Grant talks to the author, journalist, activist Cory Doctorow, about his recent article calling for Democrats to create a Nuremberg Caucus to hold federal agents, administration officials, and elected leaders accountable after the Trump era is over. But, instead of building those cases when Republicans are out of power, he wants them to start collecting evidence, out in the open, right away.

He explains his ideas about how it would work, about why Americans might go for it, and why it might change the way both parties AND corporations approach politics.

LINKS:

The Nuremberg Caucus

Cory Doctorow

Enshitification

The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI (out soon)

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Mantra Matcha offers ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a private hillside farm in Uji, Japan. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and delivers calm, focused energy—no jitters, no crash.

Why we like it:

• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea
• Supports metabolism, focus, and overall wellness
• Six superfood-infused flavors (Banana Cacao, Strawberry Lemon, Cinnamon Goji Berry, and more)
• Every box helps provide a meal to a child in need through No Kid Hungry

Get 15% off at mantramatcha.com with code MIMS25
That code also supports Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes with a 15% commission.

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During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump made his usual sweeping statements, false claims, and insults at Democrats.

But in what was a very long (1 hr and 47min!) speech, he left two key things out. In fact, they were two of his signature policy agendas for the year. ICE deployments and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Grant breaks down why it's interesting that those were left on the cutting room floor, why they might have been cut in the first place, and what that means for Republicans staring down the barrel of some very bad midterm prediction numbers.

PROMO CODES:

MANTRA MATCHA

If coffee makes you alert and deeply unwell, it might be time to switch it up.

Mantra Matcha offers ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a private hillside farm in Uji, Japan. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and delivers calm, focused energy—no jitters, no crash.

Why we like it:

• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea
• Supports metabolism, focus, and overall wellness
• Six superfood-infused flavors (Banana Cacao, Strawberry Lemon, Cinnamon Goji Berry, and more)
• Every box helps provide a meal to a child in need through No Kid Hungry

Get 15% off at mantramatcha.com with code MIMS25
That code also supports Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes with a 15% commission.

Less chaos. More clarity. Two things we could all use right now.

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Donald Trump gives his first true State of the Union speech to Congress since becoming president for a second time. It just might be the most important speech in his political legacy.

Trump is going into this speech as weak as he's ever been. His approval ratings are the lowest they've been, as are the approvals of his handling of every top issue, and the belief that he's fit to do the job.

Grant explains what you can expect to hear and what the Democrats are going to have to do to make this night work for them, because they have their own fight to worry about

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Grant brings Eric Czuleger back on the show for the very first back-to-back guest on Make It Make Sense.

With the largest military buildup in the Middle East since 2002 happening right now and President Donald Trump promising a "limited strike" in Iran, the world is on edge... again.

Grant and Eric talk about how the US got here, why it's different than the last time the US bombed Iran, and whether the US is about to get into another war in the Middle East.

LINKS:

The Under Report Newsletter

The Under Report Podcast

The Under Report on TikTok

PROMO CODES:

MANTRA MATCHA

If coffee makes you alert and deeply unwell, it might be time to switch it up.

Mantra Matcha offers ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a private hillside farm in Uji, Japan. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and delivers calm, focused energy—no jitters, no crash.

Why we like it:

• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea
• Supports metabolism, focus, and overall wellness
• Six superfood-infused flavors (Banana Cacao, Strawberry Lemon, Cinnamon Goji Berry, and more)
• Every box helps provide a meal to a child in need through No Kid Hungry

Get 15% off at mantramatcha.com with code MIMS25
That code also supports Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes with a 15% commission.

https://mantramatcha.com/

Less chaos. More clarity. Two things we could all use right now.

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Donald Trump ran for president promising to make Americans richer and bring prices down, starting on day one. So far, that's not panning out.

The cost of the ICE and troop deployments to US cities and around the globe has ballooned into the billions. Despite promising it would bring in money to the US, Trump's tariffs have cost Americans billions of dollars out of their own pockets. So have the president's pet projects like his Board of Peace, a new HHS led global health agency and a "Golden Dome" missile plan.

Grant breaks all of it down and brings receipts.

MANTRA MATCHA

If coffee makes you alert and deeply unwell, it might be time to switch it up.

