Episodes

Sunday Apr 06, 2025
4/7/25 - Credible Explanations
Sunday Apr 06, 2025
Sunday Apr 06, 2025
In Which We Discuss:
1. The April 5th protests: A great place to be mad about…literally anything.
2. We famously love a filibuster stunt, but save your money. Cory Booker’s presidential campaign will be funded by the “good billionaires,” not your $5.
3. Did you ever wonder if there’s a reason you don’t understand what’s going on with these tariffs? Do you wish somebody credible would explain them to you? Us too.
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of falling phones, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind.
Plus, subscribe to Lila's other podcast, What Can I Do, wherever you get your podcasts!

Sunday Oct 27, 2024
10/28/24 - Beyhive and KHive Unite!
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
In Which We Discuss:
1. Early voting numbers. We’ve got ‘em, and we don’t know what they mean! (Don’t worry, nobody does.)
2. The Trump Nazi Rally adds insult to injury by denying New Yorkers their daily bagel run.
3. Harris’ ability to stay on message in front of television cameras is expiring.
4. Beyhive and KHive finally become one.
5. Latest debacle at LA Times and Washington Post are pretty excellent reasons for doing away with billionaires.
6. Trump’s Rogan interview reminds us that at his core, he’s really just a mediocre entertainer.
ALSO, need help with your CA ballot? Looking for a breakdown of the props? Check out the BTL CA Prop Guide: https://tinyurl.com/CApropguide2024
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of falling phones, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind.
Plus, subscribe to Lila's other podcast, What Can I Do, wherever you get your

Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
9/4/24 - Our Greatest Philosopher on the Nature of Time
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
Tuesday Sep 03, 2024
In Which We Discuss:
1. Polling: Not sure if you’ve heard, but the presidential election is close
2. New York Times makes unforced error using in an extended tennis metaphor during coverage of Kamala Harris’s CNN interview
3. Kamala Harris, our greatest philosopher on the concept of time, shows surprising discipline in a major new interview
4. Having made it an issue in the first place, Trump is now getting on all sides of the IVF issue in record time.
5. Did AI write Lara Trump’s new single or is Lara Trump actually AI?
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of falling phones, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind.
Plus, subscribe to Lila's other podcast, What Can I Do, wherever you get your podcasts!

Sunday May 19, 2024
5/19/24 - Birthday Indictment Papers
Sunday May 19, 2024
Sunday May 19, 2024
In Which We Discuss:
1. MMT: Now you don’t have to read the book. (But you should!)
2. To celebrate his 80th, Rudy Giuliani was served birthday cake and birthday indictment papers.
3. Democracy is not, in fact, on the ballot in New York State care of the state Dems.
4. Democrats shocked at 700th poll showing Joe Biden losing battleground states.
5. The Trump Trial strategy can’t rely on jurors trusting Michael Cohen as a non-liar. We know he’s a liar. Work around it.
6. Samuel Alito’s wife: Just another SCOTUS spouse working to overthrow the government.
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of falling phones, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind.
Plus, subscribe to Lila's new podcast, What Can I Do, wherever you get your podcasts!

Sunday Mar 19, 2023
3/20/23 - Mean Since 2003
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
Sunday Mar 19, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. Trump looking forward to being arrested to jumpstart his lackluster campaign.
2. Marianne Williamson has been mean since at least 2003. What else do you have, Politico?
3. Santos takes a first step towards his potential second run.
4. Surprise: We’re in the KHive Now!
5. Nebraska legislature treated to a surprise retelling of the movie Madagascar.
6. Will the LAUSD strikers have the courage to burn garbage piles like the French?
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of falling phones, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind.
Plus, subscribe to Lila's new podcast, What Can I Do, wherever you get your podcasts!

Sunday Mar 12, 2023
3/13/23 - Let People Have Good Ideas!
Sunday Mar 12, 2023
Sunday Mar 12, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. It’s our yearly reminder that we could have a general strike.
2. Joe Manchin wants you to wonder if he’s running for president even though none of us asked.
3. When Republicans have accidental good ideas, let’s let them!
4. Joe Biden works to unravel as many campaign promises as possible before his 2024 decision.
5. We all are learning too much about the FDIC.
6. George Santos: If you think he did it, he probably did.
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of falling phones, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind.
Plus, subscribe to Lila's new podcast, What Can I Do, wherever you get your podcasts!

Sunday Oct 09, 2022
Sunday Oct 09, 2022
Our mystery guest is finally revealed! A couple of weeks ago we had the privilege of interviewing candidate for Congress Maebe A. Girl, a progressive Democrat challenging Rep. Adam Schiff in our very own CD-30. We had a great time chatting about jungle primaries, Maebe's platform, and more!
- Support the campaign: Website
- Follow Maebe: Twitter
- Info on the LWV Candidate Forum on October 12th
Other Updates:
Ballots are on their way and our prop guide is coming soon! Drop us a line at braintrustapproved@gmail.com to join out prop guide email list.
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of quarantiners, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind.
Plus, subscribe to Lila's new podcast, What Can I Do, wherever you get your podcasts!
(Photo: Emily Eizen)

Sunday Jul 31, 2022
8/1/22 - Pulling a McConnell on McConnell
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Somehow the entire executive branch is a part of the “small minority” of people who experience Paxlovid rebound. But don’t worry, we “have the tools.”
2. Former New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang is inexplicably teaming up with New York’s Public Enemy #1
3. Fetterman is trolling his way to the top of the polls
4. The call for climate reform is literally coming from inside the house!
5. Manchin and Schumer pull a fast one on Mitch McConnell and the political blowback is wild
6. The J6 Season Finale was viewed by all, and specifically not enjoyed by Josh Hawley
7. MedBeds: 2022’s best conspiracy theory
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of quarantiners, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind

Sunday May 15, 2022
5/16/22 - Stupidity Week
Sunday May 15, 2022
Sunday May 15, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Protests should feel more like protests and less like guitar circles: A graduate thesis from Brain Trust Live.
2. Somehow Donald Trump missed the opportunity to endorse a pro-rape candidate in the PA primaries, and that seems like an oversight.
3. There’s nobody to vote FOR on the LA mayoral ballot, just people to vote against.
4. Biden had a prime stupidity week, but at least the deficit is going down.
5. Baby formula: Let’s find some.
6. Student Loans: Let’s cancel some.
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of quarantiners, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind

Sunday Feb 06, 2022
2/7/22 - NBC State Media
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
Sunday Feb 06, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. USA fighting Chinese propaganda by using a private media conglomerate as our own state media.
2. Whether or not the jobs numbers are good, it’s good to remember that they’re always fake
3. CA’s single payer demise is not an indication of voter sentiment, Politico. Stop using consultants as sources.
4. MN Police doing a great job of disproving the one bad apple theory
5. Meanwhile Joe BIden still publicly believing in the one bad apple theory
6. Garcetti holds his breath in photos while Los Angeles holds their breath waiting for him to just go to India already.
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of quarantiners, sirens, helicopters, barking dogs, and computer beeps who love our podcast and tell your friends about BTL! Then rate us on iTunes or find us Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Stitcher, or Instagram!
And, as always, you can buy and review Lila's book here: Some Kids Left Behind