American Fever Dream

Sami sits down with co-authors Emmanuel Acho & Noa Tishby to talk about their book, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew. Acho speaks about how his friendship with Tishby developed, and how that friendship allowed them to have constructive conversations with each other about race. Their conversation also highlights the struggles of the Jewish and Black communities and the importance of unity in...

This week we have a classic American Fever Dream episode for you! Let's break down some of the weirdest, fever dreamiest stories of the last week. TEMP CHECK 5:45 - Starting off, we break down why Trump's photo op at Arlington National Cemetery was so disgraceful. V also fact checks Trump's statement that no military members died under his presidency, when the numbers show a very different story....

From the giant Project 2025 book to her viral speech on the Michigan Senate floor in 2022, Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Sami talk about all of it. Although many call her a communications guru, McMorrow says she's just authentic in the way she talks to people, and that's what people connect with. Sami and McMorrow also discuss ways you can be engaged with politics, even if you don't want to run for of...

V & Sami are back from the DNC and they're ready to recap a very busy week. Still unhappy with trad media, they point out the double standard in the way Harris' speech is being fact checked versus the way the media is treating Trump. V also explains why there were no trans speakers at the DNC, and what was going on with the Uncommitted delegates. V & Sami also celebrate the joy and hope that was d...

Everything that's wrong at the DNC is because of the 200 creators, according to traditional media outlets, and V & Sami are getting fed up. V debunks the prime rib sandwich and yacht party rumors, and we have to ask -- are traditional media outlets just jealous, or are the creators ruining the experience for everyone? While previous days were all about looking forward to a hopeful future, day 3 sp...

Armed with their credential badges, Sami & V are ready for the Day 2 at the DNC. Today, they break down the difference between the music at the DNC vs the RNC, and recap the Obama's messages of hope and community. (And yes, their speeches made us cry, again.) Plus, the Republican's that spoke in support of Kamala, showing us you don't have to be a Democrat to vote blue. Learn more about your ad ch...

V & Sami start their week off at the DNC with comedian Alex Pearlman. They commiserate on how long it took them to get into the convention and talk about why it's so important to have media creators involved in politics. Then, a very tired Sami & V go over their favorite speeches of the night, the differences they noticed between the DNC and RNC, and Senator McMorrow's giant Project 2025 book. Fol...

V talks with board certified gynecologist Dr. Karen Tang about informed consent, how social media has helped women's healthcare, and the impact of new laws on the healthcare industry. Dr. Tang's latest book, It's Not Hysteria Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told) aims to debunk myths and misconceptions about women's health issues that often get dismissed...

TEMP CHECK 7:00 - Let's break down Australian B-girl, Raygun's....interesting performance in breakdancing, including her signature boomerang moves. 12:45 - Five days after gymnast Jordan Chiles won the bronze medal in the individual floor competition, the IOC sided with a challenge from Romania and wants Chiles to give back the medal. Will Chiles return the medal with a frowny face note? Or will t...

Fred Trump III, the nephew of former president Donald Trump, is on the show this week to talk all about his book, All In The Family: The Trumps and How We Got This Way. Fred explains why now is the right time for this book, along with the unusual family dynamic among the Trump's (including Donald's attempt at disinheriting him.) Sami & Fred talk about the importance of policies to support families...

We have a VP!! In this special bonus episode Sami & V go over the background and long list of accomplishments of Harris' pick for VP, Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz. Is he the radical that the right wants to paint him as, or just a regular guy who doesn’t want to monitor your pregnancy? From his 24 years of service in Army National Guard, to being a vocal supporter of IVF and reproductive rights,...

TEMP CHECK 3:20 - This week let’s take a deeper look into Peter Thiel’s past, from paying lawyers to help Hulk Hogan’s sue Gawker Media, to how he’s been influenced by AN INTERNET BLOGGER WHO USED TO GO BY THE NAME MENCIUS MOLDBUG. We also cover some of the politicians that’s he’s funded that have failed, and how JD Vance is a win for Thiel’s extreme ideologies. 12:30 - We break down the “Kamala i...

