Off The Record With Paul Hodes

As protests over the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, reignite and turn violent, the panel ask whether a line has been crossed and what universities that have been paralyzed for so long should do now. We also mark the historic passage of the foreign aid bill, which included long overdue money for Ukraine. And at the end, we ask whether a quote from Mitt Romney this week was a great one or the greatest one ever given. But we start off with the tsunami of Trump legal news, including yesterday's massive Supreme court hearing, new indictments in Arizona, and Paul's evaluation as a former prosecutor of how effective this week's testimony in the New York trial really was 01:07 Analyzing the Prosecution's Strategy in Trump's Trial 05:07 The Intricacies of Legal and Ethical Boundaries in Media Collaboration 14:27 Breaking Down the New Indictments and Supreme Court's Role 18:01 Addressing Anti-Semitic Protests at Elite Universities 24:43 Comparing Past and Present Campus Protests 36:22 Pol

The biggest right-wing news sites are seeing cratering traffic and influence. But why? And is that all good news for the rest of the anti-Trump world? Veteran reporter Paul Farhi joins to discuss his recent blockbuster article in The Atlantic on what's happening, and why it's significant. 00:59 How Big is the Collapse of Right-Wing Media Traffic 03:46 Exploring the Causes 10:38 The Financial Impact and Future of Right-Wing Media 18:17 The Broader Implications: Misinformation, Fracturing, and the Future of Media 22:33 The Controversy Around NPR's Alleged Leftward Shift 35:13 Analyzing the Impact of Conservative Media

What would you say is the biggest threat to America today? It might not be what you think. Many of America's senior leaders, especially the ones in the Democratic Party, believe that it's the insidious, intentional assault on our brains, from people using technology to pump them full of misinformation and disinformation. The torrent of lies may be making it impossible for democracy to function anymore, and is putting some of the worst possible people in power. Journalist Sasha Issenberg takes us inside this world in his new book The Lie Detectives, and joins us to explain what they've found out about how to fight this new war for information, truth, and democracy. 01:13 The Oh Gosh Moment: Realizing the Scale of Disinformation 16:18 Jiore Craig's Mission: Adapting Political Strategies for the Digital Age 30:49 Understanding the Ecosystem of Disinformation 41:25 The Future of Fighting Disinformation: Challenges and Optimism

Former prosecutor Paul Hodes walks us through one of the most important jury selection processes ever, as jurors are added - and removed - from trump's fraud trial in New York. We also probe the impact of having two lawyers on the jury, and is the Biden White House taking the right approach politically by staying totally silent about the trial. Also, the sham Mayorkas impeachment. And is Mike Johnson actually doing a GOOD job? And a wild closing story that involves escaped zoo animals and a huge metaphor for politics in America. 00:53 The Trump Trial: Jury Selection and Legal Drama 05:27 The Role of Lawyers in the Jury 14:51 Biden's White House: A Silent Strategy on Trump's Trial 17:13 The Mayorkas Impeachment: A Partisan Stunt Dismissed 20:12 The Impact of C SPAN on Politics 25:21 Mike Johnson: Good Leadership on Ukraine? 34:41 Closing Segment: The ACTUAL Political Circus

The dramatic decrease in value of Donald Trump's Truth Social stock has already erased billions in ill-gotten gains from the former President. Why the major fall, and more important, how bad could this ultimate get for Trump? We asked stock market expert Chris Hill, former host of Motley Fool Money. 00:00 The Crash of Trump's Truth Social Stock 02:03 The Meme Stock Phenomenon Explained 04:35 The Intricacies of SPACs and Their Impact 09:21 The Financial Mechanics Behind Truth Social's Strategy 20:53 Predictions and Implications for Trump

Did the basic elements of the OJ Simpson trial give us a preview of Trump's America? The comparison isn't as far-fetched as it might seem. Also, the impliations of the recent Arizona ruling implementing a total abortion ban, and how did that lead to Lindsay Graham being called a Republican in name only (RINO). Also... Lenny Kravitz's fashion choices?!? 00:17 The OJ Simpson Saga previewed the age of Trump 09:02 Exploring the Impact of Arizona's Abortion Ban 12:26 The MAGA Conundrum: Logic, Loyalty, and Lindsey Graham 20:30 FISA Controversy: National Security vs. Political Allegiance 29:54 Lenny Kravitz's Leather Pants

The implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be profound, wonderful, and maybe terrifying. Eric Daimler -- a former AI advisor to President Obama -- helps us sort through the good, the bad, and whether the AI apocalypse is actually a risk (hint: yes, sort of). 01:36 The Real Concerns and Misunderstandings of AI 08:04 The Surprising Origins and Current Challenges of Cybersecurity 13:50 The Ubiquity of AI: From Everyday Anxieties to Real-World Applications 17:32 Flipping the Script: The Positive Side of AI 23:47 The Power of Data in Government and Business 26:37 The Future of AI 31:28 Debating the AI Apocalypse 38:52 Empowering Individuals in the Age of AI

We're talking about the best movie about politics ever today, and we'll bet it's not what you think. Maybe you brought to mind Mr. Smith goes to Washington, or the American President. Maybe even the Reese Witherspoon classic Election? NOPE. We want to make a case today that the most accurate, the most insightful, the most hilarious movie about politics ever made is this amazing classic from 30 years ago that not only captures real truths about how the system does and doesn't work, but is also downright hilarious, and even predicted the rise and fall of George Santos. We bring in the writer and Executive Producer of the film to discuss. 00:00 Introduction: Unveiling the Best Political Movie Ever 02:34 The Making of a Political Satire Masterpiece 10:38 Insider's View: The Realism Behind the Comedy 15:35 The Lobbyist System Exposed 21:17 The Art of Political Speechwriting 23:04 Breaking Down the Best Political Speech Ever 27:09 Navigating the Complex World of Congress 31:15 The Challenge of

Marjorie Taylor Greene's is trying to remove Mike Johnson as House Speaker, supposedly over his government funding deal, but really over his proposal for Ukraine aid. But it's really a sign of how Trump's small MAGA sect -- and their patron Vladimir Putin -- continue to exercise leverage over the rest of America. Then, was there a critical shift in the Israel-Hamas war this week? Also, Trump's legal and financial maneuvers, and we highlight the most bizarre far-right conspiracy theories related to Monday's eclipse. 00:00 Diving into Trump's Political Maneuvers and House Speaker Drama 00:17 Exploring the Complex Dynamics of US and Israel Politics 00:50 Unpacking the Intricacies of the Ukraine Conflict and US Support 08:37 Analyzing the Political Landscape and Public Perception in Israel 15:17 Shifting Perspectives on Israel and the Impact on US Politics 19:36 A Lighter Take: This Week in Trump and Legal Battles 27:05 Navigating the World of Conspiracy Theories and Eclipse Madness 32:33

One thing to notice today is a news story in Politico about how the anti-abortion movement is scheming to turn the Republican party and ultimately all of America against in-vitro fertilization. What's amazing is that this is actually just the latest result of an intentional cynical, carefully calculated project begun in secret 50 years ago, it's sort of a Frankenstein monster of political power that's changed the face of America. And since it's broken lab containment, I may continue to affect all of us for decades to come. ***This mini-episode is part of a pilot project to try short, daily, focused episodes focusing on one key idea, number, or news item. We really want to know what you think of it. You can answer the poll question (on Spotify), or email us at matt.beyondpoliticspodcast@gmail.com.***

On the surface, the day's big headline was about Republican dysfunction. Underneath, it really revealed something that's been going wrong with all of American politics for a long time. One polling number, and one long-forgotten episode of a television science fiction series, help illustrate the problem.

Imagine the leaders of America's right wing sitting down and writing a plan for a radical re-shaping of American government and society, a blueprint to put in place if they manage to elect Donald Trump again. It actually happened. Today, we go inside 'Project 2025' with Ben Olinsky from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and find out what's in the plan, and why on Earth if they have such an alarming set of ideas designed to scare swing voters they would ever write it down. 00:51 The Shocking Contents of Project 2025 04:17 Schedule F: Trump's Plan to Politicize the Federal Bureaucracy 09:14 Weaponizing the Department of Justice Under Trump 13:20 Immigration Policies in Project 2025: Expanding Expedited Removal 15:55 The Achievability of Project 2025's Goals 20:29 Hidden Agendas: Labor Policies and Christian Nationalism 24:07 The Strategy Behind Publicizing Project 2025 31:24 Defending Democracy: Strategies Against Project 2025

There were two significant deaths in the news on Wednesday: one got all the headlines, but the other one changed the world. And that's the one thing to pay attention to: how Daniel Kahneman led a quiet revolution in understanding how people think that is still rippling through the world and will for decades to come. He's even likely influenced the things you say and do.

Donald Trump just made billions by taking his media company built on Truth Social public. Is that really going to change anything politically? Or in terms of the fact that he seemed to be nearly bankrupt at the beginning of the week? (01:09). Then the Ronna McDaniel saga at NBC where she got hired and promptly fired. Alicia Preston shuts down the Republican counter backlash in one line. (12:51) Also, which party should be more nervous about the rise of RFK Jr.(21:25) , the legacy of Joe Lieberman (24:46), AND, based on the news that Donald Trump is selling Trump-branded Bibles, we came up with our own list of Trump branded religious paraphernalia that he should try to sell next (28:45).

Today, we're testing a new concept: 10 minute daily episodes highlighting the things happening in the news that are worthy of your attention, but that don't make the headline skim. The kind of important number or idea that somehow slips down 8 paragraphs in the story, or onto the back pages. Something that might make you think about the world a little differently, or help connect some dots that put current events in a new light. We really want to know what you think. You can answer the poll question (on Spotify), or email us at matt.beyondpoliticspodcast@gmail.com. Today, the thing to notice is the number 35. Earlier this week, a cargo ship lost power and plowed into the Francis Scott Key bridge in the port of Baltimore killing six bridge workers. The effects will ripple across America for years to come. But it's the number 35, tucked into a New York Times op-ed, that makes one think about the bigger role of the federal government and what it quietly does in the shadows.

Joe Khan was the lawyer for a critical swing county in Pennsylvania in 2020 when he noticed something...odd. He joins us to tell the story of how he and a group of lawyers banded together to defend the Pennsylvania election outcome - and ultimately American democracy - from the Trump onslaught. And now that he's running for Attorney General of Pennsylvania, what lessons will he apply in 2024, when Pennsylvania appears to be under even greater threat of Trump election interference? 01:30 The Early Signs of Election Interference in Pennsylvania 04:29 Building a Legal Coalition to Defend the Vote 09:01 Frontline Strategies: Preparing for Every Scenario 15:41 The Fight Against Social Media Giants 21:49 The Critical Role of the Attorney General in Future Elections

There is a sneaky huge shift happening in American music right now right under our very noses (or ears). Private equity's takeover of the music business could have major consequences for what we hear and whether we hear anything new at all. Whitney Houston's catalog acquisition, Taylor Swift's battle over her masters, and the fight over Pink Floyd's music are just a handful of examples. Music industry writer Marc Hogan joins to explain his fascinating piece about this in the New York Times. 00:00 The Unseen Impact of Private Equity on Music 01:27 A Deep Dive into Music Rights and Private Equity 05:00 The Taylor Swift Case 10:50 Exploring the Financialization of Music and Its Effects 17:59 The Future of Music: Creativity vs. Commercialization 27:01 Exploring the Potential for Innovation in Music and Visual Media 30:28 The Future of Music: Opportunities and Challenges

A Chaotic Republican Hearing and Trump's Legal and Financial Woes: the round table runs through a tumultuous Republican hearing meant to highlight Republicans' fantasy of wrongdoing by President Biden, which backfired spectacularly on themselves and Donald Trump. Also, Judge Aileen Cannon's ham-handed slow-walking of the Trump documents case, and the incredible shrinking Trump fundraising base. 02:29 The Republican Hearing Debacle 14:15 The Media's Role and Public Perception in Political Narratives 21:48 Judge Cannon Tries to Bury The Case in Florida 28:27 Breaking News: The Government's New Lawsuit 38:50 Trump's Legal and Financial Troubles Are Deep 45:31 The RNC Takeover and Trump's Fundraising Woes 50:40 The Bizarre World of Political Fundraising Emails

How on earth is Trump beating Biden right now? It's the question that has baffled and enraged Democrats for months. And it's the question that Matt Robison tackled in his new article for Washington Monthly. Matt lays out one of the biggest reasons, something that analysts tend to overlook, and adds material that didn't make it into the article. 00:05 The Puzzling Popularity of Donald Trump 02:07 The Low Information Trap: Unpacking Voter Awareness 03:45 The Stark Contrast: Trump's Failures and Crimes 10:49 High vs. Low Information Voters: Bridging the Gap 17:48 The Impact of Information on Voter Perception 22:25 Looking Ahead: What Does this Mean for 2024?

Three charges were just dismissed against Donald Trump in Georgia. Will this make a major, lasting difference in his legal peril? Also, Never Trump Republicans fold bigly, is a MAGA takeover bid for TikTok a good thing, and is the AI apocalypse here? 00:46 Analyzing the Legal Implications and Prosecutorial Missteps 11:16 The Political and Legal Ramifications of the Case 12:46 Trump's New Never-Trump Republican Endorsements 19:21 The RNC Takeover: Trump's Personal Agenda 27:29 The TikTok Dilemma: National Security 33:09 AI Apocalypse: The End of Humanity as We Know It?