Gloves Off

Only one person — one private citizen — had the guts to take Todd Blanche to court over the Epstein files. And she’s winning. That's why Tara McGowan sat down with trial lawyer, former prosecutor and independent journalist Katie Phang, whose lawsuit against Todd Blanche is now the single biggest legal threat to the Epstein cover-up — and his Senate confirmation…See, Trump ran on releasing the Epst...

If you've been wondering who's actually building the alternative to Trumpism — not just the opposition — this next guest is your answer.  Maurice Mitchell is the national director of the Working Families Party, the insurgent political force behind Zohran Mamdani's historic New York City mayoral win and a wave of working-class candidates beating establishment Democrats in primaries from the South B...

With ICE threatening to flood New York City with more federal agents than it's ever seen, this congressional candidate is already two arrests deep and just walked out of federal court not guilty… That's why Tara McGowan sat down with Brad Lander, former NYC Comptroller, Democrat who helped Zohran Mamdani defeat Andrew Cuomo and now the leading challenger to incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman in New...

The Democratic Party has spent a decade trying to stop Donald Trump, so why does it still feel like nobody has a real, working plan? That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy and Democratic candidate for New York's 12th Congressional District. They had an honest conversation about the future of the Democratic Party, corruption in politics, billio...

What does it mean for democracy when some of the most powerful companies in the world are trying to shape who gets elected before voters cast their ballots? Tara McGowan wanted to know so she sat down with New York Assemblymember Alex Bores. They unpacked the growing battle between democratic institutions and the tech industry, the role of AI money in politics and whether government can still hold...

Donald Trump won Iowa by 13 points in 2024. Democrats haven't won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 2008. But with an open Senate seat, an open governor's race, and growing signs of political volatility, Iowa may once again be an important battleground state. This week on Gloves Off, Tara McGowan sits down with both Democratic candidates running for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat: Zach Wahls and Josh...

After Donald Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over John Cornyn, what was already a nasty GOP primary suddenly turned into an all out Republican civil war. And Democrats think the chaos could finally create a real opening in Texas for the first time in decades. That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with Democratic strategist and Way to Win co-founder Tory Gavito for a deep dive on how Texas could decide the fu...

What happens when the Supreme Court starts laying the legal groundwork to roll back the Reconstruction Amendments themselves? And what does it mean for American democracy when Republican lawmakers openly talk about overturning the 14th Amendment while carving up Black voting power across the South? That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with civil rights attorney and ACLU of Louisiana Executive Director...

Are Democrats only winning because MAGA is fracturing more and more each day? Can they really rebuild trust with voters, define a coherent vision and answer to the growing anti-establishment anger inside their own coalition? Tara McGowan sat down with David Pakman, host of the David Pakman Show, for a brutally honest conversation about the future of the Democratic Party, the rise of economic popul...

MAGA isn’t dying with Trump and Democrats still don’t know who’s leading them next… so what’s going to happen in 2028? That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with Tim Miller of The Bulwark — a former Republican strategist turned anti-MAGA insider — to break down the fractures ripping through both parties, the future of MAGA after Trump and why Democrats still haven’t built a bench that can actually win....

The Epstein files are raising new questions about Melania Trump and why she suddenly decided to publicly deny any close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein… That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with investigative journalist Nina Burleigh, to unpack the hidden history connecting Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Paolo Zampolli and the New York modeling world of the 1990s. Nina has spent years...

A fifth accuser has now come forward against Eric Swalwell as he and Tony Gonzales resign from Congress amid allegations of sexual abuse. But why does accountability move this fast for some while others at the very top refuse subpoenas, dodge oversight and face no immediate consequences? This collapse of Congress exposes something much deeper than one scandal… That’s why Tara McGowan sat down with...

Trump is spiraling... From picking fights with the Pope, posting AI images of himself as Jesus and escalating war rhetoric on Iran, we're watching the MAGA world break in real time. In this episode of Gloves Off, Tara McGowan sits down with Joy Reid to unpack what this moment actually means and why it’s bigger than just Trump. And Reid doesn’t hold back, calling out the dangerous overlap between p...

Trump’s Department of Justice is starting to look less like an independent institution and more like a political weapon... After Pam Bondi was abruptly fired and replaced by Trump’s personal lawyer Todd Blanche, questions are mounting about who’s really in charge and whether the DOJ is now operating at the direct command of Donald Trump. That's why Tara McGowan sat down with Leeja Miller who broke...

The so-called “male loneliness epidemic” is everywhere, but what if that’s not the real story? What if what we’re actually seeing is an identity crisis — one that’s being shaped in real time by MAGA, the manosphere and some of the most influential voices in media today? In this episode, Tara McGowan speaks with political strategist Charlie Goldensohn who breaks down how figures like Joe Rogan and...

MAGA chaos explodes at CPAC as the crowd cheers for Trump’s impeachment — exposing cracks inside Trump’s base and the GOP’s deeper hypocrisy: sexual abuse. Tara McGowan sits down with Jennifer Welch of the I’ve Had It podcast to break down the viral CPAC moment, the controversy surrounding Matt Schlapp and why Republicans continue to get away with behavior that would destroy anyone else. Tara and...

What is really being hidden in the Epstein files and why is Congress fighting a bipartisan battle to expose it? On this episode of Gloves Off, Tara McGowan sits down with Congressman Ro Khanna of California for a wide-ranging, high-stakes conversation on the Epstein files cover-up, government corruption, bipartisan accountability and the growing crisis of public trust in American institutions. Kha...

Congressman Jamie Raskin joins Tara McGowan on Gloves Off for an honest conversation on the Epstein files coverup, DOJ accountability and the growing constitutional crisis in America.  As Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Raskin breaks down what he calls “one of the greatest coverups in American history,” detailing the Justice Department’s refusal to comply with subpoenas, Attorney...

In this episode of Gloves Off, Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow talks with Tara McGowan about running for US Senate, the future of the Democratic Party and what real leadership looks like in a moment of political chaos. From the Epstein files and government corruption to Trump’s influence on Congress and the erosion of democratic institutions, McMorrow breaks down why “all politics is local...

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed joins Gloves Off with Tara McGowan for an unfiltered conversation on Donald Trump, the Epstein files, healthcare and the future of American democracy. From the war in Iran to Trump’s endless scandals, he explains why Americans are being distracted from the issues that matter most in their daily lives.  He’s a physician, public health leader and US Senate candidate in Michigan, a...

What is Trump hiding in the Epstein files? In this episode of Gloves Off, Tara McGowan sits down with Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, a member of the House Oversight Committee leading the charge to uncover the truth behind the Epstein files. Rep. Stansbury digs into the missing files and DOJ obstruction, the push to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi and forcing Trump himself to testify. She als...

The Democrats have been letting the Trump Administration walk all over them, playing a game with outdated rules that no longer apply. But are the actions of the White House symbolic of a “last gasp” of capitalism and the patriarchy as we know it? And is there a way for Dems to stand up and take advantage of it? Today’s guest is Leigh McGowan, AKA PoliticsGirl, a writer, journalist, and online opin...

President Trump has started a violent, senseless war in Iran. It is an unpopular decision across party lines that fundamentally betrays the American people, puts innocent lives at risk, and benefits no one but Trump’s investors.  Today’s guest, Hudson Valley Congressman Pat Ryan, is a U.S. army veteran who served two combat tours in Iraq. Together, Tara and Pat discuss the reality of what another...

This week, host Tara McGowan sits down with author, security expert, and infamous Trump whistleblower Miles Taylor. Taylor has first hand experience fighting gloves-off with Donald Trump: after serving as a specialty security advisor during his first administration, Taylor learned first-hand just how far over the line Trump was willing to cross – and how many people were willing to let him get awa...

This week on Gloves Off, host Tara McGowan is joined by Chris Armitage: journalist, prolific writer, researcher, and former veteran. From working within the military and carceral systems to reporting on the Trump administration, Chris has spent plenty of time trying to fix our systems from within. Now as he continues to research state's rights, soft succession, and opposition federalism, Chris is...