Mark your calendar! We're having a live taping of Gaslit Nation on June 25 (Orwell's birthday!) at 12pm ET for subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! 

***

Are you tired of the nonstop coverage of the Trump trials? The mainstream media is setting Americans up for disappointment again, like they did with the nonstop “justice porn” coverage of the Mueller investigation. The only thing that will stop Trump in November is us. (It should not be that way, but it is). Progress in America has always come from the grassroots, and as MAGA’s Russian-backed coup against our democracy continues, grassroots power is the most reliable power we have left. To join the movement to strengthen American democracy from the ground up, be sure to check out the Gaslit Nation 2024 Survival Guide on the homepage of GaslitNationPod.com. As for the trial, Gaslit Nation predicts a hung jury: you just need one juror, likely a man, who wants to make a name for himself and cash-in with rewards from the Trump machine. What are your predictions of what will come from the Trump trial? Let us know in an email to [email protected] and we may read your comment on the show! 

In this week’s bonus show, Andrea answers questions from our subscribers at the Democracy Defender level ($10/month) and higher! The discussion includes the hypocrisy of Congress’s TikTok ban, the importance of stating one’s values and goals in the fight for our democracy, how the Israel-Palestine War impacts Ukraine coverage and why that matters, the boring ratings grab of nonstop Trump trial coverage, and more! Terrell Starr of the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack joins the show to explain why the average American voter should care about the growing protests in Georgia against Russian-state capture. Is it a preview of the U.S. should Trump win?

Ready to see the President of the United States share the same stage as an unpunished coup-plotter and serial rapist who idolizes Hitler and Putin? To our Patreon community at the Truth-teller level and higher, we’re having a debate watch party on June 27th in our Victory Chat, to help us get through the media’s normalization of Trump and fact check the gaslighting. Hold on tight!

Subscribe to Gaslit Nation on Patreon at the Truth-teller level or higher, and for $5/month, get all shows ad-free, bonus shows, invites to exclusive events, join a like-minded community of listeners, and more! This excerpt is from this week’s bonus show. To hear the full discussion, make sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Discounts are available when you sign up for an annual subscription! 

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Show Notes:

Pre-Order Andrea's Graphic Novel: In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775

Putin’s brutal war on Ukraine vanishes from news coverage amid raging conflict in Gaza

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/17/media/gaza-ukraine-war-news-coverage/index.html

Polling data expert Tom Bonier https://twitter.com/tbonier

Shaun Walker of The Guardian on Russia’s Stalinist prisons https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7/status/1789751355252396394

Pepsi or Coke? Both brands are making money in Russia despite promises to unwind operations. For Russia’s war to end, companies must be named and shamed to finally leave the Russian market, and sanctions must be enforced. In this week’s Gaslit Nation, Andrea is joined by Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast to discuss how to end Russia’s war, not just give Ukraine enough to stay in the fight.

Peter Dugas, New England Regional Director of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, also stops by to discuss the common ground behind the headlines of the climate crisis. Young conservatives in growing numbers embrace science and are on the front lines of a bipartisan movement to end our self-destructive dependence on fossil fuels. Want to be part of the movement? Join the Citizens’ Climate Lobby in Washington, DC, June 8-11 to meet with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle – get training on how to demand sensible and urgent climate crisis legislation. Sign up by May 20th here: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-conferences/summer/

This week’s bonus show looks at why the average American voter should care about the growing protests in Georgia against a Russian law put in place by Russian-backed politicians. (Sound familiar?) The bonus show also answers questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher. The discussion includes the hypocrisy of America’s TikTok ban, the importance of stating one’s values and goals in the fight for our democracy, how the Israel-Palestine War impacts Ukraine coverage and why that matters, and more! To join the conversation, submit questions to our regular Q&As, bonus shows, get all shows ad-free and invites to virtual events, and more, subscribe to Gaslit Nation at the Truth-teller level or higher!

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Show Notes:

Want to plant seeds of change? Join Citizens’ Climate Lobby in Washington, DC June 8-11 to meet with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to demand urgent action on the climate crisis. Sign up here by May 20th: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-conferences/summer/

Join Gaslit Nation and Kremlin File for a live taping on June 18th 12pm ET live-taping! The Zoom link will be sent out the morning of the event to Gaslit Nation’s supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon 

Find out which companies are still doing business in Russia: Leave-Russia.org 

Jamala - 1944 (Ukraine) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxS6eKEOdLQ

Jamala’s Music Video for Mr. Jones (Ціна правди/”The Price of Truth)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6F6P3tTJw8

Eurovision: Isreali contestant booed as thousands protest outside venue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEb1AeRR7Nk

French artist disrupts rehearsal at EuroVision to give a speech for peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWU69VCaNjY

This week, porn star, filmmaker, business woman, and Trump survivor Stormy Daniels told the court in the Manhattan DA trial for Trump’s 2016 election interference that Trump said, that time he coerced her into sex, “You remind me of my daughter, she is smart and blonde and beautiful and people underestimate her as well.” Ivanka, Trump’s favorite child, is his likely successor. He has reportedly said on multiple occasions that he would like to f*ck Ivanka, making comments about her body. According to a recent report from Puck, Ivanka is looking for a role in the Trump campaign, hoping to get back into the White House. The Kushners want their kleptocracy gravy train back! 

Joining Gaslit Nation to discuss Ivanka’s latest power grab, reports of Jared Kushner wanting to be Secretary of State and how he promoted developing Gaza into beachfront property, is Terrell Starr from the essential Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack. Terrell is about to head back to Ukraine for a reporting trip. Make sure to follow his coverage by subscribing to Black Diplomats on YouTube, Substack, and more!

Want to submit a question for our regular Q&As? Be sure to subscribe at the Democracy Defender-level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! To listen to the full episode, our recent Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, get all bonus shows, all episodes ad free, invites to exclusive virtual events, and more, subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher! 

Thank you to everyone who supports the show! We could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Show Notes:

Black Diplomats Substack & Podcast

https://terrellstarr.substack.com/ 

https://www.blackdiplomats.net/

The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-immortality-key-the-secret-history-of-the-religion-with-no-name-brian-c-muraresku/16724875?ean=9781250803986

Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-side-of-103574554?l=es

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dghYqZQzPo6z_0gzxqLzA7YRcf2Tuxbr/edit

Trump’s lewd talk about daughter Ivanka in front of White House staff recalled in new book

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trumps-lewd-talk-about-daughter-ivanka-in-front-of-white-house-staff-recalled-in-new-book/

Ivanka, Interrupted Out of the spotlight but itching to return, the former first daughter has begun quietly surveying allies about how, and when, she might help the Trump campaign—and possibly find herself back in the White House. https://puck.news/ivanka-trump-reconsiders-a-return-to-west-wing/?_cio_id=f6c60601f153a2be02&utm_campaign=The+Best+%26+The+Brightest+-+SUBSCRIBERS+%285%2F2%2F24%29&utm_content=The+Best+%26+The+Brightest+-+SUBSCRIBERS+%285%2F1%2F24%29&utm_medium=email_action&utm_source=customer.io&utm_term=f6c60601f153a2be02

Jared Kushner says Gaza’s ‘waterfront property could be very valuable’ This article is more than 1 month old Donald Trump’s son-in-law also says Israel should bulldoze an area of the Negev desert and move Palestinians there

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/19/jared-kushner-gaza-waterfront-property-israel-negev#:~:text=Jared%20Kushner%20has%20praised%20the,Harvard%20University%20on%2015%20February.

Trump’s lewd talk about daughter Ivanka in front of White House staff recalled in new book

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/trumps-lewd-talk-about-daughter-ivanka-in-front-of-white-house-staff-recalled-in-new-book/

‘Do you worry about STDs?’: Stormy Daniels’s testimony on Trump affair off to lurid start The adult film star testifies in a hush-money trial that could land the ex-president and Republican frontrunner behind bars

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/07/stormy-daniels-donald-trump-testimony

Overlooked in the campus protests is the witch-trial hearings by MAGA Mike Johnson’s House that bullied university presidents and scrutinized their federal funding, pressuring them, as Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton famously wrote in the Newspaper of Power, to “send in the troops.” Ultimately, the responsiblity falls on campus leadership, with several schools, like Rutgers University and Northwestern University, choosing a peaceful approach, reminding us that another world, free of police brutality, is possible. 

Following the anniversary of the Kent State massacre on May 4th, Gaslit Nation looks at the campus protests, reminding everyone that peaceful protest and civil disobedience won hard-fought progress in America’s history. Biden recently stopped a shipment of arms to Israel, thanks to the growing pressure. We also check-in on the coup, out in the open, against our democracy, with Rudy Giuliani trying once again to exhort Ukraine to invent dirt on Biden. This is what led to Trump’s first impeachment. He’s back at it, because Giuliani, along with all the rest of the coup plotters, were never punished.

This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, looks at the latest reports that Ivanka Trump, after failing to make Nikki Haley the nominee, wants back on the Trump campaign and the White House. Expect to see Ivanka speaking at the RNC in July, wearing a pair of earrings you can buy from her own personal brand for $199.99! We also answer questions from our listeners at the Democracy Defender level and higher–so subscribe today to join the fun at Patreon.com/Gaslit! 

