You asked, we delivered! Welcome to Gaslit Nation's Guide: How to Start a Podcast. We’d love to hear about your ideas, progress, and any questions that come up along the way. If there’s enough interest, we’ll host a follow-up workshop to dive deeper and answer everyone’s questions in one place. Want to hear the full bonus show? Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, exclusive invites to live events, and more! Annual subscriptions are available! Subscribe today at Patreon.com/Gaslit!    

Want our shows ad free? Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more! Discounted annual memberships available!  * The world is waiting to see if just enough Americans in a handful of states love democracy more than misogyny. Playing their role in this real-life horror show are white women—the majority have voted Republican since 2000, with more white women voters leaving Biden than leaving Trump. Why? The mental slavery of patriarchy gets internalized, just like mind-warped Russians openly embracing totalitarianism and being fed into the meat grinder in Ukraine. In this special Gaslit Nation, Terrell Starr reports from the country of Georgia, which operates like a Republican-hostage state thanks to the Kremlin’s capture of just enough political and business elites. Sound familiar? Terrell shares the resistance strategies on the ground, how they might apply to the U.S., and why he thinks the people of Georgia will overthrow their own Kremlin-backed nightmare, called Georgia Dream, this weekend at the polls. Time to dust off your Facebook friend list! Reecie Colbert, political analyst and host of The Reecie Colbert Show on Sirius XM, shares her insights into how to persuade white women in swing states not to vote for fascism. This important discussion, recorded over the summer and saved for prime get-out-the-vote season as we hit the final homestretch of Gaslit Nation’s phone banks with Sister District and Indivisible (check the show notes to RSVP for those events!), will help you reach out to the white women swing voters in your life! Listeners in our Patreon community have asked about podcasting. So this week’s bonus show will be our special How to Make a Podcast Workshop to help you raise your voice. We don’t need another “Trump is bad” podcast. But we do need more independent voices keeping a watchful eye on local corruption eclipsed by Trump’s Kremlin Klown Kar, which the media can’t get enough of, especially when it comes to normalizing Russian state capture. To hear that workshop, out this Thursday, subscribe at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level or higher—discounted annual memberships available! Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism—we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! See you Wednesday for our phone bank party with Sister District at 6pm ET. Never phone banked before? It’s easy! Quick trainings are provided! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ Want help with the MAGA cultists in your life? Join our live-taping about the psychology of Trump and his MAGA cult with Dr. Bandy Lee, author of The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind, October 29 at 12pm ET! A zoom link will be shared on Patreon the morning of the show! This week’s opening song was “Change Happens (One Conversation at a Time) by Ellen Schwartz and Roger Bruno of the Band Too Human. Check out their work here: http://toohumanonline.com and Submit your own music here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628.   Show Notes: Elon Musk’s daily $1 million giveaway to registered voters could be illegal, experts say https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/20/politics/elon-musk-voter-giveaway-legal-questions/index.html Harris, Trump and shifting demographics in the US election: In the US presidential election in November, roughly 244 million people are eligible to vote. What demographic groups make up the country's voting population? And how have they voted in the past? https://www.dw.com/en/harris-trump-and-shifting-demographics-in-the-us-election/a-69477852 When will DeSantis listen to his own voters on ex-felons' voting rights? At a time of bitter, partisan division, a supermajority of ordinary Democrats and Republicans joined forces to pass the most significant expansion of voting rights since 1965. https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/when-will-desantis-listen-to-his-own-voters-on-ex-felons-voting-rights Massive Pro-Europe Rally Held In Georgia Ahead Of Key Parliamentary Vote https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-election-dream-zurabishvili-saakashvili-russia-kobakhidze/33165650.html Moldova President Hails EU Referendum Win After Russia Meddling Claims The referendum on joining the EU passed with a razor-thin majority in the key electoral test for the former Soviet republic bordering war-torn Ukraine. https://www.kyivpost.com/post/40860 Craig Unger: Trump rose on Russian money. It was all legal. https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2019/04/01/craig-unger-trump-rose/ Donald Trump Accused of Committing 'Massive Crime' With Reported Phone Call https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-accused-crime-benjamin-netanyahu-call-ceasefire-hamas-1942248  

Thank you to Democracy Defender-supporter Melissa for the question that produced this week’s Q&A Bonus show! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to submit your questions, get all shows ad free, and hear the full bonus episode! Why is DeJoy still in charge? Well, it all comes down to numbers—specifically, the ones the Democrats don’t have yet. The USPS Board of Governors is still short of the votes needed to remove Louis DeJoy. There’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon with Biden's nominations of former Florida Rep. Val Demings and former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, but they need to get through Senate confirmation first. Even if that happens, the entire Democratic bloc on the board has to agree to boot DeJoy. And here’s the kicker: they’ll also need an Independent to back them. Now, about that Independent, Amber McReynolds: she was appointed by Biden. But, plot twist—this Biden appointee has gone on record saying the USPS is doing just fine. So yeah, not exactly a slam dunk for Team “Fire DeJoy.” This is how corruption is allowed to fester—DeJoy stays, he enriches his family through shady deals, and the USPS, along with its overworked staff, remains on the chopping block. It’s the Reaganomics playbook: shrink government services, weaken unions, and let privatization sweep in to pick at the bones. All while the people who depend on these services are left with empty mailboxes and a dysfunctional system. Welcome to DeJoy's America! This week’s bonus show includes a fiery continuation of Gaslit Nation's interview with Elie Mystal, Justice Correspondent for The Nation and author of the bestselling book Allow Me to Retort A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution. We discuss one of the most dangerous men in America: Merrick Garland. To listen to the full episode, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level or higher, and to submit a question for our next Q&A bonus show, subscribe at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level or higher. Discounted annual memberships available. Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism, especially during these tough times. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Look out for our special workshop How to Make a Podcast publishing October 24th for our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, unless you grabbed the early bird special in September and signed up at the Truth-teller level and higher!  Join our live-taping about the psychology of Trump and his MAGA cult with Dr. Bandy Lee, author of The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind, October 29 at 12pm ET!  Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more! Discounted annual memberships available!    Show Notes:   To Restore Abortion Rights, Democrats Must Win the Senate. If Democrats manage to win the White House but lose the Senate, then people in GOP-controlled states will continue to be forced to bring pregnancies to term against their will. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/to-restore-abortion-rights-democrats-must-win-the-senate/   DeJoy maintains financial ties to former company as USPS awards it new $120 million contract. XPO Logistics pays DeJoy and family businesses at least $2.1 million annually to lease four office buildings in North Carolina https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/06/usps-dejoy-xpo-logistics/   Joe Biden Passes 'Essential Stop' in Bid to Save Mail-in Ballots - Attorney https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-joe-biden-mail-ballots-2024-election-postal-service-1932369   Senators call on postal board to abandon DeJoy’s USPS reforms. The overhaul is harming the Postal Service, Democrats say, though postal leadership says it just needs more time. https://www.govexec.com/management/2024/04/senators-call-postal-board-abandon-dejoys-usps-reforms/396048/   Can Biden fire US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy? https://www.federaltimes.com/federal-oversight/2022/08/24/can-biden-fire-us-postmaster-general-louis-dejoy/   If You Can Keep It: Voting By Mail (1A) https://the1a.org/guests/amber-mcreynolds/   82 House Democrats Urge Biden to Name Postal Board Nominees to “Protect and Expand” a Public USPS on letter endorsed by 36 public-interest groups https://takeonwallst.com/2024/02/82-democratic-members-of-congress-urge-biden-to-name-postal-board-nominees-to-protect-and-expand-a-public-usps-endorsed-by-36-public-interest-groups/   Watch Live: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy grilled at Senate hearing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba0pak1UOCo   Musk buying votes in swing states https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna176075   See you this Wednesday for our phone bank party with Sister District at 6pm ET – we’re calling into must-win Arizona! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/

How do we protect ourselves from Trump’s MAGA Supreme Court? Expand the court like our lives depend on it, because they do! Elie Mystal, the Justice Correspondent for The Nation, and the author of the New York Times bestselling book Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, joins Gaslit Nation to discuss urgently needed judicial reform and how to do it.  One of the first things the Nazis did was take over the judiciary in Germany. Republicans have long waged lawfare against our democracy, and now they’re just one election away from establishing a dictatorship. The far-right’s long-game has been met with hand-wringing, complacency, and neoliberalism from Democrats. And now we’re out of time, making court expanding an urgent priority for our nation, should Kamala Harris win.  But will the Supreme Court steal the election for Republicans, like they did for George W. Bush in 2000? That and Trump’s cult of toxic masculinity are discussed in this week’s Gaslit Nation, also featuring Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack. This week’s bonus show, available for our subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, continues the conversation with a special focus on dangerous Attorney General Merrick Garland, and answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher for our bonus Q&A. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation and makes our independent journalism possible – we could not make this show without you!  See you this Wednesday for our phone bank party with Sister District at 6pm ET – we’re calling into must-win Pennsylvania! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ This Thursday at 7pm ET, we’re making calls with Indivisible to hold onto the must-win Senate. RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Look out for our special workshop How to Make a Podcast publishing October 24th for our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, unless you grabbed the early bird special in September and signed up at the Truth-teller level and higher!  Join our live-taping about the psychology of Trump and his MAGA cult with Dr. Bandy Lee, author of The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind, October 29 at 12pm ET!  Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more! Discounted annual memberships available! 

In the darkest days of World War II, Algerian-French writer Albert Camus sent a defiant message to the Nazis: our victory is inevitable. If you're feeling any election anxiety or grappling with uncertainty about the months ahead, watch this video on Camus' powerful Letter to a German Friend, from his book Resistance, Rebellion, and Death. It's a reminder that our resistance to authoritarianism has deep, resilient roots. And if you're dealing with MAGA extremists in your life—whether you're navigating tough conversations, protecting your space from harassment, or simply trying to understand the cult of Trump—join our live taping with Dr. Bandy Lee, author of The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind, on October 29 at 12 PM ET for our Truth-Teller-level subscribers and higher. You can also send in your questions for Dr. Lee through Patreon if you can't make the live event. On October 24th at 7pm ET, we're releasing a recording of our How to Make a Podcast workshop to answer the questions we frequently get from listeners and help you find your voice. This will be available to our Democracy Defender-level subscribers and above, starting today. We have a lot of exciting events lined up in the coming weeks to connect with our community of listeners. Don’t miss our Political Salons every Monday at 4 PM ET on Zoom—a space to vent, ask questions, share what's going on in your world, and just hang out. It's become a dynamic part of shaping the show! Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation—we couldn't make this show without you. Be sure to subscribe and join us for the lively discussions ahead! A programming change: Our bonus episode Q&A answering questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender-level and higher will now run next Saturday. Get your questions in, if you haven't yet! Photo: With my uncle Vitalij Keis in his library. For more on his story, listen to our 2013 interview with NPR here: https://theworld.org/stories/2013/08/15/orwells-animal-farm-and-ukrainian-refugees Show Notes: Camus’ Letters to a German Friend, a Warning for Our Times https://casdinteret.com/2021/11/albert-camus-letters-to-a-german-friend-warning/ Broadcast to Germany: Dorothy Thompson Speaking https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1943/01/broadcast-to-germany-dorothy-thompson-speaking/657045/ Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ and Ukrainian Refugees https://theworld.org/stories/2013/08/15/orwells-animal-farm-and-ukrainian-refugees Orwell and the Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm https://www.amazon.com/Orwell-Refugees-Untold-Story-Animal-ebook/dp/B007JNKF5G  

Gaslit Nation is vindicated yet again. Today, The New York Times reports on Bob Woodward’s latest book War, which confirms what we’ve been warning about since day one: Russia is infiltrating the U.S. through Trump’s MAGA fascist cult. The same tactics of weaponized corruption that Paul Manafort, Trump’s longtime friend and neighbor in Trump Tower, used to bring “Ukraine’s Trump” Viktor Yanukovych to power are being deployed here. Ukraine has long been a testing ground for Russian aggression, and what happens there is a precursor for what Russia will try in other nations, including the U.S. This is why Ukraine’s success is our own. We recorded this week’s episode Tuesday morning before the publication of the report on War, which claims Trump has spoken to Putin at least seven to a dozen times since leaving office. It also reveals, unsurprisingly to Gaslit Nation listeners, that while Trump was waging war on so-called blue states—withholding life-saving supplies during the height of the pandemic—he sent Covid tests to Putin amidst a shortage of tests, further proving his fealty to the world’s most sanctioned terrorist. This week, Terrell Starr reports from Berlin, Germany, a country grappling with its own MAGA crisis with the rise of the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany). We unpack why some nonwhite voters support Trump despite it being against their interests; MAGA disinformation weapon Candace Owens; and Stacey Abrams' warning that “demographics are not destiny.” We also explore how to survive the apocalypse–a time of climate crisis driven by gas station dictatorships, MAGA’s Big Oil backers, and their fascist footsoldiers. In times of compounding crises and confusion, Gaslit Nation is here to help you stay grounded. This week’s bonus show for subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and higher will answer questions from our Democracy Defender subscribers ($10/month and above). We’ll dive into why Louis DeJoy remains in power and the origins of the Green Party’s Kremlin cicada, Jill Stein. Tune in Saturday morning for that! Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Reform the Electoral College https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/5/28/reform-the-electoral-college Sister District x Gaslit Nation GOTV Phonebank! https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ Book Raises Unverified Claims About Trump’s Ties to Putin The journalist Bob Woodward cited an unnamed aide saying that Donald J. Trump had spoken to Vladimir V. Putin as many as seven times since leaving office. Multiple sources say they cannot confirm that report. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/politics/trump-putin-woodward-book.html Ron DeSantis Not Relying on FEMA As Florida Braces for Hurricane Milton https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desalts-not-relying-fema-hurricane-milton-1965526 Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let’s share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone’s voice matters—whether you’re a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon. 🎤 Upcoming Virtual Live Tapings: October 24 7pm ET: How to Make a Podcast workshop – we need your voice! October 29 12pm ET: Dr. Bandy Lee, author of The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind All these events, access to our Victory Chat and Art is Survival Chat, ad-free shows, bonus episodes, Q&As, and more await at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Annual discounts available!

A Gaslit Nation listener at the Democracy Defender level asked for a handy guide to help a small business owner considering voting for Trump to reconsider. If you need help convincing the small business owners in your life not to vote against their interests, Gaslit Nation has you covered! This special episode breaks down all the reasons Trump will be disastrous for small business owners, including the bribes they’ll have to pay after Trump finishes turning our country into lawless Russia, which has been the plan all along, as Gaslit Nation first warned. This week’s bonus show also covers the VP debate. Why didn’t Walz dogwalk Vance like Harris dogwalked Trump? Walz is the guy who coined “weird,” so we know he could have destroyed Vance, listing all the ways he’s a Peter Thiel tool. Why didn’t he? The answer may be in Walz’s closing words. His warnings at the very end gave us important insight and guidance into what to expect in the tense months ahead, as discussed in this week’s bonus show. Our discussion with investigative journalist Greg Palast, about his new must-watch film Vigilantes, Inc., and the audience Q&A at our live-taping, is included in this week’s bonus show. Look out for more live-tapings soon!  To our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher, keep your questions coming as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues! If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it soon. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To hear this full bonus episode, get all shows ad-free, invites to exclusive events, join other listeners in our Victory group chat, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounted annual subscriptions available! Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let’s share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone’s voice matters—whether you’re a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon. 🎤 Upcoming Virtual Live Tapings: October 22 12pm ET: Dr. Bandy Lee, author of The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Danger to American Democracy and All Humankind October 24 7pm ET: How to Make a Podcast workshop – we need your voice!  Show Notes: How to Effectively Communicate in a Time of Polarization: Digital Defenders - Freedom Over Fascism with Anat Shenker-Osorio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO8vyp45sEw Biden’s small-business boom may undercut Trump’s polling edge on economy A record 18.1 million new small businesses have sought to launch since the Democratic president’s inauguration https://www.marketwatch.com/story/bidens-small-business-boom-may-undercut-trumps-economic-edge-41030fa3 Small Business Growth Rising Faster Under Biden and Democrats Than Trump https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/democrats/2024/6/small-business-growth-rising-faster-under-biden-and-democrats-than-trump Biden’s Budget Proposes a New Direct Lending Program for the SBA https://www.inc.com/melissa-angell/bidens-budget-proposes-new-direct-lending-program-for-sba.html Lawmakers Push Bill to Block the SBA From Expanding Further Into Direct Loans https://www.inc.com/melissa-angell/lawmakers-push-bill-to-block-sba-from-expanding-further-into-direct-loans.html Biden won't put his name on aid checks (unlike you know who) Last year, Trump prioritized putting his name directly onto COVID relief checks. This year, Joe Biden is more interested in governance than self-promotion. https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/biden-won-t-put-his-name-aid-checks-unlike-you-n1260398 The Great Grift: How billions in COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted https://apnews.com/article/pandemic-fraud-waste-billions-small-business-labor-fb1d9a9eb24857efbe4611344311ae78 Trump Erased Millions of Possible PPP Fraud Flags in Last Days in Office Officials cleared nearly all potential fraud flags given to loans above $2 million just days before Trump left office. https://truthout.org/articles/trump-erased-millions-of-possible-ppp-fraud-flags-in-last-days-in-office/

On Gaslit Nation, we often say that America’s history is an authoritarian one for nonwhite people. That brutal legacy flows directly through the family of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. His ancestors were among the first to bring enslaved Africans to Georgia and fought to prevent America’s Founding Fathers from banning slavery in the Declaration of Independence. Fast forward to today: Brian Kemp continues that legacy by denying voting rights to the descendants of those his ancestors enslaved. And in Georgia, you can’t even learn about this history because Kemp has worked to suppress it—that’s how he holds onto power. As the must-watch documentary Vigilantes, Inc. by investigative journalist Greg Palast reveals, “suppressing history suppresses the vote.” Narrated by Rosario Dawson and produced by Martin Sheen, George DiCaprio, and Maria Florio, the film is available for free at SaveYourVote.org, a site launched by Leonardo DiCaprio. The name Vigilantes, Inc. traces back to 1946, when the Ku Klux Klan used it as a cover for their operations. Today, Kemp is leading the charge to use the Klan’s playbook to steal Georgia for Donald Trump in 2024, and MAGA has a new A.I. weapon.  Palast is known for his investigative reports for The Guardian and bestsellers including The Best Democracy Money Can Buy. This week’s bonus show, out Saturday for subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, will feature the audience Q&A with Palast at our live taping. Listeners' questions at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level and higher will open the bonus show, incuding how to explain to small business owners that serially corrupt, Kremlin asset, career criminal Donald Trump is no businessman—he just played one on TV. Look out for that special Q&A bonus episode this Saturday, exclusively on Patreon. Discounted annual memberships are available. Thank you to everyone who supports the show, especially in these hard times–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Watch Vigilantes, Inc. for free here: SaveYourVote.org Check out Greg Palast’s work here: ww.gregpalast.com Our next phonebank party is this Wednesday October 2nd at 6pm ET with Sister District, calling into Michigan. RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ To join our “Come as You Are” Political Salons over Zoom to vent, ask questions, or just hang out, every Monday at 4pm ET through Inauguration Day, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!   

Our hearts are with everyone affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. To support those in need, GoFundMe has created a page of verified mutual aid campaigns where you can make a difference: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/hurricane-helene. In our latest Gaslit Nation 'Come As You Are' Political Salon, we explored the MSNBC documentary From Russia with Lev, diving into its revelations and the critical context it missed. This is an excerpt from Andrea's review, which then goes deeper, highlighting what to watch for in the film and what’s conspicuously absent. In the documentary, Lev Parnas apologizes to Hunter Biden for his role in the scheme to fabricate a scandal aimed at derailing Biden’s 2020 campaign to help keep Trump in power. Andrea also shares a list of others to whom Parnas owes an apology—starting with her sister, Alexandra Chalupa, the former DNC consultant who risked her life to sound the alarm to both Democratic and Republican leaders, as well as the media and public, about Russia’s interference in our democracy to install Trump in 2016, part of a Kremlin-led campaign of state capture. Join us every Monday at 4 p.m. ET for our Gaslit Nation political salons on Zoom, exclusively for Truth-teller level patrons and higher. It’s a chance to vent, ask questions, and connect with fellow listeners. We’re also hosting a special VP debate night watch party in our Victory group chat. Don’t miss out—discounted annual subscriptions are available! To join, visit us at Patreon.com/Gaslit.  

Our hearts go out to the people impacted by Hurricane Helene and their anti-government governments, who will be replaced one day with public servants, which is what this conversation is about. To help those who are impacted, there’s a resource on where to donate in the show notes. (Do not choose the Red Cross, for reasons explained in the show notes). Thank you.  Thank you to everyone who joined our live taping with Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy author David Pepper, who is not just a democracy warrior, but also the mastermind behind the new podcast series Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. Picture this: short, terrifying vignettes with a cast so star-studded, you'd think it was Hollywood's last gasp before a fascist takeover—J. Smith-Cameron, Fisher Stevens, Richard Schiff, Morgan Fairchild, Omid Abtahi, and many more! We previewed "Chapter 2" of the series–it’s the audio equivalent of a cold sweat. You can listen to it [here]. Democrats have been playing defense for so long, they've forgotten what offense looks like. "There are two million uncontested races out there," David pointed out, which is about as comforting as knowing JD Vance’s particular brand of weird fills the halls of power in Republican hostage states. David also shared the story of how he got a call out of the blue from Vice President Kamala Harris last spring, to discuss ways to fight back. Thanks to the audience Q&A, he shared who he thinks should be her Attorney General—should she win, of course. Want to make that dream a reality? Join the fight! Gaslit Nation hosts phonebanks with Sister District every Wednesday at 6 p.m. RSVP [here]. Join our next live taping on Tuesday October 1st at 12pm ET with Greg Palast, discussing his new film Vigilantes Inc: America’s New Vote Suppression Hitmen. Bring your questions on all the ways Russian-backed MAGA is trying to steal the election, their plans if they lose, and ways to protect the vote.  Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let’s share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone’s voice matters—whether you’re a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon. 🎤 Upcoming Virtual Live Tapings: October 1 at 12 PM ET: Join investigative journalist Greg Palast to discuss his new film Vigilantes Inc: America’s New Vote Suppression Hitmen October 24 7pm ET: How to Make a Podcast workshop – we need your voice!  All these events, access to our Victory Chat and Art is Survival Chat, ad-free shows, bonus episodes, Q&As, and more await at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-Teller level and higher. Annual discounts available! Show Notes: How To Help After Hurricane Helene https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2024-09-26-how-to-help-hurricane-helene-victims-where-to-donate The Red Cross Won’t Save Houston It has proven itself unequal to the task of massive disaster relief. We need a new kind of humanitarian response. https://slate.com/business/2017/08/dont-give-money-to-the-red-cross-we-need-a-new-way.html

To get all episodes ad free, bonus shows, and more, be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Discounted annual memberships available!  Eric Adams, soon-to-be-former Mayor of New York City, has finally been indicted—a surprise to no one. In this special episode of Gaslit Nation, we break down the latest developments and remind our listeners: If this is what we know, imagine what we don’t. Adams’ corruption and assault on democracy in NYC are just the visible tip of a much larger, deeply entrenched network of local corruption that has long served as a feeding ground for foreign adversaries. America is in a war of attrition, both abroad and at home. The barbarians are at the gate, and now more than ever, it’s going to take a resurgence of people-powered movements to defend our democracy and push back against these threats. In this special episode, we examine the latest attacks on American democracy and national security by Trump and his MAGA stormtroopers. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump once again vowed to hand Ukraine over to Putin. Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson echoed this dangerous rhetoric by attempting to remove Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S., a move we warned about during our latest Gaslit Nation political salon—straight from the Paul Manafort playbook. To help illuminate this fight, we’re sharing an excerpt of a new radio play series written by David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy, called Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. In this powerful excerpt, we meet Eve, a nurse grappling with infertility, whose access to vital treatment is jeopardized by a new president’s executive order banning certain fertility procedures. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper’s 2025: A Novel at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2. David will join us in this week’s bonus show, out Saturday, to explain how to defeat Project 2025 in Republican hostage states.  Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let’s share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone’s voice matters—whether you’re a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon. 🎤 Upcoming Virtual Live Tapings: October 1 at 12 PM ET: Join investigative journalist Greg Palast to discuss his new film Vigilantes Inc: America’s New Vote Suppression Hitmen.  Join Andrea that night for the VP Debate Watch Party in the Victory Chat! October 24 7pm ET: How to Make a Podcast workshop – we need your voice!  All these events, access to our Victory Chat and Art is Survival Chat, ad-free shows, bonus episodes, Q&As, and more await at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-Teller level and higher. Annual discounts available!  To our Democracy Defender and higher folks, be sure to submit your questions for our next Q&A bonus show! Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation—we could not make the show without you! Show Notes: New York City Voters! Vote YES on Prop 1 to protect abortion, LGBTQ+, and other human rights, but VOT NO on Props 2 through 6 to stop Eric Adams’ powergrab. Remember to flip your ballot and VOTE your entire ballot. More info here: https://x.com/MaketheRoadNY/status/1836108886262321175 NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with bribery and taking foreign donations Federal prosecutors accuse the mayor of wire fraud in a years-long scheme to take gifts and donations in exchange for influence and favors. https://wapo.st/3ZBy5f9 NYPD officer, 2 bystanders shot on Brooklyn subway platform when police fire on armed suspect, authorities say https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nypd-shooting-sutter-ave-subway-station-brooklyn/ Meet Ashley Cossins: Report from the Front Lines: Missouri https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/report-from-the-front-lines-missouri-17c David Pepper’s Radio Series: Project 2025–Up Close and Personal https://trumpsproject2025pod.com/ Opening Clip: https://x.com/atrupar/status/1839322551614362096

Leigh McGowan, aka Politics Girl, joins Gaslit Nation to discuss her heartfelt civics manifesto: A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. With 41 days until Election Day, Leigh breaks down how we can seize this moment and make a real impact. The discussion includes “Kremlin cicada” Jill Stein, what to do if Trump tries another violent coup, how to hold a Harris/Walz administration accountable, and how to stop the MAGA machine from spreading chaos and disinformation in a white rage backlash that will make birtherism look like a warm-up act. While things might look like a political hellscape, Leigh’s book is a hand to hold as we fight back against Russian-backed Trump and his legion of wannabe stormtroopers. It's not just about surviving the next 41 days — it’s about gearing up for the long-haul battle for our democracy and the planet. This convo isn’t just a podcast episode; it's a roadmap to reclaim the soul of America. Don’t miss our next live-taping on October 1st at 12pm ET with investigative legend Greg Palast, who exposes America’s vote suppression mafia. Catch his film Vigilantes Inc: America’s New Vote Suppression Hitmen narrated by Rosario Dawson and produced by Martin Sheen, now available for free on Leonardo DiCaprio’s site SaveYourVote.org. Then, join Andrea that night and other Gaslit Nation listeners for our VP debate watch party in the Victory Chat on Patreon as we brace for The Coach vs. The Kremlin! Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let’s share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone’s voice matters—whether you’re a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon. 🎤 Upcoming Virtual Live Tapings: October 1 at 12 PM ET: Join investigative journalist Greg Palast to discuss his new film Vigilantes Inc: America’s New Vote Suppression Hitmen October 24 7pm ET: How to Make a Podcast workshop – we need your voice!  All these events, access to our Victory Chat and Art is Survival Chat, ad-free shows, bonus episodes, Q&As, and more await at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-Teller level and higher. Annual discounts available! Show Notes: A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-return-to-common-sense-the-essential-handbook-for-american-politics-leigh-mcgowan/21108421?ean=9781668066430 Learn more about Leigh McGowan (aka Politics Girl): https://www.politicsgirl.com/ Scenes from Nazi Summer Camp In the years leading up to WWII, children across the United States spent their summers learning archery and antisemitism. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/nazi-town-usa-scenes-summer-camp-nazi-town-us/ What the Equal Rights Amendment Will Mean in New York https://nysba.org/why-new-york-needs-an-equal-rights-amendment-now-more-than-ever/ Why New Yorkers Should Vote “Yes” on Proposal 1 The proposal, formerly known as the New York Equal Rights Amendment, will be on the ballot in November. https://www.nyclu.org/commentary/why-new-yorkers-should-vote-yes-on-proposition-1

On September 16, we gathered at the stunning Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City for a very special evening. It was a celebration of the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the powerful graphic novel adaptation of the film Mr. Jones, directed by the brilliant Agnieszka Holland. The night was filled with creativity, conversation, and community. Andrea had the honor of being joined by journalist Terrell Starr, who shared insights and moving stories from Ukraine. His firsthand account brought into sharp focus the ongoing struggle for freedom and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. It was also an incredible opportunity to connect with so many passionate and engaged individuals who share a deep commitment to truth and justice. A special shoutout to our amazing Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters who got free access to this unforgettable event – your support means the world to us. For those who couldn’t make it in person, we’re excited to share the recording of this live taping. You can listen in and be part of this inspiring night, wherever you are. You can also watch the video of the event, featuring stunning panels from the graphic novel and their warnings for us today, over at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this event a success. We can’t wait to share more events with you soon! Order your copy of In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones here and donate one to your local school or library: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775 Credit: Audio and video produced by Michael Hull of Fifth Column Filmworks and producer of the podcasts Black Diplomats and A Very Good Year. For more info: https://fifthcolumnfilmworks.com/ * Looking to connect with like-minded people and engage in meaningful political discussions? Join our weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! It’s a space to share frustrations, ask questions, seek support, and shape Gaslit Nation together. Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or just finding your voice, everyone’s welcome. Thank you to all who made our first salon a success! We’ll continue these crucial conversations every Monday through the election, starting again on September 16 at 4 PM ET. Can’t make it live? No worries—we record and share each session exclusively on Patreon. Support us at the Truth-Teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit, and you’ll get the Zoom link every Monday. Let’s come together and create change!  * Big Announcement! Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening – September 28 from 6pm EDT! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

This week we’re joined by Stephanie Baker, an award-winning investigative reporter from Bloomberg News, who’s out with a new book from the frontlines on the war on kleptocracy: Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia, the most sanctioned country in the world.  Sanctions are a double-edged sword. While they’ve undeniably strained the Russian economy, causing hundreds of billions in losses, they aren’t a panacea. Some Western companies have found ways to stay in Russia or help it sidestep restrictions, raising serious questions about enforcement.  Stephanie sheds light on the effectiveness of these sanctions: what’s working, what’s falling short, and how Russia is navigating the economic minefield. We’ll explore which countries are leading the charge for tougher measures, and how Russia is finding ways to benefit from—or at least mitigate—sanctions. We also discuss the role “Londongrad” being a playground of Russian oligarchs, and how recent efforts have tightened the screws on money laundering. We also look at how countries like India take advantage of sanction loopholes at Ukraine’s expense and what more can be done to hold nations accountable for helping Russia’s war machine. The bottomline: “Sanctions aren’t working” is Kremlin disinformation. Russia is desperate to get rid of sanctions, because its longterm prospects to keep its genocidal war going, and its own country from imploding, are bleak. Tune in to get the full picture and understand how these economic tools are shaping the future of our world, including Russia and China’s war on the U.S. dollar.  * Miss the live-taping in NYC? This Saturday at 3pm ET, Gaslit Nation will debut the video of our live taping from the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City, exclusively on Patreon. So be sure to subscribe or follow the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Join us as we celebrate the release of Andrea’s new graphic novel, In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, featuring a special guest appearance by journalist Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack. During this special Patreon Drop, you'll have the chance to engage in a live chat while watching the video. Don't miss out on this and future recorded Gaslit Nation events—stay tuned! Ready to engage in meaningful discussions and connect with like-minded individuals? Join our new weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! This space is designed for you to share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and actively contribute to conversations that help shape Gaslit Nation. Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or just starting to find your voice, everyone is welcome. Our goal is to build coalitions and foster collective healing during these challenging times. Thank you to everyone who made our first salon a success! We’re excited to continue these crucial discussions every Monday through the election, starting again on September 16 at 4 PM ET. For those who can't make it live, don’t worry—each session is recorded and shared exclusively on Patreon. If these salons resonate with you, there’s a chance they’ll extend beyond the election. Want to be part of this powerful community? Support us at the Truth-Teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit, and you’ll find the Zoom link every Monday afternoon. Let’s come together, share ideas, and create change! * Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP’ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ * Gaslit Nation listener Rick Minnich is out with a new documentary he directed about a Holocaust survivor who went on to make suits for the former general and future US president Dwight D. Eisenhower, who liberated him from Buchenwald in 1945. Watch it at IFC, if you're in NYC: https://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-presidents-tailor/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFWzEpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXQqSBXDu9Kol0IStZUymP-1KuiVQjq71OlSxYaPW--gAIlqX0oUuiJAZg_aem_pduEyKQUIlFliLy6vGsdqA

This Monday at the Gaslit Nation political salon, a crucial announcement was made: Rise and Resist is staging a protest outside the New York Times building this Wednesday, September 18th, at 9am. Their mission? To demand that the New York Times stop normalizing Trump’s dangerous rhetoric and fascist threat to our democracy. Trump's blatant lies and hate speech not only fuel political violence, but have also led to two assassination attempts against him. His dangerous behavior is a crisis, and the Times' failure to address this seriously contributes to the problem. They are gaslighting the public by treating these issues as normal. Andrea will join the protest, and encourages Gaslit Nation listeners to come out and support this important cause. Look for us on the corner of 8th Avenue and 42nd Street. Also, a big thank you to everyone who attended the launch of In the Shadow of Stalin at the Ukrainian Institute of America. The event was magical! Stay tuned for the audio and the video on Patreon this Saturday at 3pm ET for all who follow the show there, featuring a special live chat on Patreon for those watching the video at the same time. More exciting Gaslit Nation events are coming soon! * On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. Join a community of listeners, get invites to exclusive events, become a member of our Victory chat, get bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Discounted annual memberships available! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP’ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/  

Today at 4pm ET, Gaslit Nation is hosting a political salon for Patreon supporters over Zoom. The link was posted yesterday on Patreon and shared in our victory chat. Looking forward to seeing people there, to vent, ask questions, share stories and whatever is on your mind! To get access to that, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Annual discounts available! Then tonight at 6:30pm, join us at the Ukrainian Institute of America, in New York City, for the live-taping of Gaslit Nation to celebrate the launch of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of the Mr. Jones film. Patreon supporters get in free and get free tote bags, courtesy of our friends at Patreon. Order the book here, which tells the story of how the Kremlin weaponizes Western corruption against us:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775 Event details here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ We're in the final precious few weeks of the election, with the clock ticking. Be sure to check out one of the great events below, including our phonebank with Indivisible this Thursday at 7pm.  Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation -- we could not make this show without you! To join our community of listeners and get access to our Monday 4pm ET political salons over Zoom, our VP debate watch party in the Victory Chat, bonus shows, get all shows ad free, invites to exclusive events, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Annual discounts available.  *** Big Announcement! Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link On September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP’ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/  

At Tuesday night’s debate, Kamala Harris showed exactly how to stand up to a bully, forcing Trump to back down from a second debate. Watch our recent video on the debate and the dread many of us were feeling, in the show notes. Don't miss our next debate party in the Victory Chat on Patreon, where Tim Walz will take the stage against Kremlin shill and Thiel puppet JD Vance. Join us on October 1 at 9pm ET.  This week's bonus show includes the scandal of "Russians at War," a Western-funded Russian propaganda film that shamelessly leans on the Nuremberg Defense: “We were just following orders.” We also cover Republican pollster Frank Luntz’s visible agony as he admits the debate cost Trump the election, who's actually the greatest danger to our pets, the MAGA/Kremlin nexus fueling anti-American terrorism, and Biden’s latest effort to combat Kremlin disinformation ahead of the 2024 election. Plus, we feature insights from Michael Podhorzer, hailed by TIME magazine as a key architect of the movement that safeguarded the 2020 election. (The Gaslit Nation community also helped!) This week’s bonus show, available to Truth-teller level subscribers ($5/month) and higher, includes his take on protecting the 2024 election. An excerpt is available for all. To hear the full episode, get all shows ad free, invites to exclusive events like our October 1st VP debate watch party in our Victory Group Chat, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to support our independent journalism! Annual discounts available! Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation – we could not make our show without you!    Show Notes: VIDEO: Election Dread and New Events at Gaslit Nation https://www.patreon.com/posts/111991000   Statement by Award-winning Estonian filmmaker Anna Hints, a member of the European Film Academy: https://x.com/RitornellaNYC/status/1834441325631939042   Thread: Alejandra Caraballo, a well-known civil rights attorney and LGBTQ+ activist, has highlighted a range of foreign disinformation and harassment campaigns aimed at deepening divisions within the United States.  https://x.com/Esqueer_/status/1834615931152003295   Opening Clip: GOP Polster Frank Luntz: https://x.com/harris_wins/status/1834014050218393849   Opening Clip: Conservative Chris Wallace: https://x.com/harris_wins/status/1833701778874920970   Opening Clip: Brit Hume on Fox News Saying Kamala Harris Won the Debate: https://x.com/ALT_uscis/status/1833703048339669232   Democratic Strategist Simon Rosenberg on the GOP’s Weaponized Polls: https://x.com/Acyn/status/1834411436413780445   The Kiffness x Donald Trump - Eating the Cats https://x.com/TheKiffness/status/1834585071875158502   They’re Eating the Dogs, They’re Eating the Cats – The Remix https://x.com/ArtCandee/status/1834294453369991367   Andrea’s RomneyMobile Video with MoveOn.org: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0vaTJgdEt8   🗣️ NEW Weekly Political Salon! Ready for meaningful discussions and community building? Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let’s share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone’s voice matters—whether you’re a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Our salons start back up again on September 16 at 4 PM ET and will continue through the election. Recordings available exclusively on Patreon. 🎥 EXCITING EVENTS THIS SEPTEMBER: 📍 Ft. Myers, Florida (Get out the vote + Mr. Jones Fundraiser!): 🗳️ Canvassing Party: Saturday, Sept. 28 Link to RSVP 🎞️ Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening Tickets here 📞 Phonebank Party: Sunday, Sept. 29 Link to RSVP 🏙️ New York City Live Events: September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: Join us at the Ukrainian Institute of America for a live taping celebrating the release of In the Shadow of Stalin. Patreon members get in FREE! Journalist Terrell Starr joins us to discuss Ukraine. Message us for guest list access! Patreon supporters get commemorative tote bags at the event!  🎤 Upcoming Virtual Live Tapings: September 17 at 12 PM ET: Join investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War. September 18 at 4 PM ET: Politics Girl Leigh McGowan talks about her new book, A Return to Common Sense. September 24 at 12 PM ET: David Pepper talks Saving Democracy and his Project 2025 art project! October 24 7pm ET: How to Make a Podcast workshop – we need your voice!  All these events, access to our Victory Chat and Art is Survival Chat, ad-free shows, bonus episodes, Q&As, and more await at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-Teller level and higher. Annual discounts available!

Convicted felon Donald Trump relies on a well-worn GOP playbook to scare their voters to the polls: stir up moral panic over LGBTQ people. Moms for Liberty—well-funded by shadowy right-wing interests—are out there banning books and promoting anti-trans, anti-gay laws straight from Viktor Orban’s Hungary and Putin’s Russia. We might inadvertently feed into their culture war hysteria if we don’t step back and see how their disinformation machine works. As Erin Reed points out in her essential guide to our times “Erin in the Morning,” trans care is under attack in half of the country. Meanwhile, the far right stirs up fear, demonizing trans people, especially trans children and their families, just like Karl Rove did with gay marriage in 2004, to secure a second term for war criminal George W. Bush. But trans people have always existed. They’re part of human history, brutally erased by colonial powers, according to a must-read report from ABC News in our show notes below.  So, what’s the antidote to the far-right's moral panic? Call it out for what it is. Protect trans kids. Push back against oligarchs. Remember, this is about basic human rights. As highlighted in Abi Maxwell’s poignant memoir One Day I'll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman: A Mother's Story, love and dignity for trans children are crucial to building safer, more compassionate communities for everyone. Maxwell’s story focuses on her daughter, Greta, a courageous little girl who, from a very young age, understood she was a girl, even though she was born a boy. The confusion wasn’t Greta’s—it was the adults around her, including teachers and parents in their small New Hampshire town, who struggled to accept her identity. Maxwell recounts their family’s painful journey through relentless bullying and institutional barriers, a journey that mirrors the challenges faced by countless other trans families in America today. Maxwell's memoir isn’t just a heart-wrenching tale of a mother fighting for her child; it’s also a stark reminder of how disinformation and fearmongering, often driven by far-right extremists, are weaponized to divide us. As we’ve seen with the rise of groups like Moms for Liberty, the attacks on LGBTQ+ rights—particularly against trans children—are often orchestrated by powerful interests looking to distract and manipulate voters. In our interview with Maxwell, she sheds light on the far-right’s disinformation playbook and shares insights on how we can rise above it. It’s time to move beyond the hate and fear and build a society that values love, acceptance, and the dignity of all people, no matter their gender identity. Let’s start by protecting some of the most vulnerable among us: our trans kids. The song you heard in this week’s show is “Doors Are Opening” by The Society of Rockets. Check out their brilliant work here! http://societyofrockets.org/ * Ready to engage in meaningful discussions and connect with like-minded individuals? Join our new weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! This space is designed for you to share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and actively contribute to conversations that help shape Gaslit Nation. Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or just starting to find your voice, everyone is welcome. Our goal is to build coalitions and foster collective healing during these challenging times. Thank you to everyone who made our first salon a success! We’re excited to continue these crucial discussions every Monday through the election, starting again on September 16 at 4 PM ET. For those who can't make it live, don’t worry—each session is recorded and shared exclusively on Patreon. If these salons resonate with you, there’s a chance they’ll extend beyond the election. Want to be part of this powerful community? Support us at the Truth-Teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit, and you’ll find the Zoom link every Monday afternoon. Let’s come together, share ideas, and create change! * Big Announcement! Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link   On September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: If you’re in NYC, join our in-person live taping with at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of my film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. I will be joined by the journalist Terrell Starr, to talk about his latest trip to Ukraine.  On September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP’ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes:   Moms For Liberty founder 'thankful' for Trump's school transgender surgery lie https://www.advocate.com/politics/moms-for-liberty-thankful-for-trump-school-trans-lie#toggle-gdpr   'Moral Values' Carried Bush, Rove Says https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/10/politics/campaign/moral-values-carried-bush-rove-says.html   Phonebank this Wednesday to Help Recruit Volunteers for PA! https://www.mobilize.us/promotethevotepa/event/625107/?referring_vol=6541965&rname=Adam&timeslot=4272695&referring_participation=29899746&referring_data_signature=v1-5c6750b7e6617377&share_medium=native_share&share_context=signup-form-modal   Satanism and The Rolling Stones: 50 Years of ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/rolling-stones-sympathy-for-the-devil-mick-jagger-anniversary-satanism-a8668551.html   How ‘Will & Grace’ Had a Real-Life Political Impact on Marriage Equality https://www.thewrap.com/will-grace-real-life-political-impact-marriage-equality/   Moms For Liberty Founder "Thankful" For Trump's School Trans Surgery Lie The former president has repeated a claim that schools are giving sex change operations to students and sending them home another gender. https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/moms-for-liberty-founder-thankful   Trans people have 'been around for forever,' historians say Cultures around the world have long embraced alternative gender identities. https://abcnews.go.com/US/transgender-gender-diverse-people-world/story?id=98017443

If the election cycle has left you feeling overwhelmed, we’re here to help. Join our new weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom. This space is designed for you to vent, ask questions, seek support, and contribute to discussions that shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone is welcome—our goal is to foster coalition-building and collective healing. Starting today our first ever salons will be recorded and shared on Patreon to support our community. If these sessions resonate with you, they may continue beyond the election. To join, support us at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit where you'll find the Zoom link every Monday afternoon. Our next phonebank with our friends at Indivisible will be September 19. RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

Guess who finally decided to do their job! The Department of Justice dropped indictments on a sweeping Russian disinformation criminal ring, funding MAGA social media-stormtroops calling for the violent overthrow of our democracy to establish a Russian-style dictatorship and abandoning Ukraine to Russia, where it would be genocided. As Gaslit Nation has long warned: If it sounds like a Kremlin shill, it’s a Kremlin shill. Fortunately for the DOJ, Russian-backed MAGA traitors in Congress confessed to being unregistered foreign agents by deliberately blocking Ukraine aid for six months, giving Russia the advantage in a dangerous invasion threatening all of Europe. Follow the money! Lock the traitors up! In this week’s bonus show, exclusive to subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and higher on Patreon, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of the Kremlin File podcast joins Gaslit Nation to break down the sweeping charges by the Feds, exposing Russian active measures trying to steal the election for Trump like they did in 2016, with help from MAGA/Russia shills like Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, Benny Johnson, Lauren Chen, and Lauren Southern, among others. Longtime Trump/Russia connector, Kremlin propagandist, and Senator Rand Paul advisor Dimitri Simes was also indicted, along with his Russian-born wife. We also discuss what’s next: Who else might have their home raided by the FBI? We’re looking at you, David Sacks!  To hear the full bonus show, get all episodes ad-free, invites to exclusive events, and support our independent journalism during these tough times, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level or higher, or Democracy Defender ($10/month) to submit questions for our regular Q&As! Discounted annual subscriptions are available. Thank you for supporting the show—we couldn’t make Gaslit Nation without you! Join us for a Gaslit Nation event! Every Monday 4 PM ET: Join our weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom. Vent, ask questions, and build coalitions. Support us on Patreon at the Truth-teller level or higher to register! September 10 at 9 PM ET: Debate watch party in the Victory Chat on Patreon for subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher.  September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: In-person live taping with Andrea and Terrel Starr at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. Everyone else can RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. Subscribe today at Patreon.com/Gaslit for exclusive access to events, bonus content, and more! Enjoy annual discounts and support independent media as we push back against the rise of fascist oligarchy. Thank you for standing with us!  Show Notes:  Telegram CEO's Detention In France Extended As Moscow Cries Foul https://www.rferl.org/a/durov-telegram-paris/33093898.html  Mystery blonde traveling with secretive Telegram CEO was posting trip on social media before he was arrested — and now she’s missing https://nypost.com/2024/08/26/world-news/telegram-ceo-pavel-durovs-mystery-blonde-companion-raises-questions/ Attack on train system highlights broad array of security threats to Paris Olympics Russian-backed sabotage and cyberattacks, street protests and an attack directed or inspired by a terrorist group could disrupt events across France. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/attack-train-system-highlights-broad-array-security-threats-paris-olym-rcna163921 DOJ: Russia aimed propaganda at Gamers to swing 2024 election https://www.wired.com/story/project-good-old-usa-russia-2024-election/ Inside Tenet Media, the pro-Trump ‘supergroup’ allegedly funded by Russia Even some of the right-wing stars hired by the group last year wondered why it existed. Now, a new federal indictment claims it was a propaganda front. https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/09/05/tenet-media-russia-rt-tim-pool/ Flora Garamvolgyi on Twitter: One of the US Company founders listed in the DOJ indictment is Lauren Chen, who recently visited Budapest, to speak at MCC Feszt. story for @RFERL https://x.com/floragaramvolgy/status/1831596824836358482

Move over, first class passengers on the Titanic! America has a new class of doomed elites! Extreme income inequality threatens our democracy and the security of the world, but unions are fighting back, showing our path forward for the safety of everyone.    C.E.O.s and billionaires celebrate record-breaking profits, but for everyday workers, wages have remained stagnant, not keeping pace with the rising cost of living. The result? The American Dream is increasingly resembling a Neoliberal Ponzi Scheme, where the promise of prosperity seems to be reserved for nepo-babies.   Beyond the obvious moral implications, income inequality has profound consequences for our society. It undermines trust in institutions, worsens political instability, and contributes to declining life expectancy—a stark reality in America today. When the rich get richer and the rest of us get left behind, it doesn’t just create social rifts; it destabilizes the United States, and therefore the world.    How do we overcome this crisis? The renaissance of unions will strengthen our economy for all and protect our democracy. This week’s guest Michael Podhorzer has been on the frontlines of this fight for decades, as the former longtime political director of the AFL-CIO – the largest federation of unions in the United States. Podhorzer is a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, the chair of the Analyst Institute, the Research Collaborative and the Defend Democracy Project, and writes the Substack Weekend Reading.    A 2021 TIME article described Podhorzer as the architect of a broad movement that helped protect the integrity of our vote in the 2020 election. This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and higher, includes Podhorzer’s insights on how to protect the 2024 election, in an excerpt available to all. Exclusive to our Patreon supporters, this week’s bonus show also includes a deep-dive examination of the recent arrest of Telegram’s C.E.O. Pavel Durov and what that might mean for Russia’s global war on democracy. Subscribe today at Patreon.com/Gaslit to help support our independent journalism!  * Big Announcement! If the election cycle has left you feeling overwhelmed, we’re here to help. Join our new weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom. This space is designed for you to vent, ask questions, seek support, and contribute to discussions that shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone is welcome—our goal is to foster coalition-building and collective healing.   Starting next Monday, our first ever salon will be recorded and shared on Patreon to support our community. If these sessions resonate with you, they may continue beyond the election. To join, support us at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit where you'll find the Zoom link every Monday afternoon.   On September 10th: Join the Gaslit Nation Debate Watch Party in the “Victory Chat” community chatroom on Patreon. A debate between democracy vs. dictatorship! (Convicted felon Trump belongs in prison, not a debate stage).    On September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: If you’re in NYC, join our in-person live taping with at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of my film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. I will be joined by the journalist Terrell Starr, to talk about his latest trip to Ukraine.    On September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.    On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It.   On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025.   All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Opening clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckxmXjRuBik   As Go Unions, So Goes America Power concedes nothing but to collective action. https://www.weekendreading.net/p/as-go-unions-so-goes-america Listen to our interview with Starbucks union organizer Jasmine Leli on how to start a union https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/11/08/end-human-sacrifice-union-jasmine-leli  

Remember when Trump was impeached for holding up Ukraine aid to pressure Zelensky into fabricating a scandal about Biden? That’s how Trump famously operates—pushing for a quid pro quo. That brings us to Egypt, a dictatorship with a track record of bribing Americans, including disgraced Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who was found guilty on all counts of being a paid foreign agent of Egypt. In 2016, Trump met with Egyptian dictator Abdel Fattah el-Sisi behind closed doors at the U.N. General Assembly weeks before the election, likely breaking the Logan Act at a time when President Obama’s foreign policy shunned el-Sisi for his human rights abuses and overthrowing Egypt’s first democratically elected leader.   But it gets worse. Trump’s relationship with Egypt isn’t just about money; it’s about power—nuclear power. El-Sisi’s regime is closely aligned with the Kremlin. Experts raised alarms about Russia’s nuclear ambitions in the Middle East, where earlier this year Russia began building a nuclear power station in Egypt. Trump’s ties to these dangerous players demands that the Biden administration, or potentially a Harris/Walz administration, appoint a special prosecutor to continue the investigation into Trump and Egypt, killed by Trump’s attorney general William Barr, the GOP cover-up king.  Listen to a free excerpt of our bonus show on Egypt, Trump, and Russia wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community, get bonus shows, ad-free episodes, invites to exclusive events, and more! Join us at a Gaslit Nation event! Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, join the conversation at our live-tapings! Meet these incredible authors! You can also drop your questions in the chat or send them ahead of time through Patreon! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join the fun! September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: In-person live taping with Andrea and Terrel Starr at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. Everyone else can RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. Show Notes: Washington Post: $10M cash withdrawal drove secret probe into whether Trump took money from Egypt Political appointees rejected efforts to search for additional evidence investigators believed might provide answers, then closed the case. https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2024/08/02/trump-campaign-egypt-investigation/ Video: Trump meets with Egypt's president at White House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_WRgSZEgqc Trump’s Conflicts of Interest in Egypt https://www.americanprogress.org/article/trumps-conflicts-interest-egypt/   Kushner, Bannon, Flynn Pushed Huge Nuclear Power Deal in Middle East for Profit, In Secret https://billmoyers.com/story/kushner-bannon-flynn-pushed-huge-nuclear-power-deal-middle-east-profit-secret/   What does the Sisi-Putin latest nuclear plant deal mean for Egypt, Russia? Egypt is hoping nuclear energy will help meet its substantial power needs as Russia eyes a greater nuclear foothold in the region. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/01/what-does-sisi-putin-latest-nuclear-plant-deal-mean-egypt-russia   Trump welcomes Egypt’s Sissi to White House in reversal of U.S. policy https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-welcomes-egypts-sissi-to-white-house-in-reversal-of-us-policy/2017/04/03/36b5e312-188b-11e7-bcc2-7d1a0973e7b2_story.html   Sen. Bob Menendez guilty of taking bribes in cash and gold and acting as Egypt’s foreign agent https://apnews.com/article/menendez-bribery-trial-jury-deliberations-bab89b99a77fc6ce95531c88ab26cc4d  

Look out for an important deep dive bonus episode of Gaslit Nation publishing August 30th at 12am ET on Trump, Egypt, and Russia, with a special focus on nuclear power in the Middle East and its connection to Trump’s MAGA footsoldiers.   To push back against the misogyny and racism in the mainstream media ramping up against Kamala Harris, and the media’s continued normalization of Trump’s fascism, join our Gaslit Nation debate night watch party on September 10th in the Victory Chat over on Patreon. Subscribe at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level or higher to join us, vent, and share your social media posts fact-checking the gaslighting.    September will be an action-packed month of live-tapings. Meet these incredible authors! You can also drop your questions in the chat or send them ahead of time through Patreon! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners!  September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: In-person live taping with Andrea and Terrel Starr at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. Everyone else can RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! — September 19 at 7pm ET Every third Thursday through election day and on election eve in November we’re calling voters in Republican-hostage states in the Midwest with Indivisible to ensure a Democratic Senate. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Sister District x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Parties! – Every Wednesday in October!  Every Wednesday through October, we’re phone-banking with Sister District, calling voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/

In the polls, convicted felon Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are essentially tied. Jill Stein, Cornel West, and RFK, Jr. are third-party candidates, supported by far-right dark money groups aiming to "Ralph Nader" the election in Trump’s favor. Meanwhile, mainstream media—especially the New York Times—continues to normalize MAGA fascism. Amidst growing election anxiety, it might be difficult to hear the pleas from the Uncommitted movement and their Democratic allies, who are advocating for a permanent ceasefire and hostage deal to end the war in Gaza.  To help us understand the Uncommitted movement and its significance in this election, this week’s guest is Palestinian-American and Georgia state representative Ruwa Romman. She was on a short list of Palestinian-Americans who submitted a two-minute speech for the DNC, which was ultimately rejected, despite the invitation to Democratic leadership to collaborate on the text. Though not an Uncommitted delegate herself, Rep. Romman will explain how to bridge our differences and move forward with a unified front. Holding our elected officials accountable isn’t just a civic duty—it’s essential for enacting real change and enforcing laws effectively, especially those to hold war criminals like Netanyahu and Hamas accountable. Despite the challenges ahead, there’s a glimmer of hope. This week’s bonus show, exclusive to our Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, delves into how Trump broke the law (yet again!) to come to power in the 2016 election by accepting an illegal campaign donation from Egypt’s dictatorship. To access this and all bonus episodes, be sure to subscribe to the show! Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation—we couldn’t make this show without you! * Join us at a Gaslit Nation event! Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, join the conversation at our live-tapings! Meet these incredible authors! You can also drop your questions in the chat or send them ahead of time through Patreon! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join the fun! September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: In-person live taping with Andrea and Terrel Starr at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. Everyone else can RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025.   Show Notes:   WATCH: Kamala Harris addresses war in Gaza 2024 at Democratic National Convention | 2024 DNC Night 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oogNVOqnChc   Watch: Palestinian American Lawmaker Gives Speech the DNC Wouldn't Allow on Stage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8K5FIp-GN8   How to Stop Trump from Stealing the Election https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/7/30/how-to-stop-trump-from-stealing-the-electionnbsp   Fani Willis vs. Trump: The Nazis Strike Back https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/01/24/fani-willis-trump-nazis  

To listen to this full episode and get all shows ad free, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit!  August 24th is Ukraine’s Independence Day. To celebrate, this week’s bonus show highlights an innovative new documentary on the war, Rule of Two Walls. A Tribeca Film Festival Award-winner, Rule of Two Walls tells the story of Ukrainian artists on the frontlines, transforming horror into hope and defiance into inspiring art. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder that art is survival.  In the full episode, exclusively for Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller ($5/month) tier and higher, Andrea shares why she declined an invitation to the Democratic National Convention and what that decision taught her about processing trauma during our global struggle of democracy vs. fascism. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join us at a Gaslit Nation event! Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, join the conversation at our live-tapings! Meet these incredible authors! You can also drop your questions in the chat or send them ahead of time through Patreon! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join the fun! September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: In-person live taping with Andrea and Terrel Starr at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. Everyone else can RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. Show Notes   Rule of Two Walls https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rule_of_two_walls   Artist: Palindrom Song: “Sparkle” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE_-BlVgjKg  

This week’s show kicks off with United States Senator for Georgia Raphael Warnock at the Democratic National Convention, essentially reassuring white men no one is coming for their jobs–except the union-busting oligarch-backed Republicans they tend to vote for. With recent polling trends and the resurgence of unions, could the "dying of whiteness" era finally be on its way out? CNN reports that white working-class voters without a college degree in the Midwest are shifting their support from Donald Trump to Kamala Harris. Even in Nebraska’s swing 2nd District—in a heavily Republican state—Harris beats Trump. To dig deeper, we’re joined by expert white man Ross Morales-Rocketto, the lead organizer of White Dudes for Harris. Through one Zoom call, Ross and his team raised $4.5 million for the Harris-Walz Campaign, engaging 200,000 participants across all 50 states. But this isn’t just a fleeting moment; it’s a movement. Ross is on a mission to challenge the toxic masculinity perpetuated by figures like Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate, promoting a new masculinity defined by empathy and community. He's also the co-founder and co-executive director of Run for Something, which helped elect over 1,000 young people, ushering in a new generation of progressive leaders. We’ll also hear from Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack, who will provide crucial insights on dismantling toxic masculinity from a Black queer perspective. For our Patreon subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and above, our bonus show, available on August 24th—Ukraine’s Independence Day—celebrates the role of art in Ukraine’s resistance to Russian fascism and explores how we can address both personal and collective trauma. Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community, enjoy bonus shows and ad-free episodes, get invites to exclusive events, and more! Join us at a Gaslit Nation event!  September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: In-person live taping with Andrea and Terrel Starr at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. Everyone else can RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, join the conversation at our live-tapings! Meet these incredible authors! You can also drop your questions in the chat or send them ahead of time through Patreon! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join the fun!   Show Notes Opening Clip: Raphael Warnock at the Democratic National Convention: https://x.com/OmarJimenez/status/1825733269989560692 Inciting rioters in Britain was a test run for Elon Musk. Just see what he plans for America, by Carole Cadwalladr https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/18/inciting-rioters-in-britain-was-a-test-run-for-elon-musk-just-see-what-he-plans-for-america Harris leads Trump in new Nebraska 2nd District poll Most recent local Biden-Trump polling had shown Trump narrowly leading or slightly behind https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/08/20/harris-leads-trump-in-new-nebraska-2nd-district-poll/ According to polling, Vice President Kamala Harris is gaining momentum with White voters without a college education in key swing states ahead of the 2024 election. CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten breaks down the numbers. https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/13/politics/video/swing-state-poll-data-white-voters-college-harris-trump-enten-digvid

The Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week will be euphoric as Kamala Harris accepts the party nomination. Like every convention, it’s also going to be a lobbyist paradise, with giant corporations throwing lavish parties. United Airlines' Josh Earnest, former White House Press Secretary under President Obama, will host an after-party at the company's Chicago headquarters, featuring Elon Musk apologist Walter Isaacson, author of Musk’s mythologizing biography.    United Airlines has reason to be at the DNC, and it’s not to celebrate terrifying passengers with several malfunctions, including wheels falling off and mid-flight engine trouble. They are actively working against Democratic legislation in the Senate to break-up the credit card fee monopoly of Visa and Mastercard, legislation that would save consumers $15 billion. Major airlines like United want to stop it, because they make more profit from credit card mileage programs than from flying planes. United’s C.E.O., Scott Kirby, recently gave himself a 90% raise, earning $18.6 million in 2023, just a few years after taxpayers bailed out his airline at the height of the pandemic. Will United Airlines succeed in influencing Democrats at their biggest party in years, at the expense of us all?   Reecie Colbert, political commentator and host of Urban View on Sirius XM, joins Gaslit Nation, along with Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack, to discuss how to hold a Harris/Walz administration accountable to the hopeful and inclusive vision of America they’re running on, as well as how to protect the first Black woman president from white rage and misogyny. We also look at Ukraine’s historic surprise invasion of Russia and what it means in the global fight against fascism at home and abroad.    This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) and higher, answers questions from listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, with a special look at what to say to white women in Virginia and Georgia thinking of voting for Trump. To get every episode ad free, bonus shows, invites to special events, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism!  Book Launch Party for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones – Sept 16 Monday September 16th 7pm at the Ukrainian Institute of America join us for a wine reception and live taping of Gaslit Nation with Terrell Starr for the launch of the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones! Get in free by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! — August 15 at 7pm ET Every third Thursday through election day and on election eve in November we’re calling voters in Republican-hostage states in the Midwest with Indivisible to ensure a Democratic Senate. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Sister District x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Parties! – Every Wednesday in October!  Every Wednesday through October, we’re phone-banking with Sister District, calling voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ Show Notes:   Brooklyn Paper Op-ed | Credit Card Competition Act would put Brooklyn ahead of Wall Street https://www.brooklynpaper.com/credit-card-competition-act/   How the Elon Musk biography exposes Walter Isaacson https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/1/23895069/walter-isaacson-biography-musk-review   Your unofficial DNC party checklist https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2024/08/12/your-unofficial-dnc-party-check-list-00173704   Merchants Support Senator Durbin’s Comments in Favor of the Credit Card Competition Act https://merchantspaymentscoalition.com/merchants-support-senator-durbins-comments-favor-credit-card-competition-act   Airlines Are Just Banks Now They make more money from mileage programs than from flying planes—and it shows. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/airlines-banks-mileage-programs/675374/   United Airlines flight attendants picket, say CEO compensation grew 90% https://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-flight-attendants-picket-214129294.html   Moscow's Chkalovsky Airfield Targeted in Drone Attack: Video https://www.newsweek.com/moscow-chkalovsky-airfield-drone-attack-video-1937725   Ukraine claims to control 1,000 sq km of Russian territory https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lmr29ygjo   Brandon Friedman on Twitter:   Do not fly United. The last 48 hours:   "United Airlines Boeing 777 loses tire while taking off"   "United flight out of IAH caught fire"   "United flight makes emergency landing after suspected hydraulic failure"   "A United Airlines flight veered off the runway and onto the grass"   https://x.com/BFriedmanDC/status/1766524616271413250 Meet Reecie Colbert, Host of Sirius XM’s The Reecie Colbert Show and Urban View https://reeciecolbert.com/ Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack https://www.blackdiplomats.net/  

Tonight’s episode is coming out soon! We’re putting on the finishing touches, but first, we have a special celebration of a fearless soul. Historian Timothy Snyder’s international bestseller Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin opens with the story of Gareth Jones, the young Welsh journalist who risked his life and career to bear witness to the Holodomor—Stalin’s genocide famine in Ukraine. This terror famine claimed the lives of around five million people, the vast majority in Ukraine, where Putin’s war today builds on its brutal legacy. Today, August 13th, would have been Gareth Jones’ 119th birthday. To honor his legacy as an inspiration in the fight against fascism, disinformation, and the complicity of media “useful idiots,” join Gaslit Nation and Black Diplomats for a live taping on September 16 at the historic Ukrainian Institute of America. The special event will include a book signing of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s screenplay for Mr. Jones, the journalistic thriller inspired by Gareth Jones’ brave reporting. Gaslit Nation subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) and higher get in free. RSVP here if you would like to join our event. We look forward to sharing more special invites soon! https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ To help fight disinformation, join the Media Democracy Project and sign their petition to hold Fox News accountable: https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/ Don’t forget! We’re phonebanking this Thursday at 7pm ET with our friends at Indivsible, Indivisible St Louis, Indivisible We Will Persist, and the RISK! Storytelling Podcast. RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/  

America will soon have a president who laughs easily and a humorous vice president, leading what will be the most progressive and joyful administration in American history. Kamala Harris made a strong choice by selecting beloved football coach, former teacher, and Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. This move unites the Democrats’ Big Tent coalition, which has historically won them the White House. Walz's heartfelt and straightforward approach won him a U.S. House seat in a rural Republican district and re-election as governor of Minnesota, where he used a slim Democratic majority to achieve bold progressive victories: strengthening LGBTQ+ protections to make Minnesota a refuge for trans people; committing to decarbonization by 2040; protecting reproductive healthcare; significantly reducing child poverty; implementing automatic voter registration; strengthening gun safety laws; signing into law free school meals and free public college; banning forever chemicals known as PFAS; calling for a ceasefire and hostage deal early; and much more.    Harris reportedly chose Walz to collaborate on advancing a progressive national agenda, and his humor is an added bonus. Walz won hearts across America by labeling MAGA as “weird,” because it is. His famous charm will destroy J.D. Vance, a fascist tool of dark lord Peter Thiel. Harris and Walz are roughly the same age, which means, if we hold on tight, we could have eight years of President Harris followed by eight years of President Walz, strengthening America's future as we build a sustainable economy for all, especially for the planet.   ***   You think modern women have it tough now? Not too long ago, in 2007, Christopher Hitchens wrote an essay for Vanity Fair titled, “Why Women Aren’t Funny.” In it, he argued, “Whereas women, bless their tender hearts, would prefer that life be fair, and even sweet, rather than the sordid mess it actually is. Jokes about calamitous visits to the doctor or the shrink or the bathroom, or the venting of sexual frustration on furry domestic animals, are a male province.” In his view, women are precious baby-making machines, and that power forces them into being a solemn presence–a reserved audience for men, who have evolved with the purpose of making society laugh.     Today, a woman vice president of the United States is the second most powerful person in the world. And the most that her enemies can come up with is that she laughs too much and has never given birth. The slim pickings of criticism of Kamala Harris by MAGA are as thin as Hitchens' arguments, and they all boil down to misogyny that will be relegated to history books.    That era was defined by the reign of “the rape joke king” Tucker Max, bestselling author of the book I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, in case you’ve blocked him out of your memory. Coming of age during that time, a group of childhood girlfriends decided to create their own satire of this misogynistic hellscape, Betches Media. Joining us this week on Gaslit Nation to make sense of the war on women, past and present, and what to do about it is Sami Sage, co-founder of Betches Media and co-author, along with Emily Amick of the popular civic-action Instagram account Emily in Your Phone, Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and Our Lives.    This conversation was recorded during one of the darkest weeks in American democracy: the Republican National Convention. As they say, it’s aways darkest before the dawn. Much has changed since then, but this conversation with Sami Sage remains as current as ever as we celebrate the opening words of the Gaslit Nation Action Guide: Democracy is a lifestyle. That’s the only way we ensure the first Black woman president, and secure our democracy in the critical years to come.    Book Launch Reception for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones – Sept 16 Monday September 16th 7pm at the Ukrainian Institute of America join us for a wine reception and live taping of Gaslit Nation with Terrell Starr for the launch of the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones! Get in free by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon! RSVP here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! — August 15 at 7pm ET Every third Thursday through election day and on election eve in November we’re calling voters in Republican-hostage states in the Midwest with Indivisible to ensure a Democratic Senate. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Sister District x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Parties! – Every Wednesday in October!  Every Wednesday through October, we’re phone-banking with Sister District, calling voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ Show Notes:   Casablanca clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOeFhSzoTuc   Why Women Aren’t Funny  https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2007/01/hitchens200701   Betches Media https://betches.com/  

In 2000, Republicans stole Florida by scrubbing voter rolls and stopping the recount. In 2004, Republicans stole Ohio by suppressing the vote through deliberately engineered long voting lines and other election day chaos. In 2024, Republicans are throwing everything they can at Georgia. Republican officials in the state are helping them, even those harassed by Trump’s Big Lie.    If MAGA can’t steal the Electoral College outright, their fallback plan is to get close, drawing a tie. This would send the election to the House of Representatives. There, MAGA loyalist Mike Johnson, who blocked urgently needed Ukraine aid for six critical months, giving Russia the advantage on the battlefield, would likely pick Trump.The Senate, in control of Democrats, would pick the Vice President, likely Kamala Harris, who would then very likely be replaced by Trump’s White House as the Heritage Foundation massacres the government with Project 2025, Christian nationalism’s decades long plan to establish a dictatorship. They have 10,000 Trump loyalists already in place, ready to carry this out, according to a recent report by ProPublica.    In March, the U.S. sanctioned two PR firms in Russia hired by the Kremlin to manipulate Americans into spreading disinformation to “divide and conquer” Trump’s opposition in the 2024 election. So it begs the question, why isn’t the DOJ, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and Secretaries of State stepping up to stop homegrown threats?:    Why is the Christian nationalist group Ziklag allowed to fund EagleAI, which empowers MAGA activists to challenge voter registrations, including 10,000 voters in Georgia? (Remember, Trump only needed 11k votes to win Georgia in 2020).    Why is the Department of Homeland Security allowing voting machines in Georgia or anywhere in the country whose data was breached by MAGA loyalist Sidney Powell, with that data already spread among MAGA and possibly to foreign adversaries, like Russia?  Why is the DOJ letting Elon Musk fund a new version of Cambridge Analytica, targeting voters in swing states?  Why are the Secretaries of State allowing around 70 MAGA loyalists with histories of refusing to certify elections to remain in positions of power in 16 counties in six swing states, including Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, especially given the history of such loyalists to break the law, as they did in Georgia, helping Sidney Powell steal sensitive voting machine data?    This week’s bonus show also looks at J.D. Vance’s war on people who don’t birth children. That brings us to this viral quote from a recent article published on the site of The Heritage Foundation, architects of Project 2025: “Joseph Stalin had an utter disregard for human life, and his regime claimed the lives of 9,000,000-20,000,000 of its own subjects. Yet even Stalin understood that society depended on strong, intact families.” This is an actual quote from Heritage Foundation Senior Research Associate Emma Waters. Her piece was taken down after it went viral, but you can read an archived version in the show notes. All that and more is discussed in this week’s Q&A shaped by listeners’ questions subscribed at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher on Patreon. To join the conversation, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounted annual memberships are available! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    RSVP to the live taping of Gaslit Nation featuring Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast at the Ukrainian Institute of America on September 16 at 7pm. Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher get in free–message us to be added to the guest list! More details here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ Show Notes:   These Swing State Election Officials Are Pro-Trump Election Deniers At least 70 pro-Trump conspiracists are election officials in key battleground counties — and they are poised to make a giant mess on Election Day https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-swing-state-officials-election-deniers-1235069692/   Russia is relying on unwitting Americans to spread election disinformation, US officials say https://apnews.com/article/russia-trump-biden-harris-china-election-disinformation-54d7e44de370f016e87ab7df33fd11c8   Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-ziklag-secret-christian-charity-2024-election   Politics How an Elon Musk PAC is using voter data to help Trump beat Harris in 2024 election https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/02/elon-musk-pac-voter-data-trump-harris.html   Web Archive: The Heritage Foundation took down this piece really handing it to Stalin https://web.archive.org/web/20240306073726/https://www.heritage.org/marriage-and-family/commentary/crushing-societys-building-block   Democrats Should Remember that They Won Florida in 2000 https://theintercept.com/2018/11/10/democrats-should-remember-al-gore-won-florida-in-2000-but-lost-the-presidency-with-a-preemptive-surrender/   Ohio in 2004: None Dare Call It Stolen https://harpers.org/archive/2005/08/none-dare-call-it-stolen/   Reform the Electoral College – Learn More About the National Vote Pact https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/5/28/reform-the-electoral-college   “The work of Project 2025 is largely done. Under Paul Dans, the project has assembled a database of more than 10,000 names — job candidates vetted for loyalty to Trump’s cause — who will be ready to deploy into federal agencies after the 2024 election.” https://x.com/AlisonKodjak/status/1819335000434548958  

Days before the 2016 election, Rudy Giuliani went on Fox News promising a "big surprise," emphasizing his point with a Crypt Keeper cackle. "We've got a couple of things up our sleeves that should turn this around." The vast majority of the polls had Hillary Clinton comfortably winning. Paul Manafort, the Kremlin's longtime operative in Ukraine and Trump’s longtime friend and neighbor, had laid low in recent weeks following a bombshell report out of Ukraine that he took millions of dollars in off-the-books payments from Ukrainian kleptocrat and wannabe strongman Viktor Yanukovych. However, Manafort broke his silence days before the election and wrote on Twitter: "Battleground states moving to Trump en masse. Media not liking the pattern. By Sunday, Trump will be over 270 in polls." But the polls said no such thing. Why were Giuliani and Manafort suddenly so confident Trump would pull off an upset? The 400-page Mueller Report and the bipartisan Senate Intelligence report both exposed how the Trump campaign and the Kremlin came to power in 2016: through pumping out disinformation to suppress the vote, cyberattacks stealing sensitive data, and hacking the voting systems of all 50 states. That very illegal strategy has been in play ever since and is mainstream for the MAGA fascist movement openly trying to overthrow our democracy and install a Christian nationalist dictatorship, with Trump as their long-awaited strongman, a perfect God’s imperfect vessel. This special episode of Gaslit Nation looks at the ways Trump is trying to steal the election and what must be done to stop him. This is an episode you’re going to want to share with your family and friends. Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack also joins the show to discuss the US election in the context of global affairs. This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level and higher, including on how to hold Rupert Murdoch accountable and reasons why Ukraine must join NATO. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Subscribe today at Patreon.com/Gaslit!  Book Launch Reception for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones – Sept 16 Monday September 16th 7pm at the Ukrainian Institute of America join us for a wine reception and live taping of Gaslit Nation with Terrell Starr for the launch of the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones! Get in free by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! — August 15 at 7pm ET Every third Thursday through election day and on election eve in November we’re calling voters in Republican-hostage states in the Midwest with Indivisible to ensure a Democratic Senate. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Sister District x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Parties! – Every Wednesday in October!  Every Wednesday through October, we’re phone-banking with Sister District, calling voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ Show Notes: Clip: “‘Trump’s Project 2025 leader Kevin Roberts: “We are winning… In ways that the other side doesn't yet know… We’re not gonna tell you everything that's coming… [Get] ready to fight’’ https://x.com/KamalaHQ/status/1816573433741795598 Clip: Trump: 'You won't have to vote anymore my beautiful Christians' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngy_VknAfXw Clip: Venezuela elections could end Maduro’s rule https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-6PSFBwNt4 Clip: Maduro Wins Venezuela Election, Opposition Rejects Poll Results https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIfBk9F7rWU Clip: Giuliani hinted at 'a pretty big surprise' days before the FBI announcement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDY4tSibYpo Clip: ““To all the athletes who could not come and be here because Russia killed them. I dedicate this to them.” Olga Kharlan after winning bronze at the Paris #Olympics.” https://x.com/United24media/status/1818200501890023865 Clip: “.@jemelehill “Do you think Donald Trump is afraid to debate you? @KamalaHarris: “He should be.” https://x.com/notcapnamerica/status/1818039705038110886 A data tool being used to challenge voter registrations is raising many concerns https://www.npr.org/2024/06/04/nx-s1-4991945/voter-registration-mass-challenges-georgia The Georgia Voting Machine Theft Poses a Direct Threat to the 2024 Election https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/georgia-trump-vote-theft-2024-election.html Trump allies breach U.S. voting systems in search of 2020 fraud ‘evidence’ https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-breaches/ Georgia Senate Democrats: “What the hell is this, @GaSecofState? Canceling voters?! This tool empowers conspiracy theorists and other bad actors to deny Georgians the right to vote. We demand this be taken down immediately.” #gapol #gasenatedems https://x.com/GASenateDems/status/1817949715234717988 Should Ukraine join Nato? Open letter We don’t agree that Nato membership for Ukraine would provoke a conflict with Russia https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/27/ukraine-nato-membership?fbclid=IwY2xjawEUeM1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQwuQZWseMmw8DF1C22ycT-d_bF-QPnEra88QCrAIlFgf8Kev-uDxqNPpQ_aem_qbpdJm26_W-KofKewkUVUw  Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-ziklag-secret-christian-charity-2024-election Manafort tweets for the first time since being ousted from Trump campaign https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/paul-manafort-first-tweet-since-leaving-trump-230735 He Confirmed Russia Meddled in 2016 to Help Trump. Now, He’s Speaking Out Trump viewed the 2017 intel report as his 'Achilles heel.' The analyst who wrote it opens up about Trump, Russia and what really happened in 2016 https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/cia-ica-report-author-trump-russia-1235067814/ Cyberattack hits Georgia county at center of voting software breach State officials in Georgia have severed Coffee County’s access to statewide election systems while the breach is being addressed. https://cyberscoop.com/cyberattack-hits-georgia-county-at-center-of-voting-software-breach/ Voting experts warn of ‘serious threats’ for 2024 from election equipment software breaches https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/voting-experts-warn-of-serious-threats-for-2024-from-election-equipment-software-breaches  Election officials prepare for a range of threats in 2024, from hostile countries to conspiracy theorists https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/election-officials-prepare-for-a-range-of-threats-in-2024-from-hostile-countries-to-conspiracy-theorists Securing the 2024 Election Facebook X LinkedIn Federal, state, and local officials must work together to safeguard the democratic process. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/policy-solutions/securing-2024-election Voters are being told that the election system is both under attack and vulnerable to manipulation. https://theintercept.com/2024/03/06/homeland-security-us-elections/ Georgia election officials withheld evidence in voting machine breach, group alleges A filing accuses county election officials of withholding records related to unauthorized copying of voting software by Trump allies in 2021. https://cyberscoop.com/georgia-election-officials-withheld-evidence-in-voting-machine-breach-group-alleges/ How DEF CON’s election hackers are trying to protect themselves There may be lessons for 2024 election workers in the precautions taken at the conference to protect election security researchers from harassment. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/13/def-cons-election-hackers-2024-00110981  Electronic pollbook security raises concerns going into 2024 https://apnews.com/article/arizona-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-los-angeles-651d0e923973daf28ff3b9d6105b4d74  Cyberattack forces Georgia county to sever connection to state voter registration system https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/26/politics/georgia-coffee-county-cyberattack-voter-system/index.html The Coalition of Good Governance on the Coffee County, GA April 2024 Cyberattack and Government Response https://myemail-api.constantcontact.com/And-Now--a-Fourth-Coffee-County-Breach--.html?soid=1109272168263&aid=ToQ-Ima3GxI

As Secretary of State for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton pressed the Russian reset button with a laughing Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s thuggish foreign minister who just endorsed JD Vance. In the early months of his administration, Joe Biden held a press conference with Vladimir Putin and gifted him a pair of aviator glasses while smiling European officials looked on. Will Kamala Harris, as President, surround herself with a national security team that convinces her to make the same mistakes? In this special episode, Gaslit Nation examines Kamala Harris’s foreign policy experience over the years to see what kind of Commander-in-Chief she would be. What’s clear is that she’s a heavyweight, the most experienced in global affairs running for office since Hillary Clinton and George H. W. Bush, who used to run the C.I.A. What will her foreign policy be on Ukraine, Gaza, and who will be her national security advisor to replace the feckless Jake Sullivan? To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level and higher, be sure to get your questions in by this coming Tuesday July 29 for our next Q&A bonus show! We always love hearing from you! This episode is exclusive to our supporters at the Truth-teller ($5/month) and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Save the date! Book launch party and live Gaslit Nation taping September 16 at the Ukrainian Institute of America for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, the graphic novel adaptation of the shooting script for the journalistic thriller, Mr. Jones. Wine reception to follow. Patreon supporters subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher get in for free! Make sure you’re subscribed to be added to the guest list: Patreon.com/Gaslit Every third Thursday of the month through the election we’re phonebanking for Senate races in Republican-hostage states to leave no voter behind! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ We’re phonebanking every Wednesday in October for state races in the must-win battlegrounds of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrict/event/642096/?utm_source=2024-natlpb-gn Show Notes: Kamala Harris would bring greater foreign policy experience than most new US presidents Were she elected president in November, the vice president would likely oversee significant continuity with Biden’s foreign policy – except, perhaps, on Gaza. https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/07/kamala-harris-would-bring-greater-foreign-policy-experience-most-new-us-presidents I worked to elect Kamala Harris. She must break with Biden on Israel and Palestine Lily Greenberg Call https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/23/kamala-harris-israel-palestine-policy-election National Security Action on Kamala Harris’s Foreign Policy Compared to Trump’s https://nationalsecurityaction.org/kamala-harris-is-the-strong-experienced-foreign-policy-leader-america-needs The Department of the Navy Hosts Climate Tabletop Exercise with Caribbean Partners https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3816482/the-department-of-the-navy-hosts-climate-tabletop-exercise-with-caribbean-partn/ Third Anniversary of the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America https://www.state.gov/third-anniversary-of-the-u-s-strategy-for-addressing-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america/ Maya Harris on Twitter: “Yes!!! Jake Sullivan is one of the sweetest, smartest people I know. We shared an office for almost 2 yrs as Hillary’s senior policy advisors for the 2016 campaign. Quite the whirlwind of emotion running into each other backstage in DE the night we finally declared victory…” https://x.com/mayaharris_/status/1330923543987695616 Third Anniversary of the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America https://www.state.gov/third-anniversary-of-the-u-s-strategy-for-addressing-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america/ Losing the Long Game The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East https://www.cfr.org/book/losing-long-game An Open World How America Can Win the Contest for Twenty-First-Century Order https://www.cfr.org/book/open-world Kamala Harris would bring greater foreign policy experience than most new US presidents Were she elected president in November, the vice president would likely oversee significant continuity with Biden’s foreign policy – except, perhaps, on Gaza. https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/07/kamala-harris-would-bring-greater-foreign-policy-experience-most-new-us-presidents Here are the world leaders Harris has on speed dial Vice President Kamala Harris would enter the White House with working ties with some allied heads of state — others she’d have to build. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/23/kamala-harris-world-leaders-00170676 Harris Candidacy Gives Democrats a Chance to Pivot on Gaza What she can do to right U.S. foreign policy and bring back voters. https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/07/24/kamala-harris-gaza-israel-democrats-united-states-presidential-race/ VP Harris' Flight Delayed After Possible 'Havana Syndrome' Incident In Hanoi https://www.npr.org/2021/08/24/1030663913/kamala-harris-havana-syndrome-vietnam-delay-embassy Who is Ella Emhoff? How Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter could affect her run for president https://forward.com/fast-forward/636240/ella-emhoff-kamala-harris-stepdaughter-gaza-palestine/ Clip: Kamala Harris speaks at the Summit for Peace in Ukraine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcShf-Pe8UE&t=967s Clip: USA Today on the history of the migrant crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jswmlDUhGuk Clip: Kamala Harris met with war criminal Netanyahu and he's reportedly fuming after she called for a permanent ceasefire and end to the war https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIitFvZjeBw  

The American tragedy of Donald J. Trump is about to come to an end with a popular front that elects the first Black and South Asian woman president of the United States. America is ready, and so is Gaslit Nation, with our historic number of phone banks to ensure we rub MAGA’s nose in their defeat. The KKK, the Know Nothings, Nazis, MAGA—whatever you want to call them—will always be among us, as hate and ignorance are human nature. What’s important now is that we focus on building our political power, not only to elect Kamala Harris but to ensure that she has the Congress and state governments she needs to bring much-needed reforms to our broken system, especially to our courts. We must commit to holding her accountable as president as well as actively call out the racist and misogynistic attacks from the far-right and the media. Build with your community today, because we’re going to need each other in these critical and exciting years ahead.  In this special episode, Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack, who has interviewed Kamala Harris on a number of occasions, joins Gaslit Nation to discuss why she can win. This week’s bonus show, exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, includes questions from our listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender level and higher, and examines what Kamala Harris’s foreign policy may look like, especially in regard to Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who supports the show—we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Subscribe today at Patreon.com/Gaslit!  Show Notes: Book Launch Reception for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones – Sept 16 Monday September 16th 7pm at the Ukrainian Institute of America join us for a wine reception and live taping of Gaslit Nation with Terrell Starr for the launch of the graphic novel adaptation of Andrea’s film Mr. Jones! Get in free by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon! Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! — August 15 at 7pm ET Every third Thursday through election day and on election eve in November we’re calling voters in Republican-hostage states in the Midwest with Indivisible to ensure a Democratic Senate. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Sister District x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Parties! – Every Wednesday in October!  Every Wednesday through October, we’re phone-banking with Sister District, calling voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia. Sign up here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrictnyc/event/642096/ Terrell Starr of the Blacki Diplomats Podcast & Substack https://terrellstarr.com/ Opening Clip: “Don’t ever carry as a personal burden your capacity to do whatever you dream and aspire to do based on other people’s limited ability to see who can do what. Sometimes people will open the door for you, sometimes they won’t.. and then you need to kick that fucking door down” https://x.com/Acyn/status/1790047553511195053 Clip: “Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) on his re-election and vetoing anti-trans bills: "All children are children of God … I was going to stand up for the most marginalized children who didn't deserve either a state legislature or an entire campaign picking on them." https://x.com/HeartlandSignal/status/1726806702421610566 Clip: Ashton Pittman: “Flashback 2012: The Obama campaign wasn't ready to endorse marriage equality. But when asked about it, Joe Biden broke with the campaign's messaging and endorsed it. An avalanche of Democrats, including President Obama, soon followed him.” https://x.com/ashtonpittman/status/1815132808790020228 Clip: In praise of Joe Biden: https://x.com/maddenifico/status/1815457006083600802 Stephen Miller Meltdown https://x.com/MollyJongFast/status/1815210257330659594 Drake VS Kendrick Explained to White People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3uWj2MpydI&t=1s Kendrick Lamar/Kamala Harris mash-up https://x.com/tolstoybb/status/1815102526561419439 America Is Ready for a Black Female President—but Not Kamala Harris by Keli Goff https://www.thedailybeast.com/america-is-ready-for-a-black-female-presidentbut-not-kamala-harris?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_source=twitter_owned_tdb&via=twitter_page&utm_campaign=owned_social

Biden stopped his campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris. What's next and how do we overcome this turbulence to protect our democracy from Trump and Project 2025? This raw and quick episode was recorded in response to requests from listeners and our production team to capture this moment and reassure everyone that America has been here before and we will once again overcome as that is the story of American history. In the meantime, we'll see you at the Gaslit Nation/Indivisible phonebank on August 15 at 7pm for Lucas Kunce. Don't panic: Do the work. https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

From the genius who brought you Sarah Palin: Longtime Republican operative Steve Schmidt launched the Pass the Torch USA super PAC to replace Joe Biden on the ballot with anyone else. When they couldn’t find anyone else, they ran businessman and Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips. Is that why so many centrist Democrats who call for an open convention, bypassing Black progressive Kamala Harris, use the rallying cry, “Pass the torch”? One thing is clear: the energy and organization used by Democratic Party elites and their megadonors to push Biden off the ballot at this late stage and bypass Kamala has never been seen before to address our nation’s most pressing crises, from the climate crisis to kleptocracy. And the mainstream media won’t tell you this because they’re owned by conservatives working with, you guessed it, Democratic Party elites. Just take former Obama White House official Robert Gibbs, who was hired as an image-maker for David Zaslav, the anti-Biden CEO and president of Warner Bros. Discovery, who called for a new president and boasted about Republicans (the MAGA far-right) being welcomed on CNN. He also defended the disturbing CNN Trump town hall. So if you’re wondering why CNN has become Trump propaganda, it’s because of Zaslav. Given how wrong the polls were in 2022 and 2016, and the disifnormation that can pollute them, Biden/Harris have a strong chance to win this November. In this special bonus show, Gaslit Nation listeners share their questions and concerns for our nation. It includes a recap of the Oscars of Kleptocracy – the Republican National Convention. To listen to the full episode, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level and higher. And to submit your questions to our regular Q&As, subscribe to the show at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Save the date! Book launch party and live Gaslit Nation taping September 16 at the Ukrainian Institute of America for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, the graphic novel adaptation of the shooting script for the journalistic thriller, Mr. Jones. Wine reception to follow. Patreon supporters subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher get in for free! Make sure you’re subscribed to be added to the guest list: Patreon.com/Gaslit Every third Thursday of the month through the election we’re phonebanking for Senate races in Republican-hostage states to leave no voter behind! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ We’re phonebanking every Wednesday in October for state races in the must-win battlegrounds of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrict/event/642096/?utm_source=2024-natlpb-gn Show Notes: Pass the Torch USA https://www.factcheck.org/2024/01/pass-the-torch-usa/ David Zaslav Hires Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as Warner Bros. Discovery Comms Chief (Exclusive) https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/david-zaslav-hires-robert-gibbs-warner-bros-discovery-comms-chief-1235925399/ Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav would like a new president, too https://www.businessinsider.com/wbd-david-zaslav-biden-trump-election-regulation-sun-valley-2024-7 House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tells reporters this morning in Brooklyn that he's team Biden/Harris https://x.com/Bogs4NY/status/1814301077082087505 Clip from AOC Instagram Live on the effort to replace Biden/Harris https://x.com/claycane/status/1814287730215457266 "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" plays as Donald Trump walks into RNC Night 3. https://x.com/therecount/status/1813745920787517860 Ramaswamy: And our message to Gen Z is this. You want to be a rebel? You want to be a hippie? You want to stick it to the man? Show up on your college campus and try calling yourself a conservative. https://x.com/Acyn/status/1813373723271135741 Election Polls Are Only 60 Percent Accurate, Which Is 0 Percent Surprising. https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/online/election-polls-are-only-60-percent-accurate-which-0-percent/  

You're telling us to be civil and tone down the rhetoric? Well, excuse us, but we’re not the ones who attempted to violently overthrow our democracy! Ignoring a crisis won't solve it. Yet that's exactly what the mainstream media is doing by “both-sidesing” America’s political violence crisis driven by the far-right.  Much of the mainstream media continues to fall in line, pumping out propaganda to normalize Trump. They claim he'll change this time. But you already know that he won’t, because you listen to our show! Meanwhile, these same media outlets continue to fawn over the MAGA fascist rally known as the Republican National Convention, featuring a who's who of Kremlin disinformation agents like Trump’s VP pick JD Vance. It’s like watching a very dark comedy where the punchline is always at the expense of democracy. Now, for those who crave staying grounded and self-care with facts, this week's bonus show will analyze the GOP’s Kremlin Convention and prepare us for the week ahead! We’ll dive deep into questions from our Democracy Defender-level supporters ($10/month) and higher, including whether there’s a Russian version of AIPAC. To access bonus shows, get all episodes ad-free, enjoy exclusive invites, and more, subscribe at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) or higher! Annual discounts are available so subscribe today!  And finally, mark your calendars! The book launch party for the Mr. Jones graphic novel, In the Shadow of Stalin: The Making of Mr. Jones, is on September 16th at the Ukrainian Institute of America at 7 pm. It’ll be a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring special guests and a wine reception. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher get in free, so sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Every third Thursday of the month through the election we’re phonebank for Senate races in Republican-hostage states to leave no voter behind! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ We’re phonebanking every Wednesday in October for state races in the must-win battlegrounds of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrict/event/642096/?utm_source=2024-natlpb-gn Save the date! Book launch party and live Gaslit Nation taping September 16 at the Ukrainian Institute of America for In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, the graphic novel adaptation of the shooting script for the journalistic thriller, Mr. Jones. Wine reception to follow. Patreon supporters subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher get in for free! Make sure you’re subscribed to be added to the guest list: Patreon.com/Gaslit  Got questions? If you're subscribed at the Democracy Defender-level or higher on Patreon, send us your questions for our regular Q&As! They help inspire the show!  Show Notes:   Bernie Sanders: Joe Biden for President https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/13/opinion/joe-biden-president.html   Merrick Garland Both-Sides the Coup https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2022/1/12/merrick-garland-both-sides   Thomas Matthew Crooks: What we know about the Trump attacker https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gw58wv4e9o   Southern Poverty Law Center quoted on Thomas Matthew Crooks shooting https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/14/us/trump-shooting-thomas-matthew-crooks-intl-hnk/index.html   Trump Shooter Once Donated Money to a Democratic Cause? Some social media users claimed a 69-year-old man with the same name as Trump's would-be assassin actually made the donation. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-shooter-donation/   “Of the 444 people killed at the hands of extremists over the past 10 years, 335 (or 75%) were killed by right-wing extremists.” https://www.adl.org/resources/report/murder-and-extremism-united-states-2022   Report: Domestic Terrorism Is Still a Greater Threat Than Islamic Extremism https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/03/domestic-terror-still-greater-threat-than-islamic-extremism.html   White and far-right extremists kill more cops, but FBI tracks black extremists more closely, many worry Read more at: https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article196423174.html#storylink=cpy   Is white extremism the biggest domestic terror threat in the US? For years US terror warnings have focused on groups like Al Qaeda or Daesh, but the latest warnings from US law enforcement agencies point to homegrown terrorists as the most immediate danger. https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/is-white-extremism-the-biggest-domestic-terror-threat-in-the-us-27940   The Inside Story of Sean Patrick Maloney’s Face Plant in New York https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/11/sean-patrick-maloney-new-york-red-wave-dccc-house.html   FEC Document Concludes Trump Paid Actors to Attend Event at Which He Launched 2016 Campaign https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/01/trump-paid-actors-to-fill-out-campaign-launch-fec-says.html   Mehdi Hasan on Twitter: “Don’t know whether to laugh or cry: apparently one of the reasons Vance radicalized and went from moderate Never Trumper to insane MAGA Trumper is because the Netflix movie of his book got panned by liberal movie critics. It was the “last straw”, according to a friend. Amazing.” https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1813048609035751843  

Over two million people tuned in to see if an 81-year-old man would fall on his face at Thursday night’s press conference. Instead, they received a deep-dive lecture on foreign policy. That’s more than the TV audience for the Oscars. Now, Democrats are finally pushing back against Trump’s fascist blueprint, Project 2025, with their own 100-day plan for 2025, most of which can only be passed if Democrats win control of both chambers of Congress. Still, Biden voicing these solutions while the world scrutinizes his every step and gaffe promotes a culture of change we desperately need to rebuild our democracy. Much of Biden’s plan can also be implemented on the state level, where Democrats have increasingly expanded their power, thanks to grassroots efforts. These next four weeks, as we head into the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, will be the last window of opportunity to replace Biden. Expect a continued bloodbath in the press as centrist Democrats, allegedly paid off by megadonors, continue their sabotage of Biden’s campaign and pro-labor agenda to rebuild the middle class. As Minnesota House candidate Will Stencil wrote on Twitter: “What makes this so depressing is that if you stop doing theater criticism on the strength of his voice or whatever, this is a clip of a US president strongly defending a working-class economic boom he successfully fought to create. And no one wants to hear that or seems to care.” Meanwhile, leading Black women voices, like Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, and Stacey Abrams, continue to push back. Jones wrote on Twitter: “This is what I am hearing from so many Black Americans and especially Black women who feel 1) that their vote, decision, and concerns are being undermined by non-Black people in the Democratic Party, 2) that too many people reporting and commenting do not seem to understand the stakes, and 3) that perhaps the polling is reflecting a Democratic Party that is attacking its own candidate rather than the opposing one.” Several new polls show Biden ahead of Trump, and reports say that his press conference reassured jittery megadonors. Was the Biden panic ultimately good for Biden? Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack joins Gaslit Nation, days after returning home from Ukraine, to help us make sense of this sh*tshow and where we go from here. Questions from Gaslit Nation listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender level and higher are shared on the show, along with comments and questions in the chat of this special live-taping. Stay tuned for more live-taping announcements soon! And see everyone at Gaslit Nation’s phonebank with Indivisible this Thursday, July 18th at 7 PM, hot off the heels of the MAGA cult rally in Wisconsin! RSVP here to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/  Want to listen to the full episode and receive all bonus shows ad-free and more? Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: The Cult Age: Interview with Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2022/4/13/cults-dr-janja-lalich   Sahil Kapur, Senior National Political Reporter, for NBC News: “In Detroit, Biden pitches his 100-day plan for 2025: Restore Roe v. Wade. Pass the John Lewis voting rights bill and Freedom To Vote Act. Eliminate medical debt. Raise minimum wage. Pass the PRO Act. Ban assault weapons. "Keep leading the world" on climate change & clean energy.” https://x.com/sahilkapur/status/1811912368944799946   Will Stancil on Twitter: “What makes this so depressing is that if you stop doing theater criticism on the strength of his voice or whatever, this is a clip of a US president strongly defending a working-class economic boom he successfully fought to create. And no one wants to hear that or seems to care.” https://x.com/whstancil/status/1811552005678072008   Nikole Hannah-Jones on Twitter: “This is what I am hearing from so many Black Americans and especially Black women who feel 1) That their vote, decision and concerns are being undermined by non-Black people in the Democratic Party 2) That too many people reporting and commenting do not seem to understand the stakes. 3) That perhaps the polling is reflecting a Democratic Party that is attacking its own candidate rather than the opposing one.” https://x.com/nhannahjones/status/1811737786099335524   Jake Sherman of Punch Bowl News: “NEW -- A source tells me a group of NY donors have committed $2M to HMP, the House Dem super PAC, to help the Dems who came out early against/criticizing Biden -- Angie Craig, Marie Glusenkamp Perez, Jared Golden and Pat Ryan Donors include @novogratz , Nancy and Andrew Jarecki, Gideon and Zoe Stein and 30+ other donors.” https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1811484709953683770  

Gaslit Nation planned to take a vacation this week, to charge up our batteries. Instead, we’re running a raw quick take on the Biden hysteria fueled by Rupert Murdoch and the New York Times (just like in 2016!) Why are so many in the media once again helping Trump come to power? Follow the money!    To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, get your questions in to us by this Thursday July 11 for our next mega-episode Q&A, which will cover the people-powered victories in the UK and French elections, as well as the far-right disinformation war on democracy here at home in the US.    Then join us this Thursday 8pm ET for a special live-taping of Gaslit Nation with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, the author of several books on the inner workings of cults and how to escape them, including Take Back Your Life. We’ll be discussing the MAGA cult, the weaponization of cults, and how to help a loved one who fell down a disinformation rabbit hole. A Zoom link will go out this Thursday to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit – so be sure to get your ticket by subscribing!    Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Show Notes:   Berkman Klein Center releases report on media coverage of the 2016 presidential campaign Comprehensive analysis documents how highly partisan right-wing sources helped shape mainstream press coverage prior to the election https://hls.harvard.edu/today/berkman-klein-releases-report-media-coverage-2016-presidential-campaign/   But Her Emails! Behind The New York Times’ Maddening Hillary Clinton Coverage https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/10/but-her-emails-behind-the-new-york-times-maddening-hillary-clinton-coverage   Epstein Accuser Sues Famed Psychiatrist for ‘Depraved’ Sexual Abuse https://www.thedailybeast.com/epstein-accuser-sues-famed-psychiatrist-henry-jarecki-for-depraved-sexual-abuse   Jeffrey Epstein’s Ex Says He Boasted About Being a Mossad Agent https://www.thedailybeast.com/jeffrey-epsteins-ex-says-he-boasted-about-being-a-mossad-agent   These Are the Men Named in the New Epstein Documents https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-jeffrey-epstein-documents-name-bill-clinton-donald-trump-david-copperfield-as-his-pals   Epstein Files on Trump’s Child Rape https://x.com/lesleyabravanel/status/1809951921903407594?t=2z5PVS_OEyy0KG4tqGiCjg&s=19   Dark Money and the Courts The Right-Wing Takeover of the Judiciary https://www.acslaw.org/analysis/reports/dark-money/   After 50 Years, This Right-Wing Law Factory Is Crazier Than Ever The American Legislative Exchange Council is where corporations and far-right groups go to buy government policy. https://prospect.org/power/2023-10-04-alec-50-years-right-wing-law-factory/   New York Times Now Claims Video Footage Is Evidence of Biden’s Decline https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/new-york-times-now-claims-video-footage-is-evidence-of-bidens-decline/   Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post spreading disinformation against Biden https://x.com/nypost/status/1801555018929123647?t=xMQ9U_XOEm_NFlAjDpBaDA&s=19   Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News spreading disinformation against Biden https://x.com/DecodingFoxNews/status/1803661752933998889?t=p8EgABfbhCTbkqLRKLnuKA&s=19   American Cassandra: The Life of Dorothy Thompson https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/12/27/dorothy-thompson-peter-kurth   Yellen defends global corporate minimum tax deal amid Republican criticism https://www.reuters.com/world/us/yellen-us-negotiating-rd-tax-credit-part-global-tax-deal-2024-04-30/

The 2024 US election is the People vs. the autocrats. Trump is supported by Putin and Netanyahu. They would love to see him back in power. As part of the dictator’s playbook, they want to divide and conquer, including weaponizing social movements so that we’re fighting each other rather than building power together. How can we tell fact from fiction if progressive social movements are infiltrated by bad actors?  For more on that, this week’s bonus show is a continuation of the inspiring conversation with Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor, authors of Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea. Hunt-Hendrix, who holds a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University, and is a founder of the progressive organizations Solidaire and Way to Win, met Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective (a union of debtors), a filmmaker, and the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We’ll Miss It When It’s Gone, and The People’s Platform (winner of an American Book Award), among other works, at Occupy Wall Street. They share what they’ve learned since then on how to stay hopeful while building collective power. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

In a time of hyper-polarization, how do we build the coalitions we need and expand our power against the fascist oligarchs we’re up against? To help us make sense of these times, relying on history during eras of social unrest and revolution, are the authors of a new book, Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea, Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Astra Taylor. Hunt-Hendrix, who holds a PhD in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University, and is a founder of the progressive organizations Solidaire and Way to Win, met Taylor, a co-founder of the Debt Collective (a union of debtors), a filmmaker, and the author of The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart, Democracy May Not Exist But We’ll Miss It When It’s Gone, and The People’s Platform (winner of an American Book Award), among other works, at Occupy Wall Street. They share what they’ve learned since then on how to stay hopeful while building collective power. To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! The song you heard at the top of the show was 'Bouge' by Marine Futin. You can find more music by Marine Futin on all streaming platforms or at marinefutin.com.

Let’s talk about that Black Mirror episode we all witnessed on Thursday known as CNN’s debate featuring a prolific liar, indicted criminal, and serial rapist, without any fact-checkers save for one overworked 81-year old man with the busiest job in the world. What were your thoughts on the debate? Leave a comment below or email us at [email protected]! This week’s bonus show, exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level ($5/month) or higher on Patreon is the audience Q&A at our live-taping with investigative journalist Craig Unger. He is the author of several internationally bestselling books on the far-right’s war on democracy, including House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery. Unger will return for another live taping in the fall to discuss his latest book, Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House.   To our subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, get your questions in by July 11th for our next Q&A bonus show, publishing Saturday July 13th. And be sure to tune into our next live-taping featuring cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, author of the books Take Back Your Life and Bounded Choice. She is the founder of the nonprofit, the Lalich Center on Cults and Coercion. To get your ticket to the live-taping, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show. To listen to the full episode subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to join our community of listeners, get bonus shows, and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more!   Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4 7pm ET Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in!  RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes   Supreme Court Imperils an Array of Federal Rules https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/28/us/supreme-court-chevron?pvid=2dyuAaxnLrEFe73e9JTibfa7&smid=url-share   After Halting Debate Performance, Biden Tries to Reassure Democrats at Rally https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/06/28/us/trump-biden-debate?pvid=Njp7Xr2DGZ0y9XRXdMLzltkD&smid=url-share   Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. Were Close to Being Charged With Felony Fraud https://www.propublica.org/article/ivanka-donald-trump-jr-close-to-being-charged-felony-fraud   Biden Signs Bill to Protect Same-Sex Marriage Rights https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/us/politics/biden-same-sex-marriage-bill.html

Now that Jeffrey Epstein is dead (is he?) and Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison, who is serving their billionaire global market of pedophiles? Is Bill Barr, with his connections to traitor FBI agent and Russian spy Robert Hanssen, a Russian asset like Trump? Why isn’t the mainstream media sounding the alarm about the many Kremlin connections to Trump and his family, as well as Russia’s infiltration of the so-called “Deep State,” the FBI, and the CIA? In this special live taping of Gaslit Nation, celebrating George Orwell’s birthday, we break down all this and more with fearless investigative journalist Craig Unger. He is the author of several internationally bestselling books on the far-right’s war on democracy, including House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery. Unger will return for another live taping in the fall to discuss his latest book, Den of Spies: Reagan, Carter, and the Secret History of the Treason That Stole the White House. This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-Teller level ($5/month) and higher, is a continuation of our discussion with Unger, featuring questions from our audience. Thank you to everyone who joined our live taping and asked fascinating questions in the chat! We look forward to seeing you at our next live taping on July 15th with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, who will help us make sense of the MAGA death cult rally known as the Republican National Convention! To get access to that and more, including bonus shows and all episodes ad free, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September 4th at 7pm   Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones, at the Ukrainian Institute of America. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - July 18 at 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in!  RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   

Every scandal begins with a lie. But the truth will come out. And then comes the fallout and the outrage. Scandals have shaped America since its founding. From business and politics to sports and society, we look on aghast as corruption, deceit and ambition bring down heroes and celebrities, politicians and moguls. And when the dust finally settles, we’re left to wonder: how did this happen? Where did they trip up, and who is to blame? From the creators of American History Tellers, Business Wars and Tides of History comes American Scandal, where we take you deep into the heart of America’s dark side to look at what drives someone to break the rules and what happens when they’re caught. Hosted by Lindsay Graham. Listen now: Wondery.fm/AS-Gaslit 

Reminder! Join us Tuesday for the live taping of Gaslit Nation at 12pm ET with investigative journalist Craig Unger, author of the bestselling books House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery. A Zoom link will go out the morning of the event to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher! To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, message us your questions for our interview with Craig Unger!  In this week’s Gaslit Nation bonus show, Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack joins Andrea to discuss the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, as well as the racism and misogyny targeting this golden age of women’s basketball. This isn't just about sports; it's a seismic shift in the way we discuss gender and race. We need better conversations—more nuanced, more empathetic—about these topics, and we need to recognize the lived experiences of those involved. The dialogue around women’s sports is riddled with misogyny and cultural clashes, and it’s high time we confront and dismantle these toxic narratives. So, let’s give Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and their peers the respect they deserve, and in doing so, make strides toward a more equitable future in sports. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! A very special shout-out to Gaslit Nation listener Leslie Nuss, who’s running for state senate in Indiana! Learn more about her campaign here. Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community:  Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:  June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: Black Diplomats Substack & Podcast: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/

At the recent Detroit convention of Turning Point USA, led by Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk, a flag in the colors of the MAGA movement declared from the stage “White Boy Summer.” MAGA is a race war against America. So why are Black people, especially Brooklyn-born Byron Donalds, supporting a white supremacist movement?  This week on Gaslit Nation, Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack joins Andrea to discuss the curious case of Black Republicans like Donalds and their support for Trump. Andrea and Terrell also discuss the recent Switzerland peace summit for Ukraine, Vice President Kamala Harris’s remarks there, and the long list of African nations standing up to Russia’s aggression, and many across Africa which have been infiltrated by Russian mercenaries and Chinese imperialism.  This week’s bonus show, available Saturday for Patreon subscribers at the Truth-tell level and higher, looks at the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, as well as the racism and misogyny targeting this golden age of women’s basketball. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Reminder! Gaslit Nation’s first phone bank of the season is this Thursday at 7pm ET, in collaboration with our friends at Indivisible. If you haven’t already, make sure to RSVP using the link in the show notes! See you Thursday! A very special shout-out to Gaslit Nation listener Leslie Nuss, who’s running for state senate in Indiana! Learn more about her campaign here. Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community:  Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:  June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: CNN Data Reporter 'Speechless' By New Donald Trump-Joe Biden Poll: 'Holy Cow, Folks!' https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cnn-data-stunned-donald-trump-poll_n_6671266be4b08889dbe60168

To get access to this and all bonus shows, hear all episodes ad free, receive invites to exclusive events, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack is back on Gaslit Nation to join Andrea in debating why the Democrats don’t have their own Project 2025. So Gaslit Nation makes our own with a little help from Elizabeth Warren’s plans!  We also discuss the toxic industrial complex of far-right funded fake progressives who are paid trolls of dictatorships like Russia and Iran and wannabe dictators like American oligarch and dystopian tech Bond villain Peter Thiel. These “useful idiots” are bought off by powerful forces to divide and conquer the Left. The oligarchs we’re up against want the Left to fight each other rather than join together to build political power–the only way to ensure a livable future. It’s a divide and conquer strategy that, unfortunately, works.  There is no substitute for political power, or else our enemies wouldn’t work so hard to suppress the vote and mindhack people into voting against their interests or not voting at all. Every resistance movement and revolution that succeeded did so thanks to coalition building, not from ripping each other apart.  Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community:  Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:  June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!  Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.  In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!  Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in!  RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: News site editor’s ties to Iran, Russia show misinformation’s complexity Experts say an overlap in funding underscores concern that the spread of falsehoods and propaganda online is entering a more complicated stage as the November election draws closer. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/06/02/grayzone-russia-iran-support/  

Eighty years after countless people gave their lives liberating Europe, fascism makes a comeback in the recent European elections.  In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins Andrea to discuss the recent European elections and what they mean for the global democratic alliance, including our own elections in the U.S. Reporting from L’viv, Terrell shares what life is like in Ukraine after MAGA Mike Johnson deliberately delayed Ukraine aid for six critical months. Andrea updates Terrell on the latest in the Trump trial, and they discuss what it means for Ukrainians watching a reality TV horror show of an election in the U.S. that their very democracy depends on.  This week’s bonus show out Saturday morning, exclusive to subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) and higher on Patreon, is a discussion of why the Democrats don’t have their own Project 2025. So Gaslit Nation makes one, with a little help from Elizabeth Warren’s plans! We also discuss the toxic industrial complex of far-right funded fake progressives who are paid trolls of foreign enemies/dictatorships like Russia and Iran and anti-democracy American oligarchs like Peter Thiel, bought off to divide and conquer the Left.  Subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit to hear all bonus shows, get all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community:  Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:  June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket on Patreon.com/Gaslit. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!  Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here. Subscribe at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket on Patreon.com/Gaslit. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!  In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!  Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th - NEW TIME 7pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in!  RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes: Black Diplomats on Substack https://terrellstarr.substack.com/ Opening Clip: Breaking down the far-right wins in European elections, Macron's call for election https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khC9zAyNdZI Closing Clip: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared an emotional moment with an American D-Day veteran during a ceremony in Normandy, France, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the historic landing. https://x.com/Newsweek/status/1798831270480552322 Ivan Ilyin, Putin’s Philosopher of Russian Fascism https://www.nybooks.com/online/2018/03/16/ivan-ilyin-putins-philosopher-of-russian-fascism/  

"Russia has been an empire for so long, she doesn't know how to be a country." This line from Peter Morgan’s new play, Patriots, captures the story of Russian kingmaker Boris Berezovsky and his mysterious death in England. On the day Putin was inaugurated for his fifth term, Andrea attended a performance of Patriots with a former colleague of Paul Klebnikov, the American journalist and author of Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism. Klebnikov was gunned down in Moscow in 2004, likely on Berezovsky’s orders. In this chilling episode of Gaslit Nation, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss the latest leadership shake-up in Russia’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine, the forces behind Vladimir Putin’s rise to power, and the latest threats from Russia’s mafia state, including against Olga and her fearless human rights work. Western leaders must wake-up and do more to protect those on the frontlines, fighting for our democracy, more than the institutions failing us.  The discussion with Kremlin File begins around the 18-minute mark and is exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller tier and higher. In the opening segment, Andrea reads comments from Gaslit Nation subscribers at the Democracy Defender tier and higher on our recent coverage of Israel and Palestine. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join the conversation, submit questions to our regular Q&As, bonus shows, get all shows ad-free and invites to virtual events, and more, subscribe to Gaslit Nation at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community:    Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:  June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in!  RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes:   Pre-Order In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, out this September! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775   Paul Klebnikov: The Man Who Knew Too Much https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-man-who-knew-too-much/   Godfather of the Kremlin: The Decline of Russia in the Age of Gangster Capitalism https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/godfather-of-the-kremlin-the-decline-of-russia-in-the-age-of-gangster-capitalism_paul-klebnikov/297758/#edition=4484892&idiq=3909390  

Convicted felon Trump must go to prison for the safety of every American, the world, and our future. Sending Trump to prison would send a strong message to Putin: no one is above the law. And it will remind Putin that The Hague is waiting for him.   Several recent polls show a majority of Americans, including Independents, want convicted felon Trump to drop out of the race. Yet here we are, with Trump still running and Biden’s approval ratings scraping the bottom of the historical barrel. Why? Merrick Garland, Biden’s Attorney General, is the worst possible choice for this critical moment in American history.   We all saw Trump and his family try to overthrow our democracy, tailgating before their violent attempted coup and setting up a war room just steps from the White House at the Willard Hotel. Yet, they’re still free, enriching themselves, and gearing up to finish the coup they started with Kremlin support back in 2016. None of this is normal.    The cynicism is palpable. Americans expect Trump to walk free, maybe get probation, and continue his campaign for president. This absurdity erodes our faith in already crumbling institutions. The bottom line? A Russian asset should never have come near the White House in 2016. Trump’s presidency is a catastrophic failure of the FBI, CIA, Obama’s foreign policy team, and Republican leaders who shielded him during two impeachment trials. The establishment wants us to forget this because many now profit from book deals and TV appearances, even though they’re part of the problem.   And now, to some good news! Congratulations to Mexico for electing your first female and Jewish president, Claudia Sheinbaum. This gives hope that another world is possible, one built on accountability and justice. Here’s to a better future.   Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join our community of listeners, get bonus shows, and all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions to our regular Q&As, and more, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!   Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 11 8pm ET   July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in! RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/   Show Notes:    Israel and Evangelicals https://www.patreon.com/posts/israel-and-102272065   The Voice of Harvey Milk https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/the-voice-of-harvey-milk   Clip: Harvey Milk – “Give Them Hope” Speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9vol-8HYEc   Opening Clip: Outside Trump Tower in 2016 https://x.com/billyd3_/status/1795954011708735826   CLIP: Bill Maher’s All Male Panel (Breaking Points) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoSODlSKOqc   Clip: CNN - Netanyahu Undermining Ceasefire Deal https://x.com/JordanUhl/status/1797764019652370536   ‘No One Could Believe It’: When Ford Pardoned Nixon Four Decades Ago https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/us/politics/nixon-ford-pardon-watergate.html   Judge orders Manafort to jail while awaiting money laundering and fraud trials https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/06/15/judge-orders-paul-manafort-jail-wake-new-obstruction-charges/701199002/   'No Blame?' ABC News finds 54 cases invoking 'Trump' in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/blame-abc-news-finds-17-cases-invoking-trump/story?id=58912889   She is set to be Mexico’s first female president. But who is Claudia Sheinbaum?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudia_Sheinbaum   Congress braces for "large" boycott, disruptions of Netanyahu speech https://www.axios.com/2024/06/04/democrats-boycott-benjamin-netanyahu-speech-congress  

Ads support our production costs. To listen to our show ad-free, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounted annual subscriptions available. Thank you to everyone who makes Gaslit Nation possible in a time of oligarchs run amok! There would be no show without you!  * Alvin Bragg finally caught his white (supremacist) whale. The unthinkable has happened: Donald Trump has found himself in a legal storm that no amount of hush money can silence. In an age where cynicism is more abundant than hope, this verdict feels like a much-needed, surprising relief. As you and all the world know by now, Trump has been found guilty in the election interference case, a landmark decision brought by the ever-persistent Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has sued Trump around 100 times in his long career of public service. Trump now faces 136 years in prison, four years for each of the 34 felony counts, and will be sentenced on July 11 by a steely Judge Juan Merchan, who has endured death threats and other harassment against him and his family.    It’s okay to celebrate and to also mourn all that’s been taken from us, including countless lives, by Trump and his family stealing the 2016 election, backed by their goon squad and the Kremlin in a transnational conspiracy.     This week’s bonus show, available to all in a Gaslit Nation block party, looks at the Wall Street machine that Bragg had to overcome for this historic moment, the mass destruction of Cy Vance, Jr.’s dark legacy of corruption, and how grassroots power once again, led by progressives and nonwhite people, forced justice in the face of institutional failure and complicity. Thank you to everyone who stays in this fight. It’s because of you we stand a chance to overcome Trump and his MAGA cult in November, and do the urgent work ahead to transform our democracy, in order to Trump-proof it for many generations to come.    Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:  June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in!  RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/   Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes: The eyebrow-raising legal theory behind Alvin Bragg’s case against Trump https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/alvin-bragg-trump-case-legal-theory-rcna154413 How Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. Avoided a Criminal Indictment https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-ivanka-trump-and-donald-trump-jr-avoided-a-criminal-indictment Baker McKenzie, a go-to firm for Kremlin-linked companies, now says it’s leaving Russia https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/baker-mckenzie-a-go-to-firm-for-kremlin-linked-companies-now-says-its-leaving-russia/ Excellent thread on Alvin Bragg by worker’s rights lawyer Terri Gerstein https://x.com/TerriGerstein/status/1621873428537004032 How the Hell Is Trump 43-0 vs. Campaign Finance Watchdogs? https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-is-now-miraculously-43-0-against-partisan-fec Alvin Bragg Wins, Becoming First Black D.A. in Manhattan https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/02/nyregion/alvin-bragg-wins-manhattan-da.html Opening Clip: https://x.com/KellyrKopp/status/1796299394360467464

The two most dangerous presidents in American history lost the popular vote but won the slave state monument, the Electoral College: war criminal George W. Bush and Russian asset Donald Trump. Luckily it's within reach to reform the Electoral College, protecting democracy and the world.    Alyssa Cass of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a bipartisan movement to pass legislation in enough states across the country to ensure that the president is elected by the popular vote, joins Gaslit Nation to explain how to reform the Electoral College. Seventeen states and Washington, DC, with 209 electoral votes total, have already enacted the legislation. This means 61 electoral votes are needed in order for the popular vote–the will of the people–not the outdated and dangerous Electoral College, which gives way too much power to a handful of swing states, determines our elections. To be a part of the movement to reform the Electoral College, check the status of the legislation in your state and get involved: https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status   This week’s bonus episode, exclusive to supporters at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, features Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast on the making of Vladimir Putin. Listeners at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level and higher join the conversation on Gaslit Nation’s coverage of Israel and Palestine. Thank you so much for all your comments! We always enjoy hearing from you!    Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community at the Truth-teller tier and higher that make Gaslit Nation possible:    Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:  June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we’re producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich’s second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.    In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September  Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!    Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there’s such a thing as Project 2025, there’s no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We’re going in!  RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes:   Pre-Order In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, out this September! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775   The song you heard at the top of the show was 'The Fuel' by Jerrika Mighelle. You can find more music by Jerrika Mighelle on all streaming platforms or at jerrikamighelle.com. And be sure to check out the beautiful official video for 'The Fuel' on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXK32cYuOWs   Post-9/11 wars have contributed to some 4.5 million deaths, report suggests https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/15/war-on-terror-911-deaths-afghanistan-iraq/   Surveillance and interference: Israel’s covert war on the ICC exposed Top Israeli government and security officials have overseen a nine-year surveillance operation targeting the ICC and Palestinian rights groups to try to thwart a war crimes probe, a joint investigation reveals. https://www.972mag.com/icc-israel-surveillance-investigation/   Spying, hacking and intimidation: Israel’s nine-year ‘war’ on the ICC exposed https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/28/spying-hacking-intimidation-israel-war-icc-exposed   Fareed Zakaria: Is Israel committing humanitarian crimes in Gaza? The Israeli gov’t strenuously denies it. Aryeh Neier, a giant in the world of human rights who escaped Nazi Germany and later cofounder Human Rights Watch, says the answer is yes. Our conversation from today’s GPS: https://x.com/FareedZakaria/status/1794793567543509201   Thomas Piketty’s Radical Plan to Redistribute Wealth https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/books/review/a-brief-history-of-equality-thomas-piketty.html   Why the Voting Rights Act Is Once Again Under Threat https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/06/opinion/why-the-voting-rights-act-is-once-again-under-threat.html   William Barr, nation's top lawyer, is a culture warrior Catholic https://www.ncronline.org/news/william-barr-nations-top-lawyer-culture-warrior-catholic   Bill Barr, frequent Trump critic, says he will support the ‘Republican ticket’ in November https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/politics/bill-barr-donald-trump-vote/index.html   “I started Occupy Wall Street. Russia tried to co-opt me” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/activist-russia-protest-occupy-black-lives-matter   What will Trump jury decide? Here are the three options https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c033m2qdm0no  

Project 2025: A name so boring it must be sinister!  Gaslit Nation was early warning about Project 2025. Now people are finally starting to pay attention. Another early warning system is journalist Anne Nelson, the author of Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. Nelson covered the conflicts in El Salvador and Guatemala, and won the Livingston Award for best international reporting from the Philippines. She served as the director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and became the director of the international program at the Columbia School of Journalism, where she created the first curriculum in human rights reporting. This is Nelson’s second time on the show. The excellent must-watch documentary Bad Faith, featured on the show in April, was based on her book.    We created this special episode that tells you everything you need to know about Project 2025–the decades-long rise of Christian nationalism, backed by Big Oil & Coal to prevent and rollback regulations and turn America into a dictatorship to protect record profits. “The shadow network” has been looking for a strongman for decades, and Trump is their long-awaited strongman to finish the job.    This week’s bonus show explores the making of Vladimir Putin, featuring Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast. Comments from our listeners at the Democracy Defender tier and higher are also shared in the context of the latest on Israel, Palestine, Iran, and more! To submit your questions, subscribe to the show at the Democracy Defender tier ($10/month) or higher, and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   June 25th is George Orwell’s birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate) is going to join the live taping of Gaslit Nation on Tuesday June 25, at 12pm ET with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. The live taping will be exclusive to our Patreon community that keeps the show going, so be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!    Join Us for Our First Phonebank Party of 2024! Plant Seeds of Change at the Indivisible With Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! – June 20th 6-8pm ET https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/   Show Notes   Anne Nelson, author and journalist website https://anne-nelson.com/about/   Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-network-media-money-and-the-secret-hub-of-the-radical-right-anne-nelson/8555395?ean=9781635575828   Opening Clip: Jasmine Crockett CONFRONTS Trumper, Project 2025 Contributor Gene Hamilton: Playbook For A Dictator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2IF5CJARP8   Are Our Oligarchs Going to Drag Us Into Civil War? The billionaires who own the GOP are now actively promoting the same sort of revisionist history the Confederacy did. That did not go very well. https://newrepublic.com/article/181698/american-billionaire-oligarchs-drag-us-civil-war?utm_campaign=SF_TNR&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter   The Saudi Prince, The Mosque And Fox News https://www.npr.org/2010/09/01/129584557/the-saudi-prince-the-mosque-and-fox-news   Longtime Murdoch Ally, Saudi Prince Dumps $1.5B Worth of Fox Shares With Prince Alwaleed’s assets likely to have been frozen after the arrest, it’s unclear who performed the trading and when. https://observer.com/2017/11/longtime-murdoch-ally-saudi-prince-dumps-1-5b-worth-of-fox-shares/  

Mark your calendar! We're having a live taping of Gaslit Nation on June 25 (Orwell's birthday!) at 12pm ET for subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!  *** Are you tired of the nonstop coverage of the Trump trials? The mainstream media is setting Americans up for disappointment again, like they did with the nonstop “justice porn” coverage of the Mueller investigation. The only thing that will stop Trump in November is us. (It should not be that way, but it is). Progress in America has always come from the grassroots, and as MAGA’s Russian-backed coup against our democracy continues, grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. To join the movement to strengthen American democracy from the ground up, be sure to check out the Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide on the homepage of GaslitNationPod.com. As for the trial, Gaslit Nation predicts a hung jury: you just need one juror, likely a man, who wants to make a name for himself and cash-in with rewards from the Trump machine. What are your predictions of what will come from the Trump trial? Let us know in an email to [email protected] and we may read your comment on the show!  In this week’s bonus show, Andrea answers questions from our subscribers at the Democracy Defender level ($10/month) and higher! The discussion includes the hypocrisy of Congress’s TikTok ban, the importance of stating one’s values and goals in the fight for our democracy, how the Israel-Palestine War impacts Ukraine coverage and why that matters, the boring ratings grab of nonstop Trump trial coverage, and more! Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins the show to explain why the average American voter should care about the growing protests in Georgia against Russian-state capture. Is it a preview of the U.S. should Trump win? Ready to see the President of the United States share the same stage as an unpunished coup-plotter and serial rapist who idolizes Hitler and Putin? To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, we’re having a debate watch party on June 27th in our Victory Chat, to help us get through the media’s normalization of Trump and fact check the gaslighting. Hold on tight! Subscribe to Gaslit Nation on Patreon at the Truth-teller level or higher, and for $5/month, get all shows ad-free, bonus shows, invites to exclusive events, join a like-minded community of listeners, and more! This excerpt is from this week’s bonus show. To hear the full discussion, make sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounts are available when you sign up for an annual subscription!  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: Pre-Order Andrea's Graphic Novel: In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775   Putin’s brutal war on Ukraine vanishes from news coverage amid raging conflict in Gaza https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/17/media/gaza-ukraine-war-news-coverage/index.html   Polling data expert Tom Bonier https://twitter.com/tbonier   Shaun Walker of The Guardian on Russia’s Stalinist prisons https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7/status/1789751355252396394  

Pepsi or Coke? Both brands are making money in Russia despite promises to unwind operations. For Russia’s war to end, companies must be named and shamed to finally leave the Russian market, and sanctions must be enforced. In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Andrea is joined by Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast to discuss how to end Russia’s war, not just give Ukraine enough to stay in the fight. Peter Dugas, New England Regional Director of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, also stops by to discuss the common ground behind the headlines of the climate crisis. Young conservatives in growing numbers embrace science and are on the front lines of a bipartisan movement to end our self-destructive dependence on fossil fuels. Want to be part of the movement? Join the Citizens’ Climate Lobby in Washington, DC, June 8-11 to meet with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle – get training on how to demand sensible and urgent climate crisis legislation. Sign up by May 20th here: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-conferences/summer/ This week’s bonus show looks at why the average American voter should care about the growing protests in Georgia against a Russian law put in place by Russian-backed politicians. (Sound familiar?) The bonus show also answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. The discussion includes the hypocrisy of America’s TikTok ban, the importance of stating one’s values and goals in the fight for our democracy, how the Israel-Palestine War impacts Ukraine coverage and why that matters, and more! To join the conversation, submit questions to our regular Q&As, bonus shows, get all shows ad-free and invites to virtual events, and more, subscribe to Gaslit Nation at the Truth-teller level or higher! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes:   Want to plant seeds of change? Join Citizens’ Climate Lobby in Washington, DC June 8-11 to meet with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to demand urgent action on the climate crisis. Sign up here by May 20th: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-conferences/summer/   Join Gaslit Nation and Kremlin File for a live taping on June 18th 12pm ET live-taping! The Zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event to Gaslit Nation’s supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon    Find out which companies are still doing business in Russia: Leave-Russia.org    Jamala - 1944 (Ukraine) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxS6eKEOdLQ   Jamala’s Music Video for Mr. Jones (Ціна правди/”The Price of Truth) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6F6P3tTJw8   Eurovision: Isreali contestant booed as thousands protest outside venue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEb1AeRR7Nk   French artist disrupts rehearsal at EuroVision to give a speech for peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWU69VCaNjY

This week, porn star, filmmaker, business woman, and Trump survivor Stormy Daniels told the court in the Manhattan DA trial for Trump’s 2016 election interference that Trump said, that time he coerced her into sex, “You remind me of my daughter, she is smart and blonde and beautiful and people underestimate her as well.” Ivanka, Trump’s favorite child, is his likely successor. He has reportedly said on multiple occasions that he would like to f*ck Ivanka, making comments about her body. According to a recent report from Puck, Ivanka is looking for a role in the Trump campaign, hoping to get back into the White House. The Kushners want their kleptocracy gravy train back!    Joining Gaslit Nation to discuss Ivanka’s latest power grab, reports of Jared Kushner wanting to be Secretary of State and how he promoted developing Gaza into beachfront property, is Terrell Starr from the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack. Terrell is about to head back to Ukraine for a reporting trip. Make sure to follow his coverage by subscribing to Black Diplomats on YouTube, Substack, and more!   Want to submit a question for our regular Q&As? Be sure to subscribe at the Democracy Defender-level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! To listen to the full episode, our recent Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, get all bonus shows, all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive virtual events, and more, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher!    Thank you to everyone who supports the show! We could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Black Diplomats Substack & Podcast https://terrellstarr.substack.com/  https://www.blackdiplomats.net/   The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-immortality-key-the-secret-history-of-the-religion-with-no-name-brian-c-muraresku/16724875?ean=9781250803986   Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-side-of-103574554?l=es https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dghYqZQzPo6z_0gzxqLzA7YRcf2Tuxbr/edit   Trump’s lewd talk about daughter Ivanka in front of White House staff recalled in new book https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trumps-lewd-talk-about-daughter-ivanka-in-front-of-white-house-staff-recalled-in-new-book/   Ivanka, Interrupted Out of the spotlight but itching to return, the former first daughter has begun quietly surveying allies about how, and when, she might help the Trump campaign—and possibly find herself back in the White House. https://puck.news/ivanka-trump-reconsiders-a-return-to-west-wing/?_cio_id=f6c60601f153a2be02&utm_campaign=The+Best+%26+The+Brightest+-+SUBSCRIBERS+%285%2F2%2F24%29&utm_content=The+Best+%26+The+Brightest+-+SUBSCRIBERS+%285%2F1%2F24%29&utm_medium=email_action&utm_source=customer.io&utm_term=f6c60601f153a2be02   Jared Kushner says Gaza’s ‘waterfront property could be very valuable’ This article is more than 1 month old Donald Trump’s son-in-law also says Israel should bulldoze an area of the Negev desert and move Palestinians there https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/19/jared-kushner-gaza-waterfront-property-israel-negev#:~:text=Jared%20Kushner%20has%20praised%20the,Harvard%20University%20on%2015%20February.   Trump’s lewd talk about daughter Ivanka in front of White House staff recalled in new book https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trumps-lewd-talk-about-daughter-ivanka-in-front-of-white-house-staff-recalled-in-new-book/   ‘Do you worry about STDs?’: Stormy Daniels’s testimony on Trump affair off to lurid start The adult film star testifies in a hush-money trial that could land the ex-president and Republican frontrunner behind bars https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/07/stormy-daniels-donald-trump-testimony  

Overlooked in the campus protests is the witch-trial hearings by MAGA Mike Johnson’s House that bullied university presidents and scrutinized their federal funding, pressuring them, as Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton famously wrote in the Newspaper of Power, to “send in the troops.” Ultimately, the responsiblity falls on campus leadership, with several schools, like Rutgers University and Northwestern University, choosing a peaceful approach, reminding us that another world, free of police brutality, is possible.    Following the anniversary of the Kent State massacre on May 4th, Gaslit Nation looks at the campus protests, reminding everyone that peaceful protest and civil disobedience won hard-fought progress in America’s history. Biden recently stopped a shipment of arms to Israel, thanks to the growing pressure. We also check-in on the coup, out in the open, against our democracy, with Rudy Giuliani trying once again to exhort Ukraine to invent dirt on Biden. This is what led to Trump’s first impeachment. He’s back at it, because Giuliani, along with all the rest of the coup plotters, were never punished.   This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, looks at the latest reports that Ivanka Trump, after failing to make Nikki Haley the nominee, wants back on the Trump campaign and the White House. Expect to see Ivanka speaking at the RNC in July, wearing a pair of earrings you can buy from her own personal brand for $199.99! We also answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher–so subscribe today to join the fun at Patreon.com/Gaslit!    Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Show Notes:   Donald Trump's new FBI director pick has Russian ties of his own: Christopher Wray looks good on paper, but his law firm represents Russian-controlled oil companies. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/06/08/trump-new-fbi-director-chris-wray-russian-ties-rosneft-gazprom-column/102603214/   FBI Director nominee removed reference to case involving Russian government from law firm bio https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/20/politics/kfile-fbi-nominee-law-firm-bio/index.html   FBI Nominee Christopher Wray Earned $9.2 Million at Law Firm Since January 2016 Ethics disclosures detail his work at King & Spalding and list around 20 pages of assets https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-nominee-christopher-wray-earned-9-2-million-at-law-firm-since-january-2016-1499712979   As corporate lawyers in 2016, Wray and Rod Rosenstein’s top deputy, Rob Hur, probed the Blackwater founder’s paramilitary aircraft plans. What happens now? https://theintercept.com/2018/03/19/erik-prince-frontier-services-group-chris-wray-fbi/   Russia Questions Loom for Trump FBI Pick https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-questions-loom-for-trump-fbi-pick   Trump’s Arrest, Kissinger’s War Crimes, and The Long Hunt for Justice https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/06/14/trumps-arrest-kissingers-war-crimes   Rudy Giuliani Wants to Do the Exact Thing That Got Trump Impeached Giuliani called for Republicans to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. https://newrepublic.com/post/181095/rudy-giuliani-trump-impeached-zelenskiy-biden   What Columbia Should Have Done Instead of Brutalizing Its Student Protesters Two other universities showed that the school clearly had other options. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/05/columbia-student-protests-nypd-shafik-escalation.html   The US universities that allow protest encampments – and even negotiate While semesters at other schools speed toward a violent close, several universities have sought a more amicable solution https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/04/universities-allow-student-campus-protest-encampments   Were 'Snipers' on Roofs at Gaza Student Protests? What to Know https://www.newsweek.com/snipers-roofs-gaza-student-protests-indiana-ohio-1895314   Cop Slammed Emory Professor’s Head Into Concrete, Then Charged Her With Battery https://sg.news.yahoo.com/cop-slammed-emory-professor-head-195707606.html   NYPD officer fired gun while clearing Columbia protest https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68947267   ‘It wasn’t equal:’ Counter-protesters overwhelm pro-Palestinian students at the University of Mississippi https://mississippitoday.org/2024/05/02/it-wasnt-equal-counter-protesters-overwhelm-pro-palestinian-students-at-the-university-of-mississippi/   US soldier was arrested in Russia last week, officials say https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/05/06/politics/us-soldier-arrested-russia   Giuliani wants to pressure Ukraine to invent sandal on Biden: https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1785050398266474644   Tucker Carlson’s Kremlin Propaganda Tour: https://twitter.com/United24media/status/1785353424726380615

The recording of the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things is here along with the transcript in the show notes for our subscribers at the Truth-teller and higher. Not a subscriber? Sign up and join a community of listeners, get all shows ad free, bonus shows, exclusive invites, questions answered in our Q&As, and more by subscribing at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!    In this special workshop, a follow-up to last fall’s Make Art Workshop, where Andrea shared her secret hot sauce for writing a first draft that reads like a third draft, she follows it up with her business checklist on how to navigate shark-infested waters with an open heart, knowing how to protect yourself, what to look out for in every contract and advice for working with lawyers, the often overlooked goals of fundraising that will make all the difference for your project, saving it from the brink.    The Q&A discussion became a freewheeling chat with our live audience from our community of Gaslit Nation listeners sharing their projects, questions, and responding to Andrea’s additional stories and insights for bringing your art out into the world. The Q&A portion is transcript only, to protect the privacy of the folks who participated, creating a lively and inspiring meeting of minds. To connect with other artists, and those who love artists, in our Gaslit Nation community, be sure to join the chat group on Patreon, exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher, called Art is Survival.     Here are some of the references to help you on your journey: For all artists of any medium, get inspiration from the essential YouTube series Every Frame a Painting https://www.youtube.com/@everyframeapainting List of European film funds https://cineuropa.org/en/backings/ A paid subscription site for looking up contact info for producers, agents, and managers https://www.imdb.com/?ref_=nv_home Best site for looking up literary agents to pitch and tips on pitching https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/   Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation – we could not make this show without you!   Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Show Notes: Make Art Workshop on writing a first draft that reads like a third draft, from November 2023 Audio only: https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-audio-93455868?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-video-93450936?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link   A deep dive into Cuba's rich musical history, reported from Havana https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1197955869

Russia’s transnational crime syndicate uses our own weaknesses against us, to entrench their weaponized corruption. Take, for instance, the Act 22 tax loophole that lets rich Americans buy up land in Puerto Rico to avoid paying any money in federal taxes. It’s called “trickle down theory,” but the locals call it gentrification and tax dodging. So why is RT (Russia Today) latching on to a grassroots campaign to close the Act 22 tax loophole threatening to turn Puerto Rico into a dangerous money-laundering vipers den, with no affordable housing? Could it be that Russia is trying to stop this movement by discrediting it?   Ringing the alarm on how the Act 22 tax loophole jeopardizes Puerto Rico’s sovereignty and U.S. national security are Nomiki Konst, an activist and filmmaker, and Federico de Jesús, a public affairs consultant. They joined forces in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria to launch "Losing Puerto Rico," a documentary-in-progress and movement by the same name against the Act 22 tax loophole. Konst, a longtime ally of Senator Bernie Sanders, chosen by Sanders to work on the unity commission for the DNC following the 2016 election, cut her teeth as an investigative journalist under Wayne Barrett, the first reporter to warn us about Trump. De Jesús, who helped lead Hispanic outreach in campaigns for President Barack Obama and Senator Harry Reid, focuses on human rights issues in Puerto Rico. They explain what’s at stake with the Act 22 tax loophole, why Russia may have taken an interest, and their urgent advice for Biden on how to defeat Trump in the 2024 election, including how to win back Hispanic voters who have been trending Republican.    This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon, features the recording of the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, alongside the transcript. To access the workshop, all bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive event invitations, and more, subscribe to the show and join our listener community at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Listen to “Pur Sun” by Whose Hat Is This? https://bassmagazine.com/tim-lefebvres-whose-hat-is-this-releases-new-single-pur-sun-listen/ You can find more music by Whose Hat is This? on Bandcamp at whosehatisthis.bandcamp.com or whosehatisthis.com Thank you to Tim Lefebvre and Whose Hat is This? for your music! Got music to share with the world? Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628   Thank you to OneSkine, the sponsor of this week’s episode – be sure to give them a try! Our listeners can receive an exclusive discount code. Tell ‘em Gaslit Nation sent you!  Get 15% off OneSkin with the code GASLIT at https://www.oneskin.co/    Show Notes:   Losing Puerto Rico – learn more about the movement to protect Puerto Rico, U.S. security interests, and repeal the Act 22 tax loophole and the film-in-progress: https://www.losingpuertorico.com/   Losing Homeland - How a Speculators and Tax Cheats are Stealing Puerto Rico https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6K2SxZNxGQ   Inside the Oslo accords: a new podcast series marks 30 years since Israel-Palestine secret peace negotiations https://theconversation.com/inside-the-oslo-accords-a-new-podcast-series-marks-30-years-since-israel-palestine-secret-peace-negotiations-212985   What is the International Criminal Court and why it has Israeli officials worried https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-international-criminal-court-hague-palestinians-1f683a6e2e150d91c415eb1d0a19a44d   Israeli, U.S. Officials Say New Sanctions Due to Conduct of Ben-Gvir, Smotrich A U.S. source said the far-right ministers were considered for sanctions themselves, but the White House feared impacts on bilateral relations. Some U.S. figures object to the use of the term 'sanctions,' and say that the U.S. is simply holding Israel to the standard it holds all aid recipients https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-21/ty-article/.premium/israeli-u-s-officials-say-new-sanctions-due-to-conduct-of-ben-gvir-smotrich/0000018f-018b-d6a0-a9ef-c19f11020000   How today's college protests echo history https://www.npr.org/2024/04/29/1198911364/student-protests-palestine-israel-vietnam-compared-history-1968-columbia-campus   German ex-soldier admits spying for Russia as trial opens https://sg.news.yahoo.com/german-ex-soldier-admits-spying-161900658.html   2 Ukrainians were stabbed in Germany. Prosecutors are examining a possible political motive https://apnews.com/article/germany-ukrainians-stabbed-russian-suspect-4a432eb55a05885c541b2515be1b20d5

With growing campus protests against the U.S. backing Netanyahu’s genocidal war to cling to power and the Democratic National Convention returning to Chicago this summer, it’s hard not to think of 1968. As this week’s guest, Ari Berman of Mother Jones, explains, the Founding Fathers of America set us up for cycles of fascism vs. democracy, cynicism vs. idealism.   It’s important to be aware of how social movements can be hijacked and weaponized. For that, read the essential 2017 piece in The Guardian by Micah White, a co-founder of Occupy Wall Street, on how Russia tried to co-opt him. While there’s a long history of the Left being weaponized by foreign adversaries, as the film Mr. Jones reminds us, the magnitude of campus protests across America is a morally clear line, like the Vietnam War and Iraq War protests before them.   As we head into the spring of the most important year for America, one where democracy must prevail, it’s important to take time to reflect on radical self-care. As empathy becomes the growing demand of our collective, activism must include self-care, one of the most important acts of resistance, as Angela Davis in our opening clip reminds us. This week’s bonus show reflects on that and urges our listeners to reach out to an old friend to reconnect and re-energize. You will be glad you did, as we get closer to the ticking clock of November 5th.    In this week’s bonus show, Ari Berman of Mother Jones, author of the must-read book Minority Rule, joins the long list of guests to take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A, producing some surprising answers and a rallying call, for Ari, along the way.     Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Show Notes: Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211 I started Occupy Wall Street. Russia tried to co-opt me | Micah White https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/activist-russia-protest-occupy-black-lives-matter  Opening Clip: Radical Self Care by AfroPunk Featuring Angela Davis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cHoL4vaBs

How do we protect ourselves from a corrupt Supreme Court? How can the gerrymandering crisis be stopped? What were the Founding Fathers thinking? Can the American Experiment survive?    Ari Berman of Mother Jones stops by Gaslit Nation to discuss his new book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People―and the Fight to Resist It. Berman shares insights into the troubling compromises that made the U.S. Constitution, the Koch-funded far-right plan to turn America into a dictatorship, GOP laboratories of autocracy in swing states like Wisconsin, what an American dictatorship would look like, and how to avoid that fate this November and beyond.   This week's bonus show includes a look at the growing campus protests over Israel's genocide in Gaza, Republican "free speech" hypocrisy, the need for radical self-care to build movements, and Ari Berman’s take on the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A, leading to some surprising answers. To get access to our bonus shows and invites to exclusive events, receive all episodes ad-free, and more, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   To our Patreon community, the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things will publish, along with the transcript, the morning of Saturday May 4th! In the meantime, check out our Art is Survival chat group to connect with other artists in our community of listeners!   Show Notes:   Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It by Ari Berman https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211   Opening Clip: Historian Timothy Snyder schools Marjorie Taylor Greene  https://twitter.com/rshereme/status/1781337606808060042   Clip: Medhi Hasan to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "What do you say to a young progressive or an Arab-American who says to you, 'I just can't vote for Biden again after what he's enabled in Gaza.'?” https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1781120448186462407   Havana Syndrome evidence suggests who may be responsible for mysterious brain injuries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdPSD1SUYCY   Havana Syndrome mystery continues as a lead military investigator says bar for proof was set impossibly high https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-culprit-investigation-new-evidence-60-minutes-transcript/   Havana syndrome: Report links mystery illness to Russian intelligence unit https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68706317   Havana Syndrome: The History Behind the Mystery https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/04/havana-syndrome-the-history-behind-the-mystery/   Russia Is Buying Politicians in Europe. Is It Happening Here Too? A former CIA officer explains how a vast, pro-Putin corruption network uncovered in Europe is a warning sign for the U.S. https://newrepublic.com/article/180630/russia-corruption-network-europe-buying-politicians-america   Europe—but Not NATO—Should Send Troops to Ukraine To Halt Russia’s Advance, Kyiv Needs More Boots on the Ground https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/europe-not-nato-should-send-troops-ukraine   Anne Applebaum: “The pro-Russian caucus inside the GOP was defeated on Saturday, and with it Putin's dream of quickly occupying Ukraine. Now the US and Europe need to seize the moment to win, and end, the war” https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1782206525144015039   Netanyahu Resists U.S. Plan to Cut Off Aid to Israeli Military Unit: After months of inaction, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is poised to bar U.S. aid to an Israeli unit accused of human rights abuses https://www.propublica.org/article/netanyahu-resists-blinken-plan-sanction-against-israeli-military-unit   More than 200 bodies found in mass grave at Nasser Hospital in Gaza https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/more-than-200-bodies-found-in-mass-grave-at-nasser-hospital-in-gaza   With Whom are Many U.S. Police Departments Training? With a Chronic Human Rights Violator – Israel https://www.amnestyusa.org/updates/with-whom-are-many-u-s-police-departments-training-with-a-chronic-human-rights-violator-israel/   What to know about the U.N. vote on whether to admit Palestinians as full members https://www.wpr.org/news/what-to-know-about-the-u-n-vote-on-whether-to-admit-palestinians-as-full-members   David Rothkopf of Deep State Radio: “I'm a Jew-loving Jew. Anti-Semitism is never ok. Here's what is not anti-Semitism: Peaceful protest, criticism of the Israeli government, calling for an independent Palestine, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, using the term apartheid to describe Israel, questioning Zionism.” https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/1782406544287482221   How Johnson came to embrace Ukraine aid and defy his right flank https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/21/politics/ukraine-aid-mike-johnson-house-speaker-israel-taiwan/index.html   These 112 House Republicans voted against Ukraine aid https://www.businessinsider.com/which-house-republicans-voted-against-ukraine-russia-aid-2024-4   US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-long-awaited-95-billion-ukraine-israel-aid-package-2024-04-20/   Congress passes bill that could unlock billions in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine More than $6 billion of the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets are sitting in U.S. banks. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/house-vote-billions-dollars-russian-government-money-sitting-us-banks-rcna148671   Mike Johnson's Campaign Contributions From Company Tied to Russia https://www.newsweek.com/house-speaker-mike-johnson-donations-russia-butina-1838501   CIA chief Pompeo met with sanctioned Russian spies, officials confirm https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/01/politics/pompeo-russian-spies-meeting/index.html#:~:text=CIA%20Director%20Mike%20Pompeo%20did,direct%20knowledge%20of%20the%20meetings.   Pompeo on releasing 5,000 prisoners in Afghanistan in deal with the Taliban https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/567924-pompeo-says-trump-administration-didnt-take-the-words-of-taliban/   Mike Pompeo is a Russia hawk, which could be a problem for his friend Trump https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/editorial/opinion--mike-pompeo-is-a-russia-hawk-which-could-be-a-problem-for-his-friend-trump/2018/03/15/138aae70-288b-11e8-a227-fd2b009466bc_video.html   Father of Koch Brothers Helped Build Nazi Oil Refinery, Book Says https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/us/politics/father-of-koch-brothers-helped-build-nazi-oil-refinery-book-says.html  

House Speaker Mike Johnson, self-proclaimed champion for human rights and freedom, and enemy of dictators everywhere, inched closer to getting Ukraine aid after eight months of successfully delaying it, empowering Russia’s genocide. Kremlin state TV repeatedly praised Johnson for assisting their brutal invasion, which, as discussed in this week’s bonus show, emboldened Iran to unleash a shocking swarm of drones and missiles against Israel. The Ukraine aid package still faces delays, thanks to MAGA, and will have to go back to the Senate before it reaches President Biden’s desk. The Trump-proposed changes, of structuring some of the aid as a loan, can be forgiven by the President, including partial loan forgiveness by Biden on his way out, should he lose the election. If Trump wins, he could force Ukraine to repay what’s left of the loan and refuse to send ATACMS, the long-range missiles that have made Ukraine effective at blowing up Russian planes and other military targets that slaugher civilians. The compromise in this aid package, far less than what Ukraine actually needs to win the war, adds to the urgency to ensure Trump loses the electoral college. It’s going to be a nailbiter, for America and the world.  This week’s bonus show includes reports that Paul Manafort is back to help Trump (and Russia) win the 2024 election. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss Manafort’s dark arts and how they may help Trump and Russia illegally hijack our democracy once again. Ari Berman of Mother Jones stops by Gaslit Nation next week to discuss his new must-read book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It. Ari will share his insights on how we got here and what must be done to save our democracy. Want to hear the full episode? Join a community of listeners and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes:   Johnson’s plan to send aid to Ukraine moves closer to reality “Democrats will not be responsible for this bill failing,” one Democratic lawmaker pledged on Thursday morning. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/18/johnson-plan-send-aid-ukraine-moves-closer-becoming-reality/   Putin Ally Declares Mike Johnson 'Our Johnson' https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-declares-mike-johnson-our-johnson-1890071   Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/   Why Did U.S. Planes Defend Israel but Not Ukraine? There are lessons for other nations in the events of the past few days. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ukraine-israel-war-comparison/678077/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3zBTrwyTVOGzmWK5yps1Kck&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share   U.S., NOT ISRAEL, SHOT DOWN MOST IRAN DRONES AND MISSILES American forces did most of the heavy lifting responding to Iran’s retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Damascus. https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/iran-attack-israel-drones-missiles/   How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/14/middleeast/israel-air-missile-defense-iran-attack-intl-hnk-ml   To be clear, if someone does trigger a motion to vacate -- anyone, MTG or Massie -- it would be incredibly perilous for Johnson. But remember: the first step is a motion to table. And Democrats could vote to table, and that's that. https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1780240955196539137   Why Israel’s attack on Iranian consulate in Syria was a gamechanger Peter Beaumont and Emma Graham-Harrison A war long fought through proxies, assassinations and strikes outside Israel has spilled into the open https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/14/why-israel-attack-on-iranian-consulate-in-syria-was-a-gamechanger   Video Shows Ukrainian Plane Being Hit Over Iran The New York Times has obtained video of the moment a Ukrainian airliner was hit minutes after takeoff from Tehran. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/video/iran-plane-missile.html   The Great Oligarchs Escape: ‘The Ground Is Trembling. They Will Stream Into Israel' As Ukraine war rages and the West tightens the screws on Russian oligarchs, many of them look to Israel to escape. Some hold Israeli citizenship, exactly for these kinds of circumstances. Billionaires will benefit from Israeli law, allowing them to hide sources of income for a 10-year period https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-03-10/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-great-oligarchs-escape-the-ground-is-trembling-they-will-stream-into-israel/0000017f-f2d9-df98-a5ff-f3fd182d0000   EXCLUSIVE: Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUa said he spoke to lawmakers and the president about Ukraine’s urgent need for wartime aid and stressed “please just make a decision,” during an interview with @IAmAmnaNawaz. Stream more tonight at 6 ET online: https://to.pbs.org/3MzB3rB https://twitter.com/NewsHour/status/1779985953966219589

Every dictator or wannabe dictator relies on a base of support to stay in power. For Putin, Orban, and Trump, their base is Christian nationalism – claiming God wants white, straight "Christian" men to rule, even if this means violently stripping all others of their human rights. (Nevermind what Jesus actually taught in the Gospels about loving thy neighbor!) The Republican Party has been taken over by Christian nationalists backed by American and Russian oligarchs, in a death cult commonly known as MAGA. Trump is the strongman they've been searching for over decades of laying the groundwork for turning America into a dictatorship. Here to break it down for us is veteran filmmaker Stephen Ujlaki, who delved into the terrifying game plan of Christian nationalists for his new film, Bad Faith, out April 26 and available for pre-order. Gaslit Nation listeners who host viewing parties of Bad Faith with their friends and family can send us a photo or email to [email protected] about the event for their chance to get Gaslit merch and other fun prizes, to help spread the word about this important and urgent film. This week's bonus episode, exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, will cover Iran's attack on Israel, why Ukraine must receive the same protection as the U.S.-led coalition that defended Israel, especially as MAGA continues to block aid in the House, and reports of Paul Manafort's work for Trump in the 2024 election. We're also launching today a NEW chat group, inspired by our recent Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, to complement our current general chat group, called Victory. The Art is Survival chat group is for artists in our community to share their works in progress, discover resources, and join with a community of like-minded creatives envisioning a world beyond the dictatorships the fascists want us to believe are inevitable. Thank you to all the artists out there and those who support art for believing that another world is possible! The recording of the Make Art workshop will be published Saturday May 4th, along with the transcript and a list of resources.  To get access to both chat groups – Victory (the general chat group) and Art is Survival – all bonus shows, all episodes ad-free, exclusive invites to events, and more, be sure to sign up at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Bad Faith documentary: https://www.badfaithdocumentary.com/   Meet Stephen Ujlaki, the filmmaker behind Bad Faith: https://sftv.lmu.edu/faculty/?expert=stephen.ujlaki   Putin Ally Declares Mike Johnson 'Our Johnson' https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-declares-mike-johnson-our-johnson-1890071   Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/   Why Did U.S. Planes Defend Israel but Not Ukraine? There are lessons for other nations in the events of the past few days. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ukraine-israel-war-comparison/678077/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3zBTrwyTVOGzmWK5yps1Kck&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share   U.S., NOT ISRAEL, SHOT DOWN MOST IRAN DRONES AND MISSILES American forces did most of the heavy lifting responding to Iran’s retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Damascus. https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/iran-attack-israel-drones-missiles/   How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/14/middleeast/israel-air-missile-defense-iran-attack-intl-hnk-ml  

In this week’s bonus show, we dig into Israel and evangelicals, two fellow travelers that shaped U.S. politics and the world together. Many evangelicals believe God will protect Israel, as long as they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior, or they'll burn in hell with other nonbelievers when Jesus returns. That means the destruction of Israel, a Jewish state. Digging into Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch evangelical, and the other MAGA Christian nationalists blocking aid to Ukraine in the House, it turns out Ukraine also plays a role in evangelical “end times” prophecy. The path of the destruction of Israel goes through Ukraine, according to Pat Robertson and other evangelical leaders featured in the show notes. Does Johnson believe this?    Johnson proudly proclaimed his worldview is the bible, telling Fox News: "Someone asked me today in the media, they said, 'It's curious, people are curious: What does Mike Johnson think about any issue under the sun?' I said, 'Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That's my worldview.” Johnson was featured in a German documentary about taking his daughter to a purity ball where she signed a pledge to never have sex before marriage. Purity balls are seen as dehumanizing to young girls and women   Pat Robertson, one of the most consequential evangelical leaders to build white Christian nationalists into a political force, taking over the GOP, claimed in a video featured in this week’s bonus show, the path to Israel's destruction begins with Russia's destruction of Ukraine. Ray Comfort, another evangelical minister with a large social media following, wrote the book Russia Will Attack Israel, and plays up Russia’s war in Ukraine as “end times” prophecy. David Jeremiah, the evangelical pastor of a megachurch, also promotes this idea in his work. The argument goes: Putin is a tool of God to raise the forces of evil against Ukraine on Russia’s path to waging war against Israel. In their logic, Ukraine must be destroyed so the final battle of good vs. evil can begin, ushering in the return of Jesus.    Obviously Christian nationalists like Johnson and others in the MAGA cult blocking aid to Ukraine are motivated by power and money. They align with strongmen like Trump to consolidate their support and enrich themselves. Both Putin and Orban used Christianian nationalism to entrench their regimes. Johnson was caught taking Kremlin-linked donations in 2018, as discussed in the recent bonus show for Patreon subscribers, The Kremlin Owns Mike Johnson.    Russia does its part to feed into these “end times” fever dreams. The philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, Russia’s Steve Bannon, recently said, "Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all.” As Trump’s white Christian nationalist base cheers on Putin’s genocide in Ukraine and Netanyahu’s genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, Russia oppresses and kills evangelicals in occupied Ukraine, according to a recent PBS Newshour report, and Christians are increasingly harassed and pushed out by ultra-Orthodox Israelis.    The persecution of fellow Christians may likely mean nothing to Johnson if he shares the belief that accelerating global conflicts will ultimately bring back Jesus. What he has made clear through his words and actions is that he takes the bible literally, like many evangelicals. With Ukraine increasingly in the crossfire of “end times” prophecies, spun in megachurches and their disinformation echo chambers, we have to come to terms that we’re up against a doomsday cult, not a political party. Biden cannot shame or reason with these people. He must work around them to save Ukraine.    Contact your rep today through this site by a Gaslit Nation listener and demand they ensure the discharge petitions are signed, successfully forcing a vote on Ukraine aid: https://helpukrainewin.com/   ***   Thank you to everyone who attended the Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things on Thursday April 11. We will soon publish the recording along with the transcript and resources mentioned in the discussion as a bonus episode exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon. We’re also launching a chat group for our Patreon community dedicated to artists and those who love art, called Art is Surival. This idea came out of our Q&A discussion at the end of the Make Art Workshop on Thursday, and it’s a way for our community to share ideas, inspiration, support, and amplify our work and promote accountability to, little by little, get our projects out into the world. To join, be sure to be signed up at the Truth-teller level or higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit. That chat group will launch on Tuesday with next week’s episode, featuring Ari Berman of Mother Jones and his new book Minority Rule The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It.    Show Notes:   Watch the documentary Bad Faith, available everywhere April 26, pre-order it now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYseVO29ZU   Opening Clip: Vox Short Documentary: How a Bible prophecy shapes Trump's foreign policy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWL0I3oytw   Clip: Here's Evidence That Russia Will Attack Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBvloYWyyms   Clip: Arizona State Senators Speaking in Tongues Before Banning Abortion https://twitter.com/tcani/status/1777829756400263618   Clip: Hundreds of Israelis told evangelical Christians who were praying at an archeological park bordering the Western Wall in occupied East Jerusalem to “go home”, underlining the strained relationship between them and religious Israeli nationalists. Jerusalem’s Christian community says there has been a rise in attacks from Israeli ultranationalists on its churches and practices. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vio53jUpJz0   David Jeremiah: Russia’s Role in End Times Prophecy: https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-does-the-bible-say-about-modern-russia/   Speaker Mike Johnson and daughter were profiled attending 'purity ball' in 2015 German TV news segment https://abcnews.go.com/US/speaker-mike-johnson-daughter-profiled-attending-purity-ball/story?id=105785626   Pat Robertson Clip: 'God Is Getting Ready to Do Something Amazing': CBN Founder Pat Robertson on Russia and Prophecy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMEj52pYWq0&t=2s   How evangelicals set in motion today’s violence in the Middle East https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4548756-evangelicals-caused-todays-mess-in-the-middle-east/   How Christian Nationalists, Big Oil and the Big Lie Seized the Speaker’s Gavel https://washingtonspectator.org/how-christian-nationalists-big-oil-and-the-big-lie-seized-the-speakers-gavel/   Putin and Doomsday: The Far Right’s Fascination With the Apocalypse Fox News, the evangelical fringe, and the right wing have been peddling “End Times” thinking for decades. Armageddon has become a backdrop now that Russia has invaded Ukraine. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/03/putin-and-doomsday-the-far-rights-fascination-with-the-apocalypse   Jay in Kyiv on Twitter: “Putin wheels out Dugin to let us know that Jerusalem is also on Putin's acquisition list.   "Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all".   Meanwhile, the west wants to "negotiate" with this creature.”  https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1777051211654430842   Ukrainian Christian groups face violent crackdown from Russian forces https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ukrainian-christian-groups-face-violent-crackdown-from-russian-forces   Congress must let Ukraine win, say Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn, Imagine Dragons, Timothy Snyder and other luminaries https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/10/opinions/sean-penn-barbra-streisand-imgaine-dragons-congress-ukraine-snyder/index.html   These Evangelicals Are Cheering the Gaza War as the End of the World Thousands have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some far-right Christian leaders believe the bloodshed portends the second coming of Christ https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/gaza-war-evangelical-leaders-cheer-end-world-1234884151/

Reminder! This Thursday, fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop this Thursday April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    We also ask you to urge members of Congress to sign the discharge petitions to overcome MAGA’s blockade of Ukraine aid in the House. Use this handy site made by a Gaslit Nation listener to contact your reps today: https://helpukrainewin.com/   In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Andrea and Terrell Star of the Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack get raptured! No, we’re still here, fighting fascism at home and abroad. And still with us, unfortunately, is Trump’s actual army of far-right Christian nationalists determined to destroy our democracy from within. What’s needed to fight a holy war? Another holy war, if your faith is in empathy and science.    In this End Times-themed discussion (in honor of the 4.8 earthquake striking near Trump’s Bedminister golf course, opening up the gates of hell just in time for the election, and the solar eclipse that blinded the latest winners of the Darwin Awards), we discuss how to protect democracy against a transnational crime syndicate wielding Christian nationalism as its weapon. We also review the must-watch documentary "Bad Faith," based on the book by former Gaslit Nation guest and journalist Anne Nelson, titled Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. We also look at Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s campaign to help Trump come to power, Michael Flynn’s propaganda tour to energize authoritarian voters, the most dangerous men in the Biden administration who should have been replaced long ago, and why, in a time of genocide and other existential threats, straight white old guys are no longer a “safe bet.” But we’ll vote for Biden anyway, because we don’t have the time or resources to fight for survival and against a second, never-ending Trump regime.    This week’s bonus episode, exclusively for our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, is a discussion of Evangelicals and Israel – staunch allies for opportunistic reasons. They also constitute a crucial element in Trump's potential Electoral College victory, where Biden barely squeaked by thanks to a mere 44,000 votes scattered across Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Yes, it was that close. So don't forget to pre-order the documentary Bad Faith, organize a watch party with friends and neighbors, and complete the recommended steps in the Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide. What is your plan to help protect our democracy this year from Trump and his dreaded Project 2025, discussed in this week’s episode?    To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 SHOW NOTES:   Clip: Watch the trailer for Bad Faith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYseVO29ZU   Clip: Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s New York State Campaign Manager Proudly Declares They’re Trying to Help Trump Win https://twitter.com/cwebbonline/status/1777021184737194221   Clip: Michael Flynn: From Government Insider to Holy Warrior | FRONTLINE + AP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHqohI-ZNhY   Inside the Election Denial Groups Planning to Disrupt November https://www.wired.com/story/election-denial-groups-november-2024/   Inside the Terrifyingly Competent Trump 2024 Campaign With Donald Trump mostly focused on his own legal peril—leaving staffers free to run the campaign—the candidate’s third bid for the White House is as efficient as it is explicitly authoritarian. How worried should you be? Very. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/inside-trump-2024-campaign   Narrow Wins In These Key States Powered Biden To The Presidency https://www.npr.org/2020/12/02/940689086/narrow-wins-in-these-key-states-powered-biden-to-the-presidency   Obama Warned Trump Against Hiring Mike Flynn, Say Officials The warning came less than 48 hours after the November election when the two sat down for a conversation in the Oval Office. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-warned-trump-against-hiring-mike-flynn-say-officials-n756316   Trump could face more FBI raids as witness suggests documents still hidden: ex-prosecutor https://www.rawstory.com/classified-documents-2667695220/   The latest in Republican Gaslighting: Democratic Oregon House candidate is big Republican donor Brian Maguire has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to state and federal Republican candidates and causes https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/04/04/democratic-oregon-house-candidate-is-big-republican-donor/   The Electoral College question looming over 2024 Whether the GOP has maintained its Electoral College advantage could determine how close the Biden vs. Trump contest really is — and who wins in the end. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/electoral-college-question-looming-2024-rcna145950   State Department sees unprecedented flood of internal dissent memos over Gaza war Exclusive: Eight internal dissent memos were sent by State Department staff during the first two months of the Gaza war, compared to just one sent during the first three years of the Iraq War https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/state-department-gaza-blinken-protest-b2525345.html   Trump pledges to expel immigrants who support Hamas, ban Muslims from the U.S. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-pledges-expel-immigrants-who-support-hamas-ban-muslims-us-2023-10-16/   Biden Shields Palestinians in the U.S. From Deportation The president, who is facing mounting criticism over U.S. support for Israel, used an authority that exempts people from deportation if their homeland is in crisis. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/us/politics/biden-palestinians-deportation.html   About Three-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Now Religiously Unaffiliated Self-identified Christians make up 63% of U.S. population in 2021, down from 75% a decade ago https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/   For American Evangelicals Who Back Israel, ‘Neutrality Isn’t an Option’ Conservative Christians’ strong connection to Israel forms the backbone of Republican support, and is tied to beliefs about biblical promises and prophecy. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/us/american-evangelicals-israel-hamas.html   What is an evangelical Christian? In America, evangelicalism has become as much a political as a religious identity https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/03/01/what-is-an-evangelical-christian   Investigators for the Justice Department wanted to search Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf club for top secret documents but lacked probable cause to secure a warrant, says a report. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-classified-documents-bedminster-search-b2366013.html   Women and children are the main victims of the Israel-Hamas war with 16,000 killed, UN says https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405  

This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show. To hear the full episode subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. If you're already subscribed, be sure to grab our RSS feed on Patreon to never miss an episode! Mike Johnson is Lucy playing football with Charlie Brown. The MAGA Ken doll delayed the vote for Ukraine aid by several more weeks, coming through for Donald Trump, his MAGA cult of violence, and their Kremlin backers. Call it what it is: treason. In this heated bonus show, Andrea is joined by Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and Italy-based analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast, debating whether Mike Johnson will ever hold his long promised Ukraine aid vote, and ways to overcome his existential threat to civilians in Russia’s ongoing genocide.    Our discussion was recorded on Tuesday, and includes a debate between Andrea and Olga on whether Mike Johnson will ever come through. We also discuss President Macron doubling down on sending NATO troops to Ukraine, and the long history of Russian terrorism and Western complacency. On Tuesday, Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins Gaslit Nation to discuss the latest in the 2024 election and ways to overcome the threats to our democracy. Later in the month, Ari Berman of Mother Jones will be on the show to discuss his new book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It.    Want to help unblock Ukraine aid in Congress? Contact Joaquin Castro (D-TX) at (202) 225-3236 and Mark Pocan (D-WI) at (202) 225-2906 and demand that they sign the two bipartisan discharge petitions put forth by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), which would force a vote in the House to pass aid for Ukraine. For more on that effort, read this urgent statement from the humanitarian nonprofit Razom for Ukraine: https://www.razomforukraine.org/razom-for-ukraine-calls-on-house-democrats-to-sign-discharge-petition/   To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329  

If there’s one thing fascists love it’s using the threat of terrorism to rile up their base. The largest terrorist attack in Moscow in decades signals a resurgent ISIS, one that Trump and his MAGA cult will no doubt campaign off of, to “scare out” the vote. (The independent voter needed to win close states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin may not care about Netanyahu’s terrorism, only that committed by brown people). How will Trump and his longtime crime-partner Paul Manafort, rumored to officially join the campaign soon (Manafort never left!), capitalize off the growing terror threats, worsened by Trump and Putin ally Netanyahu and his genocidal war to cling to power?   In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss the Crocus theater attack in Moscow and why Russia is a favorite target of ISIS, the latest reporting on the Kremlin's Havana Syndrome electronic warfare that has attacked around 1,500 people serving in the U.S. government and their families, and whether Trump will unleash violence if he loses, or wins.     Our bonus episode this week features a debate among Gaslit Nation and Kremlin File over MAGA Ken doll Mike Johnson. Is he actually serious about bringing Ukraine aide up for a vote, or is he stringing us along as ammunition runs dangerously low and more Russian missiles make it through? As Congress comes back into session next week, we discuss all the ways they could actually do something to stop Russia’s genocide in Ukraine–a laboratory for Russian aggression that eventually reaches us. Be sure to apply pressure by calling your representatives in Congress, and use this handy tool made by a Gaslit Nation listener to contact your rep today: https://helpukrainewin.com/   Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329   Submit your song for the Gaslit Nation song feature! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628   Show Notes:   How ISIS has Europe and the US in sights after deadly Moscow attack https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/30/europe/how-isis-has-europe-and-the-us-in-sights-after-deadly-moscow-attack/index.html   New in SpyWeek CIA and Moscow terror, Havana Syndrome, rogue diplomat Ric Grenell, Paul Manafort’s return, a creepy Army Psyops recruiting ad & more https://www.spytalk.co/p/new-in-spyweek-7e9   Trump may enlist Paul Manafort, who was criticized for Russia ties The former campaign manager was pardoned by Trump for bank and tax fraud convictions and accusations he hid millions he made consulting for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/18/trump-manafort-2024-campaign/   Feds seek $3M from Paul Manafort over failing to disclose offshore accounts A civil lawsuit signals the Justice Department views penalties as not covered by President Donald Trump’s pardon of his former adviser. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/28/paul-manafort-trump-lawsuit-00028717   What to know about Havana Syndrome after investigation links illness to Russia https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/havana-syndrome-russia-attacks-us-officials   How the conflict between Hamas and Israel fuels terror threats in the West https://www.icct.nl/publication/how-conflict-between-hamas-and-israel-fuels-terror-threats-west   Subscribe and Listen to the Kremlin File Podcast https://pod.co/kremlin-file   Subscribe to Olga Lautman's Trump Tyranny Tracker https://trumptyrannytracker.substack.com/

For decades in its war on terror following 9/11 the U.S. government poured resources, including its own terror tactics, in combating Islamic radicalism during the rise of ISIS. Meanwhile, white domestic terrorism, fueled by extreme religious groups like white evangelicals, increasingly went unchecked, leading to Trump and his violent January 6 insurrection. Can those same far-right Chrstian extremists help Trump win the Electoral College?    This week’s bonus show, based on a listener's question and exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, looks at the potential impact of the far-right Christian vote and ways to counteract it. The episode answers other questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender-level and higher on Steve Bannon’s terror tactics, exposing white women slaveholders in American history, and more! To submit your questions and comments for a future Q&A, be sure to subscribe to the show at the Democracy Defender level or higher only on Patreon!    Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    Be sure to check out this really cool art initiative out of Michigan from Gaslit Nation listeners!: Breaking down walls through art and expression: https://umdearborn.edu/news/breaking-down-walls-through-art-and-expression   There’s also this important work from another Gaslit Nation listener in our community that’s part of the long overdue solution for modernizing America’s rail service: Fed plan contains more passenger trains for Utah https://buildingsaltlake.com/fed-plan-contains-more-passenger-trains-for-utah/ More info here: Federal Railroad Administration's Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study fralongdistancerailstudy.org   Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329   Submit your song for the Gaslit Nation song feature! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628   Show Notes:   They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South https://bookshop.org/p/books/they-were-her-property-white-women-as-slave-owners-in-the-american-south-stephanie-e-jones-rogers/8493268?ean=9780300251838   How Evangelicals Became a Voting Bloc Evangelical voters’ focus on policy over character came much earlier than you think. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2024/march-web-only/evangelicals-voting-bloc-super-tuesday-donald-trump-charact.html   Religious Group Voting and the 2020 Election https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/324410/religious-group-voting-2020-election.aspx   It’s Time to Talk About Violent Christian Extremism There’s a “strong authoritarian streak” that runs through parts of American evangelicalism, warns Elizabeth Neumann. What should be done about it? https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/02/04/qanon-christian-extremism-nationalism-violence-466034   Why QAnon Has Attracted So Many White Evangelicals https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-qanon-has-attracted-so-many-white-evangelicals/   The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-undertow-scenes-from-a-slow-civil-war-jeff-sharlet/18515351?ean=9781324006497   The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-family-the-secret-fundamentalism-at-the-heart-of-american-power-jeff-sharlet/7918950?ean=9780060560058   Is America Headed Towards a Civil War? Andrea’s interview with Jeff Sharlet (April 2023) https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/05/03/jeff-sharlet-undertow-america-civil-war   Democrat wins Alabama special election in early test for IVF as a campaign issue https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democrat-marilyn-lands-wins-alabama-special-election-ivf-abortion-righ-rcna145210   Federal Railroad Administration's Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study fralongdistancerailstudy.org   Fed plan contains more passenger trains for Utah https://buildingsaltlake.com/fed-plan-contains-more-passenger-trains-for-utah/   Breaking down walls through art and expression: A new program inspired by the Inside Out Program and funded by a U-M Arts + the Curriculum grant offers art-focused workshops and discussions that are free and open to the public. https://umdearborn.edu/news/breaking-down-walls-through-art-and-expression   The Great Rupture in American Jewish Life https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/22/opinion/israel-american-jews-zionism.html?searchResultPosition=1  

Gaslit Nation is recharging our batteries for the big election ahead so we're re-running a popular episode this week: Andrea's interview with Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, the co-author of All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. Exclusively for our Patreon community we're publishing an all new bonus show this Saturday answering questions from our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!     With so much ominous news about the climate crisis heralding the man-made apocalypse, we need leaders like the women highlighted in the must-read book All We Can Save. Co-edited by Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, climate author and teacher, and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist and founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab who promoted a Blue New Deal to save our oceans, this soul-hugging anthology provides a breathing space to wrap our hearts and our minds around solutions for healing our planet and ourselves. We cannot recommend this book enough. Dr. Wilkinson joins us for an unforgettable discussion of the climate crisis: where are we now and what must we do about it?     From the biography on her website: "Dr. Katharine Wilkinson co-founded and leads The All We Can Save Project with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, in support of women leading on climate. She also co-hosts the podcast A Matter of Degrees, telling stories for the climate curious with Dr. Leah Stokes. Previously, Dr. Wilkinson was the principal writer and editor-in-chief at Project Drawdown, where she led the organization’s work to share climate solutions with audiences around the world. She speaks widely, including at National Geographic and the United Nations. Her TED Talk on climate and gender equality has more than 1.9 million views. A homegrown Atlantan, Dr. Wilkinson holds a doctorate in geography and environment from Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and a BA in religion from Sewanee. Formative months spent in the Southern Appalachians, as a student at The Outdoor Academy, shaped her path. Time magazine featured Dr. Wilkinson as one of 15 'women who will save the world' and Apolitical named her one of the '100 most influential people in gender policy.' You can find her on Twitter: @DrKWilkinson. Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!     Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!     Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329     Show Notes:     Opening Clip: https://youtu.be/vXlJEcrinwg     All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis Katharine K. Wilkinson (Editor)  Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (Editor) https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-we-can-save-truth-courage-and-solutions-for-the-climate-crisis-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/18834354?ean=9780593237083

Congratulations, New York Times! Trump is the GOP nominee. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss why the New York Times wants Trump to win, with coverage and an editorial board that normalizes his fascism.    The conversation includes a plan to defeat MAGA, the Bannon Strategy and what the Left can learn from it (without turning into a cult!), why we’re glad that Nikki Haley isn’t the GOP nominee either (she uses genocidal rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people!), and where our advantage is in 2024 and how to leverage it to protect democracy this election and beyond.    Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Show Notes   Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here! https://tr.ee/BuEdw13Nw-   Introducing…The Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide! https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/2024-survival-guide   Trump Tyranny Tracker: Your Daily Reminder https://open.substack.com/pub/trumptyrannytracker/p/trump-tyranny-tracker-your-daily-089?r=3gxpg3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email  

Gaslit Nation is recharging our batteries for the big election ahead so we're re-running a popular episode this week: Andrea's interview with her longtime friend and mentor, the journalist, filmmaker, and author Nelson George. Exclusively for our Patreon community we're publishing an all new bonus show this Saturday on how to stop MAGA. To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our Q&A in the comments below or in a private message -- we always love hearing from you! Our Q&A will be out later this month! Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!     Nelson George set off to become the greatest music writer in the world. In this surreal essay, he explains his strange relationship with Prince who summoned him to listen to new music; this confirms George's dream was achieved. Having come out of the projects in Brooklyn to contribute to the bohemian renaissance of Spike Lee turning Brooklyn into a global brand, George lived the explosion of Black culture across film, music, art, and more at the close of the 20th century and looks back at this groundbreaking time in a sweeping and important discussion of why art matters.     This is an interview about artists -- it’s for people who want to be artists -- it’s for artists at all stages of their careers -- it’s for people who love and consume art -- it’s a discussion about the value of mentorship -- and the way to get to the heart of being an artist, why that’s important, what that means, the practical ins and outs of how to do it.     From the biography on his website: "Nelson George is the author of several histories of African American music, including Where Did Our Love Go: the Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound, The Death of Rhythm & Blues, and the classic Hip Hop America. He has published two collections of music journalism: Buppies, BBoys, Baps & Bohos: Notes on Post-Soul America and the recent The Nelson George Mixtape, which is available through Pacific Books. He has written several novels with music themes (The Accidental Hunter, The Plot Against Hip Hop, The Lost Treasures of R&B, and To Funk and Die in LA). In television, George was a producer on the Emmy Award winning The Chris Rock Show on HBO, a producer on Hip Hop Honors on VH1, and executive producer of the American Gangster crime series on BET. As a filmmaker, George has co-written the screenplays to Strictly Business and CB4. He directed Queen Latifah to a Golden Globe in the HBO film Life Support, which he also co-wrote. He has directed a number of documentaries including Finding the Funk, The Announcement, and Brooklyn Boheme (Showtime). George was a producer on the award winning documentary on Black music executive Clarence Avant, The Black Godfather, for Netflix. His theatrical documentary on ballerina Misty Copeland is called A Ballerina's Tale. He was a writer/producer on Baz Lurhmann’s hip hop inspired Netflix series The Get Down. He is an executive producer of Dear Mama, a documentary series about Tupac Shakur directed by Allen Hughes." And, to add to this illustrious biography, Nelson has been a longtime friend and mentor who helped Andrea navigate the wily world of getting Mr. Jones written and produced.     Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!     Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!     Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329

Welcome to Gaslit Nation where we name and shame! This week, meet the Kremlin Caucus and their financial backers. What started off with Putin groupie Dana Rohrabacher, a former Congressman from Orange County, has grown into a proud fascist movement threatening our democracy and Ukraine’s very survival.    Want to see the posh yearbook photos of the banality of evil? Check out the show notes below, listing the Kremlin Caucus members in the House and the Senate. Explore the many white faces from mostly Republican-hostage states like Florida and Texas that, like their ideological forbears before them that carried out slavery and the genocide of indigenous peoples, have no problem destroying innocent lives and raking in blood money to stay in power. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss these threats to our democracy and how to confront them, and remind the disillusioned once again–no, Biden and Trump are not the same, especially when one candidate enjoys Hitler cosplay.    Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners on Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Show Notes   Get to Know the Kremlin Caucus and Their Financial Backers   THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  Brian Babin Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/brian-babin/summary?cid=N00005736 Troy Balderson Representative (R - OH) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/troy-balderson/summary?cid=N00042194 Lauren Boebert Representative (R - CO) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/lauren-boebert/summary?cid=N00045974 Tim Burchett Representative (R - TN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tim-burchett/summary?cid=N00041594 Jerry Carl Representative (R - AL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00044245&cycle=2022 Ben Cline Representative (R - VA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/ben-cline/summary?cid=N00042296 Michael Cloud Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/michael-cloud/summary?cid=N00041882 Burgess Owens Representative (R - UT) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/burgess-owens/summary?cid=N00045812&cycle=2022 Kat Cammack Representative (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/kat-cammack/summary?cid=N00045978 James Comer Representative (R - KY) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/james-comer/summary?cid=N00038260 Jim Banks Representative (R - IN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/jim-banks/summary?cid=N00037185 Gus Bilirakis Representative (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/gus-bilirakis/summary?cid=N00027462 Dan Bishop Representative (R - NC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/dan-bishop/summary?cid=N00044335 Marjorie Taylor Greene, Representative (GA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/marjorie-taylor-greene/summary?cid=N00044701 Mike Johnson, Representative (LA)  https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/mike-johnson/summary?cid=N00039106 Matt Gaetz, Representative (FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/matt-gaetz/summary?cid=N00039503 Andy Biggs Representative (R - AZ) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/andy-biggs/summary?cid=N00039293 Warren Davidson Representative (R - OH) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/warren-davidson/summary?cid=N00038767 Byron Donalds Representative (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/byron-donalds/summary?cid=N00034016 Jeff Duncan Representative (SC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/jeff-duncan/summary?cid=N00030752&cycle=CAREER Patrick Fallon Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/patrick-fallon/summary?cid=N00047264 Brad Finstad Representative (R - MN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00050649&cycle=2022 Michelle Fischbach Representative (R - MN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/michelle-fischbach/summary?cid=N00045251 Scott Franklin Representative (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/scott-franklin/summary?cid=N00046760 Russell Fry Representative (R - SC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/industries?cid=N00049165&cycle=2022 Russ Fulcher Representative (R - ID) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/russ-fulcher/summary?cid=N00041335 Bob Good Representative (R - VA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/bob-good/summary?cid=N00045557&cycle=2022 Lance Gooden Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/lance-gooden/summary?cid=N00042237 Paul Gosar Representative (R - AZ) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/paul-gosar/summary?cid=N00030771 Harriet Hageman Representative (R - WY) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/harriet-hageman/summary?cid=N00049197&cycle=2022 Diana Harshbarger Representative (R - TN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/diana-harshbarger/summary?cid=N00046688 Kevin Hern Representative (R - OK) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/kevin-hern/summary?cid=N00040829 Wesley Hunt Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/wesley-hunt/summary?cid=N00044362&cycle=2020 Jim Jordan Representative (R - OH) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/jim-jordan/summary?cid=N00027894 John Joyce Representative (R - PA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/john-joyce/summary?cid=N00043242 Doug LaMalfa Representative (R - CA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/doug-lamalfa/summary?cid=N00033987 Tracey Mann Representative (R - KS) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tracey-mann/summary?cid=N00030743 Thomas Massie Representative (R - KY) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/thomas-massie/summary?cid=N00034041 Lisa McClain Representative (R - MI) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/lisa-mcclain/summary?cid=N00045730 Dan Meuser Representative (R - PA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/dan-meuser/summary?cid=N00029416 Carol Miller Representative (R - WV) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/carol-miller/summary?cid=N00041542 Mary Miller Representative (R - IL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/mary-miller/summary?cid=N00045703 John Moolenaar Representative (R - MI) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/john-moolenaar/summary?cid=N00036275 Alex Mooney Representative (R - WV) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/alex-mooney/summary?cid=N00033814 Barry Moore Representative (R - AL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/barry-moore/summary?cid=N00041295 Troy Nehls Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/troy-nehls/summary?cid=N00046067 Ralph Norman Representative (R - SC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/ralph-norman/summary?cid=N00027783 Andy Ogles Representative (R - TN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/andy-ogles/summary?cid=N00050943&cycle=2022 Scott Perry Representative (R - PA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/scott-perry/summary?cid=N00034120 Guy Reschenthaler Representative (R - PA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/guy-reschenthaler/summary?cid=N00041871 Matt Rosendale Representative (R - MT) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/matt-rosendale/summary?cid=N00035517 Chip Roy Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/chip-roy/summary?cid=N00042268 Pete Stauber Representative (R - MN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/pete-stauber/summary?cid=N00041511 Greg Steube Representative (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/greg-steube/summary?cid=N00042808 Tom Tiffany Representative (R - WI) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tom-tiffany/summary?cid=N00045307 Jeff Van Drew Representative (R - NJ) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/jeff-van-drew/summary?cid=N00042164 Randy Weber Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/randy-weber/summary?cid=N00033539 Roger Williams Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/roger-williams/summary?cid=N00030602   THE SENATE John Barrasso Senator (R - WY) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/john-barrasso/summary?cid=N00006236 Marsha Blackburn Senator (R - TN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/marsha-blackburn/summary?cid=N00003105 Mike Braun Senator (R - IN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/mike-braun/summary?cid=N00041731 Katie Britt (R-Ala) https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/top-recipients-details?cycle=2022&id=N00048812 Ted Budd Representative (R - NC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/ted-budd/summary?cid=N00039551 Tom Cotton Senator (R - AR) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tom-cotton/summary?cid=N00033363 Ted Cruz Senator (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/ted-cruz/summary?cid=N00033085 Steven Daines Senator (R - MT) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/steven-daines/summary?cid=N00033054 Deb Fischer Senator (R - NE) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/deb-fischer/summary?cid=N00033443 Lindsey Graham Senator (R - SC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/lindsey-graham/summary?cid=N00009975 Bill Hagerty Senator (R - TN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/bill-hagerty/summary?cid=N00045369 Josh Hawley Senator (R - MO) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/josh-hawley/summary?cid=N00041620 Cindy Hyde-Smith Senator (R - MS) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/cindy-hyde-smith/summary?cid=N00043298 Mike Johnson Representative (R - LA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/mike-johnson/summary?cid=N00039106 James Lankford Senator (R - OK) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/james-lankford/summary?cid=N00031129&cycle=2022 Mike Lee Senator (R - UT) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/mike-lee/summary?cid=N00031696 Roger Marshall Senator (R - KS) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/roger-marshall/summary?cid=N00037034 Markwayne Mullin Representative (R - OK) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/markwayne-mullin/summary?cid=N00033410 Rand Paul Senator (R - KY) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/rand-paul/summary?cid=N00030836 Pete Rickets (R- NE) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/contributors?cycle=2024&cid=N00027695 Marco Rubio Senator (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/marco-rubio/summary?cid=N00030612 Eric Schmitt Senator (R - MO) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00048414&cycle=2022 Rick Scott Senator (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/rick-scott/summary?cid=N00043290 Tim Scott Senator (R - SC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tim-scott/summary?cid=N00031782 Tommy Tuberville Senator (R - AL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tommy-tuberville/summary?cid=N00044434 J D Vance Senator (R - OH) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/j-d-vance/summary?cid=N00048832   Here are the 70 House Republicans who voted to cut off all US military aid to Ukraine https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/70-house-republicans-voted-to-cut-off-all-us-military-aid-to-ukraine/articleshow/101739996.cms   Full List of Senate Republicans Who Voted Against Military Aid to Ukraine https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-republicans-who-voted-against-military-aid-ukraine-1869372   Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here! https://tr.ee/BuEdw13Nw-   Introducing…The Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide! https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/2024-survival-guide   Trump Tyranny Tracker: Your Daily Reminder https://open.substack.com/pub/trumptyrannytracker/p/trump-tyranny-tracker-your-daily-089?r=3gxpg3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Welcome to the Gaslit Nation State of the Union Super Special! This episode has everything! Suge Knight dissing Diddy at the 1995 Source Awards! World War II era journalist Dorothy Thompson’s warnings about Katie Britt! A dictator loving pope! George W. Bush’s pandora’s box of evil! A smirking Russian oligarch on the Oscars’ stage! You’ve never heard a state of our union analysis, and where we must go from here, quite like this.  Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins Andrea to roast Katie Britt and her antiChrist diamond cross and what it says about the GOP’s Christofascist war against our democracy. The conversation includes the history of white women like Britt enforcing the genocide of slavery, and Andrea and Terrell accidently calling Steve McQueen’s masterpiece film Seven Years a Slave! (Yes, we now recall it’s 12 Years a Slave!) Andrea shares the story of how she once went undercover as a self-hating Republican woman at a GOP fundraiser and almost got caught by being the only woman who dared to eat food!    Our bonus this week, for subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, exposes the Kremlin Caucus and their financial backers. That episode will feature Olga Lautman and Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast. To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always love hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329   Thank you to the sponsor of this week’s episode! Andrea got to try Factor, and now her listeners can, too, with this special deal! Head to FACTORMEALS.com/gaslit50 and use code “gaslit50” to get 50% off. That’s code “gaslit50” at FACTORMEALS.com/gaslit50 to get 50% off!    Listen to and support the Black Diplomats Podcast: https://www.blackdiplomats.net/   Listen to and support the Black Diplomats Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/about   Watch 20 Days in Mariupol (full documentary) | Academy Award® Winner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvAyykRvPBo   Why Haiti Collapsed: Demanding Reparations,and Ending Up in Exile https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/world/americas/haiti-aristide-reparations-france.html   President Biden on hot mic says he needs a 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/08/biden-hot-mic-moment-underscores-growing-frustration-with-netanyahu/72899225007/   Journalist catches Sen. Katie Britt in an 'out and out lie' in her State of Union response https://www.rawstory.com/katie-britt-out-and-out-lie/   Pope Francis: questions remain over his role during Argentina's dictatorship https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/14/pope-francis-argentina-military-junta   With Haiti on the Brink of Collapse, a Reckoning for US Policy on Haiti https://www.justsecurity.org/93193/with-haiti-on-the-brink-of-collapse-a-reckoning-for-us-policy-on-haiti/   Biden’s State of the Union: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq9vmRd67lc   Clip: Jonathan Glazer acceptance speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMc1khOqEFE    Clip: Suge Knight at The Source Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=QHg1JImJqIZ7xkB5&v=mv2OMXngkEs&feature=youtu.be   We didn’t end up including this clip in this week’s episode, but it’s worth watching: Katie Britt Appears on ‘Inside the Actors Studio’ in Edited Version of Her Scorned GOP Response https://www.thewrap.com/katie-britt-inside-the-actors-studio-video/   Pope Francis: questions remain over his role during Argentina's dictatorship https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/14/pope-francis-argentina-military-junta#:~:text=The%20Catholic%20church%20and%20Pope,evidence%20is%20sketchy%20and%20contested.

Warning: If you prefer to watch a film with a blank slate, don’t listen to this episode if you haven’t seen or read Killers of the Flower Moon. While it doesn’t give away spoilers or information that isn’t widely known, and the film itself will be a powerful discovery given the stunning directing, acting, and musical score, it does prepare you for an unforgettable experience with a crash course on the brutal history.    Andrea and Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack have been watching the rich offering of Best Picture Oscar contenders, and have a lot to say about Killers of the Flower Moon. While it was eclipsed by buzzier films like Oppenheimer and Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon is a monumental masterpiece that explains how America was founded and the forces we are up against today. No one should be surprised by Trump. Trumpism is what founded our country.    Killers of the Flower Moon reminds us of the urgent importance and power of art. To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    For more on the threats to our democracy and how to confront them, including the State of the Union and the GOP’s trad wife Handmaid Tale response, listen to this week’s episode, out Tuesday. In the meantime, watch the video in our show notes below of Alabama Senator and Gretchen from Mean Girls, Katie Britt, being interviewed by James Lipton of The Actors Studio.    To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “You Can’t Make a Deal with the Guy Who Won the Aluminum Wars of the Car Bomb ‘90s. You Just Can’t” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57865157-you-cant-make-a-deal?store_id=3129329   Show Notes:  Killers of the Flower Moon trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG0si5bSd6I Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop - Part I https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-video-93450936?cid=123025949 Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI https://bookshop.org/p/books/killers-of-the-flower-moon-the-osage-murders-and-the-birth-of-the-fbi-david-grann/533951?ean=9780307742483 Listen to Terrell Starr’s podcast Black Diplomats https://terrellstarr.com/black-diplomats-podcast/ Subscribe to Terrell Starr’s Black Diplomats Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/   Katie Britt: Inside the Actors Studio https://twitter.com/BowmanInc/status/1766019380310163785   European Genocide of Indigenous Peoples in the Americas Cooled Earth’s Climate https://www.vice.com/en/article/bjqnqq/european-genocide-of-indigenous-peoples-in-the-americas-cooled-earths-climate   Murdered and missing Native American women challenge police and courts https://publicintegrity.org/politics/murdered-and-missing-native-american-women-challenge-police-and-courts/   Colorado Osages react to 'Killers of the Flower Moon' https://www.kunc.org/news/2023-11-10/colorado-osages-react-to-killers-of-the-flower-moon   What to Know About ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’: A Guide to the Osage Murders Martin Scorsese’s epic traces a real plot by white men to kill dozens of Native Americans who held oil rights in 1920s Oklahoma. Here is the back story. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/movies/killers-of-the-flower-moon-osage-murders-explained.html#:~:text=First%2C%20in%201918%2C%20a%20sister,off%20the%20Reign%20of%20Terror.   Take a look at the historical people depicted in 'Killers of the Flower Moon' https://www.oklahoman.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/2023/10/23/killers-of-the-flower-moon-real-photos-from-the-osage-reign-of-terror/71288895007/

Remember when Jared Kushner tried in late 2016 to establish a secret back channel to talk to Russia? Jared and Ivanka ran the Trump transition team, with Paul Manafort operating from the shadows, where he blooms like mold, pretending to have taken a step back to avoid the heat of, well, having been outed by a Ukrainian investigative journalist for being a highly paid Kremlin operative. The latest back channel between the Trump Crime Cabal and Russia is Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán, the Tiger Beat idol of CPAC. This Friday, on International Women’s Day no less, Orbán and Trump will meet at Mar-a-Lago, where America’s nuclear secrets get their own cabana. For months now Gaslit Nation has warned that Orbán is the new Manafort, the Kremlin’s guy to make sure Trump comes to power, making their shared autocratic dreams come true. As Trump’s coup against our democracy continues, Andrea discusses Trump’s blatant shadow foreign policy with Russia mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast, and the many challenges and bold action needed for democracy to fight encroaching authoritarianism, before it’s too late.  The sharks are circling, with China setting up police stations in Hungary, a European Union state. Will our democracy survive? As always, it comes down to us, as grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. See the all new Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival on our homage – GaslitNationPod.com – for simple ways for us to pitch in as it’s all hands on deck!  Fun announcement for our Gaslit Nation community! On April 11 at 7 pm ET we’re holding another MAKE ART workshop exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon. Got questions about the creative process or the business side of things? Ever wanted to make art but didn’t know where or how to start? Want to know how to bring your art out into the world? Ask Andrea anything! Art is survival, and we need your mind and creativity more than ever! To get access to that, be sure to subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes   We'll post a link to 'Hedge Your Bets' on our social media feeds and in the show notes for this episode on our Patreon page. You can find more of The Detroit Rebellion's music on Bandcamp at detroitrebellion.bandcamp.com or detroitrebellion.blogspot.com   Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here! https://tr.ee/BuEdw13Nw-   Introducing…The Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide! https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/2024-survival-guide   Trump Tyranny Tracker: Your Daily Reminder https://open.substack.com/pub/trumptyrannytracker/p/trump-tyranny-tracker-your-daily-089?r=3gxpg3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email   Why Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Meeting With Viktor Orbán Should Terrify Us All: With Trump set to host Orbán at his Mar-a-Lago retreat this week, it’s time to get serious about the rise of the global far right and why its worldview poses such a dire threat. https://newrepublic.com/article/179510/trump-viktor-orban-mar-a-lago-meeting-terrify   Kushner Is Said to Have Discussed a Secret Channel to Talk to Russia https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/us/politics/kushner-talked-to-russian-envoy-about-creating-secret-channel-with-kremlin.html   How Tony Blinken’s Stepfather Changed the World—and Him: Samuel Pisar was a Holocaust survivor who pushed rival nations to engage in commerce, and he left an imprint on the likely next secretary of State. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/19/samuel-pisar-tony-blinken-secretary-of-state-460155

Gaslit Nation launched in 2018 to help build the Blue Wave, which set up progressive infrastructure that expands today, including in states like Kansas. In Virginia in 2023, our community produced one of the largest phone banks for Sister District, helping to get out the vote, flipping the Senate, and helping elect Danica Roem, the first transgender person to serve in the state Senate. We also protected abortion rights from Posh Trump Glenn Youngkin. An early September 2023 Gaslit Nation episode highlighted the work of the States Project, which raised more money for Virginia than the Democratic Party. Why? Because grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. We are the answer to the decades-long mission of the corporate-backed far-right to dismantle our democracy. No one is coming to save us but us. That’s why our listeners are the least likely to be demoralized by the news that the Supreme Court will drag out Trump’s January 6 insurrection case, the one Merrick Garland’s DOJ already waited out the clock on, losing valuable time as the coup plotters like Trump and Bannon continue to mobilize their genocidal far-right army. Ivanka and Jared dine with politicians from both parties and continue to serve as anonymous sources for the media that, in return, tries to rehabilitate their (banana republic grifter) reputations. This week’s bonus show, answering questions from our listeners, features a special focus on the murder of Nex Benedict, a gender-fluid trans teen killed by the incitement of hate and violence driven by Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok and Oklahoma state school superintendent Ryan Walters, who appointed Raichik to terrorize vulnerable children and their allies. While the grief and anger over the lack of accountability are immense, there are solutions to what we can do, no matter if we live in a Republican-hostage state or a so-called blue state. Other questions from our listeners range from the latest news on the Havana Syndrome mystery and cover-up, must-see places to visit in New York, and whether George Santos will end up on Dancing with the Stars (he will!), and more. If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week, as our Q&A continues. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more.    Show Notes:    Join Andrea at State Fair to help build our power in the states as a buffer against Russian-backed GOP fascism: https://linktr.ee/statefair   Human Rights Campaign President Asks for Full Investigations by DOJ and Department of Education into Brutal, Senseless Attacks Against Nex Benedict https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-president-asks-for-full-investigations-by-doj-and-department-of-education-into-brutal-senseless-attacks-against-nex-benedict   Contact the DOJ Civil Rights Division and file a report – you do not have to Include your name and contact information. LINK: https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/    If it’s helpful, copy/paste and/or select the following information:   PRIMARY CONCERN: Discrimination at a school, educational program or service, or related to receiving education   WHERE: OWASSO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1501 N Ash St., Owasso, OK 74055   WHEN: February 8, 2024   WHAT: Nex Benedict, a gender-fluid trans teen was killed by the incitement of hate and violence driven by Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok and Oklahoma state school superintendent Ryan Walters, who appointed Raichik to terrorize vulnerable children and their teachers. The DOJ must take over the investigation of Nex's murder. Local officials and school staff failed her, including failing to call an ambulance when she had trouble walking after suffering a hate crime attack. The DOJ must open an investigation now.    You can also send Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the DOJ, a message over Twitter: @KristenClarkeJD @CivilRights    How you can support queer and trans kids in Oklahoma after Nex Benedict’s death – The Advocate Link: https://www.advocate.com/news/how-to-help-trans-kids?fbclid=IwAR1KDpTCrqpohhRicaDP0cYQkGUZy9mj_zT7E0ZH30Yz282DmvgSGFylC7s_aem_AZIcTG7MHSnhJT6CkblIS6Y9nAQ3krE-taqnVCJswjJS2TJmpkTmq210J81PK3GrGJI&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email#toggle-gdpr   Erin Reed on Substack – Erin in the Morning: Chaya Raichik Was Appointed To "Make Schools Safer" In Oklahoma; Now A Trans Teen Is Dead. Nex, a gender fluid trans teen is dead in Oklahoma. Their death comes after a year of transphobic bullying, in a school targeted by the biggest anti-trans influencers. When will it end? Link: https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/chaya-raichik-was-appointed-to-make?utm_source=substack&publication_id=994764&post_id=141878010&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=1xosvv   How LGBTQ Parents Can Protect Their Families After Dobbs – Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms and Other LGBTQ Parents: Know your legal rights including emergency hotlines to call. Link: https://mombian.com/2022/07/15/how-lgbtq-parents-can-protect-their-families-after-dobbs/   Moving Forward After Tragedy and Loss – Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms and Other LGBTQ Parents. Link: https://mombian.com/2024/02/23/moving-forward-after-a-week-of-tragedy-and-loss/   Davis Hammet’s 2018 Twitter Thread on How Building the Rainbow House in Topeka, Kansas Led to Political Change – Twitter link: https://twitter.com/Davis_Hammet/status/1060958025731715072   Activist Davis Hammet speaks on the Topeka Equality House – Washburn Review. Link: https://washburnreview.org/48906/news/news-campus-news/activist-and-loud-light-founder-davis-hammet-speaks-on-the-topeka-equality-house/   “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture is a feature documentary that follows the story of tireless researchers who trace the origins of the anti-gay movement among Christians to a grave mistranslation of the Bible in 1946. It chronicles the discovery of never-before-seen archives at Yale University which unveil astonishing new revelations, and casts significant doubt on any biblical basis for LGBTQIA+ prejudice. Featuring commentary from prominent scholars as well as opposing pastors, including the personal stories of the film’s creators, 1946 is at once challenging, enlightening, and inspiring. While other documentaries have been successful in their attempt to treat the symptom of homophobia in the church, 1946 is working to diagnose and treat the disease - Biblical Literalism” – 1946themovie.com   Summary of Vice News Investigation Into Sadist Groups Online Driven by Children, Targeting Children – Twitter link: https://twitter.com/VICENews/status/1759959890770956502   Keeping teens safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids A multipronged approach to social media management, including time limits, parental monitoring and supervision, and ongoing discussions about social media can help parents protect teens’ brain development – APA.org. Link: https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/social-media-parent-tips   Congress to Examine U.S. Spy Agencies’ Work on Havana Syndrome The C.I.A. and other agencies concluded that no hostile power was responsible for the mysterious ailments, a finding some whistle-blowers have challenged. – New York Times link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/us/politics/congress-to-examine-cias-work-on-havana-syndrome.html   Want to join us in pressuring Congress to pass aid to Ukraine? This easy new site helps you send a message to your reps in Congress. Be sure to make your voice heard through  helpukrainewin.com

American taxpayers bailed out Citigroup, owners of Citibank, to the tune of $476.2 billion. This was the highest bailout by far for any bank during the 2008 Wall Street Crash, caused by Wall Street. Given the immense federal aid that saved Citibank, it should be no problem then for Citibank, built with the stolen wealth of slavery, to pay reparations, right?...Right?...   In this important discussion, David Montero, author of the new book The Stolen Wealth of Slavery: A Case for Reparations, shares the latest research on how reparations for slavery would boost America’s economy, would further our collective healing, strengthen our democracy at a time of rampant and unchecked oligarchy, and force long overdue accountability. The movement for reparations has already begun, with important actions being taken by cities like Boston and New York.    Montero’s book is an eye-opening walking tour of New York City that will give you an all new look at how the North profited from slavery while at the same time serving as a hotbed of abolition–a polarized America much like today, with the moneyed elites on the side of the fascist machinery of the South, as long as it made them money. Listen to this interview and share it with your activist groups to help the movement for reparations grow.    And in honor of Aaron Bushnell, the 25-year-old Air Force service member who set himself on fire outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, with the last words “Free Palestine”, here is his final post on Facebook, written that day:    “Many of us like to ask ourselves, “What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?”    The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.”   The Washington Post has a thoughtful write-up on Bushnell, featured in the show notes below. Bushnell is the second person to set themselves on fire in protest of Netanayahu’s genocidal war, his latest destructive attempt to cling to power.  Show Notes:    The Stolen Wealth of Slavery: A Case for Reparations https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-stolen-wealth-of-slavery-a-case-for-reparations-david-montero/20163861?ean=9780306827174   Citigroup Tops List of Banks Who Received Federal Aid https://www.cnbc.com/id/42099554   Alabama Supreme Court justice cites scripture 'nearly two dozen times' in ruling on embryos https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/alabama-supreme-court-justice-cites-scripture-nearly-two-dozen-times-in-ruling-on-embryos-204960325977   Airman who set self on fire grew up on religious compound, had anarchist past https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/26/israeli-embassy-airman-fire-death-gaza/   Reuters Investigation: More than 100 Political Elite Have Family Connections to Slavery  https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-slavery-lawmakers/   Opening Clip: Jack Posobiec https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1760780642671845629?t=ST2p12xndS77j8l5fK1E9Q&s=19   Clip: Steve Bannon at CPAC https://twitter.com/piyushmittal/status/1761666054902936048?t=I8clBBbzCvj07qquRxmqmA&s=19   Clip: Donald Trump at a Fox News Townhall: https://twitter.com/MaryLTrump/status/1760882903397830876?t=4aqtc89iRcFpq818M58g1w&s=19  

This week’s bonus show answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender-level and higher, starting with incarceration rates in the U.S. vs. Russia. Spoiler alert: GOP-led states and swing states are as bad or worse than Russia, starting with Mike Johnson’s Louisiana. We look at prison incarceration rates and what they can tell us about the struggle for democracy in America, what we’re up against, and how to overcome it, and more, in this week’s bonus show.   There’s a lot to discuss given the recent news, with new sweeping sanctions against Russia; new DOJ indictments against Russia; Libs of TikTok killing Nex, a trans teen in Oklahoma; Alabama going full Taliban by banning IVF, and more. Join Gaslit Nation and Kremlin File for a live Q&A this Wednesday February 28 at 12pm ET. To our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, look out for a Zoom link on the morning of the Q&A on Wednesday. We hope to see you there!    A special message to our Gaslit Nation community: Several listeners sent messages about the hate crime that killed Nex, a trans teen in Oklahoma. Nex was targeted and killed by the genocidal far-right echo chamber led by Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok, which, in any functional society, would have been banned by now. Erin Reed has written an essential, must-read piece on Nex’s murder, featured in the show notes of this episode. What happened to Nex is authoritarian scapegoating 101. Genocidal movements consolidate around violence to rally the sadists who will serve as the trusted lackeys to carry out a mass purge once in power, turning a former democracy into a prison. Chaya Raichik will undoubtedly be included in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan to mass purge our government should Trump win the Electoral College in 2024. Nex’s murder is a tragedy that must be recognized for what it is: a hate crime. It is also an urgent warning as Trump and his supporters consolidate with the desire to carry out genocide against the most vulnerable among us, especially LGBTQ+ people and their families, friends, doctors, teachers, and others in their support networks.  Our hearts go out to all those who feel unsafe due to this heinous crime. The Gaslit Nation community is here for you. Look out for an upcoming episode on ways to fight back and protect each other. In the meantime, listen to our spring 2022 interview with Chase Strangio, Deputy Director for Transgender Justice with the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project, included in our show notes.  If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week as our Gaslit Nation Q&A continues! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more.    Show Notes:    Event: Thursday February 29 at 1pm – Russian-diaspora led roundtable on Russian anti-war activities  https://www.facebook.com/events/439307928421886   Chaya Raichik Was Appointed To "Make Schools Safer" In Oklahoma; Now A Trans Teen Is Dead. https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/chaya-raichik-was-appointed-to-make?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web   Protect the LGBTQ Community: An Interview with Chase Strangio of the ACLU https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2022/5/26/chase-strangio-interview   The Sentencing Project: U.S. Continues to be the World Leader in Rate in Incarceration https://static.prisonpolicy.org/scans/sp/usno1.pdf   Prison Policy Initiative: States of Incarceration: The Global Context 2021 https://www.prisonpolicy.org/global/2021.html   Justice Department indicts more Russian businessmen, their aides, vowing to keep pressure on Putin https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2024/02/22/justice-department-arrests-russia-businessmen-putin Fani Willis calls out Nathan Wade, earning the women vote in her upcoming election: https://twitter.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1758247461993283909

February 20 marks two years since Putin launched his total war in Ukraine. February also marks the assassination of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, gunned down in the shadow of the Kremlin in 2015, on the eve of his anti-war march. And now Alexei Navalny, killed in a Siberian gulag, his body reportedly covered in bruises and kept from his family.    It may seem like Putin is winning, with Trump sailing into the Republican nomination, and MAGA lackey Mike Johnson deliberately stopping aid to Ukraine in Congress, costing countless lives and helping Russia advance. And the breaking news this week: Republicans in Congress based their impeachment proceeding of Biden on a Russian intelligence op, pulling out all the stops to help Trump steal the White House with the Kremlin’s help, again. One thing is clear: Putin is scared. The reality is that Putin’s fragile house of cards has turned Russia into a powder keg, as Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, vows to continue her husband’s work.    In this special episode, Andrea and Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack discuss the assassintion of Navalny and the work ahead to build a meaningful opposition, the mainstream media continuing to normalize Trump by labeling his 16-week abortion ban as “less restrictive”, and the triumph of Black prosecutors Tish James and Fani Willis in the larger American story of hard-fought progress.    This week’s bonus show answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. (If you haven’t submitted your questions yet, get ‘em in for next week’s Q&A!) Inspired by our listeners, this week’s bonus show covers prison incarceration rates in the U.S. vs. Russia and what that can tell us about our homegrown authoritarian threats in the GOP, whether voting by mail is safe this election (it is!), and more!    Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Not a member? Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more. Show Notes:   Event: Thursday February 29 at 1pm – Russian-diaspora led roundtable on Russian anti-war activities  https://www.facebook.com/events/439307928421886   Republicans in Congress initiated an impeachment proceeding of Biden based on a Russian intelligence op: https://twitter.com/rgoodlaw/status/1760122411016421457   Thread:  “JUST IN: Alexander Smirnov told the feds during an interview after his arrest that ‘officials associated with Russian intelligence’ were involved in passing a story about Hunter Biden.” https://twitter.com/alanfeuer/status/1760056078992081166   Hunter Biden says special counsel used Alexander Smirnov’s discredited bribery claims to derail his plea deal https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/alexander-smirnov-hunter-biden/index.html   Scientology Leader David Miscavige Served With Human Trafficking Lawsuit Miscavige had reportedly evaded process servers 27 times over four months before a judge said he was considered served. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scientology-leader-david-miscavige-served-with-human-trafficking-lawsuit_n_63ee6cb9e4b02c25737b92ca   Donald Trump Tells Allies He Backs 16-Week Abortion Ban GOP frontunner backs less restrictive ban than many in party Biden stepping up attacks on Trump over abortion restrictions https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-16/trump-tells-allies-he-backs-16-week-abortion-ban?cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-politics&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=politics   “Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of Alexei Navalny, received a standing ovation from the audience as she began a speech to the Munich Security Conference just hours after hearing about the “horrific news” of her husband’s death.” https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1758526751611802082   Police have detained several people at a makeshift gathering in memory of @Navalny in Moscow, as others throw snow & shout "shame!" https://twitter.com/AlecLuhn/status/1758549540108411094   “Fox Host: I think you could venture to wonder if Navalny would have died, been treated how he was, if there were a different president in office” https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1758543958773293089   “Statement about Navalny from Zelensky, a man who understands that Putin plans the same fate for him and the other leaders of Ukraine.”  https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1758541607723299277   “Outside the Russian embassy in Belgrade, some folks not happy about the Navalny thing.” https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1758539061629796446   “Today in Moscow, individuals are quietly forming lines to place flowers in memory of Navalny, the sole mode of silent protest permitted by the authorities at this time.” https://twitter.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1758543715059282420   “"Alexei Navalny was asked what his message would be to people if he was killed. His response from the Academy Award winning documentary about him directed by @DanielRoher"” https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1758556265285042284   "Fani Willis: Let’s go on and have a conversation. I don't need anything from a man. A man is not a plan. A man is a companion. I don't need anybody to foot my bills. The only man who has foot my bills completely is my daddy. @Acyn" https://twitter.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1758247461993283909   Tulsi Gabbard, Rand Paul Placed on List of Russian Propagandists by Ukraine https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-rand-paul-placed-list-russian-propagandists-ukraine-1727831   Justice Department Transfers Approximately $500,000 in Forfeited Russian Funds to Estonia for Benefit of Ukraine https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-transfers-approximately-500000-forfeited-russian-funds-estonia-benefit   Alexei Navalny death latest: Putin critic’s mother won’t see body for 14 days ‘as chemical analysis ordered’ https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3338204682172-alexei-navalny-death-latest-putin-critics-mother-wont-see-body-for-14-days-as-chemical-analysis-ordered?noAds=1&_f=app_share&s=i3   Arrests, vigils, and Kremlin silence: Russia marks Alexey Navalny’s death https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/18/europe/russia-alexey-navalny-arrests-death-intl/index.html   Inside Polar Wolf, the sadistic centrepiece of Putin’s gulag archipelago Conditions in the Arctic penal colony where Alexei Navalny died are essentially 'legalised torture', say survivors https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/17/inside-putin-gulag-archipelago-beating-torture-rape-suicide/   Kremlin runs disinformation campaign to undermine Zelensky, documents show https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/16/russian-disinformation-zelensky-zaluzhny/?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere_special_report&location=alert   Counting the 'colossal' cost of capturing Avdiivka: Russia could have suffered 30,000 casualties and lost over 400 tanks, IFVs https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-lost-thousands-of-personnel-and-400-tanks-in-avdiivka-2024#:~:text=Counting%20the%20'colossal'%20cost%20of,lost%20over%20400%20tanks%2C%20IFVs&text=The%20battle%20of%20Avdiivka%20proved,withdrew%20from%20Avdiivka%20this%20weekend.   Life Imitates Art as a ‘Master and Margarita’ Movie Stirs Russia An American director’s adaptation of the beloved novel is resonating with moviegoers, who may recognize some similarities in its satire of authoritarian rule. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/movies/master-and-margarita-movie-russia-reaction.html   Fact-checking Trump’s comments urging Russia to invade ‘delinquent’ NATO members https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trumps-comments-urging-russia-to-invade-delinquent-nato-members   Black Diplomats Podcast: https://www.blackdiplomats.net/   Black Diplomats Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/   Be sure to check out helpukrainewin.com, made by a Gaslit Nation listener!

This week’s bonus episode, for our subscribers at the Truth-tell level and higher on Patreon, features our audience Q&A at the live taping with Tristan Snell, a former New York state prosecutor who won the Trump University case, and author of the new book Taking Down Trump. Our discussion includes exposing Jeffery Epstein’s full network, how Trump back in the White House would impact our listeners in Canada, whether it’s time to launch an underground resistance, ways to put pressure on Merrick Garland, and more!  Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more.  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  An urgent request: the Senate passed aid to Ukraine. To put pressure on MAGA, contact your reps in the House with this easy-to-use site made by a Gaslit Nation listener:  helpukrainewin.com. Stay tuned as Gaslit Nation & Friends name and shame members of the Kremlin Kaucus, their staff, and their largest donors. We can’t wait until November – we must stop MAGA now!   Show Notes: The Cases Against Trump: A Guide Fraud. Hush money. Election subversion. Mar-a-Lago documents. One place to keep track of the presidential candidate’s legal troubles. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/donald-trump-legal-cases-charges/675531/ Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully by Tristan Snell https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/756546/taking-down-trump-by-tristan-snell/ Merrick Garland Must Go https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/merrick-garland-must-go/ Trump gets access to sealed documents on witness threats in Mar-a-Lago case Prosecutors turn over exhibit on threats made against potential witness to Trump’s lawyers following judge’s order, sources say https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/11/trump-mar-a-lago-case-witness-threats-sealed-exhibit The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis https://wwnorton.com/books/The-Fifth-Risk/ Be sure to check out helpukrainewin.com, made by a Gaslit Nation listener!

“Don't tell me what the law is, tell me who the judge is.” Those are the haunting words of Roy Cohn, Trump’s former longtime mentor and Henry Kissinger’s current roommate in hell. Take Trump's classified Mar-a-Lago case. According to this week’s guest, Tristan Snell, a former New York state prosecutor who won the Trump University case, and author of the new book Taking Down Trump, Jack Smith’s classified Mar-a-Lago charges are a slam dunk. Unfortunately, the judge is Republican Aileen Cannon–appointed by Trump, and it shows in her MAGA-like rulings endangering witnesses. As Cohn would say, mob rules, baby! In this special live taping of Gaslit Nation, we discuss how the sausage of elite criminal impunity gets made, what can be done to hold prosecutors accountable and end the revolving door of corruption between public service and powerhouse white collar crime law firms, and, just for fun, take a tour of the criminal cases against Trump and where things stand. Obviously, at Gaslit Nation, we know that real justice comes down to us, which is why this show started in the first place. Grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left, especially when the Attorney General is Merrick Garland.  This week’s bonus episode, for our subscribers at the Truth-tell level and higher on Patreon, features our audience Q&A at the live taping, with a discussion that includes exposing Jeffery Epstein’s full network, how Trump back in the White House would impact our listeners in Canada, whether it’s time to launch an underground resistance, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  An urgent request: the Senate passed aid to Ukraine. To put pressure on MAGA, contact your reps in the House with this easy-to-use site made by a Gaslit Nation listener:  helpukrainewin.com. Stay tuned as Gaslit Nation & Friends name and shame members of the Kremlin Kaucus, their staff, and their largest donors. We can’t wait until November – we must stop MAGA now!   Show Notes: The Cases Against Trump: A Guide Fraud. Hush money. Election subversion. Mar-a-Lago documents. One place to keep track of the presidential candidate’s legal troubles. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/donald-trump-legal-cases-charges/675531/ Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully by Tristan Snell https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/756546/taking-down-trump-by-tristan-snell/ Trump gets access to sealed documents on witness threats in Mar-a-Lago case Prosecutors turn over exhibit on threats made against potential witness to Trump’s lawyers following judge’s order, sources say https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/11/trump-mar-a-lago-case-witness-threats-sealed-exhibit The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis https://wwnorton.com/books/The-Fifth-Risk/ Be sure to check out helpukrainewin.com, made by a Gaslit Nation listener!

Welcome to this Gaslit Nation Emergency Bonus Episode, to cover Walter Duranty’s latest interview with Stalin, as he carries out a genocide. That was over ninety years ago. Today history repeats, with Tucker Carlson releasing a two-hour rant by Putin, presenting what Kellyanne Conway once lovingly referred to as “alternative facts.” Gaslit Nation has the fact-check for you here, and explains why Tucker Carlson, in his traitors paradise in Moscow, visiting Tara Reade, should be investigated for being an unregistered foreign agent. The Dominion lawsuit against Fox News essentially established that Tucker Carlson is not a journalist, and therefore must be investigated for furthering the Kremlin’s agenda.   Like longtime Kremlin operative Paul Manafort who he tried to rehabilitate on his Fox News show, Tucker Carlson reeks of FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act). According to Anton Gerashchenko, a former member of Ukraine’s parliament who has served in various government roles, Russian telegram channels expressed frustration in the Kremlin over Putin and Tucker’s love-in. (Putin sounded like one of those rambling email forwards about Barack HUSSEIN Obama, but the anti-Ukrainian version.) Those reports mention that Tucker was paid a fee. If that’s the case, then he needs to report that and any other perks he received from a foreign adversary. If he doesn’t disclose if and what he was paid for his Kremlin interview, he should face a FARA investigation by the DOJ (Wake up, Merrick Garland!), and an investigation by Democrats in the Senate.  Amazingly, this week the Mr. Jones' graphic novel adaptation, In the Shadow of Stalin, was announced by Oni Press – read more about that in the show notes below. The graphic novel includes deleted scenes from the film. A sneak peak of the pages can be seen here: https://aiptcomics.com/2024/02/07/in-the-shadow-of-stalin-the-story-of-mr-jones/  For historical context of Tucker Carlson’s dangerous Putin interview, watch Mr. Jones or read In the Shadow of Stalin, out September 4th, and available for pre-order now.  We look forward to seeing you at the special live taping of Gaslit Nation featuring former New York state prosecutor Tristan Snell, author of the new book, Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully. To our supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher, look out for a Zoom link sent to your inboxes Monday morning. Ask questions in the chat or in the recorded post-interview audience Q&A.To make sure you have your ticket, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: Opening Clip: https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1755757290953515479 Historical Thriller In the Shadow Of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones Out September 4th https://aiptcomics.com/2024/02/07/in-the-shadow-of-stalin-the-story-of-mr-jones/ Tucker Carlson Releases Putin Interview: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3HTMYXtfQt/ Congress Removes Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”)-Related Provisions from Final NDAA https://www.insidepoliticallaw.com/2023/12/07/congress-removes-foreign-agents-registration-act-fara-related-provisions-from-final-ndaa/  Berlin Murder Raises Suspicions of Russian Involvement https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/world/europe/berlin-murder-russia.html Ukraine's Zelenskyy replaces top general in major shake-up at pivotal moment in war with Russia https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-zelenskyy-replacing-top-general-valerii-zaluzhnyi-to-lead-army/

The great Douglas Rushkoff is back on Gaslit Nation! This time we’re featuring Andrea’s interview on Rushkoff’s excellent podcast Team Human, recorded late September, but timely as ever. A filmmaker and observer of techno-fascist bros and their billionaire bunkers they’re building to hide from us, as they destroy the world, Rushkoff is the author of several books, including Team Human and Survival of the Richest. For more on his podcast, the Rushkoff Substack, and Part I and Part II of his appearance on Gaslit Nation, check out the show notes below!  Got questions about the  investigations and prosecutions of the Traitor-in-Chief? Join Gaslit Nation for a special live taping on Monday, February 12, at 12 pm ET, featuring Tristan Snell—the prosecutor who led New York State's case against Trump and Trump University, and the author of the new book Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully. An event link will be sent to our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level or higher on the day of the event. To join us, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! This week’s bonus episode for our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon will be Part II of the Gaslit Nation Social Media Workshop, designed for those who hate social media and miss the old Twitter. Organizer Rachel Brody, who works with various campaigns to help get out the vote and leading brands, joins us to share the landscape of social media today and how to leverage the power of your voice in a world that needs you. Our regular Q&As will return in February, so be sure to send in your questions! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Team Human Podcast: https://www.teamhuman.fm/ Douglas Rushkoff Substack: https://rushkoff.substack.com/ The Douglas Rushkoff Interview - Part I https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/07/19/douglas-rushkoff-part-01 The Douglas Rushkoff Interview - Part II https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/07/26/douglas-rushkoff-interview-02 Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff https://bookshop.org/p/books/team-human-douglas-rushkoff/11200369?ean=9780393541533 Survival of the Richest by Douglas Rushkoff https://bookshop.org/p/books/survival-of-the-richest-escape-fantasies-of-the-tech-billionaires-douglas-rushkoff/18092436?ean=9780393881066

This week’s bonus episode for our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon is Part I of the Gaslit Nation Social Media Workshop, designed for those who hate social media and miss the old Twitter. Organizer Rachel Brody, who works with various campaigns to help get out the vote and leading brands, joins us to share the landscape of social media today and how to leverage the power of your voice in a world that needs you.  Got questions about the  investigations and prosecutions of the Traitor-in-Chief? Join Gaslit Nation for a special live taping on Monday, February 12, at 12 pm ET, featuring Tristan Snell—the prosecutor who led New York State's case against Trump and Trump University, and the author of the new book Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully. An event link will be sent to our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level or higher on the day of the event. To join us, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Our regular Q&As will return in February, so be sure to send in your questions! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Replace Jay Jacobs: https://replacejayjacobs.com/

Terrell Starr from the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins the chat. As a follow-up to Andrea's recent debate with Olga Lautman of the Kremlin Files podcast on the accusations against Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis, Terrell gives his take. For the previous discussion, check out the show notes. What's new since that episode ran? The divorce records of Nathan Wade, a Special Prosectuor on the Georgia case, were unsealed, revealing...no Fani Willis. Why does this matter? It doesn't. None of this matters. It's a far-right hit job, orchestrated by Trump and his goon squad, to undermine the airtight case in Georgia.  For more on the investigations and prosecutions of the Traitor-in-Chief, join Gaslit Nation for a special live taping on Monday, February 12, at 12 pm ET, featuring Tristan Snell—the prosecutor who led New York State's case against Trump and Trump University, and the author of the new book Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully. An event link will be sent to our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level or higher on the day of the event. To join us, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Show Notes: Fani Willis vs. Trump: The Nazis Strike Back https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/01/24/fani-willis-trump-nazis Unsealed original divorce documents don't mention Fulton County DA Fani Willis https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/unsealed-divorce-documents-do-not-mention-fulton-county-da-fani-willis The Fani Willis Scandal Is Bad—but It Doesn’t Change Her Case Against Trump https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/fani-willis-scandal-charges-against-trump/  

In this week's episode, Andrea and Terrell Starr from the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack discuss Jonathan Glazer’s chilling Holocaust drama, The Zone of Interest. They break down the gender politics of the "Queen of Auschwitz," past and present. They also fact check Donald Trump’s latest fascist campaign video aimed at energizing authoritarian voters, and share actions to take to build a better world. Later this week, watch out for a short episode where Andrea and Terrell discuss the disinformation campaign against Fani Willis. This far-right hit job, orchestrated by Trump and his goon squad, aims to undermine her airtight case in Georgia. For more on the investigations and prosecutions of the Traitor-in-Chief, join Gaslit Nation for a special live taping on Monday, February 12, at 12 pm ET, featuring Tristan Snell—the prosecutor who led New York State's case against Trump and Trump University, and the author of the new book Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully. An event link will be sent to our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level or higher on the day of the event. To join us, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! This week’s bonus episode for our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon will be Part I of the Gaslit Nation Social Media Workshop, designed for those who hate social media and miss the old Twitter. Organizer Rachel Brody, who works with various campaigns to help get out the vote and leading brands, joins us to share the landscape of social media today and how to leverage the power of your voice in a world that needs you. Our regular Q&As will return in February, so be sure to send in your questions! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Black Diplomats Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/ Black Diplomats Podcast: https://www.blackdiplomats.net/ Song of the Month: 'I Don't Wanna Be Dismembered' by th’sheridans. You can find more of th'sheridans' music on all streaming platforms and on Bandcamp at thsheridans.bandcamp.com/ Submit Your Song!: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628 Opening Clip: https://twitter.com/VABVOX/status/1750013520333168971  TED Talk: “Your Creative Superpowers Can Help Protect Democracy” by Sofia Ongele https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPW5Zx3ntZo Check out Tristan Snell’s new book Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully https://bookshop.org/p/books/taking-down-trump-12-rules-for-prosecuting-donald-trump-by-someone-who-did-it-successfully-tristan-snell/20845381?ean=9781685891251 Trump ordered to pay additional $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll in defamation case https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-must-pay-additional-83-million-to-e-jean-carroll-in-defamation-case-jury-decides Psychologist of the Nazi mind: As the "Nuremberg psychologist," Gustave Gilbert had unfettered access to Hitler's leading henchmen. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/05/nazi-mind Trump’s Latest Fascist Campaign Video: https://twitter.com/ZaleskiLuke/status/1750371080357675420?t=xagoPov-ccYKR2gKy2WAjg&s=19  E. Jean Carroll Case: Judge Kaplan, to jurors: "My advice to you is that you never disclose that you were on this jury." https://twitter.com/eorden/status/1750998393910919556?t=T5hJpIv9kVS6_dVLkXjTYQ&s=19 Movie Trailer: Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-vfg3KkV54  

Remember this shocking story from the 2016 election? The Trump campaign gutted Ukraine aid in the official RNC platform. Today this is mainstream for the GOP, with McConnell folding on Ukraine aid. This is catastrophic for the US and the world.  The recent transformation of the GOP into the Party of Putin began gradually, with only a few in Congress, like former Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who the Kremlin considered an asset, according to the FBI. In 2018, current House Speaker Mike Johnson took tens of thousands of dollars in dark money campaign donations linked to a Russian oligarch close to Putin who was part of the larger Kremlin operation exposed in the Mueller Report. The oligarch is Konstantin Nikolaev, who bankrolled Kremlin spy/GOP honeypot Maria Butina, who was arrested as part of the Mueller investigation, after pretending to be in love with NRA/GOP operative Paul Erickson. After Mike Johnson got caught taking donations linked to Nikolaev and other Russians (Oops!), he gave it back. But it was part of a wider operation used by the Russians in countries around the world to entrench their power in, known as “the golden handcuffs.”  Johnson blames other extremists in his party, like concentration camp guard Marjorie Taylor Greene, for "slowing down" Ukraine aid. They're not slowing down aid; they're blocking it, to help their financial backers in the Kremlin win.  Johnson and Trump are part of the Kremlin's long game. They develop their assets, then spread their influence deeper and deeper. This began with a few fringe people, like Rohrabacher. Now it's mainstream. This is state capture. What happens if we lose our country? No place is safe. If you think things are bad now, the entire world will be forced to live under the Kremlin's mafia state: violence and terror win, deciding everything. No more laws and elections. Many Republicans watched in shock as the Kremlin hijacked their party. But it was Republican operations, like Citizens United, that helped Russian dark money entrench the Kremlin's influence in the United States. More Americans must wake up that the loss of Ukraine is also the loss of our democracy. What's happening in Ukraine and the U,S. is an ongoing crime of state capture. The KGB-style operation started decades ago with Trump as a Russian asset. Where will we be if we and our institutions don’t stop it?  Call your rep in Congress today to demand aid to Ukraine (202) 224-3121!  This week’s bonus episode includes Andrea sharing her own stories of navigating the misogynistic labyrinth of Hollywood, and why, despite some big wins for women and representation (Yay Lily Gladstone and America Ferrera! Boo for no Fantasia nomination for The Color Purple!), why the Barbie Oscar snub matters. Olga Lautman, a Russian mafia expert and the co-host of the Kremlin Files podcast, continues her conversation with Andrea about what America will look like if Trump, and Putin, win the 2024 election.  *** Mark your calendars! Tristan Snell, the prosecutor who led New York State's case against Trump and Trump University and the author of "Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully," will join Andrea for a live-taping of Gaslit Nation for our community of listeners on February 12 at noon ET. An event link will be sent to our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level or higher on the day of the event. We look forward to seeing you there! To join us, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Show Notes: Call your rep in Congress today to demand aid to Ukraine (202) 224-3121!  CORRECTION: There appear to be no East Asian Barbies in the Barbie movie. There is a Southeast Asian Barbie played by Ritu Arya.  Mike Johnson's Campaign Contributions From Company Tied to Russia https://www.newsweek.com/house-speaker-mike-johnson-donations-russia-butina-1838501 2016 RNC Delegate: Trump Directed Change To Party Platform On Ukraine Support https://www.npr.org/2017/12/04/568310790/2016-rnc-delegate-trump-directed-change-to-party-platform-on-ukraine-support He’s a Member of Congress. The Kremlin Likes Him So Much It Gave Him a Code Name. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/us/politics/dana-rohrabacher-putin-trump-kremlin-under-fire.html Lover or cover? Maria Butina and the romance at the heart of an alleged Russian influence operation https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lover-cover-romance-heart-alleged-russian-influence-operation/story?id=57437405 For ‘Barbie’ Fans Online, a Bitterly Ironic Oscar Snub https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/style/barbie-oscar-nominations-reactions.html Ryan Gosling Calls Out Oscars Over Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie Barbie Snubs: 'There Is No Ken Without Barbie' https://people.com/ryan-gosling-calls-out-oscars-over-greta-gerwig-margot-robbie-barbie-snubs-8548327 Why the ‘Barbie’ Oscars snubs are so enraging https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/opinions/oscars-snubbed-barbie-greta-gerwig-margot-robbie-stewart/index.html The True Story of Oppenheimer’s First Love, Jean Tatlock, And How She Shaped His Views https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/the-true-story-of-jean-tatlock-in-oppenheimer The Movie Wives Would Like a Word https://time.com/6336804/the-movie-wives-are-speaking/ Gina Davis documentary: This Changes Everything: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5795282/

Mark your calendars! Tristan Snell, the prosecutor who led New York State's case against Trump and Trump University and the author of "Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully," will join Andrea for a live-taping of Gaslit Nation for our community of listeners on February 12 at noon ET. An event link will be sent to our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level or higher on the day of the event. To join us, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! *** Republicans have once again refused to stop Trump: Nikki Haley lost the New Hampshire primary, and the Trump Klan is moving ahead towards the GOP nomination. Why might that be? According to Harvard psychologist Martha Stout, author of "The Sociopath Next Door," one in twenty-five people are sociopaths. Trump’s cult has galvanized and emboldened them, unleashing a toxic sludge that threatens to drown our democracy. In this week’s episode, Andrea is joined by Olga Lautman, a Russian mafia expert and co-host of the Kremlin Files podcast, to discuss why Republicans are goose-stepping in line to support a shameless wannabe dictator, why the media continues to fail us and normalize this dangerous career criminal and Russian asset, and what can be done about it. Andrea and Olga also debate over the growing attacks against Fani Willis, the Fulton County, Georgia DA who built a strong case against Trump and his goon squad for trying to overturn our election in 2020. Michael Roman, one of the 18 co-defendants in her case and a professional GOP opposition researcher, is trying to get Willis removed, which would put the entire case in jeopardy. Without any evidence, Roman claims that Willis is in a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, a lawyer she hired to her team of prosecutors. (Who cares!) This is a clear case of disinformation warfare to help Trump once again escape accountability. While there’s nothing illegal done by Willis or Wade, this is the new “Hunter Biden’s laptop” – red meat for the Fox News echo chamber. Check the show notes for trusted sources that cut through the gaslighting against Willis, who must remain in her post.  As for who will actually stop Trump, that’s us and our Gaslit Nation phone banks this fall.  Show Notes: OPENING CLIP: Natasha Alford, author of American Negra, and anchor of The Grio https://twitter.com/SymoneDSanders/status/1747731236196614497?t=VhKn8V81n1j_qz6Hi-er6Q&s=19 NEW YORK TIMES: Trump Prosecutor in Georgia Seeks to Avoid Testifying in Colleague’s Divorce Case. Fani T. Willis was subpoenaed in the divorce case of a colleague she hired to manage the Trump prosecution in Georgia, with whom she is accused of having a romantic relationship. FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE: “The filing also stated that [Nathan Wade’s soon to be ex wife] Ms. Wade had ‘conspired’ with ‘interested parties’ in the Trump case ‘to annoy, embarrass and oppress’ Ms. Willis. It noted that Ms. Willis had been subpoenaed around the same time that Mr. Roman’s lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, filed motions seeking to unseal the divorce records and, in the Trump case, to remove the two prosecutors. The filing also said that Ms. Wade had acknowledged having an affair with a longtime friend of Mr. Wade’s, and that the couple had agreed their marriage was ‘irretrievably broken’ as early as 2017, before Mr. Wade and Ms. Willis had met.” https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/18/us/fani-willis-trump-georgia-prosecutors.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20240118&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=48614702&segment_id=155695&user_id=097a378032011d6e8be1570cdce0a176 Ruth Marcus in The Washington Post: Fani Willis's Gift to Trump: “As a legal matter, the allegations about a romantic relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis and the chief prosecutor in the election interference case against former president Donald Trump are irrelevant. Even if all the claims are true, they wouldn’t imperil the prosecution or justify dismissing the indictment, as one of Trump’s co-defendants is seeking.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/22/fani-willis-gift-trump/ 7 questions about the future of Fani Willis in the Georgia election interference case https://www.wabe.org/7-questions-about-the-future-of-fani-willis-in-the-georgia-election-interference-case/ Steve Bannon Thought Trump Had Early Dementia and Pushed to Remove Him, '60 Minutes' Producer Claims https://people.com/politics/steve-bannon-thought-donald-trump-had-early-stage-dementia-book-claims/ The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President - Updated and Expanded with New Essays https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-dangerous-case-of-donald-trump-37-psychiatrists-and-mental-health-experts-assess-a-president-updated-and-expanded-with-new-essays-updated-expande-/20868798?ean=9781250212863 AI Reveals Dementia in Trump Speeches https://thedemlabs.org/2024/01/20/ai-reveals-dementia-in-trump-speeches/ Trump co-defendant alleges Georgia DA and prosecutor in relationship but offers no proof https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/09/georgia-trump-case-fani-willis-relationship-prosecutor South Carolina natives Nikki Haley and Tim Scott's complicated history on display as they battle for GOP nomination https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/south-carolina-natives-nikki-haley-tim-scotts-complicated/story?id=104253045 The Sociopath Next Door by Harvard Psychologist Martha Stout https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sociopath-next-door-martha-stout/15279323?ean=9780767915823

Thank you to everyone who joined the Gaslit Nation Social Media Workshop last week. What was supposed to be a one hour event lasted two hours! We look forward to publishing a recording of that soon, as Part I and Part II in early February. So if you missed the live event, you’ll soon have the recording and a helpful one-pager with an overview of social media strategies from Rachel Brody, the organizer who led the workshop.  To help connect our community in this hellfire year, we've introduced Community Chats for our Patreon listeners. Currently only on the Patreon app, it will soon be available on the web. Community Chats is a private group chat exclusively for our listeners on Patreon, another reason to join and support the show. Find more details at the top of our show notes!  This week's bonus show was inspired by a listener's question on our recent interview with historian Heather Cox Richard, author of "Democracy Rising." It builds on Heather's explanation of the economic conditions of the North and South on the eve of the Civil War, taking it a step further to look at the “Blue State” vs. “Red State” economic divide today, and what that may tell us about where our country is headed. Then Andrea and Terrell Starr from the Black Diplomats podcast and Substack discuss the recent non-scandal hospitalization "scandal" involving Lloyd Austin, comparing it to Hillary Clinton's non-scandal email "scandal,” highlighting how the media and Republican Party are determined to dehumanize and terrorize women and nonwhite people. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To get this and every bonus show, all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, and more, subscribe to the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit for as little as $5 a month!  Show Notes: Check Out Community Chats from Patreon: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/18855680408589-Join-community-chats  “American Civil War: Then and Now” https://www.patreon.com/posts/american-civil-93719050 Transcript of Heather Cox Richardson interview – Part I: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5be3e193506fbe475c2856f7/t/65672e9144317d4e6c728ef0/1701260945235/GaslitNation_20231129_Transcript_American-Civil-War_Then-and-Now.docx.pdf PBS: The Civil War and Emancipation https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2967.html The Civil War - An Introduction https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/overview.htm CHRONOLOGY-Who banned slavery when? https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL15614649/ Red States and Blue States Are Becoming Different Countries https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/opinion/red-blue-states-politics.html 2007 Study: Rich State, Poor State, Red State, Blue State: What’s the Matter with Connecticut? http://www.stat.columbia.edu/~gelman/research/unpublished/redblue11.pdf In almost every industry, red states have higher turnover https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/26/hiring-red-blue-states/ Washington Post Analysis - 2023: In almost every industry, red states have higher turnover https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/26/hiring-red-blue-states/ Which states gained the most high-income families, and which lost the most during the pandemic https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/10/12/us-high-income-family-migration/71148162007/   Chinese Mom Buys $6.5 Million New York City Apartment for 2-Year-Old https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/03/28/chinese-mom-buys-6-5-million-new-york-city-apartment-for-two-year-old/   Dear Black Americans: Please Move to the South. An argument for consolidating Black political power.   https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/opinion/reverse-migration-black-majority-states.html   A ‘New Great Migration’ is bringing Black Americans back to the South https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-new-great-migration-is-bringing-black-americans-back-to-the-south/

Hate social media? Miss the old Twitter? Want to raise your voice in 2024 for those who don’t have one? Join our social media workshop this Thursday, January 18th, at 8 pm ET! This virtual event will feature the tenacious Rachel Brody, an organizer working on social media strategy for various voter outreach campaigns, from Congressional to Latino voter outreach. Rachel also spearheads the diverse grassroots movement in New York to replace disastrous party chair Jay Jaycobs and will provide a quick update on that important movement to prevent New York from losing us the House again!   To attend our virtual events, get our episodes ad free, receive bonus shows, submit questions for our regular Q&As, and more, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!  ____________________ Not since the 2016 election has U.S. foreign policy been this consequential. We're experiencing serious 2016 vibes here at Gaslit Nation, when the Obama foreign policy team, including Biden and his advisors like Jake Sullivan, let Russia jack our democracy in front of their eyes. Now, they are allowing wannabe autocrat Netanyahu, a genocidal maniac, and close ally of Kushner and Putin, to pursue his long war to retain power after his failed coup to dismantle Israel's courts. If Biden and his foreign policy team are unmoved by the tens of thousands of Palestinians facing starvation—a slow, torturous way to die (see Andrea's film Mr. Jones)—then surely they must be concerned about their re-election chances and should finally demand a ceasefire. Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast and Substack joins Andrea to discuss the crisis in Gaza and its impact on the 2024 election, what the GOP Iowa Caucus (Klan rally) truly represents, the moral inconsistency of U.S. as well as South African foreign policy, the potential role of Kushner surrogate Nikki Haley in the Trump regime, the historic role of Black women in saving America from itself, and more! This week's bonus episode discusses the economies of the civil war, past and present, and what they can tell us about the country's potential direction. The bonus show will also feature a continuation of Andrea's conversation with Terrell Starr. They discuss the recent Lloyd Austin non-scandal hospitalization "scandal" and compare it to Hillary Clinton's non-scandal email "scandal," highlighting how the media and Republicans are determined to dehumanize and terrorize women and nonwhite people. See you at the Social Media Workshop for People Who Hate Social Media this Thursday, January 18th, at 8 pm! Look out for a Zoom link posted on Patreon that morning for supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  

Coming soon for our Patreon community! Look out for a group chat feature for supporters to more easily connect with each other, and also a pinned post of recommended books from our listeners! Thank you to everyone who supports the show!  There was a crucial presidential election in Taiwan today as the fairly young democracy elected Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party to stand up to China’s threats. (Check our show notes: The Guardian has a colorful overview of the most consequential election since Taiwan’s first in 1996). No matter who won, China will continue to seek to annex Taiwan, dictator Xi having told Biden in their meeting in September that China and Taiwan will unify.  A troubling sign backs up his threat: Xi discovered that his military is as comically corrupt as Russia’s, with reports of missiles in China full of water instead of fuel. Xi is clearly learning from Putin's mistakes in Ukraine. China may be preparing to take advantage of a West stretched thin by conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and with Iran-backed Houthis. Olga Lautman, a Russian mafia researcher and co-host of the Kremlin Files podcast, joins Andrea to discuss whether China is about to invade Taiwan.  The conversation includes the grievance politics of authoritarian movements, featuring a look at MAGA lapdog Elise Stefanik's dangerous appearance on Meet the Press. In that clip, featured in our show notes, Stefanik refers to the violent white supremacist terrorists who attempted to overthrow our democracy on January 6th as "hostages." Andrea and Olga discuss the dangers of this and the history of a Nazi camp on Stefanik’s Long Island. If Trump regains power, expect over 1,000 violent traitors to be pardoned on day one as he launches Project 2025 (his carefully planned mass purge of our government), making the world, not just our country, even more dangerous. This week’s bonus show includes Andrea answering questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. That discussion includes novels to read right now, how art by school children can help Ukraine, and more! If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week, as our Q&A continues. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Hate social media? Miss the old Twitter? Want to raise your voice for 2024 for those who don’t have one? Join our social media workshop this Thursday, January 18th, at 8 pm ET! This virtual event will feature the tenacious Rachel Brody, an organizer working on social media strategy for various campaigns, from Congressional to Latino voter outreach. Rachel also spearheads the diverse grassroots movement in New York to replace disastrous party chair Jay Jaycobs and will provide a quick update on that important effort to prevent New York from losing us the House again!   To sign up for our bonus episodes, attend our virtual events, submit questions for our regular Q&As, and more, support Gaslit Nation on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Show Notes: Clip:  Elise Stefanik refers to the "January 6 hostages" on Meet the Press: https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1744014556416905223 Nazis on Long Island: The Story of Camp Siegfried https://mjhnyc.org/events/nazis-on-long-island-the-story-of-camp-siegfried/ The Guardian: Inflatables, hip-hop rallies, and a missile alarm: Taiwan to vote in election that’s too close to call https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/12/taiwan-general-presidential-election-2024-voting-polls-results-dpp-kmt-tpp In a Setback for Beijing, Taiwan Elects Lai Ching-te as President Taiwan’s vice president, whose party has emphasized the island’s sovereignty, defeated an opposition party that favors reviving engagement with China. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/world/asia/taiwan-election-china-us.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20240113&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=48614702&segment_id=155235&user_id=097a378032011d6e8be1570cdce0a176 Xi told Biden at summit that China plans to reunify with Taiwan https://abcnews.go.com/International/xi-warns-biden-china-plans-back-taiwan/story?id=105815520 Why Taiwan is 2024’s first big election to watch https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2024/1/6/24026992/taiwan-china-president-war-xi-jinping-asia-semiconductors-chips US Intelligence Shows Flawed China Missiles Led Xi to Purge Army China missiles filled with water, not fuel: US intelligence Xi seeking to root out corruption, prepare military for combat https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-06/us-intelligence-shows-flawed-china-missiles-led-xi-jinping-to-purge-military?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=twitter

Every dictator dreams of living to a ripe old age and dying in power, leaving behind a worshipful cult to ensure their immortality. Putin’s disastrous war in Ukraine, which was supposed to take Kyiv in three days, may bring his end sooner than he thinks. There was already one violent coup attempt against him last spring, and there are signs of failing health and increasing delusion. As his war drags on, with more Russians forced into the meat grinder, or coming home wounded, armed, and angry, Russia is a powder keg. Is the West ready for the collapse of Russia? Will the country return to the chaos and car bombs of the 1990s? Will the statues of Stalin come down or be joined by ones to Putin? If the Kremlin is ripped apart by a succession battle, what will happen to the nukes? Olga Lautman, the Russian mafia expert and co-host of the Kremlin Files podcast, joins Gaslit Nation to forecast the collapse of Russia and why the West must get ready, especially for the sake of ensuring Ukraine prevails–for all of us. This week’s bonus show, exclusive to our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. To our Patreon community, we look forward to seeing you at our Gaslit Nation Social Media workshop on January 18th at 8 pm EST, made especially for those who hate social media. Rachel Brody, a tenacious organizer who helps various campaigns with their social media strategy, will help lead the discussion and answer your questions. To get access to our January 18th social media workshop, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! SHOW NOTES: Razom Call to Action – save Ukraine https://www.instagram.com/p/C12YBemup2G/ With Shutdown Looming, House and Senate Leaders Agree on Spending Levels Despite the deal, time is short to assemble and pass legislation putting the agreement in force before a Jan. 19 deadline. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/us/congress-spending-deal-shutdown.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20240107&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=48614702&segment_id=154521&user_id=097a378032011d6e8be1570cdce0a176 Putin’s ally Netanyahu helping him his war in Ukraine: https://twitter.com/CrisLeeMaza/status/1743296552561480140 Putin Quietly Signals He Is Open to a Cease-Fire in Ukraine Despite its bravado in public, the Kremlin has indicated its interest in striking a deal to halt the war — so long as it could still declare victory. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/23/world/europe/putin-russia-ukraine-war-cease-fire.html Russia must be held accountable over Ukraine – we should seize its assets Joseph Stiglitz and Andrew Kosenko https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/08/russia-ukraine-seize-assets-us-eu Putin’s $300bn Belongs to Ukraine https://cepa.org/article/putins-300bn-belongs-to-ukraine/ Pentagon didn’t inform Biden, White House for days about Austin’s hospitalization https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/pentagon-took-3-days-to-inform-white-houses-nsc-of-austins-hospitalization-00134176 "It's time to act": Biden calls for over US$60 billion in aid to Ukraine https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/01/8/7436292/ US Intelligence Shows Flawed China Missiles Led Xi to Purge Army China missiles filled with water, not fuel: US intelligence Xi seeking to root out corruption, prepare military for combat https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-06/us-intelligence-shows-flawed-china-missiles-led-xi-jinping-to-purge-military?utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=twitter Military briefing: Russia has the upper hand in electronic warfare with Ukraine Both Kyiv and Moscow seek to bolster drone jamming capabilities as attacks mount  https://www.ft.com/content/a477d3f1-8c7e-4520-83b0-572ad674c28e Top 10 Trends for 2024 https://www.ft.com/content/9edcf793-aaf7-42e2-97d0-dd58e9fab8ea Extraordinary thread by Ruth Deyermond, Senior Lecturer, Dept of War Studies, King's College London. Russian and US foreign & security policy https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1741506057719951483.html

Dictators want us to think that the future is hopeless, that their cult of personality will last forever. Gaslit Nation exists to remind us that another world is possible. The experts we’ve brought on the show over the years have shown us how. In this special episode, we’re starting 2024 right, with a chorus of voices guiding us to envision the world we want to live in.  To start us off, Andrea is joined by Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast to share their hopes for 2024, and how they plan to contribute to building the livable future they envision. Share your hopes for 2024 in the comments below or in an email to [email protected], and we may read your comments on the show! To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, save the date for our January 18th 8 pm ET Quit Twitter Social Media Workshop. If you hate social media, if you miss Old Twitter before Apartheid Barbie Musk deliberately destroyed it, if you want to elevate your voice for those who need your solidarity and support, then this is the workshop for you! We’ll be joined by organizer Rachel Brody who helps various campaigns with their social media strategy and helps lead the statewide coalition to replace Jay Jacobs, the useless chair of the New York state Democratic Party who, from George Santos to Republican control of the House running through New York, has cost this country so much. This is an event not to miss! To get access, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  

On a hot afternoon in the middle of summer in New York City, people gathered together at Caveat on the Lower East Side for a special live taping of Gaslit Nation with the RISK! Storytelling Podcast. This is Part II of Andrea’s discussion with comedian Kevin Allison, host and producer of RISK!, and a founding member of the groundbreaking comedy group The State.  The packed audience shared their insights and fears heading into 2024. One of the many indelible questions from the live Q&A raised this question: What happens if Trump wins? This discussion answers that and provides ways on how to avoid that tragedy for America and the world.  To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, save the date for our January 18th 8 pm ET Quit Twitter Social Media Workshop. If you hate social media, if you miss Old Twitter before Apartheid Barbie Musk deliberately destroyed it, if you want to elevate your voice for those who need your solidarity and support, then this is the workshop for you! We’ll be joined by organizer Rachel Brody who helps various campaigns with their social media strategy and helps lead the statewide coalition to replace Jay Jacobs, the useless chair of the New York state Democratic Party who, from George Santos to Republican control of the House running through New York, has cost this country so much. This is an event not to miss! To get access, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  To get access to our January 18th social media workshop, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Author Peter Kurth takes the Gaslit Nation Self Care Q&A!  In the second part of this special interview, Andrea interviews Peter Kurth, author of American Cassandra: The Life of Dorothy Thompson, which helped inspire Andrea’s latest screenplay based on Thompson and her urgent lessons for us today. Gaslit Nation has always been a show that combines the power of art with fighting fascism, and this interview captures that call-to-arms.  To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, save the date for our January 18th 8 pm ET Quit Twitter Social Media Workshop. If you hate social media, if you miss Old Twitter before Apartheid Barbie Musk deliberately destroyed it, if you want to elevate your voice for those who need your solidarity and support, then this is the workshop for you! We’ll be joined by organizer Rachel Brody who helps various campaigns with their social media strategy and helps lead the statewide coalition to replace Jay Jacobs, the useless chair of the New York state Democratic Party who, from George Santos to Republican control of the House running through New York, has cost this country so much. This is an event not to miss! To get access, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  To get access to our January 18th social media workshop, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Dorothy Thompson was the leading journalist of the 1930s and 1940s, considered as influential as Eleanor Roosevelt. After becoming the first foreign correspondent to be expelled from Germany by Hitler, Thompson advised President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, testified to Congress, and destroyed the public career of American aviator and Nazi medal-recipient Charles Lindbergh with the power of her pen. She crashed the 1939 Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden and heckled over 20,000 American Nazis until the police had to drag her out, and she warned the world relentlessly about fascism and its useful idiots in the U.S., like America First. Her warnings inspired her husband Sinclair Lewis, the first American to win the Nobel Prize for literature, to write It Can’t Happen Here, the now classic novel about the rise of an American dictator. That novel and Thompson’s 1941 essay for Harper’s “Who Goes Nazi?”, her macabre game on how to tell who among you at a dinner party would become a Nazi, went viral when Trump came to power in 2016.  In this special episode, Andrea interviews Peter Kurth, author of American Cassandra: The Life of Dorothy Thompson, which helped inspire Andrea’s latest screenplay based on Thompson and her urgent lessons for us today. Gaslit Nation has always been a show that combines the power of art with fighting fascism, and this interview captures that call-to-arms.  To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, save the date for our January 18th 8 pm ET Quit Twitter Social Media Workshop. If you hate social media, if you miss Old Twitter before Apartheid Barbie Musk deliberately destroyed it, if you want to elevate your voice for those who need your solidarity and support, then this is the workshop for you! We’ll be joined by organizer Rachel Brody who helps various campaigns with their social media strategy and helps lead the statewide coalition to replace Jay Jacobs, the useless chair of the New York state Democratic Party who, from George Santos to Republican control of the House running through New York, has cost this country so much. This is an event not to miss! To get access, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

In a year of hellfire, there were some signs of hope, including Ukraine moving closer to joining the European Union. Countless Ukrainians gave their lives for this, beginning with around 100 pro-democracy protesters killed by the riot police of Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian Trump brought to power by longtime Kremlin operative Paul Manafort.  Even Viktor Orban, the wannabe strongman of Hungary, couldn’t stop Ukraine from moving closer to its long held and long sacrificed for European dreams. This special bonus show is a roast of Orban by Andrea and Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast. Zelensky recently got into Orban’s face, reminding us again that he’s a streetfighter showing the world how to stand up to bullies. Watch the infamous video clip of that here. This international humiliation of Orban was followed by even more humiliation as EU leaders asked Orban to leave the room so they could unanimously vote on Ukraine moving forward in the process for membership. Orban left the room, and the vote passed. This lively discussion is a reminder that bullies can be contained.  To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, save the date for our January 18th 8 pm ET Quit Twitter Social Media Workshop. If you hate social media, if you miss Old Twitter before Apartheid Barbie Musk deliberately destroyed it, if you want to elevate your voice for those who need your solidarity and support, then this is the workshop for you! We’ll be joined by organizer Rachel Brody who helps various campaigns with their social media strategy and helps lead the statewide coalition to replace Jay Jacobs, the useless chair of the New York state Democratic Party who, from George Santos to Republican control of the House running through New York, has cost this country so much. This is an event not to miss! To get access, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  

While this news broke after we recorded this week’s episode, Gaslit Nation would like to congratulate the Colorado Supreme Court for being on the right side of history! With Trump disqualified from being on the ballot in Colorado, it’s now up to the Supreme Court, which Trump packed, to take up the case. However things go, it’s nice to finally see some justice for Trump’s massive treason, though small at this very late stage. Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats podcast is back on Gaslit Nation to discuss the latest polling revealing a generational split in the Democratic electorate when it comes to Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War, especially the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, and Israel’s widely documented unchecked war crimes. The discussion includes the path forward to resolve the conflict, lessons from Ukraine, and why the Far Left needs to be morally consistent when it comes to foreign policy and elevating the voices of regional experts. In this week’s bonus show, out later this week for our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, Terrell and Andrea discuss Zelensky vs. Orban and why Ukraine finally entering the European Union matters for security in Europe and the U.S. Orban is the darling of the America First crowd, but as Zelensky and the adults in the room of the E.U. showed, he’s just another scared “little man,” as the journalist Dorothy Thompson called the strongmen she covered, from Mussolini to Hitler to Stalin, during the 1930s. To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, save the date for our January 18th 8 pm ET social media workshop. If you hate social media, if you miss Old Twitter before Apartheid Barbie Musk deliberately destroyed it, if you want to elevate your voice for those who need your solidarity and support, then this is the workshop for you! We will be joined by organizer Rachel Brody, who helps various campaigns with their social media strategy and leads grassroots efforts to replace Jay Jacobs, the useless chair of the New York state Democratic Party who has cost this country so much. This is an event you’re not going to want to miss! To get access to our January 18th social media workshop, make sure you’re subscribed on Patreon at the Truth-teller level or higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit   Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Opening Clip: From 2008 – Zbigniew Brezinki Schools Scarborough on Israel-Palestine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mk18af8z9Y Clip: Clarissa Ward on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1735169631189713238 Poll Finds Wide Disapproval of Biden on Gaza, and Little Room to Shift Gears https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/politics/biden-israel-gaza-poll.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20231219&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=48614702&segment_id=152980&user_id=097a378032011d6e8be1570cdce0a176 Clip: Exclusive: Highly classified binder went missing in Trump's final days in office https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04DwVPl__Eo The U.S. Is About To Make A Decision At The U.N. That Could Change Gaza's Fate A vote Tuesday underscores the importance and the struggles of the U.S. mission to the United Nations and its leader, veteran diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/united-nations-gaza-united-states-vote-linda-thomas-greenfield_n_6580ce95e4b036ecab463621 Politico Europe: “Hours into negotiations on opening accession talks with Ukraine, it was Germany's Olaf Scholz who came up with the solution. Scholz told Orbán that he could leave the room so other leaders could take an unanimous decision, two officials said.” https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1735379878206144620 Brady Africk on Twitter: “European Union leaders "agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine after a surprisingly rapid climbdown from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who left the room to allow an unanimous decision." https://twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1735362081036157018 @CasualArtyFan: “Considering Norway’s defense budget is between 7-8 billion USD, this is a big deal, even if the aid is a combination military/economic.” https://twitter.com/CasualArtyFan/status/1734975728221815204 @United24media: “Kaja Kallas: We will support Ukraine militarily for at least 4 years with 0.25% of our GDP.” https://twitter.com/United24media/status/1735270699340566606 @michaeldweiss: "Ukraine had completed 80% of reforms required for the first step to membership talks, and was expected to complete with 100% expected by spring. Bosnia, the diplomat said, had completed just 20%." https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1735319778682712337  @michaeldweiss: "British officials have told their Ukrainian counterparts the country will focus on bolstering Kyiv’s maritime capabilities as part of the planned MoU, The Telegraph can disclose." https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/1737098940535701970 The mystery of the missing binder: How a collection of raw Russian intelligence disappeared under Trump https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/12/politics/missing-russia-intelligence-trump-dg/ The Guardian: ‘Art helps us imagine a future we wish to remember’: the photographer finding art in a war zone Six months after the war broke out in Ukraine, Daoud Sarhandi-Williams headed to Kyiv to photograph the city’s street art – and discovered images that capture the hopes and fears of a city https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/dec/12/daoud-sarhandi-williams-ukraine-at-war-street-art-interview?utm_term=657c780436f711bacca0d69b694fb577&utm_campaign=ArtWeekly&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=artweekly_email

Sixteen year old Kalief Browder spent 700 days in solitary confinement over a backpack he didn’t steal, and traitor to his country, former FBI agent Charles McGonigal, only got four years in prison for being on the payroll of the Russian mafia. That and Putin’s end-of-the-year speech to Russians, promising to destroy and occupy all of Ukraine, are discussed in this week’s bonus episode.  Joining us for urgent insights into how to navigate this all-to-familiar time of growing fascism is media historian Ray Gamache, a leading biographer of Gareth Jones, the hero of Mr. Jones, the film inspired by Jones’ groundbreaking reporting on Stalin. Jones also reported from Hitler’s Germany, where he warned that Hitler and his “primitive” mobs of supporters were going to transform not just Germany, but the fate of Europe. Gamache is the author of Gareth Jones: Eyewitness to the Holodomor and Gareth Jones: On Assignment in Nazi Germany 1933-34 To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, send in your questions for our Q&As. We always look forward to hearing from you. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Join the conversation and get episodes ad free, invites to special events, and more by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit!  Show Notes: Remembering Kalief Browder a Year After his Suicide and Why Rikers Island Should be Shut Down https://innocenceproject.org/remembering-kalief-browder-year-suicide-rikers-island-shutdown/ Ex-FBI counterintelligence chief sentenced to over four years in prison for work with Russian oligarch https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/politics/ex-fbi-counterintelligence-chief-sentenced-to-sentenced-to-over-four-years-in-prison/index.html US Senate report uncovers Louis Freeh's connections with Russia authorities https://news.err.ee/1125367/us-senate-report-uncovers-louis-freeh-s-connections-with-russia-authorities Putin says no peace in Ukraine until his goals are achieved https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/putin-year-end-news-conference-ukraine-1.7058841  

The Reagan Revolution and “greed is good” remain in full swing, ushering in a level of wealth inequality that surpasses the Gilded Age.  "Progressives, especially, must recognize that pres erving constitutional freedoms depends on winning the fight for economic liberties. Treating them as separate goals will ultimately mean losing out on both," writes Caroline Fredrickson, the former president of the American Constitution Society, the Democrats' answer to Leonard Leo's Federalist Society and his $1.6 billion war chest. You've probably never heard of the American Constitution Society, because they haven't been as effective. In September, Fredrickson wrote a damning piece for The Atlantic explaining why, taking herself and other Democrats to task for packing our courts with corporate-friendly judges under recent Democratic administrations, including the current one. It seemed enough for Democrats that a judge was a woman, nonwhite, and cared about protecting reproductive healthcare. As a result, for decades, our courts have become a rubber stamp for rolling back regulations and defying antitrust laws. Even the Biden-appointed antitrust Elizabeth Warren protégé Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, has been powerless against the corporate defenders packed on our courts. Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Jesse Eisinger of ProPublica, author of The Chicken Shit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives, explains that to undo the Reagan Revolution, prioritize appointing judges who will uphold antitrust laws and protect unions. To be true allies to women and nonwhite people, who are harder hit by economic downturns, fight for economic justice as the foundation for social justice. The Democrats need to get clear on that and respond with a robust judicial appointment strategy immediately, while there’s still time.  This week’s bonus show, available for our listeners at the Truth-tell level and higher, will feature questions and comments from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Exclusively for our Patroen community at the Truth-teller level and higher, mark your calendars for the January 18th 8pm ET social media workshop to be held over Zoom–on how to kick our Twitter habit and use our social media voices for good in the world in 2024 and beyond–with organizer Rachel Brody of the movement to Replace Jay Jacobs, the disastrous chair of the New York state Democrats who cost us the House. We look forward to seeing you there! Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  To join the conversation and get your questions answered, as well as receive all episodes, including bonus shows, ad-free, sign up at the Democracy Defender level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!  Show Notes: Brexit and Trump are the Same Crime: The Carole Cadwalladr Interview https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2019/4/15/brexit-and-trump-are-the-same-crime-the-carole-cadwalladr-interview Arron Banks may have been ‘used and exploited’ by Russia, court hears This article is more than 1 year old Journalist Carole Cadwalladr gives evidence as she defends her reporting on multimillionaire Brexit backer https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/17/arron-banks-used-and-exploited-by-russia-court-hears Try the Yuka App: Scan Your Shopping Cart With Yuka and Make Healthier Choices Are there carcinogenic red dyes in your canned soup, or is it just a little too salty? Yuka can tell you, but you may not like what you find. https://www.wired.com/story/yuka-app/ E.U. Reaches Deal on World’s First Comprehensive AI Rules https://time.com/6344628/eu-ai-rules-deal/ What I Most Regret About My Decades of Legal Activism By focusing on civil liberties but ignoring economic issues, liberals like me got defeated on both. By Caroline Fredrickson https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/federal-judiciary-biden-court-appointments/675336/  Republicans to meet allies of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán on ending Ukraine aid Hungarian appearance at two-day event part of Orbán’s transatlantic attempt to bolster Russia’s war https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/10/hungary-viktor-orban-republicans-ukraine-aid Want to Tax the Rich for Real? Pay Attention to This Supreme Court Case. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/opinion/supreme-court-wealthy-taxes.html Zelensky visits Washington in push for more Ukraine aid https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/zelensky-biden-visit-12-12-23/index.html

This experiment brings to mind more recent ones in Russia, where there were deliberate efforts to breed both aggressive and docile rats. One Gaslit Nation listener wondered if Russian botfarms are deliberately "engineering" (inciting) aggressive Americans and also docile ones in their disinformation warfare to further divide us. The theory suggests that docile and distracted Americans would be less likely to resist against the aggressive ones. Research into hybrid warfare points to distraction as a powerful tool of disinformation waged by foreign adversaries. (The West has its own history of this, using CIA-funded art and culture to directly challenge Soviet ideology. There's a great book that captures that time called The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters.) All that and more, including Venezuela’s threats to annex an oil-rich region of Guyana, which would worsen the refugee crisis on our southern border, is discussed in this week’s bonus episode. If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Under Stalin, in their quest to build a Soviet utopia, the Bolsheviks turned to eugenics. With the goal of breeding humans with apes, they aimed to successfully prove Darwin was right and that religion was indeed the "opium of the masses." Their human-ape hybrids would be engineered to be a super species—communally driven, designed with positive traits to build a flourishing communist society. Needless to say, the experiment failed, and many chimpanzees kidnapped from Africa died in the process. Join the conversation by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit Show Notes: Get your ‘Tis the Season to Prosecute Treason T-shirt featuring an original design by Hamish Smyth! http://tee.pub/lic/_vLBHBoWkeg Nice Rats, Nasty Rats: Maybe It’s All in the Genes https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/health/nice-rats-nasty-rats-maybe-its-all-in-the-genes.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare Israel and Palestine: A Political Solution https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/10/18/israel-palestine-political-solution Kremlin says Putin is healthy, laughs off body double rumours https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-rejects-speculation-that-putin-is-ill-uses-body-doubles-2023-10-24/ The Russian Government Once Funded a Scientist’s Quest To Make an Ape-Human Hybrid In 1926, a famed Russian biologist was “hell-bent” on creating an ape-human hybrid https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-russian-government-once-funded-a-scientists-quest-to-make-an-ape-human-hybrid-5043859/ Venezuela’s threats to annex most of Guyana draw international concern https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/07/venezuela-guyana-esequibo-map-border-dispute/ Distraction Helps Misinformation Spread. Thinking About Accuracy Can Reduce it. https://medium.com/jigsaw/distraction-helps-misinformation-spread-thinking-about-accuracy-can-reduce-it-a4e5d8371a85 Weapons of Mass Distraction https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Weapons-of-Mass-Distraction-Foreign-State-Sponsored-Disinformation-in-the-Digital-Age.pdf

The Supreme Court is at it again! This current season of the American Hunger Games, also known as a Supreme Court session, could be as disastrous for the American people and great for the far-right donor class since Citizens United. Here to help us make sense of the firehose of corruption coming out of the nation’s highest court is Jesse Eisinger, a senior editor and investigative reporter for ProPublica and author of "The Chickenshit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives." Eisinger edited and led the team of journalists who produced several investigations exposing the massive bribes— we mean, the totally unethical and impeachable financial entanglements of Republican-appointed justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The discussion includes why Republicans build war chests to capture our courts for generations and why Democrats continue to have no strategy in response; why the DOJ let Wall Street off the hook for tanking our global economy and what that means for whether Trump and his co-conspirators will also get away with their crimes and corruption, and how to push back against elite criminal impunity in a time of historic income inequality—worse than the Gilded Age. This week’s bonus episode will answer questions from listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher on Patreon. Andrea will also share some colorful insights from someone who had to work with Russian oligarchs back in the car bomb 1990s in Russia. For our Patreon community, Mark your calendar for the January 18th, 8 pm ET social media workshop to help us get in gear for raising our voices as we head into another make-it-or-break-it election year for our democracy and, therefore, the world Want to join the conversation? Subscribe to join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit  Show Notes: Urgent call-to-action from Razom for Ukraine: Call your representative and ask them to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine. More info for taking quick action here: https://www.votervoice.net/RAZOMFORUKRAINE/Campaigns/107413/Respond How to Volunteer in Ukraine https://www.volunteeringukraine.com/ How to Visit Ukraine https://visitukraine.today/ Make a tax deductible donation to the Berliner Odessa Express https://www.we-aid.org/en/initiatives/berlinodessaexpress/ Short film by Rick Minnich on the Berliner Odessa Express: “We Are Here” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjzAsCG--6I Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations: The Other Billionaires Who Have Treated the Supreme Court Justice to Luxury Travel https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-other-billionaires-sokol-huizenga-novelly-supreme-court Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-secretly-attended-koch-brothers-donor-events-scotus We Don’t Talk About Leonard: The Man Behind the Right’s Supreme Court Supermajority https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-leo-supreme-court-supermajority   The Parallax View (Journalistic thriller recommended by Jesse Eisinger)  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parallax_View   Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation With GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before the Court https://www.propublica.org/article/samuel-alito-luxury-fishing-trip-paul-singer-scotus-supreme-court   It’s Not Personal: Why Clarence Thomas’ Trip to the Koch Summit Undermines His Ethics Defense https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-koch-network-trips-disclosure-law-scotus   Citizens for Ethics: “Republicans are promising to unleash a whirlwind of 150 subpoenas on allies of Democrats if Senator Durbin moves forward with a subpoena of Harlan Crow in his Supreme Court ethics investigation. That threat just shows how powerful Harlan Crow really is.”  https://twitter.com/CREWcrew/status/1730195116663394757?t=-epurOECtmwyOyu6rjyEgQ&s=19   New Supreme Court Ethics Code Is Designed to Fail https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-supreme-court-ethics-code-designed-fail   Supreme Court conservatives seem likely to axe SEC enforcement powers https://www.npr.org/2023/11/29/1215931171/supreme-court-heard-arguments-in-a-challenge-to-the-secs-ability-to-fight-fraud   Behind the Scenes of Justice Alito’s Unprecedented Wall Street Journal Pre-buttal The Journal editorial page accused ProPublica of misleading readers in a story that hadn’t yet been published. https://www.propublica.org/article/behind-scenes-alito-wall-street-journal-prebuttal-editorial   Supreme Court’s SEC case ruling could ‘upend government as we know it’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYooyPcRNVc   Supreme Court Skeptical of Argument That Could Hobble Consumer Watchdog The justices heard a challenge to the way Congress funded the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau but seemed persuaded that it was constitutional. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/us/supreme-court-cfpb.html   Billionaires had a surprisingly bad day in the Supreme Court today https://www.vox.com/scotus/2023/12/5/23989306/supreme-court-wealth-tax-billionaires-moore-united-states-elizabeth-warren

Putin lost a longtime friend and confidant, the only American statesman he respected and admired. Why might these two have hit if off? War criminal Henry Kissinger, like Putin, was responsible for millions of deaths and backing some of the most brutal regimes in the world. The foreign policy establishment here in the U.S. and in Europe have blood on their hands for normalizing Kissinger, like Putin, for far too long.  For a refresher on Kissinger’s legacy, which was revealed to be even worse than previously known, listen to the Gaslit Nation spring 2023 interview with investigative journalist Nick Turse on his reporting for The Intercept into the generational trauma of Kissinger in Cambodia. Not content to prolong the Vietnam war, Kissinger spread the conflict to formally neutral Cambodia, helping bring to power the repressive Khmer Rouge. Add to that his enabling of genocides in East Timor and Bangladesh, as well as backing dictators and murder squads in Latin America. It’s obvious why he was also a fan of Trump. All this is to say, where were you when you first heard the news that Kissinger will no longer be advising other war criminals, and how did you celebrate?  Andrea shares a story of spotting Kissinger at a party while holding a throwable glass of wine in her hand, and why it’s important to celebrate the demise of war criminals–that’s how you build a culture to prevent future war criminals. The Patreon-only portion of this week’s bonus episode features comments and questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Topics range from turning our current rollercoaster of living history into the next Nineteen Eighty-Four, celebrating our acts of civil resistance, books to read to find your voice in the world, and more! To join the conversation, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit.  Show Notes: Henry Kissinger, responsible for millions of deaths, dies at 100 https://theintercept.com/2023/11/29/henry-kissinger-death/ Henry Kissinger: ‘If it were not for the accident of my birth, I would be antisemitic.’ https://forward.com/culture/470300/kissinger-at-100-if-it-were-not-for-the-accident-of-my-birth-i-would-be/ Alex Gibney Documentary: The Trials of Henry Kissinger https://www.amazon.com/Trials-Henry-Kissinger-Eugene-Jarecki/dp/B00A9IFSBY Kissinger on the Nixon tapes https://youtu.be/OKoqIqQ0E08?si=vV7uM8nNwyPiHoMI Kissinger, a longtime Putin confidant, sidles up to Trump  https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-kissinger-russia-putin-232925 Andrea’s celebratory tweet: What is the first thing Satan said to Kissinger? https://twitter.com/AndreaChalupa/status/1730055040985874722?t=UftX3tgzsaT9HQzlkzYbMw&s=19 Monty Python song “Henry Kissinger”: https://youtu.be/ABeGhyAD_DM?si=3t1FR3jsar78sqKv Israel Knew Hamas’s Attack Plan More Than a Year Ago A blueprint reviewed by The Times laid out the attack in detail. Israeli officials dismissed it as aspirational and ignored specific warnings. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-attack-intelligence.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Ck0.uBQX.Rdb-cCaQzu18&hpgrp=k-abar&smid=url-share

