Hysteria

Sami Sage, founder of Betches Media and cultural commentator, adds sharp political and cultural takeaways. They recap Pam Bondi’s turbulent Senate testimony. Then dive into Epstein records, athletes protesting at the Milan Cortina Olympics, J.D. Vance’s motorcade drama, and Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl cultural win versus TPUSA’s flop.

They unpack the rise and performative theatrics of a Border Patrol figure and his inflated public persona. They walk through controversial raids, staged operations, and deadly outcomes tied to aggressive enforcement. They recount courtroom scrutiny, media stunts, and community pushback that exposed institutional failures and lack of real accountability.

Erin Ryan and guest host Akilah Hughes lock in and dive deep into the latest Epstein Files dump, following threads between fertility, finances, 4Chan, the FBI, and more. Then they discuss how upcoming entertainment events like the Super Bowl, the Olympics, and the Oscars put athletes and performers in a position they didn’t ask for– but also provide an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. They wrap up with a petty conversation about Ballerina Farm and the danger of unlearning things we learned more than 100 years ago.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Takeaways from the millions of newly released Epstein files (BBC 2/1)A list of powerful men named in the Epstein files, from Elon Musk to former Prince Andrew (PBS 2/1)Government says it's fixing thousands of documents in Epstein-related files that may have had victim information (PBS 2/3)

Erin and Alyssa dig into the latest news from the Twin Cities— the senseless tragedy of Alex Pretti’s death, and the inspiring resolve of the Minnesotans who continue to stand up for each other. With Greg Bovino’s “demotion,” are things about to take a turn for the better, or is this cynical political window-dressing from Team Trump? Then, Melania Trump’s movie premiere at the White House’s janky new makeshift room, and Paris Hilton’s fight on Capitol Hill to ban AI-generated deep fake porn. And of course, we wrap up with Sani-Petty. Alex Pretti’s Friends and Family Denounce ‘Sickening Lies’ About His Life (NYT 1/25)Republican calls are growing for a deeper investigation into fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti (PBS 1/26)Scoop: Stephen Miller behind misleading claim that Alex Pretti wanted to "massacre" agents (AXIOS 1/27)Trump Defends Noem as She Faces Bipartisan Criticism (WSJ 1/27)Democrats Vow Not to Fund ICE After Shooting, Imperiling Spending Deal (NYT 1/24)Melania’s $75 Million Movie Premiered in a Makeshift Theater (The Daily Beast 1/24)‘They sold my pain for clicks’: Paris Hilton urges lawmakers to act on nonconsensual deepfakes (The 19th 1/22)

In our 32nd episode of This F*cking Guy, Erin and Alyssa dive deep into the past of the bigoted big mouth, Rush Limbaugh. From having a face for radio, to his obsession with “feminazis” to spouting disinformation about smoking and covid to his very last days, this may be one of our most deplorable guys yet.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Sources:https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/rush-limbaughhttps://visitcape.com/rush-limbaughs-cape-girardeau-a-tour-of-the-radio-legends-roots/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/rush-limbaugh-dead-trump-ruined-america-1129222/https://www.stlmag.com/The-Original-Rush-Limbaugh-Biography-Tells-the-Story-of-Missouri-Courtroom-Legend-Rush-Limbaugh-Sr/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/business/media/rush-limbaugh-dead.htmlhttps://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/05/rush-limbaugh200905?srsltid=AfmBOopZzxf3nuOZgNcONoy2P7uWCZnX182fW0lCLqmEW0QgF5ezWleahttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/02/23/147299323/law-student-makes-case-for-contraceptive-coverage/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/03/02/147809138/student-is-outraged-by-rush-limbaugh-calling-her-a-slut-and-prostitutehttps://www.vanityfair.com/news/daily-news/2012/03/rush-limbaugh-sandra-fluke-obama-apology?_sp=b361603d-59b8-49de-8771-e1f85795940f.1763504275351https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/can-rush-peter-gabriel-legally-order-limbaugh-to-cease-using-their-songs-101473/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/rush-limbaugh-feminism-feminazis/2021/02/19/3a00f852-7202-11eb-85fa-e0ccb3660358_story.htmlhttps://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/limbaugh-draws-fire-on-obama-parody/https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-rush-limbaugh-mock-aids-death-radio-show-1570282https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1627887https://www.espn.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.htmlhttps://www.bet.com/article/u945ji/limbaugh-dumped-by-group-hoping-to-buy-ramshttps://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/03/post-limbaugh-next-conservative-kingpin?srsltid=AfmBOorVAZVgaPOjyPUN45HmLjxy-N_fsLDZJ9VTTpBddI_th9OWUozthttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/look-rush-limbaugh-fortune-passing-203619163.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFoRip8fz4FHwOH2WCUZPwEuQkW7dzucbZpLzmYo76VRkDnTSXOdVyD0Gal1rlu_JsyOMoGYJi5ciu5Lp9wIGfnullBmfQpywCyqrZ-3W18NUVCvg2G2E_Mz-UcpYS45S2vBsh8FQEWM2gjzZMXKYUh3r9WefakZygmKPkkgrdCchttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-nov-18-et-rush18-story.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/us/rush-limbaugh-arrested-on-prescription-drug-charges.html

Journalist and activist Kat Abughazaleh joins Hysteria to talk about her firsthand experience standing up to ICE and how to show up for immigrants in your community. Erin and Alyssa also get into updates from Minnesota and the death of Renee Good, the status of the Epstein files, and how Trump used his first year of presidency to line his own pockets. Then they have a discussion about the TV shows that are keeping them sane, especially the increasingly-popular genre “competency porn.” They wrap up with a petty chat about Kyrsten Sinema’s affair lawsuit and the latest Beckham family drama.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.Prosecutors Subpoena Minnesota Democrats as Part of Federal Inquiry (NYT 1/20)Some Minnesota students are missing school because they fear ICE (AXIOS 1/15)Following Renee Good’s killing, her son’s Minneapolis charter school receives right-wing attacks (Sahan Journal 1/15)‘No longer in my hands’: How Hill Republicans stopped caring about DOJ releasing the Epstein files (Politico 1/19)Amazon CEO says Trump tariffs are driving prices up (Axios 1/20)New York Times Trump Wealth ReportTV’s most satisfying escape right now is watching ‘competency porn’ (Washington Post 1/13)

Reshma Saujani, the founder of Moms First and an advocate for childcare policies, joins to discuss New York's groundbreaking universal childcare plan. She highlights a $1.7 billion investment that extends care to two-year-olds, positioning childcare as vital economic infrastructure. Reshma emphasizes the need for business support and organizing efforts to maintain momentum for this change. The conversation links childcare policies to wider issues of misogyny and workforce dynamics, illustrating the critical impact on women and the economy.

Delve into the latest revelations from the Epstein files and the chaos surrounding their release. Discover concerns over redactions and implications for powerful figures. Unpack the expiration of Obamacare subsidies and its dramatic impact on healthcare coverage. Explore Trump’s controversial childcare funding freeze and its gender implications. Plus, enjoy a light-hearted review of Netflix's Members Only: Palm Beach and a glance at viral food creator Courtney Cook's joyful videos.

Rachel Lindsay, the groundbreaking former Bachelorette and media commentator, shares her unique journey from law to reality TV. She reveals the surprising dynamics inside the Bachelor house and the intense pressure of choosing between contestants. Rachel also discusses the challenges of being the first Black lead, facing racism, and how production influenced her experience. The conversation dives into representation in reality TV and the fallout from the infamous Chris Harrison interview, bringing light to the balance between authenticity and entertainment.

The hosts take a deep dive into the antics of notorious figures like Elon Musk, critiquing his Doge failures and outrageous stunts. They hilariously dissect Mark Zuckerberg's shift from the metaverse to AI glasses and the surrounding controversies. Ghislaine Maxwell’s dramatic testimony and Kash Patel's chaotic leadership also make the list. With plenty of political missteps from figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Pete Hegseth, the hosts debate who truly deserves the title of the worst f*cking guy of 2025.