Sane(ish) with Jo Carducci

Latest Episodes:

Tearing Down the House: Jo & Andy Ostroy on Trump Distractions, Epstein Fallout & Democracy on the Line Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Jo and Andy Ostroy dissect the project in plain sight: a movement that isn’t just eroding norms — it is tearing apart the White House and refashioning it into a pagan palace of gold and power. They examine how Trump weaponizes distraction to keep the country overwhelmed, how the Epstein scandal could still explode into the center of politics, and what happens when accountability collapses and impunity becomes the operating system. With MAGA fractures starting to show, they ask whether unity among democracy-defenders can stop a takeover designed to melt down American institutions from the inside out — and what the consequences are if it fails.

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Don Lemon: Action Cannot Wait Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

“The moment you start standing up to cowards, you realize how cowardly they really are.” - Don Lemon

In one of the most powerful episodes yet, Don Lemon joins Jo for a call to action. They confront the Republican Party’s moral collapse, the erosion of democratic norms, and the rising tide of fascism masquerading as patriotism. Lemon opens up about what he witnessed on the ground in Chicago—ICE raids on innocent citizens, racial profiling, and law enforcement overreach and explains why Americans cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. Jo and Don also discuss the upcoming “No Kings” protest, the importance of civil resistance, and what real patriotism looks like when democracy is under siege.

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Speeding Toward the Authoritarian Cliff with Kim Wehle Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

Kim Wehle is a tenured law professor, constitutional law expert, author, and legal analyst who specializes in presidential power, civil procedure, and the separation of powers. Today, Jo and Kim dive into the “fear bubble” so many Americans are stuck in: insulated lives, rising authoritarian threats, and the chilling new reality of criminalizing dissent. Kim breaks down Trump’s latest moves, and how quickly people are giving up or tuning out, thinking these threats are someone else’s problem.From real talk about what keeps Kim up at night (“Are you worried? Are you afraid?”) to Jo’s frustration shopping at Aldi while the world burns, they give clarity about what’s at stake if this slide accelerates.

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- Mint Mobile where $15 a month gets unlimited talk & text on the nation's largest 5G network. Make the switch today, at https://www.MintMobile.com/JOJO.

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See Ya, McConnell: Amy McGrath is Battle Tested & Ready to Fight for Kentucky Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

Jo welcomes Amy McGrath just days after announcing her run for the Kentucky Senate. With Mitch McConnell out, the seat is at a tipping point for the entire nation, and Amy explains why it’s more than just red vs. blue, it’s about restoring servant leadership and decency, protecting healthcare, and standing up for working families when the stakes couldn’t be higher. With the government shutdown putting families in crisis, McGrath pulls no punches about rising prices, rural hospital closures, and the devastating impact of Republican tariffs on Kentucky’s bourbon, farming, and manufacturing industries. Amy denounces political fearmongering, the weaponization of Congress, and the dangerous politicization of America’s armed forces under President Trump.

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The Price We’re Paying for Petty: Sen. Blumenthal on Trump’s Shutdown Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

Jo is joined by Senator Richard Blumenthal for an urgent conversation about the Trump Shutdown. They discuss the political gamesmanship behind the Congressional standoff, the truth about rising healthcare costs, and they examine how Republican policies are hurting everyday Americans – especially those in Trump’s favorite red states. The GOP is pushing a narrative that is packed with lies; Senator Blumenthal shares FACTS about the looming loss of health insurance subsidies and the impact on military and federal workers.

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How to Defeat the GOP Fear Factory with Jess Craven Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

Activist, organizer, and “Chop Wood, Carry Water” founder Jess Craven joins Sane(ish) for a conversation about reclaiming hope and power in the face of political chaos. Jess shares real stories of living through—and organizing against—the latest Republican shutdown, exposing how government dysfunction, healthcare sabotage, and billionaire tax cuts threaten the well-being of millions.

Sane(ish) Partners:

- Fast Growing Trees:

Sane(ish) listeners also get 15% OFF their first purchase by visiting⁠ https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com/SANEISH ⁠– and using the code SANEISH at checkout.

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It’s A Very Republican Shutdown with Pete Dominick Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

As the 2025 government shutdown approaches, Sane(ish) gets real about who’s hurting, who’s winning, and why the chaos was baked in from the start. This week, Jo Carducci and political commentator Pete Dominick break down what makes this shutdown uniquely Republican: deliberate mass layoffs, Medicaid cuts that will literally endanger families, and a MAGA playbook that prizes power over people. Expect sharp debate on gaslighting, manufactured crises, and an epidemic of political dishonesty; from the refusal to accept election results to systematic censorship and the whitewashing of American history. Pete and Jo tackle what it’s like trying to stay sane(ish) when lawmakers openly admit people will die, the courts and Congress cede all control to the executive, and communities are left building support systems from scratch.

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Trump’s Revenge Politics: Miles Taylor Breaks His Silence Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

As news breaks of the expedited indictment of James Comey and the potential dominoes set to fall on Adam Schiff and Letitia James, Jo and Miles cut through the chaos to explore how the MAGA playbook weaponizes prosecution, shatters constitutional guardrails, and tries to silence both critics and communities. It’s an unfiltered, urgent conversation about what happens when speaking truth to power makes you a political target—and when presidential revenge goes from dystopian rhetoric to daily reality. Sane(ish) Partners:

- Fast Growing Trees:

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Comedy Under Fire: Jimmy Kimmel, Free Speech, and the Jersey Girls Who Won’t Shut Up Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Buckle up for a ride through the world of political comedy under siege. This week, Jo and Tara Setmayer break down Jimmy Kimmel’s wild return from suspension, Disney and ABC’s backstage power plays, and the chilling push from FCC threats and Trump-backer media moguls. It’s full balls-to-the-wall, South Park energy as they dissect how corporate interests, right-wing media, and grassroots outrage collided to save late-night comedy…at least for now. Jo gets personal about Disney nostalgia, dog show circuits, and why laughter is medicinal when democracy’s on the ropes, while Tara explains the real cost of speaking out when everyone’s watching and waiting to cancel. Listen as these tough Jersey girls call out censorship tactics, hypocrisy in “hate speech,” and remind us why courage and humor are non-negotiable if America’s gonna weather this storm. Link to Video from Interview: https://youtu.be/6oVcnGg1w2Y

Sane(ish) Partners:

- Fast Growing Trees:

Sane(ish) listeners also get 15% OFF their first purchase by visiting⁠ https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com/SANEISH ⁠– and using the code SANEISH at checkout.

- Incogni:

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Harry Dunn on Facts vs. Fiction Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Jo welcomes former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn—a frontline defender on January 6th and now a relentless advocate for democracy.Jojo and Harry dig into the personal cost of defending the Capitol, the ongoing fight against gaslighting and political revisionism, and why real accountability matters more than ever. From firsthand stories of courage to frank talk about who’s behind today’s threats to democracy you don’t want to miss this episode.

Sane(ish) Partners:

- Fast Growing Trees:

Sane(ish) listeners also get 15% OFF their first purchase by visiting⁠ https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com/SANEISH ⁠– and using the code SANEISH at checkout.

- Incogni: Right now, you can get 60% off an annual plan by going to https://www.Incogni.com/JOJO and using code JOJO at checkout. That’s ⁠⁠Incogni.com/JOJO⁠ ⁠and use the code JOJO at checkout.

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