The Pundies: Worst Takes of 2024
Pod Save America
Deep Dive
Why did Elon Musk's tweets lead to a potential government shutdown?
Elon Musk tweeted his disapproval of the funding bill, which upset him due to the height and aesthetic displeasing nature of the stack of paper. This, combined with Trump's involvement, led to the bill's rejection, causing a potential government shutdown just before the holidays.
Why did the new version of the funding bill eliminate funding for childhood cancer research?
The new bill, influenced by Trump and Musk, cut funding for childhood cancer research to eliminate what they considered unnecessary items, benefiting pharmaceutical middlemen and allowing more investment in China.
Why did Joe Lovett and Dan Pfeiffer want to let Trump own the government shutdown?
They believed it would be beneficial to let Trump and his allies take the blame for the shutdown, rather than involving the current administration, which could be seen as stronger if away from such controversies.
Why was Travis Helwig's take on Democrats reaching young men criticized?
Travis Helwig suggested that Democrats' ads aimed at young men were inauthentic due to a lack of straight men under 40 in the consultant class. While the point about inauthentic ads had merit, the phrasing was seen as insensitive and dismissive.
Why did Alan Lichtman's 13 keys system fail in 2024?
Alan Lichtman's 13 keys system, which claimed to predict election outcomes, failed because it was based on a miasma of contradictory data and made definitive predictions without allowing for uncertainty. This was a signal example of overconfidence in political forecasting.
Why did John Favreau's take about Joe Biden's appearance on Seth Meyers not hold up?
John Favreau believed that more public appearances like Joe Biden's interview on Seth Meyers would reassure people about his sharpness and readiness for the job. However, Biden's subsequent performances, including the debate, showed that this was an overly optimistic view.
Why did the hosts of Pod Save America struggle with their New Year's resolutions?
The hosts, including Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer, Tommy Vitor, and John Lovett, found it challenging to stick to their resolutions, which included taking silent walks, reducing screen time, and improving their relationship with food and diet. They often joked about their failures and lack of discipline.
Why was Travis Helwig's take on Kamala Harris and suburban women not accurate?
Travis Helwig believed that Kristi Noem would be a good VP choice for Trump because she could appeal to suburban women concerned about abortion. However, Trump chose a different strategy, picking a candidate who made women uncomfortable but still won the election.
Why did Dan Pfeiffer decide to prioritize yoga and mindfulness in 2025?
Dan Pfeiffer wants to improve his attention span and mental well-being by practicing yoga and mindfulness. He aims to put his phone away before bed and avoid multitasking, which will help him be more deliberate and focused in the coming year.
Why did the hosts choose Alan Lichtman's 13 keys as the worst take of the year?
Alan Lichtman's 13 keys system was chosen as the worst take because it was overly confident and failed to account for uncertainty in political predictions. His system was seen as pseudoscience and contributed to misleading narratives during the election cycle.
- Analysis of inaccurate takes on the 2024 primaries.
- Discussion of flawed polling predictions and the limitations of polling.
- Critique of commentary from The Hill and other sources.
Shownotes Transcript