Fake the Nation

Latest Episodes:

517. Negin Considers Moving to the Caribbean and Opening a Bar (w/Shalewa Sharpe and Astead W. Herndon) May 28, 2026

Show notes

Comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian and host of the War Report podcast, Shalewa Sharpe. She's also joined by host of the America Actually podcast, Astead Herndon. Together, they talk about the unrelenting onslaught of the Clip Economy - which inspires many guttural utterances by the panel. They ask the question on all our minds: is France poorer than America?? They eke out a little electoral optimism from South Carolina and Texas... of all places. And, finally, Data Centers -- they’re being built and spoiler, they kinda suck.

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Negin Farsad - @NeginFarsad everywhere. - her upcoming dates including Chattanooga on June 24

Astead Herndon - @asteadwh - America Actually Podcast

Shalewa Sharp - @SilkyJumbo - War Report

Thank you to P&T Studios for having us - buy your next book from their wonderful bookstore!

Support the show on Patreon

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

516. Guilt Reservoir Maintenance (w/Dan Pashman) May 21, 2026

Show notes

On this week's Fake the Nation, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by host of the Sporkful podcast, Dan Pashman! They talk about what Stephen Colbert's departure means for late night and what it has meant for the world of political humor and *the* *discourse.* They also look at Trump's breathtaking volume of stock trades and even more breath-taking-her settlement with the IRS. Finally, new data shows that men are spending more time with their kids. Really though!

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Dan Pashman - The Sporkful Podcast - @TheSporkfiul

Negin Farsad - See her in Chatanooga - @NeginFarsad

Support the show on Patreon

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

515. Motor Oil, the Next Drink Fad (w/Mike Pesca and Katie Hannigan) May 14, 2026

Show notes

This week on Fake the Nation, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian Katie Hannigan and host of the How To podcast, Mike Pesca. On this episode, the panel valiantly tackles the rise of the "Refresher" - what is it and are you drinking it through your mouth hole in large quantities? They also look at the Virginia Supreme Court's utter gall, the Iran War that can't stop won't stop, and Transportation Sean Duffy's new reality show. Plus, can we all hop on board "Ballroom Republicans" as a go-to label to describe this era of GOP politics? It's a good one, guys.

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@KatieHanniganForever + Lady Journey's Youtube + See her at the Bell House for a special taping on May 29

@PescaGist + The Gist + How To with Mike Pesca

@NeginFarsad + The Longest Short Time Live Taping May 19 + Chattanooga June 24 + Wait Wait Don't Tell Me live taping May 21

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

514. Buying Votes with Funyuns (w/Mindy Raf and Joseph S. Moore) May 07, 2026

Show notes

Today on Fake the Nation, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian/author Mindy Raf and historian/author Joseph S. Moore. Together, they discuss the legacy of Ted Turner, the possible reboot of The Apprentice, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, the gosh darned Ballroom, and whether the first wave of school cell phone bans worked. Plus, Joseph S. Moore, this episode's resident historian, gives us a reason to feel optimistic - which is the most Fake-the-Nation-ist thing he could have possibly done!

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Joseph S. Moore - on his Substack - buy his book How to get Rich in American History

Mindy Raf - IG: @mmmindela TikTok: @mindyraf - buy her book The Symptoms of My Insanity

Negin Farsad - See Negin in Chattanooga, TN on June 24 at The Comedy Catch doing The Muslims Are Coming with Equally Threatening Friends!

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

513. Sumo Wrestler RomComs (w/Benari Lee) Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

This week, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian and writer Benari Lee for a weirdo episode of Fake The Nation! Due to logistical hurdles - all Negin's fault, naturally - this special two person episode will tackle a new way to staff nursing homes out of Japan, the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondant's Dinner, the growing rift of Tucker Carlson, and how RFK does math. Enjoy! Next week we'll be back with the format you're used to.

Follow everyone!

@BenariLee and he's mostly on Blusky

@NeginFarsad and she's mostly everywhere

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

512. Watching the MJ Biopic with Mom (w/Shane O'Neill and Matt Koff) Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

This week, comedian and Fake the Nation host Negin Farsad is joined by Washington Post Style Writer Shane O’Neill and comedian/Daily Show writer Matt Koff. Together, they discuss the re-emergence of Michael Jackson and the cultural power of cougars! They dip into war talk and Kash Patel talk. Plus, they look at new data that shows more and more Americans are getting their news from comedians and influencers instead of actual news. And finally, why are some Gen Z men attracted to Catholicism? Shane wrote an article on the very subject!

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Shane O’Neill @ShaneIsland – his newsletter is Seriously Pop Culture

Matt Koff @MattKoff – his new special drops on May 15 on YouTube!

Negin Farsad @NeginFarsad – her dates are all at neginfarsad.com

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

511. Always a Human (w/Justin Krebs and Jordan Carlos + John Hodgman and Emily Flake) Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

This week, comedian and host Negin Farsad brings you two conversations from the vault. Jordan Carlos and Justin Krebs join to discuss why people would wait in the longer self-checkout line instead of using the SHORTER line with a human cashier. It's happening and we need to understand why!? John Hodgman and Emily Flake also join to discuss how to make long lasting friends. Together they have all the answers...or none of them, you decide!

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@NeginFarsad - read her latest screed in Progressive Magazine about popping out babies.

@johnhodgman - check out his pod Judge John Hodgman

@jordancarlosofficial - buy his book Choreplay

@eflakeagogo - Emily's work in The New Yorker

Justin Krebs - one of his best books 538 Ways to Live Like a Liberal

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

510. Hegseth's Wet Hair (w/Jeremy Pinsly and Mary Houlihan) Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

This week, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian and host of the podcast The Mary Houlihan Show, Mary Houlihan! She’s also joined by comedian and founder of the brand new club, The Greenpoint Comedy Club in Brooklyn! Together, they ask, would you pay money to go on a reading retreat where a bunch of strangers read one book out loud? And, would you pay money for the “Relax Row” – and if you don’t know what that is, press play! They also get into the politics of war, the politics of space and the politics of the Florida special elections. Finally, new research indicates that the most popular degrees don’t actually pay the bills. What gives?

Follow Everyone!

NeginFarsad – check her out in San Francisco at The Lost Church on April 29

MaryHoulihan - @MaryHoulie & The Mary Houlihan Show

Jeremy Pinsley - @JeremyPinsley & The Greenpoint Comedy Club of NYC!

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

509. Small Shoe Psychological Warfare (w/Jody Avirgan and Caleb Zeringue) Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

This week on Fake the Nation, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian Caleb Zeringue (Luigi: The Musical) and podcast host Jody Avirgan (This Day Pod) to discuss why men wear shoes that are bigger than their actual feet... but also, why Sora shut down. This podcast is a bird of many feathers because that's not all! They also talk about Democrats' Special Election wins, the No Kings rallies, and Trump's signature on bills. They also weigh in on YouTube and Meta's losses in court - the social media chickens have maybe come home to roost? So much to think about, enjoy!

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Caleb Zeringue - on Instagram (The Drillmaster May 3rd in LA, Luigi: The Musical in NYC in June!)

Jody Avirgan - This Day Podcast

Negin Farsad - See in her San Francisco for The Muslims Are Coming! with Equally Threatening Friends show

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Follow Negin Farsad on Twitter
Email Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.com

Host - Negin Farsad

Producer - Rob Heath

Theme Music - Gaby Alter

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

508. Hurting People and Doing Ballrooms Since 2025 (w/Helen Hong and Meagan Hatcher Mays) Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Today on Fake the Nation, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by fellow Wait Wait Don't Tell Me comedian Helen Hong and co-host of the podcast Text Me Back, Meagan Hatcher Mays. Together they talk about data that shows difficult people AGE you faster! Obviously! But also it's fun that there's now data to prove it. In politics, they take a more macro view of the right by asking whether we have reached end stage polarization AND whether MAGA has entered its cringe era? (And maybe those are one in the same question??) And finally, they talk about a study that reveals the secret to having a lot of friends in adulthood... Enjoy!

Follow Everyone!

Negin Farsad - see her in San Francisco on April 29 in The Muslims Are Coming!...with Equally Threatening Friends at The Lost Church - a night of standup with great comedians

Helen Hong - Listen to her pod Go Fact Yourself!

Meagan Hatcher Mays - Listen to her pod Text Me Back

Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!