Hysteria

Taylor Swift is engaged, Trump is tormenting the Federal Reserve, Texas Republicans are trying to mandate Christian teachings in public schools, and Erin Ryan and guest-host Megan Gailey are here to talk about it. Then they unpack how the debate of what spaces should be child-free might just be anti-women. Next, KCRW’s Evan Kleiman joins to discuss the state of public media, the impact of ICE raids on restaurants in LA, and her favorite summer recipes. They wrap up with a discussion in the Sanity Corner about the return of the football season, the fabulous Katseye Gap ad, and the KPop Demon Hunters phenomenon. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/ehTgcgZTdvk]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Cook to sue Trump over order to fire her from Federal Reserve (BBC 8/26 [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx275n8gx0ro]) Ken Paxton wants zero exceptions to Ten Commandments law in Texas schools (Chron 8/25 [https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/ken-paxton-ten-commandments-texas-schools-21014611.php]) A.I.-Driven Education: Founded in Texas and Coming to a School Near You (NYT 7/27) [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/politics/ai-alpha-school-austin-texas.html] Trump orders colleges to prove they don’t consider race in admissions (AP 8/7 [https://apnews.com/article/trump-race-college-admissions-executive-order-9fe070750d31879b24800032a013659d]) Tennis Player Emma Raducanu Asked For A Crying Child To Be Removed From The Audience, And The Comments Are HEATED (Buzzfeed 8/12 [https://www.buzzfeed.com/andyneuenschwander/tennis-player-emma-raducanu-crying-child])

The Hunting Wives star Katie Lowes joins to give the scoop on Netflix’s latest soapy sapphic mystery, her friendship with Shonda Rhimes, and learning to shoot a gun on set. Erin and Alyssa also discuss Melania’s pathetic attempt at diplomacy, Gavin Newsom’s Trump-trolling social media blitz, and why women are leaving the workplace. They also sound off on the male NFL cheerleader culture war and the Oval Office’s new MAGA merch closet. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/NlWA3yjh9aE]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.   Melania Trump Appeals to Putin to Protect Children (NYT 8/18 [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/us/melania-trump-putin-letter-ukraine-russia.html]) 5 things to know about Gavin Newsom’s plan to redraw California’s election maps (Cal Matters 8/18 [https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/california-redistricting-things-to-know/]) Why So Many Women Are Quitting the Workforce (Time 8/4 [https://time.com/7306896/women-leaving-workforce/]) Study finds giving pregnant women cash transfers cuts infant mortality in half (Oxford 8/18 [https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-08-18-study-finds-giving-pregnant-women-cash-transfers-cuts-infant-mortality-half])

And Just Like That writer and producer Samantha Irby joins to discuss the final season, the internet backlash, and what she really thinks about Aidan. Erin and Alyssa also dish on Pete Hegseth's praises for his bigoted pastor, Donald Trump’s messy takeover of DC’s police, and how school choice is ruining education funding in Arizona. They wrap with a scathing roast of Katie Miller’s ridiculous new podcast for conservative moms.  For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/zIDq0szo-vg]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reposts video of pastors saying women shouldn't vote (NPR 8/9 [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/09/nx-s1-5497226/women-pastor-pete-hegseth-vote]) U.S. Air Force to deny early retirement benefits to some transgender service members (NPR 8/8 [https://www.npr.org/2025/08/08/nx-s1-5496133/air-force-retirement-benefits-transgender]) Restoring Confederate memorial to cost $10M: Army official (The Hill 8/7 [https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5441804-arlington-confederate-monument-cost/]) Trump federalizes DC police, deploys National Guard (NBC Washington 8/11 [https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/trump-to-announce-crackdown-on-dc-crime-homelessness/3973339/]) Nudity on Oklahoma superintendent’s office TV was just a mishap, state House speaker suggests (The 19th 8/7 [https://19thnews.org/2025/08/oklahoma-schools-ryan-walters-investigation/]) LA County CEO paints bleak financial picture; public hospital closure a possibility (LAist 8/5 [https://laist.com/news/politics/la-county-financial-future]) Public schools are closing as Arizona’s school voucher program soars (Washington Post 8/5 [https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/08/05/arizona-public-school-closures-voucher-program/])

This week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stood with the Texas Democrats in their fight against corrupt Republican gerrymandering. Today, she joins Hysteria to talk about fighting fire with fire, her own redistricting plans for New York, and how her state is handling Trump 2.0. Erin and Alyssa also discuss Trump’s atrocious plans to build a White House ballroom, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace’s latest pick-me BS, and a roundup of new reproductive rights threats around the country.  For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/abkSOJpTZ6A]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Experts Raise Concerns Over Trump’s White House Ballroom Renovation Plans (NY Times 8/3) Nancy Mace Announces Run for Governor of South Carolina (NY Time 8/4) Miss United States Files Restraining Order Against GOP Rep. Cory Mills (Drop Site 8/5) Marjorie Taylor Greene says Republican party has lost touch with its base (The Guardian 8/4) Arkansas AG Threatens to Sue Sites for Providing Info About Abortion Pills (Autonomy News 11/2) Idaho’s OBGYNs Are Jumping Ship (Jezebel 8/1) Trump moves to bar nearly all abortions at Veterans Affairs hospitals (WaPo 8/4) OB-GYN group won't take federal funds over Trump policies (Axios 8/1) Trump’s cynical bait-and-switch on IVF (CNN 8/4)

America’s got a long and shameful history with eugenics, and, while history doesn’t repeat itself, it rhymes. As white supremacist ideology permeates everything from Silicon Valley startups to domestic policy in 2025, is it really that far-fetched to notice it in that American Eagle “good jeans” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney? This week, Akilah Hughes joins Erin to break it all down. They also discuss Candace Owens’ low-key hilarious legal battle with the Macrons, MAGA politicians getting their karma, and The Nelk Boys' Netanyahu interview– the children that were left behind are now 30-year-old male podcasters. They wrap up with a petty rant about modern attention spans and how South Park is maybe the only TV show doing it right. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/oUNI_WVfJME]. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com [http://crookedcon.com] Listen to Akilah’s New podcast, How Is This Better? [https://couriernewsroom.com/how-is-this-better/] Netanyahu’s appearance on popular Nelk Boys podcast draws criticism from right and left online (NBC NEWS 7/22 [https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/netanyahu-appearance-nelk-boys-podcast-draws-criticism-rcna220399]) The Macrons v Candace Owens: lawsuit marks new phase in battle against conspiracy theories (The Guardian 7/26 [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/26/emmanuel-brigitte-macron-candace-owens-conspiracy-theory-jean-michel-trogneux]) Oklahoma’s Trump-Loving, Bible-Thumping Superintendent Faces Porn Probe (Rolling Stone 7/26 [https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/ryan-walters-oklahoma-superintendent-trump-bible-porn-1235394675/]) Texas GOP Rep. Giovanni Capriglione admits affair, denies abortion allegations (Texas Tribune 7/25 [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/25/giovanni-capriglione-affair-texas-house-republican/]) Project 2025’s Paul Dans will challenge Lindsey Graham in South Carolina Republican primary (The Guardian 7/28 [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/28/paul-dans-south-carolina-project-2025]) American Eagle sparks backlash for touting Sydney Sweeney's 'great jeans' (NBC News 6/28 [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/american-eagle-sparks-backlash-touting-sydney-sweeneys-great-jeans-rcna221478])