A totally genius analysis of the week’s political news from two certified brains. Ready to resist, progressive AF. Podcast posted weekly since 2012.
Episodes
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
In Which We Discuss:
1. It’s Epstein week so…now is not the time to fact check! Spread those memes with courage!
2. As her brain short-circuits, now’s the time to give Marjorie Taylor Green’s brain the correct inputs.
3. Did you know that if you’re elected as a Democratic Socialist you can keep identifying as one while in office?
4. The shutdown is over and…how many times have we had to write the headline “Democrats snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”?
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of chirping birds, 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!
Monday Nov 03, 2025
Monday Nov 03, 2025
In Which We Discuss:
1. It’s election day and New York City has predictably stolen the show with the most important election in the nation!
2. Nancy Pelosi makes the shocking decision to not die in office.
3. We’ve entered the “Let them eat cake!” era of the Trump shutdown.
4. Is baseball becoming a Democratic sport?
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of chirping birds, 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 19, 2025
Sunday Oct 19, 2025
This week, we’re live in the shutdown trenches reporting on a good 2% of the news that’s happened since you last heard from us. (And also the NYC Mayor’s race!)
Brain Trust Live is Lila Nordstrom and Brent Thornburg's look at the week in electoral and political news. Join the millions of chirping birds, 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 Mar 24, 2024
Sunday Mar 24, 2024
In Which We Discuss:
1. There’s been elections. Lots of elections. We’ll tell you about them.
2. Republicans continue to flee the scene of the crime.
3. Everytime a new government funding bill passes, a new GOP speaker gets their wings.
4. Democrats try to make a splashy announcement, seem unaware that everybody else denounced Netanyahu twenty years ago.
5. Like the collection of old foggety people that it is, Congress sets its sights on banning fun next.
6. The return of George Santos, queen of the return.
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 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. Feinstein commemorative memes are a cautionary tale for Mitch McConnell and Joe Biden.
2. A government shutdown has been averted…until it 100% happens in November.
3. Kevin McCarthy was shocked to be voted out after agreeing to be voted out at any moment.
4. Get excited for a six-way presidential race next fall!
5. Why is anybody agreeing to go to the GOP debates?
6. Are candidate Ron DeSantis’ makeup, 4 inch heels, and shapewear illegal in Florida thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis?
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!
Monday Sep 11, 2023
Monday Sep 11, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. Jeremy Payne from Catalyst California is here to explain how we can reform the LA city council
2. Joe Biden is being beaten by a wax figure in the latest 2024 polls
3. Democratic brains fell into a wormhole this week
4. Read the room, Nancy!
5. New Mexico experiments with a new gun control tactic: Actually trying something
Find out more about efforts to reform the LA City Council: www.ourla.org
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 May 21, 2023
Sunday May 21, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. It’s Weekend at Bernie’s in the Senate. Either know or don’t know!
2. Regardless of what you’ve heard, both parties love the debt ceiling.
3. Figure Skater Sarah Hughes is looking for a second upset win, this time in NY-4.
4. Tim Scott, longtime presidential explorer, files his papers.
5. DeSantis blowback begins as voters get their first taste of his awkward laugh.
6. What happens in the water is ocean business. Leave it alone.
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!
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
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 Jan 08, 2023
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
This week there's no rundown because, listen, as we enter 2023 there's only one thing to discuss. Enter: Speaker vote-a-thon bonanza funtimes chaos week!
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 Jan 30, 2022
Sunday Jan 30, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Our long-promised guest Kat Calvin is finally here!
2. Biden is collecting his own binders full of women for Breyer’s soon-to-be-open SCOTUS seat.
3. After 36 years of single handedly saving democracy, Pelosi assures us she will run again!
4. We incepted the San Jose Mayor to try gun insurance and couldn’t be more excited!
5. The Olympics are here, so you can finally experience the splendor of living through the Golden Age of Ice Dancing TM.
6. Of course the Bidens are cat people.
Find Kat and Her Work Online:
- Kat on Social: @katcalvinla
- Subscribe to Kat's Newsletter
- Spread The Vote (@spreadthevoteus on social)
- Project ID Action Fund (@projectidus on social)
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