Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen

Mea Culpa welcomes back the legendary David Corn. Corn, a veteran Washington journalist, is the Bureau Chief of Mother Jones and an on-air analyst for MSMBC. Corn and Michael Isikoff “co-authored, “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump”. He's also the author of four New York Times best-selling books and was the long-time Washington editor for “The Nation”. Check out his twice weekly newsletter “Our Land” that covers the news of the day and delivers his no-BS analysis on everything from DC politics to entertainment — Corn has been published in too many times to name, but his latest bestseller,” American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy” is a must-read for anyone interested in history and setting the record straight. Michael and David dig deep into the new GOP reign of the house, Jim Jordan, and the IRS.

Mea Culpa welcomes back, Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and an independent political strategist. A veteran public affairs and political commentator with more than 20 years of experience. Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. Galen has spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100 and 1000 companies in need of high-level counsel in the fields of strategic communications, procurement, and legislation. In addition to his private sector work, Reed has managed several high-profile ballot measure campaigns in California, Texas, and Colorado – Before moving to the private sector, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain's presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both of President George W. Bush campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. Michael and Reed dig into Kevin McCarthy, the documents, George Santos, and immigration.

This week Mea Culpa welcomes the legendary actor, comedian, director, and producer Henry Winkler. Best known for his iconic turn as “The Fonze” on Happy Days and more recently for his Emmy-nominated role on the hit comedy “Barry”, playing beloved acting teacher Gene Cousineau. And before that, he was a staple on “Arrested Development”, “Hank Zipzer” and Winkler even appeared as himself on “Bojack Horseman”. All told, Winkler's accolades include a Primetime Emmy, two Daytime Emmys, two Golden Globes, and a Critics Choice Award. Not bad. He's a Yale “School of Drama” Grad and his acting career spans 6 decades. He has performed in both dramatic and comedic roles, in film television, and on stage. Though one might say he is the quintessential character actor. He's done several pictures with his buddy Adam Sandler including, “Little Nicky” and “Don't Mess with the Zohan” and has continued to collaborate with his “Happy Day”s cohort, Ron Howard. Journalist Michael Schneider said recently, that "the rumors are true," Winkler is "one of the nicest, most genuine men in all of Hollywood.” Michael and Henry Winkler talk about their family life, their careers, and of course politics.

Mea Culpa welcomes Amanda Moore.  Amanda lost her job and made the decision to go undercover into MAGA world on her dime. Amanda went to QAnon events and CPAC, hanging with the Proud Boys and Neo Nazis leading up to the Jan 6, Capitol Riot. Eventually, her cover was blown and Amanda began to share her story. Michael and Amanda dive deep into what Amanda learned from her year undercover. 

Mea Culpa welcomes for the first time, The Brooklyn Dad Defiant, otherwise known as BDD. BDD is a left-wing political commentator on Twitter, YouTube, and various other social media platforms. His outspoken defiance and often humorous take on the Trump administration have earned him over 900,000 Twitter followers. Since the riots at the Capitol on January 6, BDD has used his platform to bring attention to GOP lawmakers like Lauren Boebert and Ted Cruz, asking that they face consequences for their actions in connection to the insurrection. He calls himself a proud papa who is perpetually pissed. Michael and the BDD talk about the perils of social media, the first amendment, and the future of Twitter and Elon Musk.

