Pod Save America: The 2025 Pundies – Highs & Lows from a Long Year

Date: December 23, 2025
Hosts: Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vietor
Special Guest Host: Elijah Cohn

Episode Overview

This annual “Pundies” episode of Pod Save America recaps the whirlwind of American politics in 2025, as the hosts and Elijah Cohn—"tuxedo and all"—dish out tongue-in-cheek awards for the most egregious, hilarious, or damning political moments, scandals, media figures, and discourse from the past year. Combining sharp satire with serious analysis, the panel reflects on Trump’s ongoing administration, MAGA drama, the year’s pivotal scandals and wins, culture war absurdities, and their own best and worst takes, ultimately deciding what defined 2025 in politics.

Key Episode Segments & Insights

1. Introduction & Format

[02:19–04:31]

• Elijah Cohn introduces the Pundies using a mock “dog show” format.
• Categories include: Political scandal, worst Trump official (“Fluffer”), best political beef, MAGA media villain, most irritating discourse, most “lib-out” moment, and more.
• The winning item from each category advances for “Best in Show: Pundi of 2025.”

Notable Quote:
"It's like we've been treading quicksand since January 20th. But only some of us were able to poke our sandy little lips out of the quagmire and speak into existence a truly brain-melting take." – Elijah Cohn [03:00]

2. Self-Inflicted Wound: Scandal of the Year

[05:01–11:15]

Nominees:

• Signalgate: Accidental addition of a reporter to a group chat with Trump officials about bombing Yemen, exposing covert plans.
• Ballroom Gate: Trump’s ongoing, over-budget demolition of the White House’s east wing to build a gaudy ballroom.
• Kimmelgate: Trump admin’s failed attempt to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the air, prompting FCC chair’s open threats to ABC.
• Epstein Files: Year-long debacle over promising, then backtracking on releasing Epstein-related documents, ending in an embarrassing vote.

Winner:

• Epstein Files Scandal
  "We have a group chat that went awry and a yearlong scandal involving the covering up of a sex trafficking ring. Yeah, I'm gonna go with the latter." – Dan Pfeiffer [08:18]

Discussion Highlights:

• The hosts dissected responsibility for the scandal (ultimately pinning it on Pam Bondi).
• Jokey dramatizations, lampooning Trump’s not-so-covert efforts and blunders in damage control.

3. Fluffer of the Year: Worst Trump Administration Official

[11:44–18:47]

Nominees:

• Pete Hegseth: Appearances-obsessed, involved in SignalGate, accused of war crimes.
• Kristi Noem: Notorious viral “puppy shooting” video, over-the-top gun brandishing.
• Stephen Miller: Policy architect for DHS/DOJ, “controls everything,” spouting racist rhetoric, TV gaffes.
• J.D. Vance: Celebrates racism/Hitler memes in staff chats, self-parodying.
• RFK Jr.: Inflames anti-vaccine damage at HHS (Tylenol/circumcision conspiracy claims).
• Kash Patel: No real impact, but comically bad use of FBI planes.

Winner:

• Stephen Miller
  "He is the most powerful person in the administration who is not Donald Trump and is behind all the bad things." – Tommy Vietor [16:33]

Memorable Moment:

• Frequent jokes about the hosts’ tolerance for over-the-top voice acting during dramatic readings.

4. Best Political Beef

[20:53–25:39]

Nominees:

• Elon Musk vs. Trump: Physical brawls in the White House, social media mudslinging, contract threats.
• Scott Besant vs. Bill Pulte: Dinner confrontation, almost comes to blows.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Trump: MTG quits Congress, is publicly insulted by Trump.
• Cuomo vs. Mamdani: Cuomo’s racist campaign tactics after losing Democratic primary for NYC Mayor.

Winner:

• Trump vs. Elon Musk
  "The first months of the administration were defined by Elon Musk. He was like a shadow president, Doge was everything, and now he's just…" – Jon Favreau [25:26]

Notable Quote:
“He literally threatened to punch him… like the most purely WWF.” – Jon Lovett [24:45]

5. Best Pod Save America Host Beef with a Trump Official

[25:59–28:34]

Nominees (all Jon Favreau):

• Favreau vs. Elon Musk: Musk calls him "dollar store Jon Favreau."
• Favreau vs. Chamath: Legal spat over ccot, gets called “probably not a total R-slur.”
• Favreau vs. Stephen Miller: Miller says Favreau’s objections to immigration policy are “heartless.”
• Favreau vs. Megyn Kelly: Spat over a Sydney Sweeney jeans ad.
• Favreau vs. J.D. Vance: Vance calls him a “dipshit” (this makes the New York Times).

Winner:

• Favreau vs. J.D. Vance
  "The Vice President calling you 'dipshit'—that’s impressive." – Dan Pfeiffer [28:29]

6. Most Corrupt Trump Moment

[29:34–35:05]

Nominees:

• Qatari Jet: Trump accepts luxury plane “gift,” cost to taxpayers exceeds $1B.
• Trump World Liberty Financial (Crypto): Chinese billionaire buys tokens post-SEC investigation, crypto as ongoing pay-to-play scandal.
• Corruption at DOJ: Blanket pardons (Jan. 6, Binance’s CZ, the Chrisleys), using DOJ for vendettas.
• Knee-Bending: Media, academia, and corporations openly grovel for Trump’s favor.
• Honorable Mention: Trump sues federal government, then settles with himself.

Winner:

• Corruption at DOJ:
  "The DOJ is the core of the rot… Not possible for him to be bribed without a DOJ that’s not going to look into anything." – Jon Lovett [34:44]

7. Most Lib-Out Moments (Small Victories for Progressives)

[37:37–40:21]

Nominees:

• Gavin Newsom's Trump-style Tweeting: Finally a “viral” Dem response, highly theatrical.
• Zoran Mamdani Ousts Andrew Cuomo: Lefty upstart’s mayoral primary win in NYC.
• Election Night 2025: Sweeps in NY, VA, NJ, GA, CA—Democrats flip critical seats.
• Mamdani visits Trump at the White House: Face-off between progressive mayor and the President.

Winner:

• Election Night 2025
  "Best night of the year. Runaway." – Tommy Vietor [40:16]

Meta-Commentary:

• Despite a bleak year, the hosts note the late surge in Democratic wins offers a glimmer of hope.

8. Most Irritating Discourse

[41:23–45:16]

Nominees:

• Abundance / Ezra Klein Wars: Technocratic arguments about “abundance” become eugenics-adjacent Twitter wars.
• Maine Senate Primary: Platner Bros drag Democratic politics into online absurdity.
• Sydney Sweeney’s Jeans Ad: Right/left Twitter “wokeness” war drags on for months, with Trump weighing in.
• Crooked Con Biden Discourse: Pro-Biden loyalists react to Dems’ 2026/2028 musings as disloyalty, “Biden was 14th best.”
• Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza: Beltway insider-ism/Access journalism fatigue.

Winner:

• Abundance Discourse
  "The stakes couldn't be lower… it's just so fucking pedantic and boring." – Jon Favreau [44:10]

9. MAGA Media Villain of the Year

[45:17–49:44]

Nominees:

• Katie Miller: Stephen Miller’s wife, a “horrible podcaster.”
• Benny Johnson: Cringe video stunts.
• Tucker Carlson: Enabler of far-right talking points, “gateway” for Nick Fuentes.
• Nick Fuentes: Neo-Nazi, openly misogynistic, increasingly mainstream influence.
• Candace Owens: Sues French first lady, anti-LGBTQ, conspiracy mongering.

Winner:

• Nick Fuentes
  "Nick Fuentes being dragged into mainstream MAGA discourse is one of the worst things that's happened in a long time." – Jon Favreau [49:02]

10. Worst Trump Moment of the Year

[51:46–53:19]

Nominees:

• Ambushing Zelenskyy at the White House.
• CCOT/Alligator Alcatraz Prisons: Dystopian immigration/crime policies.
• Sending Troops to U.S. Cities: Use of military force domestically.
• Doge/Cutting USAID: Harm to global health/global standing.
• Everything with Vaccines: Damage from anti-vax rhetoric.

Winner:

• Cutting USAID (Global Health Funding):
  "It is the most destructive just on the numbers, plus…socializing us to a lawless administration." – Jon Lovett [53:39]

11. Worst Pod Save America Host Take

[53:36–62:16]

Highlights:

• All hosts reflect on their errors, especially around the government shutdown strategy.
• Specific mention of:
  • Underestimating using healthcare as the shutdown message.
  • Dismissing Zoran Mamdani’s mayoral chances.
  • Dan Pfeiffer: Disbelief in affordability as a winnable, salient issue.
  • Jon Favreau: "Drake May is good but the Patriots are not" (subsequently proven wrong).

Consensus:

• Collectively wrong on Schumer’s strategy for the shutdown; underestimated the political effectiveness of focusing on healthcare.

Best in Show: The Pundi of 2025

[63:06–65:18]

After reviewing all winners, the hosts award the 2025 “Pundi” for the most defining political event/scandal/moment to:

The Epstein Files Scandal

As the cascade of failed document releases, high-level cover-ups, and political fallout dominated the news cycle, the hosts agree:
"The defining political thing of 2025 was the Epstein scandal. Feels right." – Jon Favreau [65:17]_

Runner-Up:

• The “abundance” discourse is jokingly mentioned as almost equally defining—and incomprehensibly stupid—of 2025.

Closing Reflections

[65:38–66:38]

• Hope for the future comes from the late-year Democratic wins and grassroots victories.
• Jon Lovett: "What gives you hope? The year ended better than it started."
• The absurdity and fatigue with the year’s “one-note” chaos, contrasted with a sense of resilience.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "He literally threatened to punch him… like the most purely WWE." – Jon Lovett [24:45]
• "The DOJ is the core of the rot." – Jon Lovett [34:44]
• "The defining political thing of 2025 was the Epstein scandal." – Jon Favreau [65:17]
• "The Vice President calling you 'dipshit'—that’s impressive." – Dan Pfeiffer [28:29]
• "Fighting—even losing—is often better than not fighting at all." – Dan Pfeiffer [61:40]
• "I actually think... the off-year election has changed more about the future." – Tommy Vietor [65:46]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pundies Introduction: [02:19]
• Self-Inflicted Wound Scandal: [05:01]
• Worst Trump Admin Official: [11:44]
• Best Political Beef: [20:53]
• Best Pod Save Host Beef: [25:59]
• Most Corrupt Trump Moment: [29:34]
• Most Lib-Out Moment: [37:37]
• Most Irritating Discourse: [41:23]
• MAGA Media Villain: [45:17]
• Worst Trump Moment: [51:46]
• Worst PSA Take: [53:36]
• Pundi of the Year: [63:06]

Tone & Style

The Pundies episode is classic Pod Save America: biting, fast-paced, self-aware, and sardonic—in equal parts gleeful and grim about the “hellacious” year in Trump’s America. The hosts blend in-jokes, performative “voiceovers,” inside-baseball media takes, and serious policy critique, always leaning into their signature irreverence.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This annual political roast offers both catharsis and insight, showcasing the sheer twists, idiocies, and perils of U.S. politics in 2025. If you’re looking to catch up on the year’s headlines, the major scandals, and where the hosts think America’s headed, this episode is your lightning-paced highlight reel—complete with drama, despair, and a sliver of hope.