Best Brian Karem Podcasts (2025)

1
20250430 100 Days in Trump Hell with Brian Karem on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

11d ago59:59

59:59

We survived the first 100 days of Trump's hell, depending on what your definition of "survival" is. In my case - and for millions of others, I suspect - just barely. I had a truly difficult time of it the first time around. I never thought we'd be back in this position again. And at the time, I didn't think things could get much worse. Unfortunatel…

1
20250508 Emptywheel Fridays on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:05:46

6h ago1:05:46

1:05:46

It's Friday, so we made it to the end of another action-packed week. Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net and I review some of the crap that Dump and his gang flung at us this week and try to make sense of it all.This week we got a new pope - one from the United States for the first time ever- and it seems he's "woke" and MAGAt heads are exploding. The …

1
20250507 (CORRECT AUDIO) Justice Denied Again, Here & in Ukraine - Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

20h ago59:59

59:59

I accidentally loaded the wrong show... this is the correct one. Sorry for the inconvenience! -------------------------------------------------------------- Today we get back to the news, issues and concerns about life in our messed-up world. I’m looking forward to talking with Antonia Juhasz again. She’s an investigative journalist who covers ener…

1
20250508 New Pope Thursday with Howie Klein on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:00:11

1d ago1:00:11

1:00:11

It's Thursday, so we'll talk politics with Howie Klein of DownWithTyranny.com and the Blue America Pac today... Lots of action, perhaps, in Congress where we can't help but hope the Republican caucus starts coming apart to derail some of this insanity that the orange one is unleashing on the world. Dump did announce a trade deal this morning with t…

1
The Persistent Draw of Titanic & A New Perspective On A Historic Tragedy 1:05:07

3d ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Author, performer, podcaster, interviewer and host Nelson Aspen has covered a lot of ground in his highly prolific career, but he continues to return to one spot in particular, figuratively speaking: 41°43'32" N, 49°56'49" W...better known as the location of the most well known and intensely chronicled sea-faring vessel in history: White Star Line'…

1
20250507 Justice Denied Again, Here & in Ukraine - Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

19h ago59:59

59:59

Today we get back to the news, issues and concerns about life in our messed-up world. I'm looking forward to talking with Antonia Juhasz again. She's an investigative journalist who covers energy and environmental justice will join us to explain what the "deal" is with Ukraine over their rare earth minerals. We certainly can't forget the oval offic…

1
20250506 Remembering Jill Sobule on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:08:22

5d ago1:08:22

1:08:22

The world lost one of its better inhabitants this week. On May 1, 2025, Jill Sobule was killed in a tragic house fire. Words can't express our loss. Jill was truly a remarkable human being. I'm heartened by the continuing show of love and support I'm seeing all over social media for the last few days from her friends and fans alike... I was lucky e…

1
20250505 Another F'n Monday with the F'n on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

6d ago59:59

59:59

We made it to another Monday after a weekend of more news that would be unbelievable at any other time in history, but here we are with a president (sic) who says he doesn't know if he must uphold the Constitution. We truly are living in Opposite World.Each Monday we check in with Jonathan Larson of thefuckingnews.substack.com to talk about wtf is …

1
Just Ask the Press - The Future of Executive Power in America 1:07:18

6d ago1:07:18

1:07:18

In this conversation, the guys discuss the evolving landscape of journalism, emphasizing the critical role of copy editors and the decline of factual reporting. They delve into the implications of misinformation in political discourse, particularly in the context of recent statements made by political figures. The discussion also covers legal chall…

1
20250502 Emptywheel Friday & RIP Jill Sobule - Nicole Sandler Show 1:13:02

9d ago1:13:02

1:13:02

Every Friday we end the week by spending an hour (usually a bit more) with Marcy Wheeler, one of the best independent journalists working today. You can and should read her daily at emptywheel.net and follow her on BlueSky at emptywheel.bsky.social. And, of course, listen to our weekly round up of some of the Trump shit that hit the proverbial fan …

1
20250501 MayDay in the Streets, Thursday with Howie Klein - Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

10d ago59:59

59:59

It's Mayday! The word "Mayday" is an internationally recognized distress signal used in radio communications, primarily by mariners and aviators, to signal a life-threatening emergency. May Day is also known around the world as International Workers' Day, commemorating the fight for workers' rights and the eight-hour workday. Both uses are fitting …

1
The Business of Child Stardom & A Family of Hollywood Trailblazers with Keith Coogan 1:01:15

10d ago1:01:15

1:01:15

When family stories become show biz stories, the world listens. Fitting that very bill we’ve got actor Keith Coogan, the grandson of the original child star, Jackie Coogan, whose namesake law in the state of California, is the first to safeguard the rights of young performers in Hollywood. Keith talks about growing up with this legend plus his own …

1
20250429 Activism Matters with Weird Violet on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

12d ago59:59

59:59

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker delivered a barn burner of a speech in Manchester, NH yesterday in which he spoke the truth about all we're facing right now, and made me hope he runs for president in 2028. He made a lot of great points, and I'll share some of them on today's show. But it was his call for mass protests and mobilization to get us to th…

1
Just Ask the Press - Trump the FIRST 100 days 1:06:59

12d ago1:06:59

1:06:59

In this episode of 'Just Ask the Press', host Brian Karem, along with experts Mark Zaid and John T. Bennett, delve into the tumultuous first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency. They discuss the implications of Trump's actions on democracy, the chaos within his administration, and the role of Congress and the judiciary in maintaining checks and b…

1
20250425 Emptywheel Fridays on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:06:20

16d ago1:06:20

1:06:20

We made it through another treacherous week in Trumpville. Every Friday, I get together with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net who helps me unpack much of what happened since we spoke the Friday before. This was another week that felt like a decade! From Hegseth melting down, to Trump's continual lies and tweets (Vladimir Stop!), his newest illegal g…

1
20250424 The Hits Keep Coming Thurs with Howie Klein- Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

17d ago59:59

59:59

Chaos. It's their mantra and goal.There's no way any one person can keep track of all the crap spewing from the White House these days, but I try to do my part in finding some of the stories that most infuriate me to share with you each day on the show.And today is Thursday, our day to check in with Howie Klein of DownWithTyranny and the Blue Ameri…

1
20250423 SCOTUS, DOGE & a Visit with Lisa Graves on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

18d ago59:59

59:59

After a break yesterday for a fun show about music and reliving the good old days, it's back to the real world today. The news is insane, from the orange one playing games with the world's economies, tariff roulette, SCOTUS & judicial uncertainty and more questions than we can reasonably answer. But we'll try. Today, we'll catch up with Lisa Graves…

1
20250422 A Break from Politics for a Rocking Blast from the Past -Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

19d ago59:59

59:59

Today we'll take a break from the depressing, stress-filled world of news and politics to talk about the best job ever. Today's guest is Paul Rappaport who spent his career at Columbia Records promoting rock records to radio and wrote a wonderful book recounting those glory days, GLIDERS OVER HOLLYWOOD: AIRSHIPS, AIRPLAY AND THE ART OF ROCK PROMOTI…

1
Just Ask the Press - The Supreme Court vs Trump 1:07:37

20d ago1:07:37

1:07:37

In this episode of 'Just Ask the Press', host Brian Karem, along with John T. Bennett and Mark Zaid, discuss the significant news events of the week, focusing on the Supreme Court's ruling against President Trump's immigration policies, the implications of his defiance of the court, and the controversial use of crime victims in political narratives…

1
20250421 Another Monday with Jonathan Larsen & the F'n News on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:04:11

20d ago1:04:11

1:04:11

The weekend was chock full of news, beginning with a SCOTUS surprise at 1am on Saturday morning. For the first time in a long time, they ruled the correct way. Jonathan Larsen of thefuckingnews.substack.com joins me for our regular Monday debriefing session on what the hell is going on...