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that Eisen doesn't have an educated opinion about. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and others like him broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and thrive once Putin's war has ended. So, let's go now to my conversation with Norm Eisen. Michael and Norm dig into Trump's legal woes and what the upcoming year in politics will look like. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back to our show, intrepid newsman, Ali Velshi. Host of “Velshi” and seemingly the favorite fill-in host of every other MSNBC Prime Time News Show. Velshi also reported live from the frontlines of the George Floyd protests, and most recently he dodged incoming fire from Russian artillery when he fearlessly reported live from the frontlines in Ukraine. And the Coasts of Florida during the recent Hurricane Ian. concerned citizen of the world, Velshi seems to be everywhere there is an injustice. He has been a contributor at CNN, Al Jazeera America, and NBC to name a few. Velshi is a prolific writer and has written books, articles, and columns for newspapers and monthly publications throughout the northern hemisphere. Michael and Ali dive into voter rights, Trump's legal matters, and potential presidential run. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back Mr. “Justice Matters” himself, Glenn Kirschner. Kirschner is a former prosecutor with 30 years of trial experience and with it he brings analysis and insight to legal issues of the day, drawing from his experience as a federal prosecutor, homicide prosecutor, and Army JAG. Glenn is an NBC News contributor and MSNBC legal analyst. He also teaches criminal law at George Washington University. Catch his great shows Capitol Crimes with Glenn Kirschner and Justice Matters on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Michael and Glenn discuss in-depth Trump's legal woes and the courts.

Mea Culpa welcomes for the first time, Andrew Yang. Yang is an entrepreneur businessman, attorney, lobbyist, and politician, who championed universal basic income during his 2020 run for the presidency. Yang proved to be a surprisingly popular candidate, who developed a following known as the “Yang Gang” during the Democratic primaries, though Yang has since founded his own 3rd party known as the “Forward Party”. Yang was born to Taiwanese parents in New York, graduated from Columbia Law School, became an entrepreneur, founded two nonprofit organizations and was named a “Champion of Change” by the Obama administration. Yang ran for mayor of New York City in 2021 and has shown support for innovative ideas like ranked-choice voting, open primaries, and human-centered capitalism. Michael and Andrew discuss the future of the democratic party and 2024. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Elie Honig, acclaimed author of the National Bestseller, “Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr broke the prosecutor's code and corrupted the Justice Department”. Honig is also a CNN Senior Legal Analyst, and a former federal and state prosecutor. You may also know him from his popular podcasts, “Up Against the Mob” and/or “Cafe Brief”. As a New Jersey federal prosecutor, Honig directed major criminal cases against street gangs, arms dealers, and even a few corrupt politicians. He was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he successfully prosecuted more than 100 members of La Cosa Nostra, including bosses and other high-ranking members of the Gambino and Genovese organized crime families. Honig leverages all his prosecutorial experience to keep the public informed and as fodder for his excellent new book “Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It”. Be sure to pick up a copy when it comes out in January of 2023. Michael and Elie discuss everything from antisemitism, racism, and why powerful people are untouchable.

Mea Culpa welcomes back, Bakari Sellers, a CNN political commentator who made history as the youngest-ever member of the South Carolina State legislature at the age of just twenty-two. Sellers has been named one of the nation's most influential African Americans and became a New York Times best-selling author with his memoir, “My Vanishing Country”. Sellers is known for his sharp political and social analysis informed by his first-hand experience both inside the Democratic Party and as a practicing lawyer and lobbyist. Sellers has tirelessly worked on progressive policies that address issues ranging from education and poverty to preventing domestic violence and childhood obesity. He is seen as one of the rising stars in politics and a sought-after public speaker, who has addressed hundreds of organizations including the NAACP, and the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Michael and Bakari discuss, antisemitism, racism, the new GOP majority in the house, and the direction of the leadership in the Democratic party.

This is a special encore episode of Mea Culpa with Norm Eisen. Michael and Norm dive into the midterms, voter's rights, and Trump's legal woes.

This is a special encore episode of Mea Culpa with Reed Galen. Michael and Reed dive into what the midterms meant and what the future looks like for the GOP.

Mea Culpa welcomes one of the most influential spiritual leaders living today. Sadhguru is the founder and head of the Isha Foundation, based in Coimbatore, India. The foundation, established in 1992, has ashrams and yoga centers all over the world and provides education and spiritual connection for anyone seeking it. Sadhguru has been teaching yoga since 1982. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy and Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny and is a frequent speaker at international forums. Sadhguru also advocates for protecting the environment against climate change, leading many initiatives like Project GreenHands, Rally for Rivers, Cauvery Calling, and the Journey to Save Soil. In 2017, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, for his contributions to spirituality and humanitarian services. Michael and Sadhguru discuss climate change, world leaders, Karma, and how to let go and move on from anger and from being a victim. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back Brian Tyler Cohen, progressive commentator and the host and creator of the popular podcast “No Lie” where Brian covers breaking political stories and sits down with major players in the world of politics, promising to bring you the news straight with no disinformation, and no lies. His guests have included, Vice President, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, and White House chief of staff, Ron Klain. Cohen is amongst the most watched commentators in the country and can be found on all the major platforms including YouTube where he has a million and a half followers, Instagram and Twitter. Brian once an actor and writer, left it behind to doggedly criticize Fox News, Donald Trump, and anyone on any side of the political spectrum spreading lies and disinformation. Michael and Brian dig deep into the midterms and what the future of democracy will look like. 

Today we welcome back to the show, Michael Smerconish, the host of CNN's eponymously titled "Smerconish." When he's not dishing common sense on the small screen you can catch Smerconish on Sirius XM where his radio show airs daily. Make sure to check out his amazing newsletter which curates the top 20 stories of the day from a wide variety of sources. Check out he and Michael as they chop up the midterm results and see what's next for both parties.

Mea Culpa welcomes back to our show, Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and an independent political strategist. Galen is a veteran public affairs and political analyst with more than 20 years of experience, Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. He's spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100, and 1000 companies in need of high-level counsel in the fields of strategic communications, procurement, and legislation. In addition to his private sector work, Reed has managed several high-profile ballot measure campaigns in California, Texas, and Colorado before moving to the private sector, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain's presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both of President George W. Bush's campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. Micheal and Reed dissect the results of the midterms. 

Mea Culpa is thrilled to present Part 2 of our first-ever LIVE SHOW recorded at the El Rey Theatre on November 1st, 2022. With comedian actress and activist Kathy Griffin. Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy winner who's been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing and starring in an unprecedented 23 televised stand-up specials!!! Griffin has been twice on the New York Times best-seller list and performed for sold-out crowds around the globe. Also joining Michael is Harry Litman, the former US Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Litman is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. Harry can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR MSNBC, and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast. To round out our top-shelf lineup is the former national media director for the Oath Keepers Jason Van Tatenhove. Van Tatenhove testified before the January 6th Committee and is the author of the upcoming book, “The Perils of Extremism …How I Left the Oath Keepers and Why We Should be Concerned about a Future Civil War”. Van Tatenhove has been instrumental in helping the country understand more about the inner workings of extremist para-military groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys and he's currently hosting his own podcast and writing weekly articles for the Colorado Switchblade. This panel of excellent guests discusses everything from being canceled to what to expect from the midterms. This special episode is hilarious and off the cuff. Enjoy!

Mea Culpa is thrilled to present Part 1 of our first-ever LIVE SHOW recorded at the El Rey Theatre on November 1st, 2022. With comedian actress and activist Kathy Griffin. Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy winner who's been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for writing and starring in an unprecedented 23 televised stand-up specials!!! Griffin has been twice on the New York Times best-seller list and performed for sold-out crowds around the globe. Also joining Michael is Harry Litman, the former US Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Litman is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times and a professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. Harry can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR MSNBC, and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast. To round out our top-shelf lineup is the former national media director for the Oath Keepers Jason Van Tatenhove. Van Tatenhove testified before the January 6th Committee and is the author of the upcoming book, “The Perils of Extremism …How I Left the Oath Keepers and Why We Should be Concerned about a Future Civil War”. Van Tatenhove has been instrumental in helping the country understand more about the inner workings of extremist para-military groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys and he's currently hosting his own podcast and writing weekly articles for the Colorado Switchblade. This panel of excellent guests discusses everything from being canceled to what to expect from the midterms. This special episode is hilarious and off the cuff. Enjoy!

Mea Culpa welcomes back to the show our good friend, Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that he doesn't have an opinion about. His recent book, "Overcoming Trumpery” is a great read, especially as we get into the midterms and watch Republican candidates try to mimic Trumpian tactics to get elected. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics and government reform. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and his cronies broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. Eisen is also working with the Brookings Institute to help Ukraine recover and progress now and hopefully post Putin's war. As we always say, Eisen is a witness to history. Michael and Norm dig deep into the upcoming midterms, the rise of antisemitism, and Trump's legal woes.

A terrifying episode that looks into the heart of the GOP's relentless attack on democracy. We unpack Barton Gellman's urgent Atlantic Monthly jeremiad on how Trump will subvert the next election and how the Dems are letting it happen. Later, former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi joins Mea Culpa to discuss the radical right wing threat.

Mea Culpa welcomes back Rick Wilson, longtime Republican political strategist, turned Lincoln Project co-founder, and zealous anti-Trump activist. His regular column with The Daily Beast is a hilarious and spot-on must-read in the political community. Rick's been published in The Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, The London Spectator, Rolling Stone, The New York Daily News, USA Today, The Bulwark and beyond and he's constantly called upon for sharp political insights on the national news networks, including CNN and MSNBC. He's also a fan favorite on Real Time with Bill Maher. A 30-year veteran of politics, Rick got his start in the 1988 Presidential campaign of George Herbert Walker Bush. And since has produced groundbreaking advertising and provided strategic counsel to political campaigns across the nation and around the world. Rick is also a best-selling author, his latest book is “Running against the Devil” and his #1 New York Times, best-seller, “Everything Trump Touches Dies” that defined the Trump era. Michael and Rick dig deep into the upcoming midterms, the January 6th committee and Trump.

Mea Culpa welcomes back the intrepid newsman, Ali Velshi. Host of “Velshi” and seemingly favorite fill-in host of every other MSNBC Prime Time News Show. Velshi also reported live from the frontlines of the George Floyd protests and most recently he dodged incoming fire from Russian artillery when he fearlessly reported live from the frontlines in Ukraine. A concerned citizen of the world, Velshi seems to be everywhere there is an injustice. I recently join Ali on his show to discuss my latest book, “Revenge.” Michael and Ali dig deep into Trump's anti-semitic dog whistle and the looming midterm elections which could reverse the work of the January 6th Committee and unleash a new wave of MAGA insanity.

Mea Culpa welcomes back our old friend David Pakman. Pakman is an exceptionally popular progressive talk show host and political commentator. He is the host of the YouTube/Twitch talk radio program The David Pakman Show. Pakman has appeared on Fox News, CNN, The Nancy Grace program, Dr. Drew on Call, and the Joe Rogan Experience. He's also been featured in Mother Jones, the Boston Herald, The New York Times, and Wired magazine. Let's go now to our conversation with David Pakman. Michael and David chat about the Mar-a-largo, the DOJ, and the upcoming midterms.

Mea Culpa welcomes back our old friend Elie Honig. Honig is a best-selling author, a CNN Senior Legal Analyst, and a former federal and state prosecutor. You may also know him from his popular podcasts, “Up Against the Mob” and/or “Cafe Brief”. As a New Jersey federal prosecutor, Honig directed major criminal cases against street gangs, arms dealers, and even a few corrupt politicians. He was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he successfully prosecuted more than 100 members of La Cosa Nostra, including bosses and other high-ranking members of the Gambino and Genovese organized crime families. And now Honig leverages all that prosecutorial experience to keep the public informed and as fodder for his latest book due out soon, entitled Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr broke the prosecutor's code and corrupted the Justice Department. Michael and Elie dig deep into Merrick Garland's DOJ, Mar-a-Largo, and the Manhattan criminal Investigation into Trump and his Business.

Mea Culpa welcomes, Alan Dershowitz, American lawyer, and author.  He also garnered attention for his involvement in numerous prominent legal cases. Dershowitz went to Yale law school where he was the editor of the Yale Law Journal. He clerked for Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, before becoming a professor at Harvard. He retired in 2013. He has worked with the ACLU for 5 decades. He defended celebrity clients like Claus Von Bulow, televangelist Jim Bakker, and OJ Simpson. In 2011 he became part of the legal team for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. And in 2020 he defended former president Trump during his Senate impeachment hearings. Dershowitz is a frequent commentator on legal issues and court proceedings on just about every news and/or political show in the nation.  He is currently a regular contributor to the Epoch Times. Michael and Alan dig into all of Trump's legal woes.

Mea Culpa welcomes Trygve Olson, a strategist for the Lincoln Project, founder of Viking Strategies which provides clients worldwide with political risk and public affairs solutions. Trygve has spent his career working on elections in over thirty countries. In the United States, he has served in senior leadership positions on three Presidential campaigns, worked on numerous Congressional Elections, and worked for all the central Republican Party's political committees. Olson is a sought-after speaker. He regularly briefs leaders in politics, business, academia, and the media. Micheal and Trygve dig deep into the upcoming Mid Terms, Tish James and DOJ.

Mea Culpa welcomes back, the groundbreaking, congressional reporter, Hugo Lowell. Lowell reports on Washington Politics for the Guardian. And has broken a number of high-profile stories about the January 6th committee's investigation, including several scoops pertaining to Mark Meadows, the “war room” at the Willard Hotel and insider facts such as; Trump ordering his advisors NOT to comply with January 6 committee subpoenas. Lowell regularly appears as a political analyst on MSNBC. And is often a guest on Morning Joe, The Beat with Ari Melber, Velshi and All In with Chris Hayes. His reporting has been cited in the Washington Post, Bloomberg and the New York Times. Michael and Hugo dig deep into the DOJ, Judge Cannon, Tish James and what's coming for the Mango Mussolini. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and an independent political strategist. Reed is a veteran public affairs and political analyst with more than 20 years of experience. Reed has been involved in politics, government, and business at the highest levels. Galen has spent more than a decade advising Fortune 50, 100, and 1000 companies in need of high-level counsel. In addition, Reed served as Deputy Campaign Manager for John McCain's presidential campaign and Deputy Campaign Manager for Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2006 re-election campaign. Galen also worked on both President George W. Bush's campaigns and served the Bush Administration at both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. Michael and Reed dig into the January the Ginni Thomas and the January 6th hearings, DeSantis, Trump, and the DOJ.

Mea Culpa welcomes acclaimed author David Enrich. Enrich is the Business Investigations Editor at the New York Times and the bestselling author of Dark Towers. He previously was an editor and reporter at the Wall Street Journal. He has won numerous journalism awards, including the 2016 Gerald Loeb Award for feature writing. His first book, “The Spider Network: How a Math Genius and Gang of Scheming Bankers Pulled Off One of the Greatest Scams in History,” was short-listed for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year award. Michael and David dive deep into Davids's New book, Servants of the Damned, an exposé of the shadowy power wielded by the world's largest law firms and how that one firm shielded opioid makers, gun companies, big tobacco, Russian oligarchs, Fox News and helped Donald Trump get elected.

Mea Culpa welcomes our old friend Harry Litman. Litman was a former US Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General and is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times Opinion Page and professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. He can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR MSNBC and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast and YouTube Channel. He's also a member of the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team find them at @CCWhistleblower. Michael and Harry dig deep into all of Trump's legal matters.

We welcome back to our show Jeet Heer, the Canadian author, comics critic, literary critic and journalist. He is the National Affairs correspondent for The Nation and the host of the weekly Nation podcast, The Time of Monsters. He also pens the monthly column Morbid Symptoms. Jeet was a former staff writer at the New Republic and has written for numerous publications including: The National Post, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, the Boston Globe and The Guardian. Jeet has written several books — his anthology “A Comic Studies Reader”, co-authored with Kent Worcester, was the winner of the Rollins Award. He joins Mea Culpa as Trump takes his authoritarian Civil War show on the road.

We welcome back to our show, political satirist and digital comedian, Walter Masterson. Walt is a progressive video content creator who has turned trolling the likes of Marjorie Taylor Green, Matt Gaetz and the whole MAGA shit-show into an art form. His recent work trolling anti-choice protestors, anti-vaxxers and MAGA Republicans brilliantly captures the idiocy of the movement. Video footage that Walt shot while working on the frontlines during the January 6th insurrection has been instrumental in helping the FBI apprehend rioters who were stupid enough to brag about their crimes on tape! Walt's hilarious and insightful work has garnered him thousands of followers on multiple platforms and pro-democracy sites, like Patriot Takes and Meidas Touch. Walt's even brave enough to interact with users who both love and hate him on Twitch and Snapchat. Currently, he's crowdsourcing for his latest venture, “Trolling Conservatives Across America”. 

We welcome back to Mea Culpa David Corn, the veteran Washington journalist, Bureau Chief from Mother Jones and an on-air analyst for MSNBC. Corn co-authored with Michael Isikoff “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump." He's also the author of three New York Times best selling books and was the long time Washington editor of “The Nation”. Check out his twice weekly newsletter “Our Land” that covers the news of the day and delivers his no-BS analysis on everything from DC politics to his entertainment recommendations. He has a new book coming out next week entitled, "American Psychosis: A Historical Investigation of How the Republican Party Went Crazy.”

Our guest today on Mea Culpa is the notorious, Cenk Uygur. Cenk is an activist, political commentator and businessman known for creating and hosting, 'The Young Turks' — a progressive online news network that supports independent journalism. He was a prolific attorney in Washington D.C. before embarking on a career as a political commentator. He enjoys a massive fan base in the USA due to his fearless activism and heated debates conducted on his show — always with a hint of satirical humor. Cenk has been seen as a political commentator on MSNBC, and before being replaced by Al Sharpton, he hosted a weeknight show on the network. He also served as the chief news officer at Current TV and succeeded Keith Olbermann. Cenk has been an activist since his college days and he has raised his voice against the oppression of minorities and Muslims in the gulf countries.

Mea Culpa welcomes political analyst, Zerlina Maxwell. Maxwell is the Director of Progressive Programming at SiriusXM and a Political Analyst for MSNBC. She's had her own show “Zerlina” on Peacock and was formerly the Director of Progressive Media for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Maxwell is also a sought-after commentator, speaker, and writer. She writes and speaks about culture, gender inequity, sexual consent, racism, and similar topics from a liberal perspective. She describes herself as a survivor of sexual assault and a "survivor activist. Catch her great daily show “Mornings with Zerlina” on XSMProgress. Michael and Zerlina discuss everything from sexism in politics to the raid on Mara Largo.

Today we have a special episode of Mea Culpa with our old friend Frank Figliuzzi. Frank is a former assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, where he served for 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the entire government. Frank is a regular contributor for NBC News and MSNBC, and also the author of the national bestseller “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau's Code of Excellence.” And check out his most recent OP-Ed on the MSNBC opinion page, entitled “There's a Reason Why Hoarding Classified Documents is a Crime." Frank breaks down for us the redacted version of the Mar-a-Lago search warrant affidavit and what it possibly means for the Mandarin Mussolini.

Mea Cupla is honored to welcome back our friend, Norm Eisen. There's pretty much nothing going on in politics today that he doesn't have an opinion about. His latest book, "Overcoming Trumpery” is a great read, especially as we gear up for the midterms and watch Republican candidates try to mimic Trumpian tactics to get elected. Eisen is a CNN Legal Analyst.  And the founder and executive chair of “States United Democracy Center”, a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Eisen served as special counsel to President Barack Obama on ethics and government reform. In that role, he was dubbed “Mr. No” and the “Ethics Czar” because he's well known for his tough anti-corruption approach to governance. Eisen is also active with the Brookings Institute and other groups working to expose the myriad of ways Trump and his cronies broke the law and attempted to overturn the 2020 election. From exposing Trump's potential crimes in Georgia — to suing the Proud Boys an...

Mea Culpa welcomes the former Oath Keeper who testified before the January 6th Committee, Jason Van Tatenhove. A one-time tattoo shop owner, Van Tatenhove studied fine art in college and as a journalist, in 2014, he embedded with the Oath Keepers while following the story of Cliven Bundy and the rancher's standoff with law enforcement.  Later, Jason went on to become the Oath Keepers National Media Director. But after being silenced by the Oath Keepers leader, Stewart Rhodes, for his support of same-sex marriage, Van Tatenhove distanced himself from the group. He did not attend or support the January 6th Insurrection, but he did the country a great service when he testified to the committee. Helping us all understand more about the inner-workings of extremist para-military groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. Michael and Jason talk about what Jason believes is coming for democracy and what it's like to work for egomaniacs.

Mea Culpa welcomes back David Corn, the veteran Washington journalist, Bureau Chief Mother of Jones, and an on-air analyst for MSNBC. Corn co-authored with Michael Isikoff “Russian Roulette, The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump. He's also the author of 3 New York Times best-selling books as was the long time Washington editor of “The Nation”. David has written for numerous magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper's, and The Atlantic. He regularly appears on Face the Nation and PBS's Newshour and often provides commentary on National Public Radio. Michael and David talk about everything from the raid on Mara Largo to Trump's legal woes to the upcoming midterms.

Mea Culpa welcomes back Ali Velshi. Host of “Velshi” and seemingly the favorite fill-in host of every other MSNBC Prime Time News Show. Velshi also reported live from the frontlines of the George Floyd protests and most recently he dodged incoming fire from Russian artillery when he fearlessly reported live from the frontlines in Ukraine. A concerned citizen of the world, Velshi seems to be everywhere there is an injustice. Velshi has been a contributor at CNN, Al Jazeera America, NBC to name a few. Velshi is a prolific writer, has written books, articles, and columns for newspapers and monthly publications throughout the northern hemisphere. Michael and Ali talk about everything from the raid on Mar-a-Lardo to Liz Cheney to Ukraine.

Mea Culpa welcomes the prolific, Jill Wine-Banks to the show. Jill is currently an MSNBC Legal Analyst, appearing regularly on primetime and daytime shows. Jill is a sought-after professional speaker, and has written numerous OpEds for NBC.com, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Politico, and the Huffington Post to name a few. Wine-Banks was at one time a prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in DC, specializing in Organized Crime. She was also one of only three Assistant Watergate Special Prosecutors and later wrote a book about it, “Watergate Girl …My Fight for Truth and Justice Against a Criminal President”. Michael and Jill dig deep into the January 6th Hearing and GOP.

Mea Culpa welcomes Victor Shi, the youngest elected Delegate for Joe Biden in 2020, he is a former White House Intern and the co-host of the iGen Politics Podcast with the distinguished Jill Wine-Banks. Shi is also a writer, speaker, organizer, activist, and a junior at UCLA, where he is majoring in American Literature and Culture. Shi is currently a communications intern at Precision Strategies and his on-air commentary and interviews have been seen on MSNBC, CNN, NBC, PBS Newshour, ABC, the Daily Herald, and the Chicago Tribune. His op-eds have been published in Newsweek, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, CNN, USA Today, The Hill, and International Business Times. Michael and Victor talk about the current state of politics and what needs to be done to get the attention of young voters.

