Gaslit Nation

Latest Episodes:

Trump Guilty! Bragg Vindicated May 31, 2024

Show notes

Ads support our production costs. To listen to our show ad-free, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounted annual subscriptions available. Thank you to everyone who makes Gaslit Nation possible in a time of oligarchs run amok! There would be no show without you!

Alvin Bragg finally caught his white (supremacist) whale. The unthinkable has happened: Donald Trump has found himself in a legal storm that no amount of hush money can silence. In an age where cynicism is more abundant than hope, this verdict feels like a much-needed, surprising relief. As you and all the world know by now, Trump has been found guilty in the election interference case, a landmark decision brought by the ever-persistent Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has sued Trump around 100 times in his long career of public service. Trump now faces 136 years in prison, four years for each of the 34 felony counts, and will be sentenced on July 11 by a steely Judge Juan Merchan, who has endured death threats and other harassment against him and his family.

It's okay to celebrate and to also mourn all that's been taken from us, including countless lives, by Trump and his family stealing the 2016 election, backed by their goon squad and the Kremlin in a transnational conspiracy.

This week's bonus show, available to all in a Gaslit Nation block party, looks at the Wall Street machine that Bragg had to overcome for this historic moment, the mass destruction of Cy Vance, Jr.'s dark legacy of corruption, and how grassroots power once again, led by progressives and nonwhite people, forced justice in the face of institutional failure and complicity. Thank you to everyone who stays in this fight. It's because of you we stand a chance to overcome Trump and his MAGA cult in November, and do the urgent work ahead to transform our democracy, in order to Trump-proof it for many generations to come.

Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:

June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!

Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET

July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.

In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September

Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!

Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET

Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in!

RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Show Notes:

The eyebrow-raising legal theory behind Alvin Bragg's case against Trump https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/alvin-bragg-trump-case-legal-theory-rcna154413

How Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. Avoided a Criminal Indictment https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-ivanka-trump-and-donald-trump-jr-avoided-a-criminal-indictment

Baker McKenzie, a go-to firm for Kremlin-linked companies, now says it's leaving Russia https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/baker-mckenzie-a-go-to-firm-for-kremlin-linked-companies-now-says-its-leaving-russia/

Excellent thread on Alvin Bragg by worker's rights lawyer Terri Gerstein https://x.com/TerriGerstein/status/1621873428537004032

How the Hell Is Trump 43-0 vs. Campaign Finance Watchdogs? https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-is-now-miraculously-43-0-against-partisan-fec

Alvin Bragg Wins, Becoming First Black D.A. in Manhattan https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/02/nyregion/alvin-bragg-wins-manhattan-da.html

Opening Clip: https://x.com/KellyrKopp/status/1796299394360467464

Reform the Electoral College May 29, 2024

Show notes

The two most dangerous presidents in American history lost the popular vote but won the slave state monument, the Electoral College: war criminal George W. Bush and Russian asset Donald Trump. Luckily it's within reach to reform the Electoral College, protecting democracy and the world.

Alyssa Cass of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a bipartisan movement to pass legislation in enough states across the country to ensure that the president is elected by the popular vote, joins Gaslit Nation to explain how to reform the Electoral College. Seventeen states and Washington, DC, with 209 electoral votes total, have already enacted the legislation. This means 61 electoral votes are needed in order for the popular vote–the will of the people–not the outdated and dangerous Electoral College, which gives way too much power to a handful of swing states, determines our elections. To be a part of the movement to reform the Electoral College, check the status of the legislation in your state and get involved: https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/state-status

This week's bonus episode, exclusive to supporters at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, features Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast on the making of Vladimir Putin. Listeners at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level and higher join the conversation on Gaslit Nation's coverage of Israel and Palestine. Thank you so much for all your comments! We always enjoy hearing from you!

Here are some of the exciting events we have coming up for our Patreon community at the Truth-teller tier and higher that make Gaslit Nation possible:

Investigative Journalist Craig Unger Live-Taping - June 25th 12pm ET:

June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate). Joining the live-taping will be Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. Drop your questions in the chat! Be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!

Cult Expert Dr. Janja Lalich Live-Taping - July 15 8pm ET

July 15th kicks off the Republican National Convention/Hitler rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To help us cope with the mainstream media, especially the New York Times, continuing to normalize Trump and his MAGA cult, we're producing a live taping with cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich. Bring your questions about how to navitage this perilous time of rampant disinformation and manipulation, learn the signs of cult grooming, and how to help loved ones who have fallen victim. This will be Dr. Lalich's second time on the show. You can listen to the interview with her from April 2022 here.

In the Shadow of Stalin Book Launch - September

Gaslit Nation will host a live taping at a book launch in New York City for In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones. It includes scenes that didn't make it into the final cut of the film, or it would have been three hours long! The evening will include a special meet-up just for Patreon supporters. We look forward to sharing more details as we get closer. If you want a book event/live taping of Gaslit Nation in your town or city, let us know!

Indivisible x Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! - June 20th 8pm ET

Open to all, Gaslit Nation and Indivisible are kicking things off early this year, really early! When there's such a thing as Project 2025, there's no time to waste. Come join us for our first phone bank party of the season, as we make calls to our fellow citizens in Republican hostage states, to refuse to abandon those on the frontlines of American authoritarianism, and to plant seeds of change. We're going in!

RSVP here to join us! https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

Show Notes:

Pre-Order In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, out this September!

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775

The song you heard at the top of the show was 'The Fuel' by Jerrika Mighelle. You can find more music by Jerrika Mighelle on all streaming platforms or at jerrikamighelle.com. And be sure to check out the beautiful official video for 'The Fuel' on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXK32cYuOWs

Post-9/11 wars have contributed to some 4.5 million deaths, report suggests

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/15/war-on-terror-911-deaths-afghanistan-iraq/

Surveillance and interference: Israel's covert war on the ICC exposed Top Israeli government and security officials have overseen a nine-year surveillance operation targeting the ICC and Palestinian rights groups to try to thwart a war crimes probe, a joint investigation reveals.

https://www.972mag.com/icc-israel-surveillance-investigation/

Spying, hacking and intimidation: Israel's nine-year 'war' on the ICC exposed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/28/spying-hacking-intimidation-israel-war-icc-exposed

Fareed Zakaria: Is Israel committing humanitarian crimes in Gaza? The Israeli gov't strenuously denies it. Aryeh Neier, a giant in the world of human rights who escaped Nazi Germany and later cofounder Human Rights Watch, says the answer is yes. Our conversation from today's GPS: https://x.com/FareedZakaria/status/1794793567543509201

Thomas Piketty's Radical Plan to Redistribute Wealth

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/books/review/a-brief-history-of-equality-thomas-piketty.html

Why the Voting Rights Act Is Once Again Under Threat

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/06/opinion/why-the-voting-rights-act-is-once-again-under-threat.html

William Barr, nation's top lawyer, is a culture warrior Catholic

https://www.ncronline.org/news/william-barr-nations-top-lawyer-culture-warrior-catholic

Bill Barr, frequent Trump critic, says he will support the 'Republican ticket' in November

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/politics/bill-barr-donald-trump-vote/index.html

"I started Occupy Wall Street. Russia tried to co-opt me"

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/activist-russia-protest-occupy-black-lives-matter

What will Trump jury decide? Here are the three options

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c033m2qdm0no

Project 2025 Super Special May 22, 2024

Show notes

Project 2025: A name so boring it must be sinister!

Gaslit Nation was early warning about Project 2025. Now people are finally starting to pay attention. Another early warning system is journalist Anne Nelson, the author of Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. Nelson covered the conflicts in El Salvador and Guatemala, and won the Livingston Award for best international reporting from the Philippines. She served as the director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and became the director of the international program at the Columbia School of Journalism, where she created the first curriculum in human rights reporting. This is Nelson's second time on the show. The excellent must-watch documentary Bad Faith, featured on the show in April, was based on her book.

We created this special episode that tells you everything you need to know about Project 2025–the decades-long rise of Christian nationalism, backed by Big Oil & Coal to prevent and rollback regulations and turn America into a dictatorship to protect record profits. "The shadow network" has been looking for a strongman for decades, and Trump is their long-awaited strongman to finish the job.

This week's bonus show explores the making of Vladimir Putin, featuring Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast. Comments from our listeners at the Democracy Defender tier and higher are also shared in the context of the latest on Israel, Palestine, Iran, and more! To submit your questions, subscribe to the show at the Democracy Defender tier ($10/month) or higher, and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive events, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

June 25th is George Orwell's birthday! Come celebrate with us at a live taping of Gaslit Nation, featuring another fearless journalist, Craig Unger, the author of several bestselling books: House of Trump, House of Putin; House of Bush, House of Saud; and American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump, and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power, and Treachery (which features his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile global crime syndicate) is going to join the live taping of Gaslit Nation on Tuesday June 25, at 12pm ET with Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and European analyst Monique Camarra of Kremlin File. The live taping will be exclusive to our Patreon community that keeps the show going, so be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher to get your ticket. A zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!

Join Us for Our First Phonebank Party of 2024! Plant Seeds of Change at the Indivisible With Gaslit Nation Phonebank Party! – June 20th 6-8pm ET https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/

Show Notes

Anne Nelson, author and journalist website https://anne-nelson.com/about/

Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-network-media-money-and-the-secret-hub-of-the-radical-right-anne-nelson/8555395?ean=9781635575828

Opening Clip: Jasmine Crockett CONFRONTS Trumper, Project 2025 Contributor Gene Hamilton: Playbook For A Dictator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2IF5CJARP8

Are Our Oligarchs Going to Drag Us Into Civil War? The billionaires who own the GOP are now actively promoting the same sort of revisionist history the Confederacy did. That did not go very well. https://newrepublic.com/article/181698/american-billionaire-oligarchs-drag-us-civil-war?utm_campaign=SF_TNR&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter

The Saudi Prince, The Mosque And Fox News https://www.npr.org/2010/09/01/129584557/the-saudi-prince-the-mosque-and-fox-news

Longtime Murdoch Ally, Saudi Prince Dumps $1.5B Worth of Fox Shares With Prince Alwaleed's assets likely to have been frozen after the arrest, it's unclear who performed the trading and when. https://observer.com/2017/11/longtime-murdoch-ally-saudi-prince-dumps-1-5b-worth-of-fox-shares/

Why the Georgia Protests Matter to U.S. Voters [TEASER] May 18, 2024

Show notes

Mark your calendar! We're having a live taping of Gaslit Nation on June 25 (Orwell's birthday!) at 12pm ET for subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!

***

Are you tired of the nonstop coverage of the Trump trials? The mainstream media is setting Americans up for disappointment again, like they did with the nonstop "justice porn" coverage of the Mueller investigation. The only thing that will stop Trump in November is us. (It should not be that way, but it is). Progress in America has always come from the grassroots, and as MAGA's Russian-backed coup against our democracy continues, grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. To join the movement to strengthen American democracy from the ground up, be sure to check out the Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide on the homepage of GaslitNationPod.com. As for the trial, Gaslit Nation predicts a hung jury: you just need one juror, likely a man, who wants to make a name for himself and cash-in with rewards from the Trump machine. What are your predictions of what will come from the Trump trial? Let us know in an email to GaslitNation@gmail.com and we may read your comment on the show!

In this week's bonus show, Andrea answers questions from our subscribers at the Democracy Defender level ($10/month) and higher! The discussion includes the hypocrisy of Congress's TikTok ban, the importance of stating one's values and goals in the fight for our democracy, how the Israel-Palestine War impacts Ukraine coverage and why that matters, the boring ratings grab of nonstop Trump trial coverage, and more! Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins the show to explain why the average American voter should care about the growing protests in Georgia against Russian-state capture. Is it a preview of the U.S. should Trump win?

Ready to see the President of the United States share the same stage as an unpunished coup-plotter and serial rapist who idolizes Hitler and Putin? To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, we're having a debate watch party on June 27th in our Victory Chat, to help us get through the media's normalization of Trump and fact check the gaslighting. Hold on tight!

Subscribe to Gaslit Nation on Patreon at the Truth-teller level or higher, and for $5/month, get all shows ad-free, bonus shows, invites to exclusive events, join a like-minded community of listeners, and more! This excerpt is from this week's bonus show. To hear the full discussion, make sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounts are available when you sign up for an annual subscription!

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Show Notes:

Pre-Order Andrea's Graphic Novel: In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775

Putin's brutal war on Ukraine vanishes from news coverage amid raging conflict in Gaza

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/17/media/gaza-ukraine-war-news-coverage/index.html

Polling data expert Tom Bonier https://twitter.com/tbonier

Shaun Walker of The Guardian on Russia's Stalinist prisons https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7/status/1789751355252396394

How to End Russia's War May 15, 2024

Show notes

Pepsi or Coke? Both brands are making money in Russia despite promises to unwind operations. For Russia's war to end, companies must be named and shamed to finally leave the Russian market, and sanctions must be enforced. In this week's Gaslit Nation, Andrea is joined by Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast to discuss how to end Russia's war, not just give Ukraine enough to stay in the fight.

Peter Dugas, New England Regional Director of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, also stops by to discuss the common ground behind the headlines of the climate crisis. Young conservatives in growing numbers embrace science and are on the front lines of a bipartisan movement to end our self-destructive dependence on fossil fuels. Want to be part of the movement? Join the Citizens' Climate Lobby in Washington, DC, June 8-11 to meet with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle – get training on how to demand sensible and urgent climate crisis legislation. Sign up by May 20th here: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-conferences/summer/

This week's bonus show looks at why the average American voter should care about the growing protests in Georgia against a Russian law put in place by Russian-backed politicians. (Sound familiar?) The bonus show also answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. The discussion includes the hypocrisy of America's TikTok ban, the importance of stating one's values and goals in the fight for our democracy, how the Israel-Palestine War impacts Ukraine coverage and why that matters, and more! To join the conversation, submit questions to our regular Q&As, bonus shows, get all shows ad-free and invites to virtual events, and more, subscribe to Gaslit Nation at the Truth-teller level or higher!

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Show Notes:

Want to plant seeds of change? Join Citizens' Climate Lobby in Washington, DC June 8-11 to meet with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to demand urgent action on the climate crisis. Sign up here by May 20th: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-conferences/summer/

Join Gaslit Nation and Kremlin File for a live taping on June 18th 12pm ET live-taping! The Zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event to Gaslit Nation's supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon

Find out which companies are still doing business in Russia: Leave-Russia.org

Jamala - 1944 (Ukraine) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxS6eKEOdLQ

Jamala's Music Video for Mr. Jones (Ціна правди/"The Price of Truth)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6F6P3tTJw8

Eurovision: Isreali contestant booed as thousands protest outside venue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEb1AeRR7Nk

French artist disrupts rehearsal at EuroVision to give a speech for peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWU69VCaNjY

Ivanka Wants You to Take Her Seriousy, Or Else [TEASER] May 12, 2024

Show notes

This week, porn star, filmmaker, business woman, and Trump survivor Stormy Daniels told the court in the Manhattan DA trial for Trump's 2016 election interference that Trump said, that time he coerced her into sex, "You remind me of my daughter, she is smart and blonde and beautiful and people underestimate her as well." Ivanka, Trump's favorite child, is his likely successor. He has reportedly said on multiple occasions that he would like to f*ck Ivanka, making comments about her body. According to a recent report from Puck, Ivanka is looking for a role in the Trump campaign, hoping to get back into the White House. The Kushners want their kleptocracy gravy train back!

Joining Gaslit Nation to discuss Ivanka's latest power grab, reports of Jared Kushner wanting to be Secretary of State and how he promoted developing Gaza into beachfront property, is Terrell Starr from the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack. Terrell is about to head back to Ukraine for a reporting trip. Make sure to follow his coverage by subscribing to Black Diplomats on YouTube, Substack, and more!

Want to submit a question for our regular Q&As? Be sure to subscribe at the Democracy Defender-level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! To listen to the full episode, our recent Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, get all bonus shows, all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive virtual events, and more, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher!

Thank you to everyone who supports the show! We could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Show Notes:

Black Diplomats Substack & Podcast

https://terrellstarr.substack.com/

https://www.blackdiplomats.net/

The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-immortality-key-the-secret-history-of-the-religion-with-no-name-brian-c-muraresku/16724875?ean=9781250803986

Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-side-of-103574554?l=es

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dghYqZQzPo6z_0gzxqLzA7YRcf2Tuxbr/edit

Trump's lewd talk about daughter Ivanka in front of White House staff recalled in new book

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trumps-lewd-talk-about-daughter-ivanka-in-front-of-white-house-staff-recalled-in-new-book/

Ivanka, Interrupted Out of the spotlight but itching to return, the former first daughter has begun quietly surveying allies about how, and when, she might help the Trump campaign—and possibly find herself back in the White House. https://puck.news/ivanka-trump-reconsiders-a-return-to-west-wing/?_cio_id=f6c60601f153a2be02&utm_campaign=The+Best+%26+The+Brightest+-+SUBSCRIBERS+%285%2F2%2F24%29&utm_content=The+Best+%26+The+Brightest+-+SUBSCRIBERS+%285%2F1%2F24%29&utm_medium=email_action&utm_source=customer.io&utm_term=f6c60601f153a2be02

Jared Kushner says Gaza's 'waterfront property could be very valuable' This article is more than 1 month old Donald Trump's son-in-law also says Israel should bulldoze an area of the Negev desert and move Palestinians there

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/19/jared-kushner-gaza-waterfront-property-israel-negev#:~:text=Jared%20Kushner%20has%20praised%20the,Harvard%20University%20on%2015%20February.

Trump's lewd talk about daughter Ivanka in front of White House staff recalled in new book

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trumps-lewd-talk-about-daughter-ivanka-in-front-of-white-house-staff-recalled-in-new-book/

'Do you worry about STDs?': Stormy Daniels's testimony on Trump affair off to lurid start The adult film star testifies in a hush-money trial that could land the ex-president and Republican frontrunner behind bars

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/07/stormy-daniels-donald-trump-testimony

MAGA Incites Violence on Campus May 08, 2024

Show notes

Overlooked in the campus protests is the witch-trial hearings by MAGA Mike Johnson's House that bullied university presidents and scrutinized their federal funding, pressuring them, as Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton famously wrote in the Newspaper of Power, to "send in the troops." Ultimately, the responsiblity falls on campus leadership, with several schools, like Rutgers University and Northwestern University, choosing a peaceful approach, reminding us that another world, free of police brutality, is possible.

Following the anniversary of the Kent State massacre on May 4th, Gaslit Nation looks at the campus protests, reminding everyone that peaceful protest and civil disobedience won hard-fought progress in America's history. Biden recently stopped a shipment of arms to Israel, thanks to the growing pressure. We also check-in on the coup, out in the open, against our democracy, with Rudy Giuliani trying once again to exhort Ukraine to invent dirt on Biden. This is what led to Trump's first impeachment. He's back at it, because Giuliani, along with all the rest of the coup plotters, were never punished.

This week's bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, looks at the latest reports that Ivanka Trump, after failing to make Nikki Haley the nominee, wants back on the Trump campaign and the White House. Expect to see Ivanka speaking at the RNC in July, wearing a pair of earrings you can buy from her own personal brand for $199.99! We also answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher–so subscribe today to join the fun at Patreon.com/Gaslit!

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Show Notes:

Donald Trump's new FBI director pick has Russian ties of his own: Christopher Wray looks good on paper, but his law firm represents Russian-controlled oil companies. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/06/08/trump-new-fbi-director-chris-wray-russian-ties-rosneft-gazprom-column/102603214/

FBI Director nominee removed reference to case involving Russian government from law firm bio

https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/20/politics/kfile-fbi-nominee-law-firm-bio/index.html

FBI Nominee Christopher Wray Earned $9.2 Million at Law Firm Since January 2016 Ethics disclosures detail his work at King & Spalding and list around 20 pages of assets

https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-nominee-christopher-wray-earned-9-2-million-at-law-firm-since-january-2016-1499712979

As corporate lawyers in 2016, Wray and Rod Rosenstein's top deputy, Rob Hur, probed the Blackwater founder's paramilitary aircraft plans. What happens now?

https://theintercept.com/2018/03/19/erik-prince-frontier-services-group-chris-wray-fbi/

Russia Questions Loom for Trump FBI Pick

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-questions-loom-for-trump-fbi-pick

Trump's Arrest, Kissinger's War Crimes, and The Long Hunt for Justice

https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/06/14/trumps-arrest-kissingers-war-crimes

Rudy Giuliani Wants to Do the Exact Thing That Got Trump Impeached Giuliani called for Republicans to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

https://newrepublic.com/post/181095/rudy-giuliani-trump-impeached-zelenskiy-biden

What Columbia Should Have Done Instead of Brutalizing Its Student Protesters Two other universities showed that the school clearly had other options.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/05/columbia-student-protests-nypd-shafik-escalation.html

The US universities that allow protest encampments – and even negotiate While semesters at other schools speed toward a violent close, several universities have sought a more amicable solution https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/04/universities-allow-student-campus-protest-encampments

