Gaslit Nation

Gaslit Nation unmasks the real villain: the corporations hijacking our democracy, using Trump as a distraction as they loot and destroy our country. Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a Brennan Center fellow and professor of law at Stetson University College of Law, and author of Corporatocracy: How to Protect Democracy from Dark Money and Corrupt Politicians, explains how corporations funded Trump's violent coup attempt on January 6, 2021. In Part I of our discussion, Torres-Spelliscy shows us the inner-workings of corporate greed, and why boardrooms are fine with Trump chaos. In Part II of our discussion, out Thursday in our bonus show for Patreon (get access to that for $5/month at the Truth-teller level), we discuss concrete ways to fight back, including as the corporate lobbyists on the Supreme Court kill what's left of the Voting Rights Act, which Americans gave their lives for. Gaslit Nation is being censored by the corporations that run Big Tech. We see a drop in views after one of our videos, on a topic such as exposing Epstein's transnational crime network, receives a lot of views. We immediately see a drop in viewership of our videos that come after. Your help amplifying Gaslit Nation–sharing our episodes on your social media, joining our Patreon even as a free member to help amplify our voice–makes a big difference in fighting back. America is sinking in a Trumpian swamp of corporate greed and corruption, but the people can and must organize to build a better world–like generations before us who prevailed to give us the rights under attack today. Thank you for everyone who supports the show. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you. 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 EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit 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 here! The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult, available on Patreon. Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other, available on Patreon. Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other, available on Patreon. Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect, available on Patreon. Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, available on Patreon. Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, available on Patreon. 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.

Today is Andrea's birthday. Gaslit Nation is celebrating the only way we know how: by re-reading Dorothy Thompson's 1941 essay, "Who Goes Nazi?", on how to tell who among you at your next dinner party would become a Nazi if given the chance. How does she know? She met these types during the Nazi takeover of her beloved Austria and Germany, hotbeds of intellectual thought and progressive movements, including for LGBTQ and women's rights, before traditional conversatives and business elites put an end to all that by joining forces with a fringe death cult led by a narcissist conspiracy theorist. Our Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm ET will open with the reading of the first ten pages of Andrea's screenplay-in-progress, read by Gaslit Nation listeners, and featuring voices from the past reminding us how to overcome the threats we face. To join us today, sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit -- 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. Want to hear Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chats, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!

In this special bonus show, Gaslit Nation reminds you that Hitler and Trump rose to power in very similar ways, and why we must stay grounded in that historical truth. The fate of the world literally depends on it. The Holocaust and World War II happened, because people didn't want to believe it would be so bad. Normalcy bias is a dangerous coping mechanism. As the world marks the 81st anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, with Putin, like Hitler, hiding in his bunker, reports of his hands shaking, of parades canceled or scaled back across Russia–it's a reminder that we can stand up to fascism, when we align our will with a higher purpose, like Ukraine and its allies. To celebrate the power of remembering, and Andrea's birthday (caaaaake!), we're opening this Monday's Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm E.T. with a reading of the first 10 pages of her screenplay, about the power of forbidden love in a time of fascism. To join us, look out for the Zoom link posted Monday morning on Patreon. This week's bonus show, available in full for our subscribers at the Truth-teller ($5/month) level and higher, we continue on with Gal Beckerman about his new book How to Be a Dissident. Listen to Part I here. Want to hear Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chats, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Show Notes: How to Be a Dissident https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2026/5/5/how-to-be-a-dissident Putin, 73, Spotted 'In Pain' With Sickly Shriveled Hand https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/putin-73-spotted-pain-sickly-155649060.html Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6eIox2vOiA Jessica Valenti on The Heritage Foundation's Plan to Subjugate Women https://jessica.substack.com/p/new-project-2025-250-years-heritage

On this hopeful Gaslit Nation, we confront the MAGA fascist takeover with a look at the ultimate antidote: how to be a dissident. Andrea talks with The Atlantic's Gal Beckerman about his inspiring new book, How to Be a Dissident. While the establishment chooses conformity to protect their wealth, we explore the rare, stubborn individuals—from the abolitionists to the neighbors in Minnesota forming mutual care networks—who ask themselves the only question that matters: Can I live with myself if I obey in advance? As the toppling of Kremlin allies Assad and Orban, and soon Trump, have reminded us: the human spirit's desire for expression is the one thing a dictatorship can never defeat. Join us this Thursday for part two of our discussion on the Gaslit Nation Bonus Show–how to survive the stomach ache of fear and build an unrelenting culture of resistance. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to our Patreon at the Truth-Teller level ($5/month) or higher. And don't forget to save the date: we are opening our May 11th Gaslit Nation Salon at 4 p.m. ET to celebrate Andrea's birthday with an exclusive reading of a smutty screenplay in progress. Every bit of support gives us the freedom to tell the truth, so thank you for making this show possible–we could not make Gaslit Nation without you. 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 EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit 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. The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult. Join on Patreon. Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon. Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon. Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon. Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon. Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon. 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.

Here's what you missed at last week's Gaslit Nation Salon: a lively debate among our listeners over whether Trump, or his allies, somehow staged the WHCD assassination attempt. The discussion opens with a look at the same heightened "unreality" created by Putin in Russia, thanks to a well-funded propaganda operation and conspiracy theories to come to power and stay in power. To join today's Gaslit Nation Salon, find the Zoom link, along with our recordings, at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you.

In this week's Gaslit Nation Bonus Show, Daniella Mestyanek Young, The Knitting Cult Lady, author of the new book The Culting of America, explains how to get justice for survivors and protect children from Christian nationalist cults to Epstein's transnational crime network–better laws, better leaders, and ban home-schooling. "When countries outlaw homeschooling, it is one of the best protections that children can be given," she says. This week's bonus show also includes a look at serial predator Eric Swallwell, a rising star of the Democratic Party establishment, who has long been plagued by rumors. But despite that, he was the establishment's chosen one to lead the fourth largest economy in the world as California's governor, an important stepping stone to the White House. How can a predator protect us from Epstein's crime cult–which hasn't been brought to justice–or release the full files, as mandated by law? They can't. While the interview with The Knitting Cult Lady is available to all listeners, to hear the full episode be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller tier ($5/month) or higher and support the show. Save the date! We're opening the May 11th (Andrea's birthday!) Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm ET with a reading of an excerpt of one of Andrea's screenplays. Come one, come all, and celebrate with us at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show. For a look at how to take back our country from John Robert's pro-Jim Crow Supreme Court, check out the expert advice from past guests in our show notes. Show Notes: Supreme Court Resources: Ari Berman on standing up to the GOP's minority rule: https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/4/23/minority-rule Elie Mystal on expanding the Supreme Court: https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2024/10/15/expand-the-court-the-elie-mystal-interview Leah Litman on the lawless MAGA cult and the Supreme Court: https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2025/5/21/lawless?rq=Supreme%20Court Who will protect us from the Supreme Court? https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2023/12/06/supreme-court-jesse-eisinger-part-1?rq=Supreme%20Court Six Solutions to Fix the Supreme Court https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/policy-solutions/six-solutions-fix-supreme-court The only way to end the class divide: the case for abolishing private schools https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/24/the-only-way-to-end-the-class-divide-the-case-for-abolishing-private-schools How California Democrats Got Behind Swalwell — and Quickly Abandoned Him https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/us/california-democrats-eric-swalwell.html The whisper network that caught up to Eric Swalwell https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/influencers-allegations-eric-swalwell-00869517 How Did California Democrats Let Eric Swalwell Get This Far, Anyway? They surely knew about his misconduct ages ago. And more broadly, California Democrats aren't doing their party any favors. https://newrepublic.com/article/208972/democrats-boot-eric-swalwell-california Why Democrats Are Accusing the FBI of Trying to 'Smear' Rep. Eric Swalwell https://www.aol.com/news/why-democrats-accusing-fbi-trying-200552331.html How Eric Swalwell's fall was brought on by a network of women who organized online https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/nx-s1-5784021/how-eric-swalwell-s-fall-was-brought-on-by-a-network-of-women-who-organized-online Manhattan prosecutor investigates abuse claims against congressman Eric Swalwell https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vq0jnn0yro Swalwell pushes back, and a Dem crime shift in Sacramento https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2026/04/07/swalwell-pushes-back-and-a-dem-crime-shift-in-sacramento-00862465 How Eric Swalwell Rose to the Top of Democratic Politics as Rumors Followed Him https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/15/nation/eric-swalwell-resigned-governor-race/ GOP's Chances of Winning...

Is America a cult? How can we help those trapped in cult-like thinking? Discussing her new book The Culting of America, Daniella Mestyanik Young, a US Army veteran, intelligence officer, and survivor of the notorious Children of God cult, joins Gaslit Nation to help us identify coercive control in our own lives, and in our White House. Daniella breaks down the "sex cult math" of her upbringing, identifying the same tactics of coercive control now fueling the MAGA movement. Trump has pulled disparate groups into a singular cult of personality, where he is viewed as a "flawed vessel" of a "perfect God" delivering a Christian theocracy coming after our rights. As a counter-terrorism expert, Daniella warns that the "arrogance" of Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner's war of choice in Iran is a classic cult leader trap. Tyrants lose when they start "sampling their own Kool-Aid," she points out. She also advises on how to help those in your life who have fallen down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole of cult-like thinking, to help them find their way to reality. This is an episode not to miss. Save the date! At the Gaslit Nation Salon on Monday May 11 4pm ET, we'll start with a special reading of an excerpt of one of Andrea's screenplays. To join the festivities, become a member at Patreon.com/Gaslit - thank you to everyone who supports the show. Want to hear Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chats, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Show Notes: Yes, Some Government Conspiracies Are Real, like MKUltra: Welcome to The Church Committee Report https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2026/1/28/the-playbook-for-defeating-maga-the-church-committee-report?rq=The%20Playbook%20for%20Defeating%20MAGA%3A%20The%20Church%20Committee%20Report EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit 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. The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult. Join on Patreon. Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon. Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon. Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon. Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon. Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon. 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.

We've received questions and comments from Gaslit Nation listeners about the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Dinner over the weekend. Here's our response. We can discuss at today's Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm ET, along with whatever is happening in your neck of the woods. Sign up on Patreon.com/Gaslit to join the discussion: https://www.patreon.com/posts/zoom-link-for-156366425?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Join our community of listeners, get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats, 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 Show Notes: Opening Clip: Obama Roasts Trump in 2011: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4H47RaRDadY Dr. Bandy Lee Interview on Gaslit Nation: https://www.patreon.com/posts/confederacy-of-114975456?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link MAGA Is Increasingly Convinced The Trump Assassination Attempt Was Staged https://www.wired.com/video/watch/maga-is-increasingly-convinced-the-trump-assassination-attempt-was-staged

On Monday May 11 at 4pm ET at the Gaslit Nation Salon, get ready for a big peek behind the curtain. To celebrate Andrea's birthday, we're starting that day's salon with a production of the first 15 pages or so of one of her antifa screenplays. It's based on a story longtime Gaslit Nation listeners may recognize. And we'll leave it there. To get your ticket and support the show, join our community of listeners at Patreon.com/Gaslit, get all episodes ad free, bonus shows, exclusive invites, and more. Thank you to everyone who supports the show!

While Orban's gang of Kremlin-paid criminals burn proof of their crimes, the new leadership in Hungary goes after their propaganda machine and GOP allies who used Hungarian taxpayer money to fund CPAC. This is against U.S. law. If America had a real DOJ and functional Congress, all Republican officials would be investigated for being foreign agents of Hungary and therefore Russia. "Foreign governments are barred from spending money in American elections, and Americans are forbidden from soliciting or accepting it," wrote Rep. Mike Levin on Twitter (we will never call it X). "If these allegations are true, this is a direct attack on the integrity of American democracy…The American people deserve to know exactly what flowed from Orban's government into this country's political ecosystem, who was on the receiving end, and what it bought." As Gaslit Nation has long warned, Orban's regime was funneling money and instructions from Russia to MAGA world. The RussiaGate transnational crime network never stopped. The crime spree continues and has only grown stronger. We told you so!. In this week's Gaslit Nation, we're re-running our interview with Peter Hidas, who as a young student helped ignite the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. Peter's story is a testament to what ordinary people can do when they refuse to bow to tyranny. The revolts that shook the Iron Curtain in 1956 laid the groundwork for the movements that would one day bring down the Soviet empire. This week's bonus show, available to subscribers at the Truther-teller ($5/month) and higher, will look at the latest in U.S. politics, including the Virginia election results, and where we need to keep the pressure on. To our Patreon supporters, see you at Monday's salon. Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism–we could not make this show without you! The song featured in this week's episode is "Election Day" by The Spiders. Check out their music at thespidersband.com If you have a song to share on Gaslit Nation, submit it here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-d_DWNnDQFYUMXueYcX5ZVsA5t2RN09N8PYUQQ8koq0/edit?ts=5fee07f6&gxids=7628 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 EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit 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. The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult. Join on Patreon. Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon. Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon. Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon. Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon. Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group on Patreon. 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: How to Overthrow a Dictator (Featuring the history of Andrea's father-in-law Mihai Sedaru Barbul) https://sites.libsyn.com/124622/how-to-overthrow-a-dictator Viktor Orbán built a 'propaganda machine.' Hungary's next leader must dismantle it https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/19/europe/orban-propaganda-media-magyar-hungary-intl Péter Magyar accuses outgoing foreign minister of destroying confidential documents...

Americans must fight a war on two fronts: against MAGA fascism and Democratic Party complacency. Wajahat Ali of the Left Hook on Substack and author of Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American joins Gaslit Nation to discuss how to actually build back better this time. Donald Trump is America's karma of white supremacy, greed, and misogyny. But while the MAGA virus burns through our institutions, another danger is the "Big Club" in Washington, D.C. where Republicans and Democrats share the same donors, the same golf clubs, and the same refusal to tax the rich. The DNC thinks they can waltz into power by not being Trump, but voters want a fighter and they want accountability. We are watching a righteous rage build across the globe, from the resistance in Ukraine and Hungary to vigilante violence here at home. When an Amazon worker drops dead and colleagues are told to work around the body, the status quo makes revolution by any means inevitable. Ukrainians are fighting a war on two fronts: homegrown corruption and Kremlin fascism. We must see ourselves in the same fight. If the Democrats choose the James Carville "possum strategy" and refuse to face reality, they are simply clearing the deck for a more competent autocrat in 2032. EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state, availableon Patreon. The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult, availableon Patreon. Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other, availableon Patreon. Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other, availableon Patreon. Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect, availableon Patreon. Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, availableon Patreon. Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, availableon Patreon. 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. 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 Show Notes: Amazon Accused of Hiding Worker's Death for a Week, Making Employees Keep Working as Corpse Lay on Floor https://futurism.com/future-society/amazon-accused-hiding-death-week Worker who allegedly set fire to California warehouse compares self to Luigi Mangione https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/10/california-warehouse-arson-luigi-mangione Newsom Vows to Stop Proposed Billionaire Tax in California https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/us/newsom-billionaire-tax-california.html Christiane Amanpour and Jill Lepore on CNN: Civil War Confederate President Wasn't Tried, Why It Matters In Trump Case https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXVOIab3ek8 The Black Death by Thomas Asbridge review – a medieval horror story https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/apr/08/the-black-death-a-global-history-thomas-asbridge-review-pandemic-history-covid Why Does "DoorDash Grandma" Keep Showing Up with MAGA Members? https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/04/14/has-doordash-grandma-appeared-with-other-gop-leaders-what-to-know/89602972007/ Aaron Rupar: "A woman named Lonna Drewes at a news conference just now accused Eric Swalwell of drugging her drink and sexually assaulting her. Here's part of her statement." https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mjhtlsrn5i2z David Dayen: "Several important...

To those who could not join our launch party for Mrs. Orwell tonight, we've made you a play list from the event. It opens with a British Pathé newsreel of what to do in an air raid; Edward R. Murrow reporting from London on the Blitz; a popular war-time show "Gert & Daisy"; Flanagan and Allen's "Run Rabbit Run," and "Ay Carmela!" one of the most popular songs of the Spanish Civil War, which Eileen and Eric Blair would have heard throughout their time in Spain. We're going to play this audio at the start of tonight's event, to connect the global war of fascism vs. democracy back then to today, as Ukraine faces the same daily bombardment as Europe did under Hitler.

