Trent and Caitlin speak with journalist Spencer Ackerman about the CIA, DHS, and other parts of the US government ostensibly protecting us from terrorism. How have they achieved this level of impunity? What are the precedents for the intolerable level of human rights and privacy violations we see today? What have we allowed to be done to the “other” in the past and present?

Resources

https://www.forever-wars.com/

Spencer's upcoming book https://www.forever-wars.com/book-two-majid-khan-iran-troops/

Spencer’s Iron Man issue https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/114934/iron_man_2024_1

Homan Square https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/24/chicago-police-detain-americans-black-site

USS Gerald Ford in Caribbean https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uss-gerald-r-ford-caribeean-venezuela-rcna244193

Sexual abuse in ICE detention https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/hundreds-of-immigrants-have-reported-sexual-abuse-at-ice-facilities-most-cases-arent-investigated

CIA abusive practices https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/enhanced-interrogation-tactics-included-lunch-tray-gruesome-force-feeding-methods

Susan Sontag https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/09/24/tuesday-and-after-talk-of-the-town

Stellar Wind https://www.theguardian.com/nsa-inspector-general-report-document-data-collection

"surveillance capitalism" https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/03/harvard-professor-says-surveillance-capitalism-is-undermining-democracy/

Palantir and the CIA https://www.fastcompany.com/91446398/cia-police-palantir-alex-karp-predictive-peter-thiel-paypal-sequoia

"white innocence" https://www.dukeupress.edu/white-innocence

Caitlin and Trent speak with educational policy researcher Derek Gottlieb about what it's like to research education in a country whose administration thinks public education shouldn't really even be a thing.

Resources:

https://www.derekgottliebphd.com/

"Building a Better Teacher" https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Teachers-t.html

Kristof, "Obama and Our Schools" https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/opinion/13kristof.html

Cavell, "The Claim of Reason" https://academic.oup.com/book/49825

Malcolm Gladwell's quarterback problem https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/12/15/most-likely-to-succeed-malcolm-gladwell

Reduction in Force notices https://www.k12dive.com/news/education-department-layoffs-what-to-know-special-education-civil-rights-lawsuits/802779/

Reduction in Force halted https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/nx-s1-5585083/government-shutdown-trump-rif-layoffs

Ahmed, "On Being Included" https://www.dukeupress.edu/on-being-included

Caitlin and Trent speak with livestreamer Audrey Lee about her experiences participating in and documenting protests at the Portland ICE facility. Audrey explains the relationship among the people on the street, the officers of various departments and agencies, and the counterprotesters and right-wing influencers who have been interacting since she arrived this fall.

Resources

https://www.tiktok.com/@awkwardly_audrey?_r=1&_t=ZT-91NRgOQJsXl

https://youtube.com/@awkwardlyaudrey?si=hn9Pm439rt_LO0lx

National ICE stories:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/30/us/ice-immigration-customs-enforcement-explained-cec

https://www.vera.org/news/more-people-are-in-immigration-detention-than-ever-before

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/new-ice-recruits-showed-training-full-vetting-rcna238739

https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/

https://newrepublic.com/post/196292/ice-director-tom-homan-immigration-crackdown

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/press-release/congress-approves-unprecedented-funding-mass-detention-deportation-2025/

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/stephen-miller-immigration-diplomats-secret-calls-b2856464.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/06/09/trumps-immigration-crackdown-guru-stephen-miller-wants-even-more-arrests/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/stephen-miller-yells-ice-agents-152117107.html

Customs and Border Patrol

https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/border-patrol-agents-replace-top-leadership-at-ice-offices-despite-human-rights-violations

US Citizens detained:

https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-dhs-american-citizens-arrested-detained-against-will

Kavanaugh stop:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a169_5h25.pdf

New York:

https://longisland.news12.com/federal-jury-awards-112m-to-immigrants-detained-by-suffolk-for-ice

Florida:

https://www.latintimes.com/congressman-reveals-conditions-alligator-alcatraz-that-made-his-heart-sink-after-tour-586655

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/former-alligator-alcatraz-worker-describes-inhumane-conditions-inside/3673307/

Illinois:

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/lawsuit-alleges-inhumane-conditions-at-broadview-ice-processing-facility/3846195/

https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chicago-news-lawsuit-filed-aclu-illinois-conditions-inside-broadview-facility-court-tuesday/18111176/

https://time.com/7323334/ice-raid-chicago-pritzker-trump/

Oregon:

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/ice-in-oregon-pointing-rifles-at-family-stopping-minors-at-gunpoint-laying-on-top-of-man-during-arrest.html

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/14/lawmakers-condemn-ice-arrest-four-gresham-construction-workers/

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/11/ice-detains-us-citizen-for-7-hours-after-she-photographed-agents-in-gresham.html

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/11/08/hillsboro-immigration-customs-enforcement-victor-cruz-ice-oregon-washington-county-democrats/

https://opb.org/article/2025/11/05/washington-county-emergency-increased-ice-activity/

At the Portland facility:

https://www.portland.gov/hello/news/2025/7/8/update-chemical-munitions-use-near-ice-facility

Right wing influencers aren’t journalists and they’ve got Trump’s ear:

https://www.theverge.com/policy/813408/portland-influencers-national-guard-oregon-ninth-circuit

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/11/livestreamers-are-filming-and-sometimes-creating-conflict-at-portland-ice-protests-for-clicks-and-cash.html

NG went to OR despite order:

https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/29/oregon-national-guard-portland-ice-immigration-karin-immergut-donald-trump/

https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bonamici-wyden-merkley-dexter-demand-answers-about-portland-ice-facility

Trent and Caitlin speak with Professor John Pfaff, author of "Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration—and How to Achieve Real Reform." They talk about prisons, militarized police, and ICE in today's political climate.

Resources:

John's book https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/john-pfaff/locked-in/9780465096916/?lens=basic-books

ICE accidentally gasses everybody https://newrepublic.com/post/202443/portland-police-chief-donald-trump-protest-tear-gas-accident

Mutual aid supplies cleared https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/portlands-ice-protest-camp-was-suddenly-cleared-by-police-after-months-of-routine-removals-heres-why.html

John's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/johnpfaff.bsky.social

John's website https://johnfpfaff.com

Ghettoside https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/100077/ghettoside-by-jill-leovy/

Study of gun-carrying young people in NYC https://www.innovatingjustice.org/resources/gun-violence-brooklyn/

Gun boats in Chicago river https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/ice-us-customs-and-border-patrol-boats-spotted-on-chicago-river/

Skip Intro on Copaganda https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2ac8vr2QyTdlWwd8OQIc1it6bAfMGPPC

Kavanaugh defends racial profiling https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/09/justice-brett-kavanaugh-and-racial-proxies/

Kalief Browder https://innocenceproject.org/news/remembering-kalief-browder-year-suicide-rikers-island-shutdown/

Chicago pajama guy https://www.reuters.com/world/us/were-not-violent-city-chicago-locals-take-ice-block-by-block-2025-11-02/

Migra whistle information https://migrawhistle.carrd.co/

Caitlin and Trent check in with Daniel Harper of the "I Don't Speak German" podcast, taking another moment to peek under the rock and discover that the creepy crawlies are making friends with each other. They discuss the controversial interview between Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, the role it seems to be playing in the far right, and various reactions (the good and the goofy).

Resources:

I Don’t Speak German

https://idontspeakgerman.libsyn.com

Ali Breland on the interview https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/10/nick-fuentes-tucker-carlson-interview/684792/

Michele Goldberg on the interview https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/opinion/nick-fuentes-kirk-successor.html

The Bulwark on the interview https://www.thebulwark.com/p/one-of-the-most-dangerous-interviews-ever-maga-media-tucker-carlson-nick-fuentes?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=The%2BBulwark&utm_campaign=publer

Knowledge Fight episode on the interview https://knowledgefight.libsyn.com/1089-tucker-the-man-and-his-capitulation

Fired over comments? No! https://www.mediamatters.org/right-side-broadcasting/right-side-broadcasting-and-nicholas-fuentes-host-who-participated-white

On the no fly list because of asking questions? No! https://thegrayzone.com/2023/02/15/nick-fuentes-america-firsts-death/

Fuentes threatened by gunman https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/19/nick-fuentes-armed-man/77090618007/

The SPLC article he blames https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/nick-fuentes-trades-parents-basement-pricey-livestreaming-den/

Heritage Foundation reaction https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/tucker-carlson-nick-fuentes-interview-heritage-foundation-outrage-rcna241251

When the Clock Broke https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374605445/whentheclockbroke/

Molly Conger on car attacks https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/a-brief-history-of-vehicular-violence/id1760218611?i=1000714601117&l=de-DE

William Luther Pierce https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/william-pierce/

David Duke https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/david-duke/

Oswald Spengler https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oswald-Spengler

Robby Soave's "Deplatforming" article https://reason.com/2025/10/30/deplatforming-nick-fuentes-wont-stop-antisemitism/

Caitlin and Trent check in with attorney and legal scholar Madiba K. Dennie about the Supreme Court and the originalist reading of the US Constitution—and why the originalist reading is a trap.

Resources

https://ballsandstrikes.org

https://madibadennie.com/

The Originalism Trap https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735353/the-originalism-trap-by-madiba-k-dennie/

NJ Reparations Council report https://www.njreparationscouncil.org/report

Dobbs decision https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization

Gun rights decision https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/597/20-843/

Steve Vladeck on judicial power https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/91-the-broader-article-ii-implications

Trump v Casa, birthright citizenship https://www.nilc.org/articles/analyzing-scotus-trump-v-casa/

"undue burden" https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/undue_burden

"Kavanaugh Stops" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/kavanaugh-stops-american-citizens-ice-detention-rcna238194

ICE break car window with baby in car https://www.alamosanews.com/stories/ice-agents-draw-weapon-break-car-window-while-arresting-alamosa-man,103677

Kilmar Abrego Garcia https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-mistaken-deportation-smuggling-27c2822466b717f10318c3268127a518

Dreyfus Affair https://www.britannica.com/event/Dreyfus-affair

Trent and Caitlin talk with Emily Glankler of Anti-Social Studies about moments in American history that could inform us about the events of Trump’s second term as president. Who are some characters who resemble the individuals we are dealing with today? Who are the scapegoats?

Resources:

https://www.randyblazak.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@antisocialstudies?_t=ZT-90u54I8WX3F&_r=1

https://youtube.com/@AntiSocialStudies?si=1qzjSoKUDf20oTol

https://www.instagram.com/antisocstudies?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neville-Chamberlain

https://www.itcouldhappenherebook.org

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nullification-Crisis

https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/slave-catchers-slave-resisters/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/pinkerton-detective-agency

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/chinese-immigration

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy/

https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2016/summer/lavender.html

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/10450.html

https://www.randyblazak.com

Caitlin plays field reporter at the Portland ICE facility, interviewing the famous Portland chicken suit guy, Jack Dickinson himself, who gives his observations and thoughts after eight months on the scene.

Resources:

The impact of inflatables: https://www.404media.co/the-surreal-practicality-of-protesting-as-an-inflatable-frog/

ICE recruits not well vetted: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna238739

Health concerns from chemical munitions: https://www.portland.gov/hello/news/2025/7/8/update-chemical-munitions-use-near-ice-facility

Long-term effects of tear gas: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK595624/

Tracking ICE vehicles:

https://icecarsinpdx.wordpress.com

Land use violations:

https://www.portland.gov/mayor/keith-wilson/news/2025/9/17/city-portland-will-issue-land-use-violation-notice-ice-facility

Using zoning laws to fight ICE:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/us/politics/portland-ice.html

ICE uses extreme force:

https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/10/15/48075462/a-night-of-terror-civil-disobedience-met-with-extreme-force-at-portland-ice-facility

Blind man tackled and dragged by ICE:

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/blind-protester-dragged-detained-by-feds-says-agents-picked-the-weakest-person-they-could-find.html

Young woman sprayed by ICE:

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/10/federal-officer-blasts-chemical-spray-into-vocal-but-nonviolent-portland-protester-video-shows.html

Antifa frog sprayed in his air vent:

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/ive-definitely-had-spicier-tamales-says-portland-ice-protest-frog-that-got-pepper-sprayed-by-federal-agents.html

Trent and Caitlin talk with journalist Walker Bragman about the various crises in public health and climate change, the people who helped bring us here, and the dark money that funded it. They discuss the ways disinformation is packaged and spread to discourage the public from being able to access the services and tools they need to live.

Resources

https://www.accountabilityjournalism.org/

https://www.importantcontext.news/

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/10/its-time-for-soft-secession/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215462/dark-money-by-jane-mayer/

https://www.city-journal.org/article/harvard-tramples-the-truth

https://cli.stanford.edu/events/conference-symposium/academic-freedom-conference

https://psr.org/event/911-march-for-health-science/

Caitlin and Trent catch up with historian and former journalist John Ghazvinian to discuss the state of Iran, its past, present and future, how that has historically intersected with the United States dating back nearly 300 years, why trust is so important in international relations, the JCPOA, the Trump era, and his book, "America and Iran."

John's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/59417/america-and-iran-by-john-ghazvinian/

Caitlin and Trent speak with Jared Holt and Michael Edison Hayden about the infamous right-wing "busybody journalist" Andy Ngo, his work demonizing Muslim immigrants in grad school, and his transition to online political influencer and professional victim with "The Post Millennial" as its editor-at-large.

Resources

Posting Through It https://www.patreon.com/cw/PostingThroughIt

White House Antifa Round Table https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=874KP4M4yg0

Fallout from Andy distributing personal information https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/09/16/portland-protesters-say-their-lives-were-upended-by-the-posting-of-their-mug-shots-on-a-conservative-twitter-account/

The Making of Andy Ngo https://jewishcurrents.org/the-making-of-andy-ngo

Andy's Portland State snafu https://www.wweek.com/news/schools/2017/05/23/a-dispute-over-a-muslim-students-remarks-costs-a-college-journalist-his-job-and-brings-national-controversy-to-portland-state-university/

"

Fired for Reporting the Truth" https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/05/free-speech-islam-portland-state-vanguard-editor-fired-tweets/

Andy's weird "Islamic London" piece https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-visit-to-islamic-england-1535581583

The Milkshaking https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2019/06/portland-mayor-police-come-under-fire-after-right-wing-writer-attacked-at-protest.html

Popular Mobilization post https://x.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1143339525151719424

Buzzfeed News version https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/josephbernstein/andy-ngo-portland-antifa

Federalist version https://thefederalist.com/2019/07/02/andy-ngo-antifa-attack-happened-pictures/

Andy's injuries https://x.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1145116276605329408

Ted Wheeler is antifa? https://www.vice.com/en/article/ted-cruz-thinks-the-portland-mayor-let-antifa-take-over-his-city-heres-what-really-happened/

Andy on Fox https://www.foxnews.com/media/andy-ngo-attacked-trump-should-designate-antifa-terror-organization

Patriot Prayer expose https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2019/08/26/27039560/undercover-in-patriot-prayer-insights-from-a-vancouver-democrat-whos-been-working-against-the-far-right-group-from-the-inside

Andy's answer in the Spectator https://archive.ph/Q81As

May 2021 incident https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/independent-journalist-assaulted-while-covering-portland-protest/

Andy's lawsuit https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2023/08/09/46651345/jury-rules-against-andy-ngo-in-activist-lawsuit

What's up with Katie Daviscourt? https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/10/conservative-media-personality-reports-assault-at-portland-protest-slams-police-as-antifa.html

Trent and Caitlin are joined by Layla al-Sheikh to discuss that Israel deal and the history of past proposals and solutions.

Resources:

Current updates https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10/09/world/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire

Doha attack https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/netanyahu-killed-any-hope-of-hostage-release-with-strike-on-doha-qatars-prime-minister-says

Patrick Wintour in the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/07/diplomacy-lowest-point-how-the-israel-gaza-conflict-was-mishandled

Tomorrow Is Yesterday https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374617134/tomorrowisyesterday/

James Ryan's research https://www.fpri.org/contributor/james-ryan/

NY Declaration https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165835

The One State Reality https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501768408/the-one-state-reality/

Christopher Mathias, author of "To Catch a Fascist," speaks to Caitlin and Trent about the events of 2020, clashes between violent fascist clubs and "community defense" groups. They discuss misconceptions about what "antifa" is and what kinds of activities they are engaged in, the difference between doxxing a teacher who practices inclusivity and doxxing one who is bragging on far right message boards about their mission to convert students into Nazi soldiers, and the Trump administration's demonization of community defenders and antifascists in 2025.

Resources:

Pre-order Christopher's book: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/To-Catch-a-Fascist/Christopher-Mathias/9781668034767

Follow Christopher on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/letsgomathias.bsky.social

Mathias on anti-antifa order: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-antifa-executive-order-terrorist-organization-rcna233011

Clay Jackson on outlawing opposition: https://clayjak.substack.com/p/all-opposition-is-now-extremism?r=9qphz&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

Natasha Lennard on the need to mount an organized opposition: https://theintercept.com/2025/09/19/trump-charlie-kirk-george-soros-antifa/

Natasha Lennard on unmasking ICE agents: https://theintercept.com/2025/07/01/masked-ice-agents-victimization-accountability/

Chicago under siege: https://inthesetimes.com/article/ice-broadview-chicago-tear-gas-trump-blitz-immigration

Trump: am I watching things on television https://presswatchers.org/2025/09/trump-am-i-watching-things-on-television-that-are-different-from-whats-happening/

ICE throws woman: https://www.propublica.org/article/ice-officer-shoves-woman-till-eckert

ICE assaults journalist: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/federal-agents-grab-shove-journalists-nyc-immigration-court-sending-on-rcna234884

Rose City Antifa: https://rosecityantifa.org/

Unicorn Riot's Data: https://unicornriot.ninja/far-right-investigations-desk/

Patriot Prayer: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/what-we-know-about-patriot-prayer/

Stewart Rhodes: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/stewart-rhodes-convicted-of-seditious-conspiracy-and-released-by-trump-visits-capitol-hill

NSC-131 https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/nationalist-social-club-nsc-131/

Blood Tribe: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the--new-look--same-racism--of-blood-tribe

Rise Above Movement: https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/rise-above-movement/

Patriot Front have strong presence in military https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079700404/1-in-5-patriot-front-applicants-say-they-have-ties-to-the-military

Neo-nazi homeschooling program: https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/what-to-know-about-a-neo-nazi-home-school-scandal/2023/02

Book on campus misinformation: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/campus-misinformation-9780197531273?cc=us&lang=en&

Tom Homan spoke at Fuentes event: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/thomas-homan-rnc-white-supremacist-conference_n_669856f6e4b05a9a604f80d9

Trent and Caitlin talk with journalist Jacqueline Sweet about how violence is framed in media as political, the rush to score points for one side or the other, inconsistent standards for free speech and freedom of the press, and the scammy nature of our president and his public statements.

Resources:

Jacqueline's social media: https://bsky.app/profile/jsweetli.bsky.social

Mass shooting info: https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting

Late September shootings: https://www.witn.com/2025/09/29/weekend-shooting-suspects-both-served-camp-lejeune/?outputType=amp

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/29/weekend-mass-shootings-this-year

Michigan LDS church shooting: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/30/us/what-we-know-michigan-church-shooting

Celebrating journalist injury: https://bsky.app/profile/jsweetli.bsky.social/post/3m23qadft4k2x

QAA medbed episode: https://soundcloud.com/qanonanonymous/med-beds-skye-prince-e274

Swalwell Trump post: https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.77AW4KF

Trent and Caitlin speak with Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider about their recent book "The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual." They discuss the faulty beliefs and logics that lead us to think about education as a tool for achievement and competition rather than a service provided by communities to their members. They ask what rhetorical strategies have been employed to convince us to allow the public school system to be degraded and dismantled, and the methods that have been working to arrest this degradation today.

Resources:

https://www.educationwarsbook.com/

Jack and Jennifer's podcast: https://www.haveyouheardpodcast.com/

Jack and Jennifer’s previous book: https://thenewpress.org/books/a-wolf-at-the-schoolhouse-door/?v=eb65bcceaa5f

The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/cara-fitzpatrick/the-death-of-public-school/9781541646773/?lens=basic-books

Mahmoud v. Taylor: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-297_4f14.pdf

Free-market logic for education: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0013189X231216953

Trent and Caitlin talk with political science professor Matt McManus about far-right thinkers and their journey through the past two decades. He regales the HTA audience with nuggets of wisdom from Charlie Kirk's books and other pieces of right-wing political theory he has reviewed.

Resources

Matt's book: https://www.routledge.com/The-Political-Theory-of-Liberal-Socialism/McManus/p/book/9781032647234?srsltid=AfmBOorDA_LDtzo9xkaeEYkvNV-ZW95DeZZ_aOw4GF_kRVQM4sozwd5p

Matt's work with Liberal Currents: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/author/mattmcmanus/

Matt's work with Jacobin: https://jacobin.com/author/matt-mcmanus

Matt on Unlearning Economics Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgefM1AipFs

Trent and Caitlin talk with politics blogger and podcaster Ed Burmila about the centrist arm of the Democratic Party and its zombie-like shuffle through our dark era of authoritarian overreach. We ask what exactly went wrong over the last half-century that led our ostensible protectors to be so ill-equipped for this moment? Who is failing us, who is trying something else, and what tactics seem promising?

Note: This episode was recorded before the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Resources:

Chaotic Neutral: How Democrats Lost Their Soul In The Center https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ed-burmila/chaotic-neutral/9781645030041/?lens=bold-type-books

Gin and Tacos blog http://www.ginandtacos.com

Mass for Shut-Ins podcast https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-mass-for-shut-ins-the-gin-29747244/

Trent and Caitlin check in with independent journalist Marisa Kabas about media and public figures’ reactions to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, their impulse to valorize and whitewash his legacy, and the mass harassment and firing campaigns against anyone who is insufficient in their praise of him.

Resources:

https://www.thehandbasket.co

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/opinion/charlie-kirk-assassination-fear-politics.html

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/charlie-kirk-ezra-klein-tanehisi-coates?_sp=b72cfa75-76e2-4289-9bf0-14eb90c6993b.1758044662907

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/opinion/charlie-kirk-assassination.html

Caitlin and Trent talk with independent journalist Amanda Moore about the groypers and their peers, the self-serving micro-celebrities who profit from them, and the media’s mad scramble to make the latest assassination fit into the left-right paradigm without consulting experts.

Amanda’s work: https://www.clippings.me/users/noturtlesoup17

Pepe Jack-o-lantern image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95654958

Trent and Caitlin speak with political science professor Lindsey Cormack about her analysis of the DCInbox database of political communications, focusing especially on the memo from Third Way advising Democrats to avoid certain words that make them sound out of touch, elitist, or insincere. Where did these words come from? And do Democratic politicians actually use words like “heteronormative” and “postmodernism”?

Resources:

DCInbox database: https://www.dcinbox.com/

Lindsey’s analysis: https://dcinboxinsights.substack.com/p/was-it-something-the-democrats-said?r=53lhp&utm_campaign=post&triedRedirect=true

Third Way memo: https://www.thirdway.org/memo/was-it-something-i-said

Politico coverage: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/22/democrats-woke-language-blacklist-00519421

Lindsey’s book: https://howtoraiseacitizen.com/

Caitlin’s introduction resources: https://vpc.org/publications/cease-fire-a-comprehensive-strategy-to-reduce-firearms-violence/a-brief-history-of-firearms-law/

https://www.thirdway.org/memo/how-to-embrace-commonsense-gun-safety-legislation

https://www.thirdway.org/about/staff/jonathan-cowan