Introducing the Sometimes Weekly Podcast
Today, the first episode of the Sometimes Weekly Podcast was released on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. Plus: Ukraine, Russia, and the GOP.
I’m happy to announce the official launch of the Sometimes Weekly Podcast!
The first episode is available on Apple, Spotify, Sometimes Weekly, or wherever you get your podcasts.
In this inaugural episode, I chat with my friend Adam Thorne about the time we unexpectedly met Barack Obama at the White House back in 2010 when we were classmates in high school. We also talk a bit about American democracy and Joe Biden before discussing British politics at length — it’s a fun episode and I hope you give it a listen!
Meanwhile, in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with President Biden and Congressional leaders in an effort to ensure that the United States continues providing military aid required to defend Ukraine and defeat Putin’s army. Given the modern GOP’s Russian-asset problem, there has been a sustained effort to undermine U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense since Russia’s invasion began nearly two years ago.
Putting aside the politics of the day, it’s important for us to continue monitoring the actions of Congressional Republicans when it comes to questions of Russian influence in America and our continued support for Ukraine in the current conflict.
I’ve written previously about the ongoing Russification of the American conservative movement over the last five years, but regardless of Russia’s direct involvement in the destruction of the GOP, it’s now clear there is alignment between destructive forces in the GOP (like Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, or Peter Theil’s personal army of legislators) and other non-democratic forces around the world, including Russia.
This alignment between forces need not be a conspiracy to be concerning, and it’s my belief that the alignment alone is enough to pose a serious threat to our democracy.
But I remain convinced we can defeat these forces with the very thing they’re trying to destroy: democracy. Observing and speaking out against actions which undermine our democracy is an apolitical act. We can only defeat these dark forces if those of us who understand the threat are willing to speak out and participate, and that requires people of all ideologies speaking out.
We cannot remain on the sidelines. And so, I launched a podcast! I’ll be talking about democracy on the podcast. Check it out! Plus, I promise the podcast isn’t as serious as my writing, which seems to come across a bit more serious than I intend. Whoops!
Of course, I’ll be back next week with another newsletter.
Until then, Godspeed and talk soon.
Nick
Binghamton, NY
December 2023