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Show Notes:

Donald Trump's new FBI director pick has Russian ties of his own: Christopher Wray looks good on paper, but his law firm represents Russian-controlled oil companies. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/06/08/trump-new-fbi-director-chris-wray-russian-ties-rosneft-gazprom-column/102603214/

FBI Director nominee removed reference to case involving Russian government from law firm bio

https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/20/politics/kfile-fbi-nominee-law-firm-bio/index.html

FBI Nominee Christopher Wray Earned $9.2 Million at Law Firm Since January 2016 Ethics disclosures detail his work at King & Spalding and list around 20 pages of assets

https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-nominee-christopher-wray-earned-9-2-million-at-law-firm-since-january-2016-1499712979

As corporate lawyers in 2016, Wray and Rod Rosenstein’s top deputy, Rob Hur, probed the Blackwater founder’s paramilitary aircraft plans. What happens now?

https://theintercept.com/2018/03/19/erik-prince-frontier-services-group-chris-wray-fbi/

Russia Questions Loom for Trump FBI Pick

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-questions-loom-for-trump-fbi-pick

Trump’s Arrest, Kissinger’s War Crimes, and The Long Hunt for Justice

https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/06/14/trumps-arrest-kissingers-war-crimes

Rudy Giuliani Wants to Do the Exact Thing That Got Trump Impeached Giuliani called for Republicans to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

https://newrepublic.com/post/181095/rudy-giuliani-trump-impeached-zelenskiy-biden

What Columbia Should Have Done Instead of Brutalizing Its Student Protesters Two other universities showed that the school clearly had other options.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/05/columbia-student-protests-nypd-shafik-escalation.html

The US universities that allow protest encampments – and even negotiate While semesters at other schools speed toward a violent close, several universities have sought a more amicable solution https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/04/universities-allow-student-campus-protest-encampments

Were 'Snipers' on Roofs at Gaza Student Protests? What to Know

https://www.newsweek.com/snipers-roofs-gaza-student-protests-indiana-ohio-1895314

Cop Slammed Emory Professor’s Head Into Concrete, Then Charged Her With Battery

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/cop-slammed-emory-professor-head-195707606.html

NYPD officer fired gun while clearing Columbia protest

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68947267

‘It wasn’t equal:’ Counter-protesters overwhelm pro-Palestinian students at the University of Mississippi https://mississippitoday.org/2024/05/02/it-wasnt-equal-counter-protesters-overwhelm-pro-palestinian-students-at-the-university-of-mississippi/

US soldier was arrested in Russia last week, officials say

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/05/06/politics/us-soldier-arrested-russia

Giuliani wants to pressure Ukraine to invent sandal on Biden: https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1785050398266474644

Tucker Carlson’s Kremlin Propaganda Tour: https://twitter.com/United24media/status/1785353424726380615

The recording of the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things is here along with the transcript in the show notes for our subscribers at the Truth-teller and higher. Not a subscriber? Sign up and join a community of listeners, get all shows ad free, bonus shows, exclusive invites, questions answered in our Q&As, and more by subscribing at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! 

In this special workshop, a follow-up to last fall’s Make Art Workshop, where Andrea shared her secret hot sauce for writing a first draft that reads like a third draft, she follows it up with her business checklist on how to navigate shark-infested waters with an open heart, knowing how to protect yourself, what to look out for in every contract and advice for working with lawyers, the often overlooked goals of fundraising that will make all the difference for your project, saving it from the brink. 

The Q&A discussion became a freewheeling chat with our live audience from our community of Gaslit Nation listeners sharing their projects, questions, and responding to Andrea’s additional stories and insights for bringing your art out into the world. The Q&A portion is transcript only, to protect the privacy of the folks who participated, creating a lively and inspiring meeting of minds. To connect with other artists, and those who love artists, in our Gaslit Nation community, be sure to join the chat group on Patreon, exclusive to our subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher, called Art is Survival.  

Here are some of the references to help you on your journey:

• For all artists of any medium, get inspiration from the essential YouTube series Every Frame a Painting https://www.youtube.com/@everyframeapainting

• List of European film funds https://cineuropa.org/en/backings/

• A paid subscription site for looking up contact info for producers, agents, and managers https://www.imdb.com/?ref_=nv_home

• Best site for looking up literary agents to pitch and tips on pitching https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/

Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation – we could not make this show without you!

Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more! 

Show Notes:

Make Art Workshop on writing a first draft that reads like a third draft, from November 2023

Audio only: https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-audio-93455868?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/make-art-video-93450936?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

A deep dive into Cuba's rich musical history, reported from Havana

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1197955869

Russia’s transnational crime syndicate uses our own weaknesses against us, to entrench their weaponized corruption. Take, for instance, the Act 22 tax loophole that lets rich Americans buy up land in Puerto Rico to avoid paying any money in federal taxes. It’s called “trickle down theory,” but the locals call it gentrification and tax dodging. So why is RT (Russia Today) latching on to a grassroots campaign to close the Act 22 tax loophole threatening to turn Puerto Rico into a dangerous money-laundering vipers den, with no affordable housing? Could it be that Russia is trying to stop this movement by discrediting it?

Ringing the alarm on how the Act 22 tax loophole jeopardizes Puerto Rico’s sovereignty and U.S. national security are Nomiki Konst, an activist and filmmaker, and Federico de Jesús, a public affairs consultant. They joined forces in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria to launch "Losing Puerto Rico," a documentary-in-progress and movement by the same name against the Act 22 tax loophole. Konst, a longtime ally of Senator Bernie Sanders, chosen by Sanders to work on the unity commission for the DNC following the 2016 election, cut her teeth as an investigative journalist under Wayne Barrett, the first reporter to warn us about Trump. De Jesús, who helped lead Hispanic outreach in campaigns for President Barack Obama and Senator Harry Reid, focuses on human rights issues in Puerto Rico. They explain what’s at stake with the Act 22 tax loophole, why Russia may have taken an interest, and their urgent advice for Biden on how to defeat Trump in the 2024 election, including how to win back Hispanic voters who have been trending Republican. 

This week’s bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon, features the recording of the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, alongside the transcript. To access the workshop, all bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive event invitations, and more, subscribe to the show and join our listener community at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Listen to “Pur Sun” by Whose Hat Is This? https://bassmagazine.com/tim-lefebvres-whose-hat-is-this-releases-new-single-pur-sun-listen/ You can find more music by Whose Hat is This? on Bandcamp at whosehatisthis.bandcamp.com or whosehatisthis.com Thank you to Tim Lefebvre and Whose Hat is This? for your music! Got music to share with the world? Submit your song to be featured on Gaslit Nation here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628

Thank you to OneSkine, the sponsor of this week’s episode – be sure to give them a try! Our listeners can receive an exclusive discount code. Tell ‘em Gaslit Nation sent you! 

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code GASLIT at https://www.oneskin.co/ 

Show Notes:

Losing Puerto Rico – learn more about the movement to protect Puerto Rico, U.S. security interests, and repeal the Act 22 tax loophole and the film-in-progress: https://www.losingpuertorico.com/

Losing Homeland - How a Speculators and Tax Cheats are Stealing Puerto Rico https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6K2SxZNxGQ

Inside the Oslo accords: a new podcast series marks 30 years since Israel-Palestine secret peace negotiations https://theconversation.com/inside-the-oslo-accords-a-new-podcast-series-marks-30-years-since-israel-palestine-secret-peace-negotiations-212985

What is the International Criminal Court and why it has Israeli officials worried https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-international-criminal-court-hague-palestinians-1f683a6e2e150d91c415eb1d0a19a44d

Israeli, U.S. Officials Say New Sanctions Due to Conduct of Ben-Gvir, Smotrich A U.S. source said the far-right ministers were considered for sanctions themselves, but the White House feared impacts on bilateral relations. Some U.S. figures object to the use of the term 'sanctions,' and say that the U.S. is simply holding Israel to the standard it holds all aid recipients https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-21/ty-article/.premium/israeli-u-s-officials-say-new-sanctions-due-to-conduct-of-ben-gvir-smotrich/0000018f-018b-d6a0-a9ef-c19f11020000

How today's college protests echo history https://www.npr.org/2024/04/29/1198911364/student-protests-palestine-israel-vietnam-compared-history-1968-columbia-campus

German ex-soldier admits spying for Russia as trial opens https://sg.news.yahoo.com/german-ex-soldier-admits-spying-161900658.html

2 Ukrainians were stabbed in Germany. Prosecutors are examining a possible political motive https://apnews.com/article/germany-ukrainians-stabbed-russian-suspect-4a432eb55a05885c541b2515be1b20d5

With growing campus protests against the U.S. backing Netanyahu’s genocidal war to cling to power and the Democratic National Convention returning to Chicago this summer, it’s hard not to think of 1968. As this week’s guest, Ari Berman of Mother Jones, explains, the Founding Fathers of America set us up for cycles of fascism vs. democracy, cynicism vs. idealism.

It’s important to be aware of how social movements can be hijacked and weaponized. For that, read the essential 2017 piece in The Guardian by Micah White, a co-founder of Occupy Wall Street, on how Russia tried to co-opt him. While there’s a long history of the Left being weaponized by foreign adversaries, as the film Mr. Jones reminds us, the magnitude of campus protests across America is a morally clear line, like the Vietnam War and Iraq War protests before them.

As we head into the spring of the most important year for America, one where democracy must prevail, it’s important to take time to reflect on radical self-care. As empathy becomes the growing demand of our collective, activism must include self-care, one of the most important acts of resistance, as Angela Davis in our opening clip reminds us. This week’s bonus show reflects on that and urges our listeners to reach out to an old friend to reconnect and re-energize. You will be glad you did, as we get closer to the ticking clock of November 5th. 

In this week’s bonus show, Ari Berman of Mother Jones, author of the must-read book Minority Rule, joins the long list of guests to take the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A, producing some surprising answers and a rallying call, for Ari, along the way.  

Join the conversation with a community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more!

Show Notes:

Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211

I started Occupy Wall Street. Russia tried to co-opt me | Micah White https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/activist-russia-protest-occupy-black-lives-matter 

Opening Clip: Radical Self Care by AfroPunk Featuring Angela Davis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1cHoL4vaBs

How do we protect ourselves from a corrupt Supreme Court? How can the gerrymandering crisis be stopped? What were the Founding Fathers thinking? Can the American Experiment survive? 

