Mea Culpa

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Dave Marcus, the infamous Roy Cohn’s cousin, a journalist and author who specializes in education, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning former diplomatic correspondent for the Boston Globe. With reporting experience across Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, Marcus brings a global lens to Trump’s authoritarian playbook. We dig into the Epstein files and how Trump is weaponizing secrecy around Epstein’s crimes, his dangerous coziness with Putin, and his push to rebrand the Pentagon into a “Department of War.” We also break down GOP hypocrisy on vaccines, RFK Jr.’s disastrous Senate hearing, and the economic chaos Trump is fueling with his attacks on the Federal Reserve. From authoritarian summits abroad to loyalty tests at home, this episode exposes how Trump manipulates national attention while dismantling democracy. Thanks to our sponsors: Hims: Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/COHEN [https://Hims.com/COHEN] Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: https://shopify.com/COHEN [https://shopify.com/COHEN] Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ [https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/] Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow] Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown [https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown] Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen] Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Jill Wine-Banks, former Watergate prosecutor, legal analyst, podcast host, and author of The Watergate Girl. We unpack the ongoing Epstein cover-up, the survivors demanding transparency, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s cushy prison transfer. Jill and I also tackle Trump’s unlawful federalization of police and the danger it poses to her hometown of Chicago, along with the rise of authoritarian alliances and America’s economic decline under illegal tariffs. From gun violence to Congress’s failure to act, Jill offers a sobering reminder of how fragile justice has become, and what it will take to fight back. Thanks to our sponsor: Prize Picks: Download the app today and use code COHEN to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ [https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/] Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow] Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown [https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown] Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen] Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Nick Akerman, former federal prosecutor, Assistant Special Watergate Prosecutor, and Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. We examine how Trump’s rhetoric and actions verge on aiding and abetting Vladimir Putin while he continues to sell false promises to his voters. We also discuss the aggressive gerrymandering and redistricting battles across the country, along with the GOP’s reckless response to gun violence. In the wake of mass firings at the CDC and subsequent resignations, combined with Trump’s attacks on the Federal Reserve and specifically Lisa Cook, we break down how Trump is weaponizing and politicizing government institutions to consolidate power. Thanks to our sponsor: Prize Picks: Download the app today and use code COHEN to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ [https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/] Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow] Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown [https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown] Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen] Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Today on Mea Culpa, I welcome back JoJo From Jerz, political commentator, activist, and host of the Are You F’ng Kidding Me? and The Siren Podcast for a fiery breakdown of Trump’s escalating power plays. From the absurdity of the Cracker Barrel culture wars to his federal police takeover schemes, JoJo and I tackle gerrymandering in Texas, GOP attacks on voting rights, and how Democrats should fight fire with fire. We also dig into Trump’s hollow “law and order” rhetoric, his self-indulgent cabinet meetings, and the dangerous politicization of institutions like the Federal Reserve and FEMA. With humor and hard truth, JoJo exposes how MAGA thrives on distraction while dismantling democracy in plain sight. Thanks to our sponsors: Hims: Start your free online visit today at https://Hims.com/COHEN L-Nutra: Just visit https://ProlonLife.com/MEACULPA to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Today on Mea Culpa, I’m joined by Joy Reid, a longtime political commentator, New York Times bestselling author, and host of The Joy Reid Show. We unpack the FBI raid of John Bolton’s home and office and what it signals for other Trump critics. We also analyze how Trump’s embrace of Russia is pushing the U.S. closer to authoritarianism. As GOP leadership in Texas dismantles voting rights, Joy and I discuss how the DNC can and should respond. Finally, we break down how Gavin Newsom’s sharp trolling of Trump is landing with the president and why humor and ridicule can be powerful tools against creeping dictatorship. Thanks to our sponsors: Shopify: Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at: shopify.com/COHEN [http://shopify.com/COHEN] Hims: Start your free online visit today at Hims.com/COHEN [http://Hims.com/COHEN] Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ [https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/] Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow [https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow] Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown [https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown] Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen] Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown [https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]