Pod Save America
{{short description|American political podcast}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox Podcast
| title = Pod Save America
| image = Pod_save_america_logo.jpg
| updates = twice-weekly (Tuesday, and Friday)
| length = 41–96 minutes
| language = English
| presenter = {{ubl|Jon Favreau|Daniel Pfeiffer|Jon Lovett|Tommy Vietor}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|2017|1}}
| related_shows = Pod Save the World
| website = [https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/ Official]
| provider = Crooked Media
| genre = {{Plainlist|1=
}}
}}
Pod Save America is an American progressive{{Cite news|last=Jarvey|first=Natalie|date=January 15, 2021|title=After the Resistance, What's Next for the Crooked Media Podcasting Empire?|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/after-the-resistance-whats-next-for-the-crooked-media-podcasting-empire|access-date=March 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418000758/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/after-the-resistance-whats-next-for-the-crooked-media-podcasting-empire-4114962/|archive-date=April 18, 2022|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Kilkenny|first=Katie|date=August 9, 2024|title=After Walkout, Crooked Media Union Reaches Tentative Deal With 'Pod Save America' Company|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/crooked-media-union-reaches-deal-with-pod-save-america-company-1235970710/|access-date=October 10, 2024|archive-date=October 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007043948/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/crooked-media-union-reaches-deal-with-pod-save-america-company-1235970710/|url-status=live}} political podcast developed and distributed by Crooked Media.{{Cite web |last=Stuart |first=Gwynedd |date=August 14, 2019 |title=Pod Save America Has Moved Political Discourse to the Left...Coast |url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/pod-save-america-interview/ |access-date=August 17, 2020 |website=Los Angeles Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=Scott D. |date=July 12, 2019 |title=Obama-inspired 'Pod Save America' hosts can't wait to visit deep-red Utah |url=https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2019/07/12/obama-inspired-pod-save/ |access-date=August 17, 2020 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |language=en-US |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607065907/https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2019/07/12/obama-inspired-pod-save/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Luning |first=Ernest |date=July 15, 2019 |title=Tommy Vietor talks 'Pod Save America,' 2020 political landscape ahead of podcast's Denver show |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/tommy-vietor-talks-pod-save-america-2020-political-landscape-ahead-of-podcasts-denver-show/article_b7dd6c12-a4ed-11e9-bc81-c3501714c4d2.html |access-date=August 17, 2020 |website=Colorado Politics |language=en-US |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126112551/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/tommy-vietor-talks-pod-save-america-2020-political-landscape-ahead-of-podcasts-denver-show/article_b7dd6c12-a4ed-11e9-bc81-c3501714c4d2.html |url-status=live }} The podcast debuted in January 2017 and airs twice per week, hosted by a rotating cast of former Barack Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor, Jon Lovett, and Dan Pfeiffer.{{cite web |title=Pod save America: 12 podcasts to get you through the Trump presidency |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jan/18/podcasts-trump-presidency-political-left-right-alt-right |first=Craille Maguire |last=Gillies |date=January 18, 2017 |work=The Guardian |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Rutenberg |first=Jim |date=March 20, 2017 |title=Opposition and a Shave: Former Obama Aides Counter Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/20/business/media/rutenberg-trump-opposition-pod-save-america.html |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=March 22, 2017 |archive-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212210758/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/20/business/media/rutenberg-trump-opposition-pod-save-america.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Willis |first=Jay |date=April 6, 2017 |title=The Pod Save America Guys Have Some Ideas About What President Obama Should Do Next |url=https://www.gq.com/story/pod-save-america-colbert |work=GQ |language=en-US |access-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-date=June 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613125102/http://www.gq.com/story/pod-save-america-colbert |url-status=live }}
It is the flagship podcast of Crooked Media, a media company founded by Favreau, Vietor, and Lovett.{{Cite news |last=Wilstein |first=Matt |date=January 9, 2017 |title=The 'Keepin' It 1600' Guys Launch Crooked Media to Counter Trump |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/09/the-keepin-it-1600-guys-launch-crooked-media-to-counter-trump |work=The Daily Beast |language=en-US |access-date=January 3, 2018 |archive-date=May 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531020204/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/09/the-keepin-it-1600-guys-launch-crooked-media-to-counter-trump |url-status=live }} The show averages more than 1.5 million listeners an episode, and has been downloaded more than 120 million times as of November 2017.{{Cite news |last=Zengerle |first=Jason |title=The Voices in Blue America's Head |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/magazine/the-voices-in-blue-americas-head.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur |work=The New York Times |date=November 22, 2017 |language=en-US |access-date=November 22, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033809/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/magazine/the-voices-in-blue-americas-head.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur |url-status=live }}
Four Pod Save America one-hour HBO TV specials aired in fall 2018 to cover the U.S. midterm elections.{{cite web|url=https://www.hbo.com/hbo-news/pod-save-america-podcast-specials|title=- HBO Announces Pod Save America Podcast Specials|website=HBO|access-date=February 8, 2018|archive-date=February 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209011256/https://www.hbo.com/hbo-news/pod-save-america-podcast-specials|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Mikey |date=February 8, 2018 |title='Pod Save America' Getting HBO Treatment With Election Specials |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/pod-save-america-getting-hbo-treatment-election-specials-1083148 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |access-date=December 15, 2022}} Crooked Media also films the podcasts and releases them on their YouTube channel.{{Cite news |last=Ugwu |first=Reggie |date=2024-04-26 |title=With YouTube Booming, Podcast Creators Get Camera-Ready |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/arts/podcasts-video-youtube-audio.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
History
The podcast debuted in January 2017 as a successor to Keepin' It 1600, a political podcast produced by Bill Simmons' The Ringer and hosted by Favreau, Vietor, Lovett, and Pfeiffer which ran from March to December 2016. Pod Save America maintained the basic format of its predecessor.{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Mikey |title='Keeping It 1600' Podcast's Obama Alums Launch New Show and 'Crooked Media' Company |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keeping-1600-podcasts-obama-alums-launch-new-show-crooked-media-company-961556 |access-date=January 3, 2018 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en |archive-date=June 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618203658/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keeping-1600-podcasts-obama-alums-launch-new-show-crooked-media-company-961556 |url-status=live }}
In an interview with Recode's Kara Swisher, the hosts have stated that, rather than continue the previous podcast, the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States spurred them to create a progressive media company with a network of podcasts.{{Cite web |last=Farnsworth |first=Meghann |date=2017-03-14 |title=How to watch Kara Swisher's SXSW interview with the founders of Crooked Media |url=https://www.vox.com/2017/3/14/14921458/watch-kara-swisher-sxsw-interview-founders-crooked-media-pod-save-america |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Vox |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821172636/https://www.vox.com/2017/3/14/14921458/watch-kara-swisher-sxsw-interview-founders-crooked-media-pod-save-america |url-status=live }} They also wanted to be able to have the freedom to do more activism.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Eric |date=2017-03-15 |title=Crooked Media's founders aren't paying themselves anything |url=https://www.vox.com/2017/3/15/14926278/crooked-media-pod-save-america-jon-favreau-tommy-vietor-jon-lovett-sxsw-recode-podcast |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Vox |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821172635/https://www.vox.com/2017/3/15/14926278/crooked-media-pod-save-america-jon-favreau-tommy-vietor-jon-lovett-sxsw-recode-podcast |url-status=live }} A goal is to inform their millions of fans and viewers that trust them as a reliable source.
