Podcast appearances and mentions of Susan Collins

The New Yorker staff writer Emma Green joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the Senate race in Maine, where the Republican Susan Collins, who has served in the Senate for nearly thirty years, is facing off against the former state senator Troy Jackson. They discuss how Collins has leveraged her seniority—and her chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee—to bring considerable federal funding to Maine, helping her fend off Democratic challengers in the purple state. They also explore Collins's reputation as a moderate Republican willing to break with her party on high-profile votes, despite siding with President Donald Trump roughly ninety-five per cent of the time, and ask what the results of the Maine race may suggest about two competing visions of a senator's job. Will Collins's focus on Maine-specific projects and bringing federal money home win out over Jackson's focus on national issues such as abolishing ICE, Medicare for All, and protecting national abortion rights? This week's reading: “Susan Collins's Maine Money Machine,” by Emma Green “Troy Jackson Is Still Surprised That He's Running for Senate,” by Jesús Rodríguez The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 28, 2026Trump posted a video ad on television with the words “Paid for by the U.S. Government,”  The backlash was immediate, Social media users and lawyers alike asked why the US government was paying for a poilitical ad, The government paying for Trump's vanity ads while at the same time announcing it is refusing to spend money on programs intended to help people was yet another headache for Republicans hoping to retain control of Congress after the midterm elections, Trump's job approval numbers are collapsing, falling most sharply among voters who identify themselves as Republicans, Trump's tariffs are eroding his support in the agricultural areas that used to be the backbone of his support, Republicans in battleground states are on the defense as voters turn against ICE agents conducting raids in their states, The skyrocketing price of diesel is pushing Republican candidates to call for an end to the war in Iran, Certain candidates are in the news for all the wrong reasons: Susan Collins in Maine because her campaign accepted an illegal contribution, Bo French in Texas for his inflammatory and racist posts, and Roger Marshall in Kansas for suing his patients for outstanding bills, many of them for as little as $101, Markwayne Mullins and Pete Hegseth are increasingly unpopular, And mentions of Trump's name have dropped nearly 70% since before the 2024 election. To read this letter, click here:Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyYou can also find Heather at:YouTubeBlueskyInstagramFacebookThreadsTikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Dawn Stensland opens the show with the real-time launch of America.gov, a brand-new federal website featuring an AI assistant designed to help citizens navigate government services, cut red tape, and combat online fraud. Dawn breaks down how the streamlined portal could drastically shorten VA benefit wait times for veterans, sharing personal memories of her grandfather, a Purple Heart recipient who survived Iwo Jima. The crew reacts to audio of President Trump presenting the initiative alongside administration officials and tech leaders, highlighting efforts under Vice President Vance that uncovered over $260 billion in federal fraud. Dawn turns to regional politics and safety concerns, addressing recent vandalism targeting Senator Susan Collins' office in Maine and calling out double standards in media coverage surrounding political vitriol against female leaders. Dawn also addresses ongoing issues in Bucks County school districts following unruly youth crowds at local football games, emphasizing that lenient policies and a lack of support for police directly contribute to repeated teenage vandalism and suburban disorder. Later in the program, Congressman Ryan McKenzie joins Dawn to discuss the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, designed to ensure massive data centers cover their fair share of local energy and water infrastructure costs. Congressman McKenzie details the impact of state fast-track permitting, pushes for parents' rights to prevent foreign political indoctrination in local classrooms, and directly calls out opponent Bob Brooks for dodging debates and refusing to answer tough financial questions ahead of upcoming mail-in voting.

COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN - SEASON 5 EPISODE 9 A-Block (SPECIAL COMMENT): You heard me. Trump wrote me a fan letter - but he hates me. Yet here's something I never write: but this is not about me! We'll get to it later. It's important because it is a metaphor for what's happening to the Republican Party as the midterms speed towards us: all of their candidates are vulnerable because their base is sick of the war and sick of Trump and especially sick of a guy who on the same day launches a tax-payer tirade concluding "America will never become a Communist country!" and then hours later is holding a State Dinner for the number-one ranked communist in the world. Even for a man who has never held the same thought in his head for two days in a row, it's bad. The De-Trumpification is picking up speed. ANOTHER Republican Trump Darling has scrubbed Trump from his site. The small-c conservative Cook Report has moved fifteen House races towards Democrats. An Iowa religious broadcaster says all the House candidates there have been told they are vulnerable, even if Trump won their district by 15 points. It. Is. Happening. B-Block (33:00) OK, the story of the fan letter from Trump and my other encounters with him, that date back to December 1983 (and which was followed by me walking in silence and then blurting to my camera crew the still-unanswered question 'WHAT THE EFF WAS WRONG WITH THAT GUY?" C-Block (58:00) WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Succession? The fourth best TV show of the century? I worked for the Murdochs. "Succession" is laugh out loud bad. Then there's the National Hockey League trying to manipulate history, and why the newest craze of paying half a million or two million or three million for an active athlete's trading card is madness. It's simple: what if he gets hurt, and you just paid $500,020 for his card, as some fool just did for a card of football's Jaxson Dart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a long summer, but Leah, Kate and Melissa are back together to break down the biggest cases and legal battles coming to the Supreme Court this term. Starting in October, the justices will hear challenges involving AR-15s and semi-automatic rifles, religious exemptions for schools receiving government funding, and the latest redistricting fights in Missouri and the 8th Circuit. Plus, Trump's big arch updates and allegations that a government contractor illegally funneled nearly $200,000 to a Susan Collins super PAC. Then, Melissa sits down with National Association of Black Journalists President and Crooked's Long Play cohost Errin Haines to discuss news outlets suing the President over press access. After, Leah talks to Columbia graduate and author Mahmoud Khalil about his new book, No Land to Stand On, the administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech, and the treatment of people in ICE custody. Favorite Things:  Leah: ProPublica | Gil Duran, Nerd Reich; Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor End Times Fascism | Alyssa Edwards' response to Ken Paxton  Kate: Daniel Immerwahr's How to Hide an Empire | Ari Berman and Pema Levy in Mother Jones on Callais and the New New Jim Crow | Nikole Hannah-Jones's NYT Piece  Melissa: Propublica's piece on Susan Collins |  Charles Spencer, Swan Song | Raphael Warnock, The Crooked Parts Made Straight | Zak Cheney-Rice, No One Can Fix School Segregation Alone | Stacey Abrams at LCCR Gala  Take the Strict Scrutiny survey.New Strict merch available here.You can now listen to Strict Scrutiny for CLE credits in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, and Oregon! More info at crooked.com/strict_cleGet tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE on November 6th in Washington, DC: Crookedcon.comBuy Melissa's book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern ReaderBuy Leah's book, Lawless, now out in paperbackFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and BlueskyFor a transcript of an episode of Strict Scrutiny please email transcripts@crooked.com

In this episode: • Trump offers to sell weapons to China while China helps Iran kill our troops • GOP Senators beg Trump to pull back Putin invite to G-20 meeting • White voter support falls fast in Texas, Ohio, Alaska, and Kentucky • Cook Report moves 15 House races away from Republicans • Cuba invasion prep Key figures covered: Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Ken Paxton, Jon Ossoff, Susan Collins, Dan Sullivan Please subscribe and turn on alerts so you do not miss the next live show. Recorded live on September 28, 2026.

