Not Suitable for Democracy

In the third episode released this week, we’re peeling back the curtain on some of the most troubling headlines shaking American democracy.

First, we dive into the Pentagon document that quietly bars media outlets from reporting on the military without pre-approved data — a move that has journalists and watchdogs sounding the alarm. 

Then, we look at the airport video featuring Kristi Noem, a not-so-subtle campaign ad that blatantly violates the Hatch Act — prompting major airports like Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK to refuse to air it. 

And finally, we unpack the leaked Telegram messages from Young Republican leaders — filled with racist and hate-fueled remarks that reveal the ugly undercurrent of a movement claiming to “save” the country. 

These aren’t isolated incidents — they’re all a part of Republicans' quest for dominance. And that's not suitable for democracy. We must ask ourselves: how do we pushback on these power grabs, what can we do as individuals, and is there a way to work these people?

Stay tuned for new episodes released every Tuesday.

In the second episode of three released this week, we tackle a topic that should’ve been settled long ago: marriage equality.

To kick off the episode, we discuss how we got here: between Kim Davis, the same-sex couple she denied a marriage license to, what happened with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and why Kim Davis is now going to the Supreme Court.

As conservative justices resurface old debates, the conversation around rights and recognition takes center stage once more. Back in September, Justice Amy Coney Barrett makes headlines with her remarks on CBS while promoting her memoir. On October 3rd, Justice Samuel Alito doubles down on his ideology during a speech at a conservative conference. Most recently on October 8th, retired Justice Anthony Kennedy — the author of the landmark Obergefell decision — offers a rare reflection in a CNN interview. Are these three Justices looking to overturn same-sex marriage? Two of them cite "stare decisis". What does that mean and how is it used here? 

Host Nick unpacks what these comments really mean, how the rhetoric signals what’s coming next, and shares his own prediction on where the Supreme Court might go from here.

Stay tuned for the third episode to come out this week. Don't forget to listen to Episode 21 that was released yesterday.

This week, we're making up for lost time after missing last week's episode. To hold ourselves accountable, we're publishing three episodes in a row.

In this week's first of three episodes, we're focusing on accountability. How do we hold elected officials and entities accountable? What are the necessary steps in the process? To best illustrate holding politicians accountable, we'll review three recent political events through the lens of accountability.

At the time of publishing this podcast episode, we’re now 13 days into a government shutdown, and the chaos shows no signs of slowing down. We dive into why Republicans' refusal to fund Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies isn’t just a policy fight — it’s a deliberate act of political theater that’s hurting millions of Americans. We'll share the ways how YOU can hold your representatives accountable.

Meanwhile, in a stunning reversal, New York Attorney General Letitia James — who once took down Trump's Organization for fraud — now faces her own indictment on fraud charges. Tish James has done a fabulous job holding powerful people accountable. Like Governor Hocul said, you come for Tish, then you come for all (New Yorkers). Will the charges hold or are they an obvious vengeful ploy for Trump to wreak havoc on his political opponent? 

And over in Chicago, Kamala Harris's book tour for "107 Days" hits more turbulence as protestors continue demand accountability from the vice president herself. But this time, Harris doesn't hold back. Instead, she challenges the notion of "holding her accountable" against the back drop of Trump's I.C.E. raids as a direct result of Trump's 2024 victory. What was really accomplished by withholding votes for Harris? Were the protestors sending the right message by disrupting her book tour? Will she be held accountable forever?

From Capitol Hill to courtroom drama to the book tour mic, our leaders deserve to be held accountable, especially while Trump tears the seams of society (while millions of Americans hold on by a thread).

This week only, enjoy new episodes of Not Suitable for Democracy on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

This week’s episode runs the gauntlet of American politics and culture. We start with Jimmy Kimmel’s sudden suspension from ABC and what it says about free speech. Then we turn to Kamala Harris and her eyebrow-raising comments about Zohran Mamdani, raising questions about the party’s relationship with its progressive wing. Back in New York, Eric Adams has dropped out of the race for NYC Mayor, even though he's still on the ballot. On Capitol Hill, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer continue to steer the Democratic Party straight into the iceberg. Their ineffective leadership doesn't inspire much confidence against Trump and the government shutdown. And finally, we end with some quick hits on the 2028 presidential field—AOC (who will likely run for Senate), Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris—who’s posturing, who’s pretending, and who might actually have a shot.

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Picking up where we left off, this week’s episode looks beyond the rising tensions and turns toward solutions. How do we break out of the cycle of "divide and conquer" politics? We explore ways to build real community, get involved in the political process, and reclaim a sense of agency in the face of chaos.

From being intentional with our words to remembering the power of listening before speaking, we highlight practical steps—big and small—that move us toward connection instead of division. Because if democracy is going to survive, it won’t be by accident—it’ll be because we chose to fight for it together.

New episodes of Not Suitable for Democracy drop every Tuesday.

Last week was another turning point in America’s ever-rising political tensions—streets filled with anger, headlines filled with uncertainty, and a democracy stretched thin. In this week's episode, we take stock of what unfolded and ask the question on everyone’s mind: where do we go from here? This is a two-part episode where the second half of the discussion will be released next week.

Get ready to dive into a variety of topics: from the state of our economy to the proliferation of content in the age of information overload, we begin to understand what brought us to this point in the 21st century. Better yet, we'll examine the core values behind America's left wing progressive movement and right wing conservative movement. Will our leaders start to call for unity or will they call for something far more sinister? 

Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes.

This week, Brooklyn took center stage in the Fight the Oligarchy Tour as Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani teamed up for a town hall that brought national populism and local affordability into the same conversation. Bernie hammered home the urgency of confronting wealth inequality and ensuring every American can live a dignified life, while Zohran tied that fight directly to New York’s crushing costs of housing, transit, and survival. Their messages fused into a shared vision of fairness in a city that feels increasingly out of reach.

But while Brooklyn was talking justice, Washington was moving in the opposite direction. On September 8th, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of ICE’s use of racial profiling in deportation enforcement in California, a decision that critics say enshrines discrimination into law. We unpack what this ruling means for immigrant communities, civil rights, and the already fragile state of American democracy.

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

In this week's episode, we captured the latest breaking news from Tuesday, September 2, 2025, hence why it's out a little later than normal. The winds of New York politics are certainly shifting. 

In the mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani has surged to the front of the polls, and with fresh endorsements from the Staten Island and Bronx Democrats—who once backed Andrew Cuomo—his path to victory looks clearer by the day. We break down what to expect in the coming months as Mamdani’s coalition grows. 

Meanwhile, Congressman Jerry Nadler has announced he won’t seek re-election, opening the door for a crowded, high-stakes battle over his influential Manhattan seat. 

Finally, we dive into the digital trenches: Taylor Lorenz’s reporting in Wired exposes how the content creator collective Chorus took funding from the liberal dark money powerhouse Sixteen Thirty Fund. We unpack Chorus’s mission, the shadowy origins of the Sixteen Thirty Fund, and what this means for the future of progressive creators trying to build influence online.

Thanks for supporting Not Suitable for Democracy; we're committed to delivering fresh content that's independent of the status quo by not accepting any money or creative input from any political party or political group.

Did you enjoy this week's episode? Let us know your thoughts on Instagram! Follow us at @NSFD_Pod. Catch new episodes every Tuesday (ish).

This week, we trace the political cartography shaping America’s future. Texas Republicans passed their new congressional maps, disenfranchising Democratic voters while enabling Trump & his billionaire buddies' agenda. 

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom promotes his own redistricting plan with video ads & press conferences, ultimately leaving it up to voters to decide in a special election. Newsom fights fire with fire as he unleashes a barrage of epic tweets trolling Donald Trump.

Then we bring it home to New York City politics: the latest mayoral fundraising numbers set the stage for a high-stakes general election, Eric Adams stumbles into yet another scandal courtesy of Winnie Greco’s infamous bag of potato chips, and Democratic nominee for Mayor, Zohran Mamdani makes history—and local politics—cool again with a scavenger hunt! From maps to tweets to mayors, we discuss what is and what is not suitable for democracy.

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

In this episode, we dig into how political power is being reshaped by redistricting battles across the country. From Texas Republicans pushing through gerrymandered maps at Donald Trump’s urging to secure five additional House seats, to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s controversial “Election Rigging Response Act,” the fight over who draws the lines is anything but neutral.

Host, Nick, takes a deep dive into gerrymandering. From how it works to how it started, you'll learn exactly how important this fight for democracy truly is.

We also look at Governor Kathy Hochul’s call to redraw New York’s congressional districts—and explore how efforts to lock in more moderate Democratic seats could unintentionally undercut progressive leaders like Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. What happens when the lines meant to reflect democracy are instead drawn to contain it?

Plus, Kamala Harris weighs in on Texas Democrats. Then Nick shares his outlook for the 2026 Midterm Elections and 2028 Democratic Primaries.

New episodes drop every Tuesday!