nikolos.bsky.social

We are officially almost at the end of the 2026 election. To reflect back on the crazy twists and turns and the major progressive successes of this cycle, we spoke with @usamahandrabi, the communications director for @justicedems. Justice Democrats is best known as the org that recruited AOC in 2018, but they’re a lot more than that, and their story is, in a lot of ways, the story of the left’s resurgence over the last few years. (Note: We recorded this episode a few weeks ago. At first we were concerned about whether a conversation focused largely on how progressives have used primaries to make the Democratic Party better was appropriate for the day before the general election. But then corporate Dem Haley Stevens endorsed MAGA freak Mike Rogers in an attempt to ratfuck Democrats’ U.S. senate nominee in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed. And we remembered that yes, beating the far right absolutely requires us to defeat the corporate Dems who are far more interested in protecting their billionaire donors than defeating fascism. Let’s beat these MAGA freaks on Tuesday and then let’s clear out the rot in our party starting Wednesday.) podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

Our guest @JaneKim explains how the insurance companies made themselves the house, and the house always wins.

We haven’t had any political candidates on the pod yet. But we decided to make an exception for @JaneKim, who is running to be the next insurance commissioner of CA. We don’t think often about insurance, particularly property and casualty insurance. But it’s the foundation for so much of our economic world. And right now it’s not working. Well, it’s actually working great for the massive corporations raking in billions in profits while denying and underpaying claims and saddling us with massive climate risks. But Jane believes a better way is possible. And we think you will, too, after listening to our conversation! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

In the US, when the cost of essentials started going up, Democrats said, Oh well, that’s the market for you, nothing we can do about it. In Mexico, @IsabellaMWeber explains, they took action.

Dr. @IsabellaMWeber on how the refusal to fight to control prices feeds the far right's assault on democracy.

New episode out! @Ben_Inskeep and Bryce Gustafson share a dispatch from the frontlines of the data center wars (Indiana) on the potential of these fights to spark a broader anti-Big Tech oligarchy political realignment. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

New episode with @bhafrey on how Staten Island -- its resentments, its secession movement, its Wu-Tang Clan -- explains the communities across our country whose feelings of being forgotten and disrespected Trump rode to power. Check it out: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

Our episode this week is with union organizer Bill Fletcher, Jr., who reminds us that when you're dealing with fascists, "When they go low, you kick them in their face." podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

In which @Patrick_Wyman argues that local American elites are not untouchable supervillains but "fucking idiots" that can be beaten, and Aaron responds with a story of Dunkin franchise owners trying to bribe him with Dunkin gift cards.

Corporate Dems tried to weaponize the Uncommitted Movement against progressives. But TBC, using a primary to push the party to stop doing something catastrophic is very different from opposing a progressive nominee in a general election, as some centrists have been doing.

Nobody asked for this...but we said we'd talk about Graham Platner someday. That day has arrived. We were super excited about Platner. That excitement turned out to be misplaced. So what are the lessons we should draw from this saga? Here's our thoughts! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

"The Athenian strategy is prosecute the leaders, pardon the foot soldiers. Biden and Garland did the opposite." @BretDevereaux explains what we can learn from ancient Athens on how to deal with attempts to overthrow our democracy.

We all love making fun of fascists. But @BretDevereaux makes an art of it. Bret joins us this week to discuss the chuds who say they’re fighting to defend “Western Civilization,” something they’ve never bothered to try to understand, and the far right billionaire freaks who idolize, and utterly misunderstand, Tolkien. Come nerd out with us, and fight fascism, all at the same time! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

Our friend @astradisastra explaining why she's sounding the alarm about the possibility that MAGA could outflank the left on animal rights. Could this be MAHA 2.0?

Something weird is happening on the far right. MAGA influencers are calling out the pork industry. RFK is praising militant animal rescue actions. @astradisastra joins us to discuss this shifting terrain and ask: Could animal welfare this be the new MAHA? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…

Our friend @jamieclimate on what Democrats lose out on when they buy into climate hushing. Why, as the sky fills with smoke, wouldn't Dems want to make hay out of Republicans being cucks for Big Oil?