Best semafor Podcasts (2024)

1
Semafor's Dave Weigel on What the Election Means for Guns 51:52

22d ago51:52

51:52

This week, we're looking back at the 2024 election and forward at the next administration. To do that, we have Semafor's Dave Weigel on the show. He joined us shortly before the election to discuss each campaign's gun messaging. Now, he's back to sort through what worked, what didn't, and where things go from here. Weigel agreed there probably wasn…

1
The Fallout of the CEO Killer's 3D-Printed Gun (Ft. Maker's Match Founder Rob Pincus) 44:05

19h ago44:05

44:05

This week, we're discussing one of the highest-profile assassinations we've seen in a long time. One where the killer used a 3D-printed firearm, and video of the attack has been viewed countless times across the country. To figure out what effect all of that might have on the homebuilt gun community, we've got Rob Pincus back on the show. He's a pa…

1
Anne Applebaum & Frank Foer on Syria, The Middle East, and Ukraine 44:14

2d ago44:14

44:14

We're joined by two of our favorite foreign policy writers to examine what the end of Bashar al-Assad’s region means to Syria and the regime. Frank Foer and Anne Applebaum from The Atlantic also look toward the incoming Trump administration and what lies ahead. Can Trump be a steady hand to stop escalating war around the world? How will Israel reac…

1
NRA Corruption Case Concludes; SCOTUS Rejects Hawaiian Gun Case 51:30

3d ago51:30

51:30

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about the NRA's New York corruption case finally coming to an end after six years. We also discuss the Supreme Court's latest rejection of a Second Amendment case, the high-profile "Spirit of Aloha" Hawaii gun carry decision. We wrap up by covering the latest reports suggesting the United Healthcare CEO …

1
Post-Election State of Media with Semafor's Max Tani 47:11

7d ago47:11

47:11

Everyone’s got a take on the post-election state of media, including us now. We went behind the headlines with Max Tani, media editor at Semafor, to unpack the changes, challenges and opportunities facing new and legacy media: the rise of podcasts, the proliferation of niche outlets, and the sustainability (or not) of the influencer-journalist mode…

1
What Should Trump do with the ATF? (Ft. GMU Professor Robert Leider) 40:48

8d ago40:48

40:48

This week, we're looking ahead at the next four years of gun policy. With Donald Trump coming back into office having already promised to fire the current ATF director, it's an open question of what he might do with the agency. That's why we have George Mason University Professor Robert Leider back on the show to hear his view of what moves gun-rig…

1
WaPo's Aaron Blake on The Transition 36:15

9d ago36:15

36:15

As we move closer to the second Trump administration, we are learning more about his incoming Cabinet. Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author/host of The Campaign Moment newsletter and podcast for the Washington Post joins us to discuss some of Trump's Cabinet picks and their struggles to be confirmed. Also, the American people seem to o…

1
CEO Killer’s Gun Offers Clues; Biden Pardons Hunter's Gun Crimes 43:59

11d ago43:59

43:59

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I break down what we can glean about the UnitedHealthcare CEO's assassin based on surveillance footage of his gun. We also cover President Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter and what that means for Second Amendment challenges related to his gun crimes. We wrap up by discussing the trend of Trump's law enforce…

1
We Answer Your Questions on Trump, SCOTUS, and More! 58:53

15d ago58:53

58:53

A lot has happened since the last time we did a Q&A episode. So, this week we're answering Reload Member questions. Contributing Writer Jake Fogleman joins me in fielding a bunch of different topics. We cover everything from the status of the legal fight over "assault weapons" bans, to what Second Amendment case the Supreme Court might take next, t…

1
BEST OF: Anne Applebaum on her book Autocracy, Inc. 34:17

16d ago34:17

34:17

In this Thanksgiving Best Of, we revisit our conversation with our friend Anne Applebaum! We aired this a few months ago when Anne's newest book, Autocracy Inc., had been released. She chronicles the rise of authoritarianism around the world and how those autocracies work together to keep themselves in power. With Donald Trump elected President onc…

1
Holding Space for the Jaguar Rebrand 28:13

21d ago28:13

28:13

On the pod this week, we’re unpacking who and what the Jaguar rebrand is for, (same with The New York Times’ advice for how to avoid awkward holiday conversations), “reckless dreamers,” and what Dean Kissick gets right in his polarizing essay, “The Painted Protest.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Listen Now: 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast 7:07

22d ago7:07

7:07

Cuddly as a cactus and charming as an eel, Whoville's favorite talk show host is back on the mic! The Grinch may hate the holidays, but he loves his new celebrity status as a chart-topping podcaster. With Cindy Lou and Max by his side, join The Grinch each week as he stubbornly refuses the joys of the season, cozies up to his celebrity guests — and…

1
David Axelrod on The Trump Transition 40:48

23d ago40:48

40:48

Donald Trump's Cabinet selection is about as chaotic as we expected it to be. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name for Attorney General after a number of Republican Senators expressed concern with the pick. We're joined by David Axelrod, who says that Republicans in the Senate have more power than you might expect. David also examines how Democrats, the pa…

1
Democrat Support for Handgun Ban Plummets; Gun Owner Gender Gap Narrows 54:12

24d ago54:12

54:12

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I break down new gun polling data from Gallup showing a massive decrease in support for a handgun ban amongst Democrats. We also unpack Gallup data showing a shrinking gender gap, but a widening partisan gap, among gun owners. Finally, we wrap up with a pair of significant gun-related state Supreme Court ruling…

1
Punchbowl's John Bresnahan on Guns in the Next Congress 51:43

29d ago51:43

51:43

This week, we have a new Senate Majority Leader and are getting a clearer picture of what the next Congress will look like. But what will it do on gun policy? To answer that question, we have one of the preeminent congressional reporters on the show. Punchbowl co-founder John Bresnahan has been covering Congress for decades now. He knows all of the…

1
David Weigel - Political Writer for Semafor 54:10

1M ago54:10

54:10

The incoming Trump administration has started announcing some of the picks for the incoming Cabinet. Somehow, they're worse than you could have imagined. We break down some of the unsavory characters who might be making policy in Trump's second term with political reporter for Semafor, David Weigel. Weigel also explains how the right wing media eco…

1
Please Be Serious 29:35

1M ago29:35

29:35

On the pod this week we get serious about unseriousness. The crew discusses lookalike contests, “The Eczema Experience,” tinned fish pop-ups, intergenerational grudges held by crows, ‘joy sobriety’, and the growing lack of seriousness in otherwise once serious settings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Judge Strikes Down Illinois AR-15 Ban; NSSF Asks Trump to Close Biden's Gun Office 48:09

1M ago48:09

48:09

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I cover a significant new ruling out of Illinois, where a federal judge found that the state's ban on so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is unconstitutional. We also cover the growing chorus of voices calling on President-elect Trump to dismantle President Biden's Office of Gun Violence Prev…

1
What Does the 2024 Election Mean for Gun Policy? (Ft. Cam Edwards) 51:46

1M ago51:46

51:46

We have the topline election results, but we don't know everything for sure yet. Many House and some Senate races have yet to be called. Still, what we do have is enough to give us a pretty good idea of what will be possible for gun policy under the new Republican Federal trifecta led by Donald Trump. That's why we've brought back Cam Edwards of Be…

1
Norm Ornstein on the Coming Hellscape 50:58

1M ago50:58

50:58

The nightmare we all feared came true last week. Donald Trump has been elected for a second term as President of the United States. We're joined by our friend Norm Ornstein to make sense of it all. If we take Trump at his word, we should expect mass deportations, economic instability, further deterioration of women’s rights, attacks on public educa…

1
Gun-Rights Advocates Win Big on Election Night But With Some Caveats 50:41

1M ago50:41

50:41

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I breakdown what we know so far about the results of the 2024 election, including the likely balance of power in Congress. We cover what that might mean for gun policy and how the national gun groups did in influencing that outcome with their election spending. We also cover a couple of key gun-related down bal…

1
Behind the Memes with @NolitaDirtbag 43:13

1M ago43:13

43:13

Alex Hartman is the mind behind Nolita Dirtbag, a “niché and nouveau riche” meme page covering greater-downtown Manhattan (and sometimes Brooklyn). We chat about spending $180 before 11AM on “day in the life” videos, Dirtbag messaging hierarchies, why you shouldn’t put the place of your employment in your IG bio, bringing showmanship back to restau…

1
What Could Trump or Harris Actually do on Gun Policy? (Ft. The Trace's Jennifer Mascia) 58:02

1M ago58:02

58:02

The election is just days away. In fact, it's the day after this episode is released to the public. The time to cover the daily developments on the campaign trail is over. Now, it's time to look ahead at what the realistic expectations on gun policy should be for a potential Trump or Harris administration. To do that, I've brought somebody from an …

1
ELECTION PREVIEW with Molly Jong-Fast, Mark Leibovich, Jessica Taylor, & Jeremy Peters 1:17:33

2M ago1:17:33

1:17:33

Live from New York, it’s our pre-election podcast. After a contentious and exhausting election cycle, we have made it to Election Day. Last week, we gathered with some of our favorite guests to help us understand what we might see in the coming days and weeks. Can we finally vanquish Donald Trump? Can he actually win? And if so, what does that mean…

1
Which Races Gun Groups Are Spending On; DC Circuit Upholds Magazine Ban 51:45

2M ago51:45

51:45

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I cover the big races where the national gun groups are pouring their money into before polls close on election night. We also discuss an interesting new ruling upholding Washington DC’s magazine ban on unique grounds. We wrap up by covering Kamala Harris’ recent comments in a podcast appearance attempting to c…

1
Waiting for Our Juul Stipends 28:18

2M ago28:18

28:18

This week on the pod, the crew discusses missing out on Juul settlement money, Philip Morris’s new status as a growth stock, Addison Rae, “pasteurized vice,” (more) slop, recalls, betting on the election on Polymarket, “the Nutter B*tter trap,” and why sometimes you should just lean on your product and stop trying to be culturally relevant. Hosted …

1
Hot Air's Ed Morrissey on the Gun Money Race as the Finish Line Approaches 1:05:57

2M ago1:05:57

1:05:57

This week, we're discussing the final fundraising numbers we're going to see from the gun groups ahead of the election. To do that, we've got Hot Air's Ed Morrissey back on the show. He said he isn't surprised to see the gun-control groups outraising the NRA and its allies. He argued it would probably take several more cycles for former NRA donors …

1
WaPo’s Catherine Rampell on how the Economy is Helping Harris (A Little) 44:36

2M ago44:36

44:36

The economy is always one of the most important issues in any election. So how does Kamala Harris's vision for America's economy stack up against Donald Trump's? Catherine Rampell from the Washington Post joins us to discuss. Trump's economic plan seems to revolve around tariffs, an issue that he seems to have a hard time understanding. Not only th…

1
Old Clips Give New Insight into Harris Gun Views; House Control Hinges on One Fight Over AR-15 Ban 49:24

2M ago49:24

49:24

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I cover a pair of resurfaced clips from Kamala Harris’ tenure as San Francisco DA that show her taking a more pragmatic view of the Second Amendment and school security policy. We also discuss how party control of the House of Representatives next year could come down to a race in Maine where an incumbent Democ…

1
The Fallout From the NRA's Animal Cruelty Story (Ft. Cam Edwards) 45:25

2M ago45:25

45:25

This week, we unfortunately have to talk about a story that comes with a content warning. News of NRA CEO Doug Hamlin's involvement in the torture and killing of a cat during college resurfaced on Monday. Hamlin has denied "direct" involvement, but contemporaneous reporting indicates his role was more than ancillary. Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms joi…

