The Muckrake Political Podcast

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton (fighting off an Oasis-induced cold) and Nick Hauselman break down a 6–3 Supreme Court move that lets ICE ramp up racial profiling in Los Angeles and what that signals for Chicago, protest crackdowns, and a country drifting into a “soft civil war.” They dig into reports of banning trans people from buying firearms under the guise of “mental illness,” Cleta Mitchell’s open chatter about using “sovereign emergency powers” to federalize elections, and a Medicare pilot that outsources care decisions to A.I. (what could go wrong!). Plus: Gallup numbers showing Americans actually like immigration and are souring on capitalism, if only Democrats would act accordingly. Support the show by signing up to our Patreon and get access to the full Weekender episode each Friday as well as special Live Shows and access to our community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a preview of the Weekender. Get full access to the entire episode on our Patreon: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Co-hosts Nick Hauselman and Jared Yates Sexton unpack a wild week: The Epstein survivors speak and the right tries to launder Trump’s proximity. RFK Jr. does the “don’t trust experts” routine, while Florida moves to end school vaccine mandates. The U.S. blows up a Venezuelan boat with 11 people on board, insisting they were drug smugglers with no evidence. They talk about how manufactured uncertainty keeps power unaccountable, why shredding public health is the point, and what it means when even Rand Paul sounds like due process. Plus: Oasis in Chicago, beer showers, and why Jaws in IMAX still rips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

👉 This is an excerpt from the full Weekender episode. Click here for full access and to support the show: Patreon.com/MuckrakePodcast. On this Weekender edition, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down the latest authoritarian power plays, from Trump’s attempted purge of federal institutions to RFK Jr.’s overreach at the CDC, and connect the dots on how neoliberalism and authoritarianism reinforce each other. They dig into the economic warning signs, the chilling reality of AI gone wrong, and what systemic reform would really look like. Along the way: Godfather analogies, stagflation déjà vu, Gaza’s grim future with Kushner and Blair, and even an Oasis detour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump’s Oval Office rant took a darker turn this week, openly flirting with dictatorship while floating executive orders on flag burning, renaming the Department of Defense, and even eyeing a federal troop occupation of Chicago. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down the disturbing signs of escalation, the “mad king” dynamic now defining Trump’s behavior, and the growing pushback from leaders like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Plus: why authoritarianism always comes wrapped in corruption, distraction, and stolen wealth. To get the full Weekender shows, live events, reaction episodes, and to support independent journalism, join us on Patreon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

👉 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