Current Affairs Unfiltered

Anthony David Vernon is back! This time to unpack the escalating situation in Venezuela and what it reveals about U.S. power abroad. Together, they trace the historical roots of American intervention in Latin America through the Monroe Doctrine, examine the real-world consequences of economic sanctions, and break down how U.S. rhetoric around oil and democracy shapes public understanding. Anthony argues that when these developments are viewed together, the dots increasingly point toward the United States moving in the direction of effectively colonizing Venezuela. 

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Check out some of Anthony’s articles:

https://academeblog.org/2025/04/17/double-booking-against-higher-education/

https://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/are-jazz-hop-instrumentals-jazz-an-observation-and-playlist-by-anthony-david-vernon/

https://www.bardicsanonymous.com/nonfiction/optimistic-absurdism

In this episode, Paige sits down with Cait Conley, a veteran, national security expert, and candidate for New York’s 17th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Lawler. Cait discusses the urgent need for government to deliver real results for everyday Americans, focusing on economic stability, family well-being, and restoring trust in public service. Drawing on her leadership experience in high-pressure national security roles, she makes the case for pragmatic, people-centered solutions that put American families first.

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In this episode, social workers Chelsea Laliberte Barnes and Chante Gamby unpack the realities of the fentanyl crisis, exploring how public health, politics, and human impact collide. They discuss the ways the current administration has leveraged the crisis for political gain, often at the expense of evidence-based solutions and the families most affected. Drawing on their frontline experiences, Chelsea and Chante highlight how social workers shoulder the consequences of policy failures and why lived experience, advocacy, and honest storytelling are essential for shaping compassionate and effective drug policy. They also reflect on what real support for people struggling with substance use disorders should look like and what it means to fight for a system that prioritizes care over headlines.

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This episode features Adriano Kalin, a Chicago-based social justice photographer whose work has become a living record of protest movements, community resilience, and the voices too often pushed to the margins. The conversation traces his path into photography, the evolution of his style, and the ethical considerations of documenting people in vulnerable and high-stakes moments.

Adriano discusses Chicago’s unique political climate, the growing pressures of censorship, and the complicated role AI now plays in shaping (and sometimes distorting) photographic truth. The episode explores the tension between creating art and preserving evidence, and why historical context is essential for responsible visual storytelling.

Through personal stories from the streets, Adriano illustrates the power of images to amplify community voices and the responsibility photographers carry to witness with honesty, dignity, and respect.

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Happy final solo episode of the year!! In this episode Paige reflects on the past year (thank you all!!!) before diving in. She delves into the recent masss shootings at Brown University and Bondi Beach, the implications of Rob Reiner's death and the political discourse surrounding it, as well as a lawsuit against Instacart for alleged political discrimination. The episode also covers ICE operations in Minneapolis, escalating tensions with Venezuela, and insights from a Vanity Fair article about Trump's inner circle. Paige concludes with Trump's affordability tour, and the political landscape as the year comes to a close.

Washington Post Instacart article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/15/instacart-congress-campaign-democrat/

Vanity Fair article: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-1?srsltid=AfmBOoqi9-2IaWl7Poc3j40bqAuFA84KgMuLfWHaCSbLLwwD0lfs4LKN

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In this episode, Paige sits down with Hot Takes to unpack his journey from lifelong Republican to political independent, tracing how the rise of Trump and a shift in GOP rhetoric pushed them to reevaluate their values. Together, they explore how Trump’s messaging reshaped the party, and the national conversation, while examining what’s been lost in the era of outrage politics. The conversation dives into the grievances driving the MAGA movement, the challenges Democrats face in reaching disillusioned moderates, and where real common ground might still exist in a deeply divided America.

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In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige breaks down a whirlwind month in politics, from Kash Patel’s eyebrow raising private jet habits to Trump’s bulldozing of the East Wing for his own personal ballroom and the wave of pardons that followed. She digs into escalating military activity off the coast of Venezuela, what the latest Election Day results signal about the political landscape, and the real fallout from the most recent government shutdown. Paige also unpacks new Department of Education rules that could reshape access to professional degrees. She closes the episode with some personal reflections and a look ahead at what’s coming next for the podcast...

Articles:

Tatiana Schlossberg article: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/a-battle-with-my-blood

WaPo second strike article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/

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In this episode, Paige and Abby (Political Psych with Abby) unpack the growing intersection of technology, psychology, and politics through the lens of dehumanization. They explore what happens when we start labeling others as “NPCs,” the dangers of the Liar’s Dividend in an AI-saturated world, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping both political discourse and human perception. At its core, the conversation is a call to preserve empathy, connection, and community in an era increasingly defined by algorithms and automation.

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Check out Abby's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/politicalpsychwithabby

Check out Abby’s dehumanization and AI video

In this episode, Paige sits down with Phil Andrew, a gun violence survivor and former FBI agent turned candidate for Illinois’s 9th District, to talk about leadership rooted in trust, accountability, and collaboration. Phil reflects on how his life experiences shaped his commitment to public safety and democracy, emphasizing that thriving communities begin with people who feel secure and heard. He discusses how negotiation and empathy can bridge divides in Congress, the urgency of restoring faith in government, and why he believes the next generation’s engagement will determine the future of American democracy.

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Relevant articles:

"Illinois community and leaders react as Israel and Hamas exchange hostages and prisoners" (Phil is foreign policy expert interviewed)

Wilmette’s Phil Andrew — a mass-shooting survivor and former FBI agent — gets in race for Schakowsky’s seat

In this episode, Dylan Blaha, Congressional candidate for Illinois' 13th district, joins Paige to talk about his leap from military service to politics and why he thinks Washington needs fewer career politicians and more public servants. They dig into the realities of running against an incumbent, how money distorts democracy, and what it actually takes to connect with voters who’ve tuned out.

Blaha lays out his vision for a government that serves people, not donors, from healthcare reform and humane immigration policy to a more balanced foreign policy approach in Israel and Palestine. He also touches on the dangers of misinformation, the need to rebuild trust in institutions, and what an anti-oligarchy, anti-authoritarian future could look like.

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