Is A War With Iran A Distraction From The Epstein Files?

Is A War With Iran A Distraction From The Epstein Files?

Author: CLNS Media Network February 20, 2026 Duration: 12:00
Support the show by signing up to our Patreon and get access to the full Weekender episode each Friday as well as special Live Shows and access to our community discord: ⁠http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast⁠ Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open this Weekender by asking the ugliest question out loud: Are we drifting toward a strike on Iran with no clear end game? They dig into why the silence feels like the point, how Russia and China fit onto the board, and why a wider conflict always seems to make a few very specific people rich. Then they pivot to the Epstein fallout and what it looks like when Europe actually treats the network like a crime, while the U.S. political class keeps trying to pretend it is somebody else’s problem. From there it gets bleakly funny as they talk about the AI chip rush, the coming squeeze on everyday electronics, and how tech oligarchs keep turning basic life into a scarcity game. Somehow, a treatise on Doritos emerges before ending with what they’re watching and reading, including a new crime caper that mostly works, Gravity’s Rainbow as a full-time job, and Nick trying to finish a Mick Cronin video before the weekend is over.

Hosted by political analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman, The Muckrake Political Podcast operates on a simple premise: the daily headlines are just the surface layer. Produced by the CLNS Media Network, this podcast actively resists the repetitive spin cycle that defines so much political coverage. Instead, each episode is an exercise in excavation, where Sexton and Hauselman pick apart a current event to uncover its roots and ramifications. They consistently reach for historical parallels and viewpoints often sidelined by mainstream discourse, arguing that understanding the past is crucial for navigating the present. The goal isn't just to inform, but to impose a framework for thinking critically about power, rhetoric, and policy as they unfold in real time. For listeners fatigued by shallow takes, this show offers a substantive alternative, replacing noise with nuance. The conversation you'll hear is analytical yet accessible, designed for anyone who feels the news moves too fast to comprehend. It’s a deliberate attempt to find signal in the noise, providing context that makes chaotic political developments feel more intelligible. Tune in for a discussion that treats politics as the complex, consequential force it is, beyond the day's predictable talking points.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Muckrake Political Podcast
Podcast Episodes
No DNI-ing the Corruption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:11
Visit Patreon.com/muckrakepodcast to join the Patreon today for exclusive access to the weekend edition every Friday, live specials, and bonus coverage. Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down a week filled with…
Strait to the Abyss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:32
Visit patreon.com/muckrakepodcast to join the Patreon, support the ad-free show, and get access to the Weekender, special events, and the Discord server. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman unpack a crucial da…
The Texas Chain-Saw Primary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:18
Head over to Patreon.com/muckrakepodcast to become a patron and support the show and unlock the full episode. Your support keeps us editorially independent and completely ad-free. We have no corporate backing whatsoever,…
As The MAGA Turns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:55
Welcome to the Memorial Day episode of the Muckrake Podcast where co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman examine the Trump administration's claims of an imminent peace deal with Iran. While officials project opti…
The US Lied: Iran Shot Down 42 American Aircrafts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:43
You are listening to a preview of the Weekender. To unlock the full episode, join our community discord, and get exclusive access to live shows, head over to https://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast to become a supporter toda…
Xi-ing is Deceiving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:06
The worst-case scenario has officially come to fruition. In this episode of the Muckrake Podcast, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman unpack the devastating fallout from the recent U.S. presidential trip to Ch…
Reality TV Republic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:27
This is a preview of our Weekender episode. Visit http://patreon.com/muckrakrpodcast to unlock this and every full Friday episode. The boys are back for a humdinger of a weekend edition. We open with a historic and massi…
The Art of the Kneel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:52
This week, co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman examine the crumbling facade of the Trump administration as their one page peace proposal is sent back by Iran. With the Middle East slipping further out of contr…
Hanta-Claus Is Coming To Town [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:45
This is a free preview of our Weekender episode. Unlock the whole podcast and get access to our Discord and Live Show by visiting: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast The Boys are back in town and the world is moving fast…
The Looming Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:29
Our boy Nick Hauselman is out and about, leaving Jared Yates Sexton to man the Muckrake desk. In this episode he breaks down the worsening energy crisis, escalations In the Strait of Hormuz, as well Right Wing personalit…