The Al Franken Podcast
Episode: Molly Jong-Fast on Another Week in Trump’s America
Aired: February 22, 2026
Guest: Molly Jong-Fast (Host of “Fast Politics”)

Episode Overview

This episode, Al Franken is joined by political commentator and journalist Molly Jong-Fast to dissect a hectic week in Trump’s America (Trump’s second term), focusing on ongoing policy chaos, political scandals, the consequences of autocratic rule, and the comically surreal tone of American politics. With signature wit and exasperation, they analyze recent developments ranging from foreign policy and the “Board of Peace,” to the Supreme Court decision on tariffs, the Epstein files cover-up, attacks on voting rights, growing government corruption, and the bleak status of climate and immigration policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Trump’s “Peace” Claims and Foreign Policy Theater

• The “Board of Peace” and Dubious War Endings
  Trump, as self-appointed chairman, leads the “Board of Peace” purporting to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. He claims to have “settled eight wars,” a number Molly quickly deconstructs as exaggerated and largely false.

  • Molly’s Tally: Only 3 of 8 “wars” count as resolved and attributable to Trump’s actions, with some disputes ongoing or only tenuously paused.
  • Trump’s Speech Highlights:
    • Repeats self-serving lies (03:15).
    • Endorses Viktor Orban, Hungary’s far-right leader, for his anti-migrant stance (06:01).
    • Odd remarks about the “young, handsome” President of Paraguay (07:12).

• Supreme Court Overturns Tariffs
  A major SCOTUS decision rolls back Trump's tariffs with implications for executive power, with Molly and Al marveling at the complexity of unwinding Trump’s legal overreach (07:34).

The Epstein Files and the Culture of Cover-Up

• Massive Redactions and Dodgy Explanations
  New “Epstein files” dropped but are heavily redacted, undermining transparency and fueling suspicion. Pam Bondi, DOJ, and prominent GOP figures all deny wrongdoing:

  • Only a small fraction of documents truly released.
  • Cash Patel, testifying: “the only person that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked girls to was himself” (14:49).
  • Survivors’ FBI statements (the crucial “302s”) are withheld or redacted without legal rationale.

• High-Profile Collateral

  • Discussions of Howard Lutnick, Prince Andrew, and cross-Atlantic contrasts in accountability.
  • Al: “I feel like if you have a pedophilic sex trafficker living next to you, the move is not to bring your kids to his island. Call me a puritan…” (12:09).
  • Across the Atlantic: UK is far more willing to hold the powerful to account, while in the US, “the President is doing stuff like that all the time.” (14:18).
  • Administration declares the investigation “closed” and promises no further indictments.

The SAVE Act: Attack on Voting Rights

• Republican Strategy to Tighten Voting Eligibility
  • SAVE Act aims to purge Democratic voters and makes it much harder for married women & others to retain the franchise, largely by challenging documents after name changes (18:05).
  • DHS (run by Kristi Noem) would control sweep of voter registrations and purges.
  • Al: “They don’t want to do anything except elections that they feel they can do. And I’m telling you, this stinks to high heaven and it’s against the Constitution.” (21:08)
  • Highly unlikely to pass in the Senate; would require breaking the filibuster.

International Relations: NATO, Hungary & the Munich Security Conference

• Rubio’s Speech and the Shift in US/EU Relations
  At the Munich Security Conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gets a mixed standing ovation for a speech that touts European Christianity and disparages Muslim immigrants—highlighted by both hosts as racist and insular (27:05).
  • “The future of the Republican Party is bright, let me tell you. Have to wear sunglasses.” – Franken, sarcastically (27:05).
  • Rubio did not mention Russia/Ukraine, symbolizing US retreat from NATO leadership.
  • Worries over Trump family enrichment from government contracts and peace deals; Jared Kushner’s odd pledge: “no one is making any money off of this” (31:04), which even the hosts ridicule.

The Colbert/CBS Showdown and Cultural Chill

• Corporate Censorship and Retaliation
  • CBS (owned by Paramount/Skydance, led by Trump donor Larry Ellison) clamps down on Stephen Colbert’s political content.
  • Al and Molly detail Colbert’s public defiance and CBS’s legal threats, as well as the attempted misuse of the “equal time” rule—a “zombie law” revived to silence critics (33:08-36:42).
  • “CBS then says, like Colbert was lying. Colbert goes back on television the next day and says CBS is full of shit.” – Al Franken (36:08).
  • Paramount’s sale to pro-Trump interests is cited as explanation for the late-night culture war.

Climate Policy Regression

• EPA & Science Denial Revival
  • Trump EPA rejects the foundational 2009 finding that greenhouse gases are a planetary threat.
  • Moves to bring back pesticides like DDT/Roundup; rollback of climate and public health protection (37:17).
  • Al: “Look, are you surprised to hear that the administration that doesn’t think you need a measles vaccine also believes that climate change is not real?” (37:40).
  • Hosts debate whether ordinary Americans care, agree that elite apathy is stronger than public apathy.

Immigration Crackdown & Domestic Policy Dystopia

• ICE Abuses, Public Backlash, and Federal Stonewalling
  • ICE overreach incites protest even among “yoga moms” in Chicago and Minnesota, following horrifying cases and policy excess (39:05).
  • FBI refuses to share information about deaths in Minnesota, indicating a pattern of federal cover-ups and silencing oversight (41:25).
  • “If we were signatories on the Hague, half this government would end up in it.” – Al Franken (47:55).

Government Corruption and the “Kleptocracy”

• Trump and Family Profiting Off Power
  • New reporting reveals billions in off-book revenue from deals involving Nvidia (AI chips), Venezuelan oil, and other questionable windfalls (46:22).
  • Al calls it a “kleptocracy” and questions whether Americans care. Despite historically low approval ratings for Trump, Republican base remains steadfast, while special elections tilt Democratic (48:19-49:10).
  • “We got like a cabinet that’s full on North Korea.” – Al Franken (48:48).

Elections & State of the Union Preview

• Outlook for the Midterms and Democratic Strategy

  • Despite GOP efforts to suppress and distort democracy, Democrats have notable down-ballot momentum.
  • Al worries about whether Democrats are “up to the job” of being a true opposition or resistance party under such duress (50:16, 51:09).

• State of the Union Expectations

  • Expect another Trump campaign-style rally, disregard for precedent, and more disinformation (51:49-52:51).
  • Some Democrats may boycott the address, but the gesture is more symbolic than impactful.
  • Al’s candid reflection: “We used to do SNL State of the Union sketches…and I just saw Trump up there and I felt like, oh, I’m really an 8H. I’m at…SNL.” (53:07).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Call me a puritan, but I think the thing I am struck by with the Howard Lutnick stuff…if you have a pedophilic sex trafficker living next to you, the move is not to bring your kids to his island.” – Al Franken (12:09)
• “The only person that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked girls to was himself.” – Cash Patel, quoted by Al Franken (14:49)
• “This stinks to high heaven and it’s against the Constitution.” – Al Franken on the SAVE Act (21:08)
• “I do love Kristi Noem because she’s so stupid, but I think that was pretty bad.” – Al Franken (32:06)
• “We got like a cabinet that’s full on North Korea.” – Al Franken (48:48)
• “If we were signatories on the Hague, half this government would end up in it.” – Al Franken (47:55)
• “We used to do SNL…State of the Union sketches…I just saw Trump up there and I felt like…I’m at…SNL.” – Al Franken (53:07)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Trump’s Board of Peace/Peace Claims: 01:33 – 07:34
• Supreme Court Overturns Tariffs: 07:34 – 08:44
• Epstein Files/DOJ Cover-up: 10:02 – 17:22
• SAVE Act/Voter Purge Discussion: 17:41 – 23:35
• Munich Security Conference/Foreign Policy: 26:57 – 32:17
• Colbert vs. CBS / Free Speech: 32:17 – 36:42
• Trump EPA and Climate/Science Backslide: 36:53 – 39:47
• Immigration/ICE Protests/Minnesota Killings: 39:47 – 41:44
• Trump Family Corruption/Kleptocracy: 46:01 – 48:48
• Midterms/Democratic Opposition: 50:04 – 53:07
• State of the Union Preview: 51:39 – 55:41

Tone & Takeaways

Throughout, Al and Molly maintain a sardonic, often darkly comedic tone, blending outrage with resignation and wry observations about living in a political reality that often feels absurd. Their conversation is fast-paced but rich in context, highlighting both bigger trends—creeping authoritarianism, institutional rot, the normalization of corruption—and the personal toll on those trying to defend democracy.

The episode is essential listening for those feeling bewildered or exhausted by American politics, offering both sharp analysis and some cathartic laughter in the face of it all.