Chapo Trap House

This week on Chapo, we review The Daily Wire’s Run Hide Fight: Infidels with screenwriter Josh Olson. We did into this failing company’s newest attempt at recreating the racist 80s action movie, this time with about five minutes of Jonathan Majors thrown in. We dig into this movie’s worldview, pitch ideas for new Run Hide Fight movies, debate what even happened in this one, and wrap up with like a solid twenty minutes of talking about how awesome Reacher is. Check out Josh’s The Movies That Made Me podcast with Joe Dante wherever you get pods. Join us on Fri, Oct 16 at the ErF Gallery for a live screening of Chunks followed by a live talkback featuring Will, Hesse & Podcast About List, tickets here: https://www.erf.nyc/events/chapo-trap-house-screening

1073 - Unsafe, Illegal, and Common feat. Kylie Cheung (9/21/26) by Chapo Trap House

Chapo vet Jacob Bacharach is back to talk about the apocalyptic rhetoric coming from AI companies. Are the threats of an imminent disaster real, or is it just desperate panhandling? We then turn to the big New York Magazine piece on Trump’s ballroom project and analyze his strangest bit for immortality yet. Check out Jacob’s work at The New Republic: https://newrepublic.com/authors/jacob-bacharach And join us on Fri, Oct 16 at the ErF Gallery for a live screening of Chunks followed by a live talkback featuring Will, Hesse & Podcast About List, tickets here: https://www.erf.nyc/events/chapo-trap-house-screening

This week on Chapo, Will and Felix go long on two reading series. First, we have a piece in the Jerusalem Post with a plan to finally win the war in Iran by drafting American debt slaves. Second, we have another John Fetterman exposé in the Wall Street Journal showing just how lazy, oafish, and entitled the man is, including him ghosting children's hospitals and complaining about police funerals.

Mark Perlmutter and Thaer Ahmad from the documentary American Doctor join us this week to discuss their time working as doctors in Gaza. They discuss what they witnessed in Gaza during the genocide, their attempts to persuade politicians on Capitol Hill, the medical industry’s willfull blindness to Palestinian suffering, and what needs to happen to cure the cancerous ideology of Zionism. Find all things about the film including where to see it here: https://americandoctorfilm.com/

Chapo All-Star David Roth returns for a survey of the right-wing influencers running the government: DataRepublican, MomOfDataRepublican, InfantryDort, all of the stars are here! We also check in on another round of liberal struggle sessions about Hasan, and the deportation of Milo Yiannopoulos by the cowardess Laura Loomer. Find David’s work at Defector here: https://defector.com/author/david-roth  If you’re in Canada, check out the CHUNKS live screening on Sept 1. with Amber Frost, Nate Fisher, and Michael and Us: https://paradiseonbloor.com/movies/chunks-toronto-premiere And in Charlottetown, PEI on Sept 4th and 5th: https://tivolicinema.com/production/chunks/  CHUNKS now available for streaming purchase at www.patreon.com/chunkstv

Tom, Tarance, and Aaron are back on the left’s premiere A Song of Ice and Fire podcast to talk about a recent army enlistment drive offering new recruits four days of Grand Theft Auto VI. We also talk about the populist revolt and liberal counterrevolution against data centers, plus Trump and RFK importing dubious meats and letting more foods get poisoned. Lastly, we read selections from Natalie Harp’s mash notes to Trump. Find Trillbillies wherever you get podcasts and subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/trillbillyworkersparty If you’re in Canada, check out the CHUNKS live screening on Sept 1. with Amber Frost, Nate Fisher, and Michael and Us: https://paradiseonbloor.com/movies/chunks-toronto-premiere And in Charlottetown, PEI on Sept 4th and 5th: https://tivolicinema.com/production/chunks/ CHUNKS now available for streaming purchase at www.patreon.com/chunkstv

AS ALWAYS: The first episode of this season of Players Club is free and available on all podcast platforms. All subsequent episodes will be available exclusively for subscribers at patreon.com/chapotraphouse. The year is 2009. Baquack Odoula is giving birth to Obunglercare and telling Americans that if they like their doctors, they can keep their ashes in urns above their fireplaces after they are rounded up and incinerated (Google “doctor’s plot”). Jay Cutler is filling Chicago Bears fans with hopes of a better tomorrow. Taylor Lautner is at the height of his powers. It may not be morning in America, but we all woke up at 2 PM, so same difference. Across the world, a coder employed by From Software eager to prove his mettle is told by his employers that they just so happen to have a game that is so poorly made, behind schedule, and over budget that if he really wants to, the former Oracle employee can take over its development and try to make something playable. Now free from the clutches of the Ellisons and their blood sacrifices, the man and his team work day and night to turn a quagmire that was previously called something like The Terrific Reclaim of Dark! [1+3=0 Edirion] YOU ARE INFINITE into something playable. That 30 something boy that nobody liked grew up to be Hideteka Miyazaki. And the game? Our inaugural entry for Season 2 of Player’s Club, Demon’s Souls. Frequent collaborator and long-suffering podcast dungeon master Patches was kind enough to join me on this first step through From’s contemporary catalog. This game may be the least of From’s efforts from the catalog of games it kicked off, but it’s not for a lack of ability or vision. Even just making something functional out of such a mess would have been an achievement by Miyazaki and co, but they did more than that. Demon’s Souls may lack some of the more brilliant level design and deceptively deep combat of later entries, but it cannot be overstated how little they had to work with and just how deeply this entry deviated from the standard fare put out by Japanese publishers the size of Bandai Namco in 2009. While everyone else was making once-challenging and open-ended titles more linear and centering every level around scripted set pieces, Demon’s Souls broke the mold by harkening back to a time before endless handholding, and delivered a game that respected its players enough to allow them to tackle individual levels and bosses how and when they saw fit. For this entry, I did my playthrough on a PS3 emulator, meaning I went without the quality of life adjustments in the 2020 Blue Point remake. That said, I found myself enjoying my experience more than my first go around on the PS5 version years prior. To say this is the least challenging or exciting of the remaining 6 (or 7, if you count Shadow of the Erdtree as a separate entry) games on our docket is not a knock on this game, but a compliment to the massive leaps in quality From achieved in each consecutive release. The fact that such a catalog grew out of a game that was almost abandoned before Miyazaki became the stepfather that stepped up.  Praise aside, I don’t care for Stockpile Thomas. He always has to be such a downer. I didn’t ask for your life story!  The wonderful Patches can be found on Twitter (@Senator_Gun) and as the dungeon master of my personal all time favorite DnD episodes we’ve ever done. He does not necessarily share my opinion that Stockpile Thomas is responsible for his family’s awful deaths.

The titular Guys are back! We continue our coverage of the deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln before checking in on two women in politics: Nancy Mace and Natalie Harp. We then do a deep dive into the world of mafia-turncoat-influencers, former made men in the Five Families who now run YouTube channels to talk about food, gay people in the mafia, and how you should spend your money. If you’re in Canada, check out the CHUNKS live screening on Sept 1. with Amber Frost, Nate Fisher, and the Important Cinema Club: https://paradiseonbloor.com/movies/chunks-toronto-premiere And in Charlottetown, PEI on Sept 4th and 5th: https://tivolicinema.com/production/chunks/ Chapo & Friends Live at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture on Friday November 6th is SOLD OUT! TOO BAD! CHUNKS now available for streaming purchase at www.patreon.com/chunkstv

Journalist and YouTuber Jordan Shanks-Markovina aka friendlyjordies joins us for an Australian news ep, comparing the MAGA movement of the United States with the right-wing nativism of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. We talk about Australia’s world of mobsters and bikers, one deputy PM’s war on Koalas, and how Jordies’ videos lead to several criminal prosecutions and his house being firebombed. Check out Jordies’ videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2-i3KuYoODXsM99Z3-Gm0A His Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/friendlyjordies And his podcast The Official Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@theofficialytchannel  If you’re in Canada, check out the CHUNKS live screening on Sept 1. with Amber Frost, Nate Fisher, and the Important Cinema Club: https://paradiseonbloor.com/movies/chunks-toronto-premiere And in Charlottetown, PEI on Sept 4th and 5th: https://tivolicinema.com/production/chunks/  Chapo & Friends Live at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture on Friday November 6th. Tickets are going fast, get yours now! https://link.dice.fm/zaf99528079e  CHUNKS now available for streaming purchase at www.patreon.com/chunkstv

We get to some news that we didn’t get to on Thursday, such as Iran_Ceasefire_FINAL_FINAL.pdf, right-wing influencers pivoting to OnlyFans, and the cold case of Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping. We also respond to some listener suggestions about how to deal with a vulture problem before a lightning round of dystopian stories about AI and dating. Pitch Katherine pieces for The Intercept at katherine.krueger@theintercept.com CHUNKS now available for streaming purchase at www.patreon.com/chunkstv Chapo & Friends Live at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture on Friday November 6th. Tickets are going fast, get yours now! https://link.dice.fm/zaf99528079e

NOW UNLOCKED! Devin Thomas O’Shea returns to discuss his book on St. Louis’ notorious Veiled Prophet society. We look at St. Louis history as a microcosm of America, the interwoven history of labor & racial suppression, Parade Politics, the public mystification of white supremacy, and how modern secret societies forget to have a little fun with it. Find Devin’s book The Veiled Prophet here and wherever you buy books: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2770-the-veiled-prophet

Jake & Thomas join us to explore some recent Rogan Lore, look at the eschatological facets of Ted Lasso, and contemplate the interiority of some of our acquaintences. Then, our various failures in Iran, our Troops on T, and our bumbling military in general. Jake’s promo for flood & food relief in Kerr County, Texas: https://rebuildkerr.org/ CHUNKS now available for streaming purchase at www.patreon.com/chunkstv Chapo & Friends Live at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture on Friday November 6th. Tickets are going fast, get yours now! https://link.dice.fm/zaf99528079e And see Jake on Aug 14 in Orlando: https://www.alexsundergroundcomedy.com/event-details/jake-rhodes?fbclid=PARlRTSATDOIBwZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp1h2teRUwDGGngWIxx75wF9nO-kjVrAJzXqahezosR-kvYdnifBFFeSP5T6O_aem__1_cFrY01k64f6UoZ58Cvg

Journalist Jasper Nathaniel returns to the show for another look at the state of the West Bank. We talk about continuing settler rampages, mass shootings ignored by Israeli authorities, and Ro Khanna’s recent trip to the occupied lands. Jasper's article: https://www.infinitejaz.com/p/a-hellish-month-in-the-occupied-west

DIVA DOWN! We pay our respects to Lindsay Graham, a man who died doing what he loved. We then tour some recent geopolitical conflicts, with the Ukraine war in a continuing stalemate despite recent drone innovations and the Iran War back in full swing. We also talk about a few fun cultural topics, such as Connor McGregor’s loss, Boosie Badazz allegedly trying to bribe Jacob Wohl, and the continuing story of Kash Patel. CHUNKS IS COMING! Get your tix to the streaming premiere of CHUNKS on July 19, available on-demand after: https://www.patreon.com/chunkstv CHAPO LIVE - NYC - NOV 6. - TEN YEARS IN THE ZONE Chapo & friends will be live at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture on Friday November 6th. Tickets are going fast, get yours now! https://link.dice.fm/zaf99528079e

This week on Chapo, we finally beat the news curse to talk about Graham Platner’s latest and likely career-ending scandal…only to fall victim to it by talking about the Trump-FIFA red card reversal that absolutely did not matter at all. Our friend Tim (@garliccorgi) of the ALAB podcast is here to talk about this all, plus a roundup of the Supreme Court’s recent stripping of the copper wire out of everything, the narrow survival of the 14th amendment, and any potential options a future administration might have to reverse this. Find all things ALAB Series here, and get the show wherever you get podcasts: https://www.alabseries.com/ Just ONE WEEK left to get CHUNKS at the early bird price here: https://www.patreon.com/chunkstv 🚨🚨 LIVE SHOW ALERT 🚨🚨 NYC - NOV 6. - 10 YEARS IN THE ZONE Chapo & friends will be live at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture on Friday November 6th. Pre-Sale for Patreon subscribers on Wednesday, July 8 General sale begins Friday, July 9.

Josh Ettingermentum is back to recap Zohran’s hostile takeover of the New York Democratic Party, with his three endorsed candidates cruising to victory. We talk about this new wave of left insurgency throughout the country, what it means for the sclerotic Democratic establishment and the stillborn Abundance movement, and what we make of Zohran’s time in office overall. Plus: John Fetterman fires shots at Chapo and Hasan. Find the Ettingermentum newsletter here: https://www.ettingermentum.news/ Get CHUNKS here: https://www.patreon.com/chunkstv

Chapo tech correspondent and AI skeptic Ed Zitron is back to mourn Our Keir, a good man struck down in his prime. What will the future hold for the UK, and are the writers foreshadowing 2029 in America? We then turn to the world of AI, where more and more companies are struggling to find an ROI on AI and OpenAI is burning unfathomable amounts of money. Plus: Elon Musk’s trillionaire status, the government banning AI models, and the cross-partisan desire to turn the clock back to 2014. Subscribe to Ed: wheresyoured.at  A discount link for 20$ off: https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/oNV2MQLbgl  Get CHUNKS here: https://www.patreon.com/chunkstv

Will and Felix are in person to celebrate two great victories this week: the IRGC and the New York Knicks. The two also review “UFC Freedom 250” on the White House lawn, with Will as our entry point into and Felix as our expert in the field of MMA. Plus: we also discuss Eric Trump’s brilliant plan to gamble on the fights.

McMansion Hell writer and architecture critic Kate Wagner joins us for an early review of the Obama Presidential Center. We talk about its design, its architecture, its cloying message of “HOPE” that feels like Ludovico conditioning, and what it means as a final, definitive end of the Obama era and the Long 2010s. Check out McMansion Hell: https://mcmansionhell.com/ Follow Kate Wagner on X: https://x.com/mcmansionhell?lang=en And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/katewagner.wehwalt.net

Ryan and Jeremy of Drop Site News return on Day 94 of the Special Military Operation in Iran, with breaking news about the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. We survey the (bleak) state of affairs across the globe, from Lebanon to Palestine to the looming regime change in Cuba. We also discuss the Israel lobby’s attempted counterinsurgency and the “Israel Day Parade” in NYC. Subscribe to Drop Site here: https://www.dropsitenews.com/

Bryan Quinby and Chris James from Guys are here for an analysis of the newest “assassination attempt” on President Trump. We also talk about lunch, early Chapo touring memories, and cap things off with a discussion of Tyler Austin Harper’s ode to Miller Lite in The Atlantic. Check out Guys here (or wherever you get your podcasts): https://www.patreon.com/GuysPodcast Check out Guys live in Toronto June 5: https://www.theguysery.com/products/guys-live-in-toronto And follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murderxbryan/?hl=en

The Turbulence crew returns to discuss the state of the Iran War, including potential escalations and Trump taking possibly the first real L of his entire political career. We also talk about the horrifying Nicholas Kristof story about rape in Israeli prisons, discuss AOC vs. MTG, and then close things out on a lighter note with a Wall Street Journal op-ed about how China doesn’t have babes.

