We interview Vanity Fair contributor Craig Unger, the author of the New York Times-bestselling book House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia, a must-read and deeply researched book that reminds us yet again that Trump properties are a laundromat for Russian mafia money, and what this means for our democracy.

Craig Unger on Kleptocracy

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How do we protect ourselves from a corrupt Supreme Court? How can the gerrymandering crisis be stopped? What were the Founding Fathers thinking? Can the American Experiment survive?    Ari Berman of Mother Jones stops by Gaslit Nation to discuss his new book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People―and the Fight to Resist It. Berman shares insights into the troubling compromises that made the U.S. Constitution, the Koch-funded far-right plan to turn America into a dictatorship, GOP laboratories of autocracy in swing states like Wisconsin, what an American dictatorship would look like, and how to avoid that fate this November and beyond.   This week's bonus show includes a look at the growing campus protests over Israel's genocide in Gaza, Republican "free speech" hypocrisy, the need for radical self-care to build movements, and Ari Berman’s take on the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A;, leading to some surprising answers. To get access to our bonus shows and invites to exclusive events, receive all episodes ad-free, and more, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   To our Patreon community, the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things will publish, along with the transcript, the morning of Saturday May 4th! In the meantime, check out our Art is Survival chat group to connect with other artists in our community of listeners!   Show Notes:   Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It by Ari Berman https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211   Opening Clip: Historian Timothy Snyder schools Marjorie Taylor Greene  https://twitter.com/rshereme/status/1781337606808060042   Clip: Medhi Hasan to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "What do you say to a young progressive or an Arab-American who says to you, 'I just can't vote for Biden again after what he's enabled in Gaza.'?” https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1781120448186462407   Havana Syndrome evidence suggests who may be responsible for mysterious brain injuries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdPSD1SUYCY   Havana Syndrome mystery continues as a lead military investigator says bar for proof was set impossibly high https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-culprit-investigation-new-evidence-60-minutes-transcript/   Havana syndrome: Report links mystery illness to Russian intelligence unit https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68706317   Havana Syndrome: The History Behind the Mystery https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/04/havana-syndrome-the-history-behind-the-mystery/   Russia Is Buying Politicians in Europe. Is It Happening Here Too? A former CIA officer explains how a vast, pro-Putin corruption network uncovered in Europe is a warning sign for the U.S. https://newrepublic.com/article/180630/russia-corruption-network-europe-buying-politicians-america   Europe—but Not NATO—Should Send Troops to Ukraine To Halt Russia’s Advance, Kyiv Needs More Boots on the Ground https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/europe-not-nato-should-send-troops-ukraine   Anne Applebaum: “The pro-Russian caucus inside the GOP was defeated on Saturday, and with it Putin's dream of quickly occupying Ukraine. Now the US and Europe need to seize the moment to win, and end, the war” https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1782206525144015039   Netanyahu Resists U.S. Plan to Cut Off Aid to Israeli Military Unit: After months of inaction, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is poised to bar U.S. aid to an Israeli unit accused of human rights abuses https://www.propublica.org/article/netanyahu-resists-blinken-plan-sanction-against-israeli-military-unit   More than 200 bodies found in mass grave at Nasser Hospital in Gaza https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/more-than-200-bodies-found-in-mass-grave-at-nasser-hospital-in-gaza   With Whom are Many U.S. Police Departments Training? With a Chronic Human Rights Violator – Israel https://www.amnestyusa.org/updates/with-whom-are-many-u-s-police-departments-training-with-a-chronic-human-rights-violator-israel/   What to know about the U.N. vote on whether to admit Palestinians as full members https://www.wpr.org/news/what-to-know-about-the-u-n-vote-on-whether-to-admit-palestinians-as-full-members   David Rothkopf of Deep State Radio: “I'm a Jew-loving Jew. Anti-Semitism is never ok. Here's what is not anti-Semitism: Peaceful protest, criticism of the Israeli government, calling for an independent Palestine, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, using the term apartheid to describe Israel, questioning Zionism.” https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/1782406544287482221   How Johnson came to embrace Ukraine aid and defy his right flank https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/21/politics/ukraine-aid-mike-johnson-house-speaker-israel-taiwan/index.html   These 112 House Republicans voted against Ukraine aid https://www.businessinsider.com/which-house-republicans-voted-against-ukraine-russia-aid-2024-4   US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-long-awaited-95-billion-ukraine-israel-aid-package-2024-04-20/   Congress passes bill that could unlock billions in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine More than $6 billion of the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets are sitting in U.S. banks. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/house-vote-billions-dollars-russian-government-money-sitting-us-banks-rcna148671   Mike Johnson's Campaign Contributions From Company Tied to Russia https://www.newsweek.com/house-speaker-mike-johnson-donations-russia-butina-1838501   CIA chief Pompeo met with sanctioned Russian spies, officials confirm https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/01/politics/pompeo-russian-spies-meeting/index.html#:~:text=CIA%20Director%20Mike%20Pompeo%20did,direct%20knowledge%20of%20the%20meetings.   Pompeo on releasing 5,000 prisoners in Afghanistan in deal with the Taliban https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/567924-pompeo-says-trump-administration-didnt-take-the-words-of-taliban/   Mike Pompeo is a Russia hawk, which could be a problem for his friend Trump https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/editorial/opinion--mike-pompeo-is-a-russia-hawk-which-could-be-a-problem-for-his-friend-trump/2018/03/15/138aae70-288b-11e8-a227-fd2b009466bc_video.html   Father of Koch Brothers Helped Build Nazi Oil Refinery, Book Says https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/us/politics/father-of-koch-brothers-helped-build-nazi-oil-refinery-book-says.html  

Minority Rule

House Speaker Mike Johnson, self-proclaimed champion for human rights and freedom, and enemy of dictators everywhere, inched closer to getting Ukraine aid after eight months of successfully delaying it, empowering Russia’s genocide. Kremlin state TV repeatedly praised Johnson for assisting their brutal invasion, which, as discussed in this week’s bonus show, emboldened Iran to unleash a shocking swarm of drones and missiles against Israel. The Ukraine aid package still faces delays, thanks to MAGA, and will have to go back to the Senate before it reaches President Biden’s desk. The Trump-proposed changes, of structuring some of the aid as a loan, can be forgiven by the President, including partial loan forgiveness by Biden on his way out, should he lose the election. If Trump wins, he could force Ukraine to repay what’s left of the loan and refuse to send ATACMS, the long-range missiles that have made Ukraine effective at blowing up Russian planes and other military targets that slaugher civilians. The compromise in this aid package, far less than what Ukraine actually needs to win the war, adds to the urgency to ensure Trump loses the electoral college. It’s going to be a nailbiter, for America and the world.  This week’s bonus show includes reports that Paul Manafort is back to help Trump (and Russia) win the 2024 election. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss Manafort’s dark arts and how they may help Trump and Russia illegally hijack our democracy once again. Ari Berman of Mother Jones stops by Gaslit Nation next week to discuss his new must-read book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It. Ari will share his insights on how we got here and what must be done to save our democracy. Want to hear the full episode? Join a community of listeners and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As;, get exclusive invites to live events, and more by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit!  Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Johnson’s plan to send aid to Ukraine moves closer to reality “Democrats will not be responsible for this bill failing,” one Democratic lawmaker pledged on Thursday morning. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/18/johnson-plan-send-aid-ukraine-moves-closer-becoming-reality/   Putin Ally Declares Mike Johnson 'Our Johnson' https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-declares-mike-johnson-our-johnson-1890071   Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/   Why Did U.S. Planes Defend Israel but Not Ukraine? There are lessons for other nations in the events of the past few days. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ukraine-israel-war-comparison/678077/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3zBTrwyTVOGzmWK5yps1Kck&utm;_source=copy-link&utm;_medium=social&utm;_campaign=share   U.S., NOT ISRAEL, SHOT DOWN MOST IRAN DRONES AND MISSILES American forces did most of the heavy lifting responding to Iran’s retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Damascus. https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/iran-attack-israel-drones-missiles/   How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/14/middleeast/israel-air-missile-defense-iran-attack-intl-hnk-ml   To be clear, if someone does trigger a motion to vacate -- anyone, MTG or Massie -- it would be incredibly perilous for Johnson. But remember: the first step is a motion to table. And Democrats could vote to table, and that's that. https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1780240955196539137   Why Israel’s attack on Iranian consulate in Syria was a gamechanger Peter Beaumont and Emma Graham-Harrison A war long fought through proxies, assassinations and strikes outside Israel has spilled into the open https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/14/why-israel-attack-on-iranian-consulate-in-syria-was-a-gamechanger   Video Shows Ukrainian Plane Being Hit Over Iran The New York Times has obtained video of the moment a Ukrainian airliner was hit minutes after takeoff from Tehran. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/video/iran-plane-missile.html   The Great Oligarchs Escape: ‘The Ground Is Trembling. They Will Stream Into Israel' As Ukraine war rages and the West tightens the screws on Russian oligarchs, many of them look to Israel to escape. Some hold Israeli citizenship, exactly for these kinds of circumstances. Billionaires will benefit from Israeli law, allowing them to hide sources of income for a 10-year period https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-03-10/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-great-oligarchs-escape-the-ground-is-trembling-they-will-stream-into-israel/0000017f-f2d9-df98-a5ff-f3fd182d0000   EXCLUSIVE: Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUa said he spoke to lawmakers and the president about Ukraine’s urgent need for wartime aid and stressed “please just make a decision,” during an interview with @IAmAmnaNawaz. Stream more tonight at 6 ET online: https://to.pbs.org/3MzB3rB https://twitter.com/NewsHour/status/1779985953966219589

The Chilling Reason Why Iran Attacked Israel [TEASER]

Every dictator or wannabe dictator relies on a base of support to stay in power. For Putin, Orban, and Trump, their base is Christian nationalism – claiming God wants white, straight "Christian" men to rule, even if this means violently stripping all others of their human rights. (Nevermind what Jesus actually taught in the Gospels about loving thy neighbor!) The Republican Party has been taken over by Christian nationalists backed by American and Russian oligarchs, in a death cult commonly known as MAGA. Trump is the strongman they've been searching for over decades of laying the groundwork for turning America into a dictatorship. Here to break it down for us is veteran filmmaker Stephen Ujlaki, who delved into the terrifying game plan of Christian nationalists for his new film, Bad Faith, out April 26 and available for pre-order. Gaslit Nation listeners who host viewing parties of Bad Faith with their friends and family can send us a photo or email to GaslitNation@gmail.com about the event for their chance to get Gaslit merch and other fun prizes, to help spread the word about this important and urgent film. This week's bonus episode, exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, will cover Iran's attack on Israel, why Ukraine must receive the same protection as the U.S.-led coalition that defended Israel, especially as MAGA continues to block aid in the House, and reports of Paul Manafort's work for Trump in the 2024 election. We're also launching today a NEW chat group, inspired by our recent Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, to complement our current general chat group, called Victory. The Art is Survival chat group is for artists in our community to share their works in progress, discover resources, and join with a community of like-minded creatives envisioning a world beyond the dictatorships the fascists want us to believe are inevitable. Thank you to all the artists out there and those who support art for believing that another world is possible! The recording of the Make Art workshop will be published Saturday May 4th, along with the transcript and a list of resources.  To get access to both chat groups – Victory (the general chat group) and Art is Survival – all bonus shows, all episodes ad-free, exclusive invites to events, and more, be sure to sign up at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!   Show Notes:   Bad Faith documentary: https://www.badfaithdocumentary.com/   Meet Stephen Ujlaki, the filmmaker behind Bad Faith: https://sftv.lmu.edu/faculty/?expert=stephen.ujlaki   Putin Ally Declares Mike Johnson 'Our Johnson'  https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-declares-mike-johnson-our-johnson-1890071   Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister.  https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/   Why Did U.S. Planes Defend Israel but Not Ukraine? There are lessons for other nations in the events of the past few days.  https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ukraine-israel-war-comparison/678077/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3zBTrwyTVOGzmWK5yps1Kck&utm;_source=copy-link&utm;_medium=social&utm;_campaign=share   U.S., NOT ISRAEL, SHOT DOWN MOST IRAN DRONES AND MISSILES American forces did most of the heavy lifting responding to Iran’s retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Damascus.  https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/iran-attack-israel-drones-missiles/   How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones  https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/14/middleeast/israel-air-missile-defense-iran-attack-intl-hnk-ml  

