The Muckrake Political Podcast

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.

Between generous squirts of hand sanitizer, co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton discuss the complete bungling of the handling of the coronavirus pandemic by the Trump Administration, how Trump and others like him have never intended to actually address problems of any kind, how the inhumane economy worsens these situations, the growing attack on Joe Biden, and whether that hand sanitizer even works in the first place.

Major changes as the Super Tuesday contests shake up the Democratic Primary. Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the results, Joe Biden's revitalized campaign, how the media has affected the election, Mike Bloomberg's disastrous candidacy, and the heartbreaking nature of politics for true believers.

In this week’s episode, Jared and Nick break down how the Democratic machinery got Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar to not only drop out of the primary race, but to endorse Joe Biden. And as the coronavirus begins to spread across the United States, how will this affect the country and Donald Trump’s chances in the general election.

On this week's episode, Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the unnecessary freakout within the Democratic Primary and the events that should be freaking out everybody: namely the rise of fascism and authoritarianism that is going largely unnoticed.

As the Democratic primary grows stranger and stranger, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dive into the sudden emergence of Michael Bloomberg as a potential nominee. Discussions include the danger of money in politics, the threat of believing fixing the country is as easy as defeating Donald Trump, and some necessary venting as our politics grows more and more dysfunctional.

It's been a week. Republicans voted to acquit Donald Trump despite all evidence proving his guilt, the Democratic Party's primary is off to a disastrous start, and Trump and Attorney General William Barr are already using their newfound freedom to distort the rule of law and undermine America's elections. Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton sort through the wreckage in search of some much needed hope.

It's caucus night and co-host Jared Yates Sexton is fighting the Des Moines Flu to give insight from his reporting on the ground in Iowa. Discussions include a dissection of the collapse of the Joe Biden campaign, Democratic worries over Bernie Sanders, a strong showing by Pete Buttigieg, and a rundown of what we know and don't know as we leave the Hawkeye State.

It's the Saturday before the Iowa Caucuses, which means it's time for some campaigns to panic and others to celebrate prematurely. Jared Yates Sexton is on the ground with inside information as to who's feeling good, who's pointing fingers, and some insight into how the chaotic picture is coming into focus. Subscribe to the podcast for up-to-the-minute coverage.

Jared Yates Sexton is in Iowa getting the inside information on the Elizabeth Warren Campaign as the Republican Party votes to forego witnesses in the Impeachment Trial of President Donald Trump. Jared and co-host Nick Hauselman reflect on a sobering, distressing day in the history of American democracy and dissect the Democratic field.

As Alan Dershowitz argues Donald Trump should be an unimpeachable king, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down the increasingly baffling argument by Trump's lawyers, the booming business of cashing in on the fall of America, and Rudy Giuliani's new "podcast."

The Democrats are concluding their opening presentation in the Impeachment of Donald Trump, and the Republicans haven’t refuted any of the facts presented. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss Trump’s plot and what he hoped to accomplish, the incredible closing speech by Adam Schiff, and we continue to watch Rudy Giuliani become unhinged on Fox News, this time trying to spin a tale about Ukrainian collusion with the Democrats in 2016.

Armed militias, white supremacists, and separatists are marching through Richmond, Virginia, and co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman are here to discuss the threat of armed rebellion, building fascistic movements, provide a history of America's extremist militias, and get to the bottom of why this country's media is so incapable of capturing the full threat of this building crisis.

It's been a busy week in the world of politics and analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman needed an extra podcast to cover it all. Lev Parnas went on TV and spelled out the specifics of the Ukraine Shakedown, Republicans have all but admitted Trump's crimes, and the president is as unhinged and dangerous as ever.

Political analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss Donald Trump's reckless warmongering with Iran, the administration's incoherent explanations, and how the Presidential Election of 2020 could not only unseat Trump but begin the process of healing the country.

Donald Trump is threatening to commit war crimes. The administration has no plan and no plan to even attempt a plan. Political analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the madness of warmongering, the tumultuous history of US/Iranian tensions, and the frustration of being at the whims of a demagogue.

Political analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman cover the breaking news that the US government has assassinated Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian general, and moved America one step closer to all-out war. They discuss the implications, the risks, the madness that's unfolding by the second.

A hopeful podcast for the new year! Political analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss defections within Trump's base and the possibility that a certain segment of his voters are realizing he's not their candidate.

For the last Muckrake Podcast of 2019, analyst Jared Yates Sexton holds down the fort, breaks down the impeachment of Donald Trump, the growing schism in the white evangelical community, and the hopes and fears of a new year.

With a vote on impeachment looming, political analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss the shortcomings of political coverage, including the role spectacle has played in creating the crisis and how partisan media has manifested a dangerous alternate reality.

William Barr's interview with NBC News on the IG Report into the Trump/Russia investigation was so bad and so dangerous analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman had to break it down in a special, bonus episode. Barr plays unbelievable games with the truth, runs interference for Donald Trump, and hints at possible prosecutions of political enemies. This episode goes line-by-line and separates the truth from the absurd.

Political Analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dive into the Trump Administration's burying of the IG Report on the Russian Collusion investigation, Bill Barr's willful disrespect for the law, and the history of the war on education and experts that conditioned the Republican base to become a cult in the thrall of Donald Trump. Then, Jared interviews journalist Ross Barkan to discuss his article "The Fascism to Come" and how the Republican Party might actually grow more extreme in a post-Trump America.