Were 'Snipers' on Roofs at Gaza Student Protests? What to Know

https://www.newsweek.com/snipers-roofs-gaza-student-protests-indiana-ohio-1895314

Cop Slammed Emory Professor's Head Into Concrete, Then Charged Her With Battery

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/cop-slammed-emory-professor-head-195707606.html

NYPD officer fired gun while clearing Columbia protest

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68947267

'It wasn't equal:' Counter-protesters overwhelm pro-Palestinian students at the University of Mississippi https://mississippitoday.org/2024/05/02/it-wasnt-equal-counter-protesters-overwhelm-pro-palestinian-students-at-the-university-of-mississippi/

US soldier was arrested in Russia last week, officials say

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/05/06/politics/us-soldier-arrested-russia

Giuliani wants to pressure Ukraine to invent sandal on Biden: https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1785050398266474644

Tucker Carlson's Kremlin Propaganda Tour: https://twitter.com/United24media/status/1785353424726380615

Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things [TEASER] May 04, 2024

Show notes

The recording of the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things is here along with the transcript in the show notes for our subscribers at the Truth-teller and higher. Not a subscriber? Sign up and join a community of listeners, get all shows ad free, bonus shows, exclusive invites, questions answered in our Q&As, and more by subscribing at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!

In this special workshop, a follow-up to last fall's Make Art Workshop, where Andrea shared her secret hot sauce for writing a first draft that reads like a third draft, she follows it up with her business checklist on how to navigate shark-infested waters with an open heart, knowing how to protect yourself, what to look out for in every contract and advice for working with lawyers, the often overlooked goals of fundraising that will make all the difference for your project, saving it from the brink.

The Q&A discussion became a freewheeling chat with our live audience from our community of Gaslit Nation listeners sharing their projects, questions, and responding to Andrea's additional stories and insights for bringing your art out into the world. The Q&A portion is transcript only, to protect the privacy of the folks who participated, creating a lively and inspiring meeting of minds. To connect with other artists, and those who love artists, in our Gaslit Nation community, be sure to join the chat group on Patreon, exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher, called Art is Survival.

Here are some of the references to help you on your journey:

For all artists of any medium, get inspiration from the essential YouTube series Every Frame a Painting https://www.youtube.com/@everyframeapainting
List of European film funds https://cineuropa.org/en/backings/
A paid subscription site for looking up contact info for producers, agents, and managers https://www.imdb.com/?ref_=nv_home
Best site for looking up literary agents to pitch and tips on pitching https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/

Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation – we could not make this show without you!

Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!

Show Notes:

Make Art Workshop on writing a first draft that reads like a third draft, from November 2023

Audio only: https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-audio-93455868?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-video-93450936?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

A deep dive into Cuba's rich musical history, reported from Havana

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1197955869

What Does Russia Want with Puerto Rico? May 01, 2024

Show notes

Russia's transnational crime syndicate uses our own weaknesses against us, to entrench their weaponized corruption. Take, for instance, the Act 22 tax loophole that lets rich Americans buy up land in Puerto Rico to avoid paying any money in federal taxes. It's called "trickle down theory," but the locals call it gentrification and tax dodging. So why is RT (Russia Today) latching on to a grassroots campaign to close the Act 22 tax loophole threatening to turn Puerto Rico into a dangerous money-laundering vipers den, with no affordable housing? Could it be that Russia is trying to stop this movement by discrediting it?

Ringing the alarm on how the Act 22 tax loophole jeopardizes Puerto Rico's sovereignty and U.S. national security are Nomiki Konst, an activist and filmmaker, and Federico de Jesús, a public affairs consultant. They joined forces in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria to launch "Losing Puerto Rico," a documentary-in-progress and movement by the same name against the Act 22 tax loophole. Konst, a longtime ally of Senator Bernie Sanders, chosen by Sanders to work on the unity commission for the DNC following the 2016 election, cut her teeth as an investigative journalist under Wayne Barrett, the first reporter to warn us about Trump. De Jesús, who helped lead Hispanic outreach in campaigns for President Barack Obama and Senator Harry Reid, focuses on human rights issues in Puerto Rico. They explain what's at stake with the Act 22 tax loophole, why Russia may have taken an interest, and their urgent advice for Biden on how to defeat Trump in the 2024 election, including how to win back Hispanic voters who have been trending Republican.

This week's bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon, features the recording of the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, alongside the transcript. To access the workshop, all bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive event invitations, and more, subscribe to the show and join our listener community at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Listen to "Pur Sun" by Whose Hat Is This? https://bassmagazine.com/tim-lefebvres-whose-hat-is-this-releases-new-single-pur-sun-listen/ You can find more music by Whose Hat is This? on Bandcamp at whosehatisthis.bandcamp.com or whosehatisthis.com Thank you to Tim Lefebvre and Whose Hat is This? for your music! Got music to share with the world? Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628

Thank you to OneSkine, the sponsor of this week's episode – be sure to give them a try! Our listeners can receive an exclusive discount code. Tell 'em Gaslit Nation sent you!

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code GASLIT at https://www.oneskin.co/

Show Notes:

Losing Puerto Rico – learn more about the movement to protect Puerto Rico, U.S. security interests, and repeal the Act 22 tax loophole and the film-in-progress: https://www.losingpuertorico.com/

Losing Homeland - How a Speculators and Tax Cheats are Stealing Puerto Rico https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6K2SxZNxGQ

Inside the Oslo accords: a new podcast series marks 30 years since Israel-Palestine secret peace negotiations https://theconversation.com/inside-the-oslo-accords-a-new-podcast-series-marks-30-years-since-israel-palestine-secret-peace-negotiations-212985

What is the International Criminal Court and why it has Israeli officials worried https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-international-criminal-court-hague-palestinians-1f683a6e2e150d91c415eb1d0a19a44d

Israeli, U.S. Officials Say New Sanctions Due to Conduct of Ben-Gvir, Smotrich A U.S. source said the far-right ministers were considered for sanctions themselves, but the White House feared impacts on bilateral relations. Some U.S. figures object to the use of the term 'sanctions,' and say that the U.S. is simply holding Israel to the standard it holds all aid recipients https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-21/ty-article/.premium/israeli-u-s-officials-say-new-sanctions-due-to-conduct-of-ben-gvir-smotrich/0000018f-018b-d6a0-a9ef-c19f11020000

How today's college protests echo history https://www.npr.org/2024/04/29/1198911364/student-protests-palestine-israel-vietnam-compared-history-1968-columbia-campus

German ex-soldier admits spying for Russia as trial opens https://sg.news.yahoo.com/german-ex-soldier-admits-spying-161900658.html

2 Ukrainians were stabbed in Germany. Prosecutors are examining a possible political motive https://apnews.com/article/germany-ukrainians-stabbed-russian-suspect-4a432eb55a05885c541b2515be1b20d5

Campus Protests & Radical Self-Care [TEASER] Apr 27, 2024

Show notes

With growing campus protests against the U.S. backing Netanyahu's genocidal war to cling to power and the Democratic National Convention returning to Chicago this summer, it's hard not to think of 1968. As this week's guest, Ari Berman of Mother Jones, explains, the Founding Fathers of America set us up for cycles of fascism vs. democracy, cynicism vs. idealism.

It's important to be aware of how social movements can be hijacked and weaponized. For that, read the essential 2017 piece in The Guardian by Micah White, a co-founder of Occupy Wall Street, on how Russia tried to co-opt him. While there's a long history of the Left being weaponized by foreign adversaries, as the film Mr. Jones reminds us, the magnitude of campus protests across America is a morally clear line, like the Vietnam War and Iraq War protests before them.

As we head into the spring of the most important year for America, one where democracy must prevail, it's important to take time to reflect on radical self-care. As empathy becomes the growing demand of our collective, activism must include self-care, one of the most important acts of resistance, as Angela Davis in our opening clip reminds us. This week's bonus show reflects on that and urges our listeners to reach out to an old friend to reconnect and re-energize. You will be glad you did, as we get closer to the ticking clock of November 5th.

In this week's bonus show, Ari Berman of Mother Jones, author of the must-read book Minority Rule, joins the long list of guests to take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A, producing some surprising answers and a rallying call, for Ari, along the way.

Show Notes:

Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211

I started Occupy Wall Street. Russia tried to co-opt me | Micah White https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/activist-russia-protest-occupy-black-lives-matter

Opening Clip: Radical Self Care by AfroPunk Featuring Angela Davis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cHoL4vaBs

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected