Can the Free World Survive Trump and Putin?
Gaslit Nation
This week’s special guest, Adrian Karatnycky, has been on the frontlines for decades fighting for democracy both at home and abroad. In his critically acclaimed book , Adrian traces Ukraine’s struggle for independence from the fall of the Soviet Union to Russia's genocidal invasion today, drawing important lessons for protecting democracies worldwide. He has worked alongside civil rights legend Bayard Rustin and the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in America. He also supported Poland’s Solidarity movement, which helped bring down the Iron Curtain, and played a key role in...
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Gene Sharp’s From Dictatorship to Democracy - TEASER
Gaslit Nation
Why did Trump hit 185 countries with tariffs, , but not Russia and its vassal state Belarus, used to wage Russia’s genocidal invasion of Ukraine? It’s almost like Trump is a Russian asset, repaying Russia for helping him rise to power twice and for all the easy money he received over the years when no credible institution would lend to this trust-fund kid who went bankrupt six times. But why crash the global economy? The answer only makes sense if you’re Putin. As a dictator with no electoral pressure, Putin benefits from destabilizing democracies. By causing economic chaos, he weakens...
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How to Overthrow a Dictator
Gaslit Nation
Romania made headlines—and shocked the world—when it annulled a presidential election at the end of last year, citing evidence of foreign interference aimed at supporting a pro-Russian far-right candidate. It was a bold and necessary move, one that stands in stark contrast to what the U.S. should have done—and is now facing the consequences for not doing. But why would Romania take such a decisive stand? The answer lies in its history. Romania’s Moscow-backed dictatorship was among the most brutal behind the Iron Curtain, a painful past that still unites much of the country today. In...
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Introducing ArchiveGate: Trump’s Dangerous Attack on the National Archives
Gaslit Nation
If you thought SignalGate was bad, wait until you hear about ArchiveGate. Trump illegally fired the National Archivist—the first president in U.S. history to do so since the position was established in the 1930s. This wasn’t just about a change in leadership; it was revenge on the Archivist’s office alerting the DOJ about Trump’s stolen classified documents, which were stored around Mar-a-Lago, a known hub for foreign spies. But it gets worse. Marco Rubio, who is currently the Trump/Putin lackey Secretary of State, is also serving as the acting National Archivist. This...
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Unpacking SignalGate with Olga Lautman - TEASER
Gaslit Nation
In this week's Gaslit Nation bonus show, we’re joined by Olga Lautman, an expert on the Russian mafia. Her Substack, , is a vital resource documenting Trump’s war against America, and the global war of fascism vs. democracy. Olga made headlines recently by exposing connections between Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, and Russia, connected to SignalGate. (We call it the Kremlin Klown Kar for a reason!) Olga breaks down the implications of SignalGate and Trump’s Putin-backed war against our democracy. We also discuss a disturbing trend: an...
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Gaslit Nation Media Guide: "Fascism Needs Ignorance"
Gaslit Nation
The Gaslit Nation Media Committee, a watchdog against access journalism and regime propaganda, has developed this essential guide. We urge all members of the media to reject complicity in the erosion of democracy. The American crisis is a global struggle between democracy and fascism—one that threatens the entire world. Each of us has a role in defending freedom. If you work in media, use this guide to safeguard your integrity, your liberty, and the values we cherish—before it’s too late. Doing your job well can save lives and democracy. 1. Don’t Bury the Lede: Call It an...
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Nazi Hunting
Gaslit Nation
What’s the best way to fight evil? Laugh at fascist idiots and keep hunting Nazis, with your camera and the power of your voice. This week, we’re honored to welcome legend Sandi Bachom, an award-winning documentary filmmaker of such powerful films as Telling Jokes in Auschwitz and a Getty Images contributor whose work has appeared in acclaimed films like Laura Poitras’s All The Beauty and All The Bloodshed, Danny’s Strong’s Dopesick, and Alex Gibney’s Crime of the Century. But Sandi isn’t just behind the camera—she’s on the frontlines, documenting Nazis, like...
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"We Are Becoming an Apartheid State."
Gaslit Nation
Here's the first half of our recording of Monday's Gaslit Nation Salon with , author of , and . Dr. Corrigan is the Director of the Gender Studies Program at the University of Arkansas, and Affiliate Faculty in both African & African American Studies and Latin American and Latino Studies. The full discussion was over two hours, with Dr. Corrigan staying on to answer listeners' questions. Patreon supporters can find the full two-hour video recording of our discussion at Patreon.com/Gaslit. See you at Monday's salon at 4pm ET with Rise and Resist! If you need to channel your rage...
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A Love Letter to Canada
Gaslit Nation
What’s the easiest way for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to invade Canada? Simple: Have voters sit out the upcoming election and let Pierre Poilievre become Prime Minister. If you’re Canadian—especially if you live abroad—now’s the time to get organized. Make sure you and at least five of your family and friends have a plan to vote. Not sure if you’re registered? Voting from abroad? Double-check your registration and make sure you’ve got everything you need In this week’s Gaslit Nation Canada Super Special, we’re joined by the amazing Leigh McGowan from , plus , a...
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Controlled Opposition - TEASER
Gaslit Nation
What’s the Republican spending bill all about? It’s an extremely dangerous powergab engineered by Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House and dirty lawyer who came up with the legal strategy to try to overturn the 2020 election. The Republican spending bill essentially grants legal protections to Trump and Musk’s ongoing illegal mass purge, to protect them against court orders–one of the last levers of power we have left. Any Democrat who votes for this is complicit in Trump and Musk’s tech-backed coup, illegally mass firing federal workers to replace them with an A.I. surveillance...
info_outlineIf you want to see where America is headed, watch The Bibi Files. The greatest threat to Israeli democracy, as well as peace for both Palestinians and Israelis, continues to be Bibi Netanyahu and his wife, Sara. Joining us this week are filmmakers Alexis Bloom, director of The Bibi Files, and producer Alex Gibney, who is also working on a documentary on Luigi Mangione and the corruption of the healthcare industry. Check the show notes for a link to watch The Bibi Files–one of the most chilling true crime dramas that show how corruption threatens international security.
As you know by now, Nazi Elon Musk has a team of Hitler Youth dismantling our democracy. We're in a generational struggle, but history shows we can prevail. We defeated the genocidal traitors of the Confederacy, defeated the Nazis in World War II, and dismantled Jim Crow. Ignorance and hate are sadly human traits, but so are progress, collaboration, and the pursuit of a better future.
Our role now is to be sand in their gears. You individually don't need to fight every battle, but if we each adopt just one cause that matters deeply to us and take action—by calling our representatives, showing up in person to talk them out of their fog of complacency, and primary every Democrat who is not meeting this moment—we can slow down the violence of the MAGA agenda and build political power of our own. And in doing so, we can safeguard a future where our families, communities, and the world enjoy a livable future.
If there's one thing these broken little men fear, it's your defiance, your inner light, and your capacity for creative action. They want us demoralized, but we can be hopeful. Now more than ever, we need to come together.
Want to enjoy Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, ad-free episodes, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chat, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit!
Show Notes:
Watch The Bibi Files https://www.jolt.film/watch/the-bibi-files
Andrea’s interview on Jessica Denson’s Lights On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjpmySxlrKI
A 25-Year-Old with Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/
AOC Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&feature=shared&v=CVgNJf6CsBA
Andrea’s 2005 review of Alex Gibney’s Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room https://www.portlandmercury.com/movies-and-tv/2005/04/28/33542/smarter-than-you
'Unfathomable': How this stunning Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade came together https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43676830/how-stunning-luka-doncic-anthony-davis-trade-came-together-los-angeles-lakers-dallas-mavericks
From Chad Loder: NEW: Archived tweets for Gavin Kriger, Musk's 20-something DOGE employee wreaking havoc inside USAID, shows that Kriger has retweeted multiple neo-Nazis including Nick Fuentes, leader of the so-called Groyper movement, and another popular explicit Nazi account recently unmasked by @travisbrown.dev https://bsky.app/profile/chadloder.bsky.social/post/3lhc52j6kns2d
From Justin Baragona: Joe Kent, the guy Trump is nominating to lead his counterterrorism division, employed Proud Boys and Patriot Front members, met with Nick Fuentes and sat down with a neo-Nazi YouTuber for an interview. https://bsky.app/profile/justinbaragona.bsky.social/post/3lhcuqiqhzc2y
From Asha Rangappa: Honestly someone needs to let the dean of the college know that one of their students is actively violating several federal laws. I am certain that violates the student code of conduct and university disciplinary action might be the only enforcement mechanism we have right now https://bsky.app/profile/asharangappa.bsky.social/post/3lhcoe3c3ok2l
Events at Gaslit Nation
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Feb 7 8:30pm ET - Gaslit Nation Board Game Night! We’re playing Codenames. Get the Zoom link by joining Patreon.com/Gaslit.
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Feb 10 4pm ET – Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman joins our Gaslit Nation Salon to discuss Russia, Ukraine, and Trump
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Feb 24 4pm ET – Gaslit Nation Book Club at our Gaslit Nation Salon to discuss Albert Camu’s The Stranger (Matthew Ward translation) and Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning
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March 17 4pm ET – Dr. Lisa Corrigan joins our Gaslit Nation Salon to discuss America’s private prison crisis in an age of fascist scapegoating
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NEW! Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, available on Patreon.
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ONGOING! Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, available on Patreon.
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NEW! Climate Crisis Committee launched in the Patreon Chat thanks to a Gaslit Nation listener who holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences
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NEW! Caretaker Committee launched in the Patreon Chat for our listeners who are caretakers and want to share resources, vent, and find community
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NEW! Public Safety page added to GaslitNationPod.com to help you better protect yourself from this lunacy (i.e. track recalls, virus threats, and more!). Find it on the homepage of GaslitNationPod.com.
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ONGOING! Have you taken Gaslit Nation’s HyperNormalization Survey Yet? Find it on GaslitNationPod.com.
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ONGOING! Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and the first ~40 minutes are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community
Thank you to everyone who supports the show!