Ari Berman of Mother Jones stops by Gaslit Nation to discuss his new book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People―and the Fight to Resist It. Berman shares insights into the troubling compromises that made the U.S. Constitution, the Koch-funded far-right plan to turn America into a dictatorship, GOP laboratories of autocracy in swing states like Wisconsin, what an American dictatorship would look like, and how to avoid that fate this November and beyond.

This week's bonus show includes a look at the growing campus protests over Israel's genocide in Gaza, Republican "free speech" hypocrisy, the need for radical self-care to build movements, and Ari Berman’s take on the Gaslit Nation Self-Care Q&A, leading to some surprising answers. To get access to our bonus shows and invites to exclusive events, receive all episodes ad-free, and more, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

To our Patreon community, the Gaslit Nation Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things will publish, along with the transcript, the morning of Saturday May 4th! In the meantime, check out our Art is Survival chat group to connect with other artists in our community of listeners!

Show Notes:

Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People--And the Fight to Resist It by Ari Berman https://bookshop.org/p/books/minority-rule-ari-berman/19994801?ean=9780374600211

Opening Clip: Historian Timothy Snyder schools Marjorie Taylor Greene  https://twitter.com/rshereme/status/1781337606808060042

Clip: Medhi Hasan to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "What do you say to a young progressive or an Arab-American who says to you, 'I just can't vote for Biden again after what he's enabled in Gaza.'?” https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/1781120448186462407

Havana Syndrome evidence suggests who may be responsible for mysterious brain injuries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdPSD1SUYCY

Havana Syndrome mystery continues as a lead military investigator says bar for proof was set impossibly high https://www.cbsnews.com/news/havana-syndrome-culprit-investigation-new-evidence-60-minutes-transcript/

Havana syndrome: Report links mystery illness to Russian intelligence unit https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68706317

Havana Syndrome: The History Behind the Mystery https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/04/havana-syndrome-the-history-behind-the-mystery/

Russia Is Buying Politicians in Europe. Is It Happening Here Too? A former CIA officer explains how a vast, pro-Putin corruption network uncovered in Europe is a warning sign for the U.S. https://newrepublic.com/article/180630/russia-corruption-network-europe-buying-politicians-america

Europe—but Not NATO—Should Send Troops to Ukraine To Halt Russia’s Advance, Kyiv Needs More Boots on the Ground https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/europe-not-nato-should-send-troops-ukraine

Anne Applebaum: “The pro-Russian caucus inside the GOP was defeated on Saturday, and with it Putin's dream of quickly occupying Ukraine. Now the US and Europe need to seize the moment to win, and end, the war” https://twitter.com/anneapplebaum/status/1782206525144015039

Netanyahu Resists U.S. Plan to Cut Off Aid to Israeli Military Unit: After months of inaction, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is poised to bar U.S. aid to an Israeli unit accused of human rights abuses https://www.propublica.org/article/netanyahu-resists-blinken-plan-sanction-against-israeli-military-unit

More than 200 bodies found in mass grave at Nasser Hospital in Gaza https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/more-than-200-bodies-found-in-mass-grave-at-nasser-hospital-in-gaza

With Whom are Many U.S. Police Departments Training? With a Chronic Human Rights Violator – Israel https://www.amnestyusa.org/updates/with-whom-are-many-u-s-police-departments-training-with-a-chronic-human-rights-violator-israel/

What to know about the U.N. vote on whether to admit Palestinians as full members https://www.wpr.org/news/what-to-know-about-the-u-n-vote-on-whether-to-admit-palestinians-as-full-members

David Rothkopf of Deep State Radio: “I'm a Jew-loving Jew. Anti-Semitism is never ok. Here's what is not anti-Semitism: Peaceful protest, criticism of the Israeli government, calling for an independent Palestine, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, using the term apartheid to describe Israel, questioning Zionism.” https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/1782406544287482221

How Johnson came to embrace Ukraine aid and defy his right flank https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/21/politics/ukraine-aid-mike-johnson-house-speaker-israel-taiwan/index.html

These 112 House Republicans voted against Ukraine aid https://www.businessinsider.com/which-house-republicans-voted-against-ukraine-russia-aid-2024-4

US House passes $95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-long-awaited-95-billion-ukraine-israel-aid-package-2024-04-20/

Congress passes bill that could unlock billions in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine More than $6 billion of the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets are sitting in U.S. banks. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/house-vote-billions-dollars-russian-government-money-sitting-us-banks-rcna148671

Mike Johnson's Campaign Contributions From Company Tied to Russia https://www.newsweek.com/house-speaker-mike-johnson-donations-russia-butina-1838501

CIA chief Pompeo met with sanctioned Russian spies, officials confirm https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/01/politics/pompeo-russian-spies-meeting/index.html#:~:text=CIA%20Director%20Mike%20Pompeo%20did,direct%20knowledge%20of%20the%20meetings.

Pompeo on releasing 5,000 prisoners in Afghanistan in deal with the Taliban https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/567924-pompeo-says-trump-administration-didnt-take-the-words-of-taliban/

Mike Pompeo is a Russia hawk, which could be a problem for his friend Trump https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/editorial/opinion--mike-pompeo-is-a-russia-hawk-which-could-be-a-problem-for-his-friend-trump/2018/03/15/138aae70-288b-11e8-a227-fd2b009466bc_video.html

Father of Koch Brothers Helped Build Nazi Oil Refinery, Book Says https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/us/politics/father-of-koch-brothers-helped-build-nazi-oil-refinery-book-says.html

House Speaker Mike Johnson, self-proclaimed champion for human rights and freedom, and enemy of dictators everywhere, inched closer to getting Ukraine aid after eight months of successfully delaying it, empowering Russia’s genocide. Kremlin state TV repeatedly praised Johnson for assisting their brutal invasion, which, as discussed in this week’s bonus show, emboldened Iran to unleash a shocking swarm of drones and missiles against Israel.

The Ukraine aid package still faces delays, thanks to MAGA, and will have to go back to the Senate before it reaches President Biden’s desk. The Trump-proposed changes, of structuring some of the aid as a loan, can be forgiven by the President, including partial loan forgiveness by Biden on his way out, should he lose the election. If Trump wins, he could force Ukraine to repay what’s left of the loan and refuse to send ATACMS, the long-range missiles that have made Ukraine effective at blowing up Russian planes and other military targets that slaugher civilians. The compromise in this aid package, far less than what Ukraine actually needs to win the war, adds to the urgency to ensure Trump loses the electoral college. It’s going to be a nailbiter, for America and the world. 

This week’s bonus show includes reports that Paul Manafort is back to help Trump (and Russia) win the 2024 election. Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman and analyst Monique Camarra of the Kremlin File podcast join Andrea to discuss Manafort’s dark arts and how they may help Trump and Russia illegally hijack our democracy once again.

Ari Berman of Mother Jones stops by Gaslit Nation next week to discuss his new must-read book Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It. Ari will share his insights on how we got here and what must be done to save our democracy.

Want to hear the full episode? Join a community of listeners and get bonus shows, all episodes ad free, submit questions to our regular Q&As, get exclusive invites to live events, and more by subscribing at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit! 

Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! 

Show Notes:

Johnson’s plan to send aid to Ukraine moves closer to reality “Democrats will not be responsible for this bill failing,” one Democratic lawmaker pledged on Thursday morning. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/18/johnson-plan-send-aid-ukraine-moves-closer-becoming-reality/

Putin Ally Declares Mike Johnson 'Our Johnson' https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-declares-mike-johnson-our-johnson-1890071

Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister. https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/

Why Did U.S. Planes Defend Israel but Not Ukraine? There are lessons for other nations in the events of the past few days. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ukraine-israel-war-comparison/678077/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3zBTrwyTVOGzmWK5yps1Kck&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

U.S., NOT ISRAEL, SHOT DOWN MOST IRAN DRONES AND MISSILES American forces did most of the heavy lifting responding to Iran’s retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Damascus. https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/iran-attack-israel-drones-missiles/

How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/14/middleeast/israel-air-missile-defense-iran-attack-intl-hnk-ml

To be clear, if someone does trigger a motion to vacate -- anyone, MTG or Massie -- it would be incredibly perilous for Johnson. But remember: the first step is a motion to table. And Democrats could vote to table, and that's that. https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1780240955196539137

Why Israel’s attack on Iranian consulate in Syria was a gamechanger Peter Beaumont and Emma Graham-Harrison A war long fought through proxies, assassinations and strikes outside Israel has spilled into the open https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/14/why-israel-attack-on-iranian-consulate-in-syria-was-a-gamechanger

Video Shows Ukrainian Plane Being Hit Over Iran The New York Times has obtained video of the moment a Ukrainian airliner was hit minutes after takeoff from Tehran. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/09/video/iran-plane-missile.html

The Great Oligarchs Escape: ‘The Ground Is Trembling. They Will Stream Into Israel' As Ukraine war rages and the West tightens the screws on Russian oligarchs, many of them look to Israel to escape. Some hold Israeli citizenship, exactly for these kinds of circumstances. Billionaires will benefit from Israeli law, allowing them to hide sources of income for a 10-year period https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-03-10/ty-article-magazine/.highlight/the-great-oligarchs-escape-the-ground-is-trembling-they-will-stream-into-israel/0000017f-f2d9-df98-a5ff-f3fd182d0000

EXCLUSIVE: Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUa said he spoke to lawmakers and the president about Ukraine’s urgent need for wartime aid and stressed “please just make a decision,” during an interview with @IAmAmnaNawaz. Stream more tonight at 6 ET online: https://to.pbs.org/3MzB3rB https://twitter.com/NewsHour/status/1779985953966219589

Every dictator or wannabe dictator relies on a base of support to stay in power. For Putin, Orban, and Trump, their base is Christian nationalism – claiming God wants white, straight "Christian" men to rule, even if this means violently stripping all others of their human rights. (Nevermind what Jesus actually taught in the Gospels about loving thy neighbor!)

The Republican Party has been taken over by Christian nationalists backed by American and Russian oligarchs, in a death cult commonly known as MAGA. Trump is the strongman they've been searching for over decades of laying the groundwork for turning America into a dictatorship. Here to break it down for us is veteran filmmaker Stephen Ujlaki, who delved into the terrifying game plan of Christian nationalists for his new film, Bad Faith, out April 26 and available for pre-order.

Gaslit Nation listeners who host viewing parties of Bad Faith with their friends and family can send us a photo or email to [email protected] about the event for their chance to get Gaslit merch and other fun prizes, to help spread the word about this important and urgent film. This week's bonus episode, exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level and higher on Patreon, will cover Iran's attack on Israel, why Ukraine must receive the same protection as the U.S.-led coalition that defended Israel, especially as MAGA continues to block aid in the House, and reports of Paul Manafort's work for Trump in the 2024 election.

We're also launching today a NEW chat group, inspired by our recent Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things, to complement our current general chat group, called Victory. The Art is Survival chat group is for artists in our community to share their works in progress, discover resources, and join with a community of like-minded creatives envisioning a world beyond the dictatorships the fascists want us to believe are inevitable. Thank you to all the artists out there and those who support art for believing that another world is possible! The recording of the Make Art workshop will be published Saturday May 4th, along with the transcript and a list of resources. 

To get access to both chat groups – Victory (the general chat group) and Art is Survival – all bonus shows, all episodes ad-free, exclusive invites to events, and more, be sure to sign up at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

Show Notes:

Bad Faith documentary: https://www.badfaithdocumentary.com/

Meet Stephen Ujlaki, the filmmaker behind Bad Faith: https://sftv.lmu.edu/faculty/?expert=stephen.ujlaki

Putin Ally Declares Mike Johnson 'Our Johnson'

https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-declares-mike-johnson-our-johnson-1890071

Europe is already planning for what happens if Ukraine loses. It’s ugly A newly energized Russia is already escalating grey-zone operations in Eastern Europe, says Estonia’s defense minister.

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/04/europe-already-planning-what-happens-if-ukraine-loses-its-ugly/395715/

Why Did U.S. Planes Defend Israel but Not Ukraine? There are lessons for other nations in the events of the past few days.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/ukraine-israel-war-comparison/678077/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3zBTrwyTVOGzmWK5yps1Kck&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

U.S., NOT ISRAEL, SHOT DOWN MOST IRAN DRONES AND MISSILES American forces did most of the heavy lifting responding to Iran’s retaliation for the attack on its embassy in Damascus.

https://theintercept.com/2024/04/15/iran-attack-israel-drones-missiles/

How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/04/14/middleeast/israel-air-missile-defense-iran-attack-intl-hnk-ml

In this week’s bonus show, we dig into Israel and evangelicals, two fellow travelers that shaped U.S. politics and the world together. Many evangelicals believe God will protect Israel, as long as they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior, or they'll burn in hell with other nonbelievers when Jesus returns. That means the destruction of Israel, a Jewish state. Digging into Speaker Mike Johnson, a staunch evangelical, and the other MAGA Christian nationalists blocking aid to Ukraine in the House, it turns out Ukraine also plays a role in evangelical “end times” prophecy. The path of the destruction of Israel goes through Ukraine, according to Pat Robertson and other evangelical leaders featured in the show notes. Does Johnson believe this? 

Johnson proudly proclaimed his worldview is the bible, telling Fox News: "Someone asked me today in the media, they said, 'It's curious, people are curious: What does Mike Johnson think about any issue under the sun?' I said, 'Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it. That's my worldview.” Johnson was featured in a German documentary about taking his daughter to a purity ball where she signed a pledge to never have sex before marriage. Purity balls are seen as dehumanizing to young girls and women

Pat Robertson, one of the most consequential evangelical leaders to build white Christian nationalists into a political force, taking over the GOP, claimed in a video featured in this week’s bonus show, the path to Israel's destruction begins with Russia's destruction of Ukraine. Ray Comfort, another evangelical minister with a large social media following, wrote the book Russia Will Attack Israel, and plays up Russia’s war in Ukraine as “end times” prophecy. David Jeremiah, the evangelical pastor of a megachurch, also promotes this idea in his work. The argument goes: Putin is a tool of God to raise the forces of evil against Ukraine on Russia’s path to waging war against Israel. In their logic, Ukraine must be destroyed so the final battle of good vs. evil can begin, ushering in the return of Jesus. 

Obviously Christian nationalists like Johnson and others in the MAGA cult blocking aid to Ukraine are motivated by power and money. They align with strongmen like Trump to consolidate their support and enrich themselves. Both Putin and Orban used Christianian nationalism to entrench their regimes. Johnson was caught taking Kremlin-linked donations in 2018, as discussed in the recent bonus show for Patreon subscribers, The Kremlin Owns Mike Johnson. 

Russia does its part to feed into these “end times” fever dreams. The philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, Russia’s Steve Bannon, recently said, "Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all.” As Trump’s white Christian nationalist base cheers on Putin’s genocide in Ukraine and Netanyahu’s genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, Russia oppresses and kills evangelicals in occupied Ukraine, according to a recent PBS Newshour report, and Christians are increasingly harassed and pushed out by ultra-Orthodox Israelis. 

The persecution of fellow Christians may likely mean nothing to Johnson if he shares the belief that accelerating global conflicts will ultimately bring back Jesus. What he has made clear through his words and actions is that he takes the bible literally, like many evangelicals. With Ukraine increasingly in the crossfire of “end times” prophecies, spun in megachurches and their disinformation echo chambers, we have to come to terms that we’re up against a doomsday cult, not a political party. Biden cannot shame or reason with these people. He must work around them to save Ukraine. 

Contact your rep today through this site by a Gaslit Nation listener and demand they ensure the discharge petitions are signed, successfully forcing a vote on Ukraine aid: https://helpukrainewin.com/

***

Thank you to everyone who attended the Make Art Workshop: The Business Side of Things on Thursday April 11. We will soon publish the recording along with the transcript and resources mentioned in the discussion as a bonus episode exclusively for our subscribers at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon. We’re also launching a chat group for our Patreon community dedicated to artists and those who love art, called Art is Surival. This idea came out of our Q&A discussion at the end of the Make Art Workshop on Thursday, and it’s a way for our community to share ideas, inspiration, support, and amplify our work and promote accountability to, little by little, get our projects out into the world. To join, be sure to be signed up at the Truth-teller level or higher at Patreon.com/Gaslit. That chat group will launch on Tuesday with next week’s episode, featuring Ari Berman of Mother Jones and his new book Minority Rule The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to Resist It. 

Show Notes:

Watch the documentary Bad Faith, available everywhere April 26, pre-order it now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WYseVO29ZU

Opening Clip: Vox Short Documentary: How a Bible prophecy shapes Trump's foreign policy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmWL0I3oytw

Clip: Here's Evidence That Russia Will Attack Israel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBvloYWyyms

Clip: Arizona State Senators Speaking in Tongues Before Banning Abortion https://twitter.com/tcani/status/1777829756400263618

Clip: Hundreds of Israelis told evangelical Christians who were praying at an archeological park bordering the Western Wall in occupied East Jerusalem to “go home”, underlining the strained relationship between them and religious Israeli nationalists. Jerusalem’s Christian community says there has been a rise in attacks from Israeli ultranationalists on its churches and practices.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vio53jUpJz0

David Jeremiah: Russia’s Role in End Times Prophecy: https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-does-the-bible-say-about-modern-russia/

Speaker Mike Johnson and daughter were profiled attending 'purity ball' in 2015 German TV news segment

https://abcnews.go.com/US/speaker-mike-johnson-daughter-profiled-attending-purity-ball/story?id=105785626

Pat Robertson Clip: 'God Is Getting Ready to Do Something Amazing': CBN Founder Pat Robertson on Russia and Prophecy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMEj52pYWq0&t=2s

How evangelicals set in motion today’s violence in the Middle East

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4548756-evangelicals-caused-todays-mess-in-the-middle-east/

How Christian Nationalists, Big Oil and the Big Lie Seized the Speaker’s Gavel

https://washingtonspectator.org/how-christian-nationalists-big-oil-and-the-big-lie-seized-the-speakers-gavel/

Putin and Doomsday: The Far Right’s Fascination With the Apocalypse Fox News, the evangelical fringe, and the right wing have been peddling “End Times” thinking for decades. Armageddon has become a backdrop now that Russia has invaded Ukraine.

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/03/putin-and-doomsday-the-far-rights-fascination-with-the-apocalypse

Jay in Kyiv on Twitter: “Putin wheels out Dugin to let us know that Jerusalem is also on Putin's acquisition list.

"Jerusalem will be a Russian city or it will not exist at all".

Meanwhile, the west wants to "negotiate" with this creature.” 

https://twitter.com/JayinKyiv/status/1777051211654430842

Ukrainian Christian groups face violent crackdown from Russian forces

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ukrainian-christian-groups-face-violent-crackdown-from-russian-forces

Congress must let Ukraine win, say Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn, Imagine Dragons, Timothy Snyder and other luminaries https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/10/opinions/sean-penn-barbra-streisand-imgaine-dragons-congress-ukraine-snyder/index.html

These Evangelicals Are Cheering the Gaza War as the End of the World Thousands have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some far-right Christian leaders believe the bloodshed portends the second coming of Christ

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/gaza-war-evangelical-leaders-cheer-end-world-1234884151/