

Hysteria
Crooked Media
Political commentator and comedy writer Erin Ryan and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco are joined by a bicoastal squad of funny, opinionated women to talk through everything from reproductive rights to romcoms. They break down the political news of the week, plus the topics, trends, and cultural stories that affect women’s lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 9, 2025 • 44min
This F*cking Guy: Pam Bondi
Delving into the controversial life and career of Pam Bondi, the discussion reveals her questionable rise in Florida politics and ties to Trump. Listeners learn about her dog controversy, alleged favoritism toward major donors, and lack of action on key cases like Epstein's. The hosts critique her stance on LGBT rights and her media missteps after the Pulse shooting. With a mix of political drama and personal anecdotes, the examination paints a vivid picture of an attorney general whose loyalty often overshadowed legal integrity.

Nov 6, 2025 • 1h 24min
Trigger Warning: Hope
Recent Democratic victories in off-year elections bring a glimmer of hope. The hosts dissect local wins and significant political shifts, including a surprising upset in New York City. They also critique Trump’s latest policy moves, juxtaposed with community kindness amidst SNAP delays. Plus, there's a bizarre discussion about an awkward hug between J.D. Vance and Erika Kirk. Don't miss their candid advice on tackling workplace bitterness and achieving pushup goals, along with reflections on a new Bruce Springsteen biopic and Jennifer Aniston’s latest romance.

Oct 30, 2025 • 1h 43min
New York Rising w. NY Gov. Kathy Hochul & Chani Nicholas
New York Governor Kathy Hochul responds to the end of SNAP benefits and shares how her state tackles issues like ICE raids and healthcare cuts. She also discusses her cooperation with the Biden administration while advocating for New York's needs. Astrologer Chani Nicholas dives into planetary shifts, highlighting significant changes for 2025 and their potential impact on society and politics. She offers forecasts for 2026, including astrological warnings about power dynamics and personal grounding practices amid uncertainty.

13 snips
Oct 26, 2025 • 48min
This F*cking Guy: Jerry Falwell
Dive into the scandalous life of Jerry Falwell, the founder of white Christian Nationalism. Discover how he exploited pregnant teens and fueled homophobia to gain power. Explore his shift from a pastor to a political operator, uniting conservatives through the Moral Majority. Uncover the dark side of his fundraising tactics, including using fear during the AIDS crisis. Investigate his controversial remarks post-9/11 and the legacy he left behind. Was he a schemer or a true believer in his harmful ideologies?

Oct 24, 2025 • 1h 10min
Introducing: Runaway Country with Alex Wagner
Anam Raman Petit, a former immigration court judge, sheds light on her shocking firing and the intense courtroom conditions under the Trump administration. She discusses the chilling impact of ICE detentions on legal proceedings and the erosion of due process. Andrew Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor, dives into concerns about the politicization of the DOJ, including Trump’s controversial demand for compensation. Together, they explore the intersection of law, politics, and the personal experiences of those caught in the crossfire.

14 snips
Oct 23, 2025 • 1h 25min
Not Your Safety Net w. Reshma Saujani
Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and advocate for gender equity, guest hosts to tackle pressing issues. She and Erin Ryan dissect Trump’s ineffective IVF plan and RFK Jr.’s bizarre comments about teen sperm counts. They highlight the alarming trend of women leaving the workforce, exploring the impacts of childcare and eldercare on working parents. The conversation also touches on the absurdity of Trump’s lavish renovations amidst serious national concerns, showcasing a mix of humor and critical commentary on current events.

Oct 16, 2025 • 1h 17min
Marjorie Taylor Greene Isn’t Wrong (this time)
Erin and Alyssa react to the strangest of Trump’s second “routine yearly checkup” of 2025, the sweeping federal layoffs impacting the CDC, and Katie Porter’s PR nightmare. Then they check in on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s new anti-republican schtick and what will become of Alex Jones now that the Supreme Court has rejected his appeal. The show concludes with a salute to the late Diane Keaton and a peek into what the f*ck is going on with Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Trump's second checkup describes "exceptional health" (AXIOS 10/11)‘The damage is beyond repair’: The CDC is facing another round of deep staff cuts (CNN Health 10/11)Katie Porter Videos Give California Rivals a New Opening (NYT 10/11)Supreme Court rebuffs Alex Jones’ effort to overturn $1.4 billion Sandy Hook judgment (CNN 10/14)What’s Going On With Marjorie Taylor Greene? (The Atlantic 10/9) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oct 12, 2025 • 44min
This F*cking Guy: Pete Hegseth
This week, Erin and Alyssa dive into the past of United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. From his sexist ideologies to his drunken antics, cheating scandals to Fox News career, embarrassing failures to incompetent leadership, this is definitely our most inebriated and moronic f*cking guy of all time. Sources:https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trumps-pick-for-defense-sec-spent-his-college-years-crusading-against-glorification-of-diversity-and-the-homosexual-lifestylehttps://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/bio/_/id/1506/pete-hegsethhttps://www.theprincetontory.com/archive-of-past-issues/2001-02-issues/https://www.theprincetontory.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/2002-0203.pdfhttps://web.archive.org/web/20060906061815/http://prince-web1.princeton.edu/archives/2002/04/17/opinion/4942.shtmlhttps://ca.news.yahoo.com/princeton-pete-hegseths-views-feminism-100200035.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGVycGxleGl0eS5haS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEdD-QaGi5WlZLvE8gowkG7Ad14X48zhy4R2qInWb7qkj9dlc6uVsoC5KsGVkX4mdzcY07MiMmLRCWW5v2TynNakZoZBPEyxCqteSC6qqLjihEHDlF3tSrgP74u69sm4NURXA50GsmA6xfxFrKcN-BZDzpQCVMYshgqhZbnMA2tk&guccounter=2https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2025/05/princeton-news-pete-hegseth-senior-thesis-plagiarism-allegationshttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ar-AA1uD2gRhttps://www.propublica.org/article/samuel-alito-luxury-fishing-trip-paul-singer-scotus-supreme-courthttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fox-friends-co-host-faces-lawsuit-man-he-hit-axe-n883291https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/pete-hegseths-drinking-worried-colleagues-fox-news-sources-tell-nbc-ne-rcna181471https://archive.is/lSPf9#selection-601.0-641.3https://archive.is/1GJOjhttps://archive.ph/20250101060614/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/us/trump-pardons.htmlhttps://archive.is/T8nCv#selection-2646.0-2646.1https://www.mediamatters.org/pete-hegseth/fox-news-host-pete-hegseth-donated-ian-smith-candidate-who-killed-someone-drunkhttps://www.foxnews.com/media/pete-hegseth-vows-send-back-harvard-university-degree-writes-return-sender-diplomahttps://wng.org/sift/doug-wilson-responds-to-pete-hegseth-affiliation-reports-1755021501https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/politics/video/christian-nationalist-doug-wilson-pam-brown-digvidhttps://prospect.org/politics/2025-02-05-pete-hegseths-venmo-defense-contractors-unitedhealth/https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/metallica-pentagon-pete-hegseth-video-b2788101.htmlhttps://www.vox.com/today-explained-podcast/415145/women-in-combat-ranger-school-pete-hegseth-fitness-standardshttps://www.whro.org/military-veterans/2025-05-07/the-uss-truman-loses-a-second-fighter-jet-in-just-over-a-week Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

8 snips
Oct 9, 2025 • 1h 43min
Showgirls & Mormon Wives w. Mayci Neeley
Mayci Neeley, star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and author, shares insights about her new memoir. She discusses her journey to feminism and the behind-the-scenes realities of #MomTok. The hosts also dive into political topics, including Trump's response to Ghislaine Maxwell's appeal and the challenges facing the Democratic Party. They also touch on Taylor Swift's latest album and critique the absurdity of viral recipes. Expect laughter, insights, and a sprinkling of cultural commentary!

13 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 31min
Shutdown for What
The government has shut down, with Republicans spreading misinformation while worrying about healthcare and federal workers. Erin and Alyssa tackle Ezra Klein’s controversial comments and discuss polls on abortion and gender roles. They also delve into RFK Jr.'s FDA review of abortion medication and highlight key races in Virginia. Epstein files reveal connections to high-profile figures, while discussions around wealthy men and their abuses of power take center stage. Finally, excitement builds for Aaron Sorkin's latest film and a playful roast of Ivanka Trump's Instagram.


