Pod Save America Host Demands Ken Martin Resign

The co-hosts of Pod Save America unleashed fresh criticism of DNC Chair Ken Martin after he released what they describe as a deeply flawed 192-page autopsy of the 2024 election, with Dan Pfeiffer going so far as to call for Martin to step down—arguing the repo

When Ken Martin finally released the full text of the 2024 DNC autopsy, he did it with an apology for its quality—an acknowledgment that the document he published is not what party leaders or Democrats needed right now.

The fallout was swift inside the party’s political media world. On Pod Save America, former Obama staffers Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer were unsparing, saying the 192-page report is riddled with inaccuracies and even leaves critical elements out of the story Democrats most want to see explained.

Favreau began by framing Martin’s decision to publish as a belated step after backlash. The autopsy, Favreau said, was released after the uproar that followed Martin’s interview with them a few weeks earlier—and after CNN published the report.

Pfeiffer then sharpened the blow. He called the move a “bridge too far,” saying Martin cannot repair the trust damaged by the document and by the way the party has handled the aftermath of the election.

Favreau cited specific problems in the report’s writing and structure. saying it is “riddled with inaccuracies” and at times “incoherent.” He pointed to an “Ultimately incomplete” portion of the report under the section titled “Conclusion. ” where the text comes with an annotation stating: “This section was not provided by the author.”.

But the critique wasn’t only about clarity. Favreau also argued the autopsy reads like it stops short of key questions Democrats expect the party to address.

He said there is “also no mention” of decisions surrounding President Joe Biden, including Biden’s decision to run again, as well as Biden’s age. Favreau also said the report does not mention Gaza or inflation.

When Pfeiffer responded, he didn’t focus on process alone. “This is why I think Ken Martin should step down,” he said. He added. “He cannot repair the trust here.” Pfeiffer said the evidence in the wake of the release shows Martin is “not the right person for the job. ” and he described the critique as harsh but necessary.

Favreau acknowledged how difficult the DNC chair role can be. saying that even under the best circumstances it is “really. really hard. ” and that DNC chairs face intense pressure regardless of outcome. But he returned to the central problem. arguing that Martin’s release has become the distraction he was trying to avoid.

Pfeiffer put it this way: “Like he says in his post, ‘My job is winning elections.’” Then came his argument for why the party should consider a reset.

The hosts said that for Democrats to win elections. the party needs “a fresh start with the DNC. ” both for the present fight and for 2028. They pointed to the DNC’s role in setting the rules and shape of the presidential primary—decisions about scheduling. how delegates are allocated. and how the party handles states that try to jump the calendar. Pfeiffer emphasized that these choices matter more when public trust is already fragile.

He tied the current credibility crisis to the way distrust hurt Democrats before. recalling 2016—when DNC emails came out as part of Russian hacks of DNC emails. In that episode. Pfeiffer said the leaks led people to conclude party operatives were favoring Hillary over Bernie. and that perception that the process was rigged “hurt in the general election.”.

“We need people to trust the process,” Pfeiffer said, arguing that the party cannot move forward if voters and activists believe the system is not fair.

Favreau largely agreed, emphasizing that the problem isn’t only one flawed autopsy. He said the issue goes to trust and credibility. pointing back to Martin’s statement that “We need to be able to trust the Democratic Party. and people need to be able to trust us again.” Favreau said that framing is “indicative of a larger issue” Martin has faced since taking the chairmanship.

Pfeiffer closed with a warning rooted in what he believes is the origin of the crisis. “I mean. I hope he would be willing to look at the reality of the situation and recognize that because of the mistakes he made. the best thing for the party would be to step down. ” he said. He added that he doesn’t expect Martin to do so. saying the party is “in this mess because he was trying to protect himself. not the party.”.

The tension now is not only what the autopsy says—but whether Martin’s attempt to restore trust has made it worse, just as Democrats look ahead to a high-stakes presidential primary where credibility could determine how the party organizes itself, persuades voters, and moves voters to turn out.

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