Podcasts by Category
- 52 - 'She-Hulk' Actor Tatiana Maslany on Israel's Genocide, AI in Hollywood, and… Canada
Exactly one year ago, Mehdi was joined on 'We're Not Kidding' by actor Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Incredible Hulk in Marvel's 'Avengers' movies. So it feels fitting that today's guest is none other than Emmy award-winning actor Tatiana Maslany who plays She-Hulk in the Marvel TV series of the same name. Like Mark, Tatiana has been an outspoken advocate for Palestine over the past few years and continues to use her platform to bring attention to Israel's genocide.
Mehdi also asks Tatiana about the issues roiling Hollywood right now, including the widespread adoption of AI technology ("idiotic" says Tatiana) and the looming acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by the Trump-aligned Ellison family. Finally, Mehdi asks Tatiana to "burst the bubble" for Americans who think Canada and Canadian politics are more progressive than here in the U.S.
This interview was published on Sept. 14, 2026 on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to 'We're Not Kidding' and to support Zeteo's independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Tatiana Maslany
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Producer: Melanie Riehl
Research: Skylar Maile Paxton
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Mon, 21 Sep 2026 - 45min - 51 - Socialists Are Winning Elections — Mehdi & Sam Seder Explain Why
There are few people who have worked in progressive media as long as Sam Seder.
As the host of the massively popular and long-running YouTube series 'The Majority Report', Sam paved the way for progressive pundits with his sharp and funny analysis of U.S. politics. That's why Sam was the perfect guest for this week's 'We're Not Kidding' for Mehdi to discuss the wave of progressive and socialist wins across the country.
Oh and don't think Mehdi forgot that Sam was the person who told Mehdi to participate in that insanely racist 'Jubilee' debate. They unpack their insane experiences (though Mehdi's was objectively more insane) and what it revealed about young MAGA conservatives. The two also weigh in on what we're now calling 'The Great Tucker Carlson Debate.' Will the right-wing podcaster run for president? Can he be trusted on issues like Israel and foreign wars? Is there utility to going on his platform, or vice versa? And which part of the debate does Sam think is "bullshit?"
This interview was published Aug. 10, 2026 on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Sam Seder
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Producer: Melanie Riehl
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 - 56min - 50 - 'Politics for Hot People' – The Socialist Comedian Making Politics Cool
This episode is sponsored by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/notkidding to try it for free.
This week's 'We're Not Kidding' guest thinks "hot people" have been excluded from politics for too long — and it's time to change that.
Mary Beth Barone is a New York City comedian, actor, socialist, and early supporter of Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign. But before that, she was raised in a Republican household and thought George W. Bush was cool when she was in fifth grade. Mary Beth joined Mehdi in NYC to talk about her political character arc, her new Netflix standup special 'Galaxy Brain', and how the Democratic party can do better.
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Credits:
Hosted by Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Mary Beth Barone
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Producer: Melanie Riehl
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 - 35min - 49 - When Hasan Piker Met Mehdi Hasan
This episode is sponsored by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/notkidding to try it for free.
"How is it that a 34 year-old Turkish-American socialist Twitch streamer is now a kingmaker in the Democratic Party of the United States?"
Hasan Piker says he can take the heat. The famous political commentator has spent the past several months as the primary target of the Democratic party establishment for what they claim are his repugnant views. According to Hasan, the real reason is the success of the broader left movement that he has been a vocal advocate for.
Now, he sits down with Mehdi in Washington, D.C. to talk about becoming a "lightning rod" and the recent Democratic primaries shaking up the political landscape, like the upcoming Michigan Senate primary between the AIPAC-backed Haley Stevens and the progressive Abdul El-Sayed. The polls are close, the money is overwhelming (Stevens has a 12-1 spending advantage over El-Sayed), yet Hasan explains why he thinks "this race will shock the world."
They also get into the whole Tucker Carlson debate. Is Tucker setting up JD Vance for 2028, or is he planning his own presidential run? Hasan and Mehdi unpack whether the right-wing Christian nationalist can be a trusted ally on Gaza and Israel.
The Hasans also discuss:
Socialism's rising popularity in the U.S.
Hasan being targeted by both Democrats and Republicans.
Accusations of antisemitism.
Mehdi's appearance on the PBD podcast.
Marco Rubio vs. JD Vance.
The hypocrisy of Joe Rogan and Bill Maher.
And which Democrat Hasan wants to run in 2028…
This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Hasan Piker
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks to: Aaliyah Haque
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Thu, 30 Jul 2026 - 1h 01min - 48 - Comedian Adam Friedland on Stephen Miller's Fascism, Israel's Apartheid, and World Cup Politics
This episode is sponsored by Odoo. Go to https://www.odoo.com/notkidding to try it for free.
Stephen Miller's baldness. Donald Trump's theater career. Alexi "DEI hire" Lalas. South African racists. Inept autocrats. Baby Hitler. Osama Bin Laden's favorite soccer team.
These are just a few of the many topics that Mehdi and Adam Friedland talked about on the new episode of 'We're Not Kidding'. The comedian and host of the wildly popular YouTube talk show, 'The Adam Friedland Show', sat down with Mehdi in New York City for a chaotic yet vulnerable conversation about Israel, U.S. politics, and some of Adam's most viral interviews. But first, Mehdi needed to argue about the World Cup.
Even though they come from different backgrounds, Mehdi and Adam bond over their shared profession of interviewing defensive politicians. One of Adam's most viral interviews, with Bronx Congressman Ritchie "AIPAC Guy" Torres, was of particular interest to Mehdi. "You got very emotional there. Did he make you like that? Did the situation in Gaza make you like that?" Mehdi asks.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. The two also discuss:
Adam's family history in South Africa.
How Stephen Miller might have turned into a fascist (he and Adam went to school together).
Trump's influence on the World Cup.
Adam's experience working in an Israeli ambulance service.
Getting Scott Jennings to admit he's a "performer."
Whether Adam should run for president.
And many, many, many, other things…
This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Adam Friedland
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Producer: Melanie Riehl
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special Thanks: Andrew McDonald
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Wed, 22 Jul 2026 - 52min - 47 - 'America, Wash Your Ass!' - Mehdi and Wajahat Ali Call Out Racists' Hypocrisy and Hygiene
Mehdi and Wajahat Ali have been friends for almost two decades. And just like with any good friend, there's a lot the two don't agree on, from who they think the best Bond actor is to whether there are alliances the left can make with the far-right on Israel. But one thing they do stand together on is just how vital immigrants are to America.
In fact, it's the premise of Waj's memoir, Go Back to Where You Came From, which he calls both a "love letter to a country that doesn't love us back" and a "warning to a country about what happens when you go against the immigrants." Waj discusses his experience growing up as the child of Pakistani immigrants and Mehdi chimes in with his experience being an immigrant to the U.S.
They also talk about America at 250 and the dueling 4th of July speeches between Zohran Mamdani (very good!) and Donald Trump (very bad!). "There were MAGA people on the mall who told journalists that it was 'liberals in the weather service' trying to ruin the Trump speech on Saturday night," Mehdi says. "They literally see the storm destroying the sets and they're like, 'We don't believe the liberals in the weather service.'" Waj says. "It's a cult, man."
In this intimate and hilarious conversation, the two also discuss:
Waj's parents being sent to prison.
Donald Trump intervening in the World Cup.
Extremism in the U.S. versus the UK.
The rise of Islamophobia.
And… the Epstein Files.
