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
Oh, Canada
President Trump hosts newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office. The two men haven't had the coziest relationship since Trump began…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Make Corruption Great Again (W/ Public Citizen's Rick Claypool)
Over the last few months Donald Trump, his family and his administration have set out to make Trump wealthier. Grant talks about the crypto empire Trump is…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
100 Days Down
President Trump sits down for a one-on-one interview with ABC's Terry Moran for an Oval Office interview about his second, first 100 days. It comes as Trump…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
A Democratic Decision (W/ Abdul El-Sayed)
The Democratic Party is fighting. Since the election, the party hasn't had a clear leader. Grant breaks down the biggest fights right now, including party…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
"NO SCALPS"
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is in the middle of another scandal over using Signal, again, for the same sensitive or classified information he exposed last…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Who Rules The Law Anyway? (W/ Andrew Torrez)
It's been a busy week for the US Courts starting with the high profile case of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, the man mistakenly sent to El Salvador and who the Trump…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Are Americans Really That Special?
It's been a whirlwind way to start the week in the world of immigration. A huge ruling was made by a judge in the case to stop deportations to El Salvador. The…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Your Life Will Never Be The Same
A triple-decker episode this week! Grant takes a look at what the fallout has been from President Donald Trump's tariff turnabout earlier this week because it…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Tariff On, Tariff Off
President Trump sends markets reeling as he increases tariffs on China again while also reversing his stance on his punishing new tariff plan for the rest of…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Great American Retreat (W/ Dr. Scott Greer)
On the show this week, Donald Trump lays out his "liberation day" tariff plan to put tariffs on pretty much everything coming into the US. Grant breaks down…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Cory Booker's Moral Moment For America
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sets the record for the longest floor speech or filibuster in US history in a 25-hour-long protest of the Trump Administration…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
It's Bigger Than Signal w/ Fmr. National Archives Lawyer Jason R Baron
Grant talks with Prof. Jason R Baron from the University of Maryland. Baron was the former litigator for the National Archives and spent more than 20 years…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
No One Likes A Group Chat
Grant breaks down the stunning story from the Atlantic this week, where a journalist was added to a private chat about US military strikes with some of the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Order In The Courts?
It has been a busy week in the federal courts. Grant makes sense out of the dizzying case around Venezuelan migrants who were flown to a maximum security…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
What Is Going On With The Ukrainian Peace Deal?
There's been a lot of action when it comes to ending the war in Ukraine this week, and it's only Wednesday. Trump had two calls with Zelensky, a long call with…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Are Democrats in Disarray? (plus: Dept of Ed talk w/ Prof. Kevin Welner)
***This episode was recorded before the shutdown vote. Be on the lookout for a MIMS Mini in your feeds this weekend***The Senate is in the middle of a fight…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Does Elon Musk Want A Shutdown?
After making some big changes to their budget, House Republicans pass a resolution, without Democratic support. Grant breaks down what's in it and how a…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Ensh*tification of America? (w/ Cory Doctorow)
Donald Trump has spent the week dizzyingly going back and forth on everything from tariffs to Russia to supporting veterans to Elon Musk. It's been a week of…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump's Just Bear With Me Address
Donald Trump gave his first speech to Congress since being elected and it was filled with half-truths, lies and boasting about his first 43 days in office…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI: Gambling with WW3
A MIMS mini today because a planned meeting for a done deal devolved into a shouting match in the Oval Office between President Trump and Ukrainian President…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Town Hall Hell (w/ Rep. Debbie Dingell)
Members of Congress are hearing from a lot of angry voters over what's being done by the Trump administration. Republicans are being criticized for going along…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Republicans A Have Budget and Elon Musk Crashes The Cabinet
A two-topic mid-week episode this week. The House GOP passes a new budget plan hoping to avoid a government shutdown in two weeks. Grant explains the plan and…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Long Live The King? (w/ Prof. Lucan Way)
Donald Trump calls himself a king on social media. Is it Trolling? Yes. Is it still serious? Also, yes. Grant talks about why Trump's joke is actually a sign…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Why Are Federal Employees Being Fired Like This?
Tens of thousands of federal employees have been fired from the US government seemingly arbitrarily and the effects from it are rippling through agencies…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Are We In A Constitutional Crisis? (with Dr. Erica Groshen)
There's been a lot of talk about whether the US is heading for or already is in a constitutional crisis, but what does that even mean anyway? And, how would we…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Elon Musk's First Presidential Press Conference
Elon Musk gives a presidential press conference from the Oval Office while Trump looks on. Musk talked about what's happening with the "Department" of…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Elon Musk Rages and Raids
Elon Musk and his crew of 20-something employees spent the week interrogating federal employees, accessing sensitive data and putting American information at…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump's In His Empire Era
President Donald Trump has been fixated on expanding the US to other countries and territories and it's an unusual move for him given he was there America…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Confirmation Nation (with Dr. Scott Greer from the University of Michigan)
Three of Donald Trump's most controversial nominees had hearings this week and they were the most explosive we've seen so far. Trump's nominee for Director of…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump's Purges Begin
It's been a long nine days. Donald Trump has started the work of purging the government of people he doesn't think are loyal including goverment watch dogs…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump 2.0 One Week In (with Liz Dye and Andrew Torrez from Law and Chaos)
In his first five days of being back in office, Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders that aim to reshape American immigration, justice and the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The Sights And Sounds of Trump's Inauguration (with Deepti Doshi from New Public)
Grant breaks down the big take aways from Donald Trump's speech. What he plans to do on immigration, that Trump thinks he's been chosen by God and that he has…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Jack Smith's Last Word/Hegseth In The Hotseat
Make It Make Sense is back and it's a packed midweek episode. Grant breaks down the findings from inside the Jack Smith January 6th case report and what…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Elon Musk Plays President
Republicans blow up their own deal to keep the government open after Elon Musk tells them to. Grant talks about what's really at stake and what really happens…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
AOC, Pelosi and the Future of the Democrats
In this week's midweek podcast, Nancy Pelosi fires the first shot in the coming fight between the Democrats' younger generation and the old guard in what will…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump On Defense
While Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, may have righted the ship of his nomination, there's still a long way to go to get to the…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump Meets The Press
Donald Trump does his first major Sunday show sit-down and it's a lot. Grant breaks down his answers on tariffs, maybe adding two new states, ending basic…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI: Trump's Border Bonanza
This MIMS Mini is what was supposed to be last week's full episode all about the people Trump has ready to run the Department of Homeland Security and his…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MAKE MORE SENSE: Talking Immigration with Presente's Matt Nelson
Hey folks, Grant is out sick this week so you're getting the full conversation with Matt Nelson from the grassroots organizing group Presente all about how…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Pardons, Pete and Patel
Welcome to the first Midweek episode!Joe Biden does a 180 on his promise not to pardon his son Hunter and it's caused some controversy. It also gives us some…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump's Justice Department Shuffle (with Jonathan Bernstein)
Donald Trump's original pick for Attorney General, Fmr. Rep. Matt Gaetz drops out of the running after bombshell reporting and bad meetings with US Senators…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
All The King's Men (And Women)
Trump is choosing his cabinet and close advisors at warp speed. Grant breaks down some of the most high profile positions. Plus, how the Trump team is already…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Trump Takes America (with Matthew D. Taylor)
Donald Trump wins the 2024 election with numbers we haven't seen in decades from a Republican President-elect. His victory was a decisive mandate from voters…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 72: When Will We Know?
Election Day Countdown: TOMORROWWhen will we know the results of the election. Today's min is a swing state by swing state breakdown of what things look like…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 71: Everybody's A Joker
Election Day Countdown: 1 DayKamala Harris makes a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live and Trump praises a crude joke about Harris before performing a…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 70: Liar, Liar
Election Day Countdown: 2 days A new survey out explores who's lying to their loved ones about their choice for president. Spoiler, younger voters and women…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
Who’s STILL Undecided/Climate Change and Our Votes with Mary Anna Mancuso
Election Day Countdown: 3 DaysBelieve it or not, there are still undecided voters out there. Grant takes a look at what we know about people who haven't made…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 69: The Election Scaries
Election Day Countdown: 4 DaysHappy Halloween! With the election just a handful of days away, people are freaked out and fearful of what might happen. Today's…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 68: Harris Closes
Election Day Countdown: 5 days Kamala Harris gives her closing argument speech on the National Mall, from the same place where Trump incited the Jan 6 attack…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 67: We Need To Talk About Elon
Election Day Countdown: 6 DaysElon Musk has become one of the most prolific spenders and supporters for Donald Trump and one of his latest schemes has been…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 66: Another Campaign Hack
Election Day Countdown: 7 DaysThe Department of Justice announces there were more attempted hacks into the presidential campaigns, this time from Chinese…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 65: Trump Plays The Garden
Election Day Countdown: 8 DaysDonald Trump is set to hold a rally at Madison Square Garden. It's meant to kick off his final push in the race but it's coming…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 64: Harris, Abortion and Beyonce's America
Election Day Countdown: 9 Days Kamala Harris holds a rally in Houston, TX continuing to make the Lone Star State the national center for the fight over…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
We'll See You In Court with Liz Dye
Election Day Countdown: 10 Days There are more than 165 lawsuits already filed across the country, but mostly in the swing states surrounding who can vote, how…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 63: Harris Says THE Thing
Election Day Countdown: 11 Days Kamala Harris does a town hall on CNN that was supposed to be a debate, except Trump declined. There, she calls him a fascist…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 62: Trump Wishes For Hitler's Generals
Election Day Countdown: 12 DaysA pair of bombshell stories dropped Tuesday interviewing Fmr. General and Chief of Staff John Kelly laying out Trump wishing to…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 61: Cracks In The Wall
Election Day Countdown: 13 Days The Harris campaign is starting to get nervous about its blue wall states, mainly Michigan and the next two weeks will be a…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 60: You Want Fries With That?
Election Day Countdown: 14 daysDonald Trump stages a photo op to work the fry station at McDonald's. It's a dig at Harris as he continues to lie about her…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 59: Exhaustion and Discipline
Election Day Countdown: 15 Days With two weeks left in the campaign Trump and Harris are feeling it. Trump's exhausted and Harris is still struggling to answer…
- Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
MIMS MINI 58: Record Breaking Early Voting
Election Day Countdown: 16 Days Early voting has started in 47 states and people are VOTING. Several swing states have broken records and Grant breaks down why…