Current Affairs Unfiltered

In this solo episode Paige breaks down a chaotic few weeks in global and domestic politics. She covers the escalating Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict and what it signals about leadership and risk. Closer to home, Paige walks through key primary elections in Illinois and Texas, a judge halting RFK Jr.’s vaccine overhaul, leadership instability within the government (aka Kristi Noem has a worse day than you), and the ripple effects...

In this episode, Paige is joined by Ishaan Srivastava, a 19-year-old political activist and host of The Ishaan S. Show, to talk about how young people are engaging with politics right now. Ishaan shares how he got involved at the local level, why grassroots activism still matters, and how those efforts can ripple into broader political change. The conversation explores the evolving role of political media, the challenge of breaking...

Juan Castillo (Zoned Out Planner) delves into the complexities of zoning laws and their impact on housing, inequality, and urban planning. Juan explains the basics of zoning, its historical context, and how it has evolved to contribute to social disparities. The discussion highlights current trends in zoning reforms, the importance of public participation, and the role of local government in addressing the housing crisis. Juan emph...

In this conversation, Ridge Knapp joins Paige to talk about his campaign for Illinois’s 13th State House District and why this moment demands new voices in state politics. Drawing on his background in organizing, policy, and Democratic leadership, Ridge explains how his generation experiences affordability, housing, and economic insecurity differently — and why those perspectives are missing in Springfield.

He discusses the growing...

Phil Andrews interview starts at: 25:49

This week, Paige breaks down Pam Bondi’s evasive congressional testimony to Kristi Noem’s growing ethical scandals. She examines the Washington Post layoffs and why billionaire ownership is hollowing out journalism rather than saving it. The episode also covers Trump’s overtly political speech at a military base and broader attacks on democratic governors. 

Plus, Phil Andrew returns for a foc...

State Senator Laura Fine joins the show for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about the moment her life changed forever — her husband’s catastrophic accident — and the long, painful journey that followed. She opens up about the impossible choices their family faced, from fighting with an unresponsive insurance system to navigating a maze of denials, delays, and bureaucratic indifference at a time when they were most vulne...

In this episode Paige walks through a month of headlines that feel both surreal and deeply alarming. From the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, to ongoing protests in Iran and the deadly consequences of empty U.S. threats, this episode examines the gap between rhetoric and reality. We'll also break down Donald Trump’s escalating foreign policy posturing on threats toward Greenland.

Domestically, I cover the killing of Al...

In this episode, Paige sits down with Sam Polan, who is running for Congress in Illinois’ 9th District, to unpack why the United States is at a defining crossroads and why the stakes for competent, steady leadership have never been higher. Together, they break down how we ended up in a moment where common sense feels scarce, expertise is undervalued, and political theatrics routinely drown out real governance.

The conversation expl...

In this conversation, Denise Powell, candidate for Nebraska's 2nd district, discusses her transition from a corporate career to community advocacy, driven by political frustrations following the 2016 election. She founded 'Women Who Run Nebraska' to support women candidates and emphasizes the importance of community engagement in politics. Denise highlights the challenges facing Nebraskans, including rising living costs, rural heal...

In this conversation, Matt. Maasdam, a former Navy SEAL and current congressional candidate for Michigan's 7th district, shares his journey from military service to politics. He discusses the importance of leadership, integrity, and compassion in both high-pressure situations and political environments. Matt emphasizes the need for affordable healthcare, the significance of collective bargaining for workers, and the role of trust i...

Care for the entire being, be a man or woman for others. In this conversation, Matt Conroy, candidate for Illinois’s 5th Congressional District, breaks down why the United States is falling behind countries like China when it comes to infrastructure, clean energy, and long-term economic planning. He argues that America’s biggest threat isn’t another nation, but our own refusal to update aging systems and political mindsets that no ...

Anthony David Vernon is back! This time to unpack the escalating situation in Venezuela and what it reveals about U.S. power abroad. Together, they trace the historical roots of American intervention in Latin America through the Monroe Doctrine, examine the real-world consequences of economic sanctions, and break down how U.S. rhetoric around oil and democracy shapes public understanding. Anthony argues that when these developments...

In this episode, Paige sits down with Cait Conley, a veteran, national security expert, and candidate for New York’s 17th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Lawler. Cait discusses the urgent need for government to deliver real results for everyday Americans, focusing on economic stability, family well-being, and restoring trust in public service. Drawing on her leadership experience in high-pressure national secu...

In this episode, social workers Chelsea Laliberte Barnes and Chante Gamby unpack the realities of the fentanyl crisis, exploring how public health, politics, and human impact collide. They discuss the ways the current administration has leveraged the crisis for political gain, often at the expense of evidence-based solutions and the families most affected. Drawing on their frontline experiences, Chelsea and Chante highlight how soc...

This episode features Adriano Kalin, a Chicago-based social justice photographer whose work has become a living record of protest movements, community resilience, and the voices too often pushed to the margins. The conversation traces his path into photography, the evolution of his style, and the ethical considerations of documenting people in vulnerable and high-stakes moments.

Adriano discusses Chicago’s unique political climate,...

Happy final solo episode of the year!! In this episode Paige reflects on the past year (thank you all!!!) before diving in. She delves into the recent masss shootings at Brown University and Bondi Beach, the implications of Rob Reiner's death and the political discourse surrounding it, as well as a lawsuit against Instacart for alleged political discrimination. The episode also covers ICE operations in Minneapolis, escalating tensi...

In this episode, Paige sits down with Hot Takes to unpack his journey from lifelong Republican to political independent, tracing how the rise of Trump and a shift in GOP rhetoric pushed them to reevaluate their values. Together, they explore how Trump’s messaging reshaped the party, and the national conversation, while examining what’s been lost in the era of outrage politics. The conversation dives into the grievances driving the ...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige breaks down a whirlwind month in politics, from Kash Patel’s eyebrow raising private jet habits to Trump’s bulldozing of the East Wing for his own personal ballroom and the wave of pardons that followed. She digs into escalating military activity off the coast of Venezuela, what the latest Election Day results signal about the political landscape, and the real fallout from the mo...

In this episode, Paige and Abby (Political Psych with Abby) unpack the growing intersection of technology, psychology, and politics through the lens of dehumanization. They explore what happens when we start labeling others as “NPCs,” the dangers of the Liar’s Dividend in an AI-saturated world, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping both political discourse and human perception. At its core, the conversation is a call to pres...