Shows
The Nicole Sandler ShowCutting Through the BS & Keeping Hope Alive with Alex Lawson and Jesse Jackson!It's my penultimate vacation show. I'll be back live in the studio on Thursday. For this episode, we span the decades! We spend most of the hour with Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works. He joined me on July 9 to help dispel the bullshit put out by the SSA regarding the big ugly bill (now, unfortunately, law). Alex explains the ramifications from this shitty legislation for seniors and every American's healthcare and quality of life. Then, since I realized we could use a bit of hope, we go back to October of 2010 for my one and only...2025-07-291h 00
The Nicole Sandler ShowImmigration Complication with David Dayen, Jessica GoudeauI grew up learning about America as "The Great Melting Pot." It was taught with pride. Today, the governing cabal has nothing but disdain for immigrants, unless they're married to Trump, I guess. Today on the show, we'll hear a conversation with David Dayen of The American Prospect that happened at the height of the government's assault on Los Angeles. And for a different and surprising look at immigration and what it actually is about, my interview with author Jessica Goudeau about her surprising book, "We Were Illegal: Uncovering a Texas Family's Mythmaking and Migration". Get...2025-07-281h 00
The Nicole Sandler ShowEpstein Flashback & a Primer on FascismSince the Jeffrey Epstein ugliness has been front and center recently and the Miami Herald's Julie K. Brown has been covering it for over a decade, I thought we'd reach back to 2021 for the interview I did with her when her book PERVERSION OF JUSTICE: THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN STORY was released. It's a snapshot in time, and a pretty ugly one at that.That interview happened on August 2, 2021, so four years ago next week. It’s amazing how much has happened, yet how little has changed with regard to this case. Listening back to it, I can’t he...2025-07-2559 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowGirls Rule, Then and NowI didn’t know much about Catherine Coleman Flowers before I was pitched on an interview with her by her publishers about her forthcoming book, Holy Ground: On Activism, Environmental Justice, and Finding Hope. When I did some research on her, I realized that she has been front and center, doing amazing work and getting recognized for it all… We go through some of the accolades in the interview… but more important is the woman herself.We spoke on Feb 5, just about a week after the book’s release, and only a couple of weeks after the inaugura...2025-07-2459 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowWhile I'm on Vacation, Please Listen to Greg PalastI thought we’d begin this week of vacation shows with an explanation of how we got here. Investigative reporter, author, filmmaker and more Greg Palast’s latest film explains how it is possible that the orange dick-tator in the White House could have possibly been elected for a second time.Here’s what I wrote when this interview first aired on February 12 of this year:I frequently exclaim that we’re living in ‘Opposite World’. It’s a place filled with gaslighting where things are pretty much the exact opposite of what we’re being told. D’um...2025-07-2300 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowWrapping Things Up with DigbyI'm heading out on vacation after today's show, so I couldn't think of a better guest to join me today than our old friend Heather "Digby" Parton. You can always read Digby at digbysblog.net and at Salon.com, but I love chatting with her here on the show.There was plenty to talk about today too, as the shit really has hit the proverbial fan. Thankfully, Digby pulled together much of that shit show in a post this morning headlined, “Are They Over It?”Meanwhile, while meeting with the president of the Philippines today in t...2025-07-2259 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowThe F'n News on Another F'n Monday with Jonathan LarsenThe worst thing about weekends is that they inevitably end. They're always followed by Mondays. And these days, there's no rest for weary as news keeps being made.We aim to make it a little easier to swallow on Mondays by bringing you up-to-date with the news with some snark and few well-placed fucks with Jonathan Larsen of TheFuckingNews.substack.com.Oh sure, there's plenty of Epstein news - the story that just won't die, even though Epstein has been dead for a few years. But since we last spoke on Friday, more news has...2025-07-2159 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel Fridays with Marcy WheelerWe love Fridays of course for the obvious reasons. But here at the Nicole Sandler Show, we get together each Friday with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net to review some of the most important issues, news stories and things affecting our lives that happened during the week.These days, it's overwhelming, which is why I say we'll cover some of it.We record these Friday sessions at noon Eastern time due to our physical locations and the time difference. I'm in Arizona; Marcy is in Ireland. The show goes live a few hours later, at 3...2025-07-181h 10
