Beyond Politics

Political Rehab: Fixing Politics and Making It Fun In thispremiere episode of Political Rehab, hosts Matt Robison and Matt Wylie hit the horrible week that Trump never wanted, including the Epstein files release, Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent 180 degree turn, the giant "Wag the Dog" maneuver underway, and hit segments like "Trump Dump" and "That's Bullshit!" Our new show aims to make engaging with politicsenjoyable, informative, and awesome again. Listeners are encouraged to provide feedback and join the conversation on Substack.00:00 Introduction to Political Rehab03:20 Trump Dump: Weekly Grievances07:38 Epstein Files and Political Implications09:58 Marjorie Taylor Green's Political Strategy13:09 Trump's Wag the Dog Tactics16:09 Democratic Party Dynamics19:13 DOJ Controversies and Political Weaponization21:28 Republican Ideals and Political Hypocrisy22:28 Burning Questions with Matt GPT33:05 That's Bullshit: Affordability and Walmart Thanksgiving33:33 Dose of Hope: Positive Political Changes

***NEW SHOW COMING FRIDAY! Subscribe to this pod and https://worthknowing.substack.com/***Trump’s Epstein Files Debacle and the Brewing Democratic Divide. Matt Robison discusses the latest twists in the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files. Matt also provides insights into the broader implications of this scandal on Trump's political decline. The episode further explores the infighting within the Democratic Party, featuring a conversation with Michaeleen Crowell, former chief of staff to Bernie Sanders, about the party's challenges and potential solutions. AND Matt announces an exciting new show, 'Politics Rehab,' aimed at re-engaging the politically exhausted and making politics fun again.01:01 The Epstein Files Debacle13:43 Trump's Political Decline15:57 New Show Announcement: Politics Rehab18:21 Interview with Michaeleen19:07 Challenges Within the Democratic Party30:13 Addressing the Disconnect in Politics35:30 Economic Challenges and Affordability39:07 Redistribution and Middle-Class Struggles50:11 Inflation and Economic Policies53:58 Democratic Party Unity and Future Strategies57:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today, I had 15 minutes, So I set out to tackle the one question that’s breaking the brains of Democrats right now: why did those eight Senate Democrats make THIS deal to end the government shut down? I wanted to answer three basic questions.What happened here (i.e., why did they do this)? Could they have actually done better? (and I know that one seems obvious but I want to put some shape to that with one suggestion). Where are we going from here? And I really want to get to this third part because it’s in our DNA as Democrats to get really dejected and down on ourselves…and I don’t think we should, because getting consumed by anger and depression and recriminations plays into the hands of the Trump MAGA authoritarians.00:00 Introduction and Unusual Format03:37 Perception Battle and Polling Insights08:00 Concerns and Reactions to the Deal12:11 Possible Alternatives and Final Thoughts14:45 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

***Please subscribe to Matt's ⁠Substack⁠ at https://worthknowing.substack.com/*** Election Day Insights and Policy Debates with Matt Robison and Dan Perry. We started with Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn on the deal he just helped broker on redistricting on Ohio. Was it Republicans getting away with more predatory gerrymandering, or a sneaky win for Democrats? Then, Dan Perry joined to ask was Trump’s big Asia trip and trade deal-a-palooza really just smoke? And we got into Zohran Mamdani, Dick Cheney, and whether Trump thinks people seeking asylum are actually from asylums.0:00 Introduction and Election Day Overview02:30 Ohio Gerrymandering Deal Explained04:24 Interview with Ohio House Minority Leader08:36 Challenges and Criticisms of the Deal19:33 Strategies for Democratic Success in Ohio24:22 Transition to Foreign Affairs Discussion41:54 Respect for Democracy and Rule of Law47:25 The Future of Trump and Republican Politics55:10 Economic Pain and Progressive Policies01:05:31 The Challenge for Democrats01:14:49 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

***Please subscribe to Matt's ⁠Substack⁠ at https://worthknowing.substack.com/***Trump's Military Maneuvers and the Radical Right's AgendaGuest Jonathan Larson of 'The Fucking News' discusses a series of concerning developments surrounding Donald Trump's recent actions with America's military. The discussion delves into Trump's angry, partisan speeches to service members, his illegal attempts to finance military pay through a secretive billionaire during the government shutdown, and questionable military activities aimed at Venezuelan vessels. Larson reveals the involvement of right-wing figures in supplying Trump with dubious intelligence, and examines how these actions could signal a dangerous shift towards using the U.S. military for personal political gain. The conversation further explores the National Prayer Breakfast's problematic connections and changes in the leadership of ICE, providing a comprehensive look into the nefarious underpinnings of current political maneuvers.00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning08:09 The Role of Patrick Byrne and Others13:37 Military Escalation and Media Analysis19:44 Trump's Unhinged Speech and Military Implications21:35 The Impact on Military Leadership28:51 Military Resistance and Cultural Safeguards30:21 Trump Administration as a Platform32:41 ICE Raids and Deportation Panic48:00 National Prayer Breakfast Exposé55:01 Closing Remarks and Future Topics

