How Is This Better?

What happens when a president decides America is done with space?

This week on How Is This Better?, Akilah Hughes digs into the Trump administration’s unprecedented plans to slash NASA’s budget.

Akilah sits down with Casey Dreier of the Planetary Society to unpack how America went from bipartisan support for space exploration to a full-blown dismantling of the country’s most beloved science agency—and why turning over the future of space to billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos is both dangerous and undemocratic.

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Hollywood (as we once knew it) may have collapsed, but a new form of “storytelling” is thriving in the rubble. This week on How Is This Better? Akilah Hughes investigates the rise of clipping—the 30–90 second chunks of movies and TV that Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly treat as the entire art form. With The Ankler's newsroom coordinator, Matthew Frank, we dig into how studios, independent clippers, and even teenagers are monetizing sliced-up IP, why these clips rarely convert to actual viewership, and what that means for the survival of traditional shows.

Then we look at the next evolution: vertical dramas—60-to-90-second cliffhanger “episodes” produced for TikTok-native audiences, now attracting major investment from companies like Disney. Kill Switch podcast host, Dexter Thomas, walks us through the booming non-union economy around these soap-opera-meets-micro-content series, the surprising demographics powering their success, and why middle-aged women—not teens—are the earliest adopters.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro

00:20 - Clipping

01:23 - Matthew Frank

9:49 - Dexter Thomas

11:28 - Vertical Dramas

17:20 - Who is Watching Micro Dramas?

26:24 - Is It Better?

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The First Amendment established the separation of church and state in America — but is that principle truly being upheld today? A powerful contingent on the right is working to erase that line entirely, pushing policies that fuse religion and government to advance a Christian nationalist agenda — from efforts to mandate the Ten Commandments in classrooms to reshaping laws around their ideology.

This week, host Akilah Hughes is joined by Heather Weaver of the ACLU, professor Matthew Gabriele, and journalist Talia Lavin to unpack the rise of Christian nationalism in American politics and culture — and its deep ties to authoritarianism and the alt-right.

This episode is sponsored by Americans United for Separation of Church and State. To learn more and get involved, visit ⁠⁠au.org/COURIER⁠⁠.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Americans United

01:15 How is Christian Nationalism better?

02:35 The history of American separation of church and state

04:32 The start of the American Christian narrative

07:00 What is Christian Nationalism?

09:44 AU

10:14 How has religious extremism crept into our culture?

14:30 Christian Nationalism & Authoritarianism

19:01 The far right, fascism, and more

22:26 Trump’s authoritarian slide

24:36 Priming Christians for fascism

27:49 Christian Nationalism is not better.

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What does it really take to run for office when you don’t have a billionaire on speed dial? Akilah Hughes talks with Kat Abughazaleh, the journalist-turned-candidate trying to fund and operate her congressional campaign than what is typical in 2025.

Akilah also catches up with New York City mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, days before the election.

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In 2010, the Supreme Court of the United unleashed chaos with their decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In that ruling, they declared that corporations are people and money is speech. Fifteen years later, billionaires and dark money groups dominate campaign spending, leaving ordinary voters wondering if their $20 donations matter.

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This week on How Is This Better? – Akilah Hughes talks with civil rights attorney and conversion therapy survivor Ryan Kendall, as the Supreme Court takes up Chiles v. Salazar—a case that could reopen the door to "conversion therapy" for LGBTQ+ minors.

Ryan shares his story of surviving so-called “therapy” as a teenager in Colorado Springs, what it cost him, and why the Court’s decision could legalize a new era of psychological abuse under the guise of “free speech.”

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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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