Best Brian Tyler Cohen Podcasts (2025)

1
Trump misses golden opportunity to cut bait on least popular policy 41:44

8h ago41:44

41:44

Trump misses a golden opportunity to cut bait on the least popular policy of his entire presidency. Brian interviews Texas state representative James Talarico about the Republican power grab in Texas and how to stop the GOP from co-opting Christianity and Congressman Daniel Goldman about his confrontation with ICE agents. Shop merch: https://briant…

1
George Packer on Vice President JD Vance 33:17

1h ago33:17

33:17

JD Vance has had an unorthodox rise to power. After a troubled childhood, he joined the Marines, graduated from Yale Law School, became a best-selling author, and then won a seat in the U.S. Senate. And now, at only 40, he is Vice President to Donald Trump, a man who Vance once described as "America's Hitler" and "cultural heroin." We’re joined by …

1
394: Alex Thompson and "Original Sin" 24:24

1d ago24:24

24:24

"Original Sin," the new book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, is one of the best-selling books in the country. It talks about President Joe Biden cognitive decline. Thompson joins The Issue Is to discuss their work.By The Issue Is

1
Think Twice: Original Sin with Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson 1:11:19

4d ago1:11:19

1:11:19

Coming off the long weekend, an early release of this week's episode: The first 2024 presidential debate was a turning point in President Biden’s candidacy. In this episode, moderator-in-chief John Donvan and chief content officer Lia Matthow sit down with CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson to discuss the book that has Washington buzz…

1
Republicans commit political malpractice with budget bill 35:05

7d ago35:05

35:05

Trump and Republicans take an axe to our healthcare system and our economy– but the Democrats can learn something from it. Brian interviews Senator Elizabeth Warren about the House budget bill that’ll gut healthcare and food assistance for tens of millions of Americans and attorney Norm Eisen about a major update on the legal front. Shop merch: htt…

1
225: BEST OF: Ed Shelleby on Being My Senate Communications Director 49:30

6d ago49:30

49:30

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Al’s former Senate Communications Director, Ed Shelleby, to relive their time working together. Ed tells tales of him TRYING to manage Al's comedic impulses in serious situations, but also talks about the great work they accomplished together. Ed shares several behind-the-scenes stories incl…

1
393: Antonio Villaraigosa; Dan Schnur & Matt Klink 37:20

9d ago37:20

37:20

Elex sits down with Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democratic candidate for California governor, as well as professor Dan Schnur and conservative commentator Matt Klink.By The Issue Is

1
Is Trump Good for Israel? 53:15

8d ago53:15

53:15

With Trump’s return to office, some have high hopes for his relationship with Israel. But amid the Gaza war, will his policies help? Those arguing “yes” say Trump has given Israel unprecedented backing and would continue shifting U.S. policy in favor of Israeli sovereignty and security. Those arguing “no” are concerned that his policies would resul…

1
Legacy media drops the ball amid Trump's bombshell corruption scandal 1:03:36

14d ago1:03:36

1:03:36

The media drops the ball as Trump descends into full blown corruption. Brian interviews Jamie Raskin about Trump’s $400 million Qatari jet bribe; Beto O’Rourke about his recent spate of town halls in Texas and what it signals for 2026; and Jon Favreau about Republicans’ failed budget bill and what comes next. Save 50% on your system and your first …

1
224: Michael Lewis on Amazing Government Workers 32:10

13d ago32:10

32:10

From the start of Donald Trump's second term, he's been eager to cut the federal workforce. So, Elon Musk headed the newly minted DOGE to begin slashing tens of thousands of jobs. Our friend, Michael Lewis, author of "The Big Short" and, most recently, "Who is Government?," joins us to share stories of public servants who not only improved this cou…

1
392: Inside the Milken Global Conference 20:18

15d ago20:18

20:18

Inside the Milken Global Conference with a panel on LA wildfire response and one-on-one with Dr. Mehmet Oz, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon.By The Issue Is

1
Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI Through Chip Controls? 53:15

16d ago53:15

53:15

The AI revolution is underway, and the U.S. and China are racing to the top. At the heart of this competition are semiconductors—especially advanced GPUs that power everything from natural language processing to autonomous weapons. The U.S. is betting that export controls can help check China’s technological ambitions. But will this containment str…

1
Update in Trump's trade war: empty shelves 37:27

21d ago37:27

37:27

The coming weeks look dire at American ports and shelves. Brian interviews New York attorney general Letitia James about a new lawsuit against the Trump administration and North Carolina Supreme Court justice Allison Riggs about her win finally being certified– 6 months after Election Day. Shop merch: https://briantylercohen.com/shop YouTube: https…

1
223: Dahlia Lithwick on the Courts vs. Trump 44:13

22d ago44:13

44:13

We're joined by Dahlia Lithwick, award-winning journalist, author, and host of the Amicus podcast. Dahlia looks at the judicial pushback against the Trump administration, as the Courts have stood up to Trump's policies on birthright citizenship and deportation. We also discuss Trump’s targeting of law firms. The Supreme Court notably ruled 9-0 that…

1
391: Jamie Dimon 31:49

23d ago31:49

31:49

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon sat down for an exclusive interview with FOX 11's Elex Michaelson in Pacific Palisades. He spoke about rebuilding California, Trump's tariffs, the entertainment industry, and more.By The Issue Is

1
Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda 53:15

23d ago53:15

53:15

The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term have come with a wide range of changes for the nation’s economy and global supply chains. Could these changes lead to a more prosperous America, or hardship for individuals and businesses? In partnership with Bloomberg, five renowned economists look at President Trump’s economic agenda during his …

1
Trump picks a major fight-- and loses in court 1:02:29

28d ago1:02:29

1:02:29

Trump picks a fight with the governor of Maine and loses, offering up a valuable lesson. Brian interviews Governor Gavin Newsom to discuss California’s economy growing as Trump oversees an economic contraction; Post Save America’s Jon Lovett about Trump pretending his bad economy still belongs to Joe Biden; and Chasten Buttigieg about SignalGate an…

1
222: Mark Leibovich and Molly Jong-Fast on Trump’s 100 Days 46:36

29d ago46:36

46:36

Trump’s first 100 days back in office have been a whirlwind filled with chaotic, confusing, and authoritarian behavior and very little thoughtful policy - the perfect opportunity to welcome back our friends, Mark Leibovich of The Atlantic and Molly Jong-Fast, host of the Fast Politics Podcast. These 100 days have been filled with bizarre stories th…

1
390: Sen. Alex Padilla; Areva Martin and Jennifer Horn 55:48

29d ago55:48

55:48

Sen. Alex Padilla (D – Calif.) discusses President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. In a panel discussion, Areva Martin and Jennifer Horn also weighs in on Trump's second term, in addition to discussing Kamala Harris' return to the national spotlight.By The Issue Is

1
Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz 53:15

30d ago53:15

53:15

From modest beginnings to a distinguished career, Robert Rosenkranz, the chairman of Delphi Capital Management and founder of Open to Debate, has used Stoic wisdom to navigate challenges, innovations, and business relationships. In this conversation, John Donvan speaks with Rosenkranz about his new book, “The Stoic Capitalist: Advice for the Except…

1
Trump's polling crashes & burns as support evaporates 1:07:36

1M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

Trump’s approval rating craters. Brian interviews Representatives Robert Garcia and Maxwell Frost in El Salvador about their efforts to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the US, Katie Porter about her run for governor of California, David Hogg about his effort to oust Democratic incumbents to recruit younger candidates, and Norm Eisen about Trump …

1
221: Robert Reich on Fighting The Trump Autocracy 45:39

1M ago45:39

45:39

Every day we see this country inch closer to authoritarianism under Donald Trump. We're joined by Robert Reich, political economist, professor, author, and former Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton. We cover how Reich thinks Democrats should fight back against this era of oligarchy in America. He explains the power of protest and lays out the me…

1
389: Steve Hilton, Brian Goldsmith, Amie Parnes 42:16

1M ago42:16

42:16

This week, Elex is joined by Steve Hilton, who announced is running for the Governor of California, and Brian Goldsmith, who is running for State Senate. Journalist Amie Parnes also joins the show.By The Issue Is

1
Should the U.S. Decouple from China? 53:15

1M ago53:15

53:15

For decades, China has been central for global supply chains and a primary U.S. trade partner, but as China’s influence grows, should the U.S. cut economic ties, or stay engaged? Those in favor of decoupling say it is vital for protecting national security and reducing reliance on China’s supply chains. Those against decoupling argue doing so would…

1
Are Democrats taking Trump's bait? 1:17:41

1M ago1:17:41

1:17:41

The big debate: are Democrats taking the bait by fighting the illegal deportation of migrants to El Salvador? Brian interviews Gavin Newsom about his lawsuit against the Trump administration; Senator Van Hollen about going to El Salvador to meet with illegally deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia; Jon Favreau about the political impacts of the immigration…

1
220: BEST OF: Tim Alberta on Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism 59:35

1M ago59:35

59:35

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our conversation with Tim Alberta, the author of the profoundly disturbing book "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory,” which was released before the 2024 election. In this interview, he explains how evangelicals have been turned into a political tool for the Republican Party. Alberta grew up in the evangelical …

1
388: Rob Bonta; Bob Shrum & Jessica Milan Patterson 22:16

1M ago22:16

22:16

This week, California became the first state in the country to sue the Trump administration over tariffs.By The Issue Is

1
Was Trump Right to Be Hard on Soft Power in the Middle East? 53:15

1M ago53:15

53:15

The U.S. has long balanced military strength with soft power in the Middle East through agencies like USAID. With the Trump administration reversing these policies, is this a necessary realignment—or a costly retreat? Those against these changes argue this will boost rivals like Iran and China and harm America’s image. Those hailing them argue it’s…

1
Trump undermines his OWN trade war 1:20:28

2M ago1:20:28

1:20:28

Trump caves on the single most important element of his tariff policies. Brian interviews Senator Cory Booker about his 25 hour speech and the impact of Trump’s economic warfare; Senator Elizabeth Warren about the possibility of an insider trading scandal in the White House; Senator Brian Schatz about the move he pulled to slow down Republican prog…

1
219: Atul Gawande on Musk’s Destruction of USAID 43:50

2M ago43:50

43:50

Elon Musk and DOGE have been taking a chainsaw to the federal government since Trump was re-elected. It could take us generations to fully recover from the damage inflicted by the careless and cruel nature of these cuts. We're joined by American surgeon, author, and public health advocate Atul Gawande to discuss just how devastating these actions a…

1
387: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Tomi Lahren vs Brian Tyler Cohen; JJ Redick & Rick Caruso 36:55

2M ago36:55

36:55

We sit down with Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC campus to discuss his environmental efforts, California's wildfires, his son Patrick's appearances on "The White Lotus," and Schwarzenegger's recent role as Santa Claus.By The Issue Is

1
Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars? 53:15

2M ago53:15

53:15

NASA, SpaceX, and other private companies are working on plans to make Mars humanity’s next frontier. However, should settling Mars be one of America’s priorities? Those arguing “yes” say the U.S. should do it first before China does, and it would lead to new advances in science and technology. But those against doing so say there are big issues th…

1
The REAL reason for Trump's wildly unpopular tariffs 1:12:00

2M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

Trump implements disastrous tariff implementation– and importantly, there's a not-so-obvious reason that he’s okay with the results. Brian interviews Pod Save America's Tommy Vietor about the market crash; data scientist Elliot Morris about the implications of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race victory as we head toward 2026; and two candidates: Mall…

1
218: Catherine Rampell on Trump’s Tariffs and DOGE 53:04

2M ago53:04

53:04

Despite widespread warnings about what economic havoc they could cause, Donald Trump announced his plan to put tariffs on nearly every nation in the world. Catherine Rampell, opinion columnist for The Washington Post and co-host of MSNBC’s The Weekend, gives her instant reaction to Trump's plan. If history (and the current stock market) is any indi…

1
386: Xavier Becerra, Gloria Allred, John Phillips 46:45

2M ago46:45

46:45

Xavier Becerra is running for California Governor. He gave the first TV interview of his campaign to FOX 11's statewide political show "The Issue Is: with Elex Michaelson."By The Issue Is

1
Is Objectivity Essential to Journalism? 53:15

2M ago53:15

53:15

For decades, objectivity has been cited as journalism's gold standard, promising that journalists would stick “to the facts" and deliver both sides of the story, excluding their personal views. Those in support say it builds trust and gives newsreaders the information they need to form their own opinions. Those against say it suppresses certain val…

1
Smart Girl Dumb Questions: Is the Future Bleak? 43:26

2M ago43:26

43:26

Today we’re bringing you an episode of Smart Girl Dumb Questions, the new podcast by one of our frequent guest moderators, Nayeema Raza. Nayeema asks the questions we’re all thinking to big thinkers in this new show. It is brimming with curiosity, open-mindedness and a willingness to learn – values we hold dear at Open to Debate. As fertility rates…

1
Trump's Greenland distraction backfires 1:28:50

2M ago1:28:50

1:28:50

Trump takes an aggressive posture on Greenland, which may be a distraction, and yet still worth talking about. Brian interviews Kara Swisher about whether Tesla can ever recover and why Elon would torch his reputation when his consumer base is liberals; national security expert Ned Price and Congressman Jim Himes discuss Signal-gate; and Ezra Klein…

1
217: Jessica Yellin on Our Anxiety Producing News Cycle 37:57

2M ago37:57

37:57

A potentially catastrophic breach of security within The White House has set off alarm bells for both Republicans and Democrats in D.C. Independent journalist Jessica Yellin joins us to discuss SignalGate. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are both under fire after The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg was added t…