1
20250418 Emptywheel Friday on the Nicole Sandler Show. 1:18:28

23d ago1:18:28

1:18:28

Each Friday, Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net and I get together to recap much of the important news from the week just ending. It's a daunting task, but necessary at this strange and fucked-up time in history. Today, we covered Trump's attempts to mess with immigration, his continued actions in shutting down the government, shutting down the global…

1
20250417 Thursdays with Howie Klein & Lots of (Bad) News on the Nicole Sandler ShowThursdays with Howie Klein & Lots of News on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

24d ago59:59

59:59

Howie Klein has been a regular weekly guest on this show for close to 15 years now. He writes at DownWithTyranny.com and runs the Blue America PAC where he champions the best progressive candidates running for office. Ten years ago, Howie successfully fought a rare form of cancer and enjoyed a clean bill of health for years. Unfortunately, a few mo…

1
The Complexities of Adolescence & The Real Life Drama of Medicine with Lesley Boone, Dina and Ryder Friedman 1:06:32

24d ago1:06:32

1:06:32

We have entered an exciting new TV drama era in which creators are immersing viewers in the gritty, heart wrenching details of real life trauma. We are celebrating this provocative and inspiring new chapter by focusing on two of the most buzz-worthy shows in the stream-os-phere, The Pitt on Max and Adolescence on Netflix - Prepare for a fresh frame…

1
20250416 Hard Truth Time with Digby on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

25d ago59:59

59:59

Everything is FUBAR, and I'm not exaggerating. I constantly reiterate that it's almost impossible to keep up with all the shit that's hitting the fan. I should modify that to say that I personally cannot keep up with it all. But my friend Heather Parton, better known as Digby, does a great job of it with the help of Tom Sullivan, Spocko and Dennis …

1
20250415 DOGE Watch Time on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:00:02

26d ago1:00:02

1:00:02

If it feels like things are spinning out of control, you are correct. If you're wondering why no one is doing anything, you're asking the wrong question. You should be asking the corporate media why they're not covering the opposition. There's a lot of it from all quarters. There's a lot of pushback and fighting, but the most important element is W…

1
Just Ask the Press - Constitutional Crisis 1:08:47

27d ago1:08:47

1:08:47

In this episode, Brian Karem, Mark Zaid, and John T. Bennett discuss the week's significant news events, including Bill Maher's visit to the White House, the ongoing trade war with China, and recent Supreme Court rulings on immigration. The conversation delves into the implications of Maher's visit, the volatility in the stock market due to tariffs…

1
20250414 More F'n News on Anoter F'd Up Monday on the Nicole Sandler Show. 1:00:00

27d ago1:00:00

1:00:00

Just when you think we've hit rock bottom, the magats in Dump-land prove that there is no bottom. Since we last spoke, the tariffs are on again, off again, temporary or permanent or paused for 90 days (and the stock market is up, down, up, down, ad nauseum; the administration is openly defying a Supreme Court ruling that tells them to facilitate th…

1
20250411Emptywheel Fridays on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

30d ago59:59

59:59

Every Friday, I join with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net to recap much of what happened during the week. As has been the case every week since the inauguration, this week was a doozy. But as Marcy says, "gravity hit this week, in a big way." Trump had his "liberation day" tariff announcement, causing the stock market to crash. Then he "paused" it …

1
20250410 Yippy Thursday with Howie Klein on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

I'm not quite sure what "yippy" means, but the guy with the *best* words used it to explain (in Dump's case, that means 'lie') why he reversed himself on his tariffs yesterday. People were getting yippy? Maybe it means that they were pissed off that their portfolios and retirement accounts were hemorrhaging money? I wonder how they're feeling today…

1
20250409 DumpsterCoaster Ride with Driftglass on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

If you're feeling nauseous right now, that's to be expected and you're not alone. Exactly one week after proclaiming it "liberation day" and a week of saying he wouldn't back down, today the orange one pulled a 180 and said "never mind," pausing the "reciprocal tariffs" for 90 days, except for China and 10% for everyone else. Huh?If you're confused…