The Nicole Sandler ShowWarped Religion Taking Over as They Planned with Dr. Art JipsonI don't have any use for organized religion. Although I am Jewish by heritage, I am also an atheist. But I don’t begrudge anyone else their beliefs. I believe, as is enshrined in the constitution, that we all have the right to worship - or not. But I also believe in the other tenets of our democratic society including the separation of church and state. That one is being challenged by the current administration, but it’s not news. Trump has only capitalized on this effort that's been a goal of the “religious right’ for many years. 2025-07-1759 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowLegal or Not and Lots More with Lisa GravesIs it legal if there's no one willing to enforce the laws that say it isn't? That's just one question I'm grappling with these days as we watch what's left of the Department of Justice and the rule of law crumble in the USA.We are experiencing the complete gaslighting of America. The most confounding part of this opposite world in which we're stuck is why so many people are comfortable in it, or claim to be. There is a slight window through which some clarity is attempting to break through, I think.Who would...2025-07-161h 09
The Nicole Sandler ShowShannon Watts Brings the Fire We NeedAfter a power outage rudely disrupted yesterday's show, I'm back today to seize the power of life. I tried to be clever there... We actually are talking about power today, but the power that most of us could use a bit of help to tap in to.But we begin with some of the day’s news including:* The Supreme Extreme Court’s decision allowing Dump to proceed with plans to carry out mass layoffs at the Dept of Education or in plaing English, to dismantle the DoE* ICE instructing its officers to hold...2025-07-1559 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowAnother Monday with Jonathan Larsen & the F'n NewsLike death and taxes, Mondays are inevitable. And despite our most fervent wishes to the contrary, the news doesn't stop. These days, the news is pretty much always bad.If that’s the case, I prefer to take my news with a healthy dose of snark and some well-placed profanity.So we begin the week here on The Nicole Sandler Show with Jonathan Larsen, the man behind thefuckingnews.substack.com.I'm particularly enjoying watching the MAGAts eating their own over the Epstein files coverup and lies. But there's more that appears to be th...2025-07-1452 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel FridaysI’ll keep the written part short and sweet today, as yesterday’s was long and overloaded with information and links. And today’s show runs a bit longer than usual.Today, really, the only link you need is emptywheel.net. That’s Marcy Wheeler’s info-packed site where she wrote about pretty much everything we discussed today on the show.Marcy took last week off - as did we. It was the 4th of July here, but Marcy lives in Ireland these days. She did write a piece about what she did with her week off t...2025-07-111h 23
The Nicole Sandler ShowThe Epstein Files Hypocrisy & Howie Klein TooToday is Thursday. Howie Klein has been doing a weekly segment on this show for probably 15 years. He’s been out a bit lately as he’s been undergoing treatment for cancer. Thankfully, today he has a day off from that, so he'll join us in the second half hour of today's show. Despite his health issues, Howie's been busy writing at DownWithTyranny.com and working to find great progressive candidates for the Blue America PAC to endorse.Our main topic today deals with more hypocrisy from D'ump and his lemmings. It’s become one of the bigges...2025-07-111h 05
The Nicole Sandler ShowThe Truth about the Big Ugly, Social Security, Healthcare & More with Alex LawsonThe Social Security Administration sent out an unsolicited email a few days ago, making far fetched claims about what ‘benefits’ the just-passed Big Ugly Tax & Kill bill would bring to Social Security beneficiaries. Most notably, the claim that El Dumpo has been crowing about repeatedly -- that it would eliminate taxes on those Social Security benefits.It's a lie. Steve Benen had a great article about it the other day at MaddowBlog. But there are many others out there echoing similar sentiment. The email makes other claims too that are, at the very least, confusing.To h...2025-07-0959 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowWendell Potter on What Will Happen to our Healthcare NowWe first met Wendell Potter about 15 years ago when he broke ranks as a health insurance PR executive to blow the whistle on the industry he knew was killing people in its quest for higher profits. And the rest, as they say, is history. Wendell still stands virtually alone in telling truth about the industry that's only grown larger and more powerful and still values profits over the lives they allegedly exist to protect.Wendell Potter is a best-selling author, journalist and above all, a leading advocate for health care reform. He's also editor-in-chief of the newsletter...2025-07-081h 00
The Nicole Sandler ShowAnother F'n News Monday with Jonathan Larsen of The F'n NewsWhen Jonathan Larsen first launched his newsletter and called it "The Fucking News," I thought it was quite clever. Now I know it was perfect and prescient. Jonathan joins me on the show each Monday to help us get a handle on what's happening in the news and set the stage for the week.It reminds of of the limbo dance. It's really a game that asks, "How low can you go?" The aim is to pass forward under a bar, which keeps getting set lower and lower, without falling or dislodging the bar.Unfortunately...2025-07-0759 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowA Big Ugly Independence Day Eve! We'll Take it to 11 with Spinal Tap's Harry Shearer!The Nicole Sandler Show is a listener/reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Just when I thought that just maybe three or four Republican House members would find a spine and actually represent their constituents and fulfill the oaths they swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, I realize that I only wind up disappointed. In the middle of the night last night, the traitors who would sell out the people to help the wealthiest of the wealthy caved. As I...2025-07-0359 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowCBS Caves, Immigrants Continue to Fight Back with Gaby PachecoKnowing that I can't possibly cover everything that goes on each day in this hour we have together, today we'll focus on two... CBS paid Trump's extortion demands and a conversation with Gaby Pacheco, a lifelong activist for dreamers, Immigrants and education rights. Both are critical stories as the current administration is methodically taking away our rights on its road to fascism. Get full access to The Nicole Sandler Show at nicolesandler.substack.com/subscribe2025-07-0200 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowSCOTUS & Senate Screwed Us. Law Dork Chris Geidner Informs UsAfter more than 24 hours of "debate" (it wasn't a debate) and the so-called vote-a-rama (including bullshit backroom deals, we're looking at you Murkowski), the Opposite World fittingly-named "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (though according to Schumer, he got the name changed to something else) passed the Senate today with the tightest possible margin. It was a 50-50 vote with VP JD Vance breaking the tie.All Democrats voted NO. Three Republicans --Thom Tillis, Rand Paul and Susan Collins stepped up. But it was Alaska's Lisa Murkowski who betrayed the nation and caved in to the pressure and...2025-07-011h 01
The Nicole Sandler ShowCan the F'n News Get Any More F'd Up?It's difficult to imagine the news getting any worse than the crap we've been dealing with over the last five months. Just when you think we've hit rock bottom, we live through another week of Dump 2.0 and we realize there is no basement.The senate right now is in the middle of the vote-a-rama on its way to passing the Behemoth Barbaric Bill Act which is worse than anything we could have imagined. The orange idiot-in-chief has also taken us down through the depths of Opposite World as his lies continue confusing those who somehow still retain...2025-06-301h 05
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel FridaysIt was a week that, once again, felt like a year... or more! There was a war. More accurately, the moron in the White House inserted us into a war between Israel and Iran. The Supreme/Extreme Court finished it's term by handing down the final opinions in the regular term, though a handful of shadow docket cases will be handed down next week). It was an ugly day for the future of our democracy. The Big Ugly Bill is racing toward the MAGAts self-imposed 4th of July deadline. And a whole lot more happened, much of which Marcy...2025-06-271h 00
The Nicole Sandler ShowCatching Up on the News - The Bad, The Sad and a Tiny Bit of FunI read a ridiculous amount of news in preparation for this show every day, much of which I never get to during the hour I'm on the air with this show. So today we'll play catch up on a bunch of news that transpired so far this week.The Supreme Court today handed down four of their 10 remaining decisions, and announced they'll finish them off tomorrow! Of course, that doesn't count the outstanding shadow docket cases, or does it? (That's a gift link to a NY Times article "The Major Supreme Court Decisions in 2025" - jam-packed full...2025-06-2659 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowThe Courts, Rule of Law and Lisa GravesWhile we await the final rulings of this term from the Supreme Extreme Court, we're still getting decisions from them along with rulings from lower courts which may, or may not, apply nationally... depending on what SCOTUS rules when they finally get around to announcing their final decisions of the term. It's not only tedious but unnerving, frightening and based on their recent records, potentially (and probably) sickening.There's also a confirmation hearing for Judge Emil Bove, a person wholly unsuitable for a federal, lifetime appointment to the bench, this morning. And the orange wannabe dick-tator held...2025-06-2559 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowBrian Karem Rides with us on the TrumperCoaster of WarIt's another TrumperCoaster ride so get your barf bags ready. We've ridden many TrumperCoasters over the last 10 years, but this one might be the most nauseating. He's the self-proclaimed "peace president"; one who drops bombs. He threatens, cajoles and lies at every turn. He's delusional!I can't explain it. Perhaps Brian Karem can... He does a pretty good job of it at Salon.com, on his Just Ask the Question podcast, on his substack and social media and, occasionally, on this show. Hopefully he can help us a bit on today's show... Get full...2025-06-241h 00
The Nicole Sandler ShowTruly F'd Up News on Another F'n News MondayFor some reason it seems like President D'ump likes those Friday night news dumps. So of course, after throwing out his standard delay brain crutch of "2 weeks," the man who can't think for himself launched an attack on three "nuclear sites" inside of Iran, breaking a big campaign promise to keep us out of Middle East wars, inserted us right in the middle of one.Shortly before showtime we learned that Iran retaliated. However, AP reported that “this missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on...2025-06-2359 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel FridaysWe survived another week, though this one had quite a few precarious moments, much of which went unreported by the mainstream, corporate media and certainly ignored by the right-wing media which most of MAGAt-world erroneously considers news and trusts to (dis) inform them. It's a big reason why I do this show and why these Friday episodes with Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net are so important. And although we usually run over our allotted hour (like today), there's still a lot of real news that we don't have time to cover.Since our last get-together last Friday...2025-06-201h 27
The Nicole Sandler ShowJuneteenth Thursday with Howie KleinHappy Juneteenth! It's our newest federal holiday, recognized as such in 2021 after President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Even D'ump proposed making Juneteenth a national holiday during his first re-election bid.But he's done an about face since somehow getting back into office in January, with a vendetta against "DEI" and, by his attitude and actions, reaffirming his followers' rights to let their racists flags fly. He's bringing back Jim Crow which did NOT recognize Juneteenth.Today is also the first day of summer and things are literally heating up...2025-06-191h 07
The Nicole Sandler ShowWTF WednesdayThis is is one of those days in the middle of one of those weeks during one of those months in the inconceivable, unbelievable second term of an imbecile. There's an avalanche of news, precious little of it good. We don't have a guest today, so our pal Spocko joined in to talk about much of the day's news.We cover a lot of ground, share a lot of video - especially from a contentious hearing today in the Senate Armed Services Committee where the completely in-over-his-head Defense Sec (sic) Whiskey Pete Hegseth and the also unqualified...2025-06-181h 33
The Nicole Sandler ShowWill Bunch Weighs InWhile the guy who obviously thinks of himself as America's "dear leader" demanded Iran's "Unconditional Surrender" and unilaterally (I guess) decided that "we" will not kill their supreme leader (though he boasts of knowing where he is), it's another Tuesday in America. DC is still grappling with the Big, Ugly Bill and the Republicans continue vacillating on Trump's immigration pronouncements... the chaos continues. And in New York City, ICE and other masked and unidentified thugs rough up and detain Brad Lander(gift link) the NYC Comptroller who is also a Democratic candidate for Mayor!We'll...2025-06-1759 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowNo Kings, Ego Parade Bust & Lots of F'n News MondayWe begin each week here on the Nicole Sandler Show by catching up on the news with Jonathan Larsen of TheFuckingNews.substack.com and yes, there certainly was a lot of fucking news made over the weekend.When we last spoke on Friday, we were reeling from the treatment of California's Senator Alex Padilla at a press conference at the federal building in Los Angeles held by DHS secretary Kristi Noem. He was forcibly removed, tackled to the floor and handcuffed. It was awful.That didn't prepare us for the horrific news of Israel striking...2025-06-1659 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel Friday (the 13th)Every Friday, Emptywheel.net's Marcy Wheeler joins Nicole Sandler to recap much of went down since we spoke the Friday before. We usually start the show amazed at just how much had happened in a week, but today seems to be in a new category altogether. We knew at the start that we'd be running a bit longer than usual, and on Fridays we do tend to run over the one hour this show usually runs.Today, we were dealing with the inept and grossly incompetent Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's congressional testimony this week, Trump's unconstitutional...2025-06-131h 24
The Nicole Sandler ShowHoly S&#t! They Did That to a US Senator!My plans for today's show changed just moments before showtime as there was really disturbing breaking news! Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed - wrestled to the ground and handcuffed at a Kristi Noem press conference after LOUDLY AND CLEARLY identifying himself.This is what the DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem, was saying before Sen. Padilla spoke up. “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country.”Really? I thought they were there to quell so-called riots! And then...2025-06-1259 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowGaslighting vs Truth, ICE begets Fire, David Dayen on LA Protests and MoreThe news keeps getting worse but, for the most part, the narrative is manufactured by Trump and his sycophantic cabinet. We ARE living in 'Opposite World' where the 'news' is reporting the lies Trump posts at his Truth (sic) Social propaganda platform. Journalists from corporate media who dare to attempt to speak up are punished (see Torry Moran, now formerly of ABC News).The gaslighting underscores our need for real, courageous, independent news sources and the call to support them. One of the best sources for unfettered journalism is The American Prospect, led by executive editor David...2025-06-1159 min
Farrel Buchinsky's Listen LaterMore F'n Monday News, but Earlier Podcast: The Nicole Sandler Show (LS 44 · TOP 1% what is this?)Episode: More F'n Monday News, but EarlierPub date: 2025-06-09Notes from Farrel Buchinsky's Listen Later:Bad Company Megan GreenwellGet Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationIt's another inevitable Monday with a ridiculous amount of fucking news to share and, beginning today, we're doing it earlier! The Nicole Sandler Show now streams live at 3pm Eastern/noon Pacific time on YouTube and live audio on the Progressive Voices network.A...2025-06-1159 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowDysfunctional America in the Streets & the BoardroomThese are scary times in our country. The incompetent orange idiot occupying the White House is doing everything we were afraid he'd do if he took power again. In advance of his North Korea-style military salute to himself happening this Saturday on the streets of Washington DC, he's created a showdown with mostly peaceful protesters who've been exercising their constitutional rights in a small sliver of downtown Los Angeles. He's breaking norms and the constitution by using military force against the American public to create a spectacle, take the media's attention away from the massive harm he's inflicting on...2025-06-111h 00
The Nicole Sandler ShowMore F'n Monday News, but EarlierIt's another inevitable Monday with a ridiculous amount of fucking news to share and, beginning today, we're doing it earlier! The Nicole Sandler Show now streams live at 3pm Eastern/noon Pacific time on YouTube and live audio on the Progressive Voices network.As always, both the audio and video also stream live to the homepage at nicolesandler.com, and are archived there as well by date.. (So today's show is posted at nicolesandler.com/6-9-25 -- all shows use that format). And you can still get it delivered to your inbox each day by subscribing...2025-06-0959 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel Fridays (Big Bad Breakup Episode)Every Friday, Marcy Wheeler (emptywheel.net) and I get together to recap some of the big news of the week and, frankly, it's usually a depressing job. Today, though, we were able to have a few laughs at the expense of two utterly despicable characters - Donald Trump and Elon Musk. That's because of their very public, very childish big, beautiful breakup yesterday.But we also did the responsible thing and point out the questions that journalists should be asking instead of just exploiting the spectacle.. Most notably, the national security risks of the president having given...2025-06-0659 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowFeuding Narcissists & Howie Klein ThursdayWe knew it would eventually happen, we just didn't know when. But things are ugly in Dump World today where barbs are flying between the orange madman and his biggest campaign contributor. Dump and Elmo are lashing out at one another on their (dis) respective social media platforms and I can't wait to see how low they'll go.Over at downwithtyranny.com, Howie Klein wrote about it, and came up with a great headline: "Musk to Senor Trumpanzee: Go Fund Yourself". Today is Thursday, so we will check in with Howie, who also has the amazing results...2025-06-0659 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowLisa Graves Told You So (Re: Leonard Leo)For many years, Lisa Graves has been exposing Leonard Leo for the sleazebag he is. The Dumpster fire in DC finally got the message! Lisa Graves wrote about the man Extreme Court inJustice Clarence Thomas called "the third most powerful man in the world" in her Grave Injustice substack newsletter today, and joins us on today's show to show just how prescient she is... and give us the dirt she's been reporting on since before Leo orchestrated the scheme to turn the high court into the shit show it is today. You don't want to miss this......2025-06-0559 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowTACO Tuesday with DigbyReally! We had a miscommunication last week, but Heather 'Digby' Parton is here today. The OG Grand Dame the progressive blogosphere, Digby still churns out the daily must-read Hullabaloo at digbysblog.net and shares her wisdom a couple of times a week at Salon.com. And I'm grateful that she joins us here on a semi-regular basis for a no-bullshit, honest conversation about the challenges we face in these very strange times!One quick programming note: The Nicole Sandler Show streams live five days a week, Monday through Friday. Beginning Monday June 9, the live show will run...2025-06-041h 06
