This week, we saw Sen. Joe Manchin attempt to, once again, attach his permitting reform/pipeline bill to a piece of must-pass legislation. After vehement opposition to his chicanery, it appears he may once again be unsuccessful. But for how much longer?Brad Johnson, author of the tremendous climate news Substack Hill Heat joins us to break it all down, explain how we got to this point and also how Sen. Raphael Warnock winning reelection—giving Democrats 51 seats in the Senate—slightly nullifies ...
Dec 08, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. To gain access to the full episode and our full back catalog of premium episodes, you can become a paid subscriber (paid intern!) here: With Michael Avenatti going to prison for 14 years, a new 2024 contender has emerged: John Bolton. We discuss his comments that he’s “prepared to enter the race,” and whether or not he even has a shot. We also discuss the latest in Kanye’s meltdown, Elon giving Twitter emails to Matt Taibbi, and what th...
Dec 06, 2022•9 min
We’re joined by Matthew Cunningham-Cook of The Lever where he has done tremendous reporting covering rail workers’ push for better working conditions. He gives us background on the fight for better union contracts, how the Biden administration intervened and now the push in Congress to “avoid a strike” that ultimately might not include very modest demands from workers for paid sick leave.You can follow Matthew here: https://twitter.com/matthewccook5If you’d like to become a subscriber (paid inte...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 8 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. To gain access to the full episode and our full back catalog of premium episodes, you can become a paid subscriber (paid intern!) here: On this week’s premium episode, we get into Elon Musk’s purported war with Apple over app store purchase fees, examine recent precedent for companies trying to take on Apple over its app store monopoly and how this type of tilting-at-windmills style fires up his weirdest sycophants. We also talk a bit a...
Nov 29, 2022•5 min
Dharna Noor joins us again to break down the COP 27 climate conference that just wrapped up in Egypt. We get into the traction on critical climate issues like coal, the push for unproven “carbon capture,” and winding down reliance on fossil fuels. Dharna explains why there was an uptick in fossil fuel lobbyists at the conference this year and why these events typically don’t result in any immediate, tangible positive outcomes.We also talk about the “Twitter alternative” social platforms people a...
Nov 25, 2022•54 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. To hear the full episode and gain access to our full back catalog of premium episodes, become a paid subscriber (paid intern!) here: Tom Williams from Stray From The Path joins us to talk about ridiculous parlay bets, dealing poker in backrooms as a kid, his band Stray From The Path, the music industry and more.Give Tom a follow here: https://twitter.com/tomfromstray This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other sub...
Nov 22, 2022•8 min
David Roth of Defector returns to the show to give us his thoughts on Trump’s 2024 announcement speech and what the Florida Man’s prospects for reelection look like. We also get into Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving sharing an anti-Semitic documentary and the downstream effects of popular people dabbling in these types of conspiracies.You can follow David here (while Twitter still exists): https://twitter.com/david_j_roth Also, some news! We’re upping our release schedule to two episodes a week, ...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 13 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. We’re moving to (or at least attempting to move to, if there’s sufficient interest) two episodes a week. One free, one premium. To gain access to the full episode and our entire back catalog of premium episodes you can subscribe here: In this episode we talk about the huge impact young voters had in the midterm election and what that means for future Democratic party strategy. We preview the runoff in Georgia between Raphael Warnock and...
Nov 15, 2022•8 min
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Jack Crosbie of Discourse Blog for a crossover episode breaking down the midterm election results. We examine whether it was as good (i.e. not as bad as some feared) for Democrats, what this means for Biden’s ability to govern the next two years, what races surprised us and whether the Democratic strategy going forward should be to just nominate physically large candidates like Fetterman.Also, Jordan tells Rob about his experience meeting his new best frie...
Nov 10, 2022•1 hr
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. To listen to the full episode and gain access to our entire back catalog of premium episodes you can become a paid subscriber here: Ken Klippenstein joins us to discuss his latest piece in The Intercept about how the DHS wants to police “disinformation” and other speech online at the behest of both the Trump and Biden administrations. We wade into the serious risks posed by the agency’s role in monitoring online activity as well as the ...
Nov 04, 2022•6 min
On this week’s episode, Ryan Grim of The Intercept joins us to discuss the since-withdrawn letter on diplomacy with Russia from the Congressional Progressive Caucus. We get into how it originated, the firestorm it caused, whether the outrage was reasonable and its ultimate retraction. We also discuss how eliminating any debate over how and when diplomacy should prioritized will ultimately lead to worse outcomes for Ukrainians.You can follow Ryan on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/ryangrimIf yo...
Oct 28, 2022•58 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. You can listen to the full episode by becoming a paid subscriber (paid intern!) for just $5 a month here: We’re joined on this episode by public health expert and Twitch streamer Frogan to talk about how the Biden administration is handling the very much still here Covid pandemic, how a winter surge is coming and whether or not it will make a difference in the midterms.You can follow Frogan on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/fr0gan An...
Oct 21, 2022•5 min
On this episode, Twitch streamer Carter joins us to break down the very chaotic TwitchCon in San Diego last weekend. We get into Twitch revenue splits, conversations about streamers and other creators unionizing, burnout gig economy workers face and more.You can follow Carter here: https://twitter.com/CarterForNowYou can become a paid subscriber (paid intern!) of the show and get access to all our premium episodes here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribe...
Oct 14, 2022•1 hr 20 min
Hunter Walker, reporter and author of the new book “The Breach” on the January 6 investigation, joins us to break down his findings. The book, which he wrote with former member of Congress Denver Riggleman, is available here .You can follow Hunter on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/hunterwYou can become a paid subscriber (paid intern!) of the show and gain access to our full back catalog of premium episodes here: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. To hear the full episode and get access to our full backcatalog of premium episodes, you can become a paid subscriber—and paid intern!—at theinsurgents.substack.com This week we’re joined by Ed Zitron, author of the Where’s Your Ed At Substack, which you should subscribe to. Lately, Ed has been offering up great criticism of the “quiet quitting” hoax offered up by bosses and business press. He helps us cut through the noise and we break...
Aug 31, 2022•7 min
Andrew Perez of The Lever joins us this week to discuss his huge story exposing the secretive billionaire, Barre Seid, who gave $1.6 billion to Leonard Leo, the co-chair of the Federalist Society and man behind the Supreme Court’s right-wing shift. Now, Leo, a skilled right-wing political operative, has a colossal war chest at his disposal and can seriously impact the future of the conservative moment.We also wade into Biden’s student debt cancellation a bit as well.You can read the story at The...
Aug 26, 2022•1 hr 22 min
This week we’re joined by LucidFoxx, commentator and Twitch streamer (and returning guest!) to discuss the extreme weather wreaking havoc around the world. We get into the policy response from the Biden administration and how we stave off doomerism around climate change. We also discuss Dark Brandon and Rob’s new “Let’s Go Brandon” shirt. We also roll out our new paid internship program.You can follow Lucid HERE .Please consider supporting the show by becoming a paid subscriber (paid intern!) at...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. You can access the full episode and our entire back catalog of premium episodes by subscribing at TheInsurgents.Substack.com Chris Geidner, writer of Law Dork, with Chris Geidner , joins us on this episode to discuss the final few weeks of the Supreme Court’s term, the fallout caused by cases on climate change, abortion and religious entanglement with government. He also offers a look ahead at the fall term and, unsurprisingly, doesn’t ...
Jul 18, 2022•14 min
Please consider supporting the show by subscribing at TheInsurgents.Substack.com or by clicking the button below: Kate Smith of Planned Parenthood Federation of America joins us to discuss the fallout after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in its decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson. Kate provides us with historical context, explains how we got to this point, how trigger laws impacted people in around a dozen states immediately and where the fight goes from here to protect abortion rights. We ...
Jul 08, 2022•1 hr 5 min
This is a preview of our most recent premium episode for subscribers. To hear the full episode and access our entire back catalog of premium episodes, you can subscribe at TheInsurgents.Substack.com Jeremy Kaplowitz and Matt Saincome of Hard Drive join us on today’s episode to talk about Elon Musk’s weird obsession with their content. We get into how their feud started, his repeated ~meme theft~ without credit, and explore Elon’s many promises to revolutionize various aspects of society that, we...
Jun 29, 2022•5 min
Adam Conover joins us this week to discuss his latest Netflix series, The G Word with Adam Conover . The show breaks down how the federal government actually works, he meets some of the unsung heroes who work in the federal bureaucracy who deal with critical issues like inspecting meat production, tracking extreme weather and making sure workers money is safe in banks—and more—and illustrates how, in some cases, departments and agencies can’t be effective because of how they’re designed.We also ...
