The Systematic Vanishing of Competent Officials

John interviews New York Times bestselling author Jacob Silverman about his new piece in The Nation "Rise of the Crypto Keepers" which chronicles how the cryptocurrency industry continues to evade regulation. Then, he interviews journalist Candice Bernd about her latest investigative piece in The Nation "Texas' Crypto-Mining Racket" where she claims public officials are propping up a Texas Bitcoin boom that’s threatening water and energy systems while afflicting locals with noise pollution. Then finally, John chats with democratic strategist Max Burns about his newest piece for The Hill called "Trump Can’t Wake Up from His Economic Nightmare".See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

27 Touko 1h 6min

John interviews Historian Ken Davis about the history of Memorial Day. Then he talks with Lyndia Downie about her journey with The Pine Street Inn which creates innovative solutions for the homeless. And then finally he chats with retail expert Burt Flickinger about the way Trump's tariffs are ruining the economy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 Touko 1h 7min

Hi it's Julie! This week on We’re Still Here, things get real (and a little ridiculous). Simon and I talk with John about Governor Kathy Hochul’s apology for New York’s Indian boarding schools—what it got right, what it left out, and why “haven for orphans” isn’t the flex she thought it was. We also get into the Vatican hoarding Indigenous artifacts like it’s a colonial Costco, and the new Pope’s silence on whether they’ll ever be returned.Plus: Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma keeps picking fights with the Muscogee Nation over tribal license plates. We also dive into why Native students still have to fight to wear ceremonial regalia at graduation. Spoiler: It’s 2025. This shouldn’t be controversial.And we got some incredible calls—including one from a listener on a cross-country road trip to see his trans daughter. He said hearing me talk a few weeks ago about trans people being sacred and medicine on this land - helped him understand her in a whole new way. Yeah—we cried too.Julie Francella (Aakadewin-O Waawaashkeshi Ikwe "Brave Deer Woman Standing Strong from The Heart") https://juliefrancella.comhttps://www.instagram.com/simonsaidtakeapicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

24 Touko 46min

John discusses the FBI investigating the home and background of Elias Rodriguez, the man arrested in the shooting death of two Israeli Embassy employees at a D.C. fundraiser. And he talks about the House pulling an all-nighter and passing the big, all-encompassing budget bill their dear leader had asked for. Then, he welcomes back New York Times bestselling author Anna Malaika Tubbs to chat about her new book "Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden From Us" which is the story of the United States from a new perspective: one where the people who shaped this country–who have been oppressed and whose contributions have been denied–are at the center, reminding us that we can restore what has been strategically kept from us.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

23 Touko 1h 7min

The monologue today focuses on Trump meeting with President Ramaphosa of South Africa in yet another confrontational and purposefully rude - made for TV Oval Office meeting with yet another foreign ally. John also talks about the delivery of Trump's golden jet from Qatar. Then, podcast star Bob Cesca is back to discuss the GOP's: racist conspiracies in South Africa, their sneaky deregulation on guns, and the silent approval of domestic terror as a car bomb explodes outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs. Next, The God Squad - this week featuring former Pastor Desimber Rose and former Pastor Keith Giles. They join the crew for a lively groupthink about the new Pope and the unholy decisions being made by the Trump Administration. Then winding it up, John speaks with legal analyst Dr. Tracy Pearson and they run down the news of the day with the Evil Army of the Night.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Touko 1h 46min

In today's episode, John discusses Trump visiting the Capitol to try to bully House Republicans into embracing the SUCK of his Big Beautiful Budget Bill. Then, he welcomes back Professor Corey Brettschneider to talk about recent criminal charges against a sitting member of Congress and the weaponization of justice; the Supreme Court temporarily halting controversial mass deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, highlighting serious concerns about due process and executive overreach; and a troubling House bill which threatens nonprofits and universities critical of the administration - the bill strips nonprofit status and imposes punitive endowment taxes which are designed to stifle opposition. Next, John interviews award-winning journalist Claudia Rowe about her new book "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care" which paves a road to reform by pulling back the curtain on a broken system and the searing realities faced by kids in the foster care system. Then lastly, he chats with Comedy Daddy - Keith Price on today's news and the hottest trending pop culture.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Touko 1h 32min

John discusses the hatred spewing from Republicans after the announcement by President Biden that he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread into his bones. Then, he interviews Professor James S. Fishkin on his new book " CAN DELIBERATION CURE THE ILLS OF DEMOCRACY?". Then finally, comedian Rhonda Hansome is back to joke with John and listeners about the latest news and trending stories.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Touko 1h 25min

John discusses Trump's big beautiful grift trip to the middle east extorting personal wealth from some of the most evil dictators on the planet. He also talks about the Supreme Court telling the Trump Administration to hold their horses, extending the judicial freeze on deportations under the pretense of the Alien Enemies Act. Plus, House Republicans rejected the Trump Big Budget Bill before it could even leave committee. The bill, they say, does not contain enough cuts to spending and Medicaid. Then, he welcomes back award-winning investigative journalist Bob Hennelly to share what’s at stake if dockworkers go on strike, plus the latest on New York City’s history-making mayor - Eric Adams. Then closing it up, TV's Frank Conniff returns to joke about Star Wars and Trump.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Touko 1h 29min