What They Did to the Epstein Files, They’re Doing to Democracy

This is a preview of The Weekender edition of the Muckrake Podcast. Please go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to gain access to the regular Weekender episodes on Fridays. Jared Yates Sexton is unavailable, so on this episode, Nick Hauselman is joined by Political Science Professor Jason Neidleman. They dive into the political firestorm erupting around Jeffrey Epstein — from Pam Bondi’s disastrous Fox News appearance to MAGA influencers turning on Trump over his ties to the case. They cover the brutal deportation of innocent people under current policy, including a chilling Stephen Miller sound bite defending the practice. And they examine the drastic cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (NPR, PBS) and how that plays into Right's desire to control educational propaganda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Hauselman hosts while Jared Yates Sexton is unavailable, and he interviews Aaron Rupar, an independent journalist and publisher of The Public Notice Newsletter. As the tweeter of record of all things political on broadcast air, Rupar has a unique insight into the Epstein case, Trump's ineffective relationship with Putin, and lots more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Weekender, I welcomed my good friend Danielle Moodie of The Danielle Moodie Show and Democracy-Ish to co-host and discuss the full-Nazi turn by Elon Musk's Grok AI and how the fascist oligarchs are programming the worst and most destructive parts of America into the technology of the future. Later, in the full episode, we talked about the misery of the authoritarians, the damage done by ICE to us, themselves, and culture at large. If you haven't already, head over to http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast and become a patron. You'll gain full access to these Weekender episodes, our community discourse, live shows, and everything else. You'll also support the show and keep us rolling forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Muckrake Podcast, Jared Yates Sexton discusses the horrific tragedy in Texas with floods killing over 100 people, the rise of climate fascism, and how demand for climate and economic justice have to be at the center of a movement fighting authoritarianism. From there, he digs into Elon Musk's proposed "America Party" as an astroturfed attempt to create a party in the thrall of the oligarchical class, but also a possible precursor to multiple parties challenging our current duopolistic system. The stunt in Los Angeles with federal troops driving tanks gets talked about, as well as the Department of Justice declaring there is no Jeffrey Epstein client list. To support the show and gain full access to the Weekender episode on Fridays, head over to http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast and become a patron. It keeps us ad free, editorially independent, and helps us grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this preview of The Weekender, Jared Yates Sexton begins by talking about the passage of the GOP domestic agenda through Congress in what represents possibly the penultimate blow to liberal democracy, the social-safety net, and the funding for full-blown authoritarianism. In the full episode, he discusses ICE becoming a domestic occupation force, the construction of a system of concentration camps, and how a dystopian future is being put in place. To gain access to this episode and every other Weekender, and to support the show, head over to http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast and become a patron today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Hauselman is still out of the country, so Jared Yates Sexton brings on friend of the pod Karl Folk for an in-depth discussion of the changing political environment, including the Mamdani win, the rising solidarity movement against fascism, and how this moment is both the sum of past events and something new entirely. To support the show, head over to http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast and become a patron. You'll keep The Muckrake ad-free, editorially independent, and also gain access to The Weekender show every Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this preview of The Weekender, Jared Yates Sexton gets into the miraculous victory by Zohran Mamdani in New York City and the fallout among the rank-and-file Democrats. For subscribers, this turns to an analysis of why the fearmongering and slandering didn't work this time, comments on the Pentagon leaks regarding the failed attack on Iran and the whole war debacle, rumors of the 2024 Election being stolen, and a deep dive into the awful (but revealing!) Ross Douthat interview with Peter Thiel. To gain access to the full show, and to support The Muckrake Podcast, head over to http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast and become a patron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down the latest U.S. attack on Iran, where Trump ordered a dozen massive bombs dropped on nuclear sites, then claimed it wasn’t war - just “MIGA.” The Pentagon admits they don’t even know where the uranium is. Oh yeah, Congress was barely informed. Support the show and gain access to the Weekender episodes on Friday by going to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and becoming a patron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a preview of The Weekender edition of the Muckrake Podcast. Please go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to gain access to the regular Weekender episodes on Fridays. Trump’s threats toward Iran have escalated from incoherent to terrifying—with evacuation warnings, “we’re at war” rhetoric, and reports he’s greenlit an attack. All while taking policy cues from Fox News segments. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down how the right-wing infotainment complex is driving foreign policy in real time and why this is sparking a telling schism in American politics. We dig into the MAGA isolationist response—from Tulsi Gabbard downplaying Iran’s capabilities to Tucker Carlson absolutely dismantling Ted Cruz—and what it reveals about the realignment on the right. There’s more at stake here than just another war: this is about who gets to decide what America is, and who we kill for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down one of the largest protest days in American history and why the media refuses to treat it like the political earthquake it is. They dive into the horrifying assassination in Minnesota—and the MAGA disinformation machine that followed—before turning to the chaos erupting in the Middle East. Plus: ICE is starving detainees, and Trump is throwing parades. Good times. Support the show and gain access to the Weekender episodes on Friday, including this week's Mailbag episode, by going to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and becoming a patron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices