Daily Kos' The Brief

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A one-hour weekly political conversation hosted by Markos Moulitsas and Kerry Eleveld highlighting on-the-ground leaders of the progressive movement.

Markos Moulitsas and Kerry Eleveld


    • Jun 26, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 50m AVG DURATION
    • 170 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Daily Kos' The Brief

    What to expect in the Biden-Trump debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 30:25


    President Joe Biden successfully goaded Donald Trump into an early June debate, with Trump even acquiescing to most of the Biden team's terms. Markos and Kerry break down what to expect from Biden and from Trump.This episode was recorded on May 28, 2024.

    Rural organizing with Matt Hildreth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 38:06


    Kerry speaks with Matt Hildreth, the executive director of Rural Organizing and treasurer of the RuralVote.org super PAC. He explains what Democrats can—and must—do to change the political conversation in rural communities.This episode was recorded on June 7, 2024.

    “I'd rather be on Biden's team” this election, with Simon Rosenberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 29:46


    Hopium Chronicles' Simon Rosenberg joins Markos to discuss the “red wave-ification” of the economy and how prepared Democrats are for November. There is still work to do but we have a better candidate—and we have the edge.

    Say it with me: It's “convicted felon” Donald Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 37:07


    Donald Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records on May 30. What are potential voters saying about this historic news? And what is the Biden-Harris campaign doing now that the “teflon Don" is no more?

    Don't panic!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 31:13


    Every day brings a new prognostication that is making President Joe Biden's campaign operatives worry or freak out. Is Donald Trump running away with the election? No. Not even close.

    Donald Trump really stepped in it this week

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 38:37


    Like many Republicans, Donald Trump has tried to sidestep the issue of abortion and reproductive rights. But he stumbled during an interview with a CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh this week, promising an “interesting” new policy that would let states restrict contraception.

    We speak with Protect Democracy's Ian Bassin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 45:27


    Ian Bassin is the former associate White House counsel and co-founder and executive director of Protect Democracy. Protect Democracy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group focused on anti-authoritarianism, how to protect our democracy, and safeguarding our free and fair elections.

    We speak with the people behind Navigator Research

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 46:14


    Navigator collects, analyzes, and distributes real data on progressive messaging. The Hub Project's Bryan Bennett and Gabriela Parra talk with Kerry about what they are seeing in their research this election cycle, and which messaging can help progressive candidates win elections in 2024—and beyond.

    Is RFK Jr. Trump's spoiler now?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 41:06


    When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. entered the 2024 presidential race as an independent, many feared (and the MAGA faithful cheered) that he would siphon off important swing-state Democrats and independents from President Biden. That doesn't seem to be so true anymore. In fact, the opposite may be true—and Donald Trump is hopping mad about it.

    Immigration: Fact and fiction! with Zachary Mueller of America's Voice

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 42:33


    Zachary Mueller is the senior research director for America's Voice and America's Voice Education Fund. He brings his expertise on immigration politics to talk about how much money the GOP is using to promote its racist immigration campaigns.

    Trump bungles his abortion speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 42:18


    Trump's lose-lose situation on abortion somehow got worse this week after he released a video attempting to spin a position on the polarizing issue. What does this mean? Bad news for the Republican Party, already in disarray.

    Is Florida in play for Democrats?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 36:42


    Kerry and Markos talk about Florida, its strict abortion ban, and Democratic challengers' chances in the Sunshine State.

    Republican disarray all the way!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 40:04


    President Joe Biden's approval ratings have been improving since his fiery State of the Union speech—as we predicted. At the same time, the Republican Party cannot stop the infighting, even as Donald Trump's takeover seems to be complete. Markos and Kerry get into Biden's improving fundamentals as the race to save America heats up.

    What exactly is the GOP's message? with Patrick Gaspard

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 38:17


    The President and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Patrick Gaspard, joins us to give his thoughts on what the Republican Party's actual message is.

    Sarah Longwell talks beating Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 28:20


    The Bulwark's Sarah Longwell joins Kerry to discuss the State of the Union and what President Biden needs to do to soundly defeat Donald Trump in November.

    Republicans are the dog that caught the car, with EMILY's List's Christina Reynolds

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 39:18


    We are joined by our friend Christina Reynolds, who is senior VP of communications and content at EMILY's List. Christina talks with Kerry and Markos about how small a box the Republican Party is locked into on reproductive rights.

    There's good news for Democrats: Donald Trump is old … and he's DONALD TRUMP

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 41:49


    Simon Rosenberg from the Hopium Chronicles Substack is back to talk about the facts of the 2024 election cycle. The facts are: Things look bad for Donald Trump—and even worse for the Republican Party.

    Newsflash: Joe Biden and Donald Trump are old!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 41:18


    Democratic voters know Joe Biden is old and MAGA voters like to pretend that Trump isn't just as long in the tooth. Both men were old the last time we did this and the only thing that's changed is Biden is now a successful incumbent, while Trump is busy juggling trials and indictments.

    President Biden calls GOP's bluff and they implode

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 34:45


    Republicans demanded border security, worked on a compromise deal with Democrats, and now want to blow the whole thing up. Biden is promising to remind Americans every day that the Republican Party is at fault for the lack of solutions to the problems they claim are most important.

    Could Biden and Taylor Swift trounce Donald Trump in the election?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 34:34


    It is primary season, and Donald Trump seems pretty low energy these days. Kerry and Markos talk about the chances of Trump stumbling through the election season and the need to press our advantage and make gains in the House and Senate. Meanwhile, the right-wing media world is losing its collective minds about Taylor Swift registering younger Americans to vote!

