Words With Wista

EP 193 - Global Arrests, NYC Power Shifts, Industry Collapses and Public Meltdowns

New year, same chaos. This episode breaks down reports surrounding Venezuela’s president and serious questions about U.S. involvement, Zohran Mamdani’s first days as NYC mayor and the immediate political backlash, and why the alcohol industry is losing billions as younger generations opt out. We also get into post-holiday layoff warnings, a tragic New Year’s party at a Swiss ski resort, privacy concerns over biometric data in NYC grocery stores, and relationships that take a dangerous turn. Plus, major headlines involving athletes, the end of MTV’s music-only channels, and a celebrity feud fueled by AI. Politics, culture, and consequences all collide to start the year loud. IG: itswista Substack: wordswithwista

EP 192 - The Klarna Economy, Political Whiplash and Celebrity Fallouts

This week on Words With Wista, we’re talking federal judges forcing the Trump administration to restore disaster funds to blue states, America living in the United States of Klarna while still spending like everything’s fine, and holiday shopping numbers that don’t match the economic stress everyone swears they feel. We get into Republicans quietly eyeing 2028, DHS offering cash for self deportation, lawmakers side-eyeing Pam Bondi over redacted Epstein files, and small business owners bracing for ACA subsidy fallout. Plus, we say goodbye to the NYC MetroCard, break down New York’s new mental health warnings for social media, Nicki Minaj logging off after peak backlash, Tyler Perry facing another lawsuit, Charlamagne’s $200 million podcast flex causing industry tension, and Timothée Chalamet marketing his way into a Christmas box office upset. A lot is happening, and none of it is subtle. IG: itswista Podcast IG/SubStack: wordswithwista

EP 191: Patriot Games, Epstein Files, Medical Plot Twists and Ice Spice Said Surprise

This week on Words With Wista, we are truly living in a Real Life Hunger Games timeline. Trump announces Patriot Games for one boy and one girl, floats a $1,776 warrior dividend, and slaps his name on the Kennedy Center while Epstein files, photos, and a very uncomfortable Vanity Fair article shake the internet. Meanwhile, Candace Owens drama resurfaces, the CDC ends routine Hepatitis B vaccines for newborns, sickle cell is cured for the first time in New York, and the state moves to legalize end of life care options for terminally ill patients. We also get into a disturbing ER incident involving HIV positive blood, Wiz Khalifa’s Romania weed sentence, a tragic plane crash claiming former NASCAR champ Greg Biffle and his family, major shakeups at Hot 97 with Funkmaster Flex stepping in, Netflix pulling podcasts off YouTube, Ice Spice causing chaos at a SpongeBob premiere, and why 2026 might actually be the year of the cabbage. It is heavy, messy, hopeful, and unserious all at once just how we like it. IG: itswista IG/SubStack: wordswithwista

EP 190: Affordability Is a “Hoax,” Social Media Surveillance, Global Tragedies, and Celebs Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

In this episode of Words With Wista, we’re unpacking Trump calling the affordability crisis a “hoax” while the data tells a very different story, tourists being asked to submit five years of social media history to visit the U.S., and multiple devastating tragedies from Brown University to Australia’s Bondi Beach that raise serious questions about safety and accountability. We also get into the rising cases of HIV in NYC, Busta Rhymes checking a TikToker, a University of Michigan football scandal that reportedly led to an arrest, and an OnlyFans creator facing major legal trouble overseas. Plus, Jason Derulo rewriting his personal rules post-lawsuit, Beyoncé and friends stepping into Met Gala 2026 leadership, Russell Simmons responding to Kimora Lee Simmons, a jaw-dropping $2.5M NYC restaurant scheme, and the shocking passing of Rob Reiner and his wife. Heavy news, loud celebrities, and the mess in between. IG: itswista IG/SubStack: wordswithwista

EP 189 - Supreme Court Drama, GoFundMe Foolery, and Klarna’s Expensive Delusion

In this episode of Words With Wista, we’re unpacking America’s latest circus: the Supreme Court entertaining Trump’s mission to end birthright citizenship, the National Park Service dropping free admission on MLK Day and Juneteenth while adding Trump’s birthday, and Senator Bernie Moreno trying to make dual citizens pick a side like it’s Survivor. We get into Trump vowing to send American companies to Congo and Rwanda to scoop up rare earth assets, Amazon plotting its own postal service, and Klarna rolling out membership tiers that cost more than people’s groceries while Americans juggle $1.23 trillion in credit card debt. Major record labels want pricier streaming, Cinnabon fired an employee after a discriminatory incident caught on camera but supporters still donated over $50K to her, and a TikToker checked a commenter for his prejudiced remark by reminding him his Grindr account exists, that he’s married, and that she will be telling his wife. The Kennedy Center Honors also sparked conversation after Trump presented awards to Sylvester Stallone, KISS, Michael Crawford, George Strait, and especially Gloria Gaynor, with many calling out the irony of the “I Will Survive” icon receiving honors while being a known supporter of the president. Plus, the Streamer Awards imploded under FanFan’s jokes, the World Cup draw turned into a weird PR stunt for Trump, and Haiti lands a dream-but-terrifying group with Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland. A buffet of nonsense. IG: itswista Podcast IG: wordswithwista Substack: wordswithwista