The Journalism of Everything Podcast

What did Hunter Biden's laptop actually prove? For years, "Hunter Biden's laptop" has been one of the most repeated phrases in American politics. Some have argued it exposed widespread corruption within the Biden family. Others dismissed it as political disinformation. But after years of investigations, media reporting, congressional inquiries, and criminal prosecutions, what evidence actually eme...

Did Hunter Biden profit from his famous last name? Almost certainly. But did President Joe Biden use the power of the vice presidency to protect his son's business interests at Burisma? The evidence isn't as clear.  In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , independent journalist Darisse Smith walks through one of the most debated political controversies of the last decade—from Ukraine's 2...

A photograph. Three words. One meme coin. And a private dinner with the President of the United States. In July 2024, a failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania produced one of the most recognizable images of Donald Trump's political career: a raised fist and the words, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Less than a year later, those same words became the name of a company. That company launched t...

In May 2025, President Donald Trump traveled to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, announcing major agreements involving artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, data centers, and cryptocurrency. But beneath the headlines lies a larger question: who truly benefited from these deals? In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , independent journalist Darisse Smith...

What happens when a president sues his own government… then creates a $1.7 billion fund controlled by his administration? In this episode, independent journalist Darisse Smith breaks down Trump’s controversial Anti-Weaponization Fund, the legal precedent behind it, and why critics warn it could reshape presidential power for years to come. Is this justice for political targeting — or a dangerous n...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s comments about SSRIs at the MAHA Summit on Mental Health and Overmedicalization sparked a national debate over antidepressants, anxiety treatment, psychiatric medication, and the future of mental health care in America. But how effective are SSRIs really? Are they overprescribed — or are they life-saving medications for millions of people? In this episode of The Journalism...

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , independent journalist Darisse Smith dives into the bizarre and rapidly growing world of viral LEGO-style propaganda videos coming out of Iran. At first glance, the videos seem funny, creative, and surprisingly relatable to Western audiences. But underneath the catchy music, AI-generated animation, and anti-establishment humor lies something much b...

In Part 2 of my conversation with musician and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Brandon Delgado, we continue a deep—and at times controversial—discussion about the war in Iran, the role of religion in global conflict, and the unseen forces that may be shaping world events. Brandon shares his perspective on how Christianity, Zionism, and political power may intersect in ways most people never quest...

Two opposing perspectives. One honest conversation. This episode explores Christianity, Zionism, and the war in Iran—through a discussion that challenges assumptions and invites deeper thinking What happens when you sit down with someone you fundamentally disagree with—and actually have a real conversation? In this episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast , I sit down with my friend Brandon...

Nixon Resigned for This… So Why Didn’t Trump? In 1974, a sitting president faced overwhelming evidence of obstruction of justice—and resigned before he could be removed from office. But fast forward to today, and the question is unavoidable: would the same outcome happen now? In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , Darisse Smith breaks down the Watergate scandal, the impeachment process,...

Why the 25th Amendment Won’t Remove Trump (Explained) — What does it actually take to remove a sitting president using Section 4 of the 25th Amendment? Despite constant calls on social media and in politics, the reality is far more complicated—and far less likely—than most people think. In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , independent journalist Darisse Smith breaks down how the 25th...

Before Benjamin Netanyahu ever ran for office, he had already lived through war, terrorism, and personal tragedy. This episode explores the early life that shaped his beliefs—about strength, security, and survival—and how those ideas would later define his leadership on the world stage. Netanyahu was raised as a Revisionist Zionist, and the ideas of aggressive prevention of terrorism and claiming...

On November 4, 1979, what began as a normal workday at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran turned into a 444-day international crisis. In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , Darisse Smith breaks down the Iranian Hostage Crisis—one of the most defining moments in modern U.S.–Iran relations, and a turning point that still echoes in today’s geopolitical conflicts. When Iranian student militants sto...

In 1979, millions of Iranians flooded the streets, a king fled his country, and a revolution reshaped the Middle East—and the world. But this didn’t happen overnight. In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , Darisse Smith breaks down the Iranian Revolution of 1979—how years of economic collapse, political repression, foreign interference, and religious mobilization converged into one of t...

Who was Ruhollah Khomeini before he became the face of the Iranian Revolution—and how did a quiet religious scholar transform into one of the most powerful political figures of the 20th century? In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , Darisse Smith traces Khomeini’s early life, from his deeply religious upbringing in Iran to the personal losses and intellectual influences that shaped his...

Immigration debates often feel like a uniquely modern problem. But the truth is, the United States has been wrestling with the same contradictions for decades. During World War II, the United States faced a massive labor shortage in agriculture. The solution was the Bracero Program , a government agreement with Mexico that brought millions of Mexican laborers into the United States to work in Amer...

Before Iran became one of America’s greatest geopolitical rivals, it was one of its closest allies. From 1941 to 1979, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , the last Shah of Iran, attempted to transform the country into a powerful, modern state. His ambitious reforms brought massive infrastructure projects, rapid industrialization, expanded education, and new rights for women. Fueled by booming oil revenues, Ir...

What does the deadliest civil war in human history have to do with immigration in America today? In this episode, we trace a direct line from the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) in China — a conflict that killed more than 20 million people — to the wave of Chinese migration during the California Gold Rush and the political backlash that followed. Led by Hong Xiuquan, a failed civil service candidate...

Immigration debates feel uniquely modern — but they aren’t. In the 1850s, millions of Irish and German immigrants arrived in the United States seeking opportunity, democracy, and freedom from famine, political persecution, and economic collapse. What they found was not universal welcome — but suspicion, fear, and organized political backlash. In this mini-episode, I explore the rise of the Know No...

What does protest look like in 2026? In this episode, independent journalist Darisse Smith speaks with Peter , the founder of Coqui —a crowdsourced, live-map community alert app designed to help people stay informed about ICE and police presence in their neighborhoods in real time. Peter explains how Coqui works similarly to Waze, but instead of traffic or potholes, users can report nearby ICE act...

What is driving Donald Trump’s foreign policy in his second term—and is it rooted in strategy, history, or impulse? In this episode of The Journalism of Everything , independent journalist Darisse Smith speaks with Dr. Charles Kupchan , Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Kupchan previously served on the National Se...

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast , I sit down with retired U.S. Army Colonel Ron Gallimore — Cold War officer, parachutist, engineer commander, Iraq veteran, and the senior leader who oversaw my own deployment — for a candid, boots-on-the-ground conversation about duty, morality, leadership, war, and the Constitution. We talk about: • What the military oath actually requires...

Today I’m talking with Andy Haynes — stand-up comedian, writer, podcaster, and sharp cultural commentator whose work blends humor, honesty, self-deprecation and social critique. Andy has appeared on Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Comedy Central, Roast Battle, and more. His comedy often explores politics, culture, identity, and the uncomfortable truths we don’t always want to say out loud. In this conversati...

What happens when entertainment loses its purpose? In this episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast , host Darisse Smith and comedian Andy Haynes take on a surprising question: Should comedy just entertain, or should it mean something? Inspired by a raw and unforgettable quote from Sean Penn — “If I just need entertainment, I’ll go buy an eight ball and two hookers” — Darisse and Andy explo...

In this episode of The Journalism of Everything Podcast , host Darisse Smith interviews Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Barry Siegel , chair of UC Irvine’s Literary Journalism Program and director of its Center for Storytelling. Together, they explore the evolving role of journalists in America, the meaning of FAKE NEWS , and what it really takes to uphold truth in an age of partisanship and pol...