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Artwork for America, Actually

America, Actually with Astead Herndon

Vox Media
Donald Trump
Immigration
Affordability
AI Regulation
Artificial Intelligence
Data Center
Gerrymandering
United States Politics
Corruption
Iran
Ruben Gallego
Congressional Progressive Caucus
Bailey Winder
Vineland
Data One Data Center
Virginia First Congressional District
Democracy
Hasan Piker
New York City Politics
Politics

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes16Founded3 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryGovernmentNews

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Artwork for America, Actually

Latest Episodes

The former vice president’s loyal base seems ready for another go, but Democratic donors are wary.

This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Sarah Schweppe, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by... more

What should the progressive left take away from the collapse of Graham Platner’s campaign?

This show was edited by Christina Vallice, fact checked by Sarah Schweppe, video edited by Frank Posillico, and hosted by Astead Herndon. Special thanks to K... more

Can the country’s founding ideals still unite a divided nation? This episode is presented by the Rockefeller Foundation.

This show was produced by Dustin DeSoto, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, and hosted by Astead Herndon.

Li... more

The group of men that famously helped propel Trump to the White House in 2024 is having second thoughts. Here’s what that means for Republicans in the future.

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

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Recent Guests

Jack Posobiec
Far-right activist and podcaster
Jack Posobiec LLC / alt-right manosphere
Episode: How Trump lost the bro vote
Alex Boris
Assemblyman, New York State Assembly; AI policy advocate, former Palantir employee
New York State Assembly
Episode: The young candidates shaking up the Dem Party
Daria Lisa Avila Chevalier
Democratic Socialist candidate in NY-13
DSA / NY-13 Campaign
Episode: The young candidates shaking up the Dem Party
Hasan Piker
Twitch streamer and political commentator
Self-described leftist commentator; controversial public figure
Episode: Hasan Piker vs. The Establishment
Katie Sidderson
Volunteer from Indivisible Virginia
Indivisible Virginia
Episode: Can corruption drive voter turnout?
Tim Sawinski
Candidate running in Virginia's 1st Congressional District
Candidate, VA-1
Episode: Can corruption drive voter turnout?
Preet Bharara
Former U.S. Attorney
Barb McQuade and Preet Bharara show
Episode: Can corruption drive voter turnout?
Barb McQuade
Former U.S. Attorney
Barb McQuade show
Episode: Can corruption drive voter turnout?
Salam Bhatti
Public interest lawyer
RVA Indivisible event participant
Episode: Can corruption drive voter turnout?

Host

Astead Herndon
Host of America, Actually

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 93 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 States2 months ago
  • Low Brow

    Facile commentary intended for consumption by the malleable masses

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    D’Aedae Singh Patel IV
    United States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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 States2 months 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
#12
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#22
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#40
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#83
Germany/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The young candidates shaking up the Dem Party
Q: How do you see the governance of AI affecting workers and the economy long-term?
We should prepare for disruption with policies like retraining investment, job guarantees, and potential AI dividends to share gains and protect workers as technology scales.
The young candidates shaking up the Dem Party
Q: What is the core goal of the RAISE Act and how would it work at a national level?
The RAISE Act aims to impose a safety regime on major frontier AI labs, with public safety requirements, incident reporting, audits, and a developer duty of care to prevent misuse and ensure accountability.
The young candidates shaking up the Dem Party
Q: Why did you decide to leave Palantir and how does that relate to your policy focus now?
I left because the company's use in ICE and deportations crossed a red line for me; I wanted to ensure government policy reflects civil liberties and democratic values, and concentrate on using data to serve people rather than enable aggressive enforcement.
Hasan Piker vs. The Establishment
Q: What is Hasan's view on the balance between controversy and accountability in his online content?
Hasan argues that controversy is a function of the platform and audience, but stresses that he has learned to be more careful since major public events and that his broader political goals guide his approach.
Hasan Piker vs. The Establishment
Q: The host asks Hasan if he stands by past statements and whether he should apologize.
Hasan explains that some statements were from a younger, less careful period, emphasizes rehabilitation, and asserts that his growth is ongoing and that he does not want to offend, while acknowledging harm caused by past remarks.

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

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These podcasts share a similar audience with America, Actually:

1. On with Kara Swisher
2. Today, Explained
3. Pivot
4. Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov
5. Strict Scrutiny

How many episodes of America, Actually are there?

America, Actually launched 3 months ago and published 16 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on America, Actually?

Recent guests on America, Actually include:

1. Jack Posobiec
2. Alex Boris
3. Daria Lisa Avila Chevalier
4. Hasan Piker
5. Katie Sidderson
6. Tim Sawinski
7. Preet Bharara
8. Barb McQuade

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