The much-talked-about Pod Save America (Crooked Media, iTunes) dropped two instalments in one week to reluctantly usher in the Trump era. It is presented by former White House aides Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor and Jon Favreau (not the one from Swingers, but Barack Obama’s head speechwriter).
Pod Save America offers an irreverent view of US politics from men who __have been at the heart of it. They documented the primaries and campaign trail last year in Keepin’ it 1600, and launched this podcast a couple of weeks ago. They’re more Veep cast come to life than dry politicos, talking at breakneck speed and swapping ideas. But they are also listening, as they demonstrate in the Obama’s Last Interview episode, where the outgoing president sounds relaxed, humorous and just so, well, human.
Obama is gracious when he talks about making Donald Trump’s transition to power as smooth as possible and recalling “the enormous ups and downs of this place. The way in which everything feels like it’s going great, then suddenly you can hit a pothole and you’re careering off the side of the road.” His favourite moment by far was passing the Affordable Care Act. “That was a big piece of business, but it was hard,” he says. “It was very personal for a lot of people and it was a moment when you saw real courage out of members of Congress.”
Moving on to Trump’s inauguration, in an episode titled The Mall Sank into the Earth, the hosts are joined by Seth Meyers. Trump’s inaugural address is pulled apart, and they pick up on his use of the word “blood” and habit of sticking “America” before everything to make it sound powerful.
More noteworthy is their take on Sean Spicer’s attack on the press. “The first briefing is a monumental moment for the White House,” says Vietor. “It’s your first chance to engage with the press. He went out there on a Saturday night and just tore these people a new asshole for five minutes and walked out.”
In an echo chamber full of people depressed about Trump’s ascent to power, Pod Save America’s commentators are sparky and funny – and they __have a habit of talking a whole lot of sense.
If you like this, try … Slate’s Trumpcast.
