The Muckrake Political Podcast

👉 Support The Muckrake Podcast and get exclusive content by joining us on ⁠Patreon⁠ In this Weekender, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dig into shocking reports that the Trump administration is drawing up plans for airstrikes against Mexican cartels — a move that could destabilize the region and push the U.S. into dangerous territory. They also break down Trump’s attempts to rewrite museum history on slavery, the signals of his declining health, Elon Musk’s embrace of J.D. Vance, and what it all means for America’s slide toward authoritarianism. Plus: Texas gerrymandering, Gavin Newsom’s trolling strategy, and James Dobson’s toxic legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump just welcomed Vladimir Putin to American soil and rolled out the red carpet—literally clapping as the war criminal strutted into Alaska.. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down what really went down at the summit, why Trump is parroting Putin’s talking points on mail-in voting, and how this all points to an accelerating authoritarian project. Plus: federal troops occupy D.C., ICE violence escalates, and MSNBC rebrands to… “MS Now.” 👉 This is exactly why we do this work. Support the show and get access to exclusive Weekender episodes, the community Discord, and live events by joining us at patreon.com/muckrakepodcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a preview of The Weekender edition of the Muckrake Podcast. Please go to ⁠patreon.com/muckrakepodcast⁠ to gain access to the regular Weekender episodes on Fridays. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dig into the Pentagon’s new “domestic civil disturbance” rapid deployment plan, why it signals a creeping police state, and how it connects to ICE’s push for legalized racial profiling. They also cover Gavin Newsom’s decidedly non Trump-style gerrymandering gambit, the Trump takeover of the Kennedy Center, and a disturbing report on Meta’s AI chatting with minors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Together at last! Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton break down Donald Trump’s stunning move to seize control of Washington, D.C.’s police force despite the city’s crime rate hitting a three-decade low. The guys unpack the dangerous authoritarian precedent, the looming threat to other cities, and why Democrats are failing to push for D.C. statehood. Then, they turn to Trump’s upcoming Alaska meeting with Vladimir Putin, where the “deal” on Ukraine sounds more like carving up a real estate portfolio than ending a war. Plus: Tariffs on semiconductors, China’s rise, and why America is sliding toward the worst of both Russia and China’s systems. To support the show and gain full access to the Weekender episode on Fridays, head over to http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast and become a patron. It keeps us ad free, editorially independent, and helps us grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To support the show and gain full access to the Weekender episode on Fridays, head over to ⁠⁠patreon.com/muckrakepodcast⁠⁠ and become a patron. It keeps us ad-free, editorially independent, and helps us grow. The right-wing power play marches on as co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss: JD Vance plans to meet with heads of the DOJ Pam Bondi and Kash Patel to plot out the Epstein coup as Ghislaine Maxwell is quietly moved to a lower-security prison in Texas. Meanwhile, it appears key parts of the U.S. Constitution are being edited out on a Congressional website. We dig into this digital sleight of hand and what it might mean. Plus: Senator John Cornyn and the FBI seem to be escalating pressure on Texas Democrats, and new tariffs are coming online with serious economic consequences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Muckrake Podcast, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dig into the disturbing trend of punishing truth-tellers in government, the newly revealed memo outlining plans to deploy more military force on domestic soil, and the latest GOP power grab in Texas as Republican lawmakers attempt yet another redistricting scheme to hold onto power. To support the show and gain full access to the Weekender episode on Fridays, head over to ⁠http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast⁠ and become a patron. It keeps us ad free, editorially independent, and helps us grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a preview of The Weekender edition of the Muckrake Podcast. Please go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to gain access to the regular Weekender episodes on Fridays. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman discuss Donald Trump's new claims that Epstein “stole” Virginia Giuffre from a Mar-a-Lago spa in 2000. We dig into what he said, when he said it, and why he called Epstein a “great guy” in 2002 — before their supposed falling out in 2004. Also: Ford posts its first quarterly loss in years thanks to tariffs, and the U.S. labor market sheds 62,000 jobs — a 140% increase in layoffs from last July. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down the stunning news that Ghislaine Maxwell secretly met with the DOJ, potentially signaling cooperation that could implicate more powerful figures. Meanwhile, Donald Trump spirals publicly during a disastrous appearance in Scotland. Lastly, they dive into the disturbing new executive order aimed at institutionalizing citizens against their will, raising urgent questions about civil liberties and government overreach. To support the show and gain full access to bonus content, head over to patreon.com/muckrakepodcast and become a patron today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Together at last! Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton are reunited (and it feels so good). In this episode, they dig into the Wall Street Journal’s latest bombshell reporting on Jeffrey Epstein, the flurry of new subpoenas, and whether Ghislaine Maxwell might be cutting a deal from prison. Then: South Park throws major shade at Paramount over Trump, free speech, and streaming power plays. And yes—Nick needs just a minute to talk about Hulk Hogan. To support the show and gain full access to the Weekender episode on Fridays, head over to ⁠http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast⁠ and become a patron. It keeps us ad free, editorially independent, and helps us grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Together at last! Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton are reunited (and it feels so good). In this episode of the Muckrake Podcast, Nick and Jared break down newly surfaced evidence related to Jeffrey Epstein, raising fresh questions about who knew what — and when. They explore the disturbing use of torture tactics by DHS and ICE, and how the government is increasingly targeting political opponents through arrests and surveillance. The crisis in Gaza continues to escalate, and the hosts analyze Israel’s ongoing actions and global fallout. Finally, they examine the sudden cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show and what it reveals about the current state of media and comedy in a time of rising authoritarianism. To support the show and gain full access to the Weekender episode on Fridays, head over to ⁠http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast⁠ and become a patron. It keeps us ad free, editorially independent, and helps us grow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices