The Moment LIVE! Politics & Culture, Explained

Melania Trump made an unannounced surprise statement about Jeffrey Epstein — and nobody asked her to. Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès bring in crisis PR expert Molly McPherson to break down why Melania did it, why the timing matters, and what big story might be about to drop. Plus: Pam Bondi's deposition, the Michael Wolff case, and why Molly thinks Melania is only ever looking out for Melania. Then: Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and NYT reporter Diana Rossini's affair — the PR disaster, the contradictory cover stories, and why Rebecca is furious about what it means for women in journalism. Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-8) joins on what he actually saw inside ICE detention centers in New Jersey, the ICE surge around Coachella, the proposed 1,500-bed detention facility even Republicans don't want, Cuba, and why Trump would rather keep the Iran war going than release the Epstein files. Plus: Iran ceasefire update, and private equity profiting from ICE detention. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe so you never miss a moment. Topics: Melania Trump Epstein statement, Molly McPherson crisis PR, Pam Bondi deposition, Mike Vrabel Diana Rossini affair, Rep Rob Menendez, ICE detention centers, ICE Coachella, Iran ceasefire, private equity ICE, current events The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok CHAPTERS 00:00 The Moment LIVE: Politics, Culture & Breaking News 01:48 Iran Ceasefire Explained: JD Vance, Lebanon & Why It's a Mess 05:32 Melania Trump Made a Surprise Epstein Statement — And Nobody Asked Her To 07:26 Meet Molly McPherson: Crisis PR Expert on Why Melania Did It 09:08 What Is Melania Getting Ahead Of? Pam Bondi, Michael Wolff & the Theories 12:33 Trump Is Losing His Base on Truth Social — And Melania Knows It 15:43 Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel & NYT Reporter Affair — The PR Disaster Explained 20:11 Why Rebecca Is Furious About What This Means for Women in Journalism 24:27 Meet Rep. Rob Menendez: NJ-8 on ICE, Cuba & Democratic Corruption 27:57 What Rep. Menendez Actually Saw Inside ICE Detention Centers 30:20 ICE at Coachella & Trump's New 1500-Bed Detention Facility Nobody Wants 35:24 Cuba, Russia & Why Trump Is Eyeing the Western Hemisphere 39:20 Democrats Need to Clean House — Rep. Menendez on Corruption & 2026 41:03 Private Equity Is Profiting From ICE Detention & Meredith Has the Receipts 45:07 Having a Moment: Rebecca on Collective Trauma & Meredith's Regis Women's Network Event

Trump Truth-Socialed a threat to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure on Easter Sunday, and Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès are calling it what it is: a potential war crime. They break down what the 25th Amendment actually is, whether Trump will follow through, and the Easter egg roll auto pen clip that says everything about where we are right now. Then Epstein survivor, TEDx speaker and advocate Jess Michaels joins on the Pam Bondi firing. What really happened at her congressional hearing, why the White House told Republican senators not to bring up the Epstein files, what survivors actually need from the people around them, and why the Laura Dern series is too soon. Plus: Savannah Guthrie returns to the Today Show, Rebecca's moment is Love on the Spectrum, and Meredith's Santa Monica tuneup from Skin by Lovely. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe so you never miss a moment. Topics: Trump Iran bomb threat, war crimes, 25th Amendment, Pam Bondi fired, Epstein files, Jess Michaels, Jeffrey Epstein survivor, Savannah Guthrie Nancy Guthrie, Laura Dern Epstein series, current events The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok Links Jess Michaels Instagram WithYouToo App Skin By Lovely CHAPTERS 00:00 The Moment LIVE: Politics, Culture & Breaking News 00:03 Trump Is More Unhinged Than Ever: Iran Threats, War Crimes & the 25th Amendment 08:59 Trump Explains the Auto Pen to Children at the Easter Egg Roll 12:18 Iran Stops Ceasefire Talks: What Happens at 8PM? 18:03 Savannah Guthrie Returns to the Today Show: On Grief, Faith & Keeping Going 21:03 Meet Jess Michaels: Epstein Survivor, TEDx Speaker & Advocate 23:00 Jess Michaels on Pam Bondi's Firing & the April 14th Deposition 28:03 The White House Told Senators Not to Bring Up the Epstein Files 30:03 Jess Michaels on What Epstein Did to Her in 1991 And Getting Her Words Back 33:03 Why We Need to Stop Saying "Prove It" to Survivors 37:37 Is the Laura Dern Epstein Series Too Soon? Jess Michaels Weighs In 43:02 Having a Moment: Love on the Spectrum & Meredith's Santa Monica Tuneup

Trump fired Pam Bondi — and Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès are noticing a pattern. Kristi Noem, Elise Stefanik, Pam Bondi: the women who go hardest for Trump are always the first ones out. Sound familiar? Go Touch Grass podcast host Milly Tamarez joins to break down the Summer House scandal everyone is talking about — and why Amanda Batula, Ciara, and West is basically the same story playing out on Bravo. Then Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Marine veteran and Harvard/MIT alum, joins to explain what Trump's Iran address actually meant, whether boots on the ground are coming, and his two scenarios for how this war ends — neither of them good. Plus: birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court, the DHS funding stalemate, and everyone's favorite Disney attractions. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok Links Go Touch Grass Podcast CHAPTERS 00:00 The Moment LIVE: Politics, Culture & Breaking News 00:23 Good Friday, Passover & Rebecca Is Back 03:18 Today's Rundown: Pam Bondi Fired, Summer House & Rep. Jake Auchincloss on Iran 04:14 Trump Fired Pam Bondi — And It's Part of a Pattern of Women Taking the Fall 06:32 Why Meredith Wants a Job in the Trump Administration 09:15 Summer House Explained: Ciara, West & Amanda Petula ft. Milly Tamarez 19:25 Meet Rep. Jake Auchincloss: Marine Veteran & MA Congressman on Iran 20:05 What Did Trump's Iran Address Actually Mean? Boots on the Ground Explained 28:31 Two Scenarios for How the Iran War Ends — Neither of Them Good 31:33 Democrats Are the Party of Patriotism & Birthright Citizenship at the Supreme Court 33:52 Did Democrats Win the DHS Shutdown Fight? Rep. Auchincloss Gives Them a B 40:15 Having a Moment: Bryon Noem Living His Truth & Jesse Watters on Women Presidents

