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Gaslit Nation

Gaslit Nation

By: Andrea Chalupa
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Gaslit Nation provides a deep dive into the news, skipping outrage to deliver analysis, history, context, and sharp insight on global affairs. It is hosted by journalist and filmmaker Andrea Chalupa, an expert on authoritarian states who warned America about Russia and election hacking before the 2016 election. Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Normalization is the Enemy

    Normalization is the Enemy
    Jul 9 2026

    Dictatorship doesn't always look like tanks and troops in your city. It's the everyday lawlessness and looting spree in the White House, the draconian persecution of activists exercising their Constitutionally protected rights in Republican-hostage states like Texas and Tennessee. It's routine executions by the police.

    None of this is normal, which is why we must reject it, and learn how we resist succumbing to a freeze or fawning response, and instead take action, keeping ourselves and our communities safe.

    For more insights on ways to resist, listen to our summer 2025 interview with Jamila Raqib of the Albert Einstein Institute founded by Gene Sharp, author of From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Guide to Nonviolent Resistance. Listen here to her advice on concrete steps to take for non-violent resistance, including how to prepare to be brave.

    ICE is ramping up kidnappings again. So be sure to stay grounded in the concrete steps you can take to protect against ICE and know your rights. Join a community self-defense. If you don't have one, start one. More here:

    • ICE Watch Programs Can Protect Immigrants in Your Neighborhood — Here's What to Know https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ice-watch-programs-immigrants-how-to-start

    • Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE https://immigrantjustice.org/for-immigrants/know-your-rights/ice-encounter/

    • What to do if you see ICE in your neighborhood https://pix11.com/news/local-news/what-to-do-if-you-see-ice-in-your-neighborhood/

    • A Group of Organizers Is Building an Anti-ICE Movement Rooted in Jewish Values https://truthout.org/articles/a-group-of-organizers-is-building-an-anti-ice-movement-rooted-in-jewish-values/

    Millions of small decisions become sand in their gears. We are not powerless. We are the leaders we've been waiting for.

    Never forget the power of your voice.

    We're publishing now on Thursdays an excerpt from Monday's salon, and our full recording of the salon for our Patreon donors at the $10/month tier and higher (anyone who was receiving this perk before will continue to receive it at any tier, as long as your membership is currently active). Not yet signed up? Become a member on Patreon.com/Gaslit, GaslitNation.Substack.com, or as a YouTube member; discounted annual memberships are available, and you can give the gift of membership. Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!
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    10 mins
  • We, the People, vs. The Russian Mafia

    We, the People, vs. The Russian Mafia
    Jul 8 2026
    Happy birthday, America! Our democracy has been hijacked by a convicted criminal, sexual predator, Russian mafia goon. We are fighting back like Ukrainians: by rebuilding from the wreckage. That means forcing every single 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful to publicly commit to appointing a mob-busting Attorney General who will actually take on the mafia instead of emboldening it. This week, Allison Gill of MSW Media joins Andrea to discuss the catastrophic failures of Merrick Garland. We break down how to demand an AG who meets this moment, strategies to Trump-and-Putin-proof our democracy, and how to protect ourselves from the Christian nationalist terrorists on the Supreme Court. This week's bonus show is a special segment called All the President's Criminals, featuring Todd Blanche. Trump's personal defense attorney faces a confirmation hearing, to officially become Attorney General, before a pliant Republican Senate. To keep up with the Trump Family's' looting spree, we're now running our bonus shows as extended Tuesday shows, available in full to our listeners on Patreon, Substack, and YouTube members who make Gaslit Nation possible. It's because of you that we can continue to be a reality check, stay grounded in the truth, and deliver independent journalism that helps us rebuild and imagine the world we want to live in. Join our community of listeners and ad free listening, get bonus shows, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit or Substack! EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit and GaslitNation.Substack.com for our community New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon or Substack! The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join on Patreon or Substack! Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack! Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack! Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon or Substack! Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon or Substack! Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon or Substack! As always, keep it kind in our chat groups, extend grace and assume good faith. A culture of care is how we build a better world. Show Notes: 1,200+ Former DOJ Employees Oppose Todd Blanche's Nomination https://www.thejusticeconnection.org/1200-former-doj-employees-oppose-todd-blanches-nomination/ Jack Smith testimony: Full opening statement on Trump probes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuewjQuaWF0 Jack Smith, in his first interview since resigning as Special Counsel: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WxaXkDfZkpw The World Must Stand Up to Trump's America: The Elie Mystal Interview https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/the-world-must-stand-up-to-trumps-america Exclusive: Woman who dated Graham Platner says he sexually assaulted her https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737 To date, the DOJ has published around half of the Epstein files: https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-acting-attorney-general-todd-blanche-tries-to-dodge-further-release-of-jeffrey-epstein-files/ DOJ alums call on senators to reject Blanche nomination as attorney general https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5956374-blanche-nomination-faces-opposition/ Trump Installs Top Justice Dept. Official at Library of Congress, Prompting a Standoff: The president named Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, as the acting librarian. But staff members refused access to two department officials he chose for key roles at Congress's main research arm. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/trump-library-of-congress.html Immigrant Arrests Surge to 10,000 in 5 Days as ICE Clamps Down: The agency has doubled its daily arrest numbers without the fanfare of last year's large urban operations, sowing fear in immigrant communities: "Markwayne Mullin, the homeland security secretary, pledged to mount a quieter enforcement campaign following the chaos of a monthlong operation in Minnesota, where federal officers killed two U.S. citizens." https://archive.ph/wFIYV#selection-4627.0-4631.144 Tennessee national guard troops shoot man dead in Memphis: Authorities claim Tyrin Johnson, 20, pulled gun on officers controversially deployed at instigation of Trump https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/06/memphis-national-guard-troops-shoot-man Todd ...
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    48 mins
  • Free the Prairieland Defendants and All Political Prisoners

    Free the Prairieland Defendants and All Political Prisoners
    Jul 3 2026

    Benjamin "Champagne" Song, a U.S. marine reservist, got 100 years in prison in Texas–no air-conditioning, sweltering heat–for saving a protester's life. So why are Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries busy battling social democrats rather than unifying resistance to Trump behind this urgent cause for freedom and the U.S. Constitution?

    In Texas, eight political prisoners recently received a combined 450 years for a July 4th, 2025 demonstration outside an ICE concentration camp. Song got a century behind bars for firing a warning shot to stop a cop from shooting a fleeing, unarmed protester. Other defendants got decades simply for being in a book club or transporting a box of their own zines.

    This is illegal collective punishment designed to destroy our trust networks and terrorize the resistance–no matter where you live. We are sliding into a fascist fever dream, and any politician who wants our support in the 2028 Democratic Party primary must publicly commit to pardoning these political prisoners.

    Trump's Soviet-style war on antifa endangers us all, because America's progress, what makes this country great, like the U.S. helping liberate Europe from Nazis, was built by the anti-fascists. Anyone who is anti-antifa is clearly a fascist. It's as simple as that.

    We refuse to let them normalize this terror. Support our independent journalism by subscribing to Gaslit Nation on Patreon and Substack today so we can keep fighting back. Thank you to everyone who supports the show–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you.

    A quick correction: An earlier version got the timeline wrong and said the Prairieland protests happened after the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, when they happened before. We've fixed it, and we're sorry for the error.

    Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com.

    Show Notes:

    Post-Sentencing Statement from Benjamin "Champagne" Song https://prairielanddefendants.com/defendant-writings/statement-by-benjamin-champagne-song/

    The Guardian clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaMfR_lu-3v/

    Opening clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUxP9enCBaQ

    How to Help the Prairieland Defendants: Donate, write letters to them in prison, amplify their story on social media, if you're a media outlet – tell their story: https://prairielanddefendants.com/

    Texas anti-ICE protesters convicted of terrorism charges sentenced to at least 50 years in prison https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/prairieland-ice-protesters-texas-sentenced

    Federal trial over air conditioning in Texas prisons set to start Monday https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2026/03/30/547466/texas-prison-air-conditioning-lawsuit/
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    37 mins
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