The Nicole Sandler Show

We made it through the first week of 2022, but the country seems to be further divided than ever. And the other side is delusional, claiming that January 6, 2021 was just another day. We'll continue reviewing some of yesterday's madness on today's show, and then welcome Jeff Sharlet back to the show. Jeff is a Dartmouth professor, a journalist who got inside The Family (C Street) and wrote a book, subsequently the basis of a Netfliix mini series about the religious cult operating at the highest levels of DC, and the author of many other equally brilliant books. He's also a contributor to Vanity Fair, where he posted an article yesterday about the one year anniversary of the insurrection and had a different response to Biden's speech than I did, titled "Joe Biden Unbound Won't Be Enough to Save Us".

A bit of what's news, for now

One year ago today, the nation watched in horror as insurrectionists stormed the Capitol. They had erected a gallows outside the building and were marauding through the Capitol hallways chanting "Hang Mike Pence," while others searched and menacingly called for Nancy Pelosi. I have a pretty good idea of what they would have done if they found either of them, and it's not pretty. There was a glimmer of hope once the building was cleared and Congress resumed certifying the electoral college votes -- a few Republicans in powerful positions called it out for what it was, and named names...one in particular, Donald Trump. That lasted, for some, only a few hours. For Mitch McConnell, perhaps a week. Now, a year later, they're all once again shilling for the orange idiot. Today is Thursday, so Howie Klein will be along for the second half of the show. But we'll begin with a look back at that day one year ago, and the despicable lack of conscience, soul or patriotism by just about every Republican member of Congress. Shameful.

A bit of what's news for now

Today's show will deal with the worst and the best of America. On the worst side, today's Republican Party, if there still is one. The Grand OId Party of the past has been replaced by the Gullible Old Propagandists who believe the bullshit spewed by and at them. Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of their attempted coup at the Capitol, an event about which they continue to lie, as they do with virtually every subject these days. At the top of the show, I'll speak with Ron Filipkowski. I *met* him on Twitter, where his bio describes him as "Attorney, Marine, Triathlete, Historian. Former Federal Prosecutor & Repub; now Defense Attorney & Democrat. Tracking and Reporting on Right-Wing Extremism." Intriguing, right? Well, he's down here in Florida and is working hard to evict Gov DeathSentence from the governor's mansion too. In the second half of the show, we segue from the ridiculous to the truly sublime... Betty White. An old friendly acquaintance of mine, Ray Richmond, wrote about television for the Los Angeles Daily News and other papers when I was in LA in the 90s. Over the past few months, I've seen his Facebook posts about the book he'd been working on, "Betty White: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life". It was officially released at the beginning of December. Betty White was sadly taken from us on Dec.31, 2021 - New Years Eve. But Ray Richmond joins us today to tell us a bit more about America's sweetheart, premiere grandmother and ambassador to animals everywhere.

A bit of what's news for now

OG Progressive blogger and friend of the Nicole Sandler Show Dave Johnson is back today for a taking stock of where we are discussion, on the second show of 2022. I'm feeling pretty despondent right about now, hoping Dave can talk me down. But I'm afraid he's thinking the same things I am. Come join in the pity party.

A bit of what's news for now

The New Year has begun. I wanted to start the year with a guest who can explain what's on tap for 2022, and couldn't think of a better person than David Dayen for that. Dayen is executive editor of The American Prospect, which should be a stop in your morning reading, if you care about being informed. He has an article posted today, "2022: The Year in Governing" in which he outlines basically everything to look out for over the next 12 months. We'll talk about it... Of course, some non-legislative things are happening too... We'll try to kick off the new year with some of those stories too..

Welcome to 2022... here's our first What's News report of the new year