LA city councilmember Nithya Raman returns to the show to talk about her insurgent campaign for Mayor of Los Angeles. They discuss the city's converging crises and how corporate landlords, the police union, and MAGA are conspiring against working people. They discuss housing costs, homelessness, immigration and ICE, public transit, the budget, and the strange rise of Spencer Pratt as Karen Bass and national right-wing money turn the race into a perfect LA spectacle. Find out all about the campaign here: http://nithyaforthecity.com

Libby Watson of What’s All This Then? returns to the show to talk about the tragic downfall of Our Keir, whose Labour Party lost massively in recent local elections. We also talk about a golden statue of Trump built by Hasidic ultra-Orthodox Jews and the UK Parliament’s (reported) drinking problem. Finally, we have a Chapo reading series double feature: Richard Dawkins thinks Claude is real and a babe, and Megan McArdle wants to heal the nation with memes. Check out What’s All This Then? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-all-this-then-with-charlotte-mcdonnell-and/id1812045307 And catch her streams at: https://www.twitch.tv/libtron

Former character actor Peter Coyote joins Will to talk about his new book Smothered by Riches, a polemic on the collapse of the New Deal consensus and the legacy of the Powell memo. He and Will talk about the history of neoliberalism from the Chicago boys to Bill Clinton, Peter’s decades-long political life including time in an Anarchist theater troupe, and a bit of Zen Buddhism for good measure. Pick up a copy of Smothered by Riches wherever you can: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/smothered-by-riches-peter-coyote/1147458103

Will, Felix, and Alex take a break from the news this week to answer some Dear Prudies! We answer questions about nude dogsitter, several bad parents, an old swinger couple with a bedroom dilemma, and a man who is cartoonishly afraid of eating pussy. Really gross episode honestly, girlfriends beware. Follow Alex on Twitter: x.com/@Lowenaffchen Check out his show Fortune Kit: https://www.patreon.com/fortunekit And watch ChapoFYM: https://www.twitch.tv/chapotraphouse

Streamer and international man of controversy Hasan Piker joins us to recap and analyze Saturday’s assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. We talk about the radical-centrist shooter, the diverse cast of assassins we’ve met since that fateful day in Butler, and the cast of Chapo all-stars at the dinner itself. Plus: more talk about the media blitz against Hasan, and reading series from the Wall Street Journal and Dylan Byers. Our 10 year anniversary merch is ready for pre-order through April 30! Order at https://chapotraphouse.store/

We have a Chapo Double Feature for you this week! First, Derek Davison returns for more coverage of the wars in Lebanon and Iran, including a Wall Street Journal article showing just how checked out Trump is from the apocalyptic destruction he’s bringing about on the world. Plus: more Ka$h Chronicles, as the FBI tries to take him down for the crimes of having too much fun and sleeping through an alarm. We’re then joined by actor Ben McKenzie (The O.C., Junebug) about his new crypto documentary Everyone Is Lying to You For Money. Our 10 year anniversary merch is ready for pre-order through April 30! Order at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Find all of Derek’s foreign policy coverage at: www.foreignexchanges.news www.americanprestigepod.com And go see Everyone Is Lying to You For Money when it’s near you!

Andrew Hudson of E1 returns to cover the downfall of two great men: Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Eric Swalwell in California. Also in the news: JD Vance goes on an international losing tour from Pakistan to Hungary, Trump threatens military action against the Pope, and another dispatch from Punished Rod. Our 10 year anniversary merch is ready for pre-order through April 30! Order at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Listen to Episode 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/episode-one-868768631 And subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/e1podcast/posts

Our sold out Ten Year Anniversary live show at the Palace Theater, Los Angeles, April 3rd 2026. Featuring Episode 1 (Charles Austin, Alex Branson, Andrew Hudson), Seeking Derangements (Ben Mora, Hesse Deni, Jacques Gonsoulin), Brace Belden & Hasan Piker. Thanks to all our guests and the fantastic audience!

We talk about the Return of Rahm, the Democrats looking for a hot candidate, and Katherine’s Disneyland memories. But mostly we let Felix explain the Rob Schneider-Andrea Dworkin-Albert Camus connection. Kind of a gas leak episode here folks. Pitch Katherine pieces for The Intercept at katherine.krueger@theintercept.com.

The fight in the gas station parking lot continues to escalate; luckily, Will, Felix, and Chris are all together in person to walk you through it. We talk about Israel attacking South Pars Gas Field without telling us, more planes crashing both abroad and at home, and the potential of a disastrous ground operation on Kharg Island looming. Plus: Elon Musk’s based son, Zohran and “left-wing antisemitism,” and a eulogy for Chuck Norris, The Instagram is BACK: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/

The world is a gas station, and we’re fighting in its parking lot. This week, Will and Felix offer the definitive analysis of America’s suicidal flailing on the world stage. We also talk about JD trying to straddle the “anti-war” fence, Robert J. O’Neill as the ultimate 21st century American, and more US jets crashing. The Instagram is BACK: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/

The Movies…. Are back. The Mindset….Continues. Bet you thought we had forgotten? Will and Hesse get in right under the gun for another Movie Mindset Oscars Special. Our two professional film critics and acclaimed indie film stars discuss this year’s finest offerings from Tinsel Town and debate which among them deserves to be immortalized with that finest of names “Oscar.” Will PTA finally have his crowning moment of glory this year or will it be One Disappointment After Another for the wunderkind director as he’s snubbed yet again… Who will win the ideological battle over fascism this year? Will it be The Secret Agent, which maintains that fascism is bad or F:1 which stands for Fascism = #1? Is having a parent evil, or is being a parent evil? And Is it better to exist or not to? Films like this year’s Frankenstein, Sentimental Value and Hamnet all delve into this tricky and universal human dilemma. The Best Actor race is among the tightest in recent memory with many industry insiders saying it’s going to come down to Michael B Jordan playing a set of twins who are divided over eating pussy and becoming a vampire and Timothee Chalamet who plays an arrogant, pushy Jewish guy who gets everything he wants and conquers the world. Will and Hesse discuss all this and more! Also Train Dreams? Place your bets NOW on which of this year’s movies will win, and which ones each of these professional film critics still haven’t seen!

We’re joined by filmmakers Harrison Fishman & Dylan Redford to discuss their new docuseries “Neighbors”. The series chronicles neighbor disputes throughout the USA, and offers a near-psychedlic glimpse into how private property induces unbearable levels of psychosis in a variety of everyday Americans. We discuss how interpersonal surveillance, social media reinforcement, conspiratorial paranoia, completely useless civil institutions, bad pet ownership, guns Guns GUNS, and good old fashioned being a jackass render the very idea of living next to someone a psychic and emotional battlefield in this country, and how Harrison and Dylan went about capturing it on camera. Neighbors airs Fridays on HBO and is streaming now on HBOmax.

Will Sommer returns to the show to talk more about the Iran War, this time through the lens of a rapidly fragmenting Republican elite. We discuss the war between the Israel skeptics like Tucker Carlson and the hawks like Mark Levine, and how this ties into a hijacked shipment of nicotine pouches and the transvestigation of Laura Loomer. We also talk about Candace Owens’ docuseries on Erika Kirk, another leaked racist groupchat, and the emerging multiracial coalition of White Supremacy. Follow Will Sommer on Twitter/X: https://x.com/willsommer And check out his newsletter False Flag: https://www.thebulwark.com/s/false-flag

We are at war with Iran. Journalist and Chapo veteran Séamus Malekafzali returns to help us break down what has happened in the past few days, the spillover into neighboring and nearby Gulf countries, and what the future of this conflict might look like. We also return to the Israeli-USian murder-suicide pact, the protests from neighboring countries versus the celebrations from the Iranian diaspora community, and whether the Fourth Reich will ever fall. Listen to Turbulence wherever you get your podcasts: https://turbulencepod.substack.com/ And follow Turbulence on X/Twitter: https://x.com/turbulence_pod

Jonathan Shainin returns to Chapo after ten years to talk about what the hell is going on in the United Kingdom. We talk about Keir Starmer’s and Labour collapse, his wildly unpopular policies and austerity regime, the rise of the Green Party, and Jeremy Corbyn’s bizarre Our Party. We then talk about Shainin’s new magazine Equator and their pieces on the end of liberal Zionism and the Long 90s. Check out Equator: https://www.equator.org/ Few tickets left for our April 3rd live show at the Palace Theater in LA: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0900643BE404F182

1011 - National BurgerReich Association feat. Pablo Torre (2/17/26) by Chapo Trap House

Havana-based journalist Liz Oliva Fernández of Belly of the Beast, a U.S-based independent media outlet, joins us for an interview about the economic siege of Cuba by the United States. We talk about the looming specter of regime change and the collapse of Cuba’s healthcare system and power under the weight of a decades-long blockade. (NOTE: Liz’s connection was a little spotty so the ending of the interview is a little abrupt.) [This is the second half of our recent premium episode. If you would like to hear the first half where Felix and Will recap recent news such as the El Paso airspace closure and James Fishback's run for governor, subscribe to patreon.com/chapotraphouse]. Liz appears Courtesy of Belly of the Beast (www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com) Watch The War on Cuba: https://www.bellyofthebeastcuba.com/the-war-on-cuba

Alex Nichols is back to recap Turning Point USA’s alternative halftime show featuring Kid Rock, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, and Gabby Barnett. We also read a Tablet article complaining that Robert Kraft’s #StopJewishHate Super Bowl ad was too woke and before checking in on some old friends (including Megan McArdle) trying to downplay the significance of the Epstein scandal. Tickets for our ten year show are going fast, so buy now: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0900643BE404F182 Follow Chapo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social

David Roth returns to talk about the newest avalanche of Epstein files and what they tell us about the depravity of our elites and the West as a whole. We run through a gauntlet of incriminating emails with Larry Summers, Peter Mandelson, Peter Attia, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and more. Then, to lighten the mood, we talk about a profile of Woah Nancy and her poor staffers, plus a tip about Marie Concentrationcamp Perez. Find David’s work at Defector here: https://defector.com/author/david-roth Tickets for our ten year show are going fast, so buy now: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0900643BE404F182 Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social

Will and Felix talk about the horrific killing of Alex Pretti. We talk about the execution, the man Alex was, why the right despises him, the inspiring response of the people of Minnesota, and reasons to hope that we haven’t irreversibly opened the gates of Hell. We also talk about the public responses, ranging from the bizarre justifications from Mike Cernovich and JD Vance to Sohrab Amari’s attempt at aloofness to the [???] from Tom Friedman. Plus: Marie Glusenkamp Perez dealing the shittiest weed in the world. Katherine’s article at The Intercept is out: https://theintercept.com/2026/01/25/tony-dokoupil-cbs-evening-news/  Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social

Chapo Foreign Policy correspondent Derek Davison returns to talk about the decades that have been happening these past few weeks. We stop at Iran and cover the protests and the possible involvement of Israeli weaponry; at Syria, where Rojava and the SDF have all but capitulated to Ahmed al-Sharaa; at Greenland, where the potential of an inter-NATO conflict grows, and in Israel, where Trump attempts to do freemium diplomacy. Finally, we read a piece about the Brandon administration acquiring The Device. Find all of Derek’s foreign policy coverage at: www.foreignexchanges.news www.americanprestigepod.com

Over the holiday, Will and Chris caught up with Donald Borenstein, Andrew Epstein and Debbie Saslaw of the Mamdani media team to discuss how their video and online strategy helped win the campaign’s stunning victory. We look at their team’s success as the result of years of NYC organizing, how the candidate’s principles and policy informed the media strategy, the right and wrong lessons on political communication from their campaign, and the bizarre outsider art of Adams & Cuomo’s video output. PLUS: production, editing, color grading & gear talk for all you A/V heads.

Minnesotan community member Maryam Mohamad joins us to talk about the killing of Renee Nicole Good and the siege of Minneapolis by ICE and the DHS. We talk about the events and prosecutions that put the Somali community in the crosshairs, the regime’s attempt to spin this execution as self-defense, Border Patrol and ICE’s recent history of excessive force, and the predictably weak response from Democratic electeds. Maryam also talks about the Minneapolis and Somali community’s reactions to these horrors and their unwillingness to take this lying down. Follow Maryam on twitter @messyventura Just a few more days to buy the 2nd printing of ¡No Pasarán!: Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War over at chapotraphouse.store Year Zero: A Chapo Trap House Comics Anthology is also 15% off at badegg.co. Through end of year purchases of the book also include a free digital version of the comic. The digital version is also available through GlobalComix. Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social

We return from break to talk about the horrific kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro and the continuing moral depravity of the gangster state called America. We speculate on what this act of imperial aggression means for the rest of the world, the hilarious snubbing of the Venezuelan opposition, the predictably inept response from the Democratic party, and the hope that someone, somewhere, can stop the Fourth Reich’s plans. Finally, we read a recent Wall Street Journal piece on Trump’s aging and addiction to aspirin. Subscribe to patreon.com/chapotraphouse to hear our 1000th episode on Thursday! Just a few more days to buy the 2nd printing of ¡No Pasarán!: Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War over at chapotraphouse.store Year Zero: A Chapo Trap House Comics Anthology is also 15% off at badegg.co. Through end of year purchases of the book also include a free digital version of the comic. The digital version is also available through GlobalComix. Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social

To round out a very dark year, Will and Felix take a look at some grim stories: the Brown shooter’s identity, another Epstein drop, Bari Weiss’s promotion to Regime Censor, and Jelly Roll being pardoned. We then turn to the TPUSA conference where the fight for Charlie Kirk’s legacy continues, with Nicki Minaj joining the fray and JD Vance working overtime to hold together a splintering coalition. Finally, we dive into a City Journal panel on the state of the modern right, where we learn what Gen Z conservatives think about Jews, Hitler, and marriage. By popular demand, ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War is back both for a second round of orders and an ebook. PLUS: everything is still 20% off for the holidays! Order now at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Year Zero: A Chapo Trap House Comics Anthology is also 15% off at badegg.co. Through end of year purchases of the book also include a free digital version of the comic. The digital version also available through GlobalComix. Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social

Alex joins us to talk about Bari Weiss’s bizarre interview with Erika Kirk, Trump’s #PACKWATCH response to Rob Reiner’s death, and Candace Owens’ feud with just about every single member of Con Inc. over her bestie’s legacy. After a brief grab bag of new Epstein photos, we finally stage an intervention for Rod Dreher, who is currently having his artistic voice deteriorated by the stuffy losers at The Free Press. By popular demand, ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War is back both for a second round of orders and an ebook. PLUS: everything is still 20% off for the holidays! Order now at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Year Zero: A Chapo Trap House Comics Anthology is also 15% off at badegg.co. Through end of year purchases of the book also include a free digital version of the comic. The digital version also available through GlobalComix. Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/

