Crooked Media
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Type of site | News and political commentary |
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Available in | English |
Headquarters | Los Angeles, California[1] |
Country of origin | United States |
Founder(s) |
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Editor | Brian Beutler (Editor-in-Chief) |
Key people |
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Industry | Media production |
URL | crooked |
Launched | January 2017 |
Crooked Media is an American political media company. It was founded in 2017 by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, and Tommy Vietor, all former top Barack Obama staffers and former co-hosts of the Keepin' it 1600 podcast. Dan Pfeiffer, also a former Obama employee, co-hosts their flagship podcast Pod Save America with them.
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 liberals and support grassroots activism and political participation.
The company's flagship podcast, Pod Save America, airs twice weekly and averages more than 1.5 million listeners an episode. In Fall 2018, four Pod Save America one-hour specials aired on HBO.[3] By November of its first year, the podcast had been downloaded over 120 million times, and 175 million times by February 2018.[4][5]
The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.[1]
History
Favreau, Lovett, Vietor, and Pfeiffer hosted The Ringer's Keepin' it 1600 political podcast from March 2016 until December 2016.[6]
After Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election, Favreau, Lovett, and Vietor decided they wanted to do podcasting and activism on a full-time basis. In an interview with Recode's Kara Swisher, Vietor explained that "If Hillary [Clinton] had won, we probably would've kept doing this as a hobby... But when she lost, I think we all had this existential crisis, where it didn't feel right to wake up every day and obsess about politics and what's happening in the country, and then go to work doing something else".[1]
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "The story of how Favreau, Lovett and Vietor came to launch Crooked Media is one they've repeated enough that it's calcified into a creation myth". [7] The day after Clinton's Election Loss, Favreau, Lovett, and Vietor pushed Lovett's Jeep Grand Cherokee along Sunset Boulevard after it had run out of gas, and the idea for forming Crooked Media began to emerge.
The quartet ended Keepin' it 1600 in December 2016. Favreau, Lovett, and Vietor formed their own company, Crooked Media, and, the following month, launched a new podcast called Pod Save America.[8] Pfeiffer opted not to join the company, and instead co-host the Thursday edition of the show.[9]
Crooked Media is named after a favorite term used by President 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 diverse group of journalists, activists, organizers, policy experts, campaign veterans, and comedians who will be featured in podcasts, videos, and articles produced by the company.[11]
The company does not raise money from outside investors, instead using advertising revenue to fund the business.[1]
Hosts
Host | Podcast | Notes |
---|---|---|
Abdul El-Sayed | America Dissected | |
Aida Osman | Keep It | |
Akilah Hughes | What a Day | |
Alyssa Mastromonaco | Hysteria | |
Ana Marie Cox | With Friends Like These | |
Ben Rhodes | Pod Save the World | |
Clint Smith III | Pod Save the People | |
Dan Pfeiffer | Pod Save America | |
DeRay Mckesson | Pod Save the People | |
De’Ara Balenger | Pod Save the People | |
Erin Ryan | Hysteria | |
Gideon Resnick | What a Day | |
Ira Madison III | Keep It | |
Jon Favreau | Pod Save America
The Wilderness |
|
Jon Lovett | Pod Save America
Lovett or Leave It |
|
Kaya Henderson | Pod Save the People | |
Louis Virtel | Keep It | |
Patrick Radden Keefe | Wind of Change | |
Phillip Picardi | Unholier Than Thou | |
Rachel Bonnetta | Hall of Shame | |
Rachna Fruchbom | Hall of Shame | |
Rebecca Nagle | This Land | |
Samuel Sinyangwe | Pod Save the People | |
Tommy Vietor | Pod Save America
Pod Save the World |
Current Podcasts
Crooked Media produces and distributes a range of podcasts.
Pod Save America
An American progressive political podcast "for people not yet ready to give up or go insane." Pod Save America airs twice weekly, with the Monday edition hosted by Favreau, Vietor, and Lovett, and the Thursday edition by Favreau and Pfeiffer. Pod Save America is noted for its focus on activism.[10][12][13]
There were also two special series in the Pod Save America vein during the Primary and General Election of 2020: Pod Save America: On the ground in Iowa and That's The Ticket.
In Pod Save America: On the Ground in Iowa, Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor took listeners to Iowa to "spend time with the candidates, staffers and undecided voters who will determine who wins. Tommy will explain why Iowa is first, how the caucuses work, and try to figure out what it takes to win. And finally he’ll explore the question: is this really the best way to pick a president?".[14]
In 'That's The Ticket', a three part mini-series, Dan Pfeiffer and Alyssa Mastromonaco break down the vetting for vice presidential candidates – how it happens, why it's so secret, and what can go wrong. They'll talk you through the history of the vetting process, their experiences on the Kerry and Obama campaigns, and how they think the Biden campaign is approaching the process.[15]
Pod Save the People
Hosted by organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson,[16][17] Pod Save the People talks about culture, social justice, and politics by exploring the history, the language, and the people who are shaping the struggle for progress — and talking about the steps that each individual can take to make a difference.[18]
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.[19]
Lovett or Leave It
Hosted by Lovett, 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, as well as one-on-one interviews that center around the week's news and American politics.[20]
With Friends Like These
Hosted by political journalist Ana Marie Cox. With Friends Like These delves into social, cultural, and, to a lesser extent, political issues through in-depth interviews. Namely, how to bridge divides in our society and approach through conversations with peers. Cox focuses on attempting to have difficult conversations in a public space.[13]
Crooked Minis (formerly Crooked Conversations)
Hosted by members of the company's 'Crooked Contributor' network. Crooked Conversations features deeper dives into topics less tied to the latest headlines.[21]
Keep It
Hosted by culture critic and columnist Ira Madison III, Louis Virtel, and Aida Osman (Originally Kara Brown).[22] Comedians, journalists, actors, musicians, activists, politicians, and others join Madison for a conversation at the intersection of pop culture and politics.[23]
Hysteria
Hosted by Erin Ryan, Alyssa Mastromonaco, and a rotating set of women including Blair Imani, Grace Parra, Kiran Deol, Megan Gailey, and Ziwe Fumudoh, Hysteria discusses news, politics, and cultural stories that affect women's lives.[24]
The Wilderness
Hosted by Jon Favreau, The Wilderness is a docuseries about the history and future of the Democratic Party.[25]
This Land
Hosted by Rebecca Nagle, This Land focuses on the case of Carpenter v. Murphy.[26]
America Dissected with Abdul El-Sayed
Hosted by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, America Dissected explores the nuanced role of health in American culture, often detailing the establishment history and political connections of the healthcare industry.[27]
What a Day
Hosted by comedian Akilah Hughes and journalist Gideon Resnick, What a Day is a daily news podcast dedicated to "[breaking] down the biggest news of the day." [28]
Missing America
Hosted by Ben Rhodes, Missing America is the "story of what happens when the United States, under Trump, abdicates our role as an example for the world. In this absence of leadership, a host of political diseases sweep the planet. Beyond COVID-19, its own international crisis, we’re seeing nationalism, authoritarianism, sectarianism and disinformation take shape like never before. Host and former Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama Ben Rhodes speaks to inspiring leaders and activists who are fighting hard to take up the slack in America’s absence. Learning from their examples and advice, we’ll discover what the US must do to confront these challenges."[29]
Wind of Change
It's 1990. The Berlin Wall has just come down. The Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. A heavy metal band from West Germany, the Scorpions, releases a power ballad, “Wind of Change.” The song becomes the soundtrack to the peaceful revolution sweeping Europe — and one of the biggest rock singles ever. According to some fans, it's the song that ended the Cold War.
Decades later, New Yorker writer Patrick Radden Keefe hears a rumor from a source: the Scorpions didn't actually write “Wind of Change.” The CIA did.
This is Patrick's journey to find the truth. Among former operatives and leather-clad rockers, from Moscow to Kiev to a GI Joe convention in Ohio, it's a story about spies doing the unthinkable, about propaganda hidden in pop music, and a maze of government secrets. “Wind of Change.” An offbeat eight part investigation.[30]
Hall of Shame
Fox Sports host and comic Rachel Bonnetta (“Lock It In”, “@Buzzer”) and comedy writer Rachna Fruchbom (“Fresh Off the Boat”, “Parks and Recreation”) aren't your garden variety sports fans. Sure, they obsessively root for Cleveland (the Browns and the Cavaliers, respectively), but they get even more excited by those crazy moments in sports that become almost legendary. We all know the sensationalistic scandals about cheating, gambling and sex, but Rachel and Rachna want to discover the humanity behind the headlines.
