As another texting scandal jolts the Pentagon into “full-blown meltdown,” Rachel earns national attention for her internet sleuthing skills and gets vindicated in the aftermath of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Plus, she and Aaron take a close look at the first rule in fighting tyranny… and share a masterclass from a European internet troll.

LINKS:

* Politico Opinion: Former Top Pentagon Spokesperson Details ‘Month From Hell’ Inside the Agency

* The Daily Beast: Rachel catches bad White House photoshop job

* George Carlin: Methods of Execution

* SplitTicket.org tweet: The story of Wisconsin's Supreme Court election was turnout

* Timothy Snyder on Substack: Obeying in Advance

* European Parliament Member Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy trolls Trump’s New York

* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game

* The Cycle on Substack

The Cycle- On Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This week Rachel and Aaron change up the format to take a deep dive into the arrest and deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, imprisoned in El Salvador without due process despite a U.S. Supreme Court order to “facilitate” his return.

The case has chilling parallels to what happened in Germany between 1933 and 1945. This is a warning from history worth understanding.

In Nazi Germany the Gestapo didn't even have to watch everyone: your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even family members had the power to destroy you. Much of the terror came from not knowing, you know, who was watching or listening. History doesn't replicate like DNA but it does repeat.

LINKS

* The Persecution and Murder of the European Jews by Nazi Germany, 1933–1945

* Full news conference: Trump and President Bukele of El Salvador

* Rep. Steven Horsford blasts U.S. trade rep after Trump tariff pause

* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game

Trump’s planned destruction of America’s economy is a pivotal political moment. This week Rachel and Aaron offer advice for “normies” who are just now waking up to the mess. Plus, a reading of the tea leaves after the recent special elections, how to send us your best signs for this month’s next nationwide protests, and why was this week’s show a little late? We’ve got an exciting reason!

LINKS:

* The 50501 Movement (April 19th protests)

* Sen. Rand Paul’s resolution to “Reassert Congressional Authority Over Tax Policy”

* Project 2025 Tracker

It's Election Day! Will it be a difficult one for MAGA in Wisconsin and Florida? Plus, Rachel and Aaron get into the nitty gritty over Third Term Gate… and Signal Gate. The Trump Tax, er “Liberation Day,” prompts Aaron to move up his car shopping timeline. Musk gives away millions. And what's the one issue voters associate most with the Democratic Party? The answer may surprise you...

LINKS:

* NBC News: Trump won’t rule out seeking a third term in the White House

* The Intercept: In Trump’s America, You Can Be Disappeared for Writing an Op-Ed

* The Tufts Daily: Op-ed coauthored by Rümeysa Öztürk

* The Cycle on Substack: Voters Have No Idea What Democrats Stand For

* The New York Times: Marine Le Pen Barred From French Presidential Run After Embezzlement Ruling

* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game

This week Rachel and Aaron chase the firetrucks to the dumpster fire of the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress who’re trying to defend it. How do you explain an unprecedented security breach involving secret war plans accidentally shared with a news editor? Where do voters draw a line in the sand? Plus, a closer look at why Elon Musk is trying to break the Overton Window. And are spring breakers really this… dumb?

LINKS:

* The Atlantic: The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

* New York Times: Musk Is Positioned to Profit Off Billions in New Government Contracts

* Campaign Website: Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court

* Greenland’s Prime Minister: “Taking over our country over our heads”

* CNN: Angry voters confront GOP lawmaker at town hall in Washington

* LibertyHangout.tv on YouTube: Spring Breakers Fail American History Trivia

* Rachel at The Cycle: What is the Overton Window and Why is Elon Musk Breaking It?

* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game

This week Rachel and Aaron explore the good, the bad and the ugly. Why is Schumer’s vote to keep the government open an important political move? What prompted a pissed-off federal judge to issue an order from the bench? And what do the latest poll numbers mean for Trump 2.0? Plus: adios, habeas corpus. And we drop into a fiery town hall meeting in North Carolina’s bright red 11th Congressional District.

LINKS:

* Rachel on The Cycle: Never Interrupt Your Enemy When They Are Making a Mistake

* MSNBC: ‘A sham: Federal judge blasts Trump admin on improper firings of federal workers; orders rehiring

* Quinnipiac University Poll: Voters’ Ratings on Economy and Trump Dip

* NBC March 2025 Poll

* Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game

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As the Trump administration tanks the stock market and sends prices soaring even higher, Rachel and Aaron examine the stupid in “it’s the economy, stupid.” Europe reconsiders a new world leader while here at home, Republican politicians become snowflakes. Plus, a chilling observation from the New York Times’ chief White House correspondent, and how would Rachel have responded to Trump’s boring Joint Address to Congress?

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This week Rachel and Aaron cut through the noise as Elon's "Chainsaw for Democracy" cuts thousands of federal jobs, and as Steve "Prison Toady" Bannon massacres the Constitution--surprising even a fellow neo-Nazi. Trump's honeymoon is over though, according to public polling (surprise! Americans don't seem to care about DEI). And members of Congress face the music at public town halls, even in deep red districts.

LINKS:

* NPR: DOGE released data about federal contract savings. It doesn't add up

* Washington Post poll: Many of Trump’s early actions are unpopular

* CNN Poll: Americans worried by Trump’s push to expand power

* Wyomingite gives master class in "pivot, belittle, attack"

* Alarming scene from Republic of Gilead (Coeur d'Alene, ID)

* Hit 'Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game

This week Rachel and Aaron go behind the Resolute Desk with Elon, Donald and "X Æ A-XII." They untangle a "very weird 20 minutes" from failed comedian JD Vance in Munich, start the clock on Marco Rubio's tenuous tenure as Secretary of State, and shine light on the plain-sight quid-pro-quo between Trump's Justice Department and NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Oh... and how does Trump's controversial "Napoleon Dynamite" tweet compare to Hitler's rise in Fascist Germany?

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This week, Rachel and Aaron keep up with Trump 2.0's strategy of flooding the zone, resulting in a chaotic political and media environment that can only be described as "everything, everywhere, all at once."

They explore the parallels of what's happening now to the rise of Nazi Germany, particularly the "golden age of culture"--which MAGA America desperately wants to control.

Rachel and Aaron also discuss the threat of democracy falling apart when the Executive Branch refuses to listen to the Judicial Branch... at the encouragement of Vice President Vance. Buckle up!

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