Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

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Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Grant Hermes

231 episodes

6 days ago

President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement the week of Christmas; the US had attacked a Venezuelan port with a drone strike. But no one has been able to prove it definitively, leaving Americans wondering, are we at war or not? Grant explains what we might know about the alleged airstrike, what we definitely know about the 30th strike on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea, and why this military campaign from the Trump Administration is setting off Iraq War alarm bells. MAKE...

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President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement the week of Christmas; the US had attacked a Venezuelan port with a drone strike. But no one has been able to prove it definitively, leaving Americans wondering, are we at war or not? Grant explains what we might know about the alleged airstrike, what we definitely know about the 30th strike on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea, and why this military campaign from the Trump Administration is setting off Iraq War alarm bells. MAKE...

Show more...

News Commentary

Episodes (20/231)

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Did The US Bomb Venezuela Or Not?

President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement the week of Christmas; the US had attacked a Venezuelan port with a drone strike. But no one has been able to prove it definitively, leaving Americans wondering, are we at war or not? Grant explains what we might know about the alleged airstrike, what we definitely know about the 30th strike on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea, and why this military campaign from the Trump Administration is setting off Iraq War alarm bells. MAKE...

6 days ago

13 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

The MIMS Christmas Story Special!

The first of what might be a new tradition here at Make It Make Sense. Grant reads you some of his favorite Christmas and holiday stories! First, The Polar Express. The Caldecott Medal-winning classic from 1985 by Chris Van Allsburg Second, A Letter From Santa Claus by Mark Twain. Third, A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement-Clarke Moore MAKE IT MAKE SENSE SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE! For the next two weeks, Make It Make Sense is running its...

1 week ago

18 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

The Epstein Files Redactions Are "Breaking The Law"

The Department of Justice missed its deadline to release all the Epstein files to the public and is now actively saying it's going to continue to break the law by continuing to withhold documents without justification. Grant explains what happened with the release, what's being redacted, what's not, who is and isn't being protected in the files and what consequences there could be for the top people at the DOJ in 2026. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE! For the next two ...

1 week ago

19 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Do The Epstein Files Take Down MAGA? w/ Anthropologist Alex Hinton

With the Epstein files set to be released on Friday, Grant talks to Alex Hinton. Alex is a Rutgers Professor of Anthropology, Director of the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, and UNESCO Chair on Genocide Prevention. He talks to Grant about looking at MAGA as a cultural movement, what the release of the Epstein files may (or may not) mean for Trump's most die-hard supporters and what happens to MAGA after Trump. LINKS: Alex Hinton @ Rutgers It Can Happen Here PROM...

2 weeks ago

42 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Trump's Right Hand Woman: On The Record, Off The Rails

Vanity Fair drops two bombshell stories based on months of interviews with the White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. Wiles says Trump has an "alcoholic's personality," that JD Vance is a "conspiracy theorist," and that Pam Bondi "whiffed" on the Epstein files. She also admits to knowing about Elon Musk using drugs while working in the White House and that she's ok with retribution. But maybe the most important thing is that the interviews show an administration in chaos and a preside...

2 weeks ago

19 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

"Children Will Die" Because Of Dept. of Ed's New Policy w/ Zero Abuse Project CEO, Jeff Dion

Grant sits down with the CEO of the Zero Abuse Project, Jeff Dion, to talk about the Department of Education's new policy to downgrade degrees for jobs required to report child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment. Jeff talks about the worries that abuse prevention experts are having right now, why mandated reporters need more training right now, and what might happen next if the Department is at odds with bipartisan efforts to curb abuse. LINKS: "Children Will Die": Anti-Abuse ...

3 weeks ago

29 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Congress Shrugs And Lets Insurance Costs Spike

After weeks of fighting over what will happen to Affordable Care Act subsidies that help millions of Americans afford their health insurance, Republicans in the Senate shrugged and voted to let prices spike. Not just for people on the ACA but for everyone. Grant explains what's happening with Obamacare (the ACA), why this is happening without a plan to stop it and what happens next. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE! For the next two weeks, Make It Make Sense is ru...

3 weeks ago

15 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Who In Trump's Cabinet Is Getting Fired?

There's been a lot of talk about Trump getting fed up with certain members of his administration. Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem, Kash Patel, and Pam Bondi have all made the wrong kind of headlines. Grant breaks down what those headlines are, who might replace those people, and what the odds are that they actually get fired despite Trump talking behind their backs. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE! For the next two weeks, Make It Make Sense is running its Substack subscripti...

3 weeks ago

21 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Is This Millennials' Political Moment? w/ Amanda Litman from Run For Something

Grant welcomes Amanda Litman from Run For Something and author of the book When We're In Charge (link below) back on the show to talk about the tipping point in American politics that was this last fall. They talk about the big elections that took place around the country, including Zohran Mamdani's win in NYC. But they also talk about the shift from older politicians and leaders to Millennial and Gen Z candidates, how that's reordering our political landscape and our lives at the natio...

1 month ago

35 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Pete Hegseth's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

It has been a week for the books for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. First, there was new, corroborated reporting that he might have ordered a war crime in the Caribbean. Second, the Admiral that Hegseth has been blaming testified in classified briefings to members of Congress, who came out and said it was a disturbing ordeal. Third, more new reporting about how Pete ousted a 4-star Admiral over the legality of the Caribbean strikes and DEI. Fourth, a new Department...

1 month ago

18 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Did Pete Hegseth Commit A War Crime?

A growing scandal rocked the White House over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Washington Post reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave an order to kill two people who had survived an initial strike on their alleged drug boat. If true, it would clearly violate the language of the laws of war and treaties the US has signed. Grant breaks down what Hegseth and the White House are saying, the fact that they haven't been able to get their story straight and a new revelation fr...

1 month ago

20 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Why So Many Americans Are Afraid To Talk Politics w/ Junelle Cavero from My Code

This week’s interview is with Junelle Cavero, a State Representative from Arizona and head of political at the multicultural-focused media company My Code. She joined Grant to talk about the brand new polling that My Code just released about how multicultural Americans view the president, his administration and the state of the nation. Spoilers, it’s not good for Trump with some real buyer’s remorse showing as dissatisfaction with his major policies rises. But one of the most surp...

1 month ago

36 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Trump Signs Off On The Epstein Files And Chaos At The DOJ

Donald Trump signed the bill to release the Epstein files after being jammed by the Senate, which passed the bill in a matter of hours. Now it's in the hands of the DOJ to release the files which has spent months combing through and redacting the files. But, the FBI might have to start that over given what's in the bill that was just passed, and the DOJ will have to explain to Congress why things were redacted or withheld. Is it a long play for the midterms, or did Donald Trump just sig...

1 month ago

17 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Republicans Flip On The Files

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly vote to release the Epstein files ( Grant reacts live) but it's only the beginning of the process. Grant explains Trump and Republican leaders' flip-flop on releasing the files, whether it's really an about-face, and whether the Senate might use the files as a political bargaining chip. Plus, Trump's weekend crash-out over the files. He lashes out at reporters and long-time supporters as he tries to claim he was never as close with Epste...

1 month ago

24 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

An Out Of Control Week w/ Ryan Welton From Oklahoma Memo

Another crossover episode this week! Every Friday, Grant joins Ryan Welton at the Oklahoma Memo to talk national politics. The two talk all about the shutdown, the shocking details in the Epstein files and whether MAGA is starting to sour on Trump or if there's anything that could ever make that happen. LINKS: Oklahoma Memo PROMO CODE: Today's episode is sponsored by Molly Bz’s Gourmet cookies! Unforgettable artisan-crafted cookies just in time for your next holiday ...

1 month ago

46 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Shady Shutdown Deals And New Epstein Emails

The longest government shutdown in US history is officially over after 43 days. But the worst of the fighting in Washington might just be ramping up. Grant explains what's in the final government reopening deal, the blatant self-dealing grift GOP Senators tucked into the deal, and when you'll start seeing government money again. But with the shutdown out of the way, it means the fight over forcing the DOJ to release the Epstein files is in full swing. It's plunged the White House ...

1 month ago

20 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Did The Democrats Cave Or Play The Long Game?

Eight Democratic caucus senators vote to end the government shutdown after 40 days, after brokering a deal with Republicans that doesn't include protecting healthcare subsidies for millions of Americans. It was the reason Democrats forced a shutdown, and now it looks like they get nothing. What was it all for? Did the Democrats really cave or were they playing the long game? Grant explains the deal the Senate made, the divide within the Democratic party over who should lead it, and what...

1 month ago

19 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

What Is Going On With MAGA Fashion? w/ Lindsey Louise

Grant is joined by fashion writer and the voice behind the great Substack, The Official Nancy Drew Newsletter, Lindsey Louise to talk about what the deal is with MAGA fashion and political fashion in general right now. Lindsey breaks down how fashion on the right is about power, who has it, who doesn't, and what value messages MAGA's different factions are sending each other and the rest of the world Plus, what the Left's version of that is, and the conversation surrounding Erica ...

1 month ago

54 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

What Can We REALLY Learn From This Week's Elections?

It was a mini-midterm appetizer sampler of elections this week across the country. At nearly every turn Democrats won in high profile races big and small. But what does it mean? Does it mean anything? Grant breaks down the races for governor in VA and NJ. The California vote to redistrict the state and the huge win for Zohran Mamdani to be the next mayor of New York. Those races were certainly rebukes of the Trump administration, but what does that say about Republicans? Can the D...

2 months ago

18 minutes

Make It Make Sense with Grant Hermes

Trump's 60 Minutes Confessional

President Donald Trump went on 60 Minutes for the first time in 5 years and laid out how he sees the most pressing issues, like the government shutdown and high prices. Those answers were telling, but throughout the entire interview, Trump was mostly telling on himself. He admitted to pardoning a money launderer without knowing anything about the case. He said he didn't think ICE is going far enough in cities like Chicago and wants credit for NOT sending the military into US cities. He'...

2 months ago

21 minutes