In the fall of 2017, Crooked Media took the podcast on its first live tour, Pod Tours America. Live shows were recorded and released as podcasts.{{Cite news|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/08/pod-save-america-announces-nationwide-tour/|title=Pod Save America announces nationwide tour|date=August 16, 2017|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=January 3, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703235907/https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/08/pod-save-america-announces-nationwide-tour/|url-status=live}} An international tour, Pod Tours the World, was announced for 2018, with live shows in Stockholm, Oslo, Amsterdam, and London.{{Cite news|url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/97781-pod-save-america-and-lovett-or-leave-it-are-coming-to-london-in-january-heres-how-to-get-tickets/|title=Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It are coming to London in January, here's how to get tickets|date=December 1, 2017|work=The List|access-date=January 3, 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=January 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072653/https://www.list.co.uk/article/97781-pod-save-america-and-lovett-or-leave-it-are-coming-to-london-in-january-heres-how-to-get-tickets/|url-status=live}}
Content
The podcast typically covers recent news items relating to politics, including the Trump administration, the US government and the Democratic Party, as well as center-left grassroots activism.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/19/the-week-in-radio-pod-save-america-the-long-view-podcast|title=The week in radio: Pod Save America; The Long View|last=Sawyer|first=Miranda|date=March 19, 2017|work=The Observer|access-date=January 3, 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}
The show typically features interviews with politicians, activists and journalists, including Obama's last interview as president.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jan/26/pod-save-america-the-podcast-that-won-obamas-last-interview|title=Pod Save America – the podcast that won Obama's last interview|last=Verdier|first=Hannah|date=January 26, 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=January 3, 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
File:Pod Save America (30363).jpg at a live taping at Radio City Music Hall]]
Reception
The show averages more than 1.5 million listeners an episode, and had been downloaded more than 120 million times by November 2017. Edison Research ranked Pod Save America the tenth most listened-to podcast in the US in the fourth quarter of 2024. Making its first appearance in the top 10, Edison attributed the surge in popularity to the political news cycle.Edison Research (February 5, 2025). [https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-top-50-podcasts-in-the-u-s-for-q4-2024/ "The Top 50 Podcasts in the U.S. for Q4 2024"]. Retrieved June 8, 2025. The show was number 11 in the first quarter 2025 rankings.Edison Research (May 2, 2025). [https://www.edisonresearch.com/the-top-50-podcasts-in-the-u-s-for-q1-2025-from-edison-podcast-metrics/ "The Top 50 Podcasts in the U.S. for Q1 2025 from Edison Podcast Metrics"]. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
The New York Times described the podcast as "one of the big breakout hits of the nascent resistance movement", and "the left's answer to conservative talk radio... with a shoestring budget and no organizational backing, its hosts seem to have created something that liberals have spent almost two decades, and hundreds of millions of dollars, futilely searching for".
The San Francisco Chronicle called it "one of the nation's most popular podcasts".{{Cite news |last=Garofoli |first=Joe |date=December 9, 2017 |title='Pod Save America' about to take its next step |url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Pod-Save-America-about-to-take-its-next-step-12418780.php |access-date=January 3, 2018 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072512/http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Pod-Save-America-about-to-take-its-next-step-12418780.php |url-status=live }} GQ called it one of the "most popular strategies for coping with the looming death of the republic".
Newsweek wrote that the show's hosts "do something far more rare [than political analysis], which is to make politics entertaining and even fun, without ever downplaying what they see as the threat posed to American democracy by the man elected to defend it."{{Cite news |last=Nazaryan |first=Alexander |date=March 26, 2017 |title=How the Crooked Media trio is taking on Donald Trump with "Pod Save America" |url=http://www.newsweek.com/crooked-media-fights-trump-pod-save-america-jon-favreau-jon-lovett-tommy-570695 |access-date=January 3, 2018 |work=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=January 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110031614/http://www.newsweek.com/crooked-media-fights-trump-pod-save-america-jon-favreau-jon-lovett-tommy-570695 |url-status=live }}
Pod Save America won the 2025 Webby Award for News & Politics Podcast.[https://winners.webbyawards.com/2025/podcasts/shows/news-politics/324829/pod-save-america Webby Winner: Pod Save America]. The Webby Awards. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/}}
- [https://votesaveamerica.com/ Vote Save America], resource by Pod Save America to help people volunteer for elections
{{Podcast platform links}}
{{Crooked Media}}
{{Podcasting}}