Podcasts about Authoritarianism

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

For this episode, Robin examines the fundamental differences between liberalism and progressivism and why understanding this divide is critical for 2028.Key topics include: Why Republicans fall in line while Democrats fracture over purity tests, the data showing disruptive protest tactics reduce public support by 15%, and how protest votes intended to help Gaza enabled Trump's return and Gaza's devastation. With 31 Nobel laureates warning about fascism, Yale historians fleeing to Canada, and a Democracy Index rating the U.S. at 55/100 (authoritarian territory), ideological purity has become dangerous. With democracy itself at stake, coalition building must supersede purity politics.In this episode, Robin argues that while liberals and progressives share end goals, such as universal healthcare, climate action, workers' rights, racial justice...their strategic disagreements determine electoral outcomes. Compromise isn't betrayal; it's how democracy functions.Keywords: liberal vs progressive, democratic party divide, why democrats lose elections, electoral strategy 2028, progressive purity politics, coalition building, capitalism vs socialism, free speech vs cancel culture, identity politics, incrementalism vs revolution, protest tactics effectiveness, political compromise, Gaza protest votes, Republican electoral strategy, swing state politics, moderate vs progressive, political pragmatism, deplatforming debate, working class voters, political podcast, 2028 election analysis, authoritarianism warning, voting strategy, ideological purity critiqueSources: Pew Research (2021), Ruy Teixeira/The Liberal Patriot, Matthew Yglesias/The Atlantic, Ezra Klein/NYT, Democracy Index 2025, 31 Nobel Laureates fascism letterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-saw-the-devil-crime-political-analysis--4433638/support.Website: http://www.wesawthedevil.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/wesawthedevilDiscord: https://discord.gg/X2qYXdB4Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/WeSawtheDevilInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/wesawthedevilpodcast.

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

In this Friday Night Live on 16 January 2026, Stefan Molyneux talks about his thoughts on aging in his 60th year. He examines the fallout from the COVID pandemic, from disputes over vaccinations to the mental toll they took. He points to the value of sharp reasoning and personal accountability, warns against authoritarian control, and calls on people to defend their views with straightforward honesty.GET FREEDOMAIN MERCH! https://shop.freedomain.com/SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxFollow me on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@freedomain1GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025

In this week's bonus show, Keith and Matthew take a couple calls from the hotline, plus provide their comments on the escalating tensions between the US citizens and the authoritarian ICE agents.If you want to call in to the Bonus Show, leave a voicemail at (530) 332-8020. We'll get to your calls on next Friday's Bonus Show. Or, you can email Matthew at matthew@quoir.com.Join The Quollective today, and use Promo Code "heretic" to save an additional 10% off a yearly subscription (which is already 10% off a monthly subscription).Pick up Keith and Matt's book, Reading Romans Right, today!Please consider signing up to financially support the Network: QuoirCast on PatreonIf you want to be a guest on the show, email keith@quoir.com.LINKSQuoirCast on PatreonQuoirCast on Patheos Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Synopsis:  A leading voice in feminist philosophy, Donna Haraway joins Laura for an incisive discussion on challenging patriarchal norms and cultivating a more inclusive understanding of humanity, one that prioritizes accountability and empathy in an increasingly complex world.This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donateDescription: “Thinking requires action and passion,” says feminist philosopher and scholar, Donna Haraway in this unique conversation. In her 1985 essay “A Cyborg Manifesto” and 2003 work, “The Companion Species Manifesto”, Haraway challenged patriarchal, capitalist, binary, species-ist ways of looking at the world. It's no surprise that people are looking to her work again now. Generative thinking, she tells Laura, requires “taking the risk to try a new pattern; to invent something that may very well fall apart in your collective hands but leaves threads to be picked up again.” In this episode, Haraway and Flanders sit down for an expansive conversation about what it means to be human in an age of AI and resisting what she calls authoritarian “mono-thought.” Plus, a commentary from Laura on staying in the present and “staying with the trouble.”“An individual is embedded deeply in worlds with other people, with other organisms, with living and non-living parts of the world. To be a self is to come to a thicker appreciation and accountability for the way we're embedded in the world and act in the world. That's what I mean by being a proper self.” - Donna HarawayGuest:  Donna Haraway, Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of California Santa Cruz, History of Consciousness Department; Author, A Cyborg Manifesto, When Species Meet, Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the ChthuluceneWatch the episode released on YouTube; PBS World Channel 11:30am ET Sundays and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio (check here to see if your station airs the show) & available as a podcast January 21st, 2026.Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. Music Credit:  'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, 'Steppin' by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperSupport Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriendsRESOURCES:*Recommended book:“The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness” by Donna Haraway: *Get the book(*Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. The LF Show is an affiliate of bookshop.org and will receive a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.)Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  Pride Pioneers Holly Hughes & Esther Newton: How Queer Kinship Ties Help Us Survive: Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut•  Survival Guide for Humans Learned from Marine Mammals with Alexis Pauline Gumbs:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation•  “Powerlands”: Indigenous Youth Fight Big Oil & Gas Worldwide:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation Related Articles and Resources:•  Donna Haraway:  Story Telling for Earthly Survival by Fabrizo Terranova - Watch•  Making Oddkin:  Story Telling for Earthly Survival lecture at Yale - Watch•  You Are Cyborg by Hair Kunzru, February 1, 1997, WIRED•  Donna Haraway, Erasmus laureate 2025 at the Next Nature Museum, November 21, 2025, by Next Nature•  Rethinking Humanity with Donna Haraway:  A Cyborg Manifesto for the AI Age, August 18, 2025, Philosopheasy   Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

This week, Jeremi and Zachary discuss the implications of US intervention in Venezuela with Professor Kurt Weyland, examining the Monroe Doctrine's historical context, the interplay of realist and idealist motives, and the uncertain future of Venezuelan politics. Dr. Kurt Weyland is the Mike Hogg Professor in Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin.  He has conducted original research in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela. Prof. Weyland is the author of seven books, including: The Politics of Market Reform in Fragile Democracies (Princeton, 2002); Making Waves: Democratic Contention in Europe and Latin America(Cambridge, 2014); Assault on Democracy: Communism, Fascism, and Authoritarianism during the Interwar Years (Cambridge, 2021); and Democracy's Resilience to Populism's Threat (Cambridge, 2024).

Democrats position for a 2026 landslide as Marc Elias details how to stop Trump's lawlessness and Maine's Graham Platner explains real resistance to ICE authoritarianism.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

Thank you Dana DuBois, Donna Dupont, Marg KJ, Carolyn S Whitsell, M Hope, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.* Democrats poised for a landslide in 2026 midterms but …: [More]* Democracy Docket Founder Marc Elias on how to stop a lawless Trump: [More]* After Collins's comments on ICE in Maine, Platner Explains How to Actually Fight ‘Aut… To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

(Part 2)

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Shikha Dalmia joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about her career in journalism from India to The Detroit News to founding The UnPopulist, a Substack publication defending free and open societies against forms of authoritarianism.

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Grandpa Trump looked like he was losing the pep in his step at the end of the year. But with him threatening the independence of the Fed, justifying the killing of an American in cold blood for teasing a federal agent, and toying with the idea of taking an ownership stake in oil companies, he's now dramatically ratcheting up his authoritarian tendencies. At the same time, he's losing sight of America First through his Venezuela distraction—and opening the door to challenges from MAGA true believers like Steve Bannon. Plus, Dems are playing a good hand in Alaska with Mary Peltola, Bill is a resist lib, and the heartwarming desire for freedom from the Iranian people.Bill Kristol joins Tim Miller.show notes Monday's "Morning Shots," including Mark Hertling's contribution Mary Peltola's Senate campaign launch

#podcast #politics #progressives #Democrats #Republicans #MAGA #Trump #Vance #ICE #Immigration #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #Donors #Oligarchy #WorkingClass #PoliticalViolence #WhiteChristianNationalism #Fascism #Authoritarianism #HaleyStevens #DemocraticSocialism #Democracy #LeftofLansingHere's the Left of Lansing "Monday Musing" for January 12, 2026.Pat Johnston muses about inflicting cruelty and violence on both undocumented citizens AND American citizens is part of the Trump Regime's authoritarianism goal of silencing opposition. That's why several Democrats including Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens were completely derelict in their duty to oppose the Trump Regime's authoritarianism from the start. While progressive Democrats and Democratic Socialists are standing-up for those who don't have power in this scary time in American history, too many corporate Democrats believed capitulating to Authoritarianism was the best play. Please, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!leftoflansing@gmail.comLeft of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!leftoflansing.comMusic provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardNOTES:"In a year, ICE arrested over 2,300 in Michigan – from teens at home to a dad getting coffee." By Rose White of MLive "Detroit councilwoman calls for limits on ICE operations following Minneapolis shooting." By WXYT News, Channel 7 in Detroit

The year 2026 begins with the end of pretense.In this kickoff episode of Boiler Room, host Bryan “Hesher” McClain is joined by Adam “Ruckus” Clark, Bazed-Lit Analyzer, Mystical Pharaoh, and Mark Anderson to examine what can no longer be denied: the transition from covert influence to open empire.As Venezuela becomes the focal point of overt regime-change language—justified openly by energy control and corporate interests—the illusion of “rules-based order” collapses in real time. From U.S. officials admitting the real motives at the UN, to media outlets reframing intervention as necessity, the show traces how empire now speaks plainly.But this isn't just a foreign policy story.The same logic driving intervention abroad is returning home: militarized enforcement, narrative warfare, AI-driven propaganda, and government behavior increasingly treated as spectacle—甚至 wagered on in real-time prediction markets.From the symbolic death of MTV to deepfake politics, from Greenland to Cuba, from ICE violence to betting on press briefings, this episode sets the tone for the year ahead.No illusions.No euphemisms.No disguises.Welcome to open empire.Support:Support BOILER ROOM & ACRPatreon (Join and become a member)Shop BOILER ROOM Merch Store

Donald Trump is openly warning Republicans that losing the midterms could lead to his impeachment — and Democrats are proving him right by refusing to act. This video breaks down how Democratic leadership's obsession with “electability” and swing-district politics has turned impeachment from a constitutional duty into a taboo topic. When a president threatens elections, intimidates opponents, and dismisses public opinion, accountability isn't optional — it's the foundation of democracy. By avoiding impeachment of Trump and his enablers, Democrats aren't protecting the system. They're normalizing its collapse. Independent media has never been more important. Please support this channel by subscribing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 Join this channel with a membership for exclusive early access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Buy Anthony's microphone: https://kellards.com/products/electro-voice-re20-broadcast-announcer-microphone-black-bundle-with-mic-shockmount-broadcast-arm Buy Anthony's black t'shirt: https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/products/E455365-000/00?colorDisplayCode=09 Five Minute News is an Evergreen Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Visit us online at http://www.fiveminute.news Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the First Amendment right to free and protected speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HRP is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3), and the views expressed by our guests are their own and do not constitute an endorsement.“Who's the most dangerous person in the world? Is it Chairman Kim, is it Xi Jinping?” The most dangerous person in the world is Randi Weingarten. It's not a close call.” At least, that's what Mike Pompeo, the former CIA Director and former US Secretary of State, told a reporter in 2022.Three years later, Randi Weingarten's rebuttal takes the form of a book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy, in which the long-time President of the American Federation of Teachers, representing nearly 2 million members, mounts a defense of democracy, teachers, and our public schools, arguing that “Public schools are laboratories of civil society and, at their best, embody the multifaith, multiracial coexistence that is our nation's best future…Fascists fear teachers because education is essential to democracy.”At its core are conjoined and fundamental questions I think we took for granted, until recently, as settled consensus in the United States of America: What is democracy? What is the role of public schools in a pluralistic democratic nation, and why are both worth keeping?To help us answer these questions and understand why fascists fear teachers is none other than AFT President, Randi Weingarten.Why Fascists Fear Teachers (AFT website)

ROOTS OF THE REVOLUTION Colleague Nilo Tabrizy. The historical context of the 1953 coup against Mossadegh, the alienation of the Pahlavi dynasty, and the recurring cycle of foreign interference and internal authoritarianism. NUMBER 71902 PERSIA

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

The Madness of King Trump: NATO, Venezuela, Greenland & a Nation on the Brink | The Karel Cast Is this still politics—or has it crossed into something far more dangerous? Venezuela's president claims he was kidnapped while insisting he remains in power. Colombia is on high alert, warning it will fight back if provoked. Denmark issues a chilling warning: if Donald Trump makes a move on Greenland, NATO itself could collapse. This isn't exaggeration anymore. This is the Madness of King Trump. If Congress fails to act, the consequences could be irreversible—not just for democracy, but for whether the United States even survives another 250 years. The warning signs are flashing everywhere. Plus: • A fatal mountain lion attack near a national park after months of “menacing” behavior—and why I'm unapologetically on Team Lion • A heartbreaking story of a mother who lost her son after he followed advice from a chatbot—why blind faith in AI is dangerous Sharp analysis. Uncomfortable truths. No sugarcoating. The Karel Cast is supported by viewer donations at patreon.com/reallykarel Please watch, like, subscribe, and share at youtube.com/reallykarel The show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Spreaker, and more—Monday through Thursday at 10:30 AM PT, and on TikTok and Instagram. Broadcasting from Las Vegas with my service girl Ember—this is The Karel Cast. #Trump, #KingTrump, #PoliticalCrisis, #WorldNews, #NATO, #Greenland, #Venezuela, #Colombia, #USPolitics, #DemocracyInDanger, #Authoritarianism, #GlobalConflict, #PoliticalCommentary, #TheKarelCast, #NewsAnalysis, #AIethics, #ChatGPT, #MountainLion, #NationalParks, #CurrentEvents https://youtube.com/live/kGda_cUYKUA

An Unhinged President Crosses a Red Line: Is America Now at War? | The Karel Cast An out-of-control President has crossed an unthinkable line — invading a sovereign nation, detaining its President and First Lady, and declaring the United States will “run the country” indefinitely. That isn't diplomacy. It's an undeclared act of war, a violation of U.S. and international law, and a chilling step toward modern-day colonization. Even more disturbing? Congress is largely silent, slow-walking its response while one man accumulates extraordinary power. How does this end? Who finally steps up to challenge it? Plus — the devastating Swiss fire tragedy. As investigators search for causes and accountability, Karel asks an uncomfortable but necessary question after watching the footage: Why didn't they run? Is it shock, youth, denial — or something deeper about how we respond to danger? Also in this episode: • A sharp pet-peeve illustration • Leo questions whether Americans still have the stomach for one long-standing national tradition This is urgent, unsettling, and essential conversation. The Karel Cast is supported by viewers like you at patreon.com/reallykarel

Filmmaker Petra Costa and producer Alessandra Orofino join Frank Schaeffer to explore how evangelical movements fused with authoritarian politics in Brazil—and why the same forces are reshaping democracy in the United States.Watch Apocalypse in the TropicsI have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said. Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth. Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. The Gospel of Zip will be released in print and on Amazon Kindle, and as a full video on YouTube and Substack that you can watch or listen to for free.Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of The Gospel of Zip. Learn more at https://www.thegospelofzip.com/Follow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube. https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTube In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

The Henry and Lisa Manoucheri Parsha Shiur  Parshas VaY'chi (2025 - Teves תשפ״ו)  Obliterating Internal and External Authoritarianism Plus  The Journey from Religion to JUDAISM 

In his forthcoming book The Nerd Reich Gil Duran explains why tech billionaires have soured on democracy, how deeply they are rooted in contemporary politics and what that means for all of us.PLUS: Second City alumni Jayne Eastwood and Robin Duke reflect on 50 years of comedy and friendshipPrescriptions for museums, galleries and concerts can tackle illness in ways healthcare providers can'tActor and activist George Takei talks about coming out at age 68 in his new memoirRiffed from the Headlines, our weekly musical news quiz

