The Takeout with Major Garrett

Latest Episodes:

FBI True Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

Major sits down with the team behind new CBS show "FBI True" which explores famous cases handled by the FBI and the people who helped solve them. Executive producer Anne Beagan and former FBI official John Miller join Major to talk about FBI True's next episode: the 2016 bombing in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan (airs October 10th at 9p ET on CBS). Stay for a conversation about a future episode of FBI True that examines notorious spy Robert Hanssen. Major talks with former FBI special agent Rich Garcia who worked on the Hanssen investigation. And for more on the Hanssen story, you can also check out Major’s new podcast "Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen," available wherever you get your pods.

Spy Nonfiction: Author Lis Wiehl Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

This week, we take a break from politics to tell spy stories. Lis Wiehl, author of “A Spy in Plain Sight” joins Major to talk about the book’s subject, former FBI agent Robert Hanssen. Hanssen was the most damaging spy in FBI history and he’s also the focus of Major’s new podcast series “Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.” Download and subscribe wherever you get your pods. And Join us for a fun conversation with Lis.

Actor and Director Sean Penn Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

Sean Penn set out to make a documentary about the youthful, new Ukrainian president, Volodomyr Zelensky. Zelensky had had a successful career as a comedic actor prior to jumping into politics. In fact, he played the fake Ukranian president on TV before he became the elected president. What Penn didn't anticipate was that the first day of shooting the film would also be the among first days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Join us for a riveting and at times introspective edition of "The Takeout."

Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services committee, sits down with Major in his Capitol Hill office to talk about a potential government shutdown, Republican efforts to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Biden and the impact of Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-LA) hold on military promotions. Plus, Smith explains his years long struggle with chronic pain, crippling anxiety and the healthcare system. Join us for an enlightening conversation about how he overcame a challenge millions of Americans face.

What on Earth is Happening: Climate Journalist Elizabeth Kolbert Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

Hot enough for you? The three-month period from June to August was the hottest ever recorded, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Wildfires in Maui claimed at least 115 lives and devastated the town of Lahaina. And a category 4 hurricane hit Southern California in August. What on Earth is happening? We've got Pulitzer Prize winning author and New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert to break down the latest climate news and the broader trends of a warming planet. Plus, Major's tribute to Smash Mouth and Jimmy Buffett. Join us!

Birchers: Author Matthew Dallek Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

How did we get here politically? It's a question we've asked a lot lately. Author and professor Matthew Dallek has a theory on the origins of our current political moment. His new book, "Birchers: How the John Birch Society Radicalized the American Right," traces how a group in the 1960s laid the foundation for 21st century conservatism and may have paved the way for Donald Trump's political ascension. We're at Ris in DC's West End...join us!

Comedian/Actor/Producer/Author Wayne Federman Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Join us for an interview with actor/writer/producer/stand-up Wayne Federman, who helped make a documentary called "George Carlin's American Dream," a look at the life of comedian George Carlin. Carlin happens to be Major's favorite stand-up comedian of all time. We're at Junior's in New York City. Pull up a chair.

Live from the Iowa State Fair Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Corndogs, anyone? Major is at the state fair in Des Moines, Iowa, talking politics and eating porkchops. He spent time with an array of politicos who hope to influence the outcome of January's caucuses - Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), GOP presidential contender Asa Hutchinson, Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart and conservative political activist Bob Vander Platts. Major also talked to a slew of Republican voters who weighed in on former President Trump's prospects and his primary challengers. Join us.

All About That Bass (and presidential history): Musician and Podcaster Bob Crawford Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

As the bassist for The Avett Brothers, Bob Crawford spends a lot of time on the road. When he's on a tour bus or a plane, you can usually find him reading history. He turned that passion - and a love of politics and current events - into a podcast on America's 6th president, John Quincy Adams. In "Founding Son: John Quincy's America" Crawford chronicles the extraordinary life of a man whose political career intersected with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. He joins us at The Smith in downtown DC.

Oppenheimer Adjacent: Filmmaker Steve James Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

In search of an 'Oppenheimer' companion piece? The new documentary, 'A Compassionate Spy,' is our focus on this week's episode, with the film's writer/director, Steve James, joining Major over Zoom. James' film tells the story of Ted Hall, the controversial Manhattan Project physicist who after just a year working at Los Alamos decided to pass secrets about the bomb to the Soviet Union. It's a real-life spy thriller that most Americans have never heard of, with a central character who James believes "acted on principle...[Hall] was not one of those spies that did it for money or glory."

Be sure to stick around for the Outtake Especiale where James, a filmmaker with over a dozen documentaries on his resume (including producer Jamie Benson's top-five-film-of-all-time, 1994's 'Hoop Dreams'), shares a few of his personal film favorites.

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