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The Swamp Circus

The Swamp Circus

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Movies, Star Trek, Disney and everything-in-between reviews from a middle class, white trash, perspective. Andy, Kerry and the troupe of guys will give you their take on it all unapologetically. Welcome to circus!! http://www.theswampcircus.com
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Political power: Who wants it? Who wields it? And why? Through compelling conversations with power players, newsmakers, and experts, The X-Ray answers these questions, providing listeners with insightful analysis of the biggest issues facing our democracy at home and abroad. The X-Ray is brought to you by Issue One, producers of the Swamp Stories podcast.
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Her vibrant son was driven to suicide by a relentless barrage of social media bullying. Carson Bride was like millions of American kids in the age of social apps: vulnerable to the algorithms that drive profitable engagement regardless of the psychological devastation they may cause. In our final episode of the season, Fernando speaks with Carson’s…
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The United States’ success as a country, the consolidation of democracy, its ability to conquer a continent and then project massive power across the world, is due in part to its relationship with Latin America. As the polymath author of the seminal book Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond explained, geography is destiny. And the United States’ sou…
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Why do most Americans strongly disapprove of Congress? It’s complicated. Addiction to power, fame, and money has always been part of Congress’ ick factor and the brutal politics of our era create all sorts of perverse incentives for members to cosplay TV stars. But is there something deeper going on? Is Congress broken forever? Fernando hunts for a…
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The 2017 neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville was a coming out party for the extreme-right movement. From that ugly debut, white nationalist groups are now literally marching across the country. Most recently in East Cobb, Georgia, Jewish worshippers were terrorized at a synagogue by swastika brandishing thugs. With a jump in attacks against ethnic, r…
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Latino voter participation jumped dramatically in the last two elections — yet the Washington DC political class seems pretty clueless about these voters. And if the surprising midterm results are a real trend, the Latino vote is in play for both parties. How effectively Democrats and Republicans persuade — or repel — Latinos could very well determ…
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The Ukraine war took an unexpected turn — into Russia. The spectacular march on Moscow by Vladimir Putin’s rebellious henchman exposed the strongman’s surprising weakness. During these dramatic events, the Russian nuclear superpower teetered on the edge of chaos. And as America ramps up support for Ukraine, an unstable Russia is now an even bigger …
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A majority of Americans increasingly question the Supreme Court’s authority. Deeply controversial decisions have sparked public outrage, raising concerns about the Court’s legitimacy and its outsized impact on American democracy. Fernando digs into the Court’s growing unpopularity with Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Ju…
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With the resolution of the debt ceiling crisis in sight, we’re asking the key question – just what did Americans get for all the fire-breathing threats to drive the country into a catastrophic default? Fernando speaks with freshman Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-RI) to find out how this madness looks from inside the tent, through the eyes of someone…
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The drip-drip of revelations surrounding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is sabotaging the legitimacy of the nation’s highest court. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in luxury gifts have gone undisclosed. It’s a troubling pattern of shady behavior at an institution that is considered a cornerstone of American democracy. U.S. Senator Sheldon W…
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Two drones explode over the Kremlin. Giant fuel depots blow up in occupied Crimea. Mysterious detonations hit several cities deep in Russia. Are these the first attacks in Ukraine’s much anticipated spring counteroffensive? Will this campaign finally start liberating Ukraine from Vladimir Putin’s bloody invasion? And why should Americans care about…
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Here we go again. Congress is facing a June 1 deadline to avoid a totally preventable “debt ceiling” crisis. If no one flinches in this dangerous game of chicken, the U.S. economy will be dragged into a cataclysm, destroying America’s global reputation and unleashing unfathomable pain for every American family. An artifact from World War I, the deb…
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Andrew Yang is at it again. Starting with his debut on the national stage in the 2020 presidential election, the entrepreneur without government experience jumped into the political arena with a fresh message and camera-ready charisma. And though he lost his quest for the presidency, he gained a national following and reputation for deep thoughts. …
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Like a party guest that won’t leave, Donald Trump is the rare losing presidential candidate that is making another run at the White House. Twice impeached and now indicted, Trump is nevertheless the favorite candidate to win the Republican nomination, according to recent polls. But what does this mean for our political system overall? And what’s th…
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Since Donald Trump entered the presidential race in 2015, his MAGA movement has grown exponentially, attracting millions of fervent followers and directly influencing political leaders across the country. In this episode of The X-Ray, Fernando and Greg Sargent, an opinion columnist at The Washington Post who covers national politics, have a wide-ra…
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When Donald Trump is arrested and formally charged this Tuesday for alleged crimes in New York, it will be a historic spectacle. As we all know, no U.S. president or former president has ever been charged with a crime. This unprecedented event puts the nation in uncharted, and some say, dangerous territory. To understand what this all really means,…
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No one has done more to expose social media‘s threat to democracy than Frances Haugen, globally famous as the Facebook Whistleblower. Frances exposed how Facebook’s secret algorithms generated engagement by stoking hate, division, conspiracy theories and sometimes even violence. Fernando and Frances discuss the risks social media poses to our democ…
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Is the rise of authoritarianism in America real? Is democracy at risk? Just a few years ago, this would have been ridiculous. But after the rise of Donald Trump and the January 6 insurrection, fascism is no longer an old idea from history, some experts say it is a clear and present danger. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of the bestseller “Strongmen: From M…
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Introducing The X-Ray with Fernando Espuelas — a new podcast with a fresh take on political power: Who wants it? Who wields it? And why? Through compelling conversations with newsmakers, power players, and experts, The X-Ray answers these questions, providing listeners with insightful analysis of the biggest issues facing our democracy at home and …
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After two years and nearly 50 episodes, Swamp Stories host Weston Wamp started a new chapter in his life. So we’re launching an awesome new show — The X-Ray, which will feature fresh conversations with some of the biggest newsmakers about challenges facing democracy — at home and abroad. We hope you'll join us every week on The X-Ray. Look for our …
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In honor of all you horned up Carney's. The Swamp Circus wishes you a Happy Vash-entines with Captains Holiday, the first in a three part series for February. So nuzzle up to a loved one and listen to the soothing sounds of two assholes making bad jokes about Picard's love life. And please, always support single working mothers.…
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As season two of "Swamp Stories" comes to a close, so does Weston's time as host of the show. After nearly 50 episodes that cover a wide range of national democracy reform topics, Weston has turned his sights back home to Tennessee. He was recently sworn in as the mayor of Hamilton County, the state's fourth largest county. For Weston's final episo…
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During the 2022 midterm elections, in many of the most competitive, high-profile races, Americans rejected election denialism. But it’s also still true that many people have lost trust in our elections. That is because former President Trump and his allies have spent more than two years spreading lies that the 2020 election was “stolen.” Upon its r…
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This year, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has spent millions of dollars boosting election denier candidates in GOP primaries across the country in the gamble that they will be easier for Democrats to beat this November. Many have denounced this tactic as dangerous, including some Democratic Party members, former elected officials w…
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In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, it became clear that the Electoral Count Act of 1887, the legislation that provides the framework governing the casting and counting of electoral votes, needed updating because of its arcane language and ambiguities that could be exploited by bad actors willing to overturn the will of the people I…
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Election officials and poll workers are our friends, family, and neighbors. They are dedicated workers who manage a vital part of our democratic infrastructure. But because of a massive election disinformation campaign led by former President Trump and his allies, they have become the target of threats, intimidation, and harassment — adding to thei…
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The 2020 election season, while carried out successfully by dedicated election officials and poll workers, exposed one glaring problem with the U.S. system of elections: it is chronically underfunded. Though Congress allocated $400 million for election assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was far short of what experts and election administra…
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Over the next few weeks, the bipartisan House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is holding a series of historic hearings to shed light on the events leading up to and on January 6, 2021. During the hearings, we are hosting a special series of “Swamp Stories” to bring listeners in-depth analysis by s…
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Over the next few weeks, the bipartisan House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is holding a series of historic hearings to shed light on the events leading up to and on January 6, 2021. During the hearings, we are hosting a special series of “Swamp Stories” to bring listeners in-depth analysis by s…
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Over the next few weeks, the bipartisan House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is holding a series of historic hearings to shed light on the events leading up to and on January 6, 2021. During the hearings, we are hosting a special series of “Swamp Stories” to bring listeners in-depth analysis by s…
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In episode 40 of our “Swamp Stories” podcast, Weston talks with former Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) — who currently sits on the board of directors of Issue One and is a member of Issue One’s National Council on Election Integrity and ReFormers Caucus — about how he became involved in politics, pushing back against lies that the 2020 election was stol…
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Social media has become a part of our daily lives, as we scroll endlessly through curated feeds. But it’s clear that these platforms are having a negative impact on our lives and our society in ways we never imagined. Platforms that were once a way to connect people have become a place where disinformation flows freely, controversy and division tur…
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Elections across the country are run by dedicated full-time elected officials and by a huge and diverse group of citizens who serve as poll workers — people who might very well be your neighbors, your teacher, or your child’s baseball coach. These folks are the backbone of our elections system, and are the reason that the 2020 election went so smoo…
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A landmark day for The Swamp Circus, all the way from the Commonwealth cometh a legend to sit down with Mr Swamp Circus and talk Star Trek, sex, drugs, and work ethic......YOURS....IS.......SUPERIOR. My dear Carnies it is my pleasure to introduce Dean Martin from Kirking Off, in Swamp Circus's production of Symbiosis.…
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In episode 37 of “Swamp Stories,” Weston talks with Mark Bowden — author of “Black Hawk Down” — and Matthew Teague about their new book, “The Steal,” that offers a week-by-week, state-by-state account of the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In addition to what they reveal about what happened behind the scenes, they discuss how to …
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Imagine a world in which a member of Congress could take money from a corporation and put it in a special bank account that’s supposed to be used to provide political support for their allies in Congress, but instead uses the money to eat at opulent restaurants, buy airline tickets, or pay for lodging at luxury hotels. Well, it doesn’t take too muc…
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