The "Things Blowing Up" Briefing

The "Things Blowing Up" Briefing

Author: CLNS Media Network March 27, 2026 Duration: 10:58
Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down a week of absolute cognitive dissonance: a President receiving military briefings via two-minute "action" reels, an economy that seems to be running on Wile E. Coyote physics, and a landmark legal reckoning for the tech giants who built our fractured reality. From charging electric cars at gas stations that sell steak to the "suicide mission" plans for Kharg Island, it’s a deep dive into the crumbling facade of the American empire. The Michael Bay Briefing: NBC reveals that Donald Trump’s primary source for Iran war updates is a "things blowing up" compilation. The Wile E. Coyote Economy: Why the markets remain eerily calm while the petrodollar system is in flames. The Great Tech Reckoning: Landmark judgments against Meta and YouTube for mental health damages could be the "Big Tobacco moment" for Silicon Valley. The CBS Exodus: Ratings are cratering as the network pivots toward billionaire-friendly propaganda. Culture Corner: Nick struggles through the "dystopian burnout" of Paradise, while Jared survives the 760-page psychological warfare of Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow. If you’re listening to this preview, head over to Patreon.com/muckrakepodcast to become a patron. You’ll get access to the full show, live chats, and Q&A sessions. We remain editorially independent and ad-free because of your support.

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: 50

The Muckrake Political Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Worst Country You Know Just Made A Great Point [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:33
Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open on the Iran war officially entering quagmire territory, with refineries and tankers getting hit at will while the US has essentially run out of missiles to respond with…
Manifesto Destiny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:42
This is a preview of The Weekender. Sign up for our Patreon and get access to the full episode, our Tuesday show, and our Discord. Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open on Abdul El-Sayed's razor-thin win ov…
The Innovation of Corruption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:16
Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open on Trump Media's new Truth API, the subscription that lets trading firms pay up to $100,000 a month for early access to Trump's market-moving posts. The scandal isn't t…
A Fifth Of Fauci [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:46
This is a preview of The Weekender. Sign up for our Patreon and get access to the full episode every Friday, plus special Live Shows and our community discord: ⁠http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast⁠ Jared Yates Sexton and…
PAC It In [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:58
Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman start with the Democratic Party's implosion: the DNC is $2 million in debt, sitting on a fraction of the Republicans' $128 million surplus, and chair Ken Martin is about to be scapeg…
Saudi's Enrich Quick Scheme [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:22
This is a preview of The Weekender. Sign up for our Patreon and get access to the full episode every Friday, plus live shows and our community Discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hause…
Diarrhea Straits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:59
Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open with the Iran war, where every incentive now runs against the United States: bases getting hit, stockpiles that were never replenished, the Houthis moving to choke off…
Made In China Syndrome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:21
This is only a preview of The Weekender. Want the rest? Sign up for our Patreon to hear the full episode every Friday, plus special Live Shows and access to our community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Co-ho…
A Grave Situation In The Senate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:06
Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open on the death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who came back from Ukraine feeling unwell, skipped medical treatment to go do Meet the Press, and then died at 71. They ar…
Mitch Ado About Nothing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:07
This is a preview of The Weekender. Sign up for our Patreon and get access to the full episode, plus special Live Shows and the community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman…