Mea Culpa

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Dr. Steven Hassan, mental health expert, founder of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, and author of several books, including The Cult of Trump. A former cult member turned leading authority on cults and authoritarian control, Dr. Hassan, walks us through how these tactics are being used to manipulate the American public and consolidate Trump’s power. From Supreme Court justices acting as ideological enforcers to mass deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, he explains how psychological warfare, religious extremism, and strategic mind control are shaping the political landscape. Drawing chilling parallels to past authoritarian regimes, this episode sounds the alarm and offers a path to reach those caught in the MAGA movement.Thanks to our sponsors:Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/COHENDeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan by texting COHEN to 64000Subscribe to Michael's NEW Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 my friend Harry Litman, former U.S. Attorney, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, law professor, and host of Talking Feds, to break down the constitutional crisis unfolding before our eyes. From the government’s refusal to comply with a Supreme Court order in the Abrego Garcia deportation case to Trump’s threats to dismantle independent institutions, Harry warns we’re entering dangerous, uncharted territory. Together, we expose how Trump’s enablers are weaponizing the law, eroding judicial authority, and targeting critics, turning political vengeance into official policy. Check out Harry's Substack here: https://harrylitman.substack.comThanks 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 64000Subscribe to Michael's NEW Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 Brooklyn Dad Defiant, an outspoken political commentator known for his sharp wit, relentless criticism of Trump, and humorous takes on today’s political chaos. BDD is the author of “The Bigliest Loser” and publishes the popular Substack “DEFIANT Dispatches.” Today, we break down the constitutional crisis unfolding as the government defies a Supreme Court order to return a wrongfully deported immigrant, threatening the very foundation of due process. From the fallout of Trump’s reckless tariff war to the silencing of student dissent and the billionaire takeover of our legal institutions, BDD exposes how democracy is being dismantled piece by piece, and why the fight to save it has never been more urgent.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!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/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 Michael Popok, host of MeidasTouch’s Legal AF podcast and YouTube channel, and founder of The Popok Firm. Popok breaks down everything from potential stock market manipulation and insider trading allegations to sweeping purges of the federal workforce. We dive into Trump’s erratic tariff policies, the collapse of institutional checks, and how Project 2025 is weaponizing government agencies for political revenge. As Trump consolidates power and targets judges, journalists, and civil servants, we sound the alarm on the real-time dismantling of American democracy.Thanks to our sponsors:VIIA: If you’re 21+, try VIIA during their annual SPRING 420 SALE for Black Friday-level savings up to 35% OFF site wide! Go to https://viia.co/COHEN and use code 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!Subscribe to Michael's NEW Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 Michael Fanone, former Metropolitan D.C. police officer, January 6 hero, author, and political activist. After being brutally injured during the Capitol insurrection, Fanone has become a leading voice for accountability, speaking out on behalf of the officers betrayed that day. In this episode, we explore how Trump’s second term is shaping up to be a full-scale assault on democracy, due process, and basic decency. We also break down the week’s tariff chaos, the disturbing deportations to El Salvador, and how some in law enforcement continue to support Trump despite his blatant disregard for their safety.Thanks to our sponsors:Hims: Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/COHENL-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/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 Tara Palmeri, an investigative political journalist who has worked for publications like Puck and Politico. Now she is the author of “The Red Letter” on Substack and hosts her own YouTube channel. We discuss a rather turbulent week of news from the Trump administration about Trump’s new tariffs to Signal-Gate. Using Tara’s experience as a global journalist and my deep knowledge of Trump, we predict how the world will react to Trump’s new policies and what is in store for our international relationships.Thanks to our sponsors:VIIA: If you’re 21+, try VIIA during their annual SPRING 420 SALE for Black Friday-level savings up to 35% OFF site-wide! Go to https://viia.co/COHEN and use code 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!Subscribe to Michael's NEW Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 Michael Steele, former RNC chairman, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, political analyst, and outspoken Trump critic. We break down the impact of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race after a Democratic victory, Trump’s reckless tariff policies and their economic fallout, and Senator Cory Booker’s record-breaking 25-hour speech on the Senate floor. Steele and I also discuss the state of the Republican Party, from its deep internal fractures to its ongoing struggle to define itself beyond Trump.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/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 Walter Masterson, comedian, political satirist, and social media provocateur known for infiltrating MAGA rallies and exposing hypocrisy with humor. We break down the fallout from Signal-Gate and how Trump’s allies are spinning the controversy, Chuck Schumer’s latest moves in the Senate and whether Democratic leadership is doing enough to counter Republican extremism, and Trump’s ever-evolving disinformation machine. Walter and I also examine the role of social media in spreading political lies, the dangerous rise of cult-like devotion within the MAGA movement, and how satire can be a powerful weapon against authoritarianism.Thanks to our sponsors:VIIA Try VIIA! https://viia.co/COHEN and use code 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!Subscribe to Michael's NEW Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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 Anthony Scaramucci, a fellow Trump confidant turned critic. While he is known for his brief tenure as White House Communications Director under Trump in 2017 - a role he held for just 11 days before being fired - he is also the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, host of "The Rest Is Politics US," and an author. Using The Mooch’s experience, we break down Signal-Gate, which has overtaken the news cycle this week. We also discuss Trump’s legal troubles, the state of the GOP, and the fight for democracy.Thanks to our sponsor: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/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd 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, Michael Cohen is joined by Reed Galen, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and president of The Union, a pro-democracy coalition of grassroots supporters and organizations committed to protecting democracy from the threat of Trump’s authoritarian agenda. Reed and I discuss the state of American democracy, the failures of Democratic leadership, and the emboldened GOP under Trump. We talk about Chuck Schumer’s controversial spending bill decision and the dangerous trajectory of Trump’s second-term agenda. Plus, the weaponization of government, economic chaos, and what it all means for everyday Americans.Thanks to our sponsor: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/@TheMichaelCohenShowJoin us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdownAdd the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohenAdd the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices