Rick+Lisa Show - 2026

Thank you Natasha K., P. J. Schuster, Cathy Stein, Susan Theriault, Donna Everett, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate and Shane Yirak! Thanks to everyone who joined this evening! If you missed our live broadcast, please watch the recording. We’d love to see your comments and questions. As it was, we discussed (essentially) the collapse of various systems, not least the mainstream media, our system of norms, and gave our latest on world order and geopolitics, all at a level designed to be accessible to you.We’d appreciate it if you filled out our Viewer Feedback form - it takes about 2 minutes and helps us a lot!We also hope that you can like and subscribe - if you heard us live, please make sure to hit the like button here too!Subscriptions are:We’re a reader and viewer-supported publication. Your support goes directly to production costs for the show, for which we’re grateful for your Paid Subscription. If not that, please consider becoming a FREE subscriber! Thank you!Shane’s Substack is located:Lisa’s is here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Kay Smith, Deborah J., Bee's Free Verse/True Verse, ROSA E., Darnell Martin, and many others for tuning into my live video! All who joined today, a huge thank you! I’m grateful for your time, and I hope the information and context provided helped set boundaries around what’s going on in the world. If you take anything away from our time together, I hope you’ll gain a better sense of the big, historically shaped systems that drive countries to do what they do. They are in force now, and when the United States drifts from its First Principle of “Rule by Consent of the Governed” towards oligarchic greed and graft, we will rise up.I mentioned in the video for YouTube viewers to Like and Subscribe. What I also should have said was “PLEASE hit the like button (if you do), RESTACK so this reaches more people - attaching a recommendation from you is helpful too. Finally, please, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to the publication and podcast. If that’s just not doable right now, NO PROBLEM, I totally get it - it’s tight and scary - but do consider becoming a FREE subscriber!Two things I also asked:* Please visit the LiftUpDemocracy.org site and read this article about the job claims of the Trump administration for a thorough debunking. We’re still putting the like/share stuff on that site, but it will grow into our hub for organizing to Win the House, Senate, Gubernatorial races, and a slew of local and regional elections for progressives!* Please take a moment, whether you watch the video or saw the Live, to fill out the Reader Survey, but read this first: All fields with identifying information are OPTIONAL. I don’t want to know who you are if you don’t want me to! Just leave them blank and click past them. The survey is available at this link and takes under 2 minutes to complete. It really helps.Lastly, please subscribe if you haven’t, free or paid, we welcome you and I personally thank you:We’re entirely viewer/reader supported. All monies collected go straight to the production costs of our work. The people you see here and the ones you don’t behind the scenes are volunteers. We are so grateful for you, and hope you LIKE, RESTACK, COMMENT, and ENJOY our work (find it helpful). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Cat, Jeanne Elbe, Dannys, Judith Evans, Pamela Austin, and many others for tuning into my live video! I’m grateful to everyone who joined this morning on short notice. I hope you found it informative and at least a bit interactive - thanks for the questions during the cast, I hope I was able to answer them accurately.Depending on what comes of Trump’s press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11 am EDT, I may come back on afterwards for a shorter piece on analysis. It’ll take me about 20 minutes to go live after his yapper quits making noises.Also, I totally forgot: Please LIKE, RESTACK, and Subscribe if you would. It helps me immensely in supporting this effort! I am grateful to every single one of you who has supported me with a paid subscription, and if that’s not in the cards - that’s OK - please be welcomed to the community with a FREE subscription - they’re the same (I don’t paywall).Lift Up Democracy and Adverse Action are viewer/reader-supported publications. Your support matters - whether free or paid, please subscribe!ALSO… I published an unrelated way-early-morning piece today on Lift Up Democracy.org’s (LUD) website, mostly because the Substack format really sucks. It’s here (another browser window will probably open):Jobs Are Not Booming Like Trump SaysAnd take the Reader/Viewer Survey to let me know how we’re doing - Confidential unless you want to identify yourselfReader SurveyI have much better control on the LUD site! It’s organized better, reads faster, and is generally easier to understand. It’s all about Trump’s bogus claims of American-Born Job Growth being historically high. Worth at least a glance, which you can do on the LUD site.(YOU DON’T NEED TO PAY ANYTHING, in fact, DON’T - the “cheapest” subscription is FREE and will notify you of new updates only if you want it. Don’t buy the $1 one, it is only there bc the hosting company requires it.)Lastly, I’m grateful for the assistance of a behind the scenes author, Jack Boyle, who’s helping us out with LUD reporting, especially on the insider tracks in Washington and the DoD. Please Like this if you do, restack, and thanks for joining.Take care, and I will see you soon!-rick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you julie elder, Dannys, Maura, K K, Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! We are grateful for the people who made time to join us on New Year’s Day! Our episode covered a lot of ground with clips and discussion on the MN fraud investigations and debunking the large amount of BS shoveled by the Trump regime in cutting off funding. They failed to realize the innocent victims get trampled under their ham-handed handling of a situation that already has its own process - for CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS that have been ONGOING SINCE BEFORE 2022. Children are now knee-jerk victims, as are parents who live 1 paycheck away from homelessness who can’t go to work now that childcare is severely underfunded, REGARDLESS of criminal involvement.We go on to examine JD Vance’s alarming TP USA comments about:* Not having to “apologize for being white”. I’ve never apologized or been asked to for THAT, but I think that Vance is reprehensible for making people of color the targets for hatred and giving more permission slips to people with nothing but hate to spew.* Christianity is the root religion of the United States, just like Russell Vought wants it to be in his Christo-fascist hot dream. Right on camera, Vance spells it out. See for yourself.Thanks again for joining - we’re looking forward to our next episode this weekend and want you to join if you’re able. Please, take a moment to give us either anonymous (skip the email / substack handle fields) (not mandatory!) or directed comments and feedback or questions! We take your feedback VERY seriously and appreciate it VERY MUCH.Link to Feedback SurveyLastly, if you haven’t already, PLEASE subscribe - as a paying or free subscriber! We honestly need help paying for the costs of producing the show, so any amount is helpful! But if you can’t afford a paid sub, we understand! We’d be glad to have you through a FREE subscription!Lift Up Democracy is a viewer/reader supported publication. Whether free or paid, your subscription is INVALUABLE to us. Thank you for taking the time to subscribe! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Pat, ROSA E., JordanMeidasLioness, Pamela Day, K K, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Great conversation and good interaction from our wonderful audience, who we deeply appreciate for joining the show!We ran the gamut of topics, from the follow up to Lev Parnas and MeidasTouch Network, to the recent bombings by American forces on Nigeria, to Hemisphere Control that appears to be the Trump regime’s latest M.O.If you didn’t get a chance to join us, no problem - the video here is the replay straight-up.As promised, we have a new feedback / questionnaire form - you don’t have to leave your email or substack handle (just press enter or click next in the form to bypass them). We’re grateful for questions, and feedback on how we can make the show better for you!Feedback form: click here.As always, we really appreciate your support. Kindly like (click the heart below) if you do, restack if you can, and by all means, subscribe! The button below takes you to the page where you can decide the level that’s right for you: Free or paid. We appreciate you subscribing either way!We’re an entirely viewer/reader-supported publication, and appreciate your paid subscription to help us cover the costs of producing our work. If you can’t become a paid subscriber, please join as a FREE one!Lisa’s Substack page is: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Deborah J., M Hope, Nora Sallows, Rob C, Don, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join me for my next live video in the app.Thanks to everyone who joined us in our latest conversation about politics, the holidays, a bit of history, and Trump’s bizarre 100+ holiday tweets he cranked out like a monkey on meth December 25th. We had a lot of fun, and if you missed it, we hope you’ll catch us on the live recording!We’ll be back soon, which as of now is Sunday night, and we’re really looking forward to seeing both the new and returning folks who joined us this evening! HEY! We have a new way to reach us for questions and feedback, which you can get to by clicking right here on this link!If you use QR codes, you can scan this with your phone to go straight there:Our podcast and articles are entirely viewer supported, and we are thankful for every one of you who has a paid subscription to support our work and defray costs! If you want to become a paid subscriber, just enter your email below. BUT, if you can’t do that right now, no problem - we want you as a FREE subscriber, too! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Rachel H., Cathy Stein, Deborah J., Janie 🪡, K K, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join me for my next live video in the app.Thanks to all of you who were able to join us for our live this evening! We are grateful to each one of you who made the time to join our Live podcast.Not only did we get a chance to plug the benefits of yoga, we talked about Epstein and how the DOJ seems to take law as a suggestion over a command (!). We discussed the framing by the Right of the Democrats as a holier-than-thou actors in the scandal (hypocritical). Instead, we want to see some truth and consequences that involve the Republicans, and in particularly Trump, and STOP distracting our attention with Bill Clinton or Barack Obama.Lots of other topics came up, and it was great interacting with our audience’s live questions, which we try to address in real time.We also touched on the major update to Lift Up Democracy this weekend (still have lots of features and functionality we’ll be adding in the days ahead). We plan on rolling out some great features and content that we think you’ll love.The link to the new Lift Up Democracy site is here:Lift Up Democracy.org Please enjoy our podcast if you missed it, and we invite you to the next one!We’re a reader and viewer-supported publication. Your paid subscription - $5/mo - helps defer the costs of production. If you can’t afford that, we understand! Times are tight. Please join our community with a FREE Subscription!Lisa | We are the 3rd Estate’s Substack is here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you julie elder, Dannys, Ms. H, Susan Theriault, Linda Simpson 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌈🎸👮🏻‍♀️, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate and Shane Yirak! Thank you also to the many people who participated in the chat! We had some new audience members today, as well as familiar names - WELCOME! We sometimes do a “freestyle” show where the conversation drifts (a little, sometimes off topic), but if nothing else, we try to share useful info you can take with you into the week ahead! Our panel tonight is a walking, talking smorgasbord of useful history, facts we can back up, and connected dots we can explain. We are grateful you keep up, and appreciate you telling us when we need to slow it down!Our next LIVE of the RICK+LISA LIFT UP DEMOCRACY SHOW will be Wednesday, December 17. Look for the invite soon in your alerts!Please - if you haven’t yet, and find value in our content, like, subscribe, restack, and help us spread the word about the LIFT UP DEMOCRACY PODCAST we do several times a week - share with a friend!As always, you can reach me directly via email or DM on Substack. I welcome questions and non-abusive criticisms! I’m at [email protected]. You can also visit the (right now, coming online, so expect some dust and clutter) LiftUpDemocracy.org website with tons of useful information we’re publishing this week at:LIFTUPDEMOCRACY.ORGSubscribe here:Lift Up Democracy / Adverse Action is an entirely viewer & reader-supported publication. Kindly consider becoming a paid or free subscriber today! We want you in our community today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Steven Rosenzweig, Rachel Hendricks, Miss Myra, Cathy Stein, Deborah J., and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate, Nick Paro, and Banner & Backbone Media! We were lucky enough to get Nick Paro on a free moment (to take it up!) and get his take on so many things in this episode. If you’re sick of traditional TV, you’ll love this episode! Get hot takes on military force in Venezuela, criminal actions, and war crimes against service members, Hegseth, and others. Also, Nick gets political and really lights us up with the urgency behind the 2026 elections and our need for YOU to support our efforts!Thanks to Nick for his time. Please sign up for his publications at the link below. Also, please sign up for Adverse Action (Rick’s) substack, as well as Lisa | We are the Third Estate at the links below!I appreciate your support of our program today! We were glad to get the audience we did, and appreciate each of you for your lively comments, questions, and concerns!Nick’s Sick of this Show:Nick’s Banner and Backbone:Rick’s Adverse Action Newsletter: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Lisa Joy 🏳️‍🌈, Stuart Cohen, Cathy Stein, Susan Theriault, Mason/She/Her🩷💜💙, and many others for tuning into my live video with Ellie Leonard! We had a blast (again) doing the show, covering Epstein from multiple angles as more documents are dropped from Congress and the DOJ and she demonstrates her AMAZING skills at connecting dots, creating great synthesis of so much information, and extracting the pieces of real importance for all of us readers!We also spoke about her fiction writing, Death of a Mayfly, which for me (rick) is a gripping story that gets in my mind and lives there, one chapter at a time, for quite a while! I’m lucky to be able to talk to the author and hopefully ask questions that are representative of what is on reader’s minds! (Email me if you have specific things you’d like asked in the future.)Please subscribe to Ellie’s substack as well as my own. For mine, you can just fill out your email and click the button below. For Ellie’s, just go to her Substack at the link below mine and sign up. We’d love to have you as paid subscribers if you find value in our work! Until the next episode!RickThanks for joining us. Please become a paid or free subscriber to Adverse Action (Rick’s) Substack.Fill in your email below to join Ellie’s substack and support her work - she deserves it! And we all need your contribution to continue our efforts! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Beth Cruz, Carole Roseland, Deborah J., Kimberly Briedis, K K, and many others for tuning into my live video! Hey all, thanks for joining my Live tonight! If you liked it please hit the heart (it helps), restack, and comment! Also, if you haven’t subscribed yet, please do! I rely on your contribution to defray costs of production - both writing (research sources) and video (streaming platform etc.) So it helps! BUT if you can’t afford it, I get it! Times are tight - please subscribe as a FREE member by clicking the button below after putting in your email address.And for those who wondered if you’ll see more of my writing, the answer is a hard YES. Great to have the comments and input from tonight’s show. There’s so much to talk about, and I want it to be a great time for each of you. I can improve what I’m doing if you tell me honestly what you think, even if it’s negative! I’m very good with that kind of criticism and appreciate those with the courage to light up something stupid I’m doing, or could do better.Kindly visit LIFTUPDEMOCRACY.ORG by clicking here. Contribute if you’re interested in supporting a vital cause for 2026.It’ll open in another tab (or in the Substack window if you’re on the mobile/tablet app). Can’t wait to have you on the next podcast tomorrow - we have Nick Paro at 3-ish and I’m doing another interview with Ellie Leonard on her recent work and fiction writing! That’s at 8pm tomorrow. (Busy day!)Thanks, —- rickWe’re reader and viewer supported. I’d be grateful for your paid or free subscription to Adverse Action / Lift Up Democracy Podcast! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Shane Yirak, Janie 🪡, J’Lynn Davis, Millicent, Ann Garner, and many others for tuning into my live video! Yes, Shane Yirak , I DID MAKE A “DECK”… 😎😂👍Here is a link to the slides in a PDF Form in my Google Docs for the “DECK”…Anyway, thanks very much for those who joined here and on YouTube (link to replay there is: https://youtube.com/live/PgXj0g1QK1s?feature=share). Deep dive into Venezuelan boat sinking as reported by WaPo → Ordered second strike to kill survivors of the initial missile attack. Positioned Adm Bradley as the scapegoat. We went through the key footage that shows the BS the White House press office is putting out framing Bradley when you strip the veneer off. Same with the video of Sleepy Trumpy and Horny For War Hegseth. Aigh.Please like, share, and restack if you do! Also, huge big help here: Please, SUBSCRIBE and ENCOURAGE FRIENDS TO AS WELL. My substack subscribe is here:We’re a reader / viewer supported publication. Your help is invaluable. We need you, and I need your support if you can chip in to cover the costs of prep, research, and tools. If you can’t spare that, we understand! Please become a FREE subscriber… I don’t paywall anything on purpose - I want the message out!Always, you can contact me at my EMAIL ADDRESS AT LIFT UP DEMOCRACY (CLICK)You can see our fundraiser to accelerate getting GREAT WRITERS AND PODCASTERS lifted up to more public audiences by syndication and careful selection of progressive and democratic socialist campaigns and candidates for the 2026 Midterms. The TIME IS NOW to chip in and help us reach $35,000 in startup funding before December 31, 2025!Thanks again for watching! I appreciate everybody’s support!-rickDec 2, 2025 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you The Bathrobe Guy (Robes) 👘, Jeanne Elbe, Sunny, Truth2power, Nora Sallows, Levee , Lisa Joy 🏳️‍🌈 , Rousercw , Nora Sallows and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! It was great to have you, and many more, on with us in the podcast last night! THANK YOU for smashing the hearts and lifting us up in the “algorithm” - as well as the genuine feedback that you liked our mix of information, analysis, and flat-out (but authentic!) Opinions. I went through the comments, and those who commented were insightful and funny. (@Lisa Joy, “Opinions are like assholes…” - Great one!). We’ll be back on Wednesday, with another Live podcast! We’re looking forward to having you and our growing and engaged community back again… Bring friends!If you didn’t get a chance to join us last night, here’s the replay for you - please:Like (if you do, click the heart), Restack (if you want), and Send to Friends outside the Substack group! We want and need to keep on growing. ALSO, lastly, if you aren’t already a subscriber, please click on the button below. We know we’re competing with lots of other EXCELLENT podcasters and writers for your dollars, but a Paid Subscription really helps us defray the costs of this, and it’s $5/month or a year for $50. We DON’T and WON’T paywall you out EVER because of your ability to support us. So:* A paid subscription is to be our patron and help defray costs, and* A free subscription lets us know you’re out there and like our work!If you haven’t subscribed to Lisa’s Substack yet, please do: It’s at:And mine is below. We have lots and lots of written stories and past episodes of the podcast there, too! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you The Bathrobe Guy (Robes) 👘, Judith Evans, Sandra, Karlee-Wont-Give-Up, Rob C, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Tonight’s video was the Turkey Hangover episode! I was feeling the effects of a weird day after Thanksgiving, having gone into the fray of shoppers but not joining them (just to reach a local restaurant near the mall). We also talked about the rush to snap judgment by the Trump regime on the DC Shooting and the fear-based response of bringing more troops to where they ought not to be. All while shorting the FBI on its focus on domestic counterterrorism so they can play ICE agents.Also talked about the Hong Kong apartment fire in a high-rise, protections in place in the US that prevent fires now, and Gen Z shopping habits that seem to be sticking around long after the pandemic! (It’s a good thing, it’s curated, cultivated, and savvy!)Also, a reminder that if you want to support inde journalists connecting with progressive and democratic-socialist candidates and campaigns, please help out at this site:LiftUpDemocracy.org’s Intro PageWe’re rolling out more information each day and appreciate ALL help, even $1 or $5 chip-in’s to keep us moving forward to our goal. Read more there.Here’s Lisa’s Substack - please subscribe:Here’s Rick’s Substack - also, please subscribe if you haven’t already. Thank you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Shane Yirak, Neurodivergent Hodgepodge, Judith Evans, Susan Theriault, Deborah J., and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Many thanks to all who joined our podcast tonight here on Substack and on YouTube. (Note: We dual-stream to YouTube to make it as easy as possible for people to watch. Tonight’s episode is here:We talk about Thanksgiving mental health, the breaking news of the tragic shootings of two National Guard troops in Washington DC, and our opinion of throwing 500 more troops into the mix without understanding the big picture first. We talk about Venezuela, and the other hot topic, Ukraine, along with strategies for de-escalating Thanksgiving dinner conversations that head into the political ditch. (Save yourself first! All oxygen masks, in this case, go on YOU before your guests).We hope you’ll join us for our next LIVE on Friday 11/28/2025. We’ll be sending out info on that soon.We also gave a hint at a preview of what we’ve been working on with a humble mind to answer the question, “how do we make the lives of journalists, writers, analysts, podcasters BETTER, while achieving an audacious goal of WINNING on progressive and democratic socialist (and Democratic ticket) CANDIDATES in 2026? It’s time to join the fight before us! There’s much to do, and we need your help. More to come very soon, but you can read the preview and read the big picture and big asks for help, here:View the Lift Up Democracy Soft-Launch Page - Click Here!Thanks for watching today! We’re grateful you’re here. We are entirely viewer / reader supported, so please consider whether we provide value, and join with a minimal subscription to help us out. If that’s not doable, WE UNDERSTAND - times are tight. We invite you to join as a FREE subscriber, too! Happy Thanksgiving - Our Gratitude is Strong.My Substack is here:and Lisa’s is here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Stuart Cohen, Sue Henger, Nanalin, J’Lynn Davis, Michael, and many others for tuning into my live video with Ellie Leonard! Ellie is a fantastic investigator, journalist, dot connector, and fiction author. Her talents seem to know no limits! Many of us in the Substack community (and our growing YouTube audience!) are working hard to lift her up, get her insights into her tireless work on the Epstein saga, and hear her thinking in her writing processes for fiction.This episode of the Ellie+Rick chats was a bit shorter due to time constraints; we’ll be working to find a time very soon to pick up the conversation and dive deeper into Ellie’s fascinating work. If you haven’t subscribed to Ellie’s Substack yet (and particularly, if you can, as a paid subscriber), please do it right now!)You can sign up on Ellie’s Substack, The Panicked, Unpaid Writer, here:And please, subscribe and support Rick’s efforts with Adverse Action below, where our mission is to lift up people, news, and events that deserve your attention! Every subscription is important, free or paid. We’re especially grateful for the paid patrons of my efforts, as you help us defer the very real costs of producing shows like this one.If we don’t connect before Thanksgiving, I wish you and your families the best one yet!-rickSign up here to subscribe:Thank you for considering becoming a free or paid subscriber. Discounts are available for first-time and renewing subscriptions! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Ellie Leonard, Stephanie G Wilson, PhD, Jeanne Elbe, Christina Gurchinoff, Kerry Bart-Raber, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate and Nick Paro! Great discussion today! Nick always brings his A game to every topic we dive into. It’s a privilege to work with Lisa and have people of Nick’s caliber on our show. My gratitude goes out to both of them!Please take some time if you weren’t able to join us live, and help elevate our message to a broader audience by clicking the Like (heart) if you do, and restack if you can!Also, we’re honored to have every subscriber who joins us be part of our growing and vital community. If you’re not subscribed yet, please consider becoming a paid one to help us fight back against the authoritarian takeover at multiple levels of our government. We’re here to bring our level best to the effort, helping everyone get up to speed on what’s happening, why, and where it’s leading. If you can’t afford a paid subscription, please consider becoming a FREE one - we’d love to have you, too! You can subscribe here:One big shout-out for Nick and all his contributions to the Progressive effort! Thanks to Lisa for all you contribute to the show as well!Join us in the next LIVE on Monday. Details coming soon!-rick This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Jeanne Elbe, Deborah J., Pamela Williamson, Sushipheliac 🍣🍥🍣, ROSA E., and many others for tuning into our live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate and Shane Yirak! We hit the ground running last evening in our episode with Shane Yirak, guest creator from The Firebrand Project! As expected, our conversation turned towards the week in news, and going on to more existential issues like what our mission is in the 346 days until the 2026 Midterms! If you weren’t able to join, please enjoy the live video here. We are grateful, too, if you’d like and subscribe! We appreciate those who choose to be patrons to our effort by becoming paid subscribers! But if that’s not in the cards for you right now, no problem! We love FREE subscribers as well. Either way, catch the latest from Adverse Action and Lift Up Democracy as we bring guests from near and far to our Substack community.SATURDAYWe have Nick Paro joining us, and are excited to have him represent Banner and Backbone as well as his personal interests - of which are many, and diverse, and he’s really GREAT at them - for an “afternoon discussion.” We’ll be starting with Nick, Lisa, and me at 3:30 pm EDT and 12:30 pm PDT - We hope you can join us!Here’s a link to my substack:Here’s a link to Lisa’s Substack:AND HERE’S THE LINK TO OUR GUEST SHANE’S SUBSTACK: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Shane Yirak, Mrs. S, Deborah J., Philippa King, Perry Albertson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! We’re grateful for each of you who joined this evening, and look forward to our next show to share with you! If you didn’t have a chance to catch our Live podcast, please join us for the recording above.We covered, of course, the Epstein files and Trump’s next moves with his personal DOJ attack force, as well as things to expect from this politically charged chain of events. We discussed Crown Prince MBS’s US visit, in which Trump laid on the salesy vibe bigly with a guy who was responsible for at least the murder of a Washington Post writer a few years ago. We touched on James Comey and his disaster of a prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, who flunked out of basic prosecutor law school with huge missteps setting up the Grand Jury.Great comments from all today. The Show Notes are attached for download below. Note, we didn’t get to the section on “how to be successful in 2026 by transforming our political landscape” without Part 2, which covers an actionable, immediate plan that radically alters the dynamics of content creation, progressive and democratic-socialist candidate promotion, voter outrage, and remaining independent in a charged political environment. (That’s coming, for writers/creators and readers/viewers, soon!). Show Notes are intended for one or both hosts. They’re rough synopses of what we chat about, to help keep us on track. If you find them useful, kindly leave a comment, and we’ll start regularly including them. As producers, we create these quickly from breaking news, planned topic-board choices, and audience comments. Thanks for your feedback!Rick’s Substack is here. We really apprecaite new subscribers - even if you can only do a FREE subscription now. Our cost is on sale below $5/month right now, so please consider becoming a paid sub. Thank youLisa’s Substack is Here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Cryn Johannsen, Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA, Jeanne Elbe, Sandra Tuttle, Susan Theriault, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Great time to be back after a brief battle with a virus that knocked me out pretty good. I invented the game of “Track Down the Democratic / Independent’s reason for Betraying the Party Line and Voting With Republicans” in the dumbest possible thing I’ve ever seen Congress do…. But hey, if you dig down the hole, you’ll find Wonderland, where each Senator lives in… Reposted the graphic I made here (click on it to make it larger):I also spoke about AI and the grandfather of it who was working on it when I was getting my undergrad degree, except he was trying to find a mentor for his AI doctoral thesis and there was nobody AT MIT that was suited for the job back in the 1980’s.The guy’s name is Yann LeCun, and the Wall Street Journal article featuring his point of view on AI is here. If you missed the show, I hope you’ll watch, like, and subscribe! We love new subscribers - free or paid; and we shout out a HUGE THANK YOU to those with paid subscriptions: You’re keeping the lights on here! You can subscribe at this link:We’re an entirely reader/viewer-supported publication, so we appreciate any help you can provide as a paid patron. We understand times are tough for many, which is why I don’t block content for free subscribers - so we’d love to have you either way! Thank you!Rick’s Substack is Here:Lisa’s Substack is Here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Lisa | We Are The Third Estate, Jennifer Wells, Deborah J., Deb, Laura K, and many others for tuning into my live video with Ellie Leonard! We had a great time Saturday Evening talking about Epstein, the global power brokers’ entanglement in the story, monumental revelations from connecting many (!) small dots, other recent interviews, and Ellie’s work in fiction she’s sharing with us through her book. Ellie’s a bright light, a completely unique shining star, a magma-busting bedrock of authenticity, and one of the most fun people I’ve ever had the chance to hang out and chat with! I’m so excited to share this interview with her, because her attitude, relentlessness, can-do spirit, and quick-witted mind make for an attention-deserving hour-plus you’ll enjoy and probably learn from. In short, you leave every conversation with her carrying an invisible upgrade you didn’t ask for but desperately needed.Please, do both of us a favor and become subscribers if you find this work of value. We love sharing our perspectives. By joining as a free or paid subscriber, you help us out immensely.To subscribe to my (Rick’s) Substack, click the button below. We’re always grateful and humbled by paid subscribers for helping pay the bills. Click on Ellie’s Substack and, if you haven’t already, please do become a subscriber! It’s worth every moment of effort and every nickel you can support us with! Link to her Substack is here:Link to my Substack is here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Richard Hogan, MD, PhD(2), DBA, Judith Evans, Deborah J., J’Lynn Davis, Michelle Robinson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Many thanks to the community that joined and made our Live session this evening (afternoon if you were on the West Coast!) so interesting and fun! We love getting together to chat about today’s big news topics, from the Democrats giving an inch on the ACA and getting shot down by the Republicans, to views in Mike Johnson’s home district - heavy users of the SNAP and Medicaid programs right in his own backyard. We listened to Steve Bannon tell his audience that they were going to jail in 2028 because the Dems were going to witch hunt him and them down and make up laws to punish them. And we listened to a clip from Lindsay Graham that shows he’s probably lit on more than a few ounces of booze!Lots of ground to cover, and we’re grateful to all of you who attended the Live! We hope those of you that didn’t can spend time with us in the recorded version of it, and enjoy the show! Always, your constructive comments or genuine questions are welcomed, and we want to hear from you!My Substack publication, Adverse Action Daily, put out an article today and we’d love for you to read it, as on Sunday we’ll be picking up the discussion on how to move forward, what your big reasons are for getting in on the ground floor, and how you can do something very meaningful to help change the 2026 midterm elections to our democracy’s favor!Here’s my Substack:And here’s Lisa’s (We are the Third Estate!) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you julie elder, Kay Smith, Candyce F., Rob C, K K, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! It was great to chat with our engaged and intelligent audience this evening. We brought you news from wide-ranging topics, from the boat bombings and murders in the seas near Venezuela, to updates on SNAP, to much more! There’s a lot of news happening in the world right now, and our job is to parse it and help all of us get up to speed on what it means.One thing we didn’t discuss on the list was the new polling that shows a drop in two areas: first, Americans now have a much lower opinion of America than they did just 10 months ago. Second were the new numbers showing DJT’s drop in polling as the negative effects of his policies cause real Americans much pain. We’ll hopefully circle back on that topic in our next episode!Please check out my Substack for other articles and videos if you’re interested. Below that is a link to Lisa’s Substack. It really helps us out if you subscribe—FREE or PAID. We do our best to keep our costs low and manage our money carefully, but even we are being stung by rising prices everywhere. We don’t want you to be overextended in times like these, so don’t feel pressure if it’s too much right now—we get it, we really do. We’re just glad you’re joining us, and we want you to come back. Here are our links:Rick’s Substack:Lisa’s Substack: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Lisa Joy 🏳️‍🌈, Ashley Schmitt ⚜️, julie elder, Susan Theriault, Kay Smith, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join me for my next live video in the app.Thanks all for a great turnout tonight - We’re grateful you’re here, and hope you’ll share this recording of our LIVE with your friends and acquaintances! We talk about headlines from various wide-ranging topics, ask some tough questions, and try to get beneath just a surface view of the sound-bite media. Our mission is larger: We want to ultimately empower future candidates in the 2026 elections who are aligned with fixing the big ticket items the Republicans have demolished. (We’re not into splitting policy hairs, nor are we hard core agenda freaks… There’s room for a central message to exist, liberty to exist alongside it, and our basic human freedoms and needs met by our government. Life unfolds unpredictably, as both Lisa and I know, and there has to be room for social safety nets as well as social security benefits for the long haul of our older years (which we ALL hopefully get to live and enjoy!).Soon we’ll be taking on a new name, and with it a huge call to action to help turn our ideas and shared beliefs into more than just articles or podcast talks. We want to actually begin to raise the tent we think should be full of voters with like-minded ideas - looking forward to a sensible, understandable, and not-insane federal government. We deserve good leaders in our Congress, and in our States and Local positions as well. That’s driving our goals into the future, and we want your help! DM either of us for a list of the big items we’re trying to accomplish and how you might be able to assist.Have a great rest of your weekend - or until we join together tomorrow (Sunday)! We’re set to go live at 7PM est / 4PM pst. Sincerely hope to see you there! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Jeanne Elbe, Judith Evans, Niki~Niki 🙉🙈🙊, Susan Theriault, Rebecca Smit, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate and Shane Yirak! Join me for my next live video in the app.Tonight’s lively conversation with Shane and Lisa was a lot of fun, punctuated with some dark satire over the Trump regime’s misplaced priorities and disregard for the will of the people. Moreover, we got into some great discussions about the oligarchs’ effect on everyday Americans and the monstrosity they’ve created via the economy and their drive to build global conglomerates.Please like if you do, subscribe (as FREE OR PAID subscribers!) and restack, please - it helps us enormously and we all appreciate your support!We’re a reader and viewer-supported publication. We’d love to have you as a free or paid subscriber - please join today to help spread the word and widen our community!Shane’s Substack is here:And Lisa’s Substack is here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Shane Yirak, Dana DuBois, Lisa | We Are The Third Estate, Deborah J., Lynn Thigpen 🇺🇦, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.We welcomed guest Lawrence Winnerman on the show last night, with a great discussion on political power, ways to interpret events in the crazy political climate we’re in, and much more! We hope that if you missed the live, you can join us on the recording!Please like, comment, and RESTACK if you can—we’re asking for all the help we can get from our wonderful viewers and comment contributors. We read all of them, and are constantly incorporating your feedback into the show! We’re an entirely reader-viewer supported publication, and can use all the help you can provide via a paid or free subscription! We don’t paywall content to keep viewers out. We do this as we work for you - striving for great content and guests along the way! Thank you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Cryn Johannsen, Judith Evans, Deborah J., Maura, Michelle Robinson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join us for our next live video in the app.Tonight, we went through the $230 million DJT wants from his own DOJ, compared how past demolitions of government property have been done, and covered much more!Please join us for Wednesday’s episode, where we’ll continue our commentary and analysis of the day’s news! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Deborah J., 141st Generation American, Roberta Truesdale, Cary Grace, Nora Sallows, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join me for my next live video in the app.Please join us for a replay of our Daily Show - we had a great time tonight and hope you can join us! We talk about the No Kings protests, a lot of the on-the-ground discussion we had from our own experience. Moved to politics, a good clip of Trump’s AI video, and watch Mike Johnson squirm his way around the swearing in of Adelita Grijalva being delayed because she’s the 218th vote needed to RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES. We also discuss the tensions between Federal ICE and local PD - and how the Federal agents are alienating themselves. Lots to cover - and lots to think about.Also - towards the end, Hear Rick’s proposal for the 2025 Christmas Season that moves us just that much closer to a General Strike.We also need your support: A paid subscription is $5/month. If you find value and can afford it, we’d be deeply grateful for your support! Become a paid subscriber or free subscriber today!Lisa’s substack is also available here: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Cash Flow Collective, Jason Dyer, Lauren Tweeton, Gonzo Gato, JASFunGrammie, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join me for my next live video in the app.We talked about several things - some funny, some not - starting with Rick’s “shocker” moment story of doing a Live on the Daily Whatever Show that was entirely MY fault for “forgetting” while simultaneously cooking dinner for my family - and pulled it all off. Speaks to how we just reveal our real-life chaos and less-than-stellar moments. We moved on to lots of discussion about No Kings protests and the Republican framing of them as Hate America rallies. Lots more, and we invite you to tune in to our recording of this episode.Also, friends, you know I’m not an arm twisting guy, but I really do my best to stay away from our podcasts feeling like the old-fashioned PBS Fundraisers. However, we’re really in need of a little financial support IF you like what we do AND you have the means to help us. Our subscription price is $5/month, and it offsets our production expenses ONLY - we don’t break even by far. We’re looking to grow by 30 more paid subscribers by the end of the month to keep the shortfall manageable. If you can help, please start the signup process here:Please enter your email and click “Subscribe” to become a PAID or FREE Subscriber!Thanks again - and we really want you to know we’re not asking people who are financially strapped right now (and there are many) to help us out. We WANT YOU as a FREE subscriber, too! Every bit helps.Lisa’s substack can be found here:MY ORIGINAL “ADVERSE ACTION DAILY” Substack can be found HERE: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Cat, Jeanne Elbe, Beth Cruz, Rachel Hendricks, Karen Brownfield, and many others for tuning into my live video with Dana DuBois and Lawrence Winnerman! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you john king (MY HUMBLE OPINION), Deborah J., Janie 🪡, Nicki, Patti Gurza Dully, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join me for my next live video in the app TONIGHT AT 7:30PM EST, 4:30PM PST.We’re grateful to you for joining last evening, and hope that you enjoyed the show. If you weren’t able to join, please take a listen to the LIVE podcast here! We discuss everything from the No Kings protests, to Trump’s efforts to prosecute his enemies by weaponizing the DOJ, to social issues and more!Adverse Action Daily is completely reader and viewer supported. Your subscription ($5/mo) helps keep us doing this work and keeping you informed of the latest and largest issues - and how they impact your daily life. If you can’t join as a paid sub, we welcome you as a FREE one too! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Elaine the Mean Old Feminist, Susan Theriault, Deborah J., K K, TorchBearer, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app..News commentary and analysis on major news topics of the day - the Young Republicans 2,900 page pile of bigotry, misogyny, malice, gas chambers - all dismissed by JD Vance as "college group chat” (if you’re the Hitler Youth and condone gassing people). Also, how do we get to a path of “Indefinite Martial Law” in the US before the midterms? And some good news: A judge in CA ordered the Trump regime to stop mass firings during the government shutdown, citing inept lawyers from the DOJ.Times are weird, but we do our best to make the insensible at least comprehensible by breaking it down and talking about it in a clear and sensible way, sticking to facts and data. We also have a great time with our fantastic audience, whom we treat with respect and dignity. We don’t care how versed you are (or aren’t) in politics and government; we’ll bring you up to speed!Join us for our podcast Tuesdays-Fridays at 7:30pm EST / 4:30pm PST, and 3:30pm EST Saturdays, 7:30pm Sundays. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Lawrence Winnerman, john king (MY HUMBLE OPINION), Jeanne Elbe, Deborah J., Linda Simpson 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🌈🎸👮🏻‍♀️, and many others for tuning into our live video! Join us for my next live video in the app Tomorrow Evening at 7:30pm EST.We’re grateful for your time and participation in our LIVE cast where we discussed the machinations of the Trump administration, but also the foundations of Progressive thought and its endless cycle of evolution. Challenge that against the promises of Yarvin and Neoreactionary thought (NRx), and there are compelling reasons why conservatives want to stick with the knowable and “certainty” - which is fundamentally an illusion.But there are even better opportunities by sticking out the evolutionary processes of Progressive thought - it leads to real reform, new levels of participation in Democracy, and much more. Join in by watching the podcast at your leisure. We really appreciate any support you can help us with by:* Signing up as a PAID Subscriber ($5/mo)* Signing up as a FREE Subscriber (Hey, we get it)* Liking this post, if you do!* RESTACKING and SHARING as you can to friends and family to get the word out so we can continue doing what we do.Thanks again to all who joined this evening… we had quite a turnout for a Tuesday evening!Rick and Lisa This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Cat, Lisa | We Are The Third Estate, Susan Theriault, Sass-writer, Sybil Walker, and many others for tuning into my live video with Ellie Leonard! Join me for my next live video in the app.And my Substack Publication: The Adverse Action Daily! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you julie elder, Christine A Myres, Gayla Kunis, GW B, J’Lynn Davis, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Lisa Joy 🏳️‍🌈, Donna Carrillo Lopez, Philippa King, Rob C, GG Haegelin, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Shane Yirak, Deborah J., Pat, Lynette, Susan Luna, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.We’re grateful for all of you who tuned in last evening for the awesome conversation we had with Shane and Lisa! It’s always a lot of fun with Shane, and we go down some pretty intense paths into hot subjects of the day. This time we talked through what Shane is irritated the most about, and that led to a conversation about drugs being approved by the FDA without going through normal processes. We talked about the apparent conflicting agendas manifesting in the Trump regime, and much more! We’re excited to be planning future cross visits between our shows so we can carry on the discussion!Please consider SUBSCRIBING, FREE OR PAID, to my (Rick Herbst’s) article-writing and podcasting on The Adverse Action Daily. I’m grateful for every contribution to my effort to bring excellent, hard-working analysis and facts to each of you every day!We’re completely viewer and reader-supported! Please consider becoming a paid subscriber for $5/mo. If that’s not doable, we welcome you as a free subscriber too!Shane Yirak’s SubstackLisa | We Are the Third Estate’s SubstackAdverse Action Daily Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you, Nick Paro, Deborah J., Susan Jagoda, Pat, Michael, and many others for tuning into our live video! Join us for our next video in the app!We had a great conversation with Nick today, exploring his background and setting the stage for future interviews where we can delve into more details about his experience, address our viewers’ questions, and have a great time together! He has a rich history with his journey to Substack, how he’s using the platform today to spread his message, and how his past has informed his views on the world right now!We’re grateful to all who were able to make the Live show - now we’re making it available to you!Please consider SUBSCRIBING, FREE OR PAID, to my (Rick Herbst’s) article-writing and podcasting on The Adverse Action Daily. I’m grateful for every contribution to my effort to bring excellent, hard-working analysis and facts to each of you every day!We’re completely viewer and reader-supported! Please consider becoming a paid subscriber for $5/mo. If that’s not doable, we welcome you as a free subscriber too!Also: Check out Lisa | We’re the Third Estate’s Substack at:Check out Nicks Paro’s Substack at: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you Christina Gurchinoff, Dianne Bryant, GW B, Linda Williams, Whitneymd05, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate and Shane Yirak! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

Thank you julie elder, Linda Roberta Hibbs, Sandra Tuttle, Deborah J., Richard Von Busack, and many others for tuning into my live video with Lisa | We Are The Third Estate! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickherbst.substack.com