The New Abnormal

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, 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 Salmon 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 Jamele 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. Kamal 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.