Current Affairs Unfiltered

In this conversation, Danielle Reiff, a retired US diplomat, shares her extensive experience in democracy promotion and peacebuilding. She discusses misconceptions about USAID, the impact of its work on global stability, and the importance of development diplomacy. Reiff emphasizes the need for better communication about USAID's role and the long-term benefits of its initiatives, particularly in mitigating conflict and promoting de...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige delves into the complex and troubling story of Jeffrey Epstein, exploring his rise from humble beginnings to becoming a powerful figure entangled in a web of sexual abuse and political connections. The conversation covers Epstein's early life, his financial empire, the allegations against him, the challenges faced by law enforcement, and the implications of his connections to hig...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige sits down with Adam, founder of the Just Future Fund, a progressive super PAC with an unconventional mission: to flip the political system on its head by using its own tools against it. Together, they unpack the murky world of campaign finance—explaining the difference between PACs, super PACs, and dark money groups—and why the Citizens United decision changed everything.

Adam sh...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige discusses a range of topics including the devastating floods in Texas and the tragedy at Camp Mystic, the complexities of US-Iran relations and military actions, the implications of the recent One Big Beautiful Bill, significant Supreme Court decisions affecting federal workforce policies, and controversial antisemitic comments made by Donald Trump. The episode provides a critica...

In this conversation, Paige and Sam discuss the multifaceted challenges facing public education today, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. They explore the struggles teachers face, including workload, compensation, and the need for support staff. The discussion also touches on the political pressures affecting education, the importance of community support, and the future of public schools. Sam emphasizes the need for educational...

Oh boy... In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige discusses a range of pressing political issues, including Donald Trump's military parade, public protests against presidential power grabs, the alarming rise in political violence, and the implications for civil liberties. She also addresses the youth unemployment crisis and Trump's controversial plans to dismantle FEMA, alongside Tucker Carlson's recent critiques of Fo...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige sits down with journalist and author Jenny Abamu to unpack the tangled mess that is truth in today’s media landscape. They dig into how journalism shapes national memory, why misinformation spreads like wildfire, and what happens when headlines chase clicks instead of facts. From the pressures of the 24-hour news cycle to the slow erosion of public trust, Jenny breaks down the fo...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige returns from Europe with fresh perspective. She dives into the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” unpacking the backlash from Elon Musk, the chaos it’s stirred on the Hill, and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s proud refusal to read it. Paige also breaks down Senator Joni Ernst’s grim take on Medicaid cuts (“we’re all going to die”), the FEMA directors' head-scratching ignorance about hu...

In this episode, Paige is joined by professor, philosopher and writer Anthony David Vernon for a wide-ranging conversation on the quiet evolution of fascism in contemporary culture. They explore how fascist ideologies are increasingly "disguised". Co-opting everything from AI and internet aesthetics to nostalgic pop culture and traditional values. Vernon breaks down how nationalism remains the central thread of fascist movements, a...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige unpacks a whirlwind of political headlines, starting with President Biden’s recent cancer diagnosis and the media frenzy that followed. She dives into Trump’s ongoing assault on regulation and accountability, the chaos surrounding the latest budget bill, and the high-stakes debate over birthright citizenship. Also on the docket: a disturbing bombing at a fertility clinic, the lat...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige and Brittany Rastsmith, founder of Bloom Remote, unpack the politics of remote work—how it became a cultural battleground, what it says about worker autonomy, and why the debate goes far beyond productivity. From the historical roots of labor control to the modern media narratives fueling office nostalgia, they explore the tension between flexibility and surveillance, the impact ...

Paige dives into the latest swirl of political absurdity and serious concern. From Karoline Leavitt’s meltdown over price transparency at checkout to Trump’s partisan purge of the Holocaust Memorial Council. Paige breaks down Canada’s surprising election swing, a new U.S. - Ukraine minerals deal, and the bizarre proposal to reopen Alcatraz. She also digs into Trump’s recent interview blunders (dodging questions about due process an...

Let's talk money... In this conversation, Paige chats with Dan McMillan, the founder of Save Democracy in America, and discusses the urgent need for campaign finance reform in the United States, emphasizing the failure of the current political system and the overwhelming influence of money in politics. He introduces the concept of 'voter dollars' as a potential solution to empower citizens and reclaim democracy. McMillan highlights...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige runs through the whirlwind of headlines from the past two weeks. From the latest twists in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case and the threat of more El Salvador gulags, to governors and universities pushing back on Trump’s agenda—and yes, the most absurd space flex yet: Blue Origin.

We’ll unpack the rise of anti-intellectualism and the attack on so-called “useless” degrees, and the P...

This week Abby (Political Psych with Abby) and Paige are talking collective narcissism. Abby delves into the concept of collective narcissism, exploring its definition, manifestations in political movements, and its implications for social identity and behavior. The discussion highlights the differences between collective narcissism and related concepts like groupthink and patriotism. They also emphasize the psychological underpinn...

It's not all bad news this week... In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige discusses a range of pressing political issues, including the ongoing Signalgate controversy which now includes G-Mail, Elon Musk's political loss and a big win in Wisconsin, Cory Booker's record breaking speech, and the implications of Trump's tariffs on the economy. The episode also covers GOP corruption in North Carolina, Marine Le Pen's lega...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige is joined by Katya, the co-founder of Overlap—the app that's making civic engagement way less confusing and a lot more personal. We'll talk about how a couple of 23-year-olds decided they were done feeling politically hopeless and built a tool to fix it.

Katya shares how Overlap is helping users actually understand their political reps, track legislation, and figure out where th...

SignalGate from Start to Finish...

This week on Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige dives into THE news story of the week: when members of the Trump administration accidentally added The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to their Signal group chat discussing attack plans on Yemen and the Houthis. We’ll break down Goldberg’s reporting, go through the released messages, and unpack why this is such a colossal breach of nation...

In this episode of Current Affairs Unfiltered, Paige covers the Twitter feud between Elon Musk and Senator Mark Kelly, the U.S. landing on a human rights watch list, Trump's threats to free speech, Tim Walz's call for Democrats to take a more aggressive stance, Chuck Schumer's not so compromise with Republicans, and the controversial use of archaic laws for deportation. Rounding out with parallels between historical events in Franc...