Advertise on podcast: How to Fix It with John Avlon

Last year, Principles First was hit with bomb threats serious enough to bring in law enforcement, simply for standing up on principle. It was a sign of how dangerous American politics has become when dissent is treated as a threat. John Avlon and Heath Mayo of Principles First examine the erosion of democratic norms on the right, from political intimidation and executive overreach to the collapse of congressional courage. They also focus on solutions: protecting elections and judges, restoring checks and balances, and rebuilding a politics rooted in constitutional limits, character, and courage.

John Avlon talks with Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center about the fallout from ICE violence in Minnesota, the administration smearing a victim as a “domestic terrorist,” and why legal accountability may still be possible. They discuss how defamation, civil suits, and court challenges could constrain federal officials acting above the law. They also address Trump’s threats around the Insurrection Act, DOJ pressure on Minnesota for voter data, and a broader pattern of corruption and abuse of power — along with concrete ideas for how institutions, courts, and citizens can still push back. Nine Solutions for Political Corruption | Brennan Center for Justicehttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/nine-solutions-political-corruption The Damage to America Is Permanent (w/ Michael Luttig & Jeh Johnson) | How to Fix Ithttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQhzznW2KB0

John Avlon welcomes CNN’s Christiane Amanpour for a  conversation about Iran’s latest uprising, the regime’s crackdown tactics, and what—if anything—could make this moment different from past protests. They weigh the risks of outside intervention, from military strikes to cyber operations, the shadow of the 1953 Mossadegh coup and the 2009 Green Movement, and the challenges of identifying a credible transition path amid competing opposition figures and regional power plays. Make the switch to Mint Mobile, with a $15/month plan for the first three months at https://MintMobile.com/FIXIT. Take the guesswork out of getting healthy in 2026. Get full body testing that goes 5x deeper than an annual physical and a personalized action plan that tells you exactly what to do next. All for just $199. Go to https://Superpower.com and use code FIXIT for $20 off your membership this year.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan joins John Avlon to explain how leadership, not slogans, helped reverse Detroit’s decline—and why he believes America’s two parties are failing voters as he runs for Michigan governor as an independent. Get $30 off your first order (and free croissants for life) from Wildgrain at https://Wildgrain.com/FIXIT

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis joins John Avlon to break down Trump’s attacks on him and his state, the assault on climate and weather science, and the use of federal power as political punishment. Polis explains how Colorado balanced budgets, cut taxes, expanded services, lowered costs, and built a winning coalition by focusing on results over culture wars.

John Avlon sits down with Oliver Libby to talk about why the American Dream feels out of reach—and what it would actually take to fix it. From healthcare and housing to energy, infrastructure, and the crisis of trust in institutions, they make the case for a “strong floor, no ceiling” approach rooted in practical policy, not rage. Buy Strong Floor, No Ceiling: Building a New Foundation for the American Dream: https://www.amazon.com/Strong-Floor-No-Ceiling-Foundation/dp/164225701X

Donald Trump did something no other president has ever done: he fired the Archivist of the United States — the nonpartisan official responsible for preserving America’s records and history.John Avlon talks with former Archivist Colleen Shogan about why that decision matters, how history has become a political weapon, and what it says about power, accountability, and democracy at a moment when America is heading toward its 250th anniversary.Get 10% off of a better night's sleep with GhostBed at https://GhostBed.com/FIXIT, and use promo code FIXIT at checkout.

Senator Mark Kelly sits down with John Avlon to discuss Pentagon intimidation, the rule of law, and his AI for America plan, covering job displacement, data-center energy demands, and what it will take for the U.S. to beat China on AI without chaos. Get 10% off of a better night's sleep with GhostBed at https://GhostBed.com/FIXIT, and use promo code FIXIT at checkout. Take control of your money with Rocket Money at  https://RocketMoney.com/FIXIT Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/FIXIT. Promo Code FIXIT

John Avlon is joined by Judge Michael Luttig and former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, co-chairs of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on American Democracy, a bipartisan group of legal, business, and civic leaders formed to confront the democratic crisis head-on. Their mission: move past outrage and lay out concrete, realistic reforms to stop democratic backsliding before it’s irreversible. They discuss how unchecked presidential power, mass pardons for January 6 felons, Supreme Court rulings on gerrymandering, and collapsing guardrails are creating a system with zero consequences, and why that creates a dangerous moral hazard for future leaders. This isn’t partisan spin. It’s a warning, and a roadmap, from people who’ve spent their careers defending the Constitution.