On today's KITM, David Waldman and Greg Dworkin count down the days until the midterm elections and determine that there are altogether too many of them. Are Democrats going to win the midterms? Who knows! If you were to poll polls, they would tell you that they like "Democrats", and that they really do not like "Republicans". That, and several bucks, will buy you a cup of coffee. We do seem to have a blue wave and a red undertow in those polls. The primaries portend well. Early voting is happening a lot. All that probably means many things, much of which will become clearer in retrospect. In New Jersey's 7th congressional district, home of Kean University and future former home of Tim Kean, Kean's incumbency and red district don't look like they'll save him. Maine voters might end up term limiting Susan Collins to five terms. In Texas, John Cornyn isn't going to even bother with Ken Paxton. Ohio has been falling into a red sinkhole for decades, but the data centers issue might actually lift it out. Even lifelong Republican John Fetterman says it's entirely possible that Democrats take back the Senate. As usual, most of the credit has got to go to Donald K. Trump, the least wily of all super-geniuses in world history. Victory in Venezuela, and that dotard still can't keep from spoiling all of his spoils. AI might not be as smart as Trump, but it can FUBAR a million times faster. Meanwhile, Stephen Miller is living the life he deserves, hiding in fear. Miller might not be in danger every moment of every day, but as long as he feels that way, it's okay.

The United States is set to ban a select number of Canadian imports starting Tuesday.Also: Hamilton steel plant Stelco is laying off hundreds of workers in an effort to survive the effects of US tariffs.And: The view from Maine: Donald Trump's tariffs may help Democrats unseat Republican senator Susan Collins.Plus: Condemnation of a white supremacist gathering in B.C., five suspects arrested near a U.K. military base are released on bail, and Hockey Night in Canada returns — with a twist.

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for September 25th, 2026. We open by asking whether Xi Jinping is as secure as he looks, after his visit with President Trump. We look at Peter Schweizer's warning about the expulsion of two senior Chinese military leaders, and at the Gorbachev-era Soviet Union, and we debate whether China could face a comparable transformation. In the Top 3 Things You Need to Know, the Senate rejects a war powers resolution on Iran by a 50 to 49 vote, with Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis crossing the aisle. James Copenhaver, wounded in the Butler assassination attempt on President Trump, has died, making him the second fatality from that day. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also calls on Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell to resign after an ethics investigation. Then we head to Oviedo, Florida, where an 11-year-old riding an electric bike 300 feet from home to go fishing was fingerprinted, cited, and had his bike impounded. We ask whether anybody is using common sense. In American Mamas, Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson weigh in on what to do when you know someone is talking about you: confront them, or tell your side of the story. We share stories, advice from our mothers, and a favorite line from Stephen's pastor about defending yourself. In Digging Deep, we take on the growing number of people justifying the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, including comedian Bill Burr's comments, and draw the line between criticizing a business and rationalizing violence. We also look at Washington, D.C.'s push for new taxes, including a pied-à-terre tax, and ask whether the city has a revenue problem or a spending problem. After that, we react to Congressman Mike Quigley's claim that America's only option in Iran is humiliating withdrawal. It's Fake News Friday, and we play real news, fake news, or really fake news with headlines about ICE, the Babylon Bee, Canada, and even robot relations departments. In a Moment of Whoa, we reflect on New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act and the sanctity of life, then end on a lighter note with Dolly Parton Day celebrated across the country. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our 48th episode of This F*cking Guy, Crooked's Julia Claire joins Erin to dive deep into the past of the chronically concerned, Susan Collins.From her false promises to only serve two senate terms, to defending the filibuster more than voting rights, to her laughable lack of foresight and complicity in overturning Roe, to her cowardice hand-wringing and compliance with Trump and Republicans, this may be or most useless guy, yet!You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.The Immoderate Susan Collins After a long career voting across the aisle, why did the Maine senator gamble her legacy on Trump? (NY Mag)Sen. Susan Collins asked to give back money from Sackler family, Eli Lilly (YouTube)Susan Collins Sums Up Her Scorching Cynicism With a States' Rights Defense of Voter Suppression (The Nation)Can Susan Collins avoid the fate of a legendary Maine senator? (Sun Journal)Margaret Chase Smith A Declaration of Conscience (Senate.gov)Conscience And Courage: Honoring The Legacy Of Senator Margaret Chase Smith (Susan Collins)A Career Public Servant, Senator Collins' Portfolio Grew $3 Million in A Decade (Political Wallet)Does Susan Collins only vote with Democrats when it doesn't matter? We did the math. (Bangor Daily News)Senator Collins Announces Intent To Vote In Favor Of Judge Samuel Alito (Susan Collins)Sen. Collins' Views On Senate Intelligence Committee Report On CIA Interrogation Program (Susan Collins)Susan Collins Is Not Concerned (The American Prospect)Challenger criticizes Susan Collins for lack of oversight of Elon Musk spending cuts (Portland Press Harold) Republican Sen. Susan Collins discloses her longtime tremor after scrutiny in Maine's Senate race (Spectrum News)GOP Senator, 73, Shows Worrying Health Condition She Covered Up (Daily Beast)Susan Collins Raked in Wall Street Cash Before Advancing Trump Tax Bill (Rolling Stone) Our View: Collins takes wrong side on voting rights (Central Maine)Our View: Susan Collins lets us down on voting rights (Portland Press Harold)Opinion: Susan Collins made a ‘states' rights' argument to oppose voting rights (Beacon)Sen. Collins repeatedly asserted that Kavanaugh considered abortion rights settled law. The justice's decision on Texas's restrictive law suggests otherwise. (Washington Post) Crowdfunding to pressure Collins on Kavanaugh vote likely to face legal challenge (Portland Press Harold)Platner, Collins, and the Peculiar Definition of Political Scandal (The American Prospect)Graham Platner says Susan Collins is corrupt. Here's what her record says. (Portland Press Harold)How Trump's Team Conned Susan Collins Into Dooming Roe v. Wade (Rolling Stone)Susan Collins Dismayed Supreme Court Justice Misled Her On Abortion (Huff Post)How the Media Created the “Moderate” Susan Collins (The New Republic)Susan Collins and the Death of the Senate (The New Republic)Susan Collins Reminds Maine Voters Just How Easily Brett Kavanaugh Duped Her (Balls and Strikes)Susan Collins' defense of her Kavanaugh confirmation vote suffers from a key flaw (MS NOW)Opinion: Susan Collins is no moderate and Trump knows it (Maine Beacon)Senator Collins Mocks Fellow GOP Texan Who Challenged Her To A Duel (CBS News)Collins, King divided as Democrats fail to enact voting rights bill (Maine Public) A Proposed Agenda for a New PCLOB (LawFare)Republicans scuttle Democrats' plan to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq (Southeast Missourian)

The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way. In 2024, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping pay-to-play investigation examining interactions between Sen. Susan Collins and a top donor, records and emails show. After Donald Trump returned to office, the investigation died, a casualty of his purge of the FBI.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on The Necessary Conversation Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou dig into the following topics, with a special appearance by Bob late in the episode.

Full episodes of The Secret Podcast are available exclusively to paid members of the Bulwark on Apple Podcasts, Substack and YouTube.JVL is already in Ohio. Sarah is about to run to the airport. It's a wheels-off kind of show. This week:- The government seems to have lied to a court again.- JD Vance was the leaker who threatened national security.- Mary Peltola gets caught in context collapse.- Trump had compromat on Susan Collins.- JVL feels guilty about cutting a promo.And then there's the big one: The story of the Massachusetts lesbian bar that wasn't woke enough. It's a solid B-/B episode!----Donate here to our Benefit for Springfield—funds go to the Haitian Support Center: http://thebulwark.com/springfieldWant that Woke Bill Kristol tee? Get it at The Bulwark Store: https://store.thebulwark.com/collections/insider-collection/products/short-sleeve-t-shirtSarah's THANK YOU note to the Bulwark family: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/you-guys-are-the-bestHow to Eat an Elephant debuted at #2 on the NYT best seller list. We knocked Ted Effing Cruz out of the top spot! Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. Let's keep the momentum going: Get Sarah's book on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-eat-an-elephant-one-voter-at-a-time-sarah-longwell/6a0996cb43d2ef5b?ean=9781250464170&bkshp-astro=t...or get it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/How-Eat-Elephant-Voter-Time/dp/125046417X

Republicans are abandoning Trump over the Iran war and gas prices — six weeks before the 2026 midterms, is it too late? Democrat Matt Robison and Republican strategist Matt Wylie break down GOP candidates scrubbing Trump from their websites and breaking with him on the Iran war, Trump's UN speech, Xi Jinping's state visit, the Trump TV flop, the AI arms race, and why the 2026 midterm map is collapsing for Republicans.Get Matt's weekly analysis at Worth Knowing with Matt Robison: https://worthknowing.substack.comSubscribe free: https://worthknowing.substack.com/subscribeIn this episode:- Salazar, Rogers and Donalds put distance between themselves and Trump — and why a break this late is too little, too late (lessons from the 2010 ACA vote)- Trump's UN speech: Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and the Greenland deal- Xi Jinping's state visit, affordability, and the U.S.-China AI race- Trump TV launches, and a Trump-appointed judge restores press access- The AI Force, "super intelligence," and the preparedness paradox- The Battlefield: Susan Collins' scandal, warning lights in Florida and Iowa, a D+8.5 generic ballot, and $110 million in GOP ad bookings in Trump +10 districts- Dose of Hope: Bryson DeChambeau grows the game, and from Aristotle's school to the first gene therapy for Sanfilippo syndromeChapters:0:00 Cold open and rundown0:58 Republicans abandon ship3:52 UN Fight Club6:05 Xi Jinping's state visit9:03 Trump TV flops11:25 The AI arms race14:15 The Battlefield: the GOP map collapses25:00 Dose of Hope: Bryson DeChambeau27:02 Dose of Hope: Aristotle to gene therapyRead Matt's deep dive on Susan Collins this Saturday, plus his evidence-based guide to volunteering effectively: https://worthknowing.substack.com#Midterms2026 #Trump #Republicans #PoliticalRehab #Election2026 #Congress #IranWar #AI

Susan Collins is caught in a corruption scandal, Tommy Tuberville is a dog with a bone, and Trump locks the ballroom doors from the outside. Rachel Maddow joins to talk about attacks on the press and what a county sheriff's battle with a tiny local newspaper tells us about democracy. Plus, Michelle Collins and Nimesh Patel are ready to buy low and sell high, while The Rant Wheel rolls straight through summer TV, Kash Patel jokes, and hoarding all the little soaps and shampoos from the hotel.Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends, on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel.You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Tonight on The Last Word: MS NOW and CNN are blocked from a White House event. Also, a Trump loyalist scrubs Donald Trump from his Florida governor campaign website. And ProPublica responds to Sen. Susan Collins calling their report a “hit job.” Laurence Tribe, David Jolly, and Avi Asher-Schapiro join Lawrence O'Donnell. 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.

Thursday, September 24, 2026; 8pm: Tonight, New roadblocks from the White House as the President welcomes another repressive leader. Then, my conversation with the President of Iran in New York. Plus, the ProPublica reporter who broke the Maine bombshell responds to Susan Collins. Want more of Chris? Download and follow his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” 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.

OA1299 - This week on Rapid Response Friday: what crimes might Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) have been complicit in, and why won't she ever be prosecuted for any of them? We go deeper into the law behind the facts exposed in ProPublica's outstanding investigation into her SuperPAC's coordination of illegal campaign contributions from a naval defense contractor. We then take a closer look at another damning investigation, this time of the Florida state-run immigration facility formerly known as "Alligator Alcatraz" from a surprising source: the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General. We already knew this place was an illegal black site polluting a delicate Everglades ecosystem on tribal lands, but this report documents something much worse. If a Trump loyalist is willing to put some of this stuff into writing how much worse must the truth be? Finally, in this week's footnote: yet another dismal milestone for AI in the law as a New Mexico attorney is forced to defend an appellate brief in which ChatGPT made up the law and the facts. Cases and sources discussed: “The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way,” William Turton, Avi Asher-Schapiro, Molly Redden, and Kristen Berg, ProPublica (9/22/2026) Indictment in U.S. v. Kao et al (2/10/2022) “Unannounced Inspection of ICE's Florida Soft-Sided Facility (“Alligator Alcatraz”) in Ochopee, Florida,” Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (9/11/2026) In Re Stephen Aarons, New Mexico Supreme Court #S-1-SC-40845 Show Cause Hearing: State v. Sandoval, S-1-SC-40845 (8/21/2026) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!

