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 Jun 30, 2025
Monday Jun 30, 2025
In Which We Discuss:
1. Bad things are happening a lot out there, but sometimes good things happen! And that’s okay too!
2. Will John Fetterman ever make it to his beach vacation or will he be stuck forever in the One Big Beautiful Bill vote-a-rama?
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 Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. The Brain Trust Live 2023 Super Bowl (i.e. Election Day) is this Tuesday
2. Polls reveal that Biden is not just too old, he’s also bad at his job
3. This week we find out if Donald Trump actually loves Eric
4. The George Santos expulsion vote failed, and thank God for that
5. Mike Johnson is committing tax fraud. Ask us how we know.
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 Jul 24, 2023
Monday Jul 24, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. Lila went to Netroots and she has stories.
2. Mitt Romney shows us that, unbelievably, there is a wrong way to hold a hot dog.
3. The greatest danger to children is not drag queens, it’s MTG showing us porn on the floor of the House.
4. The only obstacle to Joe Biden’s re-election? Stairs.
5. Unsurprisingly, cheating is now a legal way to qualify for the GOP Debates.
6. No Labels platform reflects the consensus of…crotchety rich old men.
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, now in it's second season: What Can I Do.
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 Feb 12, 2023
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. The question of the week: Is it War of the Worlds or World War III?
2. Special Guest Grant Sloss Explains the SOTU
3. Man who tied dog to car has opinions about who’s moral enough to serve in Congress
4. It’s not just George Santos! More fake Jews arrive in Congress.
5. Ron DeSanctimonius channels Trump Steaks Presser vibes
About Grant Sloss:
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!
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!
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
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
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 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