The Bob Cesca Show | Politics Podcast, News & Commentary

Media historian Donna Halper returns to the show to talk about leopards eating our faces, the reality based community, the news media, and of course we talked about Rush (the band) in there, as usual. You might know Donna from her blog http://dlhalperblog.blogspot.com/ or from her recent appearance on the Stephanie Miller Show or from her regular visits to this show. Meantime, make sure to support...

With Cliff Schecter . The funniest Fox News typo ever. CNN keeps employing known liar Scott Jennings, but Jim Acosta was moved to midnight and was forced to resign. Donald started a trade war with Colombia. Coffee prices jumped. Pardoned insurrectionist shot by a cop. Another pardoned insurrectionist arrested. Donald broke the law by firing 17 inspectors general. You Were Warned: Donald says Pales...

A judge blocked Donald's executive order on birthright citizenship. Our Heroes of Democracy segment this week includes Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Officer Fanone, Maryland AG Anthony Brown, Turner Classic Movies, and more. Our You Were Warned segment features former Texas GOP official John Basham, Trump's FEMA remarks, FOP, and more. Plus, Donald withdraws the US from the World Health Organization....

Driftglass and Bluegal from the Professional Left podcast ( proleftpod.com ) return for their regular Wednesday show visit. This time around, we talked about the first days of the second Donald Trump term, plus the role of independent media, and how to prepare for the 2026 midterms. We even found cause for optimism, inspired by our friend Hal Sparks. It's another freewheeling conversation about al...

With Cliff Schecter . The Dark Ride begins again. Donald pardons all 1,500 insurrectionists. Elon Musk's Nazi salute. The billionaires in attendance. Donald reinstated Schedule F, so he can fire and replace federal workers without cause. Donald has been sued over DOGE. Did he confess to rigging the election? Six in 10 Americans are optimistic about the second Trump term. Donald rescinded executive...

President Biden's farewell address warns of the rising oligarchy. The pro-democracy coalition should focus on economic populism and taxing the wealthy. Bluesky is developing an alternative to Instagram. Russia planned to send bombs to the White House aboard cargo planes. Donald's stupid External Revenue Service plan. The latest from the confirmation hearings. The Israel-Hamas cease fire. AP-NORC p...

Tim Russ is an actor, musician, astronomer, and smart as hell. You might know him from his role as Tuvok on Star Trek Voyager and Star Trek Picard, or from his appearance on Poker Face. He's also a frequent guest on this podcast. Today we talked about the LA fires and how close the disaster was from his house. We also talked Merrick Garland, the 2024 election, what's next for America, and more. Me...

We react to the Jack Smith report on Donald Trump's insurrection on January 6. The efforts to coerce Mike Pence. The racist threats against Judge Chutkan. Merrick Garland and American voters. Garland was writing history. Liz Cheney's reaction to the report. Donald was sentenced in his election interference trial in NYC. The Pete Hegseth hearings. Mazie Hirono and the Democrats sticking it to Hegse...

The Los Angeles firestorms. We debunk some of the MAGA disinformation. How the climate crisis is to blame. Jody's firsthand observations. Donald fell asleep at Jimmy Carter's funeral. Obama and Donald chitchat. President Biden's remarks about abuse of power. Merrick Garland will release the Jack Smith report. The New York Supreme Court's ruling on Donald's sentencing. The confirmation hearings. Bi...

JoJo and I joined forces to record one episode to be presented on our respective podcast platforms. In the old days, this was called a "simulcast." So join us for this fun, intense, and freewheeling conversation about Donald Trump's press conference, the vote certification earlier this week, the conga-line of capitulation, the role of independent media, and more. Support JoJo's podcast here. Meant...

Our first show of 2025! Hang on tight! The show is now on Substack. We're still recovering from the election. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy support H1-B visas. Elon changed his name on X to Kekius Maximus. The tragedy of January 6, and yesterday's vote certification. The 14th Amendment. Donald Trump will be sentenced on Friday. Indian-American entrepreneur was warned about Republicans. Heroes of D...

Our last Thursday show of the year! We'll return with new episodes starting January 7. The new Superman trailer was spectacular and emotional. Longing for heroes in the forthcoming dark ride. Superman is about kindness and altruism. New Chipmunks song from Rocky Mountain Mike. Jared Moskowitz isn't going anywhere. President Musk controls both Donald and Congress. Bipartisan members of Congress int...

Tara returns to the podcast for a mutual therapy session with Bob. You might know Tara from her appearances on Hal Sparks Megaworldwide, from social media, and from such podcasts as this one. Sure, the talk will get dark, but the goal is to find ways to deal with the incoming authoritarianism without burning out. Make sure to pick up a copy of Tara's book The Sound of Settling . Meantime, make sur...

Some good news -- finally! Judge Merchan refuses to overturn Donald Trump's criminal conviction. ABC News's capitulaiton is chilling. SLAPP defamation lawsuits are a pernicious threat to free speech. Donald makes good on threat to sue the Des Moines Register. AOC loses her bid to be ranking member of the Oversight Committee. RFK Jr ally wants to ban the polio vaccine. Donald's team floats eliminat...

Another fun and freewheeling Thursday episode. The conga-line of capitulation. Zuckerberg gives $1 million to Donald's inauguration fund. How Christopher Wray may have stopped Kash Patel from taking over on day one. The Supreme Court conservatives aren't fans of recess appointments. Elon Musk stops by the studio. Heroes of Democracy: Sarah Longwell, Karen Cahall, and the Australian Labor Party. Yo...

Media historian Donna Halper is back. You might know her from her many visits to our Wednesday podcasts, as well as from her blog -- dhalperblog.blogspot.com . She's one of my dearest friends and an expert when it comes to the inner workings of the American news media. She's also the former radio deejay who introduced my favorite band Rush to American audiences. Today we talked about her analysis...

We discuss the perils of institutionalism and the "steady as she goes" tradition in Democratic politics. Bringing a banana to a knife fight. We need to stop worrying about how Donald and the Republicans will react. Sam Alito tells Donald "no" when it comes to lifting the gag order. Lame Duck Donald? Will they try to monkey with Social Security? Matt Gaetz gets hired by OAN, which still exists some...

The assassination of the United Healthcare CEO. Blue Cross places limits on anesthesia. The public option. Joe and Mika apologize for "flippant" remarks by David Frum. What's happening to MSNBC? Should President Biden issue preemptive pardons for officials on Kash Patel's enemies list? Donald faces pushback from Senate Republicans, indicating he doesn't have a lot of political capital. Rand Paul a...

After six years, Driftglass and Blue Gal from the Professional Left podcast return to the show! We covered just about everything from the campaign season and the election to the news media coverage to the both-siderism to “no fair remembering stuff” and the forthcoming fascist idiocracy. Support the Professional Left podcast on Patreon – patreon.com/proleftpod . Meantime, make sure to support this...

We're back from the Thanksgiving break! The 90s shows start this Friday! President Biden pardoned Hunter Biden. Walking on eggshells around Donald Trump. He's planning to do terrible things anyway. All presidents issue controversial pardons, including for family members. Kash Patel for FBI director? Really? Will Patel even get confirmed by the Senate? Kash Patel's enemies list. Pete Hegseth is a t...

We've taking a break from politics to talk about "Cosmologica," one of the greatest prog rock albums ever made, with musicians Circe Link and Christian Nesmith, the incredible recording duo responsible for it. Cosmologica is a spectacular volume of music whether you're a prog rock fan or not. It was recorded during the COVID quarantine and released back in the Fall of 2021. This episode of the pod...

The great Charlie Pierce from Esquire.com and the Stephanie Miller Show joins me to discuss the assassination of John F. Kennedy, 60 years on. Our theories, our red flags, the conspiracy theories we reject, and why the murder of the president was such a history-changing event. We also get into the Warren Report, the House Select Committee investigation, and new revelations from a former Secret Ser...

Grab your tricorders and set your phasers to fun, it's another nerdy episode of the interview show. This time, Bob talks with the funny and talented Seán Ferrick, host of TrekCulture's Ups and Downs , a must-watch YouTube show in which Seán reviews episodes of Star Trek, both new and old. Seán is immensely entertaining and positive -- a total blast, even if you're only a casual Trek fan. Today we...

David is determined to fight back. In time for today's show, Matt Gaetz has withdrawn his nomination for attorney general. Linda McMahon? Are you serious? Pete Hegseth will be next to withdraw. Donald is casting the Red Hat Love Boat. Comcast to sell MSNBC and CNBC. What's next for liberal cable news? Our new segment: Warnings Were Issued! Donald will roll back airline regulations, Muslim groups a...

The acclaimed Japanese anime series Star Blazers, or Space Battleship Yamato, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, so today I welcomed my friend Tim Eldred to the show to talk about the series and its many spinoffs and reboots. Tim is a comic and animation artist who produced a Star Blazers comic book and is the premiere expert in and historian for the series. It's a welcome break from the e...