Ep 421 - First They Came for Jimmy Kimmel w/ Judd Legum

Ep 421 - First They Came for Jimmy Kimmel w/ Judd Legum

Author: David Parsons September 19, 2025 Duration: 56:09

The fallout from Charlie Kirk's assassination continues to mutate into an escalation of the right's multi-front authoritarian campaign. On this episode, I talk with Judd Legum, journalist and creator of two of the most important  independent progressive publications of the past two decades: the political news site ThinkProgress (RIP!) and the current Substack newsletter Popular Information. We talk about people being fired for comments about Kirk's death (including Jimmy Kimmel), the Trump administration's strategy of suing their enemies, and the outlook for progressive and left journalism in this increasingly stifling political atmosphere.

Support independent media! Subscribe to the Nostalgia Trap Patreon to access all our bonus content, including News Trap updates, livestreams, and more.


The conversations on Nostalgia Trap move beyond simple reminiscence, probing the powerful and often misleading pull of the past on our present. Hosted by historian and writer David Parsons, this podcast carefully untangles the threads connecting American history, contemporary politics, and the shared stories of pop culture. Each episode is built around a deep dive conversation, where the familiar narratives we tell ourselves about who we are are examined and challenged. You’ll hear how yesterday’s policy decisions echo in today’s headlines and how a forgotten film or a hit song can reveal the anxieties of its era. The goal isn’t just to inform, but to question the comforting allure of a supposedly simpler time, revealing how nostalgia itself can be a trap that shapes our collective understanding. This is a space for thoughtful, nuanced discussion that respects the complexity of the past while critically engaging with its legacy. For anyone interested in the forces that have shaped the American experience, from its founding ideals to its latest cultural moments, Nostalgia Trap offers a necessary and compelling perspective. Tune in for a podcast that consistently demonstrates how history is never truly behind us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Nostalgia Trap
Podcast Episodes
News Trap 5.17.24 w/ Justin Rogers-Cooper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:05
"Everyday carry" and "prepper" culture, unsold Teslas piling up at dealerships, AI as the future of global capitalism, AI does not in fact work, Biden is not properly buying our votes. Follow all our News Trap episodes b…
News Trap 5.14.24 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:31
We've been posting daily news wrap-ups/freakouts every morning over at the Nostalgia Trap Patreon page for our subscribers. I'm posting today's episode on the main feed, hoping you'll subscribe. My goals with News Trap a…
News Trap 5.8.24 (PREVIEW) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02
Trump can't control himself in court, food prices are gonna decide the election, Tik Tok is gearing up for a Supreme Court battle, the U.S. can't make enough weapons for both Israel AND Ukraine, and RFK, Jr. has a brain…
News Trap 5.2.24 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:50
On today's News Trap I share some snippets about Chinese state capitalism, RFK's hilariously shitty presidential campaign, Elon Musk pulling the plug on everyone's dumb car chargers, the normalization of guns in schools…

«1...678910