The Corporation for Public Broadcasting just announced it will shut down after Congress –under pressure from Trump – eliminated $1.1 billion in funding through 2027. It’s a devastating blow to the future of public media. But this isn’t just about budget cuts—it’s about fear, control, and silencing dissent.
Akilah Hughes breaks down the chilling wave of corporate capitulation to Trump, including CBS and ABC’s multimillion-dollar settlements, the abrupt cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show – part of Paramount being on their “best behavior” ahead of a now-approved (by Trump’s FCC) major merger.
COURIER founder and publisher, Tara McGowan and longtime journalist Mark Jacob, join this episode that explores the failures of corporate media to stand up to Trump and why Americans are increasingly split into the informed and the manipulated.
Subscribe now and follow us on YouTube for more new content before we release brand new full episodes in the fall.
Guests:
Mark Jacob, author of Stop the PressesTara McGowan, Founder and Publisher of COURIER
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27:05
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27:05
How to Fight Back Against Alligator Alcatraz and Inhumane Immigration Policy
Akilah Hughes breaks down the immigration policies of Trump's second term, from mass deportations to family separations and the rollback of birthright citizenship.
Joined by guests Justino Mora, the discussion highlights the damage ICE has caused so far and the future of US immigration.
GUEST
Justino Mora, Immigrant Rights Activist
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction
01:13 - The Reality of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
02:14 - Interview w/ Immigrant Rights Activist Justino Mora
04:00 - The Impact of ICE Raids and Community Response
09:05 - What is ‘Alligator Alcatraz’?
13:34 - The Man Shaping Trump's Immigration Policy
14:55 - What is their Endgame?
16:45 - The Big Ugly Bill and Its Implications
17:26 - Community Defense and Hope
19:55 - Conclusion
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24:42
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24:42
The Manosphere and the Alpha Male Content Trap
Akila Hughes explores the dangerous online pipelines that lure men seeking advice into radical ideologies.
Joined by guests Denny Carter, Adam Mockler, and EJ Dickson, the episode delves into the manipulative tactics used by figures like Andrew Tate and Joe Rogan to push hyper-masculine agendas.
The discussion highlights the detrimental effects of these ideologies on mental health, relationships, and societal norms.
Guests:
Adam Mockler, YouTube Creator
Denny Carter, author at Bad Faith Times
EJ Dickson, senior writer at The Cut
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction to "Male Dominance" and Alpha "Ideals"
00:33 - The Manosphere's Influence on Men
01:56 - Social Media's Role in Shaping Masculinity
03:46 - The Alpha Male Archetype: Rogan vs. Tate
05:16 - The Pipeline
07:14 - The Impact of Algorithms on Content Consumption
08:46 - The Rise of Male Optimization Culture11:11 Critique of Modern Masculinity Ideals
18:14 -The Left's Struggle in Online Spaces
20:58 - Conclusion: The State of Modern Manhood
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26:50
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26:50
Trad Wives, MAHA, and the Women’s Wellness Pipeline
A new flavor of conservative content is targeting women online—and it’s going viral. This week, Akilah Hughes explores the rise of the "tradwife" aesthetic, the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement, and how a wellness pipeline is pulling women to the political right.
We talk to experts and journalists who’ve tracked this trend firsthand, from TikTok to Turning Point USA’s wellness-themed women’s conference.
Guests:
- Madeline Peltz, independent journalist
- EJ Dickson, senior writer at The Cut
Chapters:
0:00 - Open
1:38 - How did we get here?
3:07- EJ Dickson
3:51 - How the Right has framed health and wellness
7:09 - Madeline Peltz
8:30 - Turning Point USA women's conference
10:53 - The shift from COVID
12:39 - Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA
17:56 - The grift
19:57 - Are trad wives real?
20:25 - Nara Smith
21:45 - Ballerina Farm, poverty cosplay
23:02 - Conclusion
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25:41
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25:41
Politics is Wrestling
In this episode, Akilah Hughes steps into the ring with "The Progressive Liberal"—yes, that’s his real wrestling persona—alongside author Josie Riesman and journalist and former WWE writer, Dave Schilling, to explore why politics today feels more like WWE than C-SPAN,
We dive into the personas, the crowd work, the heels and the faces (iykyk)—and how both wrestling and politics rely on performance, polarization, and pandering to win over the crowd.
If you’ve ever wondered why politics feels more like a reality show than real life… this is the episode for you.
GUESTS:
Dave Schilling, LA Times Columnist and former writer for WWE
Josie Riesman, author of RingMaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America
Daniel Harnsberger aka “The Progressive Liberal”
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We're constantly bombarded by grifters who claim to have all the solutions. From Donald Trump promising to "make America great" to tech bros who say they're making the world a "better place." Akilah Hughes has had enough. She's finally asking...How Is This Better?
USA