Krystal Kyle & Friends

In Episode 187 of KK&F, we sit down with your favorite Twitter account Ettingermentum to talk about Kamala and the Democrats’ political fortunes for 2024. Back when Biden had just landed a real dud of a debate performance in late June, you’ll remember that his fellow Dems were quick to criticize, and a few started calling for his exit from the 2024 Democratic ticket. Kamala Harris, his successor to the presidency and his current VP, seemed like the natural choice for his replacement. But part of the Twittersphere also sounded concerns about Kamala. Could she appease centrists wanting nothing to fundamentally change *and* an increasingly vocal left critical of Biden’s refusal to adopt broadly popular social programs?

With our friend Ettingermentum, we look at the polling and see why the predictions of Kamala’s detractors didn’t end up bearing out. There were no tradeoffs to be made between Biden and Kamala: his base has moved to support her, where voters more leery of the aging, anti-progress Biden have proved more likely to back the Kamala-Walz ticket. Why is this? And will it be enough to carry her over the finish line in November? You can get answers to all these big questions in our wide-ranging deep dive of a conversation, Episode 186 of KK&F. This episode will be available tomorrow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more.

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When we last convened for an episode of KK&F, Kamala was still looking to fill the VP slot on the Democratic ticket. Since then, VP pick Tim Walz has received an outpouring of enthusiasm from the left-of-center and relief from progressives, but at the same time, the right has looked for weak points to hit him on (and it must be said, Walz doesn’t make it as easy as Vance does). Now, after some comments from J.D. Vance calling Walz’s service and dedication into question, the right is attackingWalz, who served for over twenty years in the National Guard before deciding not to complete the preparation to retire as a command sergeant major. By his own admission, Walz was partially motivated by the desire to make political statements about events like the Iraq War. So it’s not that Walz has the kind of tawdry history in his service career that the right is implying — but it’s sure to be only one scandal the right tries to manufacture before November.

Omar and Kyle also speak at length about the awful revelations regarding the Israeli detention camps, where Palestinian prisoners are brutalized and sexually assaulted (as recently released footage documents), and about the Biden admin’s position on and response to this information. As they point out, Democrats and Republicans are in a perpetual race to see who can support Netanyahu’s genocidal regime more, and the right’s tactic is to paint Democrats as antisemitic, a claim that Democrats often scramble to reject in the wrong ways. They also discuss developing political crises in the region: at this point, is war with Iran inevitable?

Thanks for tuning in. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more.

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In her comments on the current state of the ‘24 race and on the current Biden presidency, this week’s guest, Green Party candidate Jill Stein, talks us through what would come after a ceasefire for her administration. To her, it’s vital that the U.S. joins negotiations with a strict adherence to international law, not clear and bloodthirsty favoritism for Israel, as is the current policy. It must recognize the ‘67 borders drawn for the region and demand an end to the occupation in Gaza and throughout all of Palestine, as well as a removal of all troops. Jill points out that threatening to support a boycott could be a necessary and effective tactic to ensure Israel’s compliance if it does not follow guidelines for a lasting peace. The flow of weapons from America to Israel must, above all, be stopped.

Jill Stein, as always, has insightful takes on the latest developments in national and international politics, and we delve into them in this wide-ranging interview, including Jill’s vision for her campaign following Biden’s exit and Kamala’s entrance, Trump’s racist remarks in a recent interview, and more. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more.

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The old Kamala is back. That’s our guest Cenk Uygur’s pronouncement as he glosses Kamala’s shifting fortunes over the course of her political career. Initially favored as a rising star in the Democratic Party, Kamala looked like an early favorite for the nomination in the 2020 cycle, sweeping the first debate, before things seemed to go wrong suddenly and without clear cause. As Krystal points out, she’s a cautious kind of politician, and the moves she made for the presidency toward the end of her unsuccessful campaign seemed out of touch and lackluster. Now, she seems to be hitting many of the right notes again for a liberal audience exasperated by the uncharismatic and ineffectual Biden. But will it be enough for voters determined not to continue voting in supporters of Zionism and genocide? Will Kamala successfully differentiate herself from Biden’s tremendously unpopular and cruel unconditional backing of Israel?

We talk about all of this and more in Episode 184 of KKF! Join us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more for the podcast release of this episode.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Compared to the tired, infuriating binary of Biden-Trump, our guest this week, Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver, has his pitch ready: “I'm under the age of 80, I speak in complete sentences, I'm not a convicted felon.” Indeed, Oliver’s age, opposition to two-party politics, anti-war political commitments, and more make him, for many voters, a viable alternative to Biden-Trump. Browse his website and you’ll see that he’s eager to work with states to decriminalize abortion, but also supports the Hyde Amendment, banning public funding from being used for abortions. In other words, his platform encompasses a number of positions traditionally associated with left and right, informed by his support for personal freedoms and wariness toward a controlling government.

In this episode of KKF, we chat with Chase about his analysis of the 2024 election, who he expects to be running against, what his path to the White House will be, and more. Thanks for tuning in — you can listen to this episode as a playlist when it’s released on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Well, folks… In the words of a Democratic House member, “I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.” Thursday wasn’t the time to be a sentient, rational person with coherent thoughts about our country’s strategy and future — that held true for the presidential debate audience and for its two participants. Exchanging blows over golf handicaps and engaging in some he-said-he-said over Trump’s alleged “suckers and losers” comment about veterans, Biden and Trump did an admirable job of avoiding serious discussion of childcare policy, climate change, and more. Biden revealed more of the same in his unconditional support for Israel, while Trump clung to violently xenophobic rhetoric in his comments on immigration (which he made as frequently as possible).

When we think of the figureheads of the Democratic Party, we can’t help but think of people like Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whose commandeering of the DNC cemented much of the party elitism and anti-democracy that has brought us the fatally flawed Biden 2024 candidacy. That’s why we’re so excited to speak this week with Jen Perelman, who’s challenging Debbie to take over as representative for Florida’s 25th district. In our wide-ranging conversation, we chat with Jen about her vision for the district and her substantive political differences with her opponent, and much more.

Listen to this week’s episode on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming platforms.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

With this week’s guest, Briahna Joy Gray, we discuss the upcoming debate and the two main presidential candidates’ respective prospects. But we also dive into Briahna’s recent firing at The Hill, with her insight into why this is part of a larger, worrying trend.

Briahna takes us through her experience at The Hill, why questioning a guest about her Zionist beliefs led to the loss of professional opportunities, the political landscape of Palestine advocacy in media right now, and much more in this exclusive interview. We’re thrilled to have her on the show, and we hope you’ll enjoy the conversation! You can listen in on Spotify, Substack, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more.

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Annelle Sheline, our guest this week, previously worked in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in Near Eastern Affairs. She had only been there a year when she decided to publicly resign. Annelle tells us that while she was unsure of the impact her resignation would have, since she was a relatively junior employee, others encouraged her to reconsider and to go public even though they could not do the same.

According to Annelle, although the number of people who have taken the action she took is relatively small, a larger number of American government workers have more quietly resigned — or even retired early — out of refusal to condone the Biden admin’s aid of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The thought of burning all professional bridges in a “one-company town,” she notes, dissuades many people from doing so. It requires throwing out all one’s professional connections and work experience. Annelle believes she’s relatively lucky to be able to return to her academic background in think tanks. Still, some of those who don’t resign, publicly or quietly, have been writing anonymous letters and joining protests. There may not be sufficient rejection of Biden’s genocidal Israel policy among governmental workers. But the number of dissenters is growing.

You can listen to this conversation as a podcast on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Ben Norton is our guest this week, talking to us about the context and implications of the recent presidential election in Mexico. Claudia Sheinbaum will be taking office after running on a platform involving the alleviation of poverty and the expansion of social support systems. It’s thrilling to think about what she and her administration are prepared to do for the working people of Mexico, and this election provides an important example for progressives in the United States looking to follow suit.

One major question that comes up in our conversation with Ben is how much political change Sheinbaum will be able to effect in the presidency — given the more conservative tendencies of the United States under Biden. As the U.S. is a global hegemonic force capable of preventing the solution of social and economic problems it’s produced for neighbor nations, we discuss with Ben if Sheinbaum will be able, as president, to tackle the issues that matter most to Mexicans.

This episode is also available on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to KK&F, where we’re joined by Norman Finkelstein to go behind the scenes on the prosecution of Israel in the international courts. South Africa, according to Norm, has repeatedly showed up to the courts demanding new provisional measures, and while none were given in February, the courts judged in March that the situation had sufficiently deteriorated to require new measures. Then, as human rights advocates and organizations across the world began in May to raise the alarm about Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah (which has since caused unthinkable suffering and devastation), South Africa continued to press the case against Israel.

Israel has been furious about the allegations brought against them, insisting that their slaughter of thousands of Palestinians only amounts to a few problems that don’t add up to a humanitarian crisis. The challenge for South Africa and other entities sympathetic to Gaza’s plight, Norm points out, is that the court has been unsure who to believe in these exchanges. Now, as Israel continues to deny the existence of a humanitarian crisis and images of unbelievable horror and pain pour out of Rafah, the court has said in no uncertain terms that it doesn’t believe Israel any more.

What does this mean for further proceedings, and for potential prosecution of Bibi and the other war criminals? We talk through all of this and more with Norman Finkelstein this week. You can listen to this episode as a podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/subscribe