Gaslit Nation

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Teaser - Preserving Free Speech in the Digital Sphere Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

Next week we're running an interview with Jeff Sharlet, the author or editor of several best-selling books, including The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, which led to the must-watch Netflix docuseries The Family. Sharlet is out with a new book The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. This weeek's Q&A discussion includes updates on wannabe mass-shooter Discord Traitor Bro, otherwise known as Jack Teixeira; springtime for Putin -- all the things currently going wrong in Russia's ongoing genocidal invasion of Ukraine and what to look out for next; the consolidation of media under far-right ownership, and preserving our free speech in the digital sphere, and more! If you didn't hear your question answered this week, look out for it soon as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues. And for our listeners at the Democracy Defender level or higher, keep your questions coming. We always enjoy hearing from you. Thank you all for your support of the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! To join our community on Patreon, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit

Tucker Carlson, GOP Candidate? Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

This week we take a look at the slate for 2024, including recently declared candidate President Biden, career criminal seditionist Donald Trump, Marianne Williamson, Robert Kennedy Jr, and possibly two more Republicans – the faltering Ron DeSantis, and the demonic Tucker Carlson, who recently was set free from his Fox News hellscape to possibly run for office. We contemplate a Carlson run, examine the Fox News lawsuit, and discuss the gutting of investigative reporting and the demise of cable news in general. At the end of the show, we debate about how Biden is doing and what he should be doing – not to win, but to fulfill his campaign promises and serve the American people, which is his job!

We also discuss the Kremlin's latest moves into Sudan and the operations of the Wagner Group: the brutal band of professional mercenaries that has been active in Ukraine, Syria, and other regions the Kremlin seeks to drag into their sphere of influence. We discuss the history of Russia's efforts in Africa and how Obama official Susan Rice helped paved the road for the current disaster. We also discuss what it means that Rice is finally leaving the Biden administration.

Every week we do a bonus episode for our Patreon subscribers. We've decided to start releasing them later in the week because we often have extra topics we don't get to in the main show. So this week, stay tuned for some extra Gaslit Nation as well as the answers to our listener Q&A! To submit a question, join at the Democracy Defender level or higher. To listen to the bonus episode, join at the Truth-Teller level or higher.

Gaslit Nation is one of few podcasts that is free to all and that keeps all of our episodes archived online in transcript form. This is important as news websites continue to go under or paywall their content. We are under no corporate control and are funded entirely by our listeners. Help keep Gaslit Nation going by joining us on Patreon!

Show Notes:

Submit your song for the Gaslit Nation Make Art song series. Sign up here.

Clip: CNN on Russia in Sudan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQapgnGwLBw

Clip: Tucker Carlson's Disinformation on Ukraine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG8uLFHJWVE

Clip: Tucker Carlson defending child rap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr1WnL070hc

Clip: Don Lemon on Vivek Ramaswamy https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1650563196795641871

Russia is plundering gold in Sudan to boost Putin's war effort in Ukraine https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/africa/sudan-russia-gold-investigation-cmd-intl/index.html

South African Border War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War

Putin's Private Army Accused of Raping New Moms on Maternity Ward https://www.thedailybeast.com/wagner-group-mercenaries-accused-of-raping-new-moms-on-maternity-ward-in-central-african-republic

Rex Tillerson Is Running the State Department Into the Ground https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/10/04/rex-tillerson-is-running-the-state-department-into-the-ground-215677/

Shot 5-year-old girl in head: Prisoners from Wagner confess to killing children in Bakhmut and Soledar https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/shot-5-old-girl-head-120100855.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGXtXRZip4dbSPAHNmLau_eGyS6S7xX-IinzOlzTLPpPy3-l3wG6eay7o8myxP5i28E8fZizEV8BGjVpahNPC7atwhHDmKZ3TW1BrXK61L-dcbn-4rhyGe13jPFFCHDz2qvF_0rJdTovCObPDC-xNvAPsbVNwe8ziFnxRstM3KUj

Xi Condemns Killings in African Nation Where Russian and Chinese Interests Compete https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/world/europe/central-african-republic-russia-china.html

Airman Shared Sensitive Intelligence More Widely and for Longer Than Previously Known https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/us/politics/jack-teixeira-leaks-russia-ukraine.html

"Stunning": Reporters who uncovered Matt Gaetz evidence baffled after DOJ drops sex trafficking case https://www.salon.com/2023/02/16/stunning-reporters-uncovered-matt-gaetz-evidence-baffled-after-doj-drops-trafficking-case/

Ukraine war: US to provide long-range missiles in latest aid package https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64518532

The changes at CNN look politically motivated. That should concern us all https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/24/the-changes-at-cnn-look-politically-motivated-that-should-concern-us-all

'He's Making Up a World He Wants to Attack': How Vivek Ramaswamy Became a Right-Wing Culture Warrior https://www.theinformation.com/articles/the-making-of-a-conservative-culture-warrior

Don Lemon Ousted From CNN in Move That Left Him 'Stunned' https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/media/don-lemon-cnn.html

Wagner in Sudan: What have Russian mercenaries been up to? (yahoo.com)

Discord Traitor Bro Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

Another week, another set of traitors that somehow our (compromised) national security institutions were not able to catch in time! This week we take a look at Jake Teixeira, a traitor who leaked classified intelligence documents on Discord and became the new mascot of the far-right, and "Donbass Devushka", the pathetic online persona of a former Naval official and all-around asshole from New Jersey named Sarah Bils. These two are just the latest iteration of a broader online propaganda initiative, ongoing for over a decade, to weaponize intelligence against Ukraine on behalf of the Kremlin and its American right-wing backers. We look at the long history of intelligence failures that have led us to the point that a bunch of randos in a Discord forum are more in tune with intelligence than our politicians, who behave like characters in a reality TV show. We discuss the lack of accountability from the FBI and DOJ and the complicity of seditionists like Marjorie Taylor Green who recite their little lines in tandem with their task masters. We discuss Wagner Group and other terrorist outlets attacking Ukraine, as well as the slow-moving war itself, and Andrea again implores the US government to give Ukraine the military equipment that it needs so the war will actually end – and the only way it can end with a chance of peace for the world is with a Ukraine win. For our bonus episode, available to Patreon subscribers at the Truth-Teller level and higher, we answer questions from our subscribers about AI and fascism, why Americans don't protest like the French, the Tennessee legislature and the protests, Clarence Thomas, NC Dem turncoat Tricia Cotham, who should primary Biden, the fading career of DeSantis, and more! And if you join at the Democracy Defender level or higher, you can join us at our live show for our upcoming graphic novel Dictatorship – It's Easier Than You Think, which will be out June 13! The live show will be May 23 at 1:30 EST. Gaslit Nation is an independent podcast made possible entirely by our Patreon community, so please consider joining and getting extra features and more! Show Notes: News clip on Discord Bro Leaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFZo2t11AsM Trump/Tucker clip: https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1645954118551322626 Italian PM clip calling out Kremlin shills: https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1639206906786103296 Donbass Devushka clip: https://twitter.com/jabuttee/status/1646547974858653699 Social-Media Account Overseen by Former Navy Noncommissioned Officer Helped Spread Secrets https://www.wsj.com/articles/social-media-account-overseen-by-former-navy-noncommissioned-officer-helped-spread-secrets-a4b5643b UPDATED: Feds Investigating Former Sailor Behind Pro-Russian 'Donbass Devushka' Accounts https://news.usni.org/2023/04/17/feds-investigating-former-sailor-behind-pro-russian-donbass-devushka-accounts Nexta on Sarah Bils, Russian Disinformation Grifter: https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1647729855587385347 A Russian Disinformation Empire in Oak Harbor, Washington https://malcontentment.com/a-russian-disinformation-empire-in-oak-harbor-washington/

Teaser - A.I. and Fascism Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

This week's discussion includes recommendations for trusted sources on Ukraine and Russia; the slowdown in the Senate as Dianne Feinstein refuses to retire, endangering our democracy by not showing up for work which impairs Democrats' ability to confirm judges to balance out Trump and McConnell's court-packing; and how A.I. risks worsening our fascism crisis. We cover all this and more. If you want to hear the full episode and submit your questions for our regular Gaslit Nation Q&As, subscribe to the show on Patreon.com/Gaslit and never miss an episode! You will not have access to every episode of Gaslit Nation unless you subscribe! Join our community of listeners today!

