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Freedom Desk with Jason Rezaian

The Washington Post
Donald Trump
Kamala Harris
Elon Musk
Democratic Party
Trump Administration
Republican Party
Congress
Joe Biden
Stormy Daniels
Supreme Court
Michael Cohen
Tariffs
2024 Presidential Election
Pete Hegseth
Economy
Government Shutdown
Pennsylvania
The Washington Post
Iran
J.D. Vance

Jason Rezaian knows the cost of free speech. Freedom Desk is about what comes next in the global fight for freedom. Tune in to the weekly podcast from The Washington Post.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes403Founded10 years ago
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News

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Latest Episodes

Photojournalist Yalda Moaiery received a 15-year prison sentence for documenting deadly protests in Iran. But she’s still waiting for the Iranian regime to arrest her, if they ever do. 

She joins Jason to talk about her alleged crime and how the gov... more

Dan Balz, The Washington Post’s former chief political correspondent, has covered every midterm election since 1978. This cycle, the country may again be facing a sea change in Washington.

Jason and Dan discuss President Donald Trump’s historically ... more

Regular listeners have heard Jason talk about his imprisonment in Iran. He chronicled his entire ordeal in the podcast “544 Days.” Today, we’re presenting the first episode of that series.

For 544 days, Jason Rezaian was held hostage in Iran’s notor... more

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa has spent decades defending press freedom, work that made her a target of then-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and left her facing years of legal jeopardy. She is out with a new book, “The Fight Back: A Cit... more

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Recent Guests

Dan Balz
The Washington Post political correspondent who has covered every midterm election since 1978
The Washington Post
Episode: What happens if Democrats win back Congress?
Maria Ressa
Journalist, author, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and CEO and co-founder of Rappler
Rappler
Episode: Dictators, tech bros and AI: Maria Ressa's plan to fight back
Brett McGurk
Diplomat and former presidential advisor
Former U.S. National Security Council/White House staff
Episode: The race to end the Gaza war hostage crisis
Evan Gershkovich
Journalist for The Wall Street Journal, author of This Cursed Beautiful Land
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Surviving 491 days in a Russian prison
Yassamin Ansari
Representative, Arizona's 3rd congressional district
U.S. Congress
Episode: Fighting for freedom of expression at home – and in Iran
Roger Carstens
Former special presidential envoy for hostage affairs
U.S. government / SPHA
Episode: Inside America’s most difficult hostage negotiations
Clarissa Ward
CNN's chief international correspondent, author, and press-freedom advocate
CNN
Episode: Clarissa Ward on Gaza, war reporting, and journalism under siege
Anna Liss-Roy
Political video journalist
The Washington Post
Episode: It's Trump's military, from parade to protests
Dan Lamothe
Covers the military and Pentagon for The Post
The Washington Post
Episode: Hegseth's drama, Trump's pardoning spree, and Elon Musk is out

Hosts

Libby Casey
Host of Sidebar
Rhonda Colvin
Host of Sidebar from The Washington Post
James Hohmann
Host of Sidebar

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 5.3k ratings
  • Best show

    Look forward to podcast each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ggosy
    United Statesa year ago
  • This host CANNOT STOP INTERRUPTING

    The host especially in “it’s trump military” just can’t stop interrupting her experts. It’s so jarring to listen to. Literally every time someone talks, she interrupts.

    Please let her know. It’s hard to listen too. Why interview if you have everything to say? This may sound juju, but interviews are actually spiritual practices where people listen to each other.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lu9595
    Francea year ago
  • Stop interrupting with ads!!

    Unsubscribed because they can’t figure out how to place ad breaks into the podcast. Great show tho. Awful production which is weird from such a big name but it is what it is I guess.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nwdarrin
    United Statesa year ago
  • Stop interrupting with ads!!

    Breaking in mid sentence to have an ad break is ridiculous. Shows good but get your ads under control 🤦‍♂️

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nwdarrin
    United States2 years ago
  • Wonderful podcast, but please change the intro!

    I really enjoy the thoughtful, well-informed commentary from the three hosts and occasional guest. I, like many other voters, are trying to balance staying well informed without being completely demoralized by current politics. With that in mind, I request that you please change in the intro to the show. The first thing the listener hears is Donald Trump saying “Look what happened!” Hearing his voice is a bit traumatizing, and since it occurs in the first seconds of each episode, I have to be vi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mvalcour
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is noted for delivering political commentary that is engaging yet occasionally biased toward a particular viewpoint.
Criticism often centers on perceived interruptions and ad placements leading to a disrupted listening experience.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth analysis provided by knowledgeable hosts and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#245
China/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What happens if Democrats win back Congress?
Q: What would it look like if Democrats retook both chambers of Congress?
Balz expects more investigations and efforts to hold the administration accountable, alongside a struggle over an affirmative legislative agenda and likely political contention.
What happens if Democrats win back Congress?
Q: What do you think are the issues that are going to most affect turnout in this election?
Balz says the economy is the main driver, with affordability and gasoline prices particularly salient. He also cites voters motivated to oppose Donald Trump.
544 Days: An Avocado Revolution
Q: Did you think that we were going away for a few hours or for a long time?
Yegi says she knew they were in serious trouble but hoped they might be held only for a week or ten days.
544 Days: An Avocado Revolution
Q: But what did you think that first night that we met?
Yegi says Rezaian was cute but disheveled, and she immediately thought she would need to revamp his style.
Dictators, tech bros and AI: Maria Ressa's plan to fight back
Q: What do you think responsible regulation would look like right now where we are?
Ressa calls for transparency about AI incidents and risks, mandatory reporting, safety standards and safeguards built in by design. She says policymakers should act despite uncertainty and listen to people experiencing the harms.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Freedom Desk

What is Freedom Desk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A political discussion series features in-depth analysis on current events, focusing on key figures and legislative matters in modern governance. With hosts who bring journalistic expertise, the conversations often cover significant political dynamics, including party strategies, health care policy debates, and the personal interactions of prominent politicians, especially during critical junctures like election cycles and legislative reforms. Noteworthy is the inclusion of guest experts who provide additional insights, enriching the dialogue with expert perspectives on various subjects such as foreign policy and national security issues.

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Which podcasts are similar to Freedom Desk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Freedom Desk:

1. The NPR Politics Podcast
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Radio Atlantic
4. The Daily
5. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

How many episodes of Freedom Desk are there?

Freedom Desk launched 10 years ago and published 403 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 Freedom Desk?

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What guests have appeared on Freedom Desk?

Recent guests on Freedom Desk include:

1. Dan Balz
2. Maria Ressa
3. Brett McGurk
4. Evan Gershkovich
5. Yassamin Ansari
6. Roger Carstens
7. Clarissa Ward
8. Anna Liss-Roy

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.

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