Impolitic with John Heilemann
Audacy | Puck
Join Puck’s chief political columnist, MSNBC/NBC News national affairs analyst, and best-selling author John Heilemann as he roams the corridors of power and influence in America on this twice-weekly interview show, taking you behind the scenes and beyond the headlines with the people who shape and shift our culture: icons and up-and-comers, incumbents and insurgents, moguls and machers in the overlapping worlds of politics, entertainment, tech, business, sports, media, and beyond. The conversations are rich and revealing, unrehearsed and unexpected … and reliably impolitic. A Puck-Audacy joint, new episodes drop every Wednesday and Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 11, 2026 • 1h 18min
Michael Froman: Love Taps in Iran, Summitry in Beijing, & Schizophrenia in Ukraine
Michael Froman, former U.S. Trade Representative and CFR president, brings decades of foreign policy and trade experience. He dissects U.S. claims of victory in Iran and the limits of military gains. He evaluates the stakes and tone of a U.S.-China summit in Beijing. He questions U.S. signals on Ukraine and the risks of mixed messaging to allies.
10 snips
May 8, 2026 • 1h 12min
RZA Pt. 2: Wu-Tang Clan (Still) Ain’t Nothing to F*ck With
RZA, producer, composer and filmmaker who led the Wu-Tang Clan, reflects on the group's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and lasting cultural saturation. He recounts learning filmmaking with Quentin Tarantino and why directing now appeals more than music. Conversation covers the Final Chamber tour logistics, the group's founding 'agreed-upon dictatorship,' and Wu-Tang’s meme-driven cultural reach.
19 snips
May 4, 2026 • 58min
RZA Pt. 1: One Spoon of Chocolate Changes the Whole Glass of Milk
RZA, acclaimed rapper, producer, composer, actor, filmmaker, and Wu-Tang Clan prime mover, reflects on his decade-long journey making One Spoon of Chocolate. He explains the film’s autobiographical setup, the meaning behind April 22 and the title line, and how shifting race relations shaped its darker themes. He also traces his transition from music to film and the mentors who guided his cinematic growth.
May 1, 2026 • 50min
Chrissy Houlahan: Hegseth Goes Full Bondi & King Charles Needles Trump
Chrissy Houlahan, a U.S. Representative, Air Force veteran and engineer, weighs in on national security and oversight. She grills testimony on timelines, costs, and military firings. She discusses risks of a protracted Iran conflict, concerns about unlawful orders and war crimes, and the importance of defending NATO and backing Ukraine.
10 snips
Apr 27, 2026 • 60min
Zanny Minton Beddoes: Trump as Closet Socialist, Midterm Madness, & The Looming Oil Supply Shock
Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist and veteran economics journalist. She discusses the looming global oil supply shock from a closed Strait of Hormuz. She explores why markets stay calm, whether U.S. strategy is winning, and the risks to midterm integrity and long-term trust in institutions.
13 snips
Apr 24, 2026 • 59min
Tom Nichols: “Shoot Your Mouth Off & Carry a Pop Gun”
Tom Nichols, professor emeritus and Atlantic staff writer known for national security and foreign policy expertise. He breaks down the Iran war at eight weeks and why major combat appears over. He critiques the administration's mixed messaging, examines Iran's strategic gains and the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks performative Pentagon moves and political theater.
10 snips
Apr 20, 2026 • 1h 20min
Sebastian Mallaby: The Ghost in the Machine
Sebastian Mallaby, journalist and author who writes about innovation and capitalism, discusses Demis Hassabis and DeepMind. He explains why Hassabis is underrecognized yet pivotal. Conversations cover Hassabis’s path from chess prodigy to Cambridge, DeepMind’s Google acquisition, the 2023 AI race, safety culture, regulation, and whether we can entrust powerful AI to a few individuals.
17 snips
Apr 17, 2026 • 1h 5min
Peter Hamby: Swalwell’s Fall, POTUS v. Pontifex, & The VP’s Podcast Mouth
Peter Hamby, political journalist and MSNBC/NBC analyst, offers sharp takes on Eric Swalwell’s implosion and why his California bid unraveled. He breaks down the Trump–Pope clash and how it could unsettle Catholic voters. Plus lively Coachella color: Fatboy Slim, FKA Twigs, Geese and festival highs.
11 snips
Apr 13, 2026 • 56min
Does Kara Swisher Really Want to Live Forever? Should We?
Kara Swisher, longtime Silicon Valley chronicler and bestselling journalist, explores the science, culture, and commerce of longevity. She questions tech-bro immortality fantasies and distinguishes real therapies from wellness hype. Conversations range from CRISPR and AI drug discovery to GLP-1 drugs, red light therapy, and the role of confronting death in living fully.
20 snips
Apr 10, 2026 • 1h 26min
George Conway’s Single-Issue Congressional Campaign: “Get the F*cker Out”
George Conway, conservative-turned-Democrat attorney known for co-founding the Lincoln Project, explains why he is running for New York’s 12th to remove Donald Trump. He discusses alarming recent behavior around Iran, signs of cognitive decline and malignant narcissism, fractures in MAGA media and Republican loyalty, and how a single-issue congressional push could force action.
