Shows / Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Politics has never been more chaotic, and most podcasts just add to the noise. Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes cuts through it.Grant is an AP Award-winning journalist with over a decade of on-the-ground reporting on the biggest political stories, scandals, and elections in America. Twice a week, he takes the stories dominating the headlines and breaks them down in plain English — no jargon, no spin, no shouting.If you care about what’s happening in this country but you’re exhausted by how…
Episodes
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump Says The War In Iran Is "Complete," Is It?
After struggling to explain the objectives for entering the war in Iran, the Trump administration is struggling to define whether the mission is close to…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
How Big Spending Is Breaking Democracy w/ Tiffany Muller from End Citizens United
The 2026 midterm election is shaping up to be the most expensive in American history, with the combined races for Senate already reaching the $5 billion. Ad…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Kristi Noem Gets Fired, What's Next For Immigration?
In a bombshell piece of news, Donald Trump announced that Kristi Noem would no longer be the Secretary of Homeland Security. After several big scandals, some…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Whys And How The US And Israel Went To War With Iran
After three days of the Iran War, the reason the US struck first is still shifting target for the Trump administration as it tries to make its case to the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Should Democrats Make A Nuremberg Caucus? W/ Cory Doctorow
Grant talks to the author, journalist, activist Cory Doctorow, about his recent article calling for Democrats to create a Nuremberg Caucus to hold federal…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump Leaves ICE Out In The Cold During The State Of The Union
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump made his usual sweeping statements, false claims, and insults at Democrats. But…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Could The State Of The Union Be Trump's Most Important Speech?
Donald Trump gives his first true State of the Union speech to Congress since becoming president for a second time. It just might be the most important speech…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Are We Going To War With Iran? w/ The Under Report's Eric Czuleger (again!)
Grant brings Eric Czuleger back on the show for the very first back-to-back guest on Make It Make Sense. With the largest military buildup in the Middle East…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Trump Administration Is Getting Expensive...
Donald Trump ran for president promising to make Americans richer and bring prices down, starting on day one. So far, that's not panning out. The cost of the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
10 Things Democrats Hate About DHS
The government is in another shutdown. This time, it's only a partial one. Every agency inside DHS isn't being funded, except ICE. Grant explains the 10…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
America's Abandonment Issues w/ The Under Report's Eric Czuleger
Grant is joined by Eric Czuleger, the voice behind The Under Report, which covers foreign policy, open-source intelligence operations, and what's really…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Congress's Voting Bills Aren't About Protecting Your Vote
As the Senate takes up the House's voter ID bill, Grant explains what's in it. Known as the SAVE America Act, along with its partner bill the MEGA Act…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The [REDACTED] Epstein Episode
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are getting increasingly angry with the Department of Justice and the president after they were supposed to have…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Can Trump Break America's Elections? w/ Michael McNulty From Issue One
Grant is joined by Michael McNulty to talk about a wild week of the federal government attempted to interfere in the 2026 elections. McNulty is an elections…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
How To Break ICE To Fix Immigration w/ fmr. ICE AD Scott Shuchart
Grant talks to Former ICE Assistant Director for policy Scott Shuchart. Scott served in both DHS as a senior advisor for civil rights during the Obama and…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Epstein Files Are Worse Than We Thought
The Department of Justice has released millions of documents, photos and videos from the Epstein Files. Despite it being 6 weeks late and still refusing to…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Spies And Diplomats Working To Save America w/ The Steady State's Steve Cash
Grant is joined by the Executive Director of TheSteadyState, Steve Cash to talk about the mission of the nearly 400 intelligence and diplomatic community…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Is Funding ICE The Democrats' Last Stand?
As the deal to avoid a government shutdown seems likely, Democrats are grappling with what it would mean to continue to allow DHS and ICE to operate the way it…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
DHS Kills A Man Then Flees Minnesota, What Now?
After the latest fatality at the hands of DHS agents and the second in as many weeks in Minneapolis, ICE, DHS and the Trump Administration have begun to…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
What's Happening To Civil Rights Under ICE? w/ David Gans
Grant talks to David Gans about what we're seeing happen to civil rights and Constitutional rights as ICE continues to occupy Minneapolis. Gans is the Director…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Why Trump's Fight With The Fed Matters To You
The Department of Justice investigates one of the president's favorite political punching bags. This time it's the head of the Federal Reserve. While the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Venezuela, Latino Voters and Avoiding Nuclear War w/ Mike Madrid
Grant talks to Mike Madrid, the former GOP operative, consultant, and now the mind behind The Great Transformation Substack, about the bombing and capture…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
ICE Kills A US Citizen In Minnesota, What Now?
An ICE officer shot and killed a 37-year-old US Citizen, wife, and mother named Renee Good on a neighborhood street in Minneapolis, MN. All of it was caught on…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump's Old World Order Plan For Venezuela
It's been a whirlwind start to 2026. The United States is actively working to run Venezuela after bombing the country and capturing its leader, Nicolas Maduro…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Did The US Bomb Venezuela Or Not?
President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement the week of Christmas; the US had attacked a Venezuelan port with a drone strike. But no one has been able…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The MIMS Christmas Story Special!
The first of what might be a new tradition here at Make It Make Sense. Grant reads you some of his favorite Christmas and holiday stories! First, The Polar…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Epstein Files Redactions Are "Breaking The Law"
The Department of Justice missed its deadline to release all the Epstein files to the public and is now actively saying it's going to continue to break the law…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Do The Epstein Files Take Down MAGA? w/ Anthropologist Alex Hinton
With the Epstein files set to be released on Friday, Grant talks to Alex Hinton. Alex is a Rutgers Professor of Anthropology, Director of the Center for the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump's Right Hand Woman: On The Record, Off The Rails
Vanity Fair drops two bombshell stories based on months of interviews with the White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles.Wiles says Trump has an "alcoholic's…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
"Children Will Die" Because Of Dept. of Ed's New Policy w/ Zero Abuse Project CEO, Jeff Dion
Grant sits down with the CEO of the Zero Abuse Project, Jeff Dion, to talk about the Department of Education's new policy to downgrade degrees for jobs…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Congress Shrugs And Lets Insurance Costs Spike
After weeks of fighting over what will happen to Affordable Care Act subsidies that help millions of Americans afford their health insurance, Republicans in…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Who In Trump's Cabinet Is Getting Fired?
There's been a lot of talk about Trump getting fed up with certain members of his administration. Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem, Kash Patel, and Pam Bondi have all…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Is This Millennials' Political Moment? w/ Amanda Litman from Run For Something
Grant welcomes Amanda Litman from Run For Something and author of the book When We're In Charge (link below) back on the show to talk about the tipping point…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Pete Hegseth's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week
It has been a week for the books for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. First, there was new, corroborated reporting that he might have ordered a war crime in…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Did Pete Hegseth Commit A War Crime?
A growing scandal rocked the White House over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Washington Post reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave an order to…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Why So Many Americans Are Afraid To Talk Politics w/ Junelle Cavero from My Code
This week’s interview is with Junelle Cavero, a State Representative from Arizona and head of political at the multicultural-focused media company My Code. She…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump Signs Off On The Epstein Files And Chaos At The DOJ
Donald Trump signed the bill to release the Epstein files after being jammed by the Senate, which passed the bill in a matter of hours. Now it's in the hands…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Republicans Flip On The Files
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly vote to release the Epstein files ( Grant reacts live) but it's only the beginning of the process. Grant explains…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
An Out Of Control Week w/ Ryan Welton From Oklahoma Memo
Another crossover episode this week! Every Friday, Grant joins Ryan Welton at the Oklahoma Memo to talk national politics. The two talk all about the shutdown…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Shady Shutdown Deals And New Epstein Emails
The longest government shutdown in US history is officially over after 43 days. But the worst of the fighting in Washington might just be ramping up. Grant…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Did The Democrats Cave Or Play The Long Game?
Eight Democratic caucus senators vote to end the government shutdown after 40 days, after brokering a deal with Republicans that doesn't include protecting…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
What Is Going On With MAGA Fashion? w/ Lindsey Louise
Grant is joined by fashion writer and the voice behind the great Substack, The Official Nancy Drew Newsletter, Lindsey Louise to talk about what the deal is…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
What Can We REALLY Learn From This Week's Elections?
It was a mini-midterm appetizer sampler of elections this week across the country. At nearly every turn Democrats won in high profile races big and small. But…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump's 60 Minutes Confessional
President Donald Trump went on 60 Minutes for the first time in 5 years and laid out how he sees the most pressing issues, like the government shutdown and…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
America's Revenge Politics w/ Paul Starr
Grant is joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, Princeton professor Paul Starr. Paul is the author of the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
How Bad Is The Government Shutdown Going To Get?
The government shutdown is a month long now, just five days behind the longest ever. But it's not the record deadline that's the big one; it's the one…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
How Trump's Health And 3-Term Push Are Connected
Donald Trump says again he's not ruling out a third term, even though there's no legal way for him to become president again after 2028. But that's not…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The End Of The Voting Rights Act As We Know It w/ Dave Daley
This month, the US Supreme Court looks poised to cut out the heart of the Voting Rights Act, which has been making sure Americans of all kinds can take part in…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Why Trump's White House Tear Down Is More Than A Renovation
The president decided to demolish the East Wing of the White House this week without warning or approval to make way for his new ballroom. The images of heavy…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
How Big Of A Deal Was No Kings 2?
The second round of the No Kings protests swept the country over the weekend with an estimated 5-7 million people participating in more than 2600 rallies and…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
What's Going To Happen To Rural Hospitals Now? w/ Prof. Michael Shepherd
With the government still shut down and the Speaker of the House indicating they're willing to wait it out for the long haul, the Nov. 1 expiration date on…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Is This Supreme Court Going To End Voting Rights?
Grant breaks down the complicated case being heard by the US Supreme Court that could fundamentally change how we run our elections, especially in the South…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Why Is The Government Still Shutdown?
Members of Congress are still deadlocked over how to reopen the government as the shutdown hits the two-week mark. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says we're…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Why Do So Many Of Us Believe Conspiracy Theories? w/ Prof. Joe Uscinski
It seems like American politics right now is filled with conspiracies. Deep state plots to undermine Trump. Vaccines cause autism. Joe Biden's Autopen or The…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Insurrection Act: How Close Are We To Civil War?
The White House is in serious talks to invoke the Insurrection Act over nonexistent out of out-of-control crime and invented and self-incited scenarios of…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Can Trump Just Send Troop...Anywhere?
National Guard troops from Texas are now staging at a base an hour outside Chicago, preparing to be deployed to the streets of America's largest city. Grant…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Hostile Takeover Of America's Health w/ Dr. Scott Greer
Grant is joined again by Dr. Scott Greer from the University of Michigan to get a check-up on the Make America Healthy Again movement. They talk about how…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Why is Trump Making The Shutdown As Painful As Possible?
The government officially shut down this week as Democrats refused to vote with Republicans, saying they want certain access to Medicaid and ACA insurance…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Department of (Culture) War
President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth address hundreds of military generals and admirals at an extraordinary assembly to talk about the future of…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
How Can We Fix America's Schools? w/ Jorge Elorza
American education is in crisis. Test scores are dropping. Whole classrooms are falling through the cracks. The federal Department of Education is being…