Idiot Soup: A Political Podcast
By Anjali Pellegrin
Idiot Soup: A Political PodcastMar 02, 2021
The Idiots in the Cupboard
Joe Biden promised us a cabinet that looks like America, but will he give us a cabinet that works like America? This week, Anjali and Dane take a look at some of President Joe Biden's top cabinet members (most of which are leftovers from the Obama administration). From key influencers in our Middle Eastern occupations to a Department of Transportation headed by someone with...no transportation experience, what could go wrong?
ACAB For Dummies
Following the wake of George Flloyd's murder at the hands of a police officer, the world erupted into an impassioned series of protests demanding change and reform in every aspect of political life. From the criminal justice system to our schools, the Black Lives Matter movement is creating a call for political and social change that cannot be ignored.
On this episode, join Kim and I as we talk about our protesting experience and dissect some of the core conservative arguments against the Black Lives Matter Movement. And, of course, we talk about ACAB. So if you're wondering what ACAB is, why black-on-black crime is the most absurd counterargument to BLM, or how to be an ally in this situation, tune in to this episode.
SH*T'S REAL: Coronavirus in College
The University of Notre Dame has been in a myriad of headlines for the past few weeks. As one of the only top universities to attempt 100% in person classes during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we've received an onslaught of both criticism and praise. On this episode of Idiot Soup, four undergraduates at the University of Notre Dame analyze our university's policies, what this means for COVID on our campus, and what we think the future holds for the Fighting Irish.
Join Anjali, Dane, Isa, and Geo as we talk about COVID in College, from Zoom University to the implications of being an international student. And as always, stay safe.
The Gang Gets Arrested By Copmala: A Deep Dive Into Kamala Harris's History
So you want to talk about Kamala Harris?
Last week, in a historic decision, the Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden announced Senator Kamala Harris of California as his Vice Presidential pick. As the first black woman to be nominated on a major party ticket and the first Indian American to be nominated, Senator Harris's nomination is history in the making. But, the woman who dubs herself a "progressive prosecutor" has had an iffy past when it comes to criminal justice and reform. During her tenure as a District Attorney and Attorney General she has made some notable regressive decisions and policy changes that have come to haunt her during this election season. While the nomination has been controversial in some progressive circles, it has conversely been lauded by some progressive activists including Angela Davis. So who is Kamala Harris?
Join Anjali, Dane, Eshaan, Vinny, and Benny as we dive into Kamala Harris's history. From her first day being bussed to public school to her recent policy endeavors in the senate: this is a podcast to discover who Kamala Harris is and what her nomination means for the future of the Democratic Party.
So you want to talk about Kamala Harris? This is the place.
If You Can't Beat Em Join 'Em: Voting for Joe Biden
Idiot Soup makes a second season comeback with all new guests and all new topics. Join Anjali, Eshaan, Benny, and Vinny as they talk about Joe Biden’s VP venture, COVID-19 and its implications for the 2020 election, and the Post Office fiasco ft. Trump’s tyrannical government attempting to postpone the 2020 election.
Warning: Ben Shapiro talk included.
Get With The Times (New York)
To be (progressive) or not to be (progressive)...
This is the plight of the Democratic Party. As they near the highly anticipated Iowa Caucuses, the nation is watching to see which direction the Democrats will go in: will they follow a Progressive Sanders/Warren path or will they play it safe with moderates like Klobuchar and Biden?
The New York Times didn't make the decision any easier when they released their formal endorsement in favor of two candidates: Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar. In refusing to decide between progressive and moderate, the outlet has made it even clearer that the Americans have to decide this for themselves.
And apparently they also have to decide if a woman can even be president. On the CNN debate stage Sen. Warren accused Sen. Sanders of telling her a woman can't be president, but did he really?
Join Danielle and Kaylene as they dissect all that and more on this episode of Idiot Soup.
We Refuse to Make Iran Puns
Tensions between Iran and the United States have been escalating since the rifts over the Iran Nuclear Deal, all culminating on January 3, 2020, when the US carried out a lethal airstrike assassinating Qasem Soleimani in an airport Iraq. As Congress attempts to block any further military action in Iran, Danielle and Darren take a look at the history of the US's involvement in the Middle East and how this affect the ongoing crisis.
Oh and also, there's some cool talk about the impeachment in there. What's going on? Absolutely nothing, and the Senate's going to see to that, but we're still going to talk about it (and Mitch.)
Too Cold for Global Warming
This week President Trump chastised teenage activist Greta Thunberg for not "chilling out" and "watching a movie." Chilling out, it seems, is a great alternative for Global Warming. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of legislation helping out with that.
Since March, the topic of climate change has consistently been at the front of the conversation between presidential candidates; from nuclear power to frontline communities, everyone has something to say. Join Danielle and Jon as we tackle arguments against Global Warming and crack a lot of jokes.