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

While Democracy Works is on winter break, we're bringing you an episode from our colleagues at The Context, a podcast from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and a fellow member of The Democracy Group podcast network. Host Alex Lovit looks back at the advice from the show's guests this year about how everyday people can get involved in fighting authoritarianism and encouraging citizen engagement. You'll hear from:Ece Temelkuran, Turkish writer and author of  How To Lose a Country, the Seven Steps From Democracy to FascismDaniel Hunter, educator with Freedom Trainers and director of Choose Democracy,Deva Woodly, professor of political science at Brown University and nonresident fellow at KetteringMaria Stephan, co-lead and chief organizer at Horizons ProjectSharon L. Davies, president and CEO of the Charles F. Kettering FoundationSteven Levitsky, professor of government at Harvard and co-author of How Democracies DieJohn C. Yang,  president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing JusticeWe hope this episode leaves you feeling inspired about what you can do to strengthen democracy in 2026 and beyond. Thank you to the team at The Context for sharing it with us! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We speak to Mansoor Ali Shah, who served as the Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan until just last month. Shah is one of two judges who resigned after parliament passed a constitutional amendment that curbed its remit and will no longer allow the Supreme Court to hear constitutional cases. The judges say the reform “stands as a grave assault on the constitution”. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What are the legal implications of the unprecedented mass pardoning of the January 6th rioters? What does it say about American rule of law? President Biden's DOJ prosecuted nearly 1,600 of the January 6, 2021, rioters—many for acts of shocking violence against police and government offices. On January 20, newly sworn-in President Trump, in one of his first official acts, issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all of the rioters charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol attack. He pardoned most defendants and commuted the sentences of 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia, most of whom had been convicted of seditious conspiracy. The response from some of these violent rioters since the pardons has been alarming.“The people who did this, they need to feel the heat. We need to find and put them behind bars for what they did,” said Enrique Tarrio, the former national Proud Boys leader, sentenced to a 22-year sentence on seditious conspiracy charges, on Alex Jones' podcast soon after his pardon. Our guests today are Stanford Law Professor Shirin Sinnar and former DOJ prosecutor Brendan Ballou.Sinnar's scholarship, including a recent study of hate groups, focuses on the legal treatment of political violence, the procedural dimensions of civil rights litigation, and the role of institutions in protecting individual rights and democratic values in the national security contextBallou was a lawyer at the Department of Justice for five years. He resigned on January 23 soon after President Trump's pardons. In a New York Times opinion essay, he wrote: “For while some convicted rioters seem genuinely remorseful, and others appear simply ready to put politics behind them, many others are emboldened by the termination of what they see as unjust prosecutions. Freed by the president, they have never been more dangerous.” He graduated from Stanford Law in 2016.Links:Shirin Sinnar >>> Stanford Law pageNew York Times piece by Brendan Ballou >>> I Prosecuted the Capitol Rioters. They Have Never Been More Dangerous.Connect:Episode Transcripts >>> Stanford Legal Podcast WebsiteStanford Legal Podcast >>> LinkedIn PageRich Ford >>>  Twitter/XPam Karlan >>> Stanford Law School PageStanford Law School >>> Twitter/XStanford Lawyer Magazine >>> Twitter/X(00:00:00) The January 6th Prosecutions and the Pardon Power(00:06:26) Rewriting History and the Threat of Political Violence (00:11:56) The Future of Political Violence in the U.S. (17:24) Addressing Militia Violence and Legal Gaps(21:37) State-Level Prosecutions and Risks of Expanding Criminal Laws(25:27) Pardons, Political Violence, and Historical Parallels   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

VENEZUELA'S TRAGIC DECLINE FROM PROSPERITY TO AUTHORITARIANISM Colleague Professor Evan Ellis. Historical imagery reveals Venezuela's transformation from a prosperous, modern nation in the 1950s to a ruined state today. Deep inequality and corruption in the pre-Chavez era alienated the poor, allowing Hugo Chavez to capitalize on their frustration and dismantle the free market system, leading to the current crisis. NUMBER 6 1948 CARACAS

While, maybe, in murky legal waters, Attorney General Pam Bondi is building out the infrastructure for greater spying, policing and prosecution of social movements, and anyone else deemed an enemy of the state. It instructs agents, analysts, and grant makers what to do next and with whom, and those orders will hit real people and organizations almost immediately.In our latest, Scott talks with return guest Adam Federman (@adamfederman) to discuss NPMS-7 and the recently released "Bondi Memo" rewriting of past civil liberties guardrails. Bio//Adam Federman works at Type Investigations as a reporting fellow. He has written extensively on corporate and police spying on environmental activists, much of which has appeared in the Guardian. He's also been published in Politico Magazine, the Nation, The Washington Post, Wired, Columbia Journalism Review, Adirondack Life, and Gastronomica. ------------------------------

One of 2025's most memorable images was of Silicon Valley's billionaire CEOs lined up in the front rows at President Donald Trump's inauguration. It was visual proof of the tech industry's embrace of MAGA's authoritarian-style of politics — one it has benefited from considerably over the last year. Author and neuroscientist Sam Harris has been using his podcast, “Making Sense,” to talk about the ways tech moguls are corroding our politics, and although he used to be close with some of them, he's become a vocal critic of their support for Trump. Kara and Sam talk about why he thinks the left is to blame for the tech billionaires' shift to the right, why all of us are bad at sorting through the glut of information we find online, and the potential risks that come with the Trump administration's hands-off approach to A.I. They also talk about what possible tech regulation could look like, and whether everyday people stand a chance against tech oligarchs and their platforms.  (Please note: This interview was recorded before President Trump signed an executive order to block states from passing A.I. regulation.) Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel Maddow hosts a prime time special event with historian Timothy Snyder about the rise of authoritarianism and how we can meet the moment. (Recorded on November 21, 2025 at the Harris Theater in Chicago's Millennium Park) Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brad and Dan return to unpack another week of chaos, contradictions, and creeping authoritarianism in American politics. They open with what seems like a small story but carries outsized symbolic weight: the State Department's decision to ditch Calibri and return to Times New Roman. It's a font change driven not by aesthetics but by politics, revealing how the Trump administration is using even bureaucratic details to signal exclusion, target accessibility, and roll back DEI efforts. What looks trivial becomes a window into the deeper logic of authoritarian control. From there, the conversation widens to the issues shaping the country's political landscape. Brad and Dan examine ICE's ever expanding budget, the ongoing manipulation of the election system through voter roll purges and gerrymandering, and a string of contentious congressional hearings, including Kristi Noem's abrupt walkout and the FBI's admission that it cannot define Antifa as a coherent organizational threat. They also discuss Trump's increasingly explicit racist and misogynistic rhetoric and the striking silence from GOP leaders who once claimed to stand for democratic norms. Despite the bleak headlines, Brad and Dan highlight signs that Trump's influence may be eroding. They point to GOP resistance emerging in places like Indiana, rumblings of discontent within the Heritage Foundation, and encouraging gains for Democrats in state legislatures and mayoral races. But they also wrestle with the central tension of the moment: does Trump's declining popularity matter if structural control continues to consolidate beneath him. Can the MAGA movement build enduring institutions, or is it fundamentally a brittle coalition held together by grievance and spectacle. Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 1000+ episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163 Subscribe to Teología Sin Vergüenza Subscribe to American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicolle Wallace is joined by Fmr. Senator Claire McCaskill and John Heilemann to cover Trump boasting about taking more cognitive tests and how he has “ACED” them all four (or was it three?) times. Later, tennis legend Martina Navratilova joins Nicolle to talk about Navratilova's frustration with what Donald Trump is doing to America.For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewhTo listen to this show and other MS NOW podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.