John Avlon talks with former Rep. Steve Israel about his new historical thriller ‘The Einstein Conspiracy’, Israel’s life as a small bookstore owner, the politics of Long Island, rising antisemitism, and the reforms he thinks could fix American democracy. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/FIXIT. Promo Code FIXIT Buy The Einstein Conspiracy: https://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Conspiracy-Steve-Israel/dp/B0FVNQ1ZXS

America used to build big things fast, highways, power grids, rail, entire cities. So why does it feel like nothing works anymore? John Avlon sits down with Marc Dunkelman, author of the new book Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress and How to Get It Back, to dig into the real reasons our government can’t get shovels in the ground, and how we fix it.  From EV chargers that take years to install, to high-speed rail blocked by endless lawsuits, to progressive ideals that accidentally created a veto-ridden system where anyone can stop everything. Dunkelman explains how we broke the ability to build, and what it will take to restore it.

John Avlon sits down with Ryan Holiday for a deep dive into virtue, character, and what ancient wisdom can still teach a country drowning in cynicism. They trace the Stoic roots behind Holiday’s bestselling series, unpack the dangers of America’s “wisdom deficit,” and explore how applied history can ground us in a moment when the loudest voices are often the least serious. Holiday opens up about his writing process, the influence of Robert Greene, and the books he returns to when he needs clarity. It’s a conversation about courage, justice, self-discipline, and why these old virtues feel newly urgent. The Last Lion (William Manchester) The Old, Weird America (Greil Marcus)  The World of Yesterday (Stefan Zweig) Montaigne (Stefan Zweig) The Moviegoer (Walker Percy) The Nightingale’s Song (Robert Timberg) Stoicism (Ryan Holiday) The Obstacle Is the Way (Ryan Holiday) Ego Is the Enemy (Ryan Holiday) The Daily Stoic (Ryan Holiday) Perennial Seller (Ryan Holiday) The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene) Mastery (Robert Greene) The Laws of Human Nature (Robert Greene)

Former congressman and January 6 Committee member Adam Kinzinger joins John Avlon to talk about fixing what’s broken, from using Russia’s own frozen cash to rebuild Ukraine, to confronting Trump-era corruption, to why Democrats have to “fight fire with fire” on redistricting. They also dive into the cost of moral courage, what it means to be a “good Republican” in the MAGA age, and how to break Washington’s pay-to-play cycle. The Last Republican How to Make Putin Pay: The $2 Billion-a-Day Plan That Could End the War The Trump–Epstein Relationship: What We Know & Why Republicans Won’t Address It

Ken Burns joins John Avlon for a conversation that feels like a pep talk America desperately needs. From the messy, human story of the Revolution to the warning signs we’re ignoring today, Burns makes the case that our past isn’t a museum piece, it’s a manual for saving the country. Get 25% off your next mattress at https://GhostBed.com/FIXIT and use promo code FIXIT at checkout.

Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe joins John Avlon to unpack what Northern Ireland’s “Troubles” can teach America about polarization, violence, and the fight for truth. From the lessons of Say Nothing to the perils of propaganda, they trace how societies unravel, and how we can stop it before it’s too late. Keefe also dives into his craft, fact-checking at The New Yorker, writing like a novelist, and keeping faith in truth amid social media chaos. The Bench Burner Article: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/12/10/the-bench-burner Books Mentioned: Say Nothing — by Patrick Radden Keefe Empire of Pain — by Patrick Radden Keefe A Secret History — by Donna Tartt Presumed Innocent — by Scott Turow Wingnuts — by John Avlon