Hi. On today's episode, Katy, Cody, and Jonathan discuss Trump's ongoing feud with the press, his worst poll numbers ever, the prospect that he'll "declare martial law" around the midterms, Susan Collins' connection to a major Congressional bribery scheme, and Elon Musk's potential involvement in the Paramount-WBD merger.PATREON: https://patreon.com/somemorenewsMERCH: https://shop.somemorenews.comYOUTUBE MEMBERSHIP: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvlj0IzjSnNoduQF0l3VGng/joinHi. On today's episode, Katy, Cody, and Jonathan discuss Trump's ongoing feud with the press, his worst poll numbers ever, the prospect that he'll "declare martial law" around the midterms, Susan Collins' connection to a major Congressional bribery scheme, and Elon Musk's potential involvement in the Paramount-WBD merger.PATREON: https://patreon.com/somemorenewsMERCH: https://shop.somemorenews.comYOUTUBE MEMBERSHIP: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvlj0IzjSnNoduQF0l3VGng/joinChapters: 0:00 - Introduction/Trump's Bad Polls14:51 - Susan Collins' Bribes24:15 - Martial Law Incoming?31:01 - Elon Joins Paramount?38:41 - It's Cody's Fault!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas joins the show to discuss ousting Rachael Rollins and more. Then, Howie is joined by Susan Collins to discuss her campaign and what she wants to keep fighting for Mainers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.serioustrouble.showDonald Trump tried to ban CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House and, as Trump himself predicted, he was almost immediately ordered by a federal court to let those outlets back in. The judge was unimpressed with the government's claims that the outlets were ejected on national security grounds, partly because that contradicts the president's own public statements. But it's an argument he loves to make in court — he says his planned triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery serves a national security purpose, as does his ballroom and his efforts to block wind turbine projects. Courts traditionally give the president a wide berth on national security, but these increasingly implausible claims are leading courts to impose more scrutiny.Those conversations (plus a look at how aesthetic standing may matter again in litigation over that arch) are for all listeners. Paying subscribers also get our conversations about:* That ProPublica story about a federal investigation that looked at Susan Collins but did not lead to indictments of her or anyone in her direct orbit.* A prosecution for online threats against ICE in Tennessee.* Elizabeth Holmes' impending move to a halfway house.* Clavicular's indictment for rape in Massachusetts.* And an ignominious end to Matt Kalil's lawsuit against his ex-wife, who wantonly told the whole world about his enormous penis.If you're not a paying subscriber and you want to hear about all that, go to www.serioustrouble.show.

DOCKET ALERTS:   ProPublica published a bombshell story about Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who was allegedly the subject of an FBI corruption investigation until Trump killed it.   The Department of Homeland Security is still looking for the vote fraud. In July, they announced that they found over 250,000 illegally-registered voters in four states. By August, that number declined to just under 16,000. And on a zoom call with local election officials in Nevada, it dropped to 185. But it's probably actually zero.   The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Governors Association filed a lawsuit to try and stop DHS and the FBI from sending armed guards to polling stations to intimidate voters.   DOOFUS OF THE DAY: Our doofus of the day is Sheri Mecklenburg, the veteran prosecutor who broke DOJ norms (and possibly the law) to get the indictment in the Broadview Six case. Mecklenburg moved to intervene as a party on the grounds that if she doesn't get to represent herself, her former boss is definitely going to continue to throw her under the bus. She's not wrong.   MAIN SHOW: Donald Trump tried to ban MSNOW, CNN, and Politico from the White House press pool. He lost in front of one of his own appointees, as Judge Tim Kelly in DC entered a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to reinstate the previously-confiscated "hard passes" and let the reporters back in.   In Missouri, the 8th Circuit continues to try and overrule both the US and Missouri state Supreme Courts by requiring the state to use a Trump-approved super-gerrymandered map from 2025 instead of the already very gerrymandered map already in place. We're waiting to see what Brett Kavanaugh will do. (The petitioners filed a truly excellent motion for clarification and reply brief.)   SUBSCRIBER BONUS: Trump had his nonsense lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer dismissed in state court for failure to state a claim, because the news isn't a consumer product. It's a great ruling from a very conservative judge. The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation   F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/politics/fbi-susan-collins-donor.html   Trump officials touted a voter fraud bombshell. Their data hasn't proved it [CNN] https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/21/politics/markwayne-mullin-voter-fraud-nevada   DSCC v. ICE [lawsuit to stop stationing armed guards at polling places; docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74842896/dscc-v-us-immigration-and-customs-enforcement/   US v. Rabbit [Chicago 6 sanctions; docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71795281/united-states-v-rabbitt/?order_by=desc   CNN v. Trump [press passes in DC; docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74823502/cable-news-network-inc-v-trump/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc   People Not Politicians v. Onder [Supreme Court docket] https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26a388.html   Von Glahn v. Hoskins [Missouri Supreme Court Sep. 3, 2026 opinion] https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=239229   Missouri Supreme Court Sep. 10, 2026 contempt order https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=239429   Onder v. Missouri [8th Circuit docket via CourtListener] https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74780310/congressman-robert-onder-v-state-of-missouri/   Show Links: https://www.lawandchaospod.com/ BlueSky: @LawAndChaosPod Threads: @LawAndChaosPod Twitter: @LawAndChaosPod  

Part 1:We talk with Scott Braddock, political analyst and Editor of the Texas Quorum Report.We discuss the elections upcoming in Texas. Republican candidates are faring poorly, for Texas. Many Republican voters appear to not anticipate voting due to Trump's unpopularity.Part 2:We talk with Bill Curry and Robert Hennelly. Curry is a two-time candidate for governor of Connecticut, and Hennelly is the Manager of WBAI in NYC.We discuss the Mamdani and Trump meeting. Trump had no meeting with Netanyahu who is also due in NYC. Democratic Socialists are increasing in popularity, because they are delivering for voters. We also discuss the latest scandal around Susan Collins of Maine.WNHNFM.ORG  production

Tonight on The Last Word: A federal judge could rule in the Trump media ban case at any time. Also, Sen. Susan Collins calls the bribery allegations a “partisan hit job.” Plus, Democrats introduce a bill to protect farmers from Donald Trump's economy. And Republicans start to break with Trump on his war in Iran. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Sen. Amy Klobuchar join Lawrence O'Donnell. 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.

Asha Rangappa, Stuart Stevens, and Jasmine Wright join Harry to break down cratering Republican poll numbers, Trump's quixotic media ban, Susan Collin's quid-pro-quo scandal, and the news out of the UN General Assembly. Are polls showing a lopsided Democratic advantage to be believed? How is the allegation of a pay-to-play donation scheme changing the Maine Senate race? And hasn't Trump's move to ban a trio of outlets from the White House just cost him the attention he craves and requires?  Mentioned in this episode:Asha's Substack.Stuart's Lincoln Square.Stuart's Substack.Jasmine's reporting.Harry's column about the press ban.ProPublica's reporting about Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding.ProPublica's reporting about Susan Collins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 23, 2026When Trump returned to the White House in 2025, he fired the investigators in the anti-corruption group of the FBI who were investigating Sen. Susan Collins for engaging in a pay-to-play scheme, He largely stopped investigating public corruption, The Gilded Age was known for lawmakers rewarding business followers with government contracts and political office, The relationship between MAGA Republicans and the misuse of tax dollars is becoming more obvious, HHS Secretary Kennedy has taken funds from his department's Office of Minority Health to fund security for himself, Kennedy has accepted gifts and his wife has accepted consulting fees from allies, Tax dollars are being used to pay authoritarian governments for imprisoning immigrants from the US, The administration is reversing its previous emphasis on resettling refugees, focusing instead on expelling them, often to places where they will be tortured, and all with little oversight, In Texas, an ICE agent shot a Venezuelan food delivery driver who had a valid work permit, The ICE agent was a recent hire, among those hired when the workforce was doubled after billions of dollars were provided by Congress, The NSF, NOAA, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality are all running far behind in funding for the fiscal year, Trump's ballroom will cost taxpayers more than $300 million, in spite of his early promises, And the ballroom's design does not meet fire codes, a concern that Trump dismissed.To read this letter, click here.Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on SpotifyGet full, free access to Letters from an American here.You can also find Heather:YouTubeBlueskyInstagramFacebookThreadsTikTok Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

On today's UNCOVERED Ron and Anthony discuss Trump's shameful address at the UN, his media ban, his fake fertilizer deal and his bromance with Zohran Mamdani. Plus, the Susan Collins scandal, MAGA midterm strategy and how diesel might be the biggest issue going into the election. Hims: Visit https://hims.com/UNCOVERED to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. Chapter: Paid Partnership For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (318) 488-4937 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https:// www.askchapter.org/uncovered Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options Former Federal Prosecutor Ron Filipkowski and British journalist Anthony Davis expose the epidemic of false propaganda pushing Republican politics to the extreme far-right. A new episode every Wednesday. Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meida... Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af Sidebar with Katie Phang: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... The Parnas Perspective: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... The Intersection with Michael Popok: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-p... The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-ha... The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-w... Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-... Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/major... On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-de... Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-... Five Minute News: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did a typo on a PAC contribution check expose Senator Susan Collins and an entire network of politicians willing to trade government contracts for cash? What intimate letters were uncovered in the White House and why do they quote Pride & Prejudice? Why did a group of CA attorney generals acquiesce to the Paramount/Warner Brothers merger and who is funding it? Why were several news outlets banned from reporting on the President? Who did ICE terrorize and shoot this week? Why does it always come back to micro-dicks? This pod aims to address these questions and more. Check your voter registration, find your polling location, or contact your representatives via USA.GOV, VOTE.GOV, and/or the "5 Calls" app. All opinions are personal and not representative of any outside company, person, or agenda. This podcast is hosted by a United States citizen, born and raised in a military family that is proud of this country's commitment to free speech. Information shared is for entertainment purposes only and is cited via published articles, legal documents, press releases, government websites, executive orders, public videos, news reports, and/or direct quotes and statements, and all may be paraphrased for brevity, presented satirically, and in layman's terms.“I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” - James BaldwinWanna support this independent pod? Links below:Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/BBDBBuyMeACoffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BBDBVenmo @TYBBDB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Waldman is here to distract us from the distractions with some important stuff. Greg Dworkin has all the latest pole news and as you'd expect Donald K. Trump is coming up way short, but today we're talking microscopic. Trump is dragging the party so low that even Susan Collins is in concerning territory. Even Graham Platner is looking pretty Teflon. Gops might be idiots, but they aren't stupid, as they panic about importing beef and exporting diesel. Any Gop in a +15 district is treading water. Trump is W, but less affably asinine. Democrats are playing this like it's 2006. Democrats just can't wait to make it happen either. Republicans are not as enthusiastic. Trump made the US government into his PAC. MAGA podcasters just don't recall this "Trump" fellow… they pose for pictures with a lot of people, you know. Pollsters are usually wrong, but even Trump can't sue them. Donald hoped to have a few press heads on pikes to show off to Xi but he apparently appointed a TDS woke judge who told him he couldn't do that yet. That judge can't make him obey, though, or maybe he can… Anyhow it's another Trump PR victory, and if it isn't, it's JD's fault. "Why do ICE forget to wear or turn on their bodycams?", should be asked by a judge… especially Judge Brett Kavanaugh. A Massachusetts Lesbian bar almost lifted its KN-95 requirement, but patrons really wanted to keep them on. UPS dropped some F-35 stealth fighter parts off at the wrong doorstep in China.

ProPublica's Susan Collins bombshell, Beau Bayh putting Indiana in play, and every new Sabato rating moving left. 40 days out, the vibes are up.Brian and Glennis dig into ProPublica's report that an FBI anti-corruption squad was examining Sen. Susan Collins over a defense contractor's illegal donations to a super PAC backing her 2020 campaign, until the unit was gutted under Trump. Collins' office denies any wrongdoing, and she has not been charged. Brian breaks down the super PAC "firewall" and why corruption is landing so hard in the Maine Senate race. Then Trump calls MAGA Inc. money his to control.Then the media fight. Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, calling it "my house" before correcting himself… barely. The network pool - including FOX News - have refused to fill in, and the outlets have now sued. Meanwhile, a 12-state attorney general settlement cleared the way for Paramount Skydance's takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, putting CBS and CNN under the Ellison family. Brian Derrick asks the only question that matters: What Would Lina Khan Do?On the midterms: James Talarico named Alyssa Edwards as his favorite Texas drag queen without missing a beat, Ken Paxton got mad about it, and the Senate GOP super PAC in Texas just pushed past $100 million to rescue Paxton. Plus Sabato's Crystal Ball moved 10 races toward Democrats, including Josh Turek in Iowa, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, Amy Acton in Ohio, and Aaron Ford in Nevada.Also: The Oath Candidate of the Week is Beau Bayh, running for Indiana Secretary of State in a race rated a Toss-up. It's Democrats' best shot at a statewide win there in more than a decade. Find him at oath.vote. Then a Good Vibe Goodbye from New York City, where DoorDash agreed to a record $131.5 million settlement for more than 260,000 delivery workers who were underpaid or paid late.New episodes of Vibes Only are available for download first thing every Thursday morning - hit FOLLOW and we'll keep you informed for the midterms.EPISODE RESOURCES/LINKSOath Candidate of the Week: Beau BayhReporting Referenced: The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way - ProPublicaGood Vibe Goodbye: DoorDash Agrees to $131.5 Million Settlement for Shortchanging Workers - The New York TimesSend us a text!Watch us on YoutubeFollow us on Instagram Oh, we're on TikTok tooFollow Brian on IG Follow Glennis on IG

Ryan and Emily discuss Trump AG Sec says eat eggs as beef prices skyrocket, Susan Collins massive corruption scandal, DC Dems hijack Troy Jackson campaign. Alvaro Bedoya: ​https://x.com/BedoyaUSA To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.com Merch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GOP lawmakers notably are calling out the findings of that bombshell ProPublica report on Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding and the hypocrisy among those in the party at the same time. 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.

Tonight on The Last Word: Sen. Jon Ossoff leads in Georgia as his GOP opponent deploys fake AI ads. Also, Donald Trump's Iran war and diesel costs loom in the Iowa Senate race. And Sen. Susan Collins denies allegations of a bribery scheme made in a new ProPublica report. Sen. Jon Ossoff, Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, and Andrew Weissmann join Lawrence O'Donnell. 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.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026Today, the FBI was investigating Susan Collins for pay for play government contracts but Trump ended the probe, Trump officials just kicked hundreds of thousands of people off their health plans using AI, the man shot and detained by ICE in Austin is now partly paralyzed, the looksmaxxing influencer Clavicular has been charged with rape in Massachusetts, and a judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Cassidy Hutchinson's crooked lawyer against Andrew Weissmann; plus Dana delivers your Good News.Thank You, DeleteMe | Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to www.joindeleteme.com/DAILYBEANS and use promo code DAILYBEANS at checkout. All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg 2027 North American Tour! Get your presale tickets now at https://www.allthingsequalrbg.com/. Use code WOMEN. Blue Wave Nation | https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mswbluewave The Trump Epstein Memorial BookmobileThe Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beansGuests: From Red, Wine & BlueDirector of Organizing Missy McGinnis Founder Katie ParisRed Wine and Blue@redwineblueusa -Instagram, @redwine.blue - BlueskyThe Latest Breakdown →Judge Just Gave Trump DOJ an ULTIMATUM… w/ Katie PhangNew Unjustified →The Grand ConspiracyDiamond Dames → Diamond Dames - YouTube Diamond Dames - A Ted Lasso PodcastPatreon → The Daily Beans | PatreonStoriesCollins opponent says ‘jig is up' after ProPublica report; her aide calls it ‘categorically false' | The HillThe FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way | PropublicaTrump Officials Eject 750,000 From Obamacare Markets, Claiming Fraud | The New York TimesICE officer in Texas shooting was recruit not using a body camera | The Washington PostClavicular, streamer and 'looksmaxxing' influencer, charged with rape in Massachusetts, reports say | WJTVJudge dismisses defamation suit Cassidy Hutchinson's lawyer brought against MS NOW analyst | MS NOWGood TroubleThe Big Swing Challenge - swingleft.orgChop Wood, Carry Water 9/22 - (Big Swing Challenge) - by Jess Craven→Battleground Support Hub - Democrats.org →Get Out The Vote: Volunteer Info Session→Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org→Hands Off Our Vote! 2026 Toolkit | Indivisible→Help staff your local polling place - Power The Polls→Voter Registration Volunteer Opportunities · Mobilize→Helpline Orientation- Spanish Speakers Needed! - VoteRiders→Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →NO HATE in WA State→Stand With Minnesota →iceout.org Good Newsfacebook.com/share/r/1FfFQHVpNaHealing Wave AquaticsTONIGHT! Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago Dana Goldberg's Southwest FunnyFest Oct 9 - City of Albuquerque→Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans→Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.comSubscribe to the MSW on YouTube - MSW Media - YouTubeOur Donation LinksThe Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beansBlue Wave California - ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwcDonate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/National Security Counselors - Donate, WhistleblowerAid.org/beansDonate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans FundraiserPathways to Citizenship - boomerang - pathways Dana and The Daily Beans support of Human Rights Campaign ONE CAUSE HRCThe Daily Beans supports It Gets BetterDr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers email AG - fedoath@pm.meDana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook, DanaGoldberg.comMore from MSW Media - Shows, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tuesday, September 22, 2026; 8pm: Tonight, the red wave of Republicans running away from the President. Then, a genuine September surprise in the Senate race in Maine. And Congressman Robert Garcia on his demand for answers over Trump's attack on the free press. Want more of Chris? Download and follow his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” 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.

Today's Headlines: Trump addressed the UN General Assembly, told the world he's deciding between making a deal with Iran or "annihilating" them "into hell with no chance of survival," celebrated taking over Venezuela's oil, and yelled at CNN's Kaitlan Collins when she showed up with UN credentials — because apparently he thinks the press ban extends to international diplomatic gatherings. He also announced Trump TV, a 24/7 YouTube livestream to replace the press pool, which is the project he floated after losing in 2016. The Paramount-Warner Brothers merger is now cleared after states settled their antitrust lawsuits, meaning Bari Weiss running CNN is back on the table. In concerned House member news, ProPublica revealed that Susan Collins allegedly accepted a $500,000 illegal campaign contribution through a shell company in exchange for steering a $32 million Navy contract to a Hawaiian defense contractor — the contractor's CEO already tried to reduce his prison sentence by implicating Collins, the FBI investigated in 2024, and the investigation conveniently disappeared after Trump purged the FBI's anti-corruption officers. So she kinda owes Trump then, got it. On the election beat, Russian intelligence is running AI-generated fake celebrity videos about key Senate races as part of a disinformation campaign targeting the midterms, per US intelligence assessments. Shocker. California signed a law fining influencers $5,000 per undisclosed paid political post, which is a quaint response to a massive problem but it's something. Kalshi asked the CFTC to allow margin trading — betting with borrowed money — on its platform, which is a terrible idea that will almost certainly be approved. And finally, Clavicular, aka Braden Peters was charged with criminal rape and drugging after an incident involving an 18-year-old influencer he allegedly livestreamed on Twitch.  Resources/Articles mentioned: NYT: U.N. Live Updates: ‘Annihilate' Iran or Strike a Deal, Trump Says to General Assembly NYT: Trump Lashes Out at CNN's Kaitlan Collins for Covering His U.N. Speech Time: White House Launches ‘Trump TV' Amid Feud With Press WSJ: Paramount Settles States' Antitrust Suit, Clearing Way for Warner Megadeal NYT: Russia Aims to Inject Chaos Into Elections, U.S. Intelligence Finds CNBC: Kalshi asks CFTC to allow margin trading on its platform, letting users buy with borrowed funds ProPublica: The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way NYT: California Cracks Down on Influencers' Undisclosed Political Ads NBC News: ‘Looksmaxxing' influencer Clavicular charged with rape of teen girl Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmIt's getting so bad out there for Republicans that some of them are even pretending to oppose war and corruption! So naturally moderate Democrats are endorsing Republicans, and one of them might switch parties!In this episode, Matt and Brian discuss: * The nature and extent of Republican peril;* Whether Democrats are optimally capitalizing on Republican weakness and Donald Trump's toxically unpopular agenda;* Is the Democratic Party too solicitous of frontline members, or not solicitous enough?Then, thanks to Matt's dying laptop battery and lack of charger, a packed overview of the sudden controversy surrounding effective altruism. What is E.A.? Why is it weird? Why is it suddenly at the epicenter of political debates over whether and how to regulate artificial intelligence? And, quite apart from efforts to scapegoat them, is it a good idea to put people who have immense faith in the power to optimize systems in charge of a technology that leaves no room for error?Answers are available in full to paid subscribers. Only the first half's available to freeloaders and viewers on YouTube. Upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.Further reading:* Matt on whether there's reason to doubt the blue wave forecast.* Brian's 30 thoughts on the (valid) A.I. freakout. * Carolyn Fiddler runs the math on how many statehouse seats Democrats need to win to build new trifectas. (Spoiler: 22 seats to win five trifectas.) * Jared Golden endorses Mike Lawler. (

In this episode:

Greg Dworkin is back, and so is the Abbreviated Pundit Roundup! We tried to abbreviate it even more today, but only partially succeeded. How bad are things getting out there for Republicans? Bad enough that Karl Rove gives me a run for my money with his own Dotard J. Trump impression. Seriously, though. How bad are things getting? Pretty bad! Trump is at another new approve/disapprove low. Not even their usual last minute TV blitz strategy is expected to save them now. Not with early voters. Not in Michigan. Not in Iowa. Not in (certain parts of) Texas. And not in the northern border states, either. And individual candidates are having to find ways to distance themselves from Trump's cratering. Some perhaps more subtle than others. (But that could change!) Oh, and while we're in Maine (because the last sentence was about Maine), have you heard about the Susan Collins corruption scandal? You have, but there's no reason we can't mention it again. Trump's construction and cultural appropriation spree in Washington continues, now expanding to [checks notes...] Ford's Theater. Unsurprisingly, it does so in defiance of local and national building and safety codes, because "I am the code." Hey, you know who else had an "architecture" fetish? We love a good hidden logistics story on this show. And Trump's latest press ban has developed into one! All in all, it was another humdinger of a day for rounding up lunacy and embarrassments. Hell, we didn't even get to Trump's crazy ass speech to the UN!

Arnie Arnesen joins a discussion of healthcare costs and democratic socialism as Latino families face economic pressure and ProPublica examines a federal corruption inquiry involving Susan Collins and Navatek.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

The party has been busy playing defense in Trump states, and now comes the news that Susan Collins is corrupt on top of being a loyal MAGA supplicant. More Democrats should walk with Ossoff's swagger and keep their message simple: attack Trump on his corruption and the war. (And in colder climes, the price of heating oil.) Meanwhile, subpoenas over Trump Jr.'s Russian mobster-funded wedding are coming, and even some Republicans are likely to get on board. Plus: Ukraine is showing how to fight wars now and how the U.S. under Trump and Hegseth is not ready. And Tim keeps his promise and puts on a hair shirt after LSU's loss to Ole Miss. Stuart Stevens joins Tim Miller.show notes: ProPublica's reporting on Susan Collins Lauren on how Dems are dealing with the Republicans' huge war chest Tim's interview with Wright Thompson last week Stuart's books, including “The Conspiracy to End America” and “The Last Season” Stuart on performance-enhancing drugs The Bulwark's campaign to help the Haitian community of Springfield The Bulwark store Head to https://forkfulmeals.com/thebulwark for 50% off your first order today!

A.M. Edition for Sept. 22. As President Trump and Iran's president head to the U.N., we'll look at whether diplomacy could be in the cards. Plus, investors reward Meta's push into agentic shopping. And as campaign season heats up, the WSJ's Ken Thomas and Anthony DeBarros look at how Republicans are pumping money into battleground states to counter Democratic momentum. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sarah's back from the book tour! The gang discusses Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter, George W. Bush's fundraiser for Republican Senate candidates (we thought he was staying out of politics?) Then they get into Trump's ban on CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO from the White House press pool, and whether we still care. Sarah also has some words about Zohran Mamdani sharing a podium with Donald Trump.Then, the gang talks about a Wall Street Journal columnist who has "TDS" (maybe not the TDS you're thinking of). Also: The FBI was investigating Susan Collins for bribery, Tim is mad at Jared Golden, and JVL wants to discuss the Department of Defense's "Gender-Affirming Care."Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at https://Bollandbranch.com/NEXTLEVEL with code NEXTLEVELGo to https://GetSoul.com and use promo code THENEXTLEVEL for 30% off your order.Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/THENEXTLEVEL to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you.Show links:Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter about Vivek RamaswamyAmy Acton's adGerard Baker has TDSPropublica's investigation into Susan Collins and her Super PAC's donors

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.thebulwark.comSarah's back from the book tour! The gang discusses Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter, George W. Bush's fundraiser for Republican Senate candidates (we thought he was staying out of politics?) Then they get into Trump's ban on CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO from the White House press pool, and whether we still care. Sarah also has some words about Zohran Mamdani sharing a podium with Donald Trump.Then, the gang talks about a Wall Street Journal columnist who has "TDS" (maybe not the TDS you're thinking of). Also: The FBI was investigating Susan Collins for bribery, Tim is mad at Jared Golden, and JVL wants to discuss the Department of Defense's "Gender-Affirming Care."Watch, listen, and leave a comment.Show links:* Sarah's Focus Group Newsletter about Vivek Ramaswamy* Gerard Baker has TDS* Amy Acton ad* Propublica's investigation into Susan Collins and her Super PAC's donors* Get your tickets for The Bulwark's Good Fight Tour this October, coming to Charlotte, Columbia, and Atlanta. * See you in OH on Friday for Bulwark LIVE:Benefit for Springfield. Support the Haitian community through this link. This ad-free video version of The Next Level is exclusively for Bulwark+ members.

Shofar so good! David Waldman topped up his atonement over the weekend and returned today, set to talk about lascivious corruption. Lauren Boebert is always ready to lend a hand with a scandal or two or three… several at a time when she's in the mood. Now there's a complaint filed with the U.S. House Committee on Ethics alleging that Boebert had romantic and sexual relationships with three staff members under her direct supervision, paid them to keep quiet, bare-knuckle brawled in bars with them, and then hooked them up with… Matt Gaetz… in Mar-a-Lago. Somewhere, Kyrsten Sinema is blushing. Similarly, Susan Collins... perhaps not "similarly" but we won't be finding that out for certain, now that the FBI has been called off her case. Martin Kao, formally from Martin Defense Group, which was formerly Navatek, might be wondering if his pardon was lost in the mail. Clavicular continues to lay the groundwork for his presidential bid. All-powerful puppet of the last person that he talked to, Donald K. Trump recently banished the free press, but already pines for them, photobombing Zohran Mamdani in New York, while Melania slipped off for a little on the side. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are semi-privately dismayed.

Thank you Jason Gael, Mandy Ohman, Elwyn Hudson, EG, Ginger, and many others for tuning into my live video!* Arnie Arnesen - Why Healthcare Costs and Inequality Are Fueling Democratic Socialism: Healthcare costs, inequality, and weak political messaging are expanding interest in democratic socialism. The panel connects public policy to the pressures working families face. [More]* Gullibly Latino giveth and no Latino will taketh away: Latinos made a critical mistake voting for MAGA and Republicans. It has cost their families economically and morally as the adjacency they thought they voted for collapsed. They were conned.* ‘Incredible Story of Corruption': Bombshell Report Puts Susan Collins at Center of Massive Bribery Scheme: ProPublica reported that the US senator from Maine, now running for a sixth term, was the “most important patron” of a defense company accused of bribing members of Congress for federal contracts. [More]Real-Time Chat of ProgramThe September 22 afternoon chat combined anger at economic inequality and political corruption with warmth toward the program and fellow participants. Healthcare generated especially personal engagement, while discussion of taxes, corporate influence, and voting reflected a strongly progressive outlook. The sections labeled “Substack” and “Facebook” contain the same conversation, so this analysis treats them as one transcript rather than two independent audiences.* Healthcare made the political discussion personal. EG explicitly affirmed Arnie Arnesen's critique of inequality and described a German friend's health coverage operating independently of employment. Lynette's concern about potentially losing insurance and facing a lengthy delay if she missed her mammogram brought the discussion directly into everyday life. These exchanges conveyed anxiety, frustration, and support for dependable access to care.* Economic unfairness drove much of the political anger. Don criticized tax advantages for the wealthy alongside stagnant wages and rising living costs. Other participants challenged corporate access to federal contracts and the influence of money in government. Jo's call to make ending purchased political influence part of all activism captured the conversation's demand for structural change.* Political resolve accompanied frustration. EG expressed determination to vote progressive while living in a deeply conservative area. Participants also discussed protests, Democratic Party support for candidates, and possible Senate gains. Disagreement over Obama's record exposed tension between disappointment with Democratic leadership and recognition of Republican obstruction.* Community ties sustained a welcoming atmosphere. Lynette's greetings, participants' jokes, interest in the upcoming Zoom gathering, and concern for her health made the chat feel like an ongoing community. Heather's encouragement about the mammogram provided a particularly clear example of mutual care. LBW's complaint about losing the chat after reloading Substack showed a practical obstacle to participation.* A few disruptive exchanges introduced hostility and alarm. Jason Gael repeatedly asserted an unsupported mass-harm conspiracy involving elites and bunkers. “Do U Lie” mixed political comments with insults and complaints about event reminders, prompting pushback and disengagement. These messages contributed conflict but did not define the broader conversation. Claims about an impending trucker strike, payroll taxes, and election outcomes also appeared as participant assertions, not verified findings.Overall sentiment was politically angry, personally anxious, socially supportive, and determined to act. Healthcare and economic inequality produced the clearest substantive engagement. Although participants discussed contracts and corruption broadly, the transcript contains little explicit discussion of Susan Collins or Latino voting behavior, so it does not establish a clear audience response to those specific segments. The strongest takeaway is that participants connected progressive policy arguments to their own financial security, healthcare access, and responsibility to participate in democracy.Real-Time Chat of ProgramThis post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access.[WP-ROUTING]Site: PoliticsDoneRight.comCategory: Coffee Party ShowsPubDate: 2026-09-22T15:00:00Tags: Politics Done Right, Arnie Arnesen, healthcare costs, healthcare inequality, democratic socialism, Latino voters, Latino families, cost of living, Susan Collins, Navatek, ProPublica, FBI investigation, campaign finance, defense contracts, political corruption, working families To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

September 20, 2026; 7am: Iranian-backed Houthi rebels say they fired a barrage of missiles and drones at Riyadh and Saudi oil facilities, landing the first strikes on the Saudi capital in months. This comes on the heels of President Trump telling Axios he faces a big decision on Iran, "Do I want to go in and annihilate them, or do I not?" Axios says the president was referring to the Iranian regime. This question comes just days before he meets with Gulf leaders, including Saudi Arabia, at the UN General ­Assembly. The State Department is reportedly granting Iran's leaders travel documents to attend UNGA, even as the U.S. and Iran remain officially at war. Richard Haass, President Emeritus at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins “The Weekend” to discuss.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnowTikTok: @theweekendmsnow 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.

Sarah and JVL are together again and JVL is raging. The president of the United States accused the Democratic party plotting to assassinate him and . . . everyone just pretends it didn't happen. Diesel prices are going to the moon. Trump wants to demolish the Kennedy Center. Joe Manchin came back from the grave to endorse Susan Collins. And there's a 90 percent chance that AI doesn't kill everyone alive. It's a short show, but a great show.Also: Sarah talks about the book tour and what it's like to feel the love you guys have shown her. Be careful; it gets a little dusty. Want that Woke Bill Kristol tee? Get it at The Bulwark Store.

Join Jim and Greg for the Tuesday 3 Martini Lunch as they weigh in on California Gov. Gavin Newsom saying he will not run for president if Kamala Harris gets in the race, Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson embracing the states "taking over" private property, Virginia paroling felons at a much higher rate since the Democrats took over this year, and Mitch McConnell returning to the U.S. Senate.First, they're very skeptical about Gov. Newsom saying he won't run for the White House in 2028 if Kamala Harris runs. If Newsom is telling the truth, Jim and Greg offer differing theories on why he's suddenly willing to skip the campaign he's obviously been planning for years.Next, they slam Troy Jackson for suggesting government take over property when rents are deemed too high. Jim explains why private property rights are a bedrock principle in America and why Jackson's approach is very dangerous.Then, they vent over the Virginia Parole Board appointed by Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger granting parole to convicted felons - some of them violent criminals - at an exponentially higher pace than the board serving under recent GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin.Finally, they comment on the return of Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell to Capitol Hill after being away for three months for health reasons. Questions persist about his condition. Jim and Greg are glad he's back and they're also glad he's almost done with his time in the Senate.Please visit our great sponsors:HomeServeProtect your home with HomeServe.  For 50% less your first year, go to https://HomeServe.com/Martini for the plan that's right for you. Savings compared to renewal price. Void in Florida.QuoMoney is on the line. Always say hello with QUO. Try QUO for FREE PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://Quo.com/3MLNew episodes every weekday. 

In his first year atop the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth rebranded himself as a secretary of war, not defense. And the changes didn't stop there. Under his leadership, the department has announced that all “warfighters” 30 and older will be tested for testosterone deficiency, and that they would be judged on their appearance and grooming. But possibly the most profound change has been a shake-up in the highest ranks of the armed forces. Top officers—especially in the Army—have been stymied, pushed out or fired. Michael Gordon and Lara Seligman join host Alex Ossola to discuss Hegseth's approach, as well as the possible consequences of fast turnover in the highest echelons of the world's most powerful military. Further Reading: Trump Fires Top Pentagon Officers in Sweeping Overhaul Hegseth Cuts Army Commander's Storied Career Short as Part of Broader Shake-Up Hegseth Blocks Eight Navy Senior Officer Promotions Pete Hegseth Army Chief Pick in Jeopardy Over Republican Objections Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns After Months of Friction With Hegseth New Drone Unit to Be Phased Out as Hegseth's Army Pick Makes His Mark Tillis Wants Hegseth Fired. Is the Pentagon Chief in Trouble? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.