Episodes

  • Did Trump make America’s 250th about himself?

    Did Trump make America’s 250th about himself?
    Jun 12 2026
    As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary next month, has a bipartisan celebration of independence become a casualty of political division? On this Episode of "Make It Make Sense," host Kate Andrews joins James Hohmann and Damir Marusic to break down how America’s upcoming milestone has transformed into a polarizing event. The guests examine the friction between competing "America 250" and "Freedom 250" initiatives, the impact of the presidency on national unity, and whether citizens can still find shared civic pride in local traditions despite the toxic political climate in Washington.
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    28 mins
  • Are Graham Platner's scandals helping him?

    Are Graham Platner's scandals helping him?
    Jun 9 2026
    Are Graham Platner's controversies actually helping him in the Maine Senate race? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews talks with Carine Hajjar about Platner's rise, his refusal to drop out amid multiple scandals, and why Democrats are still standing behind him.
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    21 mins
  • D.C. has a ‘teen takeover’ problem

    D.C. has a ‘teen takeover’ problem
    Jun 8 2026
    ‘Teen takeovers’ are becoming a defining issue in the D.C. mayoral race. In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann and Rob Gebelhoff break down where the candidates stand on crime and policing, how they may approach the National Guard in D.C., and whether they’ll work with or against President Donald Trump.
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    31 mins
  • Was Trump’s ‘weaponization fund’ doomed from the start?

    Was Trump’s ‘weaponization fund’ doomed from the start?
    Jun 5 2026
    Was President Donald Trump's "Anti-Weaponization Fund" doomed to fail from the start? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews, Jason Willick and Damir Marusic discuss the rise and fall of the $1.776 billion fund while exploring whether "lawfare" has fundamentally changed the ideal of an apolitical justice system.
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    37 mins
  • Did Trump win the late-night comedy battle?

    Did Trump win the late-night comedy battle?
    Jun 3 2026
    Did President Donald Trump kill late-night television shows, or did comedy podcasts simply beat them at their own game? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," James Hohmann, Carine Hajjar and Damir Marusic explore the massive cultural shift in comedy during the Trump era.
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    29 mins
  • What happens in California after Gavin Newsom?

    What happens in California after Gavin Newsom?
    Jun 1 2026
    With Gavin Newsom's era as California governor ending, could Tom Steyer be the Democrat to step up? Or will skyrocketing costs and crime finally break the party's grip on California? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Carine Hajjar, Jason Willick and James Desio explore the future of the Golden State's political landscape, including whether the GOP can capture the governor's mansion and if Spencer Pratt has a real shot at winning the L.A. mayoral race.
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    29 mins
  • Is America a Christian nation? A conversation with Bishop Barron.

    Is America a Christian nation? A conversation with Bishop Barron.
    May 29 2026
    In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Adam O'Neal sits down with Bishop Robert Barron to discuss Christian nationalism, the role of Catholicism in America and whether Pope Leo is positioned as the "anti-Trump" pope.
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    28 mins
  • What's behind Zohran Mamdani's mass appeal?

    What's behind Zohran Mamdani's mass appeal?
    May 27 2026
    Zohran Mamdani successfully built an unlikely coalition of progressives and the professional managerial class, but what ideological shifts made this possible? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Sagnik Basu and Zineb Riboua break down how the rise of third-worldism in Western culture fueled this alliance.
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    25 mins