Made In China Syndrome

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open with the Iran war, where every incentive now runs against the United States: bases getting hit, stockpiles that were never replenished, the Houthis moving to choke off the Red Sea, and a president who responded to all of it with "I don't really care." Jared deteremines: Iran doesn't need to win anything, it just needs to keep bleeding a country that can't admit it lost. Then it's the Cyclospora outbreak sickening thousands across 34 states, and the FDA's suspiciously timed reversal clearing the mega-producer at the center of it, a case study in what monopolization plus a pay-to-play administration does to something as basic as being able to eat lettuce. Finally, two quieter stories with loud implications: the FBI has been told to stop investigating assaults involving ICE agents, and a new four-year visa cap for foreign students that could quietly demolish American PhD programs. If you want to support the show and get access to the Weekender every Friday, plus specials and live shows, become a patron at http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast. The Muckrake Podcast is independent media with no corporate backing, and it only exists because of listeners like you

This is only a preview of The Weekender. Want the rest? Sign up for our Patreon to hear the full episode every Friday, plus special Live Shows and access to our community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman waited to record until after Trump's Thursday primetime speech, and both came out of it angrier than they expected. They break down what Jared calls one of the most consequential and openly authoritarian speeches an American president has ever given, delivered by a man who can barely read the Stephen Miller script in front of him. The speech claimed China compromised over 200 million voter profiles, that a deep state hid it all from Trump, that Barack Obama personally handled burn bags full of evidence, and that 280,000 noncitizens are on the voter rolls, with WhiteHouse.gov supposedly holding the proof. Nick actually went and checked. The site was down, and when it loaded there was not a single document. The pair walk through why none of this is really about 2020, and everything about building a permission structure to rig the 2026 midterms and beyond, how intelligence agencies purged of anyone competent now feed Trump whatever he wants to hear, and why the echoes of Iraq War cherry-picking should worry everyone. It closes on the media trap where even networks that refused to air the speech will now repeat its claims for months. What we're watching: Nick is working through A History of Violence, the Cronenberg film written by friend of the pod Josh Olson, and enjoying the Viggo Mortensen slow-burn. Jared put on the newish Superman and found it a case study in how wall-to-wall James Gunn quipping drains every scene of tension, though Lois Lane comes out looking great.

Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open on the death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who came back from Ukraine feeling unwell, skipped medical treatment to go do Meet the Press, and then died at 71. They argue over the legacy: whether Graham was blackmailed into MAGA or was simply a weak, attention-hungry climber who traded his soul for a seat at the club, plus the parade of Democrats falling over themselves to mourn a man who spent a career pushing wars. From there it's the Mitch McConnell proof-of-life photo, the internet hunting for clues in an Adidas logo, and the darker truth underneath the conspiracy talk: a geriatric political class clinging to power long past the point of elder abuse. Then the New York Times bombshell that Israel recruited former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset and planned to install him after toppling the regime, a plan that fell apart when the Revolutionary Guard caught on. It closes on Trump gutting the Election Assistance Commission down to zero members while teasing a primetime speech about 2020, and why November may not be free or fair. Support the show by signing up to our Patreon to hear the full Weekender episode each Friday as well as special Live Shows and access to our community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast

This is a preview of The Weekender. Sign up for our Patreon and get access to the full episode, plus special Live Shows and the community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open with the collapse of Graham Plattner's Senate run in Maine, and the ugly 11-minute video where the presumed nominee blamed powerful forces instead of taking any responsibility. They dig into what his exit means for the seat, why Susan Collins built her whole strategy around scandal, and the bigger trap facing anyone who tries to carry a genuine class-based movement without getting torched by their own party. From there it's Trump's corruption-mobile, the Qatari jet he abandoned for the old Air Force One over security worries, plus his NATO summit bullying and an instant-classic reference to the Islamic Republic of Japan. Then the main event: Mitch McConnell has been missing for nearly a month, and the pair work through whether he is convalescing, on life support, or being kept afloat by suspiciously identical 20-minute phone calls that his allies keep claiming to have. There is an August 3rd deadline, a Kentucky seat in the balance, and a wife who is somehow still in China. It closes with Mr. Beast admitting he hid GoPros in Walmarts to spy on his own crumbling candy bars, which is either a business story or one more sign the whole country is quietly coming apart.

Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down the Graham Plattner Senate campaign finally hitting the wall it was always speeding toward, and neither of them pretends to be surprised. They walk through the accusation that dropped hours before recording, why the red flags were flying for months, and whether Janet Mills can salvage the Maine seat from Susan Collins without dragging the stink along. Then it's on to America's 250th birthday, a flyover-heavy festival of military hardware and stolen riches with a banking trail that runs straight to Trump's personal checking account. Trump also phoned FIFA to un-red-card his way to a better World Cup match, which somehow loops back to Christopher Steele, bribery, and the reliably rotten heart of the beautiful game. It all comes back to the sting of realizing you've been conned: the sudden fall of Freddy the German soccer fan, Michael Cohen angling to be the next Rush Limbaugh, and every "resistance" grifter who turned out to be in it for the money. Plus a check-in on Mitch McConnell's convalescence, and the mystery of why his wife suddenly needed to be in China. Support the show by signing up to our Patreon to hear the full Weekender episode each Friday as well as special Live Shows and access to our community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast

This is a preview of The Weekender. Sign up for our Patreon and get access to the full episode every Friday, plus live shows and our community Discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman celebrate America's 250th birthday the only way this era allows: by tallying the $2 billion Donald Trump has pocketed since returning to the White House, most of it in untraceable crypto, plus 327 stock trades disclosed a year late and made conveniently close to his own tariff announcements. They trace the rot downward through emergency fertilizer imports, gutted nuclear safety rules, and Germany quietly shredding its sick leave. Then it's on to the Supreme Court's 6-3 birthright citizenship ruling, a rare win whose dissents double as a how-to guide for undoing it. Plus: Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom start circling Zohran Mamdani, and the guys discuss what political weathervanes tell you about which way the wind is blowing.

Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman unpack the latest defensive maneuvers by centrist Democrats. The newly formed Promise to America coalition is scrambling to block progressive momentum following primary victories by politicians like Zohran Mamdani. Freezing rents and embracing class-based politics are proving highly popular but deeply threatening to the traditional party establishment. Shifting to the judicial branch reveals an equally turbulent landscape. A recent 6-3 Supreme Court decision just dismantled a 90-year precedent regarding the executive branch. The ruling allows the president to fire independent regulators at will while conveniently carving out a protective exemption for the Federal Reserve. This stark contrast exposes the underlying economic incentives shaping our current legal framework. Our co-hosts wrap up with a sobering look ahead at the nation's 250th anniversary. Decrepit conditions at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool serve as a grim metaphor for an ongoing existential crisis. Rather than a grand celebration of independence, the crumbling infrastructure perfectly mirrors the current state of the American experiment.

The podcast is entirely independent media with zero corporate backing. To support the show and unlock the full, uncut Weekender episodes, head over to patreon.com/muckrakepodcast. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman kick off the weekend edition of the podcast with a look at shocking election results and the intersection of entertainment and modern politics. The discussion covers progressive primary surges, intense establishment pushback, and a bizarre new theory regarding the death of nu metal. The New York Shift: Leftist candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani secure surprising victories in the New York primaries, including Brad Lander unseating incumbent Dan Goldman. Nick and Jared break down the significance of these primary wins and how a promise to address material conditions is changing the progressive landscape. Establishment Meltdown: The primary results trigger a wave of panic and overreaction from both the right wing and centrist Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Jamie Harrison. The discussion outlines an impending stress test for the future principles of the Democratic Party. Trump's Legislative Hostage Situation: Attention turns to the Trump administration as the president blocks a bipartisan housing bill. Jared details how corporate carve-outs allowed the bill to pass, while Trump holds it hostage in a bid to force an end to the filibuster for an anti-voting law. Reflecting Pool Retaliation: Meanwhile, security cracks down at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Surveillance and out-of-state law enforcement are being deployed to manufacture "Antifa culprits" for the peeling paint and algae caused by the administration's own rush job. Tucker's Tweener Turn: Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson makes the rounds claiming he can no longer support the Republican Party. Jared analyzes this shift as a calculated, mercenary move to position himself for a future political comeback. The Woodstock '99 Nu Metal Conspiracy: A viral right-wing theory claims that the elites intentionally killed off nu metal and bands like Limp Bizkit to prevent an angry white male revolution. Nick and Jared debunk this framing, demonstrating how the death of rock was actually driven by corporate monopolies and streaming shifts rather than a cultural Marxist plot. Weekend Reviews & Brain Rot: To wrap up, Nick gives a scathing review of Steven Spielberg's overlong new film Disclosure Day, prompting a trip down memory lane comparing it to Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Arrival. Plus, Jared shares his ongoing psychological torment over a legendary Black Eyed Peas earworm.

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman review recent shifts in global politics. The discussion begins by examining the legacy of Alan Greenspan. They detail how his monetary policies and devotion to Ayn Rand laid the groundwork for modern neoliberalism. UK Leadership Collapse: Keir Starmer has resigned as Prime Minister amidst plummeting approval ratings. Jared and Nick explore how this signifies a broader rejection of centrist politics. Andrew Burnham is poised to potentially shift the Labour Party leftward. Vetting Failures: Attention then shifts to reports regarding Tulsi Gabbard. Her connections to Chris Butler and the Science of Identity Foundation highlight massive vetting failures within the Democratic Party. The conversation reveals how cult influence mirrors the mechanics of corporate think tanks. Soft Power: The episode scrutinizes Ezra Klein's defense of Peter Thiel's private Dialog conference. Jared breaks down the insidious nature of elite networking. Cults of Denial: Finally, they examine Donald Trump's claims about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Rather than accepting basic science regarding algae, the former president blames political subterfuge. This serves as a metaphor for the reality-denying nature of political cults. Support independent media by joining the Patreon community. Become a patron at patreon.com/muckrakepodcast to gain access to weekend episodes and keep the podcast editorially independent.

Visit patreon.com/muckrakepodcast to join the Patreon and support independent media. Gain access to the full Weekender episodes to keep the show ad-free. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman analyze Donald Trump's farcical new memorandum of understanding signed at the Palace of Versailles. The administration is suddenly defending Iran's right to ballistic missiles and nuclear programs. Jared explains how foreign adversaries successfully bypassed American interests by appealing directly to Trump's ego and financial greed. Reports even indicate Iranian officials consulted dementia specialists to manipulate the negotiations. A leaked detail exposes a potential dual-toll system on the Strait of Hormuz to enrich political insiders. Blatant corruption hits the legal system as Trump appoints his personal defense lawyer to lead the Southern District of New York. Concurrently, FBI Director Kash Patel faces scrutiny over an alleged slush fund distributed to loyalists. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is weaponizing anti-terrorism laws against citizens in Minnesota as authorities arrested over a dozen local protesters who resisted an ICE operation. Nick and Jared examine a leaked list revealing members of a secret society led by tech billionaire Peter Thiel. High-profile political figures attended these private meetings to discuss global collapse. Finally, Nick reviews the disaster film Greenland while Jared shares his unique obsession with highway infrastructure.