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
138 episodes
Don't Trust Your Lying Eyes
Donald Trump takes his first state visit in his second term. Just like his first, the trip is to the Middle East. During the trip, the president is supposed to be making deals (a weird thing for a president to be doing in the first ...
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17:07
Drugs and Deals
The White House makes an agreement with China on trade and tariffs that is essentially having its bluff called on the cornerstone of Trump's economic agenda. In return, the US doesn't get all that much except higher prices and a promise to keep...
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16:37
What Is Habeas Corpus?
The White House says it's looking into suspending a bedrock legal principle that would mean speeding up its mass arrests and deportations of immigrants across the country, called the Writ of Habeas Corpus. It means, "have the body,"...
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16:46
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 putting tariffs on Canada, raising prices, and calling for Canada to become the 51st ...
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14:41
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 trying to build and why it's a flashing sign to the rest of the world that h...
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43:51
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 has hit a record level of unpopularity and voters across the country have a...
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34:45
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 members calling for Sen. Chuck Schumer to step down from his leade...
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36:47
"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 time. Just like last time, he's fighting back, but is more out of contr...
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22:41
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 Administration refuses to return. Grant breaks down a scathing new ruling in that case...
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54:06
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 judge says he's ready to charge the Trump Administration with contempt of court for ...
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24:54
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 turns out the effects are going to be felt for a long, long time.
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33:26
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 the world, confusing pretty much everyone. Plus, Congress is rewriting wha...
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20:33
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 why these tariffs have sent the economy into a nose dive, why they mean the US is shrin...
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55:10
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. Grant talks about what Booker talked about, what he was doing, and what it me...
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24:25
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