Mea Culpa

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m revisiting the very first episode of the podcast—recorded in September 2020, when I was fresh out of prison and still confined to my home—with my first-ever guest, Rosie O’Donnell. What began as a conversation between two people deeply harmed by Donald Trump became something more urgent: a documentation of character, cruelty, and power. We talk about Trump not as a political movement, but as a man—his brittle ego, his need for submission, and his use of humiliation and fear as tools of control. Drawing from my years as his fixer and Rosie’s experience as his first public feud, we examine how loyalty is demanded, dissent is punished, and moral lines slowly disappear inside Trump’s orbit. From cult-like manipulation and normalized abuse to the personal cost paid by families and institutions alike, this episode serves as both confession and warning—one that proved tragically predictive of the damage that would follow when truth, decency, and accountability are sacrificed in service of one man’s ego. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this throwback episode of Mea Culpa, I sit down with George Conway—lawyer, activist, and one of Donald Trump’s fiercest critics—to revisit our conversation from a year ago. As little changes in Trump’s tactics year after year, we break down his narcissism, impulsive strategies, and the enduring impact on U.S. politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by social media star Aaron Parnas for a wide-ranging conversation about power, spectacle, and global instability. With over 4.6 million followers on TikTok, millions more across platforms, and his Substack The Parnas Perspective ranking as the top news newsletter with more than 615,000 subscribers, Aaron brings massive digital reach and sharp insight into today’s political moment. We break down the release of the Epstein files and what partial disclosure means for real accountability, react to Trump’s latest ship announcement and the politics of distraction, and examine the war in Venezuela and the broader geopolitical stakes. A former securities litigation attorney in Washington, D.C. and a Forbes 30 Under 30 (Media) honoree, Aaron helps connect the dots between media narratives, political power, and international consequences in an episode that shows how easily chaos fills the void when transparency disappears. Leesa: Go to https://Leesa.com for 20% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code COHEN, exclusive for my listeners. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: ⁠https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/⁠ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow⁠ Join us on Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown⁠ Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen⁠ Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by author, lawyer, comedian, and SiriusXM host Dean Obeidallah for a wide-ranging and urgent conversation about secrecy, cruelty, and collapsing accountability. We break down the selective release of the Epstein files and why partial transparency risks becoming obstruction, Trump’s disturbing response to the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, and the dangerous normalization of dehumanizing political rhetoric. We also examine the renaming of national institutions for personal glorification, unchecked executive action in Venezuela, the sidelining of Congress, and the looming loss of ACA subsidies. From performative compliance to open self-enrichment, this episode connects the chaos into a stark warning about what happens when the rule of law becomes optional. Thanks to our sponsor: Superpower: This holiday, give your loved ones the only gift that keeps on giving — health. Go to https://superpower.com/gift to get a free $49 gift box with your gifted membership. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Democratic strategist and former DNC National Field Director Adam Parkhomenko to break down the latest eruptions inside Trump World and the deeper rot driving them. We dig into Trump’s disturbing post following Rob Reiner’s passing and what it reveals about his lack of empathy. We also examine Marjorie Taylor Greene’s continued self-exposure of the MAGA movement, the growing foreign-policy danger surrounding Venezuela, and the looming release of the Epstein files. Finally, we react to Vanity Fair’s reporting on Susie Wiles and what it exposes about the self-interested chaos consuming Trump’s inner circle. Thanks to our sponsors: IndaCloud: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code COHEN at https://inda.shop/COHEN! #indacloudpod Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN Leesa: Go to https://Leesa.com for 20% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code COHEN, exclusive for my listeners. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by journalist and best-selling author Nina Burleigh to unpack the latest Epstein document dumps and what they reveal about power, money, and protection at the highest levels. Nina is a prolific writer, from her Substack American Freakshow to her many books, including The Trump Women: Part of the Deal, which examines the women closest to Trump. We dig into how Epstein gained extraordinary access, why so many powerful figures still fear transparency, and what the documents expose about Trump’s inner circle. We also discuss the growing risk of war in Venezuela, Trump’s latest corruption schemes, and the open white nationalism poisoning the country. Thanks to our sponsors: Found: Open your FREE Found account now at https://Found.com Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/COHEN Promo Code COHEN Soul: Go to https://GetSoul.com, promo code COHEN for 40% off. Don’t miss their best deal of the year! Superpower: This holiday, give your loved ones the only gift that keeps on giving — health. Go to https://superpower.com/gift to get a free $49 gift box with your gifted membership. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I welcome back Malcolm Nance, a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief, New York Times bestselling author, and a leading expert on terrorism, extremism, and insurgency. We break down Trump’s accelerating slide into authoritarianism, from demanding social-media history from tourists to judges blocking his attempts to federalize the National Guard. Malcolm and I dig into Trump’s racist immigration strategy, the growing shift toward a surveillance state, and the intelligence fallout from his Venezuela “drug-boat” strikes and dangerous flirtations with war. We also examine the stakes behind the Epstein grand jury file release, the Russia-Ukraine peace-talk leaks, and why Trump’s foreign policy increasingly mirrors Putin’s worldview. Thanks to our sponsors: Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN True Classics: Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/COHEN! #trueclassicpod Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I welcome back my longtime friend, Anthony Scaramucci, for a blistering, unfiltered breakdown of the chaos coming from our old boss. We dig into Trump’s deadly “drug boat” strikes, the horrific National Guard shooting, and the growing pattern of violence fueled by political lies. Scaramucci and I expose how Trump’s impulsive decision-making, collapsing inner circle, and obsession with ego over governance are destabilizing everything from foreign to domestic policy. We also unpack Trump’s bizarre branding spree, from slapping his name on the U.S. Institute of Peace to chasing billions through global deals, and why the military, Congress, and even Republicans are reaching a breaking point. Thanks to our sponsors: Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/COHEN Promo Code COHEN Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Congressman and hopefully future California Governor, Eric Swalwell, to cut through the chaos of Trump’s America. We break down Trump’s potentially illegal attacks on so-called “drug boats” and how Congress is finally pushing back. We also unpack the explosive Russia–Ukraine peace-talk leaks, Trump’s escalating attacks on immigrants, and the cracks forming inside the MAGA movement. I also ask Swalwell about his decision to leave the House to run for Governor, and how he plans to keep holding Trump accountable from a new seat of power. Thanks to our sponsors: Leesa: Go to https://Leesa.com for 30% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code COHEN, exclusive for my listeners. Soul: Go to https://GetSoul.com, promo code COHEN for 40% off. Don’t miss their best deal of the year! Superpower: This holiday, give your loved ones the only gift that keeps on giving — health. Go to https://superpower.com/gift to get a free $49 gift box with your gifted membership. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I welcome back Nick Akerman, former federal prosecutor, Assistant Special Watergate Prosecutor, and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. We dig into last week’s National Guard shooting and Trump’s potential overreaction, then break down the legality of Trump’s so-called “drug boat” attacks in Venezuela. Nick and I also examine how Trump is using these crises to divert attention from the Epstein files, and we unpack the latest in the Russia/Ukraine peace talks, including the controversy surrounding leaked recordings of Steve Witkoff offering advice to the Russians. Thanks to our sponsors: PDS Debt: Start planning today. Get a free debt analysis right now at https://PDSDEBT.com/COHEN It only takes 30 seconds. IndaCloud: If you’re 21 or older, get 25% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code COHEN at https://inda.shop/COHEN! #indacloudpod Superpower: This holiday, give your loved ones the only gift that keeps on giving — health. Go to https://superpower.com/gift to get a free $49 gift box with your gifted membership. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices