Gaslit Nation

Are we sleepwalking into autocracy? Dr. Mary Trump joins Gaslit Nation to discuss the terrifying psychology of her convicted-felon, traitor uncle and why "numbing out" is what the fascists want you to do. So listen up—don't check out—find your community, and mock the thin-skinned monsters into oblivion. That's how we win.
What kind of childhood produces a Donald Trump? The same kind of childhood that produced Adolf Hitler: a tyrant father, proudly cold and demeaning. Where does the Trump family's misogyny come from? According to Mary Trump, Fred Trump was a sociopath who passed his misogyny and racism to his children, except for Mary's father, Fred Jr. She says that the women in the Trump family were largely ignored, demeaned, and treated like second-class citizens. Trump himself grew up a terror toward his mother.
Brash, blond, and handsome by 1980s, coked-up, yuppie New York City standards, the young Donald Trump was Fred Trump's ticket to the ruling elite. Like Trump's mentor, the notorious power-hungry lawyer Roy Cohn, Fred Trump saw potential in young Trump to unlock doors to the halls of media and political power. Over the years, Fred gave his nepo trust-fund baby $400 million, which Trump would go on to squander in six bankruptcies and never-ending lawsuits for fraud. So, what is the skill that propelled him to the top—with Russia's very illegal help? Shamelessness.
Mary Trump helps us get under the skin of the thin-skinned wannabe dictator, and, as both an insider and a therapist, provides us with the antidote on how to stand up to the Trumps' crime-spree madness. Demand accountability and relentlessly ridicule Trump with humor and joy. Mocking the aspiring dictator is an important reminder to him and the world that—as the journalist Dorothy Thompson famously said of Hitler—they're just little men.
Our bonus shows are now included in our Tuesday episodes, exclusively for the Patreon, Substack, and YouTube communities that make Gaslit Nation possible. To hear the full episode, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com, or become a Gaslit Nation member on YouTube. Discounted annual memberships are available, and you can give the gift of Gaslit Nation, including full access to our archive going back to the start of the show.
Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation's independent journalism. We could not say what needs to be said and make this show without you.
Show Notes:
Order Andrea's new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women, today: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807202/a-reasonable-guide-for-unreasonable-women-by-andrea-chalupa/
Order Mary Trump's books, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Too-Much-and-Never-Enough/Mary-L-Trump/9781982141479 and The Reckoning: Our Nation's Trauma and Finding a Way to Heal: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250864635/thereckoning/
Listen to our episode on Dorothy Thompson, the journalist who famously, openly mocked the Nazis, helping defeat America First in the rise to World War II: https://gaslitnation.libsyn.com/american-cassandra-the-life-of-dorothy-thompson
 
EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:
Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit and GaslitNation.Substack.com for our community

New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon or Substack!

The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon or Substack!

As always, keep it kind in our chat groups, extend grace and assume good faith. A culture of care is how we build a better world.

In this week's bonus show, exclusive for our Patreon and Substack subscribers, we take a second look at the sudden death of Lindsey Graham. But first: what's the real story behind Laura Loomer's apology tour of Ukraine? 
Why is Loomer, a creepy MAGA influencer – more botoxed than Putin –  long rumored to be one of Trump's mistresses, suddenly sitting down with President Zelensky and apologizing for spouting Russian disinformation? Follow the money. The Kremlin is broke; Russia is on the verge of collapse. Meanwhile, Ukraine is experiencing a massive tech gold rush thanks to its innovative drone technology. Who's side do the opportunists want to be on? The side at the very start of a disruptive and lucrative tech revolution. 
Laura Loomer sees dollar signs in Ukraine. The economic advantage has switched sides from Russia to Ukraine – thanks to Ukraine's renowned tech ingenuity, which Gaslit Nation predicted would be their secret weapon. 
This week's bonus show includes a second look at Lindsey Graham's sudden death after his important and urgent trip to Ukraine, as well as our full salon discussion. Want to hear it all? Join our community of listeners on Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com – get access to bonus shows, invites to our exclusive events like our Monday salons, and more. Discounted annual memberships are available, and you can give the gift of membership. Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you. 
See you at Monday's Gaslit Nation Salon 
Show Notes:
A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807202/a-reasonable-guide-for-unreasonable-women-by-andrea-chalupa/
Keystone Kash's Girlfriend Posts Bonkers Claim She's Target of 'Foreign' Op https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/keystone-kash-girlfriend-posts-bonkers-093956129.html
 
Kremlin Says No News on Patel's October Trip to Russia
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/80762
 
Alexis Wilkins, girlfriend of Kash Patel, sues over 'honeypot' rumors https://www.newsnationnow.com/entertainment-news/alexis-wilkins-girlfriend-kash-patel-sues-honeypot-rumors/
 
From 2022: Gaslit Nation's prediction Ukraine's innovation would be its secret weapon https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes/dispatch-from-ukraine-malcolm-nance-and-terrell-starr-on-putins-war/

Sending FBI Director Kash Patel to Moscow right before the Midterms is like sending a coked-up frat boy into a whorehouse in hell, and the FSB will eat him alive. As Trump pushes the SAVE Act to disenfranchise millions, is he calling in Russian reinforcements to steal Congress? 
Can we overcome a gutted Voting Rights Act, MAGA poll taxes, and Russian cyber warfare and disinformation brainrotting? Yes. By treating our vote as sacred and doing the unglamorous, powerful grassroots work that wins elections–and ensured Zohran Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo not once, but twice. We deserve nice things–but we must work for them. That's how progress gets made. Our heroes who came before us felt demoralized and tired, too. Andrea's new book, A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire, shares some of their stories and insights. We can put an end to Trump and Putin's dreams of turning America into a Russian-style oligarchy by remembering our power. 
On this week's show, we're joined by comedian and activist Pete Dominick of the Stand Up with Pete Dominick podcast. We break down the Epstein files, media intimidation, and the growing resistance to authoritarianism. In our bonus show, available exclusively for our Patreon and Substack supporters, we name names of who in the media enabled Trump's rise, and Pete shares what it was like trolling Trump to his face on The Apprentice. 
We refuse to let them steal our future and our children's futures. Come discuss this and more at the Gaslit Nation Salon this Monday at 4pm ET. We could not produce this independent journalism or build this resilience community without you. Join us, get access to the Salons, and hear Part II of our interview with Pete Dominick by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com today.
EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:
Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit and GaslitNation.Substack.com for our community

New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon or Substack!

The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon or Substack!

As always, keep it kind in our chat groups, extend grace and assume good faith. A culture of care is how we build a better world. 

Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit
Show Notes:
Pre-order Andrea's new book today! A Reasonable Guide for Unreasonable Women: 20 Steps to Find Your Purpose and Power in a World on Fire https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807202/a-reasonable-guide-for-unreasonable-women-by-andrea-chalupa/
Listen to Stand Up! With Pete Dominick https://standupwithpete.com/
Murkowski: SAVE Act Could Require $1,000 Trips to Register to Vote https://www.newsweek.com/murkowski-save-act-could-require-1000-trips-to-register-to-vote-12214305
Trump says he spoke with Sen. Lindsey Graham hours before his death President Donald Trump said Graham called him to discuss the SAVE America Act on Saturday. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-phone-call-lindsey-graham-death-save-act-rcna552732 
FBI Director Kash Patel plans Russia trip The plans come as the U.S. and Russia have failed to come to terms on ending the war in Ukraine. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/20/kash-patel-fbi-russia-trip-01005078 
US, Russian teams met in Florida and discussed 'variety of topics,' Witkoff says https://www.reuters.com/world/us-russian-teams-met-florida-discussed-variety-topics-witkoff-says-2026-03-12/

Instead of watching Trump's speech tonight, watch Monday's Gaslit Nation Salon on July 14 - Bastille Day! Here's an excerpt. You can watch the full recording by joining our community of listeners on Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com. We had a lively discussion of Lindsey Graham's sudden death, how Russians see themselves as meat for the meatgrinder, and more.
Trump's North Korean propaganda speech tonight is meant to strongarm Republicans into passing the Trad Wife Act -- (a.k.a. the Save Act), suppressing the votes of millions of people, especially married women who will be forced to show their birth certificates to vote if they changed their last names for marriage. It would also of course target anyone who changed their names, including trans people. It's bad all around, so bad that even many Republicans can't bring themselves to support it. They know the ripple effect will be a last straw for the powder keg that is the United States during this time of political violence in a slow-moving Civil War.
Join our community of listeners and get bonus shows, ad free listening, group chats with other listeners, ways to shape the show, invites to exclusive events like our Monday political salons at 4pm ET over Zoom, and more! Discounted annual memberships are available. Become a Democracy Defender at Patreon.com/Gaslit or GaslitNation.Substack.com

Legendary filmmaker Robert Greenwald joins Gaslit Nation to talk about his powerful documentary from Brave New Films, Gaza: Journalists Under Fire. We break down the horrifying media consolidation driven by Netanyahu-ally , billionaire Larry Ellison, who is actively dismantling beloved institutions like CBS to enforce a McCarthyist, pro-Netanyahu chill on American journalism.
We also expose how Trump and Jared Kushner have dragged the US into an illegal, unconstitutional war with Iran, draining vital air defense systems for Ukraine, while Trump's ICE agents go on a killing spree, openly executing parents in front of their children, and expanding their network of concentration camps at home and abroad. As always, Gaslit Nation also provides ways to fight back and plant powerful seeds of hope and change—because we will ultimately build a better world.
This week's bonus show, for our listeners on Patreon and Substack who make Gaslit Nation possible, explores who is actually running the new kleptocratic new world order. To hear the full exclusive bonus show at the end of this episode join our community on Patreon or Substack today at the Truth-teller ($5/month) or higher. Discounted annual memberships are available, and you can give the gift of membership. Plus you'll get the show ad free, all bonus shows including our archive of bonus shows, invites to exclusive events, and more. Sign up at Patreon.com/Gaslit or on Substack. Thank you to everyone who supports the show -- we could not make Gaslit Nation without you. 
 
EVENTS AT GASLIT NATION:
Gaslit Nation Salons take place Mondays 4pm ET over Zoom and are recorded and shared on Patreon.com/Gaslit and GaslitNation.Substack.com for our community

New! There's now a California Signal Group for Gaslit Nation listeners to find each other and connect in that state. Join on Patreon or Substack!

The Gaslit Nation Outreach Committee discusses how to talk to the MAGA cult: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Minnesota Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Vermont Signal group for Gaslit Nation listeners in the state to find each other: Join on Patreon or Substack!

Arizona-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to connect. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Indiana-based listeners launched a Signal group for others in the state to join. Join on Patreon or Substack!

Florida-based listeners are going strong meeting in person. Be sure to join their Signal group. Join on Patreon or Substack!

As always, keep it kind in our chat groups, extend grace and assume good faith. A culture of care is how we build a better world. 

Show Notes:
WATCH: Gaza: Journalists Under Fire https://www.bravenewfilms.org/palestinianjournalists
Protect yourself and your community from ICE: https://www.patreon.com/gaslit/posts/free-prairieland-162794130?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Meet Josh Gruenbaum and Aryeh Lightstone of the Board of Peace: https://boardofpeace.org/members
Fight back with the Gaslit Nation Action Guide on GaslitNationPod.com and the Media and Democracy Project (https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/) and also Rise and Resist (https://www.riseandresist.org/) 
Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza https://www.who.int/news/item/22-08-2025-famine-confirmed-for-first-time-in-gaza
209 Journalists and Media Workers Killed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory https://cpj.org/2026/06/cpj-undertakes-review-of-its-documentation-of-journalists-killed-in-israel-gaza-war-since-2023/
Amnesty UK draws criticism for arguing journalist death toll in Gaza higher than in any other war https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-864300
ICE Ordered to Cease Most Vehicle Stops After 2 Killings in a Week: Agents fatally shot a man in Houston and another in coastal Maine, both in their vehicles. The killings were the latest in a string of ICE shootings during President Trump's second term. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/14/us/ice-agents-traffic-stops.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xlA.K8PG.HyO51Npt7m7m&smid=url-share 
E. Jean Carroll Receives Trump's $5 Million Judgment Plus Interest
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/
E Jean Carroll receives $5.6m owed by Trump after court releases damages https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/14/e-jean-carroll-trump-payment
ICE Suspends Vehicle Stops After Fatal Shootings in Maine and Texas https://www.reuters.com/world/ice-suspends-vehicle-stops-us-immigration-enforcement-sources-say-2026-07-14/
ICE Officer Fatally Shoots Driver in Biddeford, Maine  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/person-killed-ice-involved-shooting-maine-media-reports-2026-07-13/
What to Know About ICE's Fatal Shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston
https://apnews.com/article/7f8b3218b97c63388fc016b3da9718ee
Trump Abandons Proposed 20-Percent Strait of Hormuz Fee https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-us-will-take-investment-deals-with-gulf-states-instead-fee-using-2026-07-14/
Trump Announces U.S. Control and Proposed Toll on the Strait of Hormuz  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-us-will-control-strait-hormuz-get-paid-it-2026-07-13/
Associated Press Fact Check: Competing U.S. and Iranian Claims Over the Strait of Hormuz https://apnews.com/article/8df557699c900b29fb33172e6da7f3e9
Lindsey Graham's Final Mission to Support Ukraine
https://www.wsj.com/world/lindsey-graham-death-ukraine-russia-81ccfe7f
Committee to Protect Journalists: Journalists Killed in the Israel–Gaza War
https://cpj.org/2026/
Record Number of Journalists and Media Workers Killed in 2025  https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/record-129-journalists-media-workers-killed-2025-mostly-by-israel-says-cpj-2026-02-25/
Israel Schedules National Election for October 27, 2026  https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-election-will-be-held-october-27-coalition-head-says-2026-07-12/
Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan - On "Regime Change" & Inside The Trump Presidency | The Daily Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdmdGTrJ2nI
How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran: In a series of Situation Room meetings, President Trump weighed his instincts against the deep concerns of his vice president and a pessimistic intelligence assessment. Here's the inside story of how he made the fateful decision. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/us/politics/trump-iran-war.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xlA.RnIs.VnaiNfmBkDie&smid=url-share
Iran Strikes U.S. Military Facilities Across Gulf Region: A Times analysis of satellite imagery and verified videos shows Iran found vulnerabilities in U.S. locations in the region. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/world/middleeast/iran-strikes-us-military-facilities.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xlA.W64r.SKCZ8fldvUxu&smid=url-share
What's Trump's 'Board of Peace' really about? https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/209-front-burner/episode/16193683-whats-trumps-board-of-peace-really-about
32 Palestinians killed trying to reach food distribution hubs, Gaza authorities say https://www.npr.org/2025/07/19/g-s1-78420/palestinians-food-aid-deaths
Trump notifies Congress of new war against Iran President Donald Trump's notification that the U.S. is again at war with Iran gives the administration another 60-day clock for military action. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/13/trump-notifies-congress-of-new-war-against-iran-00995170
Iraq journalist deaths match number killed during Vietnam War https://cpj.org/2006/05/iraq-journalist-deaths-match-number-killed-during/
Andrea's interview with Alex Gibney and Alexis Bloom of the must-watch documentary The Bibi Files https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/episodes/hitler-youth/
Trump's Crypto Scheme to Sell Ukraine to Russia https://www.patreon.com/gaslit/posts/trumps-crypto-to-144034868?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
New book reveals how Trump compared himself to Mao, Stalin, Attila the Hun https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/18/politics/new-book-reveals-how-trump-compared-himself-to-mao-stalin-atilla-the-hun
Marco Rubio: "Actually, the Board of Peace was chartered and set up by the UN Security Council through a vote at the UN Security Council as to deliberations, so it's an international organism recognized by the Security Council of the United Nations, which is something I think many of you should be supportive of..." https://x.com/StateDept/status/2016582608377749629?lang=en
What the UN Security Council vote means for Trump's Gaza peace plan https://abcnews.com/International/security-council-vote-means-trumps-gaza-peace-plan/story?id=127623162