The Nicole Sandler Show

ur favorite legal expert Lisa Graves returns to the show to bring some clarity to the surreal legal news we've been dealing with the the past few weeks. First, there's the Trump trial - the one of four criminal cases that he should be standing trial for. Closing arguments were delivered yesterday; the judge gave the jury instructions this morning and the first day of deliberations are done. Of course TFG went out to the microphones and continued his normal practice of lying about everything. The second big story that's broken over the past few weeks involved Supreme Court *justice* Samuel Alito. We now know that he and his wife (he blames his wife, whatta guy!) have flown flags supporting the insurrection and Trump at their VA home and their beach home, yet he refuses to recuse himself from any case dealing with Jan 6. Yeah, we have a few things to talk with Lisa Graves about today...

The title of today's episode is taken from a line in a commencement address delivered this weekend by filmmaker/historian Ken Burns to the graduating class at Brandeis University. I heard enough plaudits about it to seek it out, and I must agree. In fact, so much that I'm going to share the final 8 1/2 minutes or so of it on today's show. I'll also post the entire thing on my website where I'll post today's show (nicolesandler.com/5-28-24) so you can easily find it to watch the rest of it. With the spectacle of the first criminal trial of a former president coming to and end, and the amount of disinformation and propaganda warping the minds of the gullible, i've been having flashbacks to 2016 when our world was falling apart. Some idiot on Facebook defending TFG posted a response to something I wrote with "we survived Trump once, we will again"... a sentiment with which I wholly disagree. This, if he succeeds in lying, cheating and stealing his way back into the oval office, will be the end of our democracy as we know it. Ken Burns chucked his longstanding policy of neutrality in this speech when he said, "The presumptive Republican nominee is the opioid of all opioids, an easy cure for what some believe is the solution to our myriad pains and problems. When in fact with him, you end up re-enslaved with an even bigger problem, a worse affliction and addiction, 'a bigger delusion', James Baldwin would say, the author and finisher of our national existence, our national suicide as Mr. Lincoln prophesies. Do not be seduced by easy equalization. There is nothing equal about this equation. We are at an existential crossroads in our political and civic lives. This is a choice that could not be clearer." It's with that in mind that we'll hear the rest of that address today, and I'll bring you the latest on the closing arguments, the newest roadblock to justice thrown up by one of TFG's appointees to the bench, the latest outrage over the fact that our Supreme Court is sickeningly compromised and that we are, to put it bluntly, fucked. And not in a good way.

We made it through another eventful week in the most insane decade of my life, and I'm old. We celebrate Fridays because the weekend is here, but not before we recap some of the news made during the week that's ending. It seems that each week these days is more outlandish than the one before, and this one is no different. Among the news and stories that Emptywheel.net's Marcy Wheeler and I discussed today are the complete mess that is the Supreme Court. ProPublica this week confirmed and shared photographic proof that Justice Samuel Alito flew a second flag (this one at his NJ shore beach house) supporting Trump's insurrection and, this one specifically, Christian Nationalism. We discussed fascism and the staffer who reportedly posted the blatantly fascist "Reich" video to TFG's 'Truth Social' account. There was the lie told by Trump and his minions that the DOJ had an order to assassinate him during the execution of the search warrant at Mar A Lago, and we spent a few minutes talking about the "hush money" trial in NY where closing statements will be argued on Tuesday. The jury could get the case as soon as Wednesday. And, who knows? We might have a verdict by the time Marcy and I reconvene next Friday. Oh, and of course we spoke about the circus surrounding Hunter Biden, whose second trial will get underway in Los Angeles in September.  The first one (on gun charges) will happen in Delaware in early June. Strap in... Marcy is actually doing another podcast these days. She's working with the awesome Jason Statler (aka @LOLGOP) on a new podcast called Ball of Thread.  Follow the link for more info or to listen.

It's Thursday (or as I prefer, Friday Eve) has arrived. That means a visit with Howie Klein of Down With Tyranny to talk politics. One subject that shouldn't fall under the category of "politics" is "The Supreme Court." But norms are dead, and we're now living in opposite world. So all bets are off....

I've been doing my best to have guests on this program who can explain the threats we are facing from fascism by way of Trump and his MAGAt sycophants. We've exposed "Project 2025" and urge you to learn as much as possible about what they are planning should they retake power. It really is urgent -- all hands on deck kind of urgent.Today we'll give you the knowledge you need to push back on the mis and disinformation, lies and propaganda they're pushing. There's a reason TFG said "I love the poorly educated!". They're easier to manipulate. In that spirit, I was happy for the opportunity to speak with Federico Finchelstein today on the show. He's now written eight books on the subject of Fascism, including the brand-new one, just out one week, THE WANNABE FASCISTS: A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE GREATEST THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. Federico also contributed an article to this week's special edition of The New Republic called "What American Fascism Would Look Like". Please check it out and share!

We've covered Project 2025 before, and we'll continue sounding the alarm until and after TFG is defeated and this MAGAt brand of Republicans are extinct. They are that dangerous, and that's not hyperbole, it's fact. They will, if given the opportunity, destroy democracy. Today, I'm joined by a NY Times best-selling author, Andra Watkins.. She was raised in a Christian Nationalist family, the people who espouse this type of fascism, and was lucky enough to escape it and share what she knows with the rest of us. She started a substack at Project2025isTheocracy.substack.com. And today, she'll scratch the surface of what they've already done and what they're planning to do if given the chance. We must make sure they don't get that chance.

Mondays are always difficult, especially after an epic weekend.. But here we are. There's lots of news to discuss-- the latest on TFG's trial, possibly entering the homestretch, Alito must recuse (or be impeached.... and Clarence Thomas too!), the ICC is calling for the arrest of Hamas' leaders plus Netanyahu and Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. And lots more. And since it's Monday, Jonathan Larsen joins in from The Fucking News with even more!

Every Friday I'm joined by the brilliant Marcy Wheeler from emptywheel.net to recap most of the important news of the week.... Today we talk the Trump trial and the show of Republican members of Congress skipping out on their jobs  to do Dear Leader's bidding at a NYC courthouse, some even making implicit terror threats (looking at you Matt Gaetz)... there's the fascist proclivities of SCOTUS (in) justice Alito, journalistic lack of integrity, disorder in the House and lots more...

Today's Thursday, so we have a standing date with Howie Klein of DownWithTyranny.com and the Blue America PAC. He usually joins us at around the :30 minute mark. He's out at an appointment today, but we should still be able to get him on the phone for a conversation.... But if something prevents that from happening, we've still got you covered as there's more insanity flying around the interwebs today than I could possibly get through in an hour. For example, some Neanderthal football player from Kansas delivered a commencement speech on Saturday that he is correctly being lambasted for... Of course, I have a response... and now he's trying to mitigate the damage but just digging a deeper hole... The crazy caucus in the already ridiculous GOP House caucus has shirked their Congressional responsibilities to show up in NYC to put their stamp of approval on the corrupt, disgraced, twice impeached, sexual predator, former occupant of the White House.... you get the idea.

President Joe Biden owned TFG this morning when he issued his challenge for not just one, but TWO debates to happen in June and September. Surprisingly, TFG agreed...BUT then, true to form, he lied about a THIRD debate, hosted by Fox (NOT) News, saying he accepted that one too. But, true to form, he made it up. A third debate and especially one hosted by FOX was NEVER on the table. The poor schmuck just can't abide by anyone else's rules. Yesterday, Digby told me that the sycophants who are still cult members aren't even denying that TFG wears diapers. They've embraced it. And today I saw lots of evidence of that, which I'll share. You know that, if there was ever even an accusation that President Biden was suffering from fecal incontinence, the ridicule would never end. But for the orange turd they embrace the anal leakage (and, I guess, the reported stench that accompanies it). Now that you have that mental picture... We have a show today, but no guest. So we'll talk about the news and whatever is on our collective minds. The phone lines are open at 954-889-6410. If we get through all my stuff and you aren't calling in, I have an interview cued up from last summer when I spoke with the artist I'm going to see on Friday night, Michael Franti. At a time like we're living through right now, we could all use a shot of positivity. So I'm happy to replay that one... unless you have something more important we should discuss?