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
124 episodes
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 working with archivists and fighting for Americans' access to government records and inf...
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35:09
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 country's top officials. Donald Trump's Administration officials face a Senate grilling ...
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33:34
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 prison in El Salvador, many without criminal records, and the Trump Admin's lawyers' attem...
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35:28
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 Putin, and an offer he's hoping neither can refuse. Grant breaks down wh...
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18:08
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 over whether to shut down the government. Republicans need 8 Democrats to join t...
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34:29
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 government shutdown could still easily happen. Plus, some new reporting from Wired Magazine...
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19:21
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 180-degree-turned-360-degree turns causing confusion and chaos. Grant breaks down the ...
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47:39
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. Grant walks through the marathon-length address of Trump's key issues like ending DEI, i...
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23:21
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 Zelensky. Grant breaks down what happened, what both sides are saying and how the worl...
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17:38
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 with DOGE and Trump, while Democrats are looking for someone, anyone to step up and ...
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46:52
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 what it will mean trillions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy while ...
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24:19
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 of a growing and public movement in the GOP to make Trump a three term president if no...
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40:42
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, communities and homes across the country. Grant breaks down how the firings h...
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25:56
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 even know if we were in one?Grant breaks down how we got to where we are and ...
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41:59
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 Government Efficiency. He misled and lied about a lot of it and refused to talk about his own...
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27:58
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 risk, with questionable legality and security. What is the work of "DOGE?"...
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46:57
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 first candidate in three elections. Grant breaks down why Trump wants Greenla...
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25:45
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 National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel for FBI Director and RFK ...
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49:44
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, DOJ officials, and offering federal employees a buyout while having loyalty screening t...
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21:41
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 federal government. His plans also put a lot of people in harms way. Grant breaks...
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43:24
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 a mandate. Plus the incredible images of the world's riches, most powerful tech billi...
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29:20
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 happens next. Plus, what happened during Pete Hegseth's confirmat...
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26:40
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 during a government shutdown. Also, Elon Musk shows just how much contro...
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31:09