With Friends Like These

This week Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) sits down with Robert J. Lifton to remind you how bad things have gotten politically— but that remaining optimistic is not totally insane. They begin by drawing the parallels between Trump and other cult leaders/demagogues. Afterwards, they discuss the followers of Trump, why they remain followers, and how to get them to (hopefully) leave. Tune in for an unexpectedly hopeful episode about deathly cults!  Thanks to our sponsors!   Candid’s aligners can help straighten your teeth faster than traditional wire braces. Treatment takes just 6 months on average. Candid’s aligners are comfortable, removable, and completely invisible. Get your “Photo Ready” smile by the holidays! Go to Candidco.com/FRIENDS and use code FRIENDS to get seventy-five dollars off.      Rothy’s has quickly grown to a most-loved, gotta-have-them brand. It’s no surprise they have over 1,000 nearly perfect reviews. You’ll quickly discover why Buzzfeed called them their “forever shoes.” Check out all the

Fan favorite Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) returns to give Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) the Never Trumper view on culture wars, judicial festishization, and the all-important business of impeachment. Plus: a wacky game about pathological lying! Please consider checking out Rick’s new book Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump--and Democrats from Themselves; a title that we will almost certainly be fighting him about next time he joins the show. Thanks to our sponsors! Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of amazing classes covering dozens of creative and entrepreneurial skills. Join the millions of students already learning on Skillshare today with a special offer just for WFLT listeners: Get two months of Skillshare for free when you go to skillshare.com/FRIENDS.  Framebridge makes it super easy and affordable to frame your favorite things, from kids art and concert posters to the vacation photos sitting on your phone. Instead of the hundreds you’d pay at a frami

Are you looking for a book on the Midwest and Christianity that doesn’t excuse racism? Good news! This week Lyz Lenz (@lyzl) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to talk about her book God Land: A Story of Faith, Loss, and Renewal in Middle America. They start by diving into the parallels between Lyz’s divorce and the 2016 election; America is a lot like your crappy college boyfriend whose red flags you ignored. Afterwards, they discuss what our silence means, especially as white liberals. Finally, they talk about atonement and what it means to better yourself when you have harmed others.  Find Lyz’s book here and her profile on Alan Dershowitz here. Thanks to our sponsors!  ThirdLove uses data points generated by millions of women who have taken their Fit Finder quiz, to design bras with breast size and shape in mind for a perfect fit and premium feel. Go to THIRDLOVE.com/FRIENDS now to find your perfect-fitting bra… and get 15% off your first purchase!  Grove Collaborative is the online marketplace that d

This week Jason Kander (@JasonKander) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to talk about his most recent work with veterans and what brought him there. They cover Jason’s political history, how he got help, and why no one should use running for president to avoid their problems. Afterwards, they discuss ways of finding hope and making change outside of the political sphere.  Later, n (@sheilaforva) joins the show to talk about her campaign for delegate in Virginia. They talk about Sheila’s motivation for running and what it would mean to flip the Virginia General Assembly (spoiler: it’s A LOT). Finally, Sheila reminds us that when we vote, we win. Learn more about the Veteran’s Community Project here and the Coleman campaign here. Thanks to our sponsors! FIGS creates the highest quality medical apparel so that medical professionals look their best, feel their best, and perform at their best every day. Every set of FIGS is antimicrobial – protects from germs and bacteria, ridiculously soft, moisture-wicking and

Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) live at the Texas Tribune Fest in Austin. The two non-millionaires discuss race, the gubernatorial race for Florida, HBCUs, the dream of living regular conflicts, and reserving curse words in Texas for use by Beto. Then, AMC chats with Shani Curry Mitchell (@Shanic4da) who is running for District Attorney in New York’s Monroe County. Mitchell spent thirteen years as a prosecutor and during that time lost her sister to a tragic event. She's pushing for more progressive sentencing. Bit of housekeeping: We at Crooked Media are teaming up with Stacey Abrams for Fair Fight 2020. We’re trying to donate at least a million dollars towards her five million dollar goal. Please donate here and encourage others to join in. Click here to learn more about Shani’s campaign. Thanks to our sponsors! Rothy’s has quickly grown to a most-loved, gotta-have-them brand. It’s no surprise they have over 1,000 nearly perfect reviews. They’re stylish, sustainable, comfor

Stephanie Wittels Wachs (@wittelstephanie) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to discuss her new podcast Last Day on Lemonada Media. Stephanie’s brother, comedian Harris Wittels, died in an overdose, and now she’s exploring the opiate epidemic person by person. It’s a way of both normalizing and investigating what’s happening across America with our secret pandemic. Stephanie and Ana pick apart the systems that rewire the human brain via addiction, and the new-wiring it takes to correct for these changes. It’s a painfully personal journey and we appreciate you coming along for the ride. Stories can always go a different way, and every story is worth telling. Harris on You Made It Weird: https://archive.nerdist.com/you-made-it-weird-236-harris-wittels-returns/Training for NARCAN: https://www.getnaloxonenow.org/#homeNA: https://www.na.org/AA: https://www.aa.org/Al-anon: https://al-anon.org/Last Day: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/last-day/id1468896686 Bit of housekeeping: We at Crooked Media are teaming

Bassey Ikpi (@Basseyworld) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) at Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis for a live interview regarding her new book I’m Telling The Truth, But I’m Lying. This overwhelmingly open discussion dives into issues around mental health, the truth about Bold Introverts, the racial disparities in emotional healthcare, ranking the cultural sexiness of various bipolar disorders, and how there’s rarely a storybook happy ending for people with Different Brains. TW: Suicidal Ideations, Depression Bit of housekeeping: We at Crooked Media are teaming up with Stacey Abrams for Fair Fight 2020. We’re trying to donate at least a million dollars towards her five million dollar goal. Please donate here and encourage others to join in. Thanks to our sponsors! Everyone wants their home to look and feel great. Luckily, Snowe makes it incredibly simple. They create trend-proof, beautiful, functional, luxurious pieces at an affordable price. Snowe is offering our listeners $30 off your first purcha

Blair Braverman (@BlairBraverman) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) at Cap Times Idea Fest in Wisconsin in front of a live studio audience. In this wide-ranging interview, they cover Blair’s memoir (Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube), all things mushing, how to dress for cold weather, climate change, and the surprising similarities between raising dogs and cultivating a compassionate online community. They also discuss some of the more sensitive topics in her memoir, including Blair’s interactions with toxic masculinity, and how her chronic illness altered her relationship with productivity and leisure. Come join for this in-depth cultural dissection with the ally who came in from the cold. There is brief discussion of sexual violence. If you or someone you know needs help with these issues, please contact RAINN at ‎1-800-656-HOPE. Bit of housekeeping: We at Crooked Media are teaming up with Stacey Abrams for Fair Fight 2020. We’re trying to donate at least a million dollars towards her five million dollar goa

This week Avery Trufelman (@trufelman) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to discuss the possibility of a better tomorrow. Avery’s new show Nice Try! Is a podcast about various failed attempts at utopias across the ages, and what our (maybe) crumbling civilization can learn from those who came before us. Good intentions aren’t enough of a foundation for our future without, you know, literal foundations. Article referenced by Avery: How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation Thanks to our sponsors! With Stamps.com you can access all the amazing services of the Post Office, right from your desk, 24/7, when it’s convenient for you. Buy and print official U.S. postage for any letter, any package using your own computer & printer – and the mail carrier picks it up. To get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale, go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in FRIENDS. Rothy’s are the everyday flats for life on the go. They’re stylish and versatile, and they go with e

Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to discuss current events and politics at large. After a game to test Ricks’s knowledge of the Trump administrations many, many attempts at spin, the two dive into a discussion regarding the future of the Republican Party. With an insider’s unique perspective, Rick shares his fears for the future of the party (spoiler alert - it’s not looking too good), and sheds some light on the prevailing feelings of Republican politicians. Ana and Rick also touch on the primaries and 2020 elections, ending on a hopeful note about the power of the voter. Thanks to our sponsors! It’s time for spring cleaning. Quip’s got an easy way to start — with your brushing habits. Just two minutes, twice a day can help pave the way to a healthier mouth and mind. And now the whole family can get refreshed with quip. Quip starts at just $25 and if you go to getquip.com/friends right now, you can get your first refill pack for free. Everyone wants their home to look and feel

This week, Rachel Monroe (@rachmonroe) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to break down the lack of truth in true crime. Using Rachel’s book, Savage Appetites, Rachel and Ana explore stories of women totally consumed by true crime to draw larger conclusions about the cultural phenomenon. They also delve into the genre’s rise in times of uncertainty, and what its popularity reflects about the current political and social climate. Then, they touch on the dicey racial dynamics within true crime communities, which often prioritize white, female victims, even though most crimes in America don’t fit that narrative. Rounding out the discussion, they detail more harmful and toxic aspects of crime fandom, including the dangers of online vigilante detectives and obsessive online fan pages. Let’s all agree we want to see Despair: The Musical! CW: Mild descriptions of violent crime that may be disturbing to some listeners. Not by Rachel, but a marvelous companion essay about Ted Bundy by the incomparable Sarah Marshall,

This week, Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) sits down with human rights lawyer, activist, and author Arjun Sethi (@arjunsethi81) to discuss the one year anniversary of his book, American Hate: Survivors Speak Out —as relevant as ever after the massacres in El Paso… and, in the short time since, the arrests of six white men on charges related to mass violence. Arjun and Ana also discuss their frustration with how hate crimes are typically depicted in the media, and how the average American can get involved in the fight against white supremacy. Then, Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) from The Atlantic discusses his bestelling new book, How to Be an Antiracist. In soft-spoken, gentle urgency, Ibram guides us through the idea “there is no neutrality” in the face of racism: there is only racism and anti-racism. Ibram and Ana then discuss his various encounters with cancer; exploring a profound extended metaphor between the disease and racism in America. You can find Arjun’s previous With Friends Like These episode here.The s

CW: Complex discussions of Christianity, Faith, and Catholicism’s scandals. Washington Post writer Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to explain the seemingly nonsensical evangelical support for Donald Trump. They delve into the suicide-pact between Trump and Jesus Country that seems rooted in apocalyptic nihilism, toxic absolutism, and a devastating cynicism about American politics. With a warmth and sympathy stemming from their own familial connections, Ana and Elizabeth explore this version of Christanity that seems disconnected from their own understanding. Elizabeth and Ana then share the ways they’ve learned to cope in the midst of these turbulent times, and ironically, how their faith helps them face the hopelessness of the headlines. Thanks to our sponsors!  ARC is a new way to achieve professional-level teeth whitening at home for just 30 minutes a day. To help our listeners get a whiter, brighter smile, ARC is offering $15 off your purchase of a Blue Light kit when you

After the horrifying massacre in El Paso, host Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) and former Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges (@BetsyHodges) navigate a complex discussion about race in America that’s all too relevant. Together, they break down the many ways in which racist structures diffuse and reinforce white supremacy. They also tackle the merits (or lack thereof) of calling someone ‘racist,’ and enter into a profound discussion centering around whether white people are “deserving of love.” For their answers on all these topics and much more, join us today. Show references: Diana Butler Bass - All I Need Is Right Here Betsy Hodges was the 47th mayor of Minneapolis. Mayor Hodges currently serves as an advisor to cities and mayors to improve equitable outcomes for people of color, she is a Fellow with the Atlantic Fellowship for Racial Equity (AFRE), and the Aspen Institute. Recently, she served as a Residential Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. She has written about politics and race for C

Content Warning: Sexual Assault. In this week’s episode, E. Jean Carroll (@ejeancarroll) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to answer the age old question: do women really need men? E. Jean tells us about the road trip through femme-named towns and surprise interviews that forms the center of her new memoir, What Do We Need Men for: A Modest Proposal. In this frank conversation, E. Jean speaks about her rape at the hand of the President of the United States, and the coping mechanisms she used to survive. Ana reveals a complicated history of similar experiences, and both women discuss the enormous scrutiny victims face when they come forward, but lose their narrative to the media. If you can, please donate to RAINN. Thanks to our sponsors!  ThirdLove uses data points generated by millions of women who have taken their Fit Finder quiz, to design bras with breast size and shape in mind for a perfect fit and premium feel. Answer a few simple questions to find your perfect fit in 60 seconds. Go to THIRDLOVE.com/

In this week’s fascinating episode, Alexandra Minna Stern joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to discuss how white supremicst and white nationalist ideologies became so entrenched in our current political landscape. We’re now in the age of Proud Boys running for office and Alexandra’s new book, Proud Boys and the White Ethnostate: How the Alt-Right Is Warping the American Imagination is the perfect launching pad into the deep, dark underbelly of modern white supremicist media and ideology. Together, they tackle several key issues including how to cover these groups without inflating them and the oft underreported emphasis these groups place on transhophic and misogynist ideologies. Thanks to our sponsors!  Everlane only makes premium essentials, using the finest materials, without traditional markups. Right now, you can check out our personalized collection at Everlane.com/FRIENDS and get free shipping on your first order. We all want to do the right thing to keep our bodies healthy in the long run. It’s only

This week Amber Scorah (@amberscorah) and Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) discuss Amber’s new book - Leaving the Witness: Exiting a Religion and Finding a Life. Together, they break into Amber’s former faith with the Jehovah's Witnesses, her complicated marital affair, and a subsequent exit from the church. Amber opens up about her current outlook on religion, and explains how she came to terms with her son’s sudden death. It’s more heartwarming than it sounds, we promise! Thanks to our sponsors! Did you know that millennials have 3 times as much student debt as their parents? That’s not right. But you can get your student loans right by refinancing your loans with SoFi.  It’s a fast and easy process––all online––and only takes 2 minutes to check your rate. Refinancing your student loans could save you thousands. Check your rate in 2 minutes on sofi.com/CROOKED.  Rothy’s are the everyday flats for life on the go. They’re stylish and versatile, and they go with everything from yoga pants to dresses and skirts.

Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) and Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) meet for their monthly airing of grievances. Rick and Ana discuss how America is quickly becoming dismissed on the world stage, why a White House social media summit is the pinnacle of dum-dum behavior, how fetishization of normalization is unpleasant, and how the executive order overreaches of the Obama administration (which once caused Republicans to self-immolate) seem quaint in retrospect. Also: A New Game! (What? We can have new games. Lovett doesn’t have a trademark on new games. Lovett, come play our games!) Thanks to our sponsors!  It’s time for spring cleaning. Quip’s got an easy way to start — with your brushing habits. Just two minutes, twice a day can help pave the way to a healthier mouth and mind. And now the whole family can get refreshed with quip. Quip starts at just $25 and if you go to GETQUIP.com/FRIENDS right now, you can get your first refill pack for FREE. With Stamps.com you can access all the amazing services of the Post

This week Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) joins Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) to discuss how she built the anti-gun violence group Moms Demand Action from the ground up. Shannon’s new book Fight Like A Mother is both a memoir, but also a handbook for replicating these triumphs, as a sort of Activism for Dummies. Ana and Shannon honestly examine MDA’s origins, successes, goals, failures, and how to forge intersectional relationships with surprising allies. Thanks to our Sponsors! ThirdLove uses data points generated by millions of women who have taken their Fit Finder quiz, to design bras with breast size and shape in mind for a perfect fit and premium feel. Answer a few simple questions to find your perfect fit in 60 seconds. Go to THIRDLOVE.com/FRIENDS now to find your perfect-fitting bra… and get 15% off your first purchase! When it comes to shopping for clothes most of us are amateurs. So why not let the professionals handle it? Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that delivers your favorite c

This week Anna Merlan (@annamerlan) helps us Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) parse America’s increasingly conspiratorial culture. Anna spent eight years covering conspiracy groups and just came out with a book, Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power. Join us as we discuss vaccinations, UFOs, spying on Quakers, and finding a path forward. Also, check out our bonus mega-mix of Anna Merlin, Will Sommer, Heather Armstrong, Tommy Orange, Will Sommer again, and Vann Newkirk and their most ridiculous secret beliefs. (We had to end Conspiracy Month in the strangest way possible.) Thanks to our sponsors!  Blinkist is the only app that takes the best key takeaways, the need-to-know information from thousands of nonfiction books and condense them down into just 15 minutes that you can read or listen to. Blinkist has a special offer just for our audience. Go to Blinkist.com/withfriends to start your free 7 day trial. Bombas are made from super-soft, natural cotton, and every pai