Mantra Matcha offers ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a private hillside farm in Uji, Japan. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and delivers calm, focused energy—no jitters, no crash.

Why we like it:

• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea
• Supports metabolism, focus, and overall wellness
• Six superfood-infused flavors (Banana Cacao, Strawberry Lemon, Cinnamon Goji Berry, and more)
• Every box helps provide a meal to a child in need through No Kid Hungry

Get 15% off at mantramatcha.com with code MIMS25
That code also supports Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes with a 15% commission.

Less chaos. More clarity. Two things we could all use right now.

PATP LOGIN BUZZSPROUT

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The government is in another shutdown. This time, it's only a partial one. Every agency inside DHS isn't being funded, except ICE.

Grant explains the 10 demands Democrats have and why two of them are already non-starters for Republicans who are looking to capitalize on the crises to force through their voter ID bill.

MANTRA MATCHA

If coffee makes you alert and deeply unwell, it might be time to switch it up.

Mantra Matcha offers ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a private hillside farm in Uji, Japan. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and delivers calm, focused energy—no jitters, no crash.

Why we like it:

• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea
• Supports metabolism, focus, and overall wellness
• Six superfood-infused flavors (Banana Cacao, Strawberry Lemon, Cinnamon Goji Berry, and more)
• Every box helps provide a meal to a child in need through No Kid Hungry

Get 15% off at mantramatcha.com with code MIMS25
That code also supports Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes with a 15% commission.

Less chaos. More clarity. Two things we could all use right now.

Support the show

Follow along on social media

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Grant is joined by Eric Czuleger, the voice behind The Under Report, which covers foreign policy, open-source intelligence operations, and what's really happening outside the borders of the US.

Most if Eric thinks is part of what he calls "strategic abandonment" by the US; the idea that the US is breaking old alliances and abandoning long-term agreements in favor of short-term wins.

PLUS, what was the deal with the panic at the Southern Border over Dept. of Defense drones?

LINKS:

The Under Report Newsletter

The Under Report Podcast

You Are Not Here

PROMO CODES:

MANTRA MATCHA

If coffee makes you alert and deeply unwell, it might be time to switch it up.

Mantra Matcha offers ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a private hillside farm in Uji, Japan. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and delivers calm, focused energy—no jitters, no crash.

Why we like it:

• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea
• Supports metabolism, focus, and overall wellness
• Six superfood-infused flavors (Banana Cacao, Strawberry Lemon, Cinnamon Goji Berry, and more)
• Every box helps provide a meal to a child in need through No Kid Hungry

Get 15% off at mantramatcha.com with code MIMS25
That code also supports Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes with a 15% commission.

Less chaos. More clarity. Two things we could all use right now.

Support the show

Follow along on social media

X: @mimsnewspod
Instagram: @mimsnewspod
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Follow Grant:
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As the Senate takes up the House's voter ID bill, Grant explains what's in it. Known as the SAVE America Act, along with its partner bill the MEGA Act, Republicans are hoping to make it harder to vote by imposing strict rules on who can register to vote (which already exist), showing proof of citizenship at the polls, and ending the popular mail-in voting rules.

Grant breaks down what's behind these bills and why we know they aren't actually needed... unless you're trying to stop certain people from voting.

PROMO CODES:

MANTRA MATCHA

If coffee makes you alert and deeply unwell, it might be time to switch it up.

Mantra Matcha offers ceremonial-grade matcha sourced from a private hillside farm in Uji, Japan. It’s smooth, naturally sweet, and delivers calm, focused energy—no jitters, no crash.

Why we like it:

• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea
• Supports metabolism, focus, and overall wellness
• Six superfood-infused flavors (Banana Cacao, Strawberry Lemon, Cinnamon Goji Berry, and more)
• Every box helps provide a meal to a child in need through No Kid Hungry

Get 15% off at mantramatcha.com with code MIMS25
That code also supports Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes with a 15% commission.

Less chaos. More clarity. Two things we could all use right now.

Support the show

Follow along on social media

X: @mimsnewspod
Instagram: @mimsnewspod
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Substack: mimsnewspod.substack.com
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Bluesky: Granthermes.bsky.social

Follow Grant:
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SPONSORS AND ADS:
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Let’s work together. For sponsorships and custom ad spots, reach out to ads@matchbookmediapod.com