Mea Culpa welcomes back Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor with 30 years of trial experience. Glenn brings analysis and insight to legal issues of the day, drawing from his experience as a federal prosecutor, homicide prosecutor, and Army JAG. Glenn is an NBC News and MSNBC legal analyst and teaches criminal law at GWU. Glenn also hosts Capitol Crimes with Glenn Kirschner and Justice Matters on YouTube. Michael and Glenn dig deep into conservative politics, the DOJ, and January 6th.

Mea Culpa welcomes back our good friend Harry Litman. Harry was a former US Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General and is currently the legal affairs columnist for the Los Angeles Times Opinion Page and professor of Constitutional Law at UCLA and UCSD. He can be seen as a legal and political commentator on CBS, NPR MSNBC, and CNN. Litman is also the creator and host of the Talking Feds Podcast, a must-listen for its sharp analysis of the corruption, crimes, and moral failures of the Trump era and beyond. Michael and Harry dig deep into the legalities of January 6th.

Mea Culpa welcomes Dash Dobrofsky a Gen Z political activist, creator and host of the daily podcast, “Uncovering the Truth” which seeks to “abolish corruption injustice, and evil". Dobrofsky is currently a political science major at UCLA and is also featured on the Miedas Touch. His numerous videos can be found on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Also, check out his super active Twitter feed which features over 73,000 followers. Michael and Dash discuss the future of American politics and the youth vote.

Mea Culpa welcomes Joe Walsh, a conservative republican and former Congressman who once ran for president and then blew up his life when he spoke out against the MAGA cult. Joe and I spend the next hour debating our differences, and how democrats need to learn to fight if we are going to hold onto the democracy and get America back on track.

Mea Culpa welcomes independent journalist and the creator of “Popular Information”.  Popular Information is Substack's first politically-focused publication. And features in-depth, fact-based, news and analysis from a progressive point of view. Legum, a lawyer, also founded the publication “ThinkProgressive” before leaving to work on Hillary Clinton's campaign. Judd shares with Michael his vast knowledge of the current moment and what part media plays in it all. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back Malcolm Nance, career US Navy terrorism intelligence collector, code breaker, and interrogator with wide-ranging field and combat experience and is a counterterrorism analyst for MSNBC. Nance recently released his newest book, “They Want to Kill American's: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency”. Nance uncovers facts about the insurgency— and writes about stuff that happened way before the insurrectionists attacked the Capitol on the 6th. Michael and Malcolm dig deep into January 6th and what it all means for democracy.

Mea Culpa welcome's back Joe Trippy. Trippi pioneered bringing politics into the digital age and brings an added digital component to the Lincoln Project arsenal. Trippi has worked for Democrats at every level over 4 decades – from Ted Kennedy, Walter Mondale and managing Howard Dean's groundbreaking presidential campaign in 2004. Trippi has been a media and campaign strategist for dozens of Senate and Gubernatorial campaigns including Jerry Brown's 2010 comeback campaign for Governor of California and Doug Jones' historic Senate victory in Alabama, where Jones became the first Democratic US Senator in Alabama in 25 years. His weekly podcast is “That Trippi Show”. Michael and Joe dive deep into the upcoming midterms and what the democrats need to do to win. 

Mea Culpa welcomes back Rick Wilson, longtime Republican political strategist and commentator. Since 2015, he's been a leading conservative critic of Donald Trump. Rick got his start in the 1988 Presidential campaign of George Herbert Walker Bush, and since has produced groundbreaking advertising and provided strategic counsel to political campaigns across the nation and around the world. Rick is also a best-selling author, his latest book is “Running against the Devil” and his #1 New York Times, best seller, “Everything Trump Touches Dies” that quintessentially defined the Trump era. Michael and Rick dive deep into the upcoming midterms and January 6th.