The Muckrake Political Podcast

Another shooting of an unarmed black man. A white terrorist murdering protesters in the street. NBA Players striking. Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the current crisis and how the answer is in solidarity and mass action.

Nick Hauselman is out of action this week, leaving Jared Yates Sextont o fly solo as he discusses Trump's "joke" that he would serve another twelve years, the madness of the Trump Administration's stated goals, and the fact that the Republican Party has dispatched of every principle they ever purported to have in the search of power and influence.

Steve Bannon is indicted! Another Trump croney is caught in a grift, this time using a build the wall fundraiser to wet his beak. Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss this development, the mindset of greed and cruelty that unites Trump's cesspool, and prepare for the grotesque Republican National Convention.

Episode Description: Donald Trump's attack on the Postal Service is blatant and craven. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss how the Republican Party has come to embrace the destruction of democratic norms and how Americans, including the Democratic Party, need to step up and oppose it. Also, historian Kristin Kobes du Mez stops by to discuss her book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. To access exclusive episodes and coverage of breaking news, become a Muckrake Podcast patron at http://www.patreon.com/muckrakepodcast

Kamala Harris has only been the Democratic Vice-President candidate for a few short days and already the Right Wing is calling into question her race and questioning whether she is constitutionally eligible for office. Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton discuss the virulent racism, the Right's history of othering people of color, and how Donald Trump will stop at nothing to maintain power.

Co-host Jared Yates Sexton comes in hot over the decline of the United States and its failure to contain the pandemic and continued insistence on settling for mediocrity. This leads to a discussion with Nick Hauselman about the many tiers of opportunists within the Republican Movement, including Christian fascists, middle-managers, and Trumpists looking to recapture a mythical moment in the country's history.

The Attorney-General of New York has exposed the National Rifle Association as the crooks we all knew they were, so co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton dive deep into the history of the NRA, how the Republican Party partnered with them to sell white paranoia for profit and votes, and the longterm damage done to American culture and democracy itself.

With news that Jared Kushner cobbled together a nationwide pandemic strategy that was scrapped to harm blue states, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman wrestle with the implication that the Trump Administration carried out willful genocide. Also, higher education expert John Warner joins the show to discuss his upcoming book "Sustainable. Resilient. Free.: The Future of Public Higher Education," the mess that is American public education, and the looming disaster as students are set to return to school.

Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss what Donald Trump means when he suggested delaying the election in November. Jared warns that there's a very significant fear of violence if Trump loses and his supporters won't accept the results. And while William Barr and Trump get called out for their lies, it doesn't seem to have any effect.

With covid-19 interrupting Major League Baseball and ravaging America, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the role of the myth of American Exceptionalism in exacerbating the crisis, as well as the authoritarian fascists in the country looking to take advantage of the problem. In an exclusive interview, Nick gets to talk with Erwin Chemerisnky, Dean of UC-Berkeley's Dean of the Law School, about the legality of President Donald Trump's actions.

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the future of the Muckrake Podcast, the authoritarian nature of Donald Trump dispatching federal troops to U.S. cities, and welcome poli-sci professor Dr. Jason Neidleman to talk about the illegality of Trump's plan and the long term consequences. To subscribe to the Muckrake Podcast’s mailing list, send a note to [email protected]

The Trump Administration has federal agents brutalizing protesters and violating their constitutional rights in Portland, and has just announced plans to roll them out in major cities around the country. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss this authoritarian overreach and sound the alarms. Also, they welcome artist Nate Powell to discuss his comic "About Face" that examines militarism, popular culture, and growing fascism.

Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp voids mask requirements in the state and co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman take him to task, deconstruct the descent of the Republican Party, and welcome on Brooke Binkowski to talk about misinformation, surf Nazis, and battling fascists online.

It's almost impossible at this point to keep up with Donald Trump's lies and corruption, but co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton do their best. Trump has commuted Roger Stone's sentence while Secretary of Betsy DeVos is pushing kids back into school without proper precautions. Also, author Katherine Stewart stops by to talk about her book The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism and the threat posed by members of the administration and weaponized religion.

The Supreme Court deals President Donald Trump another loss, this time in regards to his taxes. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss Trump's rampant corruption, the damage it's done to the rule of law, and connect the dots from Richard Nixon to our current crook in the White House. Also, they welcome historian Kevin M. Levin, author of Searching For Black Confederates: The Civil War's Most Persistent Myth, to discuss the Confederacy, statues and memorials, and the desperate need to revisit our history.

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss a Fourth of July unlike any other, featuring somber reflection of America's vices, skyrocketing coronavirus cases, and Donald Trump, an American president, going full-bore white supremacist as his reelection campaign stumbles. Also, in an exclusive interview, security expert Josh Berthume joins for an interview about his warning "7 Hours in November" and explains his concerns about the dangers facing America in the upcoming presidential election.

Pandemic news just gets worse and worse. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the damage Republicans and Trump have done in the effort to get Americans to wear masks, signaling to white supremacists by the president's campaign, and get into the founding of the country and things to consider over the holiday weekend.

The New York Times reports that Vladimir Putin and Russia have been paying bounties to Afghanistan for the deaths of American troops, and the White House can't decide on an excuse. Did President Trump know or not know? Did he commit treason or is he just...such a child he can't be briefed properly? Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss yet another disqualifying scandal, as well as the problems with global capitalism and the potential for violence against protesters in the streets.

Our country's past still has profound influence on our society today, and co-host Nick Hauselman welcomes to the show historian Curtis Harris to discuss the many sequences of events that have led us to still be struggling with issues of race, as well as the need to tear down statues.

Trump's rally in Tulsa was a bust and left the president a demoralized mess. Is Trumpism in trouble and what are the chances he gets desperate and dangerous? Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton break down the news and warn that this thing is far from over.

With John Bolton finally cashing in with his book, revelations about Donald Trump's treasonous and impeachable behavior come to light. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman go over the details and discuss the broken Republican Party.

Surprisingly, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of LGBTQ Americans receiving protection from discrimination. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss reasons for hope, reveal the history of the Federalist Society that has been shaping the country's judiciary, the story of political control no one wants to talk about, and Donald Trump's obvious failings.

As Donald Trump promises he'll conquer racism in America "very easily," co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the long and problematic roots of white supremacy in the United States, reasons for hope, and why fascists are suddenly exposing themselves in droves.

Protests around the nation (and the world) has proven that when Americans realize they have power they're unstoppable. Hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton discuss developments, the concept of defunding law enforcement, and the dangers that still lie ahead.

Donald Trump and Tom Cotton are calling protestors terrorists and pushing for soldiers in the streets, but co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman see something hopeful in the chaos. The fascists are letting their masks slip, and it's obvious they're truly shaken.

As the protests stretch on, co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton discuss the murderous rhetoric from Donald Trump, Tom Cotton, and Mark Esper, the complicated origins of the people's rage, and welcome disinformation and extremism expert Melissa Ryan to talk about misinformation during a crisis and what to expect going forward.

In the wake of another night of protests and destruction, Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss growing evidence that white supremacist terrorist cells are infiltrating the events, causing destruction, and attempting to escalate the crisis in order to throw America into chaos

America passes the threshold of 100,000 lost from the coronavirus while Donald Trump picks a fight with Twitter. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss this infuriating distraction, define the post-political structure that includes Big Tech and Trump, and examine the confluence of politics and consumerism that has destroyed our democracy.

A militia hung Kentucky's governor in effigy outside the gubernatorial mansion. Economists are referring to "human capital stock." Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss these disturbing trends, masculinity and fascism, and settle some online feuds.

Donald Trump has just admitted he won't shut down the country, even if the pandemic has a deadly second wave. Unfortunately, the numbers are showing that's a distinct possibility. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the ramifications, Trump's constant appeals to Neo-Nazis and fascists, and welcome author and lawyer Teri Kanefield to discuss the rule of law and effective means of acting against this regime.

The boys react to breaking news that Donald Trump has claimed he is taking hydroxychloroquine, the "miracle drug" he's pushed as a cure to coronavirus but has killed test subjects. Also, they break down "Obamagate," and the GOP's long history of using conspiracy theories as an offensive weapon.

To better understand the Right Wing propaganda machine, intrepid co-host Nick Hauselman subjected himself to nothing but conservative and extreme conservative media this week. This episode is a glimpse inside that disturbing messaging, the unhinged conspiracy theories, and an idea of where things are heading.

While the toll from the pandemic rolls past 80,000 dead and creates mass unemployment, the Trump Administration is relying on propaganda from Fox News and OANN to carry its water and distort reality. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the misinformation efforts and possible solutions on how we can make it out of this crisis.

As the economy continues to crater, the Trump Administration sees to it that criminal crony Michael Flynn is released despite his confessed crimes. Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton discuss the flagrant dismissal of the law, the consequences of economic depression on rising fascism, and more.

New projections for the coronavirus pandemic show a country speeding toward mass tragedy, and yet Donald Trump and Republicans keep pushing for businesses to reopen. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss what can only be called economic genocide and the escalating attempt to push conspiracy theories that the virus was an attack from China.

Armed white nationalists are storming the capitol in Michigan, highlighting a growing problem with white terrorism engaging in paramilitary intimidation. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the history of these movement and how they plan to use societal discord for their own purposes, as well as Trump's recent push to pardon Michael Flynn.

The Republican Party rolls out a strategy to blame the coronavirus pandemic on China and "Democratic traitors." Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the cravenness of it all, and the danger of rising fascism and the prospect of widespread, manufactured paranoia and racism.

The hits keep on coming as the Trump Administration continues to fail the American people while using the crisis to pad their own pockets. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman sort through the chaos one insane item at a time on this week-end episode.

Unfortunately, the DeVos-funded Reopen America "Movement" is spreading like its own pandemic, helped along by Donald Trump, Fox News, and a mainstream media that should know better than treat it like a legitimate protest. Your co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman talk about the strategy behind the propaganda, how Americans are uniquely vulnerable to these appeals, and welcome Professor Daniel Drezner on to talk about his new book The Toddler In Chief: What Donald Trump Teaches Us About The Modern Presidency.

An anti-quarantine rally in Michigan stole headlines, but was it real? Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss a history of pseudo-events, psy-ops, and manipulation by American officials, politicians, and recently with Russian propagandists. It's a long, dark history, and helps explain just how we ended up in these odd, dangerous times.

Trump has named his "Committee to Reopen America" and, surprise!, it's full of his cronies and children. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman digest this and another week full of crimes and scandals and address just how a criminally incompetent president can get away with it all

With a holy weekend looming, Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss how the Cult of the Shining City, a nationalistic, Neo-Confederate, white-identity evangelical cult has taken over American politics and the Republican Party, and the danger they pose during the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic gets worse as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now in an ICU, but meanwhile Donald Trump and Republicans are pushing a miracle drug like they're set to profit from its sales. Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton dissect the history leading up to this pandemic and how the ceaseless need to profit has put all of our lives in danger.

The coronavirus pandemic spirals out of control while Donald Trump continues to lie and brag that damning a quarter of a million of Americans to a lonely, terrifying death is somehow an achievement worth bragging about. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the tragic events of the week, the maddening strategy of lying until it breaks the will of the people, and welcome Sarah Kendzior, one of the foremost experts on authoritarianism, to the podcast to discuss the very real dangers to our freedom and our lives.

Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic continues to worsen as it exacerbates the worst parts of his personality. His lying. His narcissism and cruelty. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down more enraging chapters in this enraging story and explain some of the more seemingly inexplicable aspects of this crisis.

Donald Trump is proposing reopening the country on Easter and the market and evangelicals love it. Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton discuss this, the looming danger of the pandemic, and welcome human rights activist Charlotte Clymer on to talk about the danger of an authoritarian in a time of crisis.

Donald Trump and Republicans are getting itchy and calling for social distancing and emergency procedures to expire, surely putting millions at risk. Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the dangerous mindset that powers the Right and corporations, as well as the possibility of more damage to our democratic institutions.

Literally every time Donald Trump addresses the coronavirus bad things happen. The stock market craters. Lives are put at risk. Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman examine the last few days of chaos, including the nightmarish press conferences and Republicans profiting off the pandemic. Author and historian Sarah Churchwell stops by to talk about her essential book Behold, America: The Entangled History of 'American First' and 'The American Dream' and how authoritarian rule in America isn't so farfetched.

The news on the coronavirus front keeps getting worse, and co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman are here to discuss the origins of the crisis, the political and historical factors that aren't being discussed, possible consequences, and a disturbing new trend in Fox News and Donald Trump's treatment of the pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic is spiraling out of control while Donald Trump continues to double-down on his ineffective and dangerous "leadership." This emergency episode addresses the history of how we got to this crisis, as well as the possibility that Trump might undermine democracy itself.