***Please subscribe to Matt's ⁠Substack⁠ at https://worthknowing.substack.com/***Things got even more absurd in Donald Trump's Washington this week: leaked Nazi-loving group texts, an unending government shutdown, and an insane decision to fire most of the people who guard our nation's nuclear stockpile. Joined by guest Andrew Heaton of The Political Orphanage, we delve into the culture within the Republican Party, the debate over centrism versus polarization in American politics, and whether an errant artillery shell in California was a message to Vice President J.D. Vance.00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview05:28 Nuclear Stockpile Negligence11:47 Republican Extremism and Nazi Allegations22:31 The Future of the Republican Party27:45 The Dilemma of Democratic Centrism32:11 The Kiss of Death and Moderation39:28 Inflation and Kitchen Table Issues43:12 Government Shutdown and Gridlock51:07 Rescissions and Government Spending57:51 Military Mishap in California

***Please subscribe to Matt's ⁠Substack⁠ at https://worthknowing.substack.com/***This isn't just another breathless AI conversation. Cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier joins host Matt Robison to discuss the truly transformative things that are not just on the horizon, but actually starting to happen today, as artificial intelligence bleeds into politics and government. They look at the hidden upsides for fixing many of our deepest problems, but also some of the staggering problems we could increasingly encounter. They explore some of surprising ways AI is already being used in opinion polls, political campaigns, and voter engagement. Schneier's new book is Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship02:21 AI in Opinion Polls04:50 AI Voting Assistance13:32 AI as a Consensus Builder17:00 The Dark Side of AI in Democracy23:33 Concerns About AI and Dystopia29:48 AI Avatars in Politics33:28 AI in Fundraising and Campaign Efficiency38:19 Challenges and Ethical Considerations of AI44:03 Public AI vs. Corporate AI46:48 Conclusion: The Future of AI in Democracy

***Please subscribe to Matt's ⁠Substack⁠ at https://worthknowing.substack.com/*** Is the Clock Ticking for Trump? Analyzing Political Dynamics with Fred Wellman. Former Lincoln Project Executive Director Fred Wellman joins to explore whether the walls are closing in on Donald Trump and his Republican allies as various pressures--including economic woes and legal challenges--keep piling up. The conversation delves into recent polling data, the impact of economic policies, and legal problems. Wellman also talks about his just-launched bid for Congress, emphasizing the importance of fighting for the public and the energy and strategy required to win challenging races. 00:25 The Clock is Ticking on Trump04:41 Desperation Moves in Politics06:30 Shutdown and Political Strategy13:50 Marjorie Taylor Greene and Political Dynamics21:42 Fred Wellman's Campaign and Personal Story31:54 Constitutional Conservatism and Federal Power35:49 Redistricting and Candidate Challenges41:01 The Importance of Running Everywhere57:06 Facing Challenges Head-On01:01:19 Call to Action and Conclusion

***Please subscribe to Matt's ⁠Substack⁠ at https://worthknowing.substack.com/***Revealing the Reality: Analyzing Trump's Unhinged Militarization On Tuesday this week, Matt was a guest on the morning show hosted by the legendary radio host Howard Monroe, and he threw Howard bit of a curve ball. Howard asked about the unhinged performances from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and US President Donald Trump last week, in which they dragged hundreds of generals and admirals across the world--to a meeting that essentially had no purpose--so that Hegseth could harangue them about personal grooming habits and Trump could go on a meandering campaign rally diatribe. But Matt made the case that what unfolded next was actually good news. And it's connected to Trump's military incursions into U.S. cities. 00:00 Introduction: Silver Linings in Unlikely Places08:33 Trump's National Guard Deployment Controversy16:23 The Legal Battle Over Militarization25:22 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

***Please subscribe to Matt's ⁠Substack⁠ at https://worthknowing.substack.com/***  The one election race that gives the most insight into the state of politics in America right now is the campaign for Bucks County District Attorney in Pennsylvania. Bucks County is the true swingiest of swing counties in one of the few--and biggest--swing states in the country. Donald Trump won it by 0.07 percentage points in 2024...less than 300 votes out of more than 400,000 votes cast. We're joined by the Democratic candidate Joe Khan (https://www.bucksunitedpa.com/joe-khan), to talk about what he's seeing, what's resonating, and why, right now, he's winning.00:00 Introduction: The Bellwether Election02:35 Interview with Joe Khan: The Campaign Journey08:14 National Implications and Local Impact12:10 The Role of Courts and Future Prospects33:06 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action