The Moment LIVE celebrates Trans Day of Visibility with guest co-hosts Billie Lee (Vanderpump Rules, Why Are You So Sensitive?) and Jeffrey Jay (comedian, Riverdale writer) — plus Scott Turner Schofield (Emmy nominated actor, Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps) for one of the most joyful, honest, and necessary conversations about trans life in 2026. TSA agents are finally getting back pay — and Lindsey Graham celebrated by riding Space Mountain twice at Disney World. We have questions. Laura Dern is producing the first scripted Jeffrey Epstein series, playing the journalist who broke the story. Too soon? Billie, Jeffrey and Meredith weigh in. Then: Scott, Billie and Jeffrey on why trans visibility matters more than ever right now, Idaho's bathroom bill that carries harsher penalties than a DUI, what allies should actually say today ("I see you" is a great start, and so is "I'll pay for dinner!"), surprising moments of affirmation from unexpected places, including Idaho, and why real Republicans should be furious about what's being done in their name. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok CHAPTERS 00:00 The Moment LIVE: Politics, Culture & Breaking News 00:19 Meet Today's Guest Co-Hosts: Billie Lee & Jeffrey Jay 01:21 Trans Day of Visibility — And a Conversation About Chin Implants 03:22 Today's Rundown: TSA Back Pay, Lindsey Graham at Disney & Laura Dern's Epstein Series 04:02 TSA Agents Are Finally Getting Paid — Why Did It Take This Long? 07:07 Lindsey Graham Rode Space Mountain Twice at Disney World During the Shutdown 12:17 Laura Dern Is Producing the First Scripted Jeffrey Epstein Series — Too Soon? 18:38 Meet Scott Turner Schofield: Emmy Nominated Actor & Trans Storyteller 20:19 Why Has Trans Visibility Become MAGA's Obsession? Scott, Billie & Jeffrey Explain 23:00 Are Trans People Being Set Up for Genocide? What the Warning Signs Actually Mean 25:00 What Should Allies Say on Trans Day of Visibility? "I See You" Is a Great Start 27:10 Trump 1.0 vs Trump 2.0 — How Different Does It Feel for Trans People Right Now? 28:33 Idaho's Bathroom Bill Is Harsher Than a DUI — And Makes Everyone Less Safe 37:00 MAGA Is Not the Republican Party & Real Republicans Should Be Furious 38:54 Gavin Newsom & Pete Buttigieg Are Getting Trans Rights Wrong 41:24 Scott Turner Schofield on His Film & the Idaho Story That Made Him Feel Most Himself 44:14 Billie Lee on Tour, Jeffrey Jay's Festival Dates & Meredith Tells a Commenter Off Topics: Trans Day of Visibility, Billie Lee, Jeffrey Jay, Scott Turner Schofield, trans rights 2026, Idaho bathroom bill, Lindsey Graham Disney World, Laura Dern Epstein series, TSA back pay, current events

Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès break down the DHS partial deal, Trump's Iran deadline drama & the surprise Florida house seat flip with Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, on how progressives are building power from the ground up. Breaking this morning: Democrats and Republicans have reached a partial DHS deal. TSA gets funded, no additional ICE funding, Save America Act dropped. Is this actually a win? Meredith and Rebecca break it down. Then: Trump gave Iran a second deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran released an AI propaganda video instead. What does that tell us about where this war is actually heading, and why does it keep hitting you at the gas pump? Plus: HBO debuted its Harry Potter series trailer this week. Why does it exist? What does JK Rowling's transphobia have to do with the International Olympic Committee's trans athlete ban? And is 0.002% of college athletes really the hill everyone wants to die on? Amanda Litman joins to talk about Run for Something's biggest week yet. Emily Gregory just flipped a Florida house seat in a district that includes Mar-a-Lago, 80,000 people raised their hands to run for office last year, and why the Democrats' real problem is that progressive media keeps booking the same white men. Plus: should every Democrat over 70 retire? Amanda has thoughts. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok Links Where Can I Run by Run for Something Run for Something CHAPTERS 00:00 The Moment LIVE: Politics, Culture & Breaking News 00:35 Today's Rundown: DHS Deal, Iran & Amanda Litman 02:40 Breaking: Democrats & Republicans Reach a Partial DHS Deal — Is This a Win? 05:13 Is the DHS Deal Actually a Win for Democrats? 06:13 Trump's Iran Deadline & Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters to Your Gas Bill 10:15 Iran's AI Propaganda Video & What It Actually Tells Us About This War 13:20 HBO Harry Potter: Why Does This Exist & What Does JK Rowling Have to Do With It? 17:49 JK Rowling, Trans Athletes & the Olympic Ban Explained 18:15 Meet Amanda Litman: How Run for Something Just Flipped a Seat in Trump's Mar-a-Lago Backyard 20:15 Why Local Elections Matter More Than Congress & Which States Democrats Should Target Now 23:20 Who Voted for Emily Gregory? Persuasion, Turnout & What Actually Wins Red Districts 24:42 How to Run for Office: What Run for Something Does & What's Blocking Young Candidates 29:08 Progressive Media Has a Problem & Should Every Democrat Over 70 Retire? 31:50 The Save America Act & How Voting Changes Could Backfire on Trump 36:24 Christina Ricci's Threads Moment & Why More Women Need to Run for Office 42:38 Does Tom Sandoval Have TSA Precheck? Vanderpump Rules' Billie Lee Joins Us Tuesday to Find Out Topics: DHS deal TSA funded, ICE airports, Iran war Strait of Hormuz, HBO Harry Potter JK Rowling, trans athletes Olympics, Run for Something, Amanda Litman, Emily Gregory Florida, progressive media, local elections 2026, current events

