry to talk about the new messaging the Democratic Party’s national candidates are employing going into 2024. Ancona was right about the messaging needed to win the midterms, and we think she’s right about 2024.
The data is in: Americans don’t like Republican policies on abortion
May 10, 2023 04:00 - 48 minutes - 43.9 MBToday, Kerry is joined by Drew Linzer, the director and co-founder of the well-regarded polling company Civiqs. Drew and Kerry do a deep dive into the polling around abortion and reproductive rights and the big problems conservative candidates face in the coming elections.
Ukraine Update: We speak with Dimitri of WarTranslated!
May 03, 2023 05:30 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBDimitri of WarTranslated has been doing the essential work of translating hours of Russian and Ukrainian video and audio during the invasion of Ukraine. He joins Markos and Kerry from London to talk about how he began this work by sifting through various sources. He is one of the only people translating information for English-speaking audiences. Dimitri’s followed the war since the beginning and has watched the evolution of the language and dispatches as the war has progressed.
Joe Biden announces, Tucker Carlson gets fired
April 26, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 39 MBThe past week seems to have packed in a month’s worth of news. Markos and Kerry tackle it all, from Joe Biden’s big announcement to Tucker Carlson’s early retirement from Fox News.
Aaron Rupar drops in to talk about the right wing propaganda machine
April 19, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBMarkos and Kerry are joined by Aaron Rupar today to discuss what he is seeing in the right-wing media landscape. Rupar is an independent journalist whose Public Notice Substack is a must-read for those who want to know how truly outrageous the conservative movement is. We are addicted to his Twitter account, with its never-ending stream of Republican lunacy all captured on video.
With the Republican Party in death throes, changing history is within Democrats' grasp
April 12, 2023 04:00 - 48 minutes - 43.9 MBOn today’s episode, Markos and Kerry are joined by a friend of the podcast, Democratic political strategist Simon Rosenberg. Rosenberg was one of the few outsiders who, like Daily Kos, kept telling the world that nothing supported the idea of a red wave. Simon and the crew break down his strategy for Democratic candidates to achieve a 55% popular vote in all elections—a number that a few years ago would have seemed unattainable, but now feels within reach.
Trump gets indicted for our 100th episode!
April 05, 2023 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBOur planned Ukraine episode will have to wait, as Donald Trump is being arraigned in New York City for his role in falsifying records to hide hush money paid to Stormy Daniels. This is the first of a potential slew of indictments coming Trump’s way, and we are here for a celebration of karmic justice—and to talk about what happens to the Republican Party after this.
Americans are not interested in GOP’s ‘woke apocalypse’
March 29, 2023 04:00 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBThe Republican Party’s leadership and its presidential candidates have leaned further and further into doom-and-gloom “woke apocalypse” rhetoric. Kerry and Markos analyze what has so far been a losing strategy to make Americans feel frightened of demanding actual policy ideas from Republicans.
What Americans (including Republicans) actually think about transgender issues might surprise Republicans
March 22, 2023 04:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBToday, Kerry is joined by Drew Linzer, the director and co-founder of the well-regarded polling company, CIVIQs. Drew and Kerry talk about a recent CIVIQs poll that asked Americans from all walks of life about trans issues, among other things. Drew talks about the methodology and how the results show that conservatives tend to have more liberal views when questions are framed in terms of fundamental rights.
Fox News EXPOSED in court with Judd Legum
March 15, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBJudd Legum is the founder and author of Popular Information, an independent newsletter dedicated to accountability journalism. Judd joins Markos and Kerry to talk about the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News and the recent revelations of behind-the-scenes deceit practiced by everyone from on-air host Tucker Carlson, to the owner of it all, Rupert Murdoch.
Let’s enjoy the Republican Party’s very public infighting this week
March 08, 2023 04:00 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBMarkos and Kerry luxuriate in the battle going on between Donald Trump’s ascending fascism and Mitch McConnell’s disappearing neocon establishment. The fighting has become much sharper recently as the MAGA-media outlet Fox News has traveled further and further away from reality.
Rep. Ruben Gallego is running to unseat Kyrsten Sinema (interview!)
March 01, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBArizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego has thrown his hat into the ring! Gallego will try to take progressive-turned-bizarre-centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat in 2024. Today on The Brief, Markos and Rep. Gallego talk about the state of the country and his campaign, and what Americans want from the officials they elect to office.
Ukraine: Biden's surprise train ride sends Republicans into tailspin
February 22, 2023 04:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBPresident Biden’s surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Presidents’ Day was an important moment in American foreign policy, and also an equally important moment in public relations for the Democratic Party. It showed America’s support for a free and independent Ukraine, but not from an imperialistic position. Republicans haven’t had a coherent foreign policy platform besides U.S. imperialism, and now find themselves pulled in various directions as potential conservative presidential candidates...
Biden takes advantage of Republican disarray
February 15, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBPresident Biden's State of the Union was a masterclass in politics. The Republican Party, like a headless hydra, is unable to find a meaningful policy to get behind. Markos and Kerry talk about the highlights of last week and the enjoyment of watching Senate and House conservatives snipe at one another.
Our annual check-in on the Republican Party with The Bulwark’s Sarah Longwell
February 08, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBSarah Longwell is a longtime Republican strategist and prominent never-Trumper. Her podcast, The Focus Group, is a peek at the thousands of hours of focus groups she has conducted all across the country. Sarah comes on to give her thoughts about the state of the current Republican Party and why its future remains bleak.
The youth vote and how important it was this last election, and how important it is to future progressive success
February 01, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBCristina Tzintzún Ramirez, President at NextGen America, is back to talk with us about young voters. She talks about whether the rising numbers of young voters we saw during the midterms are sustainable, and what still needs to be done to achieve more young voter participation in our democracy as we progress toward a better America.
It’s a Ukraine Update with professor Phillips P. O’Brien
January 25, 2023 04:00 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBMarkos and Kerry are joined by University of St. Andrews Professor of Strategic Studies, Phillips P. O’Brien. O’Brien, an expert in military history, explains how we got to where we are right now, what is unique about the world’s reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the parallels between the conservative movement’s isolationism in World War II and now.
The Republican Congress continues to shoot itself in the foot
January 18, 2023 04:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MBThe Republican Party seems locked in a death spiral of unpopular anti-American rights policies. They seem to believe that the most important things to America are taking away people’s rights to choose what they do with their bodies and Hunter Biden’s junk. Kerry and Markos were right in their hypothesis about the midterms and they have predictions for the upcoming year and 2024.
We are back in 2023 to talk about this clown car Republican Congress!
January 11, 2023 04:00 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBHappy New Year! Daily Kos’ Joan McCarter is on the show today to talk about the wild garbage fire that was the Republican speaker of the House vote. Kerry and Markos also break down what this onionskin-thin conservative majority can and cannot do in the coming year, as well as what the Democratic representatives can do to make Kevin McCarthy’s life just that much tougher.
RERUN: Will young folks add their voice to our historic times this November? It is looking good!
January 04, 2023 08:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBWe speak with the Texas-based President at NextGen America, Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, about what she is seeing on the ground with young voters. Historically, midterm elections hurt the political party in power. Historically, young folks do not come out to vote in high numbers. These are historic times and the Republican Party’s full embrace of fascism may have changed the traditional narrative forever.
RERUN: Analyzing how deeply the Republican Party is freaking out right now
December 28, 2022 08:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBThe Republican Party continues to flail and point fingers at one another. The traditional media pretends it did not completely blow it on predicting a “red wave” a few weeks ago. On today’s episode, Markos is joined by Democratic political strategist Simon Rosenberg. Rosenberg was one of the few outsiders who, like Daily Kos, kept telling the world that these midterm races were closer than was being reported. The two do a little gloating about being right in their optimism coming into the 20...
87. It’s the year in review episode!
December 21, 2022 08:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBMarkos and Kerry discuss this past year in politics and news. It was a tough year, but it was also a year of hope: Democratic voters showed they are more engaged than they have been in decades. The discussion also includes Elon Musk and the debacle that is his reign at Twitter. Daily Kos’ The Brief will be back with new episodes in January 2023. Have a safe and happy New Year!
86. What messages worked and what Democrats need to do now (Jenifer Fernandez Acona)
December 14, 2022 08:00 - 45 minutes - 41.1 MBJenifer Fernandez Ancona from Way to Win is our guest on this week’s Daily Kos’ The Brief. When we spoke with Jenifer back in April, she was right about Democratic messaging—and had the data to prove it. More election data has been rolling in from the midterms, and Jenifer is back to talk about what worked and what needs to change in order for the Democratic Party to keep winning.
85. The Republican fight for leadership is a hilarious disaster and we have the expert to talk about it
December 07, 2022 08:00 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBWith the Republican Party gearing up to take the majority in the 2023 Congressional term, the disarray they have been experiencing the past six years is now at Keystone Cops-level hilarity. Markos and Kerry speak with Daily Kos Senior Staff Writer Joan McCarter. Joan covers the Congress day-in and day-out, and has done so for a decade. She gives Markos and Kerry an enjoyable blow-by-blow of the Republican mud wrestling match going on right now.
84. Analyzing how deeply the Republican Party is freaking out right now
November 30, 2022 08:00 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBThe Republican Party continues to flail and point fingers at one another. The traditional media pretends it did not completely blow it on predicting a “red wave” a few weeks ago. On today’s episode, Markos is joined by Democratic political strategist Simon Rosenberg. Rosenberg was one of the few outsiders who, like Daily Kos, kept telling the world that these midterm races were closer than was being reported. The two do a little gloating about being right in their optimism coming into the 20...
83. Republican fallout from the elections is good news for America
November 23, 2022 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBAs the final results of the 2022 midterm elections came into focus this past week, the lack of clarity in the GOP’s leadership also became apparent. Kerry and Markos break down what this means for Democratic voters going forward and how Donald Trump’s campaign for president is a lose lose proposition for Republicans.
RERUN: We were right about the midterms and we are going to celebrate!
November 16, 2022 04:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBElection Night 2022 was full of surprises—mostly for people pushing the last couple months of traditional media narrative of a "red tsunami." The problem is that Americans are not super into the GOP. Markos and Kerry have been saying the media narrative was wrong for months, and on Tuesday, Daily Kos was validated. Time to celebrate!
82. We were right about the midterms and we are going to celebrate!
November 10, 2022 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBElection Night 2022 was full of surprises—mostly for people pushing the last couple months of traditional media narrative of a "red tsunami." The problem is that Americans are not super into the GOP. Markos and Kerry have been saying the media narrative was wrong for months, and on Tuesday, Daily Kos was validated. Time to celebrate!
81. This is it! MIDTERMS are less than a week away!!!!
November 02, 2022 08:00 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBThe midterm elections are this coming Tuesday. We discuss what the polls are saying—and what the polls cannot predict. The traditional and right-wing narrative continues to champion polling that downplays Democratic candidates’ successes, while ignoring polling (including their own, in some cases) that flies in the face of that narrative. Either way, it does not change the fact that you need to get out and vote! And after you vote, make sure to encourage others to get out and vote—especially...
80. We are down to the wire and Democratic messaging has gotten better. Will it lead to something historic?
October 26, 2022 08:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBToday on The Brief, we speak with Way To Win’s co-founder and vice president, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona. Ancona comes in to discuss how grassroots progressive groups are spending money in the hopes of getting as many voters as possible out for the midterm elections. She also talks about which campaign advertisements are effective and which are not. One thing is for sure, though: We are living in historic times, and what that means for these midterms cannot be easily predicted—so Get Out The V...
79. Don’t stress out about all of these polls! What does all of this polling say about what is actually going to happen this November?
October 19, 2022 08:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBWe speak with polling giant Drew Linzer who runs polling firm CIVIQs, comes in to talk about a new poll his team conducted for Daily Kos. He is also here to explain, as a professional, how to not stress out every time you see a poll going your way or the other way. One thing is for sure though: we are living in historic times, and what that means for these midterms cannot be easily predicted—so Get Out The Vote!
78. The U.S. Senate race in Nevada is important and we have on-the-ground information
October 12, 2022 08:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBOn today’s show we talk about the work being done to keep Nevada’s Senate Democratic. We are joined by UNITE HERE director Mario Yedidia. UNITE HERE represents more than 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada who work in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry, and airport industries. Yedidia tells us about what workers in Nevada are thinking about and voting about this coming November.
77. Will young folks add their voice to our historic times this November? It is looking good!
October 05, 2022 08:00 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBWe speak with the Texas-based President at NextGen America, Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, about what she is seeing on the ground with young voters. Historically, midterm elections hurt the political party in power. Historically, young folks do not come out to vote in high numbers. These are historic times and the Republican Party’s full embrace of fascism may have changed the traditional narrative forever.
76. The Republican Party releases zero-calorie “plan" for America
September 28, 2022 08:00 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBAs the numbers for GOP candidates continue to dwindle, minority leader Kevin McCarthy attempted to release his version of a “big idea.” Markos and Kerry have a grand old time taking this policy-free statement that Republican leadership hopes will distract voters from the very real problems created by the radical right-wing Supreme Court.
75. The GOP are in disarray and it is a rollercoaster of a ride
September 21, 2022 08:00 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBThis week Markos and Kerry talk about how every step the Republican Party makes seems to be into another pile of manure. From Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inhumane political chicanery to South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s poorly received abortion bill, the GOP isn’t making any friends, even with their own voters.
74. Kerry’s back! The news continues to get better for Democrats come this November
September 14, 2022 08:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBKerry Eleveld makes her triumphant return from maternity leave! Markos and Kerry speak with prominent American political strategist and president of New Democrat Network Simon Rosenberg. Simon talks about what the data is saying and why the “red wave” has turned into a ripple.
73. Midterms are around the corner and there is real hope
September 07, 2022 16:40 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MBDaily Kos election’s expert Steve Singiser joins Markos to talk about what he has seen this year that gives him real hope the Democratic Party can fend off a “Red Wave” midterm.
72. We are back! A LOT HAS BEEN HAPPENING!
August 31, 2022 08:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBIt has been a few weeks of vacation. Kerry is on maternity leave! Markos is joined by Daily Kos' Cara Zelaya to talk about how optimistic the numbers have been over the past few weeks since the Grand Old Party got its wish to steal away reproductive rights from tens if not hundreds of millions of Americans. Markos and Cara also talk about President Biden’s big move reducing student debt and how much more robust his plan is upon deeper inspection.
RERUN: The History of the Republican Party’s Dedication to Whiteness
August 17, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 55 MBIn this episode of The Brief, first aired on Feb. 10, 2021, we speak with historian Kathleen Frydl. Discussing what it would take for Biden to be the next FDR, the Republican party's dedication to whiteness, and what historically makes for a good progressive presidency. We also discuss with Daily Kos’ own Joan McCarter all about the Senate, how the present political climate figures into their agenda, and what the consequences of falling short could be for Democrats.
RERUN: We talk gun violence and what Biden and the Democratic Party must do now
August 10, 2022 08:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBIn this episode of The Brief, first aired on June 7, 2022, we are joined by the executive director of Guns Down America and author of the book Guns Down: How to Defeat the NRA and Build a Safer Future with Fewer Guns, Igor Volsky. He joins Markos to discuss Uvalde, Texas, and what Democrats and Biden are and are not doing to solve our country’s gun safety issues.
RERUN: Republican attacks on transgender Americans conjure up the same-sex marriage bans of the 2000s
August 03, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBIn this episode of The Brief, first aired on June 8, 2021, we speak with Vivian Topping, director of advocacy and civic engagement at the Equality Federation, and Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights about the record-setting pieces of legislation the GOP has put forward to try and hurt transgender Americans.
RERUN: Can Democrats talk about race in a way that *wins back* the white non-college vote?
July 27, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBIn this episode of The Brief, first aired on Feb. 15, 2022, we speak with University of California-Berkeley law professor Ian Haney López, a bona fide real-world Critical Race Theorist. Not the fake ones that conservatives are hyperventilating wherever Black people might reside, like in school and public libraries.
RERUN: A Democratic senator in a swing district was knocking on doors when draft Roe decision came out. Here's what happened next
July 20, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBIn this episode of The Brief, first aired on May 17, 2022, Washington state Sen. Emily Randall, who has been knocking on doors in her tough swing district in the Kitsap Peninsula and Matt Hildreth, executive director of RuralOrganizing.org talk about being on the ground talking with voters in rural areas and urban areas before, during, and after the leaked Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade. They have some interesting insights into how much of an effect it is having on voters and organizi...
RERUN: Elie Mystal talks Supreme Court, Gun Laws, and Roe v Wade
July 13, 2022 08:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MBIn this episode of The Brief, first aired on May 31, 2022, Elie Mystal, justice correspondent for The Nation, joins Markos to talk about his New York Times best selling book, Allow Me To Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution. After decades, the Republican Party finally achieved the Supreme Court they wanted—a radical conservative court, vastly out of step with the American public, that is destroying all the freedoms we cherish, from our right to privacy (abortion, contraception, sa...