From companions, to lovers, to suicide note co-authors, people are relying on AI more than ever to help them navigate life’s ups and downs. So far, AI’s digital connection, or rather disconnection, to our humanity is having…mixed results.  Our guest this week is Parker Molloy who writes the newsletter The Present Age.

Follow How Is This Better? wherever you get your podcasts, including YouTube.

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The Corporation for Public Broadcasting just announced it will shut down after Congress –under pressure from Trump – eliminated $1.1 billion in funding through 2027. It’s a devastating blow to the future of public media. But this isn’t just about budget cuts—it’s about fear, control, and silencing dissent.

Akilah Hughes breaks down the chilling wave of corporate capitulation to Trump, including CBS and ABC’s multimillion-dollar settlements, the abrupt cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show – part of Paramount being on their “best behavior” ahead of a now-approved (by Trump’s FCC) major merger.

COURIER founder and publisher, Tara McGowan and longtime journalist Mark Jacob, join this episode that explores the failures of corporate media to stand up to Trump and why Americans are increasingly split into the informed and the manipulated.

Subscribe now and follow us on YouTube for more new content before we release brand new full episodes in the fall.

Guests:

Mark Jacob, author of Stop the Presses
Tara McGowan, Founder and Publisher of COURIER

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Akilah Hughes breaks down the immigration policies of Trump's second term, from mass deportations to family separations and the rollback of birthright citizenship. 

Joined by guests Justino Mora, the discussion highlights the damage ICE has caused so far and the future of US immigration. 

GUEST

Justino Mora, Immigrant Rights Activist

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction

01:13 - The Reality of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

02:14 - Interview w/ Immigrant Rights Activist Justino Mora

04:00 - The Impact of ICE Raids and Community Response

09:05 -  What is ‘Alligator Alcatraz’?

13:34 - The Man Shaping Trump's Immigration Policy

14:55 - What is their Endgame?

16:45 - The Big Ugly Bill and Its Implications

17:26 - Community Defense and Hope

19:55 - Conclusion

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Akila Hughes explores the dangerous online pipelines that lure men seeking advice into radical ideologies. 

Joined by guests Denny Carter, Adam Mockler, and EJ Dickson, the episode delves into the manipulative tactics used by figures like Andrew Tate and Joe Rogan to push hyper-masculine agendas. 

The discussion highlights the detrimental effects of these ideologies on mental health, relationships, and societal norms.

Guests:

CHAPTERS:

00:00 -  Introduction to "Male Dominance" and Alpha "Ideals"

00:33 - The Manosphere's Influence on Men

01:56 - Social Media's Role in Shaping Masculinity

03:46 - The Alpha Male Archetype: Rogan vs. Tate

05:16 - The Pipeline

07:14 - The Impact of Algorithms on Content Consumption

08:46 - The Rise of Male Optimization Culture11:11 Critique of Modern Masculinity Ideals

18:14 -The Left's Struggle in Online Spaces

20:58 - Conclusion: The State of Modern Manhood

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A new flavor of conservative content is targeting women online—and it’s going viral. This week, Akilah Hughes explores the rise of the "tradwife" aesthetic, the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement, and how a wellness pipeline is pulling women to the political right.

We talk to experts and journalists who’ve tracked this trend firsthand, from TikTok to Turning Point USA’s wellness-themed women’s conference. 

Guests:

- Madeline Peltz, independent journalist

- EJ Dickson, senior writer at The Cut

Chapters:

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In this episode, Akilah Hughes steps into the ring with "The Progressive Liberal"—yes, that’s his real wrestling persona—alongside author Josie Riesman and journalist and former WWE writer, Dave Schilling, to explore why politics today feels more like WWE than C-SPAN,

We dive into the personas, the crowd work, the heels and the faces (iykyk)—and how both wrestling and politics rely on performance, polarization, and pandering to win over the crowd. 

If you’ve ever wondered why politics feels more like a reality show than real life… this is the episode for you.

GUESTS:

Dave Schilling, LA Times Columnist and former writer for WWE

Josie Riesman, author of RingMaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America

Daniel Harnsberger aka “The Progressive Liberal”

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Baseball legend Jackie Robinson broke barriers on the field, but his legacy off the field is under attack.  

In this episode, Akilah Hughes explores how the Trump administration is trying to rewrite history in its crusade against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Guests Roy Wood Jr., Jeremy Taché, and The Nation’s Kali Holloway unpack why it’s important to defend history and what DEI efforts are designed to achieve.

Guests:

CHAPTERS:

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America’s relationship with Canada has always been close — like cousins who share a border, celebrities and culture, and a love for maple syrup. But lately, that closeness has taken a weird turn.

In this episode, we explore how Donald Trump has soured the relationship with our once closest ally – referring to Canada as the “51st state.”

Host Akilah Hughes talks with Noor Azrieh, host and producer of the podcast Canadaland, and Silke Labson – Akilah’s friend who fled north after Trump took office the first time.

Guests:

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Once a hoodie-wearing coder preaching openness and connection, Mark Zuckerberg is now a gold chain wearing, jiu jitsu obsessed metaverse warlord who is vibing with Trump-adjacent influencers. What happened?

Host Akilah Hughes digs into Zuckerberg’s transformation — from the early Facebook years through his big metaverse bet and into his (chicken nugget eating?) macho phase. Ryan Broderick, host of Panic World and author of Garbage Day; and tech reporter Steven Levy, journalist and author of Facebook: The Inside Story, join to break down this evolution.

And as always, Akilah is asking the question “how is this better?” and wondering if Zuckerberg still cares about making the world “more connected,” or if he ever really did.

Guests:

Ryan Broderick, host of the podcast Panic World and author of the Garbage Day newsletter
Steven Levy, journalist and author of “Facebook: The Inside Story"

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

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On February 14th, 2025 Donald Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sent a letter to 1000 probationary National Parks staff – firing them – only to reinstate them weeks later. Pretty INefficient…  

But that wasn’t just a distraction. It wasn’t just a fumble. It was the opening salvo for a plan, laid out in Project 2025, to dismantle protections for National Parks. 

It’s all got Akilah Hughes wondering – if she wants to cross going to Yosemite off her bucket list…is it now or never?

Guests:

Follow this show wherever you get your podcasts. Apple | Spotify | COURIER YouTube

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - INTRO

01:47 - PROJECT 2025/TRUMP ADMIN PLAN

02:12 - BACKGROUND ON THE US NATIONAL PARKS

03:32 - PROJECT 2025/TRUMP ADMIN PLAN

04:22 - PARK RANGERS

09:03 - PRIVATIZATION AGENDA

10:33 - WILL I GET TO SEE YOSEMITE?

11:00 - CLIMATE CHANGE

15:43 - UNDERSTANDING THE NETWORK OF AGENCIES (NOT JUST PARKS)

18:39 - FINAL THOUGHTS

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