Private equity in healthcare, ICE in airports & Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest video — Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès break it all down on The Moment LIVE, featuring Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) on his new legislation to ban private equity from hospitals and nursing homes. Senator Murphy explains how the One Big Beautiful Bill softens up your local hospital for a private equity takeover, why the mortality rate in private equity-owned nursing homes is 10% higher, and what Democrats can actually do while DHS is shut down. Plus: is your lunchmeat at risk of being repossessed? If you're a private equity-owned hospital, probably. Trump sent ICE to patrol airports. Not to help with TSA screening, just to level up the chaos of the experience. Meredith and Rebecca break down what that means for travelers, why Democrats refuse to fund it, and what the Save America Act has to do with any of it. Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest video is finally out, and Meredith has a take on the white privilege moment everyone missed. Also: Markwayne Mullin confirmed as DHS secretary, Stephen Miller is actually running the show, and Senator Murphy's new book Crisis of the Common Good — and did we get an exclusive announcement about a presidential run? The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok Links Aided and Abetted: How the Trump Administration is Helping Private Equity Take Over Health Care Report CHAPTERS 00:00 The Moment LIVE: Politics, Culture & Breaking News 00:45 Today's Rundown: ICE in Airports, Justin Timberlake & Sen. Chris Murphy 02:33 Why Is ICE Patrolling Airports? Fear, Intimidation & the Save America Act 07:51 Is ICE in Airports a Distraction From Iran? And Why America Needs Trains 09:38 Justin Timberlake DWI Video: The White Privilege Moment Everyone Missed 15:37 Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel & Why Nobody Is Happy Right Now 18:39 What Is Private Equity & Why Is It Destroying American Hospitals? 21:15 Why Do Hospitals Sell Their Own Buildings? Red Lobster & the Buyback Problem 23:02 Senator Chris Murphy on His New Legislation to Ban Private Equity From Hospitals 26:21 How Does the One Big Beautiful Bill Help Private Equity Take Over Hospitals? 29:57 Can Congress Stop Private Equity in Healthcare? Murphy on Bipartisanship & Trump 34:07 What Happens When Private Equity Takes Over a Hospital? Real Horror Stories 38:22 Who Is Really Running DHS? Markwayne Mullin, Stephen Miller & Democrat Strategy 39:05 Is Senator Chris Murphy Running for President? His New Book Crisis of the Common Good 44:43 Rebecca Dances, Meredith Plans a Celine Dion Trip & We're Going to Paris Topics: private equity healthcare, Senator Chris Murphy, One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE airports, hospital privatization, nursing home mortality rate, DHS shutdown, Markwayne Mullin, Stephen Miller, Justin Timberlake DWI, current events, politics explained

The New York Times just dropped a years-long investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cesar Chavez — and Dolores Huerta, his co-founder and a 96-year-old civil rights icon, is among those who came forward. Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès break down the investigation, what it means for leftist movements, and why institutional journalism still matters. Then: ABC canceled The Bachelorette three days before air after domestic violence videos of Taylor Frankie Paul surfaced — but the cast had already warned the network weeks earlier. Nobody listened. Plus: LA City Council member Nithya Raman joins The Moment LIVE to talk about her surprise entry into the LA mayoral race, Karen Bass's billion-dollar budget deficit, how she'd push back against Trump and ICE ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and why she's being called LA's Zohran. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok CHAPTERS 00:00 The Moment LIVE: Politics, Culture & Breaking News 00:12 Chuck Norris Dies & What He Actually Meant to Millennials 01:45 Today's Rundown: Cesar Chavez, Bachelorette Canceled & LA Mayor Race 02:54 NYT Cesar Chavez Investigation: Dolores Huerta Comes Forward 06:29 Why Institutional Journalism Still Matters: NYT, Spotlight & the Cesar Chavez Story 10:44 Cesar Chavez Legacy, Renaming Streets & Why We Can't Hold Trump Accountable 12:30 ABC Canceled The Bachelorette: Taylor Frankie Paul Domestic Violence Explained 15:36 Did ABC Know? How Networks Profit From Chaos & Where the Line Is 19:49 The Manosphere Detour: HHS TikTok & Media Pipelines 20:38 Meet Nithya Raman: LA City Council Member Running for Mayor 21:47 Why Nithya Raman Jumped Into the LA Mayor Race Against Karen Bass 25:08 LA's Billion Dollar Budget Deficit: The Police Union Deal That Broke the City 28:30 How Nithya Raman Would Push Back Against Trump, ICE & the 2028 Olympics 35:59 Democrat vs Democratic Socialist: Nithya Raman's Vision for Los Angeles 39:26 LA28 Budget Reality Check & Mitt Romney at the Gas Station 40:48 Lindy West's New Book Adult Braces Driving Myself Sane: What It's About 42:11 Lindy West's Throuple, Feminist Backlash & Why Marriage Is Complicated 48:06 Meredith's Moment, the Math Teacher Story & Senator Chris Murphy Is Next Topics: Cesar Chavez NYT investigation, Dolores Huerta, Taylor Frankie Paul Bachelorette, ABC domestic violence, Nithya Raman LA mayor, LA 2028 Olympics, Karen Bass, institutional journalism, current events, politics explained

Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès are joined by V Spehar of Under the Desk News for a full Iran war update — NATO refused to escort oil ships, Trump asked China for help (China and Iran are allies), TSA agents are quitting mid-shutdown, and an Afghan asylum seeker who aided US Special Forces died in ICE custody less than 24 hours after being detained. Keep your eyes on ICE while the Iran war dominates the headlines. Plus: Meredith and Rebecca break down Louis Theroux's Inside the Manosphere — the teen boys idolizing these creators, the income inequality at the root of it, and what it says about men in 2026. Then the Oscars: Jessie Buckley's historic win, the best documentary speech nobody covered, celebrity political silence, and Conan's jokes rated by a comedian. And: is Tucker Carlson quietly positioning himself for 2028? Rebecca thinks yes — and makes a compelling case. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. LINKS V Spehar Instagram V Spehar YouTube Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok CHAPTERS 00:00 St. Patrick's Day, Freud & the Irish Psyche 01:22 Today's Rundown: Oscars, Manosphere, Iran & More 02:09 Oscars 2025: Jessie Buckley Wins, Hamnet & Best Picture Breakdown 05:47 Oscars Politics: Palestine, Celebrity Silence & Best Documentary Speech 10:55 Conan O'Brien's Oscars Jokes Rated 12:52 Inside the Manosphere: Louis Theroux Documentary Clip 15:51 Teen Boys, Toxic Masculinity & the Manosphere's Ripple Effects 23:07 Who Would Play Your Dog in a Movie? Welcoming V Spehar 23:41 Iran War Update: Propaganda, Supreme Leader Rumors & What's Real 26:15 NATO Refuses Trump: No Ships, No Insurance, No Help 30:38 China, Russia & Why Iran's Cheap Missiles Are Winning 34:04 Boots on the Ground: Is the US Heading Into Iraq? 35:28 ICE Detentions, Afghan Ally Dies in Custody & TSA Agents Quitting 42:54 Is Tucker Carlson Running in 2028? + TRL 1999 Is Having a Moment Topics: manosphere explained, Louis Theroux documentary, Oscars 2025, Jessie Buckley, Iran war update, NATO Iran, TSA shutdown, ICE deportations, Tucker Carlson 2028, V Spehar, Under The Desk News, toxic masculinity, current events, politics explained

Is social media actually designed to hook us? And who's legally responsible if it is? Journalist and author Fortesa Latifi joins to break down the landmark Section 230 trial, the dark reality of family vlogger culture, and what influencers told her on the record about monetizing their kids' worst moments. Her book Like, Follow Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online is out April 7th. Plus: DOGE staffers couldn't define DEI under oath, because they used ChatGPT to cut over 1,400 humanities grants, including funding for a Holocaust documentary. We break it all down. Also: Iran cyber threats, why Joe Rogan feels betrayed by Trump, and Katherine Heigl's Mar-a-Lago moment. The Moment LIVE is hosted by Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday. LINKS Pre-order Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online, by Fortesa Latifi, out April 7, 2026 Follow The Moment LIVE YouTube Substack Instagram TikTok CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold Open Banter 00:33 Today’s Rundown Preview 01:29 COVID Anniversary Memories 02:04 Patient Zero and Swine Flu 05:14 Iran Cyber and Oscar Threats 07:46 Rogan Feels Betrayed 11:51 Doge Bros and ChatGPT Cuts 13:39 Deposition Clip DEI Confusion 17:58 Katherine Heigl at Mar-a-Lago 21:34 Introducing Fortessa Latif 23:41 COVID Fueled Creator Boom 24:24 Mom Influencers vs Family Vlogs 25:23 Exploitation Backlash and Views 28:26 Adoption and Political Pipelines 32:45 Who Watches and What Comes Next Topics: social media addiction, Section 230, family vloggers, kids and social media, DOGE cuts, ChatGPT in government, Joe Rogan Trump, Iran cyber attack, current events, politics explained

Is the Iran war over, or just beginning? Meredith Lynch and Rebecca Sananès are joined by actress Ashlie Atkinson (The Gilded Age, BlacKkKlansman) and Arkansas congressional candidate Dr. Chris Jones for a wide-ranging conversation on draft talk, the Save America Act, and why the House majority could hinge on a state most people fly over. Plus: why Timothée Chalamet declaring opera dead reveals something nobody's talking about — and what the AIDS crisis has to do with it. News decoded. Headlines dissected. Welcome to The Moment — what you’d get if your smartest group chat turned into a news show. Hosted by Rebecca Sananès and Meredith Lynch, the show brings smart commentary, sharp guests, and the context you need to make sense of the week’s chaos. Come for the internet vibes. Stay for the newsroom chops. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday at 11am ET / 8am PT. Follow The Moment: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMoment_LIVE Substack: https://themomentshow.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsthemomentlive TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@themomentislive Credits Host: Rebecca Sananès Host: Meredith Lynch Producer: Vienna DeGiacomo

The news keeps rolling and so does The Moment! Comedian Carolina Montisqueieu is taking the NYC comedy scene by storm, but this morning, she is here to break down everything from Bad Bunny to Bill Clinton. Then Gen-Z icon and Fox News favorite, Hope Walz joins the chat to school our millennial asses on the next generation of the Democratic party and where she stands on matching friendship tattoos, spoiler alert, they are cringe. Need the video and our sources? We don't blame you, get them on our FREE Substack.