Trump and McConnell, turbo-charged by the war chest of the Federalist Society, packed the Supreme Court, and put in place far-right idealogues across 28-percent of our federal courts, reshaping our judiciary for decades to come. In a short time, Trump’s Mullahs on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, killed Affirmative Action, and made gay marriage easier to challenge. (We’ll report more on their latest horrors, and how to protect ourselves, in upcoming episodes). States with elected governments that work to protect the public with sensible gun laws, environmental regulations, reproductive freedom, and other essential quality of life issues are all fair game to this Fox News Supreme Court. Will the Mullah Supremes drive the nation apart, and how will our union survive that along with an unchecked NRA, the Republican war on women/reproductive health care/LGBTQ+ people especially trans people/refugees/our environment, and democracy itself?  Heather Cox Richardson, America’s sweetheart, historian, and author of the new bestselling book Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, provides historical context for our political crisis of today compared to the last time Americans seemed this divided. How close are we to falling apart as a nation, and what can or should be done to avoid this fate? Our discussion took place on September 19, and was not aired sooner due to the Israel-Hamas War. But the warnings and insights remain urgent.  Our opening introduction looks at the New York Times once again protecting Jared and Ivanka Kushner, the crime lords of the Trump White House, including the cash-grab pardon operation they ran especially in the final months as Trump plotted a coup to stay in power. One of the reporters on the story is unsurprisingly Maggie Haberman, whose mother Nancy Haberman works at Rubenstein PR, founded by the longtime publicist for Jared Kushner and his father Charles Kushner, a convicted con and disbarred attorney who also got a pardon from Trump, and was instrumental in helping other unsavory criminals get their own so they could go on crim-ing. This may sound incredible. But it’s all true. Check the show notes. This week’s bonus episode will look at the latest developments in the Isarel-Hamas war including famous anti-semite Elon Musk’s visit to Israel, Russia’s ongoing genocide in Ukraine and what must be done to stop it, and more. To support our show and get access to bonus episodes like our Make Art workshop, live virtual events like our January 18th social media workshop and wake for Old Twitter, and more, support the show at the Truth-teller level or higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! ,  Want to join the conversation? Subscribe to join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit  Song feature for November is 'First They Came for the Queers' by Mr. Madam Adam. You can find more of Mr. Madam Adam's music on Apple Music, on Twitter @senorhettler, on Instagram @AdamEvansWest, and on TikTok @Iamadamadam. To all our artists out there, submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628 Show Notes Get your ‘Tis the Season to Prosecute Treason T-shirt featuring an original design by Hamish Smyth and support the show! http://tee.pub/lic/_vLBHBoWkeg Make Art workshop: https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-video-93450936?cid=123025949 Heather Cox Richardson’s Book: Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America https://bookshop.org/p/books/democracy-awakening-notes-on-the-state-of-america-heather-cox-richardson/19685160?ean=9780593652961  Part I of the Interview with Heather Cox Richardson: https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/10/04/kremlin-kaos-kaucus-heather-cox-richardson  A Troubling Trump Pardon and a Link to the Kushners A commutation for a drug smuggler named Jonathan Braun had broader implications than previously known. It puts new focus on how Donald Trump would use his clemency powers in a second term. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/26/us/politics/trump-pardon-braun.html Trump fundraiser, Kushner lawyer involved in effort to get pardon for tax evader The New York Times reported that to get a pardon for a California man, a real estate developer would make a "substantial" political contribution. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/trump-fundraiser-kushner-lawyer-involved-effort-get-pardon-tax-evader-n1250006 Report: Jared Kushner’s Lawyer Was Recruited to Help With a Suspected Bribe-for-Pardon Scheme https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/12/jared-kushner-lawyer-pardon-investigation Trump pardoned his son-in-law’s dad. Here’s what Charles Kushner did. https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-charlie-kushner-pardoned-20201224-6dlgp6ukkzggznmlj7ah3mkg44-story.html Before Giving Billions to Jared Kushner, Saudi Investment Fund Had Big Doubts Before committing $2 billion to Mr. Kushner’s fledgling firm, officials at a fund led by the Saudi crown prince questioned taking such a big risk. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/10/us/jared-kushner-saudi-investment-fund.html SAUDI CROWN PRINCE BOASTED THAT JARED KUSHNER WAS “IN HIS POCKET” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told confidants that Kushner discussed the names of royal family members opposed to his power grab. https://theintercept.com/2018/03/21/jared-kushner-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman/ Joaquin Castro Calls for Investigation Into Whether Jared Kushner Shared Intelligence That Led to Khashoggi Killing https://www.newsweek.com/jared-kushner-jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-mbs-killing-consulate-donald-trump-1179255 Jared Kushner advised Saudi prince on how to 'weather' Khashoggi slaying, report says https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/09/jared-kushner-advised-saudi-prince-after-khashoggi-murder-report-says/2257098002/ How Trump, Kushner covered up Kashoggi's murder and got rewarded - opinion https://www.jpost.com/opinion/how-trump-kushner-covered-up-kashoggis-murder-and-got-rewarded-opinion-685289 Jared and Ivanka made up to $640 million in the White House https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/jared-and-ivanka-made-up-to-640-million-in-the-white-house/#:~:text=Jared%20Kushner%20and%20Ivanka%20Trump,of%20financial%20disclosures%20by%20CREW. The Legacy (Jared and Charles Kushner repped by Howard Rubenstein)  https://nymag.com/news/features/57891/ Nancy Haberman works at Rubenstein PR: https://rubenstein.com/who-we-are/ “Donald Trump leaves the White House having appointed more than 200 judges to the federal bench, including nearly as many powerful federal appeals court judges in four years as Barack Obama appointed in eight. Trump, the nation’s 45th president, worked closely with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republicans to reshape the federal judiciary – particularly the appeals courts – for decades to come. Federal judges have lifetime tenure and typically remain on the bench long after the presidents who nominated them have left office.”  https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/01/13/how-trump-compares-with-other-recent-presidents-in-appointing-federal-judges/  

As a special THANK YOU to our Patreon community that keeps the showing going through these tough times, Andrea shares her “hot sauce” for making art. The core spice is this: Don’t be afraid to be interesting. Sometimes there might be a temptation to self-censor, to play it safe, to adhere to external pressures real or imagined. Instead, go within and create based on what’s true for you. That’s what the world needs from you now.  To use this guide, watch the video of the workshop, then read through the worksheet that outlines the step-by-step process: for Patreon subscribers you can find that worksheet linked here. Or you can listen to the guide as you would any podcast. Whatever works for you is what works!  As a follow-up to this workshop, we’ll gather in the new year for a live virtual event to talk through our projects, share ideas and insights, and support each other in our creative process. The goal is to protect our mental hygiene, enhance our intuition, and stay creative in a time of rampant gaslighting by idiotic destructive forces determined to demoralize us. We obviously won’t let that happen.  For any questions or to share notes on your own process, leave a comment below or write to Andrea at [email protected]. To check out the first ever Gaslit Nation Make Art workshop, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit. You’ll receive all episodes ad free, special invites, and more!  Show Notes: The Modern Myths: Adventures in the Machinery of the Popular Imagination https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-modern-myths-adventures-in-the-machinery-of-the-popular-imagination-philip-ball/18335535?ean=9780226823843 The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma [Includes insights on art therapy] https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-body-keeps-the-score-brain-mind-and-body-in-the-healing-of-trauma-bessel-van-der-kolk/6679040?ean=9780143127741 Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling https://bookshop.org/p/books/storyworthy-engage-teach-persuade-and-change-your-life-through-the-power-of-storytelling-matthew-dicks/10952996?ean=9781608685486 Making Movies https://bookshop.org/p/books/making-movies-sidney-lumet/6730532?ean=9780679756606 The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-anatomy-of-story-22-steps-to-becoming-a-master-storyteller-john-truby/8050558?ean=9780865479937 101 Things to Learn in Art School https://bookshop.org/p/books/101-things-to-learn-in-art-school-kit-white/10523037?ean=9780262016216 Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative https://bookshop.org/p/books/steal-like-an-artist-10-things-nobody-told-you-about-being-creative-austin-kleon/6862462?ean=9780761169253 Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art https://bookshop.org/p/books/understanding-comics-the-invisible-art-scott-mccloud/228758?ean=9780060976255 A Map for Wild Hearts: How to Make Art Even When You're Lost https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-map-for-wild-hearts-how-to-make-art-even-when-you-re-lost-andrea-hannah/12045947?ean=9780578521725 Watch the documentary “Brooklyn Boheme” made by Gaslit Nation guest and Andrea’s mentor Nelson George: https://www.amazon.com/Brooklyn-Boheme-Spike-Branford-Marsalis/dp/B007JRTVH0/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13DQ10MMZPBVU&keywords=brooklyn+boheme&qid=1700830612&s=instant-video&sprefix=brooklyn+boh%2Cinstant-video%2C336&sr=1-1 10 Must-Read Native American Authors https://bookriot.com/must-read-native-american-authors/

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum is back on Gaslit Nation in Part II of a discussion that spans what comes after Putin, why it seems like Russia is behind so much destabilization around the world, and why the Holodomor, Stalin’s 1933 genocide famine in Ukraine, matters today. Applebaum is the author of Gulag, Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism, and Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine, which cites survivor testimony that Andrea’s grandfather provided the U.S. Congressional investigation of the famine. That interview begins at 32:16 of this week’s episode.  While the Israeli government reportedly approved a deal for a limited hostage exchange with Hamas and a temporary pause, the opening commentary includes a look at Russia’s nodes in its war against the democratic alliance, including Musk and Thiel, Netanyahu’s extreme far-right coalition, and Hamas, and shares solutions on how to strengthen our national security against these 21st century threats. The opening discussion celebrates the Mother of Thanksgiving: poet, novelist, journalist, abolitionist Sarah Josepha Hale, and women on the frontlines everywhere campaigning for human rights. We see you, and we’re grateful for you. Thank you to everyone who does whatever they can, wherever they are, to strengthen our democracy.  This week’s bonus episode will be a special thank you to our Gaslit Nation community that keeps our show going through these difficult times, with another make-it-or-break-it year around the corner. To help sustain us, look out for the first-ever Make Art workshop publishing Saturday with a simple guide to follow at your leisure. We’ll follow up this workshop with a live virtual event in the new year for our community to gather together and share notes, ask questions, and sharpen our ideas. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To check out the first ever Gaslit Nation Make Art workshop, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit. You’ll receive all episodes ad free, special invites, and more!  Show Notes: Get your ‘Tis the Season to Prosecute Treason T-shirt featuring an original design by Hamish Smyth here: http://tee.pub/lic/_vLBHBoWkeg Meet the “Mother of Thanksgiving:” Sarah Josepha Hale https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/meet-the-mother-of-thanksgiving-sarah-josepha-hale/ FINLAND: Anne Applebaum on Twitter: “Russia is throwing everything it has - bribery, propaganda, migrants, energy blackmail, hackers - at Europe and the US - with the clear (and often stated) intent of destabilizing Western democracies. When will we begin to take this challenge seriously?” https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1726527444532994342 Ukraine’s Foreign Minister on an Important Thread: “To those who have missed the previous 30 years, here is a short list of the results of negotiations with Russia that it never respected:” https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba/status/1724427557016043668 Anne Applebaum: “A year ago, Ukraine liberated Kherson. Since then, the Russians have not stopped attacking civilians there. If they can't own Kherson, they will destroy it. That's their attitude to all of Ukraine.” https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1723647754860147144 The West Must Defeat Russia Putin hasn’t given up his plans. He thinks Ukraine’s allies will lose interest. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/us-ukraine-support-putin-defeat/675953/ Anne Applebaum on Twitter: “Ukraine and its allies' record, so far is one of extraordinary success: Russia has left 50% of the territory it occupied early in the war, has 250k casualties, and lost billions in weapons. But that success is not permanent until Russia understands that it has lost.” https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1722972111184986398  Anne Applebaum on Twitter: “The accounts given by Ukrainians who have fled the occupied territories sound like accounts of people who escaped Stalin's Soviet Union” https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1725441272129654887 Timothy Snyder on Twitter: “A group of Russian nationals were able to donate to newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson's campaign in 2018 by funneling the money through a U.S. company." – Ewan Palmer, Newsweek” https://twitter.com/TimothyDSnyder/status/1725655210117202090 Fania Oz-Salzberger on Twitter: “Do you know what Israelis are fuming about tonight? #Hamas, #Hizbollah, @BBC, @GretaThunberg, for sure. But there’s more. It was disclosed today that in secretive haste, our government gave 56 million shekels to the Prime Minister’s bureau, 30 million of which are for renovating #Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem. 30 million shekels can suffice to build two brand new luxury villas. The country is at war, 239 hostages in Gaza, 125,000 Israeli evacuees from both the south and the north are squatting in hotels and relatives’ homes, myriads have lost their living, and massacre survivors cannot afford psychological treatment. But our Ceaușescus are renovating. This beggars belief.” https://twitter.com/faniaoz/status/1724856880487407884 I Have Never Been to This Israel Before https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/09/opinion/israel-hamas-war.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare Ruth Ben-Ghiat on Twitter: “Well Fascists and Communists often confined dissidents or inconvenient people in psychiatric hospitals, so here Trump goes again with his authoritarian threats.” https://twitter.com/ruthbenghiat/status/1725367194714849650 Jake Tapper on Twitter: “Elon Musk pushing unvarnished anti semitism at a time of rising antisemitism and violence against Jews” https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1724922127206273338 The White House May Condemn Musk, but the Government Is Addicted to Him Rarely has the U.S. government so depended on the technology provided by a single technologist with views that it has so publicly declared repugnant.  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/19/us/politics/elon-musk-white-house-pentagon.html?smid=tw-share  Peter Thiel Reveals His Contrarian Take on Energy and Climate The Trump adviser and Facebook investor strays outside the norm—including in cleantech.  https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/peter-thiel-reveals-his-contrarian-leanings-on-energy-climate Professor Michael E. Mann: “Thiel, Russia, Saudi Arabia all conspired in Musk's twitter takeover. An alliance of authoritarians/fascists and petrostates whose aim is no less than to destabilize democratic governance”  https://twitter.com/MichaelEMann/status/1634931469499117570 Ben Collins on Twitter: “Media Matters suit filed by Musk’s X Corp here. He single out a staffer, @ehananoki , when filing it.” https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1726761801168162825?t=aA7AES3t5cwGkFxjoNAPCA&s=19 Global warming to far exceed Paris targets without urgent action: new report https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/video/global-warming-far-exceed-paris-targets-without-urgent-action-new-report Argentina set for sharp right turn as Trump-like radical wins presidency  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/19/argentina-presidential-election-results-javier-milei/ Univision, the Spanish-language news giant, shifts its approach to Trump The presence of corporate executives at Mar-a-Lago raises alarm among Democrats, who are used to Latino media criticism of the former president’s policies  https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/14/trump-univision-biden-election/ Opening clip: https://twitter.com/AnandWrites/status/1725225486882587118 Young voters in Michigan call for a ceasefire: https://twitter.com/jadeegray1/status/1726804481156030750?t=QNbP1pyq_ObLSSCH_Xp6IQ&s=19 Carl Sagan lecture on climate change in 1990:  https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/s/GEyMxn0X0u   Elon Musk on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine  https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1723324517177561374 CNN’s Jake Tapper on Israel’s extreme far-right ruling coalition:  https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1724955462775251270

This important interview features Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss, the filmmakers behind the extraordinary must-watch Peabody Award-winning film Missing in Brooks County about the immigration crisis in America deliberately engineered for maximum cruelty by both Republican and Democratic leaders over the years, creating the world’s deadliest border crossing. It does not have to be this way. In this discussion, you’ll hear common sense solutions, unmasking an entrenched genocidal culture that has gone unchecked for far too long. Learn more about this must-see film here: https://www.missinginbrookscounty.com/ We're running this interview again at the request of a Gaslit Nation listener who would like to share this interview and film with their Congressional representative, to demand an end to the "silent genocide" deliberately engineered on the U.S. southern border. We strongly urge you to talk to your representatives wherever you live to help build a culture of change.  An all new episode of Gaslit Nation will be out this evening, as usual. Thank you to everyone in our community of listeners who work to build a better world and sustainable future for everyone.   

Welcome to the George Santos Tribute Episode, lasting as long as his tenure in Congress.The Russian-linked Ponzi Scheme is on his way out. He lavishly spent campaign cash on his honeymoon in Las Vegas, spa treatments, luxury shopping sprees, Botox (he’s 35!), and the naughty fun time site OnlyFans. We have questions, mostly: Did his Russian-linked backers get their money’s worth by having major American embarrassment Santos in Congress? The answer is yes. On an oddly related note, super mogul Len Blavatnik, whom you're not allowed to call a Russian oligarch (or else he might sue you), owns Warner Music Group. The industry giant is developing a creepy and dangerous A.I.-generated Edith Piaf biopic. Blavatnik, whose cousin Andrea got into a screaming match with at the start of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, throws his money around, including to the Democratic Party and the Council on Foreign Relations. As explained in this episode, this is reputation laundering and influence peddling, given Blavatnik's well-documented ties to Putin’s court of oligarchs. Are you ready for this? Blavatnik is a longtime friend and business partner of notorious sanctioned “Putin wallet” Viktor Vekselberg in various oligarchy-type ventures like Rusal, Russia’s largest aluminum company owned by Oleg Deripaska, that thug who won the aluminum wars during the car bomb 1990s in Russia. (Paul Manafort was on the hook to Deripaska for a bunch of money in a media venture gone wrong, and made it up to him by running Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016…for free). Blavatnik’s friend/business partner Vekselberg has a seemingly unlucky cousin named Andrew Intrater, a financier who gave George Soros $625,000 to invest in a Florida based fund that turned out to be a Ponzi scheme. Despite losing all that money, Intrater went on to put his full trust in Santos by pumping his Congressional campaign full of cash. A campaign that turned out to be…you guessed it, a Ponzi scheme. It should be noted that longtime friends and associates Intrater, Vekselberg, and Blavatnik all gave heavily to Trump’s inaugural committee–otherwise known as a Russian victory lap.  This week’s bonus episode includes questions from listeners on topics ranging from white rage extremism and who’s tracking it, to how to stay hopeful during these dark times. If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it soon! Next week’s bonus episode will be the Make Art Workshop–a thank you to our community and a way for us to build up our resilience and fight back with joy. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: Get your ‘Tis the Season to Prosecute Treason T-shirt featuring an original design by Hamish Smyth here: http://tee.pub/lic/_vLBHBoWkeg 68-percent of Americans support a ceasefire in Gaza https://www.reuters.com/world/us-public-support-israel-drops-majority-backs-ceasefire-reutersipsos-2023-11-15/ Israeli opposition leader says time has come to replace Netanyahu https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-opposition-leader-says-time-has-come-replace-netanyahu-2023-11-16/ Hamas leader being grilled on live TV and lying https://twitter.com/arash_tehran/status/1715354932595847322 Santos Won’t Seek Re-election After House Panel Finds Evidence of Crimes The findings, which were referred to prosecutors, are likely to prompt another attempt to expel the embattled congressman from the House. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/16/nyregion/george-santos-ethics-committee.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20231116&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=48614702&segment_id=150214&user_id=097a378032011d6e8be1570cdce0a176 A Soviet-Born Billionaire Is Buying Influence at US Institutions. Anti-Corruption Activists Are Worried. The Council on Foreign Relations is under fire for accepting Len Blavatnik’s gifts thanks to his tie to oligarchs and Russian corruption. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/10/council-on-foreign-relations-leonard-blavatnik-russia/ Music’s Mystery Mogul: Len Blavatnik, Trump and Their Russian Friends Len Blavatnik is not only a backer of films and potential buyer of a Hollywood studio but also reportedly on the fringe of the Russia probe thanks to GOP giving and links to oligarchs with ties to Putin. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/why-is-warner-music-group-owner-len-blavatnik-russia-probe-1150550/ How an Investor Lost $625,000 and His Faith in George Santos Andrew Intrater, a wealthy businessman, has been in touch with the S.E.C. about Mr. Santos’s dealings on behalf of a company accused in a Ponzi scheme. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/nyregion/george-santos-sec-intrater.html NY Fund Manager Linked to Russian Oligarch Invested Big With Santos. Now He Claims He Was Conned. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/01/george-santos-andrew-intrater/ A Putin-Friendly Oligarch’s Top US Executive Donated $285,000 to Trump The head of Viktor Vekselberg’s American affiliate helped finance Trump’s inauguration. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/08/a-putin-friendly-oligarchs-top-us-executive-donated-285000-to-trump/ ‘It’s shameful’: Russian-linked billionaires have given enormous sums of money to the West’s leading educational and cultural institutions https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/us/russian-oligarchs-philanthropy-ukraine-war-invs/index.html Oleg Deripaska: Putin ‘favourite’ with strong ties to UK politics https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/oleg-deripaska-profile-putin-britain  

Authoritarian voters cosplay Rambo on the U.S. Southern border, literally hunting refugees and denying them basic human rights. Our interview this week features Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss, the filmmakers behind the extraordinary must-watch Peabody Award-winning film Missing in Brooks County about the immigration crisis in America deliberately engineered for maximum cruelty by both Republican and Democratic leaders over the years, creating the world’s deadliest border crossing. It does not have to be this way. In this discussion, you’ll hear common sense solutions, unmasking an entrenched genocidal culture that has gone unchecked for far too long. Who was first in line to carry out the Holocaust? The authoritarian voter next door. Survivors described how their neighbors turned on them, throwing rocks through their windows. That’s who Trump is appealing to, driving out people who have existed throughout history: longing for a strongman to crush their enemies, and put mouthy women, smug nonwhite people, those pesky gays, and don’t forget entitled refugees in their place. These are the “vermin” Trump scapegoats as he travels the country, amplifying Russian disinformation, and consolidating his base: the authoritarian voter next door.  Reality Winner, the patriotic whistleblower who confirmed extensive Russian hacking of our election systems after government officials tried to downplay it, has faced far harsher punishment than violent coup plotter Trump with his 91 criminal indictments. The American people see the threat to our democracy clearly, which is why they’ve built resilient grassroots power that ushered in yet another historic Blue Wave. The latest victory in a long list: Dauphin County, PA flipped to Democratic control for the first time in 100 years. We the People have done significantly more to protect our democracy than Merrick Garland’s DOJ.  Given the immense power we’ve shown, it’s time to abolish the Electoral College, a monument to slavery, and agitate for other reforms to modernize the United States government. Gaslit Nation is working on a special series on how to Trump-proof our democracy, protecting us and future generations from his massive cult that ensures succession is guaranteed. Even after Trump is gone, another cultist will take his place. So it’s time to expand our historic Blue Wave energy into overdue government reform. The nonsense press release from the Supreme Court pretending to care about ethics is not what we’re talking about.  As a thank you to our Gaslit Nation community on Patreon, look out the weekend after Thanksgiving for a special MAKE ART workshop in the form of a podcast that you can download and try at your own leisure. We’re all natural born artists, and this act of self-care and meaningful therapy reminds us that our voices matter and that we’re needed now more than ever. In his brilliant resistance pocket guide On Tyranny, historian Timothy Snyder urges us to be visible, and that visibility comes through creativity, as we use our voice for our collective good. The model of this has always been embedded in this show that has featured interviews with extraordinary artists like Nelson George, a writer of the hip-hop movement and Andrea’s longtime mentor, and filmmaker Oleg Sentsov who survived a Siberian prison by writing a novel, stories, and directing a film. Yes, art matters. Art is survival. And each of us, to navigate these civilization-making-or-breaking years ahead, can embrace our inner artist to create a sustainable, livable future together. Artists imagine and show that another world is possible. As Sentsov said on our show: Dictators die. Art is forever. Look out for that special MAKE ART workshop next week! To get access to that, bonus shows, all episodes ad free, and more, subscribe to join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit  This week’s bonus show will look at the latest in the Israel-Hamas war, troubling jumps in A.I., and answer questions from listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  If you’re in NYC, stop by 42 Second Avenue, between 2nd & 3rd Streets, to see a giant photograph of a “car cemetery” in Irpin, Ukraine, an area that suffered greatly during the early days of Russia’s total war genocide. The photographer is Phil Buehler, and more of his work can be seen here: https://modern-ruins.com/irpin-ukraine-please-dont-forget-us/ You can also join Andrea this Thursday at NYU to check out a talk by Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast. Details here: https://twitter.com/terrelljstarr/status/1724146505001422925 Andrea joined Jennifer Taub, author of Big Dirty Money: Making White Collar Criminals Pay, on her podcast Booked Up. Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/andrea-chalupa-on-dictatorship-is-easy/id1651929984?i=1000634521344 SHOW NOTES: MUST WATCH: Missing in Brooks County by Lisa Molomot and Jeff Bemiss https://www.missinginbrookscounty.com/ MUST WATCH: John Oliver on the Israel-Palestine Conflict https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJ9PKQbkJv8 Opening Clip: Trump in New Hampshire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE3S2_zWEIc Supreme Court Announces Ethics Code for Justices The decision comes after revelations about undisclosed property deals and gifts have intensified pressure on the court to adopt such a code. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/us/politics/supreme-court-ethics-code.html Supreme Court approval ratings at record lows, new Gallup poll shows https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/02/politics/supreme-court-record-lows-gallup/index.html In a Historic First, the Supreme Court Has Adopted a Code of Ethics The code, which does not include any enforcement mechanism, comes after ProPublica and other outlets disclosed that justices had repeatedly failed to disclose gifts and travel from wealthy donors. https://www.propublica.org/article/supreme-court-adopts-ethics-code-scotus-thomas-alito-crow FROM AXIOS: “Driving the news: In a Veterans Day speech in New Hampshire on Saturday, Trump vowed to "root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections." He then posted the same message on Truth Social, including the word "vermin" often used by Hitler and Mussolini to denigrate Jews and their political enemies. Trump went on to say that "the threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within." The big picture: Trump's increasingly violent rhetoric — calling for a U.S. military leader to be executed, mocking a near-fatal assault on a congressional spouse, urging police to shoot potential shoplifters — has become a staple of his brand as he faces the threat of conviction in four different criminal cases.” https://www.axios.com/2023/11/13/trump-vermin-fascist-language-speech “The institutional right is screening a “pro-Trump army of up to 54,000 loyalists” that, if elected, Trump plans to use to unleash DOJ on his political enemies, create deportation camps for millions of immigrants, and generally turn his whim into law.”  https://twitter.com/MattGertz/status/1724037010183123157 We encourage you to check out the sponsor of this week’s episode:  Our listeners can go to HelloFresh.com/gaslitfree and use code “gaslitfree” for FREE breakfast for life! One breakfast item per box while subscription is active. Thank you so much for our sponsor, HelloFresh, America’s #1 Meal Kit 

This Election 2023 Super Special opens with a discussion on building unions, because the big takeaway is grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. In a time of historic income inequality, which furthers the flames of fascism, we need to extend the Big Blue Wave energy into the growing rebirth of unions. Political and economic justice go hand-in-hand. For our Patreon community, there’s a deep dive on the election, and a special call to action for those who support the show and make Gaslit Nation possible. Thank you all so much! If you would like to hear the full episode, get all episodes ad free, join our community of listeners, and so much more, subscribe to support our independent journalism at Patreon.com/Gaslit.   With all the important races this year, we strategically set our sights on one goal: denying Youngkin a Republican majority in Virginia. Together we exceeded our expectations: we held the Senate, flipped the House, and helped elect the first trans woman to the Virginia state senate, and put Youngkin’s political future in doubt. There were headlines like this one from Politico following his major election night losses: “Glenn Youngkin’s white knight era is over.”  We supported grassroots infrastructure that could lead to Virginia being called early again on election night like it was in 2020. Sister District, the grassroots group we partnered with, made 43-percent of its candidates phone calls, and our Gaslit Nation phone bank with them was their largest to date of this election. Thank you to everyone who did whatever you could wherever you are. We're going to get through this dangerous crossroads together. What's clear is that the grassroots communities that formed in the original 2018 Blue Wave are still active. Now we need to help expand that energy into economic justice. That’s why this Election 2023 Special opens with an interview featuring longtime Gaslit Nation listener Brock Madden speaking with Jasmine Leli, the Buffalo, N.Y.-based Starbucks barista and member of Starbucks Workers United. Based in Seattle, Brock is looking to organize other restaurant workers like him to unionize. If you want to start a union and don’t know how or where to start, this discussion will inspire you to take action, no matter how small at first.  Thank you to Jasmine and Brock for this important conversation. If you’re in the Seattle area and would like to build with Brock, email him at [email protected] SHOW NOTES: CLIP: “Fraud Family!” Ivanka Kushner greeted by protesters at a New York courthouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5LMNFfEmLo Nikki Haley Praises Ivanka Kushner https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1049681209553547266?t=ziSGT40B4wIDx0mtDVEMWg&s=19 Trump and Allies Forge Plans to Increase Presidential Power in 2025 The former president and his backers aim to strengthen the power of the White House and limit the independence of federal agencies. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html “After GOP donors threatened to stop funding him for being unmarried, Tim Scott is now appearing publicly with who he says is his girlfriend named Mindy. He says they have been dating for ‘about a year or so.’” https://twitter.com/NoLieWithBTC/status/1722466341838369122 “NEW from @CAPAction 's @citizenwillis : Since Sunday, cable networks are airing 10x more coverage of Biden's polling than this story detailing Trump’s MAGA plot to weaponize the government against his political enemies. @CNN : 29x as much @FoxNews : 38x as much @MSNBC : 3x as much” https://twitter.com/CMSeeberger/status/1722380856520491467 “This may be the most important result tonight that most people have no idea about: solidifies D majority on the court that decided more Trump 2020 lawsuits than any other in the country, and that is very likely to hear major cases in 2024 related to voting rights and elections.” https://twitter.com/alex_burness/status/1722107803920204047  “Exit polling on Ohio issue 1 is showing broad support for abortion rights across demographics. More from @nbcnews here: https://nbcnews.com/politics/2023-elections/ohio-ballot-measures#exit-polls” https://twitter.com/Mike_Hixenbaugh/status/1722054516399395073 Mitch McConnell Will Not Go Gently Into the Senate Goodnight Even if the senator wanted to retire, there’s no way he’ll let Kentucky’s Democratic governor choose his replacement, even temporarily. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/why-mitch-mcconnell-wont-retire/ “The anti-trans stuff is unpopular even in large swaths of Trump country (let alone purple and blue states). The fact popularists wanted to compromise on this is further evidence of their preference to follow their own political preferences rather than attend to the evidence.” https://twitter.com/HeerJeet/status/1722050682700566942 “Glenn Youngkin’s white knight era is over. What will the next one be? Republicans want to see him become a proud dispenser of vetos. Others say it might be wise to chart a more conciliatory path.” https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/10/youngkin-political-future-virginia-election-losses-00126481 Brock Madden – Call to Action: https://www.tiktok.com/@broccoli618/video/7288050878915824938?_r=1&_t=8gP1kSODd8A Email Brock: [email protected]  

Congratulations to everyone who pitched in to help get out the vote! This night belongs to you and all those who voted to protect abortion in Ohio, protect Virginians from a Republican majority, protect the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and much more on a great night for democracy. This week's bonus episode will look at the election results, what they mean for 2024, and what to know about Trump's shadow network, Project 25, and answer questions from listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher.   One month has passed since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack, and the Israeli leader who allowed it to happen after empowering Hamas, ignoring several credible warnings, is still in power, overseeing a historically brutal genocide. This episode looks at the Israel-Hamas war in the context of the global war of autocracy vs. democracy, including our own 2024 election. It once again calls for the immediate removal from power of Netanyahu, an important cog in the Trump-Putin global far-right movement that normalizes human sacrifice for power. Like Trump, Netanyahu wages war against the military and intelligence services, surrounds himself with a protective moat of extremists ready to commit violence on his behalf, and terrorizes the families of victims and hostages of October 7th. Let's be clear: Netanyahu's own record shows he doesn't care about the hostages—for more on that, read the show notes. Netanyahu wants and needs this war to stay in power, which means the war strategy itself cannot be trusted and must not be legitimized.   A political solution is the only way forward and can only begin with a ceasefire. To dismiss or gaslight over the issue of a ceasefire is to give longtime corrupt criminal Netanyahu good faith and legitimacy after he’s spent years trying to overturn democracy in Israel. For those distraught over the crisis in Gaza, this episode includes strategies to push the Biden foreign policy team, just as they had to be pushed on Ukraine, and makes the case for why, if we don't vote in 2024, former Interior Secretary and current House GOP Klansman Ryan Zinke, with his proposal to ban all Palestinians, is back in the White House, along with close Netanyahu co-conspirators the Kushners, and Trump, making Netanyahu even more powerful and dangerous.   To help the civilians impacted by the Israel-Hamas war, donate to Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, incredible organizations doing urgent work in Gaza and the surrounding areas: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ https://www.savethechildren.org/   Show Notes   “We are now in a situation where one child is killed every 10 minutes [in Gaza],” Jason Lee of Save the Children https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/02/israel-stikes-gaza-children-victims/   "Israel dropped almost as many bombs in Gaza in one week as the U.S. did in Afghanistan in one year -- the heaviest year. Gaza is 141 sq miles. Afghanistan is 252,071 sq miles." https://twitter.com/ericuman/status/1721342580565184559   "The United States provides the Israeli army with military and intelligence support, and is therefore required by the Geneva Conventions to ensure that bombing raids in Gaza do not breach international law." https://twitter.com/ericuman/status/1721343100830793928   Mairav Zonszein, Senior Israel-Palestine Analyst with the Crisis Group: "It is hard to understand Israel’s strategy in the West Bank as anything other than an effort to push Palestinians so far to the edge they have to burst back, which then provides pretext for Israel’s continued dispossession. My explainer on settler violence" https://twitter.com/MairavZ/status/1721936764183450058   Kurt Andersen thread analyzing United Nations death toll in Gaza: https://twitter.com/KBAndersen/status/1718021027727360436   Israel’s Hostage Families Feel Abandoned by Israel They feel trapped in a nightmare—and ignored by their government. https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/10/20/israels-hostage-families-abandoned-israel/   Netanyahu accused of planting allies in meeting with hostage families Relatives of people kidnapped by Hamas believe PM's allies were allowed in to rally support for decisive government action in Gaza invasion https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/16/netanyahu-accused-planting-allies-hostage-talks-invasion/   Families of Kidnapped Israelis Meet Netanyahu, Only to Find Unknown Family Boosting PM 'We need to stop this whiny behavior. We need to win the war,' said unverified relatives who appeared at the meeting between the hostages' families and the Israeli prime minister, and stirred an uproar amongst the others https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-16/ty-article/.premium/hostage-relatives-suspected-to-have-been-planted-in-meeting-with-pm-to-bolster-his-policy/0000018b-37af-dc99-a1db-3fefa6ed0000   ‘Our patience is up’: Hostages’ families blast government inaction at Tel Aviv rally Relatives of those held in Gaza say authorities aren’t updating them on negotiations, urge ministers to internalize what’s at stake and ‘take responsibility’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/our-patience-is-up-hostages-families-blast-government-inaction-at-tel-aviv-rally/   Many Israelis are furious at their government’s chaotic recovery efforts after Hamas attack https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/many-israelis-are-furious-at-their-governments-chaotic-recovery-efforts-after-hamas-attack   "My friend @maozinon parents were murdered by Hamas Oct 7th. I recorded a podcast episode with him to echo his message for a ceasefire and holding Netanyahu accountable, After the episode release, the offices where we recorded were broken into. The police is investigating." https://twitter.com/ShusterNoam/status/1721876199419621597   Netanyahu’s coalition isn’t built to last: Expect high sparks within and fragile prospects for Israel’s incoming government https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/netanyahus-coalition-isnt-built-to-last-expect-high-sparks-within-and-fragile-prospects-for-israels-incoming-government/   Zinke Introduces Bill to Expel Palestinians from the United States https://zinke.house.gov/media/press-releases/zinke-introduces-bill-expel-palestinians-united-states   Israel's Mobileye CEO urges that Netanyahu be replaced immediately https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-mobileye-ceo-urges-that-netanyahu-be-replaced-immediately-2023-10-29/   The election that led to Hamas taking over Gaza https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/24/gaza-election-hamas-2006-palestine-israel/   Netanyahu's Coalition Must Remove Him Immediately https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/2023-10-30/ty-article-opinion/netanyahus-coalition-must-remove-him-immediately/0000018b-7cf1-d0f6-afeb-7ef5b1670000

This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show. To access the full show, receive all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, access our back catalogue of bonus shows, join the conversation with our community of listeners, support our independent journalism, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit  In this coming week’s episode, expect a full deep dive into the latest devastation and expected fallout of the Israel-Hamas War, including the growing protests and polling against Netanyahu and why he must go now. And an important voice will join the show to explain how to build a union, especially when you’re up against corporate gaslighting and intimidation tactics. Today’s bonus episode is shaped by questions and comments from listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender level and higher, including how opportunistic China benefits from the Israel-Hamas War and the nefarious Chinese connections to American protest group Code Pink, revealing a vast pro-China network on the global Left. China, Code Pink, and the sex trafficking network of Hefner-Epstein-Trump, and more are discussed in this week’s bonus show.  If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week, as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues.   Dictators are dangerous for many reasons, especially because, as the social ills grow, they need a war to cling to power. Putin needed a war to maintain the status quo, and so did Netanyahu. In China, it’s increasingly dangerous for social media users to expose poverty or other crises, like youth unemployment or how difficult it can be for many to put food on the table. With US foreign policy stretched thin by the war in Ukraine and Israel-Hamas, now would be an opportune time for China, which has been aggressively building up its nuclear program and A.I. arsenal, to annex Taiwan, something Xi has been outspoken about since consolidating power in 2017. Technologically dominant groups get away with carrying out genocides. So a technologically dominant China would be a danger to the world.  Chatham House, the independent British think tank where in 1933 Gareth Jones shared his eye-witness account of the Holodomor, Stalin’s genocide-famine in Ukraine, invited Andrea to join a Twitter Live discussion this coming Wednesday November 8 at 10:30am EST. Catch that discussion by going to the Chatham House Twitter account at that time. And to help protect democracy in the US and reproductive healthcare in Virginia, join Andrea in making phone calls with Sister District now through Tuesday, election day. Sign up using the link at the top of the show notes. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: Sister District & Partners National Phonebank! https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrict/event/387377/ Chatham House Twitter Live Space with Andrea Wednesday November 8 10:30am ET https://twitter.com/ChathamHouse China and US reportedly agree to rare nuclear arms control talks Talks expected on Monday would be first since Obama administration and follow visit to Washington by Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/02/china-and-us-reportedly-agree-to-rare-nuclear-arms-control-talks COVID might have come from a lab leak, says China’s former top scientist ‘Don’t rule out anything,’ former head of the Chinese CDC says. https://www.politico.eu/article/covid-mightve-come-from-a-lab-leak-chinas-former-top-scientist-says/ Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents Employees embedded with cybersecurity forces in Uganda and Zambia intercepted encrypted communications and used cell data to track opponents, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation https://www.wsj.com/articles/huawei-technicians-helped-african-governments-spy-on-political-opponents-11565793017 Why China’s Censors Are Deleting Videos About Poverty Xi Jinping says he has defeated poverty, but discussion of economic struggle is taboo, scrubbed from the internet and banished from the news. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/business/china-censorship-poverty.html A Global Web of Chinese Propaganda Leads to a U.S. Tech Mogul The Times unraveled a financial network that stretches from Chicago to Shanghai and uses American nonprofits to push Chinese talking points worldwide. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/05/world/europe/neville-roy-singham-china-propaganda.html China hawk says Beijing could attack Taiwan by 2024, bringing ‘war to the West’ https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/09/china-hawk-says-beijing-to-bring-war-to-the-west-take-taiwan.html Hugh Hefner Investigative Docuseries ‘Secrets of Playboy’ Gets More Episodes at A&E https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/secrets-of-playboy-hugh-hefner-1235197604/ What China wants from Israel-Hamas war https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67237146 China blocks entry to WHO team studying Covid's origins This article is more than 2 years old Officials say visas not yet approved for World Health Organization delegation due to visit Wuhan https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/05/china-blocks-entry-to-who-team-studying-covids-origins Nuclear Talks With China Are Essential and Long Overdue https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/04/opinion/sunday/china-nuclear-weapons-russia.html New Pentagon report claims China now has over 500 operational nuclear warheads https://www.npr.org/2023/10/19/1207156597/new-pentagon-report-claims-china-now-has-over-500-operational-nuclear-warheads China is working on a weapon the US decided was too dangerous to exist What's worse than a nuclear missile? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/02/china-us-non-nuclear-icbm-ballistic-missile-defence-taiwan/ Nazis on Long Island: The Story of Camp Siegfried https://mjhnyc.org/events/nazis-on-long-island-the-story-of-camp-siegfried/

In this special discussion, Andrea is joined by experts from the Kremlin File podcast: Russian mafia specialist Olga Lautman and Monique Camarra, an instructor at the Department of Communication at the University of Siena in Italy. Together, they explore the intricate links between Russia and terrorist groups, tracing a history that dates back to the Soviet Union. This dark night of the soul slumber party discussion includes the emerging new Cold War, the historical hot conflicts of the first Cold War, and staying grounded as Russia floods the zone with gaslighting.  While Ukrainian intelligence claims Russia provides weapons to Hamas, what's undeniable is that Russia holds meetings with Hamas leadership, including last week in Moscow. Russian cryptocurrency has sent millions to terrorist groups, including $93 million to Islamic Jihad through a sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency exchange. Terrorism is on the rise, and Russia, with its extensive track record of training and supporting terrorists, lights the fire then offers itself up as the firefighter. This strategy has been consistent in the Kremlin's playbook, dating back to the Soviet era, involving dividing its adversaries all while portraying itself as a peacemaker—a tactic that too many on the Left continue to fall for. During the peak of ISIS, the Obama administration maintained a policy of working with Russia to combat ISIS together. Nevermind that ISIS fighters kept flocking from Russia. And Russia’s own terrorism killed or displaced countless civilians in Syria, Ukraine, and propped up the dictatorships of Venezuela and Cuba, as Russia’s operations tipped the scales of both the close Brexit vote and the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Now that the Israel-Hamas war threatens to expand into a larger regional war, with Syria, Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon, and now Yemen inflaming the conflict, Russia benefits from the growing destabilization in many ways. The war distracts from Russian war crimes in Ukraine as well as Russian and Iran-backed slaughter in Syria. It also threatens to divide and further delay support for Ukraine: Trump proxy House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to hold a vote for Ukraine aid. Once again, this is the latest coup by longtime Russian asset Trump.  Our hearts go out to the civilians who are suffering due to this ongoing war. Andrea and many others call for an immediate ceasefire, especially given the undeniable collective punishment on Gaza being carried out by Netanyahu’s government. For a deeper understanding of the pressing reasons for a ceasefire, listen to these recent episodes of Gaslit Nation: "Israel and Palestine: A Political Solution" and "Israel and Palestine: A Difficult Discussion."  This week's bonus episode will answer questions from subscribers at the Democracy Defender-level and higher on Patreon, with topics including Hugh Hefner and Jeffrey Epstein; the shady dealings behind the protest group Code Pink; and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  To join the conversation and our community of listeners, get bonus shows, all shows ad free, exclusive invites and more, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit.  Show Notes: Indivisible Statements on the Israel/Palestine Crisis https://www.indivisible.org/resource/indivisible-statements-israelpalestine-crisis Ending the War and Ensuring Human Security in Israel-Palestine: Five Recommendations https://cfde140b-3710-4a65-aa9a-48b5868a02dd.usrfiles.com/ugd/3ba8a1_1ac83b20f6c8431a94301ccafe3cb88d.pdf Russia gave captured US weapons to Hamas as a ploy to undermine Ukraine, report says https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-seized-us-weapons-to-hamas-ploy-damage-ukraine-report-2023-10 Hamas leaders arrive in Moscow as the Kremlin attempts to showcase its clout. The meetings with high-ranking members of the group that attacked Israel underscored how Russia is trying to present itself as an alternative platform for possible mediation. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/world/middleeast/hamas-russia-moscow.html Italian reporting on Russia and Hamas https://www.iltempo.it/esteri/2023/10/26/news/guerra-israele-hamas-russia-putin-armi-iran-delegazioni-spie-striscia-di-gaza-37338570/ The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad received part of a $93 million payment through the sanctioned Russian crypto-exchange company Garantex, the Wall Street Journal reported on Oct. 13. https://kyivindependent.com/wsj-palestinian-militant-group-received-funds-from-sanctioned-russian-crypto-exchange/ Why are so many from this Russian republic fighting for ISIS? https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/many-russian-republic-fighting-isis What Russia Hopes to Gain From the Israel-Hamas Conflict https://time.com/6329850/hamas-gaza-russia-putin-israel/ Netanyahu’s Deal With Putin Goes Wrong https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/israel-middle-east/articles/netanyahus-deal-with-putin-goes-wrong Why Netanyahu Must Go After the War, Israel Will Need a Two-State Solution He Cannot Deliver https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/why-netanyahu-must-go

Gaslit Nation Presents: The Bump in the Night by Jane Willis. Inspired by The Golden Arm. Produced by Eliza Smith. Starring Rachael Small and Darius Johnson. Happy Halloween! 

Despite his best efforts threatening the lives of Congressional colleagues and their families, Jim Jordan didn’t get to become Speaker of the House. Instead, his longtime protege and a major architect behind the Big Lie, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, is now third in line to the White House. Johnson answers to Jordan who answers to Trump. This essentially makes Trump third in line to the White House. Welcome to Trump’s latest coup.   In this week’s Q&A bonus episode, questions submitted by listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher are focused on the Israel-Hamas War. Many questioned the timing of Hamas’s sophisticated and well-planned terrorist attack. Why now? What role did Russia play? How does Matt Gaetz’s successful bid (so far) to stop Ukraine aid factor in?   Given that we have so much grief and anger to process these days, more than usual, look out for a deep dive podcast in November on the importance of making art and how to take steps to begin your life as an artist. Art therapy has proven invaluable for veterans grappling with PTSD and has never been more important as we process our collective grief. This special podcast will be in a workshop-style and will help those seeking guidance on nurturing their creative side. We all have one. And it’s needed now more than ever.   For the works cited in this week's bonus episode, look to the show notes below to find the relevant links and other resources.   To answer a request from a listener here on Patreon, below is a list of journalists and analysts covering the crisis as well as a list of book recommendations. Remain mindful that we’re in a time of rampant disinformation, fog of war, all compacted by trauma and our collective trauma of watching a brutal war break out. Consider reading widely to understand different perspectives, even those that may not align with your own. Mairav Zonszein, Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group https://www.crisisgroup.org // https://twitter.com/MairavZ Hind Khoudary, a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza https://www.instagram.com/hindkhoudary/ Amira Hass, Haaretz correspondent for the Occupied Territories https://twitter.com/Hass_Haaretz Rula Jebreal, a Palestinian foreign policy analyst and visiting professor, The University of Miami https://twitter.com/rulajebreal Noga Tarnopolsky, Jerusalem based reporter who appears frequently on MSNBC https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky Hend Amry, Libyan-American writer based in Qatar https://mastodon.social/@LibyaLiberty // https://www.instagram.com/libyaliberty/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D // https://twitter.com/LibyaLiberty Here’s a list of book recommendations from The Economist https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/10/18/the-israel-palestine-conflict-a-reading-list Show Notes: Opening Clip: https://twitter.com/HouseJudiciary/status/1717183190463336780?t=xMiSEhKoLuq6KCC4AxtcWQ&s=19   Critics Say Matt Gaetz's Nickname For New House Speaker Is Alarmingly On Point https://www.huffpost.com/entry/matt-gaetz-mike-johnson-nickname_n_653a32c5e4b011a9cf7c9dd3   The WWII Strategy Biden Can Use to Bypass Republicans on Ukraine https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/20/biden-ukraine-lend-lease-roosevelt-00077481   Drone attacks on American bases injured two dozen U.S. military personnel https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/drone-attacks-american-bases-injured-two-dozen-us-military-personnel-rcna121961   ‘Netanyahu Got All the Warnings,’ Says Former Head of Israeli Military Intelligence https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/10/24/amos-yaldin-israeli-military-intelligence-netanyahu-qa-00123099#:~:text=And%20Netanyahu%20got%20all%20the,is%20risking%20and%20weakening%20every   Ukrainian Jewish Enconter https://ukrainianjewishencounter.org/en/   The Long and Uncertain Journey of the Babyn Yar Memorial https://mjhnyc.org/blog/the-long-and-uncertain-journey-of-the-babyn-yar-memorial/   Theodor Herzl, a Life From Journalism to Zionism https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/movies/it-is-no-dream-documentary-on-theodor-herzl.html   Hamas operatives used phone lines installed in tunnels under Gaza to plan Israel attack over 2 years, sources familiar with intelligence say https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/politics/intelligence-hamas-israel-attack-tunnels-phone-lines/index.html   The history and fighting between Israel and Syria, explained https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/11/syria-israel-attacks-war-hezbollah/   Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service https://bookshop.org/p/books/zero-fail-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-secret-service-carol-leonnig/16898149?ean=9780399589034   Mairav Zonszein, Senior Israel-Palestine Analyst with Crisis Group: “18 days into this war, Israel has been bombing Gaza from the air relentlessly, and it’s unclear what, if any, gains it has made in its objective to dismantle Hamas (or return the hostages). There is scarce if any evidence that it is exacting meaningful losses on the group.” https://twitter.com/MairavZ/status/1716871137651798373   Bible and Sword: England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour https://bookshop.org/p/books/bible-and-sword-england-and-palestine-from-the-bronze-age-to-balfour-barbara-w-tuchman/7469883?ean=9780345314277   Interview with Vladislav Davidzon on meeting Ukraine’s first Jewish president and Ukraine’s work to confront its dark chapters of antisemitism https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2019/5/22/dirty-dirty-giuliani

After a five month absence from Gaslit Nation due to a family situation, Sarah has decided to leave the show. You can read her regular writing over at her new Substack. We all wish her well and look forward to her next book.  In this continuation of Gaslit Nation’s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war, Andrea shares her own hard learned lessons on how to hold space for a friend grieving over the crisis. This episode also includes a look at the Oslo Accords, an interim agreement that historically opened communication between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel’s government, and the years of violence that quickly followed, spiraling towards the growing mythology of Benjamin Netanyahu who built support through strongman rhetoric promising to keep Israelis safe. Insead, he weakened Israel. Netanyahu’s Trumpian playbook blasted opponents and the media as “FAKE NEWS!”, “THE DEEP STATE!”, “TRAITORS!”, and turned Israelis against each other. While being under investigation for corruption, Netanyahu brazenly tried to destroy the independence of the judiciary, leading to the largest protests in the country’s history. Now the majority of Israelis polled blame him for the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack, but the majority also believe he should resign after the war. That would incentivize Netanyahu to keep the war going to cling to power. Netanyahu must be forced to step down now, for the sake of any chance for peace.  Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum, author of Gulag: A History; Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine; and Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism joins Andrea to discuss the stakes in Ukraine and the threats to democracy here at home and around the world. This interview was recorded the Friday before the historic October 15 elections in Poland, bringing a democratic coalition to power to defeat a right wing Trumpian regime that packed the courts, turned state media into their own propaganda arm, banned abortion, and inflamed scapegoating against LGBTQ+ people and refugees. This episode was supposed to run two weeks ago, but was delayed due to the war. For Applebaum’s analysis on the Israel-Hamas war, read her brilliant piece in The Atlantic on her summer reporting trip to Israel on how Israelis rightfully saw Netanyahu as an existential threat. This week’s bonus episode will be inspired by questions submitted at the Democracy Defender level and higher on Patreon. To submit your questions, leave them in the comments or send them in a message. Join the conversation and receive ad free episodes, bonus shows, exclusive invites and other perks by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Sign up here to join our Sister District & Gaslit Nation Halloween Phonebank for Virginia!: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/585389/ Show Notes: Inside the Oslo accords: a new podcast series marks 30 years since Israel-Palestine secret peace negotiations https://theconversation.com/inside-the-oslo-accords-a-new-podcast-series-marks-30-years-since-israel-palestine-secret-peace-negotiations-212985 The language being used to describe Palestinians is genocidal https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/16/the-language-being-used-to-describe-palestinians-is-genocidal I Negotiated Israel’s Hardest Hostage Deal. Here’s What’s Next in Gaza. “The United States still has a role to play. It should continue to pressure Qatar, which should give an ultimatum that if hostages are not released within, say, 24 hours, all of Hamas’s leaders will be expelled from Qatar, where many are based. I don’t believe that Qatar will agree to that — and certainly not without an Israeli cease-fire — but the American government and others have leverage over Qatar and it should be used.  There is still a small chance and a limited window of opportunity before the ground assault begins to attain the release of some of the hostages through this kind of agreement. After the invasion begins, it will depend on Israeli special forces to try to save them. Some will again see their homes; others may not.  At the other end of this war, I hope that the trauma and suffering we are all feeling on both sides of the conflict will spur us to figure out how to share this land that belongs to both Israelis and Palestinians. Maybe our collective suffering and pain can be channeled to focusing on how to live together rather than killing each other.  That will be a long process and cannot include the leaders on both sides who have brought us to where we are. We need a new generation of leaders with new vision, new hopes, new dreams and the ability to lead. I hope that many of the hostages, together with their families, will soon be able to join the voices calling for change.” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/21/opinion/israel-hamas-hostage.html Hamas Leader Lies when pressed in TV interview: https://twitter.com/arash_tehran/status/1715354932595847322 Netanyahu’s Attack on Democracy Left Israel Unprepared: The prime minister brought about a situation in which all the options are bad. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/israel-democracy-judicial-reform-netanyahu-hamas-attacks/675713/ Biden’s Israel-Palestine Policy Could Cost Him the Election: The president’s blank-check support of Israel’s war on Gaza is alienating many of the Black and brown voters he needs to win reelection. https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/biden-israel-palestine-policy-election/ The End of Netanyahu: He sold Israelis a story about their safety. It turned out not to be true. “Israelis have good reason for their disillusionment. Seen in hindsight, the litany of Netanyahu’s failures is long. By his own admission, he purposely propped up Hamas as a counterbalance to the more moderate Palestinian Authority in order to keep the Palestinian public divided and prevent a negotiated two-state solution. In partnership with Washington, Netanyahu facilitated the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars from Qatar into Gaza in an attempt to buy quiet from Hamas. Intelligence officials now believe that some of this money was used to fund the group’s terrorism. Netanyahu also increased permits for Gazans to work in Israel; some of the permit holders may have provided intelligence used to plan the attacks. In 2011, the prime minister released more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners—including convicted mass murderers—in return for one Israeli soldier held hostage by Hamas. This decision encouraged further kidnapping attempts, culminating in the successful abduction of some 200 Israelis this month. One of the prisoners released in 2011 was Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza today.” https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2023/10/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-hamas-attack-failure/675722/?utm_source=threads&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=edit-promo “According to his opponents, his semi-authoritarian tendencies have relentlessly weakened the checks and balances of Israeli democracy. He has debilitated democracy’s gatekeepers, constantly accusing the “deep state” – the judicial system, the law enforcement agencies, the bureaucracy – of actively subverting him and framing him for crimes he never committed using the “fake news" media that he claims is out to get him. And his demagogic, divisive and often incendiary political language has posed a clear and present danger to Israeli democracy. If American readers find this eerily familiar, they're right.” https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2023/10/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-hamas-attack-failure/675722/?utm_source=threads&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_content=edit-promo ‘Biggest in Israeli History': Organizers Claim Half a Million Protesters Against Netanyahu's Constitutional Coup As a record 50,000 Israelis rallied in Haifa, and hundreds of thousands more across Israel, opposition leader Yair Lapid slams the Netanyahu government's sole focus on 'crushing Israeli democracy' https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-11/ty-article/.premium/biggest-in-israeli-history-organizers-claim-half-a-million-protesters-in-tenth-week/00000186-d261-dfef-a3ef-d26d9bbc0000 Inside Biden's Gaza strategy https://www.axios.com/2023/10/21/israel-hamas-war-inside-bidens-gaza-strategy A Brief History of the Netanyahu-Hamas Alliance: For 14 years, Netanyahu's policy was to keep Hamas in power; the pogrom of October 7, 2023, helps the Israeli prime minister preserve his own rule https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-20/ty-article-live/american-mother-and-daughter-first-hostages-released-by-hamas-arrive-in-israel/0000018b-4b06-d1fd-a59f-ef9ff9ed0000 Experts say Hamas and Israel are breaking international law, but what does that mean? Since the latest explosion of violence began on October 7, both Israel and Hamas have been accused of breaking international law. As the terms “genocide”, “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” are used to describe the deadly acts carried out by both sides, FRANCE 24 takes a look at what these terms mean. https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231021-experts-say-hamas-and-israel-are-breaking-international-law-but-what-does-that-mean Human Rights Watch Condemns Israel’s Collective Punishment on Gaza, Urges Biden to Help Restore Aid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25zrL_I_4Cg Damning evidence of war crimes as Israeli attacks wipe out entire families in Gaza https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/10/damning-evidence-of-war-crimes-as-israeli-attacks-wipe-out-entire-families-in-gaza/ Civilians, civilian infrastructure, and health care facilities must be protected at all times https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/indiscriminate-violence-and-collective-punishment-gaza-must-cease#:~:text=MSF%20calls%20on%20the%20government,factions%20must%20establish%20safe%20spaces. Netanyahu Waging Campaign to Blame Israeli Military for Failure to Predict Hamas Attack, Defense Sources Say The Israeli prime minister appointed a new spokesman to liaise with military correspondents, an unusual move, with one source saying they'd heard he was defaming officers https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-22/ty-article/.premium/netanyahu-on-campaign-to-blame-idf-for-failure-to-predict-attack-defense-sources-say/0000018b-5688-d5d2-afef-d6fde37a0000 US intelligence report alleging Russia election interference shared with 100 countries https://www.axios.com/2023/10/21/israel-hamas-war-inside-bidens-gaza-strategy Opening clip: https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1716539683990114683 Oslo Accords clip: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-the-oslo-accords-part-1-why-norway-was-in/id1550643487?i=1000627628956 Clip: Hear what Jenna Ellis said in tearful court speech https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/10/24/jenna-ellis-cries-court-guilty-plea-nc-vpx.cnn      

This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show. To access this, all bonus shows, get episodes ad free, exclusive invites, submit questions to regular Q&As, and more, subscribe to the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit  In this special interview, Lala Wu, a co-founder of Sister District, which builds political power in the states to protect quality of life and democracy from far-right extremism, joins Gaslit Nation to share her story and how to stop Posh Trump Glenn Youngkin who has carried out a voter purge in the lead-up to the big state elections in Virginia on November 7th. Wu explains why Virginia matters to all of us, how to stay motivated to take action even when everything feels hopeless, which candidates to pay attention to and why in Virginia, and the far-right’s playbook to help Youngkin get the majority he needs to ban abortion, rollback environmental protections, and more. Join our October 26 phone bank party with Sister District by signing up here – a quick training will be provided, along with some fun prizes!: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrict/event/585389/ The rest of this week’s bonus episode focuses on answers to questions from our listeners supporting the show at the Democracy Defender level and higher. That discussion includes how plagues have historically led to escalating the fight for greater equality in society and how that seems to be playing out now with the revitalization of unions, how the unchecked greed of the NRA and the Republican Party has normalized mass violence in America, and how Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been attacking Israel’s judicial independence to further his power, politically benefits from the current war and why he needs to go. If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues. For supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions in the comments or send them in a private message on Patreon. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To answer a request from a listener here on Patreon, below is a list of journalists and analysts covering the crisis as well as a list of book recommendations. Remain mindful that we’re in a time of rampant disinformation, fog of war, all compacted by trauma and our collective trauma of watching a brutal war break out. Consider reading widely to understand different perspectives, even those that may not align with your own. Mairav Zonszein, Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group https://www.crisisgroup.org // https://twitter.com/MairavZ Hind Khoudary, a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza https://www.instagram.com/hindkhoudary/ Amira Hass, Haaretz correspondent for the Occupied Territories https://twitter.com/Hass_Haaretz Rula Jebreal, a Palestinian foreign policy analyst and visiting professor, The University of Miami https://twitter.com/rulajebreal Noga Tarnopolsky, Jerusalem based reporter who appears frequently on MSNBC https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky Hend Amry, Libyan-American writer based in Qatar https://mastodon.social/@LibyaLiberty // https://www.instagram.com/libyaliberty/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D // https://twitter.com/LibyaLiberty Here’s a list of book recommendations from The Economist https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/10/18/the-israel-palestine-conflict-a-reading-list Show Notes: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and other Democrats introduce bill for Supreme Court term limits https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-booker-blumenthal-padilla-introduce-new-supreme-court-term-limits-bill Evacuation orders by Israel to hospitals in northern Gaza are a death sentence for the sick and injured https://www.who.int/news/item/14-10-2023-evacuation-orders-by-israel-to-hospitals-in-northern-gaza-are-a-death-sentence-for-the-sick-and-injured Nowhere to Hide in Gaza as Israeli Onslaught Continues Residents and health authorities say that mosques, hospitals and schools are being targeted by airstrikes. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/world/middleeast/gaza-israel-airstrikes.html Previous instances of Israeli targeting schools, hospitals https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/10/16/israel-hamas-war-live-iran-warns-resistance-front-may-attack?update=2417538 Israeli court convicts Sara Netanyahu for misusing state funds https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/16/israeli-court-convicts-sara-netanyahu-for-misusing-state-funds Ukrainians irate as Sara Netanyahu throws bread on floor during Kyiv welcome https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5571794,00.html Doctors without Borders: MSF doctor Ghassan Abu-Sitta’s voice message to Arwa Damon after reaching Gaza’s Shifa hospital, where “thousands have flocked to and are sleeping on the grounds, between patient beds in the wards.” What he describes is horrific. “People are too afraid to bury their dead.” https://twitter.com/MSF_USA/status/1713396854711296310 Putin is helping Hamas to hurt the West https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/17/russia-israel-putin-hamas-gaza/ Hamas’ gift to Vladimir Putin https://www.politico.eu/article/hamas-gift-russia-vladimir-putin-international-crises-russia-israel-palestine/ Hamas says leadership visited Russia, met Sergey Lavrov A Hamas official has revealed that his movement "recently" visited Moscow and warned that the group's "patience is running out" with Israel. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/03/hamas-says-leadership-visited-russia-met-sergey-lavrov

Speak, even when your voice shakes, and you feel like rage crying. This special episode provides greater historical context to Israel and Palestine, elevates voices on the frontlines of the humanitarian crisis, demands an immediate ceasefire and a united global democratic alliance to end the genocide of Palestinians, and amplifies the calls for a political solution.  The crisis cannot be solved militarily. The bombs raining down on the open air prison of Gaza is a genocide–another Nakba, the Arabic word for “catastrophe”–which in 1948 saw the brutal mass forced displacement of around a million Palestinians with the founding of Israel. We’re witnessing the long awaited war by indicted corrupt criminal and Putin ally Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, desperate to cling to power, even if that means turning Israel into another theocratic dictatorship in the region. The racist, genocidal movement that assassinated former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin for signing the Oslo Accords, a path towards peace and potentially a two-state solution, brought Netanyahu to power. And now his government of Stephen Millers is determined to finish off Palestinians, mass-murdering several thousands, including a significant number of children.  Secretary of State Antony Blinken published a call for a ceasefire on Twitter, only to delete it after Republicans protested. That and more of the US response, what it means for the civilians on both sides of the conflict, the US election and more are discussed in this extra furious episode. This week’s bonus episode will include answers to questions submitted by listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender level and higher, and a special on-the-ground look at the upcoming Virginia state elections and the recent voter-purge by Governor Glenn Youngkin. To get access to that, support the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Audio Clips:  Ali Velshi on Israel’s apartheid of Palestinians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKkjPtleWEU Israeli settler steals the home of a Palestinian woman in East Jerusalem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzO9KhXhiik Doctors without Borders: A doctor in Gaza https://twitter.com/MSF_USA/status/1713396854711296310 Watch Sands of Sorrow featuring Dorothy Thompson (1950) https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/page/watch-video-%E2%80%93-long-journey Former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger says that there is no military solution to Israel/Palestine: https://twitter.com/BBCr4today/status/1712482696700842096?t=eJ1GfsWrLzCoNDfj9o-tAg&s=19 A 19 year old survivor of the Hamas massacre blamed Netanyahu, demands a political solution: https://twitter.com/BenzionSanders/status/1713255988608848069 Israel’s Ambassador to the UK denies there’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza: https://twitter.com/SaulStaniforth/status/1713811260662255910?t=R8v3bQH4QwP7K5Udf7ivgQ&s=19 Israeli journalist harassed in Tel Aviv for calling for peace: https://twitter.com/orlybarlev/status/1713323223218082255 Peaceful Israeli protest broken up by police: https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky/status/1713311362242216151?t=qB2TwZzYQJ6IU4VdKQpQWg&s=19 Yuval Noah Harari on Christiane Amanpour https://twitter.com/amanpour/status/1712538821923885287?t=GgwX7j8W-Q09JJ7P3ZuZzA&s=19 Closing clip: An Israeli who lost his parents calls for an end to the war: https://twitter.com/helenachumphrey/status/1713747777195307130?t=tmxkpSAsINT2F5nEkRalzQ&s=19 The Middle East Crisis Factory: The Iyad El-Baghdadi Interview https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2021/4/8/the-middle-east-crisis-factory-the-iyad-el-baghdadi-interview Indicted Criminal Netanyahu Starts a War to Cling to Power https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2021/5/19/indicted-criminal-netanyahu-starts-a-war-to-cling-to-power Peter Beinart, NYT: “Most of Gaza’s residents aren’t from Gaza. They’re the descendants of refugees who were expelled, or fled in fear, during Israel’s war of independence in 1948. They live in what Human Rights Watch has called an “open-air prison,” penned in by an Israeli state that — with help from Egypt — rations everything that goes in and out, from tomatoes to the travel documents children need to get lifesaving medical care. From this overcrowded cage, which the United Nations in 2017 declared “unlivable” for many residents in part because it lacks electricity and clean water, many Palestinians in Gaza can see the land that their parents and grandparents called home, though most may never step foot in it.” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/14/opinion/palestinian-ethical-resistance-answers-grief-and-rage.html Netanyahu Is Losing the War at Home Incompetence against Hamas and indifference to Israeli suffering has the public boiling over. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/10/in-the-israel-hamas-war-netanyahu-is-losing-at-home.html The Real Dividing Line in Israel-Palestine https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/israel-palestine-hamas-and-hardliners-against-peace-by-slavoj-zizek-2023-10?barrier=accesspaylog Israel is ordering Gazans to flee south. But they’re bombing us here too. Refugees from the north are already arriving in Khan Younis, where the missiles never stop and we’re running out of food, water, and power. https://www.972mag.com/gaza-flee-south-khan-younis/ Ukraine and Israel both must face a Russian foe https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/10/16/ukraine-and-israel-both-must-face-a-russian-foe/ The Massacre in Israel and the Need for a Decent Left https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/opinion/columnists/israel-gaza-massacre-left.html The Secrets Hamas Knew About Israel’s Military: Hamas gunmen surged into Israel in a highly organized and meticulously planned operation that suggested a deep understanding of Israel’s weaknesses. Here is how the attacks unfolded. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/world/middleeast/hamas-israel-attack-gaza.html Journalist casualties in the Israel-Gaza conflict https://cpj.org/2023/10/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict/ Israeli journalist Israel Frey attacked by far-right Israeli extremists in Tel Aviv for calling for an end to the war https://twitter.com/Ha_Matar/status/1713476098976047267?t=qmoRLraXDE8Ynm7OeSDVuw&s=19 6 Year Old Palestinian-American Boy Stabbed 26 Times by White Landlord https://abc7chicago.com/joseph-czuba-will-county-news-plainfield-murder-boy-stabbed/13921802/ 2022 Saw Highest Number of Palestinians Killed in West Bank by Israeli Forces Since Second Intifada https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-01-04/ty-article-magazine/.premium/2022-saw-highest-number-of-palestinians-killed-by-israeli-forces-since-second-intifada/00000185-7cf9-d464-a197-fefb0f290000 Hamas starting to 'understand the severity of their situation,' says negotiator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg6LzfDHg3U How False Testimony and a Massive U.S. Propaganda Machine Bolstered George H.W. Bush’s War on Iraq https://www.democracynow.org/2018/12/5/how_false_testimony_and_a_massive Channel 4 News: "Where is people's humanity?" Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf has shared his mother-in-law’s “last video” from Gaza, as Israel warns Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of an anticipated ground offensive. https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1712791120357236821?t=4_iUv0ESF6AFKB7TMQQrTg&s=19 Daniel Adamson @danielsilas Some of the most measured voices I’m hearing on here, the ones who seem most serious about ending this agony, seem to come from Israelis whose loved ones have just been murdered or abducted by Hamas. Some examples… https://twitter.com/danielsilas/status/1712601486935421077?t=1hPscVI9w--Vc4VdX7YytQ&s=19 FIGHT DISINFORMATION: Comprehensive ongoing list of the most prevalent viral imagery of Syria falsely attributed to the Israel-Gaza war. This image is of child victims of the Assad regime's gas attack against Eastern Ghouta a decade ago, not Israeli or Gazan victims of war. https://twitter.com/KareemRifai/status/1712934425489534989 Israeli settler’s attempt to justify forcible takeover of a Palestinian home sparks online anger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9q9PDBsDe8 From 2003: U.S. stays steadfast in support of Abbas https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/09/IHT-us-stays-steadfast-in-support-of-abbas.html CIP Calls for Truce in Israel-Hamas Fighting to Allow for Humanitarian Relief. See our full statement below: https://twitter.com/CIPolicy/status/1713594164183486549/photo/1 Iyad El Baghdadi on Twitter: This message was written by a Palestinian to a Jewish friend. Then that Jewish friend passed it on to Palestinians friends. I don't know the person who originally wrote it. And now I'm passing it on to you. As the rhetoric becomes genocidal, root yourself in humanity. Pass it on. https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi/status/1713236580914041300 In 1996, Netanyahu became Israel’s youngest prime minister, running on a platform against flailing peace attempts, especially the Oslo accords that gave some limited autonomy to the Palestinians. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/20/benjamin-netanyahu-becomes-longest-serving-israeli-pm Explainers:  The origins of the Hamas-Israel war explained | ABC News Australia https://youtu.be/zsNj8DiJv-A?si=JowVDyLzjmzU9xIy Let’s Talk About the Israel-Palestine Conflict | The Daily Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeZ4yXyzUG0 Revealing the history behind Hamas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUtYF0V0reg From 2017: Mapping Middle East Peace Possibilities https://www.wsj.com/graphics/twostate/

If you’re feeling heartbroken over the suffering in Israel and Gaza, consider supporting some of these humanitarian organizations: https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205235922/help-israel-gaza-humanitarian-organizations This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show. To listen to the full episode, get all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, submit questions for regular Q&As, and more, subcribe on Patreon by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit. It’s been a week since the Hamas terrorist massacre targeting Israeli civilians, followed by Israel dropping 6,000 bombs on Gaza in a matter of days. The cruel PR spin of Israel calling on civilians to leave Gaza only puts more lives in danger. It was never about helping the civilians, as Israel’s bombing of that so-called “exit route” shows, as reported on by MSNBC.  Many Israelis grieving over the loss of their loved ones call for peace, and protests grow against Netanyahu and his government whose extremist chaos and genocidal political movement left Israeli civilians vulnerable to Hamas’s attack. Netanyahu finally got the genocide and mass displacement of Palestinians that he wanted, but at what cost to him, Israel, and the world? Our collective grief and anger make conversations about this extraordinarily tragic time, the countless loss of innocent lives on both sides of the war, incredibly difficult. In this conversation, Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast joins Andrea to discuss how to protect your relationships when talking about global tragedies, including setting and enforcing boundaries when needed. The discussion includes a look at U.S. foreign policy in relation to Russia, ending on a check list of protecting your mental health while engaging online. There’s no video for this bonus show as the discussion was a spontaneous continuation of the emotional public episode, and the video feature had already been turned off. Apologies for that.  If you have children or work with children, below is a list of resources on how to address this news and tragedies in general with young people:  Helping Kids Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute) https://childmind.org/article/helping-children-cope-frightening-news/ Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media) https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/explaining-the-news-to-our-kids?overridden_route_name=entity.node.canonical&base_route_name=entity.node.canonical&page_manager_page=node_view&page_manager_page_variant=node_view-panels_variant-csm_blog&page_manager_page_variant_weight=-6 Talking to Kids About Violence (National Association of School Psychologists) https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-families-and-educators  How to talk to your children about the violence in Israel and Gaza (NPR) https://www.npr.org/2023/10/11/1205017249/how-to-talk-to-children-violence-israeli-palestinian-gaza-hamas Show Notes: How to help humanitarian efforts in Israel and Gaza https://www.npr.org/2023/10/13/1205235922/help-israel-gaza-humanitarian-organizations Israeli Air Force Says It Has Dropped 6,000 Bombs on Gaza https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip/card/israeli-air-force-says-it-has-dropped-6-000-bombs-on-gaza-QK1aSnupiGqytMVO86PU People in Gaza describe living through bombings with no way to escape https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/people-in-gaza-describe-living-through-bombings-with-no-way-to-escape MSNBC: 70 killed after Israeli strikes hit three convoys of evacuees trying to leave northern Gaza. https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1712911792106602608 Israel Must Not React Stupidly If this is Israel’s 9/11, it can learn from America’s mistakes. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/israeli-government-response-hamas-attack-gaza-9-11-lessons/675622/ Victoria Brownworth @VABVOX: Veteran Israel-Palestine reporter @NTarnopolsky tells @MSNBC calls for Netanyahu to resign are rising, that families of the hostages feel abandoned by the PM and there is a protest of more than 1k people outside the Israeli Defense Ministry. https://twitter.com/VABVOX/status/1713183956097548446

“What do you mean ‘Hamas paratroopers’? Hamas doesn’t have paratroopers.” That was the reaction of someone first learning the news of this weekend’s terrorist attack across Israel, the worst mass-murder of Jews since the Holocaust. In this important discussion, Andrea is joined by Terrell Starr, host of the Black Diplomats podcast, who recently visited the West Bank and produced a series on Iran–a terrorist regime that reportedly helped in the planning of Hamas’s widespread attack.   In this conversation, we share our grief and anger for civilians in Israel and Gaza. We were already living in a time of collective grief before Hamas’s atrocities this weekend and their ISIS execution terror videos. And now things have escalated with serious ramifications for the region, the world, and yes, the US election. The discussion includes what Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremists in government have in common with Trump’s extremists; how the war in Israel will galvanize Trump’s base that supports Israel as a means to fulfill a prophecy ushering in the apocalypse; and how lessons in aiding Ukraine can help inform how to help Israel and Palestine meaningfully work towards a two-state solution.   The show notes for this week’s episode are a collection of trusted sources and voices helping us make sense of this tragic time and its complex history. Our bonus episode will be Andrea and Terrell sharing how to have difficult conversations about world events while trying to remain friends, how to protect mental health during a time of mass trauma and grief, and how to sustain conversations online in a way that protects yourself and your community. It also includes hard lessons learned from mistakes in US foreign policy, in relation to Russia, over the last ten years. Next week’s bonus episode will be a deep-dive Q&A so keep your questions coming. To get access to that, support the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes: How to Help Victims of the Israel-Gaza War https://time.com/6322238/how-to-help-israel-gaza-war-victims/   Anne Applebaum: "this government, which is the worst government in the history of the state of Israel, led by a corrupt, dysfunctional, and egoistic man who sees only himself—Benjamin Netanyahu—failed us." An extraordinary survivors' story: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/amir-tibon-how-his-family-survived-hamas-massacre/675596/   "The current government of Israel is not a partner for any constructive plan in the region. It is overwhelmed by ultra-nationalistic and messianic ideas, lack of experience, and inferior intellectual capacity." https://time.com/6322046/israel-after-hamas-attack/   Louis Fishman, Associate Prof Brooklyn College; Author of Jews and Palestinians in late Ottoman era: Turkish: “For months experts in the Israeli media warned that this gov was ignoring the growing security threat as a result of the pushback to Netanyahu’s judicial coup; they said Israel was losing its military superiority as more people refused serving in the reserves. Now we are here.” https://twitter.com/Istanbultelaviv/status/1711521792945516716   Mattia Nelles, German Ukraine analyst: Yair Golan, the former Israeli left Wing MP, is a true hero 👇 https://twitter.com/gadishamia/status/1711240299987562977   Amir Tibon @amirtibon Diplomatic Correspondent for Haaretz Newspaper, Israel to Josh Hawley: “What a cynical move. Shame on you Senator. Iran is sending drones to Ukraine and guns to Gaza, to murder Ukrainians and murder Israelis. God help us if USA cant support both countries against this brutal anti-democratic axis. Glad Biden is in charge.” https://twitter.com/amirtibon/status/1711597411007627510   Israel massed troops in the West Bank. Then Hamas attacked from Gaza. https://wapo.st/3rC42FT   Lisa Goldman: “The Israeli media now confirming that the gov't did receive clear warnings from Egyptian intelligence about the imminent attack that occurred on October 7. The PM's office initially issued a flat denial after the first report, but then did an about face and admitted it.” (Source: Channel 13 Hebrew) https://twitter.com/lisang/status/1711824708746838214   Kurt Andersen: “Until now I hadn’t really known of this piece of the recent history, the Netanyahu governments’ de facto alliance with Hamas, intended to prevent a real Palestinian state and 2-state solution. This is the distinguished @haaretzcom journalist Gidi Weitz.” https://twitter.com/KBAndersen/status/1711527406383558834 // https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-09/ty-article/.premium/another-concept-implodes-israel-cant-be-managed-by-a-criminal-defendant/0000018b-1382-d2fc-a59f-d39b5dbf0000   My 62-year-old Dad Fought Hamas Terrorists to Free My Family. The Israeli State Failed Us https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-08/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/my-62-year-old-dad-fought-hamas-terrorists-to-free-my-family-the-israeli-state-failed-us/0000018b-1068-dcc2-a99b-15794b0d0000   Israel's new far-right: Who is Itamar Ben Gvir? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OplM9oNmTfQ   Palestinians scramble for safety as Israel pounds sealed-off Gaza Strip to punish Hamas https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-airstrikes-hostages-bf6c42f84526c4d9416978c8effd932a   Save the Children director: 'Everyone is seeking shelter' in Gaza https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/perspective/20231010-save-the-children-director-everyone-is-seeking-shelter-in-gaza   The bombs raining down on Gaza from Israel are beyond scary, beyond crazy https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/10/10/the-bombs-raining-down-on-gaza-are-beyond-scary-beyond-crazy   What to know about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/10/what-is-the-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza   Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-israel-hamas-strike-planning-bbe07b25   Trial of the Century: Revisiting the Dreyfus affair. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/09/28/trial-of-the-century   The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin: ‘He never knew it was one of his people who shot him in the back’ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/31/assassination-yitzhak-rabin-never-knew-his-people-shot-him-in-back   Netanyahu's Supreme Court overhaul effort seen by protesters as threat to Israel's democracy https://www.cbsnews.com/news/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-supreme-court-60-minutes-transcript/   Are Netanyahu’s legal troubles behind push for judicial change? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/24/are-netanyahus-legal-troubles-behind-push-for-judicial-change   Why Evangelicals Love Israel https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-evangelicals-love-israel Half of evangelicals support Israel because they believe it is important for fulfilling end-times prophecy https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/14/half-of-evangelicals-support-israel-because-they-believe-it-is-important-for-fulfilling-end-times-prophecy/   Jerusalem embassy: Why Trump's move was not about peace https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44120428   Max Seddon of FT: Putin finally makes his first comments on the Israel-Palestine war. He says it's "a clear example of the failure of US policy in the Middle East" for not "taking the core interests of the Palestinian people into account" and working to create an independent Palestinian state. https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1711721613610324242   Olga Lautman: What a ridiculous NYT article. Zero mention that for decades Russia supports Hamas, has extremely close relations w Hezbollah, works alongside Hezbollah to murder countless Syrians, and supplied weapons for many decades. Why is NYT waiting for condolences from the Kremlin?https://twitter.com/OlgaNYC1211/status/1711708594872226243   Lisa Rubin: In my head, I keep seeing one video over and over: A woman, who appears to be teenaged, being dragged by her hair into a truck and wearing sweatpants that are entirely soiled in the crotch. 1/ https://twitter.com/lawofruby/status/1711515444979306825   Noga Tarnopolsky: No, Vladimir Putin's silence on the attack by Hamas shows that Netanyahu made a catastrophic strategic error by thinking he was Putin's friend. As @YadlinAmos said all along. https://twitter.com/NTarnopolsky/status/1711704721050804319   The Russia-Iran axis is fomenting war in the Middle East https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/09/the-russia-iran-axis-is-fomenting-war-in-the-middle-east/   Trump’s Overrated Peace Plan Helped Enable the Horrors in Israel and Gaza https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-overrated-peace-plan-helped-enable-horrors-in-israel-gaza   Vice News: An Iranian teenage girl has been hospitalised after a reported attack in the Tehran Metro by the country’s so-called “morality police.” Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights said Armita Geravand, 16, lost consciousness after being assaulted at a metro station on Sunday. https://twitter.com/VICENews/status/1709605211310903745   Elon Musk’s X Cut Disinformation-Fighting Tool Ahead of Israel-Hamas Conflict https://www.theinformation.com/articles/elon-musks-x-cut-disinformation-fighting-tool-ahead-of-israel-hamas-conflict   US increases pressure on Ukraine to do more to counter corruption https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/03/politics/us-ukraine-pressure-counter-corruption/index.html   BOOK RECOMMENDATION: House of Bush, House of Saud The Secret Relationship Between the World's Two Most Powerful Dynasties By Craig Unger  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/House-of-Bush-House-of-Saud/Craig-Unger/9780743253390

Check out the video version on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18gEu4hJc8ZpoIafeB5Pgg Get this and all shows ad free, bonus episodes, submit questions to our regular Q&As, join the conversation, and more by supporting our independent journalism on Patreon at Patreon.com/Gaslit  This week's bonus episode is available to all given that it provides important updates on Cop City, an issue that's the Standing Rock of the 2024 election and has serious ramifications for our democracy. Thank you to Patreon supporter Jennifer whose question inspired this discussion. Jennifer asked: "Can you talk about Cop City in the context of our global authoritarian shift. Have you seen this in other countries and do you expect it to grow?"   The opening discussion is the Fox News Tea livestream from Thursday afternoon, in case you missed it. While this episode is available to all, our Patreon community receives both the audio and video ad free, and supports our independent journalism. Thank you so much! And we're working on a fun festive surprise for both you and Merrick Garland to be announced soon. :)   We're working on organizing a social media workshop for our community here on Patreon featuring various experts in community organizing as well as the arts and media who have found new life on other platforms post-Elon Musk's deliberate destruction of Twitter. If there's anyone you're following on a platform that is not Twitter who has been helpful to you, providing insights, inspiration, community, drop their social media account in the comments and we'll consider reaching out to them to see if they might be willing to chat with our community here to provide guidance. Twitter was a real community power center, which is why the far-right elites had to destroy it, and starting over elsewhere can feel daunting and demoralizing. It's going to be a process, which will include still using Twitter for now, and expanding our presence elsewhere, including through fun events and collaborations.   Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Hope you’ll join Andrea at the October 26 6pm ET phonebank party with Sister District to stop Posh Trump Glenn Youngkin from getting the state power he needs to ban abortion. RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrict/event/585389/    Show Notes:   2019: Over 380,000 gallons of oil spill from Keystone pipeline in North Dakota. The amount of oil spilled could fill half an Olympic-sized swimming pool. https://abcnews.go.com/US/380000-gallons-oil-spill-keystone-pipeline-north-dakota/story?id=66683075   Dakota Access Pipeline protests - Key Moments In The Dakota Access Pipeline Fight https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/22/514988040/key-moments-in-the-dakota-access-pipeline-fight   Future of controversial Dakota Access pipeline's river crossing remains unclear https://www.npr.org/2023/09/08/1198492185/dakota-access-pipeline-river-crossing-environmental-review   The U.S. Supreme Court last year refused to take up an appeal of the tribe's lawsuit over the pipeline. The tribe first filed the lawsuit in 2016. Thousands of people gathered and camped near the pipeline's river crossing for protests that lasted months and sparked hundreds of arrests in 2016 and 2017. More than 830 criminal cases resulted from the protests. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/federal-officials-leave-future-of-dakota-access-pipelines-river-crossing-unclear-in-draft-review   Great video: What is Copy City? https://twitter.com/cwebbonline/status/1709317070264172703   Important must-read article: Atlanta’s ‘Cop City’ Neighbors Have No Voting Rights to Stop It https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-10-04/-cop-city-referendum-aims-to-repeal-planned-atlanta-police-training-center   ‘Watershed moment’: activists speak out about ‘Cop City’ conspiracy charges The same law used to charge Donald Trump is being wielded against protesters in a historic prosecution of 61 defendants https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/25/atlanta-cop-city-conspiracy-charges-activists?CMP=share_btn_tw   It’s spreading: Gov. Lee breaks ground on $415M Multi-Agency Law Enforcement Training Academy in Nashville https://www.wsmv.com/2023/09/27/gov-lee-breaks-ground-415m-multi-agency-law-enforcement-training-academy-nashville/   Atlanta "Cop City" protester killed by officers had 57 gunshot wounds, autopsy finds https://www.cbsnews.com/news/atlanta-cop-city-manuel-paez-teran-autopsy/   A New Front Line in the Debate Over Policing: A Forest Near Atlanta ttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/04/us/cop-city-atlanta-police-training.html   Image Credits for Video: Main Video Image Thumbnail: https://twitter.com/mccaslid/status/885682362838855680/photo/1 Standing Rock protest: https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/02/13/standingrock_calexandra_nov24_25_custom-ad586b1cab843509f48c6bc418a6e07c475900c0-s1200-c85.webp Cop City: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/03/03/multimedia/03nat-copcity-top-qbfj/03nat-copcity-top-qbfj-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp Officer Farva: https://www.gamespot.com/a/uploads/original/171/1712892/3377019-maxresdefault.jpg Pepper Spray Cop: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/64/Uc_Davis_Pepper_Spray_Incident.jpg Peaceful activist shot 57 times by police: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/03/03/multimedia/03nat-copcity-2/03nat-copcity-dippy--02-pgzl-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp Cop City Protests: https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/03/03/multimedia/03nat-copcity-3/03nat-copcity--01-wpzq-superJumbo.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp

It’s a government shutdown by another name! Accused sex trafficker, proud January 6 insurrectionist, and Kremlin shill Matt Gaetz makes Russian state TV gleeful by leading the Kremlin Kaos Kaucus (KKK) by blocking much-needed aid to Ukraine and overthrowing Kevin McCarthy as speaker for trying to do a Ukraine deal with the Democrats. You may remember McCarthy as that guy who admitted Putin pays Trump, yet went on to support him and his MAGA death cult, earning his place in history as the first speaker to be ousted. Gaetz’s Kremlin disinformation antics are part of a larger operation serving the Republican Party’s dark money backers that include dirty Russian-linked financing that helped elect George Santos, the Koch political network that wants to drop sanctions against Russia to protect their profits, and the PayPal mafia like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel that deliberately destroyed Twitter, an organizing space for activists and journalists, in a unified bid to weaken American democracy and usher in dictatorship. Yes, this is all happening, and none of it is normal.  The KKK in Congress makes America look like an unreliable ally and demoralizes Ukrainians fighting and giving their lives to stop Russian imperial fascism. When they scream on the House floor about the national debt, what they really mean is protecting their corporate backers’ record profits, historically and criminally low taxes, and wealth hoarding at the expense of the public good. This is Reagan’s Revolution ideologically aligned with Putin’s court of oligarchs: Greed is good and the firehose of corruption and scandal ensures they live above the law. As history shows, our courts are the anecdote when Congress is gridlocked. Unfortunately, Biden’s judicial appointments were stalled this year as Senator Dianne Feinstein and her enablers refused to let her retire with dignity, tarnishing her legacy by slowing down Biden’s appointments for months. If people weren’t getting rich off of Washington being broken, it would have been fixed by now. The great Heather Cox Richardson, historian and author of the latest must-read book Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, stops by Gaslit Nation to give us insight on how we got here and what to do about this dangerous crossroads in our nation’s history. Needless to say Andrea and Heather geek out over Ulysses S. Grant!   This week’s bonus episode will include a livestream on Patreon and on Instagram (to help wean us off of Twitter – the largest Russian disinformation outlet in the world, according to the European Union). That will take place on Thursday at 4pm ET – Patreon subscribers should look out for a link posted shortly before we go live, or join for free on Instagram. The topic will be some disturbing tea spilled about Fox News and how the sausage gets made there, according to a former insider. If you would like to support our independent journalism, get our episodes ad free, bonus shows, special invites, our archives, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Check out HelloFresh, our sponsor for this week’s episode. Go to HelloFresh.com/50Gaslit and use code 50gaslit for 50% off plus free shipping! Show Notes: Save the date! Thursday October 26 6pm - 8pm ET we’re getting together with Sister District for a virtual phonebank to get out the vote in Virginia to prevent Posh Trump (Glenn Youngkin) from banning abortion. Signed copies of the Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! will be given out to three attendees as a thank you to our community. Sign up here, selecting the October 26 6pm ET phonebank to join us: https://www.mobilize.us/sisterdistrict/event/387377/?utm_source=2023-natlpb-gaslit Feeling festive? Send us a 5-page or less Halloween-themed radio play about the Kushners and other ghouls we’re up against and how to defeat those monsters. We’ll turn one of the scripts we receive into a radio play to run on Halloween! Send your submissions to [email protected] by October 18th!  Opening clip: Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas calling out the show trial in the House of Hunter Biden and President Biden https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1707464799209070665 Ben Collins of NBC News: What was Elon Musk’s strategy for Twitter?https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/was-elon-musks-strategy-twitter-rcna118490  Putin’s Next Target: U.S. Support for Ukraine, Officials Say https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/02/us/politics/putin-ukraine-spy-united-states.html#:~:text=American%20officials%20said%20they%20are,conspiracy%20theories%20with%20new%20technologies.  House majority leader to colleagues in 2016: ‘I think Putin pays’ Trump https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/house-majority-leader-to-colleagues-in-2016-i-think-putin-pays-trump/2017/05/17/515f6f8a-3aff-11e7-8854-21f359183e8c_story.html Trump suing ex-MI6 officer who alleged he was ‘compromised’ by Russian security service https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/28/trump-suing-ex-mi6-officer-who-alleged-he-was-compromised-by-russian-security-service First on CNN: DOJ officially decides not to charge Matt Gaetz in sex-trafficking probe https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/15/politics/matt-gaetz-justice-department/index.html Rep. Matt Gaetz Speaks Out For 1st Time Following Sex Trafficking Investigation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZJdqwam0fs Seventeen year old Eric Willoughby stands up to Republican gerrymandering in North Carolina https://twitter.com/HC_Richardson/status/1708139641499435151?t=oy8Tp1lbc_GbBAtwkKfKGw&s=19 Secretary of State Antony Blinken launches music diplomacy initiative in the White House by performing with his band https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1707230831528620109 Trump’s Fraud Trial Starts With Attacks on Attorney General and Judge https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/02/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial-letitia-james.html Tristan Snell on Twitter about Trump’s fraud case https://twitter.com/TristanSnell/status/1708908759655792899?t=KrBUdTPZLGfQISCq1kWmrA&s=19 Steve Bannon threatens to throw Merrick Garland in prison for life https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1708941399217827865?t=sW_CUa7D5vN2M1Vi4BtFLg&s=19 The far-right goes after Taylor Swift for being anti-Trump and registering voters https://twitter.com/mikefreemanNFL/status/1707164874608869395?t=71nxtwb6evwFKnb7j4BZmw&s=19 https://twitter.com/oneunderscore__/status/1707163480715899087?t=wJS9tRH7mkt_d3mi_N6Fdw&s=19 Gaetz: "We're proud of the work we did" on Jan. 6 https://www.axios.com/2022/01/06/matt-gaetz-jan-6-capitol-riot Gaetz showed nude photos of women he said he’d slept with to lawmakers, sources tell CNN https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/01/politics/matt-gaetz-photos-women/index.html Biden has appointed more federal judges than any president since JFK at this point in his tenure https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/08/09/biden-has-appointed-more-federal-judges-than-any-president-since-jfk-at-this-point-in-his-tenure/#:~:text=President%20Joe%20Biden%20has%20appointed,from%20the%20Federal%20Judicial%20Center AOC leads call for federal ethics investigation into Clarence Thomas https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/12/aoc-democrats-federal-investigation-clarence-thomas Pro-Russian politician wins Slovakia’s parliamentary election https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/01/world/slovakia-election-pro-russia-robert-fico-win-intl-hnk Kenneth Roth on Twitter: A European Union study of six social-media platforms in Poland, Slovakia and Spain "finds that Twitter has the highest prevalence of disinformation." The main source is "Russia’s disinformation operation [which] is a ‘weapon of mass manipulation.'" https://twitter.com/KenRoth/status/1708032306265378870

This is an excerpt of Gaslit Nation's bonus show. To get access to this, our episodes ad free, our archives, live events, and more, support our independent journalism by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Thank you to everyone who braved a stormy night of torrential rain to attend the recent live taping of Gaslit Nation featuring historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of the bestselling book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, and Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of the Kremlin Files podcast. This week's bonus episode includes the live Q&A with our audience, kicking off with Olga's theory...what if Prigozhin is still alive? In the introduction, Andrea shares two powerful films that are essential viewing, especially heading into 2024. Disinformation aims to divide and dehumanize. The anecdote to that is to stay human and center the human beings caught in the middle of powerful forces. So be sure to check out these two powerful films. One is a drama, The Swimmers, about two Syrian girls who dream of swimming in the Olympics for Syria, and instead have to escape the war, taking the dangerous journey to Europe by sea where they use their swimming training to pull their raft full of refugees for hours to shore after the boat's motor fails. It's an extraordinary story of resilience and gives important insight into the refugee crisis politically dividing Europe, inflaming the Russian-backed far-right. The second film is a Peabody Award-winning documentary called Missing in Brooks County. Like Ava DuVernay's 13th exposes the white supremacy cult of political and legal violence that built the prison industrial complex, Missing in Brooks County lifts the veil on the dystopian nightmare of the U.S. Southern Border, deliberately engineered for mass murder. And of course Elon Musk, Apartheid Barbie, made headlines this week in relation to both refugee crises. First, he was slapped on Twitter by the German government which clapped back at him for calling out their rescue efforts of refugees who take the perilous journey by sea to escape unimaginable danger and hardship at home. Then he pulled a disinformation stunt by visiting the U.S. border, called by a recent United Nations report the deadliest border crossing in the world. Musk, Trump, and Putin are all part of a global far-right movement to consolidate the world's racists, to chip away at democracy, to scapegoat victims of fascism and mafia state greed, and bring autocrats to power through incitement of political violence. We're seeing that same KKK terror on Staten Island where mobs of people continue to terrorize refugees by blasting intrusive lights and blaring car horns and more at a refugee center. We're not going to let them win. We're fighting back by building political power and growing our community beyond Apartheid Barbie's Twitter. You can join Andrea, J. Smith-Cameron and people across the country by supporting all important state races like the upcoming Virginia state elections -- more info here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/zjrhpjw/State-Fair And be sure to follow Gaslit Nation on the new socials we're building as we ramp up for 2024 and reclaim our democracy.  Finally, on Thursday October 5th at 4pm EST, Andrea will spill some tea on Fox News after speaking with a former insider, and record that in a special live stream available both on Patreon for our supporters and also Instagram Live. Look out for a Patreon post sent straight to your inbox for how to watch that stream as it goes live this coming Thursday. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Instagram @GaslitNation: https://www.instagram.com/gaslitnation/ Threads @GaslitNation: https://www.threads.net/@gaslitnation Gaslit Nation’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GaslitNation  Mastodon @GaslitNation: https://mastodon.social/@GaslitNation  Gaslit Nation’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gaslitnation5288 Gaslit Nation’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gaslit_nation Spoutible @GaslitNation: https://spoutible.com/GaslitNation Post at @GaslitNation: https://post.news/@/GaslitNation Gaslit Nation on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/  

Our song for September is 'The Cost of Living' by PrisonPenPal. Check out more of their music here: https://soundcloud.com/wot-not-718138294 To have your music featured on the show, submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628  To receive all of our episodes ad free, get exclusive invites, access our archives and more, join our community of listeners by supporting our independent journalism at Patreon.com/Gaslit  HyperNormalisation was first coined by Russian-born anthropologist Alexei Yurchak in his book Everything was Forever, Until It Was No More. (It also inspired the Adam Curtis docuseries by the same name).  The term describes the final years of the Soviet Union when the system was failing, everyone knew the system was rotted from within by greed and corruption, yet people carried on, the broken system becoming the new normal. When our government can easily be shutdown by a Kremlin-backed, proudly fascist party, while its leader continues to call for violence, walking free after having tried to violently overthrow our government, and disinformation echo chambers on the far-right and far-left openly mock and attack the victims and targets of that fascism, America has reached HyperNormalisation. And the priority of the business elite is to protect their immorally low-tax rate and hoard their wealth, following in the footsteps of those who helped bring Hitler and Pinochet to power.  Elon Musk’s X has become the biggest outlet of Russian disinformation, according to the EU. That’s “mission accomplished” for the American far-right and its Russian backers. Formerly reliable so-called “resistance” accounts on Twitter that once led the way combating Trump and Putin have succumbed to self-censorship and catering to Musk’s oppressive algorithms like they’re an authoritarian regime. This causes them to fall silent on ringing the alarm on the stakes to all of us for stopping Russia’s genocide in Ukraine, LGBTQ+ rights that are being scapegoated through genocidal rhetoric, and more. You know things are bad when even Ralph Nader is ringing the alarm of fascism and wants to campaign for the Democrats!  Since the beginning of the show, the focus has been on grassroots power–the most reliable power we have left. Together, we made 15,000 phone calls to get John Fetterman into the Senate, and he’s leading the way against corruption and greed. To maintain your courage and stay grounded in the truth, check out the Gaslit Nation Action Guide. You can also join Andrea, J. Smith-Cameron, and people across the country in State Fair, a grassroots group with the States Project organizing for the upcoming Virginia election to stop Posh Trump Youngkin from winning a majority in Virginia’s state government and banning abortion.  In this episode, you’ll hear an excerpt of the August 5th live taping of Gaslit Nation at Caveat in NYC with the Risk! Storytelling podcast by comedia Kevin Allison of the iconic comedy group The State, which launched the comedic geniuses Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, David Wain, and many more. Thank you to everyone who came out! We hope to do more live tapings closer to the election.  This week’s Q&A will feature the audience questions at the live taping featuring historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of the bestselling book Strongmen: Mussolini to Present, and Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of the Kremlin Files podcast. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  Show Notes: We encourage you to check out the sponsors of this week’s episode:  Cozy Earth provided an exclusive offer for our listener’s today. Up to  35% off site wide when you use the code “GASLIT" https://cozyearth.com/ Want to join the conversation? Subscribe to join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit  Join Andrea, J Smith-Cameron, and people across the country in the grassroots group State Fair to help protect Virginia from Posh Trump and his rightwing agenda https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/zjrhpjw/State-Fair Opening Clip of Tim Gurner: https://twitter.com/FinancialReview/status/1701440109948887057 U.S. Accuses Amazon of Illegally Protecting Monopoly in Online Retail https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/26/technology/ftc-amazon.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20230926&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=cta&regi_id=48614702&segment_id=145764&user_id=097a378032011d6e8be1570cdce0a176 Biden speaking at the UAW picket line https://www.c-span.org/video/?530728-1/pres-biden-joins-uaw-picket-line-michigan Musk’s X Is Biggest Outlet of Russia Disinformation, EU Says https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-26/eu-faults-musk-s-x-in-fight-against-russia-s-war-of-ideas?srnd=undefined#xj4y7vzkg Ralph Nader wants to help Democrats win https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/09/26/ralph-nader-joe-biden-election/ The Kushner Family is Cozying Up to Nikki Halely https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/07/the-kushner-family-is-cozying-up-to-nikki-haley  Republicans Lead Race for Private Equity’s 2024 Dollars https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-lead-race-for-private-equitys-2024-dollars-ba152e12?page=1 @JStein_WaPo: “Hard to find a quote that better summarizes how Obamanomics =/= Bidenomics” https://twitter.com/JStein_WaPo/status/1706747404756635815 @AriDrennen: “Michael Knowles claims trans kids are the number one thing in voters' minds in the 2024 election and that GOP candidates should focus on that instead of "bread and butter, dinner table issues" https://twitter.com/AriDrennen/status/1706754511581147292 Ukrainian oligarch Pavel Fuks has been linked to Russian Intelligence, employed Giuliani and has newly reported ties to Trump Tower in NYC https://newstracs.com/ukrainian-oligarch-pavel-fuks-has-newly-reported-ties-to-trump-tower-in-nyc/2023/09/18/ The antidote to civilisational collapse: An interview with the documentary filmmaker Adam Curtis on his docuseries HyperNormalisation https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/12/06/the-antidote-to-civilisational-collapse Elie Mystal on Twitter: “Good job, Merrick Garland. Your weakness has orchestrated the indictment of a private citizen trying to overcome drug addiction so Republicans can try to hit a bank shot off of him to his loving father, all because you were afraid of looking "political" to Fox News viewers.”  https://twitter.com/ElieNYC/status/1702384315806466475 Hunter Biden claims in lawsuit that Rudy Giuliani hacked his data https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/26/hunter-biden-rudy-giuliani-lawsuit-laptop-00118112 Follow-up on last week’s bonus episode:  “Even back in the 1850s, when an immigrant arrived who was sick, they would be sent to Staten Island to get better. And even back then, the residents of Staten Island didn’t much like being forced to take immigrants who they didn’t particularly want,” Anbinder told me. “We tend to idealize our own immigrant ancestors and think they’re different than immigrants today. But what you find when you look at the 400-year history of immigrant New York is that every generation of immigrants comes to New York for the same reasons, has the same experiences, is hated by the people who are already in New York, and yet always they end up succeeding. And so every group is despised for a time, but every group ends up becoming an accepted New Yorker. We just forget that, generation after generation after generation.” Source:The Biggest Lesson of the Migrant Crisis https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/09/the-biggest-lesson-of-the-migrant-crisis.html  

This is an excerpt of Gaslit Nation's weekly bonus episode. To listen to the extended version, receive all episodes ad free, exclusive event invites, and join the conversation, support the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit.    The average bedtime for children is around 8pm. Late into the night, well past that hour, angry mobs honk and scream into bullhorns outside a migrant shelter on Staten Island. Their rioutous harassment, meant to terrorize the newly arrived aslym seekers that include children, can be heard in homes far up the street. This goes on night after night.   In this extra pissed off bonus episode of Gaslit Nation, Andrea explains how disinformation worsens the migrant crisis, why Republican crony Mayor Eric Adams with his Russian mobbed up pals is the worst person for this moment of crisis in New York City, and how Merrick Garland continues to empower corruption in America that profits off the demise of our democracy.   Unfortunately, the Hunter Biden investigation makes it nearly impossible for President Biden to replace Merrick Garland (though he should immediately!). But that would be seen by the hand-wringers in the Democratic Party establishment as feeding the far-right’s echochamber. As the clip of the recent Garland hearing in this episode shows, the DOJ was called on by Democratic members of Congress to investigate Clarence Thomas for being on the payroll of Nazi memorabilia enthusiast and far-right mega-donor Harlan Crow. When pressed on that matter, you can hear and/or see for yourself in the clip how Garland sounds dismissive, almost annoyed, like he doesn’t grasp the urgency–because he doesn’t. The latest bombshell investigation by ProPublica, out yesterday, exposes how Thomas worked fundraisers for a group that regularly took cases before him at the Supreme Court. (Look out for our interview with ProPublica’s Jesse Eisinger about their damning investigations into Thomas, Alito, and what can be done about elite criminal impunity. Eisinger led the investigation of former Manhattan DA Cy Vance, Jr. who prevented indictments of Ivanka and Don Jr. for felony fraud after receiving a campaign donation from a Trump family lawyer).   Finally, the second half of this week’s bonus episode includes the live audience Q&A with Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast reporting from Kyiv. The audio of the first question was removed by request due to the personal nature of the matter: overcoming workplace abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling with an abusive workplace or related issues – whether it's in a corporation, a small business, or a partnership – seek legal help immediately. Contact your state’s local bar association for lawyers willing to do pro bono work or a free consultation. In a time of great economic uncertainty, people are increasingly vulnerable to workplace abuse, whether financial, emotional, or both, and being exploited – so get the help and support you need by taking a meeting with a lawyer to know your rights. You will be glad you did.   Question for our audience: Given the Nazi viper den of Twittrer, and the harmful abuse there targeting vulnerable communities, what are some other social media sites that you’re increasingly turning to and find helpful? Let us know in the comments!   Show Notes:   Everything you can do today to help asylum seekers in NYC https://nygroove.nyc/how-to-help-asylum-seekers-nyc/   Chaos in Staten Island: NYC protesters arrested trying to stop busses carrying migrants https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4oCBycM0RY   Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before House Judiciary Committee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83nn4uq2Teo   Garland hears first real Democratic criticism from Rep. Cori Bush [Search article for Cori Bush’s name] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/live-blog/merrick-garland-testimony-trump-hunter-biden-live-updates-rcna105680   Latest ProPublica Investigation: Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-secretly-attended-koch-brothers-donor-events-scotus   AOC leads call for Federal ethics investigation: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/12/aoc-democrats-federal-investigation-clarence-thomas   ‘So Much Suffering:’ What Migrant Children Carry to New York https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/16/nyregion/nyc-migrant-crisis-mental-health.html#:~:text=Of%20the%20more%20than%20110%2C000,towering%20in%20their%20emotional%20complexit   Senate Finally Breaks Tommy Tuberville’s Blockade—Kind ofhttps://www.thedailybeast.com/senate-finally-breaks-tommy-tubervilles-blockadekind-of   Trump Nazi https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/08/NYPICHPDPICT000026871283.jpg?resize=1536,1063&quality=75&strip=all   Neo-Nazis Gloat as Florida Becomes a Magnet for Hate https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/neo-nazis-thriving-florida-ron-desantis-1234824505/   Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations: The Other Billionaires Who Have Treated the Supreme Court Justice to Luxury Travel https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-other-billionaires-sokol-huizenga-novelly-supreme-court   Merrick Garland’s Eyes Wide Shut https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2021/6/9/merrick-garlands-eyes-wide-shut

Welcome to the recording of the live taping of Gaslit Nation featuring historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of the bestselling book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman, co-host of the Kremlin Files podcast, and reactions from our live audience. We recorded this episode at P&T Knitwear in New York City. Thank you to everyone who came out on a torrential rainy night. We hope to do another live event closer to the election.  In this episode, we discuss whether Putin and Trump are winning and how to stop them; how to navigate the hellscape during a time of cults on the far-right and far-left; why are Americans having Ukraine fatigue even though Russian fascism helps prop up the Republican Party threatening our own democracy, and how to build a livable future even when everything feels especially demoralizing and overwhelming. The live audience Q&A will run as an upcoming bonus episode. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation!  This week’s bonus episode is the live audience Q&A featuring Terrell Starr reporting from Ukraine during the recent virtual live taping of Gaslit Nation. That discussion includes how to stand up for yourself at work when you’re being exploited and gaslit; what to do when those around you don’t understand the urgency of the moment; and more! Thank you to everyone who keeps Gaslit Nation going especially during these difficult times. We could not make our show without you! Want to join the conversation? Subscribe to join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit  We encourage you to check out the sponsors of this week’s episode:  Cozy Earth provided an exclusive offer for our listener’s today. Up to  35% off site wide when you use the code “GASLIT" Look out for upcoming interviews with Heather Cox Richardson sharing lessons from American history, her new book Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, and the original Nazi hunter – Andrea’s boyfriend Ulysses S. Grant. We’ll also be joined by Jesse Eisinger, a Senior Editor at ProPublica and author of The Chickenshit Club Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives. Jesse is on the team exposing corruption on the Supreme Court and uncovered that former Manhattan DA Cy Vance, Jr. failed to charge Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. in a fraud case.   

Quick reminder: This Monday 9/18, Andrea will be in discussion with historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of the bestselling book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, and Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of the Kremlin Files podcast to discuss the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! and how to defeat Trump and Putin. Copies of the book signed by both Andrea and Sarah will be available at the event, which will be held at P&T Knitwear on the Lower East Side at 7pm. Our Patreon community can join Andrea starting at 6pm for free N95 masks and a signed Mr. Jones poster. Details here: https://ptknitwear.com/events/29217 In this special and personal call to action, Andrea shares her story on why it’s important to interview someone you love while there’s still time: “On New Year's Day, we had to rush someone in my immediate family to the hospital. Since then, their health has been in decline as they battle two terminal illnesses. In February, I produced a list of questions for interviewing them on camera, to preserve their history as a treasured family keepsake, but life got in the way, and I waited too long to conduct the interview. When I finally managed to sit down with them for the interview, their health had declined to the point where they could no longer sit through more than 30 minutes of conversational talking. As they continue their treatments, we continue to do what we can as a family for our loved one as they bravely face the hardest battle of their life. Don’t make the mistake I did. Make time to interview those you love as a celebration of your love and the family you were lucky to have been born into and/or the family you were lucky to make. We all need each other. No one gets through these times alone.” Here are the list of questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dR-rDSmQUFJCDxF9veqcVrxObOhP41uv6orogKGnGIY/edit?usp=sharing This week’s bonus episode is a response to a comment on last week’s bonus show on why Biden Must Declare a Climate Emergency. You can find that here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/88983043 (There’s a free excerpt wherever you get your podcasts). That bonus episode created a lot of discussion among our listeners on Patreon, including one who commented that we’re inevitably headed towards mass violence. Are they right? And what does that mean and how can it be avoided? This deserves a much larger discussion, and we appreciate your comments.  Sarah joins this week’s bonus episode to answer questions from our listeners. Our supporters on Patreon at the Truth-teller level and higher can submit their questions in the comments section or by sending a private message on Patreon. Subscribe today to join the conversation: Patreon.com/Gaslit  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you. To join the conversation and our community of listeners, get bonus shows, all shows ad free, exclusive invites and more, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit 

A special reminder! This coming Monday September 18th at 7pm at P&T Knitwear on the Lower East Side, Andrea will join historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of the bestselling book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, and Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of the Kremlin Files podcast for a special in-person live taping of Gaslit Nation. A select few copies of the Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! signed by both Andrea and Sarah will be available at the event. Get them while supplies last! Event details are here. For Patreon supporters, there will be a special meet-up at 6pm just for you that includes FREE N95 masks and signed Mr. Jones posters – details to come! To join our community on Patreon, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit  In this special live taping of Gaslit Nation, journalist Terrell Starr reports from Kyiv, Ukraine on what his life is like living among drones, missile attacks, bomb sirens, and the amazing bars and restaurants of Ukraine. The defiance of life among Russia’s death and destruction sustains people as they carry on with their days, many wounded and now disabled, as Terrell describes, and facing nuclear threats and the aftermath of the massive dam explosion. Terrell and Andrea discuss the GOP’s latest Kremlin disinformation smear of Biden with their impeachment show trial heading into 2024 to help Russian asset Trump, why the G20 summit in India watered down its statement of support for Ukraine, why Elizabeth Warren gives us hope by taking on Elon Musk who was recently praised by Putin after it was revealed he sabotaged Ukraine’s efforts to liberate Crimea, a cesspool of repression under Russian occupation. All that and more are discussed in this look at the threat of autocracy in the US and beyond.  The live audience Q&A with compelling questions and comments from our listeners will run next week as a bonus episode. This week’s bonus show includes a Q&A of Sarah answering questions from our listeners. To have your questions answered, send us a private message or drop them in the comment section below. Thank you to everyone who supports the show, especially during these difficult times. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  We encourage you to check out the sponsors of this week’s episode:  Cozy Earth provided an exclusive offer for our listener’s today. Up to  35% off site wide when you use the code “GASLIT" Go to HelloFresh.com/50gaslit and use code 50gaslit for 50% off plus 15% off the next two months!  Show Notes: Opening Clip: https://twitter.com/lizbrownkaiser/status/1701630833398821106 Russia’s Putin praises Elon Musk as an ‘outstanding person’ and ‘talented businessman’ https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/12/russias-vladimir-putin-praises-elon-musk-as-an-outstanding-person.html Senator Warren demands an investigation into SpaceX after Musk blocked Ukraine from extending the Starlink network near Crimea. https://twitter.com/OstapYarysh/status/1701592112246997228 Christopher Steele on India funding Russia’s genocide in Ukraine https://twitter.com/Chris_D_Steele/status/1701309978215067959 Anne Applebaum on Elon Musk sabotaging Ukraine’s efforts to liberate Crimea https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1701282864011121024 In time of war, Russia turns up aggression on transgender citizens https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/10/russia-outlaws-transgender-citizens/ US behind more than a third of global oil and gas expansion plans, report finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/12/us-behind-more-than-a-third-of-global-oil-and-gas-expansion-plans-report-finds?CMP=share_btn_tw  

This is a free excerpt of this week's bonus show. To access the full discussion, our archives, receive all episodes ad free, invites to events like our live taping and audience Q&A with Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast this Tuesday at 12pm ET, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher and join our community of listeners who sustain much-needed independent journalism. Become a member today: www.Patreon.com/Gaslit    Should we drop out of society and organize mass orgies given the state of the world? That and more are discussed in this week's bonus episode.   This discussion was inspired by a question from our Patreon community and is an urgent argument for why Biden must declare a climate emergency, especially if he wants to boost his poll numbers. Gen Z is voting in larger numbers, running for office, building grassroots organizing machines, and they're demanding their elected leaders ensure a livable future. Biden will drive out the vote of an increasingly influential Gen Z by declaring a climate emergency, and at the same time energize a new generation of leaders to help strengthen and protect our democracy. It's not up to Gen Z to save us, but it is up to us to listen to Gen Z. Biden did just that by rolling back oil leases to protect pristine wilderness. Now it's time to hyper-speed a renewable energy revolution by declaring a climate emergency. The latest research by the Cassandras of the climate crisis like James Hansen, the former NASA scientist who testified to Congress in 1988 that we were headed towards collapse, warn that the heating of the planet is accelerating.   Declaring a climate emergency is urgently needed national security and foreign policy. The sooner we achieve a post-oil world, the sooner we put gas station dictatorships like Russia and Iran out of business. China, another major producer, buys cheap oil from Russia, financing its genocide in Ukraine, while Iran provides killer drones slaughtering civilians. To defund these repressive mass-murdering regimes, expand the transition to renewable energy with executive emergency powers. The Department of Defense elevated climate change as a national security priority, because if we don't move faster the world will become ungovernable. The fascist far-right trying to overthrow our democracy is deeply embedded with Big Oil like the Koch political network, as discussed in our interviews with Anne Nelson, author of The Shadow Network, and historian Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains. Making fossil fuels obsolete defunds the shadowy backers of America's far-right threat, supported in a global fascist alliance by oil producer Russia. Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Vivek Ramaswamy, and other Kremlin mouthpieces are just the lobbyist puppets of the fossil fuel industry.   Even if the Supreme Court were to strike down or curb efforts by Biden to unlock executive emergency powers for meaningful climate action, the court's far-right Republican majority would be met with backlash at the voting booth, as we saw in the 2022 midterms. A Roe v. Wade blue wave ensured Democrats kept the Senate and that Republicans only got a fragile majority in the House, defying historical trends of the president's party losing badly in midterm elections. People left, right, and center are terrorized by the reality of extreme fires, hazardous smoke, and killer super storms. The horrifying new normal of the climate emergency breaks through far-right disinformation machines like Fox News, with young Republicans demanding action on climate change and traditionally conservative farmers working with the federal government on climate crisis projects. The very real fears and destruction of the existential threat we all live with now is a unifying moment that a president must meet by declaring a climate emergency. Morally it's the right thing to do and long past time.   Leadership at the top and at all levels of government must speed up the renewable energy revolution. Biden has led on uniting the democratic alliance against Russia, and bold leadership bringing us closer to a post-carbon world will defund Russia's war machine. And his re-election will be guaranteed if he energizes Gen Z's grassroots base by giving civilization a fighting chance. There's still time, but only if we unite against "feel good" pledges and demand bold executive action now.   You can contact the White House by sharing this essay or your own arguments, and raise your voice on social media demanding a climate emergency. Contact your local reps in your state government, too. Local changes can trickle up. There's more info and ways to take action below from the Sunrise Movement: Millions of young people: @POTUS end fossil fuels Biden: *cancels all remaining oil and gas leases in the Arctic Refuge and protects 13 million acres in the Western Arctic* It's clear he's listening. Demand that he declare a climate emergency next ⬇️ https://twitter.com/sunrisemvmt/status/1699888163467219004 Announcements: Tuesday September 12 at 12pm ET – Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast will join a special live taping of Gaslit Nation. A link to join that virtual event will go out to our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher on the morning of the event. Join the conversation in our audience Q&A! Monday September 18th at 7pm ET at P&T Knitwear – Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, and Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman will join me, Andrea, to discuss the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! It’s free. There will be a special meet up at 6pm before the event for our Patreon community. I will have N95 masks for those who need one. Come say hi! Here's the event link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/andrea-chalupa-presents-gaslit-nation-a-live-podcast-recording-tickets-699829909097 Show Notes:   James Hansen: There Is a Lot More Warming in the Pipeline (Summary of Report) https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/12/25/2143836/-James-Hansen-There-Is-a-Lot-More-Warming-in-the-Pipeline   Peer & Public Review of James Hansen’s “Global Warming in the Pipeline” http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2023/Peer+PublicReview.21July2023.pdf   MUST READ: James Hansen Op-Ed: President Biden’s Legacy http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2022/BidensLegacy.08August2022.pdf   VIDEO: Global Warming in the Pipeline - Discussion by Climate Emergency Forum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-ArA_xYxfs   ‘We are damned fools’: scientist who sounded climate alarm in 80s warns of worse to com https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/19/climate-crisis-james-hansen-scientist-warning   Steve Bannon Saw the ‘Monster Power’ of Angry Gamers While Farming Gold in World of Warcraft https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/07/steve-bannon-world-of-warcraft-gold-farming.html   Steve Bannon Targeted 'Incels' Because They Are 'Easy to Manipulate,' Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower Says https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-targeted-incels-manipulate-cambridge-analytica-whistleblower-christopher-wylie-1468399?utm_campaign=NewsweekTwitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter   Climate change: More than 3bn could live in extreme heat by 2070 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52543589  

Special announcements:  Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats podcast will join Gaslit Nation Tuesday September 12th at 12pm ET for a live taping – get your ticket by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher and join the conversation in the chat! The access link will be sent exclusively to our Patreon community the morning of the show. Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit  Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of the bestselling book Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, and Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman of the Kremlin File podcast, will join Andrea at a special in person live taping of Gaslit Nation Monday September 18th at 7pm ET at P&T Knitwear on the Lower East Side. Patreon supporters can join Andrea for an exclusive early meet up at 6pm ET for signed Mr. Jones posters. Free N95 masks will be available at the event.  In this super caffeinated episode, Andrea breaks down the recent news on the climate crisis exposing Burning Man and America’s Grover Norquist crisis; the classic authoritarian story of business elites fueling the rise of Nazis – this time by flocking to Florida for the tax breaks; how Twitter helped Saudi Arabia target and destroy the lives of activists; the apparent self-censorship on Twitter as people make moral compromises to try to game the Big Brother algorithm by avoiding issues Elon Musk works against like Ukraine and trans rights – Gaslit Nation sees you!  J. Smith-Cameron, “Gerri” on Succession and the star of theater, film, and TV, shares an important call-to-action to protect quality of life and democracy in Virginia in the impending state elections there, which will help determine which party wins the electoral college in 2024. To join J. and Andrea at State Fair, their States Project giving circle, for events to reach voters in Virginia, sign up here. Our efforts helped a grassroots victory flip the Pennsylvania state House from Republican to Democratic control, helping protect the integrity of the vote there in 2024.  Finally, Daniel Squadron, a former New York state Senator, and Melissa Walker, a novelist and activist, of the States Project join Gaslit Nation to expose the far-right machine fueling “Posh Trump” Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Virginia and a potential presidential candidate who would bring a dog whistler-version of Trumpism to the White House.  This week’s bonus episode will be a special Q&A answering questions from our Patreon community. To have your question answered and join the conversation, support the show by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher. Your subscription sends every episode ad free to your inbox and gives you full access to our archives, including all bonus episodes, and supports independent journalism during this critical time. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation – we could not make the show without you!  Gaslit Nation will remain on Twitter, but would like to expand to other platforms to break our dependency on Apartheid Barbie’s “authoritarian town square.” Follow us here and let’s continue the conversation – more platforms will be added and developed soon:  Threads @GaslitNation  Instagram @GaslitNation  Facebook @GaslitNation Mastodon @GaslitNation  YouTube @GaslitNation Tiktok @GaslitNation Spoutible @GaslitNation  Post at @GaslitNation  BlueSky  @GaslitNation (Jack Dorsey betrayed us before by selling us out to Elon Musk, he’ll do something like that again. Dorsey also let the Saudis use Twitter to hunt down dissidents according to a chilling lawsuit against Twitter).    Show Notes: Join Andrea and J Smith-Cameron at our giving circle State Fair to help protect democracy in Virginia this fall. More info here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/zjrhpjw/State-Fair Americonned: Organize, Fight, Win https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/07/12/americonned?rq=Americonned Twitter accused of helping Saudi Arabia commit human rights abuses https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/04/twitter-saudi-arabia-human-rights-abuses Teen and mom plead guilty to abortion charges based on Facebook data  ttps://techcrunch.com/2023/07/11/teen-and-mom-plead-guilty-to-abortion-charges-based-on-facebook-data/ “We Didn’t Find Genocide in Ukraine,” UN Commissioner Erik Møse Says https://gwaramedia.com/en/we-didn-t-find-genocide-in-ukraine-un-commissioner-erik-mose-says/ Is Twitter Censoring LGBTQ+ Content? What We Know, What We Don't https://www.newsweek.com/twitter-lgbtq-censor-censorship-elon-musk-1792139

"To a life ideal. To the belief in loyalty, to the belief in comradeship, to the conviction that nothing comes of any relationship except through the sacrifice of the unimportant; to the belief that there is something in you greater than you – some passion for truth; some destiny to be the medium for that truth; some call to be the expression of the discontent and the aspiration of your country…To that I swear loyalty"   --The journalist Dorothy Thompson in a letter to her soon-to-be husband Sinclair Lewis who would go on to write It Can't Happen Here inspired by her urgent reporting on the rise of the Nazis, both abroad and at home   This is an excerpt of Andrea Chalupa taking the Gaslit Nation Self Care Q&A. To hear the entire bonus show and gain access to the archives of bonus epsiodes, never miss a show, receive every episode ad free straight to your inbox or RSS feed, join a community of listeners, and receive exclusive invites and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit.    Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Acclaimed science fiction author, activist, and journalist Cory Doctorow stops by Gaslit Nation to discuss life’s important issues: A.I., combating corporate greed, and the art and times of Taylor Swift. Doctorow is the author of several books that capture the age, including his latest novel Red Team Blues. His other works include the nonfiction on monopoly and creative labor markets Chokepoint Capitalism; How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism; the Little Brother series for younger readers; the graphic novel In Real Life; and the picture book Poesy the Monster Slayer. Doctorow was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2020.  In our bonus episode, for Patreon supporters who keep our show going, Doctorow takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. We invite you to share your own inspiration with our community! Take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A by leaving your answers in the comments section or send them in an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of your responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?  

In our bonus episode, acclaimed science fiction author, activist, and journalist Cory Doctorow takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. To hear the full bonus episode and get access to all bonus shows and more, support our independent journalism by joining our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit -- thank you to everyone who supports the show!   We invite you to share your own inspiration with our community! Take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A by leaving your answers in the comments section or send them in an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of your responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Acclaimed science fiction author, activist, and journalist Cory Doctorow stops by Gaslit Nation to discuss life’s important issues: A.I., combating corporate greed, and the art and times of Taylor Swift. Doctorow is the author of several books that capture the age, including his latest novel Red Team Blues. His other works include the nonfiction on monopoly and creative labor markets Chokepoint Capitalism; How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism; the Little Brother series for younger readers; the graphic novel In Real Life; and the picture book Poesy the Monster Slayer. Doctorow was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2020.  In our bonus episode, for Patreon supporters who keep our show going, Doctorow takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. We invite you to share your own inspiration with our community! Take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A by leaving your answers in the comments section or send them in an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of your responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?  

That familiar refrain at Gaslit Nation: So many traitors, so little time. Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis made the time for a sweeping, detailed indictment of Trump and 18 others in his Kremlin Klown Kar for trying to overturn the will of the people of Georgia. You can read the annotated indictment here. And we finally got RICO! Charged with being the crime boss that he is, Trump faces a minimum of five years in prison if found guilty of racketeering.   RICO is historically used to break up organized crime as one of the indicted, Rudy Giuliani, knows very well. Trump's longtime friend and former lawyer Giuliani used RICO to go after the Italian mafia in New York City, which made room for Trump's longtime benefactors: the Russian mafia and their easy, endless supply of money. The Idiot Sons Don Jr. and Eric have even admited the Trump family's businesses depended on Russian money.   In this fourth (and counting?) Trump Indictment special, Andrea discusses some of the red flags, some reasons for hope, and what's next as a Russian mafia asset continues to run for president as Russia wages war against the democratic world, carrying out horrific war crimes and genocide in Ukraine.   For those in New York City, join Andrea, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman, and historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, the author of the bestselling book Stronmen: Mussolini to the Present, for a special live taping of Gaslit Nation on Monday September 18th at 7pm at the independent bookstore P&T Knitwear. There will be no livestream, unfortunately, but we'll run the episode soon after on Gaslit Nation. Patreon donors can join Andrea for a special in-person meet-up at 6pm before the event -- details to be sent out soon on Patreon! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit for more info! Thank you to everyone who supports the show and makes our independent journalism possible. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Opening clip of Fani Willis https://twitter.com/girlsreallyrule/status/1691458842239148032   Sean Hannity clip of Paul Manafort https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-turns-to-paul-manafort-to-defend-new-trump-georgia-charges   Trump’s 4 indictments, ranked by the stakes https://www.vox.com/trump-investigations/23832341/trump-charges-prison-time-sentence-indictments   Rudy Giuliani, who pioneered the use of RICO when he was a US attorney, just got indicted on RICO charges https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-indicted-georgia-trump-rico-2023-8   I asked 11 legal experts if Trump’s lawyer obstructed justice https://www.vox.com/2018/3/29/17174042/trump-pardons-manafort-flynn-mueller-probe   Paul Manafort’s Book Deal May Breach His Plea Agreement https://www.justsecurity.org/79799/paul-manaforts-book-deal-may-breach-his-plea-agreement/

In our bonus episode, Josh Chin and Liza Lin, authors of Surveillance State: Inside China's Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control, take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. To hear the full bonus episode and get access to all bonus shows and more, support our independent journalism by joining our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit -- thank you to everyone who supports the show!   We invite you to share your own inspiration with our community! Take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A by leaving your answers in the comments section or email [email protected]. We’ll read some of your responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Investigative reporters Josh Chin and Liza Lin, authors of the chilling book Surveillance State: Inside China's Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control, share important insights into China's dictatorship, the Western companies cashing in on its surveillance state, how technology helps China carry out the Uyghur genocide, and what can be done about "dictator tech." With China determined to win the A.I. "space race," what does that mean for the rest of the world?   Based in Seoul, Josh Chin is the Deputy Bureau Chief of China for the Wall Street Journal. An award-winning investigative journalist, Chin was expelled from China for his reporting. Based in Singapore, Liza Lin, also an award-winning investigative journalist, covers data use and privacy for the Wall Street Journal. She previously worked for Bloomberg News.   In our bonus episode, for Patreon supporters who make our show possible, Josh Chin and Liza Lin take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. We invite you to share your own inspiration with our community! Take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A by leaving your answers in the comments section or email [email protected]. We’ll read some of your responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Cindy Cohn, the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and host of the podcast How to Fix the Internet, takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. To hear the full bonus episode and get access to all bonus shows and more, support our independent journalism by joining our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit -- thank you to everyone who supports the show!    We invite you to share your own inspiration with our community! Take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A by leaving your answers in the comments section or send them in an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of your responses on the show!   Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

In The United States vs. Donald J. Trump, Special Counsel Jack Smith hits Trump and Trump alone with four charges of trying to violently overthrow our democracy and install himself as dictator. Read the 45 page indictment of the 45th president here. The case has randomly been assigned to Judge Tanya Chutkan who famously told Trump," Presidents are not kings." She also has a record of appropriate tough sentencing of January 6 insurrectionists, another Black woman on the frontlines of protecting our democracy, and doing so at much personal risk to herself and her family. This mini-episode was recorded before the reports of a possible active shooter today at the U.S. Capitol, a chilling reminder of our nation's slow moving civil war, as recent Gaslit Nation guest Jeff Sharlet appropriately calls it.   For those who want to go back in time to see Gaslit Nation's own indictment of Trump's violent coup attempt, read the transcript or listen to our January 13, 2021 episode Clear Intent, laying out Trump's clear intention to overthrow our democracy, something prosecutors must now prove in court in order to send Trump to prison where he belongs.   To celebrate the indictment and hang out in my first event since before the pandemic (it's been awhile!) come to Caveat this Saturday August 5th at 4pm EST or join by livestream to listen to me and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast in conversation about the making of the Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! Our Patreon community can use the promo code "JudgeLacky" (ahem, Aileen Cannon!) to get a discount on tickets for in person and livestream access, and attendeeds can receive a signed Mr. Jones film poster using the secret password "Duranty Tucker Carlson Circle of Hell" (so I know who the Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters are!) I'll have ten to give as thank you gifts to our community. Hope to see you there! Order your tickets here: https://www.caveat.nyc/events/gaslit-nation-presents-dictatorship-its-easier-than-you-think--8-5-2023   Show Notes:   Opening clip: https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1686505896656932864   Closing clip: https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1686505237505294336   Read the Trump indictment text charging him with 4 counts related to the 2020 election and Jan. 6 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-indictment-full-text-read-2020-election-charges/   Trump tried to organize a military coup: https://twitter.com/andygawt/status/1686646404427436032   Trump's three indictments: Stormy Daniels payout, classified documents and Jan. 6 riot https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/08/01/all-three-trump-indictments-explained/70486445007/   Can Trump Still Run for President if He Is Convicted? https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-investigation-conviction.html   Trump draws judge who gave harshest Jan. 6 sentences and warned him "presidents are not kings" https://www.salon.com/2023/08/02/draws-gave-harshest-jan-6-sentences-and-warned-him-presidents-are-not-kings/   Judge who's criticized Capitol insurrection to hear Trump's challenge to House subpoena of presidential records https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/10/19/politics/tanya-chutkan-trump-records-lawsuit/index.html   CNN Poll: January 6 hearings haven’t changed opinions much, but most agree Trump acted unethically https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/politics/cnn-poll-january-6-trump/index.html

Join Andrea and Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast and an original member of the comedy group The State on Saturday August 5th at 4pm EST at Caveat on the Lower East Side in NYC -- in person or by livestream -- to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! Details here: https://www.caveat.nyc/events/gaslit-nation-presents-dictatorship-its-easier-than-you-think--8-5-2023   Corporate surveillance is its own kind of dictatorship. Big Brother is watching, and trying to harvest as much data as possible about you. In this enlightening discussion, Cindy Cohn, the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and host of the podcast How to Fix the Internet. shares how corporate surveillance works, what we can do to protect ourselves, how to build a better internet, the overreach of technology used on the U.S. border, the Silicon Valley gold rush of surveillance tech including from Peter Thiel, and more! We may be up against powerful forces, but leaders like Cohn are fighting back.   In our bonus episode, for Patreon supporters who keep our show going, Cohn takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. We invite you to share your own inspiration with our community! Take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A by leaving your answers in the comments section or send them in an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of your responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why? This conversation was recorded late April 2023. The Supreme Court case referenced ruled that social media companies are not responsible for users' posts.

Hi All! Hope you're enjoying The Future of Dictatorship summer series. If you're in NYC or looking for a good time in person or by livestream, join me and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast on Saturday August 5th at 4pm EST at Caveat on the Lower East Side in NYC for a special dark night of the soul slumber party-style chat about the power of storytelling. Details here on how to join us in person or on the livestream. If you're a Patreon supporter, head over to Patreon at Patreon.com/Gaslit to get a discount code for ordering tickets.  Signed copies of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! can be ordered at the event, and I'll be personally giving away 10 signed copies of the Mr. Jones film poster. Hope you can join me and celebrate this rare Gaslit Nation Night Out!  To help protect election security in New York state, which will determine control of the U.S. House, join me in this urgent call to action by sending a letter with the push of a button to officials in New York, telling them not to allow ATM-style voting machines that do not provide peace of mind when it comes to election security. Copy/paste or click on this link for more information and to send the letter: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-expressvote-xl-certification-in-new-york-3?source=direct_link& 

Sarah Kendzior, author of the bestselling books They Knew, Hiding in Plain Sight, The View from Flyover Country, and of course Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think!, takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Challenge.   And don’t forget that Andrea will join comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a special live event at Caveat in New York City on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation book Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To get a ticket to that event in person or to watch the livestream, visit this website. Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event!   To submit your own answers and give inspiration for ways to recharge as we run our marathon together to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

The song you just heard at the top of the show was 'Last Gasp of the Dinosaurs' by Arthur Loves Plastic. You can find more of Arthur Loves Plastic's music on Soundcloud at soundcloud.com/arthurlovesplastic This is Part II of our discussion with Douglas Rushkoff author of the must-read Team Human and Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires. Rushkoff is an author and documentarian on the frontlines of understanding how technology and tech billionaires are impacting our lives and the world. His twenty books also include the bestsellers Present Shock, Throwing Rocks and the Google Bus, Program or Be Programmed, Life Inc, and Media Virus. His films include the PBS Frontline documentaries Generation Like, The Persuaders, and Merchants of Cool. He won the Marshall McLuhan Award for his book Coercion, and the Media Ecology Association honored him with the first Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity. For more on his indispensable work visit his website.  In our bonus episode, Rushkoff takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. To submit your own answers and give inspiration for ways to recharge as we run our marathon together to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show!  And don’t forget that Andrea will join comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a special live event at Caveat in New York City on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation book Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To get a ticket to that event in person or to watch the livestream, visit this website. Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event!  Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire  What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why?  Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces?  Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Hi All! Hope you're enjoying The Future of Dictatorship summer series. If you're in NYC or looking for a good time in person or by livestream, join me and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast on Saturday August 5th at 4pm EST at Caveat on the Lower East Side in NYC for a special dark night of the soul slumber party-style chat about the power of storytelling. Details here on how to join us in person or on the livestream. Signed copies of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! can be ordered at the event, and I'll be personally giving away 10 signed copies of the Mr. Jones film poster. Hope you can join me and celebrate this rare Gaslit Nation Night Out! 

Douglas Rushkoff, documentarian and author of the must-read books Team Human, Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, and the Marshall McLuhan Award-winning book Coercion, takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A.   Andrea will join comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a special live event at Caveat in New York City on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation book Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To get a ticket to that event in person or to watch the livestream, visit this website. Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event! To submit your own answers and give inspiration for ways to recharge as we run our marathon together to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Billionaire Bunkers are a stunning exercise in self-delusion, as the books of our next guest show. In this inspiring conversation with Douglas Rushkoff, author of the must-read Team Human and Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, the topics range from how to be a respectable prepper to how to raise good humans and whether A.I. is coming for our jobs and our minds.   Rushkoff is an author and documentarian on the frontlines of understanding how technology and tech billionaires are impacting our lives and the world. His twenty books also include the bestsellers Present Shock, Throwing Rocks and the Google Bus, Program or Be Programmed, Life Inc, and Media Virus. His films include the PBS Frontline documentaries Generation Like, The Persuaders, and Merchants of Cool. He won the Marshall McLuhan Award for his book Coercion, and the Media Ecology Association honored him with the first Neil Postman Award for Career Achievement in Public Intellectual Activity. For more on his indispensable work visit his website.  In our bonus episode, Rushkoff takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. To submit your own answers and give inspiration for ways to recharge as we run our marathon together to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show!  And don’t forget that Andrea will join comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a special live event at Caveat in New York City on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation book Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To get a ticket to that event in person or to watch the livestream, visit this website. Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event!  Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire  What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why?  Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces?  Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Dave Pederson, screenwriter-producer of Americonned, and the producer of the Oscar nominated film “Super Size Me”, and the Cannes Award winning “The Third Wave," takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A Here is the trailer of their powerful must-watch film.   For our next Gaslit Nation live taping, join Andrea and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a show at Caveat in New York on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To join in person or virtually, reserve your ticket here! Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event!   To submit your own answers and share inspiration for ways to recharge as we together run a marathon to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Welcome to the Gaslit Nation Presents: The Future of Dictatorship. To start things off, we’re looking at how technology is worsening the income inequality crisis in America and what to do about it.   For that, meet this week’s guests, the brilliant minds behind the must-watch documentary Americonned, inside America’s income inequality crisis as told through the heroic grassroots power to unionize at Amazon in an age of A.I. and automation. The film’s director-producer is Sean Claffey, who has worked in the film industry on feature films, documentaries, and commercials for 25 years, and the writer-producer is Dave Pederson, the producer of the Oscar nominated film “Super Size Me”, and the Cannes Award winning “The Third Wave.” Here is the trailer of their powerful must-watch film.   In our bonus episode, Dave Pederson takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. For our next Gaslit Nation live taping, join Andrea and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a show at Caveat in New York on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To join in person or virtually, reserve your ticket here! Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event!   To submit your own answers and share inspiration for ways to recharge as we together run a marathon to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

Welcome to Gaslit Nation Presents: The Future of Dictatorship. Our special series running all summer long features leading voices on the front lines of understanding A.I., corporate surveillance, silicon valley greed, and more. The dictator’s playbook remains the same over time, as we show in our graphic novel Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think!, but the technology they have at their disposal keeps changing. We set out to understand what innovations in Chinese surveillance are being developed with the help of Western companies; what can be done to protect ourselves from corporate surveillance and Silicon Valley greed; will A.I. and automation take away more of our jobs and what can be done about it; how do we face an uncertain future together and build the world we want for ourselves and future generations? All those questions and more are discussed in The Future of Dictatorship, only on Gaslit Nation. 

