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: 100

The Muckrake Political Podcast
Podcast Episodes
One Battle After Another [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:07
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 On this Black…
War and Piece… of Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:27
Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down Donald Trump’s demanded “Thanksgiving peace plan” for Ukraine, a proposal that hands Vladimir Putin everything he wants while threatening to cut off all U.S. aid…
Epstein, Ex Machina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:34
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 Jared Yates S…
Epstein Emails: The Inbox Of The Rich & Heinous [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:31
Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman dive into the new Epstein email tranche, from Trump’s scramble to sic “his” DOJ on Clinton and Summers to the media’s polite amnesia about who looked the other way. They con…
Democrats Snatch Defeat from a Shutdown Win [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:15
Nick Hauselman hosts while Jared Yates Sexton joins from the road to break down a “deal” that looks a lot like capitulation, the promised-but-pointless ACA vote, and a wave of fake-elector pardons that clears the board f…
Mamdani Signals A Left Turn In NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:59
Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman kick things off by announcing a live Patreon Q&A this Thursday, November 6 at 5 p.m. ET, then dive into New York City’s mayoral shockwave. They break down Zoran Mamdani’s surge, Andr…
Trick-or-Treat, Reaction Force At Your Door [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:33
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 It’s a Hallowee…
Why The East Wing Means Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:12
Donald Trump just demolished the entire East Wing of the White House so he can build a $300 million gilded “Presidential Ballroom,” even after promising there would be “no structural damage.” At the exact same time, beca…