Avsnitt
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Announcement! If you’re a Gaslit Nation supporter on Patreon, join us for the first ever Gaslit Nation Game Night this Friday at 8:30pm ET, organized by Gaslit Nation listeners. The game of the night will either be Codenames or Chameleon. The Zoom link is posted in the Victory Chat as well as this episode page on Patreon!
When it comes to the DNC Chair election on February 1st, the only choice is Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin since July 2019. None of the other candidates, except for Ken Martin, the state chair of the Democratic Party in Minnesota, even come close. Why? Because, unlike Martin, Wikler has faced off with the worst of our national demons in Wisconsin—a state that’s long been a laboratory for GOP autocracy, as detailed in Ari Berman’s must-read book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It.
In this week’s bonus show Q&A, shaped by our Democracy Defender-level supporters and higher, we make the case for Wikler and break down the dynamics of a race that could shape not only the future of the Democratic Party but the soul of America.
We also dive into the People’s March, formerly the Women’s March, and announce the Gaslit Nation sign contest for the best protest sign! Join Andrea at the march in New York City at 10 AM on Saturday, January 18th—details to come! To find a People’s March near you, or to help organize one if there isn’t already one in your area, check out this handy guide: https://map.peoplesmarch.com/local
If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, keep an eye out for it soon as the Gaslit Nation Q&A continues! To our Democracy Defender-level folks and higher, submit your questions in a private message for the next Q&A!
Thank you to everyone who supports the show—we couldn’t make Gaslit Nation without you!
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
Books:
What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures By Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, the marine biologist behind the Blue New Deal: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645855/what-if-we-get-it-right-by-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming by journalist David Wallace-Wells https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-uninhabitable-earth-life-after-warming-david-wallace-wells/12097261?ean=9780525576716
The Future We Choose: The Stubborn Optimist's Guide to the Climate Crisis Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, two of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-future-we-choose-the-stubborn-optimist-s-guide-to-the-climate-crisis-christiana-figueres/13156367?aid=1676&ean=9780593080931&listref=caring-for-the-earth-each-other-practicing-sustainable-living
Reading:
Researcher Jenny Cohn wrote a disturbing thread about Sillicon Valley bro-fascists setting their sights on Greenland: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1877052010559844478.html?utm_campaign=topunroll
Historian Timothy Snyder on why the U.S. needs a Shadow Cabinet, like the U.K.: https://snyder.substack.com/p/shadow-cabinet
A bombshell report confirming that Russian intelligence paid tens of millions of dollars to the Taliban to target American coalition forces in Afghanistan. What is Trump going to do about this as president? https://theins.ru/en/politics/277723
The Gerrymander Has Been Slayed: Wisconsinites Get Fair Maps for 2024 Election https://campaignlegal.org/update/gerrymander-has-been-slayed-wisconsinites-get-fair-maps-2024-election
As Democrats Reel, Two Front-Runners Emerge in a Leadership Battle The race to lead the Democratic National Committee centers on the favorites, Ken Martin and Ben Wikler, but the party’s infighting over them looks nothing like a broad reckoning with its 2024 defeats. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/05/us/politics/dnc-race-ben-wikler-ken-martin.html
The People’s March Website: https://www.peoplesmarch.com/
Trump’s inauguration coincides with an unprecedented string of high-stakes security events in DC https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-security-a3df8ed878f2c0587f7038d68a0447f6
FTC antitrust case against Meta can move to trial, court rules. The decision marks a victory for the agency and its Democratic chair, Lina Khan, after early legal setbacks. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/11/13/meta-ftc-antitrust/
Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211
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On January 6, 2021, we watched on live television as Donald Trump and several Republican members of Congress incited a violent attempted overthrow of our democracy. This insurrection led to several deaths, including police officers who later died by suicide. When Joe Biden was sworn in as President in January 2021, Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress. Instead of using their time in power to pass a resolution or bill banning Trump and his supporters from holding office under the 14th Amendment's "insurrection clause" (Section 3), they held hearings that concluded with a report and a referral to the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution. In the 2022 midterms, Democrats lost the House due to America's worsening gerrymandering crisis.
Attorney General Merrick Garland waited two years to appoint Special Prosecutor Jack Smith. While some credit the Democrats’ January 6 committee for prompting Garland to take action, the reality is that both Democrats and Garland wasted valuable time. In the four years since January 6, 2021, no resolution or bill was passed in Congress to enforce the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment. Instead, a group of voters and legal experts attempted to bar Trump from the ballot in Colorado, leading to legal cases such as Trump v. Anderson. In early 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that states could not bar federal candidates, and that applying the 14th Amendment was up to Congress. So, why didn’t Democrats act in 2021 and 2022 when they had two years to enforce the U.S. Constitution?
We need an honest accounting of how an insurrectionist will be president just four years after leading a violent attempt to overthrow our democracy. Democrats deferred to Merrick Garland, who then deferred to Jack Smith, who ultimately dismissed his Trump cases in November 2024, after Trump won one of the closest elections in U.S. history. This election took place amid rampant disinformation and the consolidation of far-right media, including Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, turning it into a platform for (pro-Trump and Russia) disinformation–the largest in the world. At the same time, Republicans and the Supreme Court over the years undermined the Voting Rights Act and expanded voter ID laws–a modern day poll tax, disenfranchising 21 million Americans. As Andrea and Terrell discuss in this week’s episode, the 2024 election was neither free nor fair. The institutions meant to protect us failed. As Gaslit Nation has long warned, an unpunished attempted coup leads to a successful one. The institutionalists and controlled opposition who enabled this crisis don't realize they are not safe either. Once a dictator is in power, no one can control them.
We also point out that George Orwell warned us about fascist bootlickers like Trump/Musk fanboy Lex Fridman, whose three-hour interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can be summed up by Orwell’s quote: "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."
Gaslit Nation officially calls on Lex Fridman to stop quoting Orwell on his podcast—Orwell would have hated you.
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
Republicans just took control of the House because of partisan and racial gerrymandering. Here's how https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/16/2136410/-Republicans-just-took-control-of-the-House-because-of-partisan-and-racial-gerrymandering-Here-s-how
In Trump’s second term, evidence suggests corruption will be worse, not better Donald Trump’s first term was astonishingly corrupt. There’s already reason to believe his second will be worse. https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trumps-second-term-evidence-suggests-corruption-will-worse-not-better-rcna179589
U.S. to probe Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' system after pedestrian killed
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/19/g-s1-29030/us-probe-tesla-full-self-driving-system
The Republican Structural Advantage Republicans start every election cycle with structural advantages regardless of the issues and all the other factors that usually determine who wins elections. https://prospect.org/power/republican-structural-advantage/
How conservative media helped the far-right take over the Republican Party https://www.vox.com/2015/7/30/9074761/conservative-media-republican-party
How Media Consolidation Paved the Way for Right-Wing Insurrection A battle playing out at the Supreme Court could make media monopolies way worse. https://inthesetimes.com/article/supreme-court-media-consolidation-fcc-echo-chamber
Media Consolidation Means Less Local News, More Right Wing Slant https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/media-consolidation-means-less-local-news-more-right-wing-slant
The Right-Wing Media Takeover Is Destroying America The purchase of The Baltimore Sun is further proof that conservative billionaires understand the power of media control. Why don’t their liberal counterparts get it? https://newrepublic.com/post/178256/baltimore-sun-liberal-billionaires-media-failure
The growth of Sinclaire’s conservative media empire https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/22/the-growth-of-sinclairs-conservative-media-empire
How Gerrymandering Tilts the 2024 Race for the House Facebook LinkedIn Skewed maps give Republicans big advantages in 11 states, mostly in the South and Midwest.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/how-gerrymandering-tilts-2024-race-house
Elon Musk Being Investigated for Violating Terms of "Top Secret" Clearance He has become a major liability for the government. https://futurism.com/elon-musk-investigated-violating-terms-top-secret-clearance
Elon Musk didn’t show up for testimony in a probe over his $44 billion Twitter takeover. Now the SEC wants sanctions https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/20/tech/sec-sanctions-elon-musk-testimony-twitter-probe/index.html
The Women’s March Rebranded and Reorganized. Now They’re Ready for 2025 https://time.com/7203169/womens-march-donald-trump-protest-change/
ABC Settles With Trump in a Case It Could Have Won https://fair.org/home/abc-settles-with-trump-in-a-case-it-could-have-won/
Why Gerrymandering Has Gotten Worse https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-gerrymandering-has-gotten-worse/
The North Carolina GOP’s Latest Ploy to Steal a State Supreme Court Seat https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/12/north-carolina-gop-state-supreme-court.html
North Carolina’s Unfair Voting Maps Gave GOP Congress Majority https://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/article296319684.html
Judge agrees to dismiss Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case President-elect Trump faced charges over his handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, which culminated in the U.S. Capitol attack. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jack-smith-files-drop-jan-6-charges-donald-trump-rcna181667
The lost year: How Merrick Garland’s Justice Department ran out of time prosecuting Trump for January 6 https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/06/politics/doj-trump-jan-6-riot/index.html
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Andrea will be speaking at the peaceful Now March this Friday, January 3rd, on Capitol Hill calling for Congress to take their final opportunity to stop MAGA fascism. Obviously the time to stop Russian-backed Trump was years ago, as Gaslit Nation has documented for years now. Andrea will join the Now March to support the tenacious organizers, to take a stand on the right side of history, and to never stop reminding people: none of this is normal. An unpunished coup is a dress rehearsal for a sucessful one, and that is where we are in America. For more information visit NowMarch.org and check out this video by Jessica Denson of Lights On, one of the main organizsers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkRnnglQm4U
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How does Franco’s reign in Spain connect to the rise of Trump? In this gripping true-crime thriller, financial journalist Gareth Gore, while investigating a bank collapse in Spain, follows the money trail to uncover a vast international conspiracy behind Opus Dei.
What is Opus Dei? It's a shadowy global right-wing organization founded in Spain just before the Spanish Civil War. Supported by powerful Republican figures like Leonard Leo, Opus Dei is a Christian nationalist movement fueling efforts to dismantle democracy and pave the way for dictatorship in America. Gore, the author of the explosive book Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church, delves into this insidious network. In this chilling conversation, recorded just before the U.S. election, Gore reveals how Opus Dei’s influence stretches from Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court—and what is being done, including by the Pope, to try to curb its destructive power.
This week's bonus show features a live interview with Dr. Emma Briant, one of the world’s foremost experts on disinformation warfare and propaganda. Dr. Briant, co-editor of The Routledge Handbook on the Influence Industry and author of Propaganda and Counter-Terrorism: Strategies for Global Change, shares invaluable insights into the weapons of global propaganda.
Gaslit Nation returns with all-new episodes on January 7th! We’re excited to continue this fight for truth and justice with you—together, we can plant the seeds of meaningful change. Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher supporters, don’t forget to submit your questions for our upcoming bonus show Q&A!
Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
We're running this week's episode earlier than usual due to the New Year's Eve holiday--happy new year, everyone! We'll get through what comes next together!
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Good news! Staying off social media is good for your mental health and countering disinformation. In this week's Gaslit Nation bonus show, listen to an excerpt of our inspiring live interview with Dr. Emma Briant, one of the world’s foremost experts on disinformation warfare and propaganda. Dr. Briant, co-editor of The Routledge Handbook on the Influence Industry and author of Propaganda and Counter-Terrorism: Strategies for Global Change, shares invaluable insights into the weapons of global propaganda. Check out her latest article in the Index on Censorship on how disinformation warfare is being waged on academia.
Our discussion was recorded at Monday's Gaslit Nation political salon with our Patreon community. Thank you to all who attended and asked great questions! To hear the full discussion, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller ($5/month) tier or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Gaslit Nation returns with all-new episodes on January 7th! We’re excited to continue this fight for truth and justice with you—together, we can plant the seeds of meaningful change. Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher supporters, don’t forget to submit your questions for our upcoming bonus show Q&A!
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
Show Notes:
Meet Dr. Emma Briant: https://emma-briant.co.uk/
Can academic freedom survive Donald Trump’s plans for thought control? The president’s aim to remove power from universities and punish so-called “woke” ideology has chilling implications for free speech globally By Emma Briant https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2024/12/academic-freedom-survive-donald-trump-plans-thought-control-universities-colleges-education/
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Great Britain was woefully unprepared when Hitler's Nazis invaded nearly half of Europe. As the country faced the relentless terror of the Blitz—where cities were bombed like Ukraine is being bombed today by Putin—Churchill was tasked with turning the tide. In the midst of this devastation, he turned to his favorite act of self-care: creating art.
In our ongoing discussion, Robert Schmuhl, author of Mr. Churchill in the White House, explores how painting was a profound source of solace and strength for Churchill. This personal outlet helped shape his leadership during Europe's darkest hour, influencing the fate of the free world. As we always say on Gaslit Nation, art is survival. If you have artwork you’d like to share with our community, we’d love to feature it on our socials. Email us at [email protected]! For music, we’re happy to play your song on the show—just submit your work using the link in our show notes!
This Monday, during our Gaslit Nation salon on Zoom with our Patreon community, we’re thrilled to welcome disinformation researcher Dr. Emma Briant. Dr. Briant played a pivotal role in exposing the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal and is a co-editor of the Routledge Handbook of the Influence Industry, which includes a chapter on lawfare by Andrea’s sister, Alexandra Chalupa. Dr. Briant will walk us through the mechanics of influence campaigns—how they work, their effects, and, most importantly, how we can fight back. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the leading experts in the field!
Show Notes:
The song featured in this week’s episode is “Free” by Aaron Espe: https://open.spotify.com/track/3M7xHMsoIeNKLkrJ2wY4i6
Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeS7TftV6Vfnw-iasFLepL6FpIj_KFORDLrAlZGH3nLg7i8lA/viewform
Mr. Churchill in the White House The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324093428
Clip: The Paintings of Sir Winston Churchill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exABCiPBAVE
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
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Self-care is an act of resistance, especially when the fate of the free world depends on you. In the latest episode of Gaslit Nation, Andrea interviews Robert Schmuhl, author of Mr. Churchill in the White House. Their conversation reveals the fascinating dynamics between White House roommates Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. It also delves into the debate: did Churchill really see Lincoln's ghost?
Two of the most powerful men of the 20th century, with towering egos and differing leadership styles, shared space in the White House during one of the most tumultuous periods in history. How did they manage? By treating self-care as sacred—a vital lesson for us today as we face a new era of America First and the rise of global fascism.
Schmuhl takes us behind the curtain, exploring Churchill’s struggles with depression and the personal toll of war. The episode doesn't shy away from darker aspects, including Churchill’s role in the Bengal Famine. It’s a thoughtful, nuanced look at two men who shaped the world, yet weren’t immune to their own flaws and the overwhelming challenges they faced to liberate Europe and overcome the isolationism at home driven by fascist-aligned America First. Sound familiar?
Show Notes:
The song featured in this week’s episode is “Free” by Aaron Espe: https://open.spotify.com/track/3M7xHMsoIeNKLkrJ2wY4i6
Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeS7TftV6Vfnw-iasFLepL6FpIj_KFORDLrAlZGH3nLg7i8lA/viewform
Mr. Churchill in the White House The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324093428
Due to the Christmas Eve holiday and the coziness of this conversation--it's a perfect one to listen to around the fire or while wrapping presents--we're publishing this episode a bit earlier than usual. Happy holidays!
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“And hope here, I don't think it's passive. It is active. It's a form of resistance against despair. And it must be paired with a political imagination, that belief that we can build the future.”
–Wasim Almasri, Director of Programs, The Alliance for Middle East Peace
In this important conversation, Andrea and Terrell speak with Avi Meyerstein, Founder and President of the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), and Wasim Almasri, Director of Programs based in the West Bank city of Ramallah. They discuss what a meaningful path to peace looks like for Israelis and Palestinians, how to achieve it, the priorities the outgoing and incoming U.S. administrations must focus on, and the pending ceasefire deal, which has seen a resurgence of promising negotiations in recent days.
If you’re looking for defiant hope and a light to show the way in these dark times, listen to the team at ALLMEP who have been hard at work planting powerful seeds of change. For more on their work, check at the link at the top of the show notes.
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
Show Notes:
The Alliance for Middle East Peace: https://www.allmep.org/
Hopes for Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal rise Israeli officials, Hamas sources, and US and Arab figures say deal may be within reach – perhaps within days https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/17/israeli-negotiators-head-to-qatar-as-hopes-rise-for-gaza-hostage-deal
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“Ukrainian intelligence sent about 20 experienced drone operators and about 150 first-person-view drones to the rebel headquarters in Idlib, Syria, four to five weeks ago to help Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the leading rebel group based there, the knowledgeable sources said.
The aid from Kyiv played only a modest role in overthrowing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Western intelligence sources believe. But it was notable as part of a broader Ukrainian effort to strike covertly at Russian operations in the Middle East, Africa and inside Russia itself.”
–From the Washington Post
In this week's bonus episode, we present a recording from our special Gaslit Nation political salon on Monday, where we honored Syria. This episode offers crucial insights on navigating the complex landscape of Syria's future, highlighting who to trust—and who to be wary of—when it comes to information about the country. We also delve into the disinformation campaigns surrounding Syria and how to prepare for the challenges ahead. Additionally, this week's bonus show features answers to questions from our Democracy Defender-level members and above on voting and homelessness as well as how to protect trans people. Thank you to our Democracy Defender level supporters who help shape the show!
For a good overview of why Assad’s regime collapsed so quickly, read this great analysis by Charles Lister, a senior fellow and director of the Syria and Counterterrorism and Extremism programs at the Middle East Institute: https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/12/05/syria-assad-regime-collapsing-quickly/
For a look at how many “anti-imperialists” on the Left are pro-Assad, read this 2018 piece by Leila Al Shami, co-author of ‘Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War: https://www.madamasr.com/en/2018/04/15/opinion/u/the-anti-imperialism-of-idiots/
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
Syria clip: Clarissa Ward of CNN reports from liberted Syria https://x.com/cnnipr/status/1866471510678135162
An estimated 2.5 million people were forced from their homes in the United States by weather-related disasters in 2023, according to new data from the Census Bureau. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/climate/climate-disasters-survivors-displacement.html
Voting and Homelessness https://www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-and-homelessness/
When Britain and France Almost Merged Into One Country An extraordinary near-miss of history helps explain Brexit. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/08/dunkirk-brexit/536106/
People to Follow for Syria & Other World News:
Michael Weiss (Bluesky)
Oz Katerji (Bluesky)
Eliot Higgins (Bluesky)
Fared Al Mahlool (Bluesky)
Leila Al-Shami (Bluesky)
Olga Lautman (Bluesky)
Philip Obaji Jr. (Bluesky)
Shashank Joshi (Bluesky)
Support Trans People
Erin in the Morning (Substack)
Protect the LGBTQ Community: An Interview with Chase Strangio of the ACLU https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2022/5/26/chase-strangio-interview
Moral Panic: Fact-Checking the War on Trans Kids https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/9/10/moral-panic-fact-checking-the-war-on-trans-kids
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In Tuesday's episode of Gaslit Nation, titled Is the U.S. an Oligarchy?, Andrea opens with a discussion about the "Claims Adjuster Assassin." However, not all listeners were satisfied with the initial analysis. Many felt that something about the arrest of Luigi Mangione didn’t add up and urged her to take a closer look. Always ready to dig deeper, Andrea takes on the challenge, offering a fresh perspective on the case. Is Luigi Mangione the shooter or, like so many across America with similar convictions and grievances, a superfan, one willing to sacrifice for what he sees as a greater cause?
