The Nicole Sandler Show

I'm still processing all the information we learned at yesterdays Jan 6 hearing. But it is clear to anyone who's paying attention that Donald Trump led the charge to attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 elections to remain in power. The gaslighting is apparent, but there's still a huge portion of the population that believes the lies they've been told by the former guy and right wing media, and they were willing to attack the Capitol to do what they thought was necessary to fight against what they were told was a stolen election. Except it wasn't. Instead it was the result of a massive disinformation campaign to foment insurrection. The House Select Committee investigating 1/6 did a great job of putting all the pieces together in a series of nine public hearings. Since Trump went down those escalators some seven years ago, he's been upending norms and challenging the pillars of this democracy-- the hallmark of which is the smooth, peaceful transition of power. We know that the transition from the Trump to the Biden administration was anything but smooth and peaceful. I wondered if we'd be able to survive. The good news is that we have before. Our guest will tell us about the two other transitions that were somewhat precarious! Today's guest is David Marchick. He was director of The Center for Presidential Transitions at the Partnership for Public Service, and hosted its Transition Lab podcast. The new book, "The Peaceful Transfer of Power: An Oral History of America's Presidential Transitions" is based on that podcast series.

A bit of what's news for now

What a day! The final J6 hearing, at least before the election, is taking place today. There's a lot that we hadn't yet known or heard. Today on the show, we'll review it all... Plus, a verdict for the Parkland murder and SCOTUS rules on Trump's petition... DENIED! And a subpoena has been issued for TFG!!!

A bit of what's news for now

One of the best parts of this job is that I get to speak with some amazing people. I first met Jeff Sharlet over a decade ago when I interviewed him for his brilliant book, "The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power." The book, and the one that followed, "C Street" are the basis of a Netflix series. "The Family." They detail the very secretive but omnipresent religious group that somehow straddles the highest levels of DC power. I immediately became a fan, and devoured his subsequent books and compelling magazine articles for which he travels and informs us about people and movements and attitudes that we need to know about but otherwise wouldn't. Jeff has a new book set for release in March, to be titled "THE UNDERTOW: Scenes from a Slow Civil War." All I know is the title, so I'll ask him about it--- but I have a feeling it begins with the same question I'd start out with: Election day is four weeks away. Can we, will we survive?

A bit of what's news for now

She's back! Fresh from another getting settled trip to her new home in Canada, @GottaLaff is back today to dish on the news, mine Twitter for her Tweet Spot, and just have some good, often silly, slaphappy fun.

A bit of what's news, for now

Today's another information download day as Marcy Wheeler returns. At emptywheel.net, Marcy reports on issues of national security and other matters of importance, and has distinguished herself as one of the best journalists covering all aspects of the attack on our democracy and the efforts to hold the former guy and his enablers accountable. You will not find anyone who's on top of all of the January 6 progress and prosecutions, and the intrigue surrounding it all. Her appearances on this program are some of our most anticipated and most listened to, for good reason. So strap in, and let's get caught up on all if it, in a week that'll see at least three trials and the next hearing from the House Select Committee investigating the Jan 6 attack on the Capitol, the events leading up to it, and what's still going on...

A bit of what's news for now