Posting Through It

Anthony Cumia was once one of radio's most prolific shock-jocks, best known for co-hosting "Opie and Anthony" from 1995 to 2014. In recent years, however, you're more likely to find Cumia mulling around the white nationalist movement.This episode examines Cumia's life and career, exploring the significant impacts he had on comedy, entertainment, and politics during his professional peak. The program also chronicles the collapse of his media stardom, controversies that continue to plague him, and his relationships within far-right extremist movements.Mike and Jared were joined by Matt [Redacted], whose last name was withheld to shield him and his otherwise normal life from potential blowback from Cumia and his cult following of super fans. Matt is launching a new podcast soon, called "The Virus." Check that out!~~~Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/PostingThroughIt~~~Transition Music: "I'm Scum" by IDLES

Hannah Gais is a researcher and journalist who covers far-right extremism. She joins the show to look back on the white nationalist “alt-right” movement, eight years after the deadly Unite the Right white supremacist gathering in Charlottesville, Virginia. While the movement today is a shadow of its former self, the ideology that drove it seems as mainstream as ever. On this episode, we explore an uncomfortable question: did the alt-right accomplish its goals?Links for Hannah:Newsletter: Posts from UndergroundBluesky and X (Twitter)Transition Music: "Precious" by Depeche Mode

Mehdi Hasan, a journalist renowned for confronting power directly and dismantling opponents in political debates, joined Posting Through It to reflect on his viral appearance on "Surrounded" — a YouTube debate show that recruited him to argue against 20 "far-right conservatives."Over nearly two hours, his opponents took turns sitting across from him and espousing racist bigotries, antisemitic conspiracy theories, and anti-democratic beliefs. When the cameras stopped rolling, Mehdi said one participant stood up and declared: "Left or Right, we all hate the Jews.""No one said a word," Mehdi recalled.The episode's explosive popularity (10.2 million views on YouTube alone) has reignited debates about "platforming" extremism and whether engaging with the far-right this way serves any constructive purpose. On this episode, we explore those criticisms with Mehdi, discuss his “hygiene tests” for debates, and explore why so many people who try to face off against the far-right end up failing.Links for Mehdi:* Check out Zeteo.com* Read “Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking”* Watch “7 Debate Lessons YOU Can Learn From My Jubilee Video”* Follow @mehdirhasan on X and @mehdirhasan.bsky.social on BlueskyTransition Music: “WILL U STILL U” by Jeff RosenstockThrow a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Anna Merlan is a senior reporter at Mother Jones who covers disinformation, technology, and extremism. She joined us to discuss the Trump Administration's efforts to address the "Epstein Files" controversy and why calming supporters' anger over this issue has proven particularly challenging. We also explored how right-wing media has sought to downplay Ghislaine Maxwell's role in Jeffrey Epstein's crimes.Links for Anna:* Read her story in Mother Jones: How Does the Epstein Scandal End?* Check out her book: “Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power”* Follow her on Bluesky: @annamerlan.bsky.social‬ Transition Music: “Stars” by HumThrow a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Dave Portnoy has leveraged his digital media empire — Barstool Sports — to amass so much political influence that there’s a term for it: "Barstool Conservatism." This episode retraces the story of Portnoy’s life and career to explain how he made millions combining sports entertainment, reactionary politics, and pizza reviews. It also reflects on Portnoy’s influence within the broader MAGA movement and “manosphere.”Mike and Jared are joined by Robert Silverman, a feature writer who has covered Portnoy and his media empire at excruciating length. Practically everything you’ll hear on this episode comes directly from his reporting. (Listeners will remember Silverman from April’s “Who the Hell is Tim Pool?” episode.)Some tip jar contributions this week will help us thank Robert for his work on this episode by taking him to a New York Mets game. (As if he has not suffered enough.) If you loved this episode, show your appreciation by tossing in a few bucks: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpodLinks to Robert’s reporting:* Inside Barstool Sports’ Culture of Online Hate: ‘They Treat Sexual Harassment and Cyberbullying as a Game’ (The Daily Beast, 2018)* Barstool Sports ‘Hemorrhaging Money,’ Top Editor Flips Out at Writers (The Daily Beast, 2020)* How Barstool Built an Empire by Swiping Sports Highlights (The Daily Beast, 2023)Transition Music: “Sports” by Viagra BoysGet 50% off your first Magic Mind subscription using the code THROUGHIT50 at https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50. #magicmind #mentalperformance“Who the Hell?” is an unofficial longform series that examines the lives and careers of prominent right-wing social media personalities. Prior episodes in this series covered Jack Posobiec, Tim Pool, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

Ben Lorber, a senior research analyst at Political Research Associates and co-author of 'Safety Through Solidarity', dives into the complexities of modern antisemitism. He critiques the absurdity of pro-Israel groups targeting children's entertainers like Elmo, discussing how this cheapens real antisemitism. The conversation navigates online harassment tactics like those from Canary Mission, and the dangers of conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Lorber advocates for solidarity and nuanced dialogue in the ongoing fight against extremism.

Will Sommer is a senior reporter at The Bulwark, where he authors the newsletter “False Flag.” A longtime chronicler of right-wing media, Will joins the show to discuss the fallout facing the Trump Administration as it backs off its promise to release the “Epstein Files.” After years of promising to unveil new information about one of the highest profile pedophiles in United States history, the administration has reversed course entirely — leading some MAGA movement figures to call for resignations of key administration figures.Get 50% off your first Magic Mind subscription using the code THROUGHIT50 at https://www.magicmind.com/throughit50. #magicmind #mentalperformanceLinks for Will:* Subscribe to his newsletter: “False Flag” at The Bulwark* Read his book: “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America” via HarperCollins* Follow him on X and BlueskyThrow a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com

In this insightful discussion, Jeff Tischauser, an academic specializing in the white power movement, sheds light on Patriot Front, a neofascist group notorious for its flamboyant demonstrations. He scrutinizes their troubling ideology, tracing the evolution of their leader, Thomas Rousseau, and their questionable recruitment tactics. The conversation navigates the group's ties to Europe, internal chaos, and the perplexing claims from MAGA supporters about their members. Tischauser also humorously critiques their ineffectiveness, revealing the absurdity behind their extremist antics.

Two activists from a notable anarchist media collective share insights on turning protest energy into effective antifascist action. They analyze recent grassroots movements in the face of rising far-right threats, discussing the evolving role of activists and the media. The conversation dives into direct action tactics, community engagement, and the importance of solidarity against authoritarianism. With humor interspersed, they also highlight challenges in today's social media landscape and the necessity for innovative strategies to unite against oppressive ideologies.

Mike and Jared say hello to the show’s new “Groyper” listeners then talk about Trump’s military parade, the murder of a Minnesota politician, media coverage of “No Kings” protests, Terry Moran’s exit from ABC News, and Democrats’ latest ploy to win new voters.Links:* Molly Ivins: The Fun’s in the FightLike this episode? Share it with your friends and followers!Throw a few bucks in our digital tip jar: https://tiptopjar.com/postingthroughitpod This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit postthroughit.substack.com