The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

1. 1
   Number 1: Small Potatoes (Live – on tape – at Lakeshore Progressives)

   On our radar this week… For the first time in our nearly six years and 295 episodes we’re on the road, delighted to be in Grand Haven with good people of Progressive Lakeshore, a nonpartisan, women-led initiative working to connect, inform & grow the progressive community. Absentee ballots go into the mail in just 16 days … unless Trump’s hand-picked Supreme Court majority decides to ignore the U.S. Constitution AGAIN! Trump has filed still another appeal with the Court demanding that the Post Office decides who gets their votes counted. We’re also getting ready for this week’s Trumpapalooze in Dallas, a two-day tribute to America’s first and only criminal convict President. If he can stay awake, Trump will speak both nights of the gathering to an audience of people who 1) had nothing better to do, and 2) were willing to pay a minimum of $25,000 for the privilege of being in the presence of the nation’s chief executive/poopie pants napper. One of the few Michigan Republicans on hand will be Senate candidate Mike Rogers who will no doubt use his podium time to lob anti-Muslim insults at Abdul El Sayed. Michigan Democrats will take the opportunity to reinforce the link between Rogers and a President who currently has a 30 percent approval rating in the state … with a whopping 67% saying in the EPIC-MRA Poll that Trump sucks. Also on the speakers list: 10th district congressional candidate Michael Bouchard Jr. A new study finds that Michigan households are paying an average of $5,600, more than anywhere in the nation, since new tariffs began to take effect in January 2025. During that period, importers of goods bound for Michigan paid an estimated $23 billion in tariffs, the third largest of any state – behind only California and Texas. The analysis by the conservative National Taxpayers Union Foundation found that the state’s auto industry is particularly vulnerable to the tariffs because of its reliance on imported steel, aluminum and parts subject to tariffs. About $10 billion of Michigan’s tariff cost was on cars and trucks, and another $5 billion in tariffs was on auto parts, the report said. Top of mind for everyone: retail prices. We paid $4+/gallon on the way over to Grand Haven. The price of diesel fuel – which impacts the price of anything that has to be delivered – is averaging $5.75/gallon, an all-time record high. Airline tickets are up 20% from a year ago, hotels up around 10%. Even a Whopper is a whopping $6.19 at your local Burger King…but at least the lettuce won’t give us projectile diarrhea. Trump’s wars continue unabated with no signs of peace with either Iran or Canada. Meanwhile, Trump’s ace team of real estate salesmen (Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff) spent some time in Moscow getting their marching orders from Putin. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio, believed to be the alleged Secretary of State, has been seen about as often in Washington as Mitch McConnell or Melania. The share of Americans who associate themselves with the Democratic Party has grown significantly over the past year, according to data from Gallup. The shift, which signals the party’s largest advantage since 2008, is the latest sign of backlash against Republicans and the president ahead of the midterm elections. The latest data shows Democrats with a 10-percentage-point advantage over Republicans when voters are asked which party they identify with and when independent voters are asked which party they lean toward. We’re still 2-plus weeks from the start of voting. All the signs point to the Blue Wave we’ve been predicting for nearly two years but, as we learned over the weekend in Ann Arbor, it ain’t over until it’s over … and even then it may not be over. Donald Trump is capable of seeing a losing score when the election is over, and then come up with a political Hail Mary. Mark is one of the legal team working to anticipate and head off a Trumpian coup and provides some insight into the preparations. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

   September 10, 2026·44min
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2. 2
   Number 2: Heads We Lose, Tails We Still Lose (Guest: Mike Madrid)