This interview was published several days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Wajahat Ali
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks: Kennedy Garmong
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Fri, 10 Jul 2026 - 1h 03min - 46 - Meet the Palestinian-American Comedian Who Says It's Okay to Play the 'Muslim Card'
This episode is sponsored by Shopify. To get their $1/month trial, go to https://shopify.com/mehdi
When it comes to 'We're Not Kidding' guests, Mehdi has sat down with multiple, multi-talented, multi-hyphenates — but none have been as multi as today's guest. Nina Kharoufeh is a Palestinian-American, a hijab-wearing Muslim, a standup comedian, an amateur boxer, and a children's book author. But if you ask Nina, she'd likely say her most important role is being an outspoken defender of Palestine. She joined Mehdi in DC to talk about her eclectic career journey and the backlash she's received for criticizing Israel since Oct. 7.
Nina is also the author of the children's book 'I'm a Princess Too' about a young Muslim girl who gets cast as a princess in the school play but then is bullied by her peers for wearing a hijab. On top of all of that, Nina is also an amateur boxer who has competed in fights at Madison Square Garden. "If you could challenge anyone in the world to a fight, who would it be?" Mehdi asks. "Amy Schumer," Nina says.
The two also discuss:
Nina's time working at SiriusXM and (gulp!) FOX News.
Why it's always OK to "play the Muslim card."
DJ Khaled's silence on Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Getting caught going to a pro-Palestine rally by her mom when she was 12.
Whether George W. Bush was better than Donald Trump.
How Mehdi turned up in the Epstein files (it's not bad, we promise!)…
This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Nina Kharoufeh
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer: Frank Cappello
Editor: Liam Mann
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks: Randa Jumean
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Wed, 17 Jun 2026 - 38min - 45 - Superpower vs. Kryptonite - Which Dem Has the Best Shot in 2028?
The 2028 U.S. presidential election is just over two years away — which means we already have to start talking about it.
In a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' in New York City, Mehdi was joined by author, political commentator, and host of the 'Fast Politics' podcast Molly Jong-Fast, where they sought to answer the one burning question of every politics (and comic book) nerd: Which of the Democratic presidential hopefuls has the greatest superpower – and what is their 'Kryptonite' that could tank their candidacy?
Together, they break down Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's celebrity status, who the sleeper hit of the Democratic primary could be, and discuss why, if she runs, Kamala Harris will probably lose…again. "When you lose, shouldn't you just go away?" Mehdi asks. "That's why I think [Kamala Harris] is not going to run again," Molly says.
They also take questions from the live audience in New York on whether social media is to blame for young people being drawn in by right-wing pundits like Tucker Carlson, why the media rarely covers labor issues, and whether Trump has an exit strategy in Iran (spoiler: he doesn't).
The two also discuss:
The Jan. 6 rioters' billion-dollar payout from the Trump administration.
Marco Rubio and JD Vance's 'Apprentice'-style tryout for Trump's backing in 2028.
How much right-wing political content is actually astroturfed.
This episode was co-produced by On Air Fest and On Air Presents as part of their yearlong programming.
This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Molly Jong-Fast
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer: Frank Cappello
Editor: Liam Mann
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Tue, 09 Jun 2026 - 1h 01min - 44 - 'Everyone Is Lying to You for Money' - Ben McKenzie on His New Crypto Documentary, Corporate Dems, and 'The O.C.'
This episode is sponsored by Incogni. For 60% off your first order, go to https://incogni.com/mehdi
Would you be surprised to find out that one of the leading investigators into the cryptocurrency industry is… a former teen heartthrob from the early 2000s TV series 'The O.C.'? Ben McKenzie became famous for playing bad boy Ryan Atwood in the hit 2003 drama, but he may end up being remembered for his work investigating and speaking out against the opaque crypto industry.
Ben is the writer, director, and star of the new documentary, 'Everyone Is Lying To You For Money', which documents his years-long look into the scammy, fraudulent, and oftentimes criminal world of cryptocurrency. He met up with Mehdi in Washington D.C. to talk about his new film and what drove him to make it. Mehdi and Ben unpack the film's globetrotting story — from Miami, to El Salvador, to London — as Ben follows the (figurative) money. Ben explains what exactly cryptocurrency is and uncovers why its evangelists want you to buy it so badly.
The two also discuss:
How 'The O.C.' introduced an entire generation to class politics.
Why Ben is supporting Brad Lander for Congress over Dan Goldman.
If taking corporate PAC money should be a litmus test for Democrats.
Which Democrats have a shot at the presidency in 2028…
This interview was published 10 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Ben McKenzie
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Thu, 07 May 2026 - 55min - 43 - Could Riz Ahmed Be the First Brown James Bond?
This episode is sponsored by Ellydee. To sign up, go to ellydee.ai/mehdi
Riz Ahmed is the man of the moment. The Oscar and Emmy award-winning actor is currently on the press tour for not one but two new projects: his TV series 'Bait', and a film adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'. But the tour wouldn't be complete without joining his former school mate and fellow school play actor Mehdi for a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' in New York City. The two dig into Riz's new roles, the state of Muslim representation in popular culture, and making political art. They also take questions from the audience, but first they share a few choice anecdotes from their teenage years.
The two also discuss:
Neil Patrick Harris' recent ridiculous comments about making "apolitical" art.
Why "getting in the room" doesn't matter if you let the room change you.
The lasting significance of his films 'Four Lions' and 'The Long Goodbye' given the UK far-right political scene.
And how Riz got banned… from UK grocery store Tesco's!
They also take questions from the audience about why some Muslim entertainers have stayed silent on Gaza, the best ways to resist fascism, the power of political storytelling, and whether Riz's aunties call him up to chastise him about some of his.. erm… spicier on-camera scenes.
This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Riz Ahmed
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks to: Stephen Wentzell & Leena Fraihat
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Mon, 20 Apr 2026 - 1h 04min - 42 - Can You Trust Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson on Israel? Mehdi and Bassem Debate
It's been six months (!) since Bassem Youssef joined Mehdi for an episode of 'We're Not Kidding', and since then Israel has started two new wars, right-wing podcasters have turned on Donald Trump over his war with Iran, and centrist Democrats have mounted a cancellation campaign against leftist streamer Hasan Piker. But before they get to any of that, they dig into Epstein and Mehdi's viral interview with the so-called "Professor Jiang," the two get into a friendly argument over which terms and ideas qualify as religious tropes and how the weaponization of antisemitism by Zionists has diluted the meaning of the word.
The two also debate whether right-wingers like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson can be trusted allies for calling out Israel's genocide in Gaza and Donald Trump's war with Iran, or if they're just opportunists who see the writing on the wall for the MAGA movement. "Why don't you like Candace Owens or Tucker Carlson?" Bassem asks Mehdi, who explains his position on the two.
The two also discuss:
Zionists cracking down on free speech and civil liberties.
Why "Pax Judaica" is an antisemitic trope and "Greater Israel" is not.
US citizen Moshe Katz who recently died in Lebanon fighting for the Israeli military.
Why Bill Maher is… just the worst.
This interview was published 7 days earlier on Zeteo.com. If you want early access to exclusive content and hard-hitting, independent journalism, subscribe on Substack here: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/network/Zeteo
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 - 41min - 41 - Who'll Win the 'MAGA Podcast Wars'? Krystal Ball and Mehdi on Ben Shapiro vs. Tucker Carlson, AIPAC, and Iran
If you're as terminally online as the rest of us at Zeteo, you may have noticed that conservative podcasters are at war with each other. Ben Shapiro is attacking Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson is attacking Ben Shapiro, and everyone is attacking Mark Levin. So for this week's 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by Krystal Ball, co-host of the massively popular online news show 'Breaking Points', to unpack all of the MAGA drama.
The two also get into how Donald Trump's disastrous war with Iran is creating even MORE rifts within the Republican party, Israel and Netanyahu's role in instigating the war, and why we shouldn't totally trust defectors like Trump's now former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent. "They are very comfortable saying, 'Israel, Israel, Israel. It's all Israel's fault,'" Krystal says. "But at the end of the day, this is Donald Trump's war. He's not a baby. He's the most powerful man on the planet."
The two also discuss:
Krystal's famous hardball interview with Sen. Elissa Slotkin.
How AIPAC's brand has become "completely toxic" with Democratic voters.
Why podcasts will be important for 2028 presidential candidates.
And whether Gavin Newsom will be brave enough to appear on 'Mehdi Unfiltered' or 'Breaking Points'...
Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Krystal Ball
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 - 43min - 40 - Two Muslim Journalists Walk Into a Podcast - Mehdi and Ayman Mohyeldin on Iran, Gaza, and Media Bias
Mehdi and Ayman Mohyeldin have a lot in common: They were both born in the same year, they're both immigrants and naturalized US citizens, they're both Muslim, and they both worked at Al Jazeera and then MSNBC (now MS NOW). As Mehdi says to his former colleague, "I look at you and I feel like I'm looking at a taller, better looking, Arab version of myself."
Ayman joins Mehdi in Washington DC for the latest episode of 'We're Not Kidding' to discuss their careers in TV journalism, the failures of Western media on Gaza, and the new US war with Iran. The two discuss Israel's role in instigating the war, Benjamin Netanyahu's decades-long obsession with toppling the Iranian regime, as well as the media's unwillingness to name Israel as an influence on US foreign policy. "Israel has said it wants regime change in Iran for 40 years, but you couldn't say that until Marco Rubio came out and said that," Ayman says.
As one of the only American journalists who lived in Gaza during the 2008-09 war, Ayman brings a perspective on the region that few other mainstream journalists are able to. The two talk about Ayman's history of reporting on the conflict, what has changed (and sadly not changed), as well as the shortcomings of most Western media outlets in offering balanced coverage.
The two also discuss:
Beginning their journalism careers in the post 9/11 era.
Double standard attacks levied against Muslim journalists.
Bari Weiss and her "Iran expert" Douglas Murray.
Which Republican lawmakers are "dumb as shit."
And Mehdi quizzes Ayman on the French national soccer (sorry, football) team…
Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
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Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Ayman Mohyeldin
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit
https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo
Fri, 06 Mar 2026 - 47min - 39 - Meet the Palestinian-American Influencer Exposing 'Genocidal' Israelis Online
Since Oct. 7, 22 year-old Palestinian-American influencer Hamzah Saadah has gained international notoriety for doing something that no mainstream news outlet would dare to do: asking regular Israelis what they think about Palestine. The results have been shocking, as Hamzah's interviews with civilians and soldiers alike demonstrate a comfort and willingness to use "genocidal rhetoric" across Israeli society. Hamzah now joins Mehdi for a live taping of 'We're Not Kidding' at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah to discuss his work on social media and take some questions from the audience.
Before Oct. 7, Hamzah was a gaming influencer, musician, and magician (yes, you read that right) with nearly 8 million followers across social media. But once Israel's genocide began in Gaza, Hamzah made the decision to use his massive following to expose the anti-Palestinian rhetoric of some Israeli soldiers.
The two also discuss:
Receiving threats for their political work. Larry Ellison and censorship on TikTok. The time the police showed up at Hamzah's house at 3:00am. How to change the minds of audiences. How old Mehdi is, again, and again, and again.2026 Sundance Film Festival. Recorded at The Muslim House® Produced by the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau with the support of the Doris Duke Foundation.
Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
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Find Zeteo:
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Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Hamzah Saadah
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo
Fri, 20 Feb 2026 - 36min - 38 - How This Atheist Podcast Star Learned to Love Palestine, Oppose AIPAC, and Defend Muslims
As one of the co-hosts of the massively popular podcast 'I've Had It', Jennifer Welch has made a name for herself as a sharp-witted, foul-mouthed, uncomfortable-truth-bomb-dropping political commentator. Whether you've seen social media clips of her ranting about Donald Trump's poorly applied makeup or watched her eviscerate Sen. Cory Booker on AIPAC during their viral interview, Jennifer is shaking up the way liberal media thinks about political punditry. Now, she joins Mehdi on 'We're Not Kidding' to talk about her political journey and rise to fame.
Once an "MSNBC liberal" from the Bible Belt, Mehdi and Jennifer discuss her evolution on issues like corporate influence on the Democratic party and Israel-Palestine. They also get into the recent dump of Epstein files, including Elon Musk's "pathetic" attempt to get an invite to Epstein's island on Christmas, and how Joe Biden and the Democrats once again fumbled the ball. "Merrick Garland had these files for four f*****g years and didn't do anything with it!" Jennifer says.
The two also discuss:
- How atheism influences Jennifer's politics (and religion influences Mehdi's!).
- Why Trump appeals to evangelical Christians.
- Scott Jennings, Jesse Watters, and why Republican men are "submissive."
- Whether Epstein was a Mossad spy.
- Which national Democrats should be "remodeled" and which should "retire."
Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
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Find Zeteo:
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Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Find Jennifer:
'I've Had It': https://ivehaditpodcast.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mizzwelch/?hl=en
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Jennifer Welch
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Fri, 06 Feb 2026 - 59min - 37 - Will They Denaturalize Us? - Former 'Daily Show' Comedian Aasif Mandvi on Trump, ICE, Gaza, and Being an Immigrant
Aasif Mandvi broke more glass ceilings than you probably realize.
If you watched 'The Daily Show' during the post-9/11 era, you likely already know the comedian and actor for his biting commentary on Islamophobia, George W. Bush, and the 'War on Terror'.
But did you know he was the political comedy show's first non-white cast member? Or that he served as the "Senior Middle East Correspondent" and "Senior Muslim Correspondent" even though he's not from the Middle East or a practicing Muslim? Now, Aasif joins Mehdi on the new episode of 'We're Not Kidding' in front of a live audience at the Sundance Film Festival for a wide-ranging conversation about being fellow immigrants, Muslim representation, Gaza, Donald Trump, ICE, Zohran Mamdani, as well as take some questions from the audience.
Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
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Find Zeteo:
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Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Find Aasif:
Twitter: https://x.com/aasif
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasif
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Aasif Mandvi
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Fri, 30 Jan 2026 - 40min - 36 - 'They Make Genocide Jokes' - Israeli Comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi on Racism, Zionism, and Palestinian Liberation
Noam Schuster-Eliassi is what some people might call a 'unicorn'.
She's an anti-Zionist, Jewish-Iranian Israeli who speaks fluent Arabic and grew up in a tiny village in Israel called the 'Oasis of Peace', where Jews and Palestinians voluntarily choose to live together. Noam is now the star of the new documentary 'Coexistence, My Ass!', which won the Special Jury Award at Sundance film festival last year. The film explores her political evolution from growing up as an Israeli poster-child of the "coexistence movement" to becoming a standup comedian determined to dismantle apartheid within Israel.
The two also discuss the contradiction of liberal Israelis who are critical of Netanyahu's anti-democratic government yet don't extend the same consideration to Palestinians living under apartheid, as well as the barrage of hasbara that Israeli society was exposed to after October 7.
Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
Watch, listen and subscribe to 'We're Not Kidding' on Substack: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
Find Zeteo:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Find Noam:
Twitter: https://x.com/ShusterNoam
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noam_joon/
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Noam Shuster-Eliassi
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Tue, 09 Dec 2025 - 39min - 35 - 'Jewish and Muslim Safety Are Intertwined' - Comedian Ilana Glazer on Mamdani's Victory and the Weaponization of Antisemitism
On the day after Zohran Mamdani's historic election win, what better 'We're Not Kidding' guest could we ask for than New York City icon Ilana Glazer? The Jewish-American comedian, activist, and 'Broad City' creator joined Mehdi in midtown Manhattan to talk about what Mamdani's victory means for the future of US politics.
The two also discuss the recent failures of the Democratic party and whether Mamdani's win has the power to finally push party leadership to embrace its populist flank. "Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries were not there celebrating last night," Ilana says. "A Democratic mayor won. They should be there celebrating." They also talk about someone else who was definitely not celebrating on election night — Debra Messing and her very public Instagram crash out.
Ilana opens up to Mehdi about her feelings around the modern Jewish identity, particularly since Oct. 7. The two also discuss the weaponization of antisemitism by figures like Jonathan Greenblatt (who has already announced the Anti-Defamation League's 'Mamdani Monitor' to purportedly "keep Jewish New Yorkers safe"), while simultaneously ignoring the dangers of right-wing antisemitism espoused by people like Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson. Finally, Mehdi asks Ilana about speaking out against Israel's genocide in Gaza and the risks of receiving backlash or being censored.
Subscribe to Zeteo to support independent and unfiltered journalism: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
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Find Zeteo:
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Find Mehdi:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
Credits:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Ilana Glazer
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Fri, 07 Nov 2025 - 44min - 34 - 'Succession' Star on Gaza, Iran, and the 10 Rich People Who 'Run Everything'
If you were a fan of the HBO series 'Succession' — then do we have a treat for you. On this new episode of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by Iranian-American actor Arian Moayed who played the scene-stealing character Stewy Hosseini on the hit HBO show.
Mehdi and Arian unpack the ways our reality mirrors the fictional world of 'Succession', like how pro-Israel billionaire Larry Ellison, the world's second richest man, is buying up media companies Paramount, CBS News, and TikTok. Mehdi also challenges Arian to a new rapid-fire question game called, "Real Billionaire or 'Succession' Character?"
As two naturalized US citizens, Mehdi and Arian discuss the recent military-style ICE raids in Arian's hometown of Chicago and the fears that many immigrant communities are feeling in the Trump era. Mehdi and Arian also get into the recent political history of Iran, including the 1979 revolution which led to Arian's family immigrating to the US when he was a child. Arian, an outspoken critic of the Iranian government, explains the importance of Iranian representation and self-determination and offers his own analogy for why Western governments should stay out of Iran's affairs.
Finally, the two discuss the two-year anniversary of Oct. 7 and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As Arian was one of the earliest signatories on the Artists 4 Ceasefire letter in October of 2023, Mehdi asks if he feared retribution from Hollywood and the entertainment industry for being pro-Palestine.
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FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND ARIAN:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianmoayed
Waterwell: https://www.waterwell.org/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Arian Moayed
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Tue, 14 Oct 2025 - 49min - 33 - 'Israel's Sugar Daddy' – Mehdi and Bassem on Trump, Kimmel, Mamdani, and Two Years of Genocide
It's been six months since Mehdi and Bassem Youssef last recorded an episode of 'We're Not Kidding', so needless to say they had a lot to catch up on. And what better place to host their reunion than ArabCon 2025 in Dearborn, Michigan? During this very special LIVE taping, the duo get candid about the Trump administration's recent attacks on free speech, the potential of a Zohran Mamdani victory in New York City, and how much the world has changed (and sadly not changed) since Israel began its genocide in Gaza almost two years ago.
Finally, the two take questions from the audience about the use of social media platforms complicit in genocide, whether either of them would travel to Israel for work, and how to build momentum for the BDS movement ('Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions'). Mehdi also gets asked a couple of pointed questions about condemning Hamas' attack on Oct. 7 and the killing of Israeli civilians — you don't want to miss his response.
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FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan=
FIND BASSEM:
Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Tue, 30 Sep 2025 - 1h 04min - 32 - EXCLUSIVE: Israel is 'Gaslighting' Us, Says 'Andor' Star After Trip to Occupied West Bank
SPOILER ALERT: This episode includes plot details for the TV series 'Andor'.
On this week's 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi once again gets to do his two favorite things: have a substantive conversation about politics and fanboy on nerd culture. That's because this week's guest is award-winning Irish actor Denise Gough, who came to prominence on the 'Star Wars' TV series 'Andor' playing an intelligence officer in service of the fascistic Empire. But in real life Denise's politics are deeply anti-imperial as an outspoken advocate for Palestine and the people of Gaza.
Mehdi speaks with Denise about her breakout role on 'Andor' playing "one of the most compelling fascists [he's] ever seen on screen," and unpack the parallels between 'Andor' and the rise of fascism across the West right now. But unlike 'Star Wars', the "good guys" in many historical conflicts are often vilified by those in power. "It's very impressive when the good guys are doing it," Mehdi says. " But who defines who the good guys and the bad guys are?"
The two then discuss Denise's advocacy work and the historical connection between Ireland and Palestine. "[Ireland] lived under occupation for hundreds of years," Denise says. She goes on to recount her recent trip to the occupied West Bank and witnessing Israel's apartheid firsthand. "I've seen things that are undeniable," a visibly emotional Denise says. From the military checkpoints and fences in Hebron, to Palestinian homes barred in steel to protect against settler attacks, to handmade jewelry carved from Israeli military tear gas canisters. "There isn't a person in the world that would be able to convince me what is happening there is a democracy."
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
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FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND DENISE:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisegough1/?hl=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Denise Gough
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks: Khaleel Rahman
Mon, 22 Sep 2025 - 46min - 31 - EXCLUSIVE: Mark Ruffalo Says 'Boycott, Divest, Sanction, and Prosecute' Israel
On this week's 'We're Not Kidding' Mehdi sits down with an actual superhero. No, not the Incredible Hulk from Marvel's 'The Avengers' — he's a pretend super hero. The real-life superhero we're referring to this week is the award-winning Hollywood actor and activist Mark Ruffalo. For over two decades, Mark has been one of the most politically courageous actors in Hollywood, having spoken out against the fracking industry, US imperialism, Donald Trump, and the genocide in Gaza.
The two talk about Mark's political evolution, from being raised in a household with three different religions to getting involved in the anti-war movement during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. When discussing Trump's second term and rising fascism here in the US, Mark doesn't mince words when it comes to the tepid opposition from Democratic party leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. Mark says, before also launching into a scathing critique of the notoriously pro-Israel House Democrat Ritchie Torres.
Finally, Mehdi asks Mark about his years-long advocacy for Palestine and the elaborate "propaganda machine" deployed by Israel and its allies, as Mark is no stranger to being attacked for his pro-Palestine views. Now almost two years into Israel's genocide in Gaza, Mark gets deeply emotional when discussing the human cost of the conflict.
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
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FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Mark Ruffalo
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special Thanks: Khaleel Rahman
Mon, 15 Sep 2025 - 52min - 30 - 'I Don't Give a Sh*t What DJ Khaled Thinks' - Anees on Political Music, Cancel Culture, and Zohran Mamdani
Mehdi is joined by Palestinian-Lebanese-American singer-songwriter-rapper Anees to talk about his activism on Gaza and his belief in the power of music to influence politics.Anees tells Mehdi about his winding career path of going to law school, passing the bar exam, and delivering pizzas for 10 years. After getting his big break during an Instagram livestream with superstar Justin Bieber, Anees made the leap from up-and-comer to professional musician.
Growing up in a half-Palestinian, half-Lebanese household with a father who worked in civil rights, Anees explains to Mehdi how making political music isn't even a conscious choice for him. Though when it comes to other famous musical artists, including a well-known Palestinian (cough cough, DJ Khaled), Anees has his own thoughts as to why some celebrities choose to stay out of the political fray.
When discussing US lawmakers and Israel, the duo unpack the mixed signals coming from progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and whether purity tests on the left are helpful or harmful. Finally, Mehdi and Anees discuss the possibility of Zohran Mamdani winning the New York City mayor's race and the shockwaves it would send to the political establishment.
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FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND ANEES:
Website: https://www.aneesofficial.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anees/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anees?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Anees
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks: Khaleel Rahman
Mon, 18 Aug 2025 - 38min - 29 - 'Put a Trump Tower in Iran' - Maz Jobrani on Middle East Wars and the US Immigrant Experience
In the last 20 years, Middle Eastern representation in American culture has gone from absolutely horrendous to… somewhat decent. Instead of TV shows like '24' and 'Homeland', we now have 'Ramy' and 'Mo'. But before ANY of that, there was Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani, this week's co-host of 'We're Not Kidding', who has been paving the way for Middle Eastern comics since the late 90s.
In this heartfelt conversation, Maz tells Mehdi about his lifelong struggle of representing his home country while trying to assimilate to American culture. Maz also discusses the challenges of beginning his comedy career during the post-9/11 era, and being a part of the groundbreaking 'Axis of Evil' comedy tour during a time of rampant Islamophobia in the US.
Maz and Mehdi also unpack Donald Trump's "inhumane" immigration policy of mass detentions and deportations. As an outspoken advocate for immigrant rights, Maz slams the Trump admin for its abject cruelty and stupidity.
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FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND MAZ:
Twitter: https://x.com/MazJobrani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mazjobrani
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mazjobrani
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Maz Jobrani
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Outlining: Khaleel Rahman
Research: Selma Zuaiter
Mon, 14 Jul 2025 - 49min - 28 - Unpacking the 'Insane' Premise of Zionism, with Mehdi and Alana Hadid
Last week, Mehdi and Zeteo concluded our five-city tour, so we obviously had to end with a special LIVE taping of 'We're Not Kidding' and audience Q&A with returning co-host Alana Hadid — an activist, designer, and Creative Director of the Palestinian film company Watermelon Pictures.
Mehdi and Alana also discuss Israel's now 20 month-long genocide in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian conditions on the ground, including the Israeli military's regular killings of Palestinians seeking food at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid sites. The two also speak about the recent ICE raids in Los Angeles and the massive protests that erupted in response, Ted Cruz making the US-Israel relationship "Instagram official" during his Tucker Carlson interview, and the success of the documentary film 'The Encampments' produced by Watermelon Pictures and Macklemore, featuring now freed political prisoner Mahmoud Khalil.
Also be sure to check out the Q&A that begins 32 minutes into the episode. Zeteo subscribers asked Mehdi and Alana important questions about the weaponization of religion, Israel's pinkwashing, and Benjamin Netanyahu's endgame — one questioner even challenged Mehdi's own political views!
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND ALANA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanzybear/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alanahadid?lang=en
Watermelon Pictures: https://www.watermelonpictures.com/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Alana Hadid
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Tue, 24 Jun 2025 - 1h 00min - 27 - 'The Immigrant Dilemma' - Yasmin Elhady on Muslim Matchmaking, Comedy, and Looking Different
Since the launch of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi has sat down with some of the most multi-talented multi-hyphenates working in entertainment and media. But few wear as many caps as this week's guest co-host, Yasmin Elhady — a Libyan-Egyptian-American standup comedian, lawyer, and co-host of the popular Hulu TV series 'Muslim Matchmaker'. But before she was a famous TV host, Yasmin tells Mehdi about her experience as a Muslim immigrant growing up in Alabama and the bullying she encountered.
Mehdi and Yasmin also discuss the ways in which Muslim representation in American culture has gotten better over the last several decades, but how there's still room for improvement. As the co-host of the TV series 'Muslim Matchmaker', Yasmin tells Mehdi how important getting the opportunity to show a different side of Muslim life meant to her. Yasmin also explains to Mehdi why she chose the dual path of lawyer and comedian, how her matchmaking career began with finding a wife for her brother, why she thinks Colonel Gaddafi was the "gayest dictator who's not gay" and whether Mehdi bears a resemblance to the 1980s-era McDonald's mascot, The Hamburglar.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND YASMIN:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasminelhahahady/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yasmin_elhady
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Yasmin Elhady
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Wed, 11 Jun 2025 - 44min - 26 - 'Sane Fascists or Insane Fascists?' - Molly Jong-Fast on the President's Mental Health Issues
It's been almost four months (!) of Donald Trump's second term and it's become nearly impossible to keep track of the president's unhinged behavior. Fortunately, Mehdi and political analyst Molly Jong-Fast, host of the 'Fast Politics' podcast, take on the task of rounding up Trump's most insane recent moments on this week's 'We're Not Kidding'. They also call out the media for its lax coverage of Trump's mental state and possible cognitive decline.
Mehdi and Molly also talk about the Trump administration's repression of free speech on college campuses, compare the media coverage of Trump versus Joe Biden, and take some shots at the Republican-led Congress. "They are run by complete incompetence," Molly says.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Molly Jong-Fast
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Thu, 15 May 2025 - 34min - 25 - The 'Bullsh*t' of Bill Maher — Gianmarco Soresi on Israel, Antisemitism, and 'Anti-Woke' Comedy
It's been one whole year since the launch of 'We're Not Kidding', and for our anniversary episode Mehdi is joined by comedian and internet superstar Gianmarco Soresi. As a half-Italian, half-Jewish comedian, Gianmarco has become famous for the viral social media clips of his standup comedy, as well as his outspoken criticism of Israel. He and Mehdi unpack how the silencing of pro-Palestine voices can contribute to rising antisemitism.
The two also discuss the hypocrisy of Donald Trump and the Republican party, who claim to be defenders of free speech while simultaneously detaining student activists for their political activity or opinions. Finally, Mehdi and Gianmarco go on an extended rant about the "anti-woke" comedy movement and how its ringleaders like Joe Rogan and Bill Maher have completely sold out to powerful political figures like Donald Trump. "We're watching huge comedians toe the line for the President," Gianmarco says. "Well, then you're not a f*****g comedian anymore — You're a propagandist."
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND GIANMARCO:
Twitter: https://x.com/GianmarcoSoresi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gianmarcosoresi
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gianmarcosoresi
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Gianmarco Soresi
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks to: Mohammed Abdelbary
Fri, 25 Apr 2025 - 44min - 24 - 'ICE is a Terrorist Agency' - Cynthia Nixon on Deportation Raids, Gaza Attacks, and Trump's War on Higher Education
On this week's 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by award-winning actor, activist, and Zeteo contributor Cynthia Nixon for an impassioned conversation about rising fascism under Donald Trump and the lawlessness of ICE, which Cynthia calls a "terrorist agency." Mehdi and Cynthia unpack Trump's assault on US higher education, the 'disappearings' of international student activists, and the lack of opposition from the Democratic Party.
Finally, the Democratic primary for New York City Mayor is underway and Cynthia has some strong opinions about two of the candidates. First, there's former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (Cynthia's former opponent from the 2018 gubernatorial race) who's currently polling first even though he resigned from office in disgrace amidst multiple scandals. Then, there's New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani who's running a progressive and grassroots campaign and has not had to resign from office in disgrace due to multiple scandals. Listen now to find out which candidate Cynthia prefers!
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Cynthia Nixon
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Wed, 09 Apr 2025 - 42min - 23 - United States of 'Hypocrisy' – Bassem and Mehdi on College Students, Free Speech, and Gaza
It's been almost two months since Mehdi and Bassem co-hosted 'We're Not Kidding' together and A LOT has happened since then. As two naturalized US citizens, Mehdi and Bassem co-host again, starting off the conversation discussing the Trump administration's arrests of international residents in the US who dare to criticize Israel.
The two also discuss Israel breaking the ceasefire deal (Bassem compares Israel to ex you keep expecting better from) and its renewed attacks on Gaza, which have killed over 700 Palestinians in just three days with full political support from the Trump administration. Bassem also points out the inherent hypocrisy of US foreign policy throughout modern history – and how they're each coping with it (or not).
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND BASSEM:
Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Fri, 28 Mar 2025 - 40min - 22 - 'Ethno-Nationalist, Hard-Right Whackjobs' - Nish Kumar on Fascism, Starmer, and Being Both Brown and English
They first bonded over their shared love of Nando's — now Mehdi and UK comedian Nish Kumar reunite to talk about their shared contempt for the Trump administration. The two sat down in Washington DC to discuss UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's disastrous visits to the White House and the childish behavior of US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Mehdi and Nish also weigh in on the current debate raging in the UK over who gets to claim 'English' identity. Is Rishi Sunak English? Is 'English' an ethnic identity? Is this just racism disguised as legitimate debate? The two also dig into the nature of 'American' identity and Donald Trump's attempts to revoke birthright citizenship in the US.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND NISH:
Twitter: https://x.com/MrNishKumar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrnishkumar/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnishkumar
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Nish Kumar
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Mon, 17 Mar 2025 - 44min - 21 - Politics, Sport, and Free Speech Hypocrisy, with Jemele Hill
Live from New York — it's 'We're Not Kidding'! This past week, Mehdi traveled to the 'On Air Fest' in Brooklyn for a very special LIVE taping of 'WNK' with award-winning sports journalist and broadcaster Jemele Hill. You may remember Jemele from the first Trump administration, when political 'nepo baby' and then-White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called for ESPN to fire Jemele for calling Donald Trump a white supremacist.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Mehdi and Jemele discuss Trump and Elon Musk's recent attacks on the press and the dangerous behavior of mainstream journalists who value access over solidarity. They also dig into the crucial intersection of sports and politics, including Trump's historic Super Bowl appearance, the capitulation of (some) professional sports leagues, the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics, and whether the NFL is responsible for Trump running for president. "To be honest, I sort of blame the NFL because we have to deal with Trump in this capacity," Jemele says. Intriguing, right?
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND JEMELE:
Twitter: https://x.com/jemelehill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jemelehill/
'Spolitics' with Jemele Hill: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-spolitics-222755070/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Jemele Hill
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks: Stephen Wentzell
Thu, 27 Feb 2025 - 47min - 20 - Is Trump 'Daddy'? – with Bassem Youssef
Mehdi is once again joined by 'We're Not Kidding' powerhouse Bassem Youssef for a raw and honest conversation about the state of the world. To steal a phrase from MAGA Republicans speaking about Donald Trump — "Daddy is home." Mehdi and Bassem unpack the first few weeks of Trump's second term, including the escalating violence in the West Bank occurring during the "fake" Gaza ceasefire.
The two also debate whether the US empire is beginning to collapse, if organized resistance movements are at all effective, and if Trump and the Republicans are more honest than Joe Biden and the Democrats. "You prefer to deal with the wolf rather than the wolf in sheep's clothing," Mehdi asks Bassem, who also shares his opinion on Elon Musk's controversial hand gesture and his uniquely noxious flavor of South African racism.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
SNAG ZETEO'S BRAND NEW MERCH:
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND BASSEM:
Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Fri, 07 Feb 2025 - 34min - 19 - Taking On the Tech Oligarchs, with Taylor Lorenz
'We're Not Kidding' is back! After a not-very-relaxing holiday break, Mehdi is joined by tech and online culture journalist (and new Zeteo contributor!) Taylor Lorenz to discuss the new age of American oligarchy. Trump is back in office and his inauguration was a star-studded showcase of spineless tech billionaires.
Mehdi and Taylor also unpack the dumbfounding blunder of Democrats' TikTok ban, why private ownership of social media platforms by "red-pilled billionaires" is actually BAD for free speech, the MAGAfication of Elon Musk, and whether Mark Zuckerberg looks cool now. Taylor also pushes back against the argument made by Zeteo guest writer Will Stancil, who called for Democrats to go to war with social media companies. "Then just get on board with Republicans! This is the problem, is people like that. That is so stupid!"
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND TAYLOR:
Twitter: https://x.com/TaylorLorenz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorlorenz/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorlorenz
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Taylor Lorenz
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks to: Stephen Wentzell
Fri, 24 Jan 2025 - 40min - 18 - "Holy Sh*t, We're Being Lied To": Huda Kattan, CEO of Huda Beauty, Speaks Out
If you've followed Mehdi's career, you know he's interviewed heads of state, members of Congress, homicidal mercenaries, and even terrorists. But this may be Mehdi's most intimidating guest yet — Huda Kattan — the superstar beauty influencer, activist, reality TV show host, and founder and CEO of international beauty brand 'Huda Beauty'. Funnily enough, Huda was also nervous to sit down with one of her personal role models.
Huda opens up to Mehdi about growing up in Tennessee and the moment she realized that US media is oftentimes propaganda: "That was the moment where I was like, holy shit, we are being lied to. We're being told stories for the sake of specific agendas."
They also talk about the launch of 'Huda Beauty', the lack of diversity in the beauty industry, celebrities who have stayed silent on Gaza, and Huda's activism on Gaza and Palestine. "You don't want people who support genocide to use your products?" Mehdi asks. "Absolutely not. You're not allowed." Huda replies.
Subscribe at Zeteo.com to watch the full interview.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND HUDA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huda/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@huda?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Huda Kattan
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Fri, 20 Dec 2024 - 39min - 17 - The One Where Hasan Minhaj Meets Mehdi Hasan
Hasan Minhaj and Mehdi Hasan don't just share a common brown name… actually, that may be all they have in common. One loves to debate, the other avoids it like the plague. One is obsessed (sorry, Mehdi) with Twitter, the other avoids it like the plague. And one knew months ago that Trump was going to win, and with record levels of Black and Brown support.
They also talked about Joe Rogan and diagnosing what's the matter with men these days, pseudo-intellectualism, Hasan's latest Netflix special - including the perplexities and paradoxes of "Beigistan", and yes, the whole 'Daily Show' thing with Hasan and the New Yorker.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND HASAN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HasanMinhaj
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hasanminhaj/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hasanminhaj
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Hasan Minhaj
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Mon, 25 Nov 2024 - 50min - 16 - Democrats Need To Get A Spine - Amanda Seales & Francesca Fiorentini on Harris' Loss, Joe Rogan, and Trump 2.0
Following the (depressing) results of the 2024 US presidential election, Mehdi is joined by comedians Amanda Seales and Francesca Fiorentini for a (funny) post-post-mortem on Democrats' historic shellacking. They discuss the Harris campaign's many mistakes, from cozying up to Republican neocons, to abandoning Bernie Sanders-style populism, to inexplicably hiding their only cool person, Tim Walz.
"Let's stop taking these lessons from Republicans about what the Democrats did wrong," an incensed Francesca tells Mehdi. "You're the ones who walked us in the lion's den of Trumpism in the first place!"
The three also explore how Trump was able to increase his support with Black, Latino, and Muslim voters, Joe Rogan's appeal to "fragile men" on the internet, whether Hawk Tuah girl should interview Noam Chomsky, and they list out their greatest fears of a second Trump presidency, such as violent vigilantism and RFK Jr. being in charge of milk. Yeah, MILK.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND AMANDA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandaseales/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAmandaSeales/featured
Website: https://www.amandaseales.com/
FIND FRANCESCA:
Twitter: https://x.com/franifio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/franifio/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@franifio
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Hosts: Amanda Seales & Francesca Fiorentini
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 - 38min - 15 - 'Election Anxiety' and Fears of a 'Civil War', with Nick Offerman
It's less than a week until the 2024 US presidential election and who better to discuss the government with than 'Parks and Rec' star and comedian Nick Offerman. The last time Mehdi spoke with Nick about current events was back in May 2021, right before Nick was to testify before Congress about the Covid-19 vaccine. More recently, Nick released a couple of comedic songs to encourage Americans to vote for Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump (hopefully) forever.
Mehdi and Nick rant about the Donald Trump x Elon Musk teamup and the influence of corporate money on our media and politics. "The corporate interests that generally own the mainstream media so that no matter what messaging you get, it's never the fully straight dope," Nick tells Mehdi. "You can count the politicians in Congress who aren't taking corporate money on two fingers."
Mehdi asks Nick about his recent role playing the president of the United States in Alex Garland's hit film 'Civil War' and what Americans can learn from the cautionary tale about the waning days of a civil war fought on US soil. When discussing Trump, Nick humorously describes in graphic detail what he imagines the former president does on his golden toilet. They finish the conversation discussing the strengths and flaws of the Harris campaign, including her stance on Gaza and US arms sales to Israel.
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FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND NICK:
Twitter: https://x.com/Nick_Offerman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickofferman/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Nick Offerman
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Fri, 01 Nov 2024 - 35min - 14 - Bassem Youssef, Unlike You've Ever Seen Him, on Hope, Despair, and A Year of Genocide
If you've been tuning into Zeteo's flagship podcast, 'We're Not Kidding' for the last six months, you're going to find this one is a very special episode.
Bassem Youssef returns to WNK for an intimate and heartfelt conversation – one unlike you've ever seen on this show. It's also a version of Bassem none of us, including Mehdi, have ever seen before. "I'm from a very, very, very deep point of desperation," he tells Mehdi backstage at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre in downtown Toronto. The two met up for this special recording right before Bassem went live onstage for one of the last shows of his sellout 'Middle Beast Tour.'
It's been a few months since Mehdi and Bassem last co-hosted WNK, and with so much that's happened since then and the US elections just on the horizon, they had a lot to discuss: from trying to be hopeful versus feeling helplessness, to witnessing the impunity of Israel reach new heights, to whether the pro-Israel side can be defeated in the media or in Congress.
If you're looking for a listen that will resonate, that will make you feel seen, after a very long and hard-to-watch year, tune in now.
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FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND BASSEM:
Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Thu, 24 Oct 2024 - 36min - 13 - A Palestinian and a Jew Walk Into a Podcast - Sammy Obeid & Matt Lieb Reflect on the Oct. 7 Anniversary
In the latest episode of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi is joined by comedians Matt Lieb and Sammy Obeid to discuss the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack by Hamas and Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza that followed. Matt, a Jewish-American, and Sammy, a Palestinian-American, share their personal experiences over the past year, including how they've managed to maintain their sense of humor through a year of intense violence and tragedy.
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WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND MATT:
Twitter: https://x.com/mattlieb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattliebjokes/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattlieb
FIND SAMMY:
Twitter: https://x.com/SammyObeid
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammyobeid/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammyobeidthem
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Hosts: Matt Lieb & Sammy Obeid
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks: Stephen Wentzell
Thu, 10 Oct 2024 - 48min - 12 - Make Nando's, Not War - with Nish Kumar
In the latest episode of 'We're Not Kidding', Mehdi's in London (again!) and this time chatting with the Nando's-loving comedian and host of 'Pod Save the UK' Nish Kumar. We promise you will laugh – and maybe even cry of laughter.
Nish and Mehdi lead with that - their shared love of Nando's - and how, as Nish describes, it's the only thing uniting a fragmented British society right now.
The two also get deep into what that fragmented society looks like: the far-right, racist-fueled riots that took hold of the country this summer where more than 1,000 people were arrested, the post-October 7 resurgence of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment (that feels a lot like the 9/11-era), and how it's echoed across the pond, in the US.
Nish and Mehdi also talk biryani (who does it best), Gaza, Netanyahu and even Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
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WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND NISH:
Twitter: https://x.com/MrNishKumar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrnishkumar/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrnishkumar
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Nish Kumar
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Mix Engineer: Valentino Rivera
Title Animation: Ehsaan Mesghali
Special thanks to: Stephen Wentzell
Thu, 26 Sep 2024 - 55min - 11 - "We've Hit a Tipping Point" - Riz Ahmed on Protest, Joy, and the Power of Story
Mehdi is joined by Oscar-winning actor and producer Riz Ahmed for a high school reunion (yes, they went to school together back in London in the 1990s!) and catch up on life, work, and how the world has changed for brown folks since their childhood. They talk about Riz's journey as an actor — from playing stereotypical roles to now creating his own work and championing the work of up-and-coming filmmakers.
"Representation within a broken system doesn't necessarily get us anywhere." Riz tells Mehdi. "We need to build our own systems."
They also discuss Riz's decision to speak out against Israel's war on Gaza early on in the conflict, the Hollywood's Artists for Ceasefire letter, and how much things have changed - or not! - from 9/11 to Oct. 7. Finally, Riz asks Mehdi to co-write his next rap song…
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND RIZ:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rizahmed
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Riz Ahmed
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Senior Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Thu, 12 Sep 2024 - 46min - 9 - 'We're Not Kidding' LIVE! - Alana Hadid & Mehdi on Palestine and the Fight for Liberation
On this week's special LIVE episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' filmed in front of a studio audience in the Washington DC area, Mehdi is joined by activist, influencer and fashion designer Alana Hadid, who has been one of the most vocal advocates for the people of Gaza over the past nine months. Alana's family is arguably the most famous Palestinian family on Earth, and the Hadids have received a ton of backlash - and a lot of threats - due to their outspoken criticisms of Israel's genocidal campaign.
Mehdi and Alana, who is also creative director for Watermelon Pictures, discuss her family's history of being displaced from Palestine in 1948, the double-edged sword of speaking out on a massive social media platform, the experience of losing friends since October 7th, and why 'hope' shouldn't be confused with 'optimism.' They also take live questions from Zeteo paid subscribers who were invited to the taping!
"If you have to defend me, you're in the wrong room," a defiant Alana tells Mehdi.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND ALANA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanzybear/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alanahadid?lang=en
Watermelon Pictures: https://www.watermelonpictures.com/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Alana Hadid
Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Special thanks to: Lara Strydom and Mohammed Abdelbary
Tue, 23 Jul 2024 - 1h 03min - 8 - "I Will Do the Right Thing for those Children in Gaza." - Hollywood Star Rob Delaney Speaks Out
On this week's episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' Mehdi travels to London to speak with U.S. comedian, writer, and actor Rob Delaney, who has lived in the UK for the last 10 years. In this powerful, wide-ranging, and at times emotional conversation, Rob speaks with Mehdi about how the tragic loss of his 2 year-old son in 2018 drove him to speak out against Israel's brutal assault on Palestinian children.
"What I do not have in common with the people in Gaza," Rob tells Mehdi, "is once my baby died, I did not have to worry about the safety of my other children."
They also discuss the rise and fall of Twitter, Rob's role in the new Deadpool movie, the recent U.K. election results and the role of the NHS, and whether Joe Biden should stay in the presidential race (spoiler alert: Rob makes the case for him dropping out!).
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WATCH, LISTEN, AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: :https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND ROB:
Twitter: https://x.com/robdelaney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robdelaney/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Rob Delaney
Executive Producers: Misha Euceph and Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Thu, 11 Jul 2024 - 44min - 7 - The Missing 'Beheaded Babies' - Mehdi & Bassem Debunk Oct. 7 Lies
On this week's bonus episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' Bassem Youssef joins Mehdi for an honest and critical conversation about Oct. 7, and the avalanche of Israeli propaganda and lies that followed Hamas' deadly attack.
Bassem and Mehdi discuss and debunk a number of lies and distortions about the events on the day, from Israel's controversial "Hannibal directive," which led to the Israeli military killing a number of its own citizens, to the the now infamous "40 beheaded babies" and "babies in ovens" falsehoods that began to surface only days after the attack.
Bassem and Mehdi are also joined by NYU journalism professor and war correspondent Azadeh Moaveni, whose recent reporting went into detail about how sexual violence and claims of mass rape have been weaponized by supporters of Israel over the past eight months, and how the New York Times in particular misreported this incendiary story.
This episode includes discussions on sexual violence, the specifics of which may be disturbing or traumatizing for some viewers and listeners. Below is a list of resources for survivors of sexual violence.
RESOURCES:
* RAINN: National sexual assault hotline
* Dart Center: Reporting on Sexual Violence
* Poynter: 11 Resources for Responsibly Reporting on Rape
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
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FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND BASSEM:
Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producers: Misha Euceph and Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Tue, 02 Jul 2024 - 1h 00min - 6 - "Revolutionaries, Not Reformists" - Mehdi and Amanda Seales talk Biden vs Trump, Gaza, and… Jerry Seinfeld
On the new episode of 'We're Not Kidding,' Mehdi is joined by stand-up comedian, actor, and social justice advocate Amanda Seales for an unfiltered conversation about Palestine, and the cultural backlash for speaking out against genocide and U.S. imperialism. Amanda, who has Palestinian family members, has been a vocal proponent for Palestinian liberation over the last eight months, at great professional cost. She and Mehdi discuss the culture of fear in Hollywood - and the pressure on her own career for speaking out on Gaza - and why the term "liberal" needs to be redefined. They also talk about Jerry Seinfeld's recent interventions on the Middle East - and whether George Costanza would have been as problematic.
"I just think you're misusing the word 'liberal.' They're not progressive. You know, 'liberal' at this point just means 'I'm not okay with bad things as long as they don't inconvenience me.'"
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FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND AMANDA:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandaseales/
Website: https://www.amandaseales.com/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Amanda Seales
Executive Producers: Misha Euceph and Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Thu, 20 Jun 2024 - 44min - 5 - Gaza, Police Brutality and Batman with Mehdi and W. Kamau Bell
Stand-up comedian, best-selling author and acclaimed TV host W. Kamau Bell joins Mehdi as co-host of 'We're Not Kidding' this week. They discuss the student protestors, who join a long line of American anti-war demonstrators, as well as the police's use of brute force against them. Mehdi and Kamau also examine the censorship of pro-Palestinian voices in the media and Hollywood, why Batman is politically problematic, and the cynical "defanging" of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. since his death.
"People celebrate [Dr. King] as a hero and forget the part where he was assassinated," says Kamau. "He didn't die of old age… He was assassinated and many people were happy he was assassinated."
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FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND KAMAU:
Twitter: https://x.com/wkamaubell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wkamaubell/
Substack: https://wkamaubell.substack.com/
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: W. Kamau Bell
Executive Producers: Misha Euceph & Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Thu, 06 Jun 2024 - 32min - 4 - Red Cows and Religious Extremists, with Bassem & Mehdi
Bassem Youssef is back with Mehdi to co-host the third episode of 'We're Not Kidding.' They talk about the religious extremists, from the illegal settlements in the West Bank to the hallways of the U.S. Congress, who are trying to bring about the end of times - as well as a bunch of red cows that wield a lot of spiritual power. And they disagree on a few things too.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND BASSEM:
Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producers: Misha Euceph and Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Thu, 23 May 2024 - 46min - 3 - On Taylor Swift and Intifada
Palestinian-Lebanese-American comedian, Sammy Obeid, who rose to fame because of his viral jokes on Palestine and his Netflix show 100 Humans, joins Mehdi to guest host the second episode of 'We're Not Kidding.' They dive into the student protests, DNA tests, pushing back against misinformation with comedy, the power of slogans, and doing 1001 nights of stand-up.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND SAMMY:
Twitter: https://x.com/SammyObeid
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammyobeid/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sammyobeidthem?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Sammy Obeid
Executive Producers: Misha Euceph and Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Thu, 09 May 2024 - 35min - 2 - How Mehdi and Bassem Cope with What's Happening in Gaza
In the very first episode of the new Zeteo podcast, 'We're Not Kidding,' Mehdi and guest co-host Bassem Youssef sit down and talk about what their brown parents make of their career choices, becoming famous for the right reasons, pushing back against the media's coverage of Gaza, and Mehdi's new hoodie.
SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe
WATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO 'WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friends
FIND ZETEO:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews
FIND MEHDI:
Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan
FIND BASSEM:
Twitter: https://x.com/Byoussef
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bassem/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bassem?lang=en
CREDITS:
Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan
Guest Host: Bassem Youssef
Executive Producers: Misha Euceph and Kiran Alvi
Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello
Music: Andy Clausen
Design: Alicia Tatone
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 - 46min - 1 - Announcing 'We're Not Kidding with Mehdi & Friends'
Introducing Zeteo's flagship podcast, 'We're Not Kidding,' a show where funny people talk about serious things, hosted by Zeteo founder and CEO Mehdi Hasan, and regularly featuring internationally acclaimed comedian Bassem Youssef. Each episode, Mehdi is joined by a renowned guest for a sometimes lighthearted, sometimes vulnerable conversation about topics they can't discuss anywhere else.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024
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