Hysteria

Erin and Alyssa dig into the latest news from the Twin Cities— the senseless tragedy of Alex Pretti’s death, and the inspiring resolve of the Minnesotans who continue to stand up for each other. With Greg Bovino’s “demotion,” are things about to take a turn for the better, or is this cynical political window-dressing from Team Trump? Then, Melania Trump’s movie premiere at the White House’s janky new makeshift room, and Paris Hilton’s fight on Capitol Hill to ban 
AI-generated deep fake porn. And of course, we wrap up with Sani-Petty. 
Alex Pretti’s Friends and Family Denounce ‘Sickening Lies’ About His Life (NYT 1/25)
Republican calls are growing for a deeper investigation into fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti (PBS 1/26)
Scoop: Stephen Miller behind misleading claim that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" agents (AXIOS 1/27)
Trump Defends Noem as She Faces Bipartisan Criticism (WSJ 1/27)
Democrats Vow Not to Fund ICE After Shooting, Imperiling Spending Deal (NYT 1/24)
Melania’s $75 Million Movie Premiered in a Makeshift Theater (The Daily Beast 1/24)
‘They sold my pain for clicks’: Paris Hilton urges lawmakers to act on nonconsensual deepfakes (The 19th 1/22)

In our 32nd episode of This F*cking Guy, Erin and Alyssa dive deep into the past of the bigoted big mouth, Rush Limbaugh. From having a face for radio, to his obsession with “feminazis” to spouting disinformation about smoking and covid to his very last days, this may be one of our most deplorable guys yet.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.
Sources:
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/rush-limbaugh
https://visitcape.com/rush-limbaughs-cape-girardeau-a-tour-of-the-radio-legends-roots/
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/rush-limbaugh-dead-trump-ruined-america
-1129222/
https://www.stlmag.com/The-Original-Rush-Limbaugh-Biography-Tells-the-Story-of-Missouri-Courtroom-Legend-Rush-Limbaugh-Sr/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/business/media/rush-limbaugh-dead.html
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/05/rush-limbaugh200905?srsltid=AfmBOopZzxf3nuOZgNcONoy2P7uWCZnX182fW0lCLqmEW0QgF5ezWlea
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/02/23/147299323/law-student-makes-case-for-contraceptive-coverage/
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/03/02/147809138/student-is-outraged-by-rush-limbaugh-calling-her-a-slut-and-prostitute
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/daily-news/2012/03/rush-limbaugh-sandra-fluke-obama-apology?_sp=b361603d-59b8-49de-8771-e1f85795940f.1763504275351
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/can-rush-peter-gabriel-legally-order-limbaugh-to-cease-using-their-songs-101473/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/rush-limbaugh-feminism-feminazis/2021/02/19/3a00f852-7202-11eb-85fa-e0ccb3660358_story.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/limbaugh-draws-fire-on-obama-parody/
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-rush-limbaugh-mock-aids-death-radio-show-1570282
https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1627887
https://www.espn.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.html
https://www.bet.com/article/u945ji/limbaugh-dumped-by-group-hoping-to-buy-rams
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/03/post-limbaugh-next-conservative-kingpin?srsltid=AfmBOorVAZVgaPOjyPUN45HmLjxy-N_fsLDZJ9VTTpBddI_th9OWUozt
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/look-rush-limbaugh-fortune-passing-203619163.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFoRip8fz4FHwOH2WCUZPwEuQkW7dzucbZpLzmYo76VRkDnTSXOdVyD0Gal1rlu_JsyOMoGYJi5ciu5Lp9wIGfnullBmfQpywCyqrZ-3W18NUVCvg2G2E_Mz-UcpYS45S2vBsh8FQEWM2gjzZMXKYUh3r9WefakZygmKPkkgrdCc
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-18-et-rush18-story.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/us/rush-limbaugh-arrested-on-prescription-drug-charges.html

Journalist and activist Kat Abughazaleh joins Hysteria to talk about her firsthand experience standing up to ICE and how to show up for immigrants in your community. Erin and Alyssa also get into updates from Minnesota and the death of Renee Good, the status of the Epstein files, and how Trump used his first year of presidency to line his own pockets. Then they have a discussion about the TV shows that are keeping them sane, especially the increasingly-popular genre “competency porn.” They wrap up with a petty chat about Kyrsten Sinema’s affair lawsuit and the latest Beckham family drama.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.
Prosecutors Subpoena Minnesota Democrats as Part of Federal Inquiry (NYT 1/20)
Some Minnesota students are missing school because they fear ICE (AXIOS 1/15)
Following Renee Good’s killing, her son’s Minneapolis charter school receives right-wing attacks (Sahan Journal 1/15)
‘No longer in my hands’: How Hill Republicans stopped caring about DOJ releasing the Epstein files (Politico 1/19)
Amazon CEO says Trump tariffs are driving prices up (Axios 1/20)
New York Times Trump Wealth Report
TV’s most satisfying escape right now is watching ‘competency porn’ (Washington Post 1/13)

Erin and Alyssa break down how misogyny, ICE, and Renee Good’s death are all inherently intertwined and why the Trump administration is targeting the Twin Cities. Then, Moms First founder Reshma Saujani joins for some good news: Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s historic plan for universal childcare in New York. They also discuss dark money in the political influencer economy, Bob Weir’s legacy, and Atsuko Okatsuka’s new comedy special.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.
Six Prosecutors Quit Over Push to Investigate ICE Shooting Victim’s Widow (NYT 1/12)
Whistles, then gunfire: How the deadly ICE shooting unfolded in Minneapolis (CNN 1/10)
Trump administration escalates attack on Minnesota with more immigration agents (The Guardian 1/12)
Hochul and Mamdani Announce Plan to Make N.Y. Child Care Universal (NYT 1/8)
Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals (AP 1/12)
Washington’s New Lobbyists: Paid Online Influencers With Few Rules (WSJ 1/11)
Bertha: Grateful Dead Drag

Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco dive into the latest Epstein files drop, what happens now that the Obamacare subsidies have expired, Bari Weiss’ new town hall series, and Trump’s crusade against federal childcare funding. Plus they recap the new Netflix show Members Only: Palm Springs and wrap up with Sani-Petty. 
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.
Show notes:
https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-35060610e82ca3257821c53f2a34ecf6
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/hhs-freezes-10-billion-child-care-funding-5/story?id=128945422
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-fraud-schemes-what-we-know/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://apnews.com/article/abortion-wyoming-ruling-legal-a8396f0ed4a3229eed5e9fea575be63e
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbs-news-free-press-town-hall-series/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r38ne1x2mo
https://www.wired.com/story/epstein-files-whats-in-doj-release-december-19/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/doj-says-it-may-need-a-few-more-weeks-to-finish-release-of-epstein-files?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/4.8-Million-People-Will-Lose-Coverage-in-2026-If-Enhanced-Premium-Tax-Credits-Expire.pdf
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/18/politics/epstein-documents-redaction-process?Date=20251218&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1766090812&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a69878730/members-only-netflix-palm-beach-local-reactions/