So This Just Happened

Programming Note: “So This Just Happened” is going to go on a brief hiatus after this episode, but we wanted to make it an extra special one so we invited Lisa Curry, Matt’s co-host on “Doomscroll” for a live recording. Please enjoy and we’ll see you in a while!Headlines00:00 — House Republicans finally pass an impeachment, and it's going nowhere07:42 — Kansas City Chiefs victory parade becomes latest site of mass shooting18:18 — New poll shows some Trump voters will believe conspiracy theories upon first hearing them24:00 — Beyoncé Knowles doing country songs proves very triggering to some people31:21 — Stung by stepped up criticism about his decaying mental state, Trump now claims his gaffes are on purpose36:13 — Kentucky Republican state legislator claims that her white father was a slave, despite having been born in 193341:06 — Democrats win George Santos’s former congressional seat44:56 — African Methodist Episcopal Church calls for ceasefire in Gaza49:51 — STJH is going on a hiatus for a bit and we wanted you to know51:32 — Group that provided basis for Dinesh D’Souza’s “2000 Mules” admits in court it has no evidence of election fraud in GeorgiaJoin the Conversation!Matt* Twitter* Mastodon* Threads* BlueskyKali* Twitter* Daily Beast* The NationSTJH* Twitter* Apple Podcasts* SpotifyLisa Curry* Instagram* Twitter* Website* Show DatesTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerCover photo: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Deputy Secretary John Tien attend the raising of the Pride Flag at DHS Headquarters in Washington, DC, alongside other component members. June 1, 2022. Photo: DHS This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Headlines00:00 — Mormonism is a lot more varied that most non-Mormons realize06:26 — Exploring how Mormons invented Christian nationalism but also are not fully onboard with Trumpism12:01 — Mormonism and the 1980s “Satanic Panic”23:46 — Why sexual and gender hypocrisy is endemic to reactionary thinking28:57 — Fear of differences is ultimately what motivates reactionaries, and that they know they are losingJoin the Conversation!Matt* Twitter* Mastodon* Threads* BlueskyKali* Twitter* Daily Beast* The NationSTJH* Twitter* Apple Podcasts* SpotifyTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerCover photo: A publicity photo from the musical “The Book of Mormon.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit plus.flux.communityThis is an episode for paid Flux subscribers. Please support our work and enjoy full access on either Patreon or Substack! Headlines00:00 — Nicki Minaj escalates her toxic feud with Megan Thee Stallion07:46 — “A*****e gravitation,” the right wing’s new outreach mechanism to awful celebrities18:07 — Snoop Dogg debases himself with praise for Donald Trump22:30 — Quick Hits: Desperate to execute people, Alabama used nitrogen gas to kill an inmate25:26 — Brittany Watts opening up about persecution by Ohio for having miscarriage27:25 — Joe Manchin keeps making noises about a third-party presidential run28:52 — Nancy Pelosi foments absurd conspiracy theory about Russia and anti-Gaza war protesters31:58 — Charlie Kirk slanders NYC council member as he steps up racist and soulless marketing strategyJoin the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerCover photo: Rapper Nicki Minaj poses for a publicity photo to promote her fragrance line Pink Friday 2. 

Headlines00:00 — New research estimates more than 60,000 rape victims have been forced to carry pregnancies in red states06:09 — After losing every abortion access ballot initiative, Republicans are trying to ban them in several states11:22 — Right wing media spent 50 years telling their audiences they were going to be killed by the libs, the followers now believe it16:35 — Automotive industry in turmoil as demand for electric vehicles has stalled24:07 — Senate Republicans pressured by Trump and others in far right to reject any sort of immigration deal29:19 — MAGA influencers are raging against Taylor Swift, a reversal of their former love of the singer, but is it all fake?Join the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerCover photo: Over 10,000 abortion rights protesters marched on the Minnesota Capitol to demand that abortion remain legal in Minnesota and to protest a recent US Supreme court decision that effectively made abortion illegal in many states. July 27, 2022. Credit: Fibonacci Blue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit plus.flux.communityHeadlinesOnly the first segment is available to free subscribers00:00 — Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he won’t allow any sort of Palestinian state01:48 — Tennessee and Oklahoma introduce “abortion trafficking” censorship bills03:47 — More Oklahoma craziness: State Republican legislator wants to criminalize all forms of pornography05:52 — Former MSNBC host Tiffany Cross speaks out about her firing13:59 — CEOs seem to finally be ending their war on working from home17:24 — Daily Show announces Jon Stewart to host for one day a week until Election DayJoin the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerCover Photo: U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on January 30, 2023. State Department photo by Ron Przysucha

