I really like both of these guys and each of their political perspectives, but Matt really needs to learn how to play well with others and share the air, or get a minder to keep him in line. His natural speech cadence makes it difficult to know when to chime in with a thought, and the result is often just a Matt filibuster. We’re here for Brian, too.

Mathew Y’s tone, dripping sarcasm and know-it-all phrasing makes this podcast unbearable to listen to for more than 5 minutes. The vocal fry is so irritating — and that goes for all the podcasters ranging from Tim Miller to these guys.

Matt does not have the voice OR the conversational etiquette to make a podcast. Grating and obnoxious and constantly interrupting. Someone I would just hate to talk to in real life.

You’ve long been one of my favorite follows on Twitter. On substance, I want to become a paid subscriber, generally I enjoy the thoughtful commentary. BUT. You have to stop talking over each other. Matt interrupts, interjects, or tries to stop Brian from talking by saying but but but but incredibly loudly and very shrill. I listened to Matt on other podcasts and it was okay, this is unlistenable and it bums me out. Honestly I held off on leaving a review, because it feels mean to say, and I hoped it would improve but if anything it’s worse. Sorry Matt, I love your written work if that makes this less mean…

just terrible

Good political commentary and insights but the audio quality is absolutely horrendous. Barely worth listening to for free let alone paying for.

This is a great show with such great insight, information and take aways. Sorry to even comment, but Matt’s voice can be extremely off putting when it reaches a certain pitch and stutter. Sadly so much so that I’ve had to move on to other podcasts at times. Sorry. I’m not trying to be petty just some input.

Matt should never again reveal his ignorance on the Covid response much less flaunt it.

Having said that, they really need to stop talking over each other. Have some device where on guy’s mic is muted when the other guy is talking.

While I always appreciated Brian’s well researched and knowledgeable podcast Positively Dreadful, one thing that always caused friction in my ears was his cadence. It never really sounded appealing to me, as though he was always on the cusp of finishing the perfect sentence but then second guessing himself at just the wrong moment. But was still worth listening! But now that the podcast has changed to Politix, I can’t listen anymore. Matthew Yglesias has absolutely no idea how to use a microphone. His cadence is just as off putting as Brian’s, but with the added effect of him whispering one moment to screaming the next. You can hear this in stark contrast to Brian, who sounds consistent and perfectly audible the entire episode, while Matthew yo-yos from a quiet 30 dB before slamming into the ceiling at 120 dB a second later. I don’t understand why the audio engineers at Crooked aren’t editing Matthew’s tracks to make this podcast more audibly appealing, cause I can’t listen to it anymore at this point. Great info from Brian, but completely unlistenable when it comes to Matthew.

Really enjoying the podcast, but I’m not giving you guys a single cent until Matt learns to speak into the mic :D

I guess the political opinions and analysis are okay and interesting—I can’t honestly say, because I can’t really focus on it, because I’m always bracing myself for when Yglesias will start talking again. He always starts with an interruption or interjection “YEAH BUT I I I THINK…” or something at an insanely high shrieking volume and then will eventually resume a reasonable volume. I listened to the first two episodes to give it a chance, but I can’t handle the sonic bursts. (As he might put it, “It’s my contention that overbearingly loud sound is bad.”) If he can figure out how to talk without shattering my eardrums I might start listening again.

MATT! I’m sorry to call you out, but my car speaker has a brand new crackling sound from the way you modulate your voice. The high-pitched, stuttered “I, I, I, IIII just think that…” is jarring and literally damaging to sound equipment, setting aside how it hurts our ears. You have GOT to work on this. Maybe formulate your entire thought before starting. And stop cutting people off? There’s no way no one else has told you about this. Also, you say “like” wayyyy too much. Repeatedly in the same sentence. Please take this constructive criticism to heart, because I love your insights. Just don’t really enjoy listening to them.

I really like Brian, but good grief, Yglesias spoils the podcast. I don’t like his dumping on the (actual) left, don’t like his takes, and his voice makes this podcast jarring to listen to. His high pitched interjections and attempts at interrupting while others talk, please man, you are on the radio!

Specifically referring to Politix. Like the discussions but hard to listen to. The way Matthew speaks makes his volume jump from inaudible to blowing out my speakers and back. Please try to fix so I can keep enjoying the show!

How long can Democrat Party mouthpieces tell the people what we should hope for and how we on the Left should vote and continue to think anyone is listening to their advice? We’ll see…they might continue these stupid defenses of the crappy Democrat party forever instead of just positing once that if the Party wants the people’s votes, the Party is responsible for EARNING them.

