Sane(ish) with Jo Carducci

Like many of you, I am constantly thinking about what’s going to happen in the 2026 midterms, which if you can believe it, are less than 10 months away. Unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball. And if there’s one thing we learned from 2024, it’s that polls can be wrong. What we do have is data, which can predict which candidates have the best chance of winning and which districts are going to be the closest. That’s why on this episode of The Siren Podcast, I had the honor of being joined by Brian Derrick, co-founder and CEO of Oath Vote. Brian and his team have created a brilliant new way to forecast which races across the nation donations can have the maximum impact in. Brian believes that political fundraising as it stands today is broken, with good-intentioned donors wasting millions on long-shot races or safe seats, when instead, that money would be better spent on a candidate running in a closer district who might not enjoy the same national stardom as other candidates. With more strategic donations leading up to the midterms, Democrats will be gearing up for a historic blue wave in 2026. All the most encouraging are the 18 House districts that recently shifted towards Democrats, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, which projected that Democrats have “more than enough opportunities” to win 218 seats, a majority in the House this November. On this episode, we discuss which of these races are the closest as they stand, which exciting new candidates need support the most, and the status of the electoral battleground for the House and the Senate in 2026: Are Republicans in for a generational electoral loss in November? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Siren Podcast, I was joined by New Jersey Senator Andy Kim to discuss the ramifications and lasting effects of January 6th, his personal experience in the Capitol that day, and the horrific shooting by ICE in Minneapolis. On Wednesday, we learned of the tragic murder of an American citizen in broad daylight by an ICE agent in Minneapolis- less than a mile from where George Floyd was killed by police officers in 2020. The victim, who leaves behind a wife and child, had stuffed animals in the glovebox for her six year old. Immediately after the shooting, Trump and his acolytes in the media and within the federal government called the victim a domestic terrorist and professional agitator. They then tried to spin the video, claiming that in actuality, the life of the ICE agent who shot her was at risk. The video of the incident clearly shows the opposite. The Trump regime is telling Americans not to believe what they can see with their own eyes. “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” -George Orwell, 1984 ICE agents on scene denied the victim medical assistance from a doctor who witnessed the incident. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem then spoke at a press conference and called the incident a “domestic act of terrorism.”  Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted an image reading “I STAND WITH ICE.” She then pinned that message to the top of her Twitter profile, seemingly supporting the murder that the entire country saw happen on video. All of this, because the Trump regime has made it its primary mission and goal to wage an endless, merciless war on the people in this country who don’t look like they do. Everyday, ICE tears apart more and more families to please the insatiable, evil appetite of Stephen Miller, who according to recent reporting from The Atlantic openly admits that if he had it his way, everyone would look like he does. Under Trump, ICE has become what its harshest critics warned that it would- a political, loyalist, secret police force that serves at the sole direction of one man, with zero accountability or oversight from a Republican-led Congress that has entirely given up. While the Trump regime calls the innocent mother they murdered a “domestic terrorist,” remember that Donald Trump pardoned 1,600 actual domestic terrorists who stormed the Capitol on January 6th on day 1 of his second term. You won’t want to miss this incredibly heartfelt and informative episode. 💙 Jo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Siren Podcast, hosted on The Siren Network, I had the honor of being joined by Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley to discuss the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE, why the Trump regime is really starting a conflict with Venezuela, and how Americans should be demanding more of their elected officials during this moment. Trump and his minions in the White House have made it their mission to place violence at the center of everything they do. Their goal is to normalize it. We see this play out in many forms, but especially in the regime’s response to the tragic shooting of Renee Good. When ICE shoots an American citizen three times in the face, Kristi Noem’s very first instinct was to demonize her and call her a domestic terrorist. JD Vance’s initial response branded Good as a “deranged leftist.” The official federal response from the White House did not include calls for investigations, or pledges to ensure this never happens again- but support for the actions of the ICE agent who pulled the trigger. Hours after the shooting, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted an image reading “I STAND WITH ICE.” She then pinned that message to the top of her Twitter profile, seemingly supporting the murder that the entire country saw happen on video. When the U.S. military captured Nicolas Maduro, Pete Hegseth said Maduro had “F’d around and found out.” Donald Trump routinely threatens our allies with violence, and pledges to take control of Greenland. The official Twitter accounts of the U.S. Government publish daily propaganda videos of supposed migrants in chains and handcuffs and call for “remigration”- the once fringe, far-right term for the mass deportation of non-whites (a.k.a., ethnic cleansing). All of this has a purpose. It’s meant to make you feel overwhelmed and hopeless. And honestly? It’s perfectly natural to feel that way. But it’s also important to shine a light on our wins- Simply put, Trump is losing the support of Congressional Republicans. As Senator Murphy says during today’s episode, “The Senate just passed a resolution saying that the president does not have the power to take this action in Venezuela. I think four or five Republicans actually crossed over, voted with Democrats. A war powers resolution that is now passed the United States Senate that is heading to the House of Representatives that says the president cannot use any funds in order to carry out operations in Venezuela without the consent of Congress.” Make sure to watch this information-packed double feature of The Siren Podcast, and stay tuned for some light-hearted sports talk! 💙 Jo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jo welcomes back Meidas Touch’s Ron Filipkowski for a brutally honest year-end reality check on American politics. They unpack the newest Epstein documents, what they reveal about power, money, and the protection of the ultra-rich, and why Trump’s promises to his base keep collapsing under the weight of his actual record.Ron explains why dozens of Republicans are bailing on the House, how student loan wage garnishments and health-care cuts could scramble 2026, and what Democrats need to do to win back seats in 2026. Plus, Jo and Ron look for slivers of hope in a year that has been darker, messier, and more exhausting than the first season of this political shitshow. SANE(ish) Partners: OneSkin - get 15% off OneSkin with the code JOJO at https://www.oneskin.co/jojo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Malinowski isn’t just running for Congress again, he’s running straight into the flamethrower Trump has aimed at democracy, foreign policy, and the rule of law.  If you’ve been doomscrolling FBI hearings about “Antifa terrorists,” boat strikes in the Caribbean, and Republicans suddenly remembering they have spines, this episode has you covered. Topics include: • How Trump’s team is using drug-war theater on the high seas to test-drive a terrifying theory of power: if anyone can be labeled a “terrorist,” anyone can be stripped of rights, due process, or worse.• Why a dry-sounding “National Security Strategy” document is actually a seismic attempt to cozy up to far-right, fascist-adjacent movements in Europe—and what that means for democracy here and abroad.• The quiet rebellion inside the GOP: discharge petitions, surprise votes in places like Indiana, and why the spell around Trump might finally be cracking, just a little. -     Why Tom’s race matters: Former congressman Tom Malinowski joins Jo to connect all of it: foreign policy, Trump’s grift, Republican cowardice, and the first big House race for Mikie Sherrill’s old New Jersey seat.  He lays out what real accountability could look like if Democrats claw back power.  SANE(ish) Partners -   ⁠AuraFrames⁠: Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at ⁠https://on.auraframes.com/JOJO⁠. Use Promo Code  JOJO -  ⁠REMI⁠: Go to ⁠https://www.shopremi.com/JOJO⁠ and use code JOJO  at checkout for 55% off a new night guard plus a FREE foam gift that whitens your teeth and cleans your nightguard. -  ⁠Veracity⁠: For up to 45% off your order, head to ⁠⁠https://www.VeracitySelfCare.com⁠⁠ and use promo code JOJO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jo sits down with Mehdi Hasan to talk about ICE acting like Trump’s personal secret police, the open, gleeful racism coming out of this White House, and what it does to your brain when the people with the microphones keep pretending this is all normal.We get into why calling fascism “fascism” isn’t hyperbole, it’s homework; how Democrats keep flinching from real accountability; and why the press corps lets Trump bully female reporters on live TV while their colleagues stare at their shoes.  SANE(ish) Partners -   ⁠AuraFrames⁠: Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at ⁠https://on.auraframes.com/JOJO⁠. Use Promo Code  JOJO -  ⁠REMI⁠: Go to ⁠https://www.shopremi.com/JOJO⁠ and use code JOJO  at checkout for 55% off a new night guard plus a FREE foam gift that whitens your teeth and cleans your nightguard. -  ⁠Veracity⁠: For up to 45% off your order, head to ⁠https://www.VeracitySelfCare.com⁠ and use promo code JOJO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jo sits down with Heather Cox Richardson to connect the chaos in your house to the chaos in American democracy—and spoiler: the mess didn’t start with you, but it sure as hell can end with us.Heather walks us through how we got from “basic civic competence” to “strongman with a merch store,” why Indiana gerrymanders and minority rule are not just boring process stories but actual democracy murder weapons, and what this moment looks like in the long, ugly pattern of American backsliding.  SANE(Ish) partners: Mint Mobile: - Get unlimited Talk & Text for just $15 a month today at https://www.mintmobile.com/jojo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president can’t recall which body part got scanned; but Harry Dunn can recite a coup attempt beat‑by‑beat and still show up tomorrow.  Today we’re joined by Harry Dunn, who remembers every second of January 6. Together they talk about goldfish,  why “everything will be fine” is a lie, parenting through democratic decay, and what showing up looks like when winning isn’t guaranteed.  SANE(ish) Partners: - Aura Frames - Save now on the perfect gift - Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/JOJO. Promo Code  JOJO - Veracity - For up to 45% off your order, head to https://www.VeracitySelfCare.com and use Promo code JOJO.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephanie Miller joins Jo for a wild, uncensored after-dark happy hour: sex scandals, MAGA meltdown, and Fox News takedowns with a side of raucous banter. From RFK Jr.’s bizarre sexts to Trump’s Fox-loving antics, Hannity face-plants, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s latest drama, and the imploding right getting roasted in real time, it’s all on the table.  SANE(ish) Partners: -   ⁠Aura Frames⁠: Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at ⁠https://on.auraframes.com/JOJO⁠. Use Promo Code  JOJO - One Skin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code JOJO at https://www.oneskin.co/JOJO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it actually takes to force accountability in Washington—especially when it comes to the long-shielded Epstein files? Jo sits down with Congressman Ro Khanna in the aftermath of Congress’s seismic vote to crack open the Epstein files—a moment that didn’t just force transparency but shattered the protective wall hiding MAGA’s ugliest secrets. This episode gets into the high-stakes fight that put Trump’s allies on blast, exposed institutional rot, and dared the GOP to choose: protect the cult or face the truth alongside the rest of us. Khanna reveals how survivor pressure, public outrage, and a no-bullshit demand for receipts finally cornered the power structure built on denial, distraction, and impunity. SANE(ish) Partners -   Aura Frames: Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/JOJO. Use Promo Code  JOJO -  REMI: Go to https://www.shopremi.com/JOJO and use code JOJO  at checkout for 55% off a new night guard plus a FREE foam gift that whitens your teeth and cleans your nightguard. -  Veracity: Head to https://www.VeracitySelfCare.com and use promo code JOJO during their Black Friday Sale for up to 45% off your order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess Piper joins to torch the week’s biggest outrages: the fresh dump of Epstein files implicating Trump and power brokers; Megyn Kelly’s jaw-dropping defense of “degrees” of child abuse; performative Democrats and predatory Republicans both hiding behind “protect the kids” slogans; and the everyday struggles faced by rural families lost in the national noise. SANE(ish) Partners: ⁠Mint Mobile⁠ - Don’t get them socks this year. Get them premium wireless for $15/mo. Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at ⁠https://www.MINTMOBILE.com/JOJO⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jo is joined by George Conway for a post-shutdown, post-midterm emotional autopsy: Democrats had the voter energy, the polling, and the moral high ground BUT then folded like a bad hand in Vegas, caving to the GOP less than a week after a stinging Trump/MAGA rejection at the ballot box. Together, Jo and George roast the “Gang of Eight,” eviscerate Chuck Schumer’s white-flag routine, and break down how the party managed to hand victory back to Trumpees and call it progress.  SANE(ish) Partners: Mint Mobile - Don’t get them socks this year. Get them premium wireless for $15/mo. Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at https://www.MINTMOBILE.com/JOJO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off the blue wave and before the MAGA tears had even dried, Tom Malinowski joins Jo and makes it official—he’s running for Congress in New Jersey.  