0:00 Intro
0:57 The night in Kenosha
4:30 Richie's testimony
8:22 Kyle Rittenhouse - hero or villain?
15:30 What led to the shooting
21:31 Similarities between Daniel Penny and Rittenhouse
24:35 Richie's politics
27:35 Covering January 6
31:12 End of the liberal world order - BLM, Lockdowns, Biden
38:54 Why Richie voted for Obama
42:56 Winston Churchill's imperfection
44:54 Should America police the world?
49:28 History of populism, the Gilded Age
51:56 The Vibe Shift of MAGA - Tech Bro vs Steve Bannon
55:08 The Border Crisis
57:44 The H-1B Visa Drama
59:26 The New Counterculture - Free Speech, Art, Hollywood

Richie is a good friend and was a key witness on that pivotal night in Kenosha during the Kyle Rittenhouse incident. Together, we unpack how that moment reshaped his life and influenced his perspective on American politics.  

With experience working for Mark Levin, NBC, and the Daily Caller—where we first crossed paths—Richie brings a unique lens to the conversation.  

His new book, Riot Diet, dives deep into his experiences covering the BLM unrest in 2020. Check it out!

#podcast #politics #news

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

0:00 Intro
1:08 Resistance Media in Trump 2016 vs 2024
3:51 Joy Reid Is Fired, Will MSM Learn Their Lessons?
6:41 Explaining elite journalists' disconnect from reality
9:21 How Amber got into journalism and conservative media
15:37 How Trump 2016 set the ground for Trump 2024
20:30 How The WHCA cartel gatekeeps media access
25:45 White House's New Media push
27:00 How MAGA became mainstream
28:28 MAGA vs Tech Bros - Immigration, Trade, America First
31:31 Illegal Immigration, cheap labor, and the Border Crisis
37:56 Elon Musk and Ashley St. Clair - Traditional Conservatives?
44:10 Abortion Politics
46:12 Andrew Tate, 'High Quality Men' and the Gender War
51:34 Modern dating is broken
54:12 Au Pair - a stranger raising your child
58:08 Can the modern woman have it all - Work and Family
1:04:34 Amber's dating experience and getting married
1:08:16 God's plan

Amber Duke is a friend, Senior Editor at The Daily Caller, cohost of Rising On The Hill, and cohost of Free Media on at ReasonTV .  We discussed what it was like covering Trump during the 2016 liberal media era and how it compares to today, the wave of mainstream media layoffs, the corruption of the WHCA, and, most importantly, why modern dating sucks.

#podcast #politics #america #dating #culture #media #news

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

Shelby Talcott is the White House Correspondent for Semafor. She spent the last year covering the Trump Campaign all across America. She also covered the BLM riots during her time at the Daily Caller, where we met.

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro
1:00 Trump winning the 2024 election 
2:36 Podcast Election: Trump team's media approach 
10:46 Cable News: Declining ratings, vanity
16:07 The VIBE SHIFT
18:36 MAGA vs Tech Right
20:46 What led Shelby to political journalism
25:55 Gender gap in politics 
27:13 The Washington DC news bubble
29:35 Trump's appeal to Middle America   
33:45 End of liberal world order?
36:40 American Underbelly: Covering the BLM Riots 
41:23 Shelby couldn't cover the riots because she's a woman?
43:40 Covering the Trump White House 
45:08 Shelby is getting married!
46:04 Daily Caller alumni: Saagar Enjeti, Kaitlan Collins, more...
47:14 BONUS: Shelby got arrested during the riots 

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

Saagar Enjeti is a friend, mentor, and the host of Breaking Points. We sat down a week after the inauguration to do a vibe check on politics and media.

Show Notes: 

0:00 Intro
1:40 The Vibe Shift: What's different this time?
4:26 Bush Conservatism to Global Liberalism
8:36 The malaise of Biden-Kamala era
14:41 Thermostatic public opinon 
18:22 Politics DGAF about podcasters
25:50 Podcast Election: influence vs substance
35:26 The gridlock of DC politics and WHCA
42:10 What's Joe Rogan's politics?
44:35 Tech Right vs MAGA Right
46:44 The issue with folk libertarianism 
48:40 Societal Trust vs Don't tread on me
50:38 Saagar wants you to stop sports gambling
1:00:00 Big Tech's love affair with Trump 
1:02:33 The failing business of resistance liberal journalism 
1:07:08 People follow people 
1:09:17 "Breaking Points will be better without..."
1:11:36 If you do everything, you'll win

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

Emily Jashinsky is the host of Undercurrents by UnHerd  and Counter Points on Breaking Points . I sat down with her to discuss her come-up in political journalism and how the Right won over the cultural reigns after decades of being bad at media.

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro
1:22 Hosting Unheard and Breaking Points
5:30 Why Kamala lost the Podcast Election
9:15 The facade of Gavin Newsom 
11:42 Journalism in the creator economy 
15:09 How the Left lost Joe Rogan
16:55 How the Right grew big on the internet 
27:23 Tech Right vs MAGA Right
31:10 Immigration and assimilation 
36:46 Right Wing media on Facebook
43:39 Brett Cooper leaving Daily Wire
46:05 Gender Divide in Politics, Barstool Conservative 
50:15 MAGA after Donald Trump and Elon Musk 
55:30 Emily on Counter Points with Saagar, Krystal, and Ryan
57:25 What motivated Emily into political journalism
1:03:24 Why Breaking Points succeeded
 1:07:29 Digital Media vs Cable News
1:11:11 Emily’s Prediction for 2025

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

I interviewed Congressman Ro Khanna about the H-1B visa controversy and the state of immigration in America.

0:00 Ro Khanna's wider immigration approach 
0:48 How Silicon Valley became a talent magnet
2:46 The H-1B Visa Controversy
5:42 How Silicon Valley's politics changed 
7:00 Immigration reform: Illegal Immigration & Border Security  
9:42 Ro Khanna's Immigrant Upbringing: Patriotism & Assimilation 

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

Anthony Pompliano is the Founder & CEO of Professional Capital Management, is an American entrepreneur, investor, and host of The Pomp Podcast. 

0:00 Intro
1:04 Breakdown of institutions 
9:32 Pete Hegseth - DEI in military?
13:54 Zuckerberg and the return to normalcy
17:18 The vibe shift 
21:21 How to raise tough kids
23:18 Pomp's worldview 
26:30 Race relations and the promise of America
28:02 Why Trump won the Presidential race 
31:48 Lesson for Democrats from the 2024 loss
34:38 Effect of testosterone on politics 
36:57 The Left learning from Republican politicians 
38:15  Masculinity vs Wokeism 
42:40 Daniel Penny 
44:30 The future GOP and DNC coalition  
47:58 Politics in the workplace and corporate America
52:50 Censorship - Pomp speaking out on Daniel Penny 
57:53 GenZ doesn't want to work? 
1:02:20 Is the American Dream dead?
1:17:38 Pomp's transition from military to contrarian thinker 

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

Erika Ayers Badan joined Barstool Sports as CEO in 2016 when the company was generating about $3 million in revenue, and she stepped down in 2024, with the company's revenue reportedly reaching around $250 million by the time she left.

Show notes:

0:00 Intro

1:27 Alex Cooper leaving Barstool Sports

4:41 Brand vs Personality

7:13 The growth of Call Her Daddy

8:33 Pat McAfee leaving Barstool Sports

9:00 Erika joins Barstool Sports

11:32 The underdogs who won

14:06 Leaving corporate for Barstool

17:11 Handling controversies - Mintzy

20:31 Vice News is bankrupt 

21:48 Barstool's business

24:47 Was Barstool Gold a failure?

28:09 The Quiet Quitting Debate

31:39 Dave Portnoy's hustle

32:39 I am a fan of Erika

34:24 Barstool Sport's sold back for $1

35:48 Why Barstool didn't fit PENN

37:42 Erika has a new job!

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

David Hookstead and  I work in the news and have covered every crazy news story possible since 2016. The day Trump got shot, we had to pause and think about what could have happened if the shooter hadn't missed. Where would the country be today? What went wrong that day? Where do we go from here? Has Trump already won 2024?

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro

0:30 What Tucker Carlson told me

02:20 What went wrong 

03:24 Pennsylvania's open carry laws

05:29 Why did they wait 30 seconds

08:23 Why weren't the police outside the building?

09:45 DEI in Secret Service

12:57 The presidential race is over

16:21 What lead to this?

18:43 Covering CHAOS for a living

22:08: What if the shooter didn't miss

25:00 Living through history 

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Being a creator today has no rulebook so the best you can do is ask people who are doing it right.

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creatives and entrepreneurs driving the creator economy.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu

Jack Barrett and his brothers Max, and Sam are the founders of Friday Beers. We chatted about the company's founding, raising $6 million, building out an iconic sketch crew, and reviving comedy.

Show Notes:

0:00 Intro

1:14 Friday Beers' Beer launch 

03:00 Founding of Friday Beers' Instagram

06:37 Dealing with copyright

09:14 Bring back comedy

11:53 Raising $6 million 

13:33 Almost Friday TV: Will Angus &  Liam Cullagh

15:12 Fundraising from Jared Goff

17:27 Scaling sketch comedy

21:06 Barstool Sports' influence 

23:22 Scripted comedy on social 

26:33 Brand deals

29:46 Almost Friday IG posts 

33:20 Political correctness in comedy

36:07 Winning in digital media

40:17 Why sell beer?

44:40 How Jack runs Friday Beers

46:45 Leaving finance for media

50:54 Almost Friday Media's mission

Watch this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesagnikbasu

About this podcast:

Hey - my name is Sagnik and I have worked in the media industry for the last decade, ranging from broadcast news to YouTubers. Now I am hosting conversations with creators and entrepreneurs driving political and cultural conversations.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sssagnic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_sagnikbasu