Should you show your kids online? What rules should you have in place if your child wants to start a YouTube? What have we learned so far about this mostly uncharted world of child influencing? Fan favorite journalist Fortesa Latifi (Rolling Stone, The Cut, etc) is back on the pod to break it all down. We get into the recent doc Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kid Influencing to discuss what can go wrong when kids become influencers and what parents should be aware of. Pre-Order Fortesa's book here Follow Fortesa on social Join Meredith's Patreon

Our friends from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project are back to help us unpack what's at stake with the sale of Walgreens to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Jim Baker, Executive Director of PESP joins us to get into Sycamore's track record and why that brings up concerns for their involvement in Walgreens. We also get into how Trump 2.0 has been responding to private equity and a few wins we have been seeing at the state level. It's an important episode of anyone who has ever needed to go to the pharmacy, so it's an important episode for basically everyone. Follow PESP on Instagram here Subscribe to the Patreon here

First things first, BOSTON we hope you have your tickets to come see us Wednesday, June 25th at Laugh Boston. Tix here! This week on the pod the King of Kansas City is here to discuss all the wild historical things that happened on the day we recorded this. Brace yourselves because it goes from Anne Frank to OJ Simpson FAST. We discuss some of our earliest attempts at being funny (don't cancel us), cursive writing, and the Christmas where every 14-year-old boy got a Structure sweater and a gold chain. AND I uncover why men become cops! PLUS a lil Taylor Swift. Follow Rob! Come see us live June 25th at Laugh Boston! Tix Here!

My cousin in Christ Molly McAleer is in the house to talk about the Revolutionary War, Karen Read, and if anyone is switching cell phone providers in 2025. We get into Turtle Boy, what happened when I discovered the fifth wave of Beatles fans, and I invite Molly to be a city planner. Come see us June 25th and June 26th in Boston! Tix here! Get this full conversation on Pateron. See the playground where it all went down. Follow Mollz

Road trips, cannibalism, and coming to terms with the stories we tell—this week on the pod, I welcome journalist and author E.A. Hanks to talk about her memoir The 10, a powerful deep dive into family, loss, and the messy contradictions of America. We covered everything from growing up with famous parents (yes, those Hanks) to the truths she uncovered while driving the full stretch of Interstate 10. E.A. opens up about writing through trauma, confronting history, and what she found at the intersection of identity, immigration, and myth-making. Spoiler: there’s World War I, evangelical poetry, and a gas station tiger. Obviously. We also talked about the writing process, creative burnout, and how making something real often takes a village. If you’re into memoirs that mix personal storytelling with sharp cultural critique, if you’ve ever lost a parent too young, or if you’ve ever wondered what America looks like when you actually go see it—this one’s for you. The 10 asks big questions about memory, meaning, and what we inherit, and EA was just as thoughtful, funny, and oddly specific as you’d hope. The 10 by EA Hanks Follow E.A. Hanks on Instagram: @EAHanks Learn more about Hardcore History's Blueprint for Armageddon: Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Book recommendation: This Republic of Suffering by Drew Gilpin Faust (on Civil War and grief) Book recommendation: Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman Podcast: You Must Remember This (for the Manson series mentioned) Meredith’s Patreon Tickets for Boston Live Shows: Laugh Boston June 25 | City Winery June 26 Listen to past Oddly Specific episodes: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Unions are on the line with the Trump Administration and we need to chat. This week on the pod I welcome Teacher Pay with K, a high school math teacher and president of her local union to discuss all the ways in which these structures support teachers, students, and well everyone. Digressions include my storied high school math career, phones in school, and Pete Davidson, union kid at heart? Come to my live shows!!! May 8th in LA and June 25th in Boston, tix here. Follow Teacher Pay with K on IG and TikTok Subscribe to my Patreon

Once upon a time you would toggle between MTV and VH1 they way we toggle between TikTok and Instagram. While much is said about the impact of MTV there is considerably less about her cool, older cousin VH1. This week on Oddly Specific my friends Emilie Begin and Margaux Poupard from the Old Millennials podcast stop by to talk about their new series that covers everything from Behind the Music to Best Week Ever. Digressions include, AOL, the Century City Mall, and where the hell are kids suppose to hang out?? Follow their podcast Follow Old Millennials on Instagram Follow Emilie and Margaux ALSO come to my live shows all tix are here For more fun, join my Patreon!

With tariffs on the rise and the stock market plummeting it's a precarious time for wallets. Most Americans are looking for deal but are dollar stores the solution or do they cause more pain then they are worth? This week on Oddly Specific Meredith welcomes Kennedy Smith, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance whose work on the impact of dollar stores on communities will blow your mind. We also look at some ways cities like Tulsa are curbing the practices of these stores along with what happens when we keep business within our cities and towns. Learn more about Kennedy and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance here! Subscribe to the Patreon Come see us live in LA or Boston

Subscribe to the Patreon Come see us live in LA or Boston Follow my pal Mary Mahoney on Substack and IG The incomparable historian Mary Mahoney (Dolls of Our Lives) is on the pod today to talk all things American Girl, Titanic, and using books as medicine (not in a MAHA way). We unpack how we reflect on national tragedies, the impact of spending your childhood with Greatest Gen grandparents, and why I'm still looking for some justice for my boy Carson Daly. PLUS why were Jane Austen novels labeled as dangerous in the 1800s and how it relates to book banning today.

Mia Chard, a TikTok content creator and mental health advocate joins me for an honest conversation about loneliness, dating, and the impact of social media on relationships. Together we chat about the cultural influences that make us who we are, personal growth, and the importance of authenticity in connecting with others. Mia's story resonates with many who have experienced similar feelings of loneliness and the pressure of societal expectations regarding relationships. Follow Mia Come to the Live Shows!!! LA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friends-only-tickets-1278304265469?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Boston: https://lilchuckboston.com/friends-only-live-with-meredith-lynch-molly-mcaleer-and-rob-schulte/

Show Notes: When wildfires, hurricanes, and other billion-dollar disasters strike, private equity firms aren’t just watching—they’re cashing in. From buying up disaster recovery companies to profiting off the fossil fuel investments that fuel climate change, these firms have turned catastrophe into a business model. But how does private equity work, and what exactly do private equity firms do? In this episode of Oddly Specific, we talk to Azani Creeks, senior research and campaign coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, to break down the high-stakes world of private equity. From understanding the key differences between Blackstone vs. BlackRock to the ongoing debate of private equity versus investment banking, this episode exposes how these firms extract wealth, consolidate industries, and profit at multiple points in the same crisis. Azani explains how private equity plays a growing role in disaster recovery—both contributing to climate change through fossil fuel investments and cashing in on cleanup efforts. We also discuss private equity’s increasing control over industries like healthcare, housing, and education, and what can be done to push for greater transparency and accountability. Let’s keep the conversation going—follow Oddly Specific and tell a friend to tell a friend about private equity! Chapters and Markers 00:00 Welcome and Announcements 00:21 Live Show Dates and Social Media Workshops 01:35 Introduction to Private Equity Stakeholder Project 03:07 What is Private Equity? 03:55 Blackstone vs. BlackRock 07:41 Private Equity and Climate Disasters 14:42 Private Equity in Disaster Recovery 32:03 Conclusion and Thank You Resources & Links: Live Show - LA May 8: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friends-only-tickets-1278304265469 Live Show- Boston June 25 & June 26: https://lilchuckboston.com/friends-only-live-with-meredith-lynch-molly-mcaleer-and-rob-schulte/ Sign Up for Social Media Workshops: Email me at meredithcollabs at gmail.com Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP): https://pestakeholder.org/ Private Equity Climate Risk Scorecard: https://peclimaterisks.org/2024scorecard/ Hospital Ownership Tracker: https://pestakeholder.org/private-equity-hospital-tracker/ PESP Report on Private Equity in Education & Childcare: https://pestakeholder.org/reports/making-the-grade-private-equity-privatization-and-the-future-of-american-education/ More Perfect Union + Meredith Lynch- When Private Equity Is Your Landlord: https://www.tiktok.com/@moreperfectunion/video/7471033140279053598 Gretchen Morganson’s Book These Are the Plunderers: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/These-Are-the-Plunderers/Gretchen-Morgenson/9781982191290 Meredith: Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Oddly Specific. It's the podcast that covers everything from private equity to Pete Davidson. I'm your host Meredith Lynch, and while I actually do have a private equity episode for you today that I think is incredibly important, and I know you're gonna be interested in, I also have a few announcements. Meredith: Firstly, I have three live show dates. This is a live pod recording that I'm doing with my friends, Molly McAleer and Rob Schulte, and they're fantastic friends and so are all of you, which is why we're calling the show friends only. Meredith: It's an IRL night with your chronically online besties. We have special guests, we have hot takes. So many things that we can only say friends only. Okay, dates. Los Angeles on May 8th. We are at West Side Comedy doing the show and we can't wait to see you there. We have meet and greets available for that. Meredith: And then Boston, we are in your city, June 25th and June 26th at Little Chuck in the theater district. Ticket links are in all the bios of my social media platforms. I will also link them here in the show notes. Would love to see you there and stay tuned 'cause we're working on adding more cities to this little tour. Meredith: Also signups for my next round of social media workshops. That kickoff in late April are officially open. We are doing a Tuesday night and a Friday AM workshop, so shoot me an email if you want additional information on those. These are six week small group sessions that I love doing, and we work on a really personalized approach of how to grow your channels. Meredith: Now let's get into today's episode. This week I have on Azani Creeks, a senior research and campaign coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project where she has written about private equity's impact on workers, students, incarcerated people, and more. Azani is based in Brooklyn, New York, and if the Private Equity Stakeholder Project sounds familiar to you, it's because they are. They are a nonprofit watchdog organization focused on the growing private equity and broader private funds industry. Meredith: You might remember we've actually had on Azani's colleague, Michael Fenne, talking about veterinary care and prisons and healthcare in prev

Mads Mitch knows a thing or two about going viral on the internet. Her "How hard can it be boys do it" gained a life of its own during the 2024 election season catching the attention of the Harris campaign and spinning off a successful merch line. But there is SO much more that happens behind the scenes of content creation and together we break down what inspires Mads to create, how she navigates the misogyny, and what makes us both true oldest daughters/oldest sisters. Follow Mads Mitch Subscribe to the Patreon!! Buy tix to Friends Only with Molly McAleer and Rob Shulte for LA Buy tix to Friends Only with Molly McAleer and Rob Shulte in Boston Transcript Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of oddly specific. It's the podcast that covers everything from private equity to Pete Davidson. I'm your host, Meredith Lynch, and I'm thrilled you're here for the intro because I have so many exciting things to tell you. Firstly, I have three live show dates. We are doing a live pod recording, I'm doing it with my friends, Molly Maclear and Rob Schultz, and they're great friends, but so are all of you. And that's why we're calling this show Friends Only, an IRL night with your chronically online besties. We have special guests, we have hot takes, we have so many things that we can only say friends only. So Los Angeles, on May 8th, we are at West Side Comedy doing the show, and Boston, we are in your city on June 25th and June 26th. That's two nights of fun at Little Chuck in the theater district. Ticket link will be in the show notes. The ticket link is in my Instagram bio. We have a few meet and greet tickets available. We would love to see you there and stay tuned because we are working on adding more cities to this little tour. Also. If you want to kick your social media up a notch, I have a few fun workshops and opportunities coming up. This Saturday, March 15th, my friend Stephanie Wilder Taylor and I are doing a workshop specifically for writers who want to grow their social media presence. That's the Saturday, March 15th from 1pm to 3pm PST. I will link that in the show notes. It's also on my Instagram profile linked in the bio. And still there are a few hot seat social media strategy sessions. If you want to grab a 45 minute session with my partner in content crime, Vienna and me, we would love to see you over there. Today's guest is an absolute legend on the apps. Mads Match created the viral phrase, how hard can it be boys do it? The phrase went global, catching the attention of the Harris campaign, launching Mads successful collection of merch and has been a springboard to bringing her empowering message to the world. She is the host of a pod that I love, Parked Car Combos. I loved having her on my pod and I know you will too. Without further ado, let's get Oddly Specific. Hey y'all. Welcome back to another episode of Oddly Specific. I'm your host, Meredith Lynch, and I have a very special guest today. Maddie Madds. I'm calling you Maddie Madds because she signed on and I was like, wait. It says Maddie, not Mads. Yeah, I just love to keep people on their toes. I just am constantly, it's constantly evolving. It's also, on some things, it's Mad, not Mads. Yes! Yeah, it's just a trifecta. It's the holy trinity. Mad, Mads, and Maddie. And you never know which one you're gonna get. But, today, I can be Maddie Mads. That's fine. I like it. Mad Dog. Well, welcome to the podcast. Yeah, I wear a lot of hats. Yeah. I'm really excited that you're here. I've been following your social media journey for so long now and I am so excited to get into what you have done, what you're up to, what's in the future. But first and foremost, You, like me, are not only an East Coast girl, because, listen, you guys, I'm just gonna talk, I want to talk about this for a second. Here in LA, Maddie, when I tell people that I moved here from the East Coast, Mm hmm. Their immediate thought is that I came here from New York. And so, like, it will be like, I'll be like, Oh, well, I moved here from the East Coast, like, four years ago. And they'll be like, Oh, New York. And I'm like, Uh, actually, no, Massachusetts. The light just, it just dims in their eyes. Like, I have fucking disappointed them. Like, like, like, I swear to God, people, people are like, Oh, you're, you, you're from there? I thought that's just a place that people went on field trips to. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. People, people actually live there. Um. They do live there. And it's actually a great state all around. Look at the statistics, people. It's an honor. So you, did you grow up in Massachusetts? Mm hmm. Born and raised. Okay. What do you think makes being from Massachusetts? Or like Boston area because your Boston area so different than being from New York And like I know you're not gonna say like just sports teams, which is why I love you Yeah, which is it is part of it It I think growing up in like the tom brady era of new england instilled like a mass

I have got my friend and NYT bestseller Stefanie Wilder-Taylor is in the house for a FUN bonus episode. We talk about our bad ex-boyfriends, Stefanie's career in tv including working in reality tv, quitting drinking, and how this bad b changed my life before I even met her. PLUS we spill on an opportunity to work with us later this month. Follow Stefanie! Take our workshop, sign up here! Subscribe to the Patreon

This week we welcome our pop culture king Blakely Thornton to the pod to talk about Kimberly Noel's Criminal Justice Era. We discuss how the Kardashians have evolved, Kim's journey from Paris Hilton's closet to the White House, and of course a few moments with Kris. Together we unpack how celebrities impact social issues and the nearly impossible task of fixing deep problems in the justice system. Check out the episode on Private Equity in prisons with Bianca Tylek Follow Blakely!! on ig Follow Blakely!! on TikTok Join the Patreon and never miss the tea! Meredith Lynch (00:01) Hi everyone and welcome back to another episode of Oddly Specific. I'm your host, Meredith Lynch. And this is like kind of a groundbreaking episode y'all because I have billed this podcast as the only podcast that covers everything from private equity to Pete Davidson. And a lot of you have reached out and said, Meredith, you've never had an episode where you have ever mentioned Pete Davidson. And they would be right. But today I think we're gonna get Pete Davidson adjacent. I am so excited for this guest. Y'all are going to freak out. Y'all are going to say, Meredith, what if Oddly Specific was just hosted by this person and you just went away? And I would say, listen, I'm open to it. Blakely Thornton, welcome. Thank you. Thank you for being here. How are you doing? Blakely Thornton (00:41) Hello, thank you. Thank you. Welcome. Doing well, just got over the flu. We're good, but I feel human today. My body temperature is regulating as previously discussed and I'm ready to talk P.E. and Kimberly Noel, you know? Meredith Lynch (00:59) I love it, I'm so excited. Isn't it wild when you get sick as an adult too? Because you kind of forget, like when I was a kid, I would just throw up all the time. Blakely Thornton (01:09) Yeah. I just think you forget when like it sucks. Like I think because the primary directive as a child when you miss when you when you get sick is missing school or like getting to watch some TV. But it's like when you're an adult and you work for yourself and there's actually also like no one taking care of you specifically like I have to like go get the medicine feeling like this. There's just no purpose and also like sick days if we're just skipping work and like going to basketball games or like Meredith Lynch (01:20) RAID! Thanks. Blakely Thornton (01:38) They're like taking your vacation, you know, they're not for actually being ill. Meredith Lynch (01:42) Yes, exactly. When you were a little Blakely and you are homesick from school, what was the show of choice, the daytime show of choice? Blakely Thornton (01:51) I think it was a little Matlock. We'd have like a Matlock pizza party like the old school like I don't even know what that man's name was. But like that old white haired KFC like Colonel Sanders looking white man that Matlock and like a Domino's pizza, even though like I don't know why I think Domino's was better in the in 90s before now. But I remember Domino's pizza tasting really good. So Domino's, Matlock, Sally, Jesse Raphael on occasion. Yes, daytime smut. Meredith Lynch (02:17) Well, yes. Daytime smart. used to really like Lisa. There was a show called Lisa. Yeah, that was my girl. And I also really, you know, I was that was how I got into Jerry Springer originally was I think a lot of us via sick days. Blakely Thornton (02:23) Yeah, Lisa Gibbons. Right? I was actually thinking of like, I was actually talking to my friend the other day about like, need to bring back those shows to like rehabilitate like maga men. Like remember how you should like take kids away to those camps? Just like needs to be that but for like straight men with podcasts, like, oh, you have a podcast? You've never read a book? Oh no, you're going, you're going, know, we take them like to libraries. Meredith Lynch (02:56) my god, like the intros would be like, I don't care what my job says, I'm never getting vaccinated. Blakely Thornton (03:00) Yeah. I'm an alpha. I don't deal with we need more alphas. And it's like you don't have a job, Rob. You have a high school diploma and unemployment like like that. Like get go to library, read a book. Meredith Lynch (03:08) Right? my God, I love this. How do we pitch this? Anyway, I love this. I love what you do. And I would love if you could just sort of explain, you know, how you got to where you are because you are this sought after creator, speaker. You're an incredible host. You call yourself a pop culture anthropologist, which I love. And I would love to know what that means to you. Blakely Thornton (03:33) Yes. I just think we are in an attention based economy and there is no longer higher low culture. Like someone yesterday asked me, are you finding it hard to be interested in pop culture and music and fashion when we're like in a fascism right now? And I'm like, no, because it's all connected and we're actually currently a country run by a bankrupt game show host. like those thi

Fresh off the Eagles win I'm joined by journalist and New York Times best selling author Jo Piazza for a conversation about tradwives, mom influencers, and our changing media landscape. We dig into Jo's own stint as a mom influencer, her writing process, and the economy of internet content creation. Jo will be back for a special book club episode of her forthcoming book, Everyone Is Lying To You, pre-order it here. Follow Jo on social! Subscribe to my Patreon!

Since time immemorial we have documented our families lives, but over the years birth announcements have evolved from placing a note in the newspaper (we used to do that!!) to filming pregnancy announcements for your family vlog channel in a Target bathroom. But does family vlogging blur the lines on our children's privacy? What are the long term implications of making your daughter's first period into content? This week I welcome Fortesa Latifi, a journalist who is currently writing a book about family vloggers and influencer children for Simon & Schuster. She's written for places like Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, among so many others. I think you will learn a lot about family vlogging culture in this insightful conversation. Follow Fortesa Read her latest piece for The Cut on MTV's Teen Mom Watch Tay and Kay at your own risk! IN MY OPINION!

What's the deal with TikTok? No seriously, what's the deal with it? This week I invite on social strategist and friend of the pod Vienna DeGiacomo from Good Story Branding to unpack the latest on the TikTok ban. We get into our predictions for the future of the app and what platforms and strategies we are recommending and implementing ourselves. It's a candid conversation on all the behind the scenes of content creation that unfortunately is often gatekept. If you're a creator, brand, or just creator curious this episode is for you! Follow Vienna: https://www.instagram.com/goodstorybranding/ Email Meredith to learn more about her workshops and consults, [email protected]

Welcome to 2025 and welcome back to Oddly Specific. This week we welcome Dr. JonPaul Higgins, Ed.D. Dr. JonPaul is an award winning educator, professor, national speaker, freelance journalist, thought leader and media critic who examines the intersections of identity, gender and race in entertainment. They share their experience growing up Jehovah Witness, and their path to leaving. We also spend time chatting about their upcoming book, Black Fat Femme: How to Love Yourself by Unveiling the Power of Visibly Queer Voices. We also discuss the challenges of inclusion and representation in the creative industry, and what might be done to move the needle. Plus who is actually moving it. And for good measure we spend some time discussing Goop! Follow Dr. JonPaul on Instagram Pre-order their book