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Crooked Media

Crooked Media is an American progressive[2][3] political media company. It was founded in 2017 by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, all former top Barack Obama staffers and co-hosts of the Keepin' It 1600 podcast. Dan Pfeiffer, also a former Obama employee, co-hosts their flagship podcast, Pod Save America.

The company's offerings encompass a network of podcasts; a news and opinion website; live shows and tours; and a social media and live streaming presence. It aims to foster open conversation between those with center-left political leanings and support grassroots activism and political participation.

The company's flagship podcast, Pod Save America, airs thrice weekly and averages more than 1.5 million listeners an episode. In Fall 2018, four Pod Save America one-hour specials aired on HBO. By November of its first year, the podcast had been downloaded more than 120 million times, and 175 million times by February 2018.[4][5] By 2024, the podcast counted over 20 million monthly listeners.[6]

The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.[7]

History

Favreau, Lovett, Vietor, and Pfeiffer hosted The Ringer's Keepin' It 1600 political podcast from March 2016 until December 2016.

In 2016, Favreau, Lovett, and Vietor started podcasting and activism on a full-time basis. The three formed the Crooked Media company in January 2017 and launched a new podcast called Pod Save America the following month.[8] Pfeiffer opted not to join the company, and instead to co-host the Thursday edition of the show.[9] Crooked Media is named after a favorite term used by Donald Trump. When asked whether he thought Crooked Media was a 'media company', Favreau said, "I don't know if it's a political movement or a media company".[10]

The company announced a major expansion in October 2017 with the launch of Crooked.com, a text journalism site helmed by Editor-In-Chief Brian Beutler, a former New Republic senior editor. The expansion introduced the "Crooked Contributors" network, a group of progressive journalists, activists, organizers, policy experts, campaign veterans, and comedians who would be featured in podcasts, videos, and articles produced by the company.[11]

The company uses advertising revenue to fund the business.[7]

In February 2026, the company announced an agreement with MS NOW to air a weekly compilation program, Crooked on MS NOW, beginning on February 28.[12]

Podcasts

Crooked Media produces and distributes podcasts with numerous hosts, focusing on news and politics.

Pod Save America

Pod Save America is a thrice weekly progressive political podcast. On Tuesdays, it is hosted by Favreau, Vietor, and Lovett, and, on Thursdays, it is hosted by Favreau and Pfeiffer. Pod Save America explicitly aims to encourage its listeners to engage in activism and political persuasion.[10][13][14]

Pod Save America has run a number of special series and mini-series. For example, Tommy Vietor hosted a series on the 2020 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses,[15] and Dan Pfeiffer and Alyssa Mastromonaco hosted a series on the vice presidential candidate selection process.[16]

Pod Save the People

Hosted by organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson,[17][18] Pod Save the People "explores social justice, culture, politics – and the various ways they all collide".[19]

Pod Save the World

Hosted by Vietor and former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, Pod Save the World discusses foreign policy and international relations.[14]

Lovett or Leave It

Hosted by Lovett, a former speech and joke writer for President Obama. Lovett or Leave It is a recording of a weekly live show and features the eponymous host dissecting the news with a panel of guests. The show features a variety of games and one-on-one interviews centering on the week's news and American politics.[20]

Strict Scrutiny

The law podcast "Strict Scrutiny" follows the United States Supreme Court while "Hot Take" covers the climate issues. The hosts are Leah Litman, Melissa Murray, and Kate Shaw. It was acquired in 2022.[21]

Pod Save the UK

Pod Save the UK is a Pod Save America spinoff focused on British politics, co-hosted by journalist Coco Khan and comedian Nish Kumar.[22]

Other series

Other podcasts that have been produced and distributed by Crooked Media include:

  • The Wilderness, a docuseries hosted by Jon Favreau related to the status and future of the Democratic Party[23]
  • With Friends Like These, an interview-based podcast that aims to showcase discussions between people who disagree or come from different backgrounds, hosted by Ana Marie Cox[14]
  • Takeline, a podcast about sports focused on basketball, hosted by Jason Concepcion and Renee Montgomery[24]
  • Keep It, a podcast on culture hosted by Ira Madison III and Louis Virtel[25]
  • This Land, an investigation of Carpenter v. Murphy hosted by Rebecca Nagle[26]
  • Offline, a podcast about how being extremely online is "shaping everything from politics and culture to the ways we live, work, and interact with one another."[27][28]
  • Hysteria, a politics and culture podcast with a focus on women's issues, hosted by Erin Ryan[29] and Alyssa Mastromonaco[30]
  • America Dissected, a treatment of the American health system hosted by Abdul El-Sayed[31][32][33]
  • What a Day, a daily news podcast hosted by Jane Coaston[34][35]
  • Missing America, a foreign policy podcast hosted by Ben Rhodes[36][37]
  • Wind of Change, a mini-series on the song Wind of Change hosted by Patrick Radden Keefe[38][39]
  • Hall of Shame, a sports podcast hosted by Rachel Bonnetta and Rachna Fruchbom[40][41]
  • Unholier Than Thou, a religion podcast hosted by Phillip Picardi[42][41]
  • Six Feet Apart, a podcast on the COVID-19 pandemic hosted by Alex Wagner[43]
  • Rubicon, a podcast on the impeachments of Donald Trump hosted by Brian Beutler[44]
  • X-Ray Vision, a pop culture podcast by Emmy award winning Jason Concepcion.[45]
  • Imani State of Mind, a mental health podcast hosted by Dr. Imani Walker and Megan "MegScoop" Thomas.[46]
  • Crooked Minis, for more in-depth coverage on topics that are less directly related to current events[47]
  • Assembly Required, a politics podcast hosted by Stacey Abrams
  • Runaway Country, a politics podcast by Alex Wagner
  • Dare We Say, a pop culture podcast hosted by Josie Totah, Alycia Pascual-Peña, and Yasmine Hamady
  • Dissident at the Doorstep, a biographical and politics podcast hosted by Alison Klayman, Colin Jones, and Yangyang Cheng
  • 544 Days, an autobiographical political podcast hosted by Jason Rezaian
  • Empire City, hosted by Chenjerai Kumanyika
  • Ruined, a horror film podcast hosted by Alison Leiby and Halle Kiefer
  • Work Appropriate, a workplace advice podcast hosted by Anne Helen Petersen
  • Stuck, hosted by Damon Young
  • Shadow Kingdom, a true crime podcast hosted by Nicolo Majnoni

Tours

Crooked Media has produced multiple live tours. The first tour by Crooked Media podcasts was in fall of 2017. The tour featured live versions of Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave it, and appearances from DeRay Mckesson, Ana Marie Cox, and other guests.[48] Crooked Media tours have not just visited locations in the United States, including a 2018 tour with performances in Stockholm, Oslo, Amsterdam, and London.[49]

Activism

Crooked Media engages directly in political activism, including advocating for center-left policies and candidates, supporting get out the vote efforts, raising money, and encouraging political demonstrations.[4] In elections from 2017 onwards, the company has collaborated with MoveOn on direct activism efforts, such as directing Pod Save America listeners to Republican town-hall meetings, and with Swing Left and Indivisible to raise money and encourage activism relevant to the 2018 United States elections and the Affordable Care Act.[4][50] The Los Angeles Times reported that according to Crooked Media, it raised $2.7 million and directed 22,000 volunteers to fill shifts in competitive races during the 2018 midterms.[51]

Vote Save America

Vote Save America is the name for the voter turnout initiatives and other activism by Crooked Media. It is also the name of their Political Action Committee.

In May 2019, the Crooked Media campaign "Vote Save America" launched the F*ck Gerry(mandering) Fund with Data for Progress to direct listeners' donations to 14 of the closest races in Virginia.[52][53]

Ahead of the 2020 election cycle, under the umbrella of Vote Save America, they raised $32 million in the third quarter of 2020, which was directed to Democratic candidates.[54] Through the Vote Save America program, Crooked Media has partnered with Fair Fight, an organization founded by former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams, which is devoted to fighting voter suppression.[55][56]

As of January 2024, Vote Save America planned to focus on fundraising for and directing volunteers to competitive down-ballot races for congress as well as ballot initiatives because of the lack of interest in the Biden candidacy.[57] As of March 2024, it was giving money each month to grassroots organizations in battleground states to do voter registration.[58]

Reception

The company's podcasts regularly sit near the top of the iTunes list of most popular podcasts.[10] New York Times has called Crooked Media 'the left's answer to conservative talk radio'.[4] Pod Save America was called "the nation's most popular political podcast" by Newsweek in 2017.[14] Reviewing the first episodes of the company's flagship podcast, The Guardian noted: "Pod Save America 's commentators are sparky and funny—and they have a habit of talking a whole lot of sense."[59]

Hosts

External links

References

  1. Team – Crooked Media retrieved October 13, 2020^
  2. Natalie Jarvey. After the Resistance, What's Next for the Crooked Media Podcasting Empire? The Hollywood Reporter, January 15, 2021, retrieved March 24, 2023^
  3. Katie Kilkenny. After Walkout, Crooked Media Union Reaches Tentative Deal With 'Pod Save America' Company The Hollywood Reporter, August 9, 2024, retrieved October 10, 2024^
  4. Jason Zengerle. The Voices in Blue America's Head The New York Times, November 22, 2017, retrieved December 22, 2017^
  5. Michael O'Connell. 'Pod Save America' Getting HBO Treatment With Election Specials The Hollywood Reporter, February 8, 2018, retrieved February 9, 2018^
  6. Joseph Bernstein. ‘Pod Save America’ Won’t Quit The New York Times, 2024-10-11, retrieved 2025-03-10^
  7. Eric Johnson. Crooked Media's founders aren't paying themselves anything Vox, March 15, 2017, retrieved January 2, 2018^
  8. Michael O'Connell. 'Keeping It 1600' Podcast's Obama Alums Launch New Show and 'Crooked Media' Company The Hollywood Reporter, January 9, 2017, retrieved December 22, 2017^
  9. Margaret Hartmann. Keepin' It 1600 Crew Launches New Podcast, 'Crooked Media' Company New York Magazine Daily Intelligencer, January 9, 2017, retrieved January 2, 2018^
  10. Jim Rutenberg. Opposition and a Shave: Former Obama Aides Counter Trump The New York Times, March 20, 2017, retrieved June 13, 2017^
  11. Laura Hazard Owen. Crooked Media expands from podcasts to text, with a new site and plans for investigative reporting Nieman Lab, October 5, 2017, retrieved December 22, 2017^
  12. Ted Johnson. MS NOW Signs Deal With Crooked Media For Weekly Compilation Show Deadline, 2026-02-17, retrieved 2026-02-17^
  13. Craille Maguire Gillies. Pod save America: 12 podcasts to get you through the Trump presidency The Guardian, January 18, 2017, retrieved October 16, 2020^
  14. Alexander Nazaryan. Crooked Media Fights Trump with 'Pod Save America' Newsweek, March 26, 2017, retrieved June 11, 2017^
  15. Pod Save America: On the ground in Iowa Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  16. That's the Ticket Episode 1: Vet on It Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  17. Jen Thorpe. Crooked Media Launches Pod Save the People Podcaster News, April 27, 2017, retrieved May 18, 2017^
  18. Darren S, s BuzzFeed News Reporter. DeRay Mckesson Is Going To Host A Crooked Media Podcast BuzzFeed, April 26, 2017, retrieved May 18, 2017^
  19. Pod Save The People Crooked.com, retrieved January 2, 2018^
  20. Hannah Verdier. Lovett or Leave It: the Pod Save America crew take the political panel show and make it funny The Guardian, March 30, 2017, retrieved June 11, 2017^
  21. Todd Spangler. Crooked Media Makes First Podcast Acquisitions: 'Strict Scrutiny' and 'Hot Take' Variety, January 27, 2022, retrieved March 24, 2023^
  22. Desiree Ibekwe. Can a Podcast Save the U.K.? Crooked Media Takes on British Politics The New York Times, April 25, 2023, retrieved May 12, 2023^
  23. Nicholas Quah. Pod Save America's Jon Favreau Has a New Politics Podcast Vulture, 2018-07-16, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  24. Peter White. Crooked Media's Jason Concepcion Launches Podcast 'Takeline' With Ex-WNBA Star Renee Montgomery & Video Series 'All Caps NBA' Deadline, March 4, 2021, retrieved April 6, 2021^
  25. Megan C. Hills. Waking Up Has NEVER Been Easier With These Current Affairs & True Crime Podcasts Bustle, December 19, 2018, retrieved October 16, 2020^
  26. This Land Crooked.com, retrieved October 16, 2020^
  27. Todd Spangler. Jon Favreau Podcast About Solving 'Our Hellish Online Existence' Gets Premiere Date (Podcast News Roundup) Variety, 2021-10-21, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  28. Sarah Fischer. Crooked Media takes on Biden era Axios, October 19, 2021, retrieved August 23, 2024^
  29. Erin Gloria Ryan Esquire, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  30. Hysteria Crooked.com, retrieved July 18, 2018^
  31. America Dissected with Abdul El-Sayed Crooked.com, retrieved October 16, 2020^
  32. Hilary Lewis. Webby Awards: Trevor Noah, Jennifer Garner, HBO Among Nominees The Hollywood Reporter, 2021-04-20, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  33. Emma Dibdin. 7 Podcasts About the Wonders of Science The New York Times, 2021-01-26, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  34. Jane Coaston joins Crooked Media's What A Day as lead host Crooked Media, 9 September 2024^
  35. Peter White. 'Pod Save America' Producer Crooked Media Moves Into Daily Podcasts With 'What A Day' Deadline, 2019-10-21, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  36. Missing America Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  37. Peter White. President Obama's Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes Launches 'Missing America' Podcast With 'Pod Save America' Producer Crooked Media Deadline, 2020-08-03, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  38. Wind of Change Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  39. Rosa Lyster. Patrick Radden Keefe Hopes Scorpions Fans Can Still Enjoy Wind of Change Vulture, 2020-05-21, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  40. Hall of Shame Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  41. Natalie Jarvey. After the Resistance, What's Next for the Crooked Media Podcasting Empire? The Hollywood Reporter, 2021-01-15, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  42. Unholier Than Thou Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  43. Six Feet Apart Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  44. Rubicon Crooked.com, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  45. X-Ray Vision Archives Crooked Media, retrieved March 29, 2022^
  46. Imani State of Mind Archives Crooked Media, retrieved October 21, 2022^
  47. Crooked Media Announces New Site, Podcast & Store Publishing Executive, October 5, 2017, retrieved January 2, 2018^
  48. Alex Young. Pod Save America announces nationwide tour Consequence of Sound, August 16, 2017, retrieved January 2, 2018^
  49. Craig Angus. Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It are coming to London in January, here's how to get tickets The List, December 1, 2017, retrieved January 2, 2018^
  50. Joe Garofoli. 'Pod Save America' about to take its next step The San Francisco Chronicle, December 9, 2017, retrieved January 2, 2018^
  51. Samuel Braslow. The Wildly Popular Dudes Who Power Pod Save America Have Moved Political Discourse to the Left...Coast Los Angeles Magazine, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  52. Lucy Diavolo. The Team Behind Pod Save America Launches the F*ck Gerry(mandering) Fund Teen Vogue, May 17, 2019, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  53. Blue Virginia. Crooked Media and Data for Progress Launch Fundraising Effort to Flip Virginia Blue BlueVirginia.us, Blue Virginia, May 17, 2019, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  54. Jack Holmes. What Happens If Pod Saves America? Esquire, October 12, 2020, retrieved October 13, 2020^
  55. Suzy Evans. Crooked Media Teams With Stacey Abrams to Fight Voter Suppression The Hollywood Reporter, 2019-09-14, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  56. Kate Aurthur, Ramin Setoodeh. After Four Years of Trump, Hollywood Wants to Help Biden and Harris Save America Variety, 2021-01-14, retrieved 2024-08-23^
  57. Zach Montellaro. Crooked Media tries to tackle Democrats' voter enthusiasm problem Politico, January 31, 2024, retrieved August 22, 2024^
  58. Filip Timotija. Crooked Media's political arm pouring money into battleground states The Hill, 2024-03-14, retrieved 2024-08-22^
  59. Hannah Verdier. Pod Save America – the podcast that won Obama's last interview The Guardian, January 26, 2017, retrieved January 2, 2018^