Headlines00:00 — Introduction01:31 — New Hampshire primary results reveal Trump’s big weaknesses as a general election candidate08:32 — Nikki Haley’s opportunistic attitudes toward racism14:04 — New report exposes wildly extreme viewpoints of influential “anti-DEI” activists18:01 — Self-proclaimed free speech activists privately admit they want progressives fired23:20 — Matt Gaetz admits far right is targeting Hispanic and black men for radicalization27:15 — A handful of minor black celebrities are (unintentionally?) helping Republicans propagandize31:33 — Tim Scott humiliated himself in a display for the ages at Trump’s NH victory speechJoin the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerCover Photo: Former President of the United States Donald Trump speaking with attendees at the Republican Jewish Coalition's 2023 Annual Leadership Summit at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. October 28, 2023. Photo: Gage Skidmore / CC BY-SA 2.0 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit plus.flux.communityHeadlinesPaid subscription required to listen to full discussion00:00 — Ohio jury declines to indict Brittany Watts for miscarriage, but many other women will not be so lucky03:11 — Case against NYC subway killer Daniel Penney allowed to continue04:20 — Yes, it is Confederate Christianity06:28 — Right-wingers dropping the pretense of respect for Martin Luther King09:17 — Stephen A. Smith and many other sports media people trash far-right commentator Jason Whitlock14:26 — AI generated content, including fake porn images, is flooding the internetJoin the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerBrittany Watts photo via screenshot

Headlines00:00 — Nikki Haley has no chance, please stop pretending otherwise08:18 — Vivek Ramaswamy ends his fake campaign after getting 7 percent in Iowa11:23 — Despite their genuflections, Haley and Ramaswamy will always be “other” to Republicans 17:40 — Trump has turned to the “pound the table” legal defense because he knows the facts and law don’t favor him22:50 — Kentucky Republican moves to legalize first-cousin incestJoin the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy WimmerNikki Haley photo by Gage Skidmore This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit plus.flux.communityAudio ChaptersThis is a paid episode so only the first chapter is available for free0:00 — Mass grave discovered behind Mississippi jail02:57 — New York Times publishes irresponsible piece on Taylor Swift's sex life05:12 — Trump hatchet-man Roger Stone recorded asking for murder and kidnapping07:03 — Ray Epps sentenced08:59 — Far-right Christian women tangle over how much misogyny is enough16:18 — How fear can keep us in bad situationsJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer

Headlines0:00 — Anti-war protesters at Biden’s Charleston speech reflect unsettled questions of what democracy looks like07:19 — Younger Democrats are feeling frustrated by elderly party leaders who won't listen14:24 — Deranged billionaire Bill Ackman proves attacks on Claudine Gay were not about plagiarism or antisemitism22:47 — Mark Cuban tangles with Elon Musk over diversity initiatives31:08 — Mehdi Hasan leaves MSNBC after show canceled, how about that liberal media?34:02 — Christian Ziegler, embattled Florida Republican chair, fired after rape allegations35:38 — Florida county ‘reviews’ dictionary from schools for sexual contentJoin the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Headlines0:00 — Claudine Gay and the bigger picture05:06 — Christopher Rufo, William F. Buckley, and the right wing’s 70+ year war on education and equality12:47 — Gay’s ouster is making apolitical black Americans pay closer attention to politics 16:43 — “Liberal media” outlets aren’t getting tricked by reactionaries, they agree with them because they are center-right24:50 — Jeffrey Epstein lawsuit documents release have nothing new so far26:52 — Pharmaceutical companies lowering insulin prices after Biden's price control 28:04 — Minimum wages are going up in 22 states in 202429:51 — Michigan Republicans face financial and political disaster thanks to QAnon chairwoman31:55 — Elon Musk and other right-wingers shocked that Green Day is left-wingJoin the ConversationSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podMatthttps://linktr.ee/mattsheffieldhttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit plus.flux.communityKali and Matt are joined by the first-ever STJH guest, Doomscroll co-host Lisa CurryHeadlines0:00 — Winter solstice and the season is the reason04:42 — The Christmas song sweepstakes15:32 — Far-right Christians hate Hallmark now for making some lesbian and gay stories25:38 — MAGA obsessives can't understand why relatives don't want to be around their BS…

Headlines0:00 — Should Trump be banned from the ballot for his insurrection?05:11 — Official government crime reports contradict right-wing fearmongering 09:39 — Ohio is prosecuting a woman who had a miscarriage14:52 — Some of Jeffrey Epstein's business records to be unsealed after court order16:19 — New York establishes commission to examine idea of slavery reparations18:37 — Black gay Republican activist mobbed by far-right activists20:29 — Blaze commentator Jason Whitlock says women shouldn't have right to vote23:25 — Bud Light realizes it can just pay right-wing figures to take the heat off28:04 — Conservative Cringe: A Donald Trump Christmas rapJoin the ConversationMatthttps://linktr.ee/mattsheffieldhttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Headlines00:00 — Texas abortion law's ugly tyranny exposed in court case10:45 — After promoting and protecting antisemites for years, Republicans are now weaponizing anti-antisemitism against Harvard’s first black president21:18 — First-time author Cait Corrain loses contracts after malicious fake book reviews exposed28:51 — Actual justice obtained against Montgomery boat brawl assailants and Atlanta woman who killed black motorist33:00 — Donald Trump sells pieces of suit he supposedly wore along with new NFTs35:21 — Doritos nacho cheese liquor now existsJoin the ConversationMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldhttps://bsky.app/profile/matthew.flux.communityKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Audio Chapters0:00 — Kevin McCarthy announces resignation as MAGA plots revenge against America06:25 — Republicans openly boasting about "purging" the government of anyone who disagrees11:23 — White nationalist activists glory in Elon Musk's rule of Twitter15:09 — Mike Johnson says he's blurring J6 rioter footage to protect people from prosecution20:31 — “Right privilege” and Republicans' freedom to lie constantly and never be confronted for it26:34 — Moms for Liberty or Moms for threesomes?32:16 — George Santos making Cameo videos after being expelledJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Audio Chapters00:00 — "Right privilege" and America's broken politics08:36 — Is the distinction between overt and covert racism worth anything?14:32 — How much do run-of-the-mill Republicans know about their party's policies and aims?21:26 — What the American left has lost since Obama 200829:22 — Why it's important to distinguish between conservatism and reactionism35:46 — Multiple messages are necessary in political communicationJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Audio Chapters0:00 — Intro01:09 — Elon Musk sues Media Matters for telling truth about Twitter's monetized hate11:32 — Republican appeals court judges void part of Voting Rights Act18:22 — Sean "Diddy" Combs settles Cassie Ventura rape lawsuit32:45 — Good news: Retailers getting more likely to give employees Thanksgiving offJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

The Food and Drug administration has announced that it will ban the manufacture of menthol cigarettes as part of a broader prohibition of flavored cigarettes, a policy that must be approved by President Biden. The change is being hailed by some civil rights activists because of how black Americans were targeted by tobacco companies for decades via racis… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Audio Chapters0:00 — Republicans are literally fighting each other now03:53 — The banality and absurdity of evil08:32 — Right-wing groups devising plans to seize power and militarize cities19:10 — Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk and other reactionary figures loudly embrace antisemitic rhetoric28:02 — Reminder: Ayn Rand's hero was a child murderer31:43 — Marlon Wayans shows how to support trans people as a comedianJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Audio Chapters0:00 — Abortion access and legalized pot win big in 2023 elections12:28 — Ex-senator Rick Santorum admits Republicans don't want people to vote16:14 — Right-wing lack of empathy flows from their limited epistemology21:06 — Democrats almost win Mississippi governor's race28:44 — Britney Spears is finally her own personJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

0:00 — Mike Johnson’s first bill is to let oligarchs cheat on taxes08:51 — The mystery of why Mike Johnson has rarely talked about his adopted black son17:27 — Mike Johnson let his biological teenage son know about his porn viewing habits23:16 — How religious fundamentalism encourages sexual abuse by mislabeling healthy sexuality29:17 — New Jersey high school roiled by fake nude images of students35:33 — The power of hope and why we’re doing thisJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) has become the most far-right speaker of the house in modern politics. In this episode, Kali and Matt dissect Johnson's record of vicious extremism against LGBT people, abortion rights, and social safety net programs.Timecodes00:00 — Christian supremacist Mike Johnson becomes Republicans' Speaker of the House11:47 — Accused Maine shooter reportedly followed and liked content from Musk, Shapiro, and others14:58 — Daily Wire host Matt Walsh says he doesn't care if he puts trans people's lives at risk20:02 — Far-right activist Christopher Rufo announces plan to brand Black Lives Matter a terrorist group23:28 — Disinformation is an essential ingredient to reactionary political strategy30:29 — A videogame vampire with emotional trauma is winning fansJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

House Republicans continue to be in a hilarious disarray which is also illustrative of larger historical and philosophical trends.Timecodes01:51 — Jim Jordan is horrible and horribly incompetent12:21 — Republicans can't pick a speaker because they're "individualists" instead of conservatives 19:13 — Elon Musk says he wants to charge $1 per year to use Twitter22:08 — Musk's politicized removal of fact-checking is allowing disinformation about the Israel-Hamas war to proliferate27:22 — Far-right people haven't realized that society doesn't need to debate basic things31:01 — Fox sports commentator uncorks conspiracy theory about tap waterJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldhttps://mastodon.social/@mattsheffieldhttps://www.threads.net/@realmattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Episode Topics* People are taught by society their personal self-worth is at least partially a function of their relationship status or how much sex they’re having. It’s a toxic narrative that manifests in many different ways but must* Rapper Doja Cat provoked her fans by wearing a shirt of a neo-Nazi, after she earlier had been demonstrated to have used racial slurs and alt-right memes. But she’s not alone in being a non-white young person who flirts with racists.* How violence, terrorism, and oppression in Israel are dividing the American leftTimecodes00:00 — How women and men are taught opposite lies about sex and relationships07:43 — Doja Cat and racist non-white people23:52 — Israel and Palestine are dividing the U.S. leftJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit plus.flux.communityEpisode SummaryUnless you’re steeped in right-wing media, you may not know it, but reactionary Republicans think you are ugly if you disagree—especially if you’re a woman.But they also believe that the entertainment media and celebrities generally are against them as well. We talk about the contradiction in this bonus clip.Join the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer

Thanks for listening and please support the show by giving us a good review on Apple Podcasts!Timecodes01:48 Kevin McCarthy is ousted as Republicans are in disarray08:00 Most mainstream media reporters still won't tell the truth about Republican extremism11:04 Elon Musk's ideological goals for Twitter further revealed14:46 Pre-Musk Twitter wasn't perfect, but he had to destroy it because it allowed the left to organize organically24:04 Rapper Sexyy Red says she "loves" Donald TrumpJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Episode SummaryFor months, Fox and other right-wing media outlets told their audiences how great Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the deranged anti-vaccine activist was. Now, some of them are starting to fear that Kennedy might take Trump votes away as a Libertarian Party candidate. Join Matt and Kali as they discuss.Thanks for listening and please support the show by giving us a good review on Apple Podcasts!Timecodes00:00 — Fox News's Kennedy hype just might backfire07:56 — While RFK Jr. could hurt Trump, he still could hurt Biden 10:56 — Why are so many right wing political activists frustrated actors?16:42 — Republican are still debating, does anyone care?20:35 — Trump can only be attacked successfully from the left--even in Republican primaries24:31 — Seattle residents frustrate the hell out of Fox reporterJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocals by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

SummaryCountry music star Maren Morris announced that she's going to leave the industry after realizing that genre fans were too reactionary for her, in part by many people playing and purchasing songs meant to be perceived as threats to Black Lives Matter protesters and anti-fascist activists.Because it originated as a musical form from the former confederacy, country music has many vestiges of that racist and theocratic tradition, but nonetheless, it is also true that country, and the Old South, were always multiracial and multi-ideological.Join Kali and Matt as they explore the politics of country music and several other topics in this episode.Timecodes00:00 — Maren Morris says country music is too right-wing for her07:02 — Country music industry divided over its cultural ties to Confederate Christianity11:04 — Republicans are obsessing over Kamala Harris20:33 — Richard Hanania and the many similarities between right-wing elites and grassroots23:51 — More fallout for Lauren Boebert after theater incident25:47 — Russell Brand's defenders trying to turn him into a martyrJoin the Conversation!Matthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podTheme SongEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocal by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

SummaryA new poll from Change Research for Teen Vogue of young adults finds that being MAGA is absolutely loathed by a majority of people between the ages of 18 and 34. According to the survey, 76 percent of women in the age group say that discovering their date is a MAGA Republican is a “red flag” for them; 59 percent of men in the age group agreed.The survey, which is definitely worth checking out, also found that being a fan of Joe Rogan is a red flag for 55 percent of young women. And that’s because the right-wing podcaster is part of a much bigger constellation of reactionary media which is constantly denigrating and insulting women. Instead of realizing this, however, many Republicans have taken to blaming “wokeness” instead of looking inward.Despite their strong dislike of the far-right, however, young Americans are also very concerned for the future and Democrats have not convinced many of them.Timecodes00:00 — Poll finds that being a Joe Rogan fan is a dating “red flag” for most young women03:33 — Politics as source of relationship disruption13:12 — Dateless young Republican men are bearing the brunt of Gen Z's loathing of the GOP20:14 — Why creativity is inherently un-conservative24:36 — Although younger people are estranged from Republicans, they are not big fans of Democrats32:34 — Lauren Boebert’s “Beetlejuice” tantrumFollow usMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podSTJH on Apple PodcastsHelp us out by leaving a 5-star written review, even short ones are helpful!Theme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics and Vocal by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

SummaryOver the past month, you couldn't go anywhere as a political junkie without being force-fed takes from right-wing media figures on the music of Oliver Anthony, who turns out to be someone who isn't particularly a fan of Republicans.In this episode, Kali and Matt talk about why Republicans are so desperate to be cool and how it's also related to their demeaning and often racist attitudes toward Black Americans.Timecodes02:16 -- Republicans aren't cool, and they know it all too well06:51 -- The right's love-hate relationship with adult entertainers09:28 -- No, Donald Trump is not the next Tupac because he got a mugshot16:13 -- The possible cognitive roots America's political divide23:47 -- Vivek Ramaswamy's Hindu Christian nationalism33:30 -- Ted Cruz's cringe beer PR stuntStories mentionedTurning Point USA kicks out adult film star Brandi LoveRepublicans wishcast about Trump and the Black vote after mugshotThe mini Capitol Insurrection that no one coveredVivek Ramaswamy is reconfiguring Republican candidaciesRamaswamy's attempt at Hindu-Christian nationalism Ted Cruz fails at beer drinking Ron DeSantis shows he's good at smilingFollow usMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffieldKalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftwSTJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_podSTJH on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-this-just-happened/id1703405570Theme songEasy Lover: “The End of Our Deceit”Lyrics by Kali HollowayMusic by Jeremy Wimmer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

So much of the political and religious extremism that is currently plaguing the United States and many other countries likely derives from personal psychological trauma. Matt and Kali kick off a multi-faceted discussion of this topic talking about Lady MAGA, a pro-Trump drag queen who had to abandon her profession after Republicans decided to create a nationwide trans panic.Timecodes01:51 -- Obergefell v. Hodges and the conservative bifurcation of queer equality movement06:49 -- Why intersectionality matters and one way of explaining it to others12:02 -- How the right manipulates sexually frustrated straight men15:41 -- How some people use "affirmative action" as an excuse for personal setbacks22:17 -- The importance of positivity in the fight against injustice27:31 -- How the far right seeks to create center-to-left discouragement31:58 -- A note about our theme music33:59 -- Drag and transgender people have always been part of Western cultureFollow UsMatthttps://twitter.com/mattsheffield Kalihttps://twitter.com/kalihollowayftw STJH on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/stjh_pod  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe

Welcome to a new Flux podcast called “So This Just Happened,” a show about culture and politics, with a particular emphasis on gender, race, sex, and religion. We’ll be covering the news, but also what it means to us as individuals in weekly conversations that seek to explore and promote intersectional understanding.Each episode is part of a larger conversation, so you’ll notice that there will never be a formal introduction.Co-host Matthew Sheffield is a writer, podcaster, web developer, and television producer whose writings and broadcasts about public opinion, right-wing extremism, misinformation, and technology trends have been quoted and cited by numerous media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, NPR, NBC, CNN, and PC Magazine.Co-host Kali Holloway is a writer for The Nation and The Daily Beast. She’s also a singer and musician who’s featured in “The End of Our Deceit,” which is our podcast’s theme song.Timecodes00:00— MAGA rapper Forgiato Blow and his Satan-themed rhymes and their larger context07:07 — Why right-wing cultural products are usually very terrible09:07 — That time a Moms for Liberty co-founder challenged Matt to a debate and then chickened out13:14 — Many people on the center-left are getting tired of useless debates, but this is exactly what the far right wants18:44 — How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used real history about racist medical practices to lie about vaccines to Black people25:20 — How and why reactionary activists use “divide and conquer” to demoralize and divide the center-left and the progressive left28:40 — A new app promises users it can help them shop their political values. Is that taking politics too seriously? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit plus.flux.community/subscribe