Kickass News

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News & Politics
**Kickass News**

Hosted by Hollywood producer and political media strategist Ben Mathis, KickAss News is a twice weekly podcast that features the most interesting personalities and thought leaders in politics, entertainment, tech, business, science, and more. Enjoy the podcast? Then please support the show and help keep us on the air by making a donation to our GoFundMe campaign at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Another way you can support the show is to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review on iTunes to help keep us ranking strong on the top podcasts charts. For more information visit www.kickassnews.com. Thanks for listening!

Latest Episodes:

John Avlon, Editor of The Daily Beast on Washington's Farewell Address Jan 31, 2017

Show notes

George Washington, American History, Presidents, Founding Fathers,

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In Praise of Free Trade w/ Austan Goolsbee, Martin Feldstein & Amb. Michael Froman Jan 27, 2017

Show notes

trade, economics, White House, President, markets, foreign policy, globalism, TPP, free trade, NAFTA, Trump, trade war, China, Trans-Pacific Partnership, economy,

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The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein w/ CIA Analyst John Nixon Jan 23, 2017

Show notes

When the brutal Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003, senior CIA leadership analyst John Nixon was called in to confirm his identity and became the first person to conduct a prolonged interrogation of the man known as the “Butcher of Bagdad.” He talks about it in his new book Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein.

Today Nixon recalls the surreal experience of debriefing one of the most notorious men of our time. He’ll discuss Saddam’s sadistic sense of humor, his personal heroes, and how his opinion of his fellow leaders in the Middle East. He’ll talk about Saddam’s delusional view of the US-Iraq relationship, why he thought 9/11 should’ve brought the two countries closer, and his almost prophetic warnings about the rise of extremism and chaos in the region. Nixon will also reveal what President George W. Bush asked him about Saddam and he’ll weigh in on the Russia-Trump Intelligence Report.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order John Nixon's book Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Facebook at Kickass News or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. You can also visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

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Louie Anderson, Martha Kelly & Jonathan Krisel of FX's BASKETS Jan 19, 2017

Show notes

Today I talk with comedian Louie Anderson, who won an Emmy for his role as "Christine" on BASKETS, and Martha Kelly, who plays the brilliantly deadpan "Martha" on BASKETS. Louie talks about starting out as a joke writer for the king of the one liners - Henny Youngman, coming up as a young comedian in the heyday of the legendary Comedy Store, and getting his big break on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, plus Louie reveals which of his family members inspired his chactacter "Christine" on BASKETS.

Martha Kelly talks about coming up in the Austin comedy scene, and how her BASKETS co-star Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel convinced her to take the role of "Martha." Then BASKETS show-runner, executive producer, and director Jonathan Krisel talks about why he often prefers to work with non-actors, how the show got past the audience's preconceived expectations, and what it's like working with his co-creators Zach Galifianakis and Louis C.K. on BASKETS and his co-creators Fred Armisen and Carry Brownstein on his other show Portlandia.

Season 2 of BASKETS premieres tonight at 10/9C on FX. For more information including bonus content, behind the scenes footage and cast and crew interviews, visit www.FXNetworks.com. Follow Louie Anderson at Louie Anderson at www.LouieAnderson.com or on Twitter at @LouieAnderson. If you want to see Louie perform live, check his upcoming tour dates. Follow Martha Kelly on Twitter at @MarthaKelly3 or at www.MarthaKelly.net.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Facebook at Kickass News or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. You can also visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

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The Cast & Creators of History Channel's SIX Jan 16, 2017

Show notes

History Channel’s new dramatic series SIX authentically captures the inside world of America’s elite Special Operations unit known as SEAL Team Six. Today I talk with the creators William Broyles Jr. and David Broyles and the stars of the show Barry Sloane, Kyle Schmid, and Edwin Hodge. They discuss the dangerous and secretive nature of SEAL Team Six’s missions and how it can put a strain on SEAL’s relationships back home. They talk about the psychological strength required of a SEAL, how the show creators’ own military experience influenced the series and the grueling physical training the actors endured at SEAL bootcamp.

SIX airs this Wednesday, January 18, at 10PM Eastern on the History Channel. For more information including bonus content, behind the scenes footage and cast and crew interviews, visit www.History.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Facebook at Kickass News or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. You can also visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

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Globalist Parag Khanna Calls for Technocracy in America Jan 12, 2017

Show notes

globalization, economics, trade, government, governance, Singapore, Switzerland, Presidency, Technocrat, Democracy,

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Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics Wants To Tell You Something You Don't Know Jan 10, 2017

Show notes

Freakonomics, Podcast, Behavioral, Economics, Markets, Steven Levitt, Psychology, Tell Me Something I Don't Know,

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Brain Warriors Dr. Daniel & Tana Amen Share Tips for Better Brain Health Jan 05, 2017

Show notes

brain, health, mental, longevity, aging, mind, neuroscience, neuroplasticity, medicine, fitness, psychology,

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Bradley Birkenfeld, The Swiss Banker Turned Whistleblower Who Exposed UBS Switzerland Jan 02, 2017

Show notes

Bradley C. Birkenfeld is the Swiss private banker who became the biggest financial whistleblower in history when he blew the lid of off secretive Swiss banks by exposing how UBS, the world’s largest bank, helped ultra-wealthy Americans commit billions in tax fraud. Today he’ll reveal the dirty little secrets of Swiss Banking and UBS’s dealings with the brother of the world’s most notorious terrorist. He’ll discuss how UBS courted wealthy Americans who wanted to hide their money, and then made it as hard as possible for their clients to withdraw from their own accounts. He’ll expose the surprisingly cozy ties between UBS and Washington politicians and how that relationship may have led Justice Department officials to "throw him under the bus" to protect some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in America.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Bradley Birkenfeld's book Lucifer’s Banker: The Untold Story of How I Destroyed Swiss Bank Secrecy on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. For more information on Bradley Birkenfeld, visit www.LucifersBanker.com and follow him on Twitter at @LucifersBanker.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Facebook at Kickass News or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. You can also visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

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Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis Dec 30, 2016

Show notes

Greg Louganis is a four-time Olympic champion and widely considered to the greatest diver in history. He's also a champion of LGBT rights and today's Olympic divers. On Monday, January 2, he will serve along-side his fellow Olympic medalists Janet Evans and Allyson Felix as Grand Marshall in the 128th Annual Rose Parade.

Today Greg will talk about his remarkable sport career and some of the hurdles he’s overcome along the way, including when the US decided to boycott the 1980 Olympics, his infamous head injury in the ’88 Olympics and how he came back to win the gold medal the next day, and his battles with HIV and homophobia. Plus, a strange encounter he had with Vice-President-elect Mike Pence and what Greg Louganis is doing help today's Olympic athletes adjust to life after sports.

Be sure to watch Greg in the 128th Annual Pasadena Rose Parade on ABC at 8AM Pacific on Monday (12/2/17). For more information on Greg, visit www.GregLouganis.com and follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at @GregLouganis.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Facebook at Kickass News or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. You can also visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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