Bad Faith

In this week’s bonus show, we dig into Israel and evangelicals, two fellow travelers that shaped U.S. politics and the world together. Many evangelicals believe God will protect Israel, as long as they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior, or they'll burn in hell with other nonbelievers when Jesus returns. That means the destruction of Israel, a Jewish state. Digging into Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch evangelical, and the other MAGA Christian nationalists blocking aid to Ukraine in the House, it turns out Ukraine also plays a role in evangelical “end times” prophecy. The path of the destruction of Israel goes through Ukraine, according to Pat Robertson and other evangelical leaders featured in the show notes. Does Johnson believe this?    Johnson proudly proclaimed his worldview is the bible, telling Fox News: "Someone asked me today in the media, they said, 'It's curious, people are curious: What does Mike Johnson think about any issue under the sun?' I said, 'Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That's my worldview.” Johnson was featured in a German documentary about taking his daughter to a purity ball where she signed a pledge to never have sex before marriage. Purity balls are seen as dehumanizing to young girls and women   Pat Robertson, one of the most consequential evangelical leaders to build white Christian nationalists into a political force, taking over the GOP, claimed in a video featured in this week’s bonus show, the path to Israel's destruction begins with Russia's destruction of Ukraine. Ray Comfort, another evangelical minister with a large social media following, wrote the book Russia Will Attack Israel, and plays up Russia’s war in Ukraine as “end times” prophecy. David Jeremiah, the evangelical pastor of a megachurch, also promotes this idea in his work. The argument goes: Putin is a tool of God to raise the forces of evil against Ukraine on Russia’s path to waging war against Israel. In their logic, Ukraine must be destroyed so the final battle of good vs. evil can begin, ushering in the return of Jesus.    Obviously Christian nationalists like Johnson and others in the MAGA cult blocking aid to Ukraine are motivated by power and money. They align with strongmen like Trump to consolidate their support and enrich themselves. Both Putin and Orban used Christianian nationalism to entrench their regimes. Johnson was caught taking Kremlin-linked donations in 2018, as discussed in the recent bonus show for Patreon subscribers, The Kremlin Owns Mike Johnson.    Russia does its part to feed into these “end times” fever dreams. The philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, Russia’s Steve Bannon, recently said, "Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all.” As Trump’s white Christian nationalist base cheers on Putin’s genocide in Ukraine and Netanyahu’s genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, Russia oppresses and kills evangelicals in occupied Ukraine, according to a recent PBS Newshour report, and Christians are increasingly harassed and pushed out by ultra-Orthodox Israelis.    The persecution of fellow Christians may likely mean nothing to Johnson if he shares the belief that accelerating global conflicts will ultimately bring back Jesus. What he has made clear through his words and actions is that he takes the bible literally, like many evangelicals. With Ukraine increasingly in the crossfire of “end times” prophecies, spun in megachurches and their disinformation echo chambers, we have to come to terms that we’re up against a doomsday cult, not a political party. Biden cannot shame or reason with these people. He must work around them to save Ukraine.    Contact your rep today through this site by a Gaslit Nation listener and demand they ensure the discharge petitions are signed, successfully forcing a vote on Ukraine aid: https://helpukrainewin.com/   ***   Thank you to everyone who attended the Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things on Thursday April 11. We will soon publish the recording along with the transcript and resources mentioned in the discussion as a bonus episode exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon. We’re also launching a chat group for our Patreon community dedicated to artists and those who love art, called Art is Surival. This idea came out of our Q&A; discussion at the end of the Make Art Workshop on Thursday, and it’s a way for our community to share ideas, inspiration, support, and amplify our work and promote accountability to, little by little, get our projects out into the world. To join, be sure to be signed up at the Truth-teller level or higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit. That chat group will launch on Tuesday with next week’s episode, featuring Ari Berman of Mother Jones and his new book Minority Rule The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It.    Show Notes:   Watch the documentary Bad Faith, available everywhere April 26, pre-order it now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYseVO29ZU   Opening Clip: Vox Short Documentary: How a Bible prophecy shapes Trump's foreign policy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWL0I3oytw   Clip: Here's Evidence That Russia Will Attack Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBvloYWyyms   Clip: Arizona State Senators Speaking in Tongues Before Banning Abortion https://twitter.com/tcani/status/1777829756400263618   Clip: Hundreds of Israelis told evangelical Christians who were praying at an archeological park bordering the Western Wall in occupied East Jerusalem to “go home”, underlining the strained relationship between them and religious Israeli nationalists. Jerusalem’s Christian community says there has been a rise in attacks from Israeli ultranationalists on its churches and practices. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vio53jUpJz0   David Jeremiah: Russia’s Role in End Times Prophecy: https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-does-the-bible-say-about-modern-russia/   Speaker Mike Johnson and daughter were profiled attending 'purity ball' in 2015 German TV news segment  https://abcnews.go.com/US/speaker-mike-johnson-daughter-profiled-attending-purity-ball/story?id=105785626   Pat Robertson Clip: 'God Is Getting Ready to Do Something Amazing': CBN Founder Pat Robertson on Russia and Prophecy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMEj52pYWq0&t;=2s   How evangelicals set in motion today’s violence in the Middle East  https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4548756-evangelicals-caused-todays-mess-in-the-middle-east/   How Christian Nationalists, Big Oil and the Big Lie Seized the Speaker’s Gavel  https://washingtonspectator.org/how-christian-nationalists-big-oil-and-the-big-lie-seized-the-speakers-gavel/   Putin and Doomsday: The Far Right’s Fascination With the Apocalypse Fox News, the evangelical fringe, and the right wing have been peddling “End Times” thinking for decades. Armageddon has become a backdrop now that Russia has invaded Ukraine.  https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/03/putin-and-doomsday-the-far-rights-fascination-with-the-apocalypse   Jay in Kyiv on Twitter: “Putin wheels out Dugin to let us know that Jerusalem is also on Putin's acquisition list.   "Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all".   Meanwhile, the west wants to "negotiate" with this creature.”  https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1777051211654430842   Ukrainian Christian groups face violent crackdown from Russian forces  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ukrainian-christian-groups-face-violent-crackdown-from-russian-forces   Congress must let Ukraine win, say Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn, Imagine Dragons, Timothy Snyder and other luminaries https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/10/opinions/sean-penn-barbra-streisand-imgaine-dragons-congress-ukraine-snyder/index.html   These Evangelicals Are Cheering the Gaza War as the End of the World Thousands have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some far-right Christian leaders believe the bloodshed portends the second coming of Christ  https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/gaza-war-evangelical-leaders-cheer-end-world-1234884151/  

Israel and Evangelicals [TEASER]

Reminder! This Thursday, fight for your mind! To get inspired to make art and bring your projects across the finish line, join us for the Gaslit Nation LIVE Make Art Workshop this Thursday April 11 at 7pm EST – be sure to be subscribed at the Truth-teller level or higher to get your ticket to the event!    We also ask you to urge members of Congress to sign the discharge petitions to overcome MAGA’s blockade of Ukraine aid in the House. Use this handy site made by a Gaslit Nation listener to contact your reps today: https://helpukrainewin.com/   In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Andrea and Terrell Star of the Black Diplomats Podcast & Substack get raptured! No, we’re still here, fighting fascism at home and abroad. And still with us, unfortunately, is Trump’s actual army of far-right Christian nationalists determined to destroy our democracy from within. What’s needed to fight a holy war? Another holy war, if your faith is in empathy and science.    In this End Times-themed discussion (in honor of the 4.8 earthquake striking near Trump’s Bedminister golf course, opening up the gates of hell just in time for the election, and the solar eclipse that blinded the latest winners of the Darwin Awards), we discuss how to protect democracy against a transnational crime syndicate wielding Christian nationalism as its weapon. We also review the must-watch documentary "Bad Faith," based on the book by former Gaslit Nation guest and journalist Anne Nelson, titled  Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right. We also look at Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s campaign to help Trump come to power, Michael Flynn’s propaganda tour to energize authoritarian voters, the most dangerous men in the Biden administration who should have been replaced long ago, and why, in a time of genocide and other existential threats, straight white old guys are no longer a “safe bet.” But we’ll vote for Biden anyway, because we don’t have the time or resources to fight for survival and against a second, never-ending Trump regime.    This week’s bonus episode, exclusively for our supporters at the Truth-teller level and higher, is a discussion of Evangelicals and Israel – staunch allies for opportunistic reasons. They also constitute a crucial element in Trump's potential Electoral College victory, where Biden barely squeaked by thanks to a mere 44,000 votes scattered across Georgia, Arizona, and Wisconsin. Yes, it was that close. So don't forget to pre-order the documentary Bad Faith, organize a watch party with friends and neighbors, and complete the recommended steps in the Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide. What is your plan to help protect our democracy this year from Trump and his dreaded Project 2025, discussed in this week’s episode?    To our supporters at the Democracy Defender level and higher, submit your questions for our upcoming Q&A;! We always enjoy hearing from you! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!    Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As;, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!    Check out our new merch! Get your “F*ck Putin” t-shirt or mug today!  https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/57796740-f-ck-putin?store_id=3129329   SHOW NOTES:   Clip: Watch the trailer for Bad Faith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYseVO29ZU   Clip: Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s New York State Campaign Manager Proudly Declares They’re Trying to Help Trump Win https://twitter.com/cwebbonline/status/1777021184737194221   Clip: Michael Flynn: From Government Insider to Holy Warrior | FRONTLINE + AP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHqohI-ZNhY   Inside the Election Denial Groups Planning to Disrupt November https://www.wired.com/story/election-denial-groups-november-2024/   Inside the Terrifyingly Competent Trump 2024 Campaign With Donald Trump mostly focused on his own legal peril—leaving staffers free to run the campaign—the candidate’s third bid for the White House is as efficient as it is explicitly authoritarian. How worried should you be? Very. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/inside-trump-2024-campaign   Narrow Wins In These Key States Powered Biden To The Presidency https://www.npr.org/2020/12/02/940689086/narrow-wins-in-these-key-states-powered-biden-to-the-presidency   Obama Warned Trump Against Hiring Mike Flynn, Say Officials The warning came less than 48 hours after the November election when the two sat down for a conversation in the Oval Office. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/obama-warned-trump-against-hiring-mike-flynn-say-officials-n756316   Trump could face more FBI raids as witness suggests documents still hidden: ex-prosecutor https://www.rawstory.com/classified-documents-2667695220/   The latest in Republican Gaslighting: Democratic Oregon House candidate is big Republican donor Brian Maguire has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to state and federal Republican candidates and causes https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/04/04/democratic-oregon-house-candidate-is-big-republican-donor/   The Electoral College question looming over 2024 Whether the GOP has maintained its Electoral College advantage could determine how close the Biden vs. Trump contest really is — and who wins in the end. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/electoral-college-question-looming-2024-rcna145950   State Department sees unprecedented flood of internal dissent memos over Gaza war Exclusive: Eight internal dissent memos were sent by State Department staff during the first two months of the Gaza war, compared to just one sent during the first three years of the Iraq War https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/state-department-gaza-blinken-protest-b2525345.html   Trump pledges to expel immigrants who support Hamas, ban Muslims from the U.S. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-pledges-expel-immigrants-who-support-hamas-ban-muslims-us-2023-10-16/   Biden Shields Palestinians in the U.S. From Deportation The president, who is facing mounting criticism over U.S. support for Israel, used an authority that exempts people from deportation if their homeland is in crisis. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/us/politics/biden-palestinians-deportation.html   About Three-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Now Religiously Unaffiliated Self-identified Christians make up 63% of U.S. population in 2021, down from 75% a decade ago https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/   For American Evangelicals Who Back Israel, ‘Neutrality Isn’t an Option’ Conservative Christians’ strong connection to Israel forms the backbone of Republican support, and is tied to beliefs about biblical promises and prophecy. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/15/us/american-evangelicals-israel-hamas.html   What is an evangelical Christian? In America, evangelicalism has become as much a political as a religious identity https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/03/01/what-is-an-evangelical-christian   Investigators for the Justice Department wanted to search Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf club for top secret documents but lacked probable cause to secure a warrant, says a report. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-classified-documents-bedminster-search-b2366013.html   Women and children are the main victims of the Israel-Hamas war with 16,000 killed, UN says https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405  

Craig Unger on Kleptocracy

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