

Lovett or Leave It
Lovett or Leave It
Former Obama speechwriter, self-described comedian and Pod Save America co-host Jon Lovett takes the stage for a new season of the hit show that dared guests from Danny DeVito to Amy Klobuchar to ask “What is this?” and “Where am I?”
Each week, Jon breaks down the biggest and dumbest stories in politics to help you keep up with and laugh at the news, with big guests and surprising conversations you won’t find anywhere else.
New episodes every Saturday morning on your podcast feed and on YouTube. And if you’re in LA, come to a taping. You’ll be amazed by what we cut from the live show.
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Episodes
Mentioned books

9 snips
May 7, 2022 • 1h 16min
Main Character Energy
This week we’re revisiting some of our favorite characters to grace to Lovett or Leave It Stage, including: Kyrsten Sinema (Kylie Brakeman), Tesla critic Sean Crepe (Andrew Farmer), Titsy Malone (Maria Bamford), J. Jonah Jameson (Paul F. Tompkins), Texas tourism spokesman Ash Wrangler Autry (Michael Hartney), Washington zombie (Demi Adejuyigbe), Bernie Sanders and the My Pillow guy (James Adomian), a college student (Halle Kiefer) and an immortal fox spirit (Jenny Yang), and Kamala Harris (Allison Reese). We’ll be back live next week! (And yes, he still would.)---With our constitutionally protected right to abortion under attack, abortion funds are working nonstop to make sure people can still access (and afford) abortion.Visit votesaveamerica.com/roe to learn more, donate, and take action.

4 snips
Apr 30, 2022 • 1h 16min
Jonathan Groff's Rude Awakening
Lovett or Leave It joins the Netflix Is A Joke festival this week, but the show couldn’t be more serious, as Ashley Ray helps us figure out what is going on with the allies in a new edition of Gay News. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Matt Walsh, of Second in Command) stops by to discuss coup-life balance, and Paul F. Tompkins provides back-up for Dick Wolf’s latest, Law & Order: Election Police. Lovett tries desperately to defend his dogelord and savior, Elon Musk, while the Rant Wheel spins, casting its all-seeing eye on the craven and undeserving. We’re looking at you, Abercrombie & Fitch and crunchy peanut butter.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, go to crooked.com Lovett or Leave It. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Apr 23, 2022 • 1h 7min
Is It Cake or Robert Duvall?
Spring has sprung and Lovett or Leave It is blooming all over Los Angeles’ Dynasty Typewriter once again. Danielle Pinnock and Mary Jarreau dig deep into the paranormal with Crooked writer Halle Kiefer. Masculinity expert Brad Turbo (Matt Rogers) cultivates a new generation of manly men…for a price. Lovett and his guests weed out which endangered animals won’t be making the cut this Earth Day, and we harvest a new crop of hot, fresh takes.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

4 snips
Apr 16, 2022 • 1h 14min
Step One: Buy Twitter
Choo choo! Lovett or Leave It: Live Or Else pulls into the station at Dallas’s own The Factory in Deep Ellum. Railroad Commission candidate Luke Warford and producer Kendra James unpack the only thing more harrowing than energy companies coopting Texas Republicans: The Real Housewives of Dallas. Akilah Hughes gives all of us “Daddy Lessons” on Beyonce’s best-of, and we share takes hotter than the Texas sun in July. Even the confused Lyle Lovett fans in the crowd had a great time.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Apr 9, 2022 • 1h 19min
Ghosted by Grimes
Lovett or Leave It pulls on its cowboy boots and takes its Lactaid pills for a queso-filled quorum in Austin, Texas. Beto O’Rourke takes on Greg Abbott and plays Queen for a Day. Ali Clem of la Barbecue and Akilah Hughes help us put the BBQ in LGBTQ. Tate Donavan helps Lovett call out the not-so-magical inspiration behind the Magic Kingdom. And we let the Rant Wheel spin, pardner.Text Lovett to 20377 to help Texas elect Beto O'Rourke.Help asylum-seekers, migrants and refugees at the border: https://borderkindness.org/For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Apr 2, 2022 • 50min
Grand Old Key Party
This week’s episode is a potluck, and Lovett or Leave It is bringing the bananas. Joel Kim Booster, Jenny Yang and Emily Heller talk rom-coms in a segment slow-cooked to perfection from a recent Dynasty Typewriter show. Lovett fills up on audience questions, while Crooked’s own in-house cranks rant about in-flight films, late-night anxiety, and the eternal dessert rivalry between chips and nuts. Stick a fork in us. We're done.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

5 snips
Mar 26, 2022 • 1h 8min
Ginni Thomas’s Unlimited Text Plan
Live from the Lincoln Theatre, Lovett or Leave It storms Washington, D.C. and seizes its jumbo slices. Crooked’s own Damon Young is stuck on cancel culture, while Kamala Harris (Allison Reese) has absolutely no notes on the experience of being V.P. Aparna Nancherla helps our telethon to raise $22 billion dollars for COVID relief, now that Congress has dropped the ball, and we finish off the night with a turn of the Rant Wheel, original flavor.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Mar 19, 2022 • 1h 17min
The Cursed Wives Club
Live from Dynasty Typewriter, Ginni Thomas (Pandora Boxx) storms the barricade to bring us good, solid marriage advice. Josh Barro and Lovett go toe-to-sleepy toe on Daylight Saving Time. Comedian Daniel Santaniel (Tim Baltz) pitches himself as the American Zelenskyy. And Lennon Parham of HBO Max’s Minx weighs in on the sexiness of the 1970s, alongside our very own producer Kendra James and writer Halle Kiefer. Plus the Hyper Wheel whirls us into the weekend.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Mar 12, 2022 • 1h 10min
The Dark Knight Reprises
Everything old is new again as Lovett Or Leave It celebrates the return of a classic: performing indoors. L.A. City Councilperson Nithya Raman joins our first show at Dynasty Typewriter, where Emily’s Garden Show makes its triumphant, disruptive return. Joel Kim Booster tackles the seemingly infinite variety of Batmen, while a college student (Halle Kiefer) and an immortal fox spirit (Jenny Yang) go toe-to-nine-tails over the never-ending cancel culture debate. Finally, the HyperWheel brings us back around to adult birthdays, astrology, and the end of an era in baked goods. And Emily Heller rants about whatever she damn well pleases.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Mar 5, 2022 • 1h 27min
And We're Back!
We finally, finally, finally return to touring, and set our clam chowder and sour dough dreams on the beautiful city of San Francisco, all set to the dulcet tones of the incredible B. Noel. Author George M. Johnson crosses out America’s book banning trend. Jared Goldstein and Holmes say Ok, Stop to Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and Ben Shapiro. Guy Branum finds out, “Are you smarter than a gay coastal elite?” Ezra Klein takes stock of our times, and we finish it all with a brand-new comedy technology: the Hyper Wheel.Support trans kids:crooked.com/tentFor a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.


