Mea Culpa

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Andy Ostroy, filmmaker, political commentator, and host of The Back Room with Andy Ostroy. Known for his honest and unfiltered takes, Andy and I break down Trump’s latest wave of economic chaos and GOP dysfunction. From Elon Musk’s fiery exit, condemnation of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” and ensuing X war to skyrocketing tariffs, failed trade deals, and ICE raids sparking national outrage, we expose the fiscal recklessness and cruelty defining Trump’s second term. We also unpack the unraveling MAGA alliance, the ballooning deficit, and the party’s dangerous embrace of authoritarian spectacle over substance. Hims: Start your free online visit today at Hims.com/COHEN. Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 John Dean, former White House counsel to President Nixon during Watergate, to break down the constitutional crisis unfolding as Trump defies judicial orders, expands executive power, and monetizes the presidency. Dean brings a unique perspective, having witnessed Nixon’s cover-up firsthand before testifying against him. From the court ruling against Trump’s misuse of emergency tariffs to new threats against Harvard and ICE deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, Dean and I trace the parallels between Watergate and today’s brazen attacks on checks and balances. We also unpack Project 2025, Trump’s shadow government-in-waiting, and why the next showdown between the judiciary and the presidency could decide the fate of American democracy. Thanks to our sponsors: L-Nutra: Just visit https://ProlonLife.com/MEACULPA to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 United States Attorney in the SDNY. Nick is a sharp critic of Trump’s abuses of power, and together we unravel his shady international money deals, his dodgy crypto scheme, and the billion-dollar real estate hustle with foreign investors. We also unpack how Trump’s executive orders and the new “Big Beautiful Bill” threaten to permanently shred checks and balances, turning the executive branch into a personal tool of authoritarian power. Thanks to our sponsors: Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/COHEN and use promo code COHEN  today for 10% off of TRIO! Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-American comedian, actor, and political commentator known for using humor to address race, immigration, and authoritarianism. We unpack the dizzying spectacle of Trump’s foreign policy and domestic chaos, breaking down how his so-called multi-trillion-dollar deals in the Middle East are more about showboating than substance. Maz and I also dig into how Trump’s obsession with authoritarian optics is endangering democracy at home, from ICE agents acting like a secret police to tariffs designed to benefit billionaires. This episode exposes the dangerous collision of propaganda, racism, and corruption fueling Trump’s playbook. Thanks to our sponsors: Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/COHEN and use promo code COHEN  today for 10% off of TRIO! Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 speak with my friend Malcolm Nance, who delivers a chilling assessment of America’s standing in the world under Donald Trump. Malcolm is a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief, New York Times bestselling author, and a leading expert on terrorism, extremism, and insurgency. From Trump’s revived obsession with buying Greenland to spreading white nationalist propaganda during a meeting with South Africa’s president, Malcolm and I dissect how Trump is turning U.S. foreign policy into a global humiliation. We also break down his administration’s war on diplomacy, the billionaire cash grabs behind Project 2025, and the authoritarian playbook rapidly taking shape. Thanks to our sponsors: DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by texting COHEN to 64000 Wild Alaskan: Go to https://wildalaskan.com/COHEN for $35 OFF your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 Yale Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a leading expert on leadership, corporate ethics, and government accountability. He’s the Senior Associate Dean at the Yale School of Management, organizer of the CEO Summit, and author of “Firing Back,” where he wrote about Donald Trump. After spending a weekend with him at Yale, I knew I had to bring him on the show. We break down the dangerous mix of spectacle and power behind Trump’s second-term agenda, from chaotic trade wars and hollow cabinet picks to the politicization of education and dismantling of oversight. Professor Sonnenfeld offers chilling insights into how Trump’s reality-TV ethos is shaping public policy, why authoritarianism feeds on chaos and loyalty, and what business leaders and civil society must do now to defend our democracy. Thanks to our sponsors: Hims: Start your free online visit today at Hims.com/COHEN. Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/COHEN and use promo code COHEN  today for 10% off of TRIO! Wild Alaskan: Go to https://wildalaskan.com/COHEN for $35 OFF your first box of premium, wild-caught seafood. Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 am joined by fearless Congressman Jamie Raskin, a constitutional law professor, lead manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial, and one of the most principled voices in Congress. We break down how Trump’s latest power grabs, from blanket tariffs to mass deportations, are pushing America toward authoritarianism. We explore how Congress is fighting back, including legal challenges to Trump’s misuse of emergency powers, and expose his billion-dollar foreign deals, disregard for the Constitution, and threats to civil service protections. With democracy under siege and disinformation rampant, Raskin explains what’s at stake and why courage, accountability, and constitutional values are more important than ever. Thanks to our sponsors: DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by texting COHEN to 64000 L-Nutra: Just visit https://ProlonLife.com/MEACULPA to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 one of my favorite recurring guests, Harry Litman, former U.S. Attorney, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, law professor, and host of Talking Feds. From bypassing Congress to impose sweeping tariffs to openly defying Supreme Court rulings on immigration, Harry explains how Trump continues to push the boundaries of executive authority. We also unpack Chief Justice Roberts’ rare public rebuke, the looming threat of trade wars, and the authoritarian use of executive orders. Plus, we break down the chaos surrounding the FAA’s leadership vacuum and what it reveals about Trump’s hollowing out of critical government institutions. Thanks to our sponsors: L-Nutra: Just visit https://ProlonLife.com/MEACULPA to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/COHEN and use promo code COHEN  today for 10% off of TRIO! Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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 Jennifer Taub, a legal scholar, advocate, author of “Big Dirty Money”, and expert witness before Congress on banking law. As the Trump administration moves to defund universities over campus protests, defies Supreme Court orders, and escalates support for mass deportations, Taub breaks down the growing abuse of executive power. We explore how Trump is weaponizing federal agencies to silence dissent, override judicial authority, and punish political opponents. With due process hanging by a thread and civil liberties under attack, we examine how to protect ourselves, and the nation, from the rise of authoritarianism. Thanks to our sponsors: Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/COHEN and use promo code COHEN  today for 10% off of TRIO! DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by texting COHEN to 64000 Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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

This week on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by TikTok sensation and political activist Jolly Good Ginger. Known for his viral takedowns of white supremacy and unwavering allyship, Jolly shares his perspective as a Southern-raised white man fighting against MAGA for social justice. We unpack the Trump administration’s continued influence, the normalization of hate in right-wing media, and the role of social media in battling misinformation. From performative patriotism to the dangers of silence, this episode is a candid look at how real allyship challenges power. Thanks to our sponsors: L-Nutra: Just visit https://ProlonLife.com/MEACULPA to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Graza: Take your food to the next level with Graza Olive Oil. Visit https://graza.co/COHEN and use promo code COHEN  today for 10% off of TRIO! Lumen: Go to lumen.me/COHEN to get 20% off your Lumen. Subscribe to Michael's NEW 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