Strict Scrutiny
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Strict Scrutiny is a political news podcast that delivers sharp, clear, and no-nonsense analysis of the biggest stories shaping government, democracy, and power. Each episode breaks down elections, legislation, policy debates, and the key players driving them—cutting through the spin to explain what actually matters. Whether you’re tracking Washington, watching global politics, or just trying to stay informed, this show gives you smart insights, fast context, and rigorous scrutiny on the issues shaping our world.
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In this episode, we break down the arrest of Afghan national John Shah Safi in Waynesboro, Virginia on terrorism-related charges, including allegations that he provided material support to ISIS-K and supplied weapons to relatives linked to militia activity overseas. In this episode, we also explore how his case is being used to question the Afghan evacuation and parole programs, the broader tension between national security and humanitarian commitments, and what it could signal for future vetting policies, legal battles, and Afghan communities living in the United States. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down a new watchdog report revealing that nearly $30 billion of the $145 billion the U.S. spent on rebuilding Afghanistan was wasted on failed projects, corruption, and mismanagement, and we explain how those failures undermined infrastructure, security forces, and counter-narcotics efforts. We also explore what this final assessment of the Afghanistan reconstruction effort teaches about the dangers of large-scale nation-building and the lessons U.S. policymakers are urged to carry into any future foreign interventions. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down how recent US-led peace talks with Russia over Ukraine collapsed in Moscow, Putin’s hard line on controlling Donbas, and the fresh Russian strikes that left tens of thousands of Ukrainians without power as winter looms, while European allies worry about both escalation and concessions. We also look at how the US is simultaneously ramping up economic and military pressure on Venezuela, why this dual-front strategy risks overextending American resources and credibility, and what it could mean for NATO cohesion and domestic politics back home. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we walk through the incident at a Pennsylvania high school's culture fair where a Muslim student club's pro-Palestinian booth distributing keffiyehs left many Jewish students and parents feeling unsafe and excluded. We break down the competing claims of cultural expression versus political activism, and what this flashpoint reveals about free speech, identity, and school leadership in a tense global climate.Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the massive Minnesota welfare fraud scandal, explain how rushed pandemic-era programs and weak oversight allowed shell nonprofits to siphon funds meant for vulnerable families, and examine why the case has become one of the largest welfare fraud operations in US history. In this episode, we also look at why Ilhan Omar is facing political backlash despite no evidence of her direct involvement, and how this controversy is reshaping debates around immigration, community accountability, and reforming government aid systems.Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the arrest of the long-elusive suspect in the D.C. RNC and DNC pipe bomb case tied to the January 6 period, explaining what investigators say led to this breakthrough after nearly five years of searching. We also explore the lingering questions about motive, possible coordination, and how this case could reshape conversations about security vulnerabilities around major political institutions. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down China's Landspace Gc3 reusable rocket's maiden flight, where the mission successfully reached low Earth orbit but ended with a failed booster landing after an abnormal combustion event during descent. In this episode, we explore what this mixed result means for the global race in reusable rocketry, how it fits into China's broader commercial space ambitions, and why mastering booster recovery is crucial for cheaper, more frequent access to orbit. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we explain why search efforts for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 are restarting more than eleven years after its disappearance and how Ocean Infinity's new deep-sea mission will focus on a refined zone in the southern Indian Ocean under a no-find, no-fee agreement. We talk about the technology, timelines, and emotional stakes for families, and what the world might finally learn if investigators locate the wreckage—or, once again, come up empty. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down how high-stakes US–Russia peace talks over Ukraine collapsed in Moscow and why Russia responded with fresh drone and missile strikes instead of compromise. In this episode, we explore what this failed diplomacy means for Ukraine heading into winter, growing anxieties in Europe, and the difficult strategic choices now facing Washington.Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the U.S. administration's sweeping halt on nearly all immigration benefits for applicants from 19 designated high-risk countries following the killing of a National Guard soldier in Washington, DC. We explore how this freeze affects families, workers, students, and long-time residents, as well as the brewing legal and civil liberties battles over whether this move is a necessary security measure or an overreach that punishes people based on nationality rather than individual risk. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the Arctic Frost surveillance controversy, explaining how secret gag orders on lawmakers’ phone metadata were approved and why the court’s explanation has only intensified anger in Congress. In this episode, we also explore the constitutional stakes—from separation of powers to civil liberties—and what impeachment threats and reform calls could mean for the future of government surveillance and judicial oversight. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the president’s full and unconditional pardon of Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife, exploring the bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering charges that are now wiped away and the political motivations claimed by the White House. In this episode, we also examine the fierce backlash to the decision, what it means for the power of presidential clemency, and how it could reshape public trust in the justice system going forward. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we walk through how Nazi war criminals like Josef Mengele, Adolf Eichmann, and Klaus Barbie escaped Europe through ratlines, built new lives in places like Argentina and Bolivia, and were sometimes protected or even used by Western intelligence during the Cold War. We also dig into newly uncovered Argentine court archives and propaganda crates from 1941 to show how long governments sat on these secrets, and what that means for how we think about justice, state power, and so-called “useful monsters” today. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the tragic Oregon semi-truck crash that killed a newlywed couple and led to negligent homicide charges against an undocumented driver who obtained a commercial license in California. We explore how the case is fueling debate over state licensing policies for non-citizens, trucking industry labor shortages, and calls for federal reforms to tighten safety and immigration-linked standards for commercial drivers. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the White House’s confirmation of a second U.S. military strike on a suspected narco-terrorist vessel, which reportedly targeted survivors of an earlier attack. We explore the legal and moral firestorm over whether this constitutes a war crime, the questions now facing military commanders and policymakers, and how this escalation could redefine America’s military-first approach to fighting drug trafficking abroad. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the high-stakes special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District between Republican Matt Van Epps and Democrat Afton Bane, exploring polling, demographics, and the intense last-minute campaigning on both sides. We also look at how this razor-thin race could impact the GOP’s slim House majority and signal where national politics might be heading next. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down how the Trump administration is simultaneously pushing a revised Ukraine peace proposal via new back-channel talks with Moscow while Russian forces gain ground on the battlefield. We also unpack the rapidly escalating showdown with Venezuela—from closing its airspace to hints of possible military action—and explore the risks of Washington managing these two high-stakes crises at the same time. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down the Pentagon’s new policy that requires all combat roles to meet the highest male physical fitness benchmarks, with strict twice-yearly tests and uniform standards across infantry and special operations. We explore the arguments that this shift will boost combat readiness versus concerns that it will sideline many women, shrink the pool of eligible troops, and mark a major cultural turn away from diversity and inclusion toward a singular focus on peak physical performance. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we break down why a group of AI experts is warning that the U.S. must urgently invest in open-source AI to stay competitive and secure against state-backed adversaries like China. We explore the promises and risks of democratizing powerful models, from innovation and transparency to potential misuse, funding challenges, and what signals to watch from Congress, industry, and global allies next. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we unpack how Saudi Arabia’s aggressive push into global capitalism—through foreign investment, tourism, and tech and infrastructure spending—could reshape Middle East politics by making economic interdependence a stronger incentive for peace than military alliances. We also examine the risks behind this strategy, from inequality and human rights concerns to the possibility that any downturn in global markets could quickly expose how fragile this new model of stability might be. Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.aiSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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