Podcasts about Democracy

Democracy Now! Monday, February 23, 2026

Democracy Now! Monday, February 23, 2026

Can Freedom Exist Without “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Phil Ittner joins Thom from Kyiv to dissect what Trump's latest blathering about an impossibly large amount of cash coming from Russia could mean for his plans to abandon Democratic Ukraine.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How the Right is blurring the line between church and state, and the danger that poses to democracy; Former Obama Deputy National Security Adviser during the Obama Administration weighs in on what's happening in the West Bank; and new reporting shows ICE's coming expansion. 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.

Professor Laurence Tribe, preeminent Constitutional scholar, weighs on the wave of rulings against Trump's immigration policies; Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner vows to prosecute ICE agents who break the law; and make no mistake, the right to vote is being suppressed. What comes next? 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.

Judges are not mincing words when it comes to the Trump Administration's contempt for the rule of law; Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner vows to prosecute ICE agents who break the law; and a potential reckoning for social media companies. 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.

Today's episode is the third and final of David's conversations with S. M. Amadae about nuclear weapons and nuclear war, this time looking to the future. What are the prospects for nuclear disarmament in the 21st century? How does the risk of nuclear war intersect with other existential risks, from climate change to AI? Is the world more dangerous than it has ever been? What are the grounds for hope we might still get out of this alive? Out tomorrow on PPF+: a bonus episode to accompany this series of conversations in which David explores John Hersey's Hiroshima (1946), the definitive account of what it's actually like to be on the receiving end of a nuclear attack. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up to PPF+ now https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus Tickets are on sale now for our new film season at the Regent Street Cinema in London – starting on 19th March with James Marriott talking to David about Whit Stillman's Metropolitan. All the details are here https://www.ppfideas.com/events Join us on 11th March for a joint LRB/PPF event: The Slow Death of Democracy - with Lyse Doucet, Christopher Clark and Thant Myint-U. Tickets are available now https://www.tickettailor.com/events/londonreviewofbooks/2062789 You can find out everything you need to know about this podcast – who we are, what we do, plus merch, events and full lists of our episodes and PPF+ bonus episodes on our website https://www.ppfideas.com Next Time: Where Are We Going? Societal Collapse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Justice really blind? Will the gathering outrage over the Epstein revelations finally give Republicans the balls to defend the constitution and laws of the United States from the would-be tyrant?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Supreme Court imposes guardrails on Trump's tariffs; Trump says he is ‘mulling' a limited strike on Iran, but what does that really mean? Faith leaders, like Bishop William J. Barber II, have a long history of fighting government overreach and injustice. They're still fighting today 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.

Former federal judge, J. Michael Luttig, says America never fully reckoned with the January 6th insurrection, but it's not too late; sitting Congressmen on both sides of the aisle weigh in on the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Trump's tariffs & the potential for an attack on Iran. 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.

Trump doubles down after the Supreme Court rules against most of his global tariffs and Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont weighs in; Jennifer Egan's novel “The Candy House” asks us what is the cost of privacy and authenticity in a tech-driven world. 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.

The Supreme Court kills Trump's tariffs — so he made new ones. The SAVE America Act passes the House and takes direct aim at your right to vote. Prince Andrew is arrested in the Epstein saga while the DOJ tries to look away. Social Security Administration is now feeding ICE appointment data. Ring wants to surveil more than just your dogs, with new information coming out post their disastrous Super Bowl ad. South Korea sentences its former president to life for insurrection. RFK Jr. made a weird video with ole Kid (Rock) Budweiser. It's another week in America. We are sadly here for all of it!Big TopicSCOTUS rules Trump tariffs are illegalThe tariffs are dead. Long live the tariffsThey live again!!!!News You NeedSAVE Act's status and what it meansThe real voter fraud in GeorgiaCBS give Texas Rep. James Talarico the ole Streisand Effect via Stephen Colbert interviewBrendan Carr doing other Brendan Carr thingsIRAN!!!!This week in Epstein NewsDOJ says they will be moving on from the Epstein FilesPrince Andrew charged and arrested in relation to Epstein revelationsLes Wexner gave a deposition about his Epstein connections and no Republicans showed up for itRep. Neal Dunn's potential early retirement could end the GOP majority in the HouseSouth Korea sentences former president to life in prison for attempting an insurrectionTo the shock of no one - dogs were just the first step in surveillance for RingFast Corruption and even Faster Screw-upsSSA is being directed to give appointment schedules to ICETrump admin trying to block states from regulating prediction marketsGlyphosate is back on the menu, boys!What's Dumber, A Brick or A Republican?The Brainworm and Kid Budweiser made a weird video togetherLook Forward is a weekly progressive political podcast covering U.S. politics, government policy, Democratic strategy, elections, voting rights, Supreme Court rulings, and political news. Featuring progressive commentary, political analysis, and unapologetic opinions on the fight for democracy. Hosted by Jay and Brad. A TNP Studios production. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. For more TNP Studios content, check out The Nerdpocalypse (movie & TV news), Black on Black Cinema (Black film reviews), and Dense Pixels (video game news).

chaos, and at least three simultaneous hot takes per minute. The crew kicks things off with reactions to the Supreme Court's tariff ruling, unpacking what it means for executive power, trade policy, and whether this was a legal gut punch or just a strategic detour. From there, it's off to the races: trade war theatrics, media spin cycles, economic ripple effects, and the eternal question of who actually holds the levers of power. The conversation swerves into election integrity debates, voter ID battles, and institutional trust — with each host bringing their own flavor of skepticism, sarcasm, and semi-therapeutic venting. It's part constitutional analysis, part group chat meltdown, and part “are we living in a simulation?” Ep. 45 delivers the signature OnlyLands formula: serious topics, unserious delivery, and a roundtable that feels like Thanksgiving dinner — if everyone read the Federalist Papers before dessert.  

Headlines for February 20, 2026; Carole Cadwalladr on Epstein Fallout: As U.K. Arrests Ex-Prince, Where is the Accountability in U.S.?; Jeremy Scahill: Despite Ongoing Talks, Trump Admin Is “Obsessed” with Destroying Iran; “Colonial Apartheid Regime”: Jeremy Scahill on Trump’s “Board of Peace” & Plans For Gaza; Mohsen Mahdawi, Palestinian Columbia Student Targeted by Trump, Hails Court Ruling Blocking Deportation

Headlines for February 20, 2026; Carole Cadwalladr on Epstein Fallout: As U.K. Arrests Ex-Prince, Where is the Accountability in U.S.?; Jeremy Scahill: Despite Ongoing Talks, Trump Admin Is “Obsessed” with Destroying Iran; “Colonial Apartheid Regime”: Jeremy Scahill on Trump’s “Board of Peace” & Plans For Gaza; Mohsen Mahdawi, Palestinian Columbia Student Targeted by Trump, Hails Court Ruling Blocking Deportation

Even reliable allies on the Supreme Court are telling Donald the constitution doesn't make him a king, and as more facts emerge from the Epstein case Pam Bondi can't possibly screech enough to cover up the fact Trump and his ICE thugs are losing the support of their own voters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The coverup is widening, the documents are missing, and history suggests the collapse comes faster than anyone expects…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Watch us on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Wsz-rgYJeTgCatch Jonathan on tour in Australia As the Middle East enters another moment of acute tension — with one of Trump's advisers saying there is a “90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks” — Yonit speaks with Barak Ravid, diplomatic correspondent for Axios and Channel 12, about what is happening now and what Donald Trump may be weighing as events continue to unfold. From geopolitics to technology, Yonit is then joined by Noreena Hertz — academic, economist, and bestselling author — for a conversation about the future of jobs in the age of AI, why women may be particularly vulnerable to unemployment, and how these technological shifts are exacerbating antisemitism. Plus: a sports edition of Mensch and Chutzpah — crossing borders and disciplines, from American and European arenas to stories that run from basketball courts to bobsleigh tracks. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeremi and Zachary speak with historian Heather Ann Thompson about her book "Fear and Fury," using the 1984 Bernie Goetz subway case to explore how Reagan-era, rising inequality, and a newly powerful conservative media reshaped public attitudes about crime, race, and self-defense. They connect the episode to figures like Rupert Murdoch, Donald Trump, and Rudy Giuliani, and to the often-overlooked lives of the four teenagers at the center of the story. Dr. Heather Ann Thompson is a historian at the University of Michigan, and is the Pulitzer Prize and Bancroft Prize-winning author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy (Pantheon Books, 2016). Her latest book is Fear and Fury: The Reagan 80s, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026).

Hawk breaks down the FBI search warrant executed in Fulton County, Georgia, targeting ballots from the 2020 presidential election, a warrant that legal experts say should never have existed. The affidavit, authored by FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans, reads less like a credible criminal complaint and more like a greatest hits album of debunked 2020 election denier conspiracy theories. Clark Cunningham, a law and ethics professor at Georgia State University, and election integrity expert David Becker have both stated the affidavit fails the basic constitutional standard of establishing probable cause, the very threshold required before any judge, or in this case US Magistrate Judge Katherine Selenus, can legally authorize a search . The criminal investigation itself was triggered by Kurt Olsen, a Trump-appointed election denier who was on the phone with Trump on January 6th and now holds a key federal election security role. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, was present during the raid, which resulted in over 700 boxes of Fulton County election materials being seized, materials whose current location nobody can confirm. Meanwhile, Stephen Miller is directing a coordinated campaign using DHS and ICE to intimidate naturalized US citizens and suppress minority voter turnout, with Steve Bannon openly calling for ICE agents at every polling location. The Georgia State Election Board met and ultimately voted not to take over Fulton County elections, while Trump held a rally in Marjorie Taylor Greene's former district the same day. Fulton County has filed motions to have the warrant vacated and the ballots returned, citing Fourth Amendment violations, expired statutes of limitations, and witnesses with severe credibility and bias issues, including one who was reportedly referred to the FBI for threatening Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Hawk breaks down the newly released Justice Department files revealing that Jean-Luc Brunel, the French modeling scout and one of Jeffrey Epstein's closest associates, was secretly negotiating with federal prosecutors in 2016 and was prepared to hand over incriminating photographs and testify about Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Brunel's lawyer told prosecutors his client had recruited girls for Epstein and was willing to walk into the US Attorney's Office in New York in exchange for immunity. Then Epstein found out. Emails now part of the document dump show Epstein immediately contacted Katherine Rummler, then a prominent attorney and later Goldman Sachs general counsel, who has since resigned. Epstein's outreach effectively shut down Brunel's cooperation, and prosecutors never pursued him further. More than 50 additional girls were trafficked in the three years that followed. The files also expose how Epstein used Brunel's modeling agency MC2, which Epstein helped bankroll with up to $1 million, as a vehicle to recruit foreign women, secure their work visas, and keep them financially dependent. A recruiter named Daniel Sead supplied girls from Sweden, Slovakia, France, and Russia. Virginia Giuffre had alleged Brunel trafficked girls as young as 12. Brunel was arrested in France in 2020 on rape charges and was found hanged in his cell in 2022. Epstein's nonprosecution deal in 2008, negotiated by then-US Attorney Alex Acosta, allowed the trafficking to continue for years. Julie K. Brown's Miami Herald investigation and her book Perversion of Justice ultimately forced federal action in 2019. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Stand Up for Your Country.  Talking Points Memo: Bill examines the coverage of recent news stories from Rhode Island and Canada, arguing that the media is protecting certain groups. Which media outlets failed to mention Trump's post on Jesse Jackson's death. John O. McGinnis, author and law professor, joins the No Spin News to discuss income disparity in the U.S. and explains how wealthy Americans help the country instead of harming it. Bill looks at Iran's Supreme Leader's latest statement threatening to sink U.S. warships. The latest on Ukraine, will a negotiation between Russia and Ukraine ever happen? Final Thought: Ash Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Headlines for February 19, 2026; “Predatory Tech”: Silicon Valley on Trial in Landmark Youth Social Media Addiction Case; Social Media Addiction: Facebook Whistleblower Says Big Tech Has Known & Ignored Problem for Years; Courts Have Ruled 4,400+ Times That ICE Jailed People Illegally; Despite Rebukes, ICE Keeps Doing It; Former Prince Andrew Arrested in U.K. as Global Fallout from Epstein Files Grows

President Trump tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and he's already laying the groundwork to undermine our confidence in the midterm elections. Kara brings together three experts to map out how Trump is trying to tilt the November elections before a single ballot is cast, and what he might do during and after election day to maintain his grip on power. She's joined by: Natalie Adona, the registrar of voters for Marin County, California. Adona is the co-author of the books “Understanding the Voter Experience” and “Stewards of Democracy,” and a contributing author to the recently published book, “Local Election Administrators in the United States: The Frontline of Democracy."  Susan B. Glasser is a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. She writes a weekly column on life in Washington and is a host of the Political Scene podcast. Her recent article on this topic, “Donald Trump Already Knows the 2026 Election Is ‘Rigged,'” is essential reading for those who want to understand the threat Trump poses.  And Nate Persily is the James B. McClatchy Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and the co-director of the Stanford Law AI Initiative. He is an expert on election law and redistricting, and he's the co-author of the leading election law casebook, “The Law of Democracy.”  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

Democracy Now! Thursday, February 19, 2026

When strongmen can't crush the press outright, they simply get their billionaire friends to buy it, bend it, and cash in…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The reign of stupid continues, as America's leading institutions are ordered to drop their world-changing development of life-saving vaccines.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs and Professor of Public Affairs and History at the University of Texas at Austin, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss President Richard Nixon's historic 1972 visit to China, which ushered in a new era of U.S.-Sino relations and altered the course of world politics.   To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence, CFR is dedicating a year-long series of articles, videos, podcasts, events, and special projects that will reflect on two and a half centuries of U.S. foreign policy. Featuring bipartisan voices and expert contributors, the series explores the evolution of America's role in the world and the strategic challenges that lie ahead.   Mentioned on the Episode:   James M. Lindsay, The Ten Best and Ten Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions, CFR.org   Richard Nixon, “Asia After Vietnam,” Foreign Affairs   Jeremi Suri, Henry Kissinger and the American Century   Jeremi Suri and Zachary Suri, Democracy of Hope   Jeremi Suri and Zachary Suri, This Is Democracy   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/america-250-nixon-goes-to-china Opinions expressed on The President's Inbox are solely those of the host or our guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

Truth Be Told with Booker Scott – Government power turns against veterans and elected leaders, raising urgent questions about justice, surveillance, and accountability. A nonprofit volunteer faces prosecution while federal investigators monitor lawmakers, exposing a crisis of trust. Citizens, judges, and leaders confront a defining test to defend fairness, transparency, and democratic integrity for future generations everywhere...

If we want to understand why capitalism feels broken, do we need to stop looking at the economy and start looking at the legal code that underpins it? In our system, capital is often described as money, machinery, or raw materials. But Columbia Law School professor Katharina Pistor argues that capital is actually a legal invention. An asset, whether it's a plot of land, an idea, or a promise of future pay, only becomes capital when it is given the right legal coding.  Pistor suggests that lawyers are the true coders of capitalism. They use the law to "enclose" assets, from land to user data, giving owners the power to exclude others and monetize that value. She argues for injecting principles of "fairness and reciprocity" back into private law, ensuring that contracts aren't just tools for the powerful to extract value from the weak. Luigi Zingales suggests that large corporations have become so powerful we may need a new branch of "quasi-public law" to govern the asymmetry between an individual consumer and a corporate giant. This episode explores the deep, often invisible architecture of our economic system and asks whether we can ever truly tame corporate power without rewriting the rules of the game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We chat with Bruce Schneier — renowned security technologist and, most recently, co-author of Rewiring Democracy — to discuss the relationship between technology and democracy. We get into how people with money/power use systems like AI to create a flywheel of more money/power. But importantly, as an advocate of public-interest technology, Bruce also lays out how AI is being used to empower citizens and strengthen democracy, and the techno-political conditions needed to build these democratic systems. ••• Check out all of Bruce's work https://www.schneier.com/ ••• Rewiring Democracy | Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262049948/rewiring-democracy/ ••• The Promptware Kill Chain: How Prompt Injections Gradually Evolved into a Multi-Step Malware https://www.schneier.com/academic/archives/2026/01/the-promptware-kill-chain-how-prompt-injections-gradually-evolved-into-a-multi-step-malware.html Standing Plugs: ••• Order Jathan's book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite ••• Subscribe to Ed's substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble ••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)

Democracy Is Not Passive: Chris Melody Fields Figueredo on Ballot Power in 2026 When we think about elections, we think about candidates. But some of the most consequential fights in 2026 won't be about who's on the ballot — they'll be about what's on it. Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, Executive Director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, joins me to break down the 24 democracy-related ballot measures already approved for November — and the wave of defensive measures, voter suppression tactics, and anti-trans initiatives emerging across the country. We discuss Missouri lawmakers overturning voter-approved minimum wage and paid leave, how supermajority thresholds weaken majority rule, and why ballot initiatives remain one of the most powerful tools for multiracial democracy — even in red states. Democracy cannot be passive. And this year, it's on the ballot. From this Episode: Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC) BALLOT MEASURE HUB LUCHA AZ —Living United for Change in Arizona is an organization led by changemakers fighting for social, racial, and economic transformation. Missouri Jobs With Justice: A place for people who want to stop the wealthy few from mistreating and dividing us - and who want to start getting the dignity we deserve.  Voices of Florida: Voices of Florida is a Florida-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit formerly known as Women's Voices of Southwest Florida Fund dedicated to defending reproductive freedoms and human rights, and empowering our communities through education, outreach and direct action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few Americans today realize that until the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913, US senators were appointed by their state legislatures, not by popular vote. This development had an unfortunate effect upon US politics, further damaging the original federalist governing arrangement.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/senate-and-loss-mixed-government

The Atlantic's Charlie Warzel published a piece titled "This Is What It Looks Like When Nothing Matters," and Hawk reads through it, unpacking how internet nihilism has moved from the fringes of 4chan straight into mainstream politics and culture. The article traces how trolling, once confined to anonymous message boards, became the dominant language of the internet and a tool of political power. Steve Bannon saw the trolls as a political constituency and helped pipeline their energy into the MAGA movement, and that same anarchic, rules-don't-apply attitude now shows up in everything from Department of Homeland Security social media posts to Trump sharing content depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.Hawk walks through the rise of figures like Clavvicular, a live streamer who hits his face with a hammer for attention and openly associates with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and alleged sex trafficker Andrew Tate. The concept of "nihilism by default" -- where the only purpose is self-promotion and feeding the social media machine -- connects these influencers to the chaos coming out of Washington.The Epstein files get the same treatment: three million pages released with no context, quickly turned into memes, AI slop, and fabricated screenshots. The files revealed just enough institutional rot to breed more cynicism without delivering justice to any of Epstein's victims or accountability for those connected to him. The kirkification phenomenon, the GameStop short squeeze, and ironic 9/11 memes all point to the same cultural collapse: events no longer have meaning, only content value. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

The Epstein files have now ensnared figures across multiple countries. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to resign after his top aides, including ambassador Peter Mandelson and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, stepped down amid revelations about their ties to Epstein. In Norway, former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland has been arrested and criminally charged. Diplomat Mona Juul faces a corruption investigation. France's former culture minister Jack Lang resigned under criminal inquiry. In academia, Larry Summers of Harvard, Joi Ito of MIT, and others have lost positions at major institutions. In business, Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million, Thomas Pritzker stepped down from Hyatt, and Casey Wasserman faces defections ahead of the 2028 LA Olympics. In law, Brad Karp of Paul Weiss and Goldman Sachs counsel Katherine Romler both had deep ties to Epstein revealed through emails. Alex Acosta, the federal prosecutor who cut Epstein's sweetheart plea deal in 2008, allowing a man facing 240 years in prison to serve 13 months with work release, later became Trump's Secretary of Labor. And Pam Bondi, who served as Florida Attorney General for eight years while Epstein was active in her jurisdiction, did nothing, and continues to cover for those involved. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Arizona Republicans push ICE at polling sites, NYT focus groups favor progressives over moderates, and wealth tax opponents escalate against Bernie in California. Democracy and economic justice collide.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

Democracy Now! is a daily independent award-winning news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. The post Democracy Now! – February 19, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

 Collapsing Norms: Can American Democracy Survive This Stress Test?Recorded February 18, 2026In this recorded conversation from America at a Crossroads, journalist Susan B. Glasser joins Madeleine Brand to examine the current state of American democracy and the pressures facing its institutions. Drawing on Glasser's reporting and editorial leadership across major national publications, the discussion explores how political norms are evolving and what this moment means for the country's future.Part of the America at a Crossroads webinar series, a project of Jews United for Democracy and Justice. Subscribe for more conversations on politics, media, and democracy. 

Headlines for February 18, 2026; Jesse Jackson Fought for Justice at Home & Abroad: Juan González & Bishop William Barber; “Extremely Dangerous Situation”: Trita Parsi Warns U.S. & Iran Have Incentives to Escalate Conflict; CFPB Staffer Alexis Goldstein Fired for Confronting DOGE Members, Announces Run for Congress; Meet Analilia Mejía, Who Won NJ Congressional Primary After Speaking Out Against ICE & Genocide in Gaza

Alejandro Peña Esclusa details his transition from businessman to Venezuela's first political prisoner as Hugo Chávez, aided by the São Paulo Forum, dismantled democracy, recounting cacerolazo pot-banging protests and how the regime systematically destroyed the economy and persecuted dissenters.1870 CARACAS

