Matt Taibbi and the New Threat to Free Speech w/ Eoin Higgins

Fighting Monopoly Power w/ Zephyr Teachout

Donald Trump is practicing crony capitalism on an unprecedented scale, with the government greenlighting major mergers that benefit the president’s friends (most notably the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger). I spoke to Zephyr Teachout, who teaches constitutional law at Fordham, about this worrying development. We take up the long history of anti-monopoly politics going back to the American revolution and the trust battles of the late 19th century as well as the possibility state governments can fight the new wave of consolidation. Zephyr has often written on his subject for The Nation, notably in two [https://www.thenation.com/article/society/anti-monopoly-tech-economic-power/] recent articles [https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/paramount-warner-merger-antitrust-free-press-state-attorneys-general-zephyr-teachout/].  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Maine After Platner w/ Eoin Higgins

Graham Platner is withdrawing as the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine after a credible rape allegation was made against him (Platner denies the allegation). I spoke to Maine writer Eoin Higgins about Platner’s rise and fall, the progressive politics that animated his campaign, and the upcoming scramble by the Democratic Party of Maine to find a new candidate. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

The Triumph of Mamdani and the DSA w/ Ross Barkan

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had a very good night on Tuesday: a slate of candidates he endorsed won in Democratic primaries in both state and congressional races. This victory was shared by the Democratic Socialists of America, which is now clearly replacing the old political machines in its ability to get out the vote. Ross Barkan wrote about these elections [https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nyc-primary-results-analysis-mamdani-dsa/] for The Nation and joins the podcast to tell the story of the rising left in urban America. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Matt Taibbi and the New Threat to Free Speech w/ Eoin Higgins

Journalist Eoin Higgins was recently sued [https://eoinhiggins.substack.com/p/case-dismissed] for defamation by a fellow journalist Matt Taibbi, who is subject on criticism in Higgins’ book Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/eoin-higgins/owned/9781645030461/]. The case was briskly dismissed by a judge and is now on appeal. The lawsuit was manifestly frivolous and is filled with irony, since Taibbi likes to present himself as a free speech champion. I spoke to Higgins about it and the larger tendency of wealthy right-wing figures, including Donald Trump, to use lawsuits to intimidate critics. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Is Bari Weiss Winning? W/ David Klion

Bari Weiss has become a flashpoint of controversy in her position running CBS News. She’s fired [https://variety.com/2026/tv/features/60-minutes-staffers-bari-weiss-scott-pelley-trump-1236771125/] half a dozen senior producers and correspondents at 60 Minutes, the network’s flagship news program. With tumbling ratings and staff revolts, she’s been accused of ruining CBS. But perhaps this accusation doesn’t quite describe her actual goals, which is not running a successful network news operation but rather promoting a right-wing ideology that pleases Donald Trump and her employer, the Ellison family. I take up the controversies surrounding Weiss with David Klion, frequent guest of the program and writer for The Nation and other publications. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]