IS AMERICA A FAILED STATE? The Brutal Reality of the 2026 Shutdown

From Just Ask the Question Podcast by Brian Karem

March 30, 2026 · 1h 6m · Episode 387

About this episode

The episode discusses the ongoing government shutdown and critiques of Trump's leadership amidst political chaos.

In this episode of "Just Ask the Press," hosts Brian Karem, Mark Zaid, and Nolan Higdon tackle a whirlwind of political chaos and media scrutiny. They dive into the ongoing government shutdown, highlighting the gridlock over DHS funding and critiquing President Trump's leadership. The discussion shifts to Trump's erratic foreign policy, including bizarre claims about Iran and Cuba, with Nolan analyzing the Republican Party's internal struggles. The episode also explores legal battles against Meta and YouTube, questioning the role of algorithms and the need for legislative action. Blending humor with incisive commentary, the hosts offer a thought-provoking perspective on American politics and media.

People in this episode

Hosts: Brian Karem, Mark Zaid, Nolan Higdon

Topics covered

government shutdown
political chaos
media scrutiny
Trump's leadership
Republican Party struggles
legal battles
algorithms

Keywords

government shutdown
Trump
politics
media
Republican Party
Meta
YouTube
foreign policy
algorithms

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Meta, YouTube

Places: Iran, Cuba