Gaslit Nation

Every dictator or wannabe dictator relies on a base of support to stay in power. For Putin, Orban, and Trump, their base is Christian nationalism – claiming God wants white, straight "Christian" men to rule, even if this means violently stripping all others of their human rights. (Nevermind what Jesus actually taught in the Gospels about loving thy neighbor!) The Republican Party has been taken over by Christian nationalists backed by American and Russian oligarchs, in a death cult commonly known as MAGA. Trump is the strongman they've been searching for over decades of laying the groundwork for turning America into a dictatorship. Here to break it down for us is veteran filmmaker Stephen Ujlaki, who delved into the terrifying game plan of Christian nationalists for his new film, Bad Faith, out April 26 and available for pre-order. Gaslit Nation listeners who host viewing parties of Bad Faith with their friends and family can send us a photo or email to GaslitNation@gmail.com about the event for their chance to get Gaslit merch and other fun prizes, to help spread the word about this important and urgent film. This week's bonus episode, exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, will cover Iran's attack on Israel, why Ukraine must receive the same protection as the U.S.-led coalition that defended Israel, especially as MAGA continues to block aid in the House, and reports of Paul Manafort's work for Trump in the 2024 election. We're also launching today a NEW chat group, inspired by our recent Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, to complement our current general chat group, called Victory. The Art is Survival chat group is for artists in our community to share their works in progress, discover resources, and join with a community of like-minded creatives envisioning a world beyond the dictatorships the fascists want us to believe are inevitable. Thank you to all the artists out there and those who support art for believing that another world is possible! The recording of the Make Art workshop will be published Saturday May 4th, along with the transcript and a list of resources. To get access to both chat groups – Victory (the general chat group) and Art is Survival – all bonus shows, all episodes ad-free, exclusive invites to events, and more, be sure to sign up at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Bad Faith documentary: https://www.badfaithdocumentary.com/ Meet Stephen Ujlaki, the filmmaker behind Bad Faith: https://sftv.lmu.edu/faculty/?expert=stephen.ujlaki Putin Ally Declares Mike Johnson 'Our Johnson' https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-declares-mike-johnson-our-johnson-1890071 Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/ Why Did U.S. Planes Defend Israel but Not Ukraine? There are lessons for other nations in the events of the past few days. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ukraine-israel-war-comparison/678077/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3zBTrwyTVOGzmWK5yps1Kck&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share U.S., NOT ISRAEL, SHOT DOWN MOST IRAN DRONES AND MISSILES American forces did most of the heavy lifting responding to Iran’s retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Damascus. https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/iran-attack-israel-drones-missiles/ How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/14/middleeast/israel-air-missile-defense-iran-attack-intl-hnk-ml

In this week’s bonus show, we dig into Israel and evangelicals, two fellow travelers that shaped U.S. politics and the world together. Many evangelicals believe God will protect Israel, as long as they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior, or they'll burn in hell with other nonbelievers when Jesus returns. That means the destruction of Israel, a Jewish state. Digging into Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch evangelical, and the other MAGA Christian nationalists blocking aid to Ukraine in the House, it turns out Ukraine also plays a role in evangelical “end times” prophecy. The path of the destruction of Israel goes through Ukraine, according to Pat Robertson and other evangelical leaders featured in the show notes. Does Johnson believe this? Johnson proudly proclaimed his worldview is the bible, telling Fox News: "Someone asked me today in the media, they said, 'It's curious, people are curious: What does Mike Johnson think about any issue under the sun?' I said, 'Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That's my worldview.” Johnson was featured in a German documentary about taking his daughter to a purity ball where she signed a pledge to never have sex before marriage. Purity balls are seen as dehumanizing to young girls and women Pat Robertson, one of the most consequential evangelical leaders to build white Christian nationalists into a political force, taking over the GOP, claimed in a video featured in this week’s bonus show, the path to Israel's destruction begins with Russia's destruction of Ukraine. Ray Comfort, another evangelical minister with a large social media following, wrote the book Russia Will Attack Israel, and plays up Russia’s war in Ukraine as “end times” prophecy. David Jeremiah, the evangelical pastor of a megachurch, also promotes this idea in his work. The argument goes: Putin is a tool of God to raise the forces of evil against Ukraine on Russia’s path to waging war against Israel. In their logic, Ukraine must be destroyed so the final battle of good vs. evil can begin, ushering in the return of Jesus. Obviously Christian nationalists like Johnson and others in the MAGA cult blocking aid to Ukraine are motivated by power and money. They align with strongmen like Trump to consolidate their support and enrich themselves. Both Putin and Orban used Christianian nationalism to entrench their regimes. Johnson was caught taking Kremlin-linked donations in 2018, as discussed in the recent bonus show for Patreon subscribers, The Kremlin Owns Mike Johnson. Russia does its part to feed into these “end times” fever dreams. The philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, Russia’s Steve Bannon, recently said, "Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all.” As Trump’s white Christian nationalist base cheers on Putin’s genocide in Ukraine and Netanyahu’s genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, Russia oppresses and kills evangelicals in occupied Ukraine, according to a recent PBS Newshour report, and Christians are increasingly harassed and pushed out by ultra-Orthodox Israelis. The persecution of fellow Christians may likely mean nothing to Johnson if he shares the belief that accelerating global conflicts will ultimately bring back Jesus. What he has made clear through his words and actions is that he takes the bible literally, like many evangelicals. With Ukraine increasingly in the crossfire of “end times” prophecies, spun in megachurches and their disinformation echo chambers, we have to come to terms that we’re up against a doomsday cult, not a political party. Biden cannot shame or reason with these people. He must work around them to save Ukraine. Contact your rep today through this site by a Gaslit Nation listener and demand they ensure the discharge petitions are signed, successfully forcing a vote on Ukraine aid: https://helpukrainewin.com/ *** Thank you to everyone who attended the Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things on Thursday April 11. We will soon...