That's why they started Hall of Shame — every week Rachel and Rachna "take each other through some of the biggest scandals in sports, from the thrill of Dock Ellis’ no-hitter to the agony of Rosie Ruiz's marathon lies. With humor and a healthy dose of perspective, they get to the bottom of what exactly went down, why these stories matter, and how they're still relevant today. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel more invested in sports than you ever thought possible."[31]
Unholier Than Thou
Journalist Phillip Picardi "re-evaluates his relationship with faith, spirituality and God. Picardi takes listeners on his quest to better understand his relationship with spirituality by learning how faith plays a role in other people’s lives, and with the help of the spiritual, religious, and agnostic, Picardi will guide listeners through the ethereal and worldly problems of the day, informed by his own on-and-off relationship with God. Through lenses both saintly and secular, Picardi will take a look at everything from sex to climate change, and how religion informs those discussions."[32]
Six Feet Apart
Six Feet Apart with Alex Wagner (journalist and co-host of Showtime's The Circus) "offers a window into the hidden worlds of this pandemic: the chaos and fear, the resilience and innovation — all of which have been necessary parts of survival in this extraordinary moment. Through conversations with individuals on the frontline, from the grocery store to the criminal justice system, this new series will delve into what’s likely to be the defining event of our lifetimes."[33]
Rubicon
The impeachment of Donald Trump is one of the biggest political stories of our lifetimes. It is a "test of whether accountability, election integrity, and the rules of our democracy can withstand the corrupt acts of powerful people. It’s also a story that is unfolding at such a break-neck pace, it’s absurd. Fortunately, Brian Beutler, Crooked Media’s Editor in Chief, lives for this s**t. Brian breaks down the most important developments in the impeachment fight with legal, political, and congressional experts to help you figure out how this is all going to end and what you can do to play your part in one of the most important moments in American history. Yeah, it’s that big."[34]
Touring
Crooked Media embarked on its first tour, Pod Tours America, in fall of 2017. The tour featured live versions of Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave it, and appearances from McKesson, Cox, various members of the 'Crooked Contributors' network, and special guests.[35] Live shows are recorded and released as podcasts.
A second tour, Pod Tours the World, was announced for 2018, including international live shows in Stockholm, Oslo, Amsterdam, and London.[36]
A third tour embarked in 2019 and included a live show co-hosted by The Atlantic journalist Jemele Hill at the Greek Theatre—the podcast's biggest venue of the year. The proceeds from the show went to four organizations: Vote.org, Election Protection, the National Redistricting Foundation, and Think Social Impact. The show also included musical performances by singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, rock duo Best Coast, My Morning Jacket front man Jim James, and a comedy set by Amanda Seales.[37]
Activism
Unlike more traditional media organizations, Crooked Media engages directly in political activism, including advocating for policies and candidates, supporting get out the vote efforts, raising money, and driving phone calls and demonstrations.[4]
During its first year, it partnered with progressive advocacy group MoveOn to send nearly 2,000 Pod Save America listeners to Republican town-hall meetings, with Swing Left to raise over a million dollars for challengers to House Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections, and with Indivisible to drive phone calls in favor of the Affordable Care Act. In the 2017 Virginia elections, the company lent its support to Democratic candidates across the ballot, including Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam in the state's governor race.[4]
Towards the end of 2017, the company launched "The Crooked 7" in partnership with Swing Left, a new initiative to raise money to flip seven California House districts held by Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections.[38] All seven California districts targeted flipped to Democratic control after the 2018 midterms. $2.7 million was also raised for competitive races and more than 22,000 volunteer shifts were filled across the country, according to numbers provided by the company.[37]
Vote Save America
In August 2018, Crooked Media launched Vote Save America, a one-stop shop for all the resources people need to get informed, get involved, and get out and vote. On the website, someone can: Register to vote or check that you're still registered; Request your absentee ballot to vote by mail; See what will be on the ballot before Election Day; Volunteer from home; 'Adopt-A-State' that will have a big impact on the results of the 2020 election; getting details on candidates running for the White House, the Senate, the House, and further down the ballot; and learning exactly how elections work. $2.7 million was also raised for competitive races and more than 22,000 volunteer shifts were filled across the country in the 2018 midterms, according to numbers provided by the company.[37]
In May 2019, Vote Save America launched the Fuck Gerry(mandering) fund with Data for Progress to identify the races in Virginia where money was most needed to help flip the state legislature blue. The Vote Save America community supported 14 of the closest races in Virginia.[39][40] They also launched the Unify or Die Fund which went to the Democratic candidate for president and raised over 1 million dollars.[citation needed]
In August 2019, Crooked Media launched a partnership through "Vote Save America" with Fair Fight 2020, an organization devoted to fighting voter suppression lead by Stacey Abrams.[41] Crooked Media partners with VoteRiders to provide state-specific information on voter ID requirements and donates a portion of proceeds generated from "Vote Save America" merchandise to VoteRiders, which Crooked Media describes as "the leading organization focused on voter ID."[42]
Ahead of the 2020 cycle, under the umbrella of Vote Save America, they raised $32 million in the third quarter of 2020, the lion's share of which flowed into their Get Mitch or Die Trying fund backing Democratic candidates in competitive races who, together, could flip the Senate and pull Mitch McConnell out of the Majority Leader's chair.[43]
Reception
The company's podcasts regularly sit near the top of the iTunes list of most popular podcasts.[10] The 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.[13] 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."[44]
References
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Eric (2017-03-15). "Crooked Media's founders aren't paying themselves anything". Vox.com. Recode. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ "Team - Crooked Media". Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Pod Save America Makes Leap to TV". HBO.
- ^ a b c d Zengerle, Jason (2017-11-22). "The Voices in Blue America's Head". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
- ^ O'Connell, Michael (2018-02-08). "'Pod Save America' Getting HBO Treatment With Election Specials". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- ^ "'Keepin' It 1600' Hosts Launch New Podcast 'Pod Save America' Via DGital Media". All Access. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
- ^ "What's Next for the Crooked Media Podcasting Empire?". The Hollywood Reporter. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
- ^ O'Connell, Michael (2017-01-09). "'Keeping It 1600' Podcast's Obama Alums Launch New Show and 'Crooked Media' Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
- ^ Hartmann, Margaret (2017-01-09). "Keepin' It 1600 Crew Launches New Podcast, 'Crooked Media' Company". New York Magazine Daily Intelligencer. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ a b c Rutenberg, Jim (2017-03-20). "Opposition and a Shave: Former Obama Aides Counter Trump". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
- ^ Owen, Laura Hazard (2017-10-05). "Crooked Media expands from podcasts to text, with a new site and plans for investigative reporting". Nieman Lab. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
- ^ Gillies, Craille Maguire (2017-01-18). "Pod save America: 12 podcasts to get you through the Trump presidency". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ a b c Nazaryan, Alexander (2017-03-26). "Crooked Media Fights Trump with "Pod Save America"". Newsweek. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ "Pod Save America: On the ground in Iowa". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "That's the Ticket Episode 1: Vet on It". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ Thorpe, Jen (2017-04-27). "Crooked Media Launches Pod Save the People". Podcaster News. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
- ^ S, Darren; Reporter, s BuzzFeed News. "DeRay Mckesson Is Going To Host A Crooked Media Podcast". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
- ^ "Pod Save The People". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ "Pod Save the World by Crooked Media on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ Verdier, Hannah (2017-03-30). "Lovett or Leave It: the Pod Save America crew take the political panel show and make it funny". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ^ "Crooked Media Announces New Site, Podcast & Store". Publishing Executive. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ Hills, Megan C. (2018-12-19). "Waking Up Has NEVER Been Easier With These Current Affairs & True Crime Podcasts". Bustle. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ "Keep It". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ "Hysteria". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ "The Wilderness". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
- ^ "This Land". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ "America Dissected with Abdul El-Sayed". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ "What a Day". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ "Missing America". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Wind of Change". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Hall of Shame". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Unholier Than Thou". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Six Feet Apart". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Rubicon". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ Young, Alex (2017-08-16). "Pod Save America announces nationwide tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ Angus, Craig (2017-12-01). "Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It are coming to London in January, here's how to get tickets". The List. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ a b c Braslow, Samuel. "The Wildly Popular Dudes Who Power Pod Save America Have Moved Political Discourse to the Left…Coast". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ Garofoli, Joe (2017-12-09). "'Pod Save America' about to take its next step". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
- ^ Diavolo, Lucy (2019-05-17). "The Team Behind Pod Save America Launches the F*ck Gerry(mandering) Fund". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ Virginia, Blue (2019-05-17). "Crooked Media and Data for Progress Launch Fundraising Effort to Flip Virginia Blue". BlueVirginia.us. Blue Virginia. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "Fair Fight 2020". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
- ^ "Donation Policy". Crooked.com. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
- ^ Holmes, Jack (2020-10-12). "What Happens If Pod Saves America?". Esquire. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ Verdier, Hannah (2017-01-26). "Pod Save America – the podcast that won Obama's last interview". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-01-02.