The Takeout

This week, comedian and former U.S. Senator Al Franken joins chief Washington correspondent and "Takeout" host Major Garrett to discuss his ongoing comedy tour, the state of American politics (and comedy), and the war in Ukraine.  The former Minnesota senator also discusses his resignation from the Senate in 2017 amid sexual misconduct allegations, and his reflections now on his resignation. Does he want to run for office again? This episode was recorded on April 28, 2022. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former Sen. Doug Jones, Democrat of Alabama, was the White House's pick to navigate Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson through the Senate confirmation process. He sits down with Major to explain the strategy that led to the soon-to-be Justice Jackson to receive bipartisan support. Jones also offers an - actual - conspiracy theory on why Republicans attacked Judge Jackson for her child pornography sentencing record. Plus, Jones weighs in on bleak prospects for Democrats on the ballot this November and says the president ought to do more to project a winning message. Join us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who is the leader of the free world? According to Polish ambassador to the US Marek Magierowski, it's Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Magierowski told Major he fears Vladimir Putin's ambitions extend beyond Ukraine. Since the start of the Russian invasion on Feb. 24, Poland has accepted around 2.7 million Ukrainian refugees, Magierowski said, with a majority of the refugees hosted by Polish citizens in homes, gyms and boarding houses across the country. We're at Supra in downtown Washington. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than 4 million Ukrainians have fled their war-torn homeland since late February. An untold number are displaced inside the country and some are trapped at home without access to water, electricity or heat in places like Mariupol. This week, Major interviews David Miliband, former British Foreign Secretary and current head of the International Rescue Committee, to discuss the ongoing refugee crisis in Eastern Europe and the brutality of Vladimir Putin's assault on Ukraine. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, join us for a conversation about the January 6th investigation with CBS News correspondents Robert Costa and Scott MacFarlane. MacFarlane has tracked the legal fallout from the Capitol riot and the House select committee working to uncover what happened that day. Costa, and his reporting partner at The Washington Post Bob Woodward, broke two major stories in recent days. The wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas repeatedly texted President Trump's chief of staff to urge him to pursue challenges to the 2020 election results. Separately, Costa and Woodward reported on internal White House documents that revealed a 7-hour gap in Mr. Trump's phone logs when rioters ransacked the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.   Major and company are at Chef Geoff's in Washington, DC's West End neighborhood. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Mark Warner (D-VA) joined Major Garrett to discuss where things stand one month into Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. “I so wish I knew,” if and when Russians were planning on using chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, Warner said, adding that “[Russian leader Vladimir] Putin has become a more and more and more isolated figure” and could lash out in the coming days as Ukrainian forces continue to keep Russian forces from completing their takeover of the country. Warner applauded the U.S. intelligence community for its “forward leaning” moves like publicly sharing that Russia was planning a coup to topple Ukrainian leadership, and that Russia could use a false flag to escalate their aggression. He and Garrett also discussed this week’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, and the death of Madeleine Albright. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-p

This week, CBS News foreign policy and national security contributor H.R. McMaster joins Major to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine. McMaster, who served as a National Security Advisor to former president Donald Trump, said that whatever actions the United States would take if there were millions of deaths, "we should do it right now," adding that U.S. officials need to stop talking about a potential World War Three because it plays into Russian leader Vladimir Putin's playbook. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us this week for Major's conversation with the co-chairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, Illinois Democrat Rep. Mike Quigley. He says he has seen enough suffering in Ukraine and is now calling for a no fly zone there. Quigley also believes the US should treat the embattled nation as if it were part of NATO. That view is out of step with the White House and most of his colleagues on Capitol Hill. But Quigley says waiting any longer means prolonged Ukrainian bloodshed. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to the UN, about a million refugees have fled Ukraine for points west in just seven days of fighting. Mostly women and children, they're headed for safety in neighboring European countries. Ambassador of the European Union to the United States Stavros Lambrinidis joins Major this week at Ris in Washington's West End neighborhood to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, the unfolding refugee crisis, Europe's response and what off-ramps are available, if any, to stem escalating violence. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 1971 Attica Prison riot was among the bloodiest domestic conflicts in recent American history. Major speaks with director Stanley Nelson whose new documentary, “Attica,” brings to bare the savage horrors of the 5-day standoff. Nelson explains how race and politics contributed to a riot that left 43 dead - all but one at the hands of law enforcement gunfire. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Major is joined by Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX) to discuss the former NFL player's takeaways from Super Bowl LVI, his recent trip to Ukraine and Democrats' chances of maintaining a majority in the next Congress. Plus: a can’t-miss discussion on election integrity. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to know what's it's like to cover the Winter Olympics? CBS News correspondent Jamie Yuccas joins Major from her temporary posting in Beijing. Jamie details the intensive COVID protocols in place for athletes, officials and journalists and explains the creature comforts inside the so-called "closed loop." There's been virtually no natural snowfall since the opening ceremonies, yet the games go on. Jamie explains how. Plus, reporting under the watchful eye of the Chinese government. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Legendary journalist Carl Bernstein - yes, THAT Carl Bernstein - joins Major this week to talk about his new book "Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom" which chronicles the early part of his reporting career. Before Watergate and the Washington Post, Bernstein was a so-so student with a passion for newspapering. Bernstein talks about his cub reporter days at the Washington Evening Star, covering President Kennedy's assassination and objectivity in news coverage. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams, currently on assignment in Kyiv, Ukraine, joins Major for a chat about her experience covering the Russian build up of forces along Ukraine's border and her life as a reporter in conflict zones. She recently spent time reporting quite literally in the trenches on the frontlines. Holly also shares a story about eating breakfast with the Ukrainian president...and his parents. Join us! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Major shares an extended interview with the National Hockey League's first Black player, Willie O'Ree. O'Ree entered the NHL in 1958 with the Boston Bruins, and persevered through racial discrimination and an injury that left him blind in his right eye. The Boston Bruins retired O'Ree's number 22 jersey this week, and Congress passed the The Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act honoring O'Ree for breaking hockey's racial barrier. O'Ree currently works as the NHL's director of youth development and diversity ambassador. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), who sponsored the legislation, offer their thoughts on O'Ree's legacy on and off the ice. If you missed it, you can watch Major’s CBS Mornings piece on O’Ree here. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) joins Major to discuss her recent trip to Atlanta with President Biden as he pushes voting rights legislation. Plus, Sewell talks about her upbringing in Selma, Alabama and how she got to know Michelle and Barack Obama before they knew each other. And Major asks about this week's developments in the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol siege. This episode was recorded on January 12th, 2022. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us for Major's extended conversation with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who was pressured by former President Trump to overturn his state's 2020 election results. Those ballots were counted three times and each time showed President Biden with more votes than Mr. Trump. Raffensperger reflects on a year of death threats against him and his family and explains why he got a dog. Major explores the future of the Republican party if belief in the so-called big lie becomes a litmus test for candidates. Join us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, CBS News technology reporter Dan Patterson joins Major to discuss the influx of misinformation and disinformation on the internet, the state of QAnon heading into 2022, and whether there is an appetite in the public for the "metaverse" that Google, Facebook and other tech giants are rolling out. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, comedian and impressionist Frank Caliendo joins Major to discuss Christmas, COVID, and Comedy. Plus, Caliendo explains how he workshops his celebrity impressions. This episode was recorded on December 21, 2021. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For pollster Robert Cahaly, producing illuminating surveys and with accurate results is more important than party politics. Cahaly, who founded the opinion polling firm Trafalgar Group, received an A-minus grade from FiveThirtyEight's Pollster Rankings and accurately predicted former President Trump's victory in 2016 and the results of the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections in 2021. This episode was recorded on December 14th, 2021. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices