Krystal Kyle & Friends

What is classical liberalism? We get into the weeds with Joshua Reed Eakle of Project Liberal. Hearing “Project Liberal,” you might anticipate something cooked up by the American Democratic Party. But this is different: Joshua is making the case for a political and economic system governed by principles of free trade and competition. As per his own admission, it’s not a system premised on equality. It’s an assumption of the classical liberal worldview that under conditions of economic competition, not everyone will prosper. Rather, those whose skills the market favors will thrive, and those who can’t compete will live in relative want. When Joshua talks about classical liberalism embracing change, he’s pointing to its dynamic responsiveness to the development of technology, wants of the consumer, skills of the workforce, and more. That’s a responsiveness, though, ungoverned by human needs (as opposed to the wants of those with money to spend).Is there a better way? We make the case for social democracy in our debate with our guest, and we think you’ll be interested. 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

Our guest this week, Jesse Ventura, former star wrestler, Governor of Minnesota, and Green Party presidential candidate, talks about the collusion between Dems and Republicans, his electoral history, the corruption of money in politics, and the shortcomings of third-party runs in the current presidential election cycle. He’s been on the show before to discuss these issues, and we’re excited to have him back years on to discuss how the rigamarole of American party politics has evolved (or devolved) since then. We’ve also heard an increasing number of attacks on Tim Walz from the far right, which takes issue with his history securing free meals for schoolchildren, supporting gay students at the high school where he was a teacher, and more. From one former Governor of Minnesota to the current one, Jesse fires back at the right in Walz’s defense and shows how “weird” his conservative detractors really are.Thanks for tuning in! You can listen to this podcast 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

In Episode 187 of KK&F, we sit down with your favorite Twitter account Ettingermentum to talk about Kamala and the Democrats’ political fortunes for 2024. Back when Biden had just landed a real dud of a debate performance in late June, you’ll remember that his fellow Dems were quick to criticize, and a few started calling for his exit from the 2024 Democratic ticket. Kamala Harris, his successor to the presidency and his current VP, seemed like the natural choice for his replacement. But part of the Twittersphere also sounded concerns about Kamala. Could she appease centrists wanting nothing to fundamentally change *and* an increasingly vocal left critical of Biden’s refusal to adopt broadly popular social programs?With our friend Ettingermentum, we look at the polling and see why the predictions of Kamala’s detractors didn’t end up bearing out. There were no tradeoffs to be made between Biden and Kamala: his base has moved to support her, where voters more leery of the aging, anti-progress Biden have proved more likely to back the Kamala-Walz ticket. Why is this? And will it be enough to carry her over the finish line in November? You can get answers to all these big questions in our wide-ranging deep dive of a conversation, Episode 186 of KK&F. This episode will be available 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

When we last convened for an episode of KK&F, Kamala was still looking to fill the VP slot on the Democratic ticket. Since then, VP pick Tim Walz has received an outpouring of enthusiasm from the left-of-center and relief from progressives, but at the same time, the right has looked for weak points to hit him on (and it must be said, Walz doesn’t make it as easy as Vance does). Now, after some comments from J.D. Vance calling Walz’s service and dedication into question, the right is attackingWalz, who served for over twenty years in the National Guard before deciding not to complete the preparation to retire as a command sergeant major. By his own admission, Walz was partially motivated by the desire to make political statements about events like the Iraq War. So it’s not that Walz has the kind of tawdry history in his service career that the right is implying — but it’s sure to be only one scandal the right tries to manufacture before November.Omar and Kyle also speak at length about the awful revelations regarding the Israeli detention camps, where Palestinian prisoners are brutalized and sexually assaulted (as recently released footage documents), and about the Biden admin’s position on and response to this information. As they point out, Democrats and Republicans are in a perpetual race to see who can support Netanyahu’s genocidal regime more, and the right’s tactic is to paint Democrats as antisemitic, a claim that Democrats often scramble to reject in the wrong ways. They also discuss developing political crises in the region: at this point, is war with Iran inevitable?Thanks for tuning in. 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

In her comments on the current state of the ‘24 race and on the current Biden presidency, this week’s guest, Green Party candidate Jill Stein, talks us through what would come after a ceasefire for her administration. To her, it’s vital that the U.S. joins negotiations with a strict adherence to international law, not clear and bloodthirsty favoritism for Israel, as is the current policy. It must recognize the ‘67 borders drawn for the region and demand an end to the occupation in Gaza and throughout all of Palestine, as well as a removal of all troops. Jill points out that threatening to support a boycott could be a necessary and effective tactic to ensure Israel’s compliance if it does not follow guidelines for a lasting peace. The flow of weapons from America to Israel must, above all, be stopped.Jill Stein, as always, has insightful takes on the latest developments in national and international politics, and we delve into them in this wide-ranging interview, including Jill’s vision for her campaign following Biden’s exit and Kamala’s entrance, Trump’s racist remarks in a recent interview, and more. 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

The old Kamala is back. That’s our guest Cenk Uygur’s pronouncement as he glosses Kamala’s shifting fortunes over the course of her political career. Initially favored as a rising star in the Democratic Party, Kamala looked like an early favorite for the nomination in the 2020 cycle, sweeping the first debate, before things seemed to go wrong suddenly and without clear cause. As Krystal points out, she’s a cautious kind of politician, and the moves she made for the presidency toward the end of her unsuccessful campaign seemed out of touch and lackluster. Now, she seems to be hitting many of the right notes again for a liberal audience exasperated by the uncharismatic and ineffectual Biden. But will it be enough for voters determined not to continue voting in supporters of Zionism and genocide? Will Kamala successfully differentiate herself from Biden’s tremendously unpopular and cruel unconditional backing of Israel?We talk about all of this and more in Episode 184 of KKF! Join us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more for the podcast release of this episode. 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

Compared to the tired, infuriating binary of Biden-Trump, our guest this week, Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver, has his pitch ready: “I'm under the age of 80, I speak in complete sentences, I'm not a convicted felon.” Indeed, Oliver’s age, opposition to two-party politics, anti-war political commitments, and more make him, for many voters, a viable alternative to Biden-Trump. Browse his website and you’ll see that he’s eager to work with states to decriminalize abortion, but also supports the Hyde Amendment, banning public funding from being used for abortions. In other words, his platform encompasses a number of positions traditionally associated with left and right, informed by his support for personal freedoms and wariness toward a controlling government.In this episode of KKF, we chat with Chase about his analysis of the 2024 election, who he expects to be running against, what his path to the White House will be, and more. Thanks for tuning in — you can listen to this episode as a playlist when it’s released 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

Well, folks… In the words of a Democratic House member, “I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.” Thursday wasn’t the time to be a sentient, rational person with coherent thoughts about our country’s strategy and future — that held true for the presidential debate audience and for its two participants. Exchanging blows over golf handicaps and engaging in some he-said-he-said over Trump’s alleged “suckers and losers” comment about veterans, Biden and Trump did an admirable job of avoiding serious discussion of childcare policy, climate change, and more. Biden revealed more of the same in his unconditional support for Israel, while Trump clung to violently xenophobic rhetoric in his comments on immigration (which he made as frequently as possible). When we think of the figureheads of the Democratic Party, we can’t help but think of people like Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whose commandeering of the DNC cemented much of the party elitism and anti-democracy that has brought us the fatally flawed Biden 2024 candidacy. That’s why we’re so excited to speak this week with Jen Perelman, who’s challenging Debbie to take over as representative for Florida’s 25th district. In our wide-ranging conversation, we chat with Jen about her vision for the district and her substantive political differences with her opponent, and much more.Listen to this week’s episode 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

With this week’s guest, Briahna Joy Gray, we discuss the upcoming debate and the two main presidential candidates’ respective prospects. But we also dive into Briahna’s recent firing at The Hill, with her insight into why this is part of a larger, worrying trend.Briahna takes us through her experience at The Hill, why questioning a guest about her Zionist beliefs led to the loss of professional opportunities, the political landscape of Palestine advocacy in media right now, and much more in this exclusive interview. We’re thrilled to have her on the show, and we hope you’ll enjoy the conversation! You can listen in 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

Annelle Sheline, our guest this week, previously worked in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in Near Eastern Affairs. She had only been there a year when she decided to publicly resign. Annelle tells us that while she was unsure of the impact her resignation would have, since she was a relatively junior employee, others encouraged her to reconsider and to go public even though they could not do the same.According to Annelle, although the number of people who have taken the action she took is relatively small, a larger number of American government workers have more quietly resigned — or even retired early — out of refusal to condone the Biden admin’s aid of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The thought of burning all professional bridges in a “one-company town,” she notes, dissuades many people from doing so. It requires throwing out all one’s professional connections and work experience. Annelle believes she’s relatively lucky to be able to return to her academic background in think tanks. Still, some of those who don’t resign, publicly or quietly, have been writing anonymous letters and joining protests. There may not be sufficient rejection of Biden’s genocidal Israel policy among governmental workers. But the number of dissenters is growing.You can listen to this conversation 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

Ben Norton is our guest this week, talking to us about the context and implications of the recent presidential election in Mexico. Claudia Sheinbaum will be taking office after running on a platform involving the alleviation of poverty and the expansion of social support systems. It’s thrilling to think about what she and her administration are prepared to do for the working people of Mexico, and this election provides an important example for progressives in the United States looking to follow suit. One major question that comes up in our conversation with Ben is how much political change Sheinbaum will be able to effect in the presidency — given the more conservative tendencies of the United States under Biden. As the U.S. is a global hegemonic force capable of preventing the solution of social and economic problems it’s produced for neighbor nations, we discuss with Ben if Sheinbaum will be able, as president, to tackle the issues that matter most to Mexicans.This episode is also 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

Welcome back to KK&F, where we’re joined by Norman Finkelstein to go behind the scenes on the prosecution of Israel in the international courts. South Africa, according to Norm, has repeatedly showed up to the courts demanding new provisional measures, and while none were given in February, the courts judged in March that the situation had sufficiently deteriorated to require new measures. Then, as human rights advocates and organizations across the world began in May to raise the alarm about Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah (which has since caused unthinkable suffering and devastation), South Africa continued to press the case against Israel.Israel has been furious about the allegations brought against them, insisting that their slaughter of thousands of Palestinians only amounts to a few problems that don’t add up to a humanitarian crisis. The challenge for South Africa and other entities sympathetic to Gaza’s plight, Norm points out, is that the court has been unsure who to believe in these exchanges. Now, as Israel continues to deny the existence of a humanitarian crisis and images of unbelievable horror and pain pour out of Rafah, the court has said in no uncertain terms that it doesn’t believe Israel any more.What does this mean for further proceedings, and for potential prosecution of Bibi and the other war criminals? We talk through all of this and more with Norman Finkelstein this week. 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

Thanks for tuning in to Episode 175 of KK&F with Ken Roth. A growing number of countries support arresting Netanyahu for Israel’s grievous crimes against humanity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Biden stands alone in the way he has used his position of power to shut down critique, and now judicial proceedings, against Netanyahu. He’s made it clear the U.S. won’t play the role it’s promised to play as a world power in upholding international law. This reveals the total hypocrisy in the U.S.’s interpretation of what global leadership requires. But sadly, because of the vested financial interest our country has made in the genocide, it doesn’t come as a surprise, either.We sat down with Ken Roth to unpack the case the ICC is making against Netanyahu and how successful it’s likely to be, what kind of international consensus is building around it, and whether Biden’s refusal to cooperate will be a major hindrance. Ken’s an expert on this topic, so we think you’ll appreciate his essential insight! 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

In the multi-track beef that’s unfolded in the past few months between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake, reputations have been tarnished, #1 hits have been released, and parents have been pulled into the fray. Beginning in late March with “Like That,” the beef now encompasses nine songs (and counting?), giving each rapper a platform to call his opponent’s character into question, slight his rapping skills, and diminish his place of importance in modern pop culture. How did this all start, and where will it end?We tackle these questions with music critic Anthony Fantano, who leads us through the backstory and gives us a breakdown of this explosive back-and-forth. We hope you’ll enjoy this fresh new pop-culture focus on KK&F, and we can’t wait to hear what you think. 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

Hundreds of people around the country, largely on college campuses, have been arrested and assaulted by police for peacefully engaging in pro-Palestine encampments. The persecution of these people, and the infringement of their First Amendment rights, reveals how solidly our political establishment backs Israel at any cost, and how willing it is to compromise the so-called foundational values of this country in order to avoid challenging Netanyahu’s genocidal campaign in Palestine. There have been far too few courageous voices in American politics taking on this status quo. Jill Stein is one of those voices, and in our exclusive interview, we check in with her about the shocking details of her arrest, her ongoing advocacy for Palestine, and how it fits into her view for the presidency.On this episode of KK&F, we have the opportunity to talk to Jill about what a third-party, pro-Palestine presidency would mean for the nation, how she plans to fight this uphill battle, and why fighting back against two-party hegemony is more important than ever. 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

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