Death, Sex & Money

The “Chest-Clenching Fear” of My Ex-Husband’s Jan 6 Commutation


Listen Later

In 2023, Anna and On The Media’s Micah Loewinger traveled to Montana to talk to Tasha Adams, the ex-wife of Stewart Rhodes, who founded the far-right paramilitary group, the Oath Keepers. Stewart had been charged with seditious conspiracy for his participation in the January 6 Capitol riots, and Tasha was eagerly awaiting sentencing: “I need him to stay locked away so my kids can legally cut contact with him when they’re 18.”

Tasha described their decades-long marriage, from their courtship in a ballroom dance class in Las Vegas, to abuse and isolation as Stewart became transfixed on politics and apocalyptic ideas. She and her six kids managed to escape in 2018. And shortly after our conversation there was some good news for Tasha: her divorce was finalized, and Stewart got a long sentence – 18 years. 

Then Trump was re-elected, and on his first day in office he issued nearly 1,500 pardons and commuted the sentences of 14 of his supporters in connection with Jan. 6. Among them was Stewart. 

This week we’re replaying our 2023 conversation with Tasha, as well as a portion of a follow-up conversation we recorded with her right before Trump’s inauguration.

Watch: Trailer for ‘King of the Apocalypse’ 

Podcast production by Zoe Azulay

Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus.

And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Death, Sex & MoneyBy Slate Podcasts

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

7,378 ratings


More shows like Death, Sex & Money

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,045 Listeners

Modern Love by The New York Times

Modern Love

8,833 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,890 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,473 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,675 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,224 Listeners

Invisibilia by NPR

Invisibilia

21,625 Listeners

Dear Sugars by WBUR

Dear Sugars

5,652 Listeners

Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Whistlestop: Presidential History and Trivia

1,376 Listeners

Slate Debates by Slate Podcasts

Slate Debates

2,844 Listeners

Hang Up and Listen by Slate Podcasts

Hang Up and Listen

997 Listeners

Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show by Slate Podcasts

Care and Feeding | Slate's parenting show

1,031 Listeners

Slate News by Slate Podcasts

Slate News

5,640 Listeners

Heavyweight by Pushkin Industries

Heavyweight

17,662 Listeners

Code Switch by NPR

Code Switch

14,633 Listeners

Thanks For Asking by Feelings & Co.

Thanks For Asking

13,277 Listeners

Slate Culture by Slate Podcasts

Slate Culture

1,874 Listeners

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel by Esther Perel Global Media

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

14,930 Listeners

Slate Health by Slate Podcasts

Slate Health

53 Listeners

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

2,077 Listeners

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future by Slate Podcasts

What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

243 Listeners

Slow Burn by Slate Podcasts

Slow Burn

23,910 Listeners

This is Love by Vox Media Podcast Network

This is Love

9,352 Listeners

Love Letters by The Boston Globe

Love Letters

1,327 Listeners

Slate Presents: One Year by Slate Podcasts

Slate Presents: One Year

1,284 Listeners

One Year by Slate Podcasts

One Year

1,198 Listeners

Culture Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Culture Gabfest

440 Listeners

Search Engine by PJ Vogt

Search Engine

4,484 Listeners

Hear Me Out by Slate Podcasts

Hear Me Out

60 Listeners

Well, Now by Slate Podcasts

Well, Now

48 Listeners

Navel Gazing by John Dickerson

Navel Gazing

97 Listeners

The Law According to Trump by Slate Podcasts

The Law According to Trump

5 Listeners

Standoff: What Happened at Ruby Ridge? by Slate Podcasts

Standoff: What Happened at Ruby Ridge?

131 Listeners

Slate's Audio Book Club by Slate Podcasts

Slate's Audio Book Club

0 Listeners

When We All Get To Heaven by Eureka Street Productions

When We All Get To Heaven

1 Listeners