Reminder! This Thursday, fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop this Thursday April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! We also ask you to urge members of Congress to sign the discharge petitions to overcome MAGA’s blockade of Ukraine aid in the House. Use this handy site made by a Gaslit Nation listener to contact your reps today: https://helpukrainewin.com/ In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Andrea and Terrell Star of the Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack get raptured! No, we’re still here, fighting fascism at home and abroad. And still with us, unfortunately, is Trump’s actual army of far-right Christian nationalists determined to destroy our democracy from within. What’s needed to fight a holy war? Another holy war, if your faith is in empathy and science. In this End Times-themed discussion (in honor of the 4.8 earthquake striking near Trump’s Bedminister golf course, opening up the gates of hell just in time for the election, and the solar eclipse that blinded the latest winners of the Darwin Awards), we discuss how to protect democracy against a transnational crime syndicate wielding Christian nationalism as its weapon. We also review the must-watch documentary "Bad Faith," based on the book by former Gaslit Nation guest and journalist Anne Nelson, titled Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. We also look at Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s campaign to help Trump come to power, Michael Flynn’s propaganda tour to energize authoritarian voters, the most dangerous men in the Biden administration who should have been replaced long ago, and why, in a time of genocide and other existential threats, straight white old guys are no longer a “safe bet.” But we’ll vote for Biden anyway, because we don’t have the time or resources to fight for survival and against a second, never-ending Trump regime. This week’s bonus episode, exclusively for our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, is a discussion of Evangelicals and Israel – staunch allies for opportunistic reasons. They also constitute a crucial element in Trump's potential Electoral College victory, where Biden barely squeaked by thanks to a mere 44,000 votes scattered across Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Yes, it was that close. So don't forget to pre-order the documentary Bad Faith, organize a watch party with friends and neighbors, and complete the recommended steps in the Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide. What is your plan to help protect our democracy this year from Trump and his dreaded Project 2025, discussed in this week’s episode? To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 SHOW NOTES: Clip: Watch the trailer for Bad Faith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYseVO29ZU Clip: Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s New York State Campaign Manager Proudly Declares They’re Trying to Help Trump Win https://twitter.com/cwebbonline/status/1777021184737194221 Clip: Michael Flynn: From Government Insider to Holy Warrior | FRONTLINE + AP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHqohI-ZNhY Inside the Election Denial Groups Planning to Disrupt November https://www.wired.com/story/election-denial-groups-november-2024/ Inside the Terrifyingly Competent Trump 2024 Campaign With Donald Trump mostly focused on his own legal peril—leaving...

This is an excerpt of this week's bonus show. To hear the full episode subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. If you're already subscribed, be sure to grab our RSS feed on Patreon to never miss an episode! Mike Johnson is Lucy playing football with Charlie Brown. The MAGA Ken doll delayed the vote for Ukraine aid by several more weeks, coming through for Donald Trump, his MAGA cult of violence, and their Kremlin backers. Call it what it is: treason. In this heated bonus show, Andrea is joined by Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and Italy-based analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast, debating whether Mike Johnson will ever hold his long promised Ukraine aid vote, and ways to overcome his existential threat to civilians in Russia’s ongoing genocide. Our discussion was recorded on Tuesday, and includes a debate between Andrea and Olga on whether Mike Johnson will ever come through. We also discuss President Macron doubling down on sending NATO troops to Ukraine, and the long history of Russian terrorism and Western complacency. On Tuesday, Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins Gaslit Nation to discuss the latest in the 2024 election and ways to overcome the threats to our democracy. Later in the month, Ari Berman of Mother Jones will be on the show to discuss his new book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It. Want to help unblock Ukraine aid in Congress? Contact Joaquin Castro (D-TX) at (202) 225-3236 and Mark Pocan (D-WI) at (202) 225-2906 and demand that they sign the two bipartisan discharge petitions put forth by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), which would force a vote in the House to pass aid for Ukraine. For more on that effort, read this urgent statement from the humanitarian nonprofit Razom for Ukraine: https://www.razomforukraine.org/razom-for-ukraine-calls-on-house-democrats-to-sign-discharge-petition/ To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329

If there’s one thing fascists love it’s using the threat of terrorism to rile up their base. The largest terrorist attack in Moscow in decades signals a resurgent ISIS, one that Trump and his MAGA cult will no doubt campaign off of, to “scare out” the vote. (The independent voter needed to win close states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin may not care about Netanyahu’s terrorism, only that committed by brown people). How will Trump and his longtime crime-partner Paul Manafort, rumored to officially join the campaign soon (Manafort never left!), capitalize off the growing terror threats, worsened by Trump and Putin ally Netanyahu and his genocidal war to cling to power? In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss the Crocus theater attack in Moscow and why Russia is a favorite target of ISIS, the latest reporting on the Kremlin's Havana Syndrome electronic warfare that has attacked around 1,500 people serving in the U.S. government and their families, and whether Trump will unleash violence if he loses, or wins. Our bonus episode this week features a debate among Gaslit Nation and Kremlin File over MAGA Ken doll Mike Johnson. Is he actually serious about bringing Ukraine aide up for a vote, or is he stringing us along as ammunition runs dangerously low and more Russian missiles make it through? As Congress comes back into session next week, we discuss all the ways they could actually do something to stop Russia’s genocide in Ukraine–a laboratory for Russian aggression that eventually reaches us. Be sure to apply pressure by calling your representatives in Congress, and use this handy tool made by a Gaslit Nation listener to contact your rep today: https://helpukrainewin.com/ Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Submit your song for the Gaslit Nation song feature! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628 Show Notes: How ISIS has Europe and the US in sights after deadly Moscow attack https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/30/europe/how-isis-has-europe-and-the-us-in-sights-after-deadly-moscow-attack/index.html New in SpyWeek CIA and Moscow terror, Havana Syndrome, rogue diplomat Ric Grenell, Paul Manafort’s return, a creepy Army Psyops recruiting ad & more https://www.spytalk.co/p/new-in-spyweek-7e9 Trump may enlist Paul Manafort, who was criticized for Russia ties The former campaign manager was pardoned by Trump for bank and tax fraud convictions and accusations he hid millions he made consulting for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/18/trump-manafort-2024-campaign/ Feds seek $3M from Paul Manafort over failing to disclose offshore accounts A civil lawsuit signals the Justice Department views penalties as not covered by President Donald Trump’s pardon of his former adviser. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/04/28/paul-manafort-trump-lawsuit-00028717 What to know about Havana Syndrome after investigation links illness to Russia https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/havana-syndrome-russia-attacks-us-officials How the conflict between Hamas and Israel fuels terror threats in the West https://www.icct.nl/publication/how-conflict-between-hamas-and-israel-fuels-terror-threats-west Subscribe and Listen to the Kremlin File Podcast...

