The Lonely Liberal

We are back! 

This week, we run through the 16 biggest stories in U.S. politics from the last two weeks—what happened, why it matters, and what to watch next.

1. Government shutdown hits second-longest ever — The funding lapse that began Oct 1 drags on with no clean offramp; core services strain and pressure mounts on leadership.

2. SNAP pause warning — USDA signals November benefits won’t go out without new funding, raising the ...

This week, we unpack the government shutdown’s real-world fallout, the latest culture-war broadsides from the White House, and fresh signs of alignment with Project 2025. We also dig into claims of targeted funding cuts to “blue” states, a headline-grabbing Argentina lifeline framed as a “bailout,” and a new U.S. strike on a Venezuelan vessel. It’s a fast, sourced tour through politics, policy, and power—minus the fluff.

Topics cov...

In this episode, Rick and I break down a whirlwind week of headlines, examining what was actually announced, what’s being claimed, and what still needs verification. From RFK & Trump’s Tylenol–autism comments and a new “Antifa” designation to Epstein document releases, a reported Comey indictment, and shutdown brinkmanship, we separate signal from noise.

Stories covered

• RFK & Trump link Tylenol to autism
• White House la...

AI is everywhere: writing articles, creating art, diagnosing diseases, and even helping run our daily lives. But should we be excited, cautious, or downright terrified? In this episode, I chat with PhD researcher Ivo Young for a casual but thoughtful conversation about artificial intelligence: what it actually is, where it stands today, the big opportunities it offers, and the risks that keep people up at night.

We break down the h...

On this week's show, Rick and I cover:

• Jimmy Kimmel fired over Kirk comments
• Vance urges viewers to dox people who celebrated Kirk’s death (on Kirk’s show)
• Kash Patel testifies
• Ex-CDC Director Susan Monarez testifies
• Trump says he may label “antifa” a terrorist group
• DOJ removes research about domestic extremism from its website
• Trump links potential RICO charges to George Soros
• Fed cuts interest rates
• U.S. unemployment...

On today's show, Rick and I breakdown this week’s biggest headlines—from the killing of Charlie Kirk and the political aftershocks, to Congress’ Epstein document fight, National Guard plans for Memphis, Missouri’s redistricting, a disputed U.S. strike on a Venezuelan boat, new NAEP scores, a Supreme Court order affecting ICE raids, Bolton search details, and a controversial plan to link child deaths to COVID shots.

Write us at thel...

A strange new buzzword has been floating from obscure blogs into elite political circles: The Dark Enlightenment. In this episode, I dig into where it came from, who coined it, and why it matters now.

We’ll cover:

• The origins — Curtis Yarvin’s 2007 blog and Nick Land’s 2012 essays.
• Core ideas — the “Cathedral,” running a state like a company, and why they think exit is better than voice.
• The key players — Yarvin, Land, Peter T...

This week, Rick and I go through the top news stories, including: Congress dumps 33,000+ pages of Epstein documents as survivors head to Capitol Hill, and the White House reportedly calls a transparency push a “hostile act.” We unpack claims that the FBI flagged every Trump mention (and what’s verified vs. alleged), Speaker Mike Johnson’s informant insinuation, and a leaked tape of DOJ’s Joseph Schnitt, then the DOJ’s denial.

In pu...

On this episode, we talk with Dr. Jesse Turiel to count down six quietly pivotal moments that reshaped American life and politics—events we rarely headline as “turning points,” but probably should. From the horse-trading that produced the Bill of Rights to the bare-knuckle tactics that rewired Congress in the 1990s, we trace how rules, institutions, and narratives get built—and rebuilt.

Jesse’s “6 Most Underrated Events in American...

A whirlwind week in health, media, trade, and national security. We break down what’s confirmed, what’s disputed, and why it matters.

Stories covered:

• CDC shake-up: Susan Monarez reportedly fired about a month after being sworn in
• Senior turmoil at CDC: three additional officials resign
• RFK Jr. says HHS will reveal “the cause of autism” in September
• RFK Jr. claims he can spot kids with “mitochondrial challenges” on sight
• Repor...

Before you roll your eyes and shout, "God, I hope not!" let's go through Trump's claim that he’s stopped seven wars and deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. In this episode, we stress-test each claim: what actually happened, who did what, whether the outcome was lasting, and whether it aligns with what the Peace Prize is meant to reward (enduring peace, disarmament, and reconciliation). 

Email us at thelonelyliberalpodcast@gmail.com

Fol...

On today's episode, Rick and I break down:

• Why the Kremlin is publicly rejecting Trump’s peace plan.
• Texas Democrats return, and a new GOP map advances
• Trump vows an executive order targeting mail-in ballots;
• Ghislaine Maxwell, in new comments, says she never saw Trump or Clinton behave inappropriately while highlighting RFK Jr.’s friendship with Epstein.
• Trump’s gripe that the Smithsonian “talks too much about slavery,...

In this episode, I chat with historian Dr. Eric Grube to explore one of the most urgent and unsettling questions today: Is the U.S. really on the path toward fascism?

We trace the rise of fascism in Germany and Austria in the early 20th century, unpacking how fragile democracies collapsed under economic crisis, polarization, and violence. But the story isn’t just about inevitability; it’s about choices, crossroads, and the ways peo...

Trump and Putin leave Alaska without a ceasefire but with talk of “NATO-style” guarantees for Ukraine and a floated land-for-peace framework that Kyiv rejects. Trump claims Xi promised no Taiwan invasion during his presidency. In DC, the White House asserts temporary federal direction over the MPD under the Home Rule Act. The administration orders a Smithsonian content review ahead of America 250. Plus: Trump’s Nobel Prize antics, ...

In this episode of The Lonely Liberal, we ask the question no one else is asking loudly enough: Is the Heritage Foundation running the country now? With Donald Trump back in the White House, Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s sweeping blueprint for government overhaul, is no longer a hypothetical. It's happening.

We cover:

• The Heritage Foundation’s rise to power
• Project 2025's goals: dismantle, centralize, and control
• Nam...

This week’s episode dives into a whirlwind of political drama, strange headlines, and high-stakes diplomacy:

• Texas Democrats flee the state to block a Trump-backed redistricting plan — and the FBI gets pulled into the chase.
• Trump announces an August 15th Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin to negotiate a Ukraine ceasefire.
• The President calls for an off-schedule Census, excluding undocumented immigrants.
• HHS Secretary RFK Jr. c...