Beyond Politics

Exposing the Myths: The Real Elon Musk and the Trump Connection. Matt Robison interviews Shane Almgren about his deep-dive article on the myths surrounding Elon Musk and their startling parallels to the story of Donald Trump. Drawing on extensive research, the conversation reveals Musk's history of leveraging others' ideas and resources, much like Trump, and discusses Musk's current feud with the Trump administration's pro-tariff forces. The discussion also touches upon Musk's ideological leanings towards the 'Dark Enlightenment' movement and his potential endgame. Subscribe to Matt Robison's Subtack: https://worthknowing.substack.com/Subscribe to Shane Almgren's Substack: https://shanealmgren.substack.com/00:00 Introduction: The Outrageous Truth Behind Elon Musk03:54 Elon Musk's Fabricated Success Story08:48 The Real Story Behind PayPal14:26 The Zip2 Saga24:26 Speculation on Musk's Endgame34:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

***Subscribe for Free to Matt's New Substack***Exploring the End Game: Trump's Third Term and Hidden Agendas. Matt Robison and Howard Monroe delve into the potential end games of Donald Trump's administration and other hidden agendas influencing it. Building on his article published in Newsweek, they explore three possible end games within the MAGA movement. He and Howard Monroe discuss the feasibility of Trump serving a third term, the role of powerful figures like Elon Musk, and the disruptive agendas aimed at redefining U.S. government. Additionally, they explore the Democratic response to these challenges and strategies for future political battles. Matt's new substack is almost here: subscribe for free now here: https://worthknowing.substack.com/?r=7wgkb&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist00:00 Introduction: The End Game for Trump01:54 Interview with Howard Monroe: Exploring Trump's Third Term02:27 Trump's Recent Moves: Elon Musk and Tariffs03:57 Howard Monroe's Interview: Trump's Third Term Possibility08:01 MAGA's Extreme Measures and Trump's End Game11:48 Elon Musk's Dark Enlightenment Movement18:22 The Broader MAGA Agenda21:42 Democratic Response: Strategies and Speculations30:16 Conclusion: Final Thoughts and Substack

Matt Robison talks to Washington Monthly Bill Scher about why amidst all the awful things happening under Donald Trump there is some good news, and a few things going better than people realize. We cover why the filibuster may be more beneficial to Democrats than commonly believed, why Chuck Schumer may have done ok on his government funding decision, and why the cratering popularity of JD Vance is a big deal. To keep up with all of Matt's work, subscribe at this link:https://substack.com/@mattrobison2?utm_campaign=unknown&utm_medium=web00:00 Introduction: Taking a Deep Breath05:05 Discussion on Filibuster's Impact12:54 Shutdown Politics and Schumer's Decision19:32 Republican Challenges and JD Vance's Unpopularity24:38 The Shifting Politics of the Republican Party30:07 The Filibuster and Democratic Strategy32:15 Judiciary and Midterm Elections44:19 Medicaid and Medicare Debates

The Future of NATO: Is It on the Brink of Collapse? Matt discusses the potential end of NATO with Dan Perry, former Editor for the Associated Press. They explore the implications of the Trump administration's increasingly strained relations with European allies, NATO's role in containing Russia, and the broader impact on global democracy and trade. 01:06 Is NATO in a Death Spiral?05:40 The Importance of NATO Today09:43 US and NATO Relations17:09 Trump's Impact on NATO25:34 Future Scenarios for NATO

ProPublica Journalist Exposes Potential Collapse of Social Security Under Trump Administration: Matt is joined by ProPublica journalist Eli Hager to discuss his reporting on a recent secret recording from a top-level Social Security Administration meeting where the acting commissioner, Leland Dudek, expresses significant concerns that the Social Security system might "collapse" due to high-level directives from President Trump. We discuss the potential catastrophic consequences for 73 million Americans relying on the program and discusses how the Trump administration's actions are creating chaos and confusion within the Social Security Administration.00:00 Introduction: The Shocking Revelation00:34 The Secret Recording: A Deep Dive03:37 The Acting Commissioner: Leland Dudick's Background06:29 Inside the Meeting: Key Quotes and Insights11:14 The Impact on Social Security: Current and Future18:04 The Bigger Picture: Trump's Influence and Future Implications28:36 Conclusion: The Real Threat to Social Security

What happens to politics, to democracy, as AI gets ever more deeply embedded in everything we do? Matt interviews Dr. Michael Cohen, the author of 'Modern Political Campaigns', about how artificial intelligence is invading politics and how it could soon change American democracy. 01:08 Brain Rot: The Consequences of Consuming Online Drivel01:49 The Fog of Democracy: Challenges in the Information Age03:27 AI in Political Campaigns: Insights from Michael Cohen05:17 The Evolution of Campaign Technology08:48 The Permanent Campaign: Politics Beyond Elections12:36 Algorithmic Influence: AI's Role in Shaping Public Opinion23:46 The Dark Side: Risks of AI in Governance and Society28:52 Future Outlook: AI's Integration in Politics and Beyond32:48 Conclusion: The Pervasiveness of Modern Political Campaigns

Did Trump Already Hit His Peak? Matt Robison discusses with legendary radio broadcaster Howard Monroe whether Donald Trump has already hit his high watermark following his address to Congress. They examine polling data and historical context suggesting that it may be all downhill for Trump from here. The conversation also delves into the Democratic Party’s shortcomings in addressing their Trump strategy. 00:00 Introduction: Has Trump Peaked?02:22 Conversation with Howard Monroe03:52 Reactions to Trump's Speech10:34 Polling Insights and Public Perception12:59 Democratic Strategy and Messaging17:54 Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook

The Future of the Republican Party: Matt Robison joins A.J. Kirstead from The New England Take and Republican writer Dexter Tarbox to tackle a provocative question: are we about to see the end of the Republican Party? Episode available at https://www.youtube.com/@newenglandtake.00:00 Introduction: The Republican Party's Closing Act?03:06 Discussion Begins: State of the Republican Party04:57 Coalition or Chaos? Internal GOP Dynamics07:27 Economic Shifts and Political Realignments10:00 Populism and Party Identity15:59 Trump's Influence and Future GOP Leadership20:49 Debating Inflation and Economic Policies28:55 Final Thoughts: GOP's Path Forward

Should Democrats Take Carville's Advice? And How Trump-Zelensky Meeting Unfolded: Democratic political analyst Matt Robeson and Republican political consultant Matt Wylie discuss James Carville's controversial advice for Democrats to 'roll over' against Trump and explore whether there's a better version of that idea that just might work. They also delve into the high-stakes meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and Trump, along with America's role in global democracy, Republicans' internal conflicts, and the vulnerabilities of both parties.00:00 Introduction: Should Democrats Follow Carville's Advice?00:49 Introducing Matt Wiley: A Republican Perspective02:04 The Trump-Zelensky Meeting: Real-Time Reactions04:31 Understanding Matt Wiley's Republican Stance09:14 Debating Trump's Foreign Policy and Its Implications25:23 James Carville's Controversial Strategy for Democrats26:38 Prosecuting the Case: A Republican Consultant's Perspective27:35 Democrats' Lost Direction and Carville's Argument28:31 Economic Struggles and Political Strategies31:33 Healthcare as a Political Battleground37:02 The Importance of Real People in Political Messaging39:19 State of the Union and Political Reactions42:55 Concluding Thoughts and Strategic Advice

The Exhausting Chore of Engaging with the News and How We Can Fix It: Matt Robison discusses the increasing difficulty and demoralization of modern news consumption and its negative impact on America--including how it empowers Trump. Important Links: Newsweek article Matt's Substack Cliff's Substack00:00 Introduction: The Exhausting Chore of Getting the News00:39 The Vicious Cycle of News Consumption02:08 Exploring the Change Research Study04:09 The Impact of Avoiding the News08:47 Trust in Media and Institutions09:22 Potential Solutions and Media Examples13:52 Conclusion: Fixing Trust First16:39 Personal Reflections and Future Plans