Indictment Day: Part Deux
Donald John Trump has been indicted and arraigned for a second time in three months, with at least two possible ones to come. (Insert clip of Kimberly Guilfoyle bellowing out “The Best is Yet To Come!”). Although Trump invited all of his fans to the Miami Federal Courthouse on his Arraignment Day aka Flag Day aka his 77th Birthday, there was reportedly more press than MAGAs in attendance. Where’s the QAnon Shaman when you need him? Oh, right, freshly out of prison. Azi and Sari speak with a very special guest, Little Miss Marxist to discuss Indictment Day Part Deux as well as the current state of the GOP. Only time will tell who will be the Republican candidate up against incumbent Joe Biden, but we know that every Trump indictment - and arraignment - is the gift that keeps giving for the Grand Old Party.
Don't forget to follow @Littlemissmarxist, @saribethrose, @the.wellness.therapist, and @griftypod on all social media platforms.
She’s just a girl, a girl in the world. Join Azi as she has a fun two part chat with Caroline Calloway about everything and nothing. Tune in for the second part of this interview next week.
Find us on all social media platforms @griftypod or visit www.grifty.org for more
KING CAUCUS - On this episode of the Grifty Tribune, Azi, Sari and Taryn discuss the outcome of the Iowa Caucus where Trump won (with a lower turnout than previous years), reviewed the tick tock of Trump’s busy 2024 trial schedule, and discussed how they’d characterize the 2024 electorate.and what exactly will motivate them to vote and save our democracy from the man who wants to be King.
History Behind the Iowa Caucus
The Caucus System in the U.S. Presidential Nominating Process
Trump's big Iowa win included some signs of trouble with moderates, younger voters
Polling of Republicans at Iowa Caucus
Trump also continued his pattern of racist dog whistles against Nikki Haley (who is slightly gaining on him in the polls), referring to her by her first name, Nimarata, in a Truth Social post.
A judge in Maine decided to hold off on ruling on the case of Trump’s ballot eligibility until the Supreme Court issues a decision on the Colorado case.
DeSantis’s super PAC, Never Back Down, began laying off staff and it looks like he's going to drop out.
TRUMP LEGAL ISSUES
Rundown: The Trump legal cases to watch in 2024
Trump's lawyer argues that a president can order SEAL Team Six to assassinate his political rival if Congress is cool with it:
https://www.threads.net/@esqueer_/post/C17WNW0uSoc/
Episode 1 of Season 2 features Taylor Lorenz discussing influencers and
Episode 9 Grifty Tribune: The Grifty Old Party
On this episode of Grifty, we are kicking off our new ongoing series- The Grifty Tribune. In ancient Rome, the Tribune was a person who upheld or defended the rights of the people. And we plan to do the same with this ongoing series.
In this edition of the Grifty Tribune, Azi and Sari break down the latest in American politics with a focus on how the GOP got so darn grifty - from Sarah Palins’s $150,000 wardrobe back in 2008 to the Obama Birther Conspiracy to the Trump Mug Shot of 2023. Azi and Sari even go back to the Roman Empire - yes, the Roman Empire - and try to figure out how we got to this place in America, once founded on lofty principles of republican virtue, to one where Trump is able to galvanize and grift off of an anti-intellectual, conspiracy theory obsessed, and bigoted voting bloc.
IN THIS EPISODE
That didn’t stop the smear from gaining traction, in an effort fueled by people including hard-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars — and by future president Donald Trump himself, who fanned the “birther” flames in 2011 as he advanced in the political arena.
According to Trump’s longtime associate Roger Stone, it was an effective strategy: “Trump understands among Republicans there’s a very substantial majority who have questions about Obama’s origins and how he just pops up out of nowhere to become a national figure and whether he was, in fact, eligible to serve as president,” Stone told FRONTLINE in 2016.
Grifty Pod Episode 8: Boys Don’t Cry
Boy’s don’t cry, and that is precisely the problem. On this episode of Grifty, all the gang is back in town for our back-to-school episode of exploring the Manosphere – an interconnected echo chamber of men and boys where the themes of toxic masculinity, misogyny, and homophobia are platformed and normalized in online forums, podcasts, and articles all over the web. A large part of the appeal of the manosphere is that it acknowledge the increasing rates of depression, suicide, and incarceration among men. However, they take this sliver of truth and leverage it into a fear-mongering grift where they make the false link that these issues plaguing our boys and men are the result of some global conspiracy.
Find us on all social media platforms @griftypod
Learn more www.grifty.org
IN THIS EPISODE
On the History of the Manosphere:
The Evolution of the Manosphere across the Web
"To Learn About the Far Right, Start With the 'Manosphere'." The Atlantic
On the Ideology and Content of the Manosphere:
“Jordan Peterson and the Return of the Men’s Rights Movement,” The Washington Post
“The Liver King and the Problematic rise of Primal Manhood,” Huck Magazine
On the Radicalization of men and boys caused by the Manosphere:
“The “Manosphere” Is Getting More Toxic As Angry Men Join the Incels,” MIT Technology Review
“Mass Violence and Terrorism since Santa Barbara,” New America
“Elliot Rodger: How misogynist killer became 'incel hero',” BBC.com
“Plymouth Shooter Fascinated By Serial Killers and ‘Incel’ Culture, Inquest Hears,” The Guardian
On the grifts, scams, and charlatans of the Manosphere:
“Andrew Tate Wants Everyone To Get In On the Grift,” Jacobin
“Generation Tate: How can we stop losing vulnerable men to the ‘manosphere’?,” The Independent
Gather 'round as we delve into the world of life coaching. Apparently in these modern times, for the average person, craving a new life implies seeking the assistance of a so-called life coach. These self-proclaimed saviors promise to guide you towards a life of success, wealth, and popularity. But let's not be fooled for beneath their veneer of expertise there may be nothing more than a shameless grift.
In the tumultuous landscape of late-stage capitalism, where the weight of societal pressures and economic inequalities bears down on individuals, the quest for a new and improved life has taken on a peculiar form. Enter life coaching, the beacon of hope for those yearning to optimize themselves and strive towards the elusive next level.
Join us on this episode as we navigate through the treacherous terrain of personal transformation in an unforgiving system. We dissect the woven web at the intersection of life coaching, new age spirituality, and the so-called wellness industry. As people grapple with the challenges imposed by late-stage capitalism, life coaching has emerged as a glimmer of possibility—a path to reinvention and advancement. How does this ethereal landscape intersect with the quest for personal transformation? And what happens when individuals willingly part with their hard-earned money, entrusting their hopes and aspirations to unlicensed professionals promising to guide them towards higher levels of optimization?
As we delve deeper, we confront the pressing question of legitimacy. Does it truly matter that these life coaches lack professional licenses? Are they equipped with the necessary skills and expertise to navigate the intricate complexities of personal growth and transformation? Or are they merely capitalizing on the vulnerability of individuals, all while society at large remains blissfully unaware?
During this episode, Thomas and Azi are joined by new friends of the pod, Ash Riley, a journalist and business consultant well-versed in ethical and trauma-informed approaches, and Marguerite Dautan, a visionary social change innovator and digital creator, we delve deep into the motivations and repercussions of this transformative pursuit.
As we navigate the intricacies of personal growth and societal pressures, we'll explore the intricate dance between ambition and exploitation, as individuals invest their hopes, dreams, and hard-earned dollars into the promise of a better tomorrow.
Prepare to challenge the prevailing narratives as we shine a light on the profound impact of new age inpsired life coaching. What repercussions does it have on our collective well-being? Does it empower individuals to break free from the chains of socioeconomic capitalism, or does it inadvertently perpetuate the very system it claims to transcend?
So, fellow skeptics and seekers of progress, prepare to have your illusions shattered and your wallets guarded as we unravel the tangled web of life coaching within the context of late-stage capitalism. Together, we'll confront the challenges, celebrate the triumphs, seek a deeper understanding, analyze, and question whether this pursuit of optimization truly offers liberation or merely perpetuates the status quo.
Find us on on all social media platforms including Threads @griftypod and at griftypod.org
Find this weeks friends of the pod by visiting their social media
Margarit Davtian: @Seekwithser
Ash Riley: @ashrising
Indictment Day: Part Deux
Donald John Trump has been indicted and arraigned for a second time in three months, with at least two possible ones to come. (Insert clip of Kimberly Guilfoyle bellowing out “The Best is Yet To Come!”). Although Trump invited all of his fans to the Miami Federal Courthouse on his Arraignment Day aka Flag Day aka his 77th Birthday, there was reportedly more press than MAGAs in attendance. Where’s the QAnon Shaman when you need him? Oh, right, freshly out of prison. Azi and Sari speak with a very special guest, Little Miss Marxist to discuss Indictment Day Part Deux as well as the current state of the GOP. Only time will tell who will be the Republican candidate up against incumbent Joe Biden, but we know that every Trump indictment - and arraignment - is the gift that keeps giving for the Grand Old Party.
Don't forget to follow @Littlemissmarxist, @saribethrose, @the.wellness.therapist, and @griftypod on all social media platforms.
Do you believe in magic? On this episode of Grifty, friends of the pod explore America’s mass shooting problem thru the lens of the magical thinking that fuels both gun and wellness cultures, as well as discuss the latest news about GOP grifters Donald Trump and George Santos.
The market for Toxic forms of wellness exists because people are feeling disempowered with their health and lack trust in the medical community in the same way that the consumer market for military-grade weapons exists because people are feeling disempowered with their safety and lack trust in the government. Gun and wellness cultures center YOU in the discussion, as both the main contributor and detractor of your safety and well-being. It’s giving main character energy in the worst way possible.
These dogmatic views and binary solutions towards self-sufficiency and empowerment have led to extremism not just by predatory grifters but also by other well-meaning but misinformed individuals, especially in this chronically online era where anyone can become a platform for spreading false information as they can work the algorithm.
Azadeh “Azi” Ghafari, Sari Beth Rosenberg, Dr. Thomas Oden MD, Baktaash "BT" Sorkhabi
On Trump’s Sexual Assault Case
Politico – A stunning Result in Trump’s Sexual Assault Trial
PBS - Breaking down the verdict as jury finds Trump liable for sexual assault and defamation
On George Santos’ Fraud charges
United States Department of Justice: Congressman George Santos Charged with Fraud, Money Laundering, Theft of Public Funds, and False Statements
Fortune - Serial liar George Santos’ lesser-known fraud may have been collecting $24,000 in COVID unemployment benefits while working a $120,000 job
On America’s mass shooting problem
Huff Post - Texas Mall Shooting Victims Include Young Child And His Parents
Huff Post - The Texas Shooter Reportedly Wore A Patch Popular With Far-Right Groups
Daily Beast - Why Young Men of Color Are Joining White-Supremacist Groups
Harvard School of Public Health - Do guns make us safer? Science suggests no
Harvard School of Public Health – Scientists Agree: Guns don’t make society safer
Newsweek – Republicans are blaming Mental Health School Shootings After Refusing to Fund It
Washington Post – Why Haven’t GOP Politicians Matched Funding to their Rhetoric?
Pew Research Center – What the Data says about gun deaths in the U.S.
On The Wellness to Alt Right Pipeline
Huff Post - Gun Culture And Wellness Culture Come From the Same Place
Conspirtuality – Guns, Germs, & Fears
PBS - Disinformation abounds in the wellness community. How one anti-vax influencer broke free
McGill Office for Science and Society – Granola and Guns: The Rise of Conspirtuality
Mother Jones - Wellness Influencers Are Spreading QAnon Conspiracies About the Coronavirus
Food Psych – Rethinking Wellness: The Problems with “Natural” Wellness with Alan Levinovitz
The 2024 Presidential election is officially underway. Joe Biden Part 2 is in full effect. Dude is old, get over it. Ron DeSantis went and got himself sued by Disney and is running 30 points behind Trump. Tucker Carlson got himself fired from Fox News and now has to report from his basement bunker. RFK Jr. and Marianne Williamson bringing old-school wellness grifts back into politics. Azi and Sari share their own conspiracy theories about the REAL reason why RFK Jr. is running, and Larry David is to blame.
On this episode, Friends of the Pod discuss the pseudoscience that can be chiropracty wacky backy quacky, which is the perfect place to trap gullible people looking for some relief.
Of course, like many wellness practices chiropractice care lives in the in-between of therapeutic health modalities that can be effective and can also become iffy when mixed with pseudoscience. At times the field has been about ignoring evidence-based medicine.
Various systematic reviews of controlled clinical studies of treatments used by some chiropractors has also found no evidence that all of the work that they do is effective, with the possible exception of treatment for specific kinds of back pain. Very little reproducible evidence exists to indicate that maintenance chiropractic care adequately prevents anything. While some chiropractors limit their practice to short-term treatment of muscle conditions, many falsely claim that they ARE able to treat a myriad of other conditions, including mental and spiritual health.
Final nugget: D. D. Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s, after saying he received knowledge about it from "the other world" and connected with the father of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.
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