Joe and Alex discuss how everything you've probably read about this week was a distraction from Trump's endgame. We all have to pay very, very close attention to what's happening behind the curtain. Why Trump's crypto capture scheme could be the biggest story in our lifetimes. And how social media is quickly becoming an arm of the state. TikTok, X, and now even Facebook... and why in the face of all Trump's distractions this week and beyond, Joe explains why we have to be more vigilant than ever.

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We're back with our last show of Joe Biden's presidency. Why Joe thinks the Gaza ceasefire is an American diplomatic triumph - not Trump's. And looking back at the last four years - why Joe Biden's grade is NOT an "incomplete." Trippi looks back and honestly grades the Biden presidency. And - looking back even farther - how do we make sure what happens next isn't just a flash in the pan?

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This might be the scariest fact we've ever seen about social media. You know it's bad, but this bad? And it explains a lot about how crazy political discussions have gotten online. 0.1% of users? No really. The amount of disinformation is staggering. And what does it do to our brains? Plus: What people miss when Trump lies. When we roll our eyes, we miss the point.

And - despite the challenges in front of us - why is Joe optimistic about how we can break out of the funhouse?

Read "Inside the funhouse mirror factory" here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352250X24001313

Read the Atlantic article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/01/january-6-justification-machine/681215/?gift=bcL26f46jRxbKrUp1kTCRFgu6En8nVf7xwPsSYEqCiU&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

And visit getrealnews.org.

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Joe starts the show by remembering Jimmy Carter with a story you've got to hear to believe. Of all the interactions with presidents Joe has had - why this one with President Carter has stuck with him. And our first look ahead to 2025 - what has Joe and Alex feeling optimistic going into the New Year? Hint: It's people like you listening to this...

Subscribe to Dan Gilmor's newsletter, "Cornerstone of Democracy" here: https://cornerstone.ghost.io/

Read Dan Froomkin's post on Trump and the press here: https://presswatchers.org/2024/12/trump-coverage-needs-to-change-and-heres-how/

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In the last show of 2024, Joe and Alex discuss a possible war with... checks notes... Greenland? Panama? It's just another day in the world of Trump. Why Joe thinks it's all governing by rally - and why it shows that the Trump coalition is still more fragile than many understand. Is Joe Manchin right? Is the Democratic brand toxic? Finally: What are Joe and Alex's bold predictions for 2025 and 2026 (and beyond?) Happy New Year everyone - see you in 2025!

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Trump's going off the rails. And there's nobody left to stop him. Why his lawsuits against ABC and Ann Selzer aren't only ridiculous - they're really dangerous. And those tax cuts? Why Joe and Alex aren't holding their breaths. And how about all those tariffs bringing down inflation and gas prices? Joe thinks this might be Trump's biggest lie of all time - and that's saying something. Finally - handing Elon the keys to the government - what could go wrong? Read Dan Gilmor's newsletter, Cornerstone of Democracy, here: https://cornerstone.ghost.io/essentials-december-17-2024/

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MAGA's mobilization continues. What can we do to fight back? Plus: Kari Lake at Voice of America? More yikes. And what's Joe's take on the latest from Syria? As we look ahead - what does Joe's ideal candidate for President look like for 2028? It's not a trick question. What do they need to be doing right now to build the strongest possible base? Joe has one piece of advice they can't ignore.

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How can we hold Trump accountable? That work starts now. What can we do about some of these insane nominees? Plus - Joe explains why the Trump coalition is much more fragile than many people realize. Why the next two years are a huge opportunity for yet another realignment - and why Democrats have to take advantage.

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Turns out, Joe called a lot of this... way back in 2008. Seriously. What does "the overthrow of everything" look like now? What can the pro-democracy movement learn from what MAGA has been able to build? Joe and Alex talk about the difference between "resistance" and "opposition" and why we have to start building the opposition yesterday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

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Yevgeny Simkin joins us today to discuss how social media shaped this election. Did the propaganda train win them this election? Does whoever control the information control the nation? He's also here to help promote the new social media platform that looks to overtake X, and it's called Sez.us. Simkin and Joe explain the importance of this app and the features that places Sez.us miles ahead of X.

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