Frangela: The Final Word

Audit This Suckers!

This week on The Final Word, we are pouring ourselves a tall glass of “you’ve GOT to be kidding me” and diving straight into Trump‑world, where logic goes to die and imaginary friends apparently file joint tax returns. We kick things off with Trump’s Justice Department expanding his IRS settlement to include a provision ending all tax audits of him, his family, his affiliated individuals, his besties, his running‑buddies, and—because why stop there— what about his imaginary friends? Yes, the whole cast of Trump-Fellas is now audit‑proof.  Then J.D. Vance steps up to defend Trump’s 3,700+ tax trades in three months, insisting there are “no conflicts of interest” because the assets are “in a trust managed by his children.” We unpack that with the seriousness it deserves, which is to say: none. Because if your kids are managing your money, that’s not a blind trust—that’s a trust wearing sunglasses indoors. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials warn they might need to raise interest rates if inflation stays above 2%. We discuss what that means for your wallet, your mortgage, and your emotional stability, all while Trump is out here calling his White House ballroom project a “gift” funded by him and private donors. At the same time, he’s demanding the Senate Parliamentarian be fired for ruling that the $1 million Secret Service ballroom‑related funding provision can’t be shoved into an immigration enforcement bill. So...he's paying for it and he's mad that he's not getting the money from us to pay for it. Yep. Police officers attacked on January 6th are suing to block Trump’s $1.776 billion “anti‑weaponization fund” from paying rioters, arguing it violates the 14th Amendment ban on funding obligations “incurred in aid of insurrection.” We talk about the lawsuit, the stakes, and how many times one administration can redefine the word “weaponization” before the dictionary files a restraining order. And finally, the Trump administration is moving ahead with Trump’s 250‑foot arch, because apparently the skyline wasn’t stressed enough. At the same time, Affordable Care Act enrollment could fall by nearly 5 million people after pandemic‑era subsidies expired. We break down why the arch is somehow always taller than the safety net. It’s sharp, it’s funny, it’s furious, and it’s all happening on this week’s episode of The Final Word. Become a Frangela patron at Patreon.com [https://www.patreon.com/user?u=19983801] and get three exclusive Micro Idiot podcasts each week as our thank you for your support. Now in video! Frangela swag available at https://www.zazzle.com/store/frangela [https://www.zazzle.com/store/frangela]! Book a personalized video shout-out from Frangela at Cameo.com/frangeladuo [https://www.cameo.com/frangeladuo]. Check out Frangela every Friday https://sexyliberal.com/ [https://sexyliberal.com/] Looking for Idiot of the Week? Frangela: Idiot of the Week - Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frangela-idiot-of-the-week/id1742512316] https://www.youtube.com/@Frangela2024 [https://www.youtube.com/@Frangela2024]  Cash App: $frangeladuo Venmo: @frangeladuo Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com/TODAY * Check out Time4Learning: https://time4learning.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Baby, This Is Not the Press Release You Think It Is

We roll into this week already clutching our pearls, our coffee, and our emotional support snacks because whew, the universe is doing the absolute most. First up, we unpack the “deeply uncomfortable” poetry reading delivered by Republican Representative Chuck Edwards —a man who apparently woke up one day and said, “You know what’ll fix these sexual‑harassment allegations? Performance art.” Spoiler: it did not fix anything. It only raised new questions, like why and also why again. Then we turn to the mystery of Representative Kean’s two‑month disappearing act. His staff keeps insisting everything is fine, but we’re over here like, “Sweetie… blink twice if he’s in the building.” We’re not saying something is off, but we are saying the vibes are filing a missing‑person report. Next, we dive into the largest children’s hospital in the country opening a so‑called ‘detransition clinic’ after a ten‑million‑dollar settlement with the Department of Justice under President Trump. We break down what’s known, what’s unclear, and why families and advocates are sounding alarms. And finally, we head to a small town in New York where AI license‑plate cameras are tearing the community apart like a Real Housewives reunion but with more surveillance and fewer sequins. We talk privacy, power, and why your car might be starring in a show you did not audition for. It’s chaos, it’s comedy, it’s catharsis—served with the intelligence, energy, and side‑eye you came for. Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com/TODAY * Check out Time4Learning: https://time4learning.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

White is the new Black. . . People.

is week feels like it was organized by a committee of sleep‑deprived raccoons. Senate Republicans have now blocked a resolution to stop Krump’s escalating conflict with Iran for the seventh time — because apparently the eighth time is when democracy magically kicks in. Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed Kevin Warsh, a man widely described as a probable sock puppet, to run the Federal Reserve. Yes, the institution that controls interest rates may now be chaired by someone who lives with Trump's hand in his vestibule. Vice President J.D. Vance announced that $1.3 billion in federal Medicaid reimbursements will be withheld from California, because nothing says “public service” like yanking healthcare funding from the people who need it most. Over at Homeland Security, the inspector general has launched an investigation into ICE’s $38 billion warehouse‑to‑detention pipeline, a program started under former DHS Secretary Kisti Noem, who apparently thought “industrial‑scale incarceration” was a fun arts‑and‑crafts project. And in a move that would make even the most shameless ethics lawyer weep into their coffee, Trump’s Justice Department is “discussing” whether to settle Trump’s own $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS — an agency he oversees. Because why just blur the lines when you can set them on fire and dance on the ashes. Republican lawmakers in South Carolina, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia continue their coordinated push to disenfranchise Black voters, proving once again that voter suppression is the one tradition they refuse to retire. Finally, during a late‑night Truth Social posting spree, Trump labeled former President Obama a “traitor,” a “demonic force,” and part of a coup — accusations that appear to be based on absolutely nothing except the fumes of his own insomnia. All that, plus the usual laughs, side‑eyes, and righteous rants. Buckle up. Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com/TODAY * Check out Time4Learning: https://time4learning.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

When the President Is the Red Flag

Baby, on this week’s Something Ain’t Right, we are sixteen months deep into the Trump administration’s very special, very targeted “Let’s See How Much Harm We Can Do to Black Folks Before Lunch” initiative — and trust us, the math is mathing in the worst possible way. We’re talking policies so blatant, so hostile, so proudly anti‑Black that even common sense packed a bag and left the country. Then — because apparently we weren’t scared enough — America’s most infamous nuclear site is being dusted off and plugged back in to power the AI boom. That’s right: radioactive glow‑in‑the‑dark energy meets unregulated machine overlords. What could go wrong? We also get into the studies showing how income, debt, and access to basic needs shape mental health outcomes — or how raising the minimum wage and expanding food stamps can literally save lives. Turns out when people can afford food and rent, they’re less likely to despair. Who knew. (Everyone. Everyone knew.) And finally, Trump has now exempted some of the nation’s biggest polluters from air‑quality rules — and all it took was an email. An email. Meanwhile we can’t even get a customer service rep to answer the phone, but Exxon can get a hall pass before breakfast. It’s chaos, it’s corruption, it’s cruelty — and we’re here to drag it into the light with a whole lot of side‑eye. Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com/TODAY * Check out Time4Learning: https://time4learning.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Holy Maps and Hot Messes: We Are One Cocktail Away from Screaming

This week on The Final Word, we are holding onto our wigs, our pearls, and our last functioning nerve as America once again reminds us she is not well. We start in Virginia, where the FBI decided to raid the office of Sen. L. Louise Lucas — yes, the same Louise Lucas who helped lead the state’s redistricting plan. Then apparently the Bureau needed a break from hovering over Black elected officials and mixing Kashyap’s cocktails. So naturally, they launched a criminal leak investigation… into the reporter who wrote about Kashyap's drinking. Because why address the behavior when you can chase the person who noticed it. Meanwhile, Tennessee Republicans unveiled a congressional map so bold, so brazen, so allergic to democracy that it eliminates the state’s only Democratic U.S. House seat. They said “balance” and heard “delete.” Across the Middle East, we learned that Iranian airstrikes have damaged or destroyed at least 228 U.S. military structures or pieces of equipment since the war began. Two hundred twenty-eight. At this point, even the buildings need a wellness check. Back home, 87% of Americans took one look at Trump’s social media post depicting himself as Jesus and said, “Absolutely not.” Trump accused the Pope of “endangering a lot of Catholics.” We are living in a time when the Pope is catching strays for staying “war is bad.” Senate Republicans also proposed $1 billion — with a B — for Secret Service security upgrades tied to Trump’s ballroom project. Because nothing says “fiscal responsibility” like turning national security into an HGTV spinoff. In Georgia, Fulton County asked a federal judge to block a Justice Department subpoena demanding personal information for thousands of 2020 election workers. Looks like the people who counted the votes are now the villains in someone’s fan fiction. And finally, the Hantavirus outbreak on that cruise ship? Confirmed as the rare type that spreads human-to-human. We paid for shuffleboard and shrimp cocktails, not a bonus level of Pandemic: Deluxe Edition. Become a Frangela patron at Patreon.com [https://www.patreon.com/user?u=19983801] and get three exclusive Micro Idiot podcasts each week as our thank you for your support. Now in video! Frangela swag available at https://www.zazzle.com/store/frangela [https://www.zazzle.com/store/frangela]! Book a personalized video shout-out from Frangela at Cameo.com/frangeladuo [https://www.cameo.com/frangeladuo]. Check out Frangela every Friday https://sexyliberal.com/ [https://sexyliberal.com/] Looking for Idiot of the Week? Frangela: Idiot of the Week - Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frangela-idiot-of-the-week/id1742512316] https://www.youtube.com/@Frangela2024 [https://www.youtube.com/@Frangela2024]  Cash App: $frangeladuo Venmo: @frangeladuo Our Sponsors: * Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com/TODAY * Check out Time4Learning: https://time4learning.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]