Andrew Hudson of E1 returns to talk about a grab bag of recent news: Marie Glusenkamp Perez’s war on pinnipeds, Alex Karp’s tweaked-out media hits, and another vaccine on the RFK’s chopping block. We then turn to Milo Yiannopoulos, who just recently made the equally outrageous claims that Charlie Kirk is still alive and Benny Johnson is actually gay. Finally, Tarantino’s unbearable public persona, the Ellison-Zaslav war over Warner Bros.’ future, and a lot of praise for a recent genre movie. Listen to Episode 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/episode-one-868768631 And subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/e1podcast/posts

Author and journalist Seth Harp returns for an interview about the National Guard shooting in D.C. We analyze the accused shooter, his time in covert “Zero Units,” and we also speculate about the ramifications of Pete Hegseth’s double-tap order in the Caribbean. To close things out, Will and Felix talk about Bari Weiss’s plan to return America to the reasonable center and react to the viral Oklahoma University essay on why God made man and woman different. Buy Seth’s book here (and give it 5 stars on Amazon!): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/ And follow him on X at @sethharpesq

SARAH SQUIRM: LIVE + IN THE FLESH, debuts on HBO and HBO Max December 12th. We command you to tune in! Sarah Squirm joins us once again to speculate on Zohran’s meeting with Trump: is Trump starstruck? In love? Depressed? We also talk about the president’s plan to bring back the Rush Hour movies, the secrets of the White House swimming pool, a reverse Jussie Smollett situation in Ocean City, and shitting yourself. A lot of stories about shitting yourself. Follow Sarah on Twitter/X: https://x.com/SarahSquirm And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahsquirm/?hl=en

This episode isn’t just great—it’ll revolutionize what you think of AI. Ed Zitron is back in the trap to discuss his recent reporting on just how much money companies like OpenAI have (and how much they’re burning). We talk about the byzantine financing of generative AI and LLMs, the tech world’s dream of recreating the postwar boom with a technology primarily used to make the world’s least legal porn, and the proliferation of data centers across the country. Plus: Bill Ackman teaches you how to pick up girls. Get your Ed at: Better Offline podcast: https://linktr.ee/betteroffline Where’s Your Ed At newsletter: https://www.wheresyoured.at/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/edzitron Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edzitron.com

As we inch closer to war with Venezuela, historian Greg Grandin returns to Chapo for a history lesson about the War on Drugs as well as Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution. We also talk about the US’s long-running economic interests and petty feuds in Latin America, particularly regarding the region’s oil supplies. We then briefly speculate about just how bad and chaotic a regime change operation against Venezuela might be for the US and Latin America.

Jasper Nathaniel is back with another report from the occupied West Bank. He tells us about a band of West Bank settlers attacking him and locals in the olive fields of Turmus’ayya, including an old woman who was beaten unconscious on camera. He then talks about the Israeli military and intelligence’s response to the crime, the footage actually breaking through to the mainstream Anglophone press, and various U.S. Senators’ response to the attack. Finally, he closes with speculation about Trump and Netanyahu’s refusal to sign on to an official West Bank annexation. Follow Jasper’s substack: https://substack.com/@infinitejaz Follow Jasper on Twitter: https://x.com/infinite__jaz?lang=en Follow Jasper on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/infinite_jaz/?hl=en And links for Volunteering in the West Bank: To volunteer in the West Bankhttps://palsolidarity.org/join-ism/https://www.defendpalestine.orghttps://cjnv.orgFundraiser for Umm Al-Khair as it faces impending demolition: https://secure.everyaction.com/LYmVAbNl2UOxgBcaP1mkFA2

Candidate for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joins us to catch up on the final few days of the campaign. Will and Zohran discuss Andrew Cuomo’s embarrassing campaign against him, how he plans to protect New Yorkers from Trump’s threatened federal incursions into the city, NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, and how he intends to implement his agenda in the first 100 days as mayor. Plus, how da Knicks looking this year? Election day in NYC is TUESDAY, November 4th, but early voting is now open. Sign up to canvass or phone: zohranfornyc.com/gotv Find out where you vote: zohranfornyc.com/vote

It’s a call-in show! We respond to nineteen calls ranging from serious predictions about the Trump era and beyond, the future of the Middle East, Warren Zevon stories, books for kids and high schoolers, and trying to wean a friend off H3H3. Also: gossip about John Fetterman and Jair Bolsonaro. YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology is back on sale! Buy it at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1. Hurry while supplies last!

Secret Base’s sports-data auteur Jon Bois is back to preview a new series: a history and analysis of mound charges in baseball, coming this November. We talk a little bit about recent sports news including Dana White’s new boxing league, Shohei Ohtani’s generational run, and the Seattle Mariners (RIP). We then do a deep dive on former Reform Party member Curtis Sliwa, his statements about parades, Hasids, and cats, and his eating competition scandals. Finally, a quick check-in on Jordan Peterson’s recent health woes. Subscribe to Secret Base: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRmGMSgrtZkOsh_NQl4_xw YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology is back on sale! Buy it at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1. Hurry while supplies last! NEW MERCH IS OUT NOW! Go to https://chapotraphouse.store/ and buy a new hat or shirt, especially our great new “Carousel Club” design. AND be sure to pre-save the date of October 28 for Will and Hesse’s LIVE WATCH PARTY of Re-Animator with Bryan Yuzna! Tickets available now – use the promo code CHAPO20 for 20% off! https://checkout.stagepilot.com/collections/chapo-trap-house

Drop Site’s Ryan Grim and Jeremy Scahill return to talk more about the ceasefire deal in Gaza. We discuss what finally led to this moment, whether this ceasefire will be any different than the previous ones, and the future of Gaza, Israel, and the Gulf States. We then turn to the media’s coverage of Gaza: Jeremy’s new story on The Free Press’ “debunking” of the photos of malnourished Gazan children, the news that Douglas Murray and David Frum were writing speeches for an Israeli ambassador, a supposed document from Mohammad Sinwar, and Jacki Karsh’s pro-Israel journalism fellowship. Subscribe to Drop Site here: https://www.dropsitenews.com/ NEW MERCH IS OUT NOW! Go to https://chapotraphouse.store/ and buy a new hat or shirt, especially our great new “Carousel Club” design. AND be sure to pre-save the date of October 28 for Will and Hesse’s LIVE WATCH PARTY of Re-Animator! Tickets available now – use the promo code CHAPO20 for 20% off! https://checkout.stagepilot.com/collections/chapo-trap-house

Séamus joins us to talk about Trump’s proposed “Gaza peace plan” and what horrific policies it would actually entail in practice, as well as the Democratic Party’s desperate attempts to triangulate on the issue. We also wade into the increasing possibility of regime change in Venezuela as well as ICE’s pillaging of Chicago apartment buildings. On the lighter side, we talk about Bari Weiss being given the keys to CBS news and Tyler Cowen’s Humbert Humbert-esque ode to an AI actress. Follow @Turbulence_pod on X for updates about when Séamus’s pod drops. NEW MERCH IS OUT NOW! Go to https://chapotraphouse.store/ and buy a new hat or shirt, especially our great new “Carousel Club” design. AND be sure to pre-save the date of October 28 for Will and Hesse’s LIVE WATCH PARTY of Re-Animator! Tickets available now – use the promo code CHAPO20 for 20% off! https://checkout.stagepilot.com/collections/chapo-trap-house

Will interviews Los Angeles reporter Memo Torres, whose site L.A. TACO shifted from covering food and culture in the city to some of the most indispensable and horrific coverage of ICE raids available. Memo tells us about what happens to people when they get kidnapped, covering the horrors of fortress America, and practical advice for those who might find themselves in ICE’s crosshairs. Read more at L.A. TACO: https://lataco.com/  And follow Memo Torres on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/el_tragon_de_los_angeles/?hl=en

Greetings Horror Sickos, Listener, please light a circle of candles and begin to scrawl out the ancient sigils in salt, and begin the accursed chant … “Let’s All Go to the Lobby, Let’s All Go to the Lobby, and Grab Ourselves a Snack” That’s right! Spooky season is upon us and to inaugurate another edition of Ghoulvie Screamset Horrortober, Will Massacre and Hexa Deni are back with a selection of abominable and morally ruinous films. First up, in Return of the Living Dead (O’Bannon, 1985) an assortment of punks, working stiffs and slobs accidentally expose themselves to zombie gas and help bring out the nuclear bombing of Louisville, Kentucky in this documentary about a real thing that actually happened. This hilarious and goofball horror film asks two existentially terrifying questions: What if you could feel every second of being dead? And, do you want to PARTY???? Then in The Blob (Russell, 1988), a sci fi classic gets a grisly and unforgettable remake that features Kevin Dillon playing an motorcycle riding bad boy who smokes cigs, wears a leather jacket and has to save the small town that rejects him for being too cool from a giant blob that digests and dissolves everything in its path. This episode is free, but the rest of Ghoulvie Screamset Season 3 will be paywalled!

Like many things, there used to be a bipartisan consensus that in a disaster, you help as many people get through it as quickly and safely as possible. In the past 20+ years, though, we’ve seen a shift in how the right responds to climate catastrophes — including building out a robust selection of conspiracy theories from chemtrails to Flat Earth. Will Menaker from Chapo Trap House joins us to discuss right-wing conspiracy theories about the weather, the climate, and whether we’re living on a discworld. Our guest is Will Menaker, host of Chapo Trap House. Their Movie Mindset series returns in October for spooky season, and you can also buy their new Year Zero comic book here: https://badegg.co/products/year-zero-1. Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our Discord? There’s still a week left to get your first month for just $0.50 by signing up for our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Enter “PANICYEAR” at checkout for 90% the first month. And if you want to see this conversation on video, ⁠Panic World is now posting episodes to YouTube!

Zue Jernstedt joins us live from the Global Sumud Flotilla to talk to us about delivering aid to those in Gaza and weathering attacks from Israel.

It’s Chapo—in person! Will, Felix, and Brendan James of Blowback (formerly Chapo Trap House) gather at Will’s apartment to talk about Eric Adams dropping out of the NYC mayoral race. They then read a profile of Adam Jentleson and his new PAC, Searchlight, and its novel plan to win elections by pulling Democrats to the right. Also this episode: Pete Hegseth’s mysterious all-hands meeting, Trump finally releasing the files, and Peter Thiel’s obsession with the antichrist. And be sure to vote for American Prestige at the Signal Awards: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?utm_campaign=signal4_finalists_finalistnotification_092325&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio#/2025/shows/genre/news-politics And check out the new Blowback season! https://blowback.show/

Will Sommer of The Bulwark returns to Chapo to talk about the right’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk as well as his funeral proceedings in Arizona. We recap the Groyper War that preceded the assassination and the pressure it put on Kirk to move right, as well as the conspiracies surrounding his shooting. Was Israel involved? Why was there no exit wound? Did Charlie have a late-in-life conversion to Catholicism? And which faction of the right will be able to define the man’s legacy? Follow Will Sommer on Twitter/X: https://x.com/willsommer

In today’s two-parter, we start off with more coverage of the assassination of Charlie Kirk: what it means, possible motives, and the tidal wave of right-wing cancel culture it has wrought. Will then interviews journalist Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out about recently unearthed collusion in the NFL, with a story that starts with Deshaun Watson and goes all the way up to the Carlyle Group and Hollywood pedophilia. What can a conflict between millionaire jocks and billionaire owners tell us about American labor relations? And why is Kawhi Leonard getting paid $28 million to plant trees? Subscribe to Pablo Torre Finds Out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PabloTorreFindsOut And wherever you get your podcasts: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/68b1d0ea993d10acb9c3fe4f And follow him on Twitter: https://x.com/pablotorre/

Chapo Senior Foreign Policy correspondent Derek Davison is back once again to talk about the escalating possibility of war in Venezuela. We discuss the recent strike on a Venezuelan boat by Trump and his newly-Christened Department of War, a botched raid into North Korea, our collapsing relationship with India, China’s SCO summit with Russia, and conflict on the Thai-Cambodia border. Plus: a Matt Christman prediction comes true… Find all of Derek’s foreign policy coverage at: www.foreignexchanges.news www.americanprestigepod.com

In 1998, the world was ruled by Rayman. You could not go anywhere without seeing Rayman street art. Thousands of children died attempting to cut their own limbs off and suspend them from midair. All that changed when Solid Snake was brought into the third dimension. Brendan and Felix kick off their journey through the greatest story ever told by surfacing onto Shadow Moses. This is where Solid Snake realized he could be more than just a paid killer, Meryl Silverburgh witnessed the ugly reality of war, Roy Campbell was promoted from uncle to father, and Liquid Snake didn’t actually achieve much of anything besides scoring some sunglasses off of a former member of his dad’s love triangle. Put on your sneaking suit, let some strange woman shoot some crap into your arm, and soak your cardboard boxes in urine. It’s time to fight your brother through various states of undress.

Alex is back for some speculation about the health of Donald Trump (after his disappearance) and Rudy Giuliani (after his “not targeted” car crash). Then we turn to the weird world of Democratic Party influencers and the dark-money group secretly funding their American Girl Doll memes. Finally, we chat a little about phones in schools and Adam Friedland’s interview with Richie Torres. Follow Alex on Twitter @Lowenaffchen Check out his show Fortune Kit: https://www.patreon.com/fortunekit And stream “Hotel California” by Bob Marley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taTD0NPb8Do And listen to Felix’s new series about video games THE PLAYERS CLUB!

Zeteo’s Prem Thakker joins us for a look at Trump’s takeover of Washington D.C. We talk about the impetus for the takeover, what day-to-day life in occupied D.C. looks and feels like for its immigrant communities, and the Democratic Party’s impotent response. We then look more broadly at Trump’s Fortress America, ICE’s country-wide renditions, and the continuing case of Kilmar Ábrego García. Finally, we talk about the destruction of Nasser Hospital in Gaza and the Democratic Party’s flip-flopping on the term “genocide.” Follow Prem on X/Twitter: https://x.com/prem_thakker?lang=en And be sure to check out his work at Zeteo: https://zeteo.com/s/subtext-with-prem

Journalist and author Seth Harp returns to the pod to talk about his horrifying and expansive new book The Fort Bragg Cartel. We talk with Seth about America’s forever-war machine and the global drug empire it empowers, with a special focus on the case of Delta Force officer William Lavigne, who killed his best friend before turning up dead near Fort Bragg in a still-unsolved murder. We also discuss the rise of JSOC, the third Iraq War and its ongoing ramifications, the US military’s ties with the brutal Los Zetas cartel, and the eternal shadow war waged in the name of empire. Buy Seth’s book here (and give it 5 stars on Amazon!): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/ And follow him on X at @sethharpesq

We begin by reading the last will and testament of Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old journalist for Al-Jazeera that was among those slain in Gaza by Israel yesterday. We then resume our Epstein coverage, including a look at his Manhattan lair and celebrity dinner guests. Then, two pieces on venture capitalists driven insane by The Computer and a story by Pamela Paul on conservative women…with careers? Stick around until the end for another Stroke of Genius and a special announcement from Chris. Pre-order Seth Harp’s book The Fort Bragg Cartel here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/  And check out his book launch with TrueAnon at the Bell House this Wednesday: https://www.ticketmaster.com/an-evening-with-trueanon-and-seth-brooklyn-new-york-08-13-2025/event/300062F5CD8E3E2D

Osita Nwanevu stops by to discuss his new book The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding. Osita leads us through his case that American “democracy” as it currently stands isn’t that democratic at all. We discuss the real intentions of the founders, the actual American revolution of the Civil War, and the stalled re-founding of reconstruction. We also look at the potential for economic democracy, the political reforms needed to re-found the country, the problem of the judiciary, and the challenges of a new media environment to democratizing movements. Yes, today the wacky morning DJ actually does say democracy’s a joke. Pick up Osita’s book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704686/the-right-of-the-people-by-osita-nwanevu/ AND, we’ve secured ONE MORE WEEK to get your pre-order in for YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1

Will welcomes comedian Eddie Pepitone to the show for a bonus interview. They rap on keeping comedy political, celebrity sell-outs, veganism, Bill Maher vs. Billy Joel, trying to calm the rage, and of course, being Just Kids From New York. Check out Eddie’s new special at: https://veeps.com/eddiepepitone It is your last day to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1!

Will & Felix discuss the dire starvation crisis now gripping Gaza, and the rapidly changing attitudes among certain political & media elites now that this has all apparently finally “gone too far.” We also try to keep up with Trump’s Epstein trouble as the President attempts to drown the whole thing off with old scandals and some showstopping showtunes. Please consider donating to Gaza relief through the Sameer Project: https://linktr.ee/thesameerproject And just three days left to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1

TWO WEEKS LEFT to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1 Journalist Jasper Nathaniel joins us to discuss his reporting on the West Bank and Israel’s second front in the war on Palestine. We look at the increasingly violent settler movement, Israel’s flagrant violation of international laws, the use of archaeological warfare in the region, and the constant ubiquitous violence that defines life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. And on the domestic front, we have an update on the good professor Davidai and his relationship to the august institution Columbia University. Follow Jasper’s Substack: https://substack.com/@infinitejaz Follow Jasper on Twitter: https://x.com/infinite__jaz?lang=en Follow Jasper on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/infinite_jaz/?hl=en

Alex back on the show today to look at the continuing fallout of Trump’s attempts to wash his hands of Epstein. From the baffled & betrayed Trump-curious internet trend-seekers, to the dyed-in-the-wool loyalists, the admin seems to have picked the absolute worst way to disarm this bomb. Plus: Greg Abbott makes a why-even-bother play to cover up Musk’s bribery, and Biden gives a why-even-bother explanation for his diminished capacity pardons. Pre-Order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1

Tim Faust returns to the show to look at the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its dire consequences for American medicine. We discuss Medicaid as a load-bearing feature of our healthcare infrastructure, how this bill will affect millions of Americans using the program, and the potential ways forward in the wake of its evisceration. We also look at last week’s absolute omnishambles article on Zohran’s college admission, a perfect encapsulation of the Failing New York Times approach to just about everything. Pre-Order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at https://badegg.co/products/year-zero-1

Will & Hesse sit down with Ari Aster, director of Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau is Afraid, and the upcoming Eddington. They rap on evil movies, mixing stupid slapstick humor with pain & discomfort, creating a contemporary western out of the recent past, some of Ari’s favorite films & filmmakers, and of course…the all-consuming sense of impending doom & lurking doubt that surrounds us. Check out Eddington, in theaters this summer on July 18th.

Comedy legend Larry Charles (Fridays, Seinfeld, Borat, Curb Your Enthusiasm & much more) returns to the show to discuss his new book Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter. We have a wide ranging discussion of Larry’s life in comedy including post-war Brooklyn as a comedy incubator, grinding out avant-garde sketch comedy with Andy Kaufman, the prevalence of coke and other drugs in the comedy writing scene, getting tackled by the Secret Service trying to get a joint to Jimmy Carter’s sister, and the difficulties in comedic creative relationships. Larry also gets candid about his disappointment with the prevalence of zionism among his erstwhile comedy partners, and we talk about the humanizing force of humor in the face tragedy and despair. Pick up Comedy Samurai here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/larry-charles/comedy-samurai/9781538771549/?lens=grand-central-publishing AND: get your pre-order in for YEAR ZERO: A CHAPO TRAP HOUSE COMICS ANTHOLOGY starting today at www.badegg.co

Will & Hesse sit down with director Lexi Alexander, whose works include Green Street Hooligans (2005), Punisher: War Zone (2008) & the new film Absolute Dominions (2025). We discuss how her experience in combat sports influences her filmmaking, creating comic book movies within the studio system, working as an outspoken Palestinian in Hollywood, and how to stay calm after being stabbed. Plus, an answer to “who she would fight, given the opportunity” that’s sure to entertain many listeners. Absolute Dominion now available for streaming on digital platforms.

Libby Watson returns to the show! We discuss the weekend’s limited US strike on Iran and Trump’s baffling behavior around what already may be a winding-down conflict. We also talk Democratic & media responses, and where Iran might go from here. Then: all eyes are on Zohran in the NYC mayoral primary, voting is tomorrow, we discuss Zorhan’s campaign and his chances of bringing this all home. Finally, we celebrate the love & marriage of an old friend of the show with their NYT vows section announcement. Find Libby’s new show “What’s All This Then” wherever you get podcasts, and all her other links here: https://linktr.ee/whatsallthisthen New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store

LA City Councilmemeber Hugo Soto-Martinez joins Will to discuss ICE raids in Los Angeles, how city government and community groups are responding, the recent protests, and marine deployments to the city. They also discuss the possibilities for a more positive rhetoric and policy around immigration, and the necessity for turning the framing back on the capitalist class. LA rapid response hotline is: 1-888624-4752 Follow Hugo & his district’s socials for updates: @cd13losangeles & @hugopordistrito13

Seamus joins us to discuss last week’s “preemptive” Israeli strike on Iran, the damage done to Iranian command and infrastructure, Iran’s retaliation, America’s potential involvement. We also look at Trump’s big birthday Parade, one of the most pathetic & hilarious spectacles of American Military prowess any of us have ever seen.  Read Seamus on the attacks in the Intercept: https://theintercept.com/staff/seamus-malekafzali/Read Seamsu go long on the Axes of Resistance for Parapraxis: https://www.parapraxismagazine.com/articles/axes-of-resistanceSubscribe to Seamus’ Substack: https://www.seamus-malekafzali.com/ New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/

We’re joined by The Nation’s Aída Chávez for her report from WelcomeFest, the abundapalooza dedicated to staking the technocratic claim for the future of the Democratic party. We review the fairly directionless and unenthusiastic vibes of the centrist shindig, but also discuss the explosion of police violence during protests against ICE in Los Angeles over the weekend. All leading us to ask, what exactly do these people think “power” is, and when is it “right” to exercise it? Read Aída’s dispatch from WelcomeFest for The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/welcomefest-dispatch-centrism-abundance/ Donate to the Jordan Breen sports journalism scholarship fund - https://gofund.me/837f326c New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/

Host of The Adam Friedland Show Adam Friedland joins us to catch up on today’s news and discuss his new season. We look at the return of Matt Miller, Jake Tapper’s take on Israel/Palestine discourse, the kidnapping of a crypto whale in Manhattan, and new reports of Elon Musk’s rampant drug use. Adam also gives us his takes on engaging with the new right-coded online content sphere through TAFS, teases some guests for the coming season, and generally annoys Felix with delays and requests for refreshments. Find The Adam Friedland Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAdamFriedlandShow New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/

Will & Felix catch up on Democrats’ commitment to burning millions of dollars in search of a crumb of clout from the pod-mano-sphere, and John Fetterman’s chronic senate absenteeism as he searches for good vibes. Then, we’re joined by Lever News’ David Sirota & Arjun Singh to discuss their new podcast series Tax Revolt & the “Big Beautiful Bill” working its way through congress. We look at the devastating consequences of GOP tax policies, the increasing unpopularity of such drastic cuts, and how they fit in with the 50 year conservative war against taxes. Find all things Lever News at: https://www.levernews.com/ And listen to Tax Revolt here or wherever you get pods: https://the.levernews.com/tax-revolt/

Drop Site’s Ryan & Jeremy join us for an update on Israel’s war on Gaza. We discuss yesterday’s attack on Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington D.C. and its potential ramifications, Trump’s recent trip to the Gulf and potential shifts in U.S. relations in the region, and the brutal escalations of violence in Gaza over the recent weeks. Ryan and Jeremy also relate some of the stories of the many talented and courageous Palestinian journalists they’ve worked with through the conflict, and how the war has laid bare many of the failings of domestic media. Subscribe to Drop Site here: https://www.dropsitenews.com/

We planned this episode to cover the spate of stories revealing just how out of it and diminished Joe Biden was during his term, and new details about the political flunkies and media stooges who were complicit in covering it up. But yesterday Biden’s team announced an almost certainly life-ending cancer diagnosis. So we’re joined by David Roth to discuss how it’s finally well and truly Joever. Find David’s work at Defector here: https://defector.com/author/david-roth New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/

Tech reporter Mike Isaac returns to the show for a round-up of the latest AI news. From collegiate cheating to funeral planning, Mike helps us make some sense of how this wonderful emerging technology is reshaping human society in so many delightful ways, and certainly is not a madness rune chipping away at what little sanity remains in our population’s fraying psyche. We’re doing another call-in show with Matt for the midweek, so if you have any questions or comments, send an UNDER 30 SECOND voice recording to calls@chapotraphouse.com We also have some new merch going up at chapotraphouse.store this Weds, May 14. So keep your eyes out for that!

The Majority Report’s Sam Seder joins us today to share some deep research into American Stupids. We look at Trump’s weekend announcements regarding American film production & re-opening Alcatraz, both seemingly inspired by a TV broadcast of “Escape From Alcatraz” in West Palm Beach last Saturday. We also discuss Sam’s recent debate appearances including the “vs. 20 Conservatives” video, and how it’s not the stupidity but the confidence that’s really astounding. Finally, for the main course for today’s ep, the massive profile on John Fetterman’s deteriorating mental competence, and how the most offensive part of the scandal is the staffers who covered for him now seeking to cover their own asses. Check out Sam on The Majority Report, every Mon-Fri at noon: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMajorityReport

Felix speaks with Nora Hilgart-Griff from the TAHRIR Coalition and Liz Jacob from the Sugar Law Center for Social and Economic Justice about the Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel collaborating with the Trump DOJ in a series of raids on pro-Palestine students at the University of Michigan on April 23. Liz and Nora give background on Nessel's previous intimidation campaign at the university, the administration's attempts to repress the student movement against the genocide, TAHRIR Coalition's work on divestment, and much more. You're going to want to hear this whether you're a Yooper, a Detroiter, or even a recently incarcerated jewel thief who assumed the identity of a sheriff so he can stare at his ex-girlfriend in a small Pennsylvania town where everyone is a violent criminal. Update: On Monday, 5/5/25, all charges against the students have been dropped. Legal fund for the students facing charges from Nessel's office https://chuffed.org/project/um-palestine-legalfund Background on the raids https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/24/michigan-attorney-general-dana-nessel-campus-gaza-protests TAHRIR Coalition's campaign to drop the charges https://tahrirumich.org/dtc The demands of the students https://tahrirumich.org/demands Guide to the University of Michigan's economic links to Israeli genocide and occupation profiteers https://tahrirumich.org/research/endowment-guide

Fighter jets are just falling off the back of our aircraft carriers now in yet another Keystone Kops-ass bungle in the Red Sea. Gerry Connolly announces he’ll step down from the oversight committee in another moment of glory for the funeral home waiting room of Democratic leadership. Will reads us a profile of a new up-and-coming conservative influencer so annoying it drives Felix to the brink of rage-quitting. Alex Nichols returns to the pod to discuss these stories and more on today’s program. We are putting a limited number of overstock copies of ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War next Wednesday, April 30th at 8am Pacific Time at: https://chapotraphouse.store/

The first episode of this season of Movie Mindset is free for all listeners as always. To listen to the rest of the season, subscribe at www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse When you love movies, you’ve got to watch them. There’s no other way…Movie Mindset Season 3 commences with our first ever single feature on the most referenced movie in Chapo Trap House history: Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece Casino. Will and Hesse are joined by Felix to take a kaleidoscopic and dizzying dive into the inferno of American greed that is Las Vegas. Anchored by a triumvirate of all career great performances from Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci in FULL PSYCHO MODE, Casino is by equal turns hilarious and stomach turning and stands alone as Scorsese’s grandest and most generous examination of evil and the tragic flaws that doom us all. Should you listen even if you haven’t seen this movie? Why take a chance? At least that the way we feel about it.

Historian and author Greg Grandin joins us to discuss his new book America, América: A New History of the New World, which looks at the five century history of colonization & conquest of the New World, and how North & South America developed their distinct identities through a long history of mutual interaction and opposition.  We also catch up with Greg for his takes on the death of Pope Francis, the state of American empire at the start of the second Trump term, the U.S.’s lack of a forward-looking political horizon, and what possibilities we might see in the future of Latin America.  Buy America, América: A New History of the New World online here, or wherever you get books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747326/america-america-by-greg-grandin/

Before addressing the news of the day, Will & Kath catch up with Felix on their re-watch of beloved series BANSHEE, which segues nicely into discussion of the baffling firebombing of the Pennsylvania governor's mansion. We then move on to the increasingly horrific and blatantly illegal renditions of American residents into foreign prisons, and the further construction of Fortress America. We also look at potential democratic responses, from Cory Booker’s filibuster, to Kamala slowly stepping back into the spotlight, and finally Bernie & AOC’s recent rally in LA.  Find EEPHUS streaming on VOD and new Eephus merch at: www.eephusfilm.com

Semafor reporter Dave Weigel returns to the show to look at the political angles to Trump’s tariff regime and the global economic shocks. We discuss the various attempts to backfill justifications, responses from GOP and Democrats, and how this is all somehow about wokeness and masculinity or something. We also discuss last week’s special election in Wisconsin, and what it can tell us about Trump (and Elon)’s strength going forward. Find Dave’s work on Semafor here: https://www.semafor.com/author/david-weigel