We listened to all the podcasts from 2028 candidates. Here’s who stood out.

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) launched a podcast seven months ago, he was tapping into a broader trend. Politicians, who once saw podcasts as fringe or risky, now see them as an opportunity to connect with voters in a more casual setting and relish the chance to talk for hours at a time without a filter.

Not all of the politician-hosted pods are must-listens — unless you love awkward dad jokes, groveling interviews with donors and fellow elected officials, and a heavy dose of self-promotion. Many don’t last long. Former presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg, Nikki Haley, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy are among those who abandoned their podcasts, as are countless members of Congress.