SCOTUS Corruption and the Tennessee Revolution Apr 12, 2023

Show notes

We're doing a live taping of Gaslit Nation on May 23 at 1:30pm EST. Make sure you're subscribed to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher to get access to that special live event to celebrate the launch of our book Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! It's been a busy week for nazis, neo-confederates, and crimelords – and for the people fighting them! We start out this week by discussing the ProPublica article on corrupt SCOTUS justice Clarence Thomas and his Hitler swag loving backer, Harlan Crow. Sarah gives a lot of background into their relationship, including 1) allegations of sex trafficking by Crow's brother and his ties to a client of Jeffrey Epstein 2) Thomas's ties to GOP sex trafficking and blackmail cases in the 1980s including the Franklin Scandal 3) the combination of bribes and blackmail GOP elites use to keep their judges and reps in line 4) and how the media exposed Thomas's corrupt relationships long ago, but officials refused to act! Then we discuss the heartening news out of Tennessee, where representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson refused to accept their expulsion on baseless grounds, shone a light into the Tennessee legislature's corruption, gave fuel to a national protest movement, and got reinstated into office with a global platform. We discuss the protests and large voter turnouts in gerrymandered hostage states like Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and how this may indicate a bigger anti-authoritarian movement in America to come. Then Andrea details what was in those classified documents found on a Minecraft Discord server (seriously), what they mean for Russia's war on Ukraine, and what Ukraine still needs to win the war: the global democratic alliance must make up its mind if it wants Ukraine to win the war, then give Ukraine what it keeps asking for to win the war: ATACMS (long range missiles) and F-16s. We released our weekly Patreon bonus episode -- a special on violent feuds among the Kremlin's elites -- earlier than usual so if you are a subscriber at the Truth-Teller level or higher, be sure to check that out. We will be back next week with our usual Q&A, so keep your questions coming! Gaslit Nation is 100% listener supported, so please consider signing up on Patreon to keep this show possible! Pre-Order Gaslit Nation's first book! Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250781000/dictatorshipitseasierthanyouthink Clarence Thomas Secretly Accepted Luxury Trips From GOP Donor — ProPublica Friendship between Thomas and Crow Triggers Controversy -- Again - The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times (typepad.com) Justice Thomas Reports Wealth of Gifts - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) What Really Goes On At Bohemian Grove (grunge.com) Clarence Thomas: Our Freakazoid Supreme Should Overturn Himself (nickbryantnyc.com) Tennessee Republicans' Power Grab Has Been in the Works for a Long Time | The New Republic Trammell Crow Jr. Named in Human Trafficking Case (dallasexpress.com) Trammell Crow Jr: Billionaire linked to Sarah Ferguson accused of financing US sex trafficking ring (telegraph.co.uk) The Paid Pundits Defending Clarence Thomas And His Billionaire Benefactor (levernews.com) Where does the Tennessee House Speaker actually live?

Teaser - The Fascists Are Fighting...Each Other Apr 09, 2023

Show notes

Need a laugh? American fascists Elon Musk and Matt Taibbi are fighting each other over on Twitter. Meanwhile, in Russia, the fascists are fighting each other, including the recent bombing of a Russian propagandist in a cafe owned by Prighozin, the founder of the Wagner Group, Russian mercenaries named after Hitler's favorite composer. We know there's a lot of horror to discuss in America right now -- the KKK political lynching in Tennessee, the Texas court ruling against the abortion pill, a possible Trump indictment out of Georgia, and more. We will discuss all of that and more in next week's episode. For now, we're tracking the escalating civil war among Russia's ruling elites and what it means for the war in Ukraine, Putin's fate, and how China may be playing a role. This episode was recorded Monday April 3rd. It's an excerpt of our bonus episode. To sign up to hear all of our shows and submit questions to our regular Q&As, join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/gaslit

Donald Trump Indictment Special Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

Fifty years after he was first investigated by the Department of Justice, Donald Trump has finally been indicted…for a crime for which the statute of limitations may have run out. On Tuesday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced 34 charges of falsifying business records in 2017. It is possible there are extenuating circumstances that make the case still timely – we will have to see. Regardless of what transpires, it does not change the big picture: Trump is guilty of a multitude of atrocities against the American people and he and his backers pose a clear and present danger.

We review the details of the Stormy Daniels case and the other crimes for which he should be charged, among them, sedition, abuse of the pardon power, obstruction of justice, rape, election interference, racketeering, and much, much more – and we note the terrible precedent it sets that crimes affecting national security and public safety (like, say, fomenting a violent coup!) go unpunished, opening the door for a successor to commit them. We discuss the media's continued role as a PR outlet for Trump and the loss of publicly available archives that make it easier for the public to forget his other crimes. We also break down why Bragg was the first prosecutor to finally indict him when so many others – Mueller, Garland, Comey, Vance, etc – have failed, and speculate on what will happen in other state and local investigations. There is a LOT to unpack in this episode so be sure to tune in!

For our bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-Teller level and higher, we answer questions from our Patreon subscribers on secessionist movements, the media outlets stoking civil war, whether Trump poses a flight risk, how 1980s militias and crime cults shape today's politics, and much more! We have another bonus dropping later this week so make sure to sign up. Patreon members now have the opportunity to win a free copy of our upcoming graphic novel Dictatorship – It's Easier Than You Think! We will be giving away one copy each month to a subscriber selected at random.

Gaslit Nation is a 100% independent podcast made possible by listener support. If you like us, please spread the word, as we are shadowbanned on Musk's Twitter and often cannot even post links to our own show! Happy indictment day!

SHOW NOTES:

Opening clip: https://twitter.com/brenonade/status/1641555295926099969?s=20
Closing clip of Comedian Michael Rapaport confronting Marjorie Taylor Greene https://twitter.com/MovieEv/status/1643321452400197632?t=AOSICEsvfZlVLpInMOrvrg&s=19
Twitter is convinced Melania Trump looks 'scared to death' as she meets Vladimir Putin https://finance.yahoo.com/video/twitter-convinced-melania-trump-looks-184142266.html
Mueller referred evidence of 14 other potential crimes to federal officials. Only two of them are publicly known https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/18/mueller-evidence-14-potential-crimes-only-two-publicly-known.html

Mueller She Wrote on Twitter on Trump Indictment Originating from Mueller Investigation: https://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrote/status/1641620212066967552?t=hMmwg-URW82BOM5sR4QIBA&s=19
Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury on more than 30 counts related to business fraud https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/politics/donald-trump-indictment/index.html?utm_source=twcnnbrk&utm_content=2023-03-31T00%3A17%3A15&utm_term=link&utm_medium=social

Trump loses bid to narrow rape accuser E Jean Carroll's defamation case https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-e-jean-carrol-defamation-b2310975.html
New York Young Republicans Statement on Trump Indictment: https://twitter.com/AndreaChalupa/status/1641876783409553429
Viktor Orban, the Ron DeSantis of the European Union, released a statement of support for Trump on Twitter, writing: "Keep on fighting, Mr. President! We are with you." https://twitter.com/PM_ViktorOrban/status/1642819156880785408/photo/1
Ricky Vaughn Indictment: https://twitter.com/EDNYnews/status/1641902845413711874
PEN America on Ricky Vaughn Indictment: https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1641983670465486848
Trump faces 4 investigations. Here's where they stand https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/your-guide-to-all-of-the-investigations-into-trump
Donald Trump Faces Several Investigations. Here's Where They Stand. https://www.nytimes.com/article/trump-investigations-civil-criminal.html
Donald Trump Has Been Indicted. Don't Get Your Hopes Up. | The Nation
Inside the government's racial bias case against Donald Trump's company, and how he fought it - The Washington Post

Teaser - Does the Mainstream Media Want a Civil War? Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

Obviously we discuss the Trump indictment in this week's bonus episode. We also discuss whether the mainstream media wants and would profit from a civil war in America. Our discussion comes from questions submitted by listeners of our show. To submit your quesitons and to hear our bonus shows and never miss an episode of Gaslit Nation subscribe on Patreon.com/gaslit

Accountability Theater Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

In a classic American road trip tale, Sarah went on vacation hearing that indictments for Trump were imminent, turned off the news for a week, and came back to the very unindicted Trump holding a fascist rally in Waco. Why, it's almost like the legal pundit class lying to the American people for eight years was lying yet again! This is accountability theater, nothing more. And it's profoundly dangerous.

This week, we discuss the lack of indictments for Trump, the many crimes that he should be indicted for, the idiocy that the Stormy Daniels case of all things is where officials are focused, and the DOJ's failure to combat domestic terrorism and transnational organized crime. Sarah gives a long history lesson about the Oklahoma City bombings and predecessor cases like the Fort Smith Sedition Trial of 1988, and Andrea discusses gun violence and the organized political oppression of LGBTQ communities that has been on the rise for the last few years. We also discuss Trump's confessional flaunting about his relationship with the IRS, which backs up reporting Sarah did in HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT four years ago, and the Trump camp's use of political violence to intimidate Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. And of course we detail Merrick Garland's failure to address any of these ongoing crises.

In our bonus episode, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, we answer questions submitted by our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. This week's Q&A includes the pressing question and its many implications: Does Putin have a body double? For more and to support the show, sign up on Patreon to join our community of listeners and support independent journalism.

We also have an exciting announcement – we co-wrote a book! And it's a graphic novel! About dictators! Currently listed in the humor section of Amazon! DICTATORSHIP – IT'S EASIER THAN YOU THINK will be published on June 13 and it is available for preorder now. We take you on a world historical tour of dictators, how they got in power, how they stayed in power, and how to get them out. This is the first Gaslit Nation book and we will be giving more information on special signed copies for Patreon subscribers. Stay tuned!

Our featured song for March 2023 is "Nickel and Dime" by Sofia Echegaray. You can find more of Sofia's music on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sofia-echegaray

If you would like your music featured on Gaslit Nation, submit a song here.

Teaser - Does Putin Have a Body Double? Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Does Putin have a body double? This debate matters as it reveals a growing civil war among Russia's elite. We answer this and more questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher on Patreon. To join our community of listeners and submit your own questions, subcribe to the show by signing up at Patreon.com/Gaslit

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