Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh joins JT & MG to hash out the headlines over coffee. We talk about his transition from a moderate Republican to a Tea Party activist to an Independent and now, a Democrat. Plus, his proposal for a national strike to fight back against the Trump administration, his frustration with lawmakers, and his pitch for a Tester/Walsh 2028 ticket. Why Work Truck? Listen to find out!

The headlines about Jeffrey Epstein keep coming and we asked high-profile attorney Gloria Allred to help us unpack what’s happening. Gloria has represented dozens of Epstein’s survivors. What about that list? When did the allegations first come on her radar? How are the survivors holding up with so much renewed focus on Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell? What the hell is in those files? And will we ever see them released? We talk it out with someone who not only knows the case, but who’s also been an iconic player in our judicial system. Plus, Gloria raises her own questions about the case, including some we hadn't thought of.

As pressure mounts over the Epstein files, the Trump administration is leaning on an old target: former President Barack Obama. Ned Price, who served in various government roles related to national security and diplomacy, joins Grounded to discuss the latest accusations of treason being thrown at Obama from the Trump administration related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. What’s the end game? Where do previous investigations fit into the conversation? What do accusations like this mean for our national security and international relations? We break it all down.

How can the U.S. government best fund our military and defense? It’s not just a political issue—it’s a national security issue. On this episode dedicated to our defense budget and national security, we’re joined by former Navy Under Secretary Erik Raven and Kate Käufer, both of whom served as advisers to Jon Tester when he served as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense. We discuss how our current defense budget compares to years past, the big security risks facing us as a nation, artificial intelligence, and areas of hope looking ahead.

The focus on the Epstein files continues to intensify, despite President Trump trying to talk about literally anything else (enter the Washington Commanders). Longtime political analyst and independent journalist Chris Cillizza joins JT & MG to discuss what this means for MAGA as loyalists start saying things like, “Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies.” Could this be the “thing” that causes Trump to lose his base? Plus, Colbert, Hunter Biden and the further fracturing of legacy journalism.

Former Trump “fixer” Michael Cohen joined JT & MG for an unfiltered live conversation about the Jeffrey Epstein files, the fracture inside MAGA and what Donald Trump’s end game. The chat became lively many times, including when talking about Congress, beef with both political parties and the idea of a town hall in Butte, America.

Ryan Busse, a former firearms executive who ran for governor in Montana, joined JT & MG for a live coffee chat about the big headlines from over the weekend. FEMA, fury over Epstein, cuts to medicaid, public lands, immigration… we hit on a lot. Here’s a spoiler: Tester says Congress needs to do its job.

This episode was recorded live on the morning of July 14, 2025.

Everyone’s favorite Senate bromance reunites for this lively episode of Grounded. Despite repeatedly saying he doesn’t like Jon Tester, Sen. Cory Booker joins us to chat about the vibe in the U.S. Senate, the record-breaking filibuster, and what it will take to win as a Democrat in 2026. Booker talks about his efforts to be more creative when it comes to good trouble and what everyone can do to raise awareness. Plus, he tries to convince us to turn Grounded in a lifestyle show.

Nothing was off limits in this episode with Miles Taylor, who was once a part of the Trump administration and was later exposed as the author of a 2018 NYT op-ed under the pen name, “Anonymous.” We talked about Taylor’s initial concerns working for Trump 1.0, what’s different in Trump 2.0, retribution for even associating with dissenters and more. Taylor gives us an in-depth view of life in Trump’s crosshairs, his fears about the potential use of sophisticated counterterrorism technology against political foes, and why he thinks Elon Musk has the power to stop political retaliation.

As the Senate participates in a “vote-a-rama,” we unpack what’s happening with former Sec. of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, including his top three issues with the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” How does Mayor Pete stay engaged AND grounded? Plus, the announcement from Sen. Thom Tillis that he’s not running for reelection, air travel concerns and the 2028 race for the White House. PB & J(T) weigh in!

We recorded this episode live on our Substack channel, so please excuse some of the glitches!