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? Do you appreciate my fusion of political science, history, data, and current events? I can’t make this content without YOUR support. Support Indie media by subscribing to The Cycle- On Share the gift of knowledge to someone who needs it! Share…

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? Do you appreciate my fusion of political science, history, data, and current events? I can’t make this content without YOUR support. Support Indie media by subscribing to The Cycle 👇 Already a subscriber? Why are you hoarding this all to yourself. SHARE damn it! 👇 Share…

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! Hello! Are you enjoying This is America? This pod is hosted on The Cycle On Substack- a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I don’t need your extra time but I do need you to share this pod with your friends and family and then ask them to share it with THEIR friends and family. Without love in the dream it will never come true. Share…

Checked In for the Checked Out This week Rachel and Aaron take a tumble through the spin cycle of Donald Trump's second full week in office, which included chaos and confusion, a stock market nose-dive, another off-the-rails news conference, pissed off allies, economic uncertainty and threats of a new consumer tax. They also take the temperature on batshit crazy Senate confirmation hearings and share some thoughts about the incoming leader of the DNC. Links: Letter to senators from Caroline Kennedy re: her cousin Bobby Our Book: Hit 'Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game (Crown, 2024) The Cycle on Substack Like what you hear??? Tell your friends and family about it! Share 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 dive into the deliberately exhausting 'shock and awe' strategy by Trump 2.0, drawing comparisons to the "Working Toward the Fuhrer" strategy of 1930s Germany. They also discuss a powerful warning from the New York Times, coffee, inflation, shrinkflation, what you need to know about ongoing confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate, and some tough love from... The Daily Show. The Cycle- On Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thanks for reading The Cycle- On Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share…

History does not replicate like DNA, but it echoes. It's echoing now. Welcome to This is America Episode 1: Oh shit, there goes the neighborhood

If you’ve been following the transition of the Republican Party from the party of Reagan into whatever the hell it is now you’ll know that the once “useful idiots” of the Republican Party, the Christian Right, now rule the party and they have big plans for Trump 2.0. As Dr. Taylor points out in our interview about his book The Violent Take it by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening our Democracy , for all the attention January 6th received, a key part of that story has been largely ignored. Along with bear spray, confederate flags, and combat gear, Christian nationalist iconography was all over the insurrection. In fact, you might remember watching this motley crew of Trump loyalists anointing their violent take over of our nation’s heart of democracy with a group prayer. You may also remember the 2023 reporting that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito flew something called The Appeal to Heaven Flag many of us were introduced to for the first time on January 6th flying at the highest peak of the Alito family flag poll at various points since 2020. Even worse, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson flies on on his office door right there in Capitol Hill. And worse yet, our likely Trumpian Defense Secretary is an out and proud Christian Nationalist who, I shit you not, is a fan of the Crusades. THE CRUSADES. So what in the hell does it all mean??! What are these religious fanatics planning for the rest of us? That’s why I’ve brought Matthew D. Taylor, a senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies on for a conversation about the Christian Nationalist movement and what we should expect from them as they ascend to power for the first time in American history. Don’t miss this conversation because the survival of the separation of church and state depends on it.…