Jun 21, 2022•1 hr 23 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. To hear the full episode and all of our premium episodes you can subscribe at TheInsurgents.Substack.com. On this episode Popular Information's Judd Legum joins us to discuss his work tracking the hollow overture corporations make during Pride Month while backing vile, anti-LGBTQIA+ republicans around the country.We also get into the January 6th hearings, his work tracking corporations who “paused” donations to Republicans who supported...
Jun 17, 2022•6 min
Eoin Higgins of The Flashpoint joins us to talk about the January 6th hearings which just kicked off. We wade into the right’s creepy obsession with trans people, the attacks and harassment they inspire and how “just asking questions” journalists feed into the right’s narrative. Eoin and Jordan also discuss their new news aggregation site, NewsBolt, and the thought behind it. You can check out the site at NewsBolt.org .ALSO! We are on YouTube now. Please give us a follow here: https://www.youtub...
Jun 10, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Note: This is a preview of our most recent premium episode. To hear the full episode and all of our premium episodes you can subscribe at TheInsurgents.Substack.com. LivAgar joins us this week to talk about the corporate and military kickoff to Pride Month. We talk about the hollow, cynical ploys by corporations to Pride wash their social accounts while simultaneously backing Republicans who push anti-gay, anti-trans laws and weigh the impact of broader “inclusion” efforts.You can follow Liv on ...
Jun 03, 2022•5 min
Note: We unlocked this premium episode due to popular demand. You can hear other premium episodes by subscribing at TheInsurgents.Substack.com. This week we’re joined by David Sirota of The Lever. We discuss the progressive primary wins this week in Pennsylvania & Oregon, what that means for voter sentiment in the Democratic base, and if the Democratic party could actually be reformed through the electoral process.You can follow David on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/davidsirotaYou can read ...
May 29, 2022•56 min
We’ll be honest, we had originally planned a somewhat lighthearted episode with Steve Sladkowski, guitarist in Canadian punk outfit PUP, and then the Robb Elementary School shooting happened. So while we do open with a bit of NBA playoffs talk, we ended up having a raw discussion about gun violence and how it’s a uniquely American problem. This was difficult and emotional and we share the frustration so many of you feel regarding inaction at the national level.Please do be sure to give Steve a f...
May 26, 2022•1 hr 6 min
This is a preview of our most recent premium episode for subscribers. To hear the full episode and access our entire back catalog of premium episodes, you can subscribe at TheInsurgents.Substack.com This week we’re joined by David Sirota of The Lever. We discuss the progressive primary wins this week in Pennsylvania & Oregon, what that means for voter sentiment in the Democratic base, and if the Democratic party could actually be reformed through the electoral process. You can follow David on Tw...
May 20, 2022•10 min
We are joined this week by Peter from the Supreme Court podcast 5-4 who provides context for how we got to this point where the high court is poised to overturn Roe. We examine the opportunities Democrats had to codify Roe, the rhetoric around “just vote” to shift the burden onto voters & away from people in power and review the discourse over how people should protest SCOTUS, if at all. You can follow Peter here: https://twitter.com/The_Law_BoyAnd check out 5-4 here: https://www.patreon.com/fiv...
May 13, 2022•1 hr 5 min
This is a preview of our most recent premium episode for subscribers. To hear the full episode and access our entire back catalog of premium episodes, you can subscribe here: This week we’re joined by Keegan Hamilton of Vice whose recent piece detailed the horrific conditions migrant children ender under Customs & Border Patrol’s control. We get into the broader context & what fuels immigration flow into the United States, and discuss what, if anything, the Biden administration is doing to recti...
May 06, 2022•8 min
Edward Ongweso joins us today to discuss Elon Musk’s plan to purchase Twitter, what it will mean for the platform, whether concerns about him spying on people are well-founded and whether or not the deal will actually go through. We also tackle reports of Joe Biden’s admin considering cancelling some student loan debt and make (likely incorrect) predictions.You can follow Edward HERE .You can find the show on all the major streaming apps at InsurgentsPod.com Reminder that you can become a paying...
Apr 29, 2022•51 min
