To those who could not join our launch party for Mrs. Orwell tonight, we've made you a play list from the event. It opens with a British Pathé newsreel of what to do in an air raid; Edward R. Murrow reporting from London on the Blitz; a popular war-time show "Gert & Daisy";  Flanagan and Allen's "Run Rabbit Run," and "Ay Carmela!" one of the most popular songs of the Spanish Civil War, which Eileen and Eric Blair would have heard throughout their time in Spain. We're going to play this audio at the start of tonight's event, to connect the global war of fascism vs. democracy back then to today, as Ukraine faces the same daily bombardment as Europe did under Hitler.     

Gaslit Nation presents an Instagram Live discussion recorded over the weekend with the acclaimed illustrator Brahm Revel, the artist of Mrs. Orwell. Brahm is based in Barcelona, where Eileen and Eric Blair (aka George Orwell), spent their honeymoon fighting fascists in the Spanish Civil War. Eileen was holed up in the Hotel Continental, which still exists, where Stalin's agents searched her hotel room, stealing Orwell's Spain diaries and other papers, which are believed to be somewhere in Moscow to this day. We're celebrating freedom fighters, past and present, tonight at Powerhouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn at 7pm ET, for the launch of Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free! Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman will be there, and so will the good folks of Razom for Ukraine and the Media and Democracy Project, co-sponsors of the event, because the Orwells would have been fans. So come and get a Mrs. Orwell tote bag, meet other Gaslit Nation listeners, and celebrate the defeat of Orban, MAGA, and the Kremlin in Hungary.  Enjoy this conversation with Brahm about the creative process that went into the making of Mrs. Orwell and why the story matters for us today, in an age that needs our own creativity and defiance. Today's Gaslit Nation Salon is still on for today at 4pm so join us via the link posted on Patreon.com/Gaslit!  Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit

FDR had to take some bold swings to transform America for the better. He had his pearl-clutching critics who thought he was going too far. But that's what was needed to usher in the New Deal and strengthen democracy and improve people's lives. The "good guys" must not be passive. We must fight back. Virginia, the world's eyes are on you to vote YES on redistricting -- vote now through April 21. You will help restore balance to Republican authoritarian gerrymandering. Your YES vote in Virginia is an emergency stop-gap meant to save our national ship from sinking and take back the gavel from Kremlin MAGA Mike Johnson in the House. Thank you to all who spread the word about this important, urgent vote, and get out the vote. If you still have questions, here's an overview from Arlington Democrats: https://www.arlingtondemocrats.org/redistricting If you're in NYC or nearby, join us April 13 at 7pm at Powerhouse Arts Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of NYC. We're going to celebrate Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's new graphic novel with the genius illustrator Brahm Revel, about an unsung heroine of literature, Eileen O'Shaughnessy Blair, the wife, muse, and unsung creative partner of Eric Blair, aka George Orwell. There would have been no Homage to Catalonia, Animal Farm, 1984 without Eileen O'Shaughnessy Blair. Patreon supporters get in for free and get a Mrs. Orwell tote bag. Message us on Patreon.com/Gaslit to get on the guest list. See you Monday night for an unforgettable evening dedicated to a defiant heroine of the power of the pen.  Thank you to Razom for Ukraine and the Media and Democracy Project for being co-sponsors of this event.  Details here: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/powerhousebookstores/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa

Vice President JD Vance, a creation of the Peter Thiel dark-money machine, traveled to Hungary to openly threaten voters on behalf of the Kremlin's favorite strongman, Viktor Orban. This is emotional blackmail on a global scale. Vance effectively told a post-Soviet nation that if they don't re-elect Orban this Sunday, they lose the protection of the U.S. military. It's a "nice country you've got there, shame if something happened to it" mafia tactic. Why is MAGA obsessed with Hungary? Because the EU is a regulatory miracle that Big Money hates. To the Peter Thiels of the world, Orban is the wedge designed to divide the EU, weaken Russian sanctions, and pave the way for a fascist Bannon nightmare across the continent. Under Orban, Hungary has become the most corrupt state in the EU, suffering from massive brain drain and crumbling infrastructure. Despite the threats, there is hope. On Sunday, April 12, Hungarians may unite behind a charismatic new leader, Péter Magyar. Will they choose freedom and fight against tyranny, like in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, or will MAGA's blackmail work? We shall see. For a look at the MAGA virus in the UK, we continue our conversation with Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry of Truth: The Biography of George Orwell's 1984. Want to hear Gaslit Nation ad-free? Join our community of listeners for bonus shows, exclusive Q&A sessions, our group chats, invites to live events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Join our April 13 book launch and live-taping to celebrate Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free!  https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/   Show Notes:   Where the US got $20B to bail out Argentina https://www.npr.org/2025/11/13/nx-s1-5607023/where-the-us-got-20b-to-bail-out-argentina   Hungary eyes US financial shield as EU funds remain frozen https://www.reuters.com/world/us-financial-shield-bolsters-hungary-amid-eu-funding-freeze-minister-says-2025-11-10/   Andrea's thread on Hungary's decline under Orban https://x.com/AndreaChalupa/status/1766082022781354193   MAGA's favorite strongman might be on the brink of defeat. We're about to find out whether an authoritarian can lose at the ballot box. https://www.vox.com/politics/485058/hungary-election-2026-orban-trump-vance-maga   Viktor Orbán told Putin 'I am at your service' in October phone call https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/07/viktor-orban-told-putin-i-am-at-your-service-in-october-phonecall   Italy: Steve Bannon's populist academy in the Trisulti monastery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjSL1ofqGb8   Epstein files shed more light on Steve Bannon's efforts to influence European politics https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/05/jeffrey-epstein-files-steve-bannon-european-politics    How Jeffrey Epstein sought to help Steve Bannon build a global populist movement https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/politics/steve-bannon-jeffrey-epstein-global-populism   Péter Magyar, the former Orban ally vying for power in Hungary https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78l7vyylgqo  

As Donald Trump holds the world hostage with his sloppy Iran War, and JD Vance campaigns for Orban, the Kremlin's weapon in Hungary, Gaslit Nation returns to a shared family history of resistance. Andrea is joined this week by the brilliant artist Maya Hayuk to break down the story behind Andrea's new graphic novel, Mrs. Orwell. Born from a decade of research into the Holodomor, Stalin's genocide famine in Ukraine, Mrs. Orwell is a monument to an unsung heroine of literature and the truth the Kremlin tried to bury. We also cover the horrifying reality of the current front lines of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where the UNESCO heritage site of L'viv's ancient city center was bombed by Russia while the U.S. sleepwalks through yet another "war of choice." While we share the intense rage of seeing Ukrainians having to bailout Trump and Vance in Iran, we remain focused on the agency of the people. The oligarch mafia model, which relies on apathy, despair, and nihilism, is being challenged by a culture of defiance.  We end with a miraculous artifact: a 1947 Ukrainian translation of Animal Farm discovered in both Andrea and Maya's families. This book, distributed in post-WWII refugee camps, is a sign that the spirit of rebellion cannot be extinguished. We refuse to be "useful idiots" for the transnational crime network; we have each other, and we are going to build a better world from the ashes.  For our bonus episode out later this week, we take a closer look at JD and Usha Vance's trip to Hungary to serve the Kremlin, and the latest hellscape headlines. To listen, subscribe to our Patreon at the Truth-Teller level ($5/month) or higher. For more on the Ukrainian refugee camp Animal Farm, read Andrea's book Orwell and The Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm, which Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller ($10/month) and up level get for free.  Your support gives us the freedom to tell the truth–thank you for making Gaslit Nation possible! Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit Show Notes: Maya Hayuk's artwork: https://www.instagram.com/mayahayuk/ Join our April 13 book launch and live-taping to celebrate Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free!  https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Orwell and The Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm https://www.amazon.com/Orwell-Refugees-Untold-Story-Animal-ebook/dp/B007JNKF5G EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult. Join on Patreon Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join on Patreon Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community  

Congratulations to Pam Bondi for doing everything the fascist serial predator, convicted felon, and Russian asset wanted, only to be ritually humiliated by Trump anyway. The Epstein cover-up continues. So make Bondi testify–and get asked to leave every restaurant and bar she ever tries to enter, for protecting pedophiles.  Come to the Gaslit Nation Salon today at 4pm ET to discuss this and more, including sharing what's happening in your neck of the woods. Find the Zoom link on Patreon.com/Gaslit or in the show notes below.  Thanks to Patreon for the Mrs. Orwell tote bags, which we will be giving away to supporters at the April 13 book launch at PowerHouse Arena in Dumbo, Brooklyn, and to our Fact Checker and higher supporters on Patreon, until the gifts run out.  Show Notes:  Join our April 13 book launch and live-taping to celebrate Mrs. Orwell. Patreon supporters get in free!  https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Today! Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm EST. Sign up here to join us: https://www.patreon.com/posts/zoom-link-for-et-154921053?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Today! Come to the Media and Democracy Project x Gaslit Nation Substack Live April 6 at 5:30pm ET to discuss Mrs. Orwell and its lessons for us today https://open.substack.com/live-stream/150582 Opening clip: Ro Khanna says Pam Bondi still needs to testify to Congress over Epstein files: Full interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJup1mIeb9Y  

As we fight the daily battles of the "Great Disillusionment," corruption and unchecked greed are poisoning our bodies. Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, a group dedicated to helping the world transition away from plastics, joins Gaslit Nation to discuss the systemic corruption wreaking havoc on our environment, our water, and our food. We are now breathing, eating, and drinking a credit card's worth of plastic every single week. Big Oil, facing a transition away from fossil fuels for energy, financially depends in our dependence on plastic. They have turned our bodies into a landfill to keep their profits soaring. We also discuss the threat of deep sea mining, the minerals war between the US and China, why everyone should read Donut Economics by the "planet's economist" Kate Raworth on how to build a sustainable economy, and why ending the "forever wars" requires a transition to renewable energies.  Join us to celebrate the power of art and defiance at the book launch of Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's inspiring new graphic novel, illustrated by the genius Brahm Revel. When: April 13 Where: PowerHouse Books Arena, DUMBO, Brooklyn Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Patreon Supporters: You and your guests get in free and receive a complimentary book! Just message us through Patreon to claim yours. Not a member yet? Join our community at Patreon.com/Gaslit. We couldn't make this show without you–see you there! Show Notes: A Plastic Planet: https://aplasticplanet.com/ Follow-up study of genotoxic effects in individuals exposed to oil from the tanker Prestige, seven years after the accident https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24370900/ Sian Sutherland: "Innovating the Business of Plastics" https://mahb.stanford.edu/library-item/herman-daly-toward-an-ecological-economics-5-2/ Dr. Jeremy Williams: The Truth About Rare Earth Mineral Mining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8OMk9JapDM EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.  Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community

"We're not going to get the liberation we all crave on a soul level without risk." Andrea reflects on why, now more than ever, we must follow our hearts and refuse to let fear, or Steve Bannon, that Jabba the Hutt of American politics, live rent-free in our heads. Being brave, taking risks: that's how we win. In this special excerpt from last Monday's Gaslit Nation Salon, Andrea honors her beloved uncle, Phil Bourne. "Uncle Phil" was the founding dean of the University of Virginia School of Data Science, earned more than 100,000 citations on Google Scholar, championed the collaboration between the liberal arts and STEM as essential to the future of education, and served as the founding Editor-in-Chief of PLOS Computational Biology, where he created the "Ten Simple Rules" series. Honor Uncle Phil's memory by reaching out to your loved ones and saying what's truly in your heart. We do not have as much time here as we think. Don't let the fascists steal that time from you. Bethany McKee, founder of the Outreach Committee, a group that meets to discuss how to deal with the MAGA cultists in our lives as they awaken to their own self-destruction, will host today's Gaslit Nation Salon at 4 p.m. ET. You can find the Zoom link at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who supports the show. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you. Join us for an evening honoring the power of art and defiance at the book launch of Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's inspiring new graphic novel, illustrated by Brahm Revel. When: April 13 Where: PowerHouse Books Arena, DUMBO, Brooklyn Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Patreon Supporters: You and your guests get in free and receive a complimentary book! Just message us through Patreon to claim yours. Not a member yet? Join our community at Patreon.com/Gaslit. We couldn't make this show without you–see you there!  

Beyond showing up for No Kings, build power where you live. Join the Good Neighbors Coalition, a vetted decentralized hub linking neighborhoods, groups, and organizers to share support, resources, and strategy, submitted by a longtime Gaslit Nation listener. Check out The Relay, a no-signup start page packed with tools, trainings, and news.  And try the simple 2-10 method, submitted by another Gaslit Nation listener: contact two to ten politicians about an issue you care about, then ask two to ten friends to do the same. That ripple effect can turn one voice into hundreds. Movements grow through small, steady acts of courage right now. Show Notes: Harriet Tubman was the first woman in U.S. history to lead a major military operation: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/combahee-ferry-raid Good Neighbors Coalition: For more info or to join, visit the GNC Entry Portal via Signal:  https://signal.group/#CjQKIC6h0DY9EQaix6yR_hZP4ojCd34cj8pDDhlZKKMUI4PAEhBBwSXJD2JtSg8SZbVnCDxV The Relay: A startpage of tools, resources, links to trainings, and news. No signup required. https://start.me/p/NQ4OyY/the-relay The 2-10 Idea: We ask people to contact 2-10 politicians about something they care about. Then ask 2-10 friends to do the same. Those friends ask their friends. And it keeps going. Two people becomes twenty. Twenty becomes two hundred. Fast. That's the 2-10 idea. It turns one person into a movement - without needing a big platform or a lot of money. Mrs. Orwell: Join Andrea Chalupa for the launch of her new graphic novel April 13 at PowerHouse Books Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn 7pm ET. Patreon members get in for free and get a book. Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit to suppor the show. Event details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/  

Christopher Steele, who ran the Russia desk at MI6, believes Jeffrey Epstein was a Russian asset. He used girls and young women from Russia and other former Soviet states to lure powerful men into kompromat traps.  Michael Wolff made the allegation, which has since been pulled by The Daily Beast, that Epstein introduced Melania and Trump, and that they even had sex for the first time on the Lolita Express. So was Melania a honeypot, trained to keep Trump in their pocket, and prevent an unpredictable influence from marrying Russia's asset?  Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman, of the Trump Tyranny Tracker, and a researcher on explosive books, including investigative journalist Craig Unger's House of Trump, House of Putin, fact checks the Melania honeypot memes, and provides deeper insight into the Eastern European women in Trump's life, like his first wife Ivana.  Olga Lautman will be at the Gaslit Nation Night Out! Join us to celebrate the power of art and defiance at the book launch of Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's inspiring new graphic novel, illustrated by the genius Brahm Revel. When: April 13 Where: PowerHouse Books Arena, DUMBO, Brooklyn Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Patreon Supporters: You and your guests get in free and receive a complimentary book! Just message us through Patreon to claim yours. Not a member yet? Join our community at Patreon.com/Gaslit. We couldn't make this show without you–see you there! Show Notes: Trump Tyranny Tracker: https://trumptyrannytracker.substack.com/ Daily Beast pulls story alleging Melania-Epstein connection after lawyers dispute framing https://www.foxnews.com/media/daily-beast-pulls-story-alleging-melania-epstein-connection-after-lawyers-dispute-framing Ex-MI6 Spy insists Epstein was a Russian spy and blackmailing Trump https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYRVezF5-hk Opening clip:  https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mhnsvsjc7y23 Um, What Is Going on With Melania Trump in This Video? https://www.vogue.com/article/melania-trump-vladimir-putin-helsinki-video Andrea's thread on the Melania propaganda film which you should not watch https://bsky.app/profile/andreachalupa.bsky.social/post/3mgqndjhz4k2b This article is more than 1 month old Disappeared bodies, mass burials and '30,000 dead': what is the truth of Iran's death toll? https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/27/iran-protests-death-toll-disappeared-bodies-mass-burials-30000-dead Russia is aiding Iran's war effort by providing intel on US military targets, sources say https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/russia-aiding-iran-targeting How Russian military intelligence used the Taliban to bleed U.S. forces at the end of America's longest war https://theins.ru/en/politics/277723 Putin Is No Ally in the War on Terror in 2024 https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/putin-no-ally-war-terror-2024 Watch Zerina Zabrisky's powerful film for free and spread the word about Russia's human safaris in Ukraine https://khersonhumansafari.com/ Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit  

As we navigate a world of "alternative facts" and corporate-state surveillance, George Orwell's life, times, and pain, transformed into enduring art, like 1984, show us how to be defiant today. Resistance begins in the mind.  This week, we're joined by British critic Dorian Lynskey, author of The Ministry of Truth: The Biography of George Orwell's 1984, to trace the biography of a nightmare. The Orwellian slogan "2+2=5" was taken from Soviet propaganda. Orwell reviewed Assignment in Utopia by Eugene Lyons, an American reporter who confesses in the chapter "The Press Corps Conceals a Famine," to joining with other influential foreign correspondents in Moscow to label Gareth Jones a liar in their articles in exchange for access to the Soviet regime. Lyons and Orwell are both characters in Andrea's film Mr. Jones.  The trauma of 1984 started during the Spanish Civil War, alongside his wife, Eileen Blair, the unsung hero who saved his life and helped him find his voice as an artist, to break through the lies. In Catalonia, Eileen and Eric Blair watched Stalin-backed communists turn a socialist revolution into a paranoid police state. It was here, nearly killed by the "Soviet myth," that they realized nowhere is immune: lies and conformity keep people complacent as the sadists consolidate power.  Orwell's message is clear for us today: in an era of state-sponsored lies, holding onto your humanity is the ultimate act of defiance. Join us to celebrate the power of art and defiance at the book launch of Mrs. Orwell, Andrea's inspiring new graphic novel, illustrated by the genius Brahm Revel. When: April 13 Where: PowerHouse Books Arena, DUMBO, Brooklyn Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Patreon Supporters: You and your guests get in free and receive a complimentary book! Just message us through Patreon to claim yours. Not a member yet? Join our community at Patreon.com/Gaslit. We couldn't make this show without you–see you there! Show Notes: Our opening song was "Ride at Dawn" by Deena Marie. Check out her GoFundMe here to help her produce her next album: https://gofund.me/623a9c9b1 IG: @deenamariedmt Spotify: Listen hereApple Music: Listen hereTikTok: @deenamariedmt YouTube: Watch here The Ministry of Truth: The Biography of George Orwell's 1984  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/580453/the-ministry-of-truth-by-dorian-lynskey/   33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day https://www.harpercollins.com/products/33-revolutions-per-minute-dorian-lynskey?variant=32210443141154  EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.  Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit   Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community

Thank you, Afroman, for standing up for freedom of speech and expression. Our human rights matter, and artists have always been on the front lines defending them with courage and power. "This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal." --Toni Morrison   See you at today's Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm ET. The Zoom link to join to vent, share what's happening in your neck of the woods and more, has been posted on Patreon.com/Gaslit.    If you're in New York, join us for a Gaslit Nation Night Out for the launch of Andrea's book Mrs. Orwell on April 13 at PowerHouse Books Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Details here: https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/powerhousebookstores/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa   Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit

Across America, people are waking up to the fact that Donald Trump has always been exactly who he said he was: a serial con man propped up by white grievance, impunity, and a media that normalized his crimes.  Trump fears accountability. The question is whether we are prepared for what he and his allies may do to avoid it in the 2026 midterms. Trump's push for the SAVE Act and the broader assault on voting rights should be understood for what it is: a strategy to stay in power by any means necessary. Voter suppression, disinformation, dark money, and foreign interference are ongoing. If Romania could challenge a compromised election and protect its democracy, America can stop pretending "moving on" is any sort of plan.  We need election protection infrastructure now. Call your secretary of state. Ask what they are doing to protect the integrity of the 2026 vote. Stay defiant. Build power. And join us at Gaslit Nation as we keep asking the questions too many in power still refuse to face. Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit Show Notes: American Carnage by Sasha Abramsky https://orbooks.com/catalog/american-carnage/ Opening clip: https://bsky.app/profile/andreachalupa.bsky.social/post/3mhc7boslv22w The Target boycott is still on! Georgia Forts explains the confusion:  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVw6K39DtEd/?igsh=MTV6dXE0N3gydTZnYw== Sexual misconduct allegations against Donald Trump – a timeline This article is more than 1 year old A list of the accusations made against Donald Trump between the 1980s and 2013, all of which he has denied https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/25/trump-sexual-misconduct-allegations-timeline E. Jean Carroll asks Supreme Court to reject Trump's request to review her $5M defamation case https://abcnews.com/US/jean-carrollasks-supreme-court-reject-trumps-request-review/story?id=129216869

Trump and Kushner chose a war they don't understand, thinking they can use 20th-century "shock and awe" to topple a deeply entrenched terrorist state. The Iranian people are caught between two maniacal regimes and deserve our solidarity: an estimated 30,000 Iranians were just killed by their own government, and now they're being bombed by a Fox News host.  Russian mafia expert Olga Lautman joins Gaslit Nation to discuss the surreal hallucinating AI simulation we've found ourselves in. Meanwhile, Trump and Vance need to thank Zelensky and Ukraine for their innovative drone-fighting technology–some of the best in the world. Has Vance even said thank you yet?  We also prepare Americans for the reality that the "moats" of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans no longer protect us. As drone technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, the same over-the-counter drones terrorizing Kherson, Ukraine are coming for American streets–thanks to Trump galvanizing terrorists, and opportunistic mafia states like Russia that empower groups like ISIS.  Like Russia, Trump thinks he can conquer a nation in three days.  Join us on April 13th at Powerhouse Books in Dumbo, Brooklyn for the launch of Andrea's graphic novel, Mrs. Orwell. Olga Lautman will be there as we discuss how to survive the "Great Disillusionment" and protect our democracy from the opportunists selling us out for profit. Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/. Patreon supporters get in for free!  Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.  Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit   Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community Show Notes:   Opening clip: Trump: "Iran is just a military operation to me. Iran is something that was essentially largely over in two or three days." The war in Iran has already lasted 18 days. https://bsky.app/profile/thebulwark.com/post/3mhbhx7qfpn2l   Um, What Is Going on With Melania Trump in This Video? https://www.vogue.com/article/melania-trump-vladimir-putin-helsinki-video   Andrea's thread on the Melania propaganda film which you should not watch https://bsky.app/profile/andreachalupa.bsky.social/post/3mgqndjhz4k2b   This article is more than 1 month old Disappeared bodies, mass burials and '30,000 dead': what is the truth of Iran's death toll? https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/jan/27/iran-protests-death-toll-disappeared-bodies-mass-burials-30000-dead   Warren Buffett's parting gift to Berkshire Hathaway: a $2 billion Iran oil windfall https://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-buffetts-parting-gift-to-berkshire-hathaway-a-2-billion-iran-oil-windfall-4daf28ba   Russia is aiding Iran's war effort by providing intel on US military targets, sources say https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/russia-aiding-iran-targeting   How Russian military intelligence used the Taliban to bleed U.S. forces at the end of America's longest war https://theins.ru/en/politics/277723   Putin Is No Ally in the War on Terror in 2024 https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/putin-no-ally-war-terror-2024   Watch Zerina Zabrisky's powerful film for free and spread the word about Russia's human safaris in Ukraine https://khersonhumansafari.com/   Interview with Zerina Zabrisky: https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes-transcripts-20/2025/11/4/is-donald-trump-dying-jd-vance-seems-to-think-so   Why are so many from this Russian republic fighting for ISIS? https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/many-russian-republic-fighting-isis   Putin is No Ally Against ISIS https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/putin-no-ally-against-isis-by-george-soros-2016-02   New York explosive incident highlights challenge for agencies in wake of Iran war https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/new-york-explosive-incident-highlights-challenge-for-agencies-in-wake-of-iran-war   Dubai financial district rattled by Iranian drones https://www.ft.com/content/2dddfaa2-a163-4e59-a6ef-7d9d6e334023?syn-25a6b1a6=1  

Despite holding one of the most powerful microphones in the world, the silence from major winners at the Oscars regarding human rights and the rise of fascism was the real star.  When artists like Paul Thomas Anderson, whose film One Battle After Another swept the awards, refuse to use their power to address the very real injustices their films capitalize on, they "obey in advance." This silence is the symptom of massive corporate media consolidation. Director David Borenstein, winner of best documentary for Mr. Nobody Against Putin, used his power morally to remind us that this is how Putin cemented a dictatorship.  With the looming merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and the MAGA Ellison family's Paramount Skydance, we face a future where 40% of our media is controlled by a single far-right family. If you want to know what that might look like, see what Barri Weiss is doing to CBS.  See you at the Gaslit Nation Salon today at 4 PM ET. The Zoom link is live on Patreon.com/Gaslit, where you can also catch the recording of last week's session. Whether you need to vent, share best practices, or just find community, our weekly resilience gatherings are here for you. Join the movement and support the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit–we couldn't do this without you. Use the scripts below to contact Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta of California to demand they enforce existing laws to investigate, slow-down, and block the Warner Bros. deal–or there won't be anymore films like Sinners and One Battle After Another, supporting California's economy.  To Governor Gavin Newsom: Phone: (916) 445-2841 | Email: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ Socials: @GavinNewsom Script: My name is [Name] from [City]. I am calling to urge Governor Newsom to publicly oppose the Ellison takeover of Warner Bros. This merger threatens jobs and creates a dangerous media monopoly. Governor, please use your influence to protect our creative economy and information space from MAGA-aligned consolidation. To Attorney General Rob Bonta: Phone: (916) 210-6276 | Email: https://oag.ca.gov/contact/general-contact-form Socials: @AGRobBonta Script: Attorney General Bonta, Use your power to open an immediate antitrust investigation into the Warner Bros. and Paramount Skydance merger. We need you to enforce state anti-monopoly laws to prevent a single entity from controlling nearly half of our news and entertainment. Protect our markets and our speech. Join us at the Mrs. Orwell book launch on April 13 at PowerHouse Books Arena in DUMBO. Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher get in free: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Show Notes: Elon Musk got $1 billion from Larry Ellison for his Twitter takeover https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/5/23058295/elon-musk-twitter-funding-qatar-larry-ellison Merger Madness and How to Stop It https://www.freepress.net/blog/how-to-stop-warner-bros-discovery-merger

Despite holding one of the most powerful microphones in the world, the silence from major winners at the Oscars regarding human rights and the rise of fascism was the real star.  When artists like Paul Thomas Anderson, whose film One Battle After Another swept the awards, refuse to use their power to address the very real injustices their films capitalize on, they "obey in advance." This silence is the symptom of massive corporate media consolidation. Director David Borenstein, winner of best documentary for Mr. Nobody Against Putin, used his power morally to remind us that this is how Putin cemented a dictatorship.  With the looming merger between Warner Bros. Discovery and the MAGA Ellison family's Paramount Skydance, we face a future where 40% of our media is controlled by a single far-right family. If you want to know what that might look like, see what Barri Weiss is doing to CBS.  See you at the Gaslit Nation Salon today at 4 PM ET. The Zoom link is live on Patreon.com/Gaslit, where you can also catch the recording of last week's session. Whether you need to vent, share best practices, or just find community, our weekly resilience gatherings are here for you. Join the movement and support the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit–we couldn't do this without you. Use the scripts below to contact Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta of California to demand they enforce existing laws to investigate, slow-down, and block the Warner Bros. deal–or there won't be anymore films like Sinners and One Battle After Another, supporting California's economy.  To Governor Gavin Newsom: Phone: (916) 445-2841 | Email: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ Socials: @GavinNewsom Script: My name is [Name] from [City]. I am calling to urge Governor Newsom to publicly oppose the Ellison takeover of Warner Bros. This merger threatens jobs and creates a dangerous media monopoly. Governor, please use your influence to protect our creative economy and information space from MAGA-aligned consolidation. To Attorney General Rob Bonta: Phone: (916) 210-6276 | Email: https://oag.ca.gov/contact/general-contact-form Socials: @AGRobBonta Script: Attorney General Bonta, Use your power to open an immediate antitrust investigation into the Warner Bros. and Paramount Skydance merger. We need you to enforce state anti-monopoly laws to prevent a single entity from controlling nearly half of our news and entertainment. Protect our markets and our speech. Join us at the Mrs. Orwell book launch on April 13 at PowerHouse Books Arena in DUMBO. Patreon supporters at the Truth-teller level or higher get in free: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Show Notes: Elon Musk got $1 billion from Larry Ellison for his Twitter takeover https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/5/23058295/elon-musk-twitter-funding-qatar-larry-ellison Merger Madness and How to Stop It https://www.freepress.net/blog/how-to-stop-warner-bros-discovery-merger

"I've been Doged." Over 300,000 federal workers were purged by drug-fueled sociopath Elon Musk and his "Department of Government Efficiency." In this week's Gaslit Nation, we're  joined by Sasha Abramsky, contributor to The Nation and author of the explosive new book American Carnage: How Trump, Musk, and DOGE Butchered the U.S. Government. Abramsky details how Musk and his "Hitler Youth" tech bros, led by Edward "Big Balls" Coristine, infiltrated government agencies like a wrecking ball. They were set on sadistic public humiliation, bullying the survivors into submission to carry out a lawless coup to hijack our democracy. DOGE carried out the greatest data heist in global history. The personal information for nearly 300 million Americans, including Social Security numbers and Medicare data, has been exposed to tech oligarchs. This data is already being weaponized to purge voter rolls and hunt immigrants and dissidents. Trump and Musk depend on your demoralization. They want you to think they're invincible Bond villains, but as the resistance in Minneapolis showed, we can and must stand up to them–for the sake of our very lives and the security of the world. Have you or your community felt the impact of the DOGE purges? Share your story with us at GaslitNation@gmail.com. We may report on it, anonymously if you choose, on the show. Stay strong. Gaslit Nation is here for you. Join Andrea in New York City for the launch of her new graphic novel Mrs. Orwell. This special live-taping will share the incredible story of Eileen Blair, the unsung heroine of literature and wife of George Orwell, who saved her husband's life twice and shaped his greatest works. Details here: https://powerhousearena.com/events/book-launch-mrs-orwell-by-andrea-chalupa-in-conversation-with-nomiki-konst/ Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.  Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit  Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join us on Patreon.com/Gaslit   Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community Show Notes: DOGE staffer had 'God-level' Social Security access and expected Trump's pardon, whistleblower says https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/doge-social-security-data-whistleblower-b2935908.html Elon Musk's DOGE Staffer 'Big Balls' Related to KGB Defector: Report https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-doge-edward-coristine-big-balls-kgb-agent-2036520 Doge cuts to USAid blamed for 300,000 deaths — most of them children https://www.thetimes.com/us/american-politics/article/usaid-doge-deaths-children-cuts-7nb83dfkp?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcVzjZ_td4qU0vyr-xG_CgGOlTqkglEvufyMil2saeIo4sfDLbK8HIVQeZ-IHc%3D&gaa_ts=69b0d995&gaa_sig=ZVvlsPXRuxrYyW6L9eA4lEbo1EG_Vjg1-CiS5mFa7qlVjY9zdtc18EbEHPxglD0f-pxJDLWqvvxK-U_IjWKBjg%3D%3D 14 Million People Could Die in Next 5 Years Due to USAID Cuts, Study Finds https://gizmodo.com/14-million-people-could-die-in-next-5-years-due-to-usaid-cuts-study-finds-2000622755 American Carnage How Trump, Musk, and DOGE Butchered the US Government https://lettersandsciencemag.ucdavis.edu/bookshelf/american-carnage

The progress we enjoy today, now under threat, was built by people who chose to turn despair into action, to do something instead of nothing. In these final days of winter, it's up to each of us to build an American spring. Call the Congressional switchboard 202-224-3121 and demand that your reps fight for the full release of the Epstein files, justice for every survivor and those killed, and accountability for every predator and enabler. And tell them to stop another forever war in the Middle East before it unleashes yet another Pandora's box, like George W. Bush's Iraq invasion gave rise to ISIS.  For this week's bonus show, we're publishing the recording of this past Monday's salon early. It was an in-depth conversation during an extra-tense time, and we hope you'll find a moment to listen to it, and to take extra care with yourselves. None of this is easy, but we're keeping our eyes on the prize, planting seeds of change for a better world.  We begin by reminding ourselves: yes, it's possible. And we are the ones being called to do it. Thank you for being here, and for staying in the fight with us. We could not make Gaslit Nation without you. We'll see you at Monday's salon at 4pm. For our Patreon supporters, the link, along with the recording, has already been published for you.  Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit

Donald Trump is the hammer of the Christian nationalists that built America, and rely on forever wars to assert their dominance. In this special live Gaslit Nation taping, Andrea discusses the real story behind Trump/Kushner and Israel's war. The Trump/Kushner families get to grift, illegally enriching themselves, endangering our national security and very lives, while the Pentagon looks the other way.  At least the Washington, DC elite, along with Israel, finally get their war with Iran.  As Andrea has long warned: World War III has already started. This week, Gaslit Nation provides the stories behind the stories, mapping out where this is all headed, and most importantly, what we can do to resist and build a better world. This week's bonus episode will be the Q&A portion of our live-taping, featuring questions from our audience. To listen to the full recording, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller ($5/month) or higher level on Pateron.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who keeps our independent journalism going during these turbulent times. We could not make this show without you!  Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Find the link on Patreon.com/Gaslit.  Show Notes:   Russia Should Get Ready for the Fall of Vladimir Putin https://www.19fortyfive.com/2026/03/russia-should-get-ready-for-the-fall-of-vladimir-putin/   For Kushner, Israel Policy May Be Shaped by the Personal https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/11/us/politics/jared-kushner-israel.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QVA.k_Mc.ukQ2I2AgWRiQ&smid=url-share   As Tensions With Iran Escalated, Trump Opted for Most Extreme Measure: While senior officials argue the drone strike was warranted to prevent future attacks, some in the administration remain skeptical about the rationale for the attack. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/04/us/politics/trump-suleimani.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QVA.TdSS.Vi_-mzc5Zb-W&smid=url-share   Russian Oligarch Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska and Associates Indicted for Sanctions Evasion and Obstruction of Justice https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/russian-oligarch-oleg-vladimirovich-deripaska-and-associates-indicted-sanctions-evasion-and   Did the FBI's Charles McGonigal Help Throw the 2016 Election to Trump?: The shocking indictments against the former head of counterintelligence for the FBI in New York raise many dark questions.  https://newrepublic.com/article/170328/charles-mcgonigal-throw-2016-election   New York Times article Andrea references mentioning Reid Hoffman: Big Donors Turn on Biden. Quietly: Some of the president's past supporters want a new candidate, but they are leery of going public. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/biden-donors-debate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QVA.QVGf.oDxmofN4ILKB&smid=url-share   1972 Electoral College Results https://www.270towin.com/1972-election/   Russia's most important Middle East base is not where you think https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/russias-most-important-middle-east-base-is-not-where-you-think/   The Church Committee Report: https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/investigations/church-committee.htm   Trump ordered to pay $382,000 after losing UK lawsuit over Steele dossier https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/07/trump-loses-lawsuit-steele-dossier Israel, US will ensure Iran does not have nuclear capabilities, Israeli U.N. envoy says https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-us-will-ensure-iran-does-not-have-nuclear-capabilities-israeli-un-envoy-2026-03-02/   Trump seeks to justify Iran war, but stated objectives shift https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-says-he-ordered-iran-strikes-thwart-tehrans-missile-program-2026-03-02/   Trump's First Administration Shut Down Investigation Into Epstein: The state of New Mexico was investigating Jeffrey Epstein's ranch, but then the Department of Justice intervened. https://newrepublic.com/post/207226/donald-trump-first-administration-investigation-epstein-ranch   Jonathan Karl: Pres Trump told me tonight the US had identified possible candidates to take over Iran, but they were killed in the initial attack. "The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates," Trump told me. "It's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead." https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mg2bruf4wk2q   The Playbook for Defeating MAGA: The Church Committee Report https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/the-playbook-for-defeating-maga-the-church-committee-report   EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION: New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Find the link on Patreon.com/Gaslit.  The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: join on Patreon. Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: join on Patreon. Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: join on Patreon. Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect, join on Patreon. Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join, only on Patreon.  Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group, available on Patreon.  Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit for our community  

Gaslit Nation has long warned that World War III has already started. We will discuss all that and more at today's Gaslit Nation Salon at 4pm ET. Join us on Patreon and get your questions answered and connect with other listeners.  If you can't make it live, the full recording will be available soon exclusively at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Salon Zoom Link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/zoom-link-for-at-152054116?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Thank you to everyone who supports our independent journalism during these turbulent times.