Rephonic
Artwork for America, Actually

America, Actually with Astead Herndon

Vox Media
Donald Trump
Immigration
Artificial Intelligence
Data Center
United States Politics
Affordability
Iran
Ruben Gallego
Congressional Progressive Caucus
Bailey Winder
Vineland
Data One Data Center
America, Actually
Vox Media
Astead Herndon
New York City
ICE (immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Greg Casar
AI Regulation
Antagonistic Political Branding

Donald Trump has defined American political discourse for more than a decade. In 2028, Americans will have a different choice. On America, Actually, host Astead Herndon is joined by people in politics, people in the news, and voters to chart the journey toward the next presidential election. Every week, they dig into the most pressing questions people across the country are asking: How will AI cha... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes9Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for America, Actually

Latest Episodes

Democrats talk a lot about protecting democracy, but for most Americans, the system was written to exclude them a long time ago.

This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christo... more

What skills will matter most in the AI era, and how can workers avoid being left behind? We look at one big bet aimed at supporting the US workforce. This episode is presented by The Rockefeller Foundation.

This show was produced by Dustin DeSoto, f... more

There’s a growing disconnect between a local community that says it’s being treated as the "guinea pigs" in a new industrial revolution, and Washington politicians.

This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shan... more

What do buzzwords like “progressive” and “affordability” mean to voters? We went to one of the most Democratic congressional districts to find out.

This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, vide... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Pivot
PivotNew York Magazine
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The Opinions
The OpinionsThe New York Times Opinion

Recent Guests

Bailey Winder
Congressional candidate in South Jersey
Running for Congress in South Jersey
Episode: The data center war
Greg Casar
Congressman, head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
U.S. House of Representatives (Texas)
Episode: "Affordability" is the new progressive
Heather Cox Richardson
Historian and professor at Boston College, popular commentator via Letters from an American and YouTube channel
Boston College
Episode: Grading America's first 250 years
Ruben Gallego
Arizona Senator
Democratic Party
Episode: This Senator has an Eric Swalwell problem
Caitlin Dickerson
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Atlantic, former New York Times journalist
The Atlantic; The New York Times
Episode: Why both sides fail on immigration
Liana Kunachoff
Reporter for the Arizona Luminaria; core member for Report for America
Arizona Luminaria; Report for America
Episode: Why both sides fail on immigration
Hunter Harris
culture writer, screenwriter, and industry commentator
Episode: America Post-Trump
Nate Silver
statistician, data analyst
Episode: America Post-Trump

Host

Astead Herndon
Host of America, Actually

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 79 ratings
  • nasal

    love astead’s work but his voice is so distracting - sounds like he cannot breathe through his nose and I apologize deeply if this is a serious issue, I just can’t get around it

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Almonduh
    United States10 days ago
  • Low Brow

    Facile commentary intended for consumption by the malleable masses

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    D’Aedae Singh Patel IV
    United States15 days ago
  • Not loving it yet

    I’m a huge fan of Astead and The Run-Up was my favorite podcast during the election. I loved that Astead actually traveled around and talked to people on the ground. I was so looking forward to his new podcast because I was hoping it would be more of the same or similar.

    As much as I’m happy to have Astead in my feed again, this podcast sounds like every other political commentary podcast so far. He’s interviewing politicians, pundits, and thinkers that I’ve heard a dozen times on a dozen other... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    marspowr
    United States20 days ago
  • Love hearing your reporting again!!

    I diligently listened to your reporting during the last election and was very impressed by your honest questioning, interesting topics, and ability to engage communities across all political parties. Your reporting always leaves me with wanting to learn and know more. It’s also helped me understand all points of views beyond what I grew up with. I cannot wait to continue to hear your voice as the midterms come up and hopefully even more of it during the next presidential elections. Again thank y... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1 star customer service
    United States24 days ago
  • Smart, funny, thoughtful

    So excited to have Astead back in my feed! This podcast is smart and funny while remaining thoughtful. Astead is examining the moment we’re in from the perspectives of real people. The pod looks at how we got here and what’s next. Love it!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Liz E 66
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners feel the tone can be passionate or loud at times, which may divide the audience.
Listeners appreciate thoughtful questions and the host's incisive inquiry, with an emphasis on clarity and depth.
The show is seen as refreshing and grounded in real-world implications despite political complexity.
Guests are often praised for expertise and nuanced viewpoints.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#24
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#72
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#76
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#68
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#111
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#147
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The data center war
Q: How many of you would say that your concerns about this data center are tied to larger concerns about AI and kind of some anxiety around that?
Residents express anxiety about AI's role in the economy and how rapidly data centers are expanding, linking their concerns about noise, energy, and governance to broader questions about AI's impact on daily life.
"Affordability" is the new progressive
Q: How achievable is this stuff given current political realities, and why focus on consensus-friendly planks instead of bolder priorities?
Casar describes the plan as a pragmatic, no-excuses approach that can build cross-district support, while the bigger flagship goals remain on the table as longer-term battleships to pursue once a broader consensus exists.
"Affordability" is the new progressive
Q: Democrats are obviously not in the Congressional majority. Why at this moment?
He argues the urgency comes from everyday voters facing high costs and from the desire to define what affordability means for the party beyond slogans, especially as the party positions itself for 2026 and beyond.
"Affordability" is the new progressive
Q: I mean, as we talked about, we wanted to talk about the new affordability agenda that the Progressive Caucus released. And my first question was kind of why release this agenda now?
Casar explains the timing as a strategic flag-planting and litmus-test move aimed at unifying the party and presenting a relatable, cost-of-living-focused platform that can win votes even in diverse districts, while preparing for future electoral contests.
Grading America's first 250 years
Q: What should the founding document for the next 250 years emphasize?
A clear commitment to universal voting rights, environmental stewardship, robust public education, universal health care, and a national service element that builds civic capacity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About America, Actually

What is America, Actually about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly, interviewer-led deep dive into American politics and public policy that blends current-events discussion with historical context, data-driven insights, and ground-level reporting. Episodes frequently tackle affordability, immigration, democracy, AI's impact on work, and the evolving media landscape, often pairing the host with policymakers, historians, journalists, and cultural critics to surface practical implications for voters and stakeholders. Notable is the show's effort to move beyond Trump-centered discourse by foregrounding everyday concerns, policy tradeoffs, and long-term trajectories, while weaving in on-the-ground reporting and audience-facing exercises to gauge real-world sentiment.

A distinctive strength is the will... more

Where can I find podcast stats for America, Actually?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for America, Actually. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to America, Actually and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does America, Actually get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for America, Actually, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for America, Actually?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for America, Actually, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does America, Actually have?

To see how many followers or subscribers America, Actually has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to America, Actually?

These podcasts share a similar audience with America, Actually:

1. On with Kara Swisher
2. Pivot
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Opinions
5. Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov

How many episodes of America, Actually are there?

America, Actually launched 2 months ago and published 9 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact America, Actually?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for America, Actually?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for America, Actually from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for America, Actually?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of America, Actually. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on America, Actually?

Recent guests on America, Actually include:

1. Bailey Winder
2. Greg Casar
3. Heather Cox Richardson
4. Ruben Gallego
5. Caitlin Dickerson
6. Liana Kunachoff
7. Hunter Harris
8. Nate Silver

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days