Krystal Kyle & Friends

Violence against peacefully protesting students is now taking place at an unfathomable scale. Hundreds of protesters were attacked and arrested at Columbia; hundreds more were also assaulted and rounded up at UCLA, across the country. And dozens of schools in between are mounting their own solidarity encampments, and facing massive repression from the alliances of universities and local police forces.These alliances are not new. They characterized the university’s response to protests against apartheid in South Africa and against the Vietnam War. What’s especially disturbing is that from the local level to the federal level, our government is, on the whole, utterly failing to protect these young people peacefully exercising their right to protest a genocide. The failure of leadership from Biden in particular — a president who has and will again demand the youth vote as the anti-Trump — is galling. Students across America are being left at the mercy of cops’ batons as they lose their housing and face total uncertainty in their academic careers.We talk with Zaid Jilani this week about this massive uprising that’s sweeping the country, the insidious response from universities and governments, and what any principled free speech advocate should be doing right now about it. You can listen to this podcast when it’s released tomorrow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

The high visibility of student protests on social media have brought conversation on the genocide in Gaza to the fore. Dave Smith, a libertarian comedian, is also thinking about the unforgivable atrocities Israel has perpetrated in Palestine, and to that end, he recently debated Dennis Prager and Batya Ungar-Sargon (alongside Cenk Uygur). In this debate, Dave shares his fiery and brilliant perspective, making a clear case for boycotting, sharing why his politics lead him to support a ceasefire, and much more. Now, we’re talking to him about the aftermath of the debate, touching on the wildest points made by the other side, why he continues to voice his support for Palestine, and much more.This episode is available tomorrow on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

CodePink activist Moataz Salim is our guest this week, talking about the organizing efforts he’s been part of in support of Palestinian liberation. All eyes are on pro-Palestine organizers right now, as students have set up encampments at Columbia (after months of enduring surveillance, chemical attacks, arrests, and doxxing). They’re making a powerful, highly visible statement against the endless slaughter of Palestinians by Israelis (and with U.S. funding), not to mention the grievous actions of their school to silence students who oppose the genocide. Moataz is on Capitol Hill every day, confronting them with his humanity, as Krystal comments on this week’s episode. Congress is showing its true colors by (often proudly) voicing its support for an ethnic cleansing campaign, and Moataz’s courageous work is holding them to account. In this episode, we cover the essential organizing work Moataz is doing, how he and other Americans are tirelessly bringing visibility to the Palestinian cause, and more.This episode is available as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Medea Benjamin has had an incredibly busy week on Capitol Hill. First, there’s talking to the less-than-allies: publicly challenging the Secretary of Defense, who’s on the record saying there’s no evidence of genocide in Palestine. Same thing with Samantha Power, who has written about, studied, and spoken on genocide and human rights extensively in her political and academic career. She and her co-organizers have also attended a hearing regarding journalist safety, raising, of course, the massively overlooked tragedy of journalist killings in Gaza. At the same time, there are bright spots too — talking, for example, with Rashida Tlaib about potential bills and resolutions to support Palestinians and oppose the genocide.We talk about these incredible efforts, the Freedom Flotilla, and much more on this week’s episode of KK&F. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Ana Kasparian, host of TYT, reminds us of the line that will get trotted out millions of times before November to hosts of disenchanted voters tired of Democrats’ empty promises and full coffers for war: “Democracy is on the line.” So why is the Democratic Party insisting on Biden? Back in 2020, when the pickings for candidates supporting Medicare for All were incredibly slim but not zero, and there was at least a plurality of options for center-left Democrats promising some small departure from the status quo, you could at least say it looked like the Dems were trying. Now they’re making no attempt to put forward a candidate who speaks to Americans’ most basic moral concerns.What will be the result of this ethically bankrupt approach? We talk about this and much more on this week’s episode of KK&F. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

A recent Atlantic article by a student at Stanford lamenting the purported silencing of Zionist voices and the aggressiveness of pro-Palestine voices on campus might give the impression that defenders of Palestinian liberation, and not of Israeli apartheid, hold the most sway in American institutional settings. These pieces frame the current crisis as intellectual: the unjust violation of free speech against Palestinians’ rights.But again, as Palestinians’ lives are literally on the line — after nearly six months of ongoing violence in Gaza — our purpose is to reframe these kinds of viral Zionist arguments to place emphasis on the actual mass suffering, death, and privation taking place among the Palestinian population at the hands of the IOF. In this episode, we undertake that kind of reframing with our guest, whose expertise on this topic helps shed new light on Israel’s decades-long subjugation of Palestine and why it’s an issue we should care about.In this episode of KK&F, Mouin Rabbani joins us for an essential conversation on the latest in Israel’s brutal war on Palestine. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Katie Halper joins us to discuss Zionist backlash against Jonathan Glazer’s recent movie The Zone of Interest. Glazer was the only awardee to acknowledge the genocide in Gaza in his speech, in which he rebuked the co-optation of Jewish identity and the trauma of the Holocaust by violent supporters of an ethnostate. The movie, as we note, has clear and resonant parallels to modern-day violence: it presents the idyllic life of oppressors shadowed by the ever-present but never-quite-seen suffering of their victims.For Zionists to take issue with this film tells us everything we need to know about their absolute dismissal of Palestinians’ humanity and complicity in the violence that Israel’s very existence is currently premised on. Humiliation and cruelty are part of the system. We talk about much more in this episode, including Katie’s debunking of the oft-said statement that Israel protects Jews and why that statement is so harmful. You can listen to it tomorrow when it’s released on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Certain shifts in the American establishment response to Israel’s genocide in Palestine suggest that the Biden admin has begun to feel the pressure put on it by pro-Palestine organizers across the country (and around the globe). From massive protests to coordinated labor actions and more, the American working class has taken a massive stand against its government’s support of mass violence. Notably, as we move through the primary season of the presidential election, many have found a high-visibility way to express their dissent: voting Uncommitted, as almost 50,000 people did recently in Washington State.Omar Baddar joins us to unpack this movement and think about the power of electoral organizing as one of multiple political tools available to members of the Palestinian liberation movement abroad. We talk through the latest developments in American policy surrounding Israel-Palestine, including waning support for Netanyahu, and much more. We hope you’ll enjoy this latest episode of KK&F, which will be available tomorrow through Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

If you listened to this week’s State of the Union, you heard Biden proudly claim that nobody has a better record on Israel than he does — which is saying an awful lot, in a room full of militant Zionists, war hawks, and those getting their pockets lined by the American defense industry. To hear a president reaffirm his support and longstanding commitment to a genocidal ethnostate after more than 150 days of senseless slaughter in Gaza shows why people turned out in far greater numbers than expected to vote Uncommitted in the Democratic primary in states like Michigan, North Carolina, and more. Biden may have thought that his brief statements condemning Palestinian death last night were enough. But they reveal the ally to military interests, and the enemy to the international working class, that he’s always been.This was just one part of a (sometimes) fascinating speech, with equally interesting responses from Biden’s colleagues. We get into it on KK&F this week — you can listen to the episode as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Mehdi Hasan is here to talk to us about his latest reporting on the genocide in Gaza, an exciting new media venture, and more. In this episode, he sheds light on the dehumanization at the core of the genocide in Gaza, where as he puts it, Palestinian lives are simply treated as more expendable and less valuable than Israeli lives — and have been treated as such for a long time. Grassroots organizers around the country and the world have made a significant outcry against the genocide and its support from the U.S., but, especially for our political establishment, life continues to go on. Through his own reporting and through an analysis of other media coverage of the issue, Mehdi points out how this should not be a new normal we adjust to — our leaders have the moral obligation to stop the genocide.Mehdi’s latest project is the creation of a digital media company that can challenge mainstream narratives legitimizing violence and normalizing inequality. Zeteo will include video, audio, and text reporting — the launch will take place via Substack. (Check it out here!). “How many times,” the project asks, “have you complained about the ‘mainstream media’? […] About softball interview questions or lazy ‘both sides’ coverage?” Well, we complain about those things regularly on KK&F, so it’s exciting to see the development of a new project primed to take them head-on. We hope you’ll listen in to this episode to learn more about this exciting project, and more! This episode is available as a podcast via Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Marc Lamont Hill joins us to respond to a fiery exchange between Holocaust scholar and pro-Palestine advocate Norm Finkelstein and Shmuley Boteach, a Zionist rabbi, moderated by Piers Morgan. In this conversation, Shmuley takes Finkelstein to task for citing Lula’s comments on Israeli violence in Palestine, and calls into question his credentials as a scholar of the Holocaust, implying, as so many of Finkelstein’s opponents have done, that he is a Holocaust denier. Boteach also cites the ICJ’s decision on whether to classify Israel’s actions in Palestine as genocide, and Norm’s response reveals how Zionists deliberately misread the historical record and engage in character assassination to take on their opponents.We talk about all of this and much more on this week’s episode of KK&F. You can listen to this episode as a podcast tomorrow on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Our guest this week, author John Washington, is here to make the case for a wildly different immigration system, open borders. He argues this complete reimagining will end the cruelty of our current system, and benefit our country and the world. For more check out his new book: The Case For Open Borders. The inhumanity of mainstream American political discourse surrounding immigration is particularly stark in light of the destabilization of foreign governments and exploitation of resources that form the major part of the U.S.’s treatment of its southern neighbors. Refugees fleeing regions marked by post-regime change violence and precarity are then turned away (or worse) at the U.S. border for seeking safety. It’s an issue on which both Republicans and Democrats generally remain conservative, to the grave detriment of people facing unprecedented danger.You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Comrade Taylor, welcome to the revolution? We dive into the sick, sick world of conspiracy theories and conservative frenzy around liberal darling Taylor Swift. Our guest RM Brown is a Youtuber renowned for his incisive, humorous commentary on left media, right-wing discourse, and everything in between. On Episode 160 of KK&F, we’re bringing him on to talk about what’s up with the Democrats (and why they don’t want to make people’s lives better), getting desensitized to Trump’s insanity (and what he might do next), and much more on the topic of the 2024 election.You can listen to this episode as a podcast now on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Kyle & Vaush get into it on KK&F this week on the upcoming presidential election, debates in left media, and Israel-Palestine. Listen to this episode to hear their thoughts on everything from podcaster solidarity to extremely troubling co-optations of anti-Israel sentiment online.As the ICJ moves to condemn Israeli violence in Gaza but fails to call for a ceasefire, we discuss recent updates on Israel-Palestine along with Vaush’s insights into the forthcoming election and the terrain of independent left media. We hope you’ll enjoy this wide-ranging conversation. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. See you next week! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week we’re joined by journalist Owen Jones to talk about language the media uses to dehumanize Palestinians. We delve into this analysis of media coverage of Israel-Palestine because the terms used to report atrocities in Palestine, obscuring key information about Israeli aggression and massive Palestinian loss of life, enter (and ultimately dominate) the broader discourse of our political landscape, creating ignorance and complicity in the West that only abets the genocide.What can we do about this? We hope you’ll enjoy this thoughtful conversation with Owen, which you can listen to as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

We’re releasing this week’s episode early to respond to the groundbreaking case made by South Africa in The Hague against Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the UN is hearing charges of genocide brought against Israel by South Africa, alleging that Israel has violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. While the ICC, which prosecutes individuals on such charges of crimes against humanity, has dragged its feet in procuring justice for Palestinians, the current case seeks swift action from the international community to condemn Israel’s genocidal acts.The ICJ does not have the coercive power to enforce an outcome after it has made a decision, report Noura Erakat and John Reynolds for Jacobin. But it can massively sway international opinion. While the case might ultimately take years to come to a final decision, the ICJ could provisionally demand a ceasefire, by which, Erakat and Reynolds write, Israel would be “formally bound.” In our conversation with Norm Finkelstein, we discuss the politics of the ICJ, the likely outcomes of this case, and what a decision in favor of Palestine — or of Israel — would do. You can listen to this episode as a podcast when it’s released tomorrow on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Krystal and Kyle take on Congressman and Presidential candidate Dean Phillips for a wide ranging interview and debate. Should Trump be kicked off the ballot? Is Israel committing a genocide? What would Dean do as president?For a country that prides itself on upholding democracy (don’t think about those overseas regime changes, please), the U.S. has also revealed itself to be a nation in which you might have to spend $2 million just to get on the ballot if you’re running for president. Anyway, that’s what’s happening to Dean Phillips right now, and he’s got a great analysis of how this system upholds a political status quo. It’s easy to see how candidates championing the interests of the working class — and opposing those of big business donors — can’t break out onto the national stage as easily, and often can’t mount a high-visibility campaign to the same degree as their establishment counterparts. It’s another level of anti-democratic that just getting on the ballot also might mean paying your way.Phillips, who currently may not appear on ballots in MA, WI, FL, TN, and NC, is challenging these decisions, but says that it costs money to do so — and he may not be able to overturn all of them. Dean tells us that his time interacting with regular Americans led him to embrace more left policies like Medicare for All. We hope you’ll enjoy our debate with Dean on Israel, Trump and his explanation of what he has learned about the breakdown of American democracy. This episode is available on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

A confluence of powerful figureheads and institutions come together in the story of the religious far right’s rise, bookended by the popularity of televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr. in the ‘70s and, in our own time, his son Jerry Falwell Jr. Founded by Jerry senior, Liberty University joined Baptist church and austerity state, drawing in young conservatives, preparing the next generation of the Republican Party, and supporting various party initiatives. In his new book “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory,” Tim Alberta describes it as a “fortress of evangelical culture [war],” providing Falwell with a platform as he attacked Jimmy Carter for a Playboy interview in a successful bid to rally the “moral majority.”Decades down the line, a new generation, inspired by (and in the case of Jerry Falwell Jr., literally related to) the old, is carrying on their cultural and religious crusade against progressivism, the welfare state, multiculturalism — you name it. How has Trump drawn support from this base, and can he do it again this election cycle? Listen to this week’s episode to find out. You can also find this podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to KK&F, where we’re hosting this week’s conversation with Katie Halper, host of the Katie Halper show. Katie’s here to talk to us as an advocate of Palestinian liberation about the weaponization of antisemitism she’s observed, why it matters, and what we can do about it. Under the guise of protecting Jews in America from the “hate speech” of Palestinian liberation, many Jews will in fact be marginalized and silenced for their political beliefs and activism. The Anti-Defamation League’s treatment of Jewish Voice for Peace as a hate group means that an organization tasked with preventing attacks on Jewish people will be putting them at risk of those attacks on the basis of their opposition to an oppressive colonial ideology.We hope you’ll enjoy this essential and timely conversation. You can tune in through Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Our topic with this week’s guest, Dimi Reider, is the IDF’s genocidal plan for Gaza — and why more Israelis don’t oppose it. Dimi is cofounder of +972 Magazine and Editor at The Lead. The strategy is nothing short of wiping out civilians, and a recent poll showed that only 1.8 percent of Israeli Jews think that the IDF has gone too far. We talk about the political situation within Israel and how we got to this point. Thanks for joining us — you can listen to this episode as a podcast when it’s released tomorrow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

We’re joined by Scott Horton to get his insightful analysis of relations between the Palestinian Authority, the occupying Israeli government, and American leadership gives us insight into key moments in modern occupied Palestine. He covers the role of the Bush administration in pushing for an election, the outcome — Hamas’s victory — and the truth about this election, often twisted by Zionists: Hamas did not win a majority in any district, but only carried a plurality. Scott also covers the essential history of US security assistance to Fatah, Hamas’s rival, arming them to support a failed “bloody putsch,” described by David Rose in this article for Vanity Fair.Given our country’s notorious history of pouring money into proxy wars, destabilizing foreign governments, and pursuing its own imperial interests throughout, the history Scott gives us in this episode of KK&F is essential to keep in mind, especially as the American government continues to pour money into Israel’s genocidal campaign. We hope you find this historical deep dive as urgent and fascinating as we did. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Episode 151 of KK&F, featuring Ryan Grim discussing his new book on the secret history of the Squad. The Squad has expanded beyond its original four members to become a significant, popular entity with which the Democratic Party has been forced to contend, never more so than now as Joe Biden provides unconditional support to Israel’s war on Gaza. At times, members of the Squad have been the only in Congress, or among the only, to support single-payer healthcare, the rights of Palestinian people, ending homelessness, and more. They’ve also occasionally run afoul of their own professed values, with certain members taking votes on defense spending, problematic funding, stances on Israel, and insufficient steps to champion Medicare for All that have resulted in intense criticism from the left.Time has told us that it isn’t good practice for progressives to uncritically stan the Squad. Nor, we’d argue, is it good practice to dismiss the contributions they’ve made to American politics, the public support they’ve amassed, or the power they’ve won within the Democratic Party, limited though it may be at the moment. The question of how progressives can effectively work within the Democratic Party — if they can at all — is one with which we’ve long been interested. Ryan’s great new book gives us the opportunity to return to it with the Squad as a fascinating case study.You can listen to this episode of KK&F as a podcast when it’s released tomorrow on Spotify, Substack, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Generations of Palestinian families have been wiped off the map. People choosing to stay in their homes in the North have been labeled terrorists and warned to flee. The IDF is bombing the convoys of those who follow their orders to leave. And yet there is hardly international consensus among the ruling elite that what’s unfolding in Gaza is a genocide. As massive protests like the one that stopped traffic on the Bay Bridge continue to unfold all over the world, the failures of congressional representatives to represent the views of their constituents and back a ceasefire have become more and more pronounced. So much, we might say, for democracy.Listen to our conversation with Abby Martin about the ongoing genocide in Gaza, now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

A whole day early, we’re bringing you our recap of the third Republican presidential debate, which took place last night in Miami. Watch below for our review of the night’s winners and losers, debate highlights, our thoughts on who’s headed for the Republican nomination, and much more:The pool of candidates for the Republican nomination is shrinking. Five candidates took the stage in Miami last night to trade zingers and get into heated debate over how many new wars to start, who supports Israeli atrocities the most aggressively, whether to sic the DOJ on pro-Palestine college protesters, and more. We talk about what’s at stake in this week’s episode, available on major streaming platforms. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Few members of Congress have had the tenacity and the moral compass to oppose massive funding for Israel’s genocide. Just today, the House passed a bill allocating $14.3 billion in funding to Israel, with twelve Democrats voting in favor. Meanwhile, recent reporting from the Intercept testifies to how pro-Palestine voices within the Democratic Party — especially those of Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush — have been met with strong opposition from the party establishment. Progressive standard-bearers like Bernie Sanders have fallen sadly short of calling out human rights abuses and demanding a ceasefire. The current response from Congress toward the mass murder of Palestinians tells us everything we need to know about whose side our government is on, and it’s not the side of everyday people in Palestine or America.Watch our interview with Omar for more in-depth discussion of Israel’s siege on Gaza, the international response, and growing grassroots organizing to call for a ceasefire. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week, Adam Johnson joins us to discuss Western media’s complicity in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. Earlier this week, the Palestinian Ministry of Health released the names of over 7,000 Palestinians murdered by the Israeli government after President Biden callously called the death toll into question. News stories about violent acts committed by Hamas have gained wide traction without the bare minimum of fact-checking, while accounts of the atrocities committed against Palestinians are outright excluded or undermined by mainstream media.Why is this the case? Why do the interests of our major news outlets align with Israeli oppression, especially when the interests of the average working American align with those of Palestinians fighting for survival? In this week’s episode, we analyze the media narratives circulating around Israel’s siege on Gaza — who’s creating them, who they’re intended for, and who they exclude. Thanks for joining us for this important conversation.You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to KK&F! This week we sat down with Cenk Uygur to discuss his recently-announced bid for the presidency. Cenk’s presidential campaign was launched out of his sense of panic that Joe Biden is poised to lose to Donald Trump. Cenk hopes that his entry into the race will be successful enough to trigger other contenders into a Democratic primary so that voters might have the opportunity to select a more electable candidate.In this episode, we chat with Cenk about the brass tacks of his presidential run: why he’s running, what policies and ideologies he’s representing, how his presidency would affect the lives of working Americans, and whether he has a credible path to the presidency. Is Biden certain to lose? What is the level of threat Trump poses to the country and is his political strength overestimated given his legal jeopardy? Why not throw in with Marianne Williamson who is already running to Biden’s left in an attempt to avert disaster? We get into this and much more over an extended conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we’re bringing you a special episode on the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict. With Mac’s help, we think through the greater terrain of Mideast politics in which the Israel-Palestine conflict is situated, drawing connections to Israel’s attempted deal with Saudi Arabia, relations with Iran, and more. Our conversation looks back at the history of Israel’s colonization of Palestine and the response from the international community in order to understand how those conditions have led to the current conflict.Thanks for joining us. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

From her work as Ohio State Senator to her leadership on the Bernie campaign and runs for national office, Nina Turner has been a consistent voice in favor of working people. In our interview, we ask her why she’s putting her political efforts into bolstering striking workers right now — rather than into electoral endorsements or runs (which she says aren’t off the table). Because Nina wants to see changes in the material conditions working Americans experience, she’s looking to organized labor as the agent capable of effecting these changes. From raising the minimum wage to improving workplace conditions and building working-class political power, the issues Nina’s championed are issues that robust, militant unions can address — so she’s announced an organization to back these workers when they stand up to the bosses and demand a better deal.Thanks for listening to Krystal Kyle & Friends. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

While Trump skipped the debate (and the UAW picket line, unlike his Democratic rival, Biden) for a rally at a non-union auto plant in Detroit, seven competitors for the Republican presidential nomination took the debate stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library last night to try to challenge Trump’s lead and stand out among the pack. Who succeeded? Who fell short? In our discussion, we take a close-up look at the biggest moments of the night, including back-and-forths on foreign policy, zingers from Nikki Haley, and the final winners and losers at the end of the night. We hope you enjoy the deep dive!You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to another week of KK&F! This week we’ve got a special episode for you, featuring activist and writer Naomi Klein on her latest book covering conspiracy culture. Heading into an election cycle, it’s hard not to acknowledge the massive impact conspiracies (from vaccine fearmongering to misinfo on the results of the 2020 election) have on electoral outcomes — and the lack of confidence they point toward in mainstream media and communication from our government. As we’ve discussed with past guests, there are few challenges more urgent and more difficult than getting those who’ve been radicalized by conspiracy culture to detach from it.Naomi joins us to discuss her brilliant latest book, in the process revealing indispensable insight into our current political moment and the way it’s influenced by fringe conspiracy theories. We think you’ll enjoy the conversation. You can listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

What would it mean for there to be another civil war in the United States? Under what conditions could it happen? These are the questions we’re asking this week’s guest, political commentator, author, and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Yang’s recent book, The Last Election, captures a nation beset by systemic corruption, on the brink of collapse. Yang himself has been thinking about how intense political polarization — an increasingly hostile struggle between right and left — may lead to intense political violence, and his fictional work taps into what he imagines could become reality. In our conversation, he nods to the role of mainstream news and social media in sharpening divides between Republicans and Democrats, creating the conditions, as he sees it, for more widespread political violence that meets the criteria for civil war. Our conversation with Yang becomes an opportunity to hash out what is most contributing to this conflict, whether The Last Election could play out in our own political reality, and what we can do about it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we bring political commentator Briahna Joy Gray on the show to debate the big question: Where, if anywhere, does the Democratic Party deserve credit? And when does it become dishonest to ignore the real gains made by the current administration? Certainly, in the past few years, we’ve seen movement in the right direction, and state democrats in the Midwest passing phenomenal legislation, suggesting that a new future for the party could be possible.Is it worth voting for Biden if he’s the democratic candidate to preserve labor gains and block another disastrous Trump term in office? Or is there a real possibility for a third party to succeed even in a rigged American political system? We weigh our options, and discuss much more, in this week’s episode.You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of KK&F, Sohrab Ahmari joins the show to discuss how right-wing populism makes the attempt to reconcile conservative social views with leftist economic principles. Our conversation takes the form of a debate: What do left- and right-wing populists have in common? On what issues can they unite — if they can at all?Per Sohrab’s description, right-wing populists hold opinions that are significantly separated from the economic analysis they put forward, suggesting that they’re not simply leftists waiting to be reached and won over through economic issues. But Sohrab also suggests that circumstances may call for coalitions between right- and left-wing populists, and we think about what those might look like, if they’re possible.Thanks for tuning in. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Substack, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

What happened on the debate stage in Milwaukee among Republican presidential candidates last Wednesday — and what’s Trump got to do with it? In this special episode of KK&F, we give you a detailed breakdown of the first debate of the campaign season. Analyzing everything from spicy exchanges between the candidates to who came out on top Wednesday night (and whether or not it’s enough to threaten Trump’s lead), we’ve got a comprehensive look at the debate that we think you’ll enjoy. Watch clips and listen to our conversation here.Part of Wednesday night’s political spectacle were the heated exchanges between candidates looking to elbow their way to the front of the pack by scoring points on each other. Take, for example, this heated exchange between former NJ Governor Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy:As the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, Trump’s shadow was bound to loom over the debate, and it’s in their affiliation with or self-distancing from Trump that the candidates have differentiated themselves. From Christie’s critiques of Trump to Ramaswamy’s praise, there’s a spectrum of support for Trumpism among the 2024 presidential hopeful pack. (It’s worth noting that six of the eight candidates on the stage raised their hands to show that they would back Trump as Republican nominee even in the event of his conviction.)Another interesting element of the debate-stage dynamics was, of course, interaction between newcomers on the political scene and those who have gained establishment — especially through top roles in the Trump admin, as was the case with former Trump VP Mike Pence and UN ambassador Nikki Haley. Watch Pence’s dust-up with “rookie” Vivek Ramaswamy here, and Haley’s exchange with Ramaswamy below:Altogether, a major focus of the night was the political outsider: Vivek Ramaswamy’s was not the biggest name in this race going into Wednesday, and he certainly lacks much of the polling support that other candidates — not just Trump — have been counting on. Yet he was a major focus on the debate stage, playing foil to more established candidates and suggesting himself as an alternative to entrenched Washington career politicians. In our conversation, we get at the significance of this new dynamic in the race for the Republican nomination, which is only just getting started. Thanks for joining us. You can listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and other major streaming platforms. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Episode 137 of Krystal Kyle and Friends, featuring special guest Matt Karp. The focus of our conversation is this: How do we build a party apparatus worthy of support from working-class voters — and capable of making good on its promises? As we’ve discussed in past KK&F convos, the Biden admin’s gambit — making centrist-friendly proposals to begin with, then, in many cases, watering them down in the face of Republican opposition or just plain amenability to austerity — has left many working-class voters wanting more. As we analyze the trend of class dealignment from midterms data, we’re inclined to think about the failures of the Democratic Party that have provoked this trend. Empty rhetoric about basic rights and fearmongering about Trump don’t seem to do the trick when it comes to retaining working-class support. What is the Democratic Party prepared to do to secure this support? What else is possible?Thanks for tuning in. You can hear this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week on KK&F, we’re bringing you a heated debate with our guest, Michael Tracey, on the topic of Trump’s indictments. Michael maintains that a reasonable person wouldn’t judge Trump’s behavior as criminal. Of course, the Trump campaigns and presidency have heavily featured a high degree of political theater, so that it’s possible to take the stance — as Michael does — that the charges of (for example) election interference that the former president now faces are taking his politicking too seriously. But we take the other side of the debate: that Trump worked to undermine the 2020 election and took meaningful steps toward doing so. The indictments he faces are legitimate, and in our argument, we lay out the reasons why. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the pod, we’ve got writer Freddie deBoer joining us for a conversation about the fate of the Bernie movement, the bona fires of progressives in Washington, and the all-important question of how to relate to leftist electeds — especially when they stray from their professed principles.In this episode, Freddie lays out evidence against AOC as a consistently leftist figure, describing insufficient support for key progressive policies and not enough to show for her years of fundraising and her image as a major figure on the American left. What is her theory of change? And how has it collided with the comparatively conservative agendas of establishment members of her party? If she hasn’t accomplished the things her base expects her to, realistically speaking, is it because she lacks the political will to do so, because that change is hamstrung by her centrist colleagues, or some combination of these things?We’ll be taking on these important questions and more in this conversation, which you can listen to via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

