Grounded with Jon Tester & Maritsa Georgiou

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!

An episode dedicated to the Citizens United decision of 2010 and its impacts on the way our political system works today. It’s estimated the campaign spending in former Sen. Tester’s most recent 2024 race neared $300 million, a huge departure from the $27.5 million spent during his first Senate race in 2006. We talk with the president of End Citizens United, an organization founded in 2015 that aims to reform campaign finance in the United States. We dig into the decision itself, the effects on today's campaigns and what people can do to demand more transparency in political spending. 

Veteran journalist Terry Moran joins Grounded to talk about life after his departure from ABC News. We chat about what he’s seeing on the ground in Springfield, Ohio— home to a large population of Haitian immigrants trying to figure out what’s next since the Trump administration revoked their temporary protected status. Where do they go from here? How can the rest of us help? Plus, Moran takes us inside his notable (and at times combative) interview with President Trump and the massive pivot his life took after a late night post on social media. 

“I do not understand this adhesive that holds them so tight when they know that things are wrong.”

Former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot (and former chair of the RNC) talks with JT and MG about getting booted from the Montana Republican Party after speaking out against Donald Trump, when he thinks the viciousness in politics took a hard turn, and his continued efforts to speak out and be engaged.

Plus, JT and MG break down new rulings by the Senate parliamentarian that reject a section of the GOP budget bill that would have mandated the sale of public lands. 

Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin (who served alongside military in Iraq) of Michigan joins JT and MG to unpack the events that unfolded in Iran over the weekend, where we go from here, ideas for the future of the Democratic Party and her recent spicy exchange with Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth. Plus, a little love for Detroit and Minnesota.

Grounded gets spicy with our friend Katie Phang, a former prosecutor, longtime legal analyst and former host of the Katie Phang Show. We chat about Iran, the Tucker Carlson v. Ted Cruz video, the necessary evolution of informative media and why Katie thinks there’s still a measure of respect for the Judicial Branch. If you’ve found yourself thinking you want more profanity from Grounded, this is the episode for you!

We had planned to solely chat with former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn for this episode, but something happened Wednesday night that prompted us to add another guest to the mix. Dunn and JT share some behind the scenes anecdotes about Jan. 6, 2021, and their response to the Trump administration calling the LA protesters insurrectionists. We also talk to Land Tawney with the American Hunters and Anglers Action Network about new language in the Big, Beautiful Bill that would sell off public lands.

We tried something new in episode 26 by having a LIVE conversation with Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, America’s favorite historian. We cover the unrest in Los Angeles, the public Elon Musk/Donald Trump feud and the defining moments she thinks will be remembered in future history books. Plus, what keeps her up at night? What gives her hope? How does she decompress? You’ll hear it all on this special extended edition of Grounded.

In the 25th episode of Grounded, fellow Montanan and Pearl Jam co-founder Jeff Ament joins JT and MG to talk politics, music and Big Sandy, Montana. We ask about the viral moment when his bandmate Eddie Vedder defended Bruce Springsteen against attacks from President Trump, the concert poster that landed the Secret Service at his door, and the way his upbringing and college years shaped his viewpoints. Look for bonus music content on our Substack! 

https://groundedpodcast.substack.com/

JT & MG talk to journalists Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes who just co-authored their fourth book together about the 2024 presidential campaign cycle. They cover insider perspectives from both the Biden and Trump campaigns, the debate that unleashed a summer of political chaos and what happens now as Democrats try to figure out their path forward in the middle of a Trump 2.0 presidency.