Science journalist and bestselling author David McRaney, author of the books How Minds Change and You Are Now Less Dumb, takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A.  For our next Gaslit Nation live taping, join Andrea and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a show at Caveat in New York on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To join in person or virtually, reserve your ticket here! Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event!   To submit your own answers and share inspiration for ways to recharge as we together run a marathon to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

It’s Independence Day! There’s no better way to celebrate than standing up to a bully. Whether it’s a twice-indicted Russian mafia asset running for president, or his cult of violent white supremacists, there’s no shortage of bullies running amok these days. Science journalist and bestselling author David McRaney, author of the books How Minds Change and You Are Now Less Dumb, shares his research on how to handle a situation where the person you're talking to insists on an alternative reality, using that to try to gaslight, intimidate, and, in a word, bully.   At Gaslit Nation, one of the questions we often get from our listeners is how to help loved ones lost to a disinformation cult, like QAnon and Trump's Big Lie. From harassing election workers to overwhelming school board meetings to disinformation merchants challenging actual experts to debates (“Debate me, bro!”), the Bannon strategy of flooding the zone with shit has ensnared people, separating families and friends. McRaney shares his surprising insights on how to reach people and provide an empathetic space for them to find their way back. For more on this topic, listen to Gaslit Nation's discussion with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, who recommends a slightly approach. Both discussions are essential guides for navigating this time of rampant disinformation and toxic political cults.   In our bonus episode, McRaney takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A. For our next Gaslit Nation live taping, join Andrea and comedian Kevin Allison of the RISK! Storytelling podcast for a show at Caveat in New York on Saturday August 5th at 4pm to celebrate the launch of the new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To join in person or virtually, reserve your ticket here! Signed copies of the book can be ordered at the event!   To submit your own answers and share inspiration for ways to recharge as we together run a marathon to protect our democracy, leave your answers in the comments section or send an email to [email protected]. We’ll read some of the responses on the show! Gaslit Nation Self-Care Questionnaire What's a book you think everyone should read and why? What's a documentary everyone should watch and why? What's a dramatic film everyone should watch and why? Who are some historical mentors who inspire you? What's the best concert you've ever been to? What are some songs on your playlist for battling the dark forces? Who or what inspires you to stay engaged and stay in the fight? What's the best advice you've ever gotten? What's your favorite place you've ever visited? What's your favorite work of art and why?

The Supreme Court is a cesspool of corruption with three members appointed by a Russian mafia asset. It's also treated in America like a sacred priesthood above the law, allowing Clarence Thomas and Sam Alito to profit from deep pocketed far-right megadonors. The Fox News majority of the Supreme Court has stripped our country of essential rights, condemning people to die from lack of reproductive healthcare with the overturning of Roe v. Wade; allows businesses to proudly discriminate, furthering a genocidal scapegoating culture that drives the Republican Party and its base; struck down student loan debt forigiveness while corporations benefit from the same types of programs and more; and destroyed Affirmative Action for nonwhite people -- the white and rich like Jared Kushner will continue to buy their way into the Ivy League.   These seismic Supreme Court rulings are the bountiful harvest of a far-right long game in America played over decades, as we discussed in our 2022 series Rising Up from the Ashes: Cassandra and Other Experts on Rebuilding Our Democracy. Most notably, historian Nancy Maclean who wrote Democracy in Chains, journalist Anne Nelson who wrote Shadow Network, LGBTQ+ civil rights lawyer Chase Strangio of the ACLU, and Jessica Mason Pieklo and Imani Gandy of the podcast Boom Lawyered described a far-right long game with zero strategy in response from the Democratic Party. That and our first three episodes examining the 2016 election as a crime scene explain how we got here.   Now what to do about it. The best strategy we have so far to climb out of this black hole of corruption is to stay engaged locally with local races, local candidates and to call out and help clean up corruption where we live; invest in local media; contribute to mutual aid; and demand immediate and urgent judicial reforms from our elected federal leaders.   For that, Senator Edward Markey has reintroduced legislation to expand the Supreme Court, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has introduced legislation for term limits on Supreme Court justices -- both have backing from establishment Democrats and should be fought for by the grassroots. For more on yet another devastating Supreme Court Hunger Games Spring, Elie Mystal, as always, brilliantly sums up what's at stake in his piece on the destruction of affirmative action in The Nation: "The Supreme Court Has Killed Affirmative Action. Mediocre Whites Can Rest Easier."   Show Notes:   You're invited to a Gaslit Nation night out August 5th in NYC to celebrate the launch of Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! Details here.   REUTERS: Reparations: Where slavery’s descendants stand https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-slavery-lawmakers/   REUTERS: Slavery’s Descendants The ancestral ties to slaveholding of today’s political elite https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-slavery/   2022 series Rising Up from the Ashes: Cassandra and Other Experts on Rebuilding Our Democracy. https://twitter.com/gaslitnation/status/1513518421090185222?lang=en  

Putin is weak and getting weaker. In this special live taping of Gaslit Nation, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman, who has a long history of investigating and exposing the Russian mafia state’s active measures in the U.S. and Europe, joins Andrea to discuss where things are headed in Russia’s escalating power struggle, what it means for Ukraine, and how the world needs to start preparing for a post-Putin Russia.  “Putin is finished,” Olga warns in this urgent discussion. Putin may be forced into retirement in a dacha on the outskirts of Russia or “die in his sleep,” with Shoigu or another tool of the Russian security forces becoming the new strongman. Prighozin’s attempted military coup was the inevitable escalation of growing tensions between warring factions, but as Olga points out, the siloviki–the ruthless, imperialistic, genocidal security forces–are in charge, and always have been, even during the collapse of the Soviet Union. They are the kingmakers, and it’s clear that they want Putin gone. Prigozhin served a purpose of striking Putin with a fatal blow, and the months ahead will continue to weaken him as Russia continues to lose an unwinnable war in Ukraine.  Our bonus episode this week includes our extended audience Q&A at our live taping, with a focus on Russia’s influence campaigns in U.S. elections. As mentioned in this week’s show, there’s going to be a special live taping of Gaslit Nation held in New York City at the Lower East Side venue Caveat, hosted by Kevin Allison of the popular and provocative storytelling podcast RISK! on Saturday August 5th at 4pm EST. The discussion will include the making of the brand new Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think!, and include an opportunity to order signed copies. For tickets to join the event in person or wherever you are by watching the livestream, get your tickets here! 

Where is Putin? No one has seen him lately other than a short video of Putin looking uncharacteristically tense addressing the nation, calling out a military coup against him that killed around a dozen Russians in his military. Putin's longtime operative, the Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the private military army Wagner (named after Hitler's favorite composer!) has turned into Putin's Frankenstein monster. When you have an in-house coup guy, expect him to turn his coup skills on you eventually, especially when he, like the rest of the ruthless oligarchs around you, smell blood in the water. Prighozin's coup attempt is the greatest domestic challenge launched against the Kremlin since the fall of the Soviet Union, and the succession fight over who takes over from the increasingly weak Putin is far from over.   In this brief summary, Andrea gives some of the highlights of the dramatic events of the weekend, and discusses where the Kremlin succession battle may be headed, and what it means for Ukraine and others caught in the middle. For a deep dive discussion, join our special live taping of Gaslit Nation this coming Tuesday June 27 at 12pm EST with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman, where we'll discuss whether Russia is headed towards a civil war, if and when Putin might be disposed of, and how his agents are active abroad in their fascist war against the democratic alliance. To get access to that, receive your ticket to the live taping by supporting the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon, and cancel anytime. A link to the virtual event will be sent to your inbox via Patreon the morning of the event.   Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  

In this week's Gaslit Nation Bonus Q&A, Sarah answers questions from our listeners, including sharing a personal story about her impressions from her 2017 trip to Hungary as Orban, a hero of the Republican Party, tightened his grip on crushing democracy there. We'll be back with an all new Q&A next week, so if you didn't hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week, as our Q&As continue! To submit your questions, subscribe to the show at the Democracy Defender level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit, and to join our live-taping on Tuesday June 27 at 12pm EST with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman, be sure to subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher to get access to the virtual show link on the morning of the event.  Thank you to everyone who supports the show! We could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Gaslit Nation has been vindicated, and it sucks to be vindicated about the deadly inertia of a mafia state accomplice! After two years of describing obvious inaction on obvious crimes and being assured by an army of bot-brained propagandists that Merrick Garland is fighting the good fight but Must Keep Silent for Reasons You Will Understand in Time, we have new confirmation that, no, he’s just a terrible Attorney General! And that Lisa Monaco, the deputy attorney general, is equally bad! In this episode we discuss the Washington Post expose “FBI resisted opening probe into Trump’s role in Jan. 6 for more than a year”, dig into the background of Monaco (for more background on Garland, listen to our enormous archive of treasonous complicity), and talk about what Biden should do next. Happy Pride Month! For the second part of this episode, Andrea interviews Lindz Amer who is back on Gaslit Nation to discuss their new must-read book Rainbow Parenting Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies. From their author bio: “Lindz Amer created Queer Kid Stuff—an award-winning original LGBTQ+ educational webseries for all ages—that has reached millions of families. They perform at libraries, schools, and theaters all over the world spreading queer joy and working on numerous projects that bring queer and trans representation into mainstream children's media. In 2019, they gave a viral TED Talk on the importance of talking to kids about gender and sexuality. They currently write for preschool television and also host the parenting podcast Rainbow Parenting, as well as Activist, You! for kids featuring interviews with youth activists.” Check out Rainbow Parenting today!   Our bonus episode is our usual Q&A of questions from Patreon subscribers at the Democracy Defender lever or higher, and is available to listeners at the Truth-Teller lever or higher. If you asked a question and we haven’t answered it yet, don’t worry – we are getting through the backlog this month. Sarah took a couple weeks off due to a family emergency but is back so we will both have everything answered by the end of June. Next week June 27 12pm EST will be a live-taping of Gaslit Nation featuring Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman. To sign up for that, support the show at the Truth-teller level or higher to receive a link to join the virtual event on the morning of the show! Thank you for your support of Gaslit Nation!   Show Notes: FBI resisted opening probe into Trump’s role in Jan. 6 for more than a year https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/06/19/fbi-resisted-opening-probe-into-trumps-role-jan-6-more-than-year/ Susan Rice reportedly told the White House cyber team to 'knock it off' when they floated options to combat Russian meddling https://www.businessinsider.com/susan-rice-told-white-house-cyber-team-to-knock-it-off-on-combatting-russian-meddling-2018-3 Trump's Little Moscow: "63 Russians spent $98.4 million buying condos in Trump-branded luxury towers in Sunny Isles. Another 703 units in the seven Trump buildings had been purchased by limited liability companies, LLCs, that mask the owners’ identities." https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2019/10/18/six-trump-towers-later-kitschy-sunny-isles-becomes-moscow-by-the-sea-fred-grimm/ Russia Sought to Kill Defector in Florida https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/19/us/politics/russia-spy-assassination.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20230619&instance_id=95515&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=48614702&segment_id=136134&te=1&user_id=097a378032011d6e8be1570cdce0a176

Welcome to another Gaslit Nation Greatest Hits! We remind you once again that Trump is a traitor to our country who built his Trump Family Ponzi scheme of a House of Cards with the help of Russian blood money, as the Idiot Sons Don Jr. and Eric have admitted. Which foreign adversaries profited off of Trump's stolen documents and when will Jared and Ivanka be investigated and indicted for their roles in obstruction justice, given that they ran the pardon operation that saw the Kremlin Klown Kar (Manafort, Bannon, Flynn) all pardoned? Giulani was allegedly selling pardons with Trump for $2 million each -- did Jared and Ivanka profit from that operation as well? The answer is likely yes!   This is an excerpt of this week's bonus episode for Patreon subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher. To listen to this and all bonus episodes, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Gaslit Nation will be back with a new bonus episode next week answering questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   

Gaslit Nation comes full circle! Our new graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! was released today, on the same day longtime Russian mafia asset Donald Trump was finally arrested on federal charges of espionage. The A.I. overlords writing the simulation we’re all stuck in certainly have a festive spirit!   If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy, including for a young person in your life, check out this endorsement for the book and the show from historian Timothy Snyder, the New York Times bestselling author of On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century: “Everyone who wants to grow up in a healthy democracy should know about Gaslit Nation.” We agree! Which brings us to this week’s big news. We’re going to record a Trump Federal Arrest Super Special, out Friday, featuring Sarah back on the show to share her insights and predictions on what’s next as the Trump criminal circus plays out heading into 2024.   Today’s episode puts on trial celebrated war criminal Henry Kissinger, a villain of history who kept popping up like a Where’s Waldo? in our research for Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! To walk us through some of his latest reporting unearthing the horrors Kissinger committed, investigative journalist Nick Turse stops by Gaslit Nation. Terse is a contributing writer for The Intercept, covering national security and foreign policy, and the author of the books Next Time They’ll Come to Count the Dead: War and Survival in South Sudan; Tomorrow’s Battlefield: U.S. Proxy Wars and Secret Ops in Africa; and Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam. He is also the managing editor of TomDispatch.com.   This week’s bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, will be the full episode of our Trump Federal Indictment Super Special, which we’ll share a free excerpt of wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re not already a part of our community of listeners, be sure to sign up at the Truth-teller level or higher to get access to the live taping of Gaslit Nation on June 27 at 12pm EST featuring Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman answering your questions about the Trump indictments, the Russian elites civil war, Russian spy networks in the West, and more! The show link will be sent straight to your inbox on the morning of the event for Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher so be sure to subscribe today to support the Gaslit Nation! Thank you to everyone supporting independent journalism, especially in these uncertain times! We could not make the show without you!

This was recorded Thursday June 8 to react to the toxic smoke and what it means for our civilization. It also includes a discussion of the anticipated federal Trump indictment before the big news broke late Thursday. There will be more on that in next week's episode!  Did you celebrate the long awaited federal indictment of Trump? That's perfectly fine to do, even if history has shown Trump has gotten away with decades of corruption, and our legal system favors the rich. At the very least, Trump may be knocked out of the presidential race with the help of the indictments, and they're reportedly throwing him into a rage. But the long term outlook requires caution. That, Tucker Carlson's dark Twitter video, George Santos' bail woes, how to help a loved one sucked into a cult, and more are discussed in this week's bonus episode for our listeners subscribed at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon. To join our community and submit questions to our regular Q&As, sign up and support the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit!  

This week’s special episode opens with a news round-up, asking once again–who paid $500,000 to bail George Santos out of jail, and what do they expect in return? Nikki Halely’s genocidal hate speech against trans people gets fact-checked. (Halely is reportedly the Kushner’s horse in the race in their attempt at a comeback.) Mike Pence formally announced he’s running for president, presenting an opportunity on the debate stage to talk about that time Trump’s violent mob chanted, “Hang Mike Pence!”  At the top of the show, there’s a special highlight of Russia’s explosion of a dam in the southern Ukraine region of Kherson, flooding the homes of thousands of people as well as drowning a zoo. To explain the stakes for Ukraine and the world in its existential struggle against Russia’s genocidal invasion, Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch drops by Gaslit Nation. Ambassador Yovanovitch was targeted by the dark web of corruption driven by Trump and Rudy Giuliani. She shares her harrowing story in her inspiring memoir Lessons from the Edge, out now in paperback with a new afterword.  Got questions? We got answers! This week’s bonus episode out Friday will provide a deep dive on the news, point to where things are headed, and answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. To submit your questions and get access to bonus shows, live events and our full back catalog of bonus episodes, be sure to subscribe to Gaslit Nation on Patreon! We’ll be back with a live taping of Gaslit Nation on Tuesday June 27 at 12pm EST with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman. If you’re signed up at the Truth-teller level or higher, look out for a link sent to your inbox the morning of the event on how to join. We look forward to seeing you there and invite you to drop your questions in the chat!  Show Notes: Opening clip of George Santos: https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1666151233780871168 Listen: Trump tells associates to ‘get rid of’ U.S. ambassador to Ukraine https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/25/trump-yovanovitch-video/ Yovanovitch: Any Concerns With Alexandra Chalupa 'Would Have Been Handled Here' | NBC News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxeo57ZXXWg US life expectancy problem is ‘bigger than we ever thought,’ report finds https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/06/02/us-life-expectancy/70272442007/ Nikki Haley Blames Trans Visibility for Teen Girls' Suicide Ideation https://www.advocate.com/politics/nikki-haley-dylan-mulvaney Former counsel to Mike Pence testifies at Jan. 6 committee hearing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0nF9x7XaNY The Russian invasion of Russia continues: https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1665446051564617730 Ukraine far-right expert Anton Shekhovtsov’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/anton.shekhovtsov Putin deep fake video: https://twitter.com/mjluxmoore/status/1665704948187668488 Tara Reade Exiles Herself to Russia https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1664083722902052865  

This is an excerpt of a Gaslit Nation bonus episode. To access this and the full back catalogue of bonus episodes, special event invites, and more, subscribe to the show on Patreon by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit   The Gaslit Nation Q&A is back! But first, some announcements. We're having another live taping of Gaslit Nation with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman on Tuesday June 27th at 12pm EST. For our Patreon subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, on the morning of the event, a link will be sent straight to your inbox from Patreon on how to join -- it's as easy as clicking on the link. We invite you to drop questions in the chat!   And as a thank you to our community, running every month, all year long, we're selecting a Patreon subscriber every month to receive a copy of Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! The listener chosen for May 2023 is Joel Farran. Thank you for all of your support for the show, Joel! Thank you to everyone who keeps Gaslit Nation going, especially during these uncertain times. There would be no Gaslit Nation without you!   In this Q&A bonus episode, the discussion includes QAnon being a confession by the Republican Party that is riddled with pedophiles and other criminals, why we need to follow the findings of the 1968 Kerner Commission Report, and why the Secret Service is a ticking time bomb. If you didn't hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week, as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues! And apologies for the late night bleariness heard in this episode, it was a late night recording once the kids were asleep. :)   Show Notes:  Secret Service under scrutiny ahead January 6 committee's final report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKuLOYlJQNk The dangerous secrets inside the Secret Service, and how the agency has been shortchanged https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO1W4JygWQc Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service https://bookshop.org/p/books/zero-fail-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-secret-service-carol-leonnig/16898149?ean=9780399589034 The 1968 Kerner Commission Got It Right, But Nobody Listened https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/1968-kerner-commission-got-it-right-nobody-listened-180968318/ Rep. Katie Porter in conversation with Larry Wilmore at Live Talks Los Angeles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8uRg7XqQ-I&t=1601s                

This conversation was recorded May 24, 2023 as a Gaslit Nation live taping and includes at the end a Q&A of questions dropped in the chat by our audience. Thank you to everyone who joined us!   Can Florida, and with it, the rest of our democracy be saved? Or is Florida destined to be an authoritarian cesspool under Brooks Brother Viktor Orbán – Ron DeSantis? In this special solution-rich episode of Gaslit Nation, author David Pepper discusses his latest book Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American.   David shares important lessons from the upset of Jacksonville’s mayoral race; why Florida’s Democratic Party State Chair Nikki Fried could give DeSantis a run for his money, and we discuss how Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota have their acts together while New York’s Democratic Party remains stuck under Jay Jacobs who handed the House to Kevin McCarthy, bringing the American and therefore the global economy to the brink. (Elections have consequences, which is why Jay Jacobs must be replaced – join the movement here!)   If you’re stuck in a so-called blue state like New York that’s failing due to machine politics and complacency, or if you live in a fascist-gerrymandered hostage state known as a red state, this discussion has concrete steps you can take to empower your community. Local elections are the frontlines of our democracy, no matter where you live. And none of us are in this battle alone. Thank you to everyone who joined our live taping with David Pepper. Be sure to check out his book Saving Democracy. If you would like to join a future live taping of Gaslit Nation, be sure to support the show at the Truth-teller level or higher. And to submit questions for our regular Q&As, sign up at the Democracy Defender level or higher. We’ll be back with an all new Q&A this coming Friday so stay tuned! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Our May song feature is “Paper Thin” by Confusions. You can find more of Confusions' music on Bandcamp at confusions.bandcamp.com   To submit your song to the Gaslit Nation Make Art Challenge, send us your music here. Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who joined the live taping with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and Polish artist and activist Kasia Babis who illustrated the Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! Here is the Q&A with Olga where we answered questions dropped in the chat. Before you press play, be sure to first watch this CIA recruitment video for Russians as it's brought up in the Q&A by a member of the audience.   Next week we're running an inspiring interview with author David Pepper on his new book Saving Democracy, a guide for every citizen. Look out for an all new Gaslit Nation bonus episode answering questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. And let us know who you would like us to do a live taping with in the future!   Thank you to everyone for supporting the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join our community of listeners and get access to bonus episodes, invites to live tapings, and more, subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit 

Welcome to our special live taping of Gaslit Nation! Thank you to everyone who joined us and asked such profound and moving questions in the live Q&A. It was a replenishing joy to hear from you. Thank you so much to the great Kasia Babis, a renowned illustrator and activist in Poland who created the visual world of the Gaslit Nation graphic novel Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! available now on pre-order, and out everywhere starting June 13. If you haven’t met the book’s rascally narrator yet, Judge Lackey, see him at work by watching the book’s fun animated trailer.   Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman also joined the live-taping to discuss whether Putin’s days are numbered (they are!), who will replace him (someone worse?), and whether the Freedom of Russia Legion liberating Russian towns and villages inside Russia from Putin’s dictatorship is real (it appears so!), and what it all means. Will Putin use nukes, especially as Ukraine’s spring offensive gets underway? What should the world’s response be to Putin going nuclear?   We're having another live taping Wednesday May 24 at 2pm EST with David Pepper on his new book Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American.  You can get access to that by subscribing to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher -- details will be sent out to those subscribers on how to join the live taping the morning of the event. Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit    Our bonus episode this week will be the Q&A of our live taping. We’ll be back with an all new Q&A answering questions submitted by our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. To submit your questions or to get access to the bonus episodes, and our full back catalog of bonus episodes, be sure to subscribe to the show on Patreon to keep us going! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Ilya Ponomarev clip: https://twitter.com/GwarWorin/status/1660748853111410688   Freedom of Russia Legion Twitter https://twitter.com/legion_svoboda

Ralph Blumenthal, the longtime New York Times reporter who got U.F.O.'s on the frontpage of the "Paper of Record"  joins Gaslit Nation to discuss the government's secret X-Files. He is the author of several books, including The Believer: Alien Encounters, Hard Science, and the Passion of John Mack, the children's book UFOhs, as well as several books on the mafia and Nazis, making him the ideal Gaslit Nation guest! This is an excerpt of an upcoming special two-part episode with Blumenthal on the nature of U.F.O.'s, what the current and potential findings mean for humanity, and the corporations believed to be monitoring research into U.F.O.'s closely for potential profit opportunities and there doesn't seem much that the shadowy government sectors allowing this will do to protect against that. Look out for more of this interview soon! For now, we couldn't wait to share this excerpt as a bit of fun as we gear up for next week's two live tapings.   This coming Tuesday May 23rd at 1:30pm EST, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman joins Gaslit Nation for a live taping followed by an audience Q&A. The next day Wednesday May 24th at 2pm EST David Pepper, the author of Saving Democracy, joins Gaslit Nation for a live taping to answer questions about how to defeat the fascist threat, especially in so-called "red states." If you're subscribed to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher, check your inbox for details on how to join each event the morning of that event. Joining the live tapings will be as easy as clicking on a link!   Gaslit Nation will be back with an all new Q&A next week answering questions from subscribers at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Keep your questions coming! We always enjoy hearing from you!   Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! If you would like to join our community of listeners and get access to all bonus episodes, including our back catalogue and event invites, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit

Sports Illustrated cover model George Santos was arrested for fraud! This week’s episode processes the shock over that news, and asks the all important question of who in their right mind would post a $500,000 bond to bail out George Santos, and what are they getting in return? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and Santos is the smoke of a larger corruption ushering in fascist kleptocracy.   In this week’s episode, Andrea is joined by old friend of the show Terrell Starr of the essential podcast Black Diplomats. Sarah is taking a step back from the show to deal with a family situation, as she has shared on Twitter. In this episode, Terrell and Andrea discuss the Durham Report, Nikki Haley and her pals the Kushners clawing their way back to the White House to steal more from the American people, and the inspiring resilience of the Ukrainian people facing off against Russia’s genocide.   Next week’s live taping of Gaslit Nation on Tuesday May 23rd at 1:30pm EST will feature Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman who grew up in Brighton Beach and, instead of becoming a Trump Crime Family accomplice, co-founded an anti-corruption NGO in Europe, Institute for European Integrity. There will be a second *newly added* live taping on Wednesday May 24th at 2pm EST featuring David Pepper to discuss his new book Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American. To join those events, be sure to subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher, and look out for the details sent to your inbox on the morning of May 23rd then again on May 24th.   A new bonus episode comes out this Friday answering questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!     Show Notes: Pre-order our book! Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think!  George Santos clip: "I wanna be remembered as somebody who stood up to everybody in the time of adversity...I want people to look and say, look, times might be tough, but there was always George Santos...I think it takes a lot of resilience to go through what I've gone through." https://twitter.com/AccountableGOP/status/1655681052491276290 Craig Harrington of Media Matters for America on Jake Tapper on the Durham Report https://twitter.com/Craigipedia/status/1658207831483465732 Sarah Kendzior on The Saturday/Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart https://twitter.com/weekendcapehart/status/1657373968884547586 NEW AUDIO: Rep. George Santos tells a "joke" about a "room full of Jews.” https://twitter.com/TheBeatWithAri/status/1656424125890457603 How an Investor Lost $625,000 and His Faith in George Santos https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/nyregion/george-santos-sec-intrater.html Sanctioned-Oligarch-Connected Andrew Intrater’s GOP Donations Go Beyond Just George Santos https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2023/01/sanctioned-oligarch-connected-andrew-intraters-gop-donations-go-beyond-just-george-santos/ Private equity investor identified as political contributor allegedly duped by George Santos https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/11/politics/andrew-intrater-private-equity-investor-santos/index.html#:~:text=Intrater%20has%20financially%20supported%20Santos,Federal%20Election%20Commission%20records%20show New York Attorney Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Money Laundering to Promote Sanctions Violations by Associate of Sanctioned Russian Oligarch https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-york-attorney-pleads-guilty-conspiring-commit-money-laundering-promote-sanctions Associate of Sanctioned Oligarch Indicted for Sanctions Evasion and Money Laundering https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/associate-sanctioned-oligarch-indicted-sanctions-evasion-and-money-laundering Break the Chain Between Russian Oligarchs and Managers, and You Break Everything https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/opinion/russian-oligarchs-wealth-managers.html “They Think Very Highly of Nikki”: The Kushner Family Is Cozying Up to Nikki Haley https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/opinion/russian-oligarchs-wealth-managers.html The Alexandra Chalupa Interview https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2019/6/22/the-alexandra-chalupa-interview

We discuss the fascist fantasy of CNN's Klan rally, what it means for our democracy, where things are headed, and what to do about it. This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show for our Patreon subscribers. To join our community of listeners and get access to weekly bonus episodes, events, and other fun perks, subscribe at Patreon.com/gaslit to help keep our show going. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation -- we could not make this show without you. 

Join us May 23rd Tuesday 1:30pm EST for a live taping of Gaslit Nation and audience Q&A! If you're subscribed on Patreon at the Truth-teller level or higher, you'll receive a guest link the morning of the event to join us. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!   What rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward CNN to be born? Well, I think we all know the answer to that. This week we describe the foot-soldiers of criminal impunity that have arisen in the wake of the Trump presidency and the unpunished attempted coup. We start with Daniel Penny, who murdered homeless man Jordan Neely on the subway and was coddled and protected by politicians and the media. We go on to discuss domestic terrorist Mauricio Garcia, who murdered eight people in Texas after immersing himself in neo-nazi movements.   We also discuss the horrific fact that snuff videos and extremely graphic images are circulating online, distributed with intent to desensitize the population to violence. We examine the root causes of the crisis – lax gun laws, institutional apathy toward suffering (especially throughout the mass death of covid), failure of federal officials to respond to a right-wing, white supremacist movement that has been building since 2008 and accelerated dramatically during the Trump era, and a media/political system that wants you to accept violent extremism as normal. Do not accept it!   Andrea concludes with the latest on Russia’s war on Ukraine, a dramatic week which included drones launched at the Kremlin, and at its historical precedents as “Victory Day” comes around at a time when Putin is feeding his own population into a Stalinesque meat grinder. We have switched the day of our bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level and above, to Friday! This gives us time to discuss news stories that break after we record, so for the latest on Trump being held liable in court and more, listen in. We will also answer questions from Patreon subscribers at the Democracy Defender level or higher.   We know times are tough – that’s why every other media company is going out of business! But that’s also why independent news is all the more important. Gaslit Nation is funded entirely by its Patreon subscribers, which is how we are able to speak our minds without fear. Please support us and keep independent journalism going!   Show Notes:   Cover-up King Bill Barr's recent C-SPAN interview: https://twitter.com/AccountableGOP/status/1654565277961449473   Historian Timothy Snyder on how Ukraine suffered the greatest casualties from the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union and why that matters today https://twitter.com/Biz_Ukraine_Mag/status/1655639502667276301   Run, Rabbit, Run -- a message from Ukraine to Russia from August 2022 on the eve of liberating large regions from Russian occupation. Is history about to repeat with the coming spring counteroffensive? https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1565037514888560641    The Unemployment Gap Between Black and White New Yorkers Is Widening - The New York Times (nytimes.com)   What to know about the Allen mall shooter’s reported extremism | The Texas Tribune   How do you become “white” in America? - The Correspondent

Jeff Sharlet is the author of the new book Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, and the New York Times best-selling author or editor of eight books, including The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, which led to the must-watch Netflix docuseries The Family. His writing and photography have appeared in many publications, including Vanity Fair, for which he is a contributing editor; the New York Times Magazine; GQ; Esquire; Harper’s; and VQR, for which he is an editor at large. He currently teaches the art of writing as a professor at Dartmouth College. In this week's bonus episode, Sharlet takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A to share what art, music, books, and documentaries and other things he recommends to help process the times we live in.   We will be back with an all new bonus episode Q&A next week. For subscribers at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions to be answered in an upcoming episode! Thank you so much for your support of the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join our community on Patreon and help keep the show going, sign up here: Patreon.com/Gaslit 

With political violence on the rise in America, along with disinformation, mainstream propaganda and the consolidation of media under conservative ownership, the scapegoating of LGBTQ+ people, women, and nonwhite people, and the weaponization of government in several Republican-led states, are we headed towards a civil war?   In this week's episode, Andrea interviews Jeff Sharlet, the author of the new book Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. Sharlet is also the author of The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, that launched the must-watch Netflix series of the same name, that takes viewers into the dark heart of corruption known as the National Prayer Breakfast, and how it's used as a tool for the extreme religious right to consolidate power. In Undertow, Sharlet takes readers on a cross-country roadtrip to show how we're in a slow-motion civil war, and provides ways to confront this dangerous crossroads, including lessons from Civil Rights leader and artist Harry Belafonte.   Sharlet is the New York Times best-selling author or editor of eight books. His writing and photography have appeared in many publications, including Vanity Fair, for which he is a contributing editor; the New York Times Magazine; GQ; Esquire; Harper’s; and VQR, for which he is an editor at large. He currently teaches the art of writing as a professor at Dartmouth College. In our bonus episode, out later this week for Patreon subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher, Sharlet takes the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A to share what art, music, books, and documentaries and other cultural resources that he recommends to help process the times we live in. We will share a free excerpt of that for all listeners wherever you get your podcasts.    We'll be back with an all new Gaslit Nation episode next week, along with our regular Q&A bonus episode for Patreon subscribers. For supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions to be answered in an upcoming bonus episode. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation and keeps our show going! To join our community of listeners, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit

Next week we're running an interview with Jeff Sharlet, the author or editor of several best-selling books, including The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, which led to the must-watch Netflix docuseries The Family. Sharlet is out with a new book The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War.   This weeek's Q&A discussion includes updates on wannabe mass-shooter Discord Traitor Bro, otherwise known as Jack Teixeira; springtime for Putin -- all the things currently going wrong in Russia's ongoing genocidal invasion of Ukraine and what to look out for next; the consolidation of media under far-right ownership, and preserving our free speech in the digital sphere, and more!   If you didn't hear your question answered this week, look out for it soon as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues. And for our listeners at the Democracy Defender level or higher, keep your questions coming. We always enjoy hearing from you. Thank you all for your support of the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join our community on Patreon, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit        

This week we take a look at the slate for 2024, including recently declared candidate President Biden, career criminal seditionist Donald Trump, Marianne Williamson, Robert Kennedy Jr, and possibly two more Republicans – the faltering Ron DeSantis, and the demonic Tucker Carlson, who recently was set free from his Fox News hellscape to possibly run for office. We contemplate a Carlson run, examine the Fox News lawsuit, and discuss the gutting of investigative reporting and the demise of cable news in general. At the end of the show, we debate about how Biden is doing and what he should be doing – not to win, but to fulfill his campaign promises and serve the American people, which is his job! We also discuss the Kremlin’s latest moves into Sudan and the operations of the Wagner Group: the brutal band of professional mercenaries that has been active in Ukraine, Syria, and other regions the Kremlin seeks to drag into their sphere of influence. We discuss the history of Russia’s efforts in Africa and how Obama official Susan Rice helped paved the road for the current disaster. We also discuss what it means that Rice is finally leaving the Biden administration. Every week we do a bonus episode for our Patreon subscribers. We’ve decided to start releasing them later in the week because we often have extra topics we don’t get to in the main show. So this week, stay tuned for some extra Gaslit Nation as well as the answers to our listener Q&A! To submit a question, join at the Democracy Defender level or higher. To listen to the bonus episode, join at the Truth-Teller level or higher. Gaslit Nation is one of few podcasts that is free to all and that keeps all of our episodes archived online in transcript form. This is important as news websites continue to go under or paywall their content. We are under no corporate control and are funded entirely by our listeners. Help keep Gaslit Nation going by joining us on Patreon! Show Notes: Submit your song for the Gaslit Nation Make Art song series. Sign up here.  Clip: CNN on Russia in Sudan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQapgnGwLBw Clip: Tucker Carlson’s Disinformation on Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG8uLFHJWVE Clip: Tucker Carlson defending child rap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr1WnL070hc Clip: Don Lemon on Vivek Ramaswamy https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1650563196795641871 Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin’s war effort in Ukraine https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/africa/sudan-russia-gold-investigation-cmd-intl/index.html South African Border War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War Putin’s Private Army Accused of Raping New Moms on Maternity Ward https://www.thedailybeast.com/wagner-group-mercenaries-accused-of-raping-new-moms-on-maternity-ward-in-central-african-republic Rex Tillerson Is Running the State Department Into the Ground https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/10/04/rex-tillerson-is-running-the-state-department-into-the-ground-215677/ Shot 5-year-old girl in head: Prisoners from Wagner confess to killing children in Bakhmut and Soledar https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/shot-5-old-girl-head-120100855.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGXtXRZip4dbSPAHNmLau_eGyS6S7xX-IinzOlzTLPpPy3-l3wG6eay7o8myxP5i28E8fZizEV8BGjVpahNPC7atwhHDmKZ3TW1BrXK61L-dcbn-4rhyGe13jPFFCHDz2qvF_0rJdTovCObPDC-xNvAPsbVNwe8ziFnxRstM3KUj Xi Condemns Killings in African Nation Where Russian and Chinese Interests Compete https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/world/europe/central-african-republic-russia-china.html Airman Shared Sensitive Intelligence More Widely and for Longer Than Previously Known https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/us/politics/jack-teixeira-leaks-russia-ukraine.html “Stunning”: Reporters who uncovered Matt Gaetz evidence baffled after DOJ drops sex trafficking case https://www.salon.com/2023/02/16/stunning-reporters-uncovered-matt-gaetz-evidence-baffled-after-doj-drops-trafficking-case/ Ukraine war: US to provide long-range missiles in latest aid package https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64518532 The changes at CNN look politically motivated. That should concern us all https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/24/the-changes-at-cnn-look-politically-motivated-that-should-concern-us-all ‘He’s Making Up a World He Wants to Attack’: How Vivek Ramaswamy Became a Right-Wing Culture Warrior https://www.theinformation.com/articles/the-making-of-a-conservative-culture-warrior Don Lemon Ousted From CNN in Move That Left Him ‘Stunned’ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/media/don-lemon-cnn.html Wagner in Sudan: What have Russian mercenaries been up to? (yahoo.com)

Another week, another set of traitors that somehow our (compromised) national security institutions were not able to catch in time! This week we take a look at Jake Teixeira, a traitor who leaked classified intelligence documents on Discord and became the new mascot of the far-right, and “Donbass Devushka”, the pathetic online persona of a former Naval official and all-around asshole from New Jersey named Sarah Bils. These two are just the latest iteration of a broader online propaganda initiative, ongoing for over a decade, to weaponize intelligence against Ukraine on behalf of the Kremlin and its American right-wing backers.   We look at the long history of intelligence failures that have led us to the point that a bunch of randos in a Discord forum are more in tune with intelligence than our politicians, who behave like characters in a reality TV show. We discuss the lack of accountability from the FBI and DOJ and the complicity of seditionists like Marjorie Taylor Green who recite their little lines in tandem with their task masters. We discuss Wagner Group and other terrorist outlets attacking Ukraine, as well as the slow-moving war itself, and Andrea again implores the US government to give Ukraine the military equipment that it needs so the war will actually end – and the only way it can end with a chance of peace for the world is with a Ukraine win.   For our bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level and higher, we answer questions from our subscribers about AI and fascism, why Americans don't protest like the French, the Tennessee legislature and the protests, Clarence Thomas, NC Dem turncoat Tricia Cotham, who should primary Biden, the fading career of DeSantis, and more! And if you join at the Democracy Defender level or higher, you can join us at our live show for our upcoming graphic novel Dictatorship – It’s Easier Than You Think, which will be out June 13! The live show will be May 23 at 1:30 EST.   Gaslit Nation is an independent podcast made possible entirely by our Patreon community, so please consider joining and getting extra features and more!   Show Notes:   News clip on Discord Bro Leaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFZo2t11AsM   Trump/Tucker clip: https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1645954118551322626   Italian PM clip calling out Kremlin shills: https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1639206906786103296   Donbass Devushka clip: https://twitter.com/jabuttee/status/1646547974858653699   Social-Media Account Overseen by Former Navy Noncommissioned Officer Helped Spread Secrets https://www.wsj.com/articles/social-media-account-overseen-by-former-navy-noncommissioned-officer-helped-spread-secrets-a4b5643b   UPDATED: Feds Investigating Former Sailor Behind Pro-Russian ‘Donbass Devushka’ Accounts https://news.usni.org/2023/04/17/feds-investigating-former-sailor-behind-pro-russian-donbass-devushka-accounts   Nexta on Sarah Bils, Russian Disinformation Grifter: https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1647729855587385347   A Russian Disinformation Empire in Oak Harbor, Washington https://malcontentment.com/a-russian-disinformation-empire-in-oak-harbor-washington/

This week's discussion includes recommendations for trusted sources on Ukraine and Russia; the slowdown in the Senate as Dianne Feinstein refuses to retire, endangering our democracy by not showing up for work which impairs Democrats' ability to confirm judges to balance out Trump and McConnell's court-packing; and how A.I. risks worsening our fascism crisis.   We cover all this and more. If you want to hear the full episode and submit your questions for our regular Gaslit Nation Q&As, subscribe to the show on Patreon.com/Gaslit and never miss an episode! You will not have access to every episode of Gaslit Nation unless you subscribe! Join our community of listeners today!  

We're doing a live taping of Gaslit Nation on May 23 at 1:30pm EST. Make sure you're subscribed to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher to get access to that special live event to celebrate the launch of our book Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think!   It’s been a busy week for nazis, neo-confederates, and crimelords – and for the people fighting them! We start out this week by discussing the ProPublica article on corrupt SCOTUS justice Clarence Thomas and his Hitler swag loving backer, Harlan Crow. Sarah gives a lot of background into their relationship, including 1) allegations of sex trafficking by Crow’s brother and his ties to a client of Jeffrey Epstein 2) Thomas’s ties to GOP sex trafficking and blackmail cases in the 1980s including the Franklin Scandal 3) the combination of bribes and blackmail GOP elites use to keep their judges and reps in line 4) and how the media exposed Thomas’s corrupt relationships long ago, but officials refused to act!   Then we discuss the heartening news out of Tennessee, where representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson refused to accept their expulsion on baseless grounds, shone a light into the Tennessee legislature’s corruption, gave fuel to a national protest movement, and got reinstated into office with a global platform. We discuss the protests and large voter turnouts in gerrymandered hostage states like Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and how this may indicate a bigger anti-authoritarian movement in America to come.   Then Andrea details what was in those classified documents found on a Minecraft Discord server (seriously), what they mean for Russia’s war on Ukraine, and what Ukraine still needs to win the war: the global democratic alliance must make up its mind if it wants Ukraine to win the war, then give Ukraine what it keeps asking for to win the war: ATACMS (long range missiles) and F-16s.   We released our weekly Patreon bonus episode -- a special on violent feuds among the Kremlin’s elites -- earlier than usual so if you are a subscriber at the Truth-Teller level or higher, be sure to check that out. We will be back next week with our usual Q&A, so keep your questions coming! Gaslit Nation is 100% listener supported, so please consider signing up on Patreon to keep this show possible!   Pre-Order Gaslit Nation’s first book! Dictatorship: It’s Easier Than You Think! https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250781000/dictatorshipitseasierthanyouthink   Clarence Thomas Secretly Accepted Luxury Trips From GOP Donor — ProPublica   Friendship between Thomas and Crow Triggers Controversy -- Again - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times (typepad.com)   Justice Thomas Reports Wealth of Gifts - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)   What Really Goes On At Bohemian Grove (grunge.com)   Clarence Thomas: Our Freakazoid Supreme Should Overturn Himself (nickbryantnyc.com)   Tennessee Republicans’ Power Grab Has Been in the Works for a Long Time | The New Republic   Trammell Crow Jr. Named in Human Trafficking Case (dallasexpress.com)   Trammell Crow Jr: Billionaire linked to Sarah Ferguson accused of financing US sex trafficking ring (telegraph.co.uk)   The Paid Pundits Defending Clarence Thomas And His Billionaire Benefactor (levernews.com)   Where does the Tennessee House Speaker actually live?  

Need a laugh? American fascists Elon Musk and Matt Taibbi are fighting each other over on Twitter. Meanwhile, in Russia, the fascists are fighting each other, including the recent bombing of a Russian propagandist in a cafe owned by Prighozin, the founder of the Wagner Group, Russian mercenaries named after Hitler's favorite composer. We know there's a lot of horror to discuss in America right now -- the KKK political lynching in Tennessee, the Texas court ruling against the abortion pill, a possible Trump indictment out of Georgia, and more. We will discuss all of that and more in next week's episode. For now, we're tracking the escalating civil war among Russia's ruling elites and what it means for the war in Ukraine, Putin's fate, and how China may be playing a role.   This episode was recorded Monday April 3rd. It's an excerpt of our bonus episode. To sign up to hear all of our shows and submit questions to our regular Q&As, join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/gaslit 

Fifty years after he was first investigated by the Department of Justice, Donald Trump has finally been indicted…for a crime for which the statute of limitations may have run out. On Tuesday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced 34 charges of falsifying business records in 2017. It is possible there are extenuating circumstances that make the case still timely – we will have to see. Regardless of what transpires, it does not change the big picture: Trump is guilty of a multitude of atrocities against the American people and he and his backers pose a clear and present danger. We review the details of the Stormy Daniels case and the other crimes for which he should be charged, among them, sedition, abuse of the pardon power, obstruction of justice, rape, election interference, racketeering, and much, much more – and we note the terrible precedent it sets that crimes affecting national security and public safety (like, say, fomenting a violent coup!) go unpunished, opening the door for a successor to commit them. We discuss the media’s continued role as a PR outlet for Trump and the loss of publicly available archives that make it easier for the public to forget his other crimes. We also break down why Bragg was the first prosecutor to finally indict him when so many others – Mueller, Garland, Comey, Vance, etc – have failed, and speculate on what will happen in other state and local investigations. There is a LOT to unpack in this episode so be sure to tune in! For our bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-Teller level and higher, we answer questions from our Patreon subscribers on secessionist movements, the media outlets stoking civil war, whether Trump poses a flight risk, how 1980s militias and crime cults shape today’s politics, and much more! We have another bonus dropping later this week so make sure to sign up. Patreon members now have the opportunity to win a free copy of our upcoming graphic novel Dictatorship – It’s Easier Than You Think! We will be giving away one copy each month to a subscriber selected at random. Gaslit Nation is a 100% independent podcast made possible by listener support. If you like us, please spread the word, as we are shadowbanned on Musk’s Twitter and often cannot even post links to our own show! Happy indictment day! SHOW NOTES: Opening clip: https://twitter.com/brenonade/status/1641555295926099969?s=20 Closing clip of Comedian Michael Rapaport confronting Marjorie Taylor Greene https://twitter.com/MovieEv/status/1643321452400197632?t=AOSICEsvfZlVLpInMOrvrg&s=19 Twitter is convinced Melania Trump looks 'scared to death' as she meets Vladimir Putin https://finance.yahoo.com/video/twitter-convinced-melania-trump-looks-184142266.html Mueller referred evidence of 14 other potential crimes to federal officials. Only two of them are publicly known https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/18/mueller-evidence-14-potential-crimes-only-two-publicly-known.html Mueller She Wrote on Twitter on Trump Indictment Originating from Mueller Investigation:  https://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrote/status/1641620212066967552?t=hMmwg-URW82BOM5sR4QIBA&s=19 Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury on more than 30 counts related to business fraud https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/politics/donald-trump-indictment/index.html?utm_source=twcnnbrk&utm_content=2023-03-31T00%3A17%3A15&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social Trump loses bid to narrow rape accuser E Jean Carroll’s defamation case https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-e-jean-carrol-defamation-b2310975.html New York Young Republicans Statement on Trump Indictment: https://twitter.com/AndreaChalupa/status/1641876783409553429 Viktor Orban, the Ron DeSantis of the European Union, released a statement of support for Trump on Twitter, writing: “Keep on fighting, Mr. President! We are with you.” https://twitter.com/PM_ViktorOrban/status/1642819156880785408/photo/1 Ricky Vaughn Indictment: https://twitter.com/EDNYnews/status/1641902845413711874  PEN America on Ricky Vaughn Indictment: https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1641983670465486848 Trump faces 4 investigations. Here’s where they stand https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/your-guide-to-all-of-the-investigations-into-trump Donald Trump Faces Several Investigations. Here’s Where They Stand. https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-investigations-civil-criminal.html Donald Trump Has Been Indicted. Don’t Get Your Hopes Up. | The Nation Inside the government’s racial bias case against Donald Trump’s company, and how he fought it - The Washington Post  

Obviously we discuss the Trump indictment in this week's bonus episode. We also discuss whether the mainstream media wants and would profit from a civil war in America. Our discussion comes from questions submitted by listeners of our show. To submit your quesitons and to hear our bonus shows and never miss an episode of Gaslit Nation subscribe on Patreon.com/gaslit

In a classic American road trip tale, Sarah went on vacation hearing that indictments for Trump were imminent, turned off the news for a week, and came back to the very unindicted Trump holding a fascist rally in Waco. Why, it’s almost like the legal pundit class lying to the American people for eight years was lying yet again! This is accountability theater, nothing more. And it’s profoundly dangerous. This week, we discuss the lack of indictments for Trump, the many crimes that he should be indicted for, the idiocy that the Stormy Daniels case of all things is where officials are focused, and the DOJ’s failure to combat domestic terrorism and transnational organized crime. Sarah gives a long history lesson about the Oklahoma City bombings and predecessor cases like the Fort Smith Sedition Trial of 1988, and Andrea discusses gun violence and the organized political oppression of LGBTQ communities that has been on the rise for the last few years. We also discuss Trump’s confessional flaunting about his relationship with the IRS, which backs up reporting Sarah did in HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT four years ago, and the Trump camp’s use of political violence to intimidate Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. And of course we detail Merrick Garland’s failure to address any of these ongoing crises. In our bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, we answer questions submitted by our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. This week’s Q&A includes the pressing question and its many implications: Does Putin have a body double? For more and to support the show, sign up on Patreon to join our community of listeners and support independent journalism.  We also have an exciting announcement – we co-wrote a book! And it’s a graphic novel! About dictators! Currently listed in the humor section of Amazon! DICTATORSHIP – IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK will be published on June 13 and it is available for preorder now. We take you on a world historical tour of dictators, how they got in power, how they stayed in power, and how to get them out. This is the first Gaslit Nation book and we will be giving more information on special signed copies for Patreon subscribers. Stay tuned! Our featured song for March 2023 is “Nickel and Dime” by Sofia Echegaray. You can find more of Sofia's music on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sofia-echegaray If you would like your music featured on Gaslit Nation, submit a song here.

Does Putin have a body double? This debate matters as it reveals a growing civil war among Russia's elite. We answer this and more questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher on Patreon. To join our community of listeners and submit your own questions, subcribe to the show by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit 

Dictators and aspiring tyrants want us to be demoralized, to be bullied psychologically into submission. Bullies are always surprised when people resist and fight back. The 2022 Midterms were a historic time of fighting back: the first major elections since the violent attempted overthrow of our democracy. People showed up and organized in record numbers, denying Trump's Big Lie and the America First fascist movement the victories they needed to steal the electoral college in 2024. Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania are all protected by elected public servants who believe in democracy, and that's thanks to voters and organizers who refused to be intimidated. In this week's special episode, we highlight four Gaslit Nation listeners who worked hard to protect our democracy in the midterms, some volunteering as far as Ukraine.   In this inspiring conversation, you'll meet Dr. Nicole Speer, a recently elected member of the Boulder City Council who manages a brain imaging research facility at the University of Colorado. She shares her story of running for office and how others can do the same. You'll also hear from Hugh Stempfley of Illinois who trained as an election judge alongside his grandson, and shares their story of two generations on the frontlines of protecting our democracy. Jed Holtzman of San Francisco is active in his community advocating for policies and other actions to urgently protect our civilization from man-made climate change and his advice on why text-banking is a great way to pitch in, even if you only have an hour to spare. And finally, you'll meet entrepreneur Isaac Flanagan who left his comfortable home in Colorado to bring desperately needed humanitarian supplies to the frontlines of Russia's genocidal invasion of Ukraine, even while helping get out the vote in the U.S. midterm by calling voters in a California swing House district. We thank everyone who helped get out the vote in these and all elections. Our democracy depends on you, even though it shouldn't. Thank you to everyone who works hard to protect our democracy and shows why we always say: grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left.   In our bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, we cover the International Criminal Court at The Hague that just indicted war criminal Putin -- an arrest notice that makes Putin a wanted man in well over 100 countries. We also touch on the potential Trump indictment which noticeably isn't coming from the DOJ. We also answer questions submitted by our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show and keeps our civic-action community and independent journalism going. We couldn't make this show without you!  

Mass-murdering genocidal maniac and proud Russian imperialist and cult of Stalin worshipper Vladimir Putin has been indicted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague. This means there are 123 countries, including every European Union nation, that is legally obligated to arrest Putin should he step foot on their soil. It also means there's no going back to business as usual with Russia as long as Putin is in power.  The ICC indictment and Putin's disasterous war put a big target on Putin's head. Fellow war criminal Igor Girkin who oversaw the early days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to openly critize Putin, telling him to "shut up" and accuses him of using a body double while the real Putin hides behind long tables. The in-fighting among Russian elite continues, threatening Putin's grip on power. He should stay away from windows and tea parties. Will an indictment of Trump, Putin's favorite asset -- a multi-decade investment via laundered dirty Russian money -- be next? This week's bonus episode, excerpted here, opens with a discussion of the Putin indicment and the potential for a Trump indictment. We go on to answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. To submit questions to our regular Q&As, and join our community of listeners, subscribe and support our independent journalism by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit 

It looks like the Libertarians of Silicon Valley suddenly love government when they need the government to bail them out. Socialism for the mega-rich, taxes and fascism for the rest of us. In this week’s episode, we delve into the fantasy hellscape of Peter Thiel, his investments in surveillance tech and A.I. that would give aspiring autocrats like him unstoppable power; Dictator Xi of China as a warning of what could happen to the United States if the Silicon Valley Libertarian Fascist Brigade usher in Big Brother 2.0, why Democrats aren’t doing more to stop them (because some are cashing in!). Thiel’s allegedly instigated banking collapse comes at an opportune time. Rattling the economy when the 2024 presidential elections are around the corner will drive economic anxiety and uncertainty at a time when Democrats need to defend the White House. This will pave the way for a wannabe fascist dictator like Ron DeSantis, the Viktor Orban of Florida, who is using the kind of anti-gay laws Putin used to consolidate power in Russia. DeSantis just gave an interview to Walter Duranty of Fox News, telling Tucker Carlson that supporting Ukraine in the face of an existential genocide from a modern day Hitler is not in the U.S. interests, which means he’s secured Russia’s help in the upcoming election. In our bonus episode, we answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. This week’s discussion includes why we should keep an eye on Russia’s threat of invading Moldova (again!) to open up a new front to seize Ukraine; how to hold onto hope and push back against corruption; and how to organize one’s life to be creative and productive despite the hellscape we find ourselves in, and a fun story about a recent run-in with Hillary Clinton, possible Gaslit Nation listener? If you want to keep Gaslit Nation going and support the show, join our community of listeners on Patreon to get access to weekly bonus shows, ask us anything in our regular Q&As, and join live events. We couldn’t produce the journalism the world needs without you!  Show Notes: Opening clip: https://twitter.com/jonsarlin/status/1634712724117794817 Closing clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU1kS2jUpnY Formal Reprimand of Rep. Frank Is Urged by House's Ethics Panel https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/20/us/formal-reprimand-of-rep-frank-is-urged-by-house-s-ethics-panel.html A lot of people heard what Barney Frank said about the new banking law. Few knew he works for a bank. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/05/24/a-lot-of-people-heard-what-barney-frank-said-about-the-new-banking-law-few-knew-he-works-for-a-bank/ GOP blames Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse on ‘ESG’ policies. Here’s what to know. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/03/14/svb-esg-woke-investing/ Congress just approved a bill to dismantle parts of the Dodd-Frank banking rule https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/congress-just-approved-bill-dismantle-parts-dodd-frank-banking-rule-n876516 Ron DeSantis says backing Ukraine is not in the U.S. interest, a sign of a GOP divided https://www.npr.org/2023/03/14/1163363579/desantis-trump-ukraine-republican-split Congressional Stock Trading - If You Don’t Know, Now You Know | The Daily Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Vyyc6YCKk Dozens in Congress beat stock market in 2022 despite downturn on Wall Street: analysis https://nypost.com/2023/01/06/dozens-in-congress-beat-stock-market-in-2022-analysis/      

This is an excerpt of our Gaslit Nation bonus episode where we answer questions submitted by our listeners. To submit your own questions and to get access to our bonus episodes and never miss a show, subscribe on Patreon. You won't hear every episode of Gaslit Nation unless you subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit 

This week Gaslit Nation is running an audiobook excerpt from Sarah’s book THEY KNEW: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent. We are running this excerpt now because we are appalled by the pundits and politicians proposing “national divorce”. We want you to understand the conspiracy of kleptocrats behind it. Theirs is not a grassroots initiative, it’s an organized attempt of plutocrats to shake you down by pushing civil war and hardening facile definitions of “red” and “blue” states. Sarah wrote THEY KNEW in 2021 and it is horrifying to see the plots described years ago attempt to come to fruition. This does NOT mean that the victory of the treasonous plutocrats is inevitable. It means we the people must fight back, and the best way to fight back is with the truth. We do not want Americans to fall for opportunistic and destructive rhetoric, and therefore we are warning you of what they are trying to accomplish and what will happen if they succeed.  Our message is coming to you from the state of New York and from the state of Missouri – two states that are purple, purple like a bruise. Gaslit Nation will return next week will our usual breakdown of current events. For our thoughts on ongoing issues like Russia and China’s alliance, the war on Ukraine, and the lack of accountability from the DOJ and other agencies, listen to our Patreon bonus episode. Every week we do a Q & A with our listeners and additional commentary. You can access this episode and an archive of hundreds of past episodes by joining at the Truth-Teller level or higher. Gaslit Nation is made possible solely by our listeners and Patreon subscribers. If you like the show, tell a friend or leave a review. If you’d like to ensure we can keep the show going, join us on Patreon! We thank you for your support.

This is an excerpt of this week's bonus episode where we explain how there's no honor among thieves, especially when they're jointly furthering the imperialist ambitions of autocracy around the world and trying to steal land and steal rights. To hear every episode of Gaslit Nation, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon by joining our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit 

Every now and again you need to step back and look at the big picture, and then you see that the big picture is a mirror reflecting a void with a mirror reflecting a void with a mirror…hey, welcome to the Gaslit Nation AI Apocalypse Special!  We have a lot of things to get out of our system, apparently, before The System claims us as its own, and they include: artificial intelligence, the death of the news industry, the struggle to survive multiple collective traumas at once, Sigmund Freud and his nephew Edward Bernays and their dual creation of psychological warfare and public reactions, “the death eaters that prop up the dancing clown of Trump”, child labor and the bipartisan leaders that defend it, the brutal backlash to the social movements of the last decade, nepo babies and purchased merit, weird facts about Hitler, how Trump’s pardons tell you everything you need to know about who really controls America, and the ceaseless desire of our officials to crush progressive policies that help people.  We will cover Fox News and the origins of covid and all the other breaking news stories next week, don’t worry. That slow-moving soap opera of corruption will still be there! What we tried to figure out in this episode is how to find truth in an era of digital media manipulation, informational voids, and shattered community. Because we’re living this life, not just writing about it. It is tough to break news when the news breaks us! For our Patreon bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-Teller level or higher, we answer questions from our beloved listeners! Topics include: DOJ corruption; environmental disasters; Saudi Arabia, Russia, and transnational crime; Matt Gaetz; Kamala Harris; Seymour Hersh, Ukraine, and much more! Sign up at the Democracy Defender level or higher to send in questions and at the Truth-Teller level to listen to the show and get access to hundreds of past bonus episodes. Gaslit Nation survives solely because of our listeners! We are shadowbanned in the current Twitter era and could use help spreading the word about our show. If you like it, tell a friend and leave a review! And consider joining our Patreon to keep us going. Thank you for your support! Show Notes: Our new unofficial Gaslit Nation theme song, 'Don't Be an Asshole' on our Twitter page and in the show notes for this episode on our Patreon page. You can find more of Andrew and the Spirit House's music on Bandcamp at andrewjonesandspirithouse.bandcamp.com. I have no mouth and I must scream (wjccschools.org) President Trump Commutes Sentence of Sholom Rubashkin – The White House (archives.gov) Sholom Rubashkin: the inside story of how a kosher meat kingpin won clemency under Trump | CNN Politics Rubashkin Cleared of Child Labor Charges - Tablet Magazine (21) Sarah Kendzior on Twitter: "@revmagdalen In 2017, Pelosi successfully petitioned Trump for the prison release of a man who ran a farm using migrant slave labor, including child labor. Workers were raped and had limbs amputated. Look up Agriprocessors; the horror stories are endless. Excerpts below: https://t.co/sFJYblSLsT" / Twitter 

In this week's Gaslit Nation bonus episode, we answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher, including how to save the DOJ in a time of elite criminal impunity. To get access to this and every episode of Gaslit Nation, subscribe to the show on Patreon by signing up the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon. You will not hear every episode unless you subscribe. Join our community of listeners today: Patreon.com/Gaslit 

It has been one year since Russia launched its escalated invasion of Ukraine that has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of Ukrainians displaced, exiled, or kidnapped. We have been covering the Kremlin’s genocidal ambitions and how Ukraine has been used as a petri dish for operatives to experiment with attacks on democracy since we launched Gaslit Nation in 2018. This brutal escalation was a long time coming -- and Ukraine knew it, which is why Ukrainians were able to fend off Russian invaders while the West offered only belated and limited support. We discuss what’s changed since February 2022, what Ukraine still needs to win, Biden’s recent visit, and the geopolitical consequences of the war for the rest of the world. We also discuss the importance of US territorial integrity and sovereignty as insurrectionists here seek to divide and conquer in a way reminiscent of (and often financially backed by) Kremlin operatives. The rest of our episode is an interview with Ukraine expert Yana Prymachenko of Princeton University. From the university’s website, “A native of Ukraine, Yana Prymachenko received her Ph.D. from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. She was a research scholar at the Institute of History of Ukraine from 2003 to 2022. She joined the faculty at Princeton as Visiting Scholar in the fall of 2022. Her research interests vary greatly, ranging from the Soviet culture in the 1920s-30s, the history of the Second World War, the memory politics in Russia and Eastern Europe to the study of Soviet propaganda and informational wars.” For our bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level or higher, we answer questions sent in by our listeners! We discuss whether Merrick Garland’s failures are a feature or a bug, what to do when good causes get hijacked by bad actors, the continued attacks on LGBTQ Americans, the discrepancy between Biden’s foreign and domestic policies, and much more! Gaslit Nation is funded entirely by listeners and we need your support to survive. If you appreciate what we do -- and would like bonus episodes and other perks – please join us on Patreon. Thank you! Show Notes: Join Andrea on Saturday February 25 at an upcoming virtual event to commemorate the one year anniversary of Russia's imperialist re-invasion of Ukraine. She will be joining the all civic group "The Media and Democracy Project" for a streamed screening of my film "Mr. Jones" and have a "Q and A session" afterwards. They will discuss the film, what role the media plays in defending against disinformation and authoritarianism - and what we can all be doing to support BETTER media.  Sign up for the event by going to the website: TINY.CC/mrjones Admission is FREE Suggested donation to the Kyiv Independent - as we need to support "media AND democracy" in Ukraine (and here in the US). In Taking Crimea, Putin Gains a Sea of Fuel Reserves https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/europe/in-taking-crimea-putin-gains-a-sea-of-fuel-reserves.html Imperfect allies and non-state actors: Lessons from the 1991 no-fly zone in Iraq https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/05/28/imperfect-allies-and-non-state-actors-lessons-from-the-1991-no-fly-zone-in-iraq/  

Our Gaslit Nation Q&A is back! This week we answer questions from listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher about the Norfolk Southern train derailment and explosion in East Palestine, Ohio; what stood out to us in the State of the Union address in terms of what comes next; the GOP's ongoing scapegoating of LGBTQ people and what can be done about the far-right's law-warfare, and more.  You won't get every episode of Gaslit Nation unless you subscribe to our show on Patreon. To sign up and get access to our bonus episodes, join our community at Patreon.com/gaslit

This week’s episode is dedicated to the environmental disaster in East Palestine, Ohio and its political causes and ramifications. As you have heard – or possibly have not heard, since there was an attempt to bury this story early on – on February 3, a massive derailment of a freight train containing hazardous chemicals led to the release of toxic chemicals in the Ohio town of East Palestine, in the surrounding region in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and perhaps even further afield. We do not know, because state and federal officials have refused to give forthright information about this preventable disaster. Our hearts go out to the people of the region and to the country as a whole, for we are all held hostage to this plutocracy and the broken political system it props up.   We discuss the Trump administration’s destruction of railroad regulations and the Biden administrations’ refusal to reinstate them – which led to Biden union-busting in December as railroad workers begged futilely for sick days and safer conditions. Many workers warned of this precise disaster. The American people can see what’s happening – left, right, and center – and unfortunately, with few exceptions, officials on the left, right, and center are keeping the truth about the extent of the disaster from the public. We discuss the ramifications of gutted local media, social media networks that hide information with algorithms, and cable networks that look the other way. We also review the decades of corporate greed and horrific labor policies that led to the Chernobyl of Ohio.   On a related note, we discuss the appointment of Jeffrey Zients, an investment banker with a history of Medicare and Medicaid fraud, as Biden’s new chief of staff. The appointment of Zients, who was responsible to a large extent for Biden’s disastrous covid policies in 2020 and 2021, could not have come at a worse time. Zients joins a team of eugenicist advisors who believe that one’s worth is solely determined by how much you contribute to the economy – and who believe that if you are elderly or disabled, your life lacks utility to the point of worthlessness. (We wish we were exaggerating, but they say this openly.) This is a terrifying time to be surrounded by, as the Ukrainians say, “oligarchs who see the people as the shit they grow their money in”. We are REFUSING to be ruled by them and believe the first step is to speak truth to power and document the crimes.   Our bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level or higher, is on UFOs! You know, those objects in the sky that the US government is giving us the play-by-play on while they dodge the tragedy in Ohio. We discuss China spy balloons, Project Blue Beam, and much more! We then do our weekly Q&A, answering questions sent in by our Patreon subscribers at the Democracy Defender level or higher. Topics include Erik Prince, threats to poll workers, why the Democrats choose snark over serious prosecution, and much more. Gaslit Nation is a 100% independent podcast – our Patreon subscribers keep us going! Your support allows us to continue taking on these topics and we appreciate your support and our community of listeners!   Show Notes:   Zoom screening of Mr. Jones on February 25 followed by Q&A with Andrea. Sign up for the event by going to the website: TINY.CC/mrjones. Admission is FREE Suggested donation to the Kyiv Independent - as we need to support "media AND democracy" in Ukraine (and here in the US).   Opening clip: https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1625155991724605440   Closing Clip: https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1625277554910273537   The Freight Rail Labor Dispute Was Never About ‘Sick Days’ (vice.com)   Rail Companies Blocked Safety Rules Before Ohio Derailment (levernews.com)   Zeke Emanuel on Twitter: https://t.co/c1yEfz2dMG   The Corporate Past of Jeffrey Zients - The American Prospect   Ohio woman finds chickens dead, questions chemical release from train https://www.wdtn.com/news/ohio/ohio-woman-finds-chickens-dead-questions-chemical-release-from-train/   Animals are sick and dying after Ohio train derailment https://www.wtrf.com/ohio/animals-are-sick-and-dying-after-ohio-train-derailment/?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow   Elon Musk: We're Curbing Starlink's Use in Ukraine to Prevent WWIII https://www.pcmag.com/news/elon-musk-were-curbing-starlinks-use-in-ukraine-to-prevent-wwiii?taid=63ea57b105dea00001f6d1c9&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Manual&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook   Tad Devine and Yanukovych work in Ukraine:  https://twitter.com/rachelweinerwp/status/1022594989702959104   ‘Sadness in the whole forest’: family of Cop City activist killed by police seeks answers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/12/cop-city-manuel-paez-teran-family-mourns   Eric Feigl-Ding thread on the Norfolk Southern chemical explosion:  https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1625155991724605440   American life expectancy is now at its lowest in nearly two decades https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/12/22/1144864971/american-life-expectancy-is-now-at-its-lowest-in-nearly-two-decades

We discuss one of our favorite topics: UFOs! What are the mystery objects shot down by NORAD? We have some ideas...You can get access to this bonus and every episode of Gaslit Nation by supporting the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon by joining the community of listeners at Patreon.com/gaslit: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

This is an excerpt of this week's bonus episode where we discuss Biden's State of the Union and the GOP troll factory in the House and what comes next for the civil war tremors driven by Trump's Kremlin Klown Kar, otherwise known as the January 6 insurrectionists. We also answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender tier and higher on Patreon about Havana Syndrome, how to organize deep dive research when uncovering corruption, FBI traitor Charles McGonigal, and more! To submit questions and listen to our bonus episodes, receiving every episode of Gaslit Nation straight to your inbox, join our Patreon community by signing up at Patreon.com/gaslit for this and more: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit   Show Notes: The Curious Case of 'Havana Syndrome' https://www.npr.org/2023/01/25/1151421770/the-curious-case-of-havana-syndrome

We at Gaslit Nation like to think big picture, so like a pair of melting clocks in a desert wasteland we shall force your memory to persist! This week, we look back at the last two years and come to a terrible realization: Trump lost, but the coup won.  Among the points of evidence for this claim: 1) The seditionists and insurrectionists who plotted the coup now control the House of Representatives 2) Trump remains free and running for POTUS 3) Radical right-wing SCOTUS made possible by Trump is tossing out fundamental rights and overruling the public will 4) The US is the first country to not prosecute its own coup plotters, thanks to Merrick Garland’s DOJ 5) Other coup abettor officials, like Christopher Wray and Louis DeJoy, remain in office despite their betrayal 6) We still don’t know key details about the 1/6 attacks – like who that lady planting bombs was -- and neither the DOJ nor the Jan 6 committee members are in any hurry to provide them 7) The GOP launched an attack on civil rights, called it a “culture war”, and liberal officials surrendered in advance. And there’s more where that came from! We ask and answer key questions, like “What the actual ****?” and “What can be done?” Tune in and find out! Our Patreon bonus this week will be an analysis of Biden’s State of the Union address followed by Q & A with our Patreon subscribers. We are recording on Wednesday and will release the episode later in the week. To send us a question and get an in-depth answer, subscribe at the Democracy Defender level or higher; to get a weekly bonus episode and other perks, subscribe at the Truth-Teller level or higher. Gaslit Nation is a 100% independent podcast, and the only reason we have that freedom is because of supporters like you. If you appreciate what we’re doing and would like to keep it going, please consider subscribing on Patreon! Show Notes Join the virtual February 25 7:30pm screening of Mr. Jones followed by a live audience Q&A with Andrea to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s total war invasion of Ukraine: https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/548495/  

Hey DOJ – quit writing and start indicting! This week we discuss the ongoing grotesque trend of former officials writing books about all the crimes they didn’t solve instead of actually protecting our country while in office. This is a long-brewing crisis going back to the days of John Bolton and James Comey, and its latest iteration is Mark Pomerantz, another lawyer lackey timing his “tell-all” for maximum profits and minimum democracy. We discuss how NDAs block the public from vital info and how the publishing industry has created an incentive for officials to remain silent about – or even participate in -- state crimes. We continue to discuss the case of Charlie McGonigal – the indicted FBI official who was secretly working for sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska –  in the context of a broader look at corruption in the so-called “department of justice.” We examine the factors that contribute to this crisis including insularity, elitism, and nepotistic networks. We also destroy the myth that authoritarianism and law are two separate categories and that expertise on one negates knowledge of the other. Mafia states are in fact dependent on the judiciary, which functions as the cage bars of autocracy. If you understand how the judicial system works in a typical kleptocracy, the Biden and Trump DOJs will strike you as familiar. This is why the “legal pundits” polluting our airways with savior syndrome myths are not only vapid, but, over time, dangerous, as they destroy public expectations of good governance. We also discuss the difficulty of parenting during this era of flagrant injustice. It’s Merrick Garland’s DOJ, but our children will have to live in its aftermath. For our bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller lever or higher, we answer questions from our listeners. Among the topics covered are Fani Willis and the Georgia investigation, what happens if Trump is indicted, Ron DeSantis lackey Christina Pushaw, and the debt ceiling crisis. We will answer ANYTHING so please join on Patreon and send us your questions! Gaslit Nation is 100% independent. Our independence is what makes it possible to address topics most media outlets avoid. We thank you for your support and for keeping us going! Show Notes: The Broken Film – a documentary about genocides. For more information, including the trailer, visit the website: https://www.thebrokenpromisefilm.com/ Manhattan Prosecutors Begin Presenting Trump Case to Grand Jury https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/30/nyregion/trump-stormy-daniels-grand-jury.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur National Progressive PAC Plans To Back Manhattan DA Candidate Alvin Bragg With $1 Million Cash Infusion https://gothamist.com/news/national-progressive-pac-plans-back-manhattan-da-candidate-alvin-bragg-1-million-cash-infusion Read the Full Text of Mark Pomerantz’s Resignation Letter  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/nyregion/mark-pomerantz-resignation-letter.html

Welcome to the Gaslit Nation Q&A! We answer questions from our listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender level and higher on Patreon. To access this and all episodes of Gaslit Nation, support the show at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe. Join our community here: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

Welcome to the Gaslit Nation Q&A! We answer questions from our listeners subscribed at the Democracy Defender level and higher on Patreon. To access this and all episodes of Gaslit Nation, support the show at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe. Join our community here: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

Gaslit Nation has been studying Russian oligarch-aiding FBI traitors since our podcast launched in 2018, and what did we get for our diligent efforts? Yet another traitor! This week we discuss the indictment of Charlie McGonigal, the former top counterintelligence official in the New York field office who was secretly working for mega-oligarch Oleg Deripaska while pretending to investigate him. (You may remember Deripaska from our classic T-shirt slogan “You can’t make a deal with the guy who won the aluminum wars in the car bomb 1990s in Russia, you just can’t.” Rolls right off the tongue!)   We analyze the McGonigal case in the context of familiar Gaslit Nation topics – the top heads of the FBI who went on to work for the Russian mafia, how James Comey betrayed America to serve Semyon Mogilevich, the strange behavior of the FBI and the media during the 2016 election, the partnership between Deripaska and Paul Manafort, the partnership between Deripaska and Mitch McConnell, the desire of McConnell to make Merrick Garland head of the FBI as all this illegal activity was transpiring, and how the McGonigal case and general FBI treason affects Russia’s war on Ukraine. This episode was recorded during our second ever Gaslit Nation Live Event and we thank everyone who showed up for this historic occasion!   For our bonus, which will be out on Friday, we answered a LOT of questions from our Patreon subscribers! You can listen to our Q & As if you subscribe at the Truth-Teller level or higher, and you can send in your own question and get it answered in depth by subscribing at the Democracy Defender level or higher.   Times are tough in media, politics, and life and we are VERY grateful to you for keeping our show going! While other sites put up paywalls, we have kept our weekly Gaslit Nation episodes free and provided free transcripts to keep it as accessible as possible during this information war. We also have been able to retain and pay the same small staff of four people for nearly five years. Thanks to you all for supporting truly independent media, please keep it coming!   Show Notes:   Our opening song was “We Can't Breathe” with music by Rayna Zemel & Chief Wakil, and lyrics by Chief Wakil & Kelli Wakili. You can find Rayna on Instagram @rayzemel and @wintersrockentertainment, and on Soundcloud at soundcloud.com/rayzemi.   Correction to live taping: Special Counsel John Durham didn't indict computer scientists, only a cybersecurity lawyer in regards to the Trump-Alfa Bank allegations: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/us/politics/trump-alfa-bank-indictment.html   Charles McGonigal Named Special Agent in Charge of the Counterintelligence Division for the New York Field Office — FBI   Former Senior F.B.I. Official in New York Charged With Aiding Oligarch https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/23/nyregion/fbi-money-laundering-charles-mcgonigal.html   Former senior FBI official accused of working for Russian he investigated https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/23/mcgonigal-deripaska-indictment-fbi/   Russian Oligarch and Associates Indicted on U.S. Sanctions Charges https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/29/us/politics/russian-oligarch-sanctions-citizenship.html   Trump Server Mystery Produces Fresh Conflict https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/us/politics/trump-alfa-bank-indictment.html   Here’s How Donald Trump’s Paul Manafort Helped Create Chaos In Ukraine https://www.thedailybeast.com/heres-how-donald-trumps-paul-manafort-helped-create-chaos-in-ukraine   Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska & his links to British politicians - BBC Newsnight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziKUzn-5UcU   Trump Server Mystery Produces Fresh Conflict https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/us/politics/trump-alfa-bank-indictment.html   Want to Understand President Obama's Foreign Policy? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/want-to-understand-presid_b_6834540   Billionaire mogul with Russia ties emerges as major donor to Hochul, numerous pols https://nypost.com/2022/03/06/billionaire-mogul-with-russia-ties-emerges-as-major-donor-to-hochul/   U.S. Politicians Can't Stop Taking Len Blavatnik's Money https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2019/10/21/u-s-politicians-cant-stop-taking-len-blavatniks-money/

Welcome to a series we're now doing called the Florida Super Special. Since the state of Florida has had such a big impact on the hellscape we now find ourselves in, setting things off with helping bring George W. Bush and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to power in 2000, this may be our first Florida Super Special, but it won't be our last. In this bonus, you'll hear just some of the ways Russian intelligence is keeping the FBI busy in Florida, and what that might mean for the 2024 presidential election which might see Russian asset Trump anoint DeSantis as his successor.   For those who want to buy a ticket to the Gaslit Nation Live Taping and Live Audience Q&A this coming Tuesday January 24 at 12pm ET, you can do so by supporting the show at the Democracy Defender level or higher on Patreon.com/gaslit -- you can always cancel or switch back to your current support tier once the taping is done. We'll send out the Zoom details Tuesday morning to subscribers on Patreon at the Democracy Defender level or higher. The Zoom link goes live at 11:45am ET where early birds can hear Sarah and Andrea plan that week's show before hitting the record button at noon ET. We'll post the video of the episode (but not the Q&A) for subscribers to the Truth-teller level and higher. We're not posting the video of the Q&A of the live taping since some participants prefer not to be shown and would like to protect their privacy, which we understand. So come join us, if you can, on Tuesday!    

Join Gaslit Nation for a live taping January 24 at 12pm EST and stay for the live Q&A. Get tickets by supporting the show at the Democracy Defender ($10) or higher on Patreon by visiting Patreon.com/Gaslit. Join fifteen minutes early, at 11:45am EST, to see Sarah and Andrea put together the show before hitting the record button!    ***   For a month, we at Gaslit Nation have been pulling together disparate strands in the saga of Biden and Trump and the classified records found in each of their homes in order to weave you the tapestry of horrors we present on today’s program! At heart, this is not a story about Biden or Trump, but about the DOJ enabling elite criminal impunity in order to protect the secrets of broken institutions…like the DOJ itself. We break down the Biden documents and the new special counsel, the differences between Biden’s case and Trump’s, how the House GOP plans to weaponize the case and how the DOJ seeks to equivocate in order to weasel out of enforcing accountability, what a Biden impeachment trial would look like, whether Biden will pull a Nixon and resign, and what various successors should look like if he quits or decides not to run again in 2024. We remain in dangerous times and it is critical to look at the big picture threats.   Many of those threats coalesce around one state – Florida! For our special weekly bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level or higher, Andrea breaks down the history of Florida’s political corruption. (Don’t worry, Kathy Hochul watchers – she’s planning a New York sequel soon.) We also answer questions sent in from our subscribers at the Democracy Defender level or higher. If you are subscribing at that level, you are invited to a live Gaslit Nation taping on Tuesday January 24 at noon EST! We give more information about how that will work in today’s show, and we will post more online, so stay tuned.   Gaslit Nation remains an entirely independent show, which is why we’re able to do deep dives on topics other outlets are not allowed to touch. (Or are too afraid to touch!) We are extremely grateful to you for making this possible. If you appreciate what we do, please consider subscribing on Patreon to get bonus features and to keep Gaslit Nation going. Thank you!  

America has a new leading export – sedition! Globe-trotting unpunished coup-plotter Steve Bannon and his elite operatives have moved their operation to Brazil, attempting to violently unseat democratically elected president Lula. Meanwhile, ousted dictator Jair Bolsonaro has taken up residence in Florida, the home base of unpunished mafiosos from around the world! We discuss the events in Brazil, how much more effective Lula’s response was to their attacks than the Biden administration has been to 1/6, and how the DOJ’s refusal to hold criminal elites accountable has created a global national security crisis. We also discuss the continuing downfall of Congress, which has become less of a governing body than a gathering place for social media addicts attempting to build political personality cults. These reality TV show wannabes exist not to pass policy or protect the American people but to follow the path of the departed Donald Trump, a celebrity/criminal/politician hybrid cheered on by an army of “people” indistinguishable from bots. We also discuss the cliquish and cultish behavior in the Democratic party that has served only to strengthen the GOP’s fascist agenda. We also praise the rare officials who are exceptions to this behavior – new California Senate candidate Katie Porter, for one. Never forget that congresspeople are public servants and they work for you, not the other way around!  For our bonus episode, available on Patreon, we talk more about Brazil and about the contrived chaos in the House last week, in which Kevin McCarthy staged a feud with the Seditious Caucus in order to frame himself as a “moderate”, which he is not! We also answer questions from our listeners about covid lies and buried statistics, the failures of the DOJ and the January 6 committee, and much more. You can listen to this bonus by joining at the Truth-Teller level, and send us questions to answer in depth by joining at the Democracy Defender level or higher. Democracy Defenders are also invited to participate in our special live taping of Gaslit Nation on January 24! So sign up today, and we will see you soon – we could not make this show without you!

Our opening clip is from a November 2022 video of Steve Bannon, serial violent coup-plotter. It was put out by Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of defeated former Brazillian president Jair Bolsonaro, who visited Florida in November, meeting with Bannon and Trump. His father is currently in the suburbs of Orlando. Florida is a growing hotbed of the global fascist movement. For the full discussion and to receive our weekly bonus episodes, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won't hear every episode unless you subscribe to the show: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

This is an excerpt of our January 6 anniversary special. For the full discussion, which includes the GOP chaos in the House of Representatives and our usual Q&A where we answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher, and to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation, sign up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe. Thank you so much to everyone who supports the show. Join our community of listeners here: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit *** Another year around the sun and coup mastermind Donald Trump still walks around free in his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, a foreign adversary’s paradise of stolen state secrets. And yet he’s still allowed to run for president.   Now Trump’s many accomplices in Congress who helped fuel the incitement to violence that nearly overthrew our democracy on January 6 are currently raking in fundraising dollars from their Trumpian cult base as they proudly prevent the House of Representatives from getting to work. The dysfunction of the far right extremists that now control the Republican Party is by design and decades in the making, as we discuss in our spring 2022 series with leading experts on confronting fascism.   The Trump rally that deliberately killed people on January 6, 2021 can now hold up the House of Representatives, raising alarms about the US once again on the global stage, jeopardizing the essential functioning of a major branch of government, and showing our global allies, at a time when we’re at war with Russian facism determined to undermine democracies around the world, that the US is not a reliable ally, that the US is plagued by political instability.   Putin’s greatest assets aren't just Tucker Carlson and the GOP. It’s the utter lack of accountability for the Kremlin Klown Kar that carried out their treasonous conspiracy on January 6 two years ago and continues to threaten our democracy once again from the House floor.   Let January 6 now be known as Merrick Garland Day as he's the one condemning us to a ground hog's day of attempted coups as the ones tasked with protecting us remain scared of their shadows or paid off in the shadows.   Show Notes:   Our initial reaction to January 6, 2021 captured here: https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/1610641793913159680   Matt Gaetz friend handed 11-year prison term in US sex trafficking case https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/02/matt-gaetz-friend-joel-greenberg-sex-trafficking   Judge scolds Justice Department for its slow investigations at hearing for Rep. Matt Gaetz’s convicted associate https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/politics/joel-greenberg-matt-gaetz-investigation-hearing/index.html   It’s Unclear Whether the Justice Dept. Will Take Up the Jan. 6 Panel’s Charges https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/19/us/politics/jan-6-trump-justice-dept.html   The feds say they're in for the long haul in the Jan. 6 investigation. There is a time limit. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/feds-say-long-haul-jan-6-investigation-rcna61728

Welcome back to the fifth year of Gaslit Nation and the fiftieth year of the quest for Donald Trump’s tax returns!  This week we discuss a panoply of government criminals and their dirty donors, ranging from newly minted oligarch cash receptacle “George Santos” (or whatever his name really is) to fellow recipients of mafia money in Congress (sadly it’s nearly everyone) to Trump’s half-century free ride from the IRS (because, again, they’re all in on it!) to the backers of Putin and Netanyahu’s wars (again it’s the same network enabling the crimes!) We also discuss the chaos and corruption that will ensue under a GOP House, the disturbing rhetoric of new Democratic House Minority Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, and give an update into Putin’s war on Ukraine. We come fully armed with receipts and discuss what this entrenched corruption means for American democracy in the year 2023, a year in which Congress may have lost its illusions but has not found its soul. We discuss the lackluster release of Trump’s tax returns and stress the urgent need for release of his returns going back to the 1970s, which is when he allegedly made a pact with the US government to not pay taxes for thirty years in return for unnamed favors. (Read about it in Sarah’s book HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT which is having a $2.99 Kindle sale.) We are recording our weekly bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level or higher, on Wednesday to mark the second anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol and the continued inaction of Merrick Garland’s DOJ to hold the organizers accountable. We will also be answering your questions so please keep them coming! If you subscribe to Gaslit Nation at the Democracy Defender level or higher, you can ask us anything you want and we will answer it in depth! Subscribers at that level are also invited to a live Gaslit Nation taping on January 24! Stay tuned for more details and thank you for your continued support of the show – we could not make it without you. Show Notes: Russian Oligarch’s Cousin Funneled Cash to N.Y. Politician https://www.thedailybeast.com/republican-george-devolder-santos-got-cash-from-andrew-intrater-cousin-of-russian-oligarch-viktor-vekselberg Conservatives turn to a new message: ‘God bless the Ukrainian people’ https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/27/conservatives-cpac-ukraine/ Here's the first evidence Russia used Twitter to influence Brexit https://www.wired.co.uk/article/brexit-russia-influence-twitter-bots-internet-research-agency Scrutiny mounts over tech investments from Kremlin-connected expatriates https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/12/19/russia-expatriates-links-probed/ The Russia Investigations: Another Oligarch Becomes Embroiled In The Imbroglio https://www.npr.org/2018/05/12/610466404/the-russia-investigations-did-a-nice-oligarch-pay-trump-s-lawyer Russian Oligarch’s Cousin Funneled Cash to N.Y. Politician https://www.thedailybeast.com/republican-george-devolder-santos-got-cash-from-andrew-intrater-cousin-of-russian-oligarch-viktor-vekselberg Moscow Heat: George Santos and His Moscow Trips https://petestrzok.substack.com/p/moscow-heat?r=1pz15w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Russians getting seized off the street by police to go fight in Ukraine https://twitter.com/Laurie_Garrett/status/1609668327525203969 Firm Tied to Russian Oligarch Made Payments to Michael Cohen https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/us/politics/michael-cohen-shell-company-payments.html A tiny paper broke the George Santos scandal but no one paid attention https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/12/29/north-shore-leader-santos-scoop/ GOP operative convicted in scheme to funnel Russian money into Trump campaign https://www.axios.com/2022/11/18/trump-campaign-jesse-benton-russia $858,000,000,000 - by Judd Legum - Popular Information SBF and the Injustice Democrats - by Max Berger (substack.com) Republican George Devolder-Santos Got Cash From Andrew Intrater Cousin of Russian Oligarch Viktor Vekselberg (thedailybeast.com) The Ties That Bind: Ehud Barak’s Business Network - CTech (calcalistech.com) ‘Israel today, Israel tomorrow, Israel forever,’ Rep. Hakeem Jeffries says at NY rally – Mondoweiss  

The 1930s are back! But this time, we're fighting dictators, wannabe dictators, and their propagandists on cable TV and social media platforms. Since the 1930s have returned, super-charged with new tech weapons, we should bring some of the heroes of the 1930s back, too. Enter historian Deborah Cohen, the author of Last Call at the Hotel Imperial, a riveting look at the generation of leading journalists who risked everything to rage against the machine.    Some of the journalists she highlights in her book are sadly not as remembered as they should be today given that they helped win the war against the Nazis on American soil. One of the journalists in particular is Dorothy Thompson, a one-woman crusade against Hitler who she originally laughed off in her 1931 interview. Hitler never forgot it and suspended her Twitter account, we mean, kicked her out of Germany, once he took over. Thompson went on to confront the Republican isolationist Congress, Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, and the rest of the America First KKKlown Kar with her fierce independent journalism and moral clarity, even getting kicked out of the Nazi rally in Madison Square Garden. We bring back these heroes to see what inspiration and other lessons we need for today.    In our very special bonus episode, we let loose on what TV shows and films we're watching to self-care and why. Television is something that we both take seriously, for different reasons, as we share in this discussion which covers a lot of ground on the importance and impact of culture in a time of encroaching autocracy. Let us know what shows you're watching and why in the comments section. To make sure you never miss an episode of Gaslit Nation, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher. And to submit questions to our regular Q&As and get access to exclusive events and more, subscribe at the Democracy Defender level or higher. Discounted annual memberships are available. Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    We'll be back with an all new episode and Q&A next week. Until then, we wish you and your family a Happy New Year!    *** You're invited to a live taping of Gaslit Nation January 24 12pm EST followed by a live audience Q&A. Tickets can be purchased by subscribing at the Democracy Defender level or higher -- look out for the Zoom link which will be sent out thirty minutes or so before the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!  

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

How does the world stop a genocide? How will Russia's war in Ukraine end? Why should Americans, or anyone around the world, care about Ukraine today? Historian Timothy Snyder, who recently produced a viral YouTube series by simply putting his lectures online of his class teaching the making of modern Ukraine, returns to Gaslit Nation. Snyder is our first three-time guest, making him Rufus to our Bill and Ted in this most not excellent adventure.    Snyder is the author of several bestselling books, including Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin, The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America, and the resistance pocket guide On Tyranny with an audio guide that has been updated to include Russia's current war against Ukraine and democracies worldwide -- On Tyranny: Expanded Audio Edition Updated with Twenty New Lessons from Russia's War on Ukraine.      If you want to join Professor Snyder in helping Ukraine, donate to his anti-drone defense fund here. Every little bit helps.    In this week's bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers, we answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher about Executive Order 14067 -- the Biden administration's attempt to reign in cryptocurrency, the special counsel Jack Smith, taking action on book banning, and more. Our Q&A was recorded before the big news abou the January 6 Committee's historic referral to the DOJ of criminal charges against Trump, but we'll be back with an all new episode and bonus episodes of Gaslit Nation in the new year. Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To help independent journalism and get acces to every episode of Gaslit Nation and live events, subscribe today or sign up for an annual membership for a discount.    *** You're invited to a live taping of Gaslit Nation January 24 12pm EST followed by a live audience Q&A. Tickets can be purchased by subscribing at the Democracy Defender level or higher -- look out for the Zoom link which will be sent out thirty minutes or so before the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! There'll be scary ghost stories, and tales of the glories of war criminals from long, long ago! This week’s Gaslit Nation tells two stories. One is about the imprisoned Russian mercenary arms trader who enabled the most brutal people in the world for decades only to be freed in a trade for an American basketball player and released to his homeland to likely help carry out logistics in an imperial war. The other story is about a hammer-wielding maniac and his girlfriend – a “nudist activist” imprisoned for child abuse who roamed the US drugging people while her siblings immersed themselves in sex cults, artificial intelligence and the occult, with one of them single-handedly reviving the Freemasons of San Francisco before going on to work for the Trump and Biden administrations.  This is because life in America is fine and normal, and everything is normal and going to plan, and we should not be at all alarmed because clearly our institutions have got it under control! Anyway, this episode of Gaslit Nation – a deep dive into war criminal Viktor Bout and then into Paul Pelosi attacker Dennis DePape and his girlfriend, Gypsy Taub, and her family – is a series of strange tales to share around the fire this holiday season. That’s because we are living in a real-life scifi dystopia. Might as well record it before Elon Musk inserts a chip in our brains and replaces it with his own! For our weekly bonus episode, available to Gaslit Nation subscribers at the Truth-Teller level or higher, we discuss crypto and attacks on democracy, book banning, Jack Smith's backstory, the Hunter Biden laptop fiasco, the MeToo backlash, and more. If you are a subscriber at the Democracy Defender level or higher, stay tuned because you are invited to a special live taping of Gaslit Nation on January 24! Details to come. Thank you to everyone who subscribes to our podcast and keeps it going. We know economic times are tough and we very much appreciate your support – we could not make this show without you! Show Notes Galore!  Arms dealer Bout seeks new U.S. trial, hires Ashcroft law firm (yahoo.com) See Every Stock Trade Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Husband Has Made Since 2021 (businessinsider.com) Lawmakers Unlikely to Be Banned From Trading Stocks, at Least for Now (businessinsider.com) RELIGION AND SEX / The Immoral Majority / Finding sexual ethics in the godless masses (sfgate.com) Jerry Garcia Family Clinic MASONIC PAPERS by W.Bro. Dennis V. Chornenky - President, Masonic Restoration Foundation. (freemasons-freemasonry.com) Women's Temple LLC :: Minnesota (US) :: OpenCorporates Fundraiser by Diana Soline : Please help my Ukranian family! (gofundme.com) Freemasons charter new San Francisco lodge - San Francisco Business Times (bizjournals.com) Initiation, Mystery and Salvation: The Way of Rebirth by Bro.Dennis Chornenky 32° (freemasons-freemasonry.com) Dennis Chornenky | Presidential Innovation Fellows Optum's Chief AI Officer: AI is Driving Value-Based Care Improvements | HealthLeaders Media Victor Ivan Chornenky, PhD - Marquis Who's Who Milestones (marquiswhoswho.com) taub.pdf (squarespace.com) Who is Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer swapped for Griner? Blacklisted Russian Tied to Iraq Deals

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

Important call to action: Contact your rep in the U.S. House and your two Senators in Congress to demand that they urgently pass financial support for Ukraine before the end of the year. Here are more details on the big budget showdown in Congress, and here's how to contact your reps in Congress. Simply say: "Make sure you pass all the funding before the end of the year that Ukraine needs to defend itself. Don't let the new Republican House hold aid to Ukraine hostage." Thank you!   We’re back! After a two-week break in which several decades of horrific breaking news occurred, Gaslit Nation is back with the rundown on all the developments that happened in our wake. The GOP took the House, Trump announced he was running again and called to terminate the constitution, neo-Nazis and white supremacists carried out terrorist attacks and public sphere takeovers, workers were screwed over yet again by the Biden administration, and mafia state enabler Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel to do the work that he is too cowardly and complicit to do himself. Wow!   We start the episode by reviewing the career of new special counsel Jack Smith, who is already being heralded as a savior by the same group of ding-dongs who worshiped Comey, Mueller, Vance, Garland and other failures. We feel somewhat sorry for Smith for attracting a following of freaks who embellish his resume in order to create yet another cult of bureaucracy. We debunk some of their propaganda claims and take a closer look at Smith’s last place of work – the “ghost court” of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. We hope Smith learned from the “ghost court” that justice delayed is justice denied, and we wish him luck as he works within an institution, the DOJ, that hired him to run out the clock. Gaslit Nation endorses Jack Smith going rogue and actually serving his country!   We then move on to the drip-drip-drip of Matt Taibbi’s “Twitter Files”, which could be called the poor man’s Wikileaks if it weren’t being done in partnership with the richest man in the world on the social network owned by the richest man in the world. There are serious issues raised in Taibbi’s work that should be investigated – state control over social media, nepotism and national security – but this is an inane way to go about it. We also discuss the broad attempt to recreate the social media landscape of 2014-2016 in anticipation of Trump’s attempt to become Cosa Nostra Grover Cleveland, what’s changed since then, and what’s in store for the future.   Our bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth Teller level or higher, will run later this week, since it is our reaction to the Georgia runoff election, which is happening as I type. Hopefully we will be ruminating on what a Warnock win means. We also plan to discuss the new Congress in general, and answer some of your Q & A questions as well. Gaslit Nation is 100% independent and survives only through Patreon support, so please consider joining so that we can keep reporting and you can get bonus features and more!   Show Notes: Pass a Law: The Tanya Chalupa Interview (Andrea's Mom!) https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2019/4/5/gaslit-nation-featurette-pass-a-law?rq=Tanya%20Chalupa   The US government is considering a national security review of Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter acquisition, report says. If it happens, Biden could ultimately kill the deal. https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-elon-musk-twitter-deal-government-national-security-review-report-2022-10   Netanyahu touts friendship with Putin in new billboard https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-another-league-netanyahu-touts-friendship-with-putin-in-new-billboard/   Stormy Daniels says Trump told her 'you remind me of my daughter' after she spanked him with a magazine https://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-trump-ivanka-daughter-2018-3   At least 6 killed at July 4 parade in Highland Park, heavily Jewish suburb of Chicago https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/news/national_news/at-least-6-killed-at-july-4-parade-in-highland-park-heavily-jewish-suburb-of/article_200e05ba-fbcd-11ec-b187-df061eecec19.html

We're doubling your chances to receive a signed copy of Sarah's latest book They Knew and a Mr. Jones film poster. Join us for our final phone bank of 2022 as we make calls to get out the vote in Georgia with Indivisible to keep Reverend Warnock in the Senate where he belongs and to defeat Herschel Walker, a puppet of GOP fascism. Every phone call we make matters, because every vote matters. So come join us December 5th Monday -- election eve! -- at 5pm to 7pm EST. We will select *two volunteers* to receive the book and movie poster. Sign up here: https://indivisible.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vc-mrpz0qHtVTZtq2ouaDYLF1XgnQc2Or

Important reminder! We’re phone banking with our friends at Indivisible for Reverend Raphael Warnock who we need to keep in the Senate, because he’s a good person; Dems need a 51 majority in the Senate to have a stronger hand negotiating with the ruthless GOP/Manchin/Sinema; and we cannot normalize bonkers Herschel Walker in the Senate for six years. And finally, the Senate map is abysmal for Dems in 2024 so we must ensure Warnock wins the December 6th Georgia runoff to stand a chance of keeping the Senate majority. Join us at any or all of the below phone banks. We’re selecting one volunteer at each event to receive a signed copy of Sarah’s new book They Knew and a Mr. Jones film poster! Sign up here: Thursday, December 1st 6:00pm - 8:00pm ET Monday, December 5th 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET Historian Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon's voice is an important one in the frontlines of fact-checking the Kremlin's disinformation war against the West. Her research spans the Black experience in the Soviet Union as well as the Holodomor, Stalin's genocide famine in Ukraine. As you can tell in this interview, Andrea is really excited to finally talk to her for the show.   In the interview, Kimberly makes connections between the Russian far-right and American far-right, the genocidal history that led to Russia's current war, and why should people around the world care about Ukraine. This year marks the start of the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor, an urgent reminder to stay vigilant of Russian aggression. As Kimberly points out, looking away, especially as we enter winter, will only embolden a terrorist state that is waging war not just on Ukraine but democracies worldwide.    In this week's bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, Sarah and Andrea discuss Trump running for president again after a long history of committing crimes out in the open, the dreaded Moore vs. Harper case the Supreme Court theocrats agreed to hear on December 7th which may be a wreckingball against our democracy and what to do about it should the worst come to pass, and Sarah's must-hear reaction to Merrick Garland's decision to appoint a special counsel instead of indicting Trump for no shortage of crimes. Thank you to everyone who helps keep Gaslit Nation going by subscribing to the show on Patreon. We couldn't make Gaslit Nation without you!  

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

Important reminder! We’re phone banking with our friends at Indivisible for Reverend Raphael Warnock who we need to keep in the Senate, because he’s a good person; Dems need a 51 majority in the Senate to have a stronger hand negotiating with the ruthless GOP/Manchin/Sinema; and we cannot normalize bonkers Herschel Walker in the Senate for six years. And finally, the Senate map is abysmal for Dems in 2024 so we must ensure Warnock wins the December 6th Georgia runoff to stand a chance of keeping the Senate majority. Join us at any or all of the below phone banks. We’re selecting one volunteer at each event to receive a signed copy of Sarah’s new book They Knew and a Mr. Jones film poster! Sign up here: Thursday, December 1st 6:00pm - 8:00pm ET Monday, December 5th 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET Comedian Jena Friedman has a long career in stand-up comedy and production, which has often earned her harrassment online from the MAGA crowd and Kremlin trolls. In this interview, Andrea discusses the role of comedy in a time of dictatorship, who's afraid of a good abortion joke?, Jena's 2016 election night live TV moment that still earns her hate messages, and how far comedy has come, or not, for women, whom Christopher Hitchens once declared are inherently not funny.   We're grateful for the fearless comedy of people like Jena working on the frontlines of white male patriarchy grievance and their culture wars. If you like Gaslit Nation, check out Jena's series True Crime Story: Indefensible on the Sundance Channel and AMC+ streaming, available on Amazon, YouTube, and several other places here. Indefensible pulls back the veil on legal warfare and corruption in America in the style of The Daily Show, Jena's old stomping grounds where she worked as a producer. Also, check out her stand-up comedy on reproductive healthcare, violence against women, and other lighthearted subjects called Lady Killer, streaming on Peacock.    In our bonus episode for our Patreon subscribers, Sarah and Andrea discuss the disinformation war in Elon Musk's battle against Twitter and why he spent $44 billion on the site now, especially as his chaos endangers an important plaform that has brought so many of us together in the fight for our democracies and against global corruption. That's a conversation not to miss as it puts our struggles here in the US in greater perspective. Sign up to access that and our full back catalogue of bonus episodes by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon. Thank you all for your support of the show and for keeping our independent journalism alive in a time of emboldened far-right oligarchs.

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

Important announcement! We’re phone banking with our friends at Indivisible for Reverend Raphael Warnock who we need to keep in the Senate, because he’s a good person; Dems need a 51 majority in the Senate to have a stronger hand negotiating with the ruthless GOP/Manchin/Sinema; and we cannot normalize bonkers Herschel Walker in the Senate for six years. And finally, the Senate map is abysmal for Dems in 2024 so we must ensure Warnock wins the December 6th Georgia runoff to stand a chance of keeping the Senate majority. Join us at any or all of the below phone banks. We’re selecting one volunteer at each event to receive a signed copy of Sarah’s new book They Knew and a Mr. Jones film poster! Sign up here:   Saturday, November 19th 3:00pm - 5:00pm ET with special guest David Pepper, author of Laboratories of Autocracy  Thursday, December 1st 6:00pm - 8:00pm ET Monday, December 5th 5:00pm - 7:00pm ET It’s been one week since the midterms and, as of now, it looks like the Democrats won the Senate but lost the House – or, shall we say, threw the House away. We look at the hard-fought wins and highly preventable losses of a party full of honest voters and dirty power brokers -- specifically the Pelosi Vichy Democrats and DCCC chair Sean Patrick Maloney, who, along with heirs to the Cuomo corruption ring, was responsible for the Democrats losing New York and therefore the House itself. This was not a loss but a forfeit, and what these Vichy Democrats are trying to forfeit is our future. This conversation on Democratic wins and losses turned into a broad and emotional discussion on racism, regional stereotyping, media bias, the pandemic, and the future that America’s young people deserve. As Sarah said in a previous episode, the difference between the GOP and the Democrats is that the GOP will kill you but the Democrats will let you die. America’s young people do not deserve a future designed by a geriatric crime cult and its octogenarian enablers. There are so many good people out there – you among them! – and none of you deserve this. We want to make that abundantly clear because as soon as they call the midterms for the GOP, the Democratic politicians will tell you it was your fault and the media will try to convince you that you wanted it all along. Don’t listen! Stay strong and follow your moral compass; you will find it in your heart. In our bonus episode, Andrea answers questions from our subscribers at the Democracy Defender level and higher about where do we go from here, how to talk to your children and deal with your own anxiety in a time of fascism, and whether Putin’s corruption has weakened Russia’s nuclear arsenal like it has his dysfunctional military in Ukraine. Never miss an episode of Gaslit Nation by subscribing at the $5/month Truth teller level or higher on Patreon, or join our regular Q&As and live events by supporting our independent journalism at the Democracy Defender level or higher. Thank you to everyone who helps keep our show going!  Show Notes The Inside Story of Sean Patrick Maloney’s Face Plant in New York https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/11/sean-patrick-maloney-new-york-red-wave-dccc-house.html New York Democrats urge Hochul to push out the state party chair. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/nyregion/new-york-democrats-urge-hochul-to-push-out-state-party-chair.html

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

By the time you read this, the polls will have closed, but the election will not have ended – and our battle for a free and sovereign United States of America goes on. In this episode, Andrea and Sarah blow off steam that has accumulated over the very difficult year of 2022, in which we lost our bodily autonomy, contended with a relentless pandemic, and saw ever more clearly the complicity of our institutions as the US became the first country in history to memory-hole a coup and let a career criminal coup plotter run for office again like a Cosa Nostra Grover Cleveland.   Generally we at Gaslit Nation do not hold back, but there is a time and a place to fully cut loose, and we decided that time was immediately after the polls closed – since this is still a battle between a flawed Democratic party tethered to a Vichy leadership and a GOP that is an apocalyptic death cult. What the two parties have in common is that they will blame us, regular Americans, for everything that goes wrong, while hitting us up for money and telling us to drop dead. We are fed up – and yet we refuse to bow down. So listen to our overview of how we got to this moment, as we rage, rage, rage against the dying of the light! (For those wondering, we will continue to rage, rage, rage on Twitter too – we’re not going anywhere!)   We were also provided some evergreen advice from Dakota Hall as the executive director of the Alliance for Youth Action—the first Black and Indigenous leader of the organization—and former executive director of the Alliance’s Wisconsin-based affiliate Leaders Igniting Transformation. The Alliance for Youth Action grows progressive people power across America by empowering local young people’s organizations to strengthen our democracy, fix our economy, and correct injustices through on-the-ground organizing. For this week’s bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level and higher, we answer questions submitted from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. We will answer anything so keep sending in your questions! Gaslit Nation is a fully independent podcast, which gives us the ability to speak honestly and to investigate subjects that many outlets avoid. For us to keep going, however, we need to maintain our financial support. If you’ve learned from our show or appreciate what we do, please consider becoming a Patreon member and joining our community. If you need a place to go to after leaving Twitter, consider subscribing to our Patreon for as low as $1/month – manually select that amount to join our community of listeners!: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

If you have a young person in your life, take them to vote, and if they're voting for the first time do something special to mark the big occasion. That's the advice of this week's special guest. Here is an excerpt of our interview with Dakota Hall, the executive director of the Alliance for Youth Action—the first Black and Indigenous leader of the organization—and former executive director of the Alliance’s Wisconsin-based affiliate Leaders Igniting Transformation. The Alliance for Youth Action grows progressive people power across America by empowering local young people’s organizations to strengthen our democracy, fix our economy, and correct injustices through on-the-ground organizing.  If you're receiving this message before 4pm EST on November 7th, election eve, there's still time to join our phone bank with Indivisible for Mandela Barnes for U.S. Senate and Lauren Underwood for the U.S. House in Illinois. We're selecting one person at the phone bank to receive a signed copy of Sarah's new book They Knew and a Mr. Jones poster. Mandela Barnes himself will join the phone bank so don't miss it! RSVP here: https://twitter.com/gaslitnation/status/1587816319872811008

Important reminder! Come join our phone bank Monday November 7th -- election eve! -- at 4pm EST with Indisvible for Mandela Barnes for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin and to re-elect Lauren Underwood to the U.S. House in Illinois. One volunteer who attends Monday's phone bank will be selected to receive a signed copy of Sarah's new book They Knew and a Mr. Jones poster. Mandela Barnes will join the Zoom meeting at the start of the phone bank so don't miss it! Sarah and Andrea were on MSNBC Sunday morning talking to host Ali Velshi about the far-right threats to our democracy and what must be done to protect our country from sliding into autocracy. You can watch the clip here, and RSVP to Monday's phone bank here!   And now, for an important message to our community about our decision to stay on Twitter and why we think you should, too. For those subscribed to our show on Patreon, we're working on a way to add Discord on Patreon just for our community of listeners and will keep you updated on that shortly!  Where else would you like to connect with Gaslit Nation online? Let us know in the comments on this Patreon post! Thank you!   

We're very excited to announce that Mandela Barnes is going to speak at our phone bank for his U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin on Monday November 7th -- election eve! -- at 4pm EST. Join us and our friends at Indivisible Illinois as we make calls to get out the vote in Wisconsin and also for U.S. House super-star Lauren Underwood in Illinois. Every phone call we make matters, because every vote matters. And remember: at the event, we're selecting a volunteer to receive a signed copy of Sarah's new book They Knew and a Mr. Jones poster. That could be you! Listen to our quick reminder of why Ron Johnson, the Kremlin's "useful idiot" in the Senate, needs to go. Sign up here to RSVP.

It’s November – the beginning of the end, the end of the beginning. We at Gaslit Nation have been through this such a long long time, just trying to kill the pain, and we have mitigated it somewhat together. And now we enter a new phase, where the key digital platform that allowed documentation of the crimes of the powerful and literally made our show possible – Twitter – is being steamrolled by a billionaire shitposter. (We are refusing to cede our ground and will remain on Twitter despite Musk; for more on that, listen to our Patreon bonus episode.)   The attempted destruction of Twitter arrives in the midst of waves of political violence: the bludgeoning of Paul Pelosi, violent threats nationwide to poll workers and election officials, and the continuation of the election day “bloodbath” promises that criminal elites have been making for years – and the DOJ is letting it happen. We are dreading the midterms and the violence that will very likely follow; we mourn the violence that is here and the corrupt enablers in government who refused to take action when it really mattered, years ago, when we still stood a chance. Never forget that this all could have been prevented: what’s predictable is preventable. They made their choice, and we made ours. We discuss the landscape of streamlined political violence and then provide some last minute updates to our midterms coverage. Vote early, if you can.   Gaslit Nation needs support! If you like our show, spread the word, because we are on our own and may be impacted by the Twitter takeover. Gaslit Nation is entirely funded by our audience. If you appreciate the work we’ve been doing these past six years, consider joining at the Truth-Teller level and getting bonus episodes every week. You can also join at the Democracy Defender level to ask us a question and get it answered in a weekly Q & A. (We are working through your questions now, if you’ve submitted one, and we’ll have a new Q & A next week.)   Also stay tuned for special election episodes that we will run next week depending on the condition of the proto-fascist hellscape! And please be good to each other in this dark November – everybody needs somebody, no you’re not the only one…   Show Notes: Company Backed by J.D. Vance Gives Platform for Russian Propaganda https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/31/us/politics/jd-vance-peter-thiel-rumble.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwAR0iMuBP9JtMDIVZ2k3U92G2gx-W1Zh2yH0MWc7y0H777R_gQrs2PcK7x1A

Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

In the spirit of Ted Lasso, we're leaving it all on the field this make it or break it election for our democracy. The polls are within the Margin of Effort: every single outreach we make to voters matters, because every single vote matters. In this interview with CA-27 U.S. House candidate Christy Smith, a longtime advocate for education who began her public service career as P.T.A. mom, we discuss how things are different in 2022 compared to when she ran for office against far-right extremist Republican Mike Garcia in 2020, where she lost by only 333 votes.   We're getting Smith over the finish line. Join our phonebank party Sunday October 30th 2pm EST with Swing Left and special guest Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman. This is an event you're not going to want to miss! RSVP here!

Welcome to the Gaslit Nation 2022 Halloween Extravaganza!   Thank you to all who entered our radio play contest. For future consideration, we're keeping your plays on file, in the dusty old filing cabinet in the haunted basement of our creepy old mansion on a hill surrounded by a graveyard of Ted Cruz's self-respect. So there's always a chance your play may be produced next election cycle! And keep your entries coming! We always love peering into the brains of our listeners. [Insert evil laugh!]   Now without further ado...   Join Gaslit Nation to Get Out the Vote (GOTV)! Trainings included, helping democracy guaranteed! Let’s plant seeds of hope together! At each event, we're picking a volunteer to receive a signed copy of Sarah's book They Knew and a signed Mr. Jones poster. October 28th Friday 4pm to 6pm Eastern Time — Phonebank with Indivisible for U.S. Senate Candidate John Fetterman in Pennsylvania. RSVP here! October 30th Sunday 2pm to 5pm Eeastern Time — Phonebank with Swing Left for Christy Smith for California's 27th Congressional District. She lost last time around by only 333 votes! RSVP here! November 7th Monday 4pm to 6pm Eastern Time — Phonebank with Indivisible for U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood in Illinois. RSVP here!

Join Gaslit Nation to Get Out the Vote (GOTV)! Trainings included, helping democracy guaranteed! Let’s plant seeds of hope together! At each event, we're picking a volunteer to receive a signed copy of Sarah's book They Knew and a signed Mr. Jones poster. October 28th Friday 4pm to 6pm Eastern Time — Phonebank with Indivisible for U.S. Senate Candidate John Fetterman in Pennsylvania. RSVP here! October 30th Sunday 2pm to 5pm Eeastern Time — Phonebank with Swing Left for Christy Smith for California's 27th Congressional District. She lost last time around by only 333 votes! RSVP here! November 7th Monday 4pm to 6pm Eastern Time — Phonebank with Indivisible for U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood in Illinois. RSVP here! The 2022 midterms are coming soon, but we at Gaslit Nation are still dealing with the unresolved business of 2016! That includes Brexit, which has produced yet another wanker in the revolving door prime minister shambles that has been going on for the last six years. We share our doubts that a guy worth more than King Charles has the interests of the common man in mind and extend our sympathy to our British listeners.   Back in the states, the midterms are heating up – and “heating up”, in modern American parlance, means new coup plots are being hatched, new insurrectionists are volunteering to be vote counters, and new upstanding citizens are being threatened with death or prison for the crime of…voting. And what is Merrick Garland, who vowed to protect the elections, doing about it? As usual, nothing! His free pass to the January 6 attackers have left us wary of more post-election violence to come, and the admin’s refusal to protect voting rights leaves us concerned about the ability of our fellow Americans to cast their ballot. That said, we encourage you to vote! We are disillusioned but yes we are voting, and we are having several GOTV events and get-togethers this week.   Then special guests drop by Gaslit Nation: Chloe Maxmin, a state senator in Maine, the youngest woman ever elected, in 2018, to Maine's House of Representatives, and her campaign manager Canyon Woodward. Together, Maxmin and Woodward are the authors of Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends On It. They walk us through their battle-hardened lessons on winning in a rural conservative district, and how to build progressive infrastructure in rural America to protect our democracy election cycle after election cycle. Join their community work at DirtRoadRevival.com.    For our Patreon bonus, available to subscribers at the Truth-Teller level or higher, we continue to answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher about corruption, freedom, and the fight to carry on in tough times. We will likely be doing extra bonus episodes in the weeks following the midterms, so if you’re not signed up at the $5/month level already, please do so! Our regular weekly episode is and will always be free, and that is because of listeners like you. We know these are tough economic times, and we are feeling the pinch as well, so we are particularly grateful for your support!

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In this special interview with Gaby Goldstein, a co-founder of Sister District, we discuss the Supreme Court case Moore v. Harper, which the court agreed to hear December 7th. Just like Citizens United empowered dark money groups to turbo-charge America's descent into far-right fascism, Moore vs. Harper will unleash a far great danger: the end of our democracy as we know it -- state governments will essentially be allowed to override the will of voters.   The story of how we got here is one of state government power, and why, as we keep saying on the show, it's so important to fight like hell in state elections, and not just the races for Congress and president. You can join us in doing just that by making calls with Sister District and Gaslit Nation on Tuesday October 25th at 5pm EST -- we're calling voters in North Carolina to remind them to vote in their all important state elections. Every vote matters, and so does every phonecall we make together.   This interview ends with a quick training on making phone calls to voters and an important call to action to join our North Carolina phonebank with Sister District. You can sign up for this and other events on the Gaslit Nation 2022 Survival Guide. We look forward to seeing you Tuesday 5pm EST at our phonebank party with Sister District!

Imagine: the year is 2005. The Apprentice dominates the airwaves, Kanye West dominates the charts, and you are told that in seventeen years, you will be comparing the antisemitic rants of former presidential candidate West to the antisemitic rants of former president Trump as you analyze the descent of the United States into full-fledged authoritarian kleptocracy. Where is a Tesla time machine when you need one?! Surely transporting us back to an era in which we could alter our current timeline this would be a better endeavor for shit-talker Elon Musk than taking over Twitter while bonding with the extremist right.

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Putin relies on making subtle and not so subtle nuclear war threats and has done so for years. Currently, it’s his way of making his war crimes and ethnic cleansing seem not so bad in comparison, and trying to deter meaningful response from Ukraine’s allies to try to hold him accountable. We debate whether Russia would actually use a nuclear weapon, what the repercussions would be for Russia and the world if they were to do that, and discuss the strategies on dealing with nuclear threats that do not give in to Russian blackmail.   We also discuss the important historical context to today’s war and crisis with Russian fascism–the unfinished business of World War II. We go through the ways world leaders have fallen for Putin’s mind games, including Germany ensuring greater dependence on Russian gas, something we’ve long warned against, even though they knew they were leaving themselves vulnerable to Russia's energy weaponization, according to a stunning admission by Chancellor Scholz. While our bonus episode looks at Putin’s little helper – Elon Musk – we provide a peace plan of our own: get Ukraine what it needs to end the war quickly, because the Munich Agreement – giving Hitler land in exchange for peace – didn’t work in 1938, and the Minsk I and II negotiations with Russia promising essentially the same thing in recent years hasn’t worked either. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not just a war; it’s ethnic cleansing. And it’s impossible to negotiate with a fascist state that doesn’t think you should exist.   The Gaslit Nation Early Show returns! This week, we open with our reaction to the unsurprising news that Elon Musk, the world's richest sh*tposter, was allegedly communicating with Putin before pushing Russian propaganda on Twitter in a so-called "peace deal" proposal (a.k.a. helping Russia re-group given that it's losing, badly, to Ukraine). Musk denies talking to Putin, but what about a Kremlin proxy, like maybe his financial backers from Russian ally Saudi Arabia in the Twitter deal? We discuss all that and more, answering questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher, including what to do about movement in-fighting, what did Saudi Arabia get out of Jared Kushner so far, and where the hell is our justice for January 6th? We'll be back with an all new Gaslit Nation Q&A so keep your questions coming!

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David Pepper has witnessed Ohio devolve into an electoral autocracy where extreme Republican gerrymandering ensures that the results of the state elections are pre-determined. This is happening across the country in so-called red states, which are in reality voter suppression states or Republican hostage states. Pepper explains how we got here, what can still be done about it, and his list of reasons and strategies to fight like hell. For more on Pepper's work, check out his book Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines and his website LaboratoriesOfAutocracy.com.

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This week we kick off by examining a country that is technically a democracy on paper but is actually ruled by an unelected supreme court of theocrats who strip women of their basic rights! Is it the United States? Iran? Does the fact that we have to ask not speak to a broader global attack on women’s bodily autonomy?! We look at the brave protests of Iranian women and prepare for a horrific month of rulings on the Supreme Court here in the US. We also note that a woman will become prime minister of Italy for the first time, but of course she is a fascist groomed by Steve Bannon, because it is 2022 and we are in hell.

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Hey remember when Trump stole a bunch of classified documents related to nuclear material and stored them in his Florida golf compound and the legal pundits said “he can’t do that” and Trump summoned the ghost of Roy Cohn who said “it doesn’t matter what the law is, only who the judge is” and a Trump-appointed judge ruled in favor of Trump and then another throwback from Trump’s mafia glory days in NYC was appointed “Special Master”?

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Sarah's latest book "They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps Americans Complacent", is available in stores, as an ebook, and as an audiobook, so please go out and get it! In this special episode, Andrea interviews Sarah in what turned out to be an unusually personal conversation about the book and more.

Gaslit Nation is back with breaking news: Joe Biden calls out fascism, and Merrick Garland has still not discovered obvious crimes! This week we break down Biden’s comments on “semi-fascism” (he’s right!) and his September 1 speech, which was notable not only for the Dario Argento production design but for finally confronting the threat of autocracy in stark terms. But where was this speech eighteen months ago? And more importantly, where is the action to match his words?

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Missouri has long been the bellwether of American politics, predicting presidents and anticipating trends – and lately, it’s been the bellwether of American decline. This week Gaslit Nation welcomes Jason Kander, a former Missouri Secretary of State,  Missouri Democratic Senate candidate, voting and veterans’ rights advocate, and bestselling author. Kander’s new book, Invisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and Ptsd, is a raw and moving account of his battle with PTSD as well as a thoughtful overview of US politics and media. This is an unusual book for a politician to write, but Kander is not your average politician, which is one reason we were excited to welcome him to the show. (Also you should buy his book, all royalties go to the Veterans Community Project, a nonprofit organization serving homeless and at-risk veterans.)

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CORRECTION: This event is *this Thursdsay* -- not Friday, as originally posted. Hope to see you Thursday September 1st at 8pm EST for an important fundraiser to help protect Pennsylvania in the midterms and beyond!   Hi All, It's Andrea here, again, issuing a correction: the Pennsylvania fundraiser is this Thursday, not Friday. If you're not doing anything this coming Thursday night -- September 1st at 8pm EST -- join me and other activists for a fundraiser to protect Pennsylvania from Trump's fascist movement by electing Democrats at the all important state level where crucial quality of life policies are determined, including the integrity of our elections. By protecting Pennsylvania this November, we help protect the electoral college in 2024. It's one of the most important states we need to win in order to keep the White House.  As Trump tried to violently overthrow our democracy, he led a well-coordinated operation to leave no stone unturned to try to stay in power, just as we always warned. When all of his many attempts failed, he turned his attention to state races where his cult is running for office, paving the way to steal the election for him or someone like him in 2024, to help Trump and his criminal gang come back to power, enrich themselves, and this time stay in power.  It's all scary and all true. The way we fight back is through efforts like the States Project, which we featured on our show during our spring series Rising Up from the Ashes: Cassandras and Other Experts on Rebuilding Democracy. Here are our two spring interviews with the States Project: Fight Back with The States Project - Part I and Fight Back with The States Project - Part II.  I hope you'll join me this coming Thursday September 1st at 8pm EST over Zoom. The fundraiser is hosted by J. Smith-Cameron who plays Gerri on HBO's Succession, a show based on Rupert Murdoch's corrupt and dysfunctional family, and other stars from the show. What's even better: it's a pajama party. So join me in wearing comfy pajamas, enjoying a chilled drink, and chatting with the stars of Succession. To get the Zoom details, join me in donating $50 or higher made here. Hope to see you there! 

Hi All, It's Andrea here. If you're not doing anything this coming Thursday night -- September 1st at 8pm EST -- join me and other activists for a fundraiser to protect Pennsylvania from Trump's fascist movement by electing Democrats at the all important state level where crucial quality of life policies are determined, including the integrity of our elections. By protecting Pennsylvania this November, we help protect the electoral college in 2024. It's one of the most important states we need to win in order to keep the White House.   As Trump tried to violently overthrow our democracy, he led a well-coordinated operation to leave no stone unturned to try to stay in power, just as we always warned. When all of his many attempts failed, he turned his attention to state races where his cult is running for office, paving the way to steal the election for him or someone like him in 2024, to help Trump and his criminal gang come back to power, enrich themselves, and this time stay in power.   It's all scary and all true. The way we fight back is through efforts like the States Project, which we featured on our show during our spring series Rising Up from the Ashes: Cassandras and Other Experts on Rebuilding Democracy. Here are our two spring interviews with the States Project: Fight Back with The States Project - Part I and Fight Back with The States Project - Part II.   I hope you'll join me this coming Thursday September 1st at 8pm EST over Zoom. The fundraiser is hosted by J. Smith-Cameron who plays Gerri on HBO's Succession, a show based on Rupert Murdoch's corrupt and dysfunctional family, and other stars from the show. What's even better: it's a pajama party. So join me in wearing comfy pajamas, enjoying a chilled drink, and chatting with the stars of Succession. To get the Zoom details, join me in donating $50 or higher made here. Hope to see you there!

In this episode, we take a break from our ongoing analysis of why the DOJ won’t prosecute a coup-plotting career criminal nuke fetishist who has confessed to his crimes dozens of times to turn our attention to the ongoing genocide of Ukraine by Russia. August 22 marked the six-month anniversary of Russia’s escalated invasion, and the body count is immense – not only among Ukrainians murdered by Russian imperialists and Russian soldiers sacrificed by their own government, but in the mysterious deaths of those caught up in the middle.

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It’s been over a week since the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago to retrieve highly sensitive classified documents concerning nuclear materials and we’re so glad that career criminal Kremlin asset Trump is finally behind bars – just kidding, they’re still letting him run around and do whatever! This week we review the criminal investigation into Trump and his crime cult, which is once against faltering, whether in NYC in the pseudo “plea deal” granted to Alan Weisselberg, or in the refusal to stop the immediate threat Trump, Kushner, Ivanka, and the rest pose not only to the United States, but to the entire world.  We review new details of the raid, warn about Trump’s successful manipulation of the media narrative, and focus on two key players – Ivanka and Jared, who were installed in the White House thanks to Merrick Garland’s BFF Jamie Gorelick. Kushner has since made illicit two billion dollar deals with Saudi Arabia and had fallen under House investigation for illicit nuclear deals in 2019. (Remember when the Oversight Committee investigated things?!) We warn that the classified information that has been stolen and weaponized is not limited to the physical documents that the DOJ took its sweet time retrieving from Mar-a-Lago. We dig deep into the dirty dealings of the Trump spawn and their partners, and also look at Trump’s own obsession with nuclear weapons, which dates back over forty years. This is a very dangerous situation! Our bonus episode is the Gaslit Nation Live episode recorded last week with our wonderful Patreon subscribers, in which we answered questions from our audience in real time. This episode was taped the day after the raid and the questions are very lively, making it a Must-Listen! To hear it, sign up at the Truth-Teller level or higher. Gaslit Nation is an extremely independent podcast and the only reason we have the freedom to investigate these controversial topics is because of listeners like you, and we thank you for keeping us going! Show Notes: From Andrea on Twitter: Want to protect the White House from Trump in 2024? Protect Pennsylvania, a must-win state in the Electoral College, in 2022. Join me in donating to a @StatesProjectUS giving circle to elect Democrats and keep Trump's Big Lie out of power in Pennsylvania https://twitter.com/AndreaChalupa/status/1559199165674098688 Donate to help keep Pennsylvania Blue in 2022 and Beyond! https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/zjrhpjw/State-Fair https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/Trump%20Saudi%20Nuclear%20Report%20-%202-19-2019.pdf 

Here's an excerpt of our live Q&A with our audience at the recent live taping of Gaslit Nation. Subscribe today to access all episodes of Gaslit Nation by signing up at the Truth-teller level or higher. You won’t hear every weekly episode unless you subscribe: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit

The road to Mar-a-Lago has always been riddled with crime – and now, finally, the FBI has decided to take it. Eighteen months after Trump illegally took classified material from the White House, spurring urgent demands for their return from the National Archives, the DOJ decided it was time to retrieve them, and noted correctly that Trump would not surrender the materials voluntarily.    

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Tonight! August 6 at 7:30pm ET you can watch live as the film Mr. Jones, written and produced by Gaslit Nation's very own Andrea Chalupa, about Stalin's genocide famine in Ukraine, will be blasted at the Russian Embassy Press Office (a.k.a. the Russian Propaganda Office) in Washington, DC, at 1706 18th Street NW. Anyone anywhere in the world can watch the event -- it will be recorded and livestreamed. Here is the YouTube link where you can watch live or at a later time.   The screening will open with a Q&A with three-time Academy Award-nominee Agnieszka Holland -- the director of Mr. Jones, and Andrea. The discussion will continue with Olga Lautman of the Kremlin Files prodcast who will join to talk about Russia's ongoing genocide in Ukraine.   Last fall, a Putin mob and authorities shut down a screening of Mr. Jones in Moscow and shortly after banned the renowned human rights organization, Memorial, that dared to show it. The Guardian reported on it here. Memorial faced years of repression for fighting for historical truths. So we're blasting the film at the Russians using a powerful projector.    This is going to be an interesting evening you don't want to miss!

Welcome to a Gaslit Nation special episode that wil bury you with stone cold facts! Over the past eighteen months, we have faced incredulity and even threats when detailing the shady background of Merrick Garland and his ineffectiveness as Biden’s attorney general. But unlike the DOJ, we welcome requests for proof and have provided it here!

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The January 6th Hearings are a ratings bonanza. It’s a shame Democrats didn’t do more prime time hearings into Trump corruption sooner, following the Blue Wave of 2018. We told them then that the American people demand long overdue justice, and hearings are a great way of building public outcry to insist on accountability. Unfortunately, hearings can also be a way to rewrite history and rehabilitate reputations. Sarah breaks down the disturbing parallels between the 9/11 hearings and the January 6 hearings to provide warning signs of justice being denied. Another reminder of why we must handle our democracy with care.

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This week we take on shady internal affairs (the enormous number of people in the Trump crime cult circle who died violent or mysterious deaths) and burning external affairs (the horrors of climate change and Joe Manchin’s role in destroying the planet). But before we get to that, we examine yet more confirmation of what we already knew – that Merrick Garland is a mafia state enabler. We discuss the leaked DOJ memo that Rachel Maddow discussed on her show Monday night, Bill Barr’s influence over the DOJ, and shadow mentor Jamie Gorelick, who is still molding both Garland and the January 6 committee.

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This week we catch up on developments in two of the main stories we cover on Gaslit Nation: the January 6 Committee hearings, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sarah breaks down the hits and misses of the hearings thus far, and warns of the hearings being used for reputational rehab for dirty Republicans both in the Trump administration (Barr, Kushner) and outside of it (Liz “Democrats kill live babies” Cheney.) Don’t fall for it! We also address the continued refusal of Merrick Garland’s DOJ to bring perpetrators to justice and how it’s torpedoing Joe Biden’s approval rating. The hearings have done a great job reminding Americans what happened eighteen months ago – and left them wondering why it took eighteen months to address crimes that still go unpunished.

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We’re ba-a-a-ack! Like a poltergeist of civic conscience, Gaslit Nation has returned to tell you all the things you do not want to know but need to hear. We were off for three months while Andrea had a baby (welcome to the family Chloe!) and Sarah had her bodily autonomy signed away by the Attorney General of Missouri. An eventful spring for all!

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Public school teachers have one of the hardest jobs in America right now. For two years, they have contended with a politicized pandemic, a manufactured culture war over “critical race theory”, and violent threats aimed at school board members and other officials. This is all in addition to the low pay and budget cuts that they’ve dealt with for decades! So show your teachers some support and respect! This week Sari Beth Rosenberg, a high school history teacher in New York and activist on the democracy frontlines, shares her thoughts on the past two chaotic years and the current challenges America’s schools face.

In a two-part discussion, this week we’re joined by two experts on the frontlines of fighting for our democracy on the all critical state level. If you want to fight for our democracy and prevent the slide into authoritarianism, clean up your local state government! How to proceed? Two experts from The States Project – Melissa Walker, a widely read author for teen novels turned democracy defender, and the Head of Giving Circles, and Aaron Kleinman, the Director of Research – are here to tell you. Walker and Kleinman address structural impediments to democracy – including gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the composition of the Senate – as well as challenges from dark money shadow networks and astroturf protests. They also give advice on navigating state politics and staying strong in the midst of this onslaught on our rights. We need all hands on deck for 2022, and an informed public is a powerful public!

In a two-part discussion, this week we’re joined by two experts on the frontlines of fighting for our democracy on the all critical state level. If you want to fight for our democracy and prevent the slide into authoritarianism, clean up your local state government! How to proceed? Two experts from The States Project – Melissa Walker, a widely read author for teen novels turned democracy defender, and the Head of Giving Circles, and Aaron Kleinman, the Director of Research – are here to tell you. Walker and Kleinman address structural impediments to democracy – including gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the composition of the Senate – as well as challenges from dark money shadow networks and astroturf protests. They also give advice on navigating state politics and staying strong in the midst of this onslaught on our rights. We need all hands on deck for 2022, and an informed public is a powerful public!

This is Part II of our interview. In this two-part interview, we take a deep dive into a right-wing hellhole with acclaimed scholar Nancy MacLean, the author of the bestseller Democracy in Chains, which discusses how anti-democratic networks run by powerful plutocrats came to hold the United States hostage. MacLean discusses the Koch dark money network and its shadowy political partners, the decades-long libertarian takeover of the Republican Party by far-right mercenaries, the infrastructure of this extremist network and how it has sustained itself for so long, the rise of the neo-confederacy, and the dystopian plans billionaires have for the American future. We also get MacLean’s opinions on recent crises like the pandemic, the Trump Crime Cult’s Capitol attack, and the assault on voting rights. And of course we ask her how we best battle these insidious adversaries, break America’s Koch addiction, and get our country back!

In this two-part interview, we take a deep dive into a right-wing hellhole with acclaimed scholar Nancy MacLean, the author of the bestseller Democracy in Chains, which discusses how anti-democratic networks run by powerful plutocrats came to hold the United States hostage. MacLean discusses the Koch dark money network and its shadowy political partners, the decades-long libertarian takeover of the Republican Party by far-right mercenaries, the infrastructure of this extremist network and how it has sustained itself for so long, the rise of the neo-confederacy, and the dystopian plans billionaires have for the American future. We also get MacLean’s opinions on recent crises like the pandemic, the Trump Crime Cult’s Capitol attack, and the assault on voting rights. And of course we ask her how we best battle these insidious adversaries, break America’s Koch addiction, and get our country back!

Despite the Democrats holding the presidency, Senate and House, LGBTQ rights are in greater danger than they have been in over a decade. The revival of the right-wing culture wars along with sustained court packing by Republican radicals has put hard-won rights in jeopardy. Gaslit Nation welcomes Chase Strangio of the ACLU to break down the legal landscape of LGBTQ rights in the US today, including challenges to the legal right to gay marriage, the battle for transgender rights, and the religious extremism of today’s Supreme Court majority. He also addresses what ordinary Americans can do to preserve equal rights for all. Strangio is Deputy Director for Transgender Justice with the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project and a history-making expert on transgender rights. He is the lawyer behind the historic June 2020 Supreme Court ruling protecting LGBTQ rights in the workplace and in 2020, was in Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

In this interview conducted a few weeks before Russia’s escalation of its invasion of Ukraine, Eastern European journalist and writer Maksym Eristavi explains the social and political crises that led the world to this point. Andrea and Maksym discuss corruption in Ukraine, how the Kremlin has weaponized that corruption, and how corruption in Ukraine is an enduring legacy of Russian genocidal colonialism, and how the West can help Ukraine by cleaning up its own corruption. They also discuss Ukraine’s efforts to build a free and just civil society despite corruption, in particular ongoing initiatives to preserve LGBTQ rights. This interview provides vital historical context on the ongoing regional conflict.

This is Part II of our discussion. Gaslit Nation is excited to welcome Anne Nelson, an expert on American right-wing aspiring autocrats who has been warning about the conditions that led to our present national crisis for our entire adult lives! Yes, you should have listened to Anne Nelson’s warnings earlier but it’s never too late to start. In this crash course in America’s secret history, Nelson describes a radical right-wing takeover that was decades in the making. She explains the nefarious financial and political alliances that arose during the Reagan administration and still guide the US today, the rise of the religious right over the past five decades, “shadow network” think tanks like the Council for National Policy, and the infusion of dark money in politics. She also describes the ineffective response of the Democratic Party to Republican extremists, the January 6 attack on America, and what steps we can take to preserve our democracy.

Gaslit Nation is excited to welcome Anne Nelson, an expert on American right-wing aspiring autocrats who has been warning about the conditions that led to our present national crisis for our entire adult lives! Yes, you should have listened to Anne Nelson’s warnings earlier but it’s never too late to start. In this crash course in America’s secret history, Nelson describes a radical right-wing takeover that was decades in the making. She explains the nefarious financial and political alliances that arose during the Reagan administration and still guide the US today, the rise of the religious right over the past five decades, “shadow network” think tanks like the Council for National Policy, and the infusion of dark money in politics. She also describes the ineffective response of the Democratic Party to Republican extremists, the January 6 attack on America, and what steps we can take to preserve our democracy.

Next year, 2023, will mark the 50-year anniversary of the landmark Roe v Wade case…if it is not overturned by then. Gaslit Nation welcomes Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo, the cohosts of the podcast Boom! Lawyered, to explain the ongoing attack on reproductive rights, why prior warnings were not heeded, and what actions we can take to fight back now. We discuss the long-term Republican takeover of the courts, the questionable legitimacy of the Supreme Court, the connections between the erosion of reproductive rights and the strengthening of an autocratic surveillance state, new laws legalizing violent vigilantism against women in states like Texas, why the media played down these threats, how the Democrats should respond, and much more!

Back in 2015 and 2016, as the GOP caved to the Trump crime cult and the mainstream media normalized their corrupt ambitions, a few voices from the right rose up in dissent. One of the leading lights in this regard was Cheri Jacobus, a political commentator and former Republican who was an early target of Trump’s vicious campaign and its propaganda machine. Currently a registered Independent, Cheri was the founder, President, and Executive Producer of “America Reads The Mueller Report” and the former host of the podcast “Politics with Cheri Jacobus”. She remains an outspoken critic of the Trump crime cult and its enablers.