Updated @ 5:01 AM EDT on August 2, 2025
Even though some of the nation’s most popular podcasts aren’t about politics, aspirational candidates from both parties have nevertheless sat down for in-depth interviews.
On his way to victory, President Trump spent a large portion of the 2024 presidential campaign appearing as a guest on a variety of shows, conversing with comedians like Andrew Schulz and Theo Von and riffing with Joe Rogan.
These politics-related podcasts continue to influence some of the discourse surrounding culture and the perception of what happens in Washington, even as many people are stepping away from politics and the next major election cycle is just a year away. They also serve as a testing ground for those aspiring to higher office who want to follow Trump’s lead.
Particularly frequent podcast guests include Democratic California Representative Ro Khanna, who told Von on his show “This Past Weekend” why he was sitting for the interview.
“I’m not saying this to flatter you, a lot of times you’ll ask questions and they’re like, deeper and smarter than some of the Sunday talk show hosts,” Khanna stated. “And I think it’s ’cause you actually talk to real people and it’s sort of like ‘Well, how does this affect my buddy, how does this affect real people?'”
Khanna talked extensively about his early years, his opinions on regulation and artificial intelligence, and his comments on the Democratic Party’s messaging, which he felt needed to be changed.
During the two-hour conversation, he also discussed the War Powers resolution he had presented to the House, which would have restricted military action in Iran following the attack on its nuclear facilities. The very next episode of Von’s show featured Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who coauthored that resolution.
Last month, Rogan, one of the nation’s most prominent podcast presenters, spent two and a half hours discussing how Christianity shapes his political beliefs and worldview with Texas Democratic State Rep. James Talarico. As a result, Rogan encouraged Talarico to “run for President.”
Fitting politics in a politics-adjacent space
Unlike the “NPR Politics Podcast” or NBC’s “Meet The Press,” these well-known programs do not specifically focus on politics, and their target demographic is also different. Buzzwords, brief soundbites, and queries that resemble interrogation are not as appealing to these listeners as lengthier, more natural conversations.
As a result, even when talking about familial upbringings, current events, and, of course, political opinions, there is a little more amicable common ground than indignation.
Consider the in-depth interview that California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who also hosts his own podcast, had last month with Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL whose program emphasizes the viewpoints of veterans and active military personnel and leans more conservative.
The two talked for four hours about local politics, national issues, opinions on COVID lockdowns and transgender rights, and firearms and foreign policy. After stating that he was looking for someone who “thinks a little bit different than me” at the beginning of the interview, Ryan was impressed with Newsom’s viewpoint.
“I really appreciate you coming, and just being totally honest, a lot of my opinions about you have changed,” Ryan stated to Newsom.
It’s crucial to keep in mind the goal of these sit-downs: since they are not interviews or debates conducted with journalistic intent, there is typically minimal opposition to someone’s viewpoint.
For instance, the Nelk Boys, well-known podcasters who support Trump, interviewed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an hour. They said at the beginning of the show that they were “so not qualified” to interview the Israeli leader. Both supporters and opponents of the two hosts strongly criticized them once the interview was released, stating that they were ill-prepared.
Will longform podcasts be a prerequisite for future candidates?
“Do more podcasts!” is the incorrect lesson to be learned from 2024, according to Eric Wilson, executive director of the Center for Campaign Innovation.
“The takeaway is like, you’ve got to be willing to say something and have a message and be willing to do things that are going to break through to the people who are news avoiders,” the digital strategist for the Republican Party said.
In the attention economy, longform podcasts are becoming more and more popular. In certain instances, they have higher viewing than primetime cable shows, when politicians have less time to talk and are frequently lecturing a group of people who already favor their party.
“Having that level of comfort in the format does suggest a level of authenticity that resonates more with voters, but it won’t be necessary to win an election in the future to be able to talk for hours about your background and beliefs,” Wilson noted.
“Realistically, it’s something that you’ve got to add to your repertoire as a politician,” Wilson stated.
Similar to how the Lincoln-Douglas debates aided Abraham Lincoln’s career, television debates aided John F. Kennedy, and the current Trump era of politics is tailored for cable news appearances, many politicians who feel at ease speaking on a variety of podcasts may decide who gains traction and success on the national stage in upcoming elections.
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