Episodes

5 days ago
1/25/23 - Broken Brain Syndrome
5 days ago
5 days ago
In Which We Discuss:
1. What is there to say about George Santos that George Santos hasn’t said about himself?
2. Somebody tell Joe Biden we aren’t using printers anymore
3. Ron Klain is out and the White House will now be run as effectively as the US COVID response
4. Kathy Hochul cannot Cuomo her way into leadership
5. Sinkholes: California has them
6. Donald Trump uses Diamond of Diamond and Silk’s memorial service to distance himself from Silk, which is proof positive that they both know each other and crimed together.
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!

Sunday Dec 11, 2022
12/12/22 - Happier Than Raphael Warnock
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Kevin De Leon first ruins city government, then ruins Christmas for LA families
2. The only person happier than Raphael Warnock about the Georgia runoff results was Herschel Walker
3. Newsflash: Kirsten Sinema had left the Democratic party long before this week
4. The Trump org is officially as guilty as we knew in our hearts they were
5. House passes marriage equality for everybody but polygamists
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!

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 Jun 19, 2022
6/20/22 - Diet Pepsi Drunk
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. The June corporate appropriation holiday bonanza continues!
2. Biden will try literally anything to make America think he’s President Bartlett.
3. Rudy Giuliani didn’t knowingly break the law, he was just drunk on Diet Pepsi.
4. Can we please put a news embargo on reporting CA election results until we actually have California election results?
5. When will Democrats learn: Part 435 of our ongoing series.
6. Have you ever wondered if the current inflation was caused by something other than that one time the government sent you a measly check? We have.
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 Jun 05, 2022
6/6/22 - Try Literally Anything
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Does Pride Month belong to straight people now? A research-free exposé!
2. It’s shooting city out there, so naturally our representatives are back to begging us for help.
3. Alaska is looking to one-up CA’s chaotic primary process…and succeeding!
4. We’re pretty sure we attended the last Iowa Caucus.
5. Biden White House baffled by sad polling numbers as Americans face numerous predictable and solvable crises.
6. Democrats find unity on student debt cancellation: Everybody hates the White House plan.
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 22, 2022
5/23/22 - Let Them Eat Formula!
Sunday May 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Free ballot guides! Free ballot guides! DM us on Twitter if you want our free LA ballot guide!
2. There’s nothing like the sweet taste of learning that PA hates Connor Lamb as much as non-PA does.
3. Big primaries are coming up on Tuesday, including Cuellar/Cisneros.
4. NY’s new maps have led to Manhattan chaos!
5. Eric Adams claims he’s not thinking of running for president, but he’s also lying about living in NJ so do with that what you will.
6. Let them eat formula! But, like, really. Let them. Babies need food.
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 Jun 27, 2021
6/28/21 - Ennui on the Funeral Crashing Circuit
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
Sunday Jun 27, 2021
In Which We Discuss:
1. We’re starting with Britney. For the clicks.
2. The votes are in in the New York City mayor’s race. So we’ll tell you who won in one to two months!
3. Infrastructure. We’ve got nothing left on this one.
4. SCOTUS went so far to the dark side that Clarence Thomas had to speak up.
5. Don’t worry, you can still go to prison for longer than Derek Chauvin if you put your mind to it. Or if you just happen to be Black.
6. Apparently the funeral crashing circuit got boring.
Get a vaccine so you too can record a podcast in the same room as your co-host!
Brain Trust Live is (still) 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!

Sunday Apr 25, 2021
4/26/21 - Warm Fuzzy Feelings
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
In Which We Discuss:
1. Derek Chauvin is a man who will be going to jail and that’s a nice thing. We could have this warm fuzzy feeling about the justice system anytime if we tried.
2. Joe Biden allows John Kerry to ride a Lime scooter on camera even though, as his boss, he probably could have put a stop to that.
3. Andrew Yang loves lesbian bars but apparently not the lesbians who congregate at them.
4. Nancy Pelosi vs. Squad: A battle with no winners
5. Please commit to hating the Caitlyn Jenner candidacy for the right reasons
6. New American Psycho: The Josh Hawley Story
Also:
CALL YOUR REPS. ABOUT EVERYTHING. Make this number your profile picture. Tweet it every day. Add it to your phonebook:
Capitol Hill Main Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Brain Trust Live is (still) 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!

Sunday Dec 20, 2020
BTL #380 - Saving America's Leading Science Deniers - 12/21/20
Sunday Dec 20, 2020
Sunday Dec 20, 2020
In Which We Discuss:
1. Latest stimulus bill has insulting checks that will arrive just after your kid’s Christmas is ruined
2. The Vaccines are coming for doctors...and America’s leading science-deniers
3. Mayor Mouseface for transpo and other questionable cabinet picks
4. Bill Barr should never be allowed back on the DC dinner party circuit
5. Could it be that asking voters to vote for you is the best way to get voters to vote for you? An experiment moderate Democrats waited until after the election to try!
6. Guardians of the Galaxy joins Star Trek in the Trump Space Force fictional universe
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!