The Weekender Mailbag

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

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. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dig into the rapidly intensifying standoff in LA, where Marines patrol the streets, Reaper drones fly overhead, and “No Kings” protests are gaining serious momentum. As Trump stages a fascist spectacle with his military parade and loyalty-vetted troops, tensions rise across the country — and abroad, signs point to a potentially catastrophic war on the horizon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down how the authoritarian crackdown erupted in Los Angeles, with Trump now openly escalating his illegal takeover of the National Guard — while sending in the Marines unprovoked. Nick gives his firsthand account of the protest, and they explore the cyclical nature of strongman violence, how the corporate media is laundering it all through a sanitized lens, and what these dangerous trends mean heading into a long, volatile summer. 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

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. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dive into the brewing feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, unpacking what their falling out says about the current state of politics in general. Then they turn to the Democrats—some of whom seem eager to welcome Musk back into the fold—and debate whether that’s a savvy move or political malpractice (hint: the latter). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The surveillance state just got an upgrade, as Trump taps Palantir to process all government data — building files on every American. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman unpack the staggering implications, the DHS raid on Rep. Jerry Nadler’s office, and Trump’s team trying to turn intelligence briefings into Fox News segments. Then: Ukraine reportedly strikes deep into Russia with drone attacks, and Senator Joni Ernst literally takes her Medicaid messaging to the cemetery. 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. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the sad departure of Elon Musk from government, as he'd apparently had enough corruption for one political cycle. We also got a glimpse of how lonely and dysfunctional the male population is, particularly when the Democrats want to fund a $20 million study on them. Even Don Bongino is having a rough go of it. It also turns out that Qatari plane wasn't a free gift to Trump after all. Go figure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices