Grounded with Jon Tester & Maritsa Georgiou

Grounded welcomes former Ambassador to Japan and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, known for his aggressive political style, who kicks things off by reminiscing about trying to recruit Jon Tester to run for the House instead of the Senate back in 2006 (spoiler: it was really about beating Chuck Schumer).

We have a wide ranging conversation that’s at times playful and at other times blunt and unfiltered. We discuss what Emanuel calls a dangerous erosion of American deterrence with China, North Korea, and Russia, which he says is being tested right now. We also dive into some of the more contentious issues showing up in political conversations, including the fight over the future of the Democratic Party and the discussions around Israel and Gaza—with his stances at times drawing pushback from those in his own party. Plus, why Emanuel says winning red and purple districts is imperative in the interest of delivering progressive legislation.

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has long been telling us to follow the money—especially when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein. Wyden joins Grounded to break down a bombshell investigation his office conducted over four years that revealed major banking institutions looked the other way on Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and how regulators may have also done the same. Wyden explains more about the documents he’s still trying to get, the lack of help from his colleagues across the aisle, and his promise to hold people accountable. Plus, Wyden spills the tea on what it was really like living next to Jon Tester.

Former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee joins Grounded way too early in the morning to discuss the devastating wildfires out west, worsening climate change impacts, and the drivers behind soaring energy costs. Inslee, who leads the Climate Power accountability project, also lays out what he calls the “four C’s” — cost, chaos, corruption, and climate denial — defining the current political moment. Plus, how will accountability and anti-corruption messaging play out this election cycle? Come for the environmental policy chat, stay for the Brandi Carlile love fest at the end!