Democracy Now! Wednesday, February 18, 2026

The Cycle's Dr Rachel Bitecofer joins Thom for a deep dive- was manipulating Trump to deeply undermine America from the oval office the most successful foreign policy intervention is human history?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Hitler to Putin to Orbán and Trump, the first step is always the same: act illegally, dare anyone to stop you, and behave like losing in court is only a delay…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is among the leading pro-democracy figures attending the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy this week and discusses the goals of the Belarusian opposition in exile. Also, a new bridge between the US and Canada is on the verge of a long-awaited opening, despite President Donald Trump's recent threats to keep it closed. And, the EU has made it illegal to destroy clothing that's been manufactured, but not purchased, in a wider effort to promote sustainability. Plus, a deep underwater camera reveals that sharks are swimming in the Antarctic Ocean for the first time. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Trump administration has revoked the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases, a major cause of climate change and millions of premature deaths from air pollution every year. Professor Richard Wolff and Brian Becker discuss why this is happening, and the even more dire level of air and water pollution in the United States before the EPA.Professor Richard Wolff is an author & co-founder of the organization Democracy at Work. You can find his work at rdwolff.com.Join the The Socialist Program community at http://www.patreon.com/thesocialistprogram to get exclusive content and help keep this show on the air.

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

Headlines for February 17, 2026; “Keep Hope Alive”: Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Icon Who Twice Ran for President; Bernie Sanders on Jesse Jackson: One of the Most Significant Political Leaders of “Last 100 Years”; Jesse Jackson’s Legacy: From Marching with MLK to Building the Rainbow Coalition; When ICE Agents Lie: DOJ Drops Charges Against 2 Minneapolis Men Falsely Accused of Attempted Murder

This week, Julie & Brandy continue to try and wade thru the river of sh*t in the Epstein Files.*******CHECK OUT FREE EPISODES OF JULIE & BRANDY'S PATREON PODCAST**********FOLLOW JULIE ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER****FOLLOW BRANDY ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER***CHECK OUT THEIR T-SHIRTS!***EMAIL THEM! JulieBrandyPodcast@gmail.com******* Dumb Gay Politics with Julie & Brandy **** Dumb Gay Podcast with Julie & Brandy **** Julie Goldman **** Brandy Howard **** Julie and Brandy *** The People's Couch *** DGP *** Gay Podcast *** Political Podcast *** Lesbian *** Bravo *** Housewives *** Queer *** Liberal **** LGBTQ **** Killer Burlesque *** Host *** Portland *** Denver *** Nightmare on Strip Street *** Funny *** Comedy *** Democrat *** Progressive *** Comedian *** Jewish *** Politics *** Left *** San Francisco ***See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Let's organize a union and help our communities with a new TTRPG!REMINDER: next week is our final episode, so send in Afterparty questions about this campaign and JTP as a whole via jointhepartypod@gmail.com, social media, or Patreon.Sponsor- Democracy By Dice! This episode was brought to you by the World Builders Club, a project of Working Families Power. Join the club and build a better world with them by visiting worldbuildersclub.substack.com Find Us Online- website: https://jointhepartypod.com- patreon: https://patreon.com/jointhepartypod- instagram: https://instagram.com/jointhepartypod- twitter: https://twitter.com/jointhepartypod- tumblr: https://jointhepartypod.tumblr.com- facebook: https://facebook.com/jointhepartypod- merch & music: http://jointhepartypod.com/merchCast & Crew- Facilitator, Co-Host, Co-Producer, Sound Designer, Composer: Brandon Grugle- Co-Host, Co-Producer: Julia Schifini- Co-Host, Co-Producer: Amanda McLoughlin- Co-Host, Co-Producer: Eric Silver- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: https://multitude.productionsAbout UsJoin the Party is an actual play podcast with tangible worlds, genre-pushing storytelling, and collaborators who make each other laugh each week. We welcome everyone to the table, from longtime players to folks who've never touched a roleplaying game before. Hop into our current campaign: the drama and excitement of a superhero high school! Or marathon our completed stories: Campaign 3 for a pirate story set in a world of plant- and bug-folk, the Camp-Paign for a MOTW game set in a weird summer camp, Campaign 2 for a modern superhero game, and Campaign 1 for a high fantasy story. And once a month we release the Afterparty, where we answer your questions about the show and how we play the game. New episodes every Tuesday.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.