    We talk with Tim Miller about Trump's weaknesses!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 33:53


    Tim Miller from “The Next Level” podcast comes on to discuss Iowa, New Hampshire, and the cracks they expose in Donald Trump's MAGA movement.

    Iowa exposed how weak Trump is

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 32:52


    The Iowa primary took place Monday, and while traditional media outlets would like you to believe Trump won big the reality was anything but. Kerry and Markos talk about what the numbers really show and the possible ramifications for the rest of the primary season as well as the national election.

    It's 2024 and primary season is upon us

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 34:02


    Trump is going to win Iowa, but what does that mean for Haley and DeSantis—and for whomever else is still (barely) in the running? Kerry and Markos talk about what to expect and what weird and wild stuff could happen this coming Monday.

    Markos and Kerry are thankful for ... Republican disarray

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 31:47


    It's our last episode of the year and we wanted to talk about what we are thankful for. It turns out that Republican disarray and ineptitude topped our list. Join us to count the ways!

    We talk 2024 messaging with Jennifer Fernandez Ancona

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 38:36


    Jennifer Fernandez Ancona from Way to Win joins "The Brief" to talk about how bad Republican messaging has been and what Democrats need to say in 2024 to win.

    What do we expect to see in 2024?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 38:35


    Markos and Kerry give their thoughts on what the country is facing in 2024. The Republican Party is running on losing issues like abortion and repealing the ACA—with no explanation of what they plan on replacing it with. Trump has a lot of criming to atone for, and the Republican platform remains set on destroying democracy.

    Trump and the Republican Party spiral further into fascism

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 39:19


    Republicans are challenging labor leaders to fights and allegedly physically assaulting one another. Donald Trump says he will abolish reproductive rights entirely and is openly calling for the extermination of his detractors, referring to them as “vermin” on Veterans Day. The Republican Party has emerged from its corruption cocoon as a full-blown fascist movement.

    Democrats win big … again!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 55:59


    The band is back together, and it is a glorious day as Markos and Kerry's hot takes over the past year came true—again! Republicans continue to lose at the ballot box and we are here for it!

    We are back! The Republican Party has a new speaker and the GOP remains a disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 30:16


    Today, Markos talks with Daily Kos writer Joan McCarter about the Republican Party's last three weeks of disarray. There is a new House speaker and what that means going forward remains a mystery.

    Should Trump go to jail? We have the guy who polled Americans on that question

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 39:18


    Kerry talks with Drew Linzer, director of the online polling company Civiqs. Drew tells us what the polls say about voters' feelings toward President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and what the results would be if the two men were to, say … run against each other for president in 2024. Oh yeah, Drew polled to find out who thinks Donald Trump is guilty of the crimes he's been indicted for, and whether or not he should see the inside of a jail cell.

    A Ukraine update

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 53:29


    Kerry and Markos talk about what is happening in Ukraine, what needs to be done, and why the fate of Ukraine is tied to democracy's fate in 2024.

    D.C. media and pundits are out of touch with the data

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 45:23


    Trump's continuing legal problems, the car crash of a Republican debate, and the polling numbers defy the traditional media's narrative that the Republican Party is even above water with voters.

    Is there a path for a Republican to beat Donald Trump?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 48:21


    We talk about the upcoming Republican presidential debate and how sad a situation it is. The Republican Party shot itself in the foot with a Trump-sized bullet, and now it's stuck with him for the foreseeable future. We try to game out the possible paths the Republicans might take to rid themselves of The Donald.

    We went away and Donald Trump was indicted not once, but twice!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 49:48


    Did anything happen while we were all taking a well-deserved break? Something about Donald Trump being indicted not once, but two times! Also in the news: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign collapse. So much is happening!

    Woke Barbie movie breaks box office records

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 27:16


    Conservatives cried about how the “woke” (whatever that means) “Barbie” movie would fail. It didn't. In fact, the film has struck a chord with American and international audiences. Daily Kos writer Laura Clawson joins Markos to talk about the film and the implications of the Republican Party's fixation on mythical culture wars, which is failing them in bigger and bigger ways every day.

    RERUN: We are Rural Organizing! And it'll make the difference in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2023 40:58


    Today 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.Since our interview, Behn has recently announced her candidacy for the Tennessee House of Representatives in Nashville's District 51.Interview originally aired May 31, 2023.

    The Republican Party's attacks on Joe Biden continue to fail

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 33:33


    Simon Rosenberg comes back to talk with us about how all of the Republican Party's attempts to malign President Biden have failed. This episode was recorded a couple weeks before airing.

    What scares expert Malcolm Nance about Trump's documents case

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 38:50


    Malcolm Nance is a former United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer specializing in naval cryptology. He breaks down the nature of the classified materials rescued from Trump's private residence. This interview was recorded on June 22, 2023.

    RERUN: Has the Democratic Party learned how to message? It's looking good!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 45:20


    Jennifer 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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 40:16


    Today 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.

    The Republican Party has an abortion problem

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 43:43


    We are joined by Christina Reynolds of Emily's List. Reynolds is the Senior Vice President of Communications and Content at the progressive organization that works on getting women elected to office. Reynolds talks about what she is seeing up and down the ballot this election cycle on the anniversary of the outrageous Supreme Court Decision to take away the reproductive protections of Roe v. Wade.

    Donald Trump gets indicted … again!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 39:54


    Donald 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!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 37:37


    Today 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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 40:58


    Today 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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 44:13


    We 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!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 45:20


    Jennifer 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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 48:04


    Today, 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!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 48:36


    Dimitri 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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 42:42


    The 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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 46:44


    Markos 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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 48:03


    On 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.

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