From conservative media outlets to the campaign trail, there’s nothing the right loves to obsess over more than wokeness. Their claim is that an obsession with political correctness has veered into authoritarianism — and that culturally, intellectually, and politically, we’re all worse off for it. We think it’s worthwhile to open up a debate about whether or not this argument actually holds up. Aren’t powerful Republicans the ones moving to restrict abortions, gay marriages, and a host of other basic rights? When leftists attempt to oppose military aid to Israel or criticize right-wing governments, right-wingers in power quickly lose their concerns about censorship, political targeting, and suppression of free speech. Which side can rightfully be accused of authoritarianism?That’s the crux of our discussion with YouTubers Adam and Sitch, rejoining the show to talk about wokeness versus anti-wokeness and debate which side has the tendency to censor and repress. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

With the return of The Vanguard hosts Zac & Gavin to KK&F, we’re looking at the field of 2024 presidential contenders. The frustrations and letdowns of the Biden presidency — expected, to be fair, from someone who promised wealthy supporters that “nothing will fundamentally change” — have us thinking about what it would mean to have a substantial progressive challenger going toe-to-toe with Biden this election. To that end, we break down Marianne Williamson’s presidential prospects, taking lessons from the Bernie 2020 run in order to map out her potential road to the nomination.We consider the other challenger who’s emerged in the 2024 Democratic field — Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — and talk through the political miscalculations we see in his campaign for the Democratic nomination. From support of Elon Musk to strong critique of Fauci — a beloved figure among Democrats — RFK Jr.’s political affiliations don’t seem poised to strike a chord with the Dem base he’s meant to appeal to. What will this mean for his campaign? We discuss all of this and more in this week’s episode. Remember that you can listen to this conversation as a podcast on Spotify, Substack, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we’ve got an exciting debate with Representative Ro Khanna, who joins the show to share his perspective on Biden’s debt relief plan, progressives’ endorsement of Biden, and much more. Congressman Khanna has emerged as a leading elected critic of the Biden administration’s slow and incremental approach to student debt relief in the wake of a Supreme Court Ruling which struck down their initial efforts. Following the Supreme Court decision, we’ve been tracking Biden’s attempts (and lack thereof) to use executive power to follow through on the promises he made to working people on the campaign trail. How do these attempts measure up?We also just watched the former vanguard of the elected progressive left, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, endorsing President Biden for reelection. We press Congressman Khanna on why he and the Squad and Senator Sanders all jumped in early to back Biden. Their decision to endorse is not only at odds with the left but at odds with a Democratic base that overwhelmingly says they want a contested primary including debates. Our conversation with Representative Khanna gives us a sense of why he and other progressives in Congress are publicly putting their weight behind the incumbent — and we also share our thoughts on why doing otherwise might be a stronger choice for the progressive movement. You can hear it all here and on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Our guest this week, Dr. Wilson of Debunk the Funk, joins us to address a topic of much debate: Are RFK Jr.’s vaccine claims totally false? As we point out in our discussion this week, while the presidential candidate hasn’t explicitly placed his anti-vaccine rhetoric at the core of his campaign, these ideas have driven his career — and are now front and center in the political discourse surrounding him. We expect certain vaccine conspiracy theories to get more airtime from their connection to a high-profile political figure. So we sat down with Dr. Wilson to get to the (scientific) heart of these conspiracies. What does the scientific evidence point to? Just as interesting: why, if proven untrue, do conspiracies persist?Our discussion of vaccine conspiracy theories with Dr. Wilson opens up an opportunity to think about political motivations driving polarization around matters of public health — and we think it’s an important one. We’re glad you’re joining us for this conversation. You can listen to it as a podcast episode on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Episode 130 of KK&F: a can’t-miss debate between your KK&F hosts and libertarian presidential candidate Mike ter Maat. We’ve got an episode that we hope will challenge and interest you with its lively, contrasting opinions on central social and economic issues: on the table are minimum wage, crypto, regulating Wall St and a lot more.On our minds this week is the strikingly awful suite of decisions handed down from the Supreme Court that will put a tighter financial squeeze on cash-strapped Americans and promote discrimination against LGBT people. We watched as the Biden admin dragged its heels when it came to making good on campaign promises to alleviate student debt — then rolled much of its initial plan back. (A recent post from More Perfect union shares the tuition costs of the Supreme Court justices, adjusted for inflation; John Roberts, who delivered the majority opinion, paid the 1979 equivalent of $337,652 for his Harvard degree.) Now, the Supreme Court has ruled that this plan is unconstitutional, throwing millions of borrowers and their families back into financial stress and uncertainty. A second 6-3 conservative decision backed businesses’ rights to refuse service to LGBT people, identifying the matter as an issue of free speech. Justice Sotomayor’s dissent refers to the decision as “Orwellian thought policing,” keeping an eye to the far-reaching effects it’s expected to have on civil liberties in the years to come.More on these decisions in the weeks to come. We hope you’ll enjoy this week’s podcast, which you can listen to on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we are joined by Federalist writer and Counterpoints host Emily Jashinsky to debate the topics of recent anti-trans laws, drag queen story hours, Bud Light boycotts, and more. We also turn to Trump’s indictments and the right’s sudden concern for two-tier systems of justice. We’re grateful to have Emily on as an interlocutor, and we think you’ll find the conversation lively and challenging.Taking a broader view of political debates, we also talk strategy: when do the drawbacks outweigh the benefits? In conversation with this week’s guest, we lay out our case for a nuanced approach to debate. When it comes to deeply unpopular fringe opinions, for example, spending time and energy in dialogue with opponents feels like a waste: we’re not here to take down Flat Earthers. But when, as Krystal puts it, “the cat’s out of the bag” — when the view we want to refute has a prominent, active base of supporters, and when we believe its impact is widely felt and holds significance for everyday life — we want to confront our adversaries head-on. For our full thoughts, and Emily’s response, check out the episode, which we hope you’ll enjoy. You can listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

With the insight of our guest, Brad Moss, we dig into the thirty-seven charges of mishandling of classified documents brought against the former president. What particular instances do these charges refer to? What kind of sentence could Trump face, if he is found guilty — and how could this disrupt both the Republican primary and the election itself? We’ve talked in recent weeks about the match-up between Trump and DeSantis, and what a DeSantis presidency would mean for civil liberties and economic policy. We’re taking a look at the gravity of the charges Trump is facing now, as well as at how they might change our perception of his time in office and how they will shape the coming election.Listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Substack, Pandora, and other streaming platforms. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Our guest Touré gives us a compelling, fascinating, and insightful account of who made the hip-hop of the 1980s that changed the way we listen to music, who listened to it, who got the profit, and what anti-establishment political speech came out of this music. We think you’ll appreciate Touré’s analysis of capitalism’s role in the production of hip-hop music, a role that fits into a narrative of corporate greed and increasing monopolization. As a dwindling number of companies bought up all the record labels — generally companies with no interest or non-financial investment in the creative industry — profit became the primary motive and marker of success for many record labels, imposing limitations on musical production and political expression. We see the further development of those limits in the music of our own time — and it’s fascinating to see the road that led us here.You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Our guest this week, FD Signifier, has done incredible deep dives on black conservatism — the media narrative around it, leading figures in this “niche group,” and the reality of political leanings within the black community. According to FD, while every election cycle since Obama’s second term has seen news stories on whether black voters will break away from the Democratic Party and vote Republican, the truth is that black voters tend to be left of the Democratic Party — and those whose conservative viewpoints are showcased on national media are being used to fit a false narrative in favor of conservatism.We also weigh in on whether we should be more worried by a Trump or a DeSantis presidency, looking at the “creative malevolence” of DeSantis on social issues versus Trump’s massive incompetence and despicable record on those same issues. Together, we evaluate Kyle’s proposal that Trump is the Republicans’ least electable general election candidate — but also that he isn’t necessarily guaranteed to lose to Biden. Find out more by listening to the audio above — you can also find it on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming platforms. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

We’re releasing our convo early this week to give you the latest news as debt ceiling negotiations reach the eleventh hour on Memorial Day weekend. With David Dayen as our guest, we dig into the political scene unfolding in the debt ceiling negotiations, from key figures (Biden and McCarthy) to what’s on the docket for spending cuts thanks to Republican austerity — and no thanks to Democrats’ negotiating prowess. Republicans have made it clear that the debt ceiling itself is their concession — they’re doing all they can to set the terms of this parley. Is Biden, hailed by centrist Democrats during his campaign as the great negotiator capable of reaching across the aisle in a way his further-left counterparts could not, actually living up to that promise? Or are we seeing the Democrats giving in and playing by Republicans’ rules of the game? We answer all these questions and more on this week’s episode. You can listen to this conversation on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more. Thanks for tuning in. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Media fawns and humiliates themselves over Secretary Pete, Ron DeSantis sinks to new lows in his war on trans people, and Kyle reveals that time he almost had to debate Alex Jones. We have a lot to talk about on this week’s episode of KK&F. And we’re thrilled to be joined by Jason Nichols a leftist who frequently appears on Newsmax.Jason discusses his strategy and goals for appearances, his views on “platforming” extremists, and how he stays sane in the face of insanity.Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to this episode as a podcast This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Acting as the attorney for the families of those killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, Mark Bankston played a central role in the crucial defamation cases against Alex Jones for his dangerous, highly public denial of the shooting. Now, he explains what constitutes defamation — and why that label can get so controversial. It’s tied in, of course, to an analysis of current events. Just a few weeks ago, Fox News paid $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems in a settlement over claims that 2020 election conspiracy theories spread by Fox resulted in harm to the company.Fox’s massive resources, along with the popularity of its claims of election fraud, have emboldened the company to make and stand behind such conspiracies. Who has the power to fight back, and on what legal grounds? What kind of speech is protected under American free speech rights, and what crosses the line into defamation? These are the questions we’re lucky to have Mark to answer for us, and we’re glad you’re joining us for the discussion. You can listen to this conversation as a podcast when it’s released later tonight on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe