We talked to the Favreau and Pfeiffer about the podcasts meteoric rise and this crazy election.
How much did you guys know about podcasts before starting one in May?
JON FAVREAU:I did not know that we would be able to host one!
When Simmons asked us once to dohispodcast, I thought, Thats pretty easy.
I can handle an interview.
But when he said, Oh, do you guys want to try it yourself?
I thought, How the hell do you host a podcast?
And it turns out that was an okay formula.
Fortunately, Donald Trump solved that problem for us pretty early on.
It ended up becoming harder to figure out whatnotto talk about.
Hillarys campaign started a podcast to help promote her campaign message.
FAVREAU:I dont know if there should be an official… Campaigns and White Houses are trying to deliver a message.
But I could totally imagine Barack Obama hosting a podcast post-presidency.
Thats right up his alley.
A lot of people say this campaign, more than any, resembles more entertainment than politics.
PFEIFFER:I think weve reached peak sh show with this election.
I think, this time around, thats true in a very dangerous way.
As Democrats, you guys are very open about your bias.
Is your listenership more liberal because of it?
PFEIFFER:Ive been surprised by how many Republicans listen to the podcast.
I dont know how many of them are Trump supporters, but theyre Republicans.
FAVREAU:Its not like were former liberal Obama partisans who are now trying to be objective journalists.
We dont pretend to be that.
PFEIFFER:This is not a gateway to a career in journalism for us.
Quite the opposite, actually.
What are your post-election plans?
PFEIFFER:What well talk about is a great question.
FAVREAU:I always say that real politics is a cross betweenThe West WingandVeep.
So its not quite as inspirational, music-swelling-in-the-background asWest Wing, and its not quite as screwball asVeep.
But I think of the current shows on, Veep most accurately captures what politics is.
PFEIFFER:I agree.
Were also rooting forDesignated Survivor.
Our friend Kal Penn is on it!
Jon, do you ever get writer-director Jon Favreaus mail?
Or does he get a lot of angry tweets meant for you?
FAVREAU:The number of congratulations on Twitter about theLion Kingremake that Im involved in has been something.
