America's Fractured Politics
This is a podcast for listeners who are passionate about politics, policy and the future of our nation. It is different-it not only describes the problems we face but offers real solutions.
I'm an attorney, a longtime Democratic activist and Capitol Hill staffer. I'm passionate about politics myself, and I hope you'll join me on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Episodes
83 episodes
How a Presidency Becomes a Regime
One year into Trump's second term and we have been transformed into an effective dictatorship. Hear how it happened and what we can do, individually and collectively, to reclaim our republic.
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Season 1
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Episode 83
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12:05
The Four Potential Endgames for Iran
The Iran conflict continues unabated, with no exit strategy for the United States. In this episode, I explore four potential endgames. All are fraught with danger and only political will from all sides can lead to an exit ramp that creates an u...
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Season 1
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Episode 82
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25:21
A Republic of One: The Court, the President, and the Fight Over Administrative Power
This episode explores the current term of the Supreme Court, the cases, their meaning, especially for addressing the administrative power of the president and his ability to fire federal employees at will.
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Season 1
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Episode 81
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10:51
From Watchdog to Warning Sign: How America Joined Backsliding Democracies
International organizations have classified America as a backsliding democracy. Thanks to Donald Trump and his acolytes, we have lost our ability to serve as a beacon for the rest of the world. Please join me as we explore what happened to our ...
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Season 1
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Episode 80
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16:39
The Destruction of Lebanon
Benjamin Netanyahu is not defending Israel. He is gambling with its future—and with Lebanon’s survival—to save his own political skin. What he calls a security strategy is, in truth, a rolling catastrophe written in rubble, displacement, and de...
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Season 1
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Episode 79
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14:41
Iran's Invisible Battlefield: The Growing Cyber Threat to America
Iran's cyber warfare capability is a threat to the United States in the best of times. In the situation we find ourselves today, the threat is exacerbated a hundred fold.
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Season 1
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Episode 78
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16:11
The Myth of Isolationism in an Age of Great Power Politics
Donald Trump has effectively isolated America from the rest of the world. Except for the fact that he is willing to engage the world at the point of a gun. Join me as we explore the effects of isolationism on the United States, and n the rest o...
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Season 1
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Episode 77
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11:34
Trump's War of Choice
This episode explores Trump's phony claims about why he and Bibi Netanyahu attacked Iran, the implications for both the Middle East and the United States and above all, what must be done by Congress and the American people to stop this vicious ...
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Season 1
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Episode 76
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18:04
The Delusion of Trump's "Golden Age" and How the Myth Ends
The State of the Union was classic Trump gaslighting. Join me as I explore the myth behind the "Golden Age" and how it ends.
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Season 1
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Episode 75
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15:53
Rockbridge, Claremont, SACR and the New Authoritarian Right
Rockbridge, Claremont and SACR represent the most dangerous threat to democracy we know. Trump may be the bete noire now, but the project of these organizations is built to last. Join me as we explore each of them, who they are, how they functi...
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Season 1
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Episode 74
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19:16
This Electoral System Is Not Sustainable: Here Are Some Ways To Fix It
Citizens United exacerbated an already corrupt electoral system. Here is what is happening, what it means and what we can do about it. It is a no-holds-barred indictment of a system that has rendered our votes nearly irrelevant, leavened by an ...
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12:50
The Elections Of 1864 And 2026: The Challenges Are Different But The Stakes Are As Existential Today As They Were Then
In this episode we explore the similarities and differences between the elections of 1864 and 2026. Both elections represent existential periods, but in different ways. Listen to how Lincoln navigated a free election during a war, and about our...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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14:57
How to Make it Hard for Trump to Tamper with the 2026 Election
We worry-rightly-that Trump will prevent free and fair elections in November. This episode discusses in detail the things we-all of us-can do to keep our elections free and fair in the face of a man who will lie, cheat and steal in order to win...
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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12:29
Palantir: What it is and Why it is So Dangerous
Palantir has been around since 2003. But under the Trump regime, it has become the literal brain behind myriad government actions. In this episode, I discuss Palantir's origins, how it insinuated itself into the bowels of government, the gross ...
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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19:25
The Supreme Court and the 2026 Election
This November we will vote again. This episode will discuss how the Supreme Court puts its thumb on the scale for the Republicans. We will never truly have free and fair elections until they and the Court are put in their places.
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Season 1
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Episode 69
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21:15
Trump, Fixed Elections and the Future of Our Democracy
Donald Trump's trial balloon about nationalizing elections must be taken seriously. In this episode, we address what that would entail, what the opposition would like and what we can do about it. Time is growing short.
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Season 1
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Episode 68
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14:46
The Supreme Court Has No Business Taking Up Birthright Citizenship
The Trump v. Barbara birthright citizenship case should never been granted certiorari. In this episode, we'll address what is the real agenda.
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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15:44
The Rockbridge Network: A Dangerous Republican High-Tech Project 2025
The Rockbridge Network: The New, High-Tech Face of Radical Republican PowerWelcome to America’s Fractured Politics—the show that pulls back the curtain on the hidden forces reshaping our democracy. Hosted by Washington, DC attorney and l...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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19:32
The Myth of Guardrails
The Supreme Court and Congress are not guardrails. In fact, there are no guardrails. Hear how they collapsed, and ideas on how to restore them.
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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14:06
Donald Trump's War on the Judiciary and What it Means to the Nation
Join longtime attorney Marc Friedman and me as we delve into Trump's war on the judicial branch and what it means for all of us.
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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35:48
A Conversation: Mark Mansour and J.W. Mansour
Join J.W. Mansour and me for a stimulating, thought-provoking and wide-ranging discussion about Minneapolis, Greenland, Iran, Trump's activities, AI and a host of other issues.
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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49:40
A Conversation: Mark Mansour and Ramona Grigg
Join author Ramona Grigg and me as we discuss current events, writing and life in general.
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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33:14
Cold Blooded Murder in Minneapolis
The murder by an ICE agent of Renee Nicole Good on a Minneapolis street is a moment of truth. Will we and our political leaders rise to the occasion, or will this horrific tragedy be forgotten in a few weeks? We are at an inflection point, and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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11:14
The Fourth Amendment and "Smart Policing"
Every day, countless times, law enforcement uses predictive tools, AI and other means to track citizens' activities. This episode explores the how, and the profound effect on the Fourth Amendment.
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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10:06
We Cannot Allow Billionaires and Trillionaires to Decide How AI is Regulated (Or Not)
A small cadre of billionaires (and one trillionaire) hold in their hands the future of AI, and in the process our futures. This episode explores who these people are, what they want and why we should want no part of it.
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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11:37