<![CDATA[The Bulwark: How to Fix It with John Avlon]]>

<![CDATA[The Bulwark: How to Fix It with John Avlon]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/s/how-to-fix-it-with-john-avalonhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QWq4!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe7bdbd69-ae32-45de-8348-8913f6966d53_256x256.pngThe Bulwark: How to Fix It with John Avlonhttps://www.thebulwark.com/s/how-to-fix-it-with-john-avalonSubstackSun, 19 Apr 2026 14:36:57 GMT<![CDATA[Europe Is Preparing for Life Without America (w/ Richard Stengel)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/europe-is-preparing-for-life-withouthttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/europe-is-preparing-for-life-withoutSun, 19 Apr 2026 10:03:32 GMTJohn 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 this

Mandela: The Lost Tapes

Nelson Mandela Leadership Fellowship

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How to Fix It with John Avlon is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. New episodes drop each weekend so if you like what you hear, add the show to your player of choice. To help more people discover this show, leave a comment and rate the show ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen.

Ad-free editions are available exclusively for Bulwark+ on Substack and YouTube.

]]><![CDATA[Zoning Laws Are Killing the Middle Class (w/ Mechele Dickerson)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/zoning-laws-are-killing-the-middlehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/zoning-laws-are-killing-the-middleSun, 12 Apr 2026 10:02:50 GMTJohn 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/0520423399

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How to Fix It with John Avlon is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. New episodes drop each weekend so if you like what you hear, add the show to your player of choice. To help more people discover this show, leave a comment and rate the show ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen.

Ad-free editions are available exclusively for Bulwark+ on Substack and YouTube.

]]><![CDATA[Is U.S. Policy Hurting Cubans More Than the Regime? (w/ Juan Gonzalez)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/is-us-policy-hurting-cubans-morehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/is-us-policy-hurting-cubans-moreSun, 05 Apr 2026 10:02:54 GMTTrump’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?

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How to Fix It with John Avlon is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. New episodes drop each weekend so if you like what you hear, add the show to your player of choice. To help more people discover this show, leave a comment and rate the show ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen.

Ad-free editions are available exclusively for Bulwark+ on Substack and YouTube.

]]><![CDATA[Newsom: Trump ‘Knows He’s Gonna Get Shellacked’]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/newsom-trump-knows-hes-gonna-gethttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/newsom-trump-knows-hes-gonna-getWed, 25 Mar 2026 14:31:11 GMTCalifornia 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.

Note: This conversation was taped on Tuesday afternoon, March 24, 2026.

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How to Fix It with John Avlon is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. New episodes drop each weekend so if you like what you hear, add the show to your player of choice. To help more people discover this show, leave a comment and rate the show ⭐⭐⭐⭐ wherever you listen.

Ad-free editions are available exclusively for Bulwark+ on Substack and YouTube.

]]><![CDATA[MAGA Isn’t a Majority—So Why Is It Winning? (w/ Dan Cantor)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/maga-isnt-a-majorityso-why-is-ithttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/maga-isnt-a-majorityso-why-is-itSun, 22 Mar 2026 10:00:54 GMTWhy do small factions end up with outsized power in American politics? John Avlon talks with Dan Cantor about how the two-party system distorts representation—and how fusion voting could break the gridlock.

Watch Borgen. Then Get Inspired.

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Watch, listen and leave a comment. The How to Fix It with John Avlon podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Add this podcast to your player of choice, here.

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]]><![CDATA[Trump’s War With the Fed Could Backfire (w/ Kenneth Rogoff)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-war-with-the-fed-could-backfirehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-war-with-the-fed-could-backfireSun, 15 Mar 2026 10:03:23 GMTHarvard 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.

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]]><![CDATA[Living With Stage-4 Cancer for Five Years (w/ Annabelle Gurwitch)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/living-with-stage-4-cancer-for-fivehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/living-with-stage-4-cancer-for-fiveSun, 08 Mar 2026 10:02:24 GMTJohn 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.

Annabelle Gurwitch book: The End of My Life Is Killing Me: The Unexpected Joys of a Cancer Slacker

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]]><![CDATA[Democrats Are at 26%. Why? (w/ Chris Swanson) | How to Fix It]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/democrats-are-at-26-why-w-chris-swansonhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/democrats-are-at-26-why-w-chris-swansonSun, 01 Mar 2026 02:32:42 GMTMichigan 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.

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]]><![CDATA[Rahm Emanuel: “It’s time to take a power washer to Washington, D.C.”]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/rahm-emanuel-its-time-to-take-a-powerhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/rahm-emanuel-its-time-to-take-a-powerSun, 22 Feb 2026 11:00:59 GMTRahm 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.

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]]><![CDATA[David Frum: The GOP Didn’t Drift Into Trumpism]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/david-frum-the-gop-didnt-drift-intohttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/david-frum-the-gop-didnt-drift-intoSun, 15 Feb 2026 12:21:01 GMTDavid 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.

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]]><![CDATA[We’re The Ones Who Said “Hell No” to Trump (w/ Heath Mayo)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/were-the-ones-who-said-hell-no-tohttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/were-the-ones-who-said-hell-no-toSun, 08 Feb 2026 11:01:00 GMTLast 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.

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]]><![CDATA[Trump’s “Insurrection Act” Trap (w/ Michael Waldman)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-insurrection-act-trap-w-michaelhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-insurrection-act-trap-w-michaelSun, 01 Feb 2026 11:01:33 GMTJohn 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 Justice

The Damage to America Is Permanent (w/ Michael Luttig & Jeh Johnson) | How to Fix It

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]]><![CDATA[Iran Has No Exit Plan (w/ Christiane Amanpour) | How to Fix It]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/iran-has-no-exit-plan-w-christianehttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/iran-has-no-exit-plan-w-christianeSun, 25 Jan 2026 11:02:53 GMTJohn Avlon welcomes CNN’s Christiane Amanpour for a conversation about Iran’s latest uprising, the regime’s crackdown tactics, and what—if anything—could make this moment different from past protests. They weigh the risks of outside intervention, from military strikes to cyber operations, the shadow of the 1953 Mossadegh coup and the 2009 Green Movement, and the challenges of identifying a credible transition path amid competing opposition figures and regional power plays.

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Watch, listen and leave a comment. The How to Fix It with John Avlon podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Add this podcast to your player of choice, here.

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]]><![CDATA[How Detroit Slashed Crime Without Excuses (w/ Mike Duggan)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/how-detroit-slashed-crime-withouthttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/how-detroit-slashed-crime-withoutSun, 18 Jan 2026 11:01:00 GMTFormer Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan joins John Avlon to explain how leadership, not slogans, helped reverse Detroit’s decline—and why he believes America’s two parties are failing voters as he runs for Michigan governor as an independent.

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Watch, listen and leave a comment. The How to Fix It with John Avlon podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Add this podcast to your player of choice, here.

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]]><![CDATA[Is Trump Punishing Colorado? (w/ Gov. Jared Polis)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/is-trump-is-punishing-colorado-whttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/is-trump-is-punishing-colorado-wSun, 11 Jan 2026 11:02:42 GMTColorado Gov. Jared Polis joins John Avlon to break down Trump’s attacks on him and his state, the assault on climate and weather science, and the use of federal power as political punishment. Polis explains how Colorado balanced budgets, cut taxes, expanded services, lowered costs, and built a winning coalition by focusing on results over culture wars.

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]]><![CDATA[America Is Losing Faith in Everything (w/ Oliver Libby) | How to Fix It]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/america-is-losing-faith-in-everythinghttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/america-is-losing-faith-in-everythingSun, 04 Jan 2026 11:01:41 GMTJohn Avlon sits down with Oliver Libby to talk about why the American Dream feels out of reach—and what it would actually take to fix it. From healthcare and housing to energy, infrastructure, and the crisis of trust in institutions, they make the case for a “strong floor, no ceiling” approach rooted in practical policy, not rage.

Buy Strong Floor, No Ceiling: Building a New Foundation for the American Dream: https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Floor-No-Ceiling-Foundation/dp/164225701X

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Watch, listen and leave a comment. The How to Fix It with John Avlon podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Add this podcast to your player of choice, here.

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]]><![CDATA[Why Did Trump Fire the Nation’s Historian? (w/ Colleen Shogan)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/why-did-trump-fire-the-nations-historianhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/why-did-trump-fire-the-nations-historianSun, 28 Dec 2025 11:22:46 GMTDonald Trump did something no other president has ever done: he fired the Archivist of the United States — the nonpartisan official responsible for preserving America’s records and history.

John Avlon talks with former Archivist Colleen Shogan about why that decision matters, how history has become a political weapon, and what it says about power, accountability, and democracy at a moment when America is heading toward its 250th anniversary.

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]]><![CDATA[Mark Kelly Isn’t Backing Down]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/mark-kelly-isnt-backing-downhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/mark-kelly-isnt-backing-downSun, 21 Dec 2025 11:01:39 GMTSenator Mark Kelly sits down with John Avlon to discuss Pentagon intimidation, the rule of law, and his AI for America plan—covering job displacement, data-center energy demands, and what it will take for the U.S. to beat China on AI without chaos.

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Watch, listen and leave a comment. The How to Fix It with John Avlon podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Add this podcast to your player of choice, here.

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]]><![CDATA[The Damage to America Is Permanent (w/ Michael Luttig & Jeh Johnson)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-damage-to-america-is-permanenthttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-damage-to-america-is-permanentSun, 14 Dec 2025 11:02:51 GMTJohn Avlon is joined by Judge Michael Luttig and former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, co-chairs of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on American Democracy, a bipartisan group of legal, business, and civic leaders formed to confront the democratic crisis head-on. Their mission: move past outrage and lay out concrete, realistic reforms to stop democratic backsliding before it’s irreversible.

They discuss how unchecked presidential power, mass pardons for January 6 felons, Supreme Court rulings on gerrymandering, and collapsing guardrails are creating a system with zero consequences, and why that creates a dangerous moral hazard for future leaders.

This isn’t partisan spin. It’s a warning, and a roadmap, from people who’ve spent their careers defending the Constitution.

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]]><![CDATA[Nazi Camps Hidden on Long Island? (w/ Steve Israel)]]>https://www.thebulwark.com/p/nazi-camps-hidden-on-long-islandhttps://www.thebulwark.com/p/nazi-camps-hidden-on-long-islandSun, 07 Dec 2025 11:02:40 GMTJohn Avlon talks with former Rep. Steve Israel about his new historical thriller ‘The Einstein Conspiracy’, Israel’s life as a small bookstore owner, the politics of Long Island, rising antisemitism, and the reforms he thinks could fix American democracy.

Buy The Einstein Conspiracy: https://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Conspiracy-Steve-Israel/dp/B0FVNQ1ZXS

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