The Number One Way to Assassinate Someone
The one great thing about Watergate is that it's the gift that keeps on giving. When we think we're done, we learn of a new scandal, a new plot, a new truth that is revealed. Watergate was the scandal that rocked the country, but to this day there is much that the country has never heard about. Join Danielle and special guest, Kiera, as they dive into one of the most interesting conspiracy theories in this nation's history: the murder of Dorothy Hunt.
Dorothy Hunt was the wife of E. Howard Hunt, prominent CIA Officer who was one of the most involved operatives of Watergate. When Dorothy Hunt died on a Boeing 737 with $10,000 in $100 bills in her purse, the media paid little attention to her suspicious demise. Today, Danielle and Kiera take a look at Congressional Hearing Materials and Newspaper articles alike to ask the question: What really happened to Dorothy Hunt?
America First, Second, and Third
The rise of China was all the rage in the 2010's, unfortunately American citizens let go of that one after the 24 hour news cycle (shoutout to Russian-hacked-the-election-mass-hysteria.) The new anti-Russia hype took the stage full force during the second Democratic Primary Debate, and has been on the minds of Americans ever since. Join Danielle and a very special guest as we question what President Donald Trump's fickle foreign policy has to do with the rise of these nations, and ask the age-old question: What does this mean for the future of our country?
Simply Southern Democrats
Yesterday, Former Governor Bevin made history in conceding the Kentucky Gubernatorial election to Former Attorney General Andy Beshear, turning the Governor's seat in Kentucky blue. Three years earlier, Trump had carried this deep red state by 30 points. Today, Democrats have turned to key elections in the south to ask if the wave of blue support means a change in the national narrative and potential foreshadowing for the national election. Join Danielle and a very special guest as we ask the age-old question: what does this mean for the future of our country?
And Then There Were 17: A Postmortem Analysis of Beto O'Rourke
This past week, Beto O'Rourke became the first 'big' presidential candidate to bow out of the Democratic Primaries, a trend that will hopefully carry on to consolidate the Democratic Party. But why? Tune in as Danielle and Angelina question where Beto's presidential campaign began and where it ended.
P.S. Yes, yes we know it's now 18 candidates (Bloomberg announced WHILE we were recording [so you can catch our reactions there]) but 7 and 17 was alliteration that was too good to pass up.
Allies Are for Losers
The US forgot imperialism was "so 1900s" (they just added more about the military bases and interventions for oil.) So, George and Danielle took it upon themselves to leave a little bit of a reminder following the news that President Trump decided to remove US forced from Northern Syria, exacerbating the tensions between the Turks and Kurds in the area. Join George and Danielle as they debate what this means for the international community and how it's going to play out in the end.
Hoarders: To Impeach or Not To Impeach (Part 2)
A special episode of Idiot Soup featuring our first guest, Kevin Kim!
The historic, diverse Democratic field has created benefits and drawbacks this campaigning season; in anticipation of the upcoming October Democratic Debates, we talk about how the upcoming impeachment proceedings might negatively affect the Democrats.
Join Kevin and Danielle as they take a look into whether or not a country without President Trump is truly better for the Democrats, and what they can do to make sure it is.
Hoarders: Democrat Edition (Part 1)
A special episode of Idiot Soup featuring our first guest, Kevin Kim!
The historic, diverse Democratic field has created benefits and drawbacks this campaigning season; in anticipation of the upcoming October Democratic Debates, we take a look at the expansive size of the democratic field that seems to have stagnated in size. Join Kevin and Danielle as they weigh the pros and cons of so many Democrats, and talk about whether this could mean victory or defeat for the Democrats in 2020.
Please Stop Calling it Ukrainegate...
Seemingly overnight Democrats began calling for the impeachment of President Trump over a whistleblower complaint that was brought to light by California Representative Schiff. Join George and Danielle as they figure out what this is all about -- and if impeachment is really on the horizon of the country.
The Year 2050
Climate change is the issue for the millennial voting base. This past Wednesday, all of the Democratic presidential hopefuls took the stage at the Climate Change Town Hall aired on CNN to discuss their climate change plans in depth. A year ago, however, it seemed that they. all had the same place: The Green New Deal. What went wrong from there? And how did they create their own plans from the Green New Deal? Join George and Danielle as they dive into the Green New Deal's history, and how it led these candidates to create their own.
Jailin' Joe Biden: A Deep Dive Into Biden's Checkered Past
Following the recent controversy of Former Vice President Joe Biden's history with busing and tough-on-crime policy, George and Danielle delve into the controversial world of Joe Biden's past. From integration to the Clinton-Era and beyond, this is a deep dive into the political habits of Joe Biden -- and what they mean for the 2020 election cycle.