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.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
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.
Transcribe →S2 Ep63: Rahm Emanuel: “It’s time to take a power washer to Washington, DC”
Feb 2200:45:43Tap to summarizeRahm Emanuel joins John Avlon to argue that Washington needs a full reset—age limits across all three branches, bans on congressional stock trading, strict Supreme Court ethics rules, and an end to “investor days” in the Oval Office.
Transcribe →S2 Ep62: David Frum: The GOP Didn’t Drift Into Trumpism—It Chose It
Feb 1500:41:00Tap to summarizeDavid Frum joins John Avlon to discuss the unprecedented scale of corruption in the Trump era—from petty self-dealing to billion-dollar enrichment—and what real accountability would look like. They talk about the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling, the risk of elections that are “free but not fair,” and whether the next administration should forgive, prosecute, or fundamentally reform the system.
Transcribe →S2 Ep61: We’re The Ones Who Said “HELL NO” to Trump (w/ Heath Mayo)
Feb 800:39:32Tap to summarizeLast year, Principles First was hit with bomb threats serious enough to bring in law enforcement, simply for standing up on principle. It was a sign of how dangerous American politics has become when dissent is treated as a threat.John Avlon and Heath Mayo of Principles First examine the erosion of democratic norms on the right, from political intimidation and executive overreach to the collapse of congressional courage. They also focus on solutions: protecting elections and judges, restoring checks and balances, and rebuilding a politics rooted in constitutional limits, character, and courage.
Transcribe →S2 Ep60: Trump’s “Insurrection Act” Trap (w/ Michael Waldman)
Feb 100:37:20Tap to summarizeJohn Avlon talks with Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center about the fallout from ICE violence in Minnesota, the administration smearing a victim as a “domestic terrorist,” and why legal accountability may still be possible. They discuss how defamation, civil suits, and court challenges could constrain federal officials acting above the law. They also address Trump’s threats around the Insurrection Act, DOJ pressure on Minnesota for voter data, and a broader pattern of corruption and abuse of power — along with concrete ideas for how institutions, courts, and citizens can still push back.Nine Solutions for Political Corruption | Brennan Center for Justicehttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/nine-solutions-political-corruptionThe Damage to America Is Permanent (w/ Michael Luttig & Jeh Johnson) | How to Fix Ithttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQhzznW2KB0
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