Off The Record With Paul Hodes

Donald Trump just made billions by taking his media company built on Truth Social public. Is that really going to change anything politically? Or in terms of the fact that he seemed to be nearly bankrupt at the beginning of the week? (01:09). Then the Ronna McDaniel saga at NBC where she got hired and promptly fired. Alicia Preston shuts down the Republican counter backlash in one line. (12:51) Also, which party should be more nervous about the rise of RFK Jr.(21:25) , the legacy of Joe Lieberman (24:46), AND, based on the news that Donald Trump is selling Trump-branded Bibles, we came up with our own list of Trump branded religious paraphernalia that he should try to sell next (28:45).

Today, we're testing a new concept: 10 minute daily episodes highlighting the things happening in the news that are worthy of your attention, but that don't make the headline skim. The kind of important number or idea that somehow slips down 8 paragraphs in the story, or onto the back pages. Something that might make you think about the world a little differently, or help connect some dots that put current events in a new light. We really want to know what you think. You can answer the poll question (on Spotify), or email us at matt.beyondpoliticspodcast@gmail.com. Today, the thing to notice is the number 35. Earlier this week, a cargo ship lost power and plowed into the Francis Scott Key bridge in the port of Baltimore killing six bridge workers. The effects will ripple across America for years to come. But it's the number 35, tucked into a New York Times op-ed, that makes one think about the bigger role of the federal government and what it quietly does in the shadows.

Joe Khan was the lawyer for a critical swing county in Pennsylvania in 2020 when he noticed something...odd. He joins us to tell the story of how he and a group of lawyers banded together to defend the Pennsylvania election outcome - and ultimately American democracy - from the Trump onslaught. And now that he's running for Attorney General of Pennsylvania, what lessons will he apply in 2024, when Pennsylvania appears to be under even greater threat of Trump election interference? 01:30 The Early Signs of Election Interference in Pennsylvania 04:29 Building a Legal Coalition to Defend the Vote 09:01 Frontline Strategies: Preparing for Every Scenario 15:41 The Fight Against Social Media Giants 21:49 The Critical Role of the Attorney General in Future Elections

There is a sneaky huge shift happening in American music right now right under our very noses (or ears). Private equity's takeover of the music business could have major consequences for what we hear and whether we hear anything new at all. Whitney Houston's catalog acquisition, Taylor Swift's battle over her masters, and the fight over Pink Floyd's music are just a handful of examples. Music industry writer Marc Hogan joins to explain his fascinating piece about this in the New York Times. 00:00 The Unseen Impact of Private Equity on Music 01:27 A Deep Dive into Music Rights and Private Equity 05:00 The Taylor Swift Case 10:50 Exploring the Financialization of Music and Its Effects 17:59 The Future of Music: Creativity vs. Commercialization 27:01 Exploring the Potential for Innovation in Music and Visual Media 30:28 The Future of Music: Opportunities and Challenges

A Chaotic Republican Hearing and Trump's Legal and Financial Woes: the round table runs through a tumultuous Republican hearing meant to highlight Republicans' fantasy of wrongdoing by President Biden, which backfired spectacularly on themselves and Donald Trump. Also, Judge Aileen Cannon's ham-handed slow-walking of the Trump documents case, and the incredible shrinking Trump fundraising base. 02:29 The Republican Hearing Debacle 14:15 The Media's Role and Public Perception in Political Narratives 21:48 Judge Cannon Tries to Bury The Case in Florida 28:27 Breaking News: The Government's New Lawsuit 38:50 Trump's Legal and Financial Troubles Are Deep 45:31 The RNC Takeover and Trump's Fundraising Woes 50:40 The Bizarre World of Political Fundraising Emails

How on earth is Trump beating Biden right now? It's the question that has baffled and enraged Democrats for months. And it's the question that Matt Robison tackled in his new article for Washington Monthly. Matt lays out one of the biggest reasons, something that analysts tend to overlook, and adds material that didn't make it into the article. 00:05 The Puzzling Popularity of Donald Trump 02:07 The Low Information Trap: Unpacking Voter Awareness 03:45 The Stark Contrast: Trump's Failures and Crimes 10:49 High vs. Low Information Voters: Bridging the Gap 17:48 The Impact of Information on Voter Perception 22:25 Looking Ahead: What Does this Mean for 2024?

Three charges were just dismissed against Donald Trump in Georgia. Will this make a major, lasting difference in his legal peril? Also, Never Trump Republicans fold bigly, is a MAGA takeover bid for TikTok a good thing, and is the AI apocalypse here? 00:46 Analyzing the Legal Implications and Prosecutorial Missteps 11:16 The Political and Legal Ramifications of the Case 12:46 Trump's New Never-Trump Republican Endorsements 19:21 The RNC Takeover: Trump's Personal Agenda 27:29 The TikTok Dilemma: National Security 33:09 AI Apocalypse: The End of Humanity as We Know It?

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