For decades in its war on terror following 9/11 the U.S. government poured resources, including its own terror tactics, in combating Islamic radicalism during the rise of ISIS. Meanwhile, white domestic terrorism, fueled by extreme religious groups like white evangelicals, increasingly went unchecked, leading to Trump and his violent January 6 insurrection. Can those same far-right Chrstian extremists help Trump win the Electoral College? This week’s bonus show, based on a listener's question and exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, looks at the potential impact of the far-right Christian vote and ways to counteract it. The episode answers other questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender-level and higher on Steve Bannon’s terror tactics, exposing white women slaveholders in American history, and more! To submit your questions and comments for a future Q&A, be sure to subscribe to the show at the Democracy Defender level or higher only on Patreon! Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! Be sure to check out this really cool art initiative out of Michigan from Gaslit Nation listeners!: Breaking down walls through art and expression: https://umdearborn.edu/news/breaking-down-walls-through-art-and-expression There’s also this important work from another Gaslit Nation listener in our community that’s part of the long overdue solution for modernizing America’s rail service: Fed plan contains more passenger trains for Utah https://buildingsaltlake.com/fed-plan-contains-more-passenger-trains-for-utah/ More info here: Federal Railroad Administration's Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study fralongdistancerailstudy.org Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Submit your song for the Gaslit Nation song feature! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628 Show Notes: They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South https://bookshop.org/p/books/they-were-her-property-white-women-as-slave-owners-in-the-american-south-stephanie-e-jones-rogers/8493268?ean=9780300251838 How Evangelicals Became a Voting Bloc Evangelical voters’ focus on policy over character came much earlier than you think. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2024/march-web-only/evangelicals-voting-bloc-super-tuesday-donald-trump-charact.html Religious Group Voting and the 2020 Election https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/324410/religious-group-voting-2020-election.aspx It’s Time to Talk About Violent Christian Extremism There’s a “strong authoritarian streak” that runs through parts of American evangelicalism, warns Elizabeth Neumann. What should be done about it? https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/02/04/qanon-christian-extremism-nationalism-violence-466034 Why QAnon Has Attracted So Many White Evangelicals https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-qanon-has-attracted-so-many-white-evangelicals/ The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-undertow-scenes-from-a-slow-civil-war-jeff-sharlet/18515351?ean=9781324006497 The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power...

Gaslit Nation is recharging our batteries for the big election ahead so we're re-running a popular episode this week: Andrea's interview with Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, the co-author of All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. Exclusively for our Patreon community we're publishing an all new bonus show this Saturday answering questions from our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher. Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! With so much ominous news about the climate crisis heralding the man-made apocalypse, we need leaders like the women highlighted in the must-read book All We Can Save. Co-edited by Dr. Katharine Wilkinson, climate author and teacher, and Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, marine biologist and founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab who promoted a Blue New Deal to save our oceans, this soul-hugging anthology provides a breathing space to wrap our hearts and our minds around solutions for healing our planet and ourselves. We cannot recommend this book enough. Dr. Wilkinson joins us for an unforgettable discussion of the climate crisis: where are we now and what must we do about it? From the biography on her website: "Dr. Katharine Wilkinson co-founded and leads The All We Can Save Project with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, in support of women leading on climate. She also co-hosts the podcast A Matter of Degrees, telling stories for the climate curious with Dr. Leah Stokes. Previously, Dr. Wilkinson was the principal writer and editor-in-chief at Project Drawdown, where she led the organization’s work to share climate solutions with audiences around the world. She speaks widely, including at National Geographic and the United Nations. Her TED Talk on climate and gender equality has more than 1.9 million views. A homegrown Atlantan, Dr. Wilkinson holds a doctorate in geography and environment from Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and a BA in religion from Sewanee. Formative months spent in the Southern Appalachians, as a student at The Outdoor Academy, shaped her path. Time magazine featured Dr. Wilkinson as one of 15 'women who will save the world' and Apolitical named her one of the '100 most influential people in gender policy.' You can find her on Twitter: @DrKWilkinson. Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Show Notes: Opening Clip: https://youtu.be/vXlJEcrinwg All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis Katharine K. Wilkinson (Editor) Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (Editor) https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-we-can-save-truth-courage-and-solutions-for-the-climate-crisis-ayana-elizabeth-johnson/18834354?ean=9780593237083