1
Laura Bassett of The Cut and Sarah Zhang of The Atlantic 40:32

2M ago40:32

40:32

This election could all come down to abortion. Laura Bassett from The Cut and Sarah Zhang from The Atlantic have both been writing about the issue and how it's playing into this election. Sarah's recent piece in The Atlantic examined how Idaho's draconian abortion laws have set the state's healthcare back for women. Laura has been writing about the…

1
Bruen Decision Hits New Level of Popularity; SCOTUS Vacates Pro-Gun Ruling 55:18

2M ago55:18

55:18

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I cover new polling that finds the Supreme Court's Bruen decision is more popular than ever. We also talk about the Court's recent move to grant, vacate, and remand a lower court decision that sided with pro-gun plaintiffs. We briefly touch on some recent ad spending blitzes from gun groups on both sides of the…

1
Puck's Lauren Sherman on Victoria's Secret, Fashion Crime and What's Next for Luxury 59:32

2M ago59:32

59:32

Lauren Sherman is the Chief Fashion Correspondent at Puck and co-author of “Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon.” We chat about Eric Adams’ controversial hat, the return of the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, bralettes, OMNY, luxury fashion woes, finding out about how the stock market works, her son thinking R.E.M…

1
Does Kamala's Glock Matter? (Ft. The Bulwark's Tim Miller) 53:50

2M ago53:50

53:50

This week, we're taking a closer look at Kamala Harris's recent gun messaging. That's why we have Tim Miller of The Bulwark on the show. He's a Republican strategist turned Never Trumper who wants Harris to win but isn't afraid to be honest about whether her campaign is going in a direction that makes sense. On her recent turn to talking about owni…

1
Frank Foer and David Rothkopf on Israel’s Wars in Gaza and Lebanon…and Nobel Climate Scientist Michael Mann on the Hurricanes 48:59

2M ago48:59

48:59

It's been a year since the horrific attack in Israel that set off the current wars in the Middle East. Frank Foer from The Atlantic and David Rothkopf from The Daily Beast to talk about the painful year and what happens moving forward. If a ceasefire is worked out, what is the future of Gaza and how will it rebuild? What political price is America …

1
SCOTUS Hears ‘Ghost Gun’ Case, Takes up Smith & Wesson's Fight with Mexico 47:06

2M ago47:06

47:06

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I recap how oral arguments over the ATF’s reclassification of unfinished firearms parts kits went this week before the Supreme Court. We also discuss the justices’ decision to take up the case over Mexico’s lawsuit against the American gun industry later this term. Then, we turn to the politics behind Kamala Ha…

1
The Murder Rate Nosedives (with Crime Data Analyst Jeff Asher) 34:23

2M ago34:23

34:23

This week, we're looking at crime data and the unprecedented drop in the murder rate. That's why we have Jeff Asher from AH Datalytics back on the show. He has been following and reporting crime data for decades, and he explains how dramatic the downturn in murder is compared to the incredible spike we saw just a few years ago. He said 2023 saw a r…

1
Tim Miller and Aaron Blake on the VP Debate and Jack Smith's Filing 37:13

2M ago37:13

37:13

It's been a wild week and we're lucky to have Tim Miller from The Bulwark and Aaron Blake from the Washington Post to help break it all down. Special counsel Jack Smith's case against Donald Trump was unsealed this week. We got the best look yet at Trump's behavior on January 6th. It's filled with criminal activity and contradicts many of Trump's p…

1
VP Candidates Square Off on Firearms Policy; Gun Sales Ramp Up as Election Nears 38:58

2M ago38:58

38:58

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I recap the Vice Presidential debate, where the candidates at the top of the ticket were asked substantive gun policy questions for the first time all season. We also unpack the latest monthly gun sale data showing a trend of rising sales heading into the election. We wrap up with a discussion on the Massachuse…

1
California Gun-Rights Lawyer on 20 Years of Fighting Kamala Harris in Court 39:37

3M ago39:37

39:37

This week, we broke a major story about Kamala Harris's record backing a total handgun ban in San Francisco. As District Attorney in 2005, Harris supported Proposition H. It banned the sale, purchase, and even possession of pistols by nearly every city resident. The measure never went into effect, but only because gun-rights activists won the court…

1
Jamelle Bouie - Columnist for the New York Times 41:40

3M ago41:40

41:40

With so much happening on the campaign trail, we turn to Jamelle Bouie for his first visit to the podcast. We discuss Donald Trump and JD Vance's attacks on the truth with their harmful comments on Haitian immigrants and their lies about abortion. We look at different Senate races around the country and what they could mean for the next President. …

1
Harris's Past Support for Handgun Confiscation Comes to Light; Gun-Control Groups Blowout NRA in Fundraising 50:23

3M ago50:23

50:23

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about Kamala Harris' past support for a San Francisco ballot measure that banned the sale and possession of handguns during her time as the city's District Attorney and what bearing that might have in the current election. We also talk about new FEC records showing the NRA trailing the national gun right…

1
Could You Pass a Cultural Litmus Test? 38:59

3M ago38:59

38:59

The crew discuss the pros and cons of gatekeeping, Chappell Roan v. superfans, why customized beverages are for children, and what the Broadway play ‘JOB’ gets right and wrong about the consequences of being “extremely online.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Has the 2024 Gun Debate Already Ended? (Ft. Cam Edwards) 51:37

3M ago51:37

51:37

This week, we're turning our attention to the presidential race. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris seem to have found their message on guns and are sticking to it. Assassination attempts, a major school shooting, and the race tightening haven't moved voters. Neither has any of that moved the candidates themselves. So, we've got Bearing Arms editor Cam…

1
Dems Top Election Lawyer Marc Elias on the Legal Battles Ahead 44:50

3M ago44:50

44:50

Trump and the GOP are working harder to disenfranchise voters NOW than they were in 2020. They are no longer a majoritarian party and want to disrupt our electoral process as much as they can. How will we preserve the integrity of this election? What are some of the ways that Trump and GOP lawyers will attempt to derail the will of the people? Our …

1
Voters Give Edge to Harris on 'Gun Violence', Collins Introduces Military 'Red Flag' Bill 49:33

3M ago49:33

49:33

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I talk about new polling data showing voters trust Kamala Harris more on the issue of "gun violence" despite ranking the issue low on their list of priorities this election. We also talk about the political implications of young women moving way to the left on the issue of guns. Finally, we wrap up with a discu…

1
How to Blow Up a Client Brief with PlayLab, Inc. 47:08

3M ago47:08

47:08

Archie Lee Coates IV is the co-founder of PLAYLAB, INC., an extremely multidisciplinary creative studio “with no focus.” They’ve worked with a range of clients, including Virgil Abloh, American Express, and Post Malone. We discuss the lost art of pranks, Charles Eames, Archie’s upcoming studio album, why you can’t focus too much on data and metrics…

1
Semafor's Dave Weigel on the Debate and Harris's Handgun 1:02:22

3M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

This week, we're reacting to the debate. That's why I've got one of the top political reporters in the country on the show. Dave Weigel is a writer for Semafor, who runs their Americana newsletter. He has been covering national politics across major outlets for decades now. He is one of the best-sourced reporters out there. He said Kamala Harris br…

1
NYT’s Jeremy Peters on Trump’s Bad Debate 35:33

3M ago35:33

35:33

Jeremy Peters from the NYT joins us to recap the wild debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. It was a complete meltdown for Trump while Harris delivered strong messages on abortion, democracy and Trump's crowd sizes. Trump rambled, made baseless allegations and looked terrible. Even Fox News had to admit that Trump lost the debate badly. So…

1
NRA Board Adopts Reform Plan; Polling Shows Increased Support for Gun Control 48:38

3M ago48:38

48:38

Contributing writer Jake Fogleman and I discuss my time in Texas covering the NRA's latest board meeting, where the group came to an agreement on a reform plan but failed to overhaul its legal strategy after a marathon executive session. We also discuss new corruption allegations against the group in a recently filed lawsuit from a former employee,…

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