The Nicole Sandler Show

So Trump flew to China, brought Eric and the Nvidia guy instead of any actual China experts, accomplished nothing on Hormuz or Taiwan, got a lecture from Xi about Sparta and Athens, and came home. Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net and I spent an hour plus breaking down what it all means — plus Kash Patel snorkeling a war grave, which is exactly as bad as it sounds.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Nicole Sandler is joined by Kaswar Klasra — journalist, founder, and Editor-in-Chief of The Islamabad Telegraph — for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred conversation about the world Trump has made. Calling in from Islamabad at midnight his time, Kaswar brings a firsthand view from Pakistan: a country caught in the crossfire of Trump's war with Iran, mediating between nuclear powers, watching gas prices double overnight — and still trying to maintain a free press while American journalism collapses in real time. From the Strait of Hormuz double blockade and Pakistan's surprising role as peacemaker, to Trump's visit to China and fears he'll give away Taiwan, to the death of the Voting Rights Act, the dismantling of CBS and Voice of America, and Trump calling a female reporter "Piggy" — nothing is off the table. Nicole and Kaswar have known each other since 2011, and this reunion is exactly the kind of global, unfiltered conversation you won't find anywhere else. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Is the pro-democracy media ecosystem helping — or accidentally making things worse? Nicole Sandler opens with the weekend's wildest news before sitting down with Micah Sifry, who mapped 236 pro-democracy Substacks and found what he believes is a troubling pattern: alarm is winning over action. Then Dr. Art Jipson, professor of sociology at the University of Dayton, joins the conversation to bring a social science lens to movement burnout, political agency, and why grievance alone can't sustain a resistance. Plus: Viktor Orbán is out after 16 years, Trump declares war on the Pope, the Eric Swalwell situation, and comedian JL Cauvin doing what he does best. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Yes, I want our nation and the world to be rid of the demented orange man currently occupying the Oval Office. Judging by his actions and statements this week alone, it's clear that he's not fit for office. That seems to be the situation that the 25th Amendment to the Constitution was written to address. Or was it? Our first guest today is Maureen Tkacik, investigations editor of The American Prospect. She & David Dayen looked into it and what they found might surprise you. Then our old friend Driftglass steps away from his blog and the Professional Left Podcast to join us for the rest of the hour to discuss the full catastrophe: the war, the chaos, and the constitutional shitshow Trump has dragged this country into. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's episode features journalist and political analyst Frederick Clarkson, Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates, who has spent four decades covering the intersection of religion and politics in America. Fred joins us to break down the growing influence of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) — a charismatic Christian movement whose leaders claim direct revelations from God and are pursuing religious and political dominion over American society. We'll dig into three major stories Fred is currently reporting on: Trump's recent promotion of a decades-old prophecy from a dead charismatic preacher to build support for his Iran policy; a guide to the 24 most influential NAR apostles and prophets operating in the U.S. today — many of whom were connected to January 6th; and the largely unreported story of newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin's ties to City Elders, a Tulsa-based NAR-affiliated organization with an explicit goal of placing its people in government at every level. From "holy war" rhetoric in the military to theocratic creep in the GOP, Fred helps us understand how a movement most Americans have never heard of is quietly reshaping the political landscape — and why that matters for democracy. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net joins me every Friday to discuss most of the news that you need to know about since we spoke the week before. Today, we began with the breaking news this morning that a US fighter jet was shot down over Iran. One of the two pilots had been rescued. The other was still missing when we finished recording at about 1pm Eastern. If anything happens to that missing pilot, it's Pete Hegseth's fault. As Marcy said, we must all call our congressional representatives and demand he be fired! And there's lots more... Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy