With Labor Day behind us, Trump’s honeymoon is over and his march into fascist authoritarianism is in full force. This week Rachel and Aaron look at his latest distraction from a nosediving economy and the Epstein Files: an armed, federal invasion of America’s third-largest city. Plus, market instability rocks America’ farmers as Trump’s tariffs take a toll, a grilling for RFK junior (and no, we’re not talking about his face), and Gov. Newsom’s master class in political mockery looks awfully familiar.LINKS:Substack - The Cycle: A Blue Tsunami is Headed for Virginia and New JerseySubstack - The Cycle: Democrats Want to Run on Affordability: Here’s How to Do it RightAmerican Soybean Association: ‘A trade and financial precipice’Hit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
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Episode 24: 'Because We Can'
Why are Republicans trying to give themselves an edge in Congress? In the words of one GOP lawmaker: “Because we can.” This week, Rachel and Aaron separate the facts from JD Vance’s alt reality as some Democrats prepare to fight fire with fire. Plus: Trump takes federal control over Washington DC. And South Park sends up America’s most notorious puppy killer.LINKS:YouTube: President Trump holds news conference on plans to address D.C. crimeGavin Newsom to Trump: ‘You Are Playing With Fire’The Cycle (Substack): Appeasement Didn’t Work Then; It Won’t Work Now
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Episode 23: Stubborn Things
Facts are stubborn things, at least two of Trump’s predecessors have said. And for Trump on the economy—and Jeffrey Epstein–-there’s nothing to see here. This week Rachel and Aaron look at what the latest job numbers mean for Trump 2.0. Plus, Trump is making his own list… of political enemies. And secret documents in a secret annex at FBI Headquarters? Pssh.LINKSNew York Times: Until Trump Fired Her, She Was an Economist With Bipartisan SupportABC News: Joe Rogan slams Trump administration over Epstein investigation: 'Trying to gaslight'The Breakfast Club: Charlamagne Responds To Donald Trump’s ‘Truth Social’ Post About HimThe Cycle (Substack): The Anatomy of “Othering”: How Authoritarians Build Permission for ViolenceHit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game’
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Episode 22: Fire with Fire
This week Rachel and Aaron stick to the one scandal that’s finally sticking to Teflon Don: Jeffrey Epstein, and the Trump Administration’s spectacular inability to control the narrative. Rachel dives into the need to “politicize everything.” A look at how Trump 2.0 is using immigration to destroy democracy with quiet bureaucracy. And why are some Dems demanding to fight “fire with fire” after the latest GOP effort to retain control of the U.S. House?LINKS:The Cycle (Substack): Politicize Everything: A Blueprint for a Party that FightsYouTube: 'You’ve got no rights’: teenage US citizen records violent arrest by immigration officersThe Guardian: How Trump has supercharged the immigration crackdown - in dataYouTube: 'Epstein Partied With Trump': Texas Congressional Candidate Dragged Out Of HearingYouTube: California's Newsom Calls To 'Fight Fire With Fire' As Texas Considers RedistrictingSurrounded (Jubilee Media): 1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives (ft. Mehdi Hasan)50501: Rage Against the Regime | August 2, 2025The National: Convicted US Felon to Arrive in Scotland
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Episode 21: Thought Control
This week, as Trump’s FEMA struggles to answer questions about consequential budget cuts in the aftermath of Texas flooding, Rachel and Aaron look at how the Republican Party deliberately turned climate change into a conspiracy theory. It’s MAGA thought control. Plus, the FBI tries to go after thought crimes. And the Epstein Scandal threatens to unravel MAGA, despite Trump’s best efforts to move on. Which of his allies aren’t letting it go?LINKS:The Cycle (Substack): The Big Ugly Cuts to Climate ScienceNancy Pelosi & Newt Gingrich Climate PSA (2008)Frontline: Climate of DoubtNew York Times: The F.B.I. Is Using Polygraphs to Test Officials’ LoyaltyKOCO-TV (Oklahoma City): OSDE introduces 'America First Assessment' for teachers moving from certain statesMegyn Kelly & Charlie Kirk on Epstein scandalThe Hill: Bannon warns GOP could lose 40 House seats over Epstein filesVox: Why everyone runs for president these daysHit ‘Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game
About This is America: Checked In for the Checked Out
From the front lines of protecting democracy, political analysts Rachel Bitecofer and Aaron Murphy, authors of Hit 'Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game (Crown, 2024), host a brief, weekly look at "what you need to know" about Trump 2.0. They're checked in for the checked out.This is America is a callback to William L. Shirer's groundbreaking This is Berlin broadcasts from the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.Subscribe to Rachel's The Cycle on Substack at thecycle.substack.com.Hit 'Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game:hitemwhereithurts.com.
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