Today Sami & V are joined by Congressman Dan Goldman who, before running for office, served as lead counsel in the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump. Goldman breaks down the legality of enacting Project 2025, along with Biden's proposed changes to the SCOTUS. We also make the connection between climate change and immigration, and how Trump's 2024 campaign is a personal revenge and...

Bonjour! Starting off with a TEMP CHECK -- going over our favorite Olympic Opening Ceremony moments (and why it offended the far right) and how Beyoncé is reclaiming the flag aesthetic. Also, why you should be excited about Val Demings joining the USPS Board, and what that might mean for Post Master General Louis DeJoy. MAIN NEWS 14:15 Sami walks us through 3 of the most dangerous groups that are...

Did you know that the chemicals in your brain might determine what political party you feel aligned with? Guest Keegan Tatum, an expert in political psychology, is here to explain the psychological differences between liberals and conservatives, as well as how religion and emotional biases factor into our political ideology. He also explains how having an overly active disgust mechanism can create...

After weeks of speculation, President Biden announced that he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race -- leaving all eyes on Vice President Kamala Harris, the new likely democratic presidential nominee. Sami & V discuss Biden’s selfless decision, as well as the flood of endorsements and donations she received in the hours after the news broke, including their theory on why the Obamas have no...

Sami & V take a look at the history of assassination attempts on US presidents and how these attempts, successful or not, shaped American politics. They also talk about the shared motives that many of these men have, like their desire for attention and recognition. This episode also touches on the history of the electric chair...and how masturbation might have played a role in one of these attempt...

V and Sami break down the shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania, and talk about what could have gone wrong, security failures, and odd choices that were made by the Secret Service. They also share what we know about the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, and his background. Then they move on to the RNC and the unceremonious way JD Vance was introduced as Trump's VP pick, and end the episode on de...

This week Sami is in Philadelphia promoting her new book, Democracy in Retrograde, with her co-author Emily Amick. (Out now!) While in town, she spoke with Pennsylvania's Governor Josh Shapiro about the importance of democracy and the steps being taken to ensure free and fair elections, including creating a task force led by Republican Al Schmidt, to protect local poll workers and stop the spread...

Project 2025 is officially in the mainstream news, and Sami and V compare its ideologies to that of Agenda 47, and the 7 Mountains Mandate. They also discuss Nazis marching in Tennessee and how the US could follow the UK's elections last week and pull a "Taccy V." MAIN NEWS 5:00 Project 2025, tied to the Heritage Foundation, is gaining mainstream attention, and both the Vice President and Taraji P...

In this very special 4th of July episode, Sami and V discuss the case for Kamala Harris as the potential Democratic presidential candidate, highlighting her voting record as a Senator, her advocacy for LGBTQ rights, and her stance on Israel-Palestine. They also consider how embracing Harris and giving her more spotlight is the clearest path to a victory against Donald Trump in November. Learn more...

Back from Vidcon, V and Sami are comparing Project 2025, the Nazi's, Theocracy and Saudi Arabia, and where a win for Trump this fall would leave us. V and Sami also explore what the current round of Supreme Court rulings mean, and how this might be the end of #vanlife. TEMP CHECK: What are the realities of Project 2025? Everyone is quick to compare it to Nazi Germany, but is the reality more a The...

Sami and V are joined by host and creative director at MSNBC Live, Luke Russert, to talk about his book Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself. “Give them the best and the world will take care of the rest.” Luke shares how his grandparents’ and parents’ legacies shaped not only his career but his worldview. There is no correct way to grieve. Luke shares how his life has changed afte...

04:45 TEMP CHECK: Will this week’s headlines give you a fever or make you freeze? 24:45 MAIN NEWS: Now that Louisiana has posted the 10 Commandments in every classroom, Sami and V discuss how extreme conservatives are spreading the Christian Dominionist Movement and how they want to completely rewrite the Constitution to create a more evangelical America. 50:15 DOWN BALLOT: It’s Election Day, and...

00:00 Sami and V are joined by authors Lisa Lerer & Elizabeth Dias of the new book The Fall of Roe: the Rise Of A New America, to discuss the decades of work done by anti-abortion groups to finally overturn Roe. 11:00 V wonders if American politicians had been more comfortable with using the word ‘abortion’ and didn’t shy away from these conversations, would it have been harder for conservatives t...