Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Zee Cohen-Sanchez, founder of the Unf*ck America Tour, and Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch join Mike Pesca on the Not Even Mad Podcast to look at America's current level of political “f*ckery.”
Who’s to blame for the government shutdown and does anyone actually care? Was Trump’s recent hostage deal an actual win for the administration? Is the specter of Trump's autocratic tendencies saved by his “lazy” pursuit of headlines given the more sinister ambitions of figures like Stephen Miller? Plus: Goat Grinders feat. Jonah's disdain for corporate rebranding, Zee's eye-roll at Steven Crowder's self-protection, and the shocking revelation about the TRUE ages of classic TV “old timers.”
#notevenmad #unfkamerica #thedispatch #podcastdebates #civildiscourse #debate #internationalpolicy #ceasefire #middleeastpolitics #governmentshutdown2025
This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt
_______________________
Follow us:
INSTAGRAM:
/ pescagist
TWITTER:
https://x.com/PescaGist
https://x.com/pescami
Visit Mike's website:
mikepesca.com
Join the "Pesca Profundities" membership and get access to the Gist List Newsletter:
mikepesca.substack.com
Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com
_______________________
CREDITS:
Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca
Producer:
Corey Wara
00:00 Government Shutdown: DC vs. NYC Impact & Blame Game
05:08 Nevada's Shutdown Struggles: Rural Communities & Trump's Influence
09:42 When Will the Shutdown End? Real-World Consequences
13:36 Democrats' Risky Shutdown Strategy: Gavin Newsom & Leverage
16:23 Trump's "Big Government" Right-Winger Stance on Healthcare
20:16 Can Democrats Work with Marjorie Taylor Green? A Risky Alliance
23:36 Hamas Hostage Deal: Trump's Unexpected Foreign Policy Success
26:19 Why Trump's Transactional Style Works in the Middle East
29:18 Israel, Zionism, and Domestic Politics: Will Peace Last?
33:33 The "Middle Eastern Denmark" Dream: Israel Out of the Headlines
38:32 Trump as Autocrat: Unpopularity, Strategy, & Power Consolidation
42:47 Trump's Laziness & Manipulability: The Juan Perón Analogy
49:18 The "Young Guns" of Authoritarianism: Steven Miller's Influence
51:27 Engaging with the Right: Z. Cohen Sanchez's Political Project
55:14 Goat Grinders: HBO Max, Steven Crowder, and Aging Stars
Zee Cohen-Sanchez, founder of the Unf*ck America Tour, and Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch join Mike Pesca on the Not Even Mad Podcast to look at America's current level of political “f*ckery.”
Who’s to blame for the government shutdown and does anyone actually care? Was Trump’s recent hostage deal an actual win for the administration? Is the specter of Trump's autocratic tendencies saved by his “lazy” pursuit of headlines given the more sinister ambitions of figures like Stephen Miller? Plus: Goat Grinders feat. Jonah's disdain for corporate rebranding, Zee's eye-roll at Steven Crowder's self-protection, and the shocking revelation about the TRUE ages of classic TV “old timers.”
#notevenmad #unfkamerica #thedispatch #podcastdebates #civildiscourse #debate #internationalpolicy #ceasefire #middleeastpolitics #governmentshutdown2025
This interview is from a Full episode of The Gist Podcast, Hosted by Mike Pesca.
🎧Listen Here👉open.spotify.com/show/3Q5MaJxR4gS4CwgZUCCYVt
_______________________
Follow us:
INSTAGRAM:
/ pescagist
TWITTER:
https://x.com/PescaGist
https://x.com/pescami
Visit Mike's website:
mikepesca.com
Join the "Pesca Profundities" membership and get access to the Gist List Newsletter:
mikepesca.substack.com
Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com
_______________________
CREDITS:
Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca
Producer:
Corey Wara
00:00 Government Shutdown: DC vs. NYC Impact & Blame Game
05:08 Nevada's Shutdown Struggles: Rural Communities & Trump's Influence
09:42 When Will the Shutdown End? Real-World Consequences
13:36 Democrats' Risky Shutdown Strategy: Gavin Newsom & Leverage
16:23 Trump's "Big Government" Right-Winger Stance on Healthcare
20:16 Can Democrats Work with Marjorie Taylor Green? A Risky Alliance
23:36 Hamas Hostage Deal: Trump's Unexpected Foreign Policy Success
26:19 Why Trump's Transactional Style Works in the Middle East
29:18 Israel, Zionism, and Domestic Politics: Will Peace Last?
33:33 The "Middle Eastern Denmark" Dream: Israel Out of the Headlines
38:32 Trump as Autocrat: Unpopularity, Strategy, & Power Consolidation
42:47 Trump's Laziness & Manipulability: The Juan Perón Analogy
49:18 The "Young Guns" of Authoritarianism: Steven Miller's Influence
51:27 Engaging with the Right: Z. Cohen Sanchez's Political Project
55:14 Goat Grinders: HBO Max, Steven Crowder, and Aging Stars