   On our radar this week… Yes, the Donald Trump one-dollar coin is now in circulation. It’s just a matter of time until the faux gold coin is available in a special gold case exclusively on the website More Trump Crap for Sale Dot Com. The fall campaign is underway in Michigan, with ballots going in the mail beginning in just 3 weeks … unless the Supreme Court backs Donald Trump’s clearly unconstitutional plan to have the Post Office decide who votes. Both Abdul El Sayed and Jocelyn Benson have small leads according to the latest polling from EPIC-MRA and MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. The poll by our longtime podcast supporter Bernie Porn shows both Benson and El-Sayed with four-point leads … at the edge of the poll’s margin of error. Fully two-thirds of voters surveyed give Donald Trump a negative job approval rating, with 63% saying the economy has gotten worse under Trump. MSU’s polling shows Benson with a 9-point lead, and El-Sayed leading by 5. Those numbers come even before the impact of Trump’s temper-tantrum tariffs on Canadian goods kick in, and Canada is united politically behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s hardball response to a President he calls a bully. VIDEO – “Blame Canada” (Lincoln Project) The EPIC-MRA poll also shows overwhelming opposition in Michigan to data centers. 73% of Michigan voters oppose “current federal tax breaks and other federal policies that were put in place to encourage and speed up the development of data centers” – including 67% of respondents who had a favorable view of Trump 62% of Michigan voters oppose “the development of data center facilities in Michigan” State Democrats formalized their statewide ticket over the weekend in a convention where the name Donald Trump dominated … and not in a good way. One major concern voiced by Democrats: Trump’s ongoing campaign to create chaos over the voting process. Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, who is running to be Michigan’s chief elections officer as Secretary of State, made it clear that Michigan will be ready for whatever Trump throws at us. One of the potential voter suppression tactics on the list of potential Trump illegal abuses: sending the military the polls on election day in violation of federal law to intimidate voters or seize ballots. Senator Elissa Slotkin says the Army Chief of Staff has assured her in writing that it won’t happen. Mike Rogers may have added to his woes by backing the Trump war on Canada. In an interview on Fox News, he tap danced around the issue … claiming Trump’s economic battle with our neighbors is actually good for the state, something denied by Democrats and the leaders of the auto industry. John James says he’ll eliminate the state’s flat-rate income tax in phases. There would be two major impacts: gutting every state agency including road and bridge maintenance, State Police, education, prisons and public health… and giving a huge tax cut to Betsy DeVos and the state’s other wealthiest people. Republicans will hold a Trump Tribute convention in Dallas this week, with most elected Republicans skipping the event. The highlights: speeches by Trump and J.D. Vance … both speeches being delivered at the same time as week one NFL games. In news of the Trump property management agenda: an announcement that work will begin in two weeks on the Arc D’Trump, still another monument to the real Trump Derangement Syndrome. A victory for Michigan voters, an unsuccessful petition drive to require every Michigan voter to re-register and prove their citizenship – was back in court. Mark represented opponents of that ballot proposal and once again and won! He fills us in on the details. Another election related case went into court this week over the issue of fusion voting. Jeff is the lead plaintiff in the case, Mark is his attorney which means our listeners get the full inside story. Joining the podcast this week is political strategist and consultant Mike Madrid. Mike is known for his expertise in Latino voting trends. He co-founded the Lincoln Project and has worked with both Republican and Democratic candidates, while also serving as a lecturer at various universities and authoring the book “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy.” He is the host of the weekly podcast “MikeDrop”. Next Monday marks the 144th annual observance of Labor Day. Labor Day began in the late 19th century as a response to the harsh working conditions faced by American laborers. The first unofficial Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. This event featured a parade where thousands of workers marched to advocate for better working conditions and fair wages. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894, recognizing the contributions of workers to the nation’s strength and prosperity. It’s being celebrated in Detroit with a the traditional parade which begins at 9 a.m. and the final day of the Detroit Jazz Festival in Hart Plaza. Some news about the podcast. We’ll be recording our first-ever podcast with an audience next week. Jeff and I will bring the podcast to the Lakeshore Progressives in Grand Haven on Tuesday,. If you would like to be a part of the audience, send us an email and we’ll get you the details. Our email: [email protected]. Perhaps the most iconic of all of Detroit’s Labor Day events was 66 years ago, when then-Senator John Kennedy spoke to a massive crowd in Cadillac Square, immortalized by iconic photos by legendary Detroit Free Press photographer Tony Spina. Link to the text of JFK’s speech. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

   September 05, 2026·1h 4min
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3. 3
   Number 3: Canadian Bacon Might Fry Republicans

   On our radar this week… Jeff takes a week off and just like that, Trump starts another war! This time with him smack-ass in the middle of it. Jeff and his bride were in Canada’s Maritimes and was attacked with Canadian kindness, poutine, real beef and not diseased Argentinian horse meat, the best lobsters and oysters in the hemisphere, and the inability of artisans and merchants to ship their goods to their traditional U.S. partners – or even for me to ship purchases home, due to the economically illiterate tariffs and self-destructive imbecilic trade war with our closest cousins. Back here in the U.S.A.: Trump’s war could really cost him, eh? Senate and gubernatorial races in Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine and Ohio are already being impacted by the economic turmoil spinning off Trump’s latest stupidity. Too bad for John James and Mike Rogers, Porky POTUS spent much of the week focused on his issue Number One: naming things after him, including: Another effort to put his name on the Kennedy Center despite a court order, threatening to tear down the Center if he doesn’t get his way; Stripping the name of a World War II hero off a new aircraft carrier, reportedly instead renaming it for him, while ordering the Navy to spend billions on redesigns of carriers so they looked like World War II carriers and revert to outdated steam-powered launch systems; Inscribing a plaque on his under-construction helipad with his signature, clearly delighted that the new granite slab outside the White House will be a great place for cocktail parties. Reportedly deciding to use his $400-million political bankroll to run an advertising blitz on the Greatness of Trump … instead of directly supporting Republican candidates. But Michigan Republicans aren’t joining the Trump Name Game. At their weekend state nominating convention, none of their candidates for state office mentioned Trump even once. Their focus was putting lipstick on the pig that is the GOP record on the economy. I wish them all smashing luck as they contort themselves into cartoonish pretzels in their futile efforts to avoid being fatally tethered to Donald Trump’s venereal disease-level job approval. State Republicans are also reeling from what appears to be a growing Blue Wave. The non-partisan Cook Political Report has moved two Michigan congressional races away from the GOP: in the Macomb County based 10th district, from Leans Republican to Tossup … and in the Saginaw Bay region 8th from “Lean Democratic” to “Likely Democratic.” State Democrats are sharpening their verbal axes as we approach the traditional Labor Day launch of the campaign. The Canada Trade War drew immediate fire from Lt. Governor nominee Winnie Brinks, and 10th district congressional candidate Christina Hines. Senator Elissa Slotkin, in a speech to UAW leadership, said a longer term threat posed by the Trade War is Canada’s growing partnership with China on sales of EV’s … and Trump then allowing those cars across the Gordie Howe Bridge. Abdul El-Sayed is highlighting the obvious challenge facing Mike Rogers in the Senate campaign: does he risk angering Donald Trump breaking with him on issues beginning with the Trump-created Iran war, and the emerging hot-button issue of Data Centers. But the possibly most ominous development of the week came from the very Trumpy Supreme Court, which has started to open the door to a federal takeover of elections. Without ruling on the merits of Trump’s Post Office deciding who gets to vote, Chief Justice John Roberts gave Trump permission to begin implementing his executive order. It was all part of a bizarre week that can probably be summed up in two words: Lake America, Trump’s latest Sharpie-labeled change to world maps. And we have more developments on state ballot proposals for November – both of those stories directly involving Mark. He has been on a winning streak in his election-related battles, and provides an update: what’s in, what’s out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I Will Always Love You” The feeling is mutual. Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

   August 27, 2026·27min
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   Number 4: Travels with Natalie (Guest: Representative Debbie Dingell)

   On our radar this week… Another bad week for the 80-year-old President as he gets roasted by Jon Ossoff with a riff that mentioned Natalie and infuriated Trump, setting off a social media frenzy with a​ttacks on the Georgia senator along with CNN and the reporter who asked Trump about the mention of his consta​​nt companion. Trump’s priority issue this week seems to be as construction boss for the White House. He’s ordered his Justice Department to appeal a halt to further construction of his gold-encrusted ballroom; gave the press a guided tour of his granite helicopter pad construction project; used the tour to promote campaign contributor Scotts Turf Builder; attacked still another female reporter for asking him a question; and saw more of his endorsed candidates lose in their primaries. The Democratic Party’s statewide ticket is now complete, with Jocelyn Benson choosing state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks as her running mate. It’s the first-ever two-woman top-of-the-ticket in Michigan history … running against an all-male Republican ticket. John James choice of state House Oversight Committee chair Jay DeBoyer is drawing heat over his refusal to investigate alleged widespread sexual abuse of children at Interlochen. DeBoyer says it’s a criminal matter and he criticizes Attorney General Nessel for not launching an investigation, overlooking the fact that Nessel has told local law enforcement the resources of her department are available to assist them in any way useful. Our friend Mark the Lawyer had two big wins this week. One could change the outcome of a city election, the other protects voter rights. We know now that there will be two proposals on the November ballot. Proposal one is the constitutionally required vote on whether to rewrite Michigan’s constitution which we discussed last week. Proposal 2 would, if enacted, put tight limits on corporate campaign contributions from state utilities and companies doing $250,000 or more in contracts with the state. The Democratic National Committee has made it official: Michigan will be in the first band of presidential primary elections, fifth on the list of primaries and the first large battleground state in the mix. The parade of wannabe presidents has already begun with a high visibility visit from Gavin Newsom, and the announcement that J.D. Pritzker will headline a major state party fundraiser in September. We can add to the mix the potential candidacy of two Michigan Democrats. (Neither Pete Buttigieg or Elissa Slotkin say they are running, but they are talking and acting like candidates.) Joining the podcast this week is perhaps the best political analyst in the state: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. She’s in her 5th term representing portions of southeast Michigan. She is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where she leads on critical issues including affordable and accessible health care, clean energy and water, domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience, and protecting our wildlife and natural resources. Debbie Dingell is part of one of the most remarkable stories of a family’s public service in U.S. history. There has been a Dingell in the U.S. House of Representatives for 94 years: John Dingell Senior was first elected in the 1932 Roosevelt landslide and served for 22 years. His son John Jr. is a legend, serving a record 60 years. Upon his retirement in 2015 he was succeeded by his wife Debbie. A hallmark of their service has been a proposal for a national health insurance system, first introduced by John Sr. in 1933 and re-introduced since at every Congress by the father and then the son. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

   August 21, 2026·47min
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   Number 5: Gaslighting Beats Having Actual Accomplishments (Guests: Con-Con Opponents Mark Fisk and John Sellek)

   On our political radar this week… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Republican general election strategy has been launched. It’s a 3-legged stool of misdirection: Gaslight voters on the economy, taxes and Trump’s failed war against Iran Accuse any and all Democrats of wanting to bring Communism to America Constantly remind voters that Abdul El-Sayed is a Muslim which makes him a terrorist – the 2026 version of Trump’s claim that Obama was born in Kenya Trump gave Democrats another campaign talking point this week with a bonkers Executive Order urging fewer vaccinations for children, something that doctors are vehemently saying will cause the preventable deaths of children. Trump’s basis for the E.O? Some people have been saying things! By “some people”, he mostly means Bobby Kennedy Jr. and the anti-vax conspiracy cabal. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, State Rep. Julie Brixie and Eric Schneidewind of Protect Our Care Michigan State Democrats have kicked off their counter-campaign, focusing on the actual state of the economy, healthcare, abortion rights and Trump’s unprecedented corruption. They’ve labeled their the gubernatorial portion of their campaign “The John James: Out for Himself” tour. (Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) The last few days have shown that every vote, does in fact, matter. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed’s margin over Haley Stevens was 0.95 percent. In Wisconsin, DSA gubernatorial candidate Francesca Wong lost to David Crowley by 0.5 percent, just 3,706 votes. And in Indiana, a recount this last week in a hotly contested Republican state Senate primary was decided by 3 votes. John James has announced he will work to protect Michigan from the half-dozen or so transgender girls participating in high school sports. According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, every year one or two transgender girls apply for a waiver to join a team. According to the MHSAA, nearly 300-thousand Michigan boys and girls are on their school teams this year. No word yet on what James has planned for the other 299-thousand. In Michigan, we’ll be voting on whether to rewrite the state’s constitution through a constitutional convention.That’s because the current constitution, adopted 62 years ago, requires a vote on a having a Con-Con every 16 years. We’ve voted on the question 3 times over the years, and each time it was defeated overwhelmingly. A new Con-Con would, without doubt, be batshit crazy. Leaders all across the political spectrum have lined up urging a ‘no’ vote. Mark Fisk and John Sellek Joining the conversation: two leaders in the “Vote No” campaign. Mark Fisk is a partner at Byrum-Fisk Advocacy Communications; John Sellek is CEO of Harbor Strategic Communications. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ VIDEO: Meet the Grandparents! Subscribe to our YouTube channel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is supported by

   August 15, 2026·36min
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