The Politics of Survival with Tara Reade

Following a week that changed the geopolitical landscape, Tara Reade talks with author and activist Natylie Baldwin about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the events that preceded the military action. The two add context to a complex situation and offer a counterpoint to the mainstream media narrative.

Tara’s guest this week is Michela Morellato, the author of ‘A Talent for Trouble.’ Michela made international headlines following the exposé surrounding her friendship with Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington. This week, she shares with Tara her personal experiences and how she has been able to navigate several high-profile scandals, grow from the experiences, and now uses her platform to promote female empowerment through the Never Alone Foundation.

This week Bryan MacDonald, Head of Russia & FSU desk, RT (online), joins Tara to dive into the escalating tension around the Ukrainian crisis. They take an in-depth look at how media drives attention from major political scandals, the reasons behind NATO’s expansion, and whether or not there is a diplomatic route out of the Ukraine crisis.

This week Tara is joined by ‘the most dangerous philosopher in the West.' Slavoj Zizek. In this far-reaching discussion, the two touch upon many aspects of modern life, including how online spaces have created a new form of online tribalism which threatens to derail civil discourse and how fear is at the core of cancel culture. Zizek also details his thoughts on modern financial technology, such as crypto, and asks if it has ushered in a new era of financial autonomy like it once promised.

This week, Tara sits down with Maria Butina, a woman the US Department of Justice accused of being a spy. Maria’s story gained international attention, as she was one of the public faces of the mainstream media’s ‘Russiagate’ narrative.In her interview, Maria reveals details of her imprisonment, the bonds she shared with fellow prisoners, and her unique understanding of the Black Lives Matter movement. She also shares her hope for greater diplomatic relations between the US and Russia moving forward, despite her experiences with the US justice system.

Andrew Cuomo may no longer be the governor of New York, but his influence over politics and the devastating effects of his Covid response will be felt for years to come. This week Tara sits down with Jennifer Harrison, the founder of Victims’ Rights NY, to explore Cuomo’s disastrous criminal reform policies, sexual misconduct allegations, his negligence with nursing homes, and the cover-ups that followed.

Despite the personal sacrifices made by whistleblowers to expose injustice, many find themselves demonized and ostracized as a result of their actions. While there are laws that seemingly protect whistleblowers, they do not guarantee protection for those brave enough to use their voice. This week, Tara speaks to Amy Braley-Franck who discusses her work with sexual assault survivors within the US military, why she decided to become a whistleblower and the pervasiveness of sexual violence within the US military.

Many in the comedy world feel a sense of anxiety and frustration at the ever-looming threat of cancel culture. Are language and free speech really being policed by an ever-vigilant mob on social media? This week, Tara Reade asks comedian Ron Placone about the fear of being cancelled, how Covid has impacted the comedy landscape, and the subtle art of striking the right balance between comedy and politics.

This week Tara sits down with entrepreneur Juanita Broaddrick, who claims that Bill Clinton raped her during his 1978 campaign for Arkansas governor. The two share a unique position of having experienced the backlash of the Democratic Party when speaking out against powerful men accused of sexual harassment and assault.Juanita explains how she felt seeing her story retold in the recent hit series ‘American Crime Story: Impeachment’, details the ways in which Democrats have changed, and why she now considers herself a member of the Republican Party.

Where do politics and film-making intersect, and how do you make a movie that challenges mainstream narratives? Ukrainian producer and now, (thanks to his long-time collaborator Oliver Stone’s encouragement), director too, Igor Lopatonok has produced and directed films including "Snowden" and Ukraine on Fire. This week, LA-based Lopatonok talks to Tara about the media’s distortion of the truth, why he’s so fascinated with the history of Kazakhstan, and how Oliver Stone turned him from a producer to a director.

What makes Tara Reade’s accusations against Joe Biden credible to a certified trauma expert? This week Tara sits down with educator, activist, and licensed social worker, Professor Anthony Zenkus to explore the reality of trauma and how individuals process their experiences. The two also look at what has gone wrong with the #metoo movement and how the ‘Times Up’ leadership’s close ties with the Democrat party have undermined their work.