1
202504008 Don't Overlook what they're Doing to the Planet on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

The Dump administration is haphazardly attacking all aspects of our federal government, including agencies that are tasked with protecting not only the US' population, but the world's. We've been talking a lot about our social safety net -- attacks on Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security, attacks on due process and civil rights, and equality for a…

1
20250407 Another F'n Monday, More F'n News on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

Like death and taxes, Mondays always arrive. For the past couple of months, the start of each new week has brought with it a plethora of really bad news. Today is no exception... except there's some very encouraging news along with the usual Trump/shit sandwich.Where? Well, just look back to Saturday and the reported 5 million people plus who took …

1
Just Ask the Press - Tariffs and the end of the Pax Americana 1:07:04

1M ago1:07:04

1:07:04

In this episode, Brian Karem, John T. Bennett, and Mark Zaid discuss the significant news of the week, focusing on tariffs introduced by Trump and their implications for the economy. They explore the political strategy behind these tariffs, the public's response through protests, and the potential consequences for the market. The conversation also …

1
20250404 Emptywheel Fridays on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

We wrap up each week on the Friday show with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net. This week was a rollercoaster with Cory Booker stepping up to offer motivation and passion and, dare I say, hope. I don't think we've reached the bottom of the rollercoaster yet, as we're watching the Dow in free fall for the second day in a row, and the inflation that's …

1
20250403 Tariffs & Taxes by Trump, Bunch on Booker & More - Nicole Sandler Show 1:01:39

1M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

I told you yesterday that Trump help his announcement of his "Liberation Day" Tariff plan to crash the world's economies until 4pm because he didn't want us to see the stock market crashing in real time as he unveiled his nefarious plans. Today, he's off again to Florida for a golf tournament at one of his clubs, while most of the rest of the natio…

1
A Dynamo's Impact On Showbiz & Tracing The Timeline Of Women In Comedy with Jo Anne Worley 1:06:17

1M ago1:06:17

1:06:17

The exuberantly effervescent Jo Anne Worley, queen of the quip and paradigm of the pizzazz, turns our studio into a cabaret club this week, dazzling and delighting with stories of show biz daring do… her fearless stage style, her bold reach for brilliance, behind the scenes lore from the set of Laugh-In and a fabulous flurry of anecdotes and memori…

1
Just Ask the Press - Signalgate: National Security Crisis 1:07:01

1M ago1:07:01

1:07:01

In this episode, the hosts discuss the implications of the recent Signalgate incident involving high-level government officials and the use of Signal for classified discussions. They explore the accountability of government officials, the role of the judiciary, and the potential impact of Trump's policies on international relations and the economy.…

1
20250402 Wisconsin Win, Floriduh, Cory Booker & Lisa Graves on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

Senator Cory Booker stood up yesterday - actually, the day before - an made history. Not only did he break former senator and lifelong racist Strom Thurmond's record for the longest senate speech in history, he also used it to denounce Thurmond's racism and the shameful chapter in American history he tried to prolong. Booker's speech and feats of s…

1
Defiance, Resistance, Filibuster & Joan Walsh on the Nicole Sandler Show 4-1-25 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

There's something happening here. Can you feel it?Joan Walsh and her fellow contributor at The Nation, Micah Sifray, both wrote this week about the resistance. Or as they both prefer, the defiance. But whatever you call it, it's here. And if you're not participating in it, then you're helping to take down our nation and our future. Today, Joan Wals…

1
20250331 It's Monday, We've Got your F'n News on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

Welcome to another Monday when you wake up hoping it's all just been a horrible nightmare, but the you realize this is really happening. I believe that the bad news goes down easier with some snark and expletives, so we'll check in for our usual Monday get-together with Jonathan Larsen of thefuckingnews.substack.com. There's plenty on the crap menu…

1
20250928 Emptywheel Fridays on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:12:34

1M ago1:12:34

1:12:34

I've been plagued by computer problems all week. I'm still not out of the woods, but I was able to cobble something together to be able to record today's Emptywheel Friday episode with Marcy Wheeler. Good thing too, as this one another hell of a week!We learned about the Signal chat debacle (aka WhiskeyLeaks in honor of the drunken Secretary of Def…

1
Was Sinatra a Good Tipper + Dolly, Cher & More Stories From A Legendary Comic & Opener to the Stars! 55:35

2M ago55:35

55:35

We've always suspected that the key to uniting our polarized nation may lie in our shared entertainment, and now we have definitive proof. It comes in the form of comedian Bobby Collins who has toured our nation and beyond, many times over, performing in states of every color, at USO and U.S. embassy shows abroad, and at political events for both p…

1
Just Ask The Press - Trump vs Judiciary: The Ongoing Battle 1:06:31

2M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

In this episode, Brian Karem, Dean Obeidallah, and John T. Bennett discuss the ongoing battle between Donald Trump and the judiciary, the state of the Democratic Party, and the importance of voter engagement. They explore the challenges faced by Democrats in communicating their message and the need for a strong response to Trump's actions. The conv…

1
20250324 Another F'n Monday w This Incompetent Administration - Nicole Sandler Show 1:00:20

2M ago1:00:20

1:00:20

It was a weekend with some hope as I tried to focus only on the good stuff, and there was cause for encouragement. Bernie Sanders and AOC held five rallies in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado, and they were awesome in the truest sense of the word. Record crowds everywhere, with reports that most were not necessarily previous Sanders voters or supporter…

1
20250321 Emptywheel Friday on the Nicole Sandler Show 1:04:34

2M ago1:04:34

1:04:34

We made it to another Friday, and another end of the week recap with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net. We keep noting that each week seems like an eternity, but this one seemed to have been even longer. I cannot keep up with all that’s happening. I don’t have the bandwidth, physically or emotionally to handle it. It’s one of many reasons why I’m so …

1
20250320 Politics & Music with Howie Klein & Danny Goldberg on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

2M ago59:59

59:59

Howie Klein has been my regular Thursday guest for over a dozen years now, but our friendship goes back further to the early 90s, when I was doing rock radio in Los Angeles and he was president of Reprise Records. When Howie left Reprise and Warner Brothers as Time Warner and AOL merged, he began devoting all of his time to progressive politics, la…

1
A Lifetime of Loving Harmony & And Musical Family Bonds with Vicki Peterson & John Cowsill 1:40:01

2M ago1:40:01

1:40:01

Two artists who have left an indelible mark on American music are, in actual fact, a married couple with a brand new album on the verge of dropping. The Bangles' Vicki Peterson and The Cowsills' John Cowsill join us! Differences between these two abound: New England vs. Southern California origins, 60s family pop vs. 80s girl-band rock, drums vs. g…

1
20250319 Alex Lawson & Social Security Facts on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

2M ago59:59

59:59

Both Alex and I had technical problems last week when he joined us, so he's back today as the regime's attack on Social Security intensifies. The news has only gotten more alarming and unprecedented in the last seven days.Alex Lawson is executive director of Social Security Works, an organization dedicated to fighting to protect and expand Social S…

1
Just Ask the Press - Trump, The DOJ, and The Rule of Law 50:18

2M ago50:18

50:18

In this episode, the hosts discuss the recent political landscape, focusing on Donald Trump's unprecedented speech at the Department of Justice, where he made alarming claims about the press and the legal system. They explore the implications of his rhetoric on press freedom and legal accountability, as well as the internal strife within the Democr…

1
20250317 A Free Press or Not on the Nicole Sandler Show 59:59

2M ago59:59

59:59

Monday mornings always come with a rude awakening... it's that "here we go again" feeling as we embark on another week in a world we no longer recognize. With each Monday comes the now-routinely awful news of what happened over the weekend when we tried to look away from the train wreck happening constantly before our eyes. This weekend brought wit…

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