Off The Record With Paul Hodes

We look back today at the biggest, and probably most forgotten scandal in the whole Trump-Russia web of corruption. When Charles McGonigal, former head of counterintelligence at the FBI, was recently convicted for money laundering and working for Russia, the media barely took notice. In this interview recorded a year ago just after McGonigal's arrest, our expert guest Craig Unger laid out just how deep the Trump-Russia-FBI ties go, and how disturbing the implications are. 00:00 Introduction: The Unseen Scandal of American Intelligence 03:06 The Forgotten Ties: Trump, Russia, and the FBI's Compromised Investigation 09:59 The Historical Context: Trump's Long-standing Ties with Russia 20:37 The Media's Role and the Need for Counterintelligence Investigation 28:29 Confronting the Challenges: How to Combat Disinformation and Silence

Beyond Politics: Biden's Impact, Trump's Troubles, and Democratic Strategies Biden's recent turn in tone, language, and strategy that he started at the State of the Union seems ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script. Political analyst Cliff Schecter thinks it comes right out of "The American President," but Matt Robison has a couple other movie moments in mind. Also, does Trump's decision to appoint Lara Trump to head the RNC a hint o how deep his financial troubles are? And when will Nikki Haley bend the knee to Trump?? 01:54 The Rise of 'Dark Brandon' 11:55 The Power of Counter Attack 14:35 Movie Metaphors for Political Strategies 18:12 The Trump Crime Family and the RNC 22:02 The Financial Struggles of Donald Trump 27:32 The Future of Nikki Haley and the Republican Party

President Joe Biden's fiery, fiesty State of the Union drew raves from analysts, with Politico writing "it’s hard to imagine how the SOTU could’ve gone much better for Biden." But what impact did it actually have with the swing voters that will decide the 2024 election? And will it reset a race that's been looking dangerous for the President? Pollsters Ian Smith and Gabi Parra of Navigator Research explain what their live dial testing with swing voters revealed, what moments really stuck out, and whether this speech accomplished what Joe Biden truly needed. 02:02 The Impact of State of the Union on Swing Voters 07:11 The Importance of Democracy and Voting Rights 09:54 The Impact of Biden's Economic Policies 10:58 The Role of Women in Politics 12:16 Immigration 19:56 The Age Issue 23:15 Women's Political Power 26:33 The Moment that Mattered

With major polls showing President Joe Biden continuing to trail Donald Trump, Democratic insiders believe that the State of the Union speech this week has now become a make-or-break moment for the President. But is it? And what does he need to accomplish for it to be successful? Also, the hidden significance of Super Tuesday that could be sneaky good news for Democrats, major rulings from the Supreme Court that help Trump and cast doubt on the Court, and Matt and Alicia get parodied on social media. 02:10 State of the Union: Predictions and Expectations 12:01 Super Tuesday: Significance and Predictions 17:49 Supreme Court Decisions and Their Impact 30:06 The Lighter Side of Politics: Parody Accounts

When Alabama's Supreme Court redefined the legal status of stored embryos, equating them to children under a law from 1872, it unleashed a tidal wave of outrage, fear, and recriminations. Sabrina Talukder, Director of the Women's Initiative at the Center for American Progress, joins to talk through the continuing repercussions of the ruling, whether all the concern is warranted, and how the ruling will shape the debate and the politics of reproductive freedom and women's health in the coming year. 01:34 Alabama Supreme Court's Decision 04:02 Legal Analysis and Repercussions 09:08 Discussion on the Political Implications 19:02 The Politicization of Medicine 21:11 Future Implications

***PLEASE leave us a rating/review on Apple podcast app!*** What is the meaning of the Haley vote in South Carolina and the "uncommitted" vote in Michigan? Is Trump or Biden more vulnerable to weakness in his own party? Also, how should the Biden campaign shift strategy after the Supreme Court took up the Trump immunity case and pushed back the election subversion trial indefinitely? And what is the meaning of Mitch McConnell's stepping down and the emerging MAGA bloc search for a successor in the Senate. And, the hilarious politics story of the week: a MAGA troll gets ratio-ed on Twitter! 01:27 Supreme Court Decision on Trump's Immunity 04:25 Election Strategy 08:43 IVF Ruling and its Political Impact 13:56 Primary Results in South Carolina and Michigan 20:13 Mitch McConnell's Departure and its Implications 23:48 Fun Politics Story of the Week

The Supreme Court's decision to consider Donald Trump's claim of absolute immunity could massively change the course and the outcome of the presidential election. With this decision, the Court seems to be taking away the biggest driver of voters turning away from Trump. Guest Andy Kroll of ProPublica helps examine why the Court did this, what the political implications are, and what might eventually unfold. ***Please rate&Review on Apple Podcast App!*** 02:04 The Supreme Court's Decision: A Detailed Breakdown 05:31 The Legal and Political Implications of the Decision 13:27 The Impact on the Presidential Election 16:05 The Future of the Legal Cases Against Trump 23:05 The Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Today, we revisit an interview with Justin Elliot from ProPublica on his groundbreaking investigation into corruption allegations against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We cover the financial ties between Thomas, his wife, and right-wing billionaire Harlan Crow, which included expensive vacations and significant contributions to private school tuition. And we go inside the world of investigative reporting to understand what it takes to break a story like this. 00:00 Introduction and Context 00:01 The Clarence Thomas Corruption Story 00:26 The Impact of Corruption on the Supreme Court 01:39 The Role of Journalism in Uncovering Corruption 02:33 Interview with Justin Elliot 02:39 The Importance of Investigative Journalism 07:08 The Challenges of Reporting on the Supreme Court 08:25 The Unusual Financial Ties Between Crow and Thomas 12:48 The Power of Public Records in Journalism 18:47 The Influence of Money in Politics 24:55 The Need for Transparency in the Supreme Court 36:39 The Role of the Senate in I

There's a shadow healthcare crisis looming for 20 million, and you probably haven't heard about it. That's because it largely affects a group of people who have been swept up in the politics of immigration and border policy -- even though the vast majority of them are naturalized citizens, documented permanent residents, or Americans born in this country. Adriana Cadena, Director of the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign, and Leo Cuello, a research professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, explain why this is happening, why it's so important, and what can be done about it. 00:00 Introduction to the Looming Healthcare Crisis 01:05 Understanding the Scale of the Problem 04:32 The Human Impact of Losing Healthcare Coverage 06:09 Exploring the Reasons Behind the Crisis 11:19 The Role of Immigration Status in Healthcare Access 13:07 The Politics of Healthcare and Immigration 22:55 Potential Solutions to the Healthcare Crisis 27:48 The Future of Healthcare for Immi

Tell me if you heard this before--the whole impeachment case against President Biden was based on a Russian disinformation operation. AGAIN. Also, what is the impact of an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling regarding in-vitro fertilization? 00:00 Introduction: The Russian Disinformation Operation 01:12 The FBI's Role and Suspicion 01:59 The Hillary Clinton Investigation and Russian Intelligence 08:00 The Alabama State Supreme Court Ruling on Embryos 19:24 The Ezra Klein Controversy: Should Biden Step Down?

***Please share our show with a friend!*** What do you do if you disagree with your boss, when your boss is one of the most powerful people in the world? Recently, 17 Biden campaign staffers publicly wrote a letter to the president disagreeing with his position on the war in Gaza, which followed a letter anonymously sent by over 500 staffers back in November. Our guest Jim Papa is a former White House and Congressional staffer and host of the podcast "Staffer," and he says that this kind of protest can cause serious damage. But what about the case of Trump White House staffers who quietly worked against Trump ideas that they thought were dangerous or outright insane. Where do you draw the line 00:59 The Dilemma of Disagreeing with Your Boss 02:51 The Balance Between Personal Conscience and Professional Duty 10:42 The Consequences of Publicly Disagreeing with Your Boss 13:14 The Ethical Dilemma of Working for a Controversial Administration 21:51 The Role of Staffers in Shaping Information

Republicans have officially broken the US Congress to the most dysfunctional, dangerous, and even absurd degree in American history. Congressional expert Laura Rodriguez of the Center for American Politics Action Fund joins to Matt Robison to run down just how severe the madness has gotten, and why people should care about how much damage they are doing. ***Please leave us a great review in Apple Podcasts App!!*** 01:44 The Impact of Trump on American Politics 03:03 The New York Special Election: A Turning Point? 07:37 The MAGA Mind Virus: Is It Real? 11:30 The Impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas 16:02 The Consequences of Congressional Dysfunction 30:15 The Future of the Republican Party

Could Fani Willis' relationship kill the Georgia Trump case? Also, Trump's total meltdown on NATO and Putin, MAGA Republicans try to kill Ukraine aid, gun violence in Kansas City, and an easy solution for the patriarchy. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** Check out another great podcast at ⁠⁠Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other⁠ *** 02:03 Introducing 'Rent-a-Dude': A Solution to Gender Bias 04:07 The Fani Willis Hearing 07:15 Trump Legal Watch: A Look at Ongoing Cases 10:36 The Foreign Aid Bill: A Political Standoff 13:40 Lindsey Graham's Political Shift 14:38 Sheldon Whitehouse's Twitter Rant 17:19 Donald Trump's Controversial Statements 22:56 Debate on Gun Violence and Media Coverage

US political campaigns are expected to spent $17 billion on ads in 2024. But there's little evidence about how much of it works, if any does at all. John Halpin, Executive Editor of The Liberal Patriot, explains what we know and what we don't know about political advertising, and why the best solution for winning campaigns in 2024 might be a back-to-the-future approach. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** ***Check out another great podcast at ⁠⁠Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other⁠ *** 00:31 The Question of Political Ad Effectiveness 03:24 The Trust Gap in Political Advertising 05:09 The Influence of Political Ads: A Data Perspective 08:18 The Impact of Negative Political Ads 10:18 The Role of Money in Political Campaigns 17:10 The Need for a Rethink in Political Campaign Strategies 26:52 The Power of Person-to-Person Contact in Politics 30:18 Conclusion: The Future of Political Advertising

ProPublica's star investigative reporter Andy Kroll takes us behind the scenes, inside the issues and internal debates within the Supreme Court as it hears the 14th Amendment case against former President Donald Trump. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** ***Check out another great podcast at ⁠⁠Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other⁠ *** 01:17 Case Overview: Donald J. Trump vs Norma Anderson 05:54 The Debate on the 14th Amendment 11:40 The Tension Between Strict Constructionism and Legal Interpretation 20:19 The Three Core Questions for the Court 25:28 Understanding the Concept of Insurrection 26:55 The Role of States in Enforcing the 14th Amendment 36:13 The Role of the Supreme Court in Political Decisions 41:38 The Potential for Future Political Crises 46:42 The Importance of a Functional Congress

A Bad Day for Democrats, the 14th Amendment, and Questions about Joe Biden's Fitness for Office. A special Sunday bonus roundtable discussion with Matt, Paul, and Alicia on how the Supreme Court is crushing Democrats dreams of getting saved from Trump, while the Special Counsel crushed Biden's age and memory in a way that could have lasting echoes throughout the Presidential race. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** ***Check out another great podcast at ⁠⁠⁠Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other⁠⁠ *** 00:40 The Impact of Special Counsel's Investigation on Joe Biden 09:15 The Political Impact of the Special Counsel's Report 14:42 The Age Factor in Politics: Biden vs Trump 18:19 The Supreme Court and the 14th Amendment 22:16 The Immunity Question: Trump's Legal Challenges 24:30 The House of Representatives: A Study in Dysfunction 30:14 The Swift Bowl

Two cases in the federal courts this week had very different outcomes for Donald Trump. A Federal Appeals Court demolished Trump's claims of immunity from prosecution, but the US Supreme Court seemed poised to allow him to remain on the ballot despite a constitutional challenge over his role in the Insurrection. Matt Robison joins radio legend Howard Monroe to break it down. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** ***Check out another great podcast at ⁠⁠Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other⁠ *** 02:51 Discussion on Court Rulings and Presidential Immunity 08:37 Conversation on the 14th Amendment Case 18:12 Discussion on the Biden Special Prosecutor's Report

Top forecaster Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody's Analytics and the host of 'Inside Economics' has released his election forecast model. We dive into the factors that will truly matter in 2024, and announce the predicted winner. ***Don't forget to rate and review us!!*** ***Check out another great podcast at ⁠Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other *** 02:49 The Impact of the Economy on Voter Behavior 04:40 The Influence of Voter Turnout 07:00 The Significance of Election Forecast Models 09:42 The Role of Third-Party Candidates in Elections 19:43 The Impact of Economic Factors on Elections 23:35 Predicting the Next President

Corey Nathan of the hit podcast Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other joins Matt Robison for Part Two of their conversation about whether the divides in America are really that big for the vast majority of people, and how to connect with people who seem to have major differences with you. If you haven't heard Part One yet, click on the link for Corey's pod and check it out (and then come right back here)! And PLEASE hit follow on both of our shows, and if you're on the Apple Podcast app especially, scroll to the bottom of the episode list and leave us a rating and review! 05:04 The Journey from Judaism to Christianity 07:42 The Importance of Engaging in Political Discussions 10:36 The Role of Religion in Politics 18:07 The Dangers of Avoiding Political Discussions 21:16 The Exit Ramp for Trump Supporters 23:48 Understanding Deplorability and Open-Mindedness 30:31 The Power of Listening and Understanding 37:40 The Threat of Authoritarianism to Democracy 40:44 The Valu

2024 may be the most pivotal year in decades, one that could shape the world's future in profound ways. Xenia Wickett, a geopolitical expert who has worked at the White House, State Department, Chatham House, and the Harvard Kennedy School explains what the big drivers of instability and change are, and suggests how to think about the complicated cross currents in the world in 2024. 02:57 The Key Challenges in 2024 06:02 The Pillars of Global Structure 16:11 The New Role of Corporations Across Societies 20:19 The Four Global Systems 22:49 The Interplay of Global Systems and Foundational Pillars 28:40 The 'Rooms' - Localized Issues Impacting the Global System 31:07 Understanding the Interconnectedness of Global Events 38:48 Learning to Manage Volatility