Jo’s got Tom in the studio (and the fire’s on full blast) for a brutally honest debrief on election chaos, why the right’s grift machine is collapsing, and what it’s going to take to defend democracy in 2026 and beyond. They rip into everything: GOP meltdown, organizing lessons, and how regular people can keep the wins coming while the right wails into their gold-plated pillows. Sane(ish) Partners: - ⁠Fast Growing Trees⁠: Sane(ish) listeners also get 15% OFF their first purchase by visiting⁠ ⁠https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com/SANEISH⁠ ⁠– and using the code SANEISH at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jo sits down with Jack Hopkins—a former Republican, Navy vet, and host of The Jack Hopkins Show podcast—to rip off the polite tape and get right to what’s freaking everyone out: Trump playing toy soldier with the National Guard and threatening to turn the military against regular Americans, all for the sake of television optics and a bigger slice of power. We’re not here for the spin or the “let’s hear both sides” nonsense. We’re cutting straight to the ugly truth: what happens when public safety becomes just another prop for politics, and negotiating isn’t about meeting in the middle.Jack talks about surviving relentless chaos, dealing with trauma and fear, and why the only way out of this mess is by refusing to let go of your humanity…even when those in charge want nothing more than to wear everyone down. Sane(ish) Partners: - ⁠Fast Growing Trees⁠: Sane(ish) listeners also get 15% OFF their first purchase by visiting⁠ ⁠https://www.FastGrowingTrees.com/SANEISH⁠ ⁠– and using the code SANEISH at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jo connects with Siren host & Call to Activism founder Joe Gallina for a wide-ranging, no-bull conversation about the government shutdown, Trump’s billion-dollar White House ballroom project, and the human cost of GOP cuts to SNAP, healthcare, and rural hospitals. They discuss the consequences of Trump’s games —starving children, shuttering local clinics, and crushing communities while the powerful throw parties and chase headlines. SANE(ish) Partners: Veracity - For up to 45% off your order head to https://www.VeracitySelfCare.com and use code JOJO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Cohen joins Jo to discuss Trump’s destruction of democratic guardrails, from bulldozing the White House to pardoning criminals and turning hunger into a partisan weapon. Together, they break down Trump’s latest medical misinformation and call out the shamefully performative weaponization of faith and law. Subscribe, rate, and share—we need all hands on deck. SANE(ish) Partners: Veracity Self Care - For up to 45% off your order, head to VeracitySelfCare.com and use code JOJO.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When millions of Americans take to the streets and do it with joy, laughter, and inflatable unicorns you know something historic is happening. This episode, Jo sits down with Ezra Levin, co‑founder of Indivisible and co‑organizer of the “No Kings” protests, to unpack how the largest peaceful demonstrations in U.S. history came together and why joy is now a weapon against authoritarianism. They break down how a movement built on inclusion and “tactical frivolity” is reshaping resistance, what comes next for the No Kings Alliance, and how ordinary people (yes, even in the reddest small towns) are reclaiming democracy one community at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jo and Andy Ostroy dissect the project in plain sight: a movement that isn’t just eroding norms — it is tearing apart the White House and refashioning it into a pagan palace of gold and power. They examine how Trump weaponizes distraction to keep the country overwhelmed, how the Epstein scandal could still explode into the center of politics, and what happens when accountability collapses and impunity becomes the operating system. With MAGA fractures starting to show, they ask whether unity among democracy-defenders can stop a takeover designed to melt down American institutions from the inside out — and what the consequences are if it fails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The moment you start standing up to cowards, you realize how cowardly they really are.” - Don Lemon In one of the most powerful episodes yet, Don Lemon joins Jo for a call to action.  They confront the Republican Party’s moral collapse, the erosion of democratic norms, and the rising tide of fascism masquerading as patriotism. Lemon opens up about what he witnessed on the ground in Chicago—ICE raids on innocent citizens, racial profiling, and law enforcement overreach and explains why Americans cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. Jo and Don also discuss the upcoming “No Kings” protest, the importance of civil resistance, and what real patriotism looks like when democracy is under siege. Sane(ish) Partners: - ⁠Mint Mobile⁠ where $15 a month gets unlimited talk & text on the nation's largest 5G network. Make the switch today, at ⁠https://www.MintMobile.com/JOJO⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim Wehle is a tenured law professor, constitutional law expert, author, and legal analyst who specializes in presidential power, civil procedure, and the separation of powers. Today, Jo and Kim dive into the “fear bubble” so many Americans are stuck in: insulated lives, rising authoritarian threats, and the chilling new reality of criminalizing dissent. Kim breaks down Trump’s latest moves, and how quickly people are giving up or tuning out, thinking these threats are someone else’s problem.From real talk about what keeps Kim up at night (“Are you worried? Are you afraid?”) to Jo’s frustration shopping at Aldi while the world burns, they give clarity about what’s at stake if this slide accelerates. Sane(ish) Partners: - Mint Mobile where $15 a month gets unlimited talk & text on the nation's largest 5G network. Make the switch today, at https://www.MintMobile.com/JOJO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices