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Lovett or Leave It

280 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 23.4K ratings

Former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett and a panel of comedians, actors, journalists, and some of the many famous Friends of the Pod appear before a live audience to break down the week’s biggest news. Quizzes! Impressions! Shouting at cable news clips! And everyone’s favorite: nuanced discussion. New episodes every Saturday.

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Episodes

No Coup for You

November 14, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.8 MB

Biden wins and Trump tries to un-lose. Naomi Ekperigin is back to cover a week of dumb legal challenges and dumber press conferences. Then Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman talks about how well the vote went in PA and historian Michael Beschloss joins to discuss the unprecedented rejection of democracy by Republicans and what happens next. Plus listeners share high notes and join to play a game as Georgia heads into two make-or-break run offs. What a week.

America, Welcome to the Resistance

November 07, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 71.4 MB

We won. Alyssa Mastromonaco joins to break down the results and the experience of the slow reveal, Ben Wikler on how we won in Wisconsin and the lessons of organizing, and Zeynep Tufekci is back to talk about polls, models, and misinformation. What a week. What a weekend.

The Only Way Out is Through

October 31, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MB

Emotions are running high! Kumail Nanjiani, Stacey Abrams, Brittany Packnett Cunningham and listeners join as we cover the last week in this campaign, look ahead to the final four days of the race, and talk about our hopes, our fears, and eating our feelings. VOLUNTEER PLEASE -> votesaveamerica.com/volunteer 

Dishonest Abe

October 24, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 74.8 MB

Last debate behind us, ten days ahead of us. PACKED SHOW. Alex Wagner and Guy Branum join to play a special debate edition of OK, Stop. Ira Madison III joins for the monologue, where we do NOT dwell on this Rudy story because we are above that. Theresa Greenfield talks about her campaign for the Senate against Joni Ernst and she quizzes Jon on Iowa facts. Plus Jon talks to Olivia Troye about leaving Trump's coronavirus task force and endorsing Joe Biden and he talks to Aidan Kohn-Murphy abou...

Can't Hardly Debate

October 17, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 65.2 MB

W. Kamau Bell and Hari Kondabolu join to break down the week's news. We play OK, Stop to cover the two town halls that replaced one debate. Jon talks to the Washington Post's Dave Weigel about what he's seeing on the campaign trail in the homestretch. And we quiz a listener on some complicated ballot measures written to confuse and discourage you. (Check out votesaveamerica.com/ballot because it is good.)

Patient Zero

October 10, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 66.3 MB

Emily Heller joins to break down the VP debate and The Week They Gave Trump Steroids. Senator Brian Schatz is back to talk about the fight for the Senate and what we can each do to help. And Josh Gad joins (finally, he refused to come on for a long time) to show us that phone banking is fun and not that scary even if you've never done it before. Help this weekend, please: votesaveamerica.com/senate

SO, YEAH. MASKS.

October 03, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 78.6 MB

This week lasted a hundred years. Trump's financial documents reveal massive debts and a tiny tax bill. Biden wins the first debate. And then we learn that Trump, who has spent six months denying reality and mocking masks, has been diagnosed with covid as his rallies and recklessness put countless lives at risk. Returning champion Langston Kerman joins for the top of the show, then I talk to Jaime Harrison about his race against Lindsey Graham and journalist Adam Davidson about Trump's taxes...

The Nom Before The Storm

September 26, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 64.2 MB

Trump is terrified of democracy and he should be. Kara Brown joins for the monologue after a tough week of news. Puneet Cheema from the NAACP on the lack of accountability for the killing of Breonna Taylor and the future of police reform. And PJ Vogt of Reply All joins to talk about their fascinating investigation into the origins of Qanon. Plus we quiz listeners on polling of persuadable voters.

Donate to Get Mitch

September 19, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 66.7 MB

Devastating news about RBG on Friday night kicks of a fight over the future of the Supreme Court. Then we go to a pre-recorded show with guests Hari Kondabolu, Varshini Prakash from the Sunrise Movement, and a legend: Jane Fonda. http://votesaveamerica.com/getmitch

White House Downplay

September 12, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 76.4 MB

What you don't know that Trump told Bob Woodward can hurt you. For our first homestretch episode, Jon Favreau joins for the monologue, Dr. Ali Mattu is back to talk about staying motivated during a very hard time, and I talk to Dr. Muhammad Adeel Rish about his recent study on daylight saving time because it's my JOB. Plus listeners check on their parents' voter registrations and I quiz a listener on whether you can tell the difference between awful Trump comments on the military or ones we ...

Soup d'Etat

September 05, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 75.2 MB

Chowder is a weapon and Antifa has an airline. What a week. Akilah Hughes stops by for the monologue. Ronan Farrow is back so that we can test our relationship again for some reason. And activist Imani Barbarin joins to talk about the challenges facing voters with disabilities and what steps we need to take to turn out the vote.

Don Jr.'s Convention Bump

August 29, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 78.7 MB

We watched the RNC on your behalf so where are our fireworks? Kara Swisher joins for the monologue and shares her memories of an earlier iteration of Kim Guilfoyle in San Francisco. Alicia Garza returns to discuss the protests in Wisconsin in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting. Alex Morse talks about his progressive primary challenge to incumbent Congressman Richard Neal. And Erin Ryan and Guy Branum help us sort through the lies and play OK, Stop after Trump's superspreader event on the W...

No Audience, No Problem

August 22, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 73.1 MB

Senator Brian Schatz, Emily Heller, Naomi Ekperigin, and Josh Barro join to cover the Democratic convention, from Eva Longoria to Joe Biden, and everyone in between. What's the difference between a "crossroads" and a "fork in the road"? Will we be inspired to order calamari? Let's find out.

Biden's VP Pick ACTUALLY Revealed!

August 15, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MB

Big episode! Kamala Harris makes history. Trump issues BS executive orders. And people lose their minds over a song about heterosexual goings on of some sort. Sasheer Zamata is here for the monologue. Alyssa Mastromonaco talks about the VP roll out. Ben Rhodes walks us through a week of big developments in foreign policy. And we quiz a listener (and math PhD!) on the different economic stimulus plans. Oh and fine I'm SORRY about last week's title, I guess.

Biden’s VP Pick Revealed!

August 08, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 86.5 MB

New York's AG sues the NRA and Trump struggles against withering questions like, "What manuals?" Returning champion Naomi Ekperigin joins for the monologue. And Jon talks to Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Joe Kennedy III as they face off in a heated Senate primary, and both agree to face a Massachusetts version of "Queen for A Day." 

How is it August?

August 01, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 63.8 MB

100 days to the election. Here we go. LaTosha Brown joins to talk about the home stretch. Bryan Safi is back for straight guy phone banking. Plus we tell jokes to listeners and quiz Collin and CJ, as we look at what we need to do up and down the ballot to win.

Cognition Impossible

July 25, 2020 10:00 - 52 minutes - 49.7 MB

Trump takes a test. Cities push back against Trump's aggression. And Taylor releases a new album. What a week. Guy Branum joins for OK, Stop. Eric Holtaus talks about his new book, The Future Earth, imagining a best-case climate scenario. And Tanya Somanader, Mellani Johnson, and Sarah Lazarus take a few minutes to react to jokes with the perfect amount of judgment.

No More Mr. Nice Goya

July 18, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.2 MB

House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff discusses Roger Stone, congressional subpoenas, and veganism. Negin Farsad joins for the monologue and Michaela Watkins takes on the role of a lifetime. Plus Zeynep Tufekci joins to talk about what happens when science meets social media during this pandemic. Fix my computer, Henry Cavill.

Oklahoma, OK!

July 11, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MB

A major set of rulings at the Supreme Court, a battle over reopening schools, and an announcement by Kanye in the best place for such things: a four hour interview with Forbes Magazine. Shea Serrano joins to talk about everything from the impact of protests on sports to the best James Bond movies. Josh Gondelman judges the monologue and has some lovely analogies. And Alice Wetterlund stops by along with a special guest with a tell-all book of her own. What a week.

Scrutiny on the Bounty

July 04, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 74.5 MB

Emily Heller returns for our July 4th episode and agrees NOT to discuss gardening. Hari Kondabolu joins to talk about Hollywood's response to mounting protests, from voice casting on the Simpsons to the defense of hacky stand up. Epidemiologist Dr. Anne W. Rimoin explains the latest on mounting cases of coronavirus and what happens next. And listeners test out their political jokes on Lovett and Emily.

K-Popping His Bubble

June 27, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.3 MB

Larry Wilmore is back and joins for the monologue. Ari Berman discusses efforts to fight voter suppression. We quiz a listener on polling from 2016 so no one gets cocky about 2020. And we share some moments from Crooked's pride parade live stream: Gay News with Tre'vell Anderson and Guy Branum, plus highlights from Sam Pancake, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Kara Swisher, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho, Rosemary Ketchum, Katie Hill, Sam Feder, and Justin Simien.

Gay for Justice

June 20, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 80.3 MB

Nicole Byer is back and joins for the monologue. Adam Serwer discusses the Supreme Court's DACA decision, the diversity of the protest movement, and Juneteenth. Plus we quiz Philip Picardi on campy religious ceremonies and talk about his new podcast on spirituality. And we test organizers in six battleground states to see if they're ready for the fall. What a week. Even some... good news?... whatever that is.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Ignorance

June 13, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 69.4 MB

Judd Apatow joins for the monologue. Melina Abdullah discusses the goals of the protest movement. Rosemary Ketchum stops by to talk about what it means to be the first trans person to win public office in West Virginia. And LGBTQ+ listeners join to rant about basically whatever. What a week.

Bunker Inspector

June 06, 2020 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MB

Peaceful protests and police backlash spread across the country. Trump "inspects" a bunker and waves a bible. Osita Nwanevu joins to discuss our collective response. DeRay Mckesson discusses policy changes that can save lives right now. And we hear from protesters and listeners. Plus, ONE Lea Michele joke. One.

Burn After Tweeting

May 30, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 67 MB

D'Arcy Carden joins to match listeners with battleground states. Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead discuss their book about new ways conspiracies spread and how to respond. And we're joined live by listeners in Birmingham to break down the week's news and quiz the audience on how characters are described in books versus how those characters are cast on screen.

Big Structural Podcast

May 23, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 59 MB

Senator Elizabeth Warren is here to talk about oversight, the pandemic response, and that question she won’t answer. Plus she sticks around as we quiz listeners. Kal Penn is back and judges the monologue. And Jon Millstein joins to deliver a zoom commencement. We also bring back the rant wheel and we hear your high notes. What a week. What a show.

OBAMAGATE-GATE!

May 16, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.1 MB

Trump floats a conspiracy without a theory. Supreme Court Justices struggle with microphones. And Elon Musk will build Teslas or else. This week in the closet, Adam Conover joins to judge the monologue, listeners share their minor frustrations, and Patrick Radden Keefe investigates a classic rock anthem that may have been written by the CIA. Oh and masks make you look weak? Tell it to Patrick Swayze in Point Break!

Murder Hornets, Inc.

May 09, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 181 MB

Author Michael Lewis explains why America is like a good team with a bad coach. Whitney Cummings joins to judge the monologue. Brittany Packnett Cunningham discusses Ahmaud Arbery and why it took a gruesome video to spur action. Listeners face off in a topical spelling bee. And finally we're joined by a surprise special guest before we share what made listeners hopeful in this week's high note. 

Storming the Beaches

May 02, 2020 10:00 - 59 minutes - 81.2 MB

Ed Helms is back and we quiz him on Trump's briefings by the numbers. Olivia Nuzzi joins to discuss covering the coronavirus response. We test listeners on their disaster preparedness. And we try out jokes on unsuspecting strangers which was very exciting and went GREAT. We're still in the closet and we're making the best of it. What a week.

The King’s Bleach

April 25, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.4 MB

John Hodgman judges the monologue. Ronan Farrow and I face tough questions from Akilah Hughes. Katie Porter joins for an update from Congress. And we hear this week’s highs (and a few rants) from listeners. Packed show! A real barn burner. (Burning barns does NOT cure coronavirus.)

Live Free and Die

April 18, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MB

Bernie backs Biden and Trump blames the WHO. What a week. Megan Rapinoe (!) and psychologist Dr. Ali Mattu join Jon for another week of Lovett or Leave It: Back in the Closet. Plus we talk to our listener-teachers about what it's like to teach remotely and we hear your high notes. A big thank you to everybody in Portland who joined for the monologue. And please call Congress to safeguard our elections! We make it easy: votesaveamerica.com/call

Bern Notice

April 11, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 65 MB

Guy Branum, Emily Heller, and Dr. Joseph Meltzer of UCLA join to cover Bernie's withdrawal as Biden becomes the presumptive nominee, Emily's gardening tips, GAY NEWS, Trump's untested health advice, and the fight going on inside of our hospitals against coronavirus. It's Back in the Closet week five, and boy is my ring light tired.

Masking My Feelings

April 04, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 75 MB

Alex Wagner, Emily Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, and Saru Jayaraman join for the fourth Back in the Closet episode. Plus we attempt a live audience with our friends in Seattle and Spokane (huge success!), and listeners share their weird new self-care rituals. Bag two of Hershey's nuggets: done.

We’re number one.

March 28, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.2 MB

Stephen Merchant, Kara Swisher, and Beck Bennett join for Lovett or Leave It: Back in the Closet. A big stimulus bill passes. Trump looks to goose the markets. Tech companies thrive as their workers take risks. And everyone realizes they don’t have enough forks.

Zoom and Gloom

March 21, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MB

Ronan Farrow stops by to take calls from couples working from home. And Adam Schiff calls in to give us an update on the congressional response to the virus and his struggles with veganism during impeachment. Plus, listeners call in with their own personal high notes and Ronan tells me why he doesn't consider Cheetos a staple food. Back in the Closet, Week 2. Hang in there, everybody.

Sick in a Box

March 14, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MB

Trump's chaotic, bumbling response to the coronavirus pandemic alarms the country. Local and state leaders (and Bernie and Biden) fill the void. And everyone figures out how to act responsibility to protect the community while panic shopping and googling symptoms. We've canceled our live shows to be safe, so until we're on the other side of this, we're going to be experimenting with some new segments and finding ways to quiz and hear from listeners during the show. It's Lovett or Leave It: B...

Joe Sneaks Up From Behind!

March 07, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.8 MB

Super Tuesday changes the race. Trump bungles the response to a pandemic. And Hachette faces blowback for secretly buying Woody Allen's memoir. Megan Gailey and Yassir Lester join to break down a pivotal week from the end of Elizabeth Warren's campaign to the announcement of a 38-year-old Bachelorette.

Oh, great. Mike Pence.

February 29, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.3 MB

The coronavirus sparks fear in the markets and a toxic debate sparks anxiety among Democrats. Quite a week. Moshe Kasher and Fortune Feimster join to cover everything from the latest primary news to why so many couples are getting married in barns. Plus, in GAY NEWS: a brave kid comes out to Mayor Pete and it reminds Jon of a harrowing summer at sports camp. Super Tuesday is HERE. Everybody better vote.

Uncut Dems

February 22, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MB

Warren tenderizes Bloomberg, Bernie avoids fire, and Amy and Pete’s relationship has not improved. Emily Heller and Sean Rameswaram help break down the debate and more. D’Arcy Carden returns as we release secret footage of a White House wedding. Plus in Gay News, Trump discovers subtitles and Billy Wilder. And finally, in all things, Harrison Ford doesn’t give a shit.

Bidentity Crisis

February 15, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 67 MB

Trump is purging, Bernie is surging, Amy is emerging, Bloomberg is splurging, and Biden is... not doing so well. Larry Wilmore and Kara Brown join to cover the primary as it heads to Nevada and South Carolina. Up and coming journalist Ronan Farrow stops by to discuss revelations in his podcast AND relationship. Plus similarities between Nixon and Trump, life on a coronavirus cruise, and the power of Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union's example. What a week.

New Hampshire, Don't F*ck This Up

February 08, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 68.2 MB

What a week. What a MESS. Pete's "undeniable victory" in Iowa becomes less undeniable and Senate Republicans (except for Mitt who we LOVE now) tell Trump he's above the law. Emily Heller joins to break down the Democratic debate in New Hampshire. Franklin Leonard talks about this Sunday's Oscars and how Hollywood is (and isn't) changing. And Louis Virtel's savant-like Oscar trivia skills are put to the TEST. Plus we manage to talk about Baby Nut, Hotel Lighting, Dua Lipa, and Netflix autopla...

Iowa, Don't F*ck This Up

February 01, 2020 10:30 - 1 hour - 66 MB

Republicans conspire to block witnesses and Iowans get ready to caucus like the country depends on it. LIVE from Iowa City, Jon is joined by filmmaker and activist Michael Moore, Iowa state auditor Rob Sand, Cedar Rapids Gazette columnist Lyn Lenz, and Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker. They cover the latest on the trial, the primaries, and their perspective on how campaigns are faring on the ground. And we make time for Super Bowl ads, Brad Pitt's looks "hurting" his Oscar chances, and ...

The Rural Jurors

January 25, 2020 11:00 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MB

The impeachment trial begins: Adam Schiff and the House managers make their case and Republican Senators both demand and refuse to allow new evidence. Florida's Republicans are undermining Amendment 4 which restores the vote to those convicted of felonies. Plus C-Span's production values are just OK and it's time we have an honest conversation about organic peanut butter. Aida Osman and Sam Pancake join to help break down the week's news and just sit around sharing memories of Mr. Peanut and...

Lev It or Leave It

January 18, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.4 MB

Impeachment heads to the Senate. Lev Parnas talks to Rachel Maddow. And Deval Patrick joins Jon on stage to face the Queen for a Day challenge. Plus Kara Swisher on Facebook and Little Women, Mitra Jouhari on Space Travel, and Damon Young on Joker's 11 Oscar nominations. First they cancel The OA. Now Mindhunter? Netflix, you season three thief!

HEY. We're going on tour (ticket link inside)

January 15, 2020 20:00 - 40 seconds - 986 KB

Big news. Lovett or Leave It and Pod Save America are going on tour.  Presale runs from January 15 - 17, use code CROOKED2020. General on-sale is Saturday January 18th at 10am local time. Tickets & dates at http://crooked.com/events See you soon.

The Warring 20's

January 11, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 67.2 MB

And we're back! Trump escalates. Australia burns. And Rita Wilson waits and waits and WAITS. Former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes joins to unpack the latest on Iran and the congressional response. Plus comedians Hari Kondabolu and Alice Wetterlund join to look at the fight over the coming impeachment trial, high school reunions, crowded gyms in January, and more. 2020 is here. Let's go.

We Impeached Him.

December 21, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 82.6 MB

Mayor Pete Buttigieg joins Jon in studio to play Queen for a Day. Should college plans be universal? Chris Pratt or Chris Pine? Big questions. Plus Josh Gondelman and Negin Farsad join live as Trump gets impeached, the Democrats get feisty at the debate, and Kumail Nanjiani gets jacked. See you in 2020, 

Impeach for the Stars

December 14, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 57 MB

John Hodgman and Amanda Seales join Jon to break down the week's news as the Judiciary Committee debates articles of impeachment and the Department of Justice releases a report that debunks Trump's conspiracy theories. Plus we look back on the year and the decade, Crooked's editor-in-chief Brian Beutler joins to rant about "narrow" impeachment, and Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit take a hard look at the science of Star Wars. Tiny yoda. Huge week.

Darin' to Say "Barron"

December 07, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 58 MB

Impeachment heads to the Judiciary Committee. Rudy films a documentary in Ukraine. Fox News anchors piss off their moms. And a ferocious debate breaks out ON STAGE over a little film called The Irishman. Brett Gelman and Rheeqrheeq Chainey join to break down the latest news at a very late, very loose, very fun live show. What a week.  

Up Schiff's Creek

November 23, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 61.2 MB

Fiona Hill has eyes. Gordon Sondland has receipts. And Cory Booker has jokes. The first round of impeachment hearings wrap up in dramatic fashion. Democrats debate in Atlanta. And Chris Matthews uses, shall we say, an irregular channel. The hilarious Guy Branum, Quinta Brunson, and Aida Osman are here to break down a week of giant revelations and tiny Yodas. We always say it, but wow we really mean it: What a week.

Guests

Emily Heller
11 Episodes
Jon Favreau
8 Episodes
Guy Branum
7 Episodes
Louis Virtel
4 Episodes
Andrew Ti
3 Episodes
Paul Scheer
3 Episodes
Andy Richter
2 Episodes
Franchesca Ramsey
2 Episodes
Ike Barinholtz
2 Episodes
Jamil Smith
2 Episodes
Kumail Nanjiani
2 Episodes
Nicole Byer
2 Episodes
Stephen Merchant
2 Episodes
Bobby Lee
1 Episode
Dylan Marron
1 Episode
Emily Yoshida
1 Episode
Gaby Dunn
1 Episode
Gareth Reynolds
1 Episode
James Adomian
1 Episode
Joel Kim Booster
1 Episode
Lauren Lapkus
1 Episode
Matt Walsh
1 Episode
Michael Moore
1 Episode
Rainn Wilson
1 Episode
Rhea Butcher
1 Episode
Tucker Carlson
1 Episode

Books

Twitter Mentions

@kararbrown 1 Episode