The Takeout with Major Garrett

Corndogs, anyone? Major is at the state fair in Des Moines, Iowa, talking politics and eating porkchops. He spent time with an array of politicos who hope to influence the outcome of January's caucuses - Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), GOP presidential contender Asa Hutchinson, Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart and conservative political activist Bob Vander Platts. Major also talked to a slew of Republican voters who weighed in on former President Trump's prospects and his primary challengers. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the bassist for The Avett Brothers, Bob Crawford spends a lot of time on the road. When he's on a tour bus or a plane, you can usually find him reading history. He turned that passion - and a love of politics and current events - into a podcast on America's 6th president, John Quincy Adams. In "Founding Son: John Quincy's America" Crawford chronicles the extraordinary life of a man whose political career intersected with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. He joins us at The Smith in downtown DC. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In search of an 'Oppenheimer' companion piece? The new documentary, 'A Compassionate Spy,' is our focus on this week's episode, with the film's writer/director, Steve James, joining Major over Zoom. James' film tells the story of Ted Hall, the controversial Manhattan Project physicist who after just a year working at Los Alamos decided to pass secrets about the bomb to the Soviet Union. It's a real-life spy thriller that most Americans have never heard of, with a central character who James believes "acted on principle...[Hall] was not one of those spies that did it for money or glory."Be sure to stick around for the Outtake Especiale where James, a filmmaker with over a dozen documentaries on his resume (including producer Jamie Benson's top-five-film-of-all-time, 1994's 'Hoop Dreams'), shares a few of his personal film favorites. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Major sits down for pizza with California Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell at Stellina, a Neapolitan pizza joint in DC's Union Market. Swalwell reacts to the Hunter Biden plea agreement that fell apart this week and weighs in on President Biden's 2024 re-election prospects. Swalwell, who served as an impeachment manager in the wake of the January 6th Capitol attack, explains the daily threats he gets and how it impacts him, his family and staff. Also, Swalwell dishes on his relationship with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a fellow member of the California House delegation. Join us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Washington Post reporter and author Ben Terris joins Major to discuss his new book, "The Big Break: The Gamblers, Party Animals, and True Believers Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind." Terris's book looks at Washington after the Trump presidency and asks a fundamental questions of the political class in DC: Why are you here? Join us at Unconventional Diner in downtown DC for chicken and waffles and a great conversation! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, it's all about historic firsts: for the first time in our seven-year history, we paid a visit to the historic Ben's Chili Bowl, a restaurant that's been serving their "original half-smokes" to hungry Washingtonians since 1958. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), who in 2017 became the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, knows Ben's well - she frequented the original location on U Street NW as a staffer for then-U.S. Senator John Kerry in the early 2000s.Join us for an in-depth discussion on Ayanna's journey to Congress, her advocacy for student loan relief, her view that the Supreme Court is "making history for all the wrong reasons" and more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Evangelical voters are likely to play a significant role in deciding whether former President Trump will capture the GOP nomination in 2024. Jon Ward, chief national correspondent for Yahoo! News, knows that voting bloc well. Ward's new book, Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Failed a Generation, is about his upbringing in an influential evangelical church. The book is a deeply personal account that details a painful estrangement between Jon and his family members as he sought to tell the truth in his reporting on American politics.This conversation was recorded on June 26, 2023 at The Roost food hall on Capitol Hill. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Journalist and author Neil King, Jr. joins Major at The Grill at Harryman House in Reisterstown, MD. On the menu: a chat about Neil’s new book “American Ramble,” a chronicle of his 300+ mile walk from Washington, D.C. to New York City. Join us for a stroll through history. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Republican former governor of Maryland has a lot to say about the 2024 race for the GOP nomination - a contest he says he will not join. But would he consider a third party challenge early next year? Governor Larry Hogan sits down with Major on the banks of the South River at Mike's Restaurant and Crabhouse in Riva, MD. Hogan dishes on Trump and the classified documents indictment, why he thinks Ron DeSantis' campaign is off to a rocky start and what election denialism means for the Republican party. Pull up a chair and Join us for crabs, hush puppies and good conversation. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rhode Island senator Sheldon Whitehouse joins Major for pastries and coffee at Ted's Bulletin on Capitol Hill. Whitehouse goes deep on former President Trump's legal troubles and his own experience prosecuting a celebrity politician. Plus, a discussion about President Biden's age and the 2024 race, why Whitehouse wants ailing California senator Dianne Feinstein to stay in office and where things stand with Supreme Court ethics rules reform. Join us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices