Simon and Julie join John for another segment of We’re Still Here. They dig into a disturbing new report revealing that Trump-era officials pushed to remove books on slavery, Native history, and even George Washington from national park gift shops, all in the name of “patriotism.”

Then they turn to Arkansas, where a whites-only settlement is quietly building a “fortress for the white race” under the banner of “returning to the land.” Yes, it’s 2025. No, you didn’t misread that.

But it’s not all grim news: the House has approved $8.4 billion for the Indian Health Service, with advance appropriations that could offer much-needed stability for Native healthcare—if it survives the political storm ahead.

They unpack all of it with humor, fire, and a healthy dose of listener calls.

Simon Moya-Smith - instagram.com/simonsaidtakeapic threads.com/@simonsaidtakeapic

Julie’s Substack “The Fire I Keep” https://substack.com/@juliefrancella?r=1u83jb&utm_medium=ios

Check out Julie's artwork on her website - juliefrancella.com 

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John discusses the dire situation in Gaza under Israel's assault as Palestinian children are perishing each day from malnutrition. The World Health Organization warned that the "health and well-being of an entire future generation" was at stake. Then, he speaks with the Managing Director of Strategic Resource Group - Burt Flickinger about Trump’s recent policy of reciprocal tariffs which are now going into effect and Sydney Sweeney's controversial American Eagle 'Good Jeans' ad. And then John chats with Ahmed Baba who is the founder of the bestselling Substack newsletter AhmedBaba.News and a columnist at The Independent. They discuss his new piece entitled "Trump's New Epstein Comments Contradict the Timeline & Raise Troubling Questions".

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John discusses Trump announcing workplace rules that stand to make it easier for federal employees to pressure their colleagues to convert to their religion of choice. He also talks about the Senate voting to confirm Emil Bove as a judge on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, granting a lifetime appointment to Trump's former personal lawyer. Then, he jokes with actor, director, and podcast star Bob Cesca about the Jeffrey Epstein debacle and of course current movies and Star Trek shows. Next, John speaks with The God Squad featuring former pastor Desimber Rose and theologian Dillan Naber Cruz. They talk about Trump's new Christian work place rules and other disruptions to the separation of church and state. Then finally, he chats with legal analyst Dr. Tracy Pearson and they take calls from the Evil Army of the Night on Emil Bove, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell.

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Max Burns guest hosts. He has a mixed bag of topics...1. NYPD says a note found on the gunman who killed 4 in a midtown Manhattan skyscraper blamed his actions on traumatic brain injuries caused by football and the inaction of the NFL, whose headquarters he sought. 2. The head of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the NSA's deputy director have been fired. The firings were described as abrupt and occurred after reports of pressure from right-wing activist Laura Loomer who had accused the officials of disloyalty. 3. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is rumored to be quitting his current post to run for office in Tennessee. 4.  Immigration Czar Tom Homan gave out some very back of the napkin math on the people his goon squads are rounding up and disappearing from the country. 5. Trump told reporters he had a falling out with Jeffrey Epstein over underage spa workers at Mar a Lago being recruited into his sexual predator enterprise. Then, Max speaks with Elaine Godfrey who is a staff writer at The Atlantic. She covers national politics. Her latest reporting documents the kind of leadership, issue-advocacy and grit the modern Democratic party needs to survive the Second Age of Donald Trump – as typified by Texan Jasmine Crockett. Next, he interviews Zoë Towns who is the Executive Director at Forward Dot U-S, where she launched the criminal justice reform portfolio in 2017 - defining its advocacy, policy, research, and philanthropic agenda. In her years since, Zoë has overseen administrative, ballot, electoral, and legislative criminal justice reform campaigns in states across the country and at the federal level. And finally, Max chats with the National Affairs correspondent for The Nation - John Nichols about current news and all things in Trumpland.

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Democratic Strategist Max Burns Guest hosts. He gives details on the latest Jeffrey Epstein/ Ghislaine Maxwell news. Then, he speaks with Joe Donnelly who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See from 2022 until the start of the second Trump administration. Previously, he represented Indiana in the U.S. Senate from 2013 to 2019. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives (2007–13). Next, he interviews Brian J. Karem who is an award-winning investigative reporter, writer, producer, veteran, bestselling true crime author, and former correspondent for America's Most Wanted. Catch his podcast Just Ask The Question. His most recent book is Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It. And finally, Max chats with  Jared Yates Sexton who is the author of American Rule, The Man They Wanted Me to Be, and The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore. His political writing has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The New Republic, Politico, and Salon.com. Sexton is also the host of The Muckrake podcast, the author of three collections of fiction.

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This time John discusses Trump's new rule that Government contractors have to promise that they don't use paper straws in their business and promise not to penalize the use of plastic ones. He also talks about the gay makeup artist - Andry José Hernández Romero - who was deported to a prison in El Salvador after seeking asylum in the US - then being sent back to Venezuela in a prisoner swap deal. Next, he interviews Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Karen Elliott House who was also a former managing editor at The Wall Street Journal. They talk about her new book "The Man Who Would Be King: Mohammed bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia". And finally, John chats with content creator, historian, and best selling author Sam Kelly about his new book "Human History on Drugs: An Utterly Scandalous but Entirely Truthful Look at History Under the Influence".

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This week, Simon and Julie joined John to unpack Trump’s latest dog whistles—first, his public push for Washington and Cleveland’s sports teams to revert to their former names, dismissing the harm those names caused Indigenous communities. Then, we dove into the controversy over the Trump-era Department of Homeland Security tweeting what appears to be a white supremacist slogan. We took a lot of powerful calls from listeners who shared their thoughts, questions, and lived experiences. 

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John discusses the premiere episode of South Park. After signing a $1.5 billion deal with Paramount, Trey Parker and Matt Stone roasted the president—and made fun of their own network’s settlement with Trump. He also talks about Deputy Atty General Todd Blanche spending most of the day interviewing Ghislaine Maxwell, whom House Republicans suggest should receive a shortened sentence for helping clear their idol’s good name. He also discusses Trump arguing with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during his tour of the Fed’s $2.5 billion renovation. Then, he interviews democratic strategist and State Chair for the Texas Democratic Party - Kendall Scudder. Kendall has dedicated himself to helping elect Democratic candidates across the state and improved financial transparency and strategic planning within the Texas Democratic Party in his elected role as Vice Chair for Finance. And then finally, John speaks with Dave Zirin who writes about the politics of sports for The Nation magazine. You can catch his stellar reporting and fantastic interviews any time at Edge of Sports on YouTube, as well as through his website EdgeofSports.com. They discuss the ugly history and background of Hulk Hogan who passed away July 24th at the age of 71.

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John discusses Tulsi Gabbard who used the White House Press Briefing to uncork her Obama/Russia conspiracy – accusing the former President of trying to preventing Donald Trump from winning the 2016 election. He also talks about President Macron of France filing a defamation suit against right-wing grifter supreme Candace Owens, who has repeatedly claimed Mrs. Macron was transgender. And speaking of France, he also discusses U.S. funded contraceptives worth nearly $10 million being sent to France from Belgium to be incinerated, after Washington rejected offers from the United Nations and family planning organizations to buy or ship the supplies to poor nations. Then, podcast star Bob Cesca is back to joke about Trump, Epstein, and of course Star Trek. And winding it up, The God Squad = Desimber Rose and Dillon Cruz return to talk about the intersection of religion and politics.

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John remembers the late great Ozzy Osbourne who passed away at the age of 76. Then, he discusses the House ending its session early for a month-long break. This decision comes after Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly lost control of the House Rules Committee and amidst Republican clashes over a potential vote on the release of Jeffrey Epstein files. And he talks about Trump selling a new version of an old lie, calling Russia meddling charges leveled by Tulsi Gabbard clear evidence of treason by Pres. Obama and then-VP Biden. Next, he speaks with Professor Corey Brettschneider and they break down Trump’s latest disinformation attacks against Obama, the erosion of free speech rights for noncitizens critical of Israel, and the DOJ’s troubling loss in the Harvard funding case. Then, he interviews DR. Phillip Polakoff on the crisis level of inequality in the accessibility and quality of healthcare in the U.S. And lastly, John welcomes back comedian Keith Price to joke with listeners about trending topics and politics.

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