The Daily Beast Podcast
The Daily Beast Podcast

<p><em>The Daily Beast Podcast&nbsp;</em>is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Hosted by Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer of the Daily Beast, every episode brings you more of the people, politics, and pop culture coverage you need straight from the Daily Beast newsroom. Amazing conversations have included Amber Ruffin, Tiffany Haddish, Mika Brzezinski, Don Lemon, John Oliver and more!</p><br><p><em>New episodes every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; early drops on YouTube.</em></p><br><p>If you’re not already a subscriber to The Daily Beast, it’s easy! Just go to&nbsp;<a href="http://thedailybeast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">thedailybeast.com</a>&nbsp;to sign up.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to break down the Vanity Fair profile that may have pushed Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles into dangerous territory, and the newly surfaced Epstein diaries that reveal fixation more than revelation. But the episode turns darker with Trump’s grotesque response to the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife—a moment that shocked even his own insiders. Wolff argues this wasn’t calculation or cruelty, but something giving way. And it leaves an unavoidable question hanging in the air: how long can a presidency survive when self-destruction is no longer strategic, but instinctive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chris Whipple joins Joanna Coles as his explosive Susie Wiles profile sends shockwaves through Trump’s White House. After 11 months of on-the-record access, for Vanity Fair, to Susie Wiles, Whipple explains why the facts can’t be denied—and why her description of Trump’s “alcoholic personality” has triggered cabinet-wide panic and presidential pushback. Does this unprecedented candor reveal how Trump 2.0 actually functions, or mark the moment the West Wing turns on its most powerful gatekeeper? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to unpack a presidency stripped of empathy after Trump’s disturbing Truth Social post responding to the murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife. Rothkopf, the founder of Deep State Radio and former editor of Foreign Policy magazine, argues that this moment exposes Trump’s defining pathology: an inability to respond to tragedy without cruelty, self-obsession, and grievance. From mass shootings to corruption, donors, and a cabinet quietly hedging its bets, they trace how Trump’s personal brokenness has become national policy—and ask the defining question: How long can a political system function when it’s built around one man’s pathology? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Don Lemon joins Joanna Coles to diagnose why Trump’s lost his charismatic touch. Lemon, Founder of The Don Lemon Show, describes a former president whose influence is fading as voters grow disillusioned with MAGA, economic distortions, and rising healthcare costs. From Trump’s credibility and health to Republican lawmakers misreading the electorate, Lemon explores the consequences of a movement built on lies and distractions—and presses a defining question: How long can the GOP survive a leader losing his grip? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to reveal stories behind newly released Epstein photos. Together they sift through the blacked-out faces, the Mar-a-Lago-style party shots, and a younger Steve Bannon seated in Epstein’s ornate study—the man he once admitted was the only figure in 2016 who truly scared him. Wolff explains why these images are surfacing now, how both parties are weaponizing them, and why they revive long-buried questions about Trump’s ties to Epstein. Coles ends on the unavoidable question: Are there more Epstein and Trump revelations still waiting to be discovered? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack Kristi Noem’s “Ice Barbie” theatrics at Homeland Security to Pam Bondi’s loyal remaking of the Justice Department. They explore how, for the people in Trump’s political orbit, loyalty and spectacle outweigh competence. Wolff and Coles dive into Corey Lewandowski’s influence, Alina Haber’s rocky rise, Jared Kushner’s allies, and the fractures forming among Trump’s women acolytes. Behind the headlines, they reveal a presidency driven by personal power, loyalty tests, and showmanship—where the inner workings are as unpredictable as the public drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ambassador John Bolton joins Hugh Dougherty to chart the growing dangers of Trump’s foreign policy, driven by impulse rather than strategy. Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, describes a president who ignores formal briefings, takes cues from Mar-a-Lago guests, and makes decisions by “neuron flash,” leaving Venezuela, Europe, and Ukraine trapped in contradiction and drift. As Trump chases a Nobel Prize and treats strongmen like personal allies, Bolton presses a defining question: How long can America’s security withstand a leader who refuses to plan? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect a president increasingly disengaged, dozing through televised cabinet meetings while aides scramble to manage both optics and reality. They probe the murky Hegseth video controversy, Trump’s self-awarded FIFA Peace Prize, and his meddling in Hollywood mergers, showing how delay, spectacle, and loyalty dominate decision-making. Wolff charts the frustration, chaos, and quiet panic inside Trumpworld. The two ask: What happens when no one can keep up with—or contain—Trump’s mercurial whims? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Rothkopf joins Hugh Dougherty to discuss the acceleration of Trump losing his grip on power. Rothkopf, a veteran foreign-policy analyst, details how key Republicans—from Marjorie Taylor Greene to Marco Rubio—are quietly defying Trump, exposing fractures in a party long held in thrall. They trace the personal and political signs that the former president is obsessed with legacy and self-aggrandizement—from renaming institutions to fixating on minor details—revealing a man increasingly out of step with reality. Together, they lay bare a central question: Can Trump’s inner circle survive a leader whose past is eclipsing any vision of the future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Senator Elissa Slotkin and Retired Major General Paul Eaton join the Daily Beast’s Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty to chart the growing alarm inside the national-security world over Trump’s increasingly cult-like demands for loyalty. Slotkin, a former CIA officer and Pentagon veteran, lays out how flattery, grievance, and improvisation have replaced strategy in Trump’s orbit—leaving the military to navigate chaos, not command. Eaton, one of the Army’s most outspoken former generals, explains why Trump’s impulses and misinformation pose what he bluntly calls a threat to U.S. readiness. From battlefield myths to political pressure on the ranks, Hugh presses both guests: What happens if Trump once again tries to run the military like it’s his personal force? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect a president who never asks the hard questions, leaving aides scrambling to explain what he refuses to understand. They dig into the Venezuela-bombed boats debacle and Pete Hegseth’s role, tracing how the story spiraled into Hegseth’s emerging SignalGate scandal. Wolff charts the frustration, chaos, and quiet panic inside Trumpworld, while Joanna presses on the larger pattern: a leader whose curiosity stops at the surface, imperiling both policy and loyalty. The two ask: What happens when those closest to Trump can’t keep up with—or contain—his blind spots? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to discuss a president oscillating between boredom and sudden, theatrical fury; a man who now demands ever-greater flattery from aides who are running out of new ways to praise him. Joanna presses into the Hegseth Venezuela debacle that Trump is suddenly trying to disown, the strange Kushner–Witkoff Moscow overture supposed to “solve” Ukraine, and the inner-circle panic over Trump’s fixation with who is—and isn’t—sufficiently servile. Along the way, they track the “moronocracy” shaping U.S. policy and ask: if flattery no longer works, what happens next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andrew Lownie joins Joanna Coles with a bracing account of a royal family in complete public meltdown. Lownie, an author and British historian, lays out why Prince Andrew’s downfall is no longer a contained scandal but a widening corruption crisis—one that now stretches from sex-trafficking allegations to financial misconduct, secret meetings with Bahrain, and the Queen and Prince Philip’s decades-long blind spot for their “favorite” son. As King Charles battles cancer and Prince William quietly takes the reins, Joanna presses Lownie on whether Andrew will flee Britain, what Sarah Ferguson might reveal, and whether this is the most perilous moment for the monarchy since the abdication. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack the widening sense inside Trumpworld that the operation is slipping into pure incompetence. From Pete Hegseth’s troubling battlefield lore to Keystone Kash Patel’s chaos, Wolff charts a mood shift that even Murdoch-world can’t quite hide. Wolff outlines how Jeffrey Epstein once warned that Trump would misuse his pardon power, as evinced by Trump’s pardon of Honduran ex-president and cocaine trafficker Juan Orlando Hernández. Joanna presses the central question of the hour: Is this the moment when Trump’s own allies decide the circus has finally become a liability? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
James Carville joins Joanna Coles to explain why he smells “a whiff of the French Revolution” rising in American politics as young voters buckle under soaring costs and a system rigged for the already-powerful. Carville, a veteran political strategist, argues that Trump—on the heels of his losses in the off-year election—stands on politically hollow ground, with collapsing polls and no governing path forward. The Ragin’ Cajun urges Democrats to center on affordability and economic inequality rather than “woke” identity fights. And with economic fury building, Joanna asks: Is this the moment Democrats finally take the advantage Carville believes is already theirs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Comedian Zarna Garg joins Joanna Coles to explore why she avoids political comedy, the pressures of Indian-American family expectations, and the surprising ways the Indian community relates to figures like Trump and Modi. Along with her daughter Zoya, Zarna traces the intersection of heritage, ambition, and representation, from Bollywood-inspired bravado to the delicate balance of supporting daughters marrying across faiths. Along the way, Garg reflects on mentorship, collaboration with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and the lessons that have shaped her career. It’s a conversation that’s at once personal, political, and profoundly revealing—how does heritage shape ambition in America? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to probe Donald Trump’s newest — and perhaps most perilous — level of weakness. From a fraying inner circle to the small, telling humiliations Trump tries to hide, Wolff traces how the former president’s aura of dominance is thinning just as legal threats, foreign crises, and a faltering presidency converge. Wolff walks through how Trump’s allies are suddenly keeping their distance and how MAGA power brokers are beginning to hedge. It all leads to the question that hangs over this episode: has Trump finally reached the point where weakness, not strength, defines his movement? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to take a deep dive into Donald Trump’s relationship with food. From his legendary buffets at Mar-a-Lago and his fast-food devotion to McDonald’s, Jimmy John’s, and oversized desserts, Wolff maps out the culinary habits that reflect Trump’s personality and comfort zones. They discuss the White House dining struggles, state dinners he barely touches, and the unusual quirks—from eating in his bedroom to a Diet Coke button at his desk. Along the way, Wolff unpacks how Trump’s palate, fears, and routines give a window into his larger-than-life persona. Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago has never been more telling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Katy Tur joins Joanna Coles to parse how a once forceful Trump, who called her “little Katy,” is now plagued by health concerns, prosecutorial incompetence, and an ever-growing Epstein scandal. Tur, Host of MS NOW’s ‘Katy Tur Reports’ digs into the deep fissures in Trump’s public persona: slowing energy, slurred speech, and shifting routines that raise questions about his health and stamina. Tur also breaks down the ongoing implications of the Epstein files, Trump’s handling of journalists, and the political fallout from rising healthcare costs. From the personal to the political, this conversation captures a president—and a country—under intense scrutiny Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to take a deep dive into Donald Trump’s relationship with food. From his legendary buffets at Mar-a-Lago and his fast-food devotion to McDonald’s, Jimmy John’s, and oversized desserts, Wolff maps out the culinary habits that reflect Trump’s personality and comfort zones. They discuss the White House dining struggles, state dinners he barely touches, and the unusual quirks—from eating in his bedroom to a Diet Coke button at his desk. Along the way, Wolff unpacks how Trump’s palate, fears, and routines give a window into his larger-than-life persona. Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago has never been more telling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kurt Andersen joins Joanna Coles to unpack the life and controversies of RFK Jr. From college cocaine escapades to audacious poetry and family scandals, Andersen, the author, radio veteran, and co-founder of Spy magazine, traces how recklessness and legacy collide in shaping the polarizing figure. He shares insights on RFK Jr.’s rise in politics, the chaos behind his public persona, and why his choices continue to reverberate through American culture. Along the way, Joanna reflects on how charisma and controversy intertwine, and they explore what RFK Jr.’s story reveals about ambition, legacy, and the Kennedy mystique. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s unmissable guest, Dr. John Gartner, joins Joanna Coles to break down what key moments reveal about Donald Trump’s cognitive decline. From trouble saluting at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to odd noises at a McDonald’s event, Gartner explains patterns of psychomotor decline, word salad, and disinhibited behavior. They discuss how stress, existing personality issues, and potential dementia intersect, offering a rare psychological lens on the president’s bizarre behavior. This episode peels back the curtain on what’s really happening inside Trump’s brain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles as he pulls back the curtain on one of the strangest constants inside Trump World: the curated, interchangeable circle of young women who drift through Trump’s orbit, all uncannily similar in look, style, and purpose. Wolff walks Joanna through how this pattern shapes Trump’s self-image, reinforces his craving for adoration, and becomes a kind of visual armor whenever scandal—like the Epstein files—comes roaring back. From the way these women are selected to the way they’re deployed, Wolff maps out the psychology behind the tableau Trump insists on staging around himself. As the conversation widens, Joanna pushes Wolff on what this says about Trump’s aging, his fears, and the hollow myth he keeps trying to resurrect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles as the Epstein story floods the zone. Wolff walks Joanna through why the recurrence of Epstein’s name so deeply rattles Trump and how old secrets keep re-emerging at the worst possible moments. They also dissect the chaotic legal maneuvers inside Trump’s circle, including Lindsey Halligan’s high-profile missteps and what her performance reveals about the administration’s strategy and priorities. It all builds toward the unsettling question hanging over the week: if this story “finally, finally” breaks open, what does Trump look like on the other side? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anthony Scaramucci joins Joanna Coles and reveals why, really, Trump can’t stand ‘South Park’—and how that anger connects with his deep insecurity. Scaramucci unpacks a visibly faltering Trump: exhausted, erratic, and sliding in the polls, struggling to control the swirl of unanswered claims online. He and Joanna trace the ripple effects through Washington, from anxious MAGA insiders to allies quietly rehearsing their post-Trump moves. With the mythology under strain and the movement showing cracks, is this finally the week everything starts to unravel? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dig into the unresolved contradictions around Jeffrey Epstein’s death and the evidence that may have vanished with him. Wolff presses on the implausibility of both the official story and the idea of a flawless cover-up, forcing Joanna to confront how a Trump-remade DOJ and FBI might handle “inconvenient” files. Together they explore whether possibly destroyed Polaroids, buried reports, or silenced insiders could really stay hidden—and what it means if they have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andrew Lownie joins Joanna Coles to examine wild new reporting that Jeffrey Epstein tried to hire a British sniper to kill Prince Andrew — a story now echoed by two separate sources. Joanna presses into the fever-dream paranoia that surrounded Epstein in his final years and the ripple effects now hitting the palace. Lownie, author of the bombshell book ‘Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,’ explains why, if true, this plot reframes Epstein’s reach and the danger surrounding everyone in his orbit. And Joanna ends by asking the blunt question lingering under all of it: what else was Epstein willing to do that we still don’t know? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mary Trump joins Joanna Coles to pull back the curtain on the Trump family and the man at its center. She recounts a childhood spent seeing her uncle everywhere, the opulent parties that doubled as power plays, and the lessons learned about a man who thrived on attention and control. Mary dissects Donald’s core pathologies—from his craving for wealth and status to the public slips and impulsive behaviors that now define him. She warns that the real danger isn’t just Trump himself, but the enablers who prop him up and profit from his rise. From her perspective as a clinical psychologist and family insider, Mary asks: when the myth collapses, what happens to those left in its wake? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles as the Epstein email deluge crashes straight into Donald Trump’s White House, leaving the president uncharacteristically mute and visibly cornered. Wolff argues this is the moment he’s warned about for years—the Trump–Epstein relationship finally breaking into full view. As newly released emails hint at suppressed testimony, secret negotiations, and a “dog that hasn’t barked,” Joanna presses Wolff on why MAGA is demanding total transparency even as it risks politically detonating Trump himself. Wolff explains why Ghislaine Maxwell’s family may now be threatening leaks to pressure the White House, and why Trump’s go-to strategy—delay—may not work against a story that resurfaces again and again. What does Trump do when the one scandal he can’t outtalk finally catches up with him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jonathan Karl joins Joanna Coles to reveal the chaos inside Donald Trump’s orbit. Karl, ABC News’ chief Washington correspondent and author of the new book Retribution, calls Trump’s relationships “abusive,” with aides, journalists, and anyone nearby alternately lavished with attention and publicly humiliated, praised, and discarded. They also dig into reports of Trump’s poor diet, bad sleep hygiene, and total aversion to exercise, which open up a larger conversation about a leader showing unmistakable signs of physical wear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to shed light on his email correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein and its impact on President Donald Trump. Drawing on leaked emails, private conversations, and years of reporting, Wolff exposes how the resurfacing of the Epstein files is reopening dangerous cracks inside Trump’s circle. Coles pushes him on what’s fact, what’s myth, and what Epstein really knew. As Trump fights to control his comeback narrative, Wolff posits one haunting truth: Epstein’s shadow may be the one story he can’t spin away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s tangled web of the Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell’s looming possible pardon. From the back in action Congress maneuvering to demand documents across the FBI, Justice Department, and multiple federal districts, to the astonishing perks Maxwell enjoys behind bars, Wolff and Coles trace the threads that link influential players, past crimes, and potential cover-ups. They dive into the “out-in-the-open” maneuvers protecting key witnesses, and what it all means for Donald Trump’s ongoing exposure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Symone Sanders Townsend joins Joanna Coles to break down the moment Donald Trump struggled to stay awake for twenty minutes in the Oval Office, and why the fact that no one around him reacted is the real story. Sanders, co-host of “The Weeknight,” on MSNBC soon to be MS NOW starting on November 15th, outlines the mystery of who’s really running the White House to the gold “Oval Office” signage, the secretive East Wing demolition, and the advisers suddenly speaking in “I” and “we,” Symone exposes a presidency drifting without leadership. In the end, Symone leaves us with the fundamental question: If Trump can fall asleep on camera and his deputies shrug, who’s actually in charge? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s must-read columnist David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to dissect Trump’s mounting political peril. As dissent grows within his own party—over foreign aid, tariffs, and radical Senate moves—Rothkopf warns that Trump is “staring death,” with his political survival hanging by a thread. This episode explores the stakes of a president confronting resistance from his base and the chilling question: how far will he go to stay relevant? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to examine the looming legal battlefield of Trump’s 2026 strategy, where every move is filtered through lawyers and litigation. As the White House braces for the possibility of losing both the House and Senate, Wolff reveals the unraveling logic guiding a president who cannot course-correct, while aides scramble to protect their careers. From redistricting schemes to potential Supreme Court battles over voting rights, this episode shows how Trumpworld is preparing for an election fought not just at the polls—but in the courts. Joanna asks the central question: Can anything stop this legal juggernaut? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to examine the one thing Trump can’t spin: a morning of losses he instantly tries to recast as wins. Wolff brings the voices inside the West Wing, describing Trump pacing between TVs, hunting for a villain, mangling the numbers, and turning Mamdani into his next made-to-order enemy. They cut through the chaos—shutdown brinkmanship, Prop 50 conspiracies, the Cuomo curveball, and a GOP leadership frozen in his glare—to reveal a president who can’t adapt, only blame, and a movement suddenly feeling less inevitable than it claims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Bandy X. Lee, forensic and social psychiatrist, joins Joanna Coles to sound the alarm regarding President Donald Trump’s dire mental health problems. She explains how Trump’s paranoia, fear of exposure, and relentless need for power drive his behavior—from deploying guards to manipulating supporters—and how these patterns spread through society, creating true mental health contagion. Dr. Lee asks: How do we contain a leader whose fragility fuels his power? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect the latest unraveling in Trumpworld: the controversial CBS News settlement, followed by their soft-ball sit‑down with Donald Trump. They question: Is this real journalism or a pay‑for‑play fluff piece? Later, they turn to JD Vance’s weekend spectacle—the public message to his Hindu wife, the viral hug with Erica Kirk, and what it reveals about Vance’s naked ambition to court MAGA while lacking the requisite authenticity to appeal truly. Along the way, they chart how the conservative media ecosystem is shifting, how Trump’s polling collapse and foreign‑policy chaos are fueling the vacuum around Trump, and how ambition, extreme rhetoric, and charged cynicism have become the new tools of power in Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andrew Lownie returns to break down the latest fallout for Prince Andrew. Lownie, the author of the book 'Untitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,' breaks down Andrew’s exile to Sandringham and whispers of his Middle East escape to avoid legal scrutiny. Lownie parses how the Epstein scandal and financial allegations have dramatically reshaped the royal landscape. He explains the palace’s response, the public outrage, and why Andrew’s ties to Epstein and business dealings abroad make him vulnerable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Steven Hassan, world-renowned cult expert and author of The Cult of Trump, joins the Beast’s Hugh Dougherty to unravel how Trump’s movement mirrors the classic architecture of a political cult, from manufactured grievances to the online ecosystems that keep followers locked in. Then, with recent Epstein materials resurfacing, they explore the contradictions, alliances, and unexplored vulnerabilities that continue to haunt Trump and his inner circle. Together, they connect the domestic chaos to the global actors who have spent decades studying and exploiting Trump’s psychology. As the crises converge, Hugh asks the question hanging over 2025: how long can Trumpism survive when the truth keeps breaking through? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to reveal how White House insiders are now dubbing the East Wing the “Epstein Ballroom.” From the persistent shadow of Jeffrey Epstein over Trump and Prince Andrew’s dramatic fall from royal privilege, to the explosive crypto pardons benefiting the Trump family, Wolff’s latest thorns to burrow into Trump’s side. They discuss Rupert Murdoch’s role, the birthday letter that exposed Trump’s connections, and the intricate web of influence stretching from Norfolk to Washington. With the latest Trump polls tanking and the government shutdown nearing a record, this episode captures the tangled, high-stakes universe of Trump’s presidency in real time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to posit the president’s next astonishing move: Donald Trump’s plan to demolish the West Wing of the White House. They trace how that impulse connects with the East Wing teardown, a $300 million ballroom project, and the greater ambition of remaking the presidency in his image. Along the way, they explore how Trump’s real estate instincts are emerging as his most effective shock-and-awe tactic. With the foreign policy collapse in China, the polling crisis at home, and the disappearance of oversight in Congress, this episode asks: As Trump tears down the White House, what remains of the presidency? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Della Volpe, Polling Director at the Harvard Kennedy School, joins Joanna Coles to break down the dramatic shift in young male voters, once Trump’s strongest base. From Charlie Kirk’s legacy to the collapse of Trump’s net favorable rating among young men, Della Volpe explains how inflation, chaos, and the unmet promise to release the Epstein files are reshaping politics. They also weigh in on Turning Point USA’s new leadership, the rise of faith communities, and the anti-establishment mood driving 2026 and 2028. Can Democrats turn this disillusionment into an advantage, and is Trump’s hold on young men slipping for good? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to reveal Trump’s hasty plan to demolish the East Wing and build a massive Trump Ballroom, his push to bypass political limits, and his obsession with control. They break down Steve Bannon’s wild Trump third-term schemes and Melania’s conspicuous absence on the president's Japan trip. Wolff explains how Trump’s real estate instincts shape his decisions in Washington and why Trump’s once seemingly impossible authoritarian dreams suddenly feel possible in an America where business and political leaders are genuflecting to Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Writer E. Jean Carroll, who triumphed over Donald Trump with an $83 million defamation verdict after accusing him of rape in the mid-1990s, is joined by her attorney Roberta Kaplan and Joanna Coles to unpack their historic courtroom victories. From tense depositions to a landmark judgment, they reveal how strategy, resolve, and fearlessness dismantled Trump’s aura of invincibility. Carroll discusses how she’ll use her winnings to support women’s rights, while Kaplan explains why Trump’s appeals are likely doomed. Can Trump honestly be held accountable, and what does their win mean for justice and women across America? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Don Lemon joins Joanna Coles to assess how Donald Trump’s hasty East Wing tear-down, building a tacky McMansion-style ballroom while the country stalls, mixing supposed opulence with power, and blurring public duty with private ego. Lemon, a veteran reporter and anchor, brings his sharp and uncompromising voice to the conversation. Together with Coles, he examines Trump’s architecture of excess —the corporations and their leaders acting as his handmaidens —and asks: when the symbol of American democracy becomes a personal trophy house, what does that mean for the rest of us, and how long can the facade hold? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stephen Miller is the ultimate suck-up, a master of shameless flattery whose influence keeps him at the center of Trump’s orbit. Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack how Miller’s relentless devotion to Trump reflects the chaos and destruction in the East Wing. The two also touch on how Wolff’s countersuit against Melania has spurred a bizarre AI-generated TMZ story that falsely claimed he was writing a tell-all about the first lady. They preview their first live ‘Inside Trump’s Head’ event at the Museum of the City of New York, where Wolff promises more revelations about Trump, Epstein, and the ecosystem that enables them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to tackle his startling new announcement: a billion-dollar countersuit against Melania Trump. The two dissect Jeffrey Epstein’s well-documented friendship with Donald Trump and connect the dots to Trump’s East Wing demolition, showcasing the president’s strategy for destruction. Wolff and Coles also unpack Stephen Miller’s hardline crusades, exposing the strange psychology that drives one of Trump’s most maniacal members of his inner circle. As the legal walls close in, one question lingers: how much of Trump’s chaos is calculation, and how much is pure compulsion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. John Gartner joins the Beast's Joanna Coles to assess the unraveling of Donald Trump’s mind. The clinical psychologist and former Johns Hopkins professor, who warned early about Trump’s “malignant narcissism,” now says the president shows clear signs of cognitive decline, comparing his confusion and grandiosity to dictators in their final stages. Coles presses Gartner on whether Trump’s dementia makes him more dangerous or simply more delusional, and what that means for the remainder of Trump's second term and beyond. Is America being led by a man losing touch with reality, or is Trump still cunning enough to conceal his growing symptoms? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dig into the one fear that continues to dog Donald Trump, the lingering specter of Jeffrey Epstein. As new oversight leaks reveal redacted names and unreleased evidence, Wolff explains why the Epstein files continue to rattle Trump and shape his thinking. They explore how this aversion affects his decisions, fuels his late-night rants, and exposes cracks in Trumpworld’s loyalty. Why do Epstein’s secrets haunt Trump, and what do his international allies and enemies know? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Harry Sisson joins the Beast's Joanna Coles to discuss being the target in an AI viral video by President Trump, complete with a crown, a jet, and a very messy payload. He shares his disbelief, how he sees the attack as proof of Trump’s obsession with online feuds, and why he welcomes the attention. Sisson also explains how Democrats can use social media effectively without stooping to the same tactics, highlighting creators like Zohran Mamdani and Gavin Newsom. This episode explores the power of social media, the challenges of political engagement, and the fight to push back against MAGA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sam Mangel, a former Federal prison inmate and current prison consultant, takes the Beast’s Joanna Coles inside Ghislaine Maxwell’s unusual life in a Texas prison camp. Sentenced to 20 years for sex trafficking, Maxwell is receiving unprecedented privileges and security. Mangel explains how other inmates react, the strict lockdowns during secret visits, and why her celebrity inmate treatment is frustrating staff and fellow prisoners. He also explores speculation about her potential early release via a possible deal with the Trump administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect Trump’s euphoric “victory tour” of the Middle East, where he cast himself as a global peacemaker while ignoring protests and chaos at home. Wolff unpacks Trump’s boastful talk of “Tomahawks for peace,” and the widening rift between Trump and his MAGA base. Both wonder why the “no kings” protests aren’t aimed at Epstein and the powerful men who enabled him. As his self-image balloons beyond control, Joanna and Michael ask: has Trump’s triumphalism become its own form of delusion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff shocks Joanna Coles by abruptly changing his view on Donald Trump’s desire to run for a third term. The veteran Trump biographer now believes that the president has been radicalized by his growing authoritarianism and is now likely to consider running again in 2028. Drawing on insights from inside the White House, they discuss how the Supreme Court’s recent decisions could pave the way for him to subvert the Constitution and maneuver for a third term. Wolff and Coles also explore how Trump monetizes loyalty and power, and ask whether Trump is setting the stage for an unprecedented extension of his influence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s David Gardner and Sarah Ewall-Wice join Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s latest obsession, a $200 million Arc de Trump slated to lord over the Potomac. Is it legacy-building or pure delusion? From secret Oval Office blueprints and questions over who’s really bankrolling Trump’s $200 million ballroom to Pete Hegseth’s war on the press fallout, Coles and company expose a capital consumed by Trump’s ego and unravel what his monument mania reveals about the man who can’t stop trying to carve himself into history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump Chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to unpack the Time magazine cover that ignited Trump’s fury and how the slow-walked political prosecutions of his perceived enemies, including James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Chris Christie, spurred Trump to install Lindsey Halligan. Meanwhile, Melania reemerges with her documentary hustle, prompting questions about her new visibility and even her reported communications with Putin. And with new fractures appearing in Trump’s once blindly faithful MAGA movement and fresh enemies on his list, Joanna asks: Is Trump losing control of the world he built or remaking it in his own image once again? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kurt Andersen joins the Beast’s Joanna to unpack the surprising Jekyll and Hyde nature of Donald Trump, from his once fawning desperation to be covered warmly by Andersen to his snide takedown once Andersen was no longer useful. Drawing on insights, Andersen and Joanna Coles explore what Trump’s split personality reveals about his nature, his calculated self-presentation, and his ascent to the White House. Along the way, they tease out the contradictions between the Trump we see in public and the Trump we hear about in private. Is this the side of Trump no one really notices, or the one he wants you to notice? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Beast’s Joanna Coles and Trump Chronicler Michael Wolff dive deep into Donald Trump being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize and the forces driving his obsession with recognition. They explore the pivotal role of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, who balances family loyalty, high-stakes diplomacy, and billion-dollar business opportunities in the Middle East. From navigating complex deals with the Saudis and Qataris to leveraging influence for both profit and power, Coles and Wolff reveal how Trump’s desire for validation intersects with Kushner’s strategic maneuvering. The episode unpacks ambition, risk, and reward at the highest levels, showing how peace, personal gain, and political calculation collide in the Trump crucible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s latest delusions of grandeur. This time, namely, his fantasy of winning a Nobel Peace Prize for “ending seven wars” that never existed. Wolff recounts a disturbing encounter involving Jeffrey Epstein, the head of the Nobel Committee, and alleged Polaroids of Trump, while Pam Bondi, now heading the DOJ, pointedly refuses to discuss them. From showy Middle East tours to Chicago photo ops with the National Guard, Joanna and Michael explore how Trump’s obsession with power, spectacle, and apparent paranoia, tinged with fear, continues to reshape his presidency. Is Trump intending to occupy cities like Chicago indefinitely or just seeking attention?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rep. Ro Khanna joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to reveal what he calls Washington’s most dangerous cover-up. The California congressman explains how the Epstein files hold explosive information and why his bipartisan effort to release them has been stonewalled during the government shutdown. He links Trump’s role in the stalemate to a broader system that shields the powerful rather than the public. From congressional gridlock to moral reckoning, Khanna argues that transparency is the only way to restore trust in democracy. Is Trump protecting national secrets or defending himself? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff returns with Joanna Coles for a blistering look at the latest fractures inside Trump’s MAGA coalition. From Trump’s resurfacing of Epstein anxieties and his strange new pardon predicament with Ghislaine Maxwell, to his growing unease over Israel and the rise of Christian nationalism, Wolff sketches a portrait of a president losing control of the populist movement he created. The Daily Beast’s Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles presses Wolff on Tucker Carlson’s ambitions, online swirling Charlie Kirk conspiracies, and J.D. Vance’s quiet maneuvering for power. Together, they dissect how Trump’s cult of loyalty is turning on itself and why his old tactics may finally be failing. Is Trump still the master of the MAGA hivemind, or has he become just another voice in the chaos he unleashed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anthony Scaramucci joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles for a no-holds-barred look inside Trump’s turbulent second term. Trump's former first-term Communications Director and longtime Trump confidant-turned-critic calls Trump “the wicked witch of the West Wing” and predicts the moment he finally melts. Scaramucci revisits his infamous 11 days in the White House, missing his son’s birth, and the cost of blind loyalty. He tears into the GOP’s pretenders to Trump’s throne from J.D. Vance’s obsequiousness to Marco Rubio’s shape-shifting. Coles keeps the chaos sharp, pulling out Scaramucci’s rawest insights on power, ego, and redemption. And it all builds to one cutting question: if Trump’s the wicked witch of the West Wing, who’s bold enough to throw the water? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s must-read legal columnist Shan Wu joins the Beast’s Hugh Dougherty to dissect Trump’s shaky case against James Comey. Wu, a former federal prosecutor, explains why the indictment reeks of politics: a weak grand jury vote, rookie prosecutors sent to do Trump’s dirty work, and a DOJ reshaped into a loyalty machine. He lays out the defense playbook, from motions to dismiss to jury battles, and warns how much damage the spectacle will inflict on Comey and the justice system itself. With Trump burning political capital chasing old enemies as crises mount at home and abroad, the question becomes: is this justice or just Trump’s vengeance dressed up in legal robes? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff, author of four books chronicling Trump, joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to reveal Trump’s madman plan for the government shutdown. Wolff explains how Trump turns congressional gridlock into an existential battle of dominance, using fear, chaos, and pain as weapons. From Military leaders frozen in place by Trump and Pete Hegseth’s humiliating lecture to Trump’s ostentatious White House ballroom construction, this episode exposes Trump’s desperation to be respected. They outline how an unpredictable president turns a bureaucratic stalemate over the government’s budget into a personal war, and exactly how he thinks he can win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling joins the Beast’s Hugh Dougherty to unpack the jaw-dropping spectacle at Quantico, where Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth addressed 800 top military leaders. Hertling breaks down how Military brass in the room really reacted when Trump rambled on about “dangerous cities” as training grounds, mocked rules of engagement, and praised a random World War II documentary made in the 50s. Hertling pulls no punches, calling the speeches “berating,” “embarrassing,” and dangerously out of touch with modern military standards. He explains why generals were silent, what U.S. allies and adversaries are thinking, and the legal and constitutional risks of Trump’s orders. From the impact on troop morale to how Russia is exploiting the chaos, Hertling offers an inside look at a Commander-in-Chief unlike any before, and what it means for the military and the nation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff, author of "All or Nothing," joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to discuss how the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein is haunting Trump's White House. Wolff lays bare how Trump's bizarre conspiracy thinking explains exactly why he went after former FBI chief James Comey. And Wolff gives behind-the-scenes insight into Trump and Pete Hegseth used their unprecedented meeting with 800 generals and admirals to attempt to force blind loyalty. He and Coles dissect the desperation to control the military and weird obsession with dress codes and beard bans and how Trump's obsession with image is shaping America's future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Rothkopf, the Daily Beast's unmissable columnist, lifts the lid on what's really going on at Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth's "pep rally" this week for generals and admirals. Rothkopf, CEO of The Rothkopf Group and a Clinton administration veteran, tells executive editor Hugh Dougherty tells what his own sources are warning the meeting signifies. And he warns how a militarized response to phantom threats like “war-torn Portland” saps real military readiness. He also tells why Trump weaponizing the DOJ against enemies including James Comey means the U.S. is not just facing becoming an authoritarian police state; in fact it's already there. He also traces the next evolution of MAGA from grievance politics to white Christian nationalist revivalism and warns how it could outlast Trump himself thanks to people including Erika Kirk and JD Vance. Yet he offers a glimmer of hope in the power of numbers, new platforms, and a public that still wants sanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former U.S. Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer joins the Daily Beast’s Joanna Coles to reveal how Donald Trump dismantled the Justice Department’s pardon process and replaced it with a pay-to-play system. Oyer explains how career experts were sidelined on Trump’s first day, leaving space for clemency to be sold to the highest bidder and reserved for the well-connected. From million-dollar Mar-a-Lago price tags to pardons for sex offenders, fraudsters, and January 6 rioters, she exposes how Trump turned clemency into a political and financial weapon. Oyer also contrasts Biden’s careful, narrow pardons with Trump’s sweeping, loyalty-driven approach—and why victims were often left behind while Trump’s allies walked free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff, author of ‘All Or Nothing,’ joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to parse the looming threat of a government shutdown. Wolff outlines how Democrats are in a position stop Trump’s dismantling of the government while Trump winds up to command attention and leverage chaos. From his relentless playbook of confrontation to the ripple effects of his threats on media and politics, they explore how Trump pressures leaders, exploits opportunities, and reshapes institutions. With behind-the-scenes insight into Congress, Chuck Schumer’s role, and the stakes for the country, this episode examines what Trump’s authoritarian zeal means for America’s future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Robert Reich, Co-founder of Inequality Media and President Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Labor, joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to warn us that the U.S. is sliding into authoritarianism. He lays out how Trump’s White House distorts economic data, bullies CEOs, corrupts crypto markets, and undermines global alliances, while billionaires and media titans enable his rise. Reich also calls out cowardice among university leaders, corporate chiefs, and even Democrats who should be defending constitutional freedoms but instead bow to fear and greed. From Disney’s censorship of Jimmy Kimmel to the silence of Silicon Valley, he argues that ordinary citizens may have to step in where elites have failed. Can American democracy survive when its leaders refuse to lead, or is it up to the public to stop Trump’s march toward tyranny?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to examine a week where Trump’s world collides with scandal, faith, and science. From Epstein’s secret photo stash and Kash Patel’s embarrassing congressional testimony, to Trump’s jarring rage at Charlie Kirk’s memorial, Wolff dissects the cracks in MAGA’s political and spiritual future. Erika Kirk’s moving forgiveness speech, Trump’s uninformed vaccine rants, and Sam Nunberg’s blunt “Trump is an idiot” verdict all point to a deeper question: how much longer can Trump’s anger and anti-science rhetoric hold his MAGA movement together? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kara Swisher, veteran tech journalist and co-host of the 'Pivot' podcast, joins the Beast's Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s sordid appearance at Charlie Kirk’s funeral, where campaign politics overshadowed mourning. They explore Erika Kirk’s sudden prominence as a potential Trump running mate, Larry Ellison circling TikTok, Disney’s retreat on Jimmy Kimmel, and the larger question of how Trump has turned hate into his most durable brand. With his empire thriving on division at home and disruption abroad, the conversation asks: can Trump’s politics of hate still carry him forward?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. John Gartner, former Johns Hopkins professor and co-host of the podcast ‘Shrinking Trump,’ joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to deliver a chilling diagnosis: Donald Trump is showing signs of dementia layered on top of malignant narcissism. Drawing on decades of clinical expertise, Dr. Gartner explains how Trump’s declining language, erratic gait, and disturbing anecdotes point to brain deterioration that makes him not just unpredictable but uniquely dangerous in office. Coles presses him on how Trump’s narcissism compares to King Charles’ public persona, whether his cabinet and family are retreating from his volatility, and what it means when a leader with nuclear codes also displays symptoms of mini-strokes and confabulation. From Hitler’s psychology to Bill Clinton’s benign narcissism, this episode explores how power amplifies paranoia, cruelty, and decay—and asks the starkest question of all: as Trump weakens physically and mentally while tightening his grip on authority, how far can Trumpism go before it breaks America? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to explain why Donald Trump has chosen now to formalize his assault on the media. From the president’s feud with Jimmy Kimmel and Disney’s quiet capitulation, to Wolff’s surreal late-night ice cream with Trump in Beverly Hills, and even his own face projected onto Windsor Castle, this episode traces the strange intersections of power, ego, and greed. Along the way, they explore how MAGA’s loyalty to Trump is being tested by Trump’s ongoing Epstein scandal and his administration's formal push to silence free speech, evidenced by a dramatic drop in Trump’s approval ratings. Is Trump’s control over culture and politics starting to fray, or only tightening in new ways? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff and the Beast’s Joanna Coles unpack the president’s awkward state visit to Britain. From King Charles’ white-tie dinner with Trump and Rupert Murdoch, to the firing of U.K. ambassador Peter Mandelson over his own Epstein entanglements, to Labour leader Keir Starmer’s desperate attempt to turn the trip into a political win, the pageantry collides with scandal at every turn. With Epstein, Epstein, Epstein still haunting Trump’s every move, can royal pomp and photo ops really save him or just magnify the shadows trailing behind? And why was Wolff’s own face suddenly projected 200 feet high onto Windsor Castle? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Star columnist David Rothkopf joins the Daily Beast’s Joanna Coles and Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty to discuss Trump’s week of cascading crises. From Kash Patel’s reckless tweets and FOX News appearances that have corroded FBI trust, to the internal purges and morale collapse that now haunt the Bureau, the hosts probe how Trump’s allies are weaponizing chaos to tighten their grip on power. They examine the killing of Charlie Kirk and the way Trumpworld is turning Kirk’s memorial into a MAGA rally. At the same time, Utah’s Spencer Cox emerges as an unexpected counter-voice inside the Republican party. And with Trump preparing for a gilded U.K. state visit—shadowed by the specter of Jeffrey Epstein and royal unease—the conversation asks: is this just spectacle, or the architecture of Trumpism’s next power grab? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to unravel Donald Trump’s response to Charlie Kirk’s killing. They examine how Trump rushed to blame the left before facts were known, appears to have dodged any real grief, and may still be haunted by his own brush with assassination. From a Trump’s droopy face appearing at this week’s 9/11 memorial, to cracks with RFK Jr., a cabinet unease over inflation, and Epstein’s “birthday book” resurfacing, it’s been another chaotic week for the president. They also discuss the FBI’s fumbling search for Kirk’s killer and how its apparent incompetence has fueled conspiracy theories and social media attacks across the political divide. They explore how these events reveal a leader trapped by ghosts of the past. And they ask whether Trump is running from Kirk’s death or from himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast's unmissable columnist David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to dive into what he calls one of Donald Trump’s most chaotic weeks yet. The 79-year-old president has been jeered at by protesters across a dining table, faced mounting health concerns, dealt with the assassination of his acolyte, Charlie Kirk, while abroad, his foreign policy has stumbled. Rothkopf, CEO of TRG Media and a foreign policy expert, argues Trump looks increasingly fragile, physically and politically, as allies squirm with embarrassment and rivals like Putin and Xi Jinping test his weakness. Coles and Rothkopf examine America’s rising tide of political violence, driven by alienated young men and a culture awash in guns, and note Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s surprising emergence as a voice of civility. With Trump leaning on inept advisers, losing grip on his narrative, and facing international mistrust, Rothkopf asks whether we are witnessing not just the decline of a president, but the slow unraveling of Trumpism itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff and the Beast’s Joanna Coles unearth Donald Trump’s bizarre entanglements with Jeffrey Epstein. From a birthday book signed by Trump to a shady mansion deal, to an $83 million judgment and claims of FBI informants, the hosts unpack the evidence, denials, and contradictions. They explore how Trump’s excuses collapse under scrutiny and why his ties to Epstein keep resurfacing. With Epstein’s letters and Trump’s own words raising fresh questions, the story only grows darker. And our hosts ask whether Trump’s connection to Epstein is a liability he can ever escape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Independent journalist Don Lemon joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles for a wide-ranging conversation unpacking Trump’s health issues, the MAGA movement’s big problem, and the night RFK Jr. had dinner with Don Lemon. The two dive into Trump’s public appearance at the U.S. Open and ask what the mysterious blue object clenched in his mouth, seen in a candid photo, is. The two also take apart JD Vance’s rise, calling him the kind of “DEI hire” conservatives pretend to hate. They dig into the contradictions of his wife Usha’s background, the role Black Americans played in securing rights for immigrant communities, and why Trump still manages to suck all the oxygen out of every room. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Australian model Cleo Glyde sits down with the Beast's Joanna Coles to share her extraordinary, unsettling memories of New York in the late 1980s and early 1990s. At just 22, she was living the height of the fashion world, signed to Ford Models, immersed in the club scene, and swept into the orbit of Jeffrey Epstein. She recalls meeting him through a fellow model, their early friendship, his Great Gatsby–like allure, and how he used wealth and connections to project power. Cleo also opens up about her introduction to Donald Trump through Epstein, visiting Trump Tower, and witnessing the bizarre mix of glamor, neediness, and showmanship inside his gilded world. She reflects on the dangerous charm Epstein wielded, her shocking encounter with him on a private plane, and how hindsight reveals the darker truth behind the high-society facade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to go inside the rage-filled White House where Trump is reacting to blows from judges—including to his tariffs. They explore what happens when judges say no to Trump. And they examine how tariffs have become a unilateral tool of punishment and power, why the courts are pushing back, and how Trump reacts with rage when confronted by these limits. From attempts to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles to efforts to expand emergency powers, this episode examines what it looks like when one President attempts to circumvent a republic’s rules and insists that no one can oppose him. At stake are the checks and balances of American democracy and the question of whether the system can withstand Trump’s defiance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s brilliant columnist David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to examine Donald Trump’s disastrous week on the world stage. From being overheard on a hot mic talking about deals with Vladimir Putin, to Modi undercutting his peacemaker myth, to world leaders gathering in China without him, Trump finds himself without a seat on the world stage. They explore how his failed military parade compares to China’s massive display of power, how his fixation on the Rose Garden reveals his petty interests, and how his “Gaza Riviera” plan turns tragedy into a dark and twisted real estate play. The conversation shows how China and others are moving forward while Trump obsesses over himself and the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump’s health is suddenly the biggest mystery in politics. After disappearing for more than three days, whispers about his wobbly legs and his puffy presentation have swept through The President’s inner circle. Hosts Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff pull apart the rumors and ask whether Trump’s latest health scare is just another online chattering class’s obsession or something far more serious. They dig into why the White House is keeping so quiet and how the imagery of Trump’s decline is fueling speculation. Plus, they explore what his health means for his future and the people still betting on his power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Comedian and actor Matt Friend joins Joanna Coles for a sharp, funny look at Donald Trump’s complicated relationship with comedy. Friend shares his spot-on impressions of Trump, Obama, Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell and more. From his early obsession with comedy to performing at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Friend shares the secrets behind his political impressions and how he turns real-life absurdities into comedy gold. They dive into the process of mimicking Trump’s voice, the challenges of doing other politicians, and how current events feed his stage material—all while keeping audiences laughing across the political spectrum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff jump in for an emergency podcast to unpack the twisted story of how Donald Trump brought Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into his administration, despite his history of drug abuse, womanizing, and a long career of anti-vaccine activism. They explore how Trump’s desperation to shore up his MAGA base on vaccines led to RFK Jr. running the nation’s public health system, with devastating consequences. From collapsing expert panels and vaccine shortages to Trump’s fleeting fantasy of a “Trump Kennedy 2024” ticket, the conversation reveals a dangerous bargain. Wolff recalls his decades of encounters with RFK Jr., from his days as a campus drug dealer to his ambitions for the presidency, painting a portrait of a broken man now wielding immense power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Long-time British Royals Journalist and Author Tom Sykes, and Joanna Coles, revisit Princess Diana’s death and why he believes there was foul play. From her troubled marriage and rivalry with Camilla to the tainted blood samples, the missing Fiat Uno, and Diana’s own letter predicting an “accident,” they dig into the questions that still haunt the monarchy. They also explore Mohammed Al-Fayed’s lifelong suspicions, the British inquiry known as Operation Paget, and Prince Harry’s account in ‘Spare’. Diana’s global power, her challenge to the royal establishment, and her complicated relationship with the press all come under the spotlight. This is the story of how the world’s most famous woman became too threatening for the monarchy to ignore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff dig into Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison interviews with Trump’s DOJ, Epstein’s lingering influence on Trump, and Trump’s presidential culture of copious pardons for nefarious American characters. They examine how rich criminals and political allies maneuvered for Trump's favor, and how loyalty, leverage, and money shaped decisions inside the Oval Office. From secret phone calls to private doubts, Wolff unpacks what drives Trump's unusual sympathy Trump reportedly felt for Maxwell and the political pressures he's facing in deciding whether to pardon her. And Wolff highlights how Epstein’s social connections, including Fergie and Prince Andrew, intersected with Trump, showing the unexpected ways their worlds became connected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle joins Joanna Coles to unpack Donald Trump’s power moves against the Federal Reserve's governors. From his campaign against Fed chairman Jerome Powell to saying he has fired Black governor Lisa Cook, the conversation reveals a president at war with the independent central bank. The two explore how Trump leans on Wall Street CEOs, demands loyalty over judgment, and pulls business leaders like Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook into his orbit as props in his economic battles. And Ruhle spells out why Wall Street's hair is on fire about New York socialist Zohran Mamdami but it should be ablaze about Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff dig into the explosive Trump DOJ transcripts of Ghislaine Maxwell’s meeting with Todd Blanche and what they reveal about Jeffrey Epstein’s finances, Donald Trump’s anxieties, and more. From the talk in the White House of Trump “keeling over” and the President’s obsession with Ghislaine Maxwell, the conversation unpacks Trump’s paranoia, monied moves, and lingering ties to Epstein’s world. They also examine the mounting worries over Trump’s physical decline, from swollen ankles to his unsteady gait, that fueled private panic among his aides. With fresh Epstein details overlooked by the mainstream media found within Maxwell’s proffer, Wolff explains how Trump’s past scandals keep colliding with his present. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jonathan Mahler, author of 'The Gods of New York', joins Joanna Coles to explore Donald Trump’s tabloid-fueled rise in the 1980s. From his feud with the Koch brothers over Wollman Rink to the Marla Maples scandal in Aspen and his explosive Central Park Five ad, Mahler reveals how Trump mastered gossip and scandal to build a myth that would carry him into politics. They trace how Trump’s obsession with media attention turned Page Six into his personal stage. And they uncover how the tabloid era’s culture wars laid the foundation for Trump’s future in the White House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff, author of four bestselling books on Donald Trump, joins the Daily Beast’s executive editor, Hugh Doherty, to dissect the former president’s expanding enemies list. From the FBI raid on John Bolton’s home to Trump’s fixation on Black female prosecutors and judges, Wolff lays bare how Trump’s hostility toward Black women has become a defining and pathological theme of his politics. They also dig into the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files—what’s inside, what’s missing, and why Trump’s allies are scrambling to contain the fallout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump doesn’t listen. He doesn’t read. He just talks. On ‘Inside Trump’s Head’, Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff explore why Trump embarks on endless monologues, his Oval Office turned into a bus station, and the “wall of sound” that keeps people out. Wolff shares surreal White House moments, from generals with PowerPoints Trump ignored to phone calls that lasted for hours. The episode also delves into Trump’s unusual routines, Melania’s cryptic note to Putin, and why the mainstream media still struggles to cover the 47th President of the United States competently. What emerges is a portrait of a man stuck in 1965 Rat Pack Vegas, yet still dominating the digital age in 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monica Lewinsky joins Joanna Coles for an unflinching look at the new Hulu limited series 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox'—and why the story we think we know is nothing like the truth. From Knox’s wrongful conviction and years in an Italian prison, to the media’s obsession with “Foxy Knoxy” and the anatomy of bias that fueled it, Lewinsky reveals how her own experience being dissected by the press helped her connect with Knox and bring her story to the screen. With behind-the-scenes details on persuading Amanda to say yes, building a powerhouse creative team, and the haunting parallels between two women thrust into the global spotlight, this episode uncovers how narratives are twisted, who benefits, and what gets lost along the way.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What really happened when Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin behind closed doors? In this episode of 'Inside Trump’s Head', cohosts Joanna Coles and Trump biographer Michael Wolff unravel Trump’s odd displays of loyalty to Putin and the secretive negotiations over Ukraine that alarmed U.S. allies. They examine Trump’s fixation on flattery, his pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize, and the way Putin’s KGB-honed tactics played against Trump’s insecurities. From the bizarre secrecy surrounding their one-on-one sessions to the global risks of Trump’s concessions, this is a revealing look at how the Trump–Putin relationship reshaped world politics and exposed the vulnerabilities inside Trump’s head. And Wolff drops an extraordinary new revelation about a meeting Jeffrey Epstein had with Vladimir Putin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Bolton, Donald Trump's National Security Advisor who witnessed up close why he is so bad at making deals, joins Joanna Coles for an inside look at what it’s really like being in the room with Donald Trump. Looking at Trump's first term Putin meeting in Helsinki, where briefing papers went unread as soccer played in the background, Bolton reveals a portrait of a president who prizes optics over substance, public relations over policy. With Vladimir Putin exploiting every opening, Xi Jinping taking notes, and Trump’s envoy stumbling into Russian disinformation, Bolton exposes the dangerous mix of ego, improvisation, and manipulation at the heart of America’s foreign policy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles for a scathing examination of Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin—and the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein that's cast over the entire affair. From Trump’s failed promises to release Epstein’s files, to his floundering attempts at deal-making in Ukraine, Wolff reveals how distraction, denial, and deference to Putin define Trump’s playbook. With insider texts, sharp analysis, and vivid accounts of the theatrics on the world stage, this episode unpacks the haunting ties between Trump, Russia, and Epstein—and what it all means for America’s future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What really connects Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Andrew? In this explosive episode of Inside Trump’s Head cohosts Joanna Coles and Trump biographer Michael Wolff dive deep into royal biographer Andrew Lownie’s explosive new book, 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York'. They unpack the scandals, secrets, and political games linking Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Andrew. From private rivalries over Princess Diana to Epstein’s chilling social manipulations—and Trump’s quiet moves to rewrite his past—this is the untold story of how money, sex, and influence brought down a royal and shook the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Foreign policy insider David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles for a blistering deep-dive into Donald Trump’s high-stakes summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska—and the dangerous implications for Ukraine, Europe, and global security. From Trump’s flattery-fueled diplomacy and one-on-one meetings with no note takers, to Putin’s KGB-honed manipulation tactics, Rothkopf exposes a portrait of ego, opportunism, and geopolitical risk. With insider accounts, sharp analysis, and startling parallels to past encounters, this episode unpacks how one man’s insecurities and ambitions could shape the fate of nations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the premiere of 'Inside Trump’s Head', a new twice-weekly deep dive from The Daily Beast into the most unpredictable, unsettling, and endlessly fascinating mind in modern politics. Host Joanna Coles teams up with best-selling Trump biographer Michael Wolff to explore what’s really driving Donald Trump.In this inaugural episode, Wolff shares exclusive White House conversations suggesting Trump may be ready to give up large parts of Ukraine in a high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin — all to distract from the ceaseless Jeffrey Epstein scandal threatening his grip on the MAGA base. From the hidden hand of Jared Kushner to Steve Bannon’s private doubts, from Putin’s possible kompromat to the Epstein “drumbeat” that won’t fade, Coles and Wolff go spelunking into the dark, dank cavern where all of Trump’s decisions begin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bestselling royal biographer Andrew Lownie joins Joanna Coles for a blistering deep-dive into Prince Andrew’s life, scandals, and the shadowy alliances that brought him down. From explosive allegations of financial corruption at the heart of the monarchy, to his entanglements with Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Donald Trump, Lownie exposes a portrait of greed, privilege, and impunity. With insider accounts, never-before-revealed details, and jaw-dropping stories—from secret business deals to sordid weekends in Thailand—this episode unpacks how the Queen’s favorite son became the royal family’s greatest liability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff, the best-selling author who was tapped by Jeffrey Epstein to write his biography spills the secrets of the pedophile—and of Donald Trump. Wolff reveals the twisted reality of life inside Epstein's New York mansion, where he had a chess set made with himself as king, then spills who the other pieces were carved to represent—as well as his bizarre encounter with Epstein's last girlfriend. He and Joanna Coles also analyze exactly what Trump means by building a new ballroom at the White House and what it says about the man in the Oval Office. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Best-selling author Michael Wolff tells Joanna Coles what he saw inside Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous Manhattan townhouse and his lavish Paris apartment. From bizarre sights including a stuffed tiger and a stuffed baby elephant to a horrific fake corpse in the lobby, this is at home with a monster. On the sideboard, Epstein flaunted his easy access to the rich and powerful with pictures with princes—not just Andrew but Mohamed bin Salman—prime ministers and even a pope. Wolff and Coles unpack new pictures uncovered by the New York Times and Wolff’s own unparalleled access to Epstein’s homes and unravel how and why Epstein escaped attention for too long. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stacey Williams, a Sports Illustrated model who briefly dated Jeffrey Epstein in the early 1990s tells Joanna Coles her story—and her astonishing encounters not just with the pedophile, but through him with Donald Trump. Williams reveals how a much older Epstein made a twisted boast that he had "prized" videos of her naked which she had no idea he had made. And she tells how he took her to Trump's Fifth Avenue office where a "brazen" Trump groped her. Trump's campaign denied her allegation when it was first made. But she tells Coles, "I know there are women who have interacted with them, who haven't come forward, who have anecdotes to share that confirm their behavior and their friendship." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ghislaine Maxwell is moving jails, the President’s wagging the dog and Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins The Daily Beast’s Joanna Coles to explain the ongoing Epstein scandal and why it matters. Also on the table, Laura Loomer’s inexplicable rise to power and her claims she’s now had 16 people fired. With a potential Maxwell pardon in play and Trump’s lawyers blurring the line between personal fixers and public officials, what’s going on inside the MAGA machine?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author Amy Odell joins host Joanna Coles for a sharp, funny, and deeply revealing conversation about the woman who launched a thousand jade eggs—Gwyneth Paltrow. Odell spent three years interviewing over 220 sources for her new biography 'Gwyneth', in which she’s spills everything: from Goop’s rise and questionable wellness claims to Paltrow’s high-profile love life, accidental class war commentary, and surprisingly savvy business instincts. Is Gwyneth Paltrow the original influencer? What does she really believe? And how did a candle turn her into a meme? Coles and Odell unpack the cultural power—and cringe—of a woman who shaped what it means to be a modern celebrity, whether we like it or not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Julie K. Brown joins Joanna Coles to unpack the latest twist in the Epstein saga—why Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanch, now number two at the Justice Department, personally visited Ghislaine Maxwell in prison. What did she tell him, and who is on the rumored list of 100 names possibly connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crime activities? As Epstein’s victims speak out in anger and fear, Brown reveals why Maxwell could now be in danger too—and why the Epstein cover-up still haunts the White House. Coles and Brown also dig into Florida’s ex-AG Pam Bondi, the deleted Elon Musk tweet, and why Epstein may have believed he’d never done anything wrong. With new subpoenas looming and Congress demanding answers, the question remains: what’s in the Epstein files—and who doesn’t want them released? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to reveal the rising panic inside Trump’s inner circle as the Epstein scandal metastasizes. With Ghislaine Maxwell serving 20 years in prison, Wolff outlines how a meeting between her and Trump’s former lawyer—now the No. 2 at the DOJ—Todd Blanche, is raising serious questions about a possible deal. Wolff details Trump’s decade-long friendship with Epstein, the infamous 50th birthday letter, and how they shared a girlfriend who moved between the two men. He describes a White House gripped by fear as “Epstein intelligence” emerges—emails, photos, and files that could expose just how “bad” Trump’s “bad boy years” really were. MAGA world, Wolff warns, may not survive what Maxwell has to say. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Investigative reporter Tara Palmeri joins Joanna Coles to dig into the twisted saga of Ghislaine Maxwell—her crimes, her secrets, and why the Trump's Justice Department is knocking at her door. As Maxwell serves 20 years in a Florida prison, new signs point to a potential deal with Trump-era officials. Why now—and what does she know? Palmeri shares chilling victim accounts, unsealed evidence Maxwell wants buried, and fresh questions about whether or not she could still reveal long held details to authorities. From Prince Andrew to Alan Dershowitz, the web of powerful men around Maxwell remains tangled. And around MAGA world, a shocking new chant is gaining steam: “Free Ghislaine.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Frum joins Joanna Coles to unpack the jaw-dropping scale of Donald Trump’s presidential profiteering—from the $400 million Qatari plane to his so-called ‘presidential library’ money funnel. Frum, Senior Editor of The Atlantic and host of the new podcast The David Frum Show, explains how Trump turned the presidential office into a personal ATM—and why the Republican party let him. He breaks down why Trump’s grift dwarfs anything in U.S. history, how social media fuels both the scam and the silence, and why the real question isn’t what Trump will do next, but what we’ll tolerate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack Donald Trump’s ever-expanding harem of lookalike aides, surrogates, and “comfort blanket” women inside the presidential bubble. With Melania absent, Trump has surrounded himself with younger clones — from Natalie Harp, the so-called “human printer,” to bikini-clad attorney Alina Habba, to Melania doppelgänger Margo Martin. Wolff, an accomplished Trump biographer who has observed this dynamic firsthand in the West Wing and beyond, explains how Trump’s obsession with appearance, loyalty, and media control manifests in the women around him — many of whom are fighting viciously for his attention. Wolff also reveals how one of these Melania clones controls most of the information that reaches the president and why jurors in Trump’s criminal trial were “creeped out” by his Stepford-like entourage. Wolff explains how Trump’s fixation on TV-ready staff masks a deeper insecurity and clear isolation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Daily Beast Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty to unpack a new Wall Street Journal report that could spell real trouble for Donald Trump: a 2003 birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein alongside a nude sketch. Wolff clarifies Trump's deep and well documented relationship with Jeffrey Epstein—and why MAGA media, led by Bannon and Tucker Carlson, won’t let it go. As Trump scrambles to distract with bizarre stunts and conspiracy bait, even his allies are rattled. This time, Wolff warns, denial might not save him. Wolff, who’s chronicled Trump’s rise in four bestsellers, describes a man entering his “lame duck phase,” besieged by rivals and a serious newly revealed medical condition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tina Brown joins Daily Beast Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty to revisit the scandal she helped break wide open—Jeffrey Epstein—and how it now threatens to fracture MAGA from within. Brown, co-founder of The Daily Beast and former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, reflects on commissioning the explosive 2010 Epstein exposé that first named names like Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Larry Summers. She recalls Epstein’s chilling intimidation tactics—including showing up uninvited to her office—and explains how he leveraged social status, political donations, and kompromat to shield himself for decades. Brown also reveals that Ghislaine Maxwell was more socially visible than Epstein in the 1990s and how her husband exposed Robert Maxwell as a crooked businessman years earlier. As new revelations emerge—including that an FBI source warned Epstein “would never make it to trial”—Brown unpacks why this scandal still haunts Trump, whose bond with Epstein spanned 15 years. She describes how Trump’s recent meltdown on Truth Social, dismissing his base as “weak” and “stupid,” signals a dangerous rupture. And with MAGA obsessed with pedophilia conspiracies, Brown warns: this may be the one scandal Trump can’t shake—because for once, his base might not let him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Daily Beast Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty to unpack the chaos of what may be the first lasting MAGA civil war—and why it centers on Jeffrey Epstein. Wolff, who's authored 4 biographies on Trump, was present when Steve Bannon met Epstein. Wolff exposes the bizarre triangle between Trump, Bannon, and Epstein, including how Bannon became a key promoter of the very conspiracy he’s entangled in. Wolff describes how MAGA influencers are now caught between defending Trump and pursuing the elite-exposing narrative they helped create. He also reveals that Trump once considered pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell and had known her since the early days of his deep friendship with Epstein. As Trump lashes out on Truth Social and desperately struggles to change the subject, Wolff suggests this scandal might finally stick—or at least rattle him more than most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Obama White House veteran David Litt joins Joanna Coles to talk about his new book about surviving the age of Trump—and what America's rivals really think about the current president. He explains what is going through Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping's head as they watch Trump from afar and what Trump saw in America that powered him to victory twice. Litt talks about his new book "It's Only Drowning" which he wrote after turning to surfing when the first Trump presidency plunged him into depression. He became hooked on the sport with his Joe Rogan-listening, Trump-voting, brother-in-law, finding a bond with someone he admits he has "nothing in common with." But it led to him realizing what had gone wrong for Democrats and why his party needs to engage with, not retreat from, platforms like Rogan’s. Litt explains how the MAGA coalition’s anti-authority ethos—rooted not just in politics but in personal psychology—has outpaced the left’s ability to tell its story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack the surreal world of Jeffrey Epstein—from the salons of Manhattan’s elite to the shadowy corners of MAGA conspiracy. Wolff, who cultivated Epstein as a source and planned to have breakfast with him the morning after his arrest, reveals the financier’s deep ties to figures like Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, and Bill Gates. He shares the eerie final message Epstein sent Wolff before his death—and challenges both the suicide narrative and the murder theory. Wolff debunks the myth of a “client list,” critiques the DOJ’s recent denial of foul play, and exposes the hypocrisy of right-wing figures like Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, who once demanded answers and now run the very agency saying there’s “nothing to see.” He also examines Epstein’s enigmatic financial empire, his influence over powerful men, and the unspoken role Trump’s inner circle may play in concealing the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anthony Scaramucci joins Joanna Coles to unpack the official story behind Jeffrey Epstein's death and why Elon Musk has renewed his trolling of Donald Trump. Scaramucci rejects the idea of a "client list" but says Epstein kept kompromat on powerful friends. He points to Epstein's ties to Les Wexner, hints at Trump's entanglement, and suggests the real cover-up is about protecting elite reputations, not uncovering a conspiracy. The Mooch also explains what may come of Elon Musk's America Party, how it may affect the coming elections, and what Musk's fundamental objective is with his new third party. He warns that Musk is not to be underestimated and calls for Elon to respond to the X DMs he has sent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tara Palmeri joins Joanna Coles to unravel the dark machinery behind Jeffrey Epstein’s rise—from math teacher to multimillionaire mogul with ties to the FBI, CIA, and America’s elite. Palmeri, who spent two years investigating Epstein, claims the financier acted as an informant for the feds, traded in secrets, and used kompromat to build both his fortune and his immunity. She debunks the myth of a client “list,” but reports that prosecutors hold photos and video evidence too explosive to release. Ghislaine Maxwell, she believes, may have some further cards to play that are related to her case. Palmeri also shares heartbreaking insights from survivors like Virginia Giuffre, and why the story’s true horror isn’t in the conspiracies—but in how the victims were forgotten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Ian Black celebrates July 4th with Joanna Coles and explains his reluctant transformation into what he jokingly calls “a conservative”—thanks to Donald Trump. The comedian and Daily Beast columnist describes how defending the IRS, foreign aid, and the post office over dinner with a Trump voter made him feel like he’d become “the man.” But it's not age that’s made him more conservative—it’s Trump’s destruction of public service, empathy, and the common good. Black traces his unlikely journey from straight-edge punk rocker to champion of bureaucracy, arguing that helping people shouldn’t be a radical act. He calls Trump “the worst thing for comedy” and slams the administration’s cruelty as both unfunny and un-American. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect the explosive feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump—two billionaires with their own media platforms and no off switch. Wolff recounts how Musk, cast out by Trump, has resurfaced with threats to bankroll a third party and destabilize GOP control. Trump, ever theatrical, responds by smearing Musk as a drug-addled foreigner, even suggesting deportation. But beneath the chaos lies a real threat: Musk’s billions could tip the Senate and House, risking everything for Trump. Wolff warns this isn’t just noise—it’s a blood feud. And in Trump’s world, dominance matters more than governance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Della Volpe joins Joanna Coles to unpack why young voters—especially anxious, economically insecure young men—helped put Trump in office. Drawing on Harvard polling and his SAM Project, Della Volpe explains how Trump’s internet swagger and outsider energy appealed to a generation feeling betrayed by institutions. But the mood is shifting. Young voters are turning on Trump, frustrated by chaos and instability. Della Volpe warns Democrats: stop lecturing, start listening. He points to Zohran Mamdani’s surprise win as proof that authenticity, optimism, and showing up matter more than ideology. To win Gen Z, Democrats need less tightly scripted cable TV appearances—and more courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Liz Plank joins Joanna Coles for a scorching postmortem on the Venice wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez—a $50 million display of “confetti capitalism” that collided head-on with a collapsing middle class. Plank, whose viral Substack column captured the online fury, recounts watching the foam-drenched bacchanal while her paper straw dissolved in her mouth and seniors were zip-tied at the Capitol protesting Medicaid cuts. She argues the grotesque contrast isn’t just offensive—it’s politically clarifying. As celebrities scrambled for camera time and Vogue’s fawning coverage backfired, Plank points to a growing revolt: from Zohran’s shock primary win in New York to Hungary’s defiant pride march. She connects the dots from Bezos’s billionaire cosplay to the Democratic Party’s disconnect with working people—and calls for all to use their voice, both online and off, to advocate for real political change.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brian Tyler Cohen joins Joanna Coles for a dissection of the digital age’s political battleground. Cohen—solo creator of one of the largest progressive platforms in America—reveals how he turned a dead-end acting career into a media empire with 4.5 million subscribers and zero writers. Cohen explains that Trump’s chaos isn’t incompetence—it’s a strategy: flooding the zone, exploiting the slow reflexes of legacy media, and redefining the presidency as a form of cultural warfare. He blasts the Democratic Party’s gerontocracy, their obsession with MSNBC over TikTok, and their chronic failure to meet the moment. As Trump installs loyalists like Pete Hegseth and Dan Bongino into key roles, Cohen warns the real danger isn’t just Trump—it’s the bootlickers willing to weaponize law enforcement on command. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles’s to unpack the latest twist in Trump’s Iran debacle—a truth bomb dropped by U.S. intelligence. Wolff, Trump biographer and author of 'All Or Nothing' explains how Trump, obsessed with showbiz and "bragging rights," staged a “perfect war” for TV that is now unraveling in real time. The leaked intelligence contradicts Trump’s declaration of a triumphant mission, showing Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain largely intact—sending the West Wing into a tailspin of blame and recrimination. Susie Wiles launches a frantic leak hunt. Tulsi Gabbard is thrown under the bus. Pete Hegseth scrambles to avoid Trump’s wrath, which Wolff describes as “frightening,” and akin to being “treated like dogs.” Wolff uncovers Trump’s sugary mood swings to his government-by-whim—“a reality TV presidency with nuclear stakes.” Coles and Wolff reflect on how the U.S. went from a system of institutions to one man’s ego show, powered by candy, rage, and a desperate fear of losing the narrative. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff are back with a newsflash pod after President Trump dropped an unprecedented F-bomb on the White House lawn. Wolff—the author of 'All or Nothing'—joins Coles to unpack the deeper meaning behind Trump's outburst about Israel and Iran: "They don't know what the f*** they're doing." Wolff reveals how the comment wasn't a gaffe but the latest act in Trump's attempt to script what he calls "the perfect war"—a PR-driven spectacle shaped entirely by headline management, emotional whim, and circular phone calls. Coles and Wolff dissect how Trump has taken personal ownership of a war he likely doesn't intend to finish. With Trump's unkept performance—tie off, hair unruly, language raw it's a revealing look at a president desperate to direct a global conflict like a reality show finale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former Obama chief of staff and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Joanna Coles to unpack the stunning news that Donald Trump bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities—against the judgment of his own intelligence agencies. Emanuel, whose two sons serve in the U.S. Navy, lays out a sobering, real-world framework for how a president should handle such a volatile decision, and why Trump’s impulsive, “instinct-driven” approach endangers global stability. He warns that Tulsi Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth represent a dangerous, unserious national security apparatus—and says plainly that the current commander-in-chief lacks the discipline, curiosity, or character for the job. Emanuel, who's also a CNN contributor, opens up about sleepless nights, military service, and his own possible 2028 run for president—and what it would take to make the American Dream affordable again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to pull back the curtain on a White House in disarray. The author reveals how the president’s impromptu, last-minute decision-making around Iran—epitomized by a series of frantic Friday phone calls and a dismissive “fuck Tucker”—turned what insiders claimed was a long-planned operation into a mad scramble. Wolff explains that while official narratives try to dress up the moment as a flawless, strategic maneuver, in reality the president dithered until the very end, leaving everyone guessing and scrambling for their next move. Coles and Wolff dissect the chaos behind the rhetoric—how rival factions from the MAGA base to neocon advisors vied for his attention—and expose a leader who shifts his course with every call, embodying a breathtaking blend of uncertainty and dangerous improvisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author Evan Osnos joins Joanna Coles to parse the twisted games the world's wealthiest play with and aboard their crazy expensive yachts. As tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg snap up megayachts, Osnos, author of 'The Haves and Have-Yachts,' unpacks what these floating palaces reveal about a seismic shift in American wealth and power. He explains why Donald Trump shut down the KleptoCapture task force, how oligarch envy shapes Trump's worldview, and what it means that he once owned a Saudi arms dealer's yacht—but hated being on it. From Adnan Khashoggi to Elon Musk, Osnos traces the rise of ostentatious wealth, the decline of discretion, and why the modern billionaire isn't satisfied with private jets—they also want political control. Plus, how Musk crossed a line even Andrew Carnegie didn't, and why Americans may finally be waking up to a new, gilded threat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
James Carville joins Joanna Coles for a bracing tour through the foreign policy civil war inside MAGA—and why it could tear the coalition. As Israel and Iran square off, so do Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Tulsi Gabbard versus Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Mark Levin. Carville breaks down the long-simmering ideological rift now boiling over, and why Trump’s strategic confusion—especially in the Middle East—is dangerous not just for Republicans, but for global stability. He explains why Trump “couldn’t find Iran on a globe,” how Tucker’s pro-Russia leanings go back decades, and why Americans aren't nearly scared enough about what’s coming. Plus: what Carville says is the real cost of Republican loyalty to Trump, and how Democrats can seize this moment—if they’re smart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to discuss how the president's $45 million attempt at creating a "menacing" military parade backfired into a yawning, low-budget cosplay. The author of 'All or Nothing' reveals the real reason Trump was furious at the troops, what Pete Hegseth got wrong, and why the U.S. military has moved on while Trump is still stuck in 1965. Coles and Wolff explore how Israel's strike on Iran played out while Trump sat bored on a D.C. bleacher—and why the war made him look weak, used, and irrelevant.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to unpack the chaos behind Israel’s strike on Iran—and the confusion inside the the Trump administration's response. From Marco Rubio claiming America had nothing to do with Israel's attack, to Trump scrambling to take credit, Rothkopf lays out why nobody seems to know who approved what, or when. He explains why Trump’s “deal guy” approach to foreign policy has failed everywhere from Gaza to Ukraine, and why Trump’s inner circle of golf buddies and yes-men leaves America weaker and more isolated than ever. Rothkopf calls Trump “the most impotent president in living memory”—and warns that our enemies are laughing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles unpacks global chaos colliding with American absurdity: a California senator thrown to the ground, Israel striking Iran, and the man in charge of U.S. diplomacy? Trump’s golf buddy Steve Witkoff. Who else to make sense of this than Michael Wolff, the chronicler of Trump’s chaos. Wolff dives into Trump’s racist tirade after the arrest of Senator Padilla, and how Gavin Newsom accidentally became the face of Democratic leadership—thanks to Trump himself. Plus, Wolff paints a jaw-dropping picture of Trump’s “phone monologues,” Witkoff’s terrifying Middle East power grab, and why American politics now runs on height, hair, and real estate credentials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles is joined by Russian and American Journalist M. Gessen, whose reporting from both Putin’s Russia and Trump’s America has made them a singular voice on creeping autocracy. Gessen explains why Americans' faith in endless progress is misplaced—and how Trump, like Putin before him, overwhelms the system by attacking everything, everywhere, all at once: courts, media, universities, even law firms. They argue that the biggest danger isn’t sudden collapse, but slow adaptation—that Americans are already getting used to living in a crumbling democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
California governor Gavin Newsom tells Joanna Coles how he is going head-to-head with Donald Trump and Stephen Miller's cruelty and chaos—and why the country has never faced such a crisis before. He goes scorched earth on the "carny bulls**t artist" president and say what he thinks about being nicknamed "Gavin Newscum." Newsom has harsh words for Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, warning their loyalty to Trump's authoritarianism shows how weak they are. And he spells out what is next in his fight against Trump and why he doesn't regret hosting MAGA stars like Steve Bannon on his podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles is joined by Anthony Scaramucci, the infamously short-lived Trump first term White House communications director and longtime Trump confidant-turned-critic. The Mooch brings a blisteringly informed look into what happens to those, like Elon Musk, who get too close to Donald Trump—and why Musk is the latest casualty. Scaramucci explains why Ro Khanna is the only Democrat with the foresight to try and win Musk back, how Potomac fever has infected Silicon Valley, and why Trump's orbit inevitably burns anyone drawn into it. He reveals how Trump really fired him and why Howard Lutnick may be the next domino to fall. Plus, Scaramucci argues that a Musk-backed centrist third party won't be able to win the presidency—it could break the political duopoly for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles returns to dissect the latest turn in the Trump–Elon Musk war—and who better to decode the thoughts in Donald Trump's head than Michael Wolff, Trump's biographer. Wolff explains how the feud puts JD Vance's future in question because Vance's "only hardcore support" is from within the tech community. Wolff reminds us that Trump's Epstein connection still hangs over Trump like a sword Damocles. And Wolff shares that within the White House, people are saying "Thank God for LA" and the mass protests against ICE agents, which have stolen the American people's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles welcomes Scott Galloway—the irreverent marketing professor, tech provocateur, and self-declared “really f***ing rich” man—to understand into the dark ballet between DonaldTrump and Elon Musk. Galloway calls Musk to a “rabid addict with a checkbook,” and unpacks how Tesla’s collapsing brand is a case study in boardroom paralysis, loyalty bought with billions, and a CEO in free fall. He then turns his fire on Brand America, the Democrats’ allergy to confrontation, and why the resistance feels like a “rebel force without Luke Skywalker.” It’s a high-octane, unfiltered diagnosis of power, cowardice, and the price of silence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles is back with an emergency podcast to reveal just what is going on with the Trump–Elon Musk blow-up—and who better to explain it than Michael Wolff, Trump’s biographer and longtime chaos whisperer. Wolff explains why Musk is “Elon Bannon," revealing how he’s stolen Bannon’s role as Trump’s dark twin. And he unpacks why both men are deploying Trump’s ultimate fear: Jeffrey Epstein. From Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, where Bannon coached the disgraced financier on media comebacks, to Elon’s furious tweets, Wolff traces a toxic triangle of power, revenge and secrets. And he explains why Musk may be the first man rich and ruthless enough to truly go to war with Trump—and win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles calls an emergency podcast for the biggest fall-out in political history: Donald Trump and Elon Musk. And it's the perfect guest to explain EVERYTHING: Michael Wolff, the Trump biographer—who already predicted what would happen. He unpacks a "nuclear" break-up and why Musk has used the weapon Trump fears most: Jeffrey Epstein. Wolff reveals his own extraordinary moment of interviewing Trump and what happened when he raised the pedophile financier. He talks about the predator and the president's long friendship. And he explains why Musk is now Trump's perfect enemy—bigger than Harvard and of course the Democrats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles sits down with Michael Wolff, the best-selling biographer of Donald Trump who has become his definitive chronicler. Wolff reveals Trump's the real reason for the president's pick-me-energy hair. He tells how Trump has been making an extraordinary racially charged observation to West Wing visitors about modern college students—and Wolff reacts to Trump going after him for saying that the war on Harvard was a revenge attack because 18-year-old Donald didn't get in. Wolff reveals what's really being said inside the president's inner circle about the Lucifer-like fall of Elon Musk and explains what it really means about the prospects for anyone who put themselves in Trump's orbit. And he resurfaces Stormy Daniels' very telling anecdote about who blew up Trump's phone when the two were engaged in their tryst—which of course, Trump still denies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles sits down with MSNBC’s own Stephanie Ruhle—seasoned financial journalist and host of The 11th Hour—for a sharply insightful breakdown of the economic theater inside Trumpworld. Ruhle dissects the tensions between truth and loyalty for financiers like Scott Bessent, who finds himself defending Trump-era trade policies he once publicly opposed, and contrasts him with Trump loyalists like Howard Lutnick, ever willing to sell the show. With a signature mix of Wall Street fluency and media savvy, Ruhle unpacks the deeper motivations behind Elon Musk’s quiet exit from Washington, the strategic silence of major investors, and how grift has gone from subtle to spectacular in the Trump era. Follow @SRuhle for her razor-sharp takes on money, power, and the political theater that binds them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles welcomes back David Rothkopf, the seasoned national security expert and former Clinton official, for a no-holds-barred analysis of the Democrats' curious case of Trump envy. Rothkopf breaks it down into two camps: the mild, who admire Trump’s decisiveness (however impulsive), and the dangerous, who want to emulate his ruthless authoritarian swagger wholesale. He warns that Democrats risk losing their identity—and their base—by chasing "neoliberal" Wall Street donors and selling their authenticity to the top bidder. Rothkopf also weighs in on Gavin Newsom’s podcast pivot and why being “Trump-lite” might just be the fastest way to burn out in both politics and entertainment. Follow @djrothkopf for his latest bold takes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles welcomes back Michael Wolff, the bestselling author of “Fire & Fury” and “Siege,” to dissect the latest act of the Trump show—this time targeting elite American universities. Wolff unpacks the curious logic behind Trump’s crusade against institutions like Harvard, suggesting it’s less about policy and more about showmanship, headlines, and perhaps even old grudges. He weighs in on the persistent mystery surrounding Melania Trump’s absence and the transactional nature of the Trump marriage, and explains why every public outing together appears to be the the result of a strict negotiation. Wolff also shares how Trump has transformed the Oval Office into a bizarre open-call performance space—complete with gold décor, packed audiences, and surprise video screenings for world leaders. Also, Wolff dives into why accusations of racism are viewed as a sort of badge of honor in the Trump world. Follow @MichaelWolffNYC for more of his inside takes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles unpacks the maddening paradox of Donald Trump: a man who rages against the media while being entirely made by it. Joining her is former CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy who lays bare the uncomfortable truths — how Trump lost control of the narrative he once mastered, why media giants like Disney are bending the knee, and the chilling tactics being used behind the scenes to reshape the fourth estate. It’s a gripping look at power, ego, and the fragile state of American media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles talks with author and TV producer Daisy Goodwin about her injectable weight loss drug journey. Goodwin explains how she learned to stop worrying and love the fat shot. After grappling with the stigma and shame of taking GLP1s, Goodwin admits that losing 50lbs also helped her shed anxiety and depression. She credits the medicine with forever changing her life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles sits down with legendary Democratic strategist James Carville, the “Ragin’ Cajun” who helped elect Bill Clinton and has never been shy about saying what his party needs to hear. Carville unloads on why Trump’s media circus is a deliberate smokescreen, keeping Americans distracted from real economic anxieties—rising costs and disappearing job security. He breaks down why Democrats are failing to cut through the noise and warns that "pronoun" obsessed liberals are more trouble than they’re worth and should go off to start their own party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anthony Scaramucci, the man famously fired by Donald Trump as his director of communications after just 11 days sits down with Joanna Coles to dish on why every one of the current cabinet will suffer his fate—or worse. He predicts the fate of Trump's would-be successors JD Vance, Marco Rubio and more. The Mooch, who campaigned relentlessly against Trump in 2020 and 2024 tells which Democrats can win the White House in 2028, why and what big moves they need to make now. And he tells Democrats to do the unthinkable and get Elon Musk on their side.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s brilliant columnist David Rothkopf tells Joanna Coles what’s really going on in the Oval Office. From dumbed-down intelligence briefings to the truth about why he backed off tariffs, Rothkopf spells out who’s really calling the shots—and why the answer should worry every American. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles talks with Susan Dominus, author of the new book, 'The Family Dynamic'. Dominus demystifies why certain families produce super successful children. Through research, she reveals how some families are able to cut through the morass of day to day life and engage their children, yielding hyper-productive siblings. Joanna is also joined by Emmy-award winning actor, writer, and producer Dan Bucatinsky. The 'Hacks' star shares what life is like in Rome with his 20-year-old daughter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles sits down with author Michael Wolff, the man whose bestsellers including "Fire & Fury" and "All or Nothing" are the definitive guide to Donald Trump's presidencies. Wolff lifts the lid on what's really going on in Trump's marriage to Melania and what the report that she's only been at the White House 14 times should have said. He reveals why Trump is crazy about his $400 million free plane from the Qataris. And he predicts exactly what is going to happen to Trump for the next three years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee sit down with ex-CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin who reveals how she copes with the doomscrolling chaos of Trump—by rewiring the news for her 750,000 Instagram followers. Yellin founded "News Not Noise" to tune out the chaos and give people information—not a heart attack. She shares her tips on meditation and mindfulness in an age of chaos. And Sam and Joanna share an important conversation on mental health awareness and exactly how close to home it is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee sit down with the man who gave Donald Trump the insult which has got under his skin for decades: "Short-fingered vulgarian." Kurt Andersen, who edited Spy magazine in the 80s, dishes on how he went toe-to-toe with Trump when he was just a property developer—and skewered the millionaire's son from Queens every time. Andersen spills his theory of why Trump married Melania and reveals why the president couldn't bully Canada's new leader, Mark Carney, in the Oval Office. And Met Gala guest-turned-skeptic Joanna gives her thoughts on the celebrity night while Sam reveals what icon she has embroidered into her underwear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast's Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles unpacks the two biggest reality shows of our time: Britain's royal family and Donald Trump's presidency. First she lifts the lid on what's really going on in the White House and Mar-a-Lago with the Beast's Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty and finds out who's been voted off the island, who's been pitted in a brutal head-to-head contest and why Warren Buffett just delivered a stinging rebuke with a personal sting in the tail. Then Coles turns to the Beast's European Editor-at-Large Tom Sykes for revelation after revelation about the British royals. Why is Prince Harry really pleading for reconciliation with his father, King Charles? And why is the California exile hinting that someone wants him dead like his mom, Princess Diana—and who exactly does he mean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Hosted by Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer of the Daily Beast, every episode brings you more of the people, politics, and pop culture coverage you need straight from the Daily Beast newsroom. Amazing conversations have included Amber Ruffin, Tiffany Haddish, Mika Brzezinski, Don Lemon, John Oliver and more!New episodes every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.If you’re not already a subscriber to The Daily Beast, it’s easy! Just go to thedailybeast.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the final episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie react to President Donald Trump’s chaotic first 100 days of his second term as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller rolls out MAGA’s indoctrination plan to protect children from “communists.” Levy quipped, “Is woke losing its power as a pejorative? Did they have to bring back communists like it's the 1950s or 1980s?”Thank you all so much for listening for the last 5 years. Please stay tuned to this feed for what The Daily Beast has next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie theorize why Trump fired National Security Adviser Mike Waltz over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following several Signalgates. Plus, David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, breaks down Trump’s chaotic first 100 days. Then, Media Matters for America’s senior fellow Matt Gertz examines MAGA’s media spinning of collapsing poll numbers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal host Danielle Moodie and guest host Jesse Cannon weigh in on President Donald Trump’s record-low polling and how the Democratic Party can capitalize off the small wins showing that his “dam is breaking.” Then, Sarah Hinger, the deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Racial Justice Program, stops by to discuss the Trump administration’s attacks on DEI. Plus! Bible scholar Daniel McCLellan is here to talk about his new book, “The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie think it might be time to close up shop on the White House press pool as press secretary Karoline Leavitt muddies the water with “new media.” Plus, Katya Schwenk and Luke Goldstein, reporters at The Lever, investigate how Trump's tariffs are helping corporations hike prices on consumers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie weigh in on President Donald Trump’s big meeting with the CEOs of three of America’s biggest retailers this week, and why executives seem to be done with his tariff policies. Then, Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah stops by to discuss why she won’t back down after Columbia University canceled her course on race and media. Plus, Courtney Hagle, the research director at Media Matters, joins the podcast to talk about the state of pro-Trump media in a post-tariff climate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie reflect on Pope Francis’ death at 88 and why the late pontiff was such a “breath of fresh air” in the current climate. Then, Garrett Graff, publisher of Doomsday Scenario, joins the podcast to discuss his latest piece on how the Trump administration’s defiance of the courts impacts the rule of law. Plus, ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis stops by to talk about what a halt of data collection at the government means for climate change and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives a masterclass in gross incompetence as he waxes unpoetically about an “autism epidemic” during a news conference at the Department of Health and Human Services. “Everything he says is just wrong, and that has real-life repercussions because of the position that he's been given in this administration,” co-host Andy Levy said. Plus, science writer Adam Becker discusses his new book, More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy are convinced that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s signature cross necklace is for display purposes only. “She violates the ninth commandment about not bearing false witness,” Levy said. Plus, MSNBC analyst and author Eddie Glaude, Jr., discusses how racism became America’s blindspot. Then legal scholar Andy Craig delves into how the Trump administration’s refusal to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia challenges the foundations of U.S law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie think the Trump administration’s handling of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation is a bad omen for its view of the constitution. Then, Douglas Rushkoff, author of Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, joins the show to talk about all things tech bros. Plus! Formal federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner stops by to explain why America is in the midst of a constitutional crisis—and what to expect next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President Trump appears to conflate political asylum seekers with mental asylums—much to the chagrin of The New Abnormal hosts Danielle Moodie, Andy Levy, and producer Jesse Cannon. “It's giving, they're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats,” added Cannon. Plus, Noliwe Rooks, professor of Africana Studies at Brown University, explores the uneven effects of school integrations in her new book, Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Republican math isn’t math-ing for hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy after the GOP-led House passed a budget framework to fund tax cuts for billionaires that would add $5.7 trillion to the government deficit. “That doesn't seem like a recipe for balancing a budget to me,” says Levy. Plus! New York Times chief TV critic James Poniewozik dissects Kristi Noem’s Homeland Security social media dramedy, and Vanderbilt University professor Dr. Jonathan Metzel on higher education’s crash course on authoritarianism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy say MAGA billionaires like Bill Ackman can’t act shocked by the Trump administration’s economic policies when the president ran on them. Then, The Bulwark editor Jonathan V. Last discusses why he believes the American-led world order is over. Plus, Semafor finance and business editor Liz Hoffman talks about why Wall Street is suddenly panicking about Trump's economic agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert’s attempt to throw sticks and stones embarrassingly backfires as she confuses filmmaker Oliver Stone for conservative political strategist Roger Stone in a congressional hearing on the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy Jr. Plus! Author Chad Lewis examines how foreign interests have influenced Trump’s inner circle in his new book ​​The Persuasion Game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Republican dissent against President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs has co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie convinced that this could be the beginning of the end for blind MAGA fealty. Plus! President and executive director of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Damon Hewitt explains how the Trump administration is attempting to dismantle its legal opposition. Then, Columbia Classics Professor Joseph Howley discusses the university's response to student protests and a broader crackdown on dissenting voices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal host Andy Levy and guest host Jeb Lund think there’s only one way to respond to President Donald Trump’s talks of a third term and it isn’t polite. Then, activist and author Sandy Hudson stops by to discuss her new book, Defund: Black Lives, Policing, and Safety for All. Plus! Tech journalist Brian Merchant joins the podcast to talk about all things propaganda and protest in America’s new era. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, President Donald Trump gives some very Trumpy reasons for why he wants to give pardoned January 6 rioters taxpayer money—“but they’re all bad,” said co-host Andy Levy. Plus, congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, a former Media Matters video editor, on how she aims to change the Democratic Party for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fox News hosts are running out of ways to spin the massive Signal intelligence leak, Matt Gertz of Media Matters tells The New Abnormal hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy. Then, Lawfare senior editor Anna Bower talks about the Trump administration’s escalating legal battles over its efforts to test the limits of presidential power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie talk about why Columbia University and top law firm Paul Weiss shouldn’t have bent the knee to the Trump administration. Then, Emmy-nominated writer Ben Schwartz discusses his latest piece for The Nation on “The Not-So-Golden Age of MAGA Troll Comedy.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As billionaire car manufacturer Elon Musk wields his chainsaw at federal agencies, protesters have wreaked havoc at Tesla dealerships around the country. Plus, Don Moynihan, Harris Chair of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, breaks down how the Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI is systematically erasing women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ figures from American history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the latest episode of The New Abnormal, an exploration of the way the world’s richest man has effectively “canceled himself.” Then, The Bulwark’s Will Sommer joins the show to discuss the MAGA podcast sphere—and how the ideas being floated there in recent weeks are veering into dangerous territory. Plus! A conversation with ProPublica reporting fellow Nicole Foy about her recent piece titled, “Some Americans Have Already Been Caught in Trump’s Immigration Dragnet. More Will Be.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie think it’s time for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to resign after his shocking submission to House Republicans last week. Plus, deputy director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project Esha Bhandari stops by to break down Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil’s controversial arrest by ICE. Then a research director at Media Matters Kayla Gogarty joins the show to discuss her latest study into right-wing media infiltrating streaming platforms and podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy are left scratching their heads over far-right political pundit Nick Fuentes’ surprising characterization of Trump as a “demagogue.” Plus! John Hopkins University professor and historian Mary Fissile discusses her new book, Pushback: The 2,500-Year Fight to Thwart Women by Restricting Abortion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A planned rollback of environmental protections is yet another example of how the Trump administration is playing Russian roulette with American lives, warns co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy on this week’s episode of The New Abnormal. Plus! The Washington Post columnist and author Philip Bump on why young men are politically shifting to the right, and GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis discusses growing attacks on LGBTQ rights Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are alarmed by the arrest of Columbia student and pro-Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil by ICE agents over the weekend. Then, Madiba Dennie, deputy editor and senior contributor at Balls and Strikes, joins the show to talk about Trump’s recent weaponization of the Justice Department. Plus, author and podcast host Jared Yates Sexton stops by to discuss the alarming authoritarian power grab unfolding before us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As President Donald Trump’s flip-flopping on tariffs roils the stock market, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick took to CNBC earlier this week to blame the outsourcing of American manufacturing on labor unions. Plus! TNA spoke with The New York Times’s David Enrich about Murder the Truth, a new book about New York Times Company v. Sullivan, a landmark Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed freedom of the press and has come under attack from oligarchs seeking to silence the media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie question why it appears that only people of color are leading the Democratic Party’s fight against the Trump administration. Then, actor and filmmaker Alex Winter talks about “Tesla Takedown,” a movement targeting financial support for Elon Musk and his car brand. Plus, Deirdre Schifeling and Alexa Kolbi Molinas from the American Civil Liberties Union discuss how the organization is pushing back against the administration from legal battles to grassroots organizing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie react to President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night—and flame the Democrats for failing to stage a cohesive protest of Trump’s speech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie tear into President Donald Trump’s “toddler tantrum” in the Oval Office. Then, journalist Erin Reed talks about the Trump administration’s attacks on trans rights from federal erasure to military purges and immigration bans. Plus, Brooke Shuman and Eric Vasquez dive into a video they co produced for More Perfect Union detailing how Elon Musk’s Texas playbook explains the moves of the Department of Government Efficiency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the latest episode of The New Abnormal, Elon Musk admits DOGE “will make mistakes” as it weeds out government “waste,” but those mistakes could cost lives, warns co hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy. Plus! Imara Jones, journalist and CEO of TransLash Media, discusses the Trump administration's attacks on trans rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the latest episode of The New Abnormal, Trump is poised to recreate Russia’s oligarch system by putting a $5 million price tag on U.S. citizenship with his “gold card” visas. Plus! Mike Masnick, founder and editor of Techdirt, breaks down how Elon Musk's latest DOGE move mirrors his Twitter takeover. Then incoming Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden discusses how Democrats can turn the tables on Trump’s agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are not surprised by the path the Trump administration has seemingly taken to overhaul the U.S. military, noting that an obvious pattern seems to be at play. Then, Elie Mystal, justice correspondent at The Nation and host of the Contempt of Court podcast, joins the show to discuss the legalities of President Donald Trump’s recent moves. Plus, journalist and New Republic contributing editor Meredith Shiner, stops by to dissect the Democratic Party’s current state of leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slays “King” Trump in a rousing State of the State address that left some House Republicans heading for exits. Plus! New York Magazine senior writer Sarah Jones, author of “Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass,” discusses the politicizing of poverty, suffering, and systemic failures laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, President Donald Trump’s attempts to fashion himself as America’s king fall flat with antics that are more akin to a court jester. Plus! Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Spencer Ackerman discusses Elon Musk’s potential undue influence over the Department of Defense, and MacArcthur Genius Cristina Jiménez Moreta delves into how Trump’s second term has escalated attacks on immigrants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss how theguardrails that were supposed to keep President Donald Trump in check are all gone now—andthe Democrats don’t know what to do about it. Plus, Virginia Kase Solomón of the pro-democracy watchdog group Common Cause joins the show to talk about how they’ve beenfighting back against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Then, Wired seniorpolitics editor Leah Feiger dives into the magazine’s exclusive reporting on all things DOGE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, President Donald Trump’s joint press conference with DOGE director Elon Musk paints a grim picture of what democracy looks like in America today. “It looks like the president of the United States slumped over like a puppet while his master does the talking,” said co-host Danielle Moodie. Plus! Author Katherine Stewart discusses her new book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, the rise of extremist religiosity and a turn away from democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, California Rep. Robert Garcia’s Elon Musk “d--- pic” during a DOGE hearing proved that some Democrats know how to counter Republican rhetoric, so why are the party’s longtime stalwarts having such a difficult time stepping aside? Plus! How NYU School of Law’s Christopher Sprigman is leading a fight to stop Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing personal data. Then, Buddhist scholar Lama Rod Owens discusses how to keep a level head in trying times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie break down Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. Then, Dannagal Young, author of “Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation”, joins the show to talk about what common sense means and why President Donald Trump is using it as a catchphrase. Then Dr. Emily Nagoski, author of “Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections,” joins the show to discuss what the conservative policy agenda Project 2025 means for sex educators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Vermont Rep. Becca Balint hammers Georgia Rep. Marjorie Talor Greene over her “sickening” use of DEI to attack L.A. wildfire victims. “It's become crystal clear that the phrase DEI is used in place of much more offensive terms,” said Balint. Plus! Journalist Lois Parshley discusses her latest article, “Trump’s Tech Donors Have Big Plans For Greenland.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, the right-wing American Accountability Foundation is ushering in a “McCarthy-style” era with its diversity, equity, and inclusion “bureaucrat watch list.” Plus! Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, breaks down the Trump administration's attacks on public education, and Tax March executive director Maura Quint delves into the fight for tax justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are not confident about Trump’s economy. Then, ProPublica investigative reporter, Mica Rosenberg, joins us to break down a recent piece, “ICE Enforcement Official Tapped to Lead Unaccompanied Migrant Children Office, Triggering Alarms.” Then journalist and author, Eoin Higgins is here to tell us about his new book, “Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, could FBI director nominee Kash Patel be President Donald Trump’s most extreme cabinet appointment yet? During his confirmation hearing, senators grilled Patel over his intent to weaponize the FBI to “come after” conspirators “not just in government” but “in the media.” Plus! Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, joins to discuss the ACLU’s lawsuit against Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship and the broader fight to protect immigrant rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the latest episode of The New Abnormal, President Donald Trump wasted no time finger-pointing as he addressed the mid-air crash between a passenger plane and U.S. Army Black Hawk that left 67 dead in Washington D.C.– and it appears he has the backing of his allies. Plus! Former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee discusses Trump's flood of executive orders, legal battles ahead, and what Democrats can learn from past fights. Also, Religion News Service reporter Jack Jenkins delves into white Christian Nationalism’s influence on Trump’s project 2025 directives and the growing pushback from faith leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are not surprised at Trump’s war of words with an American ally just one week into his presidency. Then, Trevor Timm, co-founder and the executive director of Freedom of the Press Foundation, joins the show to talk about Joe Biden's press freedom legacy and the threats to those freedoms we face under a second Trump administration. Plus! Journalist and author Jacob Silverman explores the growing influence of Saudi investments in U.S. tech and their ties to the likes of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde rattles President Donald Trump during his big inauguration week by asking for “mercy.” During an inaugural prayer service on Wednesday at Washington National Cathedral, Budde addressed Trump in her sermon. “Mr. President, millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God in the name of our God. I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country. We're scared.” The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie called the address to the president Trump an “absolute profile in courage.” She added, “I know that MAGA loves to feed off people's fear and that's what gets them excited, but it is people like her that are modeling how you stand up to these people.” Plus! Political scientist Jules Boykoff, author of What Are the Olympics For?, explores the intersection between sports and politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Labor reporter Hamilton Nolan joins the latest episode of The New Abnormal to discuss Trump’s cryptocurrency venture—and what it portends for the future of his presidency. Plus! A conversation with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, whose office filed a challenge to Trump’s executive order that would get rid of birthright citizenship in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie look back on Donald’s Trump’s inauguration and the long list of executive orders he signed hours later. Then, Melissa Gira Grant, journalist, author, and senior editor at The New Republic, joins us to discuss the Laken Riley Act, a harsh immigration bill that could jail undocumented immigrants for minor arrests, even without charges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Billionaire CEO, DOGE co-director and “first buddy” Elon Musk’s surprise visit to California’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood didn’t seem to go as planned. Musk attempted to affirm an incendiary rumor about the area’s wildfires spreading because the city had a shortage of water, but a fire commander threw cold water on the claim. “You hear him go from his normal, ‘Oh, I’m so bright. I’m asking questions.’ To timid and realizing that he is a fucking jack—,” said The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy. Plus! Author Bennett Parten joins the podcast to discuss his new book, Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman's March and the Story of America's Largest Emancipation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz, vice chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and Chief Deputy Whip, joins The New Abnormal to talk about Trump’s controversial cabinet picks, including who he thinks won’t make the cut. Then, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Maree Brown talks about Octavia Butler's prophetic book, “Parable of the Sower” and how its themes eerily resonate today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump is secretly excited at the emergence of a civil war among his supporters and allies, according to The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy. Then, MSNBC political analyst Juanita Tolliver joins the program to talk about her new book, “A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Lee Chisholm and Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics.” Plus! Cara Kelly, editor at large for The Barbed Wire, discusses her recent piece titled “The True Cost of Texas’ Abortion Ban: Rising Deaths, Abandoned Babies, Fewer Doctors.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Multibillionaire Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with President-elect Donald Trump the day before he announced his company’s big fact check flip-flop, revealed Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma—further revealing how Silicon Valley’s tech elite is moving to align itself with the incoming Republican administration. “I really think we do need to really clock how bad this tech Republican collusion is,” said The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy. Plus! Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, and also chair of the Senate Finance Committee, joins to talk about his new book, It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Republicans have jumped on the opportunity to weaponize coverage of the devastating greater Los Angeles wildfires into political divisiveness, says The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy. “We have seen many people on the right, including Donald Trump Jr. Blaming this somehow on the fact that we've given money to Ukraine,” said Levy. Plus, New York Times technology correspondent Mike Isaac discusses Mark Zuckerberg’s overhaul of Meta's fact-checking system, and author Adrian Carrasquillo discusses how the media might cover the incoming presidential administration’s promised mass deportations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie share their apprehension at the increasing scope of Elon Musk’s political ambitions. Then, MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner joins the program to discuss the state of law and order in America (hint: It’s not doing so hot). Plus! Chris Geidner, the deputy editor for legal affairs at Grid and author of the Law Dork newsletter, catches us up on a number of big legal stories that happened over the holidays. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Adrian Daub, professor at Stanford University and author of The Cancel Culture Panic: How an American Obsession Went Global, joins The New Abnormal to discuss moral panic, its echo chambers, and its celebrity origins. “Canceling” began with celebrity disinvestment in online spaces and moved into politics, Daub explained. “But there's a wholesale kind of reorientation of this term once it leaves those online only spaces,” said Daub. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“The Apprentice” is one of 2024’s best films, and didn’t get as much credit as it deserved, according to the co-hosts of The New Abnormal. Then, a conversation with Steven Monacelli of the Texas Observer about his investigation into the identities behind four anonymous neo-Nazi accounts on X. Plus! Paola Ramos, the author of “Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means For America” joins the program to discuss the Democratic Party's post-election struggles and the challenges of reconnecting with disillusioned young voters and communities of color. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, historian and author Rick Perlstein shares why he turned down an offer to go on Steve Bannon’s infamous podcast. Plus! Author David Daley joins the program to discuss how right-wing control over the Supreme Court will shape Americans’ lives for the next generation—or more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stanford professor Jamil Zaki, author of Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness, joins The New Abnormal podcast to discuss hope and the weaponization of hopelessness as President-elect Donald Trump again ascends to the highest office in the land. He explained, “People who lose their sense of value, who lose that compass for what they want as a society, are easier to control.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andrew Lawrence, Deputy Director of Rapid Response at Media Matters, unpacks 2024’s most absurd conservative outrages, from Olympic controversies to Taylor Swift’s political stances and the supposed “wokeness” of “Wicked.” Plus! Professor Ray Brescia, legal columnist for the Daily Beast, explores privacy and surveillance in the digital age, highlighting the need for stronger protections against big tech’s data exploitation and misinformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It would be hard to argue that anyone had a bigger—or worse—impact on the world this year than President-elect Donald Trump, The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy argues on this week’s episode. Then, Ed Zitron, journalist and author of the Where’s Your Ed At? newsletter, explains the "rot economy," where growth-at-all-costs drives exploitative business practices in tech and beyond. Plus! Deepa Iyer, activist and author of We Too Sing America, joins the program to discuss the challenges facing progressive movements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Maye Musk proves the bad apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with some tone deaf advice on how Americans can afford to have more children to avoid population collapse. Plus! In a special podcast crossover, The Last Laugh podcast host Matt Wilstein reviews a year of high highs and low lows in political comedy and its future under a new Trump administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Billionaire Elon Musk’s meddling has given America’s elected officials a taste of what is to come from President-elect Donald Trump’s right hand man. “And it’s only the beginning,” said The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie. Plus! Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Spencer Ackerman joins the podcast to discuss the next administration’s potential reshaping of Middle East policy, and The New Republic writer Edith Olmsted unpacks Musk’s unprecedented presidential influence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump is more powerful than ever, warns Mary Trump on the latest episode of The New Abnormal. Then, NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik joins the program to discuss the Voice of America and what Trump’s selection of Kari Lake to head up the organization could mean for the media network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace seems to be on a mission to be the most “disgusting human being” on Capitol Hill with her latest round of transphobic attacks, argue The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie. Plus! Slate politics writer Alex Sammon discusses his new piece, “Democrats Have a ‘Pod Save America’ Problem,” and the biggest shadow hanging over the party post-election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The president-elect was chosen as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” Thursday—but the distinction may come with some unintended consequences. Then, Rob Bonta, the attorney general of California, joins the program to discuss how the state is preparing to push back against potential mass deportation efforts under a second Trump presidency. Plus! Anna Gifty, a Harvard doctoral candidate and editor of “The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions for a Broken System” discusses the transformative power of centering black women in the economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump is already up to his oldtricks, according to co-hosts AndyLevy and Danielle Moodie on thelatest episode of The New Abnormal.Then, Melissa Murray, professor oflaw at NYU Law School, joins theprogram to break down DonaldTrump’s recent statements on endingbirthright citizenship. Plus! AdamSerwer, staff writer at The Atlantic,joins us to talk about his new article,“Trump Fans Are Suffering From TonySoprano Syndrome.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Some Republican leaders are squirming to keep Pete Hegseth’s name in the hat as president-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee—at all costs, said The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie. Plus! Christopher Robbins, reporter and co-founder of local news outlet Hell Gate, discusses New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ big shift on immigration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The reaction to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has led to some dark places. Plus! Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel unpacks the far reaching impacts of Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans. Then, Elad Nehorai joins us to talk about their recent piece, “The Deeper Reasons Democrats Lost.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It may be last call for one of Donald Trump’s most controversial nominees—and not for the reasons you may think. Then, author Jared Yates Sexton joins the program to emphasize the fact that nobody is coming to save us from the chaos of a second Trump Administration. Plus! A conversation with founder and editor of the popular blog Techdirt, Mike Masnick, about one of Trump’s scariest nominees: Brendan Carr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Two special guests join The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy to discuss a rise in anti-trans rhetoric and Black women historically preserving democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can the left replicate the success of Joe Rogan’s podcast with one of their own? The New Abnormal co-hosts discuss. Plus! Jeb Lund and David J. Roth, the co-hosts of the It's Christmastown podcast, battle it out once again to determine who is the most Thanksgiving American. Then, author and historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins the show to discuss the shift in Trump’s regime and the narrative that is being presented from him and his followers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For Thanksgiving, we have a MAGA-free episode full of holiday warmth, true crime, and absurdity. Iconic filmmaker Richard Curtis, the creative force behind Love Actually and Notting Hill, joins us to discuss his new Netflix movie, That Christmas, and Hugh Grant’s hilariously hostile tribute at Curtis’s honorary “Better Than Nothing” Oscar. Daily Beast CEO Ben Sherwood shares stories of growing up near the Menendez brothers and his decades-long fascination with their case, now making headlines with shocking new twists. Plus, a glimpse inside Gloria Steinem’s storied home, a laugh-out-loud tangent on mischievous Thanksgiving balloons, and Joanna Coles recounts a surreal dinner with O.J. Simpson during which he smashed a whiskey glass. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
America needs to go through significant change, but not without a price, according to the latest episode of The New Abnormal. Plus! MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner joins us to talk about Jack Smith’s decision to drop his case against Donald Trump. Then, Dartmouth professor and author Jeff Sharlet joins the show to discuss Christian nationalism and its effect on the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Following Election Day’s Republican sweep, The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie say it’s time for Democrats to ditch their “Republican-lite” strategy and let more rising party leaders like Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett “tell it like it is.” Plus! Renée DiResta, associate research professor at Georgetown University, delves into her new book, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moody express concern over recent political developments, including Republican South Carolina congresswoman Nancy Mace and her tirade against the first openly transgender person elected to the U.S. House. Then they delve into the intersection of sports and politics with journalist Jemele Hill, who discusses the activism of athletes, and the ongoing fight for equity in women's sports. They also explore the influence of Fox News on Donald Trump's administration with Matt Gertz from Media Matters for America, highlighting the alarming number of Fox personalities being nominated for key positions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bestselling author and “Morning Joe” anchor Mika Brzezinski shares “as much as [she] can” about her and co-host Joe Scarborough’s recent date with president-elect Donald Trump, and pushes back on the backlash to their get-together. Hear from The Daily Beast’s executive editor Hugh Dougherty, who returns to the pod to share more scheming and subterfuge among the Mar-a-Lago regulars also jockeying for Trump’s favor, and learn who caught RFK Jr. ordering more junk food. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A look at Brendan Carr, Trump’s pick for chair of the Federal Communications Commission, and the way he has incorrectly been pitched as a “free speech advocate.” Then, Lucy Dean Stockton, an editor and reporter at The Lever, joins the program to discuss the very specific way Trump could erase many of President Joe Biden’s recent regulatory wins. Plus! a conversation with Jared Holt, a senior research analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, about the growing threats of hate, extremism and misinformation online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President-elect Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth could provoke a purge of career military experts from the Pentagon—which appears to be exactly what he wants, explained The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie. Plus! Stephanie Mencimer, senior reporter at Mother Jones, delves deeper into the controversies and allegations surrounding Trump’s attorney general nominee, former congressman Matt Gaetz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As President-elect Trump continues to announce surprise pick after surprise pick for his Cabinet, The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discover what they have in common. Plus! Melissa del Bosque, investigations editor at Lighthouse Reports, talks about the implications of Tom Homan’s appointment as “border czar.” Then we'll talk to journalist Noah Hurowitz about the legislation that would be able to declare nonprofits terrorist organizations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Organizational psychologist and author Adam Grant joins this week’s podcast to help unpack America’s political baggage, sharing leadership advice and coping strategies for the current moment. The Daily Beast’s executive editor Hugh Dougherty offers insight into the “patio power games” playing out at Mar-a-Lago as president-elect Donald Trump assembles his new administration—which may be filled with outlandish, cable TV personalities, but is ruled behind the scenes by a 67-year-old grandmother in aviator shades. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A week after the U.S. presidential election, The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie reflect on what Kamala Harris could have changed in her campaign strategy. Plus! Dean Obeidallah, host of the The Dean Obeidallah Show on Sirius XM Radio is here to talk about his recent piece posted to their substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mike Davis, the man who many expect to be Donald Trump’s Attorney General, has outlined who exactly is on the president-elect’s hit list. Plus! Davis told Johnson he has five lists ready to go but appeared to only name four. Plus! Former Los Angeles Times journalist and President of Media Guild West Matt Pearce joins the podcast to talk about the purpose of the press during the second Trump administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, co-host Samantha Bee has some tough talk for President Joe Biden and his team. Former Daily Beast editor-in-chief John Avlon joins the podcast to discuss the lessons learnt from his own run for Congress, and comedian Michael Ian Black has news for everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie aren’t pinning a lot of the blame on Kamala Harris’ election loss on the vice president. Plus! Podcaster Jared Yate Sexton joins the show to discuss how Trump will affect the country years beyond his upcoming term. Then, Nicholas Grossman, an international relations professor at the University of Illinois and senior editor of Arc Digital, discusses his latest piece, “America Chose This.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An exploration of why people have started leaving the former president’s rallies early. Then, a conversation with Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires author Douglas Rushkoff about Elon Musk and the increasingly weird obsessions of the ultra wealthy. Plus! Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, joins the program to discuss the rise of the Christian right and its wholehearted embrace of Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Steve Bannon told Laura Loomer this week that the left is having a meltdown at the prospect of Donald Trump giving her a job in the White House if he wins next week’s election. Plus! W. Kamau Bell joins The New Abnormal to talk about his new viral video, Who’s Gonna Catch Your Kid? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, writer and editor at The Lever, Lucy Dean Stockton, tells us all about her recent piece covering Trump’s promise to appoint Musk, which could allow for a special tax benefit available only to government officials. Then, Gabriel Snyder, the editor in chief of The Fine Print, is here to tell us about his seven steps to surviving election night. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Journalist and author Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee on this week’s episode to offer insight into the jockeying egos on Donald’s Trump “manic” campaign—and that MSG rally. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker calls in from the Harris trail, and Daily Beast Special Correspondent Harry Lambert recaps party animal Jeff Bezos’ social calendar amid much turmoil at his newspaper, The Washington Post.Have a question or comment for us? Send us an email: beastpod@thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jay Willis, the editor-in-chief ofnonprofit legal journalism outlet Balls & Strikes, joins the program to discuss why Elon Musk has gone all in on Trump. Plus! A conversation with Phoebe Petrovic, an investigative reporter with the nonprofit outlet Wisconsin Watch, about her latest piece: “The genesis of Christian nationalism: How the religious right came to influence the 2024 election.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy sound off on Tucker Carlson’s bizarre diatribe on Wednesday in Georgia, where the former Fox News host compared a second Donald Trump presidency as akin to a father coming home to give his little “girl”—the country—a “vigorous spanking.” Then, a conversation with Daniel Nichanian, the editor-in-chief of Bolts, who joins the pod to break down the outlet’s Cheat Sheet to the 2024 General Elections, explaining which local races are the ones to keep an eye on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal’s Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy are baffled. Donald Trump meets the definition of a fascist, would govern like a dictator if allowed to, and seemingly has no understanding of the concept of rule of law. So why are so many Americans still intent on voting for him? Also on the pod this week: Geoffrey Fowler, a Washington Post journalist, who talks about Meta’s covert operation to shadowban political content. Plus! Denny Carter, the founder of the Bad Faith Times, who has an astute comparison to draw between an NFL quarterback and this year’s presidential election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee are joned by political strategist James Carville for intel—and an insider’s take—on the state of the presidential race. They speak with Daily Beast Special Correspondent Harry Lambert about media kingpin Joe Rogan as well as would-be political kingpin RKF Jr., and bemoan the state of “shrill” women in media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Elon Musk unveils his latest scheme, a proposed plan to give away $1 million each day to registered voters in battleground states, the co-hosts of The New Abnormal have just one question: Where is U.S Attorney General Merrick Garland? Plus! A talk with Brian Merchant, a former technology columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Merchant, the author of “Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech,” breaks down exactly how Musk’s tech projects have become inseparable from his authoritarian aspirations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team shines a light on Trump’s strategy when he is asked about a topic he doesn’t want to address.  Plus! Dr. Alice Chen, the founder of Doctors for Harris, joins the Bonus Podcast to talk about the many ways that Donald Trump and the storm of misinformation he brings with him everywhere he goes, is actually incredibly bad for your health and your families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Something is clearly not right” with the former president, The New Abnormal co-hosts agree. Then, The Washington Post’s national columnist Philip Bump joins the program to discuss his approach to covering Trump—which Levy says is a “rare bright spot” in the genre. Plus! A talk with Charlie Warzel, a staff writer at The Atlantic, about his most recent piece, titled “I’m Running Out of Ways to Explain How Bad This Is,” and the crisis of misinformation currently plaguing America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s The Daily Beast Podcast, guest John Oliver and co-host Samantha Bee take a trip down late-night TV memory lane, sharing fun times and lessons learned from their time as correspondents on ‘The Daily Show.’ Joanna Coles and Sam dive deep into the Beast’s exclusive story of the consultant making serious bank on Trump’s campaign payroll, and obsess over Kanye West’s sexploits as well as other, unrelated sex toys. Subscribe here https://episodes.fm/1767675909 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, David Noll, a professor of law at Rutgers Law School, is here to talk about the new book he co-authored, “Vigilante Nation: How State-Sponsored Terror Threatens Our Democracy.” Then we'll talk to journalist Gareth Gore about his new book, “Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team have skewered the former president’s comments that women love him, calling them “sick on every level.” Plus! Talia Lavin joins the podcast to talk about her new book Wild Faith: How the Christian Right Is Taking Over America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, when we should have taken Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene seriously. Plus! Semafor’s National political reporter, Dave Weigel, expands on the Republican party’s fresh new hell. Then, author Jonathan Metzl joins the show to talk about the MAGA mentality, and how we got here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee talk all things Melania and share the latest scoop on Silicon Valley with Jessica Lessin, CEO of The Information. Sam shares her experiences with menopause and Joanna talks celeb sightings at opening night of the new Robert Downey Jr. play on Broadway.Subscribe here https://episodes.fm/1767675909 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Melania Trump’s recent revelation that she supports abortion rights—in clear opposition to her husband’s own positions on the issue—may have shocked some, but The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie wasn’t surprised or moved by the admission. Then, senior political reporter at Rolling Stone—and former Daily Beast reporter—Asawin Suebsaeng joins the program to discuss his most recent piece, “‘American Death Squads’: Inside Trump’s Push to Make Police More Violent.” Plus! A conversation with Katya Schwenk, a reporter at The Lever, about her recent story, “The Toxic Loophole Behind a Chemical Plant Disaster.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts flame Melania Trump over her defense of abortion. Plus! ProPublica investigative reporter Ava Kofman and Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC) in Washington, D.C., take listeners on an in-depth look at the rise of Christian nationalism in the United States and its effect on the right-wing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy are angry about the current political mess that Americans find themselves in—but not at who you might think. Plus! A conversation with Andrew Garber, a lawyer at the Brennan Center's Voting Rights and Elections Program, about the sorry state of U.S. election law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal listeners, please enjoy the newest episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Bringing their sharp wit and insights to each episode, co-hosts Joanna Coles (Chief Creative & Content Officer of The Daily Beast) and celebrated comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee will navigate the latest in politics, pop culture, and everything in between. Subscribe here https://episodes.fm/1767675909 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz failed to meet the moment at Tuesday’s vice presidential debate in New York City in one big way, according to the hosts of The New Abnormal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, why Trump’s version of horror film “The Purge” has been happening for decades. Plus! The Stanford Constitutional Law Center's Matthew Seligman joins us to discuss election law, disputed presidential elections, and why JD Vance's comments on such things might be extremely dangerous. Then, Edith Olmsted, associate writer for the New Republic, is here to tell us all about her recent piece, “Trump’s Idiot Son Feels ‘Totally Vindicated’ Over J.D. Vance Pick.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brian Glenn of the far-right outlet Real America’s Voice says Americans should demand to see the IDs of people at polling places if they think they shouldn’t be there.  Plus! Rashad Robinson, the president of Color of Change, joins Danielle Moodie to discuss his organization’s efforts to fight for the voting rights that are being challenged in many states and in many Black communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy isn’t so sure that Trump will actually follow through on his promise to quit golfing. Then, a conversation with the Daily Beast’s Chief Creative & Content Officer Joanna Coles and Emmy-winning comedian Samantha Bee about The Daily Beast Podcast, a new way to discover and engage with the day’s most interesting stories. Plus! Editor at The Bulwark Jonathan V. Last joins the program to discuss his most recent piece, “Stop the Steal Part 2 Is Coming,” and Trump’s efforts to take back the White House—whether he wins in November or not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal listeners, please enjoy the first episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Bringing their sharp wit and insights to each episode, co-hosts Joanna Coles (Chief Creative & Content Officer of The Daily Beast) and celebrated comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee will navigate the latest in politics, pop culture, and everything in between. Subscribe here https://episodes.fm/1767675909 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy react to North Carolina gubernatorial campaign of Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and his pornography bombshell. Plus! Blake Chastain, host of the Powers and Principalities podcast and writer of the Post-Evangelical Post newsletter is here to tell us all about his new book and the rise in power of white evangelical Christians inside the Republican party. Then, activist and recovering addict Ryan Hampton joins us to tell us all about his new book, “Fentanyl Nation: Toxic Politics and America's Failed War on Drugs.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal listeners please enjoy! The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Bringing their sharp wit and insights to each episode, co-hosts Joanna Coles (Chief Creative & Content Officer of The Daily Beast) and celebrated comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee will navigate the latest in politics, pop culture, and everything in between.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Despite saying at the presidential debate that he hasn’t read Project 2025 and doesn’t want to read it, Trump has acknowledged it will provide a plan if he is elected president. Plus! The New York Times’ best-selling author Jason Pargin joins the podcast to talk about his new novel I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Co-hosts of The New Abnormal Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy are steamed that Gov. Mike DeWine and Springfield Mayor Rob Rue had only a mild message for former President Donald Trump after he took to the national stage to spew a disproven conspiracy theory about their residents. Then, investigative journalist Radley Balko joins the pod to talk about Trump’s promise to carry out what would be the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. Plus! A conversation with David Rothkopf, CEO of the DSR Network and regular Daily Beast contributor, about his latest piece. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The hosts of The New Abnormal explore JD Vance’s unimpeachable weirdness. Then Maya Wiley, former New York City mayoral candidate, ex-MSNBC legal analyst, and current president and CEO of The Leadership Conference, arrives just in time to discuss her new book, Remember, You Are a Wiley. Plus! A conversation with independent journalist Justin Glawe about election officials who just so happen to also be election deniers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team dismantles JD Vance’s claim that bringing in migrants to work in Springfield, Ohio is not the “path to prosperity.’ Plus! Journalist Jessica Pishko joins the podcast to talk about her new book, The Highest Law In The Land: How The Unchecked Power Of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy reflecton Trump’s disaster of a debate performance. Plus! Founder and author of The Present Agenewsletter Parker Molloy joins us to talk about the media’s efforts to “sanewash” Donald Trumpand why people might not be falling for it. Then, we talk to The New York Times tech reportersKate Conger and Ryan Mac about their upcoming book, “Character Limit: How Elon MuskDestroyed Twitter.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy react to the first–and possibly only–presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, Olivia Little, an investigative researcher at Media Matters, talks about her experience attending Moms for Liberty's annual Joyful Warrior Summit. Then, Dr. Reagan McDonald Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide, tells us about her organization’s efforts to advance sexual and reproductive wellbeing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
White nationalist Nick Fuentes may have once dined with former president Donald Trump but he has now turned on him for finally admitting that he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Plus! Yale Professor Jason Stanley, author of the bestselling novel How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them, talks to Danielle Moodie about the upcoming election and the stark contrast between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie react to a Goldman Sachs report that suggested the U.S. economy may take a hit if former President Donald Trump retakes the White House. Then, a conversation with The Washington Post media reporter Will Sommer, who joins the program to discuss the indictment of two employees of Russian state-backed media company Russia Today (RT); part of an investigation that exposed a number of American right-wing internet personalities for allegedly taking money from an organization funded by Russian interests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy take issue with Trump’s latest comments surrounding Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. Plus! Journalist, historian and author Rick Perlstein joins us to tell us all about his recent piece for the American Prospect. Then, Dr. Jamil Zaki is here to tell us about their new book, “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance gave a very JD Vance explanation of America’s inflation rates when he was asked about a policy to address the problem on the campaign trail in Wisconsin. Plus! Author Maggie Tokuda-Hall, who wrote the children’s book Love in the Library, joins the podcast to talk about the history of Banned Books Week and why the importance of this year’s celebration (Sept. 22-28). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie was appalled at reports this week alleging a “physical altercation” between a Trump employee and Arlington National Cemetery official. Then, David Sirota, the founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, joins the pod to talk about their new 10-part investigative podcast series Master Plan, which chronicles exactly how corporate forces and politicians worked to legalize corruption in the United States, putting in place a plan to turn our democracy into a kleptocracy. Plus! A conversation with journalist Tiffany Cross, who kicks it off with a discussion on what it means that Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are finally, finally sitting down for a major interview with a mainstream media outlet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal muses on the fact that Donald Trump has found himself on the defensive for perhaps the first time in his political career. Then, Semafor’s Washington Bureau Chief Benjy Sarlin joins the program to discuss the 2024 Democratic National Convention and the party’s return to what he calls “Obamaism.” Plus! A conversation with Katya Schwenk, a reporter at investigative newsroom The Lever, about her most recent piece, “Leonard Leo’s Swing-State Voter Purge.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Giuliani told Mike Lindell that Donald Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon is being unfairly treated in prison. Plus! Journalist and author Casey Michel joins the podcast to talk about their new book, Foreign Agents: How American Lobbying and Lawmakers Threaten Democracy Around the World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy discuss all the big news from the Democratic National Convention. Plus! Author Steve Benen joins the podcast to break down the method the Republican campaign is using to rewrite recent history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy break down Fox News’ response to the Democratic National Convention. Plus! Jonathan Metzl, the author of “What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms,” joins us to break down Kamala Harris’ gun policy and why Tim Walz might be the X-factor needed to make it happen. Then Denny Carter, founder of Bad Faith Times, is here to break down his recent piece and why Harris needs to keep ignoring the mainstream media’s pressure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
JD Vance continues to strike out, especially when it comes to knowing what women want. “What is it that JD Vance thinks that normal women care about other than control over their own bodies?” said The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie. Plus! Historian Frank Andre Guridy joins the podcast to talk about his new book, The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Process, and Play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, Chief Creative and Content Officer of the Daily Beast Joanna Coles stops by to talk about JD Vance and the weird ways that men are hijacking a woman’s moment in this election season. Plus! Anat Shenker-Osorio, host of the political podcast Words to Win By, joins the show to discuss how Democrat’s messaging has changed since the arrival of Kamala Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, why Trump will need to divert from his strategy of pushing a broken economy. Plus! Josh, the publisher of the newsletter Ettingermentum, shares why he thinks attacking Republicans for being “weird” is a real winning strategy. Then, Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, joins the program to detail the origins of the “White Women for Kamala Harris” Zoom call. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former President Donald Trump said the quiet part out loud at a rally in Atlanta last weekend—admitting he is supporting electric vehicles because of Tesla founder Elon Musk's endorsement. The New Abnormal co-hosts couldn’t believe that the same voters who elected Trump to the White House in 2016 on a pledge to “drain the swamp” enthusiastically applauded the former president kowtowing to Musk. Plus! Erin Matson, the co-founder and executive director of Reproaction, a national group increasing access to abortion services, joins the podcast to talk about the current landscape of reproductive healthcare in the U.S. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Madeline Peltz, the deputy director of rapid response at liberal watchdog group Media Matters joins The New Abnormal to talk about Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts’ new book—which includes a forward from Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance. Plus! A discussion with Meredith McGraw, a national correspondent at Politico, about her new book, Trump in Exile, which chronicles the former president’s retreat to Mar-a-Lago after his defeat in 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, why one word has taken such a toll on Trump. Then, Andrew Lawrence, Media Matters for America’s deputy director of rapid response, joins the show to explain why the word “weird” is working for Democrats. Plus! Asawin Suebsaeng, a Rolling Stone senior politics reporter, delves into Donald Trump’s involvement with Project 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Project 2025 plans that are implied rather than stated are alarming, one legal expert tells The New Abnormal—specifically, how the DOJ would crack down on illegal immigration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, Ed Zitron, CEO of EZPR and the host of tech podcast, “Better Offline,” explains why all these Northern California tech bros are ride or die for Donald Trump. Then, Dr. Regina Davis Moss, the president & CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda and the In Our Own Voice Action Fund, talks about the devastating effect on Black women of right-wing attempts to overthrow women’s bodily. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s The New Abnormal, guest Spencer Ackerman asks for the political equivalent of a pony. Then, jack-of-all-trades film producer, political commentator, former White House aide and author of the book Why Does Everything Have to be About Race?, Keith Boykin, joins the program to discuss Democrats’ renewed sense of energy since Vice President Kamala Harris’ rapid ascent to presumptive 2024 nominee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team believes that J.D. Vance is proving to be the Republicans’ new Jeb Bush.  Plus! Journalist Joe Conason joins the podcast to talk about his new book, The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sen. Bob Menendez ate at one particular D.C. steakhouse hundreds of times a year—and The New Abnormal guest host David Roth demands to know how. Then, a conversation with New Republic staff writer Alex Shepherd about Kamala Harris’ chances and his recent piece: “Donald Trump Is Now the Weaker Candidate.” Plus! Judd Legum, the founder and author of the newsletter Popular Information, joins the program to discuss the brazen—and often false—Republican attacks on Kamala Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy sit down to reflect on all things Kamala Harris, voicing tentative optimism for how smoothly everything seems to be going… so far. Then, Tim Miller, a former Republican operative and host of The Bulwark Podcast, joins the pod to discuss Harris’ potential running mates and how Team Trump might be planning to react. Plus! A conversation with author Sarah Kendzior about Joe Biden’s legacy and what brave new world in which the Democrats have suddenly found themselves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
VP Kamala Harris was endorsed by nearly every major Democrat on Sunday but some are still scheming behind closed doors. The New Abnormal is here to make the case for being unanimously coconut-pilled. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The liberal redneck, Trae Crowder, says he spent time with J.D. Vance in 2016 “pounding beers” and lamenting how bad President Trump would be for America. Plus! Jennifer Berkshire, host of the podcast, Have You Heard, joins The New Abnormal to talk about her book, The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy have plenty to say about Trump’s RNC speech. Plus! Senior reporter for New York Magazine, Sarah Jones, is here to tell us all about the National Conservatism Conference, what that means and why Trump’s VP pick, J.D. Vance, is all about it. Then, Veronica Riccobene, a reporter for The Lever, joins us to talk about their recent article on Vance and why his dangerous abortion stances are being whitewashed by the media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What does J.D. Vance offer beyond more of the absolute same? The New Abnormal is here to get to the bottom of it. Then, Rep. Jared Huffman joins The New Abnormal to get down to brass tacks as to what replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee would actually look like. Plus, a conversation with Professor Shawn Ginwright about his book The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves and what it means to react to this moment of crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team says Americans are being distracted by talk about Biden’s age and are not focusing on the potentially dangerous consequences of Project 2025. Plus! Danielle Moodie speaks with Vox journalist Zach Beauchamp on his book The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, Aaron Kleinman, director of research for The States Project, spills on the key states we should be looking out for in the November elections. Plus! Investigative reporter at Wisconsin Watch and ProPublica, Phoebe Petrovic, joins us to break down her recent article surrounding how a militant anti-abortion activist is influencing Republican politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
With their current presidential candidate facing a crisis of confidence, Democratic politicians and liberal media figures have been casting about blindly for an alternative. It’s a fool’s errand, The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy agree. Then, CNN correspondent Elle Reeve shares some of the findings from her new book: Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics. Plus! A conversation with Samhita Mukhopadhyay about her recent book, The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Professor Stephen J. Ducat tells The New Abnormal podcast how feeling like part of a tribe is giving Americans, especially those on the right-wing, a sense of belonging. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie, co hosts of The New Abnormal, reflect on the past year in American history—and the craziest figures in American politics. Then, Defector editor David Roth and journalist Jeb Lund, the co-hosts of their own podcast called It’s Christmas Town, join the program for a special Fourth of July quiz show segment. Plus! A conversation with author Suzette Mullen about her new memoir, “The Only Way Through Is Out,” which chronicles her experience coming out as a lesbian late in life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal’s Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie place their bets for Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick. Then Antonieta Cadiz, the deputy executive director of Climate power En Acción, joins the program to discuss how climate change is disproportionately affecting Latino communities. Plus! A conversation with New York Times bestselling author and Dartmouth professor Jeff Sharlet about his new book “The Undertow: Scenes From a Slow Civil War.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Biden’s frozen moment at the debate had many suggesting he drop out of the race. However, few are talking about Trump appearing to short circuit this week during an interview. Plus! Jay Willis, the Editor-in-Chief of Balls & Strikes, joins the podcast to break down all the decisions that the Supreme Court made this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President Joe Biden had a rough night Thursday at the debate, but CNN moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash also turned in an abysmal performance of their own, according to The New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie. Then, Parker Molloy, writer of the Substack The Present Age, joins the program to talk about the fact checking site Snopes’ recent determination that Donald Trump actually didn’t call the white supremacists and neo-Nazis at the infamous Charlottesville rally “very fine people”—and why the site is wrong. Plus! Investigate reporter Katya Schwenk, a reporter at investigative site The Lever, discusses a particularly egregious Supreme Court ruling recently which allows politicians to accept monetary gifts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy can only see a downhill spiral for Trump’s mental acuity. Plus! Author and journalist Lucian K. Truscott IV dishes on a right-wing media company that doesn't get as much attention as Fox News, but is perhaps equally dangerous. Then, author and professor of philosophy at Georgetown University-Qatar, Karl Widerquist, explains the meaning behind the idea of universal basic income, or UBI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Valentina Gomez, who is running for Secretary of State of Missouri, is trying to be the loudest, most outrageous voice on the right. Plus! The New York Times bestselling journalist Jeff Goodell joins the podcast to talk about his new book, The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“The most frustrating thing to me about this is the fact that Donald Trump’s attorneys walked into the Supreme Court–I know that this sounds like the beginning of a joke, it is, but it’s not funny–and said basically that if Donald Trump as president decided that he wanted to get Team SEAL 6 to go ahead and kill his political opponent he could do that and unless he was found to be impeached by the House and by the Senate, then he’s not liable for the crimes that he commits. It shouldn’t have taken hours of deliberation to make a decision here,” Moodie said. “It’s a case that never should have been heard at all. It should have just been dismissed out of hand and they could have just simply written ‘no’ and that would’ve been the end of that. Or ‘no, this is stupid. Stop bothering us with this crap,’” Levy said.Plus! CNN commentator S.E. Cupp talks to The New Abnormal about her new show on Fox TV called Battleground and why Democrats need to stop trying to replace Joe Biden this close to the election. MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner also joins the podcast to talk about all the Trumpworld co-stars currently in jail or on trial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kellyanne Conway’s Fox News appearance over the weekend angered TheNew Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie greatly. Then, Stasha Rhodes, theexecutive director of United for Democracy, joins the program to discuss the push tocounter a well-funded, far-right influence campaign on the Supreme Court. Plus! Aconversation with New Republic staff writer and author Melissa Gira Grant aboutconservative efforts to ban the abortion drug Mifepristone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The former president downplayed the threat of climate change, falsely claiming that the seas will rise over the next 400 years by just “one eighth of an inch.” Plus! ! Author Alan Gratz, who wrote the children’s book Ban This Book, talks to Andy Levy about a campaign by Moms for Liberty and Ron DeSantis employees to take that title literally and ban his book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy look at the Supreme Court’s abortion pill ruling in more detail. Plus! Jason Starr, Director Of Litigation at the Human Rights Campaign, details a Florida judge’s ruling striking down one the state’s harsh transgender law. Then, Egyptian filmmaker Ibrahim Nash’at talks about his journey filming the Taliban over the course of a year for his film, “Hollywoodgate.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Atlanta-based civil rights attorney Kianna Chennault joins The New Abnormal to discuss the importance of fighting for diversity initiatives in the face of far-right pushback. Plus! A conversation with The New York Times’ global economy reporter Peter Goodman about his new book, “How the World Ran Out of Everything,” which unpacks the COVID-era global supply chain crisis that clogged the global economy for months on end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Right-wing pundits are already worried that Hunter Biden will beat a conviction in his gun trial, and they’re resorting to the same old tricks to rile up supporters. Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to Deepa Iyer, creator of the Social Change Map and author of the book, Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy react to the surprising names being asked to submit paperwork for Trump’s VP list. Plus! The CEO of the Ms. Foundation for women, Teresa Younger, joins the show to talk about her organization's efforts to empower women to achieve equality, equity, and opportunity. Then, filmmaker and professor at Loyola University, Stephen Ujlaki, spills about his latest documentary, “Bad Faith.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Academic and author Eddie Glaude Jr. joins The New Abnormal, discussingwhether President Joe Biden is acting like the white moderate Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of.Plus! A conversation with Vicky Hausman, the co-founder of an organization called Forward Majority, about the need for Democrats to reclaim state legislatures across the country after decades of neglect in the party’s state apparatuses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As Donald Trump waits until July to be sentenced, The New Abnormal team discusses what may happen if he gets thrown in prison. Plus! Andy Levy talks to Professor Madiba Dennie about her new book, The Originalism Trap: How Extremists Stole the Constitution and How We the People Can Take It Back. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy react to the guilty verdict of Donald Trump in his election interference case. Plus! Princeton University law professor Kevin Kruse talks about the latest tactic being voted on by the Texas Republican Party. Then, historian and author Kellie Carter Jackson joins the show to talk about her latest book, “We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lisa Graves, the host of a new Supreme Court-focused podcast called Grave Injustice, joins The New Abnormal to discuss an alternate vision for the high court. Plus! A conversation with music critic Steven Hyden about his new book, “There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ and the End of the Heartland.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The former president’s supporters are already laying the groundwork—if he’s convicted in his hush money trial—to allege the whole thing was rigged. Plus! Danielle Moodie speaks with Professor Jenn M. Jackson from Syracuse University about her new book Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy discuss the fallout of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s controversial flag choices. Plus! We’re at the tail end of Trump’s hush-money trial, and author Jennifer Taub is here to give her thoughts. Then, The Daily Beast media reporter Justin Baragona talks about the right’s newest fever dream. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author Adam Serwer joins The New Abnormal this week to discuss the latest in a string of recent Supreme Court scandals. Plus! Mini Timmaraju, the President and CEO of Reproductive Freedom For All joins the program to discuss the downward spiral of reproductive healthcare in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Heritage Foundation’s extreme Presidential Transition Project proposes sweeping changes to government and packing the next GOP administration with extreme loyalists to Trump. Plus! Tech journalist and author of Blood in the Machine, Brian Merchant, talks to Andy Levy about the tech industry’s obsession with trying to create the dystopian futures portrayed in media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, author Dahlia Lithwick talks us through the recent developments at the Supreme Court. Plus! Journalist Judd Legum joins the show to discuss the right-wing’s weaponization of cancel culture and its implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Semafor politics reporter Shelby Talcott joins The New Abnormal this week to discuss the state of the 2024 race. Plus! A conversation with author Joshua A. Douglas about his new book, “The Court v. the Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
he former Fox News host went all woo woo during a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Plus! Danielle Moodie speaks with historian Federico Finchelstein about his new book The Wannabe Fascists: A Guide to Understanding the Greatest Threat to Democracy and how Trumpism and similar movements across the world belong to a new political breed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are shocked about what Trump said at a recent meeting with big oil executives. Plus! Legal expert Chris Geidner talks Trump’s latest legal woes. Also, Tara McGowan, the founder and publisher of Courier, joins the show to talk about modern media and the journalism business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the battle between the RNC and mail-in ballots—and the debate over what constitutes a democracy versus a republic. Then, author and historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat talks about one of Trump’s latest horrifying interviews. Plus! Author Arthur Goldwag on his new book and America’s susceptibility to conspiracies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Proud incel and misogynist Nick Fuentes disgustingly detailed how he would do it. Luckily for everyone, he remains desperately single. Plus! Academy, Emmy, and Peabody Award winning filmmakers, Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine, talk to Andy Levy about their chilling new documentary, The Sixth, which details six very personal and harrowing accounts from some of those people who lived through the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump gave a lengthy interview this week for a cover story in Time Magazine—and it sure scared The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy. Then, Rolling Stone politics reporter Nikki McCann Ramirez joins the program to discuss Trump’s terrifying rhetoric. Plus! Brothers and investigative reporters Brody Mullins and Luke Mullins stop by The New Abnormal to discuss their new book, “The Wolves of K Street: The Secret History of How Big Money Took Over Big Government.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the overblown response to pro Palestine protests on college campuses. Plus! The Nation's justice correspondent, Elie Mystal, joins the show to talk about the many problems with the U.S. Supreme Court. Then, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida's 13th congressional district, Whitney Fox, shares why she’s joining the fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In what can only be described as a race to the bottom, right-wing comedian Alex Stein appears obsessed with talking to the president’s daughter-in-law about sodomy. Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to Brazilian journalist Adriana Carranca on her new book Soul by Soul: The Evangelical Mission to Spread the Gospel to Muslims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s political reporter Jake Lahut tells The New Abnormal’s co-host Danielle Moodie that some Republicans were hopeful that the former president would still be able to host events like fundraisers while his trial takes place but they have had to go back to the drawing board to work out how he can connect with voters in key battleground states. Plus! Mike Masnick, the founder and editor of Techdirt and CEO of The Copia Institute, talks to The New Abnormal about the newly signed law that could see TikTok banned in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie take a deep dive into the first week of Trump’s historic trial in New York. Plus! Former White House Social Secretary Deesha Dyer is here to talk about her new book and reflect on her time in the West Wing. Then, Mother Jones’ national voting rights correspondent, Ari Berman, joins the show to discuss his new book—and how the 1787 Constitutional Convention still affects us today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team give their picks for the most fashionable former president and first lady—and it is not Donald and Melania Trump. Plus! Mexican historian Ana Raquel Minian talks to Andy Levy about her new book In the Shadow of Liberty: The Invisible History of Immigrant Detention in the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy have some advice for the judge handling former President Donald Trump’s New York City hush-money trial: Treat it exactly the same as a high-profile mob case. Then, a conversation with Medhi Hasan about his new media venture, Zeteo, which launched on Monday. Plus! Jonathan V. Last, an editor at The Bulwark, joins the program to talk about his recent presidential rankings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Danielle Moodie talks to Andrea Miller, the founding board member of the Center for Common Ground, about the importance of the black vote in the South for Democrats in this election. Plus! The Washington Post tech reporter Drew Harwell gives us the details on the people still investing in Trump Media & Technology Group despite its rapidly plummeting stock price. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For all of Donald Trump’s incessant fear-mongering about migrants fueling crime in the United States, he has yet to ask one very important question: What is driving the violence that is making so many on the other side of the border desperate to flee in the first place? That’s the question The New Abnormal team posed to Ieva Jusionyte, author of Exit Wounds: How America's Guns Fuel Violence across the Border, on this Sunday’s episode—and his answer might not sit well with team MAGA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, The New Abnormalintroduces you to a relatively new face in the pantheon of Trumpworld toadies:Steven Cheung, Trump’s principal spokesperson and de facto enforcer. Plus, a conversation with New Republic staff writer Melissa Gira Grant about a largely forgotten 1873 law, called the Comstock Act, that could be used to outlaw virtually all abortions across America.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy discuss why we should take Donald Trump’s latest statement on abortion with a grain of salt. Plus! Deputy Director of the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project Cody Wofsy fills us in on an immigration law in Texas that even those supporting it have said may have gone too far. Then, journalist Jeb Lund is here to talk about his recent piece covering Florida’s “War on Woke.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team has picked who they believe Donald Trump will select as his running mate. Plus! Andy Levy talks to CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti about his new book Before It's Gone: Stories From the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week's episode, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy don’t see any major publications or politicians taking Trump’s threats of retaliation seriously. Then, Mark Joseph Stern, a senior writer at Slate Magazine, joins the program to discuss an upcoming abortion ballot referendum in Florida—and the “giant threat” lurking behind it. Plus! A conversation with Brian Beutler, the author of the Substack “Off Message,” on Democrats’ messaging issues as the 2024 race inches closer to the finish line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, University of Louisville Associate Professor in the Departments of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Pan-African Studies Dr. Kaila Story joins us to talk about the new acronym conservatives are flinging about, and why it’s taken flight. Plus! Editor of The National Interest, Jacob Heilbrunn, joins us to talk about his new book, “America Last: The Right’s Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the site where George Floyd was killed to places where Black people were lynched, “Ghosts of Segregation” illustrates a history of racism in the U.S. that can’t be ignored. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Yorker’s Adam Gopnik joins The New Abnormal to talk about his new essay on how Hitler was able to take control of Germany and what’s at stake in the coming U.S. election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss Chudd Todd’s searing criticism of NBC. Then, Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, joins us to talk about her organization’s efforts to counter the anti-LGBTQ+ messaging many right-wing politicians have leaned into. Plus! The former editor at the Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times, Mark Jacob, will tell us all about a piece he recently wrote about how journalists in the media in general seem bored covering the upcoming election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Matt Gertz from Media Matters for America tells The New Abnormal that Fox News’ handling of its exclusive Mike Pence story shows how it's become a “Trumpian propaganda outlet.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“The Washington Post” reporter Devlin Barrett joins The New Abnormal to discuss what happens next in the former president’s contentious classified documents case. Plus, a conversation with Cornell Belcher, the founder of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies, about all the reasons to ignore recent polling which shows Black and Hispanic voters may be moving to the right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodiediscuss a recent interview in which Donald Trump discusses cutting social security. Then, Justin Baragona, senior media reporter for The Daily Beast, spills the tea on a weekend full of Trump mishaps. Plus! Shannon Vavra, national security reporter for The Daily Beast, explains both the laughable and alarming world of Russian disinformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump’s unfounded new claim that Hillary Clinton used acid to delete her emails shows the former president doesn’t quite grasp how the BleachBit software program works. Plus! Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman join The New Abnormal to talk about their New York Times best-selling book, White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NewsNation contributor Kurt Bardella joins The New Abnormal to discuss the state of the 2024 presidential election—and the complete failure of American journalism to adapt to Republicans’ strategy of spewing falsehoods. Plus, a conversation with Josh Kovensky, an investigative reporter at Talking Points Memo, about the Society for American Civic Renewal—a men’s only secret society of prominent far-right Christians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss Donald Trump’s Jimmy Kimmel Oscars diss. Then, Bill Clinton's Secretary of Labor and substacker Robert Reich is here to talk about the State of the Union, economic populism and the rise of Trumpism. Plus! Host of the Undistracted podcast, Brittany Packnett Cunningham, tells us more about Senator Katie Britt's rebuttal to Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal breaks down Sen. Katie Britt’s disastrous State of the Union reply and why she should have spoken to Bobby Jindal and Blake Masters before agreeing to do it. Plus! CNN’s Chief National Security Analyst Jim Sciutto joins Andy Levy to talk about his new book The Return of Great Powers: Russia, China, and the Next World War, which is out on March 12. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner tells The New Abnormal that the former president could soon see his assets seized. Plus! Andy Levy speaks with Steven Monacelli, the Texas Observer’s Special Investigative Correspondent, about a new social network built on a vision of Christian supremacy in America that’s gaining traction with GOP politicians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jose Pagliery, a political investigations reporter at The Daily Beast, joins the program to discuss Trump’s jam-packed court calendar. Plus, a conversation with journalist and author Radley Balko about the sinister attempt to “retcon” the death of George Floyd and exonerate the cop who killed him, Derek Chauvin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Journalist Hamilton Nolan tells The New Abnormal why declining union membership has strengthened the Republican Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
First on this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, a conversation with civil rights leader Bishop William Barber about the Poor People’s Campaign and the urgent need to craft public policy to correct the root causes of poverty. Plus! CNN commentator and New York Daily News columnist S.E. Cupp joins the program to discuss her thesis that the Republican Party has gone from being the champion of small government to the avatar of no government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the positive news of Trump’s South Carolina presidential primary win. Then, Monica Simpson, executive director of Team Sister Song, joins the show to discuss the fight for reproductive rights in America. Plus! Chris Geidner points to the three biggest stories of the week, and how they are directly related to Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal breaks down the latest controversial idea from the Turning Point CEO. Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to Barbara Collura, the president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, about the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision to give embryos “personhood” and ban IVF in the state. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court basically halted IVF treatments—and a new bill currently making the rounds in Oklahoma may be even worse, The New Abnormal hosts argue. Plus, chats with former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger about the current state of the Republican Party and Gillian Branstetter of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project and LGBTQ & HIV Project about the tragic death of a non-binary high school student in Oklahoma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss why the $364 million fine in the fraud suit against Donald Trump is not enough. Then, political scientist Dr. Christina Greer joins the show to discuss the differences between Democratic and Republican messaging—and what President Biden needs to do to not fall behind. We then talk to The Daily Beast political reporter, Riley Rogerson, about the problems with GOPs campaign talking points. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brandon Wolf, national press secretary of the Human Rights Campaign, tells The New Abnormal that MAGA Republicans are making LGBTQ students political pawns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Did Trump and his team ever really believe the 2020 election was stolen? That’s the wrong question to ask, Talking Points Memo reporter Josh Kovensky says on The New Abnormal. Plus, an interview with Dell Cameron, an investigative reporter for Wired magazine, about the recent Congressional wrangling over proposed changes to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast political reporter Jake Lahut joins this week’s The New Abnormal podcast to discuss Nikki Haley’s dwindling shot at the 2024 Republican nomination. Plus! Media Matters senior fellow Matt Gertz joins the podcast to discuss Special Counsel Robert Hur’s incendiary attacks on President Joe Biden’s memory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Guardian Angels have been meting out vigilante justice on New York City streets since 1979. Last week the red-bereted crime fighters appeared on Fox News when their leader, Curtis Sliwa, a recent GOP mayoral candidate, was interviewed by Sean Hannity about the “migrant crisis” in New York. While the interview was in progress, the Angels violently detained a man in Times Square that Sliwa told Hannity was a migrant shoplifter. Later Levy talks to Laurie Kilmartin, a stand-up comedian who wrote for Conan O'Brien for 11 years, has written two books, and now has a new comedy special Cis Woke Grief Slut available for purchase online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the horrifying Supreme Court hearing today that weighed whether Donald Trump will be allowed on the ballot in Colorado. Then, Jay Willis, the editor-in-chief of Balls & Strikes, joins us to weigh in on the case. Plus! Katherine Stewart, author of “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism,” talks to us about how the role faith is playing in the 2024 election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the Senate’s proposed immigration border bill that has sparked widespread criticism from Republicans. Then, Where's Your Ed At newsletter writer Ed Zitron stops by to talk to us about Elon Musk's latest tantrum. Plus! Jessica Garrison and Ken Besinger, the host of true crime podcast, Chameleon: the Michigan Plot, gives us the inside scoop on the attempted kidnapping of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and all the strange details surrounding it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump keeps using his relation to a famed MIT professor as proof of his intelligence. But as The New Abnormal team points out—smart people often have dumb relatives. Plus! Danielle Moodie has a thought provoking chat with DEI expert Denise Hamilton on her new book Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, Samuel Dickman, the medical director at Planned Parenthood Montana, joins us to unpack a jarring new study showing the dramatic increase in pregnancies related to rape after the banning of Roe v Wade. Plus! Author Andrew C. McKevitt talks about his new book, “Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy discuss the week of horror that could flip the game for Donald Trump. Then, Rolling Stonereporter and former The Daily Beast journalist Adam Rawnsley walks us through his recent report looking into Trump’s secret presidential immunity plans. Plus! Author Jeff Sharlet is here to talk about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s battle against Biden at the border. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Reason Magazine’s senior editor, Elizabeth Nolan Brown, tells The New Abnormal why a bill by Oklahoma Senator Dusty Deevers that would make it illegal to sext anyone other than your spouse is far from a fringe position in the GOP. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If Greg Abbott is going to use his National Guard troops to flout the U.S. Constitution, the president should do as Dwight D. Eisenhower once did and nationalize the state agency entirely, The New Abnormal hosts argue. Plus! A conversation with Josh from the Substack political newsletter called Ettingermentum, who joins the podcast to discuss Biden’s bad poll numbers and his path to victory in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy discuss the end of Ron DeSantis’ 2024 dreams. Then, Protect Democracy Editor Amanda Carpenter walks us through a report she co authored about what we can expect from another Trump presidency. Plus! Author Ben Herold is here to tell us all about his new book,\ “Disillusioned Five Families and the Unraveling of American Suburbs.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The former president’s latest rant about “debanking” and electric cars has left The New Abnormal team scratching their heads.  Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to Keith Boykin, the political commentator, film producer and Bill Clinton’s former White House aide, about his new book Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race? 25 Arguments That Won’t Go Away.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The former president has been ramping up the “spiritual” language he uses on the campaign trail, according to author and this week’s guest on The New Abnormal, Sarah Posner. Plus! A talk with professor and author Jason Stanley about his book “How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levydiscuss the problem with Trump’s newest slogan. Then, Frankie Miranda, the president andCEO of the Hispanic Federation, tells us about the importance of the Latinx vote. Plus! We talkto the New Republic’s Timothy Noah, who explains the wild ride that started with billionaire BillAckman’s vicious Twitter campaign against then-Harvard President Claudine Gay, and thensnowballed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Journalist Tina Nguyen tells The New Abnormal how her time inside America’s political right-wing showed her how it captures young hearts and minds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Bulwark editor Jonathan Last tells The New Abnormal that if Chris Christie really believes that Donald Trump must be stopped at all costs, then he has one card left to play. Plus! Anat Shenker-Osorio, host of the Words to Win By podcast, tells The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie, how Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign messaging is landing with voters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daily Beast media reporter Justin Baragona joins The New Abnormal to discuss how the news media is dealing with the former president’s repeated threats to upend American democracy. Plus! Daily Beast political reporter Riley Rogerson joins the podcast to share her experience reporting on Rep. Lauren Boebert’s falling political fortunes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Constitutional law professor Michael Gerhardt tells The New Abnormal that a plain reading of the 14th Amendment would deny Donald Trump’s bid to be president again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s senior political reporter Roger Sollenberger tells The New Abnormal why Trump’s lead in the polls compared with Biden is set to narrow as the election nears. Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to psychiatrist Jonathan Metzl about his new book What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms. Moodie will also host Metzl at the Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn on Feb. 5 where they will further explore how our collective failure to stop mass shootings is betraying the democracy envisaged by the framers of the Constitution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The coming year is set to be a trying time for America, at least according to Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, whose new book God, Guns and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America traces the history of right-wing terrorism in the U.S. Then, former NYPD officer—and the highest-ranking whistleblower in department history—Edwin Raymond joins The New Abnormal to discuss his recent memoir, An Inconcenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zander Moricz confronted the Moms for Liberty co-founder at a Sarasota town meeting who he said had once retweeted a hate article about him when he was a high school student. Plus! Foreign Affairs magazine’s executive editor Stuart Reid joins The New Abnormal to speak about his new book The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Media Matters’ Rapid Response Director Andrew Lawrence joins The New Abnormal to rank the most brain-dead right-wing “controversies” of the year. Then, filmmaker Anike Tourse stops by to discuss her latest project, “American Family.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week's episode host Danielle Moodie talks to Patrick Gaspard, the CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, discusses the challenges and threats facing democracy, highlighting the rise of Donald Trump and the Republican Party's shift towards extremism. Then Andy Levy sits down with The Guardian US' Martin Pengelly, to talk about his new book "Brotherhood when West Point Rugby Went to War," and discusses the genesis of his book exploring the lives of the 2002 West Point rugby players, their experiences during the 9/11 attacks, and their post-graduation journeys. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal team says comments by white supremacist Nick Fuentes that Jewish people need to be given the death penalty is another good reason to vote in the 2024 election. Plus! ! Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change, the largest online civil rights organization in the country, explains why he feels hopeful even at a time when democracy and civil rights are under attack in America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week’s crossover episode between The New Abnormal and The Last Laugh, we break down how Hasan Minhaj’s “emotional truths” upended The Daily Show’s seemingly eternal search for a new host (or hosts), the downfall of TikTok-favorite standup Matt Rife, and the emergence of Nick Bargatze as a bonafide star of the industry. Plus, a conversation with author Raquel Willis about her new book, The Risk It Takes to Bloom, a memoir exploring her experiences as a Black transgender activist from the American South. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Moms for Liberty may have lost a few battles, but they’re still winning the culture war, Tamara Gilkes Borr, a U.S. policy correspondent at The Economist, says on this week’s episode of The New Abnormal. Daily Beast political reporter Jake Lahut also joins the podcast to discuss his latest piece, “Donald Trump Is Blowing Up the Myth of the New Hampshire Primary.”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The former president claims to be ridiculously wealthy but The New Abnormal team says his move to sell parts of the suit he wore in his Georgia mugshot wreaks of desperation. Plus! Danielle Moodie also talks with Hein de Haas on his book How Migration Really Works: A Factful Guide to the Most Divisive Issue in Politics which provides a clear and rigorous corrective on our distorted ideas around migration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
John Burn-Murdoch, a columnist and the chief data reporter for the Financial Times, joins The New Abnormal this week to unpack why people feel so bad about what is an objectively strong economy. Then, the newly appointed president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Heather Williams, talks about the party’s plan to win down-ballot races. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The hosts talk with Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) about his new bill, “End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act of 2023”—and why America needs a paradigm shift in the way it thinks about housing. Plus! A conversation with senior Rolling Stone political reporter Asawin Suebsaeng about his recent investigation titled, “Inside Trump’s Plot to Corrupt the 2024 Election With ‘Garbage’ Data.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ed Zitron, CEO of media and public relations group EZPR, tells The New Abnormal’s Andy Levy that Elon Musk is driving the platform formally known as Twitter into the ground and is one step away from it going completely under. Plus! The New Abnormal team lampoons new House Speaker, and “wee little psychopath” Mike Johnson, who believes that God told him to be Speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy reflect on the downward spiral of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Plus! The Nation’s Elie Mystal stops by for a scary prediction if Trump returns to the White House in 2024. Then we talk to The Intercept’s Ryan Grim about his new book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Political strategist Michael Podhorzer stops by the podcast to “redirect some anxiety” about recent polls showing Donald Trump in a strong position for next year’s election. Plus! A conversation with writer Jonathan Katz about his most recent piece for “The Atlantic” titled: “Substack has a Nazi problem.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
t was meant to be a debate showcasing the new faces of the major parties. But as The New Abnormal team points out, Gavin Newsom came armed with something Ron DeSantis wasn’t prepared for. Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to ProPublica’s national reporter, Kavitha Surana, to talk about her deep dive into 12 of the nation’s strictest abortion bans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, MSNBC political analyst and pollster Cornell Belcher talks the science of polls before we all start pulling our hair out. Then we talk to Radley Balko, publisher of Substack page The Watch, about his latest piece discussing how medical examiners shield violent cops from scrutiny. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New York Times technology reporter Mike Isaac joins The New Abnormal to unpack the civil war currently roiling OpenAI. Plus! A conversation with Democratic strategist Kurt Bardella about Joe Biden's chances in the 2024 election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former Capitol Police Officer Sgt. Aquilino Gonell tells The New Abnormal that democracy is on the ballot in the next election and that America must be protected from a second Trump presidency. Plus former Daily Beast journalist turned communications consultant, Timothy Burke, talks about the FBI raid at his home following the leak of embarrassing videos of Tucker Carlson that ended up in the hands of Vice News and Media Matters for America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
David Roth and Jeb Lund play the Thanksgiving edition of “America 20 Questions,” including answering how thankful they think Donald Trump is for each of his kids. Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to Amelia Nagoski about the book she co-authored with her sister, Emily Nagoski, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, which examines the scientific factors that determine the different ways men and women deal with stress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Media Matters President Angelo Carusone joins The New Abnormal to talk through his organization’s recent sparring with Elon Musk and his social media platform, X. Plus! A conversation with award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor about her transformational africanfuturism and the importance of inclusive visions of science fiction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bethann Hardison broke barriers in the 1970s by appearing in the top fashion magazines. Her new documentary Invisible Beauty shows how she championed diversity for a new generation of Black models. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Veteran Jason Kander tells The New Abnormal there are two main reasons why Republicans are afraid to take on Senator Tommy Tuberville’s military blockade. Plus, Andy Norma, founder of CIRCE, or the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative, talks about the Mental Immunity Project and how it is trying to combat the crisis of disinformation and people’s susceptibility to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Spencer Ackerman stops by the program to talk about Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—and why Congress should consider scrapping it entirely. Deepa Iyer of the Building Movement Project stops by the podcast to share her unique way of visualizing social movements as entire ecosystems—with each person playing a distinct role in various movements and communities. Plus! Guest host Maura Quint who serves as campaign and communications work for Americans For Tax Fairness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tech columnist Brian Merchant tells The New Abnormal the Luddites got a bad rap following the Industrial Revolution but all they were trying to do was hold big tech to account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi tells The New Abnormal that Joe Biden’s sit down with the Chinese President next week will be the first in almost a year and the best chance to ease increased Chinese aggression. Plus, The Daily Beast’s Deputy Politics Editor Sam Brodey breaks down the “Idiot Symposium” otherwise known as this week’s Republican presidential debate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brian Kaylor, the president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, joins The New Abnormal to discuss new House Speaker Mike Johnson—and why he thinks the longtime religious activist should be classified as a Christian nationalist. Plus! A conversation with reporter Anat Rubin about her recent story in ProPublica about Louisiana’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Marine combat photographer Miles Lagoze tells The New Abnormal why Americans were more concerned about the optics of exiting Afghanistan than the mission itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Edison Hayden tells The New Abnormal why Chaya Raichik, the woman behind Libs of TikTok, is so dangerous and why the Anti-Defamation League needs to stand up against her. Plus, The Daily Beast’s political reporter Jake Lahut discusses Congressman Dean Phillips' not so great start to his presidential campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The U.S. justice system is handling former President Donald Trump with kid gloves, The New Abnormal host Danielle Moodie says. Plus! A discussion about the disconnect between an increasingly technology-reliant world and the aging lawmakers who do not seem to understand the systems that make society tick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Matt Bennett, co-founder of national think-tank Third Way, tells The New Abnormal why a second Trump presidency would be a “catastrophe” and leave America “unrecognizable.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, Semafor’s Washington Bureau Chief BenjySarlin tells us the who, what, and why that is the Republican Speaker of the House, Rep. MikeJohnson. Then, MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner breaks down all the latest developmentsin the many legal troubles of Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on The New Abnormal, Democratic strategist Kurt Bardella makes sense of the clown show that has become the Republican Party—which he used to be a part of—and its attempt to find a new Speaker of the House. Then, The Intercept’s Natasha Lennard tells us about how Scholastic has caved to the far right and made it easier for schools to ban diverse books at their book fairs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Walter Hickey explains how movies and TV affect everything from our biology to our beliefs and what happens when governments get involved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
CNN commentator S.E. Cupp joins The New Abnormal to discuss her recent article about how the right is broken–and nothing is being done to fix it. Then, psychiatrist and author Dr. Jonathan Metzl talks about the connection between the rise in hate crimes in the country and the amount of misinformation made readily available via social media at certain news channels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump’s legal team seems more concerned with leaving landmines in the court record than winning his New York fraud trial, The Daily Beast’s Jose Pagliery says on this week’s The New Abnormal. Plus! A frank talk about the current state of local politics with Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy call out the former president for his latest rallying cry to white supremacists. Plus, Katherine Stewart details her observations since publishing The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Republicans have been scrambling to figure out who they could dredge up as House Speaker. Plus! U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) adds her thoughts on GOP efforts to replace Kevin McCarthy. Then, Dannagal Young, an associate professor of communications at the University of Delaware, describes the “three Cs” behind the social nature of human knowledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, extremism and violent terrorism researcher Alexander Ritzman describes the new, male only movement infiltrating America–and their thoughts on Jan. 6. Plus! NBC News Justice reporter Ryan Reilly provides an in-depth look into the civilian sleuths who have been invaluable in identifying many of the culprits of Jan. 6. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author Jonathan Taplin tells The New Abnormal how Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen, are providing the tools to let fascism flourish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, professor and author Jennifer Taub gives us all the details on Trump's fraud case happening right now in New York. Plus! Journalists and podcasters Jeb Lund and David J. Roth talk to us about Kevin McCarthy's, ouster, Ron DeSantis’ floundering campaign and which fictional character Matt Gaetz looks like the most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Don’t cry for Kevin—he knew what he was getting into when he took the job as House Speaker, The New Abnormal hosts argue. Then, an interview about dystopian police technology with WIRED staff writer Dhruv Mehrotra. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aaron Kleinman, Director of Research for The States Project, tells The New Abnormal that if Republicans are able to win both houses in November’s state election, prepare to see a radical raft of policies by Gov. Glenn Youngkin as he sets his sights on the White House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell talks to us about Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s latest shocking rant and how he contends with some of the louder members of the Republican Party on the House Judiciary Committee. Plus! The Bulwark’s Jonathan V. Last tells us about the contrast in Democratic and Republican responses to Sen. Bob Menendez’s recent indictment for corruption. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal: Why Joe Biden is right to let Republicans shoot themselves in the foot during yet another idiotic shutdown fight. Plus! A look at Trump’s weekend of manic posting on Truth Social. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Run For Something has just pumped $10 million into electing left-leaning school board members. Co-founder Amanda Litman tells The New Abnormal the basic credentials you need. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner talks about Donald Trump’s latest legal challenges. Then a talk with Freedom of the Press Foundation executive director Trevor Timm about how the U.S. trying Julian Assange under the Espionage Act may prove to be a regrettable decision if Trump is elected president again.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Peter Hotez joins The New Abnormal this week to discuss his new book, “The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science”—and why anti-vaccine conspiracies are so dangerous. Plus! An interview with labor reporter and author Kim Kelly about the United Auto Workers strike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week’s episode of The New Abnormal highlights how Republicans are tying themselves up in knots while attempting to explain why we need an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie delve deep into the lack of class shown by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) this week. Then, author Mike Rothschild is here to tell us all about his new book. Plus! Jeffrey Lewis, a scholar at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies on the Non-Proliferation and Terrorism Studies, joins us to share the reason we’re all still here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, a reminder that the enemy of your enemy isn’t always your friend. Plus! A status check on the various groups protesting Atlanta’s “Cop City” project and a chat with Meagan Burrows of the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project about Alabama’s attempts to criminalize those who help young women seeking abortions.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast columnist David Rothkopf tells The New Abnormal’s Danielle Moodie that U.S. politicians should rethink their support of Elon Musk after his intervention to help Russia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are shocked by just how much control billionaire Elon Musk has over the world. Plus! Executive Director of reproductive justice group the Yellowhammer Fund, Jenice Fountain, joins the show to talk about what’s going on in Alabama. Author Marc Tyler Nobleman also talks about his experience on a speaking tour of Georgia schools where school leaders found an issue with him saying the word “gay.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss how crazy it is that Donald Trump keeps talking about jailing his political opponents and everyone has just accepted it as normal. Dare we say, the new abnormal. Plus! Blowback Podcast hosts Brendan James and Noah Kulwin pop in to talk about their newest season covering the ins, outs, and random stars of the crisis in Afghanistan and the US' involvement after 9/11. Then, Author, historian, and culture critic Ruth Ben Ghiat is here to answer the question Danielle Moodie thinks nobody is asking, what stage of the facist takeover are we in right now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Comedian Jesse Joyce tells The New Abnormal how his fascination with “the guy who cut his own balls off with a pair of scissors and then killed John Wilkes Booth” forced him into writing his new book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy and Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the ramifications of Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s latest freeze. Plus! National opinion columnist for the “Philadelphia Enquirer,” Will Bunch, talks to us about his recent article surrounding the state of journalism. Then, The Daily Beast’s politics reporter Zachary Petrizzo stops by to let us in on what’s happening with G O P fundraising.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, why Trump’s mugshot does nothing to endear him to the Black community—despite the insistence of a number of Fox News hosts. Plus, Ari Cohn, the free speech counsel at TechFreedom, joins the podcast to discuss a new bill that tries, and fails, to prevent kids from seeing harmful content online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Professor Ted Parson tells The New Abnormal how we already have the technology to help cool the Earth by 1 degree within years and why lawmakers are fearful of embracing it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy and Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the fallout from the first Republican primary debate of the 2024 election season. Plus! Author Dr. Steven Hassan stops by to talk to us about what he’s seeing change in the cult of Trump, and Amanda Moore, who infiltrated the MAGA movement—and wrote about it—shares her experience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Law Dork newsletter’s Chris Geidner tells co-host Andy Levy about a Constitutional amendment that could prevent Trump from running again, and what it would take for that clause to actually be enacted against him. Also on this episode: Kate Briquelet, senior reporter at The Daily Beast, explains the connections between bank J.P. Morgan and Jeffrey Epstein as laid out in a recent piece she reported. Plus, she tells co-host Danielle Moodie who she thinks will be held accountable next in this saga. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal, Daily Beast editor Andrew Kirell gives an inside look at one of the right’s biggest grifts: inflating conservatives’ crappy book sales, specifically to get on the New York Times’ bestseller lists, and breaks down why the biography of expelled Fox News star Tucker Carlson’s biography didn’t get it (plus other reasons the book’s sales are so bad.) Also on the show: hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie react to Republican clips, and this week that includes the Republican reaction to Hillary Clinton going on MSNBC to talk Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene saying that Georgia’s Fani Willis should go after rapists instead of Trump (Anyone want to tell her?), and Matt Gaetz getting his ass handed to him by MSNBC’s Ari Melber. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Mary Trump joins us to talk all about her uncle’s latest legal woes and her future predictions for both the Republican and Democratic parties. Plus! CNN legal analyst Elie Honig walks us through another round of Trump indictments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Slate senior editor Dahlia Lithwick is noticing a tone change when it comes to how people are reacting to Donald Trump’s indictments. She describes this change on this latest episode of The New Abnormal podcast along with a huge decision that Trump’s Jan. 6 judge is going to have to make. Also on this episode: Hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss Trump’s looming Georgia indictment, the one (and possibly only) thing that’ll shut him up, and the clash of his and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ fans at the Iowa State Fair when one of Trump’s followers called DeSantis “Florida Pudding Fingers.” Plus! Dr. Nicholas Mitchell, assistant professor of Curriculum Studies at the University of Kansas, explains what it means now that a propaganda organization called PragerU was just approved to have its “educational” videos be used in Florida schools (and a few examples of its videos that show how bizarre they really are.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie listen to some clips, which includes a right-winger who has a drug-related suggestion to make Ron DeSantis more human, Matt Gaetz speaking nonsense to get Trump out of his indictments, and Jesse Watters saying a possible stalking fantasy of his out loud. Plus, wildfire expert Matthew R. Auer of the University of Georgia has a warning: Get ready for more fires in unexpected places. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, how the latest Ohio election should be a wake-up call to Republicans. David Pepper, the former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, joins to discuss. Plus! Nick Suplina, senior Vice President of Law and Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety, describes how ghost guns are more terrifying than you can imagine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal is back from vacation! And what a week to recap. A certain orange person named Donald Trump has been charged for alleged criming again and hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie unpack it all. They also discuss how they think Trump is handling the pressure and Andy shares one of Ron DeSantis’ biggest failings in his presidential campaign. Plus, on this right-wing themed show: Madeline Peltz, Deputy Director of Rapid Response, shares the full arc of the right’s response to the ‘Barbie’ movie hate, including an unexpected twist: Female right-wingers are sticking up for the film. Plus, a brief history of the right-wing’s hatred of the USWNT. Then HuffPost Senior Reporter Christopher Mathias reveals to Andy how he was able to expose famed writer Richard Hanania’s secret right-wing and very hateful past, which includes incredibly dark eugenic ideas like forcing sterilization on low IQ people and opposing race mixing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alex Winter has a warning about YouTube that he makes loud and clear in this episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast. He breaks down for Andy how easy it is for users to see right-wing propaganda on the site, especially from the right, as well as one of his biggest fears as a consequence of it: People getting killed. Winter also shares whether we will be having this conversation about TikTok soon and why Google, YouTube’s parent company, isn’t doing anything about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New Abnormal hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy do another round of Q&A to kick off this episode, which includes who they think will be the biggest winners and losers of the 2024 Republican presidential debates. Then later in the show, it’s all about climate change. First up David Lipsky, author of ‘The Parrot and the Igloo,’ gives a historical overview of when chemists first realized climate change was happening, and how people and pop culture felt about the topic back then, even after one scientist said in the ’50s that its effect would be “violent.” And Richard Lazarus, professor of environmental law at Harvard University, talks about the time Nancy Pelosi and the late John McCain actually agreed on climate change, and what messed everything up.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Would novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand have loathed Elon Musk? Philosopher and writer Wolfram Eilenberger, author of The Visionaries: Arendt, Beauvoir, Rand, Weil, and the Power of Philosophy in Dark Times, comes on The New Abnormal to answer that question and another question with an answer that he can’t seem to full grasp: How libertarians can support Donald Trump. Also on this episode: Danielle Campoamor, reporter for TODAY Parents, shares the story of Celeste Burgess, a 19-year-old who is serving a prison sentence for taking abortion pills when she was 17. Plus, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie use the intro of this episode to share some of their favorite things—and which social media platform (Threads, the site formally known as Twitter, and Bluesky) they’d fuck, marry, or kill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Country singer Jason Aldean’s song and video “Try That in a Small Town” has created backlash, with critics claiming the song promotes violence and anti-Black rhetoric. Still, Aldean is just the tip of the racist iceberg for the country music business says historian Amanda Marie Martinez, who came on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to discuss the Aldean controversy with Danielle. She shares insight into the genre’s racist history and why we shouldn’t expect them to change their tune anytime soon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, why Mitch McConnell’s concerning press conference this week should be a wake up call to both sides of the political spectrum. Plus! The Nation’s Elie Mystal joins us to talk about the Supreme Court's Alabama decision. Then, The Bulwark’s Tim Miller talks all about the latest in Republican party madness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ron DeSantis thought he could win over the MAGA base and secure the 2024 nomination by being the smart, indictment-free version of Donald Trump, but judging by his less than robust campaign performance, he thought wrong. Rolling Stone reporter, Adam Rawnsley, joins this episode of TNA to talk about what it’ll take for Trump’s base to finally be broken of his spell as well as the ways DeSantis’ campaign went wrong. Also on this episode: Capital B rural issues reporter Aallyah Wright tells co-host Andy Levy a story she reported on from a small town in the south that is so horrendously racist it left him nearly speechless. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bullshitting is an art, and according to hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie, Donald Trump proved he’s mastered it after they listened to a clip of him totally spewing nonsense in response to an Iowa voter’s question at an event early July. Andy shares a funny analogy and the two have strong reactions to the other wacky audio clips they listen to on this bonus episode. Then Colin Dickey, author of the upcoming book ‘Under the Eye of Power’, walks Andy through the political impact of the country’s earliest conspiracy theories and secret societies. Plus! He shares how Americans became so enthralled and scared of the Illuminati that it literally influenced a presidential election. Even George Washington was involved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump recently posted a video to his Truth Social account that hosts of The New Abnormal politics podcast, Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie, say is a preview of what another MAGA presidency will look like. They discuss in this episode of the show along with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s display of Hunter Biden’s nudes. Also on this episode: Melissa Murray, professor of law at NYU, MSNBC talking head and legal analyst, and co-host of Strict Scrutiny, breaks down the possible indictments that could come down against Trump, including other charges that could stem from bigger allegations. Plus! Sarah McLaughlin, Senior Scholar, Global Expression at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression (FIRE), spars (kindly!) with Andy about religious freedom of speech and explains why the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution that supports the prosecution of blasphemy won’t be so “pretty” in practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Things aren’t going so well for Meatball Ron [DeSantis], says Andy Levy in this episode of The New Abnormal. He and co-host Danielle Moodie unpack the ways that DeSantis seems to be flubbing his presidential campaign with the Florida governor’s personality, and general robotic weirdness, taking the top spot as a reason why. Then Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) joins the show and makes it very clear how he feels about this Supreme Court and Andy chats with David Slack, a veteran writer and producer who’s worked on shows such as ‘Law and Order’ and ‘Person of Interest’ and was a member of the WGA West’s Board of Directors from 2018 to 2022, about the differences in demands of the people on strike and those in power, and what it was like to be in a negotiating room with them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nick Fuentes knows the ideal age he’d like his future wife to be and, disgustingly, it’s sixteen. On this episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie listen to clips of Republicans and right-wing figures saying stupid things, but this Sunday’s clip of Fuentes, a white supremacist and right-wing extremist, takes the cake. Also on this episode: Marc Garlasco, a military advisor at PAX Protection of Civilians and the co-host of The Civilian Protection Podcast, shares a dire prediction for what’s to come now that the White House plans to send cluster bombs over to Ukrainian forces. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, former federal prosecutor and host of “Justice Matters” Glenn Kirschner talks about all the legal turmoil involving Donald Trump, Jack Smith, and Judge Aileen Cannon. Then, Washington Post national columnist Philip Bump joins us to tell us who exactly is House Oversight Committee chair James Comer’s star informant, Gal Luft.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daily Beast politics reporter Ursula Perano shares more details about the anti-vax rhetoric she saw in RFK Jr.’s campaign-run Slack, including wild comparisons of vaccines to household cleaners from the 1900s. Plus, Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks what’s next for new social media site Threads and the feature that could change platforms forever—if Mark Zuckerberg enables it in Europe. And of course, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie unpack Elon Musk’s dick measuring comments they for sure thought were fake and the latest lawsuit hitting Fox News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daily Beast reporter Zach Petrizzo talks with co-host Andy Levy Marjorie Taylor Greene’s VP moves, her drama with fellow Rep. Lauren Boebert, and why Team Trump is anti-Kari Lake. Plus, Andy and co-host Danielle are forced to listen to clips of Trump and DeSantis saying weird things. Or in Trump’s case, making odd noises. And Andy makes a bold claim: Trump would be better than DeSantis on LGBTQ issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s The New Abnormal, extremism expert Jared Holt recounts his trip to a Moms for Liberty conference—and why DeSantis just can’t get the MAGA faithful to defect. Plus! A talk with political researcher Anat Shenker-Osorio about Democrats’ messaging woes.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s Independence Day but hosts of The New Abnormal are not in a patriotic mood. Hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss last week’s “grifting ass” Supreme Court decisions, including the student debt, anti-LGBTQ same-sex website, and affirmative action rulings—and Danielle makes the case for students of color filing a lawsuit against universities for their legacy student practices. Also on this episode: Andy plays a game of American “20 questions” with David Roth, editor at and co-owner of Defector and co-host of the Distraction Podcast, and Jeb Lund, a journalist whose writing has appeared in such places as The Guardian Vice Rolling Stone, Gawker, and The New Republic, each whom answer questions like ‘what was the best year in American history?’ ‘who is the most annoying president in American history?’ and ‘how is Donald Trump celebrating the July 4th holiday?’ Then, on a serious note: Alí R. Bustamante, deputy director of the Worker Power and Economic Security program at The Roosevelt Institute, reveals a hard truth: The American economy isn’t functioning “in any Democratic way.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress, joins co-host Danielle Moodie in this bonus episode of The New Abnormal podcast to talk about the origins of this so-called “whitelash” happening in America today, and how Black Americans saw it coming long before anyone else. He touches on the Obama presidency’s role in this scary trend as well as the media’s role in it all, starting with how it covered Trump’s nativist “Ground Zero Mosque” fear-mongering he espoused in 2010. And as always, Danielle and Andy Levy kick off the episode by responding to clips of Republicans saying dumb things. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie react to the Supreme Court’s latest ruling on Affirmative Action. Joining the show to discuss is Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola University. Plus! Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride talks about her recently announced candidacy for Congress, as well as being the first openly trans person to work at the White House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Levy, co-host of TNA, suspects there’s more to the 2024 presidential hopeful’s workout vids than just stupidity. He discusses his theory with co-host Danielle Moodie, along with what he thinks is happening in Russia. Then, Kelly Weill, reporter at The Daily Beast who covers far-right groups and trends, tells Danielle what we should know about “Moms for Liberty,” a mom group that operates like Proud Boys and are just as dangerous. Plus! Law Dork newsletter’s Chris Geidner breaks down a recent Supreme Court case ruling, Jones v Hendrix, which essentially prevents some legally innocent people from challenging their conviction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Mini Timmaraju, president of  NARAL Pro-Choice America, talks about where we stand one year after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Then, Vice’s Anna Merlan weighs in on RFK Jr. and all the misinformation he’s spreading. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Texas Observer’s Special Investigative correspondent Steven Monacelli talks Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment problems. Then, climate tech investor Molly Wood joins the show to discuss the impact of the Canadian wildfires. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author David Daley tells The New Abnormal that while the Supreme Court’s Alabama decision is a win for democracy it may be a PR move by conservative justices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, CNN Legal Analyst Elie Hoig joins the show to talk about Donald Trump's recent legal jeopardy and just how much trouble he is in. Then, Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick discusses the legal maneuvers we may see around the former president’s indictment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, MSNBC Legal Analyst Glenn Kirschner joins us to talk about what’s next in Trump’s bombshell indictment. Plus! Princeton University historian Kevin Kruse debunks the theories being spouted by the former president’s supporters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, Mo Ryan, author of ‘Burn It Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood’, talks to co-host Andy Levy about ’Lost’s vindictive showrunners, and Hollywood’s horrific treatment of writers and actors of color behind the scenes, pegged to a recent piece she wrote for Vanity Fair. Plus, Andy and co-host Danielle Moodie respond to a clip of Gov. Kristi Noem complaining that she can’t shop at Target and another clip of Nikki Haley proving she’s a racist bigot, again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The orange skies must have been a premonition for the news that former President Donald Trump has been indicted on federal charges. Hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy tackle this breaking news at the top of the episode, along with a SCOTUS semi-win, and the one good thing Chris Christie has done lately (and it’s not running for president.) Then, Congressman Ruben Gallego, who’s trying to become Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, tells Andy why people should vote for him and not Kyrsten Sinema and Dr. Melissa Gonzales, a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, tells Danielle what caused this “tinderbox” of wildfires, what is really happening when you’re standing outside directly in that air, and the likelihood of this happening again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Washington Post reporter Ben Terris, author of The Big Break The Gamblers, Party Animals, and True Believers Trying to Win in Washington While America Loses Its Mind, joins this episode of The New Abnormal podcast to share some highlights from his book, which includes wacky, inside moments and scandals he witnessed in D.C. after Trump left office—like the fashion faux pas Matt Gaetz didn’t want people to know about and the sad story of Trump circle member and CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp’s right-hand man. Plus, Andy and Danielle take on the latest politics news and Stacey Stevenson, CEO of Family Equality, an LGBTQ organization directed at creating safe, happy, healthy, environments for LGBTQ people and their families, joins as guest to chat about how Florida’s anti-LGBT legislation is leading the community to “becoming refugees in their own country.”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eli Merritt, a political historian at Vanderbilt University and author of a book entitled Disunion Among Ourselves: The Perilous Politics of the American Revolution, joins this episode of The New Abnormal to share what would cause a civil war today, and no spoilers but it relates to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s succession wish. Merritt also tells TNA podcast co-host Danielle Moodie three reasons why the Founding Fathers were supportive of slavery when they could have phased out the practice much earlier (besides racism) and how their reasons for keeping it ties back to what’s going on today. Plus! Like usual, the hosts reacting to clips opens up the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy wonder what’s taking special counsel Jack Smith so long. Plus! The Daily Beast politics reporter Jake Lahut talks about the self-help guru who won't get help: Marianne Williamson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Things are pretty bleak for the LGBTQ+ community in Florida thanks to Ron DeSantis’ blitz of hate legislation. Pride celebrations being cancelled just part of the fallout. The President and CEO of Lake County Pride, Danielle Olivani, joins TNA co-host Danielle Moodie on this episode of The New Abnormal to share why the group is moving ahead with their celebrations anyway, the pushback its gotten in spite of it, and the impact these bans have had on the community’s youth, in particular. Olivani also notes what they see as a “mass migration” out of the state because of it. Plus: Part 2 of author James Risen’s interview with TNA co-host Andy Levy, where he shares more about Senator Frank Church, the man who lead the Church Hearings against the CIA and FBI (and who Jimmy Carter called a jerk in his diaries). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
James Risen, author of The Last Honest Man: The CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, and the Kennedys―and One Senator’s Fight to Save Democracy, joins this episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast to talk about Senator Frank Church, who led what is known as the Church Committee, a group that held Senate hearings in order to hold the intelligence community accountable for its expansive abuses. He shares one particular story with co-host Andy Levy that explains how a few whip-smart journalists, and President Gerald Ford opening his big mouth, finally exposed the CIA and set the hearings against them in motion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, we’re joined by Jeb Lund and David Roth of the It's Christmas Town Podcast who talk all about Ron DeSantis entering the presidential race. Plus! Representative Jasmine Crockett talks about the clown show that Reps. Kevin McCarthy and Marjorie Taylor Green have turned the Congress into. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daily Beast congressional reporter Sam Brodey came on The New Abnormal politics podcast to talk through the ways that Trump’s default talk could screw Republicans, and also to share how this stance of Trump’s could possibly benefit him (or not.) Then, Jonathan Last, editor of The Bulwark, joins the show to talk through a DeSantis election theory and break down his rankings for the possible 2024 Republican presidential nominees most likely to win the election, including a very crass argument for putting Chris Christie dead last. Plus, co-hosts Andy and Danielle can’t believe that Florida is turning into one big “sundown” town. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Historian Joshua Zeitz, author of Lincoln’s God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation, joins this episode of The New Abnormal to walk co-host Danielle Moodie through Abraham Lincoln’s spiritual journey and how his Christianity looked much different than what other presidents believed. He also shares with her the connection that Lincoln’s religion had to his decision to emancipate the enslaved, what others thought of him at the time, and what people get wrong about him today. Plus, Danielle and her TNA co-host Andy Levy dub Marjorie Taylor Greene “MAGA Karen” and point out comparisons between her and the woman that got Emmett Till unjustly killed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Long Island native Zak Malamed is tired of Rep. George Santos’ shit. So tired of it that he decided to run against the accused serial liar for his House seat. He shares with co-host Andy Levy why he thinks Santos won in the district to begin with, how he thinks he stands a chance to win, and his thoughts on Santos’ lies about being Jewish, something that Malamed took personally. Also on this episode: TNA co-cost Danielle Moodie talks to State Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, one of the “Sister Senators” in the South Carolina Senate—made up of three Republicans, one Democrat, and one Independent— who banded together to block an abortion ban in their state. Sen. Matthews shares how her relationship with one of her Sister Senators on the other side of the aisle, Republican Katrina Shealy, began, and what it’s like to be a woman and a Black person, in such a sexist, racist state legislature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chasten Buttigieg is no stranger to hate. He joins this episode of The New Abnormal to share with Danielle more about his upcoming memoir, “I Have Something to Tell You―For Young Adults,” and reveal his secret to handling anti-LGBT hatred and attacks, from conservatives like Ron DeSantis and Tucker Carlson to right-wing trolls on Twitter. Later on this episode: Andy interviews Maggie Tokuda-Hall, the children’s book author who refused to let Scholastic censor her book, “Love in the Library,” which tells the story of how her grandparents fell in love in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Plus! The hosts address the right’s latest attempt to defame President Joe Biden and point out a big loophole in DeSantis’ latest anti-trans healthcare bill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie respond to an interview clip where George Santos calls himself “regular guy” and explains the real reason why he thinks people don’t like him. And Danielle makes an astute comparison of Santos to the main character of the show “Inventing Anna,” a serial grifter. Plus, they unpack the 2018 recording of Ron DeSantis doing debate prep with Matt Gaetz who says he’s “aggressive” like Donald Trump. Then Andy chats with Marcus Flowers, who ran against Marjorie Taylor Greene in the 2022 election on what sets his new Mission: Democracy PAC apart from the Lincoln Project and why he thinks it can help candidates win in super MAGA-influenced districts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of “The View” and former Trump White House director of Strategic Communication, talks about her experience firsthand in the orb of Trump sexual harassment. Plus! The Daily Beast reporter Kelly Weill joins the podcast to talk about the Texas Allen Mall shooter and how the right wing is trying to whitewash his reputation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani shares what it’s like to be a Democrat in Florida’s Republican-led House, which is somehow more “disgusting” behind the scenes. Eskamani also shares her response when she heard her colleague, Webster Barnaby, call trans people mutants and demons and what her party is doing to combat bad bills that just keep on coming in the Sunshine State. Plus! TNA hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie talk through Clarence Thomas’ ongoing grift and whether or not the general public should be exposed to graphic photography depicting carnage from mass shootings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal zeroes in on the former Fox News host’s plan to save right-wing politics and unite warring factions of the Republican Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andly Levy and Danielle Moodie react to Tucker Carlson’s racist texts. Plus! AI expert stops by to talk about the future AI holds. Then, Techdirt editor Mike Masnick discusses the showdown between PornHub and Utah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Almost-expelled Tennessee House Representative Gloria Johnson joins this episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast to talk about what the last few weeks have been like, a heartbreaking interaction she had with a third grade Girl Scout about gun control, and if she believes that racism played a role in sparing her from the fates of her Black colleagues, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson (spoiler: yes). She also has a major rebuttal to one of the biggest pro-gun “arguments” there is. Then, CNN’s S.E. Cupp joins co-host Andy Levy to explain why Tucker Carlson’s exit from Fox News has zero chance of changing the insidious ways of the media company. The two also make educated predictions on who Carlson’s replacement is likely to be. Plus! Andy and Danielle discuss Trump’s vile new low with a COVID lie as well as what Supreme Court Justice Alito is whining about now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Texas woman Amanda Zurawski ripped into Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, her state Senators, and other Republicans at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last Wednesday, verbally holding them to account for their role in the abortion policies in the state that almost killed her. Hosts of The New Abnormal politics podcast, Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie, got to unpack her testimony in this bonus episode of the show, and they had a lot to say, too. The hosts also listen to more clips and make fun of other Republicans, including Sen. Ron Johnson who they listen to making the most idiotic case for climate change that they’ve ever heard. Plus! Cindy Cohn, the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, chats with Andy about whether or not individual states can really ban TikTok, if a ban would actually protect against China getting Americans’ information, and one particular piece of legislation that could turn the private conversations you have online into not-so-private ones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Erin Reed joins us to talk about the extreme measures taken by states targeting the trans community. Then, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood discusses the rise of anti-Semitism and radicalization in the county after his recent troubles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It was a culmination of things that ultimately led to Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News, but according to Daily Beast senior media editor Andrew Kirell, the latest guest on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, one mistake made by Carlson stands out the most. Plus! Hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie make hilarious guesses at Tucker and former CNN anchor Don Lemon’s futures, like, say a Freaky Friday switcheroo? Then, Andy talks to Chris Geidner, Deputy Legal Affairs Editor at Grid News, who gives background on how Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas became “the bomb throwers, fire throwers on the right,” shares his take on the absence of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and predicts how the Fifth Circuit will rule on abortion drug Mifepristone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For a party who likes to accuse Democrats and the LGBT community of corrupting children, the right has a few creeps in their own closet, including accused underage sexter and MAGA hero Ali Alexander. Will Sommer, Daily Beast reporter and host of the Fever Dreams podcast, has been reporting on the accusations against this right-wing figure, and joined this bonus episode of The New Abnormal podcast to explain what Alexander is accused of, how a guy like him became so prominent in the alt-right movement, despite claims of pedophilia, something they so adamantly accuse the left of, and how he was “exposed” to begin with. Also on this episode, hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy listen to clips of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) badly rip off a Winston Churchill quote to tear down wokeism and a mind-numbing (but hilarious) clip of Marjorie Taylor Greene finally being put in her place by one of her fellow Republicans.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, NPR media reporter David Folkenflik talks about Fox News' settlement with Dominion. Plus! Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts discusses the latest escalations in America’s ongoing gun crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Clarence Thomas’s “grifting” faucet just won’t turn off, says an exasperated Danielle Moodie on this episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast. It was recently revealed that the Supreme Court Justice reported income from a firm that doesn’t exist, and hasn’t for a while, and Moodie, and her co-host of the show Andy Levy, are over this man’s antics. They discuss a lot of them on this show in particular given the recent news. Later, Spencer Ackerman, columnist for The Nation and writer of the Forever Wars newsletter, breaks down the case ofJack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified documents and why it’s different than the whistleblowing cases of Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden. Then, George M. Johnson, author of All Boys Aren’t Blue, one of the now-many banned books in America, shares with co-host Danielle what it’s like to be the author of a banned book and the most “fascinating” and mind-boggling thing about Republican behavior. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Far-right creeps say the darndest things and their soundbites played on this week’s bonus episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast for hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy are some of the most absurd yet, from a clip of a Missouri State Senator backing marriage for 12-year-olds to one of a far-right Trump supporter calling to make women dog ownership illegal. Plus! Comedian Josh Gondelman joins this episode to talk about what it was like to be a writer for political comedy shows like ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ and ‘Desus and Mero.’  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Tucker Carlson’s humiliating Trump turnaround,. Plus! Rolling Stone culture writer Miles Klee talks to us about the myth that when corporations go woke, they go broke and Daily Beast politics reporter Ursula Perano talks to us about Montana Republicans' big plan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daily Beast contributing editor Diana Falzone walks co-host Andy Levy through a piece she published this week which uncovers who actually caused a Donald Trump phone call with a religious group to be hacked. The former president blamed the troll-takeover of the call on the “radical left,” but as Falzone recounts, it was because Michael Flynn did something dumb. She also gives Andy, fellow Fox News alum, insight into the life of Fox News staffers trying to get the hell out and find another job. Plus! Dr. Céline Gounder, a clinician, epidemiologist and editor at large for public health at KFF Health News, breaks down the ruling in Texas to withdraw FDA-approved abortion drug Mifepristone. She tells co-host Danielle Moodie how this move has much scarier, and more far-reaching, implications than we think, especially for cancer patients or someone with a chronic illness who relies on FDA-approved meds. And the top cause of gun deaths for kids these days is not what you’d expect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Timothy Egan, author of A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them, joins Danielle on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to talk about his work and research on the KKK, how the group was able to maintain power, and all the ways that Trump mirrors one of the group’s most grotesque members Grand Dragon D.C. Stephenson. He also shares the most Trumpian thing about the convicted rapist and murderer and the reason he believes that everyone stood behind this person, despite knowing he was a monster. Plus, Danielle and co-host Andy Levy watch react to this week’s Sunday clips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Elie Honig joins this episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast to explain how the 2024 election could impact the timeline for a Trump trial more than we think. There are a few different ways things can go, and neither is that great if you want to see Trump held accountable. Plus! WSJ’s Robbie Whelan, who covers all things Walt Disney Co., shares with co-host @DeeTwoCents a reason that DeSantis is hellbent on controlling the Mouse, and how Disney’s old board quietly stuck it to him—for now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
No one knows what the future holds for Donald Trump and this indictment, but The Bulwark’s Amanda Carpenter has a few ideas and came on the latest episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast—along with MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner—to share them. And there’s good and bad news. Kirschner takes the opportunity to go in on the Department of Justice for its failure to hold Trump accountable for, well, everything, and leaving it up to the states instead. And in true lawyer fashion, he pinpoints the moment that Trump revealed his motive for keeping those classified documents on Sean Hannity. Plus! TNA hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie issue a warning about MAGA Trump defense money scams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Betsy DeVos is no longer wreaking havoc as former President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, but even without the title, the Republican donor is still actively making moves to “destroy” the public school system. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, came on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal podcast to share exactly how DeVos, “one of Michigan’s least popular people,” is doing so as well as her take on mass shootings in schools (“They’ll ban a book before they’ll even talk about what to do with assault weapons.“) and the state of teaching in America because of it all. Plus! Hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy listen to clips of Lauren Boebert getting owned over “public urination” and Trump saying truly dumb things, including that he may not love his children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss the latest in Donald Trump’s New York indictment. Plus! The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer stops by to talk about what Republicans really mean when they say the word woke and Hunter College’s Basil Smikle talks all about gun violence in America and what it’ll take for something to change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will Ron DeSantis be as popular among the rest of the country as he is in Florida? Charlie Sykes, editor at large at The Bulwark, thinks not. But that isn’t stopping the governor for going for it anyway, it being the 2024 presidency. He tells New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy why in this episode, including a few things that he believes DeSantis is banking on to win. (And why this won’t work). Also in this episode: Jared Yates Sexton, host of The Muckrake Podcast and author of The Midnight Kingdom, has proof that Trump’s religious pandering will lead to violence and tells co-host Danielle Moodie why liberal white Democrats in media are embarrassed of Trump, but just won’t quit him. Plus! Andy and Danielle reflect on Trump’s rally in Waco, and how Trump has gone full “vengeful” old testament. They also discuss the state state of the country after the latest school shooting in Nashville and reminisce on the very recent time Republicans swapped the American flag pins for ones of AR-15s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The world of pro wrestling used to be sold as real. Viewers were told that the fights, the rivalries, and the storylines were all real-life, otherwise known as a phenomenon called kayfabe. Then, former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Vince McMahon turned that on its head. In this episode, author Abraham Josephine Riesman, who recently wrote a biography on McMahon titled Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America, tells The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy how a manipulation strategy McMahon used made WWE what it is today (and help to deregulate it) and how Trump came to use that same technique to keep his fanbase coming back. Also in this episode: Riesman goes deeper into how McMahon’s strategy was able to leak into the world of politics, the history of McMahon and Trump’s friendship, and if there’s truth behind one of the biggest quote from her book: “Vince McMahon is the closest thing to a friend Trump has.” Plus! Andy and co-host Danielle Moodie talk about the Republican war on oat and almond milk and make the case that if TikTok goes down, Meta and Twitter should go with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moddie discuss the latest in Donald Trump’s possible indictment. Plus! The Daily Beast’s Senior Media Reporter, Justin Baragona, joins the show along with Jade Magnus Ogunnaike, the Vice President of Corporate Power at Color of Change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
MSNBC legal analyst Katie Phang joins the show and gives co-host Danielle Moodie insight into why Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s indictment against Trump for a Stormy Daniels case, and not Jan. 6, is the first one to catch up to him. She also shares why this indictment is the “beginning of the fall” and her prediction for what’s next, or in her words, the indictment that will really “break the dam.” Also on this episode, co-host Andy Levy predicts whether or not Trump will have a perp walk and surmises whether House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in love with Trump, or afraid of him. Plus! Jeff Sharlet, author of The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, tells Andy what he learned while writing about the post-Trump world—like how right-wing grandmas have nasty things to say about Hillary Clinton—and why he doesn’t actually care about Trump like other Trump-era writers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The right and the left seemed to have gotten super worked up about the classified documents found in the private homes of both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, but NSA and surveillance writer Kerry Howley, also the author of Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs: A Journey Through the Deep State, saw the findings differently. She joins Andy Levy on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to talk about what classified docs really mean—the bad and the-not-so-bad but still bad. Plus! She shares with Andy what whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning have in common and shares the story of a whistleblower named “Reality Winner,” a woman not a horse, whose story will infuriate you. And, as always, Danielle Moodie and Andy listen and make fun of clips of “racist” and really dumb Republicans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, MSNBC's Mehdi Hasan talk to us about this week’s viral moment surrounding conservative “woke” critic, Bethany Mandel. Plus, New York Times bestselling author and policy advocate Heather McGee talks about the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and how we got here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), a congressman representing New York’s 10th district and former lead counsel during Trump impeachment hearings, spells out the link between Trump and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank—and what frustrates him the most when it comes to the GOP attacks on Hunter Biden. Also on the podcast: Dan Primack, business editor at Axios, breaks down the Silicon Valley bank collapse from a logistical standpoint, including the biggest difference between this SVB situation and the 2008 bank bailout. Plus! Primark shares a Taylor Swift analogy that’ll help you understand what makes bank runs unavoidable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Just add Kimberly Guilfoyle to the long list of MAGA Republican grifters. Donald Trump Jr.’s fiance has a grift so bizarre that it’s funny, and hosts of The New Abnormal podcast, Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy, had the pleasure of listening to her pitch the gift in this new episode and they have a lot to say about it. Plus! Don Jr. makes an astronomically hypocritical comment and then, later, things get serious later in this episode when Danielle Campoamor, reporter for Today Parents, tells co-host Danielle how Texas anti-abortion laws are driving women close to death—literally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, Matt Gertz talks about Tucker Carlson and the latest leaks in the Dominion versus Fox News lawsuit. Plus, columnist Kurt Bardella talks about Kevin McCarthy’s role in all this drama. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It might take a little while longer (it’s already taking a while), but, according to Daily Beast investigations reporter Jose Pagliery on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, we may be moving closer to former President Trump being held accountable for inciting the Jan. 6 riots. He tells co-host Danielle Moodie why he thinks so along with an explanation of the civil suits against the former president that may also get him indicted. Plus! The Bulwark’s Tim Miller tells co-host Andy Levy what it was like to attend CPAC, in person, what he thought was the most “chilling” part of Trump’s “deranged” speech during the event, and theorizes the likely reason Ron DeSantis avoided Trump and CPAC altogether. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former President Jimmy Carter wasn’t the most bubbly member of the government, a bit “prickly,” says Jonathan Alter, author of His Very Best Jimmy Carter, a Life, on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast. And while this I-do-what-I-want attitude didn’t make him the most loved at the time, it did allow him to follow his morals—and troll the hell out of white supremacists. Alter joins the show to tell TNA co-host Andy Levy this story along with more of Carter’s most under-appreciated accomplishments. Plus, Andy and co-host Danielle Moodie expose what they think is Ron DeSantis’ biggest kink. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik talks about Rupert Murdoch's recent deposition and the possible repercussions it could have for Fox News going forward. Plus, MSNBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin talks about the recent happenings in Tunisia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fox News’ Tucker Carlson hinted at a new conspiracy theory to explain the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie, co-hosts of The New Abnormal politics podcast, poke as many holes in it as they can (and with humor to boot). Plus, Shay Khatiri, Senior Policy Analyst at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, and Danielle debate whether the attacks on Nikki Haley’s name are valid based on Shay’s recent opinion piece for The Daily Beast “Stop Being a Jerk About Nikki Haley’s Name”—one of the first TNA debates. And Jennifer Wright, author of the book Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist, tells Andy all about the badass woman from the 1800s who got rich—and infamous—helping women have abortions without killing them in the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
TNA hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy listen to a clip of Sean Hannity interviewing with Marjorie Taylor Greene on this Sunday’s episode of the show and have questions. And not just because Greene says that our American forefathers would have wanted a “national divorce,” but because Hannity, a New Yorker, supports it. “Does Sean not realize that he lives and works in New York” asks Andy Levy. “All of Fox News would have to relocate….” The two dissect this clip, and others like it, in this episode, along with comments Trump made while visiting an East Palestine, Ohio McDonald’s that he knows the menu better than anyone. Plus! Writer Bryn Nelson, PhD, and author of Flush: The Remarkable Science of an Unlikely Treasure, explains the underrated source of future cancer cases in East Palestine, Ohio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Adam Frisch, who lost to Lauren Boebert in the 2022 midterms, explains how he will beat her next time. Plus, Balls and strikes editor Jay Willis talks about the Supreme Court's latest case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Mini Timmaraju, who is the president of  NARAL Pro-Choice America talks about a court case that has implications for the nation. Plus, The Lever’s Julia Rock gives us some less discussed details of the Ohio train derailment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast’s Will Sommer takes Andy Levy from The New Abnormal through how QAnon has managed to evolve from a fringe group to now being more popular than many major religions in the U.S. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, MSNBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner talks about Trump's latest legal jeopardy. Plus, The Lever’s Julia Rock gives us some less discussed details of the Ohio train derailment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Daniel Lippman, a reporter at Politico, tells us all about the ‘CEO of Anti Woke Inc.’, who has his eyes on the presidency. Plus, Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, talks to us about the triple threat of illness, anti-science, and anti-Semitism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Republicans on Capitol Hill last week were keen to score points against Democrats by pushing the narrative that the federal government was working with Twitter to censor a New York Post story about Hunter Biden’s laptop. Techdirt’s Mike Masnick tells Andy Levy why they conceded a spectacular own goal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, CNN Analyst and New York Daily News columnist S. E. Cupp describes what she saw at the State of the Union. Plus! The Daily Beast Political Investigations reporter Jose Pagliery talks all of Trump’s latest legal jeopardies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, David Rothkopf, CEO of the Rothkopf Group and the host of the podcast Deep State Radio talks Trump and Putin. Then, a look at China’s spy balloon and the ensuing hysteria with Spencer Ackerman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When former federal and state prosecutor Elie Honig says Donald Trump acts just like a mob boss, he’s not using hyperbole. Honig just released his new book Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It and came out the show to talk to co-host Andy Levy all about it, including the one trick bosses use on those closely involved in their crimes that makes it “harder for those people to flip” and another tactic that has helped the former president avoid charges, at least it did back when Michael Cohen flipped. Plus! He and Andy also talk about the rule that has saved Trump from indictment “over and over” as well as the prosecutor who gave the Trump children, and Harvey Weinstein, a free pass. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, The Daily Beast politics editor Matt Fuller talks to us about what could bring down George Santos, then Judd Legum, who writes the Popular Information Newsletter, tells us what’s going on with Ron DeSantis in the schools. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump and his former Attorney General Bill Barr were, and still are, out for blood, literally. In this episode of The New Abnormal podcast Rolling Stone reporter Asawin “Swin” Suebsaeng talks with co-host Andy Levy about what a bloodlusty Bill Barr told him and his co-writer about his and Trump’s record-setting death row killing spree in his final months in office, and what we can expect from Trump on capital punishment should he become president again in 2024. Also on this episode: Khalil Gibran Muhammad, professor of history, race and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School and co-host of the Pushkin podcast Some of My Best Friends Are…, tells co-host Danielle Moodie the one thing that needs to happen to stop police brutality, and murder, happening once and for all, and it comes down to this group of people. For better or worse. Plus! Andy and Danielle share their thoughts on Fox News’ “disgusting” coverage of the Tyre Nichols murder and Danielle explains why the race of murderous cops really doesn’t matter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Can you imagine a Vice President Marjorie Taylor Greene? Hosts of The New Abnormal politics podcast Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy don’t want to, but they give it a shot on the latest episode of the show, addressing hearsay that the Republican may be vying for the position on a President Trump ticket. The two also react to a clip of MTG calling for President Biden’s impeachment over the mishandling of classified documents as well as a clip of Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer and Fox News’ Sean Hannity totally re-writing the history of Trump’s quid pro quo with Ukraine. Then, The Nation’s Elie Mystal tells Danielle two big reasons that Merrick Garland is a failure, one of which being timing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Gloria Pan, the Senior Vice President at Mom's Rising, talks about the recent mass shootings and what comes next. Then Radley Balko, an expert on police militarization in America, talks about the danger of no knock warrants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie laughed and then cried when she heard about Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy putting Rep. George Santos on the Science Committee. But Andy has a theory for why that happened in the first place. Somehow Mean Girls is mentioned. Also on this episode: Daily Beast politics reporter and Fever Dreams podcast host Will Sommer joins to talk about the latest weird yet highly entertaining infighting going on between conservatives and this time it involves right wing child actor Steven Crowder’s war on The Daily Wire—and the latest on what Silk is saying about Diamond’s cause of death. Plus! Entertainment Critic Nick Schager also joins the show to talk about the new documentary “Justice” which debuted last-minute at the Sundance Film Festival and is about the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. According to Schager, there is one big bombshell to come out of the film involving a witness to one of Kavanaugh’s alleged assaults on a female peer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie take jabs at Kyrsten Sinema and Ron DeSantis this week after listening to pretty infuriating clips of them talking. Plus! Daily Beast correspondent Anna Nemstova, who reported on Miss Ukraine’s harrowing experience while competing in the Miss Universe pageant, gives Danielle a behind-the-scenes look at what Miss Ukraine experienced during the contest, including a “shocking” interaction with Miss Russia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Robert Zimmerman, who lost in the general election to George Santos, describes exactly what happened. Then, Frederick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers, talks about why Rhon DeSantis is trying to get African studies out of AP classes. Then, Frederick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers, the nation's second-largest teachers' union, discusses Florida’s ban on an AP African American Studies class. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pretty much everyone begged Pete Buttigieg to alleviate airline issues and better regulate the airlines like Southwest. He didn’t. David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever news site, joins this episode of The New Abnormal to share his take on the Department of Transportation Secretary’s inaction, everything he could have done to stop the chaos, and all of the ways he could regulate airlines like Southwest if he wanted to. Also in this episode! Jared Yates Sexton, co-host of the Muckrake podcast and author of The Midnight Kingdom: A History of Power Paranoia and The Coming Crisis, joins the podcast to break down how the right became so powerful, and why we need to get angrier about so-called “normal” Kevin McCarthy and Ron DeSantis—or else.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Abraham Riesman, author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America, finds it totally bonkers that reinstated WWE board member Vince McMahon is so well connected that his business was arguably a national security risk, yet here we are. In this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, Riesman walks show co-host, and wrestling newbie, Andy Levy, through some historical context for WWE and McMahon, along with a look back at his relationship with Trump, his own daughter Stephanie, and what can be said regarding a potential deal to sell the business to Saudi Arabia. Plus! Andy and co-host Danielle Moodie listen to clips of more Republicans and right-wingers talking themselves in circles, including Tucker Carlson on his favorite topic: sexy M&Ms. And this time, one might be a (*whispers*) lesbian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As 91-year-old Fox News mogul Rupert Murdoch carves his final deals before heading to the big newsroom in the sky, the world’s focus is beginning to turn to his son and heir apparent, Lachlan. And according to The Daily Beast’s Editor At Large Lachlan Cartwright, there’s more to Murdoch junior than meets the eye. He explains on this week’s episode of The New Abnormal: “It's important to note that Lachlan’s politics are far more conservative than his father’s.” Then, Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, tells podcast co-host Andy Levy his worries about the future of the House GOP and its “anti-science aggression” while “trying to create a witch hunt—not only against science, but against the scientists.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Despite Jair Bolsonaro https://www.thedailybeast.com/jair-bolsonaro-flees-brazil-to-hide-out-in-home-of-mma-fighter-in-florida, the former Brazilian president is not there on vacation or to protest his election loss to the country’s new President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva, says Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. Ruth joined this episode of The New Abnormal podcast to talk to show co-host Danielle Moodie about the Brazilian insurrection, what makes people choose fascism instead of a healthy democracy, and why she is sure Bolsonaro’s trip to the States is nothing but a ploy to avoid legal consequences. Plus! Co-host Andy Levy is back and chats with journalist Jeb Lund, who tells him all about his alma mater New College of Florida and all the ways Gov. Ron DeSantis is trying to “destroy” it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The more Daily Beast politics reporter Roger Sollenberger uncovers about “liar” George Santos—the latest being that his employed sister Tiffany Santos is being evicted from her Queens apartment that Santos recently moved into—the more questions he has. Sollenberger joined The New Abnormal co-host Danielle Moodie on this bonus episode of the show to talk about everything he knows so far about Santos and all the things that don’t add up, including his and Tiffany’s sketchy living situation—and why he is calling this saga surrounding the Congressman “an endless story.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kevin McCarthy is being held hostage. Sorta. Kurt Bardella, a Los Angeles Times columnist and former House Oversights Committee staffer on the Republican side, joins this episode of TNA to chat with Danielle Moodie all about the GOP Speaker of the House shit show happening right now, starting with a big question from Danielle: How the hell did we get here? Bardella has some ideas, including very colorful language to describe the “bunch of ass clowns” leading this charge. Plus, Rep. Mondaire Jones also joins the pod to discuss the so-called “Never Kevin-ers” like Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert—and the real reason he thinks that Republicans are embarrassed by George Santos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, The New Abnormal is joined by Mary Trump, the author and podcast host who, yes, also happens to be a family member of the twice-impeached ex-commander-in-chief. She’s been sounding the alarm on the dangers of Donald Trump’s actions for years now—and cautions close watchers of the former president’s legal troubles to not get ahead of themselves when it comes to the cases currently brewing. “Although there is some sense of poetic justice that we seem to have reached, you could call it a tipping point—and I said this a long time ago—it's going to be, and I mean this figuratively of course, death by a thousand lashes,’ Mary Trump said. “So even though it looks bad on paper and isn't really having much of an impact—well, I'm sure it's having a lot of an impact on his mood—but it's not having any impact on his ability to roam free in the world.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There are so many examples of revisionist history happening these days, particularly among conservatives, that historian and University of Princeton professor Kevin M. Kruse joins this episode of The New Abnormal politics podcast to set the record straight. He tells co-host Andy Levy about his book Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past, which is a complication of historians crushing those myths, and shares proof that contrary to Republicans’ denials, the party actively engages in the racist “Southern Strategy.” Plus, Nixon’s role in it all. Also in this episode: TNA co-host Danielle Moodie interviews Jim Freeman, a civil rights lawyer and author of the book, Rich Thanks to Racism: How the Ultra-Wealthy Profit from Racial Injustice, to talk about the Defund the Police movement and the role police unions are playing in stopping it from happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Should Supreme Court justices hang out with extremely partisan figures? Such as a holiday party for instance? That’s what The New Abnormal political podcast host Andy Levy and Jay Willis, Editor-in-Chief of Balls & Strikes, explore after Andy heard “noise” that Justice Kavanaugh attending a Christmas party thrown by big conservative operatives Matt and Mercedes Schlapp. Willis also explains to Andy if there’s something that can be done to stop this behavior, if there should be, and whether or not Justice Amy Coney Barrett is going to forever vote as awfully as the left thinks she will. Plus, TNA Co-host Danielle Moodie interviews Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate and author of Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America, who speaks to Democrats’ biggest blind spot when it comes to white women and abortion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Conservatives get angry over the darnedest things. From Lizzo playing a Founding Father’s flute to a gay PDA in a Disney movie, 2022 was a year full of right-wing outrage that was so dumb, The New Abnormal politics podcast host Andy Levy and Media Matters’ deputy director of Rapid Response Andrew Lawrence decided to round up the most “offensive” instances in the show’s latest episode. Plus! TNA co-host Danielle Moodie interviews Treva Lindsey, professor at The Ohio State University and author of America, Goddamn: Violence, Black Women, And The Struggle For Justice, to talk about just that, and Brittney Griner specifically: “Obviously she is worth something and worth so much more than even one arms dealer for these individuals…” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’re an avid listener of The New Abnormal, you might have heard co-host Andy Levy ask his comedian guests a question: What do you think of when you hear the term “cancel culture?” Turns out, they all had a lot to say on the subject and as our holiday gift to you, we compiled all of their answers in this bonus episode. Patton Oswalt talks about political violence, Conan sidekick Andy Richter shares why he loves cancel culture, and Modern Family’s Danny Zuker puts Dave Chappelle on blast. Plus! Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali from the National Wildlife Fund joins show co-host Danielle Moodie at the end of the show to talk about how the climate crisis is impacting communities of color, and by impacting we mean killing, and the one thing that can be done to solve it all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to a special year-end crossover episode between The Daily Beast’s The New Abnormal and The Last Laugh. On this show: Elon Musk is being greeted by crowds with a chorus of boos, and Dave Chappelle seems to have overstayed his welcome. Plus, the latest on Marjorie Taylor Greene and her onetime friend Lauren Boebert ‘s beef. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There were two moments that stood out to The New Abnormal host Andy Levy the most while watching the last Jan. 6 committee hearing on December 19, which made four scathing criminal referrals against former President Donald Trump for his alleged involvement in what happened that day. He and co-host Danielle Moodie also discuss other evidence presented during the hearings, the smartest thing the Jan. 6 committee ever did (Shonda Rhimes is brought up in this part of the conversation), and Merrick Garland. Also on this episode: Techdirt founder and CEO of The Copia Institute Mike Masnick tries to answer Andy Levy’s burning Elon Musk questions, such as whether or not the Twitter CEO will step down after a “very scientific” poll on the platform. Last, Brooking Institute’s Angela Stent, author of Putin’s World: Russia Against the West and with the Rest, breaks down the weird infatuation Trump’s Republicans have with Russia, why she thinks former marine Paul Whelan is still in Russian custody and the ways the country was mocking the U.S. for the Brittney Griner trade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Josh Bivens, director of research at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), joined as a guest on the latest episode of political podcast, The New Abnormal, to give us an answer to the question that is on a lot of people’s minds: Is a recession on the horizon? There’s good news and not-so-good news. Bivens also explains to TNA co-host Danielle Moodie how we got to this point in the first place and why the American worker is the usual scapegoat for when the economy is turning south. Also in this episode: Danielle and co-host Andy Levy talk about Republicans’ obsession with drag queens, the latest obsessor being Kellyanne Conway. Plus, they name who they think is the most “all-right” Trump kid, if such a kid existed in this family. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The investigative reporter sifting through the unbelievable treasure trove of texts that the January 6th committee obtained from former White House chief of staff Mark Meadow’s phone has detailed what he found inside the 2,319 messages. “There’s just a ton of different people in there,” Hunter Walker, reporter for Talking Points Memo, told host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of political podcast, The New Abnormal. Next up on the podcast, Layshia Clarendon, who is the first openly non-binary player in the WNBA, describes what was going through her mind when she heard that Brittney Griner (BG) was arrested in Russia and taken into custody. “It was like the ground underneath me just fell,” Clarendon tells podcast co-host Danielle Moodie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kyrsten Sinema is no stranger to burning bridges. She’s in the process of doing just that with her former Democratic colleagues now that she officially switched her party to Independent, and according to David Shapira, a former Arizona politician and ex-friend to Sinema, she burned a bridge with him, too. Shapira wrote a now-viral Twitter thread about the ordeal but came on this episode of The New Abnormal to break down exactly what happened—and the half-assed apology she allegedly gave him after—as well as some reasons he believes his “calculated” former pal cares more about “notoriety” than her role as a servant of the public. Also Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Spencer Ackerman, and author of the Forever Wars newsletter, joins the pod to share what he thinks will happen with the Yemen-Saudi ceasefire resolution Bernie Sanders recently proposed, which calls for the United States to stop the residual aid that it’s giving to Saudi Arabia. Plus! Danielle and Andy make an extremely strong case for why Marjorie Taylor Greene needs a mute button after her latest comments on trans kids and Jan. 6, and ponder the idea of Kevin McCarthy retiring. Hey, co-hosts can dream! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Laura Ingraham is mad. The Fox News host is mad about shadow banning and, in a recent news clip, she disclosed she’s mad about Herschel Walker’s loss and mad at everyone involved but Walker himself. In this bonus episode of The New Abnormal podcast, co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie hilariously break down (read: tear apart) her grievances (along with other wild GOP arguments made by conservative darlings John Kennedy and Tucker Carlson). MSNBC columnist and law journalist Chris Geidner also joins this episode to walk Andy through a few important Supreme Court cases, including the one involving a wedding website creator who wants the right to refuse same-sex couples her services. There’s two big problems with her argument from the get-go, says Geidner.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ron DeSantis’ war on public education is going national. At least that’s the fear of Jennifer Jenkins, a member of the Brevard County School Board, one of several Florida school boards that have undergone a rightward shift. The county’s highly accomplished superintendent, Mark Mullins, was essentially pushed out this month after candidates backed by the conservative group Moms for Liberty won election. Also in his episode, Daniel Nichanian, editor-in-chief of Bolts magazine, which focuses on local government and local elections, reveals just how good this past election was for Democrats. And co-host Danielle Moodie breaks down Sen. Raphael Warnock’s victory over scandal-scarred Herschel Walker in the Georgia Senate election. You can listen for yourself, but let’s just say she thinks “the force” was with him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kanye West’s 2024 presidential campaign is extremely unofficial (he hasn’t even filed to run, New Abnormal podcast co-host Danielle Moodie reminds listeners on this episode), but that hasn’t stopped right-wingers from clamoring to be part of his team, and it’s a shit show. Daily Beast reporter Zach Petrizzo, who exclusively reported that right-wing figure Milo Yiannopoulos left Ye’s campaign after infighting, joined the show to tell Danielle all about the drama. Also in this episode: Daily Beast senior editor Andrew Kirell (a former Fox News staffer many lifetimes ago) chats with TNA co-host and fellow former Fox News staffer Andy Levy about how the right-wing media is handling anti-semitic Kanye, including which figures are changing their tune on the rapper. Plus! Danielle and Andy discuss an obvious truth: Conservatives really want to see Hunter Biden’s dick pics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Six years ago Brandon Wolf made a promise after his best friend was shot dead. He tells The New Abnormal’s Danielle Moodie how we can all make that promise a reality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A group of senators with unlimited sick leave voted down a measure on Thursday which would have given rail workers just seven paid days of sick leave—, a fair rise considering where they currently stand: at zero. It’s a “horrific” decision, according to host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of political podcast, The New Abnormal. “My feeling is this is not a win,” said podcast co-host Danielle Moodie. “I don’t know who this is a win for. We all just went through the heights of a global health pandemic. People lost their jobs, people needed to take off because guess what? We needed to quarantine. So the fact that even after going through this for over three years, that members of Congress could vote to deny people access to sick days, it’s draconian, it’s disgusting.” Also on the podcast, Latosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter and is founder of Southern Black Girls Consortium tells Moodie about the Georgia runoff race as it finally nears an end. Then, Daily Beast political reporter, Roger Sollenberger, talks to Levy about his story surrounding Republican megadonors Dick and Elizabeth Uihlein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Stave Bannon calling out Donald Trump for hosting white nationalist Nick Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago reads as jealousy, according to host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of The New Abnormal. Podcast co-host Danielle Moddy also can’t believe she’s agreeing with Bannon: “Do these people not do any type of Google search on who the fuck is coming into Mar-a-Lago? Is there no background check? Also on the podcast, Jared Holt, senior research manager on U.S. Hate and Extremism for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, who has a newsletter and podcast called Posting Through It, explains Trump’s intentions for not condemning Fuentes after the meeting. Then, Sarah Kendzior, author of They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent and co-host of the podcast, Gaslit Nation, says Elon Musk’s motives for changing Twitter are part of a bigger strategy: control and “possibly the destruction of the public sphere.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In today's episode we get to know hosts Danielle Moodie & Andy Levy a bit better by hearing about some of their first political memories and some of their favorite things. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Attention political history buffs: This episode of The New Abnormal podcast takes us back in time, to the ’50s and ’60s to be exact, as Beverly Gage, author of “G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century,” tells co-host Andy Levy all about the background of the first-ever FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Andy learns that racist Hoover, infamous for going after Martin Luther King Jr. and committing multiple abuses of power across the board, particularly under the protection of the surveillance program COINTELPRO, didn’t like the Klan and had an interesting relationship with former President Richard Nixon. Author Kal Raustiala also joins the show to tell Andy about his book “The Absolutely Indispensable Man: Ralph Bunche, the United Nations, and the Fight to End Empire” and everything we didn’t know about the famous Black United Nations mediator—including the fact that Nixon told him his son was going to be drafted, and the reason he didn’t stop it from happening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Merrick Garland is wasting our time. That’s the sentiment of New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy and the show’s brand new permanent co-host, Danielle Moodie. This is Danielle’s first show as official host and she wasted absolutely no time going in on Republicans, Trump, and even Merrick Garland. The two also talk about Garland’s new appointment and their frustrations with the lack of action on gun control on the heels of another shooting, this time against more LGBTQ people in Colorado. Then Maxwell Frost, who will be the first Gen Z member of Congress, joined the podcast and shares his “morbid” but real take on gun violence in this country, what almost made his quit his campaign, and how he truly feels about his state’s governor “dictator” Ron DeSantis. Plus! Ryan Cooper, the managing editor of the American Prospect, tells Andy why Trump running for president again is the “worst case scenario” for Republicans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this bonus episode of The New Abnormal podcast, co-host Andy Levy talks to Modern Family producer Danny Zucker, who weighs in on the Dave Chapelle SNL monologue that used the same anti-semitic tropes as Kanye West. They also discuss the time that he harassed Donald Trump on Twitter, why he wants to “rage” at Dems, and why the writer’s made Luke’s character “weirdly libertarian.” Plus! A touching story about how the show made a conservative dad less of a bigot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump’s 2024 announcement may have felt like a flop, but dig deeper and you’ll find the most interesting part. Jose Pagliery, political investigations reporter at The Daily Beast, tells The New Abnormal host Andy Levy that there is no way to look at this announcement “as anything other than an attempt to mar any prosecution as a political persecution of him.” It “could be viewed as him trying to seek further cover so that if he does get indicted for one of the many things that he’s being investigated for right now, he could just say, ‘oh, look at this, they just indicted me because I announced, they were just trying to stop me from winning for you in 2024.’” Speaking of Trump, also on the podcast, former Missouri Secretary of State and the host of the podcast Majority 54, Jason Kander, explains that Trump could be his worst enemy, becoming overexposed in American culture. Also on the podcast, Kat Abughazaleh, who covers Tucker Carlson for Media Matters for America, describes how Carlson has been relatively quiet since Trump’s announcement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
No one really likes New York State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs, Lindsey Boylan tells host Andy Levy on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast. Boylan was one of the first people to publicly accuse former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment. Now, she feels equally emboldened to call out Jacobs, a remnant of the Cuomo administration, first on TikTok, and now to Andy. According to Boylan, Jacobs is to blame for solidly Democratic parts of New York turning red. Mainly because of his hatred for progressives. Plus! Andy chats midterm fallout with columnist Jeb Lund and both clock all of the lies, sad and hilarious, that Elon Musk has Tweeted (and deleted) on the app. And David Weigel, who covers politics at news site Semafor, explains how Fox News essentially screwed over midterm Republicans and the LGBTQ issue Republicans won’t touch these days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Actor and comedian Andy Richter’s take on cancel culture can be summed up in three words: Bring it on. On this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, he tells host Andy Levy why “it’s about time” cancel culture is a thing and shares experiences of seeing it play out in real life. The two Andys also discuss why Richter didn’t vote for Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders, if he regrets that decision now, and why he’s O.K. being referred to as Conan O’Brien’s “sidekick.” Plus! His affection for the Twitter porn bots that spam his account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If former President Donald Trump were to go against popular Florida Governor Ron DeSantis today in the race for 2024, Trump would still knock DeSantis out despite the far-right Gov.’s rise in popularity in important states over the last year. That’s according to CNN political commentator and New York Daily News columnist S.E. Cupp, who joins host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of political podcast, The New Abnormal. Elsewhere on this-post election-themed podcast, guest host Sam Brodey, the Daily Beast’s congressional correspondent, reflects on how we underestimated what Democrats were working with regarding what really resonated with voters. Elsewhere on this-post election-themed podcast, guest host Sam Brodey, the Daily Beast’s congressional correspondent, reflects on how we underestimated what Democrats were working with regarding what really resonated with voters. Ari Berman, Mother Jones National Voting Rights correspondent and author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America, echoes those thoughts, reminding us that “this was the first time in US history that a constitutional right had been given and taken away.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Daily Beast columnist David Rothkopf interviewed over 100 people involved with the Trump White House for his book American Resistance: The Inside Story of How The Deep State Saved the Nation, and according to his sources, it took almost no time for Trump’s staffers to realize what kind of boss he was. He tells New Abnormal host Andy Levy about the ways these staffers had to adapt to Trump’s ineptness as well as obliterating the argument that Republicans are better for the economy (spoiler alert: they’re not and he has proof.) Also on this episode, Defector Media co-owner David Roth joins Andy as co-host and compares Elon Musk (aka Twitter’s new obliterator, er, owner) to a substitute teacher who has lost control of his class and Michael Edison Hayden, investigative reporter at spokesman at the Southern Poverty Law Center, gives the inside scoop on the “hard-right, neo-fascist” billionaire takeover of the publication Newsweek. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Patton Oswalt has a sneaking suspicion that things are going to get ugly in America and people, like Republicans for example, are pretending otherwise. On this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, he tells host Andy Levy where these feelings are coming from and how he really feels about the comedians crying cancel culture, including that they’re “failed open mic-ers.” Plus! Oswalt unpacks the one issue that he thinks scare Evangelical conservatives the most and gives us a peak inside the life of his middle school-aged child. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
President Biden’s Wednesday speech at Union Station in D.C. where he warned of the perils facing US democracy ahead of next week’s Midterms just wasn’t forceful enough, according to host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of political podcast, The New Abnormal. In his speech, Biden made reference to the hammer attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul last week, warning the country faces escalating threats of political violence. He also criticized ​​Donald Trump over the former president’s refusal “to accept the results of the 2020 election.” But it wasn’t enough, according to Levy and guest host Josie Duffy Rice, who writes about prisons and prosecution at The Unnamed. Also on the podcast, Mike Isaac, a technology correspondent for The New York Times discusses whether Twitter can survive under Elon Musk’s ownership. Then, Matt Gertz, a senior fellow at Media Matters, discusses how Republicans twisted the story of Paul Pelosi’s hammer attack from a crime story to a national conspiracy; that the violent assault was the result of some sort of gay lover’s spat or falling out.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Young Turks’ Cenk Uygur can’t stand Republicans and can’t stand Democrats. So who can he possibly see as a viable progressive presidential option for 2024? asks host Andy Levy in this episode of The New Abnormal podcast. Uygur’s top pick: Jon Stewart. The two chat what that would look like, then Vox’s senior politics correspondent Andrew Prokop shares everything we need to know about far right political blogger Curtis Yarvin. The guy not only wants to replace American democracy with a monarchy, but also has ideas on how to make Jan. 6 better “next time.” Plus! Andy and guest co-host Beast opinion editor Anthony Fisher review the biggest political news of the week: the attack on Paul Pelosi and Don Jr’s “gross” response to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Comedian and On Cinema actor Tim Heidecker wants to make one thing clear: He does not want Joe Rogan canceled. But that doesn’t stop Heidecker from airing his displeasure with the podcaster and his show, which he does without pause on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal. Plus! He and host Andy Levy talk about the event that made Heidecker even more socialist (Betsy DeVos is involved) and what he thinks about the Kanye West elephant in the room: “You can be mentally ill and an idiot, too, right? You can have both of those things going on.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump will not run for president in 2024, according to his former fixer. Michael Cohen tells host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of The New Abnormal that while Trump’s popularity has plummeted since 2016 and he can’t risk the idea of losing, there are also serious financial implications that could stop Trump from his return to the White House. Also on the podcast, Kali Holloway, a columnist at The Daily Beast and the Nation, who guest hosts with Levy, says that part of the reason why Herschel Walker was hand-picked to run in Georgia by the Republican Party was because “they wanted a Black candidate to run against Warnock. Then, Judd Legum, a journalist who founded and writes an independent newsletter dedicated to accountability journalism, Popular Information, discusses a recent article surrounding Amazon and its statement days after the Jan. 6 Capitol riots where it claimed the company would no longer give money to any member of Congress who had voted to overturn the election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There’s GOP in-fighting among Trumpy Republicans when it comes to future House leadership positioning and Fox News host Tucker Carlson made it a whole lot worse. What is going on? New Abnormal podcast co-host Andy Levy and Daily Beast politics editor and guest host Matt Fuller try to figure it out and answer the questions they have about it, in the latest episode. Plus! Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, warns Andy about the holiday COVID wave that’s coming and the scary twist that will make it unlike past waves. And Daily Beast politics reporter Will Sommer, also co-host of the podcast Fever Dreams about the shenanigans of the far right, joins to tell Andy all about the racist, sexist alt-right homophobe who raised $1 million for an alt-right superhero movie and promptly lost it in the most hilariously dumb way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The excuses that the oppressive Islamic regime has given to explain the violence (and deaths) against protesters—sparked by the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini in morality police custody—are so “appalling” that it’s “laughable,” says British-Iranian-American journalist Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani. In this week’s bonus episode, host Andy Levy interviews Modarressy-Tehrani on what’s happening with the protests in Iran, including the violence from the Islamic regime and resistence from citizens who are fighting back, especially among Gen Z. Plus! She shares what Iranians actually want from the United States (hint: not intervention.)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Marjorie Taylor Greene “came out of nowhere” to become one of the Republican Party’s most influential powerhouses, journalist and author Robert Draper, who writes for the New York Times Magazine, tells host Andy Levy in this week’s episode of The New Abnormal. “Republicans kind of wanted to kick her to the curb immediately,” Draper, author of the new book Weapons of Mass Delusion: When the Republican Party Lost its Mind, said. Then, professor at the University of Florida Michael McDonald, who specializes in American elections and is the author of a new book, From Pandemic to Insurrection: Voting in the 2020 US Presidential Election, says Trump’s refusal to accept that he lost the 2020 election has dramatically altered American politics. Also on the podcast, guest co-host Maura Quint, Tax March co-founder and member of Americans for Tax Fairness, reveals what America could learn from Liz Truss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s hateful rhetoric isn’t a joke; she wants to start a war, proclaims podcaster Danielle Moodie on the latest episode of The New abnormal podcast. Moodie, who joined the show again as guest co-host alongside host Andy Levy, tore into Greene after she and Andy listened to a recent clip of the Republican Congresswoman making Democrats out to be child predators. Also on this episode: The Intercept investigative reporter Ken Klippenstein explains where the United States currently stands with the Trump and Putin-friendly Saudis and the Crown Prince, including that they’re gearing up to screw President Joe Biden over, big time. And for good measure, Klippenstein shares all the ways we could fuck over the Saudi Crown Prince without war, if we wanted to. Plus! Daily Beast media editor and editor of the media newsletter Confider, Andrew Kirell, joins to give Andy the inside scoop on how Fox News is handling the deranged Kayne West clips that were cut from his segment on Tucker Carlson’s show and then subsequently leaked. Kirell thinks he has an idea of who the leaker could be and him and Andy talk theories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Comedian Andy Kindler has very strong opinions on cancel culture, specifically regarding Louis C.K.’s so-called “cancellation” and comeback after sexual misconduct allegations. Lucky for New Abnormal podcast listeners, the “Bobs Burgers” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” actor decided to share all of them with host Andy Levy on this bonus episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The odds of Donald Trump actually showing up to testify under oath at the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks are not great, according to Andy Levy on this week’s episode of political podcast The New Abnormal. “Less than zero,” says cohost Kali Holloway, a columnist at The Daily Beast and The Nation. “I think that the panel’s probably aware that he’s not gonna show up, but I think this is the kind of thing that they have to do just to sort of, for lack of a better phrase, show they mean business.” Matt Fuller, senior politics editor at The Daily Beast echoes concerns Trump won’t show up.“He probably won’t do anything with [the subpoena], and I can’t imagine he’s going to sit down for the January 6th committee,” he said. “It could be a court fight, but more likely than not, it’ll just be a nothing burger.” Also on the podcast, Justin Baragona, media reporter at The Daily Beast, reveals how Fox News management and Tucker Carlson are very interested in finding out who leaked the deleted Kanye West interview footage to Vice. “They definitely want to know who it is and, and there will be repercussions, is what I would assume,” Baragona said. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Amie Parnes, senior correspondent for The Hill newspaper, covering the Biden White House and national politics, joined The New Abnormal podcast to talk with host Andy Levy through the list of Democratic contenders who could become the next Bernie Sanders—why they would or wouldn’t be fit for the job, and why New York Congresswoman AOC made the list, with a grain of salt. We're also joined by freelance journalist, Eve Peyser who weighs in on the latest with Ye & Donald Trump's poor decision-making. Then, filmmaker Andy Ostroy, who hosts the podcast The Back Room, joins the pod and plays a little game of Sophie’s Choice with Andy Levy: Would people rather see Trump in jail for the rest of his life or see Fox News shut down forever? Plus, he shares what it felt like to interview the killer of his deceased wife, actress Adrienne Shelly, who was murdered in her apartment in 2006, as well as his take on said killer being an undocumented immigrant. It’s not what you expect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Writer and trans activist Parker Molloy joins host Andy Levy on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal pod to talk about Tucker Carlson’s awful obsession with making trans people look absolutely batshit—and the serious implications of that which are already happening around us. Plus! Molloy and Andy discuss the GOP’s hypocrisy when it comes to anti-trans legislation, why the right’s outrage with pronouns is “fake,” and the latest in the Elon Musk Twitter saga. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Daily Beast reporter who broke the story of Herschel Walker paying for a girlfriend’s abortion has provided behind-the-scenes details and thoughts on the case. Politics reporter Roger Sollenberger pointed to the key detail in the cobweb of Walker stories to host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of political podcast The New Abnormal: the woman behind the allegations. Speaking of the potential political ramifications for Walker, guest podcast host Josie Duffy Rice, who writes about prisons and prosecution at The Unnamed, told Levy that while the abortion bombshell could swing the vote, it is unlikely to make Republicans switch. Then, Mark Joseph Stern, senior writer at Slate Magazine who covers court and law, describes how the Supreme Court is blowing up Law School too. “The court has become, in many ways, corrupted by the political process and so just delivers these decisions that fall perfectly in line with the platform,” he says. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump can hold a grudge, Daily Beast reporter Corbin Bolies tells Andy Levy on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, and he’s not wrong. “Donald Trump knows how to hold a grudge and he will, and we've seen that continue throughout the last year and a half, because Donald Trump has consistently attacked Mitch McConnell,” Bolies says, discussing the most recent verbal harassment levied at the former Majority Leader’s wife, Elaine Chao, in the form of blatantly racist name-calling on his Truth Social platform. Also on this episode: Hannah Gais, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center, joins this episode to co-host with Andy, touching upon the intense violent threats against Dems and Marjorie Taylor Green’s try-hard effort to get Republicans to think the threats are for them. Plus! Daily Beast far-right reporter and Fever Dreams podcast co-host Kelly Weill breaks down a huge schism happening within the libertarian party, including how the old Libertarians totally over these new Libertarians’ toxicity. Like, beyond Trumpy toxic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HuffPost reporter Andy Campbell and author of the brand new book on the group called We Are Proud Boys joins New Abnormal host Andy Levy for a riveting interview about what the far-right group is up to these days after many members have been charged with sedition for Jan. 6, how Trump and GOP officials came to know about the group, and back them, and what we have to fear about these guys the most. Plus! In this episode, actor Paul F. Tompkins explains why he stays away from politics in comedy and that the MAGA-aligned actors who complain about being blackmailed aren’t being shut out, they just suck. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Tucker Carlson really a true believer in the MAGA world? Has he taken a dive too deep in the Republican rabbit hole? Or is this all just a performance for the ratings? For the money? For the clout? It’s a vexing question, according to host Andy Levy on this week’s episode of political podcast The New Abnormal. “We’ve had many conversations about the performative aspect of this and trying to figure out who we think are true believers,” Levy says to guest, the author and CNN political commentator S.E. Cupp. Also on the podcast, Levy talks to guest podcast host Maura Quint, co-founder of Tax March and the campaign director for Americans for Tax Fairness, about a recent Gallup poll finding that trust in the Supreme Court is at a record low. Then Levy tells Daily Beast politics reporter Zachary Petrizzo that the only surprising part of that New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman’s new Trump book was that Trump aides were apparently taken aback by his crude, transphobic behavior. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s a new era for The New Abnormal! But things are still pretty abnormal. Co-host Andy Levy is back with guest co-host Danielle Moodie, co-host the Democrayish podcast, to hilariously unpack the last few days’ worth of politics news, including the “terrifying” and fascist woman who won Italy’s election and what that means for us here in the United States. Hint: Nothing good. Also, their joint hope that New York AG Leticia James will finally be able to “burst” Trump’s billionaire bubble. Then! Mississippi Today reporter Anna Wolfe breaks down for Andy the Brett Favre Mississippi welfare scheme, in which Favre and other state officials are accused of funneling $77 million worth of welfare funds to their own personal projects—none of which had anything to do with where the funds needed to go. But a former WWE wrestler is now getting in the mix with major allegations that Wolfe shares with Andy. Plus, Daily Beast reporter Jake Lahut, who focuses on Republican campaigns, joins to talk what he’s seeing in the field, and the time he cornered J.D. Vance with a question about abortion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan. 6 may not be the last time people get violent over an election. Election experts CBS Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett and David Becker, co-authors of the new book The Big Truth: Upholding Democracy and the Age of the Big Lie, came on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to share their biggest fear when it comes to the upcoming midterm elections: political violence. They also share what poll workers have been dealing with since 2020—spoiler alert: a whole lot—and what, if anything, we can do about it. Plus! Hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast mark Molly’s last ever TNA episode as host with a round of Tucker Carlson and Trump clips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New Abnormal hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy reveal who is really taking on Trump and talk to politics reporter Asawin Suebsaeng for the scoop on Dr. Oz’s latest fight. Despite continued allegations of fraud and obstruction of justice claims against Donald Trump, somehow, there are still only two people continuing to call the former president out—and neither on is a man. Also on the podcast, Matt Fuller, senior politics editor at The Daily Beast, explains how Democrats have something to push voters to the polls: abortion. “That’s the big animating factor for Democrats,” Fuller says.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was going through a Hardee’s drive-thru after ordering a burger and chocolate shake when he was approached by the FBI. That’s according to Daily Beast politics reporter Zachary Petrizzo, who has more details of the FBI’s seizure of Lindell’s phone while he was at a Hardee’s restaurant last week. “I had heard from Mike that he ended up ordering a Swiss burger with a chocolate shake,” Petrizzo tells hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy on this episode of political podcast The New Abnormal. Also on the podcast, Iuliia Mendel, former press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and author of the new book The Fight of Our Lives, discusses what it was like meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the ‘80s Justine Bateman was one of TVs most recognizable faces thanks to her role on Family Ties. Now, she tells The New Abnormal’s Molly Jong-Fast how online chatter about her looks left her reeling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As his legal woes pile up, it’s no secret that former President Donald Trump has employed more than a handful of lawyers in his time. David Enrich, a business investigations editor at The New York Times and author of the new book, Servants of the Damned: Giant Law Firms, Donald Trump, and the Corruption of Justice, tells hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy on this episode of The New Abnormal that it’s certainly a pattern. Also on the podcast, G. Elliot Morris, data-driven journalist and author of the book, Strength in Numbers: How Polls Work and Why We Need Them, describes the “pretty complex” world of polling and sampling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Just when you thought Donald Trump couldn’t get any worse, new revelations prove Trump was even worse than we thought, according to hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy on this episode of The New Abnormal. Also on the podcast, Michael Tomasky, editor of The New Republic as well as Democracy Journal and author of the new book, The Middle Out: The Rise of Progressive Economics and a Return to Shared Prosperity, talks about how the Democrats can shape their message around progressive politics to win. (Tomasky is also a former special correspondent and editor at the Daily Beast.) Then, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) talks about her reelection bid and her wacky opponent, Adam Laxalt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump often gets credit for his Rumpelstiltskin-like ability to spin the most demented parts of the American psyche into political gold. But in his new book, American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How The Republican Party Went Crazy, David Corn traces the lineage of the GOP’s love of lunatics all the way back to the 1950s and says Trump is just the latest in a long line of morally bankrupt politicians willing to use the chaotic crazy generated by the darkest parts of society to fuel their ambitions. “Far Right extremism, including paranoia, racism, tribalism, conspiracy theories, … what we’ve seen under Donald Trump is nothing new. It might be the culmination, it’s not an aberration,” Corn said. Corn, a veteran journalist, author and Washington bureau chief of Mother Jones, joined the political podcast The New Abnormal to explain just how American brains became so broken. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Queen Elizabeth is an important cultural mascot in a way that Americans can’t understand and her death will have more implications for Great Britain and the world than simply who will take over the monarchy.That’s according to Ian Dunt, columnist at the ‘i’ newspaper and host of the podcasts, Oh God, What Now? and Origin Story, who tells hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy on this episode of political podcast The New Abnormal that the country faces multiple crises as it deals with the queen’s death. Also on the podcast Douglas Rushkoff, author of the new book, Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, describes his experience talking to some very rich people about the “event.”  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani’s buddy-buddy, and complicated, relationship goes way back according to writer Andrew Kirtzman. Kirtzman covered Giuliani’s political career for over 30 years and is also the author of Giuliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America’s Mayor. He came on this episode of The New Abnormal to give us an insight into New York’s fallen angel and his pal Trump—from anecdotes that one of his ex-wives told him to why Trump felt he was too much of a “liability” to be his Secretary of State. Plus! Fever Dreams podcast host Will Sommer, who is the expert on all things far-right, joins this podcast episode to talk about the up-and-coming ultra-conservative, QAnon-type candidates a la Marjorie Taylor Green and Lauren Boebert running in the midterms. And also, what the Proud Boys think of their founder Gavin McInnes and his fake arrest prank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump’s way of speaking is hard to mistake for anyone else’s. On this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, video essayist Evan Puschak, owner of the 3M subscriber YouTube channel Nerdwriter1 and author of “Escape Into Meaning”, joins Molly Jong-Fast to break down how the former president and reality show star came to speak how he does, and the one thing that he doesn’t do while speaking that makes the way he talks so effective. Plus! Molly and Evan discuss whether or not Trump is intentionally speaking this way to manipulate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss Trump’s legal jeopardy with George Conway and whether he will ever be sent to prison, and then check in to discuss the infamous Mar-a-Lago carpet documents. The ultimate question remains, according to Jong-Fast; will Trump ever go to jail? “I can’t guarantee it, but there’s a reasonable likelihood of it,” Washington Post contributing columnist George Conway told Jong-Fast. Then, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) , who represents Virginia's seventh congressional district and who is a former CIA case officer, delves into the image of Mar-a-Lago carpet documents. “I can’t make predictions on what comes next, but certainly as a former Intel officer, I can say that if anyone I ever worked with had a collection of documents like this at their home, there’s no question of what would've happened to them.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lindsay Graham said on Sunday that if former President Trump is prosecuted there will be “riots in the streets.” Some call it a prediction. New Abnormal podcast host Andy Levy is calling it a threat. In this latest TNA episode, Andy uses some more descriptive language to describe how he really feels to co-host Molly Jong-Fast who has her own theory for diehard Trump apologists, which includes a spaghetti reference. Then Maxwell Alejandro Frost, the 25-year–old running for Florida’s 10th Congressional District, joins the show. He fills Molly in on why age is nothing but an asset to him—“I went through more mass shooting drills than fire drills. That perspective is important in Congress”—and why you should not ever compare him to Madison Cawthorn. Plus! Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline, author of House on Fire: Fighting for Democracy in the Age of Political Arson, gets real with Molly on the reason that rich white guys have gotten away with criming for so long—and the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg-sized elephant in the room. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Florida Governor went full on Donald Trump during his “Keep Florida Free Tour” last week after saying he wants to “chuck” the “little elf” Dr. Anthony Fauci across the Potomac. Will it help him gain traction ahead for a 2024 presidential run? The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy shares his hot take on how well this is gonna work for DeSantis on this episode. And this conversation is before he and MollyJong-Fast listen to a clip of DeSantis talking about the woke crowd. Plus! NBC’s Capitol Hill Correspondent Ali Vitali joins to share some of the reporting she writes about in her new book, Electable: Why America Hasn’t Put a Woman in the White House . . . Yet, including why Everyone Hates Kamala.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The upcoming midterms will depend on the voices and votes of those in the suburbs, according to hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy on this episode of The New Abnormal. After a key win for Democrats in New York’s 19th Congressional District, where Pat Ryan defeated Republican Marc Molinaro in Tuesday’s special election, Levy says that despite the bad news for the party, the Dems still need the suburban vote to get them across the line. Then, Dahlia Lithwick, who writes about the courts and the law for Slate and hosts the podcast Amicus, talks former President Donald Trump’s little dust-up with the National Archives. This week, Politico revealed that the Archives had recovered more than 700 pages of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago in January and that federal investigators were concerned “by Trump’s resistance to sharing them with the FBI.” Also, Max Fisher, who writes The Interpreter column for The New York Times and is the author of The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World, discusses how social media “is distorting you in ways that you are probably not quite aware of.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Oz is failing the unofficial Twitter war against PA Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the loss coming after Fetterman dunked on Oz for using the term crudite in an April video. But his campaign has a problem that goes deeper than veggie platters and NBC’s Jonathan Allen joins the pod to explain why (and tells host Molly Jong-Fast about his encounter with Dennis Rodman in a cigar lounge.) Plus! Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), frequent flyer on the pod, joins this episode to talk midterm candidates he’s excited about in California and holds no punches when it comes to calling out MAGA Republicans. Of course, hosts Andy Levy and Molly also discuss a very interesting (and bad, in Molly’s opinion) take that involves some sort of bargain where President Biden pardons Trump with the caveat he never runs for president again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author and war veteran Elliot Ackerman holds a very unpopular opinion about the draft: he supports it, but only because he thinks it could be a good thing for Americans. He joins this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to explain why he holds this take and how he sees it ultimately helping create more peace and less war. Plus, he shares his experience trying to evacuate people, including the Afghan girls’ robotics team, out of Afghanistan and what his new book The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan is all about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the polls closed in Wyoming, the focus over Rep. Liz Cheney became not if she would win the Republican primary for Wyoming’s sole congressional seat, but by how much she would lose. And that loss was colossal. On this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss whether the left loves Cheney and why she has no chance at becoming president. Then, Jeet Heer, a national affairs correspondent for The Nation magazine and host of the Time of Monsters podcast, joins the discussion to explain why he thinks we need more Republicans like Cheney. Also, Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, executive director of NextGen America, the country’s largest organization mobilizing young voters, discusses how she’s inspiring the next generation to get involved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Democratic strategist James Carville has a message for people who are doubting Merrick Garland: Just wait. On this episode of The New Abnormal, he explains why Dems should have more faith in Merrick Garland—and also shares the long list of GOP candidates across the country that makes Molly Jong-Fast crack up. Then, Matt Castelli, a former CIA officer and Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council who is currently running for Congress against Trumpy Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), joins the pod to share his plan for taking Stefanik down and calls her an opportunist. Plus! Hosts Andy Levy and Molly dissect Trump’s latest Truth Social admissions, including that he has multiple passports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The seed of cruelty that the GOP has fully adopted, and nurtured, had been planted long before Trump took office, says Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank. Instead, he says on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, someone else is to blame: Newt Gringrich. He explains why to co-host Molly Jong-Fast, along with more reporting on the GOP’s evolution that’s included in his new book, The Destructionists: The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party. Plus! Co-hosts Andy Levy and Molly listen to more clips of politicians saying dumb things, this time starring Fox News’ Jesse Watters and sad son Eric Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As former President Donald Trump endured one of his worst weeks yet, Republicans have been on our TV screens taking aim at everyone else—but themselves. On this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy talk Trump and the sentence Republicans need to stop repeating. Then, Tim O’Brien, senior executive editor of opinion at Bloomberg, joins the show and reveals what he finds most compelling in the “ridiculous sideshow” that’s emerged in the wake of the search: “which is that he’s being unfairly targeted and that this is political. Also, Dr. Iman Alsaden, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Plains, talks about what it’s like in post-Roe America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer got fellow Senator Joe Manchin to do something few have done before: convinced him to vote along Democratic party lines. Some are calling it The Manchin-Schumer bill, and even Schumer wasn’t sure it would happen until the end. Chuck tells Molly how he made it happen on the latest episode of The New Abnormal as well as why his flip phone is his secret weapon, how he is the opposite of Sen. Mitch McConnell, and his plans to bring back an insulin cap bill in September. Plus! Daily Beast Politics Editor Matt Fuller also breaks down the new “Dark Brandon” meme about Joe Biden that the White House has even embraced. Plus! Molly and co-host Andy Levy go after Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene for crying about Alex Jones being a victim and why the current behavior of former President Donald Trump is actually pretty scary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Actor and former White House adviser Kal Penn recalls the moment he spectacularly failed to outsmart the former president and how he was humiliated in front of the first lady. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week’s episode of The New Abnormal, Levy, along with host Molly Jong-Fast, discuss the conservative state’s rejection of the anti-abortion measure after nearly 60 per cent of voters dismissed the move. Then, Angelo Carusone, president and CEO of Media Matters, debunks a study by Nielsen media research claiming that the top rated news show among Democrats between 25 and 54 is Tucker Carlson. The study says that in total debut viewership, Fox news grabs 42% of Democrats. Also, The Daily Beast’s congressional reporter Sam Brodey discusses how the Senate and Congressional map is changing to a more optimistic map for Dems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Missouri Senate candidate Lucas Kunce is not going to knock on a voter’s door and ask them to vote for him because he will lower the cost of prescription drugs. But the former Marine tells co-host Molly Jong-Fast what he will do in this episode of The New Abnormal—including being completely blunt when it comes to calling BS on Republicans. Speaking of which, Rep. Eric Swalwell also joins the pod and talks about the major wins Democrats have had lately and why he thinks the GOP “clowns” don’t stand a chance in taking the House in the midterms. Plus! Molly and co-host Andy Levy talk more about that burn pit bill and pose a major Jan 6 question: Where in the world are those missing text messages? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Yorker’s Ken Auletta tells Molly Jong-Fast about the conversation he had with Ronan Farrow ahead of his bombshell piece and shares stories about Harvey Weinstein’s enablers that are in his new book, Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence, which paints an even more detailed picture of Weinstein, and the enablers around him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve surfed the internet over the course of the last few years, there’s no doubt you may have stumbled across at least one viral clip of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on Fox News. For Buttigieg, going on Fox News is “a no-brainer", Lis Smith, author of Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story, and senior advisor for Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign, told Molly Jong-Fast on this week’s episode of The New Abnormal. Then, Olivia Julianna, a 19-year-old activist and strategist for Gen Z For Change, reflects on her work as a fundraising powerhouse and her reaction to Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s attempts to humiliate her after arguing that overweight and unattractive women don't need to worry about getting pregnant or needing abortions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Ron DeSantis going to run for president in 2024? If he is, New Abnormal co-hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast are of the opinion that he’ll be a scarier candidate than Donald Trump if the former president chooses to run again. Then, New York Governor Kathy Hochul talks to Molly about what she and her administration are doing to prevent ugly fallout from the Supreme Court ruling on guns in the state and her opinion on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg not prosecuting Trump. Plus! James Obergefell, the plaintiff in the historic Obergefell v Hodges Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage, shares the events that led to his case and why he’s “disgusted” today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aftershock directors Tonya Lewis Lee and Paula Eiselt talk to Molly Jong-Fast about why Black women are more likely to die than their white counterparts after giving birth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The news from Thursday night’s Jan. 6 committee hearing that really struck Molly Jong-Fast was that instead of trying to stop the violence, Trump wanted to call senators and pressure them to throw out the election results or delay the certification. And of course he talked to Rudy Giuliani.“Rudy's always the first call you make because you gotta get the bad ideas from someone,” says co-host Andy Levy.“I would not let Rudy Giuliani pick a pair of shoelaces for me. And this, the president of the United States, is turning to him for advice on elections.” Also on the show NBC's senior reporter Jon Allen & Mark Lobovitch on his new book Thank You For Your Servitude: Donald Trump's Washington and the Price of Submission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After four years of Donald Trump and the ultimate hangover that ensued, has the Republican Party learned from its mistakes? Far from it, Molly Jong-Fast says on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast. “Trump definitely did something in the Republican Party. Right?” Molly asks. “They were always bad. They would do terrible things, but they would pretend not to be terrible. And now there’s like an incentive to be terrible. Like the people who are terrible actually raise the most money.” Still, Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones, who represents New York’s 17th District, says that while he faces an uphill battle against the Republicans and despite the disappointments of recent events, including the repeal of Roe v. Wade, there is hope on the horizon. Then, Tim Miller, MSNBC analyst and the author of Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell, reflects on what he learned about the Republican Party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Filmmakers behind the new documentary “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down,” Julie Cohen and Betsy West, tell New Abnormal co-host Molly Jong-Fast in this bonus episode about the former Congresswoman’s RBG socks, music she loves, and what she’s up to now—including some of the things Gabby has taken up recently, like playing the French horn, as well as the adorable scenes in the documentary that show Gabby support her husband, Mark Kelly, and how she has worked to overcome her aphasia to give nearly flawless speeches. Plus! Molly and Andy Levy listen to clips of more dumb Republicans like “walking Facebook post” Sarah Palin and John Bolton, who recently told on himself in a CNN clip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's been a big week in politics with revelations galore from the Jan. 6 House committee. Former President Donald Trump's attempts at stopping the peaceful transfer of power has been the talk of the town and this week's admissions at the committee are a "pretty big deal", notes Molly Jong-Fast on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast. But it's not all bad news. Speaking with Jong-Fast, former presidential candidate and independent candidate for the Utah Senate, Evan McMullin, reveals that he is seeing "a weakening in Trump support across the country". Then, Mary Trump, host of the Mary Trump show and the author of Too Much and Never Enough, revealed she found the revelations surrounding the "vast web of people" covering for her Uncle...."at times difficult to process". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Things are going super over in the United Kingdom, jokes Molly Jong-Fast to British journalist Ian Dunt on this episode of The New Abnormal podcast. Dunt broke down the events that led to the U.K. Prime Minister’s resignation as well as whether or not he thinks Boris Johnson will still hold the title by the fall and the state of U.K. politics—and whether there’s a chance to actually reverse Brexit. Then, CNBC Fast Money contributor Dan Nathan explains why a recession might actually be a good thing, and that it’s what the federal government likely wants. “Sadly they need the economy almost to go in a recession for inflation to come down meaningfully,” he says. Plus! Molly and co-host Andy Levy shoot the shit about Elon Musk hurting Trump’s feelings, Biden’s dumb move to swing “left,” and the one thing that’ll actually maybe get Steve Bannon to testify in front of the Jan. 6 committee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former Secretary of State of Missouri Jason Kander, and author of Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD, talks to TNA co-host Andy Levy about living with PTSD, his post-traumatic growth phase when it comes to trauma and how others can get there, too—and a VA tale to beat all VA tales. Plus! Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss McCarthy’s huge Jan. 6 mistake, which they’re so thankful for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gretchen Carlson joins The New Abnormal along with her Lift Our Voices co-founder Julie Roginsky to talk about her lawsuit against former Fox CEO and Chairman Roger Ailes and the work she’s doing to fix predatory NDAs. Then Mike Collier, the Democrat running for Lieutenant Governor of Texas against Dan Patrick, breaks down the true issues with the Texas power grid, including that it was designed by Enron, and the other ticking time bomb in the state: water. Plus! Hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy do a Q&A speed round, sharing who they think are the best and worst accounts on Twitter, what the next QAnon level conspiracy is, and a definitive ranking of the Supreme Court judges from the worst to mildly idiotic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As the Supreme Court limits the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, David Roberts, author of climate newsletter, Volts, tells Molly Jong-Fast why America is about to see a rise in “green fascism.” Also on this episode: Climate change writer and author Kate Aronoff explores why politicians are unwilling to act on global warming despite a majority of Americans being in favor of action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author Jerry Stahl didn’t know what his experience visiting Auschwitz would be like, but taking selfies with teenage strangers who had mistaken him for actor Michael Richards, who played Cosmo ‘Kramer’ on Seinfeld, was definitely not on the list. On this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, the writer tells Molly Jong-Fast about the trip, and his conflicting thoughts while there, which are also part of his new book “Nein, Nein, Nein: One Man’s Tale of Depression, Psychic Torment and a Bus Tour of the Holocaust.” Plus! The one person Stahl has spent his life trying not to become. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The time for being squeamish about abortion is over. That’s what pro-choice advocate and author Ilyse Hogue tells The New Abnormal’s intrepid co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy: “Roe is actually a fire-alarm fire,” and it’s time to “talk loudly and proudly about what we stand for.” (That goes for you, too, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland—Levy knows you’re listening, and he dares you to prosecute someone based on the explosive testimony coming out of the Jan. 6 hearings.) Speaking of which: what does the testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson, who for the current moment has “brought Trumpworld to its knees,” as Jong-Fast puts it, mean for where the Jan. 6 Committee is heading? What’s left to prove? That assessment comes courtesy of the Daily Beast’s hometown hero, politics editor Matt Fuller. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal, Leah Litman, an assistant professor at Michigan law school, breaks down one of AOC post-Roe ideas and co-host Andy Levy tears into Nancy Pelosi and her poem. Plus, Robin Marty, director of operations for West Alabama Women’s Center, tells co-host Molly Jong-Fast what she’s already seeing in her state, including reports that hospitals are already refusing to treat women whose lives are in danger, and are bleeding out, because they admitted they had an abortion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, actor David Duchovny talks about his book, The Reservoir, what it was like playing a jerk version of himself alongside Sandra Oh in Netflix’s ‘The Chair’, and discloses a solid theory on aliens. Plus! Co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy listen to more bizarre clips of GOP politicians, including “single biggest asshole’ in America, Ted Cruz, and everyone’s favorite Fox News host, Tucker Carlson, who is still obsessed with testicles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, June 24, 2024, eliminating the decades-long protected right to an abortion. New Abnormal co-host Molly Jong-Fast could not wait until the next episode to address this far-reaching decision, so she recorded an “emergency” episode and interviewed Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. Secretary Griswold explains to Molly and listeners what it would take to impeach a Supreme Court Justice, why she believes the conservative justices lied under oath and what states can do ASAP to protect the women there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Former President Donald Trump was not lacking in pardon requests in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riots, according to new information revealed during the hearings on Thursday. Among those who asked for pardons: Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Mo Brooks (R-AL). That in itself proves that Brooks knew Trump’s “Big Lie” was a load of BS, says New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy on the latest post-hearing episode. Also in this episode, Jay Willis, editor in chief of Balls & Strikes, breaks down two Supreme Court rulings, including the rejection of gun control legislation in New York, loudly proclaimed in an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas. “Thomas’ opinion basically freezes firearm regulation as it existed [in the Constitution],” Willis says of Thomas’ mind-boggling explanation. Last but not least, Greg Sargent, author of The Washington Post’s The Plum Line blog, makes the case that the Jan. 6 hearings are absolutely making an impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Princeton University Professor of African American studies Eddie Glaude tells The New Abnormal’s Molly Jong-Fast why he warned the U.S. President that democracy could die unless he is willing to “go big”. Also on this episode: Journalist Francisco Alvarado takes us inside his reporting on how Nebraska’s voter ID proposal has become mired amid claims of fraud and big money coming from someone very close to the state’s governor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Haters love to attribute Katy Tur’s success to her former partner, commentator Keith Olbermann. But she’s over it. In this bonus episode of The New Abnormal podcast, Tur tells co-host Molly Jong-Fast how that early connection to the broadcaster has impacted her life since and recounts some anecdotes about her “violent” childhood from her new memoir, Rough Draft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal hosts recorded late, after the Jan. 6 committee's latest blockbuster hearing, where, co-host Andy Levy says, “We found out today that the mob in the capital came within 40 feet of [Vice President Pence] at one point while they were transporting him to the secure location. That sounds pretty terrifying considering, we have to remember, this is the mob that was chanting “Hang Mike Pence.’”Later, co-host Molly Jong Fast says,”I feel like the top line is when did the president know and what did he know it? He knew it, and he still tried to do it.” Indeed, says senior NBC News politics reporter and co-author of Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency, “I think that it may be a mistake to look at anything that happened as particularly accidental. I'm always sort of torn a little bit when I talk to voters who are kind of like Jan. 6 deniers, because I think most of them aren't denying that Trump was trying to hold power. I think they're denying that it was bad.”Plus, Daily Beast and New York Magazine contributing writer Jay Michaelson breaks down the Ginni Thomas-John Eastman mess: “If this is not an impeachable offense for a Supreme court justice if what we've come out in evidence is true” then what would be? “This is the most impeachable offense I've ever seen in my entire life. I mean, this is not a gray area case. This is unbelievable.… John Eastman, one of the somewhat more crazy lawyers who tried to overturn the 2020 election said at one point that there seems to be a heated fight underway among the justices. And that's interesting. I don't know how he actually knew that, but now it seems that he knew that from actually being in touch with Ginni Thomas, the wife of one of the justices,” Clarence Thomas, “who is also a well-known conservative activist.” And, “if true, disclosing secret, confidential, and to put it mildly, highly sensitive deliberations of the Supreme Court justices to somebody who he knows—his wife—is closely involved with the effort to overturn the election. And it's fine that they have separate careers and they have separate lives. That's fine. But you know, Molly, if I disclose this to you, we don't have to be married for me to realize that that would probably be a problem, right? That disclosing to somebody with a close degree of not just interest but actual active participation in this effort, which is overturning an election, right, which is trying to mount some sort of a coup. So even if this was some boring insurance transaction that we were involved in, this would be a massive violation of judicial ethics. And the fact that it took place in the context of Jan. 6 is beyond shocking.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this episode of The New Abnormal, Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy debate which Republicans testifying at the Jan. 6 hearings can be considered ‘good guys.’ Spoiler alert, not Bill Barr according to Andy. Molly also breaks down the ‘psychology’ of Jared Kushner based on his performance testifying. Plus! The Nation columnist Jeet Heer explains to Molly why Democrats shouldn’t trust Liz Cheney and CNN national security reporter Zachary Cohen points out one of big question marks on the Jan. 6 timeline that the committee is trying to piece together: What happened when Donald Trump was in the dining room? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author James Patterson joins this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to tell co-host Molly Jong-Fast about his new biography titled James Patterson by James Patterson: The Story of My Life. He also tells stories about some old friends, including the Clintons and Dolly Parton. Also in this episode: Molly and co-host Andy Levy listen to some funny clips of Republicans saying “dumb” things, including Jesse Watters, who Molly dubs the “stupidest anchor on Fox News.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Jan. 6 hearing was everything it had to be, The New Abnormal co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy agreed—and Republicans knew it. Liz Cheney, said Molly, in a conversation recorded just after the prime-time hearing ended, “is an extremely good speaker you can tell will follow Donald J. Trump to the gates of Hell.” So as the damning case was laid out, the MAGA set did their best to pretend it simply wasn’t happening. Plus: Pod Save America co-host Dan Pfeiffer talks about “why Democrats keep losing the messaging war,” his new book Battling the Big Lie: How Fox, Facebook and the MAGA Media Are Destroying America and the “decades-long billionaire funded plan to build up an alternate information bubble,” and Ian Bremmer, author of The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – and Our Response – Will Change the World explains that there are four now: the pandemic, global climate change, “the proliferation of disruptive and dangerous technologies, and now you have the Russians invading Ukraine and a war in Europe.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Donald J. Trump losing his impenetrable grip on the Republican party? Co-host of The New Abnormal podcast Molly Jong-Fast thinks so. She shares her theory with co-host Andy Levy on today’s episode. Also, the two attempt to answer this question: Who is a scarier Republican candidate? Ron DeSantis or Donald Trump? Plus! Daily Beast politics editor Matt Fuller gives Molly the cold-hard truth on gun legislation that’s bubbling up in the House and Senate and who—and who won’t—vote for it. Plus! British columnist & host of The OriginIanory Podcast, Dunt explains why Brits will have “an absolute psychological breakdown” when the Queen is no longer the Queen. He also shares why England Prime Minister Boris Johnson isn’t very secure in his position. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Parkland dad Fred Guttenberg details the day his daughter Jaime was killed at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School as well as what he thinks needs to change to get solid gun reform policy. Plus, co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy unpack GOP clips, including one of Lauren Boebert calling Trump a ‘family man’ because he shared popcorn with her son. Plus! Andy shares a very interesting metaphor in which he compares Hunter Biden’s name to cat nip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“The problem is there are so many mass shootings that they are now pushing other mass shootings out of the news” and Republicans just want to change the subject each time, co-host Molly Jong-Fast says to kick off the latest episode of The New Abnormal. But the cold comfort is that “there are so many shootings that we're going to be talking about it, even though Republicans want to run out the clock, they're never gonna be able to run out.” Plus, We’re Not Broken author and MSNBC columnist Eric Garcia joins the pod to tell Molly about his reporting on autism in America while having autism, and Strict Scrutiny co-host and ABC Supreme Court contributor Katie Shaw explains how politicians hide behind the Supreme Court’s 2008 gun decision to pretend they’re powerless now, and about what’s looming when the Court issues it’s first big gun decision since then any day now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is former President Donald Trump’s hold on his Republican base waning? Vice’s Senior Political Reporter Cameron Joseph thinks so. “Trump is slipping. [He] doesn’t have the grip over the GOP that he once did,” Joseph tells Molly Jong-Fast in this episode of The New Abnormal. Later on this episode, historian Jon Meacham, who is host of the new “Reflections of History” podcast gives Molly a preview of some of the juicy tid-bits from history he covers on his show, like how NATO was an unpopular opinion when it began and that New York Times’ Sunday magazine passed on publishing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from Birmingham jail. Oh, yeah, Meacham also happens to be an unofficial adviser of President Biden and Molly does not let the interview end without pressing him on that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kelly Carlin, daughter of the late comedian George Carlin, is mystified that Donald Trump followers and right-wingers have tried to claim her dad as one of their own. She came on the pod with comedian and director Judd Apatow to talk to hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast about her dad, how they think he’d feel about Republicans today and about Apatow’s upcoming George Carlin documentary on HBO, which Apatow says “terrified” him at first. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy call out Republicans for avoiding the gun conversation at all costs, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his insane mental health hypocrisy. Plus! New York mag correspondent Gabriel Debenedetti tackles the Biden elephant in room: What happens if Joe Biden can’t run for reelection? There are a few people that may be backups for the party, he says. And last up, Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan shares what she thinks are the root causes of the gun violence epidemic—and that the entire Republican party “needs to be cured and cleansed.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kellyanne Conway’s new book makes very clear the people she has a grudge against, and the ones she doesn’t, according to Daily Beast media reporter Zach Petrizzo. He read the former Trump aide’s book and tells The New Abnormal podcast host Molly Jong-Fast that there are two people she goes after the most—Jared Kushner and her husband, George Conway III. Plus, Washington Post political enterprise reporter Robert Samuels talks about his new book with co-author Toluse Olorunnipa, ‘His Name is George Floyd’ and Molly and co-host Andy Levy analyze the right-wingers who attended CPAC in Hungary and why they (jokingly) think the Twitter user retweeted by Trump, ‘MAGA King Thanos’, will lead the next civil war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nazi Billionaires author David de Jong joins this bonus episode The New Abnormal to discuss the findings from his book, including the ugly, anti-semitic history of German oligarchs, including the family who owns the German car brand BMW. Plus, co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss Kevin McCarthy’s latest witch hunt that somehow involves Nancy Pelosi and Peloton and roast George W. Bush and Justice Clarence Thomas for being really bad at telling jokes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s another week chock full of Republican fuckery, and The New Abnormal is all over it, including a tough interview with Bryan Jones the Republican trying to take down creepy Matt Gaetz in Florida’s first Congressional District, and starting with a conversation between co-hosts Molly Jong Fast and Andy Levy about how Republicans seem more interested in capitalizing on the baby formula shortage to score points against Biden than they are in fixing it and, you know, making sure babies can get fed. Then Jay Willis, the editor in chief of Balls and Strikes warns Molly that the looming Roe reversal its just the start, and that “a lot of the backlash to this opinion has also dealt with not only the disastrous consequences for women, folks who may become pregnant but also for its really unnerving hints about where the Court could go in the future. Roe is not enough for Samuel Alito, who’s got all kinds of accumulated culture war grievances to air.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has the “worst luck in American retail politics ever,” declares host Molly Jong-Fast on this episode of The New Abnormal. Stefanik’s past “replacement theory” rhetoric has resurfaced after the “screed” of the Topps shooter Payton Gendron had been reported to contain the same kind of views. Somehow she thinks she’s the victim—and Molly and Andy Levy dive into that on this episode. Plus! Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod gives Molly the low-down on the Pennsylvania candidates running in Tuesday’s election, including Dr. Oz and Kathy Barnette, who is “even too Trumpy for Trump.” And Shannon Watts, founder of anti-gun violence group Mom’s Demand Action, explains the loophole that allowed the Topps shooter to get his gun, and how the NRA is linked to what drove him to kill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast listen to audio clips of unhinged Republicans, including one of Donald Trump crapping on Mitch McConnell’s popularity, and they agreed with him, sorta. Plus! Molly and Andy ask important questions about Dinesh D’Souza’s election-fraud conspiracy film, “2000 Mules,” and Karen Elson, model and fashion activist, tells Molly about her work to unionize models in the fashion industry and the hazards they do face at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“Despite being the richest man in the world,” Elon Musk doesn’t have enough cash to buy Twitter for $43 billion, podcaster and CNBC contributor Dan Nathan tells co-host Molly Jong-Fast, so he’s selling Tesla stock to get some of that cash in hand and then bringing in private equity and venture capital to cover the difference. Plus, Molly and co-host Andy Levy go in on another week full of conservative fuckery, and Daily Beast senior editor Matt Fuller explains how “the abortion landscape really has changed” after the leak of the draft opinion doing away with Roe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Media Matters president and CEO Angelo Carusone came on The New Abnormal to talk Elon Musk’s questionable desire to buy and become CEO of Twitter, Tucker Carlson’s reaction to the New York Times’ pieces on him and what’s next for Fox News (it doesn’t look good.) Plus! Co-host Andy Levy has his own theory for why Tucker is horrible. And Robin Marty, Communications Director for the West Alabama Women’s Center, makes predictions on what’s next when it comes to abortion bans in the U.S. (Hint: lots of felony charges). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A new book by New York Times journalists Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns has gotten lots of attention for its revelations about Donald Trump and the Republican Party. And they get into that on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, but they also tell Molly juicy nuggets about Democratic dysfunction, including texts calling Nancy Pelosi “terrible” and Biden’s struggle with Manchin and Sinema. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the podcaster is fated to release an episode right as the news cycle renders them hopelessly out-of-date. That’s the worst thing to come from the revelation that the Supreme Court is essentially set to overturn Roe v. Wade, obviously. Aghast and mind-blown, co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy attempt to break down this “new, new, new abnormal” we all find ourselves in as the country teeters on the edge of becoming a post-Roe democracy. How did we get here—and, more importantly, what happens now? That, plus: Daily Beast legal affairs columnist and former Supreme Court clerk Jay Michaelson discusses how Justice Samuel Alito cultivates his Scalia-esque brand on the bench and how the abortion’s writing has been on the wall for “years, if not decades.” And Valerie Biden Owens, the president’s sister and former campaign manager, talks about running the 1972 “children’s crusade” that catapulted her brother into elected office for the first time—and why she now lovingly refers to him as “the ass.” Finally: don’t believe the Christian right used to trumpet that life began at birth? Read this, and get back to us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
According to New Abnormal podcast host Andy Levy, literally, nobody cares about what Jared Kushner has to say. On this episode, Andy and co-host Molly Jong-Fast break down the latest GOP book announcements, Jared’s included, and The Nation columnist Jeet Heer tells Molly why he thinks the White House Correspondents’ Dinner is a bad idea. For one, this dinner was the start of Trump’s villain origin story, he jokes. Plus! If you’ve ever wondered how a person like Trump was elected in the first place, University of Minnesota’s Dr. Larry Jacobs has an answer and explains why primary elections will be the ruin of us all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow’s scathing speech on the floor in response to being called a “groomer” by a conservative colleague went viral. She joins as special guest on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to tell co-host Molly Jong-Fast how it all went down and what she wants people who are non-marginalized to know. Plus Molly and co-host Andy Levy listen to Fox News proclaim that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is a liberal puppet and Ben Shapiro gets skewered for his “Twitter” advice to Elon Musk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
nathan Kott, who worked for Joe Manchin for seven-and-a-half years, joins The New Abnormal, and co-host Molly Jong-Fast gets right to the point: "Are you surprised by what you're seeing right now" from the West Virginia Senator?"No," says Kott. "He's the exact same person he's always been. It's just he's getting more attention in the last year than I think he had before." Plus, Molly and co-host Andy Levy run through even more Republican fuckery, starting with Trump's fear of fruit. "If you're that worried about tomatoes, I guess you just assume that everything is very dangerous and you might as well give everyone guns' jokes Molly.Finally, Marc Caputo of NBC explains what's happening in the great state of Florida, where "conservatives are a lot more Trumpy "now. "In 2016 when Donald Trump won people thought it was a fluke. And then in 2018, when Ron DeSantis won by less than half a point, they're like, 'okay, Andrew Gillum, his gubernatorial opponent was a flawed opponent. And then in 2020, Donald Trump won so big here by a bigger margin than Obama did in 2008 and that kind of got conservatives or Republicans to realize, 'there is nothing to fear from Democrats anymore in Florida, let's keep pushing the envelope.' And so that's where we are. We're in some serious envelope pushing." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There’s only text sent by former First Daughter Ivanka Trump among the 2,319 CNN-obtained text messages between Trump’s inner circle from the days after the 2020 election and something about that feels peculiar to The New Abnormal podcast co-host Andy Levy. He and co-host Molly Jong-Fast tackle those in this episode along with special guests Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), who shares his thoughts on Elon Musk buying Twitter, and Amanda Litman, Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director of Run for Something. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hawaii senator Sen. Brian Schatz joins the show to explain why he let Josh Hawley have it on the Senate floor this month and what he thinks his colleague Joe Manchin will do, or not do, about climate change. Plus, Molly and co-host Andy discuss Dr. Oz, listen to clips of Tucker Carlson saying that the “Libs of TikTok” account is real journalism and break down Fox News star Jesse Watters’ creepy meet-cute with his wife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In another jam-packed week of GOP fuckery, The New Abnormal co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy looks at look at the party’s profiles in cowardice, starting with the new revelations about House Minority “Leader” Kevin McCarthy cozying back up to Donald Trump and then shifting to Ron DeSantis’ anti-Disney jihad and what Molly calls the party’s new brand of “unpopular populism.”No one is crying for Disney or its special tax status, says Andy, but it’s still nuts that “the government of Florida is now basically telling businesses, ‘just shut up and don't take any, you know, even the most milquetoast of stands” or we’re going to punish you even if you’re a company that brings the state billions in revenue a year. Then the Daily Beast’s Roger Sollenberger comes in to break down his recent reporting on the Maga Goon Squad’s new money woes, as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Madison Cawthorn, and Matt Gaetz collectively spent $275,000 more than they took in the first quarter of 2022. Plus, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, the second lady of Pennsylvania whose husband, John, is now running for the Senate, and the founder of the Free Story in Braddock, “actually the first free store in the country,” tells Molly how that came from “this idea that some of us have so much and some have so little and there's so much excess, and how can we bring all those worlds together to do good. I really believe in mutual aid and having people connect who maybe would otherwise think they don't have anything in common and the free store was a place where all of that could happen.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tucker Carlson’s constant pushing of junk science on his Fox News show reached an apex this week when he discussed “testicle tanning” with Kid Rock. Of course, The New Abnormal hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy had to break down that video immediately. Also on the show: Democratic strategist James Carville, co-host of the Politics War Room podcast, holds no punches blaming the Democrats for Biden’s approval rating and Ruy Teixeira, a senior fellow at American Progress, explains why a handful of Hispanic voters voted for Trump last election despite the awful things he’s said about them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘Freezing Order’ author Bill Browder, one of Moscow’s most wanted, joins this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to talk about “evil” Putin and why the former American banker still chooses to speak out against the Russian president despite being targeted and followed for it. Plus, co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy react to a few very bizarre clips of Republicans and a rap about Matt Gaetz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
the focus on The New Abnormal this week is on Donald Trump Junior, as CNN reporter Zachary Cohen breaks down his reporting on the namesake’s post-election text messages to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows scheming on how to steal the election: “We either have a vote WE control and WE win OR it gets kicked to Congress 6 January 2021.” Plus University of California Law professor Rick Hasen, the co-director of the university’s Fair Elections and Free Speech Center and the author of Cheap Speech: How Disinformation Poisons Our Politics—and How to Cure It, explains how “if we had the same polarized politics of today, but the technology of the 1950s, we likely wouldn't have had Jan.  6 and the insurrection and millions of people believing the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rep. Eric Swalwell joins this episode of The New Abnormal to weigh in on the Don Jr. texts and explain what he calls the Costco Effect—and how it relates to the Trumps. Plus, Jodi Hicks, Planned Parenthood California’s President and CEO, explains what happened with the Texas woman who was held on $500K bail for having an abortion. Naturally, co-hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast have a lot to say about all of the above, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
J. David McSwane, author of Pandemic, Inc. shares his reporting on some of the fraudsters who got their hands on PPE contracts during the pandemic. Plus, a fun segment in which co-hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast listen and respond to the wildest GOP clips from this week—including one in which Josh Mandel tells MLK Jr’s daughter she needs a history lesson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s “a sea of performative moronics” ahead of the mid-terms, says New Abnormal Molly Jong-Fast, and we’re all drowning in it. Just look at “the cruelty, the stupidity and the racism” coming out of Texas right now, where Gov. Greg Abbott seems more interested in getting booked on Fox News than getting anything done. Then Jan. 6 committee member Jamie Raskin joins the pod to explain how Republicans transitioned from the party of Lincoln to the party of Trump, “a minority party, a shrinking minority party” that nonetheless “wants to get rid of Liz Cheney, who represents pretty big parts of the conservative Republican establishment. They want to get rid of Adam Kinzinger and Mitt Romney and so on because they don't follow the leader in the way that they're supposed to.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You know who’s telling on themselves? The American conservatives cheering about Putin pal and proto-fascist Viktor Orban’s big re-election win in Hungary.  “It’s a pretty good litmus test,” says The New Abnormal co-host Molly Jong. “If you are celebrating that, you're probably a bad guy, like the people who are still support Putin.” Speaking of people telling on themselves, Washington Post investigative reporter Michael Kranish joins the pod to run down his reporting on MAGA mutts Madison Cawthorn, Mo Brooks and the inimitably awful Ted Cruz, who somehow managed to escape much scrutiny for months into his pivotal role in pushing Trump’s big lie, and doing everything he could to stop Joe Biden from taking office. Plus, Press Run founder and editor Eric Boehlert explains to Molly why “the coverage of the Biden economy is unlike anything I’ve ever seen” as the press coverage “reeks of both sides.”   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, Majority Minority author Justin Guest, a George Mason University professor, breaks down a sociological experiment he conducted to see if Hannity could make his viewers liberal with surprising results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Madison Cawthorn has Republican leaders like Kevin McCarthy deathly afraid that people in his district will start asking him questions using words like “orgy” and “key bump.” Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy, The New Abnormal’s unflappable (seriously—they’re being forced to picture a debaucherous Louie Gohmert and Newt Gingrich) hosts, are ready to parse whether it’s better or worse for him if Cawthorn’s telling the truth. Also on this episode: George Conway, a lawyer and Washington Post contributor, explains why the 7-hour gap in Trump’s White House phone logs may not be so much a conspiracy as good old-fashioned incompetence; and Jena Griswold, Colorado’s secretary of state, breaks down the legislation she’s pushing to keep election security tight—and why it’s so “frightening” when the call, when it comes to voter fraud, comes from inside the house. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Charles Bethea of the New Yorker joins to break down his reporting on all that, and to break down his recent scoop about the very unlikely ballot cast in 2020 by former Trump Chief of Staff and still Big Lie enthusiast Mark Meadows: “He had recently sold in 2020 his and his wife’s house in the state, and as the election neared I think he wanted to vote in North Carolina, partly because he was thinking about and talking about running for Senate and you want to have a record of voting in the state where you run and he didn't own a property. So it looks like he did something that's still sort of inexplicable, but, and he hasn't given us a reason–” Plus New Lines Magazine editor and Daily Beast contributing editor rejoins the pod to explain what’s happening in Ukraine now, and why this refugee crisis has electrified the West in a way that the Syrian refugee crisis never quite did — including when Putin militarily intervened there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kid Rock of all damn people is boasting about how Donald Trump would call him up after Sarah Palin introduced him and Ted Nugest to the president, and ask things like “What do you think we could do about North Korea?” “I’m like, What? I don't think I'm qualified to answer this.” Then again, it could always be worse with this set. As Molly asks, “Do you think Kid Rock is stupider than Junior?” And, notes Andy, at least Kid Rock “was self-aware enough to know that he shouldn't be talking, giving advice about North Korea.” Plus, Florida Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried — who went to high school with Judge Jackson — joins to explain how she won office in a red state and her bid to become its first female governor. She says the party needs to “follow my lead” to win again in the Sunshine State: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It’s the 200th episode of The New Abnormal, starting with a wild “flashback” to the very “first” episode in the summer of 1998, when co-host Molly Jong-Fast foresaw a future of “racist babies,” with Molly wishing “if only there was a senator with a ridiculous mustache” to being the issue to light. Jump ahead to 2022, and co-host Andy Levy says Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson “really missed a chance there” when that senator with the ‘stache, Ted Cruz, asked her to define what a woman is. Jackson could have said, joked Levy: “Yes, senator, I define a woman as someone you marry and then defend them when someone else calls them ugly,” like Trump did to Cruz’s wife—who didn’t think that, or Trump saying his dad had killed JFK, was reason enough to stop sucking up to The Donald. Later in the episode, the Beast’s Matthew Fuller joins the party to break down the fuckery of the Jackson hearing and its “straight racism, just the full-flavored version." Plus, Buzzfeed’s Christopher Miller, who’s been reporting from the Ukraine for years, considers the first month of the Russian invasion—“When Putin announced his invasion, I was in the Eastern city of Kramatorsk, near the front lines of the longer simmering war in Eastern Ukraine and (was) awoken by an airstrike on an airfield that was about 2000 feet away from me, which is definitely 2000 feet too close—and the history that led to this moment.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Josh Hawley is attacking Biden’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and is using the word “pedophilia” to do it. Naturally, The New Abnormal hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy have choice words, and a new title, for him. Also on this episode: NBC News political analyst Susan Del Percio has a very scary midterm prediction involving Jim Jordan and Danielle Carnival, head of Biden’s White House Cancer Moonshot program, breaks down how exactly her team plans to meet the president’s goal of decreasing cancer by 50% in 25 years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The war in Ukraine has made Vladimir Putin one of the most hated figures in the world. But any attempt to remove him from office could unleash more violence inside Russia. Moisés Naím, author of The Revenge of Power: How Autocrats Are Reinventing Politics for the 21st Century, tells Molly what that could look like in this bonus episode of The New Abnormal. Plus, Molly and co-host Andy Levy listen to a clip of Trump trying to “teach” Joe Biden about nuclear weapons, and they break down Sean Hannity’s “hard-on” for Ronald Reagan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Author Francis Fukayama thinks Zelensky’s communication-style, and his creative team, will be one of the main factors in overcoming Russian forces. Both he and former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch joined this episode The New Abnormal to talk about the Ukrainian president’s transformation from comedian to hero and what they each think will be the outcome of the war (hint: it doesn’t look good for Russia.) Yovanovitch also details what she was told the night Trump ordered her to be removed from her position. Plus, co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss the Russian social media influencers who are very mad at Putin because of his Instagram ban and attempt to answer a vital question: Does Kyrsten Sinema understand Daylight Savings Time? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Putin may not realize how poorly the war is going for him, but his troops do. Ukrainian diplomat Olexander Scherba joins the pod to explain what he’s hearing from soldiers on the ground, including stories of them refusing to fight. Plus, The Nation’s Elie Mystal pleads with Biden to say the word “abortion” and hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss whether Tucker Carlson can feel embarrassment and Molly actually sorta defends Mitt Romney when it comes to Tulsi Gabbard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Retired NYPD sergeant Valarie Carey joins today’s bonus episode along with Adell Coleman, co-host and executive producer of the podcast Say Their Name, to talk about her sister Miriam Carey, who was shot by law enforcement 26 times when she drove into a restricted zone outside of the U.S. Capitol. Plus, co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy talk about why Ted Cruz is full of crap about vaccines—no one is hugging him as much as he says they are—and listen to clips of Don Jr. defending his dad, whom he weirdly calls “Trump.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In a jam-packed new episode of The New Abormal, co-host Molly Jong-Fast rips into the “contingent of very stupid Republican Congresspeople” who don’t want the U.S. aiding Ukraine before building a border wall here, which makes sense since “the country of Mexico is shelling, Texas and they're using cluster bombs and stud missiles—Oh wait… There is no war at our Southern border, but no one has told Rep. Doug Collins.” Plus, Melissa Moss of the 65 Project explains how that was “set up to protect democracy; by holding accountable lawyers who bring bogus lawsuits to overturn legitimate election results” to account, and breaks down the three sorts of lawyers her group is going after. And the Atlantic’s Tom Nichols considers Putin: "This guy is not a good strategist. He blunders into things… and bluffs his way out, or tries to murder his way out. I don't know how this ends, if he were the strategist that everybody thinks he is, he would find an off-ramp.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nearly two weeks into Russia’s invasion, News Lines news director and Daily Beast editor at large Michael Weiss joins the pod to explain how and why the Ukranians have defied everyone’s expectations except their own. Plus, Steven Brill of NewsGuard looks back at his group’s conversations with Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this bonus episode of the New Abnormal, Kyiv-based film producer Egor Olesov— an executive producer at FilmUA, one of the largest film studios in Ukraine, where we worked extensively with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his acting career — calls in from Lviv. Olesov—in a conversation also joined by John Wynn, a Vietnamese-American filmmaker who worked with Egor on the film The Rising Hawk, which was shot in Ukraine in 2019 and 2019—tells host Molly Jong-Fast that “We came back and right now we are doing what we can do as much as possible to support our people, to defend our country and to show to the world the truth about this crazy Russian invasion in Ukraine. It’s like horror dream. It's a really crazy situation. It's a big war in the center of the Europe.” Plus Andrew Rice, New York Magazine Contributing Editor and the author of the Year That Broke America, explains how “I came to the conclusion that the seeds of the future were sewn in 2000 in the election between Bush and Gore (as) all the things that we now see coming to fruition in distressing form in our society were sort of just starting to come into being at that time and in one place, in Florida. which I call the unlikely crucible of the future” — one where “at the time the recount was going on, the 9/11 pilots were training in Florida, sort of serenely flying above it”—just after Trump ran for the reform party nomination that year in his first presidential campaign and “all these stories I sort of brought together in the book tell this sort of ribald, picaresque and ultimately sort of tragic story of how America took a wrong turn.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has become an icon around the world for his bravery and leadership since the Russian invasion began—and New Abnormal co-host Molly Jong-Fast herself has a special place in her heart for him. Zelensky “is my age and a Jewish comedian, so I feel very connected to him,” she says on the latest episode of The New Abnormal. “My generation, we’ve had a tough time of it. We’ve never really had our moment. So this may be as close as we ever get to our moment.” Later on the episode, Face the Nation moderator and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan joins to talk about the conflict in Ukraine and the exodus of a million Ukrainians. Finally, former presidential candidate Evan McMullin, who’s now running as an independent to unseat Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), comes on talk about his race and the Russia-Ukraine war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The attack on Ukraine isn’t going how Russian President Vladimir Putin thought it would, co-host Molly Jong-Fast posits in today’s episode of The New Abnormal. Vladimir Ashurkov, a colleague of anti-Putin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, joins the pod to explain what’s next for Putin—whether he wins or loses the war. Then, NBC News’ Jonathan Allen talks about what he saw at CPAC (the The Conservative Political Action Conference), including a screaming match at a bar where two men argued about Ukraine and one called the other a “shrill for the Queen.” Plus, co-host Andy Levy has a message for Marjorie Taylor Greene: “It’s OK to cancel Nazis.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Barbara McQuade, a former Michigan prosecutor, joins the first unlocked bonus episode of The New Abnormal to explain how Trump’s big lie is a provable crime. Plus, Andy Levy makes his Sunday episode debut, just in time to listen to clips of Josh Mandel sounding stupid and to unpack Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott’s criminalization of trans kids. It’s a move Andy calls “full-on fascist.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Biden is not doing much with Russian sanctions as they now stand, says PBS NewsHour Special Correspondent and documentary filmmaker Simon Ostrovsky, who is also Russian-American. He came on this episode to share what he thinks Biden really needs to bring to the negotiating table with Putin. Speaking of Putin, co-hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast discuss all the ways they’re sure the dictator turns on right-wingers like Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro. Plus, Charlie Sykes, editor-at-large at The Bulwark, tries to understand what broke Sen. Ron Johnson’s brain and made it…Trumpy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is not pleased with Mitch McConnell’s handling of dark money. He came on the pod to explain why he’s pinning the lack of dark money legislation on McConnell as well as what’s happening with climate change legislation. Plus, author Wes Moore tells TNA co-host Molly-Jong-Fast why he’s running for Governor of Maryland and what he wants to change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Gal Beckerman, editor at The Atlantic, explains why places like Twitter are no longer cutting it when it comes to social movements and makes the case with a story from the Black Lives Matter movement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Donald Trump is closer to wearing an orange jumpsuit than he’s ever been. That’s what TrumpNation author Tim O’Brien thinks anyway. He came on this episode of The New Abnormal to share why he thinks this Trump Org investigation is going south for Trump. Plus, Molly asks former Biden White House Senior Advisor Andy Slavitt if COVID will ever go away, what the new Pfizer COVID-19 pills will be able to do, and if we should try to stay cautious or just live as normally as possible. And Daily Beast politics reporter Ursula Perano breaks down the restrictive Texas voting law, SB1, that’s ironically hurting rural districts, including red ones with Republican politicians.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Truckers part of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” have co-opted a conspiracy theory about Justin Trudeau’s biological father, which Canadian author and frequent New Abnormal guest Jeet Heer tells co-host Molly Jong-Fast all about on Tuesday’s episode. Plus, Molly and co-host Andy Levy run down the “terrifying” political candidates who billionaire Peter Thiel is backing and Imani Perry, author of South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation, makes the case that the South should be a source of inspiration.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes it's just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The first thing Donald Trump noticed about Sarah Palin was her looks according to New York Times reporter Jeremy Peters, the author of Insurgency: How Republicans Lost Their Party and Got Everything They Ever Wanted. That’s not all that caught his attention, though, and Peters fills co-host Molly Jong-Fast in on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal. Plus, Peters tells Molly about the time he interviewed the former president in Mar-a-Lago a few weeks after the Jan. 6 insurrection and he weighs in on whether he thinks Trump will run again in 2024.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The TNA crew considers who in the GOP is really a moron and who’s just playing one. Plus, former Rep. Max Rose previews his rematch with Trump-loving Nicole Malliotakis, and the Beast’s Zachary Petrizzo explains what it means to be in “Facebook jail.” If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The New Abnormal, Rep. Ilhan Omar breaks down the toxic ‘high school’ cliques in Congress, defends progressives, and explains why she’s so disappointed in President Joe Biden. Plus, Jared Bernstein, Economic Policy Advisor for the Biden Administration, breaks down how the Biden admin is trying to fix inflation and makes an admission about student loan forgiveness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Writer and filmmaker Rupert Russell and author of PRICE WARS explains how a move by longtime former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan to deregulate the commodity markets in 1998 has caused decades of market trouble and sparked a “butterfly effect” of problems around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
There were rumors just a year ago that Jeff Zucker was going to run for mayor of New York, and now the chief who was “in some ways the voice to the network” and “the guru for a lot of the top anchors” is out. Daily Beast media editor Andrew Kirell breaks it all down with The New Abnormal crew, as co-host (and former CNN guy) Andy Levy says “pretty much everyone knew that the two of them were in a relationship for a long time. I mean, I knew it and I couldn't have been lower on the totem pole at CNN. I heard people talk, nobody seemed upset by it, particularly, but it was just like, it was just known. It wasn't even an open secret cuz it really wasn't even a secret.” Then co-host Molly Jong-Fast talks with New York Magazine's David Wallace-Wells of New York Magazine about the biq questions: whether or not the virus is endemic already or still a pandemic, and if the environment has already passed a point of no return. Plus, the gang rips into conservative cuckold Jerry Falwell, and former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander explains what it is that the coasts don’t get about politics in the middle of the country, and why the key to winning there isn’t about being in the political middle.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Joe Rogan might be a moron. But at least he’s an honest moron. On Tuesday’s episode of The New Abnormal, Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast discuss the nuance of podcaster Joe Rogan on the heels of his Spotify misinformation apology. Plus, Margaret Sullivan, a media columnist at The Washington Post and author of Ghosting the News, joins the show to discuss “four billion dollars worth of defamation lawsuits” including Sarah Palin’s against the New York Times and Dominion Voting against Fox News, and Adam Jentleson, a former Harry Reid staffer and the author of Kill Switch, explains why we don’t have a “Democratic Harry Reid,” and how student loan forgiveness being the thing that could save Joe Biden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Garry Kasparov is one of the great strategists and a longtime critic of Putin, so naturally, in this bonus episode of The New Abnormal, Molly Jong-Fast asked the chess Grandmaster how he thinks the current crisis in Ukraine and Vlad’s stronghold on Russia will end. He shares a few theories that could checkmate Putin once and for all—and details how Biden’s presidency is part of the endgame. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“They are literally killing their viewers. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” says The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy. “It was really interesting to see actual correlations between Trump voting counties and Fox News viewership and rates of death from COVID. It’s just amazing what they're doing." “Fox News has one job, right?” says Molly. “Get Republicans in power, keep them in power. So it's worth branching out into the idea that like Tucker Carlson is the kind of the spiritual leader of the GOP these days.” Andy says. Speaking of Fox hosts, The New Abnormal producer Jesse Cannon notices that in the midst of testing positive for COVID and then continuing to dine out in New York, Jesse Waters made sure to interview Sarah Palin from her hotel room, even though they’re in the city. Whatever the network says about COVID, its strict protocols for its own talent and building shows what they really think. Plus, Washington Post columnist Greg Sargent talks about how Glenn Youngkin managed to convince Virginians that school board members trying to follow the law were “power-mad bureaucrats who are trampling on the rights of virtuous parents,” and Stanford Prof. Michael Rosenfeld, the author of The Rainbow After the Storm: Marriage Equality and Social Change in the U.S , explains how America went from 11% support for marriage equality in 1988 to about 70% now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
George Conway joins this episode of The New Abnormal to address the possibility of a Mark Meadows indictment from Merrick Garland’s DOJ, co-hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast talk about why Newt Gingrich is ‘minutes away’ from becoming the next Rudy Giuliani and Johann Hari, aka the guy who gave a viral TED Talk on rats and addiction, talks about his new book Stolen Focus and how getting stoned during work is actually more productive than answering emails during a task. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Angelo Carusone, president and CEO of Media Matters for America, joins this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to break down the fall of One America News Network, also known as OAN, and how the channel is trying to save itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
“He’s essentially persona non grata in the royal family, and you know, the royal family survives because – it may look like this sort of a constitutional structure made entirely of cobwebs, but in fact it's got a really kind of canny PR operation behind it,” says Dunt. “And they know when to cut their losses. It’s a family, kind of, but it's not a family like any other kind of family. And when you got a bad (one) in there, you are gonna cut your losses and that's pretty much what they've done. ”The no-longer royal highness may not have regular people money worries, says Dunt, but “maybe more of a struggle is the complete reputational collapse that he's experienced over this period. And that goes quite deep. I mean, it's more, even than the moral outrage, it's also that he is now a very regular figure of mockery. If you saw the interview where he said that he was incapable of physically sweating, that has never gone away. Pretty much anytime anyone in conversation mentions the subject of sweat… that is the joke that will follow.” Plus, Dunt tells Americans what Boris Johnson’s friends call him (it isn’t Boris), co-host Andy Levy considers the civil case against the Trumps and lets the world know that, just like Letitia James, he won’t be running for governor of New York, and New York Times reporter Peter S. Goodman discusses his new book, Davos Man, about how billionaires devoured the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Preet Bharara, former Southern District of New York Attorney General and Justice Is…, is very concerned that Merrick Garland has likely not yet investigated Trump in relation to the Jan. 6 riots. He tells co-host Molly Jong-Fast why on this episode of The New Abnormal. Then, CNBC’s Fast Money panelist Dan Nathan joins to explain what’s happening with inflation in the U.S. and the Biden administration’s potential plan to fix it. But not before co-host Andy Levy and Molly discuss Paul Gosar’s intelligence, or lack thereof, and whether Ron DeSantis is more dangerous than Trump? Or will his boring personality be his 2024 kryptonite? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein joined co-host Molly Jong-Fast on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal to talk about his book Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom and what a journo who has seen it all thinks about today’s distrust of the media, outlets like Fox News and today’s Republicans, or as Bernstein calls them, “a party of sedition.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The “Joe Rogan” experience is off the cuff, unedited, and very often entirely off the rails. Alex Patterson of Media Matters says the podcast is “a bastion of toxic masculinity… that leads listeners further down rightwing rabbit holes,” and notes that Rogan’s “dedicated listeners are mostly young men… listening to all three hours and taking in completely unfounded conspiracy theories without any of the fact-checking that would come for a more traditional journalistic enterprise.” Plus, Samuel Woolley, the author of The Reality Game: How the Next Wave of Technology Will Break the Truth and the director of the Propaganda Lab at the University of Austin’s Center for Media Engagement, explains why “the right is a lot better than the left at leveraging the internet and leveraging both organic engagement and inorganic engagement to megaphone out their content,” including by using networked propaganda, where “what begins on social media as a quote unquote organic phenomenon, which is oftentimes not organic, then ends up on cable news, then back on social media and so on and so forth until it's really unclear where it came from.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Co-hosts Andy Levy and Molly Jong-Fast parse out whether Jim Jordan is telling the truth about his Jan. 6 knowledge, Jared Holt, a fellow at AtlanticCouncil’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, explains two big tactics far-right kingpins like Steve Bannon are using to take over democracy and Nandini Jammi and Claire Atkin of Check My Ads join the pod to explain how to play a role in bankrupting people like Charlie Kirk, Dan Bongino and other notorious disinfo machines.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Canadian author Stephen Marche, whose new book The Next Civil War: Dispatches from the American Future chronicles what he saw while reporting in far-right Ohio aka Oathkeepers’ Country, came on The New Abnormal to share the troubling stories with host Molly Jong-Fast, including dreams of a Civil War, and explains how one little Trump decision could destroy an entire city. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Watching Florida’s governor offer a long-awaited update on his state’s coronavirus response this week, Molly Jong-Fast noticed something disturbing. “He’s really struggling to breathe,” she says on the latest episode of The New Abnormal. Also on the show John Heilemann of Showtime’s The Circus, The Recount, and the podcast Hell and High Water talks about Jan. 6 and the moment the GOP decided to choose Trumpism over democracy. Finally, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, who represents Massachusetts’ 4th District, explains why he declared on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Co-hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss some new nicknames for the former first daughter, including Ivanka “I Tried” Trump, as well as the reason Trump won’t ever diss the vaccines. Plus, vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez tries to answer Molly’s COVID-19 questions, including what the CDC was thinking when it made that 5-day rule and if Omicron will go away and The Nation columnist Jeet Heer confirms that Canadians are in fact prepping for America to become a fascist state.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes it's just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The pause on federal student loans, which about 46 million Americans have, is set to lift on January 31, 2022 and, despite advocates best efforts, Sen. Chuck Schumer included, President Joe Biden doesn’t seem to have any intention to stop it or forgive them. Melissa Byrne, the founder of Project Springboard and former Bernie Sanders campaign staffer, tells Molly Jong-Fast on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal why it would be so easy for him to do so, a theory why he won’t, and has strong responses to every argument people can make against it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic writer and author Twilight of Democracy makes the case for Liz Cheney or Mitch McConnell being the white knights of democracy, Siva Vaidhyanathan, host of the Democracy in Danger podcast, tries to help Molly Jong-Fast figure out why the right thinks other countries’ questionable governing style is the golden standard for the U.S., and finally, Frank Vogl, author of The Enablers How the West Supports Kleptocrats and Corruption, leaves us with two big questions: Is Putin hiding his dirty money in art or real estate? And will congress’ new kleptocrat caucus stop corruption in its tracks? If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes it's just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is Ron Johnson the worst Senator? That’s what The New Abnormal co-host Molly Jong-Fast wants to know. Naturally, she asks Mandela Barnes, the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and Johnson’s opponent in next year’s Senate election, who shares his plan of attack if he wins the seat. Then co-founder of Run for Something Amanda Litman reveals the GOP’s plan to take over politics for good and Obama’s former Education Secretary John King talks about the two biggest ways Republicans fuck over our education system.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes it's just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Andy Levy has officially joined The Daily Beast podcast family as the new co-host for The New Abnormal, alongside Twitter sweetheart Molly Jong-Fast. We know that he likes to chat politics (duh) and that he used to work for Fox and actually liked Tucker Carlson back then (true story, but he doesn’t anymore.) But we wanted our listeners to get to know the guy gracing their favorite podcast even more. So in this post-Christmas bonus episode of TNA, Molly and producer Jesse Cannon ask Andy 20 random, interesting, and stupid questions, and his answers did not disappoint.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Last Laugh podcast host Matt Wilstein joins The New Abnormal co-host Molly Jong-Fast and producer Jesse Cannon in a crossover episode to talk about some of the best political comedy performances this year—from tidbits about SNL’s Biden and Trump actors to the best scene in this season of ‘Succession.’For more great political comedy, listen to The Daily Beast's The Last Laugh podcast.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Eric Topol tells co-host Molly Jong-Fast how big of a game-changer Pfizer’s upcoming COVID pill pack could be, if Omicron will be the dominant strain, and how we’ll know this pandemic is over. Plus! Co-host Andy Levy explains why he thinks Nancy Pelosi needs to go and Daily Beast media reporter Zach Petrizzo shares reporting about Turning Point USA’s Arizona festival, aka the new CPAC.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes it's just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tony Messenger, and author of “Profit and Punishment: How America Criminalizes the Poor in the Name of Justice,” joins this bonus episode of TNA to tell Molly Jong-Fast what people get wrong about cash bail, the only two things the Koch Bros. and the left agree on and why Dems are scaredy cats when it comes to criminal justice reforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Molly and Andy talk about what Gavin Newsom is hoping to accomplish, past lulz, by using Texas’s crazy anti-abortion vigilante law as the basis for his own law targeting guns in California, former Spy editor Kurt Andersen looks at how “America has always had a weakness for exciting falsehoods and conspiracy theories,” and New Yorker writer looks back on “the last few years of this Democratic crisis in the United States as a rolling series of the impossible not only becoming possible but happening.”If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosts Molly Jong-Fast and Andy Levy discuss a new conspiracy theory—Ben Shapiro and his little sister may be secret boomers— as well as the Republican pundit exodus from Fox News to CNN, and why Ted Cruz is content as a dumb podcaster. Then, Molly has heart-wrenching interviews with two Planned Parenthood abortion providers who describe what’s happening with patients in Texas and surrounding stateIf you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Russia would love to see American democracy dissipate, and they desperately want Donald Trump back in office to do it, says Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis, founder of Russian Media Monitor. She explains on this bonus episode of The New Abnormal how Tucker Carlson could already be leading the charge in this effort, explains why Russian media would love to see a U.S. civil war and shares that the Kremlin has no plans to stop its disinformation warfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It sure looks like Pence, on the advice of Dan Quayle, tuned out to be the nutjob we needed somehow. Plus Rep. Ritchie Torres and WaPo writer Greg Sargent join Molly and Andy.  If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes its just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The New Abnormal has a new co-host: political commentator Andy Levy! He joins Molly Jong-Fast in his first hosted episode of The New Abnormal to talk about a new Cuomo TV pitch for director Ryan Murphy and the only thing Kevin McCarthy is good at. Plus! New York DA candidate (and former Andrew Cuomo opponent) Zephyr Teachout recounts the ways that she experienced the “scary” part of Cuomo’s leadership style and WaPo’s Dana Milbank explains that very depressing media report about Biden vs Trump coverage.If you haven't heard, every single week The New Abnormal does a special bonus episode for Beast Inside, the Daily Beast’s membership program. where Sometimes we interview Senators like Cory Booker or the folks who explain our world in media like Jim Acosta or Soledad O’Brien. Sometimes we just have fun and talk to our favorite comedians and actors like Busy Phillips or Billy Eichner and sometimes it's just discussing the fuckery. You can get all of our episodes in your favorite podcast app of choice by becoming a Beast Inside member where you’ll support The Beast’s fearless journalism. Plus! You’ll also get full access to podcasts and articles. To become a member head to newabnormal.thedailybeast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.