Claim OwnershipThe Banter Podcast with Michael Luciano and Ben Cohen
Subscribed: 8Played: 31
Subscribe
© Michael Luciano
Description
A cynical, entertaining, and informative discussion on news and politics. Sometimes.
52 Episodes
Reverse
Republicans freak the hell out after Joe Biden announces sensible new Covid policies. Chris Christie and Donald Trump star in this episode's edition of What Crazy Fucking Thing Did a Republican Say This Week? Plus, a conversation about 9/11 – and what came after – you didn't hear in the mainstream media on Saturday.
An absurd anti-abortion law takes effect in Texas. Joe Rogan, who said earlier this year he won't get vaccinated against Covid-19, gets Covid-19. A CNN medical analyst explains why his treatment regimen was bunk. This episode's What Crazy Fucking Thing Did a Republican Say This Week features the governor of Mississippi and a former Trump medical adviser.
We're back after a summer hiatus to discuss Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal and the Republicans' cynical response to the attack in Kabul that left 190 dead, including 13 U.S. service members. This episode's edition of What Crazy Fucking Thing Did a Republican Say This Week? is brought to you by Ben Shapiro, as well as a woman at a Trump rally who says she won't get the Covid-19 vaccine even though her doctor advised her to. Plus, idiots are taking horse dewormer in an effort to cure themselves of Covid,
Joe Biden gets put on notice by Catholic bishops over his pro-choice stance, which prompts a theological discussion between Mike and Ben, resulting in well deserved mockery. Our weekly segment, What Crazy Fucking Thing Did A Republican Say This Week, heads down a dark path featuring conservative ghouls Paul Gosar, Tucker Carlson, and Ben Shapiro.
Jeffrey Toobin returns to CNN after masturbating on a Zoom call. The New York Times drops a scoop about Donald Trump's Justice Department subpoenaing Apple to get info about Democratic congressmen Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, both of whom Mike rants about for a completely unrelated reason. Meanwhile, Barack Obama sums up the garbage state of the Republican Party. Matt Taibbi, Glenn Greenwald, and a guest on Tucker Carlson's show feature prominently in, What Crazy Fucking Thing Did a Republican Say This Week? (even though they may not be actual Republicans). Finally, Ben casually mentions that his wedding was held at where this weekend's G7 summit is occuring.
Mike goes bonkers on Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for defending the filibuster with Joe Biden's infrastructure plan on the line. Ben suggests Democrats blackmail Manchin with a deep fake of him having sex with a pig, a la that Black Mirror episode. Also, White Supremacist Tucker Carlson was outraged that Biden gave a speech to commemorate the murders of hundreds of Black people by a White mob in Tulsa. And Glenn Greenwald is outraged at Twitter's suspension of insane Covid conspiracy theorist Naomi Wolf.
Republicans block the formation of an independent commission to investigate the 1/6 Capitol Insurrection incited by Donald Trump because Senate rules are idiotic, and Mitch McConnell wants to be majority leader again. Joe Manchin says he wouldn't want to gut the filibuster in order to investigate the rioters who tried to destroy our government because – and this is real – "I'm not ready to destroy our government." Paul Ryan rises from the ether to give a delusional account of the state of the GOP. The Manhattan district attorney has convened a grand jury in the investigation of the Trump Organization. Also, why in the world has the question of Covid's origins become politicized?
The guys are back! Mike and Ben discuss the possibility of Benjamin Netanyahu having personal reasons for striking Gaza. A new book reports that Barack Obama trashed Donald Trump as a "fucking lunatic." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says Congress has become a concentration camp and rails against Kommandant Nancy Pelosi. And oh yeah, Liz Cheney was kicked out of the House Republican leadership since our last podcast.
Joe Biden gives his first address to a joint session of Congress. Joe Manchin kills any chance of D.C. statehood (for now) with a ridiculous proposal, but Democrats are stuck with him. Mike slams a woke mob of 500 former Jeopardy! contestants for seeing racism where none exists. Ben rips Tucker Carlson for telling his audience to call the police on children wearing masks outdoors. Plus, Rudy Giuliani's home is raided by the FBI.
Derek Chauvin is found guilty of murdering George Floyd. News of a police shooting in Columbus prompts the Twitter jury to recklessly proclaim "murder" before body camera footage shows a very different story. This episode's What Crazy F**king Thing Did a Republican Say This Week? brings us Larry Kudlow's brussels sprouts and Tucker Carlson's demented laugh. (Plus, a bonus Crazy Thing). Joe Biden becomes the first sitting U.S. president to recognize the Armenian genocide. And Ben's three-year-old has a gross new habit.
White cops gun down people of color (again). Mass shootings hit the nation (again). Mike and Ben discuss viable action for sensible gun control in America. Plus, our favorite segment: What Crazy Fucking Thing Did a Republican Say This Week? (Curve ball, it’s not necessarily a Republican…). As an extra bonus, we rant on Glenn Greenwald for several minutes.
Mike gets the vaccine and hears Bill Gates's voice telling him to buy Microsoft products. We have a super sketchy update on the investigation into Congressman Matt Gaetz that is definitely not good for Matt Gaetz. Joe Manchin reiterates his undying love for the filibuster. Also, What Crazy F***ing Thing Did a Republican Say This Week? The GOP tells donors if they don't give more money, they'll be reported to Trump as "DEFECTORS." (That's not an exaggeration, BTW.) Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell tells corporations to... [checks notes] stay out of politics. Plus, Amazon kills a unionization effort in Alabama.
A driver rams into Capitol police with deadly consequences. The New York Times reports that Congressman Matt Gaetz is under investigation by the Justice department for possibly having sex with a 17-year-old girl, and Gaetz gives a BIZARRE interview on Tucker Carlson about it which Ben and Mike break down. Plus, it's time for another installment of 'What Crazy F***ing Thing Did a Republican Say This Week?' Trump emerges to wish everyone a Happy Easter as only he can. Major League Baseball pulls the 2021 all-star game from Atlanta in response to Georgia's new voter suppression law.
Ben and Mike introduce a new segment about crazy shit Republicans say. Joe Biden's first press conference was boring... as presidential press conferences should be. Another week, another mass shooting. Georgia makes it harder to vote while it criminalizes giving food and water to people waiting in line to cast a ballot. Tucker Carlson and a guest agree that conservatives might have no choice but to vote for a fascist. Plus, Fox News is being sued for $1.6 billion.
A white gunman in Georgia opens fire on Asian-run spas and blames it on "sex addiction." Ben and Mike think out loud about the prevailing media narratives about his motives. Incredibly, it appears Governor Andrew Cuomo will at least finish his term. Ben gets the Covid vaccine in Trump country, where 47% of people say they won't get it. Mike contemplates taking up smoking because some states give the vaccine to anyone who says they're a smoker, no proof required. Plus Rand Paul goes full douche during an exchange with Anthony Fauci.
President Biden signs the American Rescue Plan into law, giving millions of Americans much needed relief. It's supported by three-fourths of Americans, so naturally not a single Republican voted for it. Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson bashes women in the military because he's a monstrous douche. Meanwhile, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's political career is circling the drain as six women have accused him of varying degrees of sexual harassment and assault. But for some reason, Cuomo has his fair share of "Blue MAGA" defenders. Plus, an important message from the governor of Nebraska about marijuana.
Ted Cruz channels William Wallace at CPAC. The Biden administration publicly accuses Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman authorized the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, but then says it'll do nothing about it. Biden launches his first major air strike in what has become an unfortunate rite of passage for new presidents. The senate parliamentarian rules the Democrats' minimum wage hike to $15 should not be in the Covid relief bill. Mike points out that Vice President Harris can overrule her, but the White House says it's not going to do it. After blaming Donald Trump for the January 6th insurrection, Mitch McConnell says he'd "absolutely" support Trump if he's the Republican presidential nominee in 2024.
Using no hands, Ben counts how many thoughts and prayers he sent over the death of Rush Limbaugh. Texas is slammed by a rare and catastrophic winter storm that knocked out its power grid. Republicans try to blame it on... the Green New Deal??? Ted Cruz flees the freeze to Cancun, only to be shamed into immediately coming back. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is under fire for being the bullying douchebag that he is.
As Trump's election lawsuits keep getting shot down, he tries to schmooze Michigan lawmakers into doing the unthinkable. Georgia's Republican Secretary of State draws fire from Republicans for [checks notes...] conducting a free and fair election. Rudy Giuliani argues his first case in court in 28 years, and it went exactly as you'd expect. Plus, Team Trump's coup attempt may be for performative purposes only, but so was his 2016 campaign at first.
Trump refuses to acknowledge he lost an election that wasn't even close. Worse, too many Republicans are going along with the charade. Eighty-six percent of Trump voters think the election was rigged against the president, which is a recipe for disaster. Trump's legal battles are going terribly for him. Ben and Mike talk about the GOP's turn toward authoritarianism, and they debate whether the Electoral College should have voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Plus the dumbest man in the U.S. Senate.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States