You are free to scrutinize these points and join the conversation with your own analysis, feedback, and corrections. We can be reached at [email protected]. Your comments may be read on the show.
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
Tom Winter of NBC: “A representative for the company that manages Citibike — Lyft — says the NYPD has now informed them that their bike was not used by the homicide suspect:” https://x.com/Tom_Winter/status/1864451018462810604
Luigi Mangione’s political views from left and right — he had ‘concern for the future of humanity’: pal https://nypost.com/2024/12/10/us-news/luigi-mangione-had-concern-for-the-future-of-humanity-pal/
Here’s What Luigi Mangione Reportedly Said About ‘Unabomber’ Ted Kaczynski https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/12/10/heres-what-luigi-mangione-reportedly-said-about-unabomber-ted-kaczynsk/
McDonald’s worker called cops on Luigi Mangione, person of interest in CEO shooting, says NYC police https://www.silive.com/news/2024/12/mcdonalds-worker-called-cops-on-luigi-mangione-person-of-interest-in-ceo-shooting-says-nyc-police.html
Lakeland woman threatens insurance company, says ‘Delay, Deny, Depose’: police https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/lakeland-woman-threatens-insurance-company-says-delay-deny-depose-police/
Clip: Video of McDonald’s regular in PA who saw Luigi Mangione: https://x.com/Newsweek/status/1866616844871668137/video/1
Clip: Video of McDonald’s regular in PA who saw Luigi Mangione: https://x.com/News4SA/status/1866585750466105788/video/1
Clip: Our opening clip was AOC, summing up how many Americans across the political spectrum feel about the Claims Adjuster Assassin: https://x.com/alanhe/status/1867274875859349565
Clip: Spartacus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKCmyiljKo0
'People Were Worried' About 'Depressed' Luigi Mangione After He Left Co-Living Space in Hawaii, Says Friend https://people.com/luigi-mangione-people-worried-depressed-friend-co-living-space-8760057
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Is America an oligarchy? This debate between Andrea and Felix Salmon, author of The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal, took place over the summer, but was delayed due to Biden dropping out of the election and Kamala Harris taking his place. We're revisiting it this week to assess how well it has aged.
America’s twelve richest men are now worth a combined $2 trillion. One of them, Jeff Bezos, reportedly interfered with the independence of the Washington Post, triggering a mass exodus after he blocked the paper’s endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Another, Elon Musk, is threatening Republicans in Congress—one of the last remaining checks on our political system—warning that they must submit to Trump’s White House or face his warchest in the GOP primaries. Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars on Trump’s election and has been rewarded by being a sidekick President, meeting with world leaders, including Trump’s recent call with Zelensky.
A report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office this year revealed that “the top 10% of wealthy Americans now control 60% of the nation’s wealth, while the poorer half of the country holds only 6%.” America braces for the impact of a second Trump White House, packed with billionaires and a PayPal mafia shadow presidency. Deregulation, monopolies, and tax cuts for the rich will exacerbate America’s income inequality crisis and fuel further political unrest.
Luigi Mangione, also known as the alleged Claims Adjuster assassin, sparked a national conversation this week in America. For a brief moment, Americans across the political spectrum set aside their differences and united around horror stories of insurance company greed. If we resist getting drawn into Republican-driven culture wars, we have the potential to unite with people from all sides of the political divide against a common enemy.
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
The Phoenix Economy: Work, Life, and Money in the New Not Normal by Felix Salmon https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-phoenix-economy-work-life-and-money-in-the-new-not-normal-felix-salmon/19257986?ean=9780063076280
Jeff Bezos killed Washington Post endorsement of Kamala Harris, paper reports https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/business/money-report/jeff-bezos-killed-washington-post-endorsement-of-kamala-harris-paper-reports/4009739/
Trump selling deregulation https://x.com/samstein/status/1866574253534876026
Elon Musk warns Republicans against standing in Trump’s way — or his https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-politics-trump-7e26c829af224a1f9d67c27cea085e68
America's 12 Richest Men Now Worth a Combined $2 Trillion https://www.newsweek.com/americas-12-richest-men-worth-combined-2-trillion-1995950#:~:text=An%20analysis%20by%20Forbes%20showed,of%20more%20than%20%242%20trillion.
Elon Musk spends $277 million to back Trump and Republican candidates https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-277-million-trump-republican-candidates-donations/
Wall Street continues to roll higher in wake of Trump victory https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-11-11/stock-market-today-wall-street-rolls-higher-as-bitcoin-bursts-above-87-000
America's top 10% controls 60% of the wealth. The bottom half holds 6%. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/10/24/americas-richest-10-percent-controls-60-percent-of-wealth/75790850007/
Trump’s Truth Social is now a public company. Experts warn its multibillion-dollar valuation defies logic https://www.newsweek.com/americas-12-richest-men-worth-combined-2-trillion-1995950#:~:text=An%20analysis%20by%20Forbes%20showed,of%20more%20than%20%242%20trillion.
