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!

Monday Aug 29, 2022
8/29/22 - Against All Odds, Rights Matter
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. According to primary voters, taking away women’s fundamental rights does, in fact, matter to people.
2. It’s clear people don’t really understand how student loans work.
3. White House twitter is looking to add some special New Jersey flavor.
4. Virginia tricks itself into banning gas cars in 2035.
5. Donald Trump announces his new memoir will contain all the nuclear codes.
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 Aug 14, 2022
8/15/22 - Puppies and Rainbows and Safes
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. After his home’s FBI raid, Trump turned on his beloved Richard Nixon. Is there no longer such a thing as loyalty!?
2. Trump pleds the fifth 440 times in Tish James’ corruption investigation, which, according to his own 2016 words, means he’s guilty. Congrats to Tish and good game!
3. Democrats finally embrace the Puppies and Rainbows™ bill naming strategy.
4. Elections. Against all odds, they’re still happening.
5. The CDC thinks it’s fine if you want to cough on the elderly. Everybody ultimately dies anyway, right?
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 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
![7/11/22 - Permission To Have An Idea [w/ Carla Nordstrom]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog456765/IMG_0920_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
7/11/22 - Permission To Have An Idea [w/ Carla Nordstrom]
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Feeling helpless post Dobbs? Carla Nordstrom joins us with a list of action items that will help you sow the seeds of chaos!
2. Sri Lankans hold the pool party of the summer during their palace coup extravaganza! This is why you shouldn’t hold coups in January.
3. My baloney has a first name, it’s P-A-T-S-Y
4. Everything is the left’s fault. [End of Quote. Repeat the line.]
5. Democrats spend their primary season doing what they do best: Electing Republicans.
6. COVID. It’s on you.
Plus, find Carla's Girl Power playlist at the bottom of the post!
More from Carla Nordstrom: CBS News / Over 50 years ago this woman had an illegal abortion. Now, she's telling her story.
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
Carla Nordstrom's Girl Power Playlist:
I’m Just a Girl No Doubt
The Pill Loretta Lynn
You Don’t Own Me Lesley Gore
Girls Just Want to Have Fun Cindy Lauper
Harper Valley PTA Jeannie C. Riley
Respect Aretha Franklin
Not Ready to Make Nice The Dixie Chicks
9 to 5 Dolly Parton
Talking About a Revolution Tracy Chapman
Sisters are Doing it for Themselves Eurythmics
Independent Women Destiny’s Child
I am Woman Helen Reddy
Can’t Hold Us Down Christine Aguilera
Our Problem Amada Shires
I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor
![11/22/21 - You Should Run For Office [w/ guest Amanda Litman]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog456765/IMG_0920_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
11/22/21 - You Should Run For Office [w/ guest Amanda Litman]
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
In Which We Discuss:
1. Amanda Litman from Run For Something tells us why YOU should run for office!
2. Call in the brass band: We signed a bill! Turns out it is still physically possible to sign those.
3. A sprawling bill that will help all americans is now headed to the senate where it will die because of…the price of milk?
4. World War II swim meets, Jimmy Carter’s sweaters, and other missives from Kevin McCarthy’s 9 hour speech.
5. The legal system is broken beyond repair. That’s it. That’s what we have to say about that.
6. Kamala Harris becomes the first female president due to a colonoscopy...in her defense, that’s just as legitimate as the electoral college.
Follow Amanda on Twitter: @amandalitman
Learn more about Run for Something: runforsomething.net
Run for Office: runforwhat.org
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!
![11/8/21 - The Congressional MLM Caucus [w/ guest Laura Packard]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog456765/IMG_0920_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
11/8/21 - The Congressional MLM Caucus [w/ guest Laura Packard]
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
In Which We Discuss:
1. Laura Packard is here to talk healthcare and Build Back Better!
2. To the surprise of zero hosts of this podcast, Terry McAuliffe was not the best candidate for Virginia governor
3. The BIF passed, the BBB needs the CBO. Is it DOA?
4. Nobody saw Australia emerging as the supervillan of this week’s climate summit
5. Last month's jobs numbers are great or terrible, depending on whether you’re Brent or Lila
6. Nothing has ever made more sense than Krysten Sinema’s ties to MLM
Learn More About Laura:
Follow Laura on Twitter: @lpackard
Follow Laura on Instagram: @laurapackardactivist
Follow Healthcare Voter on Twitter: @HealthCareVoter
Check Out Laura's Recent Op-Ed in Business Insider
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!

Sunday Oct 31, 2021
11/1/21 - When Dad Bods Take Europe
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
In Which We Discuss:
1. Your kids can finally get microchipped
2. Biden’s plan to brag to Europeans about his fifth rate social safety net proposals are dashed
3. What’s left in BBB? We’ll go over the very short list
4. Terry McAuliffe is not using his prodigious fundraising skills to buy good ideas in Virginia
5. Redistricting is upon us, so expect a bunch of Congresspeople to suddenly leave office for “principled” reasons
6. In the year of our lord 2021, “dad bod” has finally made it into the dictionary
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!
![10/25/21 - Zebras on the Loose [w/ guest Tatenda Musapatike]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog456765/IMG_0920_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Oct 24, 2021
10/25/21 - Zebras on the Loose [w/ guest Tatenda Musapatike]
Sunday Oct 24, 2021
Sunday Oct 24, 2021
In Which We Discuss:
1. Tatenda Musapatike talks voting, Real Housewives, and Dem strategy
2. Infrastructure Update: Just…what?
3. Voting rights is filibuster reform. Everything is filibuster reform.
4. Joe Biden wants you to want to pay your student loans
5. A sentence we never thought would be necessary to say: India Walton is not David Duke
6. Apparently the solution to zebras on the loose is…more zebras on the loose
Follow Tatenda on Twitter and Instagram: @TatendaCheryl
Follow Voter Formation Project: @VoterFormation
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!

Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
7/14/21 - Did We Bomb Somewhere Recently?
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
This week on the podcast...we’re blindly reacting to news headlines because we didn’t do our homework. Hold onto your hats!
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!