Brogressive Podcast

Max and Dylan talked with Rotimi Adeoye. Rotimi was a Senate Staffer for the former Senator of PA, Bob Casey. Rotimi worked the ACLU and now, is an MSNBC Columnists. He is also lucky enough to be a Philidelphia Eagles fan in 2025.

Beleh, Dylan, Ben, and Max break down the shocking trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers. They kick things off with their real-time reactions to the news and debate whether this marks the start of the post-LeBron era in LA (00:54). The discussion moves to the trade’s ripple effects around the league, including what went wrong for the Mavericks (04:28), potential locker room tensions between LeBron and AD (06:12), and predictions for the Lakers’ next moves before the deadline (11:33).

The crew also dives into other major NBA trade rumors, from the Warriors’ interest in Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson (12:43) to the uncertainty around Jimmy Butler’s future (16:20) and Brandon Ingram’s potential landing spots (18:26).

Switching to politics, they analyze Trump’s new tariff plan, breaking down why it’s economically flawed and how it could backfire on American consumers (19:48). They explore the political motivations behind the move, the impact on U.S. trade relations, and the broader lessons for Democrats on messaging and risk-taking in politics (38:54).

Follow Beleh ⁠@Btoma15⁠, Ben ⁠@BenBartlettt⁠, Max ⁠@MaxLevin⁠, and Brogressive Podcast ⁠@BrogressivePod⁠ on Twitter/X.

Beleh, Max, and special guest Jack Cocchiarella break down the state of Democratic messaging, the Republican overreach, and how the left can build long-term influence in media.

They kick things off by discussing the Democrats’ struggles in digital outreach and why party leaders need to flood the zone with content instead of waiting for media coverage (00:08). The conversation turns to Republican messaging victories, Trump’s TikTok strategy, and why Democrats need to meet voters where they are — including on podcasts like Joe Rogan’s (07:35).

Later, they debate Kamala Harris’ 2028 future, whether Biden dropping out actually saved key Senate races, and how Dems can rebuild their economic narrative after this election (33:19). Wrapping up, Jack lays out why the Republican cultural shift is overblown and why economic hardship — not ideology — drove 2024's results (35:38).

Follow Max ⁠⁠@MaxLevin23⁠⁠, Beleh⁠⁠ @Btoma15⁠⁠ and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

Make sure to check out The Jack Cocchiarella Show on YouTube (@JackCocchiarellaShow) and follow Jack on X (@JDCocchiarella) for more sharp political commentary and insights!

Beleh, Ben, and Dylan break down the divisional round surprises, make their calls for the conference championships, and talk about what’s next for Kamala Harris.

They start by recapping last week’s predictions and current Brogressive prediction league standings (00:07) before digging into the Ravens’ missed chances, the Lions’ collapse, and the Bills' narrow victory over the Ravens. Looking ahead, they preview the conference championships, debating whether Josh Allen and the Bills can finally get past the Chiefs (18:33). They also lock in new Super Bowl picks after last week’s chaos (23:07).

On the political side, the crew talks about the TikTok “ban” and how it turned into a political win for Trump (28:41). They close with a discussion on Kamala Harris — whether she’ll run for governor in 2026, how that could reframe her political future, and what it means for 2028 (29:12).

Follow Beleh ⁠⁠⁠⁠@btoma15⁠, Ben ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠⁠, and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In the 10th episode of the Brogressive Podcast, Ben and Beleh kick things off by reflecting on their playoff predictions, where they went wrong, and what surprised them most from the wildcard round. Beleh shares his firsthand account of attending the Chargers vs. Texans game, describing the Chargers’ devastating collapse, Justin Herbert’s struggles, and the surprisingly welcoming Texans fanbase (00:54).

The conversation transitions into a deeper analysis of what went wrong for the Chargers and what the team needs to improve in the offseason, from bolstering their wide receiver corps to dreaming of adding stars like Tee Higgins or Tyreek Hill (04:44). From there, Ben and Beleh turn their attention to the divisional round, previewing key matchups like Ravens vs. Bills and Rams vs. Eagles while holding themselves (and absent co-hosts Dylan and Luis) accountable for their predictions last week (15:17).

Outside of football, Beleh recounts highlights from his Texas trip, including the unmatched quality of Texas barbecue and his take on the In-N-Out vs. Whataburger debate (09:06). The episode wraps up with a thoughtful discussion on disaster relief politics, the implications of conditioning aid, and the media’s role in shaping public perceptions during crises (26:23).

Follow Beleh⁠⁠⁠ @Btoma15⁠⁠⁠, Ben ⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠, and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

On this episode of the Brogressive Podcast, Beleh and Dylan talk with Bakari Sellers about the Democratic Party’s recent struggles and what lies ahead. They discuss Kamala Harris’s near victory, the cultural and economic challenges shaping elections, and the importance of storytelling in political messaging.

Sellers also shares his thoughts on young leaders like AOC and Pete Buttigieg, the role of social media in shaping political identity, and the need for Democrats to reconnect with voters at the grassroots level. It’s a candid, insightful conversation about the state of progressive politics and the future of Democratic leadership.

Timestamps
(00:00) Introduction and Bakari Sellers’ Background
(02:13) Why Democrats Lost: Kamala’s Campaign and the Bigger Picture
(05:26) Global Trends: Why 2024 Was Tough for Parties in Power
(07:10) Storytelling in Politics: What Democrats Get Wrong
(10:35) Kamala’s Populist Ideas and the Challenges of Being Vice President
(13:44) Crime, Public Perception, and Communicating Effectively
(15:54) How to Talk to Voters Across Political Divides
(19:31) Bakari’s Roots: Lessons From Civil Rights Organizing
(22:12) Young Leaders in Politics: Balancing Fame and Effectiveness
(25:43) AOC, Pete Buttigieg, and the Future of Democratic Leadership
(28:30) Wrapping Up: Bakari’s Vision for the Democratic Party

Follow Bakari Sellers ⁠@Bakari_Sellers on Twitter/X. Follow Beleh ⁠⁠⁠@btoma15 and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Brogressive Podcast, Ben, Beleh, Dylan, and Luis dive into the NFL playoffs, the chaos of Rush Week at UCLA, and rank the most intriguing NFL head coaching vacancies. Dylan, a fraternity president, shares insider stories about fraternity culture, the dynamics of Rush Week, and the political dynamics of frat bros.

The conversation transitions to football as the group breaks down Wild Card Weekend matchups, including a deep dive into the Rams vs. Vikings game, and explores how coaching changes could reshape the NFL.

Follow Beleh ⁠⁠⁠@btoma15, Ben ⁠⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠⁠, and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠⁠.

Timestamps:

In this episode of the Brogressive Podcast, Max Levin and Ben Bartlett sit down with Dhaaruni Sreenivas, a DNC delegate, to discuss the dynamics of the DNC chair race, gender politics, and the challenges of political messaging. The conversation explores healthcare reform, the backlash to the Me Too movement, and the evolving role of social media in shaping political identity. Dhaaruni brings fresh insights into how Democrats can address their struggles with messaging and their image among young men.

Follow Dhaaruni @dhaaruni on Twitter/X. Follow Max ⁠⁠@MaxLevin23⁠⁠, Ben ⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠, and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠.

Timestamps:

In this episode of the Brogressive Podcast, we sit down with journalist and political commentator Matt Yglesias for a deep dive into the shifting political landscape. From Gen Z’s surprising rightward turn and their backlash against “woke” politics to the challenges of maintaining a big tent Democratic coalition, Matt offers his sharp insights and unfiltered takes. We explore how activist groups are reshaping party priorities, why Democrats struggle with messaging on issues like crime and the border, and what lessons the party must learn before 2028. Plus, Matt shares a few rapid-fire takes on movies, the NFL, and more.

Subscribe to Matt's Slow Boring newsletter and listen to his Politix podcast. Follow Matt on Twitter/X @mattyglesias. Follow Max ⁠@MaxLevin23⁠, Beleh⁠ @Btoma15⁠, Ben ⁠@BenBartlettt⁠, David ⁠@michiganstan25⁠, and Brogressive Podcast ⁠@BrogressivePod⁠.

Timestamps:
(00:05:05) - The Rightward Shift of Gen Z Shattering the Illusion of Inevitable Liberal Progress
(00:18:54) - Democratic Policy Missteps and Strategic Errors
(00:22:06) - “The Groups” and Their Increasing Influence on Democratic Politics
(00:50:30) - Joe Rogan, Purity Tests, and Shrinking the Democratic Tent
(01:05:10) - JD Vance and Potential 2028 Candidates
(01:16:55) - Matt’s Favorite Movies of 2024, Thoughts on the Superman Trailer, and NBA Ratings Problems

Follow Beleh⁠⁠ @Btoma15⁠⁠, Ben ⁠⁠@BenBartlettt⁠⁠, and Brogressive Podcast ⁠⁠@BrogressivePod⁠⁠ on Twitter/X.

Timestamps:

(00:03:38) Warriors and Lakers Seasons and Potential Trade Targets

(00:37:47) State of the NBA and Ratings Discourse

(00:49:52) Chargers Talk

(01:03:15) NFL Playoff and MVP Predictions