Posting Through It

Tim Pool draws millions of viewers — and dollars — making political podcasts and commentary videos on YouTube. This episodes explores Pool’s evolution, from a self-proclaimed “activist” live-streaming Occupy Wall Street protests to one of today’s most-popular MAGA pundits. Along the way, we review Pool’s early media career, eventual drift into far-right politics, and rapid construction of the media empire he oversees today.Mike and Jared were joined by Robert Silverman, a feature writer who has published what might be the world’s definitive investigative reporting on Tim Pool.Links to some of Robert’s reporting:* The Daily Beast: How ‘Coward and Phony’ Tim Pool Became One of the Biggest Political YouTubers on the Planet* The Daily Beast: Tim Pool’s News Site Plagiarized the Mainstream Media He Claims to Hate* Follow Robert Silverman on Bluesky 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

Renée DiResta is one of the nation’s leading researchers of social media and the author of “Invisible Rulers : The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality”: a book about the ways social media platforms are used — and abused — to reshape the way we think and behave. Renée also shared her thoughts on the government’s hostility toward researchers who study social media and some of her experiences interacting with Matt Taibbi.You can read Renée’s emails with Matt Taibbi here: reneediresta.substack.com/Transition Music: “Get Dumber - feat. Jeff Rosenstock” by PUP 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

Eoin Higgins is a historian and author who joined the show to discuss his book: “Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left.” The gang talks in-depth about Glenn Greenwald and some of the other characters featured in Eoin’s book, right-wing billionaires’ attempts to undermine the news industry, and 90s techno. Check out Eoin’s other work:* Twitter / Bluesky* Substack 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

The Anti-Defamation League has invited controversy for its leaders’ coziness with the Trump administration, and for its characterizations of student-led protests against Israel’s mass-killing of Palestinian civilians. Mike and Jared recap the events that got us here, the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, and why they see the ADL’s political maneuvering as cause for concern.Later on, Emmy-nominated reporter Vegas Tenold joins the show to discuss his experience working at the ADL from 2018-2020, and he offers his perspective on what the organization is doing today. Read Vegas’ post about the ADL’s coziness with the Trump administration here: https://whathappensinvegas.substack.com/p/the-fascist-and-his-little-helpers 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

Jack Posobiec is one of the MAGA movement’s biggest social media stars, recently seen accompanying Pentagon officials on an overseas trip and posing for photos with Donald Trump and JD Vance in the Oval Office. This podcast explores Posobiec’s early political career and its overlaps with white supremacist movements, “Pizzagate” conspiracy theories, and hostile state influence operations — among many other things. Mike and Jared were joined by Hannah Gais, who researches and writes about the far-right.Links:* Read Hannah in The Baffler: Unhuman Resources: The many grievances of Jack Posobiec* Subscribe to Hannah’s newsletter* And follow Hannah on BlueSky and Twitter. 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

J.M. Berger wrote the book on extremism — literally. The internationally renowned expert discussed methods of defining “extremism” and whether a mainstream political movement, like MAGA, could be accurately labeled that way.Read J.M. Berger’s work:* Extremism (The MIT Press Essential Knowledge series)* The Social Construction of Extremism (Dissertation)* Lawful Extremism (Series)~~~A huge thank you to Katharine Antoun for the show’s new cover art. (Website / Instagram) 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

Max Read joins to talk about the online “Soy Right” and how the MAGA movement became everything it thought it hated about “soy boy” liberals. This episode pairs well with tofu.Programming note: We’ll be back on March 3. Check out Max Read’s newsletter, “Read Max.” 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

Julia Carrie Wong joined the show to discuss her recent exploring comparisons between today’s Democratic Party and Vichy France: a short-lived rump state that capitulated to the German Nazi party in WWII. You can read Julia’s article here: Capitulating to Trump: why people are warning about ‘Vichy’ America.In the wake of recent political events, the trio would also like to encourage those who are able to consider making a donation to The Trevor Project, which fights for the safety and dignity of LGBTQ+ youth. (Click here to donate) 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

Matt Binder joins the show to talk about meme coins and AI chatbot romance. The trio discuss about how politicians of all stripes have cozied up to a scam economy built on false hopes about technology.Check out Matt’s newsletter 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

Jared and Mike discuss a recent school shooting in Nashville, assess the vibe of Trump’s inauguration in DC, and debate investing their life savings in Trump’s cryptocurrency coin. They also review a column about a far-right DC inauguration party: “MAGA meme warriors take a victory lap with the Coronation Ball, celebrating the Trump-inspired cultural ascendancy.”Read Mike’s article about Inauguration Day in DC 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