STOP saying ‘like’ every other word!!! You sound like dimwitted teenagers

Brian’s deep dives into relevant and crucial topics in politics and society are excellent. Love this new cast!

Brian is probably the best interview host by here on Podcasts right now. I love the depth of his questions and the thoughtfulness of his analysis. He also has really awesome guests to join him. Five stars!!

I’ve been listening to this show since the first episode and feel like I’ve given it more than a fair shot because I love the premise and appreciate Brian’s depth of knowledge/analysis on most of the topics discussed. HOWEVER…I simply cannot keep listening without some better editing on these conversations. Brian can’t ask a succinct question to save his life, to the point where I sometimes forget what they were last talking about by the time he finally gets to the end of the lead up. It feels like he’s interviewing himself instead of the guest. I really want to keep listening, I really do respect Brian’s POV as a host, but I gotta tap out until there’s much better editing to cut out the 15 minutes of pointless rambling, pausing, and backtracking on his part in every episode.

I like this podcast at times, but the host sometimes rambles and should let his guest talk more.

I love Crooked podcasts, but I just can’t with this one. Constant baseless speculation and overthinking. The episode’s about Twitter and Kevin McCarthy are prime examples. He gives me so much anxiety, I have to unsubscribe.

I generally like this podcast but the Kevin McCarthy one was hard to listen as it was Brian just going on and on and on. Where are the producers to keep things on track?

Dear god man let your guests get a word in, also it is not the intention of the Republican Party to govern so please stop fantasizing that these next two years will be anything like the last two!

Chief Twit and Dupe of right wing propaganda network being used similarly to Trump. Self focused wealthy narcissists are the best tool for misinformation.

Holy moly. This was the most frustrating interview to listen to. This is the 1st epi I have listened to. I hope other guests are less dismissive and obnoxious of the host and listeners. I couldn’t make it through the entire epi. I wish I was as patient as Brian.

I didn’t want to give a bad rating to the whole podcast, but this episode drove me crazy! The guest, Kara Swisher was so obnoxious and interrupted so many times I can barely listen to the episode. she sounds like a very bright woman, but she needs to make the conversation more balanced.

Part of my favorite channel, but by far my least favorite part. It saddens me, because the host is so human and I know he cares and shares the same values. He’s warm and kind in his tenor but the: questions, insights, conclusions, talking points, and angles are always at odds with the position I end at. At the end of each episode I feel like I’ve lost time listening to someone too deeply entrenched in his own echo chambers that has become deeply out of touch with the general population.

F the scab in chief defenders

Thank you for a thoughtful, provocative, informative podcast. If things weren’t so dreadful, I would say I really ‘enjoy’ listening. Re the F-Word episode: as late as 30 or so years ago citizens may have grasped the significance and danger of fascism. WW2 still loomed large. But now? I’m betting the majority of folks (if they are possibly paying attention) may even be bewildered about the pundit pearl-clutching. After Trump and his spewing, even I am numb to so-called outrageosities.

Brian’s explorations of topics which fill us with dread are excellent learning opportunities that bring joy with the understanding. Have recommended this pod to many people. Thanks!

I got the impression that if Brian was king everything would be perfect because he knows all the answers. The last episode he talk about how he expects the Democratic Party to take the “wrong” lesson from John Fetterman’s win. First, John Fetterman hasn’t even won yet. Second, it’s my experience that anyone who has 100% confidence they are right, and other people are wrong, is generally wrong. I like Crooked Media. I’m cheering for Crooked Media to help Democrats. But Crooked Media needs to talk to people outside of a liberal bubble. This podcast drinks it’s own Kool Aid and is therefore only good for being a reference to how unaware the left is becoming.

Brian does an amazing job of curating guests and his podcast speaks to the very real problems facing America that are too often dismissed.

Referring to the Make Guns Toxic episode. Nearly 100% guesswork, conventional wisdom. Unhelpful. Maddening.

I just listened to the roe episode, and found myself exceedingly frustrated with the hosts seeming inability to hear what his guest was saying. I can’t believe that he even doubled down on his “strategy” in his postscript. As long as democrat pundits and politicians keep telling Americans that if they vote for democrats, they can fix things, they are going to continue losing national elections big time. Democrats have a huge uphill battle to restore faith that if people vote for them, they will actually do anything they say. Please stop beating this dead horse of a strategy. Your guest was completely correct, and you were way too proud to admit it. Grassroots campaigns and nonprofit orgs offer tangible hope, and will be there for us at the local and state level while the national Democrats keep tripping over their own feet.

Can see why these guys chose to end the show. Economy in a tailspin, $450,000 payouts to illegal alien, non-existent border, disappearing jobs and unconstitutional mandates, Jao Xiden is the world’s laughingstock as he blissfully craps in his pants. Even the most ardent of Commies are unable to hide what’s going on anymore.

engaging, thoughtful, intelligent guests

I listen to basically all of crooked media’s podcasts and thought I would love this one too. Unfortunately idk if it’s Brian’s voice or what but I just CANT get through this podcast. Couldn’t during the impeachment(s), tried again for first hundred days, and I basically just hear words without retaining anything. I feel bad because I do love crooked but this one just isn’t for me.

I mean Heck of a great guest. Love the show. Here’s hoping for better days ahead.

Brian Beutler is serious and determined to dig into the weeds. I always learn something and get a nuanced view of topics.

The main thing I have taken away from this podcast is that all of Biden’s progressive agenda items are incredibly important, unless you have any student loans, in which case you are undoubtedly a millionaire and should figure things out on your own. Why this is a Crooked Media show is beyond me - it would be much more at home on Fox News.

Brian just doesn't do it for me. I find myself rewinding the pod constantly because I’m not paying attention his voice just isn’t good for radio

Hmm, the generalization of who has student debt seems incorrect to me in this episode. How are we supposed to move out of the lower working class we were born into without that college education? This is a trope we were sold our entire lives - “if you want to do well in this world, go to college.” This comment that student loan debt disproportionately impacts media type people is absolutely incorrect. Do you suggest that the only reason student loan debt is being talked about is because all the reporters writing about it have it? Absolutely not. I am not a reporter, I did not go to law school, and I was homeless for the first 10 years of my life. My student loan debt stops me from participating in all major life milestones - marriage, children, home ownership. For example, if I marry my partner, that debt becomes theirs too. I wanted to invest in a home but will not be able to because my borrowing power is just 10k - that is with absolutely perfect credit, and only student loan debt. People are trapped in this debt - all other debt can be removed with filing for bankruptcy except for student loans. So what are we to do? Student loan debt is literally inescapable. There was so much about this episode that was upsetting and privileged. Brushing off the insane weight of student loan debt as a problem only rich kids who went to law school have is also ridiculous. Those of us born into no money, and have worked so hard to create a better life for ourselves than what we started with just had to listen to light comedic jabs at a problem that is literally stopping our life progression in its tracks. Please consider having an additional guest who is actually affected by student loans on during a discussion like this.

This weeks episode is intolerable, Matthew Yglesias is horrible

I have read and loved Brian Beutler for years going back to his days at The New Republic. He’s a top political mind. But like many people in the Democratic coalition he’s of late he’s become a captive of the anklebiting far-left whose calling appears to be tearing down the Democratic Party at every opportunity, presumably in the hopes that they themselves will rise to power from the ashes. The first guest on season 2 of Rubicon, which attempts to articulate the landscape and stakes of the Biden presidency, is Bernie Sanders’s former campaign manager Faiz Shakir. While Shakir is nowhere near as vitriolic and hateful as the rest of Bernie’s 2020 seniors staff (Sirota, Gray, Wong, etc) he nevertheless damns Biden with faint praise, sneeringly critiques the stances and comportment that won him the presidency, and spends his time essentially arguing for a Bernie Sanders shadow presidency - while predictably spit-shining his old boss’s name throughout. There are a great many podcasts one can go to listen to for this kind of content. Bad Faith, Useful Idiots, and Chapo Trap House come to mind. I would never have thought that a Brian Beutler podcast about a Democratic presidency would bear so much resemblance to the alternative media of the dirtbag left. Two stars on the basis of Brian’s reputation and on the hope that it improves. EDIT: It has not improved. It’s clear that Brian views this podcast as a vehicle to neg Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, apparently out of a misguided belief that histrionic negativity and performed disappointment will serve to “pressure” the administration toward his policy preferences. You’re better off listening to the Bad Faith podcast if that’s what you’re after.

Learning a ton from this podcast. The perspective is refreshing.

Informative, interesting, easy to listen to!

Fantastic episode!!

“Super cool” walkie-talkie voice filter is more distracting than anything else. Content and guests are great!

Wish I could give 0 stars!! Utter garbage!!