Congratulations, New York Times! Trump is the GOP nominee. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss why the New York Times wants Trump to win, with coverage and an editorial board that normalizes his fascism. The conversation includes a plan to defeat MAGA, the Bannon Strategy and what the Left can learn from it (without turning into a cult!), why we’re glad that Nikki Haley isn’t the GOP nominee either (she uses genocidal rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people!), and where our advantage is in 2024 and how to leverage it to protect democracy this election and beyond. Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Show Notes Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here! https://tr.ee/BuEdw13Nw- Introducing…The Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide! https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/2024-survival-guide Trump Tyranny Tracker: Your Daily Reminder https://open.substack.com/pub/trumptyrannytracker/p/trump-tyranny-tracker-your-daily-089?r=3gxpg3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Gaslit Nation is recharging our batteries for the big election ahead so we're re-running a popular episode this week: Andrea's interview with her longtime friend and mentor, the journalist, filmmaker, and author Nelson George. Exclusively for our Patreon community we're publishing an all new bonus show this Saturday on how to stop MAGA. To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our Q&A in the comments below or in a private message -- we always love hearing from you! Our Q&A will be out later this month! Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Nelson George set off to become the greatest music writer in the world. In this surreal essay, he explains his strange relationship with Prince who summoned him to listen to new music; this confirms George's dream was achieved. Having come out of the projects in Brooklyn to contribute to the bohemian renaissance of Spike Lee turning Brooklyn into a global brand, George lived the explosion of Black culture across film, music, art, and more at the close of the 20th century and looks back at this groundbreaking time in a sweeping and important discussion of why art matters. This is an interview about artists -- it’s for people who want to be artists -- it’s for artists at all stages of their careers -- it’s for people who love and consume art -- it’s a discussion about the value of mentorship -- and the way to get to the heart of being an artist, why that’s important, what that means, the practical ins and outs of how to do it. From the biography on his website: "Nelson George is the author of several histories of African American music, including Where Did Our Love Go: the Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound, The Death of Rhythm & Blues, and the classic Hip Hop America. He has published two collections of music journalism: Buppies, BBoys, Baps & Bohos: Notes on Post-Soul America and the recent The Nelson George Mixtape, which is available through Pacific Books. He has written several novels with music themes (The Accidental Hunter, The Plot Against Hip Hop, The Lost Treasures of R&B, and To Funk and Die in LA). In television, George was a producer on the Emmy Award winning The Chris Rock Show on HBO, a producer on Hip Hop Honors on VH1, and executive producer of the American Gangster crime series on BET. As a filmmaker, George has co-written the screenplays to Strictly Business and CB4. He directed Queen Latifah to a Golden Globe in the HBO film Life Support, which he also co-wrote. He has directed a number of documentaries including Finding the Funk, The Announcement, and Brooklyn Boheme (Showtime). George was a producer on the award winning documentary on Black music executive Clarence Avant, The Black Godfather, for Netflix. His theatrical documentary on ballerina Misty Copeland is called A Ballerina's Tale. He was a writer/producer on Baz Lurhmann’s hip hop inspired Netflix series The Get Down. He is an executive producer of Dear Mama, a documentary series about Tupac Shakur directed by Allen Hughes." And, to add to this illustrious biography, Nelson has been a longtime friend and mentor who helped Andrea navigate the wily world of getting Mr. Jones written and produced. Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329

Welcome to Gaslit Nation where we name and shame! This week, meet the Kremlin Caucus and their financial backers. What started off with Putin groupie Dana Rohrabacher, a former Congressman from Orange County, has grown into a proud fascist movement threatening our democracy and Ukraine’s very survival. Want to see the posh yearbook photos of the banality of evil? Check out the show notes below, listing the Kremlin Caucus members in the House and the Senate. Explore the many white faces from mostly Republican-hostage states like Florida and Texas that, like their ideological forbears before them that carried out slavery and the genocide of indigenous peoples, have no problem destroying innocent lives and raking in blood money to stay in power. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss these threats to our democracy and how to confront them, and remind the disillusioned once again–no, Biden and Trump are not the same, especially when one candidate enjoys Hitler cosplay. Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners on Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Show Notes Get to Know the Kremlin Caucus and Their Financial Backers THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Brian Babin Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/brian-babin/summary?cid=N00005736 Troy Balderson Representative (R - OH) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/troy-balderson/summary?cid=N00042194 Lauren Boebert Representative (R - CO) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/lauren-boebert/summary?cid=N00045974 Tim Burchett Representative (R - TN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/tim-burchett/summary?cid=N00041594 Jerry Carl Representative (R - AL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00044245&cycle=2022 Ben Cline Representative (R - VA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/ben-cline/summary?cid=N00042296 Michael Cloud Representative (R - TX) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/michael-cloud/summary?cid=N00041882 Burgess Owens Representative (R - UT) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/burgess-owens/summary?cid=N00045812&cycle=2022 Kat Cammack Representative (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/kat-cammack/summary?cid=N00045978 James Comer Representative (R - KY) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/james-comer/summary?cid=N00038260 Jim Banks Representative (R - IN) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/jim-banks/summary?cid=N00037185 Gus Bilirakis Representative (R - FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/gus-bilirakis/summary?cid=N00027462 Dan Bishop Representative (R - NC) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/dan-bishop/summary?cid=N00044335 Marjorie Taylor Greene, Representative (GA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/marjorie-taylor-greene/summary?cid=N00044701 Mike Johnson, Representative (LA) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/mike-johnson/summary?cid=N00039106 Matt Gaetz, Representative (FL) https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/matt-gaetz/summary?cid=N00039503 Andy Biggs Representative (R -...

Welcome to the Gaslit Nation State of the Union Super Special! This episode has everything! Suge Knight dissing Diddy at the 1995 Source Awards! World War II era journalist Dorothy Thompson’s warnings about Katie Britt! A dictator loving pope! George W. Bush’s pandora’s box of evil! A smirking Russian oligarch on the Oscars’ stage! You’ve never heard a state of our union analysis, and where we must go from here, quite like this. Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins Andrea to roast Katie Britt and her antiChrist diamond cross and what it says about the GOP’s Christofascist war against our democracy. The conversation includes the history of white women like Britt enforcing the genocide of slavery, and Andrea and Terrell accidently calling Steve McQueen’s masterpiece film Seven Years a Slave! (Yes, we now recall it’s 12 Years a Slave!) Andrea shares the story of how she once went undercover as a self-hating Republican woman at a GOP fundraiser and almost got caught by being the only woman who dared to eat food! Our bonus this week, for subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, exposes the Kremlin Caucus and their financial backers. That episode will feature Olga Lautman and Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast. To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always love hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329 Thank you to the sponsor of this week’s episode! Andrea got to try Factor, and now her listeners can, too, with this special deal! Head to FACTORMEALS.com/gaslit50 and use code “gaslit50” to get 50% off. That’s code “gaslit50” at FACTORMEALS.com/gaslit50 to get 50% off! Listen to and support the Black Diplomats Podcast: https://www.blackdiplomats.net/ Listen to and support the Black Diplomats Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/about Watch 20 Days in Mariupol (full documentary) | Academy Award® Winner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvAyykRvPBo Why Haiti Collapsed: Demanding Reparations,and Ending Up in Exile https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/world/americas/haiti-aristide-reparations-france.html President Biden on hot mic says he needs a 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/08/biden-hot-mic-moment-underscores-growing-frustration-with-netanyahu/72899225007/ Journalist catches Sen. Katie Britt in an 'out and out lie' in her State of Union response https://www.rawstory.com/katie-britt-out-and-out-lie/ Pope Francis: questions remain over his role during Argentina's dictatorship https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/14/pope-francis-argentina-military-junta With Haiti on the Brink of Collapse, a Reckoning for US Policy on Haiti https://www.justsecurity.org/93193/with-haiti-on-the-brink-of-collapse-a-reckoning-for-us-policy-on-haiti/ Biden’s State of the Union: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq9vmRd67lc Clip: Jonathan Glazer acceptance speech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMc1khOqEFE Clip: Suge Knight at The Source Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=QHg1JImJqIZ7xkB5&v=mv2OMXngkEs&feature=youtu.be We didn’t end up including this clip in this week’s episode, but it’s worth watching: Katie Britt Appears on ‘Inside the...

Warning: If you prefer to watch a film with a blank slate, don’t listen to this episode if you haven’t seen or read Killers of the Flower Moon. While it doesn’t give away spoilers or information that isn’t widely known, and the film itself will be a powerful discovery given the stunning directing, acting, and musical score, it does prepare you for an unforgettable experience with a crash course on the brutal history. Andrea and Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack have been watching the rich offering of Best Picture Oscar contenders, and have a lot to say about Killers of the Flower Moon. While it was eclipsed by buzzier films like Oppenheimer and Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon is a monumental masterpiece that explains how America was founded and the forces we are up against today. No one should be surprised by Trump. Trumpism is what founded our country. Killers of the Flower Moon reminds us of the urgent importance and power of art. To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop on April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event! For more on the threats to our democracy and how to confront them, including the State of the Union and the GOP’s trad wife Handmaid Tale response, listen to this week’s episode, out Tuesday. In the meantime, watch the video in our show notes below of Alabama Senator and Gretchen from Mean Girls, Katie Britt, being interviewed by James Lipton of The Actors Studio. To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! Check out our new merch! Get your “You Can’t Make a Deal with the Guy Who Won the Aluminum Wars of the Car Bomb ‘90s. You Just Can’t” t-shirt or mug today! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57865157-you-cant-make-a-deal?store_id=3129329 Show Notes: Killers of the Flower Moon trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG0si5bSd6I Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop - Part I https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-video-93450936?cid=123025949 Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI https://bookshop.org/p/books/killers-of-the-flower-moon-the-osage-murders-and-the-birth-of-the-fbi-david-grann/533951?ean=9780307742483 Listen to Terrell Starr’s podcast Black Diplomats https://terrellstarr.com/black-diplomats-podcast/ Subscribe to Terrell Starr’s Black Diplomats Substack: https://terrellstarr.substack.com/ Katie Britt: Inside the Actors Studio https://twitter.com/BowmanInc/status/1766019380310163785 European Genocide of Indigenous Peoples in the Americas Cooled Earth’s Climate https://www.vice.com/en/article/bjqnqq/european-genocide-of-indigenous-peoples-in-the-americas-cooled-earths-climate Murdered and missing Native American women challenge police and courts https://publicintegrity.org/politics/murdered-and-missing-native-american-women-challenge-police-and-courts/ Colorado Osages react to 'Killers of the Flower Moon' https://www.kunc.org/news/2023-11-10/colorado-osages-react-to-killers-of-the-flower-moon What to Know About ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’: A Guide to the Osage Murders Martin Scorsese’s epic traces a real plot by white men to kill dozens of Native Americans who held oil rights in 1920s Oklahoma. Here is the back story. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/movies/killers-of-the-flower-moon-osage-murders-explained.html#:~:text=First%2C%20in%201918%2C%20a%20sister,off%20the%20Reign%20of%20Terror. Take a look at the historical people depicted in 'Killers of...

Remember when Jared Kushner tried in late 2016 to establish a secret back channel to talk to Russia? Jared and Ivanka ran the Trump transition team, with Paul Manafort operating from the shadows, where he blooms like mold, pretending to have taken a step back to avoid the heat of, well, having been outed by a Ukrainian investigative journalist for being a highly paid Kremlin operative. The latest back channel between the Trump Crime Cabal and Russia is Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán, the Tiger Beat idol of CPAC. This Friday, on International Women’s Day no less, Orbán and Trump will meet at Mar-a-Lago, where America’s nuclear secrets get their own cabana. For months now Gaslit Nation has warned that Orbán is the new Manafort, the Kremlin’s guy to make sure Trump comes to power, making their shared autocratic dreams come true. As Trump’s coup against our democracy continues, Andrea discusses Trump’s blatant shadow foreign policy with Russia mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast, and the many challenges and bold action needed for democracy to fight encroaching authoritarianism, before it’s too late. The sharks are circling, with China setting up police stations in Hungary, a European Union state. Will our democracy survive? As always, it comes down to us, as grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. See the all new Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival on our homage – GaslitNationPod.com – for simple ways for us to pitch in as it’s all hands on deck! Fun announcement for our Gaslit Nation community! On April 11 at 7 pm ET we’re holding another MAKE ART workshop exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon. Got questions about the creative process or the business side of things? Ever wanted to make art but didn’t know where or how to start? Want to know how to bring your art out into the world? Ask Andrea anything! Art is survival, and we need your mind and creativity more than ever! To get access to that, be sure to subscribe to the show at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes We'll post a link to 'Hedge Your Bets' on our social media feeds and in the show notes for this episode on our Patreon page. You can find more of The Detroit Rebellion's music on Bandcamp at detroitrebellion.bandcamp.com or detroitrebellion.blogspot.com Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here! https://tr.ee/BuEdw13Nw- Introducing…The Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide! https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/2024-survival-guide Trump Tyranny Tracker: Your Daily Reminder https://open.substack.com/pub/trumptyrannytracker/p/trump-tyranny-tracker-your-daily-089?r=3gxpg3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email Why Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Meeting With Viktor Orbán Should Terrify Us All: With Trump set to host Orbán at his Mar-a-Lago retreat this week, it’s time to get serious about the rise of the global far right and why its worldview poses such a dire threat. https://newrepublic.com/article/179510/trump-viktor-orban-mar-a-lago-meeting-terrify Kushner Is Said to Have Discussed a Secret Channel to Talk to Russia https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/us/politics/kushner-talked-to-russian-envoy-about-creating-secret-channel-with-kremlin.html How Tony Blinken’s Stepfather Changed the World—and Him: Samuel Pisar was a Holocaust survivor who pushed rival nations to engage in commerce, and he left an imprint on the likely next secretary of State. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/19/samuel-pisar-tony-blinken-secretary-of-state-460155

Gaslit Nation launched in 2018 to help build the Blue Wave, which set up progressive infrastructure that expands today, including in states like Kansas. In Virginia in 2023, our community produced one of the largest phone banks for Sister District, helping to get out the vote, flipping the Senate, and helping elect Danica Roem, the first transgender person to serve in the state Senate. We also protected abortion rights from Posh Trump Glenn Youngkin. An early September 2023 Gaslit Nation episode highlighted the work of the States Project, which raised more money for Virginia than the Democratic Party. Why? Because grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. We are the answer to the decades-long mission of the corporate-backed far-right to dismantle our democracy. No one is coming to save us but us. That’s why our listeners are the least likely to be demoralized by the news that the Supreme Court will drag out Trump’s January 6 insurrection case, the one Merrick Garland’s DOJ already waited out the clock on, losing valuable time as the coup plotters like Trump and Bannon continue to mobilize their genocidal far-right army. Ivanka and Jared dine with politicians from both parties and continue to serve as anonymous sources for the media that, in return, tries to rehabilitate their (banana republic grifter) reputations. This week’s bonus show, answering questions from our listeners, features a special focus on the murder of Nex Benedict, a gender-fluid trans teen killed by the incitement of hate and violence driven by Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok and Oklahoma state school superintendent Ryan Walters, who appointed Raichik to terrorize vulnerable children and their allies. While the grief and anger over the lack of accountability are immense, there are solutions to what we can do, no matter if we live in a Republican-hostage state or a so-called blue state. Other questions from our listeners range from the latest news on the Havana Syndrome mystery and cover-up, must-see places to visit in New York, and whether George Santos will end up on Dancing with the Stars (he will!), and more. If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week, as our Q&A continues. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more. Show Notes: Join Andrea at State Fair to help build our power in the states as a buffer against Russian-backed GOP fascism: https://linktr.ee/statefair Human Rights Campaign President Asks for Full Investigations by DOJ and Department of Education into Brutal, Senseless Attacks Against Nex Benedict https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/human-rights-campaign-president-asks-for-full-investigations-by-doj-and-department-of-education-into-brutal-senseless-attacks-against-nex-benedict Contact the DOJ Civil Rights Division and file a report – you do not have to Include your name and contact information. LINK: https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ If it’s helpful, copy/paste and/or select the following information: PRIMARY CONCERN: Discrimination at a school, educational program or service, or related to receiving education WHERE: OWASSO PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1501 N Ash St., Owasso, OK 74055 WHEN: February 8, 2024 WHAT: Nex Benedict, a gender-fluid trans teen was killed by the incitement of hate and violence driven by Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok and Oklahoma state school superintendent Ryan Walters, who appointed Raichik to terrorize vulnerable children and their teachers. The DOJ must take over the investigation of Nex's murder. Local officials and school staff failed her, including failing to call an ambulance when she had trouble walking after suffering a hate crime attack. The DOJ must open an investigation now. You...

American taxpayers bailed out Citigroup, owners of Citibank, to the tune of $476.2 billion. This was the highest bailout by far for any bank during the 2008 Wall Street Crash, caused by Wall Street. Given the immense federal aid that saved Citibank, it should be no problem then for Citibank, built with the stolen wealth of slavery, to pay reparations, right?...Right?... In this important discussion, David Montero, author of the new book The Stolen Wealth of Slavery: A Case for Reparations, shares the latest research on how reparations for slavery would boost America’s economy, would further our collective healing, strengthen our democracy at a time of rampant and unchecked oligarchy, and force long overdue accountability. The movement for reparations has already begun, with important actions being taken by cities like Boston and New York. Montero’s book is an eye-opening walking tour of New York City that will give you an all new look at how the North profited from slavery while at the same time serving as a hotbed of abolition–a polarized America much like today, with the moneyed elites on the side of the fascist machinery of the South, as long as it made them money. Listen to this interview and share it with your activist groups to help the movement for reparations grow. And in honor of Aaron Bushnell, the 25-year-old Air Force service member who set himself on fire outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, with the last words “Free Palestine”, here is his final post on Facebook, written that day: “Many of us like to ask ourselves, “What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?” The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now.” The Washington Post has a thoughtful write-up on Bushnell, featured in the show notes below. Bushnell is the second person to set themselves on fire in protest of Netanayahu’s genocidal war, his latest destructive attempt to cling to power. Show Notes: The Stolen Wealth of Slavery: A Case for Reparations https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-stolen-wealth-of-slavery-a-case-for-reparations-david-montero/20163861?ean=9780306827174 Citigroup Tops List of Banks Who Received Federal Aid https://www.cnbc.com/id/42099554 Alabama Supreme Court justice cites scripture 'nearly two dozen times' in ruling on embryos https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/alabama-supreme-court-justice-cites-scripture-nearly-two-dozen-times-in-ruling-on-embryos-204960325977 Airman who set self on fire grew up on religious compound, had anarchist past https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/02/26/israeli-embassy-airman-fire-death-gaza/ Reuters Investigation: More than 100 Political Elite Have Family Connections to Slavery https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-slavery-lawmakers/ Opening Clip: Jack Posobiec https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1760780642671845629?t=ST2p12xndS77j8l5fK1E9Q&s=19 Clip: Steve Bannon at CPAC https://twitter.com/piyushmittal/status/1761666054902936048?t=I8clBBbzCvj07qquRxmqmA&s=19 Clip: Donald Trump at a Fox News Townhall: https://twitter.com/MaryLTrump/status/1760882903397830876?t=4aqtc89iRcFpq818M58g1w&s=19

This week’s bonus show answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender-level and higher, starting with incarceration rates in the U.S. vs. Russia. Spoiler alert: GOP-led states and swing states are as bad or worse than Russia, starting with Mike Johnson’s Louisiana. We look at prison incarceration rates and what they can tell us about the struggle for democracy in America, what we’re up against, and how to overcome it, and more, in this week’s bonus show. There’s a lot to discuss given the recent news, with new sweeping sanctions against Russia; new DOJ indictments against Russia; Libs of TikTok killing Nex, a trans teen in Oklahoma; Alabama going full Taliban by banning IVF, and more. Join Gaslit Nation and Kremlin File for a live Q&A this Wednesday February 28 at 12pm ET. To our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher, look out for a Zoom link on the morning of the Q&A on Wednesday. We hope to see you there! A special message to our Gaslit Nation community: Several listeners sent messages about the hate crime that killed Nex, a trans teen in Oklahoma. Nex was targeted and killed by the genocidal far-right echo chamber led by Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok, which, in any functional society, would have been banned by now. Erin Reed has written an essential, must-read piece on Nex’s murder, featured in the show notes of this episode. What happened to Nex is authoritarian scapegoating 101. Genocidal movements consolidate around violence to rally the sadists who will serve as the trusted lackeys to carry out a mass purge once in power, turning a former democracy into a prison. Chaya Raichik will undoubtedly be included in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 plan to mass purge our government should Trump win the Electoral College in 2024. Nex’s murder is a tragedy that must be recognized for what it is: a hate crime. It is also an urgent warning as Trump and his supporters consolidate with the desire to carry out genocide against the most vulnerable among us, especially LGBTQ+ people and their families, friends, doctors, teachers, and others in their support networks. Our hearts go out to all those who feel unsafe due to this heinous crime. The Gaslit Nation community is here for you. Look out for an upcoming episode on ways to fight back and protect each other. In the meantime, listen to our spring 2022 interview with Chase Strangio, Deputy Director for Transgender Justice with the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project, included in our show notes. If you didn’t hear your question answered this week, look out for it next week as our Gaslit Nation Q&A continues! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more. Show Notes: Event: Thursday February 29 at 1pm – Russian-diaspora led roundtable on Russian anti-war activities https://www.facebook.com/events/439307928421886 Chaya Raichik Was Appointed To "Make Schools Safer" In Oklahoma; Now A Trans Teen Is Dead. https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/chaya-raichik-was-appointed-to-make?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web 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 The Sentencing Project: U.S. Continues to be the World Leader in Rate in Incarceration https://static.prisonpolicy.org/scans/sp/usno1.pdf Prison Policy Initiative: States of Incarceration: The Global Context 2021 https://www.prisonpolicy.org/global/2021.html Justice Department indicts more Russian businessmen, their aides, vowing to keep pressure on Putin https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2024/02/22/justice-department-arrests-russia-businessmen-putin Fani Willis calls out Nathan Wade, earning the women vote in her...

February 20 marks two years since Putin launched his total war in Ukraine. February also marks the assassination of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, gunned down in the shadow of the Kremlin in 2015, on the eve of his anti-war march. And now Alexei Navalny, killed in a Siberian gulag, his body reportedly covered in bruises and kept from his family. It may seem like Putin is winning, with Trump sailing into the Republican nomination, and MAGA lackey Mike Johnson deliberately stopping aid to Ukraine in Congress, costing countless lives and helping Russia advance. And the breaking news this week: Republicans in Congress based their impeachment proceeding of Biden on a Russian intelligence op, pulling out all the stops to help Trump steal the White House with the Kremlin’s help, again. One thing is clear: Putin is scared. The reality is that Putin’s fragile house of cards has turned Russia into a powder keg, as Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, vows to continue her husband’s work. In this special episode, Andrea and Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack discuss the assassintion of Navalny and the work ahead to build a meaningful opposition, the mainstream media continuing to normalize Trump by labeling his 16-week abortion ban as “less restrictive”, and the triumph of Black prosecutors Tish James and Fani Willis in the larger American story of hard-fought progress. This week’s bonus show answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. (If you haven’t submitted your questions yet, get ‘em in for next week’s Q&A!) Inspired by our listeners, this week’s bonus show covers prison incarceration rates in the U.S. vs. Russia and what that can tell us about our homegrown authoritarian threats in the GOP, whether voting by mail is safe this election (it is!), and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Not a member? Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more. Show Notes: Event: Thursday February 29 at 1pm – Russian-diaspora led roundtable on Russian anti-war activities https://www.facebook.com/events/439307928421886 Republicans in Congress initiated an impeachment proceeding of Biden based on a Russian intelligence op: https://twitter.com/rgoodlaw/status/1760122411016421457 Thread: “JUST IN: Alexander Smirnov told the feds during an interview after his arrest that ‘officials associated with Russian intelligence’ were involved in passing a story about Hunter Biden.” https://twitter.com/alanfeuer/status/1760056078992081166 Hunter Biden says special counsel used Alexander Smirnov’s discredited bribery claims to derail his plea deal https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/alexander-smirnov-hunter-biden/index.html Scientology Leader David Miscavige Served With Human Trafficking Lawsuit Miscavige had reportedly evaded process servers 27 times over four months before a judge said he was considered served. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scientology-leader-david-miscavige-served-with-human-trafficking-lawsuit_n_63ee6cb9e4b02c25737b92ca Donald Trump Tells Allies He Backs 16-Week Abortion Ban GOP frontunner backs less restrictive ban than many in party Biden stepping up attacks on Trump over abortion restrictions https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-16/trump-tells-allies-he-backs-16-week-abortion-ban?cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-politics&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=politics “Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of Alexei Navalny, received a standing ovation from the audience as she began a speech to the Munich Security Conference just hours after hearing about the “horrific news” of her husband’s death.” https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1758526751611802082 Police have detained...

This week’s bonus episode, for our subscribers at the Truth-tell level and higher on Patreon, features our audience Q&A at the live taping with Tristan Snell, a former New York state prosecutor who won the Trump University case, and author of the new book Taking Down Trump. Our discussion includes exposing Jeffery Epstein’s full network, how Trump back in the White House would impact our listeners in Canada, whether it’s time to launch an underground resistance, ways to put pressure on Merrick Garland, and more! Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! An urgent request: the Senate passed aid to Ukraine. To put pressure on MAGA, contact your reps in the House with this easy-to-use site made by a Gaslit Nation listener: helpukrainewin.com. Stay tuned as Gaslit Nation & Friends name and shame members of the Kremlin Kaucus, their staff, and their largest donors. We can’t wait until November – we must stop MAGA now! Show Notes: The Cases Against Trump: A Guide Fraud. Hush money. Election subversion. Mar-a-Lago documents. One place to keep track of the presidential candidate’s legal troubles. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/donald-trump-legal-cases-charges/675531/ Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully by Tristan Snell https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/756546/taking-down-trump-by-tristan-snell/ Merrick Garland Must Go https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/merrick-garland-must-go/ Trump gets access to sealed documents on witness threats in Mar-a-Lago case Prosecutors turn over exhibit on threats made against potential witness to Trump’s lawyers following judge’s order, sources say https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/11/trump-mar-a-lago-case-witness-threats-sealed-exhibit The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis https://wwnorton.com/books/The-Fifth-Risk/ Be sure to check out helpukrainewin.com, made by a Gaslit Nation listener!

“Don't tell me what the law is, tell me who the judge is.” Those are the haunting words of Roy Cohn, Trump’s former longtime mentor and Henry Kissinger’s current roommate in hell. Take Trump's classified Mar-a-Lago case. According to this week’s guest, Tristan Snell, a former New York state prosecutor who won the Trump University case, and author of the new book Taking Down Trump, Jack Smith’s classified Mar-a-Lago charges are a slam dunk. Unfortunately, the judge is Republican Aileen Cannon–appointed by Trump, and it shows in her MAGA-like rulings endangering witnesses. As Cohn would say, mob rules, baby! In this special live taping of Gaslit Nation, we discuss how the sausage of elite criminal impunity gets made, what can be done to hold prosecutors accountable and end the revolving door of corruption between public service and powerhouse white collar crime law firms, and, just for fun, take a tour of the criminal cases against Trump and where things stand. Obviously, at Gaslit Nation, we know that real justice comes down to us, which is why this show started in the first place. Grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left, especially when the Attorney General is Merrick Garland. This week’s bonus episode, for our subscribers at the Truth-tell level and higher on Patreon, features our audience Q&A at the live taping, with a discussion that includes exposing Jeffery Epstein’s full network, how Trump back in the White House would impact our listeners in Canada, whether it’s time to launch an underground resistance, and more! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! An urgent request: the Senate passed aid to Ukraine. To put pressure on MAGA, contact your reps in the House with this easy-to-use site made by a Gaslit Nation listener: helpukrainewin.com. Stay tuned as Gaslit Nation & Friends name and shame members of the Kremlin Kaucus, their staff, and their largest donors. We can’t wait until November – we must stop MAGA now! Show Notes: The Cases Against Trump: A Guide Fraud. Hush money. Election subversion. Mar-a-Lago documents. One place to keep track of the presidential candidate’s legal troubles. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/donald-trump-legal-cases-charges/675531/ Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully by Tristan Snell https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/756546/taking-down-trump-by-tristan-snell/ Trump gets access to sealed documents on witness threats in Mar-a-Lago case Prosecutors turn over exhibit on threats made against potential witness to Trump’s lawyers following judge’s order, sources say https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/11/trump-mar-a-lago-case-witness-threats-sealed-exhibit The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis https://wwnorton.com/books/The-Fifth-Risk/ Be sure to check out helpukrainewin.com, made by a Gaslit Nation listener!

Welcome to this Gaslit Nation Emergency Bonus Episode, to cover Walter Duranty’s latest interview with Stalin, as he carries out a genocide. That was over ninety years ago. Today history repeats, with Tucker Carlson releasing a two-hour rant by Putin, presenting what Kellyanne Conway once lovingly referred to as “alternative facts.” Gaslit Nation has the fact-check for you here, and explains why Tucker Carlson, in his traitors paradise in Moscow, visiting Tara Reade, should be investigated for being an unregistered foreign agent. The Dominion lawsuit against Fox News essentially established that Tucker Carlson is not a journalist, and therefore must be investigated for furthering the Kremlin’s agenda. Like longtime Kremlin operative Paul Manafort who he tried to rehabilitate on his Fox News show, Tucker Carlson reeks of FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act). According to Anton Gerashchenko, a former member of Ukraine’s parliament who has served in various government roles, Russian telegram channels expressed frustration in the Kremlin over Putin and Tucker’s love-in. (Putin sounded like one of those rambling email forwards about Barack HUSSEIN Obama, but the anti-Ukrainian version.) Those reports mention that Tucker was paid a fee. If that’s the case, then he needs to report that and any other perks he received from a foreign adversary. If he doesn’t disclose if and what he was paid for his Kremlin interview, he should face a FARA investigation by the DOJ (Wake up, Merrick Garland!), and an investigation by Democrats in the Senate. Amazingly, this week the Mr. Jones' graphic novel adaptation, In the Shadow of Stalin, was announced by Oni Press – read more about that in the show notes below. The graphic novel includes deleted scenes from the film. A sneak peak of the pages can be seen here: https://aiptcomics.com/2024/02/07/in-the-shadow-of-stalin-the-story-of-mr-jones/ For historical context of Tucker Carlson’s dangerous Putin interview, watch Mr. Jones or read In the Shadow of Stalin, out September 4th, and available for pre-order now. We look forward to seeing you at the special live taping of Gaslit Nation featuring former New York state prosecutor Tristan Snell, author of the new book, Taking Down Trump: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully. To our supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher, look out for a Zoom link sent to your inboxes Monday morning. Ask questions in the chat or in the recorded post-interview audience Q&A.To make sure you have your ticket, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Show Notes: Opening Clip: https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1755757290953515479 Historical Thriller In the Shadow Of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones Out September 4th https://aiptcomics.com/2024/02/07/in-the-shadow-of-stalin-the-story-of-mr-jones/ Tucker Carlson Releases Putin Interview: https://www.instagram.com/p/C3HTMYXtfQt/ Congress Removes Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”)-Related Provisions from Final NDAA https://www.insidepoliticallaw.com/2023/12/07/congress-removes-foreign-agents-registration-act-fara-related-provisions-from-final-ndaa/ Berlin Murder Raises Suspicions of Russian Involvement https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/world/europe/berlin-murder-russia.html Ukraine's Zelenskyy replaces top general in major shake-up at pivotal moment in war with Russia https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-zelenskyy-replacing-top-general-valerii-zaluzhnyi-to-lead-army/