Slain UnitedHealth CEO faced ongoing court battles, threats Common complaints against insurer denials were written on bullet casings found where Brian Thompson was killed. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/12/06/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-threats-court-battles/
Exclusive: Luigi's Manifesto Read the manifesto the media refused to publish https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/luigis-manifesto
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Today, we're celebrating the people of Syria and their liberation from Assad the Butcher. Our live-taping interview with disinformation expert Dr. Emma Briant has been rescheduled to 4:30 PM ET on December 30th. Be sure to bring your questions about combating disinformation and influence campaigns as we ring in the new year with Dr. Briant! In the meantime, join us today at 4 PM ET to celebrate Syria's liberation and share any comments or questions you’d like to discuss. The Zoom link is now posted on Patreon. See you there!
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
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Assad’s regime is on the brink of collapse. Romania and South Korea are showing the world how to stand up against Russia highjacking democracies. The U.S. has released a report stating that a foreign adversary is likely behind Havana Syndrome. This Monday, disinformation warfare researcher Dr. Emma Briant will join our political salon, to answer our questions about fighting back. These topics and more are covered in this week’s bonus show, available to our Truth-teller level subscribers and higher.
This week’s bonus show also tackles questions from our Patreon supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher.
Jacob asks:
How easily could “mass detention” camps become slave labor camps under the 13th Amendment—and from there, devolve into death camps?
Trump’s promise to deport 11 million people can only be achieved through violence, and that violence would be carried out by those who take pleasure in it. To get to that point, Trump and his followers will defy the law, subvert the Constitution, as they did to come to power in 2016 and 2024.
Andrea and Terrell discuss the dangerous potential of Trump’s authoritarian immigration agenda, the risk of a violent crackdown on Latino communities, and whether this could escalate into a full-scale Trump invasion of Mexico. They also explore the irony of Republicans attempting to deport Latinos, a group that could actually help strengthen the party’s base. This discussion is available to our Truth-teller level subscribers and answers other pressing questions from our Democracy Defender-level supporters, including how to hold the media accountable.
If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, don’t worry—our Gaslit Nation Q&A continues, so stay tuned! Thank you to all our supporters—we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, group chats, invites to live events, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
Disinformation researcher Dr. Emma Briant will join our next salon this coming Monday https://emma-briant.co.uk/
Andrea on Politics Girl! https://youtu.be/CvImpAfyG8w?si=BNqZjg35mRGOAGbl
Crawford, CIA Subcommittee Release Interim Report on Havana Syndrome https://intelligence.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1486
The GRU’s connection to Havana Syndrome: The Insider’s investigative team tells the story behind its most recent bombshell exposé https://theins.press/en/politics/270717
No, All Latinos Didn’t Vote for Trump Actually. Here’s the Data.
https://newrepublic.com/post/188203/latino-vote-trump-harris-2024-election-data-breakdown
Maria Hinojosa’s Podcast In the Thick
https://www.inthethick.org/episodes/
Some Latinos Want to Be White, And We All Want Respect (OPINION) https://www.latinousa.org/2024/11/14/latinoswhiterespect/
Trump Team Debates “How Much Should We Invade Mexico?” https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-mexico-drug-cartels-military-invade-1235183177/
Romania’s top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidate https://apnews.com/article/romania-election-president-recount-georgescu-far-right-34f4284d54ea34a841225e2c3a968c6d?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share
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In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Andrea and Terrell answer listeners’ questions about Syria, Ukraine, and Georgia–and urgent lessons for us here at home.
Take a look at what’s happening in countries like Georgia and Syria—resistance movements are growing against oppressive, authoritarian regimes backed by Russia. It’s a struggle for freedom and self-determination, and it’s all part of the same global fight. Americans can’t keep pretending that foreign conflicts are somehow detached from our own issues. What’s happening abroad affects us too, whether we like it or not.
In Georgia, for example, the situation mirrors what’s happening in Ukraine: ordinary citizens are pushing back against corrupt governments and trying to secure their future with the European Union. Meanwhile, in Syria, a surprise push by a rebel alliance has liberated several key areas from Assad’s brutal dictatorship, propped up by Russia and Iran. Assad and his family fled to Russia, joining Ukraine’s Trump, Viktor Yanukovych.
The left needs to take a long, hard look at the atrocities Russia is committing—not just in Ukraine, but around the world. And let’s not forget that Ukrainians are fighting for their own agency, their right to choose their future, in a way that should inspire us all.
This week’s bonus show, for subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) and higher, and looks at the potential for Trump to start an actual war with Mexico. To hear all bonus shows, be sure to subscribe!
Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
Red Lines: Documentary on Syria: https://iwonder.com/titles/red-lines-ad98aab62542ea8d524fed6dd51fcb76
Philip Obaji Jr.:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-putins-private-army-ordered-soldiers-to-torture-me/
Warnings from Syria: https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/warnings-from-syria-on-how-to-stop-putin-in-ukraine
In sweeping advance, rebels control parts of Sryia
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/01/nx-s1-5211885/in-sweeping-advance-rebels-control-parts-of-sryia
Who Are the Rebels Leading the Offensive in Syria? The group now advancing, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, says it wants to replace the Assad government with one inspired by Islamic principles. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/world/middleeast/syria-rebels-hts-who-what.html
Trump Orders Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Northern Syria https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/13/us/politics/mark-esper-syria-kurds-turkey.html
Commentary The US will become ‘minority white’ in 2045, Census projects
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-us-will-become-minority-white-in-2045-census-projects/
Donald Trump Has 'Obligations' to Those Who Brought Him to Power—Putin Ally
https://www.newsweek.com/vladimir-putin-nikolai-patrushev-donald-trump-russia-1984360
Why Six Countries Account for Most Migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border Migrants and displaced people from across the world are arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border in droves. More than half come from six Latin American countries, where worsening violence, poverty, and other factors are pushing them to leave. https://www.cfr.org/article/why-six-countries-account-most-migrants-us-mexico-border
Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211
If Anyone Can Save the Democrats, It’s Ben Wikler https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/opinion/ben-wikler-dnc-chair.html
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Attack! Attack! Attack! Deny! Deny! Deny! Before Russia and Roger Ailes, Trump rose to power with the help of mega-lawyer and mega-villain Roy Cohn. That playbook is on full display in Trump’s cabinet picks—a confederacy of lawless kleptocrats. Roy Cohn would be beaming with pride.
Gabriel Sherman, the investigative journalist and screenwriter, joins Gaslit Nation. Sherman is the writer and executive producer of the new true-crime American horror story, The Apprentice, starring Jeremy Strong as Cohn, Sebastian Stan as Trump, and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump, directed by Ali Abbasi. When the film was released just before the election, Trump attacked Sherman, inciting a wave of anti-Semitic harassment. Trump’s goon squad of lawyers failed to stop the film's release, despite their best efforts. They did manage to scare away all but the most morally courageous film distributors. The Apprentice chillingly brings to life Cohn’s twisted mentorship of Trump. Our conversation with Sherman took place shortly before the 2024 election and remains an urgent reminder of what we’re up against. The good news is that we can apply the same defiant strategy against Cohn’s devil apprentice.
We here at Gaslit Nation wish you and yours a restful and peaceful holiday for those who celebrate American Thanksgiving. For our Patreon subscribers at the Democracy Defender ($10/month) level and higher, be sure to get your questions in for our listener Q&A, produced thanks to your questions and comments. To our Patreon community, see you at our Monday 4pm ET political salon over Zoom. Joining us this coming Monday is Susan Greenhalgh, the Senior Advisor on Election Security to Free Speech For People, on their efforts to protect the 2024, including through recounts. If you haven’t joined a committee yet, check out more info on those projects here. Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation—we could not make this show without you!
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
The featured song for November 2024 is “2 Red Cups” by Evrette Allen. Check out her work here! Submit your own music to be featured on Gaslit Nation! We’d love to hear from you!: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628The Apprentice (Trailer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvPRxy9kmSg
The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News--And Divided a Country https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-loudest-voice-in-the-room-how-the-brilliant-bombastic-roger-ailes-built-fox-news-and-divided-a-country-gabriel-sherman/11736897?ean=9780812982732
Computer Scientists: Breaches of Voting System Software Warrant Recounts to Ensure Election Verification https://freespeechforpeople.org/computer-scientists-breaches-of-voting-system-software-warrant-recounts-to-ensure-election-verification/
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Civil litigation in Georgia revealed that operatives hired by allies of Donald Trump illegally accessed and copied critical election software following the 2020 election. This wasn't just an isolated incident but a multi-state effort that spread to places like Pennsylvania, Colorado, and beyond. The stolen software, which is responsible for recording and counting votes, was shared across states, compromising election systems in key swing states.
Despite the severity of these actions, which posed significant threats to the integrity of future elections, federal authorities—specifically the DOJ and FBI—failed to act. Even after being alerted about these breaches for years, both agencies took no meaningful steps to investigate or halt the illicit activity. This inaction mirrors their failure to prevent the events of January 6, 2021, raising serious concerns about their commitment to protecting the electoral process and our very democracy.
Election security experts, including Susan Greenhalgh from Free Speech for People, have been sounding the alarm for years, urging the government to take action. They argue that this breach, coupled with the failure of federal authorities to intervene, poses a real threat to the future of U.S. democracy. Without accountability and a thorough investigation into the stolen software, it’s impossible to ensure the integrity of upcoming elections. The lack of response from federal agencies raises questions about their willingness to protect election systems from both internal and external threats.
This breach should not be ignored. It’s time for a full investigation and immediate action to safeguard our elections. Greenhalgh joins Gaslit Nation in this urgent interview, before a live-audience of listeners, to discuss a skeptic's guide to why Vice President Kamala Harris must call for a recount in key states in the 2024 election, before it's too late.
To amplify this urgent call-to-action:
SHARE THIS SOCIAL MEDIA POST: Listen to @gaslitnation’s urgent interview w/Susan Greenhalgh of Free Speech for People. They warned Congress, FBI, DOJ for years about election system breaches by MAGA as part of the Big Lie. Join their call for Harris to demand a recount https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/election-security-experts-harris-must-call-for-recounts
CONTACT YOUR REPS IN CONGRESS AND ALSO AOC, BECAUSE SHE IS A FIGHTER: Listen to @gaslitnation’s urgent interview with Susan Greenhalgh of Free Speech for People. They warned members of Congress, the FBI, and the DOJ for years about election system breaches by MAGA as part of their Big Lie efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Given the confirmed facts, many documented in court cases, that they stole and distributed election data used to count our votes, our elections are vulnerable and may easily be compromised by threats foreign and domestic. Join their call for Harris to demand a recount and publicly call for investigations by the FBI and DOJ: https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/election-security-experts-harris-must-call-for-recounts
SHARE THIS INTERVIEW ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH JOURNALISTS YOU TRUST: Listen to @gaslitnation’s urgent interview w/Susan Greenhalgh of Free Speech for People. They warned Congress, FBI, DOJ for years about election system breaches by MAGA as part of the Big Lie. Join their call for Harris to demand a recount https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/election-security-experts-harris-must-call-for-recounts
Show Notes:
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10a2qL0SSHIiJYkyMPRsvqEc7BkPwf3or/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117489509282294341490&rtpof=true&sd=true
The Georgia Voting Machine Theft Poses a Direct Threat to the 2024 Election https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/georgia-trump-vote-theft-2024-election.html
Computer Scientists: Breaches of Voting System Software Warrant Recounts to Ensure Election Verification https://freespeechforpeople.org/computer-scientists-breaches-of-voting-system-software-warrant-recounts-to-ensure-election-verification/
Merrick Garland Lets MAGA Steal the Election https://sites.libsyn.com/124622/merrick-garland-lets-maga-steal-the-election-teaser
MAGA Openly Tries to Steal Georgia https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/brian-kemp-is-a-klansman
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
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To our Gaslit Nation community on Patreon, the Zoom link has been posted for today's political salon at 4pm ET. A longtime listener will walk us through security tech strategies to help us stay safe during this time. So bring your questions! Here are the details: https://www.patreon.com/posts/zoom-link-for-et-116250004?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
For more on what we're up against when it comes to tech fascism, read the two recent pieces by Carole Cadwalladr in The Observer:
A new era dawns. America’s tech bros now strut their stuff in the corridors of power https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/11/a-new-era-dawns-americas-tech-bros-now-strut-their-stuff-in-the-corridors-of-power
How to survive the broligarchy: 20 lessons for the post-truth world https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/17/how-to-survive-the-broligarchy-20-lessons-for-the-post-truth-world-donald-trump
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Discounted annual subscriptions are available!
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Andrea is off to London this week to work on film projects and speak at the Ukrainian Institute of London this Friday about In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, the graphic novel adaptation of Mr. Jones, the film the Kremlin doesn't want you to see, so be sure to watch it. Today, the Gaslit Nation community had a productive salon to organize our fury into action and hope. A clip of that is in this short recording. Our Patreon supporters can hear the first 30 or so minutes of the recorded salon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/recording-11-115820794?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Look out for a new episode of Gaslit Nation next week! Until then, stay strong!
If you're in London, details for the Ukrainian Institute event this Friday: https://ukrainianinstitute.org.uk/events/explaining-the-holodomor-to-global-audiences/
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
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Was the election stolen? Yes. Through voter suppression; a criminal lack of institutional support, especially after MAGA stole voting machine data from Georgia; a dominant far-right echochamber across all media platforms; several Russian operations including buying MAGA influencers; oligarch consolidation; mainstream media capitulation; and good old fashioned racism, misogyny, and homophobia and transphobia that has long plagued this country.
Why did so many Democratic Senators in battleground states win when Kamala Harris didn't? One reputable pollster explained to Andrea that it's likely due to Independents voting for Trump then splitting their ballot by voting for the moderate Senators. Kamala Harris may have ran as a centrist, but she was painted as a communist who will give your kids sex change operations at school and raise your taxes. Plus, she's Black.
In this election super special, Andrea and Terrell fact check the blame game running rampant right now and help us stay grounded for the horrors ahead. Thank you to all who joined our post election salon over Zoom. We're meeting every Monday at 4pm ET and recording at least the first 30 minutes for those who cannot be there. Andrea shared her guide on how best to use this time across social media platforms, for those who want to amplify these warnings for others, to help our communities brace for impact:
Twitter: https://x.com/AndreaChalupa/status/1854913386540093776
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@AndreaChalupa/113448400577711156
Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/thread/37796683
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/andreachalupa.bsky.social/post/3lahbf2sfro2r
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@andreachalupa/post/DCHj1PmP5R8
- Visa fler