The Nicole Sandler ShowA New Week, New Month & the Same F'n NewsThe Nicole Sandler Show is a listener/reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.It's not only a Monday, but it's the first Monday in a new month. Welcome to June, busting out all over with more inanity and insanity.We've missed Jonathan Larsen of thefuckingnews.substack.com for the past couple of weeks, but he's back!Although it's not yet Tuesday, we'll talk TACO, Town Hall stupidity, terrorists and sadly, Trump too. Ugh. It's Monday.Watch...2025-06-0359 min
On the Brink with Andi SimonHow Nicole Loftus Is Disrupting Venture CapitalIn this inspiring episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicole Loftus, a powerhouse entrepreneur with a bold vision to democratize access to venture capital. As the founder and CEO of Pop Venture Enterprises, Nicole is doing more than imagining change—she’s building it. Nicole’s journey began, as many transformative ones do, with a disruption—not of an industry at first, but of her own life. Raised in a traditional, working-class Italian family near Chicago, Nicole was expected to follow a conventional path. But after a personal turning point, she...2025-06-0133 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel FridayThe Nicole Sandler Show is a listener/reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We made it through another week. It's Friday, when we are joined by Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net to discuss some of the important news from the week. Due to scheduling issues, we recorded this episode on Thursday. As things tend to happen at warp speed in Dumpland, there's an update in at least one of the stories we covered. On Wednesday evening, a court we previously knew virtually nothing about...2025-05-3059 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowThursday with "Ironstache" Randy Bryce & Howie KleinThe Nicole Sandler Show is a listener/reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Although we have a lot of work to do in keeping democracy alive until then, we have the most important election in our lifetimes coming up on Nov. 3, 2026. Either the Democrats take back control of Congress or we resign ourselves to living in a dictatorship with an autocratic orange lying blob determining just how bad things will get. And based on the past four months, we know that'll be horrific.2025-05-3059 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowMemorial Day & Commencement SpeechesThe Nicole Sandler Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.I’ve been in a bit of a haze lately, so I may have crossed wires with Digby when I booked her to appear on today’s show. I’m guessing she may have put it in her book for next Tuesday.. either way, I apologize. We’ll have her on soon.So I spent much of today’s show talking about the disconnect between a really great commencement address delivered...2025-05-2859 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel FridaysThere was no shortage of real news this week, almost none of it good! But the media is still set on telling us that Joe Biden is old. And you wonder why I call it Opposite World?!It’s another Emptywheel Friday, when we get together with the seemingly indefatigable Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net to take a look back at what happened in this years-long week! From action in the courts, to the flying bribe palace and presidential corruption on a scale never seen before, we have a lot to talk about today.Before I...2025-05-2359 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowThursday Update & Visit with John FugelsangThe Nicole Sandler Show is a listener/reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The second time is the charm! We had our wires crossed on Tuesday, so John Fugelsang did not join us then. But he is here today. We have much to catch up on since the last time we spoke. He jumps in for the second half hour of the show.To get us started though, a bit of an update. I was out yesterday for a medical test. It...2025-05-2358 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowAn Update from Opposite World on the Nicole Sandler Show 5-20-2025I was out yesterday for a doctor's appointment, but I'm back today.. Sadly, there's no lack of news to discuss and questions to ask. From COVID vaccinations to the enormous, ugly bill, and the demented orange guy occupying the White House, the news is as dismal and offensive as ever.So, today, we'll review some of the more infuriating news of the day!2025-05-2159 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEmptywheel Friday on the Nicole Sandler Show 5-16-25It was another eventful week in this surreal world. The idiot-in-chief went to the Middle East, SCOTUS held a special hearing yesterday, and what was thought to be a very old copy of the Magna Carta housed at Harvard is discovered to be an authentic 7th original copy dating back to 1300! Marcy Wheeler thinks it's an auspicious sign, especially when the administration is talking about suspending habeas corpus. And, oh yeah, they're likely arresting a sitting member of Congress today. It's Emptywheel Friday, where Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel.net joins Nicole Sandler to discuss some...2025-05-1659 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowEthics,Hearings, Hypocrisy & Lisa Graves - Nicole Sandler Show 5-14-25Ethics are important to Republicans ONLY when it's a Democrat engaging in questionable behaviors. That's more evident every day. But it cuts much deeper... they're quick to call out anything a Democrat does, like nodding off in an all-night hearing. But they have no problem with it's a Republican. It seemed like all we heard from them during the Biden administration was "the Biden 'crime family' is capitalizing on the president's office." But they're notoriously silent about the massive grift by Trump and his spawn -- from a luxury flying palace to golf courses and...2025-05-1558 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowTruth About ActBlue & a Musical Diversion Too - Nicole Sandler Show 5-13-25Welcome to Tuesday.I've had more than a few listeners ask me about ActBlue in the wake of D'ump ordering the DoJ to investigate the online fundraising platform used by Democrats and progressive organizations. Today we'll check in with Josh Nelson, CEO of Civic Shout, an advertising platform for progressive causes, who'll set the record straight.Then, a break from news and politics for a musical diversion. I'm joined by Cary Baker, author of "Down on the Corner: Adventures in Busking & Street Music," an old friendly acquaintence from my days in music radio. H...2025-05-1459 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowA F'n Plane & Other F'n News - 5-13-2025A new week begins with news of a "$400 Million flying palace" that allegedly will be gifted by the Qatari Royal Family to Donald F'ing Trump!?! WTF?Oh there's more news too. Like the idea of suspending habeas corpus? Huh?I accidentally stumbled onto Newsmax over the weekend and was hit with El Dumpo on the tube trying to sell me a Trump Watch? Seriously? The President of the United States doing a TV commercial to sell a watch with his name scribbled on it. How is that legal?These stories and more as...2025-05-131h 00
The Nicole Sandler Show20250508 Emptywheel Fridays on the Nicole Sandler ShowIt'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 tariff fiasco is ramping up in full swing, as some people are finally beginning to realize what this will mean for our economy, and Dump pretends he...2025-05-091h 05
The Nicole Sandler Show20250507 (CORRECT AUDIO) Justice Denied Again, Here & in Ukraine - Nicole Sandler ShowI 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 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 office ambush of Ukrainian President Zelinsky. Her latest piece on this “deal” for Rolling Stone magazine is “Is Trump’s ‘Mine...2025-05-0959 min
The Nicole Sandler Show20250508 New Pope Thursday with Howie Klein on the Nicole Sandler ShowIt'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 the UK. But is it a deal if it's not a deal? Only Congress can authorize a trade deal. But then again, only Congress can authorize tariffs. Who's going to tell him?And...2025-05-091h 00
The Nicole Sandler Show20250507 Justice Denied Again, Here & in Ukraine - Nicole Sandler ShowToday 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 office ambush of Ukrainian President Zelinsky. Her latest piece on this "deal" for Rolling Stone magazine is "Is Trump’s ‘Minerals Deal’ a Fossil Fuel Shakedown?"This morning though, justice was again denied in America. A Memphis jury acquit...2025-05-0859 min
The Nicole Sandler ShowRemembering Jill Sobule Listen to today’s show here:The Nicole Sandler Show is a listener/reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.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...2025-05-071h 08
Like Whatever Gen-XSwatch Your Step GenXEver wondered how a simple conversation about a TV show can lead to a deep dive into personal revelations and pop culture reflections? Join us as we kick off with a nostalgic look back at SNL's iconic 50-year special, sparking memories of legendary performances and personal encounters. We recount our unexpected meeting with Tracy Morgan just before his accident and our longing for a surprise appearance from Stefan during the Weekend Update. The emotional tributes to John Belushi and Adam Sandler’s heartfelt song serve as poignant reminders of the show’s rich history. From the iconic stage...2025-02-211h 03