Podcast
How to Fix It with John Avlon
Hosted by The Bulwark · EN
Politicians, pundits, and the media spend a lot of time talking about the problems our country faces but not enough time on how to solve them. Each week, John Avlon and his guests hash out sensible and attainable solutions for some of the most vexing issues confronting our democracy—solutions that will likely emerge from the political center.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S2 Ep73: Tech Broke Democracy With Social Media. AI Is Next. (w/ Josh Tyrangiel)
3w ago00:41:11Tap to summarizeJohn Avlon talks with Josh Tyrangiel about what AI actually looks like outside Silicon Valley hype. From Operation Warp Speed to quiet upgrades inside the IRS, they walk through real examples where AI improved government—plus why those wins are so rare, how bureaucracy blocks progress, and what a smarter, more effective approach could look like.Tickets for our Bulwark Live shows in San Diego and Los Angeles in May: https://thebulwark.com/eventsPre-order Josh’s book, ‘AI for Good’: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/AI-for-Good/Josh-Tyrangiel/9781668082508
Transcribe →S2 Ep72: AI Is About to Eat Your Job (w/ Alanna McCargo) | How to Fix It
4w ago00:41:14Tap to summarizeJohn Avlon speaks with Alanna McCargo, Senior Fellow for Inclusive Capitalism at the Clinton Foundation, to explore a surprisingly old idea that could fix a very modern problem: what if workers actually owned a piece of what they build?
Transcribe →S2 Ep71: Europe Is Preparing for Life Without America (w/ Richard Stengel)
Apr 1900:46:34Tap to summarizeJohn Avlon talks with Rick Stengel about the global fallout from Trump’s war with Iran, how it’s damaging America’s reputation, and why allies are starting to move on without us. They discuss the collapse of U.S. soft power, the risks of going it alone, and the stunning election in Hungary that shows how voters can still push back against authoritarianism.I was the US soft power czar. Our reputation may never recover from thishttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/05/american-soft-power-iran-warPodcast - Mandela: The Lost Tapeshttps://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mandela-the-lost-tapes/id1719807119Nelson Mandela Leadership Fellowshiphttps://colinpowellschool.ccny.cuny.edu/fellowships/nelson-mandela-leadership-fellowship/
Transcribe →S2 Ep70: Zoning Laws Are Killing the Middle Class (w/ Mechele Dickerson)
Apr 1200:47:16Tap to summarizeJohn Avlon talks with Mechele Dickerson about how housing rules, college costs, and the modern school system are stacked against working families—and how those same systems could be fixed. From zoning laws that block affordable homes to financial aid that favors wealthy students, they break down what’s actually driving the squeeze—and what it would take to reverse it.Buy Mechele's latest book, 'Middle-Class New Deal: Restoring Upward Mobility and the American Dream': https://www.amazon.com/Middle-Class-New-Deal-Restoring-Mobility/dp/0520423399Get $30 off your first box with Wildgrain at https://Wildgrain.com/FIXIT.
Transcribe →S2 Ep69: Is U.S. Policy Hurting Cubans More Than the Regime? (w/ Juan Gonzalez)
Apr 500:49:51Tap to summarizeTrump’s foreign policy is colliding with reality—from Iran to Venezuela to a collapsing Cuba. John Avlon speaks with with former NSC official Juan Gonzalez to break down the unintended consequences: rising oil prices, shaky regime changes, and a growing risk of chaos just 90 miles from Florida. Is there any real strategy here—or are we making things worse?
Transcribe →S2 Ep68: Newsom: Trump ‘Knows He’s Gonna Get Shellacked’
Mar 2600:51:57Tap to summarizeNote: This conversation was taped on Tuesday afternoon, March 24, 2026.California Governor Gavin Newsom joins John Avlon for a wide-ranging conversation starting with a blunt assessment of the Iran war, what's happening with TikTok and media power under Trump and why Newsom thinks American democracy's biggest test isn't 2028, it's 2026. The conversation also dives into Newsom's leadership in California from policies he says are working because they're about "growth and inclusion" to why fewer than 30 homes have been rebuilt since last year's LA fires. Plus: Why the movie Rocky was everything to Newsom as a bullied kid with a bowl cut.Text FIXIT to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot a n d their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.Head to https://Superpower.com and use code FIXIT at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod
Transcribe →S2 Ep67: MAGA Isn’t a Majority—So Why Is It Winning? (w/ Dan Cantor)
Mar 2200:45:59Tap to summarizeWatch Borgen. Then Get Inspired.https://centerforballotfreedom.substack.com/p/watch-borgen-then-get-inspiredText FIXIT to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot a n d their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://MINTMOBILE.com/FIXIT
Transcribe →S2 Ep66: Trump’s War With the Fed Could Backfire (w/ Kenneth Rogoff)
Mar 1500:51:07Tap to summarizeHarvard economist and former IMF chief economist Kenneth Rogoff joins John Avlon to discuss the growing risks facing the U.S. dollar. From exploding national debt and attacks on Fed independence to war in the Middle East and rising global competition, they examine why America’s reserve currency status matters—and what happens if the world starts to move away from it.Get $30 off your first box from Wildgrain and free Croissants for life when you visit https://Wildgrain.com/FIXIT, or you can use promo code FIXIT at checkout.
Transcribe →S2 Ep65: Living With Stage-4 Cancer for Five Years (w/ Annabelle Gurwitch) | How to Fix It
Mar 800:54:46Tap to summarizeJohn Avlon talks with Annabelle Gurwitch about surviving stage-4 lung cancer—and what her experience reveals about America’s broken health system. They discuss the rise of lung cancer among non-smokers, the role of pollution and climate policy, the spread of medical misinformation pushed by figures like RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz, and how insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers can trap patients in bureaucratic nightmares. Gurwitch also explains the targeted therapy that has kept her alive for five years and the class-action lawsuit she’s leading over an insurance practice she says is ripping off cancer patients.Buy Annabelle Gurwitch's book, The End of My Life Is Killing Me: https://www.amazon.com/End-My-Life-Killing-Unexpected/dp/B0FLTSCMHJ
Transcribe →S2 Ep64: Democrats Are at 26%. Why? (w/ Chris Swanson) | How to Fix It
Mar 100:28:26Tap to summarizeMichigan sheriff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Swanson joins John Avlon to talk about why Democrats' numbers are stuck in the mid-20s, how the party lost working-class trust, and what it would take to win it back. Swanson makes a law-and-order case for Democrats—arguing you can have a “fist of iron and a hand of velvet”—and lays out his data-driven jail reform plan that he says cut violence 97% and reduced recidivism.Take the guesswork out of getting healthy in 2026. Go to https://Superpower.com and use code FIXIT for $20 off your membership this year.Make the switch to Mint Mobile, with a $15/month plan for the first three months at https://MintMobile.com/FIXIT.
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