Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes
The political world is fast paced, chaotic and often it's just too much to keep up with. That's where Grant Hermes comes in. Grant has been a journalist over a decade on the ground covering the biggest US political stories, scandals and elections. Twice a week, he'll break down the biggest political news you need to know. It's never been more important to stay informed and sometimes all it takes is a little help to Make It Make Sense.
Episodes
205 episodes
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 affordable healthcare through tax credits for millions is coming quickly. Gr...
•
30:53
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. The court could potentially make it legal to draw districts based on race,...
•
14:57
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 "barreling" toward the longest shutdown in history, but has his own motives for not ...
•
18:46
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 Epstein Files. But University of Miami political science professor Joe Usc...
•
43:43
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 violence against ICE agents in Chicago and Portland. As Texas troops stand re...
•
17:07
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 breaks down whether Trump can really just send troops into cities wherever ...
•
16:19
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 people like RFK Jr, Dr. Mehmet Oz and others have turned what were some of our most trust...
•
30:49
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 restored. Republicans and Donald Trump are going scorched earth. First, they'...
•
17:16
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 the US Military. Almost all of it from Pete Hegseth was about waging a culture war on...
•
25:44
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 dismantled. But what does that mean for our local schools, and where should the...
•
37:23
Does Congress Actually WANT A Government Shutdown?
The federal government shuts down in less than a week, and it seems like neither side wants the blame but might stand to gain from it. Democrats want a chance to stand up to Trump while promising to fight for healthcare. Republicans...
•
19:16
Trump's New Pressure Push
After the death of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration is trying to amp up the pressure on political opponents. The FCC made explicit threats and gave explicit instructions to media companies to suspend Jimmy Kimmel. Trump got caught publish...
•
19:22
Talking Ourselves Back From The Brink with Prof. Karrin Anderson
There are clearer and clearer signs that the Trump Administration is pulling the US into what scholars call "competative authoritarianism." Grant it joined by Colorado State Professor of political communication Karrin Anderson to ta...
•
49:37
The Plan To Make Free Speech Illegal
Vocal leaders on the right, members of the Trump Administration and even the President himself are calling for the government to target not just violent political opponents, but people who share their views without acting on them. G...
•
20:19
The Supreme Court's Shadow Docket Crisis w/ Liz Dye
With the next Supreme Court term just around the corner, it's time to talk about the Court's "shadow docket" of emergency rulings that have been happening over the summer. Grant is joined again by Liz Dye from Law and Chaos and Lega...
•
50:35
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
The right-wing commentator, youth leader, and political power broker Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event in Utah on Wednesday. It's an event that is going to rock the political world and by extension, the country.In the hour...
•
19:10
The Birthday Book Bombshell
House Oversight Democrats release THAT birthday book with Trump's message to Jeffrey Epstein, and it sends the White House scrambling to try and tamp down the story that Trump hasn't been able to shake. Grant breaks down what's in t...
•
15:09
CROSSOVER EPISODE: Grant Gets Interviewed On Let's Pod This
Today's episode is something different. Grant is the one being interviewed on the Let's Pod This podcast, discussing how Make It Make Sense is created, his news-reading process, and which stories he thinks are overhyped or underreporte...
•
51:48
Epstein Survivors Demand Action, Will Congress Listen?
Dozens of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, their families, lawyers, and a bipartisan trio of lawmakers came to the Capitol to demand that leaders sign off on just voting to release the Epstein Files. While that's been happening, House Republicans ...
•
19:22
Trump's Proof Of Life Press Conference
After nearly a week of not being on video, rumors swirled over Labor Day weekend that Donald Trump might have had some kind of emergency. On Tuesday, the president held an Oval Office press conference about moving Space Command, but really, the...
•
21:06
A Shooting in Minneapolis And An Attack On Mental Health
After another deadly mass shooting in a school in the US, Americans are looking for answers among the horror. The White House and Conservatives are using the shooter's gender identity as a trans person to further try and criminalize...
•
22:40
Dictator Week At The White House
Donald Trump floats the idea of being a dictator as he threatens to send National Guard troops into Chicago and other cities. He also uses the DOJ to go after a high-level former advisor while giving himself a title he doesn't have under the Co...
•
21:47
Ratf*cking America w/ Author David Daley
Extreme gerrymandering is ruining American democracy and right now, the country is in the middle of a redistricting arms race. Essentially, it's politicians choosing voters instead of voters choosing politicians. Grant talks to auth...
•
45:32