Episodes

Monday Mar 27, 2023
3/28/23 - The Carla Nordstrom Spectacular
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
In Which We Discuss:
1. Carla Nordstrom provides a report from NY State
2. We asked for more salad-fork style dramas, and this week we got them!
3. Donald Trump announces plans to stave of WWIII by promising death and destruction
4. The Nebraska Senate’s GOP Christmas card list is getting smaller and smaller
5. Only Chicago city politics could cause a Jim Clyburn and Bernie Sanders unity endorsement.
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!
![2/13/23 - Space Cylinders [w/ Grant Sloss]](https://deow9bq0xqvbj.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog456765/IMG_0920_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Feb 12, 2023
2/13/23 - Space Cylinders [w/ Grant Sloss]
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!

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!

Monday Nov 21, 2022
11/21/22 - Return to New Jersey
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Dr. Oz will not be a United States Senator from Pennsylvania OR his home state of New Jersey
2. Nancy Pelosi retires and takes up the mantle for glizzy gladiators everywhere
3. West Hollywood said no to Cory Matthews. Jury's still out on Mr. Feeny.
4. Donald Trump demoted to Florida Man meme by the New York Post
5. Senate ends COVID emergency amid exciting new COVID emergency
6. West Virginia defunds police by way of a giant sinkhole
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 16, 2022
10/17/22 - Just Not That Smart
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. Our prop guide will be in your inbox this week!
2. LA managed to snag the lead story in the New York Times last week which shows just how big a catastrophe the city council was having
3. Catherine Cortez-Masto, the Julia Brownley of 2022
4. In the wise words of Herschel Walker himself, he’s “just not that smart.”
5. Nancy Pelosi governs the same way she tears into a Slim Jim
6. Can somebody explain Elon Musk, Russia, and Twitter to us please? We’re not interested enough to research it.
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!

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 Jul 17, 2022
7/18/22 - Master of the Self-Own
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
1. The West Wing fight, brought to you by Overstock.com
2. The next January 6th hearings are PRIMETIME, which means speculation, drama, and the most primetime of gossiping!
3. John Bolton, the mustache, the weasel, the man, is the master of the self-own
4. Joe Biden checks in with his fraternity bros in Saudi Arabia
5. We’re going to lose Congress for literally no reason whatsoever
6. Joe Manchin and the truth: A Trumpian tale
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

Sunday Jun 26, 2022
6/27/22 - The End of Roe/World Roundtable
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
In Which We Discuss:
We’re doing a roundtable about the end of Roe and…that’s basically it.
About Our Guests:
BEN SOFTNESS is an old friend of Lila’s who spent years as partner at a DC law firm, where he briefed half a dozen cases in the Supreme Court on issues of statutory and constitutional law. He’s the author of an article on how the Supreme Court is usually incrementalist and avoids seismic shifts in the law to protect its legitimacy —an article who's premise was recently disproven! He is also the reformed Republican from Lila’s book, Some Kids Left Behind, available wherever books are sold.
SASCHA MEISEL is a lawyer and friend of the pod who’s experience in campaign work and the law seemed relevant here. And also she’s Lila's personal lawyer b/c sometimes Lila gets into her car and cries until she gives her legal advice.
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