Gaslit Nation presents an Instagram Live discussion recorded over the weekend with the acclaimed illustrator Brahm Revel, the artist of Mrs. Orwell. Brahm is based in Barcelona, where Eileen and Eric Blair (aka George Orwell), spent their honeymoon fighting fascists in the Spanish Civil War. Eileen was holed up in the Hotel Continental, which still exists, where Stalin's agents searched her hotel room, stealing Orwell's Spain diaries and other papers, which are believed to be somewhere in Moscow to this day. We're celebrating freedom fighters, past and present, tonight at Powerhouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn at 7pm ET, for the launch of Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free! Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman will be there, and so will the good folks of Razom for Ukraine and the Media and Democracy Project, co-sponsors of the event, because the Orwells would have been fans. So come and get a Mrs. Orwell tote bag, meet other Gaslit Nation listeners, and celebrate the defeat of Orban, MAGA, and the Kremlin in Hungary. Enjoy this conversation with Brahm about the creative process that went into the making of Mrs. Orwell and why the story matters for us today, in an age that needs our own creativity and defiance. Today's Gaslit Nation Salon is still on for today at 4pm so join us via the link posted on Patreon.com/Gaslit! 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

FDR had to take some bold swings to transform America for the better. He had his pearl-clutching critics who thought he was going too far. But that's what was needed to usher in the New Deal and strengthen democracy and improve people's lives. The "good guys" must not be passive. We must fight back. Virginia, the world's eyes are on you to vote YES on redistricting -- vote now through April 21. You will help restore balance to Republican authoritarian gerrymandering. Your YES vote in Virginia is an emergency stop-gap meant to save our national ship from sinking and take back the gavel from Kremlin MAGA Mike Johnson in the House. Thank you to all who spread the word about this important, urgent vote, and get out the vote. If you still have questions, here's an overview from Arlington Democrats: https://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/redistricting If you're in NYC or nearby, join us April 13 at 7pm at Powerhouse Arts Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of NYC. We're going to celebrate Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's new graphic novel with the genius illustrator Brahm Revel, about an unsung heroine of literature, Eileen O'Shaughnessy Blair, the wife, muse, and unsung creative partner of Eric Blair, aka George Orwell. There would have been no Homage to Catalonia, Animal Farm, 1984 without Eileen O'Shaughnessy Blair. Patreon supporters get in for free and get a Mrs. Orwell tote bag. Message us on Patreon.com/Gaslit to get on the guest list. See you Monday night for an unforgettable evening dedicated to a defiant heroine of the power of the pen. Thank you to Razom for Ukraine and the Media and Democracy Project for being co-sponsors of this event. Details here: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/powerhousebookstores/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa

Vice President JD Vance, a creation of the Peter Thiel dark-money machine, traveled to Hungary to openly threaten voters on behalf of the Kremlin's favorite strongman, Viktor Orban. This is emotional blackmail on a global scale. Vance effectively told a post-Soviet nation that if they don't re-elect Orban this Sunday, they lose the protection of the U.S. military. It's a "nice country you've got there, shame if something happened to it" mafia tactic. Why is MAGA obsessed with Hungary? Because the EU is a regulatory miracle that Big Money hates. To the Peter Thiels of the world, Orban is the wedge designed to divide the EU, weaken Russian sanctions, and pave the way for a fascist Bannon nightmare across the continent. Under Orban, Hungary has become the most corrupt state in the EU, suffering from massive brain drain and crumbling infrastructure. Despite the threats, there is hope. On Sunday, April 12, Hungarians may unite behind a charismatic new leader, Péter Magyar. Will they choose freedom and fight against tyranny, like in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, or will MAGA's blackmail work? We shall see. For a look at the MAGA virus in the UK, we continue our conversation with Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry of Truth: The Biography of George Orwell's 1984. Want to hear Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chats, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Join our April 13 book launch and live-taping to celebrate Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free! https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Show Notes: Where the US got $20B to bail out Argentina https://www.npr.org/2025/11/13/nx-s1-5607023/where-the-us-got-20b-to-bail-out-argentina Hungary eyes US financial shield as EU funds remain frozen https://www.reuters.com/world/us-financial-shield-bolsters-hungary-amid-eu-funding-freeze-minister-says-2025-11-10/ Andrea's thread on Hungary's decline under Orban https://x.com/AndreaChalupa/status/1766082022781354193 MAGA's favorite strongman might be on the brink of defeat. We're about to find out whether an authoritarian can lose at the ballot box. https://www.vox.com/politics/485058/hungary-election-2026-orban-trump-vance-maga Viktor Orbán told Putin 'I am at your service' in October phone call https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/07/viktor-orban-told-putin-i-am-at-your-service-in-october-phonecall Italy: Steve Bannon's populist academy in the Trisulti monastery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjSL1ofqGb8 Epstein files shed more light on Steve Bannon's efforts to influence European politics https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/05/jeffrey-epstein-files-steve-bannon-european-politics How Jeffrey Epstein sought to help Steve Bannon build a global populist movement https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/politics/steve-bannon-jeffrey-epstein-global-populism Péter Magyar, the former Orban ally vying for power in Hungary https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78l7vyylgqo

As Donald Trump holds the world hostage with his sloppy Iran War, and JD Vance campaigns for Orban, the Kremlin's weapon in Hungary, Gaslit Nation returns to a shared family history of resistance. Andrea is joined this week by the brilliant artist Maya Hayuk to break down the story behind Andrea's new graphic novel, Mrs. Orwell. Born from a decade of research into the Holodomor, Stalin's genocide famine in Ukraine, Mrs. Orwell is a monument to an unsung heroine of literature and the truth the Kremlin tried to bury. We also cover the horrifying reality of the current front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where the UNESCO heritage site of L'viv's ancient city center was bombed by Russia while the U.S. sleepwalks through yet another "war of choice." While we share the intense rage of seeing Ukrainians having to bailout Trump and Vance in Iran, we remain focused on the agency of the people. The oligarch mafia model, which relies on apathy, despair, and nihilism, is being challenged by a culture of defiance. We end with a miraculous artifact: a 1947 Ukrainian translation of Animal Farm discovered in both Andrea and Maya's families. This book, distributed in post-WWII refugee camps, is a sign that the spirit of rebellion cannot be extinguished. We refuse to be "useful idiots" for the transnational crime network; we have each other, and we are going to build a better world from the ashes. For our bonus episode out later this week, we take a closer look at JD and Usha Vance's trip to Hungary to serve the Kremlin, and the latest hellscape headlines. To listen, subscribe to our Patreon at the Truth-Teller level ($5/month) or higher. For more on the Ukrainian refugee camp Animal Farm, read Andrea's book Orwell and The Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm, which Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller ($10/month) and up level get for free. Your support gives us the freedom to tell the truth–thank you for making Gaslit Nation possible! 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 Show Notes: Maya Hayuk's artwork: https://www.instagram.com/mayahayuk/ Join our April 13 book launch and live-taping to celebrate Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free! https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Orwell and The Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm https://www.amazon.com/Orwell-Refugees-Untold-Story-Animal-ebook/dp/B007JNKF5G EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult. Join on Patreon Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community

Congratulations to Pam Bondi for doing everything the fascist serial predator, convicted felon, and Russian asset wanted, only to be ritually humiliated by Trump anyway. The Epstein cover-up continues. So make Bondi testify–and get asked to leave every restaurant and bar she ever tries to enter, for protecting pedophiles. Come to the Gaslit Nation Salon today at 4pm ET to discuss this and more, including sharing what's happening in your neck of the woods. Find the Zoom link on Patreon.com/Gaslit or in the show notes below. Thanks to Patreon for the Mrs. Orwell tote bags, which we will be giving away to supporters at the April 13 book launch at PowerHouse Arena in Dumbo, Brooklyn, and to our Fact Checker and higher supporters on Patreon, until the gifts run out. Show Notes: Join our April 13 book launch and live-taping to celebrate Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free! https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Today! Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm EST. Sign up here to join us: https://www.patreon.com/posts/zoom-link-for-et-154921053?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Today! Come to the Media and Democracy Project x Gaslit Nation Substack Live April 6 at 5:30pm ET to discuss Mrs. Orwell and its lessons for us today https://open.substack.com/live-stream/150582 Opening clip: Ro Khanna says Pam Bondi still needs to testify to Congress over Epstein files: Full interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJup1mIeb9Y

As we fight the daily battles of the "Great Disillusionment," corruption and unchecked greed are poisoning our bodies. Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, a group dedicated to helping the world transition away from plastics, joins Gaslit Nation to discuss the systemic corruption wreaking havoc on our environment, our water, and our food. We are now breathing, eating, and drinking a credit card's worth of plastic every single week. Big Oil, facing a transition away from fossil fuels for energy, financially depends in our dependence on plastic. They have turned our bodies into a landfill to keep their profits soaring. We also discuss the threat of deep sea mining, the minerals war between the US and China, why everyone should read Donut Economics by the "planet's economist" Kate Raworth on how to build a sustainable economy, and why ending the "forever wars" requires a transition to renewable energies. Join us to celebrate the power of art and defiance at the book launch of Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's inspiring new graphic novel, illustrated by the genius Brahm Revel. When: April 13 Where: PowerHouse Books Arena, DUMBO, Brooklyn Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Patreon Supporters: You and your guests get in free and receive a complimentary book! Just message us through Patreon to claim yours. Not a member yet? Join our community at Patreon.com/Gaslit. We couldn't make this show without you–see you there! Show Notes: A Plastic Planet: https://aplasticplanet.com/ Follow-up study of genotoxic effects in individuals exposed to oil from the tanker Prestige, seven years after the accident https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24370900/ Sian Sutherland: "Innovating the Business of Plastics" https://mahb.stanford.edu/library-item/herman-daly-toward-an-ecological-economics-5-2/ Dr. Jeremy Williams: The Truth About Rare Earth Mineral Mining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8OMk9JapDM EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon. Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community

"We're not going to get the liberation we all crave on a soul level without risk." Andrea reflects on why, now more than ever, we must follow our hearts and refuse to let fear, or Steve Bannon, that Jabba the Hutt of American politics, live rent-free in our heads. Being brave, taking risks: that's how we win. In this special excerpt from last Monday's Gaslit Nation Salon, Andrea honors her beloved uncle, Phil Bourne. "Uncle Phil" was the founding dean of the University of Virginia School of Data Science, earned more than 100,000 citations on Google Scholar, championed the collaboration between the liberal arts and STEM as essential to the future of education, and served as the founding Editor-in-Chief of PLOS Computational Biology, where he created the "Ten Simple Rules" series. Honor Uncle Phil's memory by reaching out to your loved ones and saying what's truly in your heart. We do not have as much time here as we think. Don't let the fascists steal that time from you. Bethany McKee, founder of the Outreach Committee, a group that meets to discuss how to deal with the MAGA cultists in our lives as they awaken to their own self-destruction, will host today's Gaslit Nation Salon at 4 p.m. ET. You can find the Zoom link at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you. Join us for an evening honoring the power of art and defiance at the book launch of Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's inspiring new graphic novel, illustrated by Brahm Revel. When: April 13 Where: PowerHouse Books Arena, DUMBO, Brooklyn Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Patreon Supporters: You and your guests get in free and receive a complimentary book! Just message us through Patreon to claim yours. Not a member yet? Join our community at Patreon.com/Gaslit. We couldn't make this show without you–see you there!

Beyond showing up for No Kings, build power where you live. Join the Good Neighbors Coalition, a vetted decentralized hub linking neighborhoods, groups, and organizers to share support, resources, and strategy, submitted by a longtime Gaslit Nation listener. Check out The Relay, a no-signup start page packed with tools, trainings, and news. And try the simple 2-10 method, submitted by another Gaslit Nation listener: contact two to ten politicians about an issue you care about, then ask two to ten friends to do the same. That ripple effect can turn one voice into hundreds. Movements grow through small, steady acts of courage right now. Show Notes: Harriet Tubman was the first woman in U.S. history to lead a major military operation: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/combahee-ferry-raid Good Neighbors Coalition: For more info or to join, visit the GNC Entry Portal via Signal: https://signal.group/#CjQKIC6h0DY9EQaix6yR_hZP4ojCd34cj8pDDhlZKKMUI4PAEhBBwSXJD2JtSg8SZbVnCDxV The Relay: A startpage of tools, resources, links to trainings, and news. No signup required. https://start.me/p/NQ4OyY/the-relay The 2-10 Idea: We ask people to contact 2-10 politicians about something they care about. Then ask 2-10 friends to do the same. Those friends ask their friends. And it keeps going. Two people becomes twenty. Twenty becomes two hundred. Fast. That's the 2-10 idea. It turns one person into a movement - without needing a big platform or a lot of money. Mrs. Orwell: Join Andrea Chalupa for the launch of her new graphic novel April 13 at PowerHouse Books Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn 7pm ET. Patreon members get in for free and get a book. Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit to suppor the show. Event details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/