This episode is sponsored by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/notkidding to try it for free.

This week's 'We're Not Kidding' guest thinks "hot people" have been excluded from politics for too long — and it's time to change that.

Mary Beth Barone is a New York City comedian, actor, socialist, and early supporter of Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign. But before that, she was raised in a Republican household and thought George W. Bush was cool when she was in fifth grade. Mary Beth joined Mehdi in NYC to talk about her political character arc, her new Netflix standup special 'Galaxy Brain', and how the Democratic party can do better.

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Credits:

Hosted by Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Mary Beth Barone

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Producer: Melanie Riehl

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

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This episode is sponsored by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/notkidding to try it for free.

"How is it that a 34 year-old Turkish-American socialist Twitch streamer is now a kingmaker in the Democratic Party of the United States?"

Hasan Piker says he can take the heat. The famous political commentator has spent the past several months as the primary target of the Democratic party establishment for what they claim are his repugnant views. According to Hasan, the real reason is the success of the broader left movement that he has been a vocal advocate for.

Now, he sits down with Mehdi in Washington, D.C. to talk about becoming a "lightning rod" and the recent Democratic primaries shaking up the political landscape, like the upcoming Michigan Senate primary between the AIPAC-backed Haley Stevens and the progressive Abdul El-Sayed. The polls are close, the money is overwhelming (Stevens has a 12-1 spending advantage over El-Sayed), yet Hasan explains why he thinks "this race will shock the world."

They also get into the whole Tucker Carlson debate. Is Tucker setting up JD Vance for 2028, or is he planning his own presidential run? Hasan and Mehdi unpack whether the right-wing Christian nationalist can be a trusted ally on Gaza and Israel.

The Hasans also discuss:

• Socialism's rising popularity in the U.S.

• Hasan being targeted by both Democrats and Republicans.

• Accusations of antisemitism.

• Mehdi's appearance on the PBD podcast.

• Marco Rubio vs. JD Vance.

• The hypocrisy of Joe Rogan and Bill Maher.

• And which Democrat Hasan wants to run in 2028…

This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

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Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Hasan Piker

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

Special thanks to: Aaliyah Haque

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This episode is sponsored by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/notkidding to try it for free.

Stephen Miller's baldness. Donald Trump's theater career. Alexi "DEI hire" Lalas. South African racists. Inept autocrats. Baby Hitler. Osama Bin Laden's favorite soccer team.

These are just a few of the many topics that Mehdi and Adam Friedland talked about on the new episode of 'We're Not Kidding'. The comedian and host of the wildly popular YouTube talk show, 'The Adam Friedland Show', sat down with Mehdi in New York City for a chaotic yet vulnerable conversation about Israel, U.S. politics, and some of Adam's most viral interviews. But first, Mehdi needed to argue about the World Cup.

Even though they come from different backgrounds, Mehdi and Adam bond over their shared profession of interviewing defensive politicians. One of Adam's most viral interviews, with Bronx Congressman Ritchie "AIPAC Guy" Torres, was of particular interest to Mehdi. "You got very emotional there. Did he make you like that? Did the situation in Gaza make you like that?" Mehdi asks.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The two also discuss:

• Adam's family history in South Africa.

• How Stephen Miller might have turned into a fascist (he and Adam went to school together).

• Trump's influence on the World Cup.

• Adam's experience working in an Israeli ambulance service.

• Getting Scott Jennings to admit he's a "performer."

• Whether Adam should run for president.

• And many, many, many, other things…

This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

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Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Adam Friedland

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Producer: Melanie Riehl

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

Special Thanks: Andrew McDonald

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Mehdi and Wajahat Ali have been friends for almost two decades. And just like with any good friend, there's a lot the two don't agree on, from who they think the best Bond actor is to whether there are alliances the left can make with the far-right on Israel. But one thing they do stand together on is just how vital immigrants are to America.

In fact, it's the premise of Waj's memoir, Go Back to Where You Came From, which he calls both a "love letter to a country that doesn't love us back" and a "warning to a country about what happens when you go against the immigrants." Waj discusses his experience growing up as the child of Pakistani immigrants and Mehdi chimes in with his experience being an immigrant to the U.S.

They also talk about America at 250 and the dueling 4th of July speeches between Zohran Mamdani (very good!) and Donald Trump (very bad!). "There were MAGA people on the mall who told journalists that it was 'liberals in the weather service' trying to ruin the Trump speech on Saturday night," Mehdi says. "They literally see the storm destroying the sets and they're like, 'We don't believe the liberals in the weather service.'" Waj says. "It's a cult, man."

In this intimate and hilarious conversation, the two also discuss:

• Waj's parents being sent to prison.

• Donald Trump intervening in the World Cup.

• Extremism in the U.S. versus the UK.

• The rise of Islamophobia.

• And… the Epstein Files.

This interview was published several days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan

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Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Wajahat Ali

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

Special thanks: Kennedy Garmong

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This episode is sponsored by Shopify. To get their $1/month trial, go to https://shopify.com/mehdi

When it comes to 'We're Not Kidding' guests, Mehdi has sat down with multiple, multi-talented, multi-hyphenates — but none have been as multi as today's guest. Nina Kharoufeh is a Palestinian-American, a hijab-wearing Muslim, a standup comedian, an amateur boxer, and a children's book author. But if you ask Nina, she'd likely say her most important role is being an outspoken defender of Palestine. She joined Mehdi in DC to talk about her eclectic career journey and the backlash she's received for criticizing Israel since Oct. 7.

Nina is also the author of the children's book 'I'm a Princess Too' about a young Muslim girl who gets cast as a princess in the school play but then is bullied by her peers for wearing a hijab. On top of all of that, Nina is also an amateur boxer who has competed in fights at Madison Square Garden. "If you could challenge anyone in the world to a fight, who would it be?" Mehdi asks. "Amy Schumer," Nina says.

The two also discuss:

• Nina's time working at SiriusXM and (gulp!) FOX News.

• Why it's always OK to "play the Muslim card."

• DJ Khaled's silence on Israel's genocide in Gaza.

• Getting caught going to a pro-Palestine rally by her mom when she was 12.

• Whether George W. Bush was better than Donald Trump.

• How Mehdi turned up in the Epstein files (it's not bad, we promise!)…

This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan

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Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Nina Kharoufeh

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer: Frank Cappello

Editor: Liam Mann

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

Special thanks: Randa Jumean

To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit

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The 2028 U.S. presidential election is just over two years away — which means we already have to start talking about it.

In a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' in New York City, Mehdi was joined by author, political commentator, and host of the 'Fast Politics' podcast Molly Jong-Fast, where they sought to answer the one burning question of every politics (and comic book) nerd: Which of the Democratic presidential hopefuls has the greatest superpower – and what is their 'Kryptonite' that could tank their candidacy?

Together, they break down Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's celebrity status, who the sleeper hit of the Democratic primary could be, and discuss why, if she runs, Kamala Harris will probably lose…again. "When you lose, shouldn't you just go away?" Mehdi asks. "That's why I think [Kamala Harris] is not going to run again," Molly says.

They also take questions from the live audience in New York on whether social media is to blame for young people being drawn in by right-wing pundits like Tucker Carlson, why the media rarely covers labor issues, and whether Trump has an exit strategy in Iran (spoiler: he doesn't).

The two also discuss:

• The Jan. 6 rioters' billion-dollar payout from the Trump administration.

• Marco Rubio and JD Vance's 'Apprentice'-style tryout for Trump's backing in 2028.

• How much right-wing political content is actually astroturfed.

This episode was co-produced by On Air Fest and On Air Presents as part of their yearlong programming.

This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

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Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan

Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Molly Jong-Fast

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer: Frank Cappello

Editor: Liam Mann

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit

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This episode is sponsored by Incogni. For 60% off your first order, go to https://incogni.com/mehdi

Would you be surprised to find out that one of the leading investigators into the cryptocurrency industry is… a former teen heartthrob from the early 2000s TV series 'The O.C.'? Ben McKenzie became famous for playing bad boy Ryan Atwood in the hit 2003 drama, but he may end up being remembered for his work investigating and speaking out against the opaque crypto industry.

Ben is the writer, director, and star of the new documentary, 'Everyone Is Lying To You For Money', which documents his years-long look into the scammy, fraudulent, and oftentimes criminal world of cryptocurrency. He met up with Mehdi in Washington D.C. to talk about his new film and what drove him to make it. Mehdi and Ben unpack the film's globetrotting story — from Miami, to El Salvador, to London — as Ben follows the (figurative) money. Ben explains what exactly cryptocurrency is and uncovers why its evangelists want you to buy it so badly.

The two also discuss:

• How 'The O.C.' introduced an entire generation to class politics.

• Why Ben is supporting Brad Lander for Congress over Dan Goldman.

• If taking corporate PAC money should be a litmus test for Democrats.

• Which Democrats have a shot at the presidency in 2028…

This interview was published 10 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan

Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Ben McKenzie

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

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This episode is sponsored by Ellydee. To sign up, go to ellydee.ai/mehdi

Riz Ahmed is the man of the moment. The Oscar and Emmy award-winning actor is currently on the press tour for not one but two new projects: his TV series 'Bait', and a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. But the tour wouldn't be complete without joining his former school mate and fellow school play actor Mehdi for a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' in New York City. The two dig into Riz's new roles, the state of Muslim representation in popular culture, and making political art. They also take questions from the audience, but first they share a few choice anecdotes from their teenage years.

The two also discuss:

• Neil Patrick Harris' recent ridiculous comments about making "apolitical" art.

• Why "getting in the room" doesn't matter if you let the room change you.

• The lasting significance of his films 'Four Lions' and 'The Long Goodbye' given the UK far-right political scene.

• And how Riz got banned… from UK grocery store Tesco's!

They also take questions from the audience about why some Muslim entertainers have stayed silent on Gaza, the best ways to resist fascism, the power of political storytelling, and whether Riz's aunties call him up to chastise him about some of his.. erm… spicier on-camera scenes.

This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends

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Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Riz Ahmed

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

Special thanks to: Stephen Wentzell & Leena Fraihat

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It's been six months (!) since Bassem Youssef joined Mehdi for an episode of 'We're Not Kidding', and since then Israel has started two new wars, right-wing podcasters have turned on Donald Trump over his war with Iran, and centrist Democrats have mounted a cancellation campaign against leftist streamer Hasan Piker. But before they get to any of that, they dig into Epstein and Mehdi's viral interview with the so-called "Professor Jiang," the two get into a friendly argument over which terms and ideas qualify as religious tropes and how the weaponization of antisemitism by Zionists has diluted the meaning of the word.

The two also debate whether right-wingers like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson can be trusted allies for calling out Israel's genocide in Gaza and Donald Trump's war with Iran, or if they're just opportunists who see the writing on the wall for the MAGA movement. "Why don't you like Candace Owens or Tucker Carlson?" Bassem asks Mehdi, who explains his position on the two.

The two also discuss:

• Zionists cracking down on free speech and civil liberties.

• Why "Pax Judaica" is an antisemitic trope and "Greater Israel" is not.

• US citizen Moshe Katz who recently died in Lebanon fighting for the Israeli military.

• Why Bill Maher is… just the worst.

This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan

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Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Bassem Youssef

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

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If you're as terminally online as the rest of us at Zeteo, you may have noticed that conservative podcasters are at war with each other. Ben Shapiro is attacking Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson is attacking Ben Shapiro, and everyone is attacking Mark Levin. So for this week's 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by Krystal Ball, co-host of the massively popular online news show 'Breaking Points', to unpack all of the MAGA drama.

The two also get into how Donald Trump's disastrous war with Iran is creating even MORE rifts within the Republican party, Israel and Netanyahu's role in instigating the war, and why we shouldn't totally trust defectors like Trump's now former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent. "They are very comfortable saying, 'Israel, Israel, Israel. It's all Israel's fault,'" Krystal says. "But at the end of the day, this is Donald Trump's war. He's not a baby. He's the most powerful man on the planet."

The two also discuss:

• Krystal's famous hardball interview with Sen. Elissa Slotkin.

• How AIPAC's brand has become "completely toxic" with Democratic voters.

• Why podcasts will be important for 2028 presidential candidates.

• And whether Gavin Newsom will be brave enough to appear on 'Mehdi Unfiltered' or 'Breaking Points'...

Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan

Credits:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Krystal Ball

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera

Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali

To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit

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