943 - The Tehran Offensive feat. Séamus Malekafzali (6/16/25)

Tim Faust returns to the show to look at the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its dire consequences for American medicine. We discuss Medicaid as a load-bearing feature of our healthcare infrastructure, how this bill will affect millions of Americans using the program, and the potential ways forward in the wake of its evisceration. We also look at last week’s absolute omnishambles article on Zohran’s college admission, a perfect encapsulation of the Failing New York Times approach to just about everything. Pre-Order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at https://badegg.co/products/year-zero-1

Will & Hesse sit down with Ari Aster, director of Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau is Afraid, and the upcoming Eddington. They rap on evil movies, mixing stupid slapstick humor with pain & discomfort, creating a contemporary western out of the recent past, some of Ari’s favorite films & filmmakers, and of course…the all-consuming sense of impending doom & lurking doubt that surrounds us. Check out Eddington, in theaters this summer on July 18th.

Comedy legend Larry Charles (Fridays, Seinfeld, Borat, Curb Your Enthusiasm & much more) returns to the show to discuss his new book Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter. We have a wide ranging discussion of Larry’s life in comedy including post-war Brooklyn as a comedy incubator, grinding out avant-garde sketch comedy with Andy Kaufman, the prevalence of coke and other drugs in the comedy writing scene, getting tackled by the Secret Service trying to get a joint to Jimmy Carter’s sister, and the difficulties in comedic creative relationships. Larry also gets candid about his disappointment with the prevalence of zionism among his erstwhile comedy partners, and we talk about the humanizing force of humor in the face tragedy and despair. Pick up Comedy Samurai here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/larry-charles/comedy-samurai/9781538771549/?lens=grand-central-publishing AND: get your pre-order in for YEAR ZERO: A CHAPO TRAP HOUSE COMICS ANTHOLOGY starting today at www.badegg.co

Will & Hesse sit down with director Lexi Alexander, whose works include Green Street Hooligans (2005), Punisher: War Zone (2008) & the new film Absolute Dominions (2025). We discuss how her experience in combat sports influences her filmmaking, creating comic book movies within the studio system, working as an outspoken Palestinian in Hollywood, and how to stay calm after being stabbed. Plus, an answer to “who she would fight, given the opportunity” that’s sure to entertain many listeners. Absolute Dominion now available for streaming on digital platforms.

Libby Watson returns to the show! We discuss the weekend’s limited US strike on Iran and Trump’s baffling behavior around what already may be a winding-down conflict. We also talk Democratic & media responses, and where Iran might go from here. Then: all eyes are on Zohran in the NYC mayoral primary, voting is tomorrow, we discuss Zorhan’s campaign and his chances of bringing this all home. Finally, we celebrate the love & marriage of an old friend of the show with their NYT vows section announcement. Find Libby’s new show “What’s All This Then” wherever you get podcasts, and all her other links here: https://linktr.ee/whatsallthisthen New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store

LA City Councilmemeber Hugo Soto-Martinez joins Will to discuss ICE raids in Los Angeles, how city government and community groups are responding, the recent protests, and marine deployments to the city. They also discuss the possibilities for a more positive rhetoric and policy around immigration, and the necessity for turning the framing back on the capitalist class. LA rapid response hotline is: 1-888624-4752 Follow Hugo & his district’s socials for updates: @cd13losangeles & @hugopordistrito13

Seamus joins us to discuss last week’s “preemptive” Israeli strike on Iran, the damage done to Iranian command and infrastructure, Iran’s retaliation, America’s potential involvement. We also look at Trump’s big birthday Parade, one of the most pathetic & hilarious spectacles of American Military prowess any of us have ever seen.  Read Seamus on the attacks in the Intercept: https://theintercept.com/staff/seamus-malekafzali/Read Seamsu go long on the Axes of Resistance for Parapraxis: https://www.parapraxismagazine.com/articles/axes-of-resistanceSubscribe to Seamus’ Substack: https://www.seamus-malekafzali.com/ New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/

We’re joined by The Nation’s Aída Chávez for her report from WelcomeFest, the abundapalooza dedicated to staking the technocratic claim for the future of the Democratic party. We review the fairly directionless and unenthusiastic vibes of the centrist shindig, but also discuss the explosion of police violence during protests against ICE in Los Angeles over the weekend. All leading us to ask, what exactly do these people think “power” is, and when is it “right” to exercise it? Read Aída’s dispatch from WelcomeFest for The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/welcomefest-dispatch-centrism-abundance/ Donate to the Jordan Breen sports journalism scholarship fund - https://gofund.me/837f326c New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/

Host of The Adam Friedland Show Adam Friedland joins us to catch up on today’s news and discuss his new season. We look at the return of Matt Miller, Jake Tapper’s take on Israel/Palestine discourse, the kidnapping of a crypto whale in Manhattan, and new reports of Elon Musk’s rampant drug use. Adam also gives us his takes on engaging with the new right-coded online content sphere through TAFS, teases some guests for the coming season, and generally annoys Felix with delays and requests for refreshments. Find The Adam Friedland Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAdamFriedlandShow New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/

Will & Felix catch up on Democrats’ commitment to burning millions of dollars in search of a crumb of clout from the pod-mano-sphere, and John Fetterman’s chronic senate absenteeism as he searches for good vibes. Then, we’re joined by Lever News’ David Sirota & Arjun Singh to discuss their new podcast series Tax Revolt & the “Big Beautiful Bill” working its way through congress. We look at the devastating consequences of GOP tax policies, the increasing unpopularity of such drastic cuts, and how they fit in with the 50 year conservative war against taxes. Find all things Lever News at: https://www.levernews.com/ And listen to